In spring of 2019, North York Women’s Shelter (NYWS) will open the doors to its newly renovated facilities that are set to be kid friendly, culturally competent, and include a community hub. NYWS is nestled in between Downsview Park and Sheppard West station - making it connected to a local scene and accessible to the rest of the city’s resources.Established in 1984, NYWS continues to be a safe place for women and children impacted by violence. As research on how to best help survivors of gendered violence advanced, NYWS took federal funding opportunities to redesign and renovate the facility to better serve their residents. Executive Director, Mohini Datta-Ray, described the new shelter as “future oriented” with a focus on providing survivors a holistic approach to healing and giving women the tools they need to take the next steps in their lives. It will be a 24,000 square feet shelter with 17 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms with 30 beds, with the capacity for an additional 10 beds if their operational budget targets are met. This is a huge improvement from the 3,000 square feet shelter with only six bedrooms and three bathrooms for 30 beds that left residents crowded and prevented necessary programming. Traditionally, women’s shelters are at a confidential and discrete location. Shelters are usually intended to be outside the purview of the community and to exist in isolation of the neighbourhood.“It’s a new model - we’re breaking the paradigm. The model is that we are both a shelter and a community service hub,” Datta-Ray explained. The community hub will service not only those in the shelter but women within the community who need a safe space and cannot leave their situations. The shelter itself will be built to accommodate children, have a kennel for residents’ dogs, and a wood-burning oven for women of different cultures to bake bread. Its new community hub will have partnerships with different groups like the Black Creek Community Health Centre, Black Creek Community Farm, and other service groups to ensure that clients can access the resources they need. As Toronto becomes more expensive and funding for ending violence against women continues to be erratic and dependent on governments, it is important to not only give survivors the resources they need to survive but also to thrive.The new NYWS has a large 1000 square-foot multipurpose room that can be a space where women can self-organize and be political. Alongside providing services, NYWS aims to foster a peer-support system so women can be politically active and demand more from their politicians to enact lasting change.“We realized that you can build 40 thousand shelters but you will never address the issue because you are just continuing to address the symptom of the problem,” Datta-Ray explained. The new space will help empower residents to advocate for institutional changes to end violence against women.
Community responds to inadequate support for local shelter residents
On the morning of Saturday December 8th, around 23 volunteers gathered at the Black Creek Community Health Centre in Sheridan Mall. They convened in response to a call to action by Jill, a certified housing support worker committed to supporting and working with our most vulnerable populations on and off the clock. In mid-November, Jill’s volunteerism led her to the Toronto Plaza Hotel which is currently being used as an emergency shelter space by the City of Toronto. While she was only there for a brief visit to pick up donations, her observation of the hotel premises left her feeling disheartened. She was especially saddened as she realized that there was an overrepresentation of Black individuals and families seeking respite in the shelter space. This was compounded by the inadequate accommodations. “The common areas are filthy, the dining areas are unsanitary, the rooms are cold,” she recounts. Jill left the hotel reflecting on how the housing crisis plays out as yet another example of how one systemic inequity feeds into the next and asked herself, “In what ways can we make room for a holistic intervention?”Her call to action, which was shared with the Black Toronto Community Support Group that connects 25,000 of the Black community across the Greater Toronto Area via social media, urged members to check out the emergency shelter space, rent rooms to shelter residents and to donate goods such as clothing and sanitary napkins. The charge was taken up by Noella Charles, a local caterer. She visited the hotel to try to coordinate a drop-off donation space within the shelter. After learning that external groups were not allowed to distribute donations to shelter residents directly, she got in touch with the executive director of the Black Creek Community Health Centre