ww The East York TITANIC REDUX n Actors revisit OBSERVER famous tragedy Page 2 Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 43, No. 1 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 Municipal candidates ready to roll the former Metro Toronto Former councillor — Papadakis was a councillor John Papadakis for the old Borough of East York, from 1991 until 1994. returns to the fray He’s since run for office unsuccessfully several times, By JASUN SINGH including for an East York The Observer seat in the House of Three familiar faces are Commons among the first out of the as a Pro- gate in the 2014 munic- gressive ipal election campaign. Conser- East York incumbents Jan- vative in et Davis and Mary Frageda- n DAVIS 1993, for an kis both filed their candidacy East York papers with the city’s elec- seat on Toronto city council in tion office on Jan. 6. Davis 1998, for mayor of Fort Erie, has been the councillor for Ont., in 2006, and for Fort Erie Ward 31/Beaches-East York council in 2010. Papadakis was for 10 years, and Fragedakis living in Fort Erie at the time. has represented Ward 29/To- In Beaches-East York ronto-Danforth, since 2010. meanwhile, incumbent Da- But even with the election vis has two lower-profile more than eight months off, competitors: teacher Michael they both have competition in Sokovnin and Stephen Prince. their campaign for re-election. In Ward 26/Don Valley Perhaps most interestingly, West, there are no declared John Papadakis has returned candidates yet — not even to the East York political incumbent John Parker, who scene in Toronto-Danforth. has gained a new prominence Last Friday, Jan. 31, Papa- at city hall as a spokesper- dakis filed his papers to vie son for councillors trying to Jasun Singh /// Observer against Fragedakis in Ward carry on with city business 29. Prior to the creation of despite the scandals sur- Portrait of a program the “mega-city” — and East rounding Mayor Rob Ford. Centennial College’s East York campus held an open house on Jan. 25 to showcase its communi- York’s amalgamation with cations programs. At this session promoting the fine arts curriculum, Nicole Silvestri painted the the other municipalities of n See CANDIDATES, page 4 portrait of model Maria. n HOUSING Woodbine station New plan is ‘border-line’ crazy: Parents set for renovation By BRITTANY DEMPSTER Family moves, finds “There’s a big issue there,” said According to Kennedy, St. minutes away from the school, The Observer Angela Kennedy, the Catholic Anselm Catholic School at but was still told that their chil- out child can’t attend school board representative from 182 Bessborough Drive, near dren can’t attend there. Improved accessibility will be the key feature Ward 11, encompassing East Millwood Road and Bayview “Most of the trustees were get- of the renovated Woodbine TTC station, accord- By SOLA DaSILVA the school it wants York. Avenue, is the only school in ting complaints from parents who ing to “liaison officer” Lito Romano, who hosted The Observer Kennedy is among the trustees East York that is going through thought the boundaries in the a community open house on Jan. 29 to discuss By DEIDRA BARTON and parents who recently met to this dilemma. schools were what they’ve been the coming construction. The Observer talk about the admission policy But, Kennedy said, that still for years and years,” Kennedy Romano says the station will have more acces- For at least one family living and borders changing in their means that “there’s three families said, “and because of the full-day sible features: two new elevators, a sliding door at the northwest corner of East neighbourhood. who live on a street called Balliol kindergarten, we changed some and a second exit are going to be added at the lo- York, it seems like the old bait- As the new year begins, parents who were previously within the of the boundaries.” cation. The project begins later this year and will and-switch. are already thinking of schools boundaries and were now told She said the board is trying to be completed by 2017, and according to Council- Their school trustee says that for their children to go to in the they can’t admit their children revert to pre-2012 boundaries. lor Janet Davis of Ward 31/Beaches-East York, it they moved to that neighbour- fall. New boundaries have been to the school anymore, and they “We amended, but the amend- will cost the city $20 million. hood in part for the neighbour- in place since 2012 because of the moved into the neighbourhood ments still have to come back. Married couple