Being outdoors can be a magical event.Research has shown that too little time spent outside, or, “nature deficit disorder”, can lead to depression and anxiety. Getting outdoors can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve immune function. Want more reasons on the benefits of green spaces? Incorporating elements of nature into your day can give your brain a boost, resulting in increased productivity and focus. Also, natural environments have been shown to be one of the most restorative for creative thinking.What better way to unplug and step outside, whether it is a half hour at lunch or for an entire afternoon, than a picnic in the park. Fresh air makes everything taste better – both spur-of-the moment sandwiches on the grass and well planned moveable feasts.It seems only fitting to think portability and casual charm when considering food ideas. These tips and strategies will make for the perfect picnic.Grab-and-go finger foods such as sugar snap peas, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, crackers, firm cheese, apples, grapes are easy to pack and transport.Stock a tote bag or backpack with the essentials: bread, a knife, cutting board and fillings of your choice for a build-your-own sandwich or wrap. Fill inexpensive, reusable glass jars with salsa, pickled vegetables or chutney that can be served over salad greens or grilled chicken.The refreshing goodness of watermelon is so versatile that you can use it as a starter, a side or have it for dessert.More food in jars! Layer salad ingredients and you are ready to go. Place the dressing on the bottom, follow with hearty ingredients like beans, broccoli, cucumber, avocado and pasta and top with lighter ingredients like lettuce.Skip the soda, and opt for water, iced tea, or ginger lemonade instead.Foods such as rice, eggs, cheese, poultry and red meat can spoil and harbour bacteria when not stored at the proper temperature. Keep everything cold with refreezable ice packs or fill a couple of bags with ice cubes and place into a cooler. If you pack raw poultry or red meat to cook at the picnic, keep it packaged separately to avoid cross contamination.If you intend to cook at the picnic site, barbeque grills are available for public use in some designated areas. Any gathering over 25 people, or a gathering that requires a designated picnic site, requires a permit. Gatherings are only able to use a portable barbeque where authorized by permit or where posted to allow their use. Also, only charcoal or briquettes are permitted to be used in permanently fixed barbeques. You can contact 416 392 8188 for further information.Plan for clean-up at the beginning. Pack extra resealable plastic bags, aluminum foil and plastic wrap for leftovers. Moist towelettes are handy to wash up after eating. Bring plastic bags to dispose of any garbage.Once you have decided on the food, just add sunshine and a shady tree at one of the many parks in Downsview!
Should the Federal Government be allowed to do whatever it wants?
If you built a deck without a building permit the city inspectors would stomp all over your back with hob nailed boots. But the Federal government can build anything it wants, however it wants without one. It’s a legal principle called ‘paramountcy’. It’s based on the idea that one order of government can’t tell the one above it what to do and it makes some kind of sense. You wouldn’t want the province of Prince Edward Island declaring war on North Korea, or the city of Vaughan deciding what OHIP should pay a doctor.You can imagine my surprise then, when I notice a 33,000 sq. ft., $45M building being constructed in my ward and it had no building permit or any city approvals. In 1996 the Department of National Defence decided to consolidate their ten buildings in Toronto into a single structure which they built on Downsview base land on the north side of Sheppard Ave., just west of the Allen Road. As far as new buildings were concerned the Federal Government had until now, always respected the municipal planning and building process and had applied for building permits even though they didn’t have to. The city was the expert here. Toronto’s official plan laid out standards that protected public interest. The re-zoning process allowed for public input and the city design standards were some of the highest in Canada. This was the first time the military had evoked paramountcy in Toronto. It resulted in a very ugly building.Art Eggleton was the minister of defence. As a former mayor of Toronto he should have known better. Art and I shared the riding and had always worked co-operatively. My annoyance prompted me to give the building an award. It was a prize that I invented for the occasion; the “Toronto’s Ugliest New Building Award”. I invited Art to receive the honour in a ceremony at the County Style Doughnut shop at Wilson Heights and Sheppard. Alas, Art did not show up so the girl behind the counter accepted it on his behalf as we mugged for the Camera. Fortunately, I was able to present the award formally the next night at the annual “Toronto’s Best Building Award Gala” at the design exchange on Bay Street. Art wasn’t there either.I next took the issue to council and convinced them to establish a committee that would review any matter, no matter how trivial or routine, related to the Downsview Lands. Council appointed me to chair the committee.A few months later I received a call from someone who identified himself as a Colonel.