who was very supportive of an initiative to support residents. The executive director provided staff to do outreach and offered space for community members to drop-off donations over the week long period before the clothing drive and even made the kitchen available for the Community Support Group to host a breakfast for shelter residents. "I donated about 80% of the food and one other volunteer provided a few dozen eggs and bagels," Noella mentioned. Up to 140 plates were provided to shelter residents who attended the clothing drive.The spirit of the gathering was one of infectious compassion. Noella connected with a resident that she was able to offer a casual employment opportunity. "I am in a position to help. I own my own business and can offer people a job if they need it." This was said as volunteers were huddled off into a corner planning their next steps- specifically how they could create a community pipeline to respond to the challenges that precarious housing poses to the community. Shelter residents expressed the exact sentiment of volunteers to maintain a connection to the community. One expectant mother, a newcomer from Nigeria, expressed the following, "With the accommodation problem in this city, the more information we can get, the better we are able to support ourselves and our families." She continued, "It is hard to live on the stipend from the government and also try to save for the new baby." She further shared her surprise that she was able to get a crib at the clothing drive.Jill was overwhelmed as she watched up to 150 families and individuals enjoy breakfast and leave with basic goods and then some. Still, more can be done. "A lot of men came in today seeking adequate winter gear such as boots and jackets. A lot of men left disappointed today." As she was checking in with those who attended the drive, she learned that many had come from across the city- even from as far as Scarborough. Noting the recent changes by the provincial government to freeze the minimum wage increase, coupled with the changes to Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program, which are made worse by the stoppage of rent control legislation, Jill is weary of the ways these instances of negligence will continue to strip community members of their agency. "Poverty is unfortunately a systemic experience and not an individual one," she mulled on this point. Shelter residents carry diverse narratives- they are parents, children, they are fleeing war, they have been trafficked, balancing mental health challenges, are seniors, or have learning disabilities. Jill does not believe that she has the right to speak on behalf of shelter residents but concludes that, "We have an obligation to look out for our most vulnerable."
Swapping Metropasses for Presto passes: TTC discontinuing Metropasses this December
TTC Metropass users will need make the switch over to Presto by the end of this year. The TTC will be discontinuing old Metropasses in favour of monthly Presto passes. The move marks a significant milestone in the TTC’s adoption of the fully cashless payment system operated by Metrolinx. According to the TTC’s website, the last day Metropasses will be accepted is December 31, 2018. Tickets and tokens however will be accepted until the end of 2019 when Presto has introduced single fare Presto passes to replace them.The TTC monthly pass on Presto works exactly the same way as the old TTC Metropass at the same cost. It provides unlimited travel for a month, the only difference being that you tap your Presto card on a card reader instead of swiping it or showing it to a fare collector. Those new to Presto will need to create an account on the Presto website and register their card if they want to automatically renew their monthly pass. The discounted Metropass rates for seniors, youth, and post-secondary students are carried over to Presto. However, “seniors, youths and post-secondary students must set a senior, youth or post-secondary fare type on their card at Shoppers Drug Mart locations or at the TTC’s Customer Service Centre above Davisville Station, before they can purchase a monthly pass” as indicated on the Transit Commission’s website. Users also have the option of purchasing a 12-month pass which serves as a replacement for the old Metropass Discount Plan.New users will need to be aware of some considerations as they switch over to Presto. Funds and monthly passes that are purchased online take up to 24 hours to be loaded to cards so these should be purchased ahead of time to ensure you can use your card. Additionally, the TTC monthly pass only applies to travel on the TTC. To pay YRT and Mi-Way fares, you will need to pay cash or load your Presto card will additional funds that are separate from your monthly pass.
