ww The East York STRETCHING INTO SHAPE OBSERVER n Yoga Page 4 Our 40th anniversary year.... Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 41, No. 9 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 n FALLING FOR FALL 54 Division’s future yet to be decided By MATTHEW WOCKS The Observer The reports of 54 Division’s death are greatly exaggerated, says a Toronto police spokesperson. Mark Pugash, director of corporate communications for the Toronto Police Service, said the future of the division and its headquarters at 41 Cranfield Rd. has yet to be decided, in spite of media reports to the contrary. The rumours began on Oct. 11, when police Chief Bill Blair met with residents of Thorncliffe Park at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute. He discussed, among other things, the future of the headquarters, located near O’Connor Drive and St. Clair Avenue, and the projected $35-million cost of replacing it. Media reports the next day focused on specula- tion that 54 Division could be closing, but Pugash said that emphasis is misleading. “There has been no decision,” he said. “Any suggestion otherwise is wrong.” Blair is currently gathering information and will present his findings to the board and to the city, Pugash explained. “This is the beginning of a process to look at what is most effective way to deal with the aging building,” he said. The three options being discussed are: • Maintain the current boundaries and construct a new building at a new location • Amalgamate 54 and 55 divisions and build a new headquarters • Realign divisional boundaries The division is bordered by the Don River to the west, Victoria Park to the east, Eglinton Avenue to the north and Danforth Avenue to the south. Ward 29/Toronto-Danforth councillor Mary Fragedakis, who spoke to residents of her ward about the options, said she fears that closing down or changing the division could make the community less safe. “My community is interested in maintaining the existing boundaries and rebuilding the new station,” she said, “and I want what my community wants.” While Pugash said the cost of rebuilding would be a significant financial expenditure, Fragedakis said the funding has been in the capital budget for the last 10 years. Nick Tragianis /// Observer “The money has already been set aside,” she said. Crossing into autumn Regardless of the decision, Pugash wants residents of East Summer is a fading memory as the days become shorter and cooler, but that isn’t stopping York to know that every effort will be made to preserve the cyclists from taking in the colours along Pottery Road and Bayview Avenue. front-line police presence. Thorncliffe Park school is first of its kind By ARIELLE QUIGLEY and the East York Town Centre, has ers. That means the teachers will con- he said. The Observer been designed to specifically meet tinuously explore different practices According to Gerri Gershon, the needs of young children. and opportunities that will challenge the Toronto District School Help wanted: A principal willing Ure, who has been a part of To- the children in new ways, she said. Board trustee who represents to manage an all-kindergarten school ronto’s public education system for John Parker, the city councillor for the area, the school has been built of 700 children in Thorncliffe Park. 23 years, has spent the last year plan- Ward 26/Don Valley West — which to accommodate very young Principal Catherine Ure has answered ning its programming. She has been includes Thorncliffe Park — was in- children. There are ramps the the call and is ready for the task. focusing on inquiry- and play-based volved in the concept and planning children can use to get to high- “One of the biggest challenges will learning and a considerable amount stages of this new school. He said er floors, washrooms in each be really just keeping up with them,” of outdoor education opportunities. keeping the younger children togeth- classroom and before- and she said. “Rather than doing the same-old, er was important to the community. after-school programs. This new all-kindergarten school is same-old for 10 years, we’re really “Various community members and “Having very young children a first for Canada, and it will be open- pushing each other to explore new leaders were consulted and I think in one school and working with ing its doors in September. The build- avenues,” she said. we all came to the conclusion that it people who are experts in teaching ing, being constructed on a site be- Ideally, Ure would like the teachers would be better to divide it by grade very young children is a concept that tween Thorncliffe Park Public School in the school to act also as research- rather than drawing a