“We need to have a municipal address. I thought that this was a routine matter”, he said. “Now I am told that I have to appear before the Downsview Lands Operational Protocol Committee. The delay in receiving a municipal number is causing a major headache for the armed forces. The building is the centre for all land forces in Ontario and unless we have a municipal address Canada Post will not deliver our mail.”“We don’t seem to have a record of your building in our files.” I said.”Can you put us on the agenda?” "I’d be happy to do that,” I replied"“When will the Committee be meeting?” “I’m not sure. It hasn’t had its first meeting yet. Perhaps it will meet in three or maybe six months. It would be helpful in the interim if you paid us the half million in building permit fees that you owe.” “As to postal delivery,” I said. “Tell them to send the mail to Art Eggleton’s constituency office. His staff will be happy to bring it over.”It took them a year but they finally solved their problem by having Canada Post give them their own postal code. Since that time they have further ‘uglified’ the building. Instead of flowers they’ve landscaped it with tanks and other military equipment. These, of course, are appropriate decorations for a military structure. You wouldn’t expect the military to display flowers. Only peaceniks do that.The military hardware is adorned by beautiful brass plaques that trumpet their historical significance. But there is just one problem. During the 3 day G-20 and G-7summit in Toronto when the Harper government blew $1.1 billion on security somebody threw barbed wire fences around the armories. This was obviously to protect the military from attacks by the protesters that never came north of Bloor Street. Now, because of the barbed wire fences, nobody is able to get close enough to read the plaques. Barbed wire, by the way, is illegal in Toronto but then again the Federal government doesn’t have to abide by our bylaws. They have paramountcy.
Top 4 places to visit around Downsview this summer!
Summer is here so when we think about places to go in the city it usually involves going far away but sometimes it is better to enjoy a place in the neighbourhood. Toronto is very rich in green space, theaters, shopping centers, restaurants and much more. These are my Top 4 choices to visit around Downsview this summer.Enjoy! Black Creek Pioneer Village 100 Murray Ross PkwyThis attraction is a place to go with children, family and friends. It is a welcoming place with good story tellers who wear old costumes to give us the illusion that we are in old times. This is a place that showcases how Canadians took the first steps to make the modern Toronto that we live in today.DirectionsOption 1: Take 106 bus/ Downsview St - Trip cost: 3 $ one way.Option 2: take 105 bus to Gerry FitzGerald transfer to 60 bus to Murray Rose – trip cost: 3 $ one wayFor more information visit: http://www.blackcreek.ca/
Mystery Room 1140 Sheppard Ave. W. unit 13
Mystery room challenges you by trapping you in a room. To exit this entrapment you have to use your intelligence, logic and team work. Solving the clues provided in the room gets you closer to escaping the mystery room. This is a good place to go with your friends. There are many difficulty levels for those who want to challenge themselves more.(5 min walk west of Downsview subway station)For more information visit: http://mysteryroomonline.com/ Nino D'Aversa Bakery 1 Toro RoadOne of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted is at Nino D’Aversa Bakery. The offer a variety of flavours in their traditional Italian style ice cream (gelato). This bakery has an exceptionally diverse menu –but I have to say the pizza is outstanding. This is a great place to go with family or friends to enjoy some very yummy food and treats.Option 1 ) take 108 bus / St Regis Cres at Keele St – trip cost 3$ one way.Option 2 ) take 107 bus/ LePage Crt at Keele St – trip cost 3$ one way. Plaza Latina 9 Milvan DrPlaza Latina is another favourite; serving typical dishes from Central and Latin America. Food is prepared on a daily basis with fresh ingredients. The aroma takes over your nose the moment you walk into the restaurant. This is a great establishment to enjoy good food with family and friends.