PEACH: Learning Beyond Adversity Summer Employment
From June to August 17th, PEACH (Promoting Education and Community Health) continued to find ways to keep youth focused and motivated-outside of school. The Learning Beyond Adversity (LBA) Summer Employment Program was initially started by Executive Director Shari Castello and Youth Advocate Wayne Black as a way to keep youth engaged and productive over the summer months. Eight young members from the Jane and Finch community had the opportunity to work alongside one another performing tasks that enabled them to expand their knowledge and learn how to work cooperatively as a group.PEACH partnered with Black Creek Community Farm’s MwanaJuma and planned activities. The summer participants gardened and worked with plants like callaloo and peppermint and cooked nutritious vegan meals such as vegan lasagna and fruit smoothies. Castello and Black realized how important bridging the gap between youth and the elderly was and so the youth teamed up with the seniors at Black Creek Community Farm and learned how to cook meals like popular Jamaican dish, Ackee. The program also offered workshops on Financial Literacy, Resume and Job Workshops, Stress Management, Media, and even the process of getting your G1 Driver’s License! The youth were also taken to the Knowledge Bookstore to purchase books, and were given a lesson on how to start their own business and was needed to succeed. Jordan Thomas, 18, says his experience at LBA Summer Employment was definitely worthwhile/ “I found this program very enjoyable,” Thomas says. “For me it was nice to make decisions about different topics like why it’s important to get your G1 or how to maintain proper hygiene, and how to find a job.”The recent height of violence in Toronto has shown the importance of initiatives like the LBA Summer Employment and the importance to fund these programs. Not only do these programs keep youth off the streets, but they provide youth with a sense of belongingness, mentorship, accountability, and of course, the knowledge they need to move forward and succeed in their future.
“Our First 7 Years in Canada” An Interview with Hong Nguyen
Our family came to Jane and Finch in 1993. There were four of us, my husband and I, and our daughter and son. My husband and daughter arrived as refugees in 1989. My husband worked at Panasonic and he sponsored me and our son in 1991. After two months of searching for a job, I started work at W. M. Shoe Manufacturing Ltd. in Etobicoke. In Vietnam, my background was in accounting so I had never before worked in a factory. After the shoe factory closed down in 1993, I was out of work. My husband was laid off too, so we applied to live in government housing. We moved from Etobicoke to an apartment on Dune Grassway in Downsview in 1993,. I remember that our son borrowed books from a bookmobile that parked on Firgrove every Wednesday.Both my husband and I found work here and there, but there was a language barrier. I wanted to take a Computerized Accounting Program offered by MicroSkills, but I had to improve my English. I took LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) classes, where I learned about Toronto and the pioneers who lived over one hundred years ago. Our teachers took us to Black Creek Pioneer Village, I think that any newcomer should visit it! During that time I was also pregnant with my third child (a son). I took the TTC from Downsview to Davenport every day up until my baby was due. My teachers were worried when the weather was bad.When I was ready to apply to the Accounting Program, I was also about to give birth. My case worker told me I had a hard choice to make. I could stay at home and take care of three kids, or start the program one month after giving birth. Because this was my best chance to go back to school, after my son was born, I started the Accounting Program in May 1994. The next years were tough. My husband and daughter took turns babysitting when I was at school. After finishing in 1995, I volunteered at North York Community House, helping newcomers and translating flyers about local events.Finally, in 1995 I got a job in data entry at Watts Distribution Ltd., and I stayed there for more than 11 years. I learned new things on the job, and was promoted to Database Administrator. Working at Watts improved my English. I learned from the customer service reps, and later from talking with customers. My husband learned CNC technology and worked at Eagletronic. In 1998, seven years after our family arrived in Canada, we bought a house near Driftwood and have lived there ever since.Our neighbourhood has changed a lot over time. My husband and I used to travel downtown to buy rice and Asian food. Today, there are supermarkets in the area like Kien Hung Supermarket, and great Vietnamese restaurants. You can go to church in Vietnamese at St. Jane Frances Church. My neighbours come from Africa, Europe, and Asia, and we always greet each other with a smile. My son still enjoys playing Ping-Pong at the Driftwood Community Centre. When I look back on our first years in Canada, I feel grateful that there were programs to support my family. My children have had many opportunities: our daughter is an MBA and our son became an Engineer. Thank you Canada! Actually, we are selling our house this year. I am moving with my children to Vaughan after more than 20 years in this house. If it were only up to me, I would stay in Downsview*This interview was conducted in Vietnamese and translated in to English by Michael Vu. It has been edited for length and clarity.
