THE EAST TORONTO BengaliBengali INSIDEINSIDE pridepride Bye-bye, PAGE 5 Bad Dog OBSERVER PAGE 5 Friday • March 4 • 2011 PUBLISHEDPUBLISHED FOR THE BY COMMUNITY CENTENNIAL OF COLLEGE EAST YORK JOURNALISM BY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS STUDENTSAND SERVING OF CENTENNIALEAST YORK COLLEGE Volume 41 • No. 3 Donlands exit reprieve brings tentative relief By NATASHA JAFERI Almost like a last-minute It gives phone call from the governor to the deathhouse, a dozen Strath- ‘time for more Boulevard families have a sober suddenly received reprieves from home expropriation by the second TTC. thought’ Just last month, it seemed — Lisa certain that the homes would ei- ther be demolished or dramati- Dymond cally infringed on for the con- struction of a second exit at the TTC’s Donlands station. voted 42-2 to indefinitely defer But last week, Toronto city the project from the TTC capital council voted overwhelmingly budget. to defer the second exit project Pat Chastang, the executive indefinitely — as well as second assistant to Ward 29/Toronto- exit projects at the Greenwood Danforth councillor Mary Frage- and Woodbine TTC stations. The dakis, said the plan was shelved councillors say that the transit because there isn’t enough fund- commission can’t afford it. ing available. The houses at 1 and 3 Strath- “It was budget — the lack of more faced the wrecker’s ball. money,” Chastang said. “How Observer, Britney Brady-Maginley Others at 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 can we go ahead with the project WINTER WONDERLAND: (Left to right) Roisin Keane, Karina Pronski and Felicia Naccarato and 12 faced adjustments — like when the money isn’t there?” from Holy Cross Catholic School take a break from the snowshoe relay at the Northern Spirit the large hole that was going to She also listed other second Games, held on Feb. 22 in East York. For more photos, see page 4. be dug in the yard of Brian and exit projects deferred by council, Lisa Dymond’s home and the including those at the Woodbine wall that would have been con- and Greenwood TTC stations. structed a few metres from their But whether these reprieves front door. are, in effect, permanent is still Sewer grates on nerves The neighbourhood is just unclear. northeast of Pape and Danforth “We just have to wait for the By JESSE MIRSKY the pipe. Drive. avenues. It’s been in the TTC’s next budget,” Chastang said. East York residents affected After realizing the damage, “I was nearly hit there last sights since July, when plans for She explained that whether by repairs to a huge, cracked Toronto’s water department week and my daughter was the Donlands station’s second the second exit projects ever go trunk sewer buried under their recommended that city council nearly hit a few days before exit were spelled out. through will depend on wheth- community attended a town hall take emergency measures to fix that,” Cook said. The community proposed al- er the currently cash-strapped meeting on Tuesday night to the sewer. The project will be “I don’t think (construction ternatives — like the consen- transit commission can ever find discuss rebuilding the landscape completed later this year. workers) should be coming onto sual expropriation of a church the money for them. affected by construction. Residents such as David O’Connor at all.” on adjacent Dewhurst Boule- For now, the residents along The Coxwell Sanitary Trunk Cook expressed concern at the Cook has lived in the vard — but in January, the TTC Strathmore are relieved. Sewer lies 60 metres beneath proposal to have construction community for about 40 years announced that it was moving “The deferral gives time for a the intersection of Coxwell workers at the notoriously and has a long history with the forward with the original plan sober second thought,” said Lisa Avenue and O’Connor Drive. In dangerous intersection of intersection. instead. Dymond, who also leads the 2008, a crack was discovered in Coxwell Avenue and O’Connor See BAD, page 4 Then, on Feb. 23, city council See RESIDENTS, page 8 Hands-on healing for East York’s furry friends By MICHELLE GRACE a tangible effect. Moreover, its East York could be dubbed devotees say, animals are very “Far East York” in March — at intuitive, and reflect the feelings least around the corner of Pape of the people around them. And and Mortimer avenues, where so, the theory goes, reiki can the ancient Japanese art of have positive effects on animals reiki will be applied to some of suffering from acute and chronic our four-legged friends for their pain, and even conditions like health’s sake. anxiety. An alternative pet store on So an East York pet store Pape is offering the alternative is bringing in Leisa Peacock, approach to pet wellness in free a certified natural health workshops this month. practitioner