line on a map,” was very attractive,” she said. Arielle Quigley /// Observer Agency serves up nutritious food, social interaction 2 NEWS The East York Observer /// Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 POLICE WHAS T’ BRIEFS UP IN E.Y. Two arrested, Remembering one at large soldiers of war Two men have St. Barnabas’ been arrested in Anglican Church connection with a will be holding an shooting on Oct. event next month 13. A man was entitled Remem- shot three times bering. It will outside a bar on feature a concert O’Connor Drive. of secular and Police have also sacred music to issued a warrant honour veterans for Tyler James and those who Bennett, 20, de- did not return scribed as white, home from war. 200 lbs., 5’9”, The concert, on with tattoos on Sunday, Nov. 11 both arms and at 4 p.m., will short brown hair. include perfor- Police believe he Matthew Wocks /// Observer mances by the may be armed Blowing off glass choir and solo- and should be ists, including considered dan- James Wardhaugh, a glassblower, spins a piece of molten glass at the Jeff Goodman glass studio, special guest pip- gerous. located at 51 Cranfield Rd. in East York. er Rob Crabtree. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. A recep- Police seek tips tion will follow. on assaults Burglary rate soars in E.Y. Auto theft and munity. Celebrate the Police are asking Crime stats in 54 Division That’s a huge jump from last for help as they year — and it’s more startling season with seek two men robberies down, when compared to a 5.6-per- 2012 2011 Change Christmas fair in the East York break-ins on the cent decline in burglaries area in separate Murder 0 1 -100% across all of Toronto. The Christmas cases. In the The only other crime to see bazaar season is rise in 54 Division Sexual Assault first, Matthew 58 56 3.6% an increase in 54 Division is ramping up. On Down, 35, is By ALI DAR Assault 701 762 -8.0% sexual assault, which is up Saturday, Nov. 17 wanted on charg- The Observer 3.6 per cent, amidst a decline from 9:30 a.m. es of assault Robbery 110 123 -10.6% across the rest of Toronto. to 2:30 p.m., St. with a weapon, Luke’s Anglican Police in East York’s 54 Di- B and E 226 186 21.5% Manjeet Singh, a profession- failure to comply vision have curbed vandalism al security system installer, Church will be with probation considerably compared to last Auto Theft 69 83 -16.9% suggests another trick to ward holding its big- and threaten- year, but containing burglaries off potential criminals. gest fundraising Theft Over 22 23 -4.3% ing death. In the continues to be a struggle. “Make them think you have event of the year. second, Jeffrey Police spokesperson Const. Total 1186 1234 -3.9% security cameras. They don’t The Holly Berry Van-Wylick, 22, Tony Vella says that stopping need to be real just look real. Fair will include a is wanted on as- the rising incidence of break- criminals. the ‘working time’ of others. Most people won’t try a prop- tearoom, crafts, sault, attempting and-enters can only be accom- “When a floodlight comes According to the latest To- erty that can potentially record knitted goods, to resist arrest, plished through co-operation on, a criminal doesn’t know if ronto police crime statistics them,” he said. baking, a quilt theft and failure between the public and the someone’s home or if it came for 54 Division, which covers Singh recalls a particular raffle, books, to comply with police. on automatically. Most times, most of East York, crime in house at which he installed Christmas gifts recognizance “Homeowners can play a criminals will decide to skip the area is down 3.9 per cent a security system and a few and many other counts. Pictures part in stopping things like the house,” Vella said. “They compared to last year. The big- dummy cameras. attic treasures. of the men are breaking and entering using are looking for the easiest gest decrease in crime came in “To this day, their house For more infor- available on the simple tricks to keep criminals house to get into.” the categories of auto theft and hasn’t been broken into again. mation, please Toronto police from choosing their property,” He also suggests that home- robbery. I don’t even think people call 416-421- website. Vella said. owners consider purchasing But breaking and entering throw garbage on their prop- 6878, ext. 21. He said that floodlights with a monitoring system for their is up 21.5 per cent in the divi- erty because they’re scared ~ Morgaine Craven sensors are one of the best property, which could scare sion, which covers all but the to get caught on-camera,” he ~ Arielle Quigley things that can be used to deter off some criminals and limit eastern third or so of the com- said.