What Black History Month in Downsview means to me
Downsview is my home. This is why a few years ago I worked with other neighbours in the community to create The Downsview Advocate. As one of the places that helped to shape me, Downsview has a special place in my life. I have a history in this place. Black History Month reminds us that we have a shared history and that part of that shared story still shapes us today. We celebrate the history of our black predecessors in February and hope to learn a bit more about who we are in that process. Downsview’s black history is still alive!We often forget some of the progress that were made in recent times. Until the 1950’s and 1960’s, you could not practice certain professions as a black person in Ontario, such as driving a taxi or being a nurse.Much of the overt discrimination that used to occur has changed, even as we continue to struggle as a society with many other forms of discrimination. The road towards equity in our society has taken many turns and continues to this day. For most of the early black immigrants in Downsview, the everyday struggle to find a new life in a new country doubled up with the unique experience of being black in Canada.Most of the residential buildings in Downsview were constructed in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and there are still many neighbours living in the area whose history in Downsview dates back to that time. I can remember my grandmother, Nana Lynn, who came to Canada in the 1960’s, telling me how difficult it was to find the basic food she grew up with (they used to give away oxtail for free sometimes if you could find it!). A simple trip to the supermarket could be an adventure as she and her generation struggled with the cultural shock they experienced, as well as the shock of their new neighbours! She tells me that once on the College streetcar, a little girl asked her why her skin was different, to her mother’s mortification. She explained that some people are different and that she was born that way. The child’s mother was relieved that my Nana was patient enough to explain that to her, but we can only imagine how many times that moment was relived.Many of the black women from the Caribbean that came to Canada in the 1960’s as domestic workers struggled with barriers and lack of opportunities. Some of them settled well and were able to create homes for their families. Others struggled to find footing in their new country. In February, we remember their histories and struggles and hope to make the path towards a more equitable society in Canada easier for the next generation.
Keele Street to get a makeover
On 21 September, 2017, the residents, business owners and property managers of Downsview, University Heights, and Black Creek communities were invited to discuss the beautification plan and business improvement strategies being implemented by Councillor Anthony Perruzza and Matias de Dovitiis, the Executive Director of DUKE Heights BIA, for Keele Street, Toro Road, and Tangiers Road. The proposed plan included but was not limited to: new public seating areas, signs, bike racks, garbage and recycling bins, and the addition of green spaces. This plan will essentially change the face of Keele Street. The objective of these improvements is to create communal spaces to encourage outdoor activities, enhance neighborhood aesthetics, make the BIA more attractive for business investment, encourage people to visit DUKE Heights for leisure and, ultimately, to make it more enjoyable for residents to spend time in the neighborhood. Through these enhancements, Keele Street will look bolder, more beautiful, and more attractive for businesses and residents.
Community Spotlight: Black Creek Community Farm
By: Giovanna Loureiro and Rhiannon Moller-TrotterBlack Creek Community Farms is a local staple in Downsview. The farm is dedicated to helping the area flourish through organic initiatives and outdoor education.The land used to be occupied by Toronto Urban Farms, which was fully funded by the City of Toronto. Black Creek then took over when funding for Toronto Urban Farms halted, and it is now in its fourth operating season. Black Creek Community Farms is an urban agricultural center that teaches members of the community how to utilize their lands to grow vegetables, and wants to encourage those in the area to use the facilities.Leticia Boahen, who runs the farm, has been a Downsview resident since she was 12 years old. She is constantly promoting agricultural education through farm schools and camps for elementary and high school students, outdoor environmental education and experiences, and many other events and activities.The farm offers a youth internship program that helps the young people gain experience in urban agriculture and teaches them how to start their own farms and engage community members to do the same. The farms offers many festivals, fundraisers, volunteer opportunities, and camps that run from January all the way through to November.Be sure to check out their website and the farm itself for more information on how to benefit from healthy initiatives taking place right in Downsview. The farm is an ideal spot for trail walks and picnics, and there is no charge for these opportunities.For more information visit or call:www.blackcreekfarm.ca / (416) 393-6381
Sampaguita Village Restaurant- a slice of taste from the Philippines