Brian Kurosky and Jane Welsh hood school. full-time kindergarten program. in order for them to go to that They’re not finalized. The policy are enthusiastic about the future changes. But full-time kindergarten These boundaries are frustrating school.” has to come back in its revised “We’re very excited about the project and has brought changes in school to some families because their Kennedy added that one of the form and we’re going to take a looking at the pictures, it kind of looks like it boundaries that now bar their children will have to go to a families bought a house in that look at it and see if it’s what we could fit into the neighbourhood,” Kurosky said. children. school further than their siblings. neighbourhood that was only five want.” n See TTC, page 4 2 NEWS The East York Observer /// Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 POLICE & WHAS T’ FIRE UP IN E.Y. Man arrested East York student’s work in stabbing showing at Betty’s pub Toronto police The St. Lawrence Market have arrested a area pub “Betty’s” will host man after a stab- an art show by art student bing at an apart- Matthew Rooney tomorrow, ment building at Feb. 8, from 2 until 8 p.m. 500 Dawes Rd. The show, called “Hey, We On Jan. 20, of- Here’s Good Art,” will be ficers from 54 upstairs at the pub, 240 Division found a King St. E., and is open to 40-year-old man anyone 19 years of age and on the fifth floor over. Rooney studies at the of the building Carlaw Avenue campus of with a stab wound Centennial College. to the chest. EMS rushed the victim to hospital with Maria Shipulina /// Observer Volunteers sought for life-threatening Laura Vincent’s character represents the pain of remembering tragedy. injuries. Andrew youth advisory group Peter Jackson, 39, of Toronto The S. Walter Stewart branch faces charges of of the Toronto Public Library’s Titanic mystery on stage “Youth Advisory Group” is attempted mur- looking for volunteers. The der, aggravated By MARIA SHIPULINA not an obstacle anymore. Titanic; she seems so cold inside — group next meets at the li- assault, and two The Observer The cast features West McDonald, like she was in the sea for years. And weapons-related Laura Vincent, Anne McDougall and the only word she says is: “Titanic.” brary, 170 Memorial Park Ave., charges in con- There’s still time to catch the unique Paulette St-Amour. Two souls, lonely and lost, each this Wednesday, Feb. 12 and nection with the mystery “The Scotland Road” on- John (McDonald) knows every- with a burning desire inside: one, to on Wednesday, March 12 from incident. Anyone stage at the Papermill Theatre on Pot- thing about the tragedy of Titanic. He finish her long journey; the other, to 5 until 6:30 p.m. Students with informa- tery Road. is familiar with every known passen- start it. looking to earn community tion is asked to But you’d better hurry: there are ger and knows the ship from top to There is also a third, the soul of the service hours are encouraged contact 416-808- only three performances left in the bottom like he built it himself. sunken ship, the soul filled with pain to come and pick up an appli- 5400 or Crime week-long run — today, Feb. 7, at 8 His only dream is “to be there when and tears. cation at the information desk. Stoppers anony- p.m., and tomorrow at 2 and 8. it comes,” to witness the horror and Titanic unites a woman and a man mously at 416- The play, directed by Victoria Shep- desperation, to look death straight in to help make their dreams come true 222-TIPS (8477). herd, picks up on the notion that dying the eyes and not to turn away. and take their last journey together. Dreaming of Tuscany misunderstood and alone is what peo- Destiny unites him with a woman All seating for “The Scotland Road” The Leaside Garden Society ple fear the most. But if you believe (Vincent) found in the open sea on top is reserved, so call 416-860-6176 or will meet this Thursday, Feb. Hotdogs lead in your dream, if you want it to come of a floating iceberg. go to www.amicusproductions.ca to 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lea- true with all your heart, then time is She is dressed like a passenger from book. side public library branch, to warning 165 McRae Dr. Speaker Two separate Donna Fenice will be show- discoveries of casing the natural beauty of hotdogs, spotted Ice storm repercussions continue Tuscany, Italy as she shares in areas where the history behind some of By XUETING ZHAO East York residents the most famous Renais- The Observer walk their dogs, sance and Baroque gardens.