A message from Jessica Baker, candidate for the July 25 TDSB Trustee By-Election
Jessica Baker is a Ward 5 resident and lives in the area with her husband, Adam, and their children. She is an active member of organizations like the Bathurst Manor Action Group and is running to be the Ward 5 TDSB Trustee is focus her attention on taking action with the TDSB.Jessica is a very approachable individual and this will continue as Trustee. Just try to get in touch with her or her campaign now and you see. You can email votejessicabaker@gmail.com, call 416-554-7962, or contact us through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/votejessicabaker/Jessica’s main issues all focus on the school, classroom, and students. Having this as the focus shows a desire to make real change through concrete actions. These main issues are:
- School buildings
- I will have questions about the prioritizing of some tasks over others and will make sure that the mandatory repairs to Ward 5 schools get done before the less important repairs in other wards.
- I will work with the school communities to make sure that our schools get the attention they need to be safe and welcoming places for our students.
- Mental Health in Schools
- I will work to further include mental health organizations like Adventure Place Agency, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Griffin Centre, and other agencies into each school in Ward 5.
- I will be establishing a volunteer position for a student to facilitate and schedule age-appropriate workshops for schools in the ward. There will then be follow-up and connections made between staff in the school and the various Mental Health agencies.
- Special Education Programming
- I will use board resources and board level staff input to make significant improvements to the support your student gets.
- Bullying and School Violence
- I will increase the number and quality of Anti-bullying programs and follow-up programs and ensured consistent focus on maintaining healthy relationships.
- I will meet with all school administrators to be briefed on the Safe and Caring Schools portion of their School Improvement Plan and remain informed about their progress.
- I will also ensure that the school administrators know that I will work to find all money and resources that they require to reach their goals for the year. These issues are too serious to not properly fund, if we want to see improvements.
On July 25, VOTE JESSICA BAKER. *Provided by the Jessica Baker Campaign.
“Public service should never be a chore” Erica Shiner joins the political arena
Part of what makes up the Canadian identity, is that everyone comes from families who came to this country to rebuild, buck traditions and start fresh. We all come from people, or are people, who have given their all to build up their communities to make a better life for their families.One such Canadian is Erica Shiner, a nominee in the upcoming School Board Trustee by-election. Shiner is the granddaughter of former North York Alderman and deputy mayor, Esther Shiner. Esther Shiner was often known for her passionate work on the GTA transportation system and now has a boulevard and a stadium named in her memory.When Erica Shiner’s great grandparents first came to Canada around the turn of the 20th century, they settled with many other Ashkenazi Jews, around Kensington Market. It was not until around the 1950s that her grandparents, Esther and Sol Shiner, moved up to North York and began establishing their family in our community. Shiner describes her grandparents as being active and concerned neighbors who worked hard to become “pillars of the community”.When speaking of her grandmother, Shiner states, “I'm so proud of everything my grandmother accomplished, especially as there were so few women in politics when she first threw her hat in the ring in the 1970s… I'm really inspired by her. She was so warm and so tough at the same time, and I'm often told that I've inherited her chutzpah”Esther Shiner’s example and passion seems to have been passed down through the generations, with her son (and Erica’s uncle) becoming a city councillor for ward 24 as well. While Shiner has inherited a civic passion and a compassionate personality type from her relatives, she has different plans for how to bring that into the community, by focusing in on the school board to start her political career. When asked about her future plans for the community, Shiner explains her desire to encourage the development of community hubs.Shiner explains, “Connecting children, as well as families, to their neighbourhoods by developing community hubs is a wonderful way to increase community engagement. Creating spaces where we get to know our neighbours and connect educational and recreational resources is a great way to develop our communities to serve the needs of children, seniors, families, and everyone in between.”The Shiner family is an excellent example of what it means to be Canadian, by working to create a better future for our children. Shiner is working hard to carry on that tradition by trying to contribute to our education system here in Downsview.And who knows, the passion and excitement passed down through her Grandmother may yet make it to another generation of Shiners with Erica’s son. When asked about his future Shiner says, “He’s just shy of 5, so it’s a little early to predict his life path” but “My son is the friendliest person I know, so.. It would be no surprise if he carries on the tradition”For more information on Erica Shiner’s campaign, please visit www.ericashiner.com
Jane and Finch Community Centre celebrates 40 years in the community