and aromatherapy Reiki, which the International health therapist who has been Centre for Reiki Training practicing reiki for three years. translates from the Japanese Peacock is holding free pet reiki as “spiritually guided life force sessions at the store, which is energy,” is a technique of hands- called For the Love of Animals. on healing that some people It’s a good fit for a store that already attest to. But in recent has already carved out a unique years, it’s also been applied to niche with its philosophical ap- pets — and its practitioners proach to retailing: indepen- and some pet owners say dently owned and family-run, successfully. it refuses to sell live animals on The concept behind reiki ethical grounds, and promotes is that energy flows through a holistic approach to pet care Observer, Michelle Grace every living being, and loving with its product line. RELISHING REIKI: Leisa Peacock performs reiki at For The Love of Animals, located at 930 Pape intentions and touch can have See GENTLE, page 7 Ave. CC the cat and Timmy the guinea pig receive the benefits of energy healing. Page 2 — East York’s Observer, March 4, 2011 School hopes focus on arts will boost student enrolment By MIKE BEAUVAIS plines such as drama, visual The basement of St. Patrick arts and music, will be phased in Catholic Secondary School feels starting in the new school year, cavernous. The area, filled with with Grade 9. computer labs, studios and “The program won’t exist workspaces, seems vast com- in its entirety until 2014,” Pe- pared to the relatively small russe said. “That will be the number of students who occupy first group (of students) in their it. But starting this September, fourth year.” these impressive facilities will Perusse believes the breadth see a surge in inhabitants — and of the program will expand with the St. Pat’s community couldn’t each successive year. be happier. “As we get more students, As of this coming September, it will allow us to broaden our St. Patrick will become a Centre teaching staff,” Perusse said, Observer, Shannon Keller for Arts, Media and Technology “and that will allow us to in- FACELIFT FOR HOSPITAL: Toronto East General Hospital is working on community liaison — a designation bestowed by the crease the number of courses around its $210-million redesign. The plans include new wings and underground parking. Toronto Catholic District School that we can offer.” Board this past June. The de- To enter the program this fall, cision comes after a govern- prospective student face an au- Hospital plans move forward mental review determined that dition process. the school — currently sitting “For example, for visual arts, patients can be required to of the cost to be funded by the below student capacity while students will have to submit a East General to travel throughout the hospital province and $60 million to other area schools are oversub- sketchbook. They will have a add three wings, for necessary services. The new be covered by fundraising. scribed— could better serve the panel interview and they’ll an- plan involves a well-organized TEGH and the Neighbourhood community with increased en- swer specific questions and then parking garage “racetrack” design with the Advisory Committee are conven- rolment. we’ll run a group activity to see nurses’ stations in centralized ing several community meetings Accompanying the designa- how the students respond to By SHANNON KELLER locations. This will enable faster throughout the year. This has tion, neighbouring Catholic and how they operate in a class- Toronto East General Hospital response times for patients. opened a dialogue with the pub- schools will now impose hard room,” Perusse said. is encouraging the community to City councillor Mary- lic to discuss the redevelopment, caps on student enrolment, and While the St. Patrick’s com- get even more involved with its Margaret McMahon of neigh- hospital updates and concerns St. Patrick will be able to accept munity has exerted much effort redevelopment plans. bouring Ward 32 was part of a they may have. students from all over the city. already, there remains a palpa- The hospital has budgeted Tuesday tour offered by the hos- “Great tour. They’ve gone St. Patrick’s arts department ble sense of something special in $210 million toward the con- pital to educate the community above and beyond community head Vaughn Perusse says the the air at the school. struction of an eight-storey about the redevelopment and consultation,” McMahon said. development has taken nearly “It’s pretty exciting,” said building that will make caring why it’s necessary. She acknowledged that a com- two years. drama and Spanish teacher Ros- for patients easier and more “The plans look dynamite,” mon concern for the community “In an effort to strike a bal- sana Cossaro.