It was around -15 °C outside when my boyfriend and I left home; and we both felt that the acute coldness was absorbing into our bone marrows. We were both craving for some warm and hearty food, where we somehow trekked through the bustling bus crowd to arrive at the most famous Downsview Filipino restaurant called, the Sampaguita Village.We arrived at 2:10 p.m., hoping that the lunch rush would have calmed down. Surprisingly, the restaurant was jam packed with elders, parents, couples, teenagers and little kids. We both thought the wait for a table would be long, but after about ten minutes or so, the cashier promptly took us to a table.We ordered Yang Chow Fried Rice, Pancit Sampaguita (stir fried noodles), Lechon Kawali (crispy pork belly), Pinakbet (stirfried mixed vegetables), and Sinigang (shrimp soup). While we were waiting for our food, we enjoyed ourselves with perfectly chilled Molson Canadians with surrounding sounds of laughter, and a faint melody in the background.Food arrived promptly, and while I was busy taking photos of all the mouth watering food, my boyfriend would snatch pieces out of the Lechon Kawali dish with an adorable grin on his face. After dozens of captures, I was silently enjoying the different flavor profiles of each dishes. The Lechon Kawali pork skin was crispy in texture and dark gold in color, yet tender and juicy from the inside; and it was served along with a special house sauce. The Sinigang soup on the other hand, was an impeccable duet with the Lechon Kawali because it gave us a nice break from the fried pork, rice and noodles. The citrus lemon and sweet tamarind flavor from the soup allowed me to reminisce back in time to a happy childhood memory, where I plucked and ate from fresh tamarind trees back in Sri Lanka.The mixed vegetable dish (Pinakbet) was accentuated in stir fried, dark green bitter flavors which contained long beans, bitter melon, okra, and other vegetables. While the flavors of this dish may not be acceptable to some; it is comparable to acquired flavors in western dishes such as caviar and beer.Lastly, we tried ‘Halo Halo’: one of the most famous desserts among Filipinos. Even though it was blistering cold outside, I was determined to try one. The meaning of Halo Halo simply means ‘mixture of ingredients’ which can include evaporated milk, boiled sweet beans, cherries, jellies, shredded coconuts, and other sweet ingredients. Halo Halo, is then nicely topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This eye catching dessert was beautifully presented in a tall cup, and as the name suggested, all the ingredients should be thoroughly mixed prior to consumption in order to enjoy different texture and flavors from each spoonful.Conclusively, Sampaguita Village showcased their delicious and interesting flavours, and textures of their traditional cuisine, which makes me want to come back and eat more with my friends and families.
Services that Support and Empower Women in the Downsview Area: Profiling the North York Women’s Shelter
In Downsview, many women are unaware of the types of services that are available to support and empower them. Women services that are in or near the Downsview area, such as North York Women’s Centre, Working Women Community Centre and SASSL (Sexual Assault Survivors Support Line) are available to all women.The North York Women’s Shelter is one of the most well known women’s services in Downsview and has been servicing this area for over 30 years. This feminist based service is the only women’s shelter in North York that has been working with survivors of violence and abuse (intimate partner violence, family violence, etc.) to empower and support them.Their mission is to provide both women and children a life without violence by having a safe, non-judgmental and inclusive environment in their shelter. The shelter provides many programs, counseling services, and a 24-hour crisis phone line for survivors or victims of violence and abuse. Michelle Johnson, Manager of Development and Communications, explained that, because they are a feminist based service, they believe that “the survivor should a choice in how they want to deal with and get help for their situations.”A new program was implemented in January 2017 called: Express Art. This program allows counselors to work with women individually or in groups, to create art pieces. Jiin Yiong, Director of Programs and Services, explained that this therapeutic program is an effective way to help women and children as a family unit, to not only create beautiful art, but it is also helpful in dealing with trauma. The programs in the shelter help the women and children build new friendships and engage in multiple activities. Jiin explained that “programs such as yoga lessons help the women develop bonding ties between the counselors and the other women in the shelter.”Want to get involve and help the North York Women’s Shelter? You can volunteer with: administration and fundraising, special events and outreach, and shelter services or bring in donations to the office, make monthly donations, host community fundraising events, corporate partnerships, become a member, or even sponsor a family in the shelter.Whether you are a survivor seeking empowerment and support or you want to get involved in your community, women services like North York Women’s Shelter are here to serve you!