A little boy reaches for the red plastic firefighter’s helmet and puts it on his head. Next is the yellow jacket. He smiles while looking into the child-sized mirror. His mother looks on approvingly.The scene is the York West Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC) located in the Jane-Finch Mall. Our firefighter and his mother are two of about twenty taking part in the morning program. According to Manager Nesta Blake, there are usually parents waiting outside every day before opening time.It’s a popular place because OEYC offers a wide range of free programs that support parents and their children up to six years.As the fledgling firefighter played with a toy fire truck, an older woman came in looking for help with her own problems. This occurs often at OEYC, as Ms. Blake does a lot of referrals that go beyond children, and nearly all of those go to the lead agency: the Jane/Finch Family and Community Centre.Located on the ground floor of 4400 Jane Street, the Centre was incorporated in 1976 by residents who wanted to address local issues. This social services agency has grown to offer programs from prenatal to seniors. According to Michelle Dagnino, the Centre’s Executive Director, “our goal is to increase capacity, leadership skills, and provide support for residents in the Jane-Finch area as advocates, and engaged and empowered citizens.“The Centre remains responsive to shifting community needs in large part because of resident advisory groups with decision-making authority over program objectives and outcomes.Once he outgrows the plastic helmet, our fire fighter can go to The Spot, located on the second floor of Yorkgate Mall. The Spot offers youth aged thirteen to thirty a wide range of social, educational, leadership, artistic and recreational programming.If he needs financial advice, there’s FEPS (Financial Empowerment and Problem Solving), which also offers a popular Income Tax Clinic for low income residents.Should he need support in times of crisis, Getting In Touch is a mental health drop-in program which started in 1980.One program he’ll likely never use is Women Moving Forward (WMF), which is for sole support mothers on social assistance between ages 20-29. WMF helps these women build a foundation based on education and meaningful employment, so they and their children can have better lives.Perhaps he’ll want to make a difference in his community. Given its origins, the Centre has always been involved in community development and advocacy. A recent highlight was the Centre’s role in the Jane-Finch TSNS Task Force, a community response to the city’s Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy 2020.Maybe one day, he’ll look on approvingly as his son or daughter puts on a red plastic helmet.You can learn more about the Centre at the 40th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, July 23, in the parking lot of the Jane-Finch Mall, starting at 11:00 a.m. Or phone the main office at 416-663-2733.See you there!
York Centre Trustee By-Election is July 25th
The sudden death of former TDSB Trustee Howard Kaplan has prompted a by-election call in York Centre. The election will be held on Monday, July 25th.To find out where to vote you can go to the following website www.toronto.ca/electionsAt the time of publication 10 candidates signed up for the by-election and The Downsview Advocate contacted them in order to provide a profile on each one to our readers. The following are the profiles for the candidates that responded.Name: Sue MathiEmail: info@suemathi.comWebsite: www.suemathi.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/suemathiward5trusteecandidate/I am eager to serve this diverse community. A trustee should be interested in advocating for the needs of the entire community and I will do that with vigor. I do not have a personal agenda, nor am I using the role as a gateway into politics. To show my commitment to service, I have promised that if elected, I will donate my entire first year’s salary directly to the schools in Ward 5 to be used at their discretion. I value education, children, and proper use of tax-payers money. I am eager to give back and help the children in our community get the best out of our education dollars.Name: Jordan GlassEmail: glass4yorkcentre@gmail.comWebsite: http://glass4yorkcentre.webs.com/Twitter: @Glass4YorkCenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlassInYorkCentre/I believe I can help make our school system better. As a parent of a child with special needs, I’ve spent years trying to navigate my way through the obscene red-tape in the TDSB. Dealing with our school board should not be this hard. My priority would be to create a parent facilitator to guide parents through a system that was not built with the concerns of them or their children in mind. This individual would assist families by empowering parents to speak for the needs of their children, especially those with special needs. Name: Erica ShinerEmail: info@ericashiner.comWebsite: ericashiner.comTwitter: @ericashinerFacebook: facebook.com/ericashinerTOMy son's first experience in kindergarten this year was a real eye-opener to the challenges that children and parents face when navigating the system. Classes are overcrowded and repairs are woefully underfunded. I love being of service by amplifying the voices of others, and I'm passionate about implementing the changes necessary to better our school system. If elected, my priority would be implementing better planning to avoid overcrowding and the short-sighted sale of schools. I'm also committed to creating a more effective system of parent engagement to resolve issues at schools. Whether there are concerns with special needs, bullying, health issues, or anything else, parents need more accessibility to work with their schools.
If you like coffee, sandwiches and homemade dessert, Cafe by Kwin is the place to be!
Café by Kwin first opened in July 2015. This friendly neighbourhood café was created by J. Kwin and is a family business involving both parents and their three children as well as an aunt. The children work after school or on weekends and enjoy working while balancing their school and social schedules.The family works well together and they share bonding moments too. Working with family is, according to them, “a real pleasure.” The business schedule can be adapted to each individuals schedule making it easy to manage.Cafe by Kwin’s priority is to stick to good quality, healthy and fresh product at affordable prices –and they are great at making you feel comfortable. They provide great customer relationships and delicious food –can’t go wrong!It all started because J. Kwin is a coffee lover and a cooking devotee, so he came up with the idea of a cafe where he could work with his family. He did a lot of research and invented his own recipes to make good, healthy, fresh and homemade food. He also decorated and designed the café’s layout. The room is spacious which provides different areas that fit several groups of people and they even have outdoor seating!Their menu includes a variety of sandwiches, coffees, salads, cheesecakes (from The Cheesecake Factory), Belgium waffles, ice cream, and much more. Tu Anh Nguyen (J. Kwin’s wife) is fond of drinks, so J. Kwin also created a variety of drink recipes. I personally recommend the strawberry banana smoothie, which is very fruity and refreshing.Café by Kwin is a great place to meet with friends, to study or have a meeting. They provide a great atmosphere and friendly, respectful service along with good quality food. It is located at 1 De Boers Drive, 400 meters from the Downsview subway station.So, do not hesitate anymore, and come enjoy a delicious coffee with a slice of homemade cheesecake sooner than later!For more information visit: www.cafebykwin.comEmail: mail@cafebykwin.comPhone: 647-352-5558Facebook: Cafe by KwinInstagram: @cafebykwin
Repair Cafe in Downsview
On Saturday, June 18th, there was a steady stream of people who came to the Driftwood Community Centre for the Repair Cafe. Over 60 people got their items fixed for free!
Photo credits: Heather Ramsay
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Parents rally against changes to Ontario autism services
A mother holds back tears while speaking to the large crowd at a rally outside of Queen’s Park.“We are mourning the loss of the life we thought our child would have. We had a plan,” said Brianne Brown, whose son Chase was diagnosed with autism at the age of two.Like so many other families of children with autism, her plan was cut short by the Liberal government’s changes to autism services.Children over the age of five no longer qualify for Intensive Behaviour Intervention (IBI), even though many of them have been on the waiting list, to access the service, for years. Instead, the government is offering a one-time payment of $8,000 to families (this will not even come close to covering the cost of private treatment).“$8,000 for what? A couple months of service? It’s nothing.” Said Brown.Families and those who work with children who have autism agree that this one-time payment just isn’t enough.“I've worked with kids on the autistic spectrum and I've seen the progress they can make with IBI therapy,” said Erica Shiner, candidate in the upcoming TDSB Ward 5 by-election.“Offering parents a lump sum that is one sixth of the cost of a year's worth of IBI leaves children and their families high and dry. It's not right to take this crucial therapy away. We can all empathize with the challenges of having a child with special needs, even if that's not our experience. We need to stand together as parents, as educators, and as public servants to make sure that the government does the right thing and reverses these cuts,” she added.Experts have weighed in on the issue to say that there is no evidence to suggest children over the age of five won’t benefit from IBI. It’s the personal stories, like Brianne’s, that are fuelling the movement to stop cuts to these life changing services.Parents, David and Linda Galvao, held signs at the rally with pictures of their two children that read, “Started at 6 and began to speak” and “2nd child waited 3 years for IBI, now what?”With plans to return to Queens Park for a fourth time, the movement by parents’ groups and coalitions shows no signs of stopping.For information on upcoming rallies and events visit www.ontarioautismcoalition.com