Local Trustee in “Hot Water” over Alleged Breach in Code of Conduct

Toronto District School Board Trustee, Tiffany Ford, is in “hot water” according to a Toronto Star article.The article published on October 1st disclosed two separate incidents: one, where she allegedly used her title as a school board trustee to sell water from a company she owned called “Smarty Pants Water” and a second one related to a local student award she organized in her role as Trustee.The Star published a copy of the press release in question where the following title is read as a headline “Toronto School Board Trustee Launches Innovative Product to Increase Children’s Water Consumption: Smarty Pants Water.” The article goes on to describe that the use of her title to promote her personal business was allegedly in violation of the code of conduct that guides Trustees on the Board. They also quote a TDSB spokesperson stating that Ford had breached the code of conduct.Tiffany Ford denies that a breach in the code of conduct has occurred and has since demanded and received an apology from TDSB staff. In a statement published on social media on October 3rd, she says that according to the code of conduct “the board of trustees are required to conduct an inquiry and with that make a determination. This process has not occurred and has not been initiated by any Trustee of the board”. She also states that “I hold myself to high ethical standards and principles. With that, I have never used my Trustee office, resources, or taxpayers dollars to promote my personal business ventures.” She goes on further to demand a retraction from The Star and an apology from the TDSB spokesperson.The Advocate reached out to Ford to get a statement for the local community. She referred our inquiries to the same published statement, for which we have included links at the bottom of the article.The Toronto Star published a follow up article titled: “TDSB apologizes to trustee Tiffany Ford after saying she violated the code of conduct.” The article published in late October details that the TDSB spokesperson now states that only its integrity commissioner, not board staff, can determine when its code of conduct has been violated. John Malloy, TDSB director of education, wrote, in a letter to Ford, dated Friday, October 21st “I incorrectly instructed staff to confirm that your actions were in violation of the TDSB Member Code of Conduct.”Trustee Tiffany Ford has accepted John Malloy’s apology and has asked the integrity commissioner to confirm what “she can, and cannot, put her title on.”In their own voices:The Toronto Star article:https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/01/toronto-school-trustee-used-her-title-to-promote-her-own-business.htmlTiffany Ford statement: https://www.scribd.com/document/326235763/Statement-by-TDSB-Trustee-Tiffany-FordThe Toronto Star follow up article: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/24/tdsb-apologizes-to-trustee-tiffany-ford-after-saying-she-violated-code-of-conduct.html

Temp Workers, Know Your Rights

Temporary staffing or temp agencies are companies that find and hire workers for other companies. Temporary workers, or ‘temps’, do not work directly for these companies. Instead, they still work for the agency; the client company pays the temp agency, which then takes a cut of the temp worker’s pay and passes on the remainder. Temp workers do not receive any benefits from the client company and do not receive the same pay as permanent employees who do the same work. This uneven power balance means that their position is very precarious and they can be easily fired by either the client or the temp agency.Originally intended to fill in for employees who needed a leave of absence (such as for a vacation or illness), temp work has now become semi-permanent, precarious positions that are under the constant threat of elimination due to fluctuations in a company’s staffing needs. Since the establishment of temp agencies, corporations quickly learned the benefits of having a workforce that was easily hired and fired; in addition, the fragmented and asynchronous nature of a temp worker’s employment means that he or she has very little chance to meet and develop relationships with other workers, temporary or permanent, thus limiting their ability to collectively demand better treatment from their workplace. Seeing the threat of replacement by temp workers, permanent employees have also learned not to demand better treatment at their workplace.A survey by Jane Finch Action Against Poverty (JFAAP), a local community group, found that over 200 temp agencies operated in the area. These companies are poorly regulated and employ tens of thousands in the Jane and Finch area alone, and many more across the city. These agencies are sometimes fined by the Ministry of Labour but the sum of the fines have often been so low that it barely affects the agency.On August 24th, York University’s legal clinic, Community Legal Aid Services Programme (CLASP), JFAAP, and the Jane Finch Community and Family Centre held a legal education workshop to inform temp workers of their rights. Although their position is precarious, temp agency workers are still protected by Ontario’s Employment Standards Act. Among other rights, they are due to no less than the minimum wage of $11.40/hr and this is after the agency has taken their cut. They also have the right to refuse unsafe work, and must have an eight hour rest period in between shifts. These and other important facts were outlined to the attendees during the workshop.Although attendance was small, there will be more workshops held by the partner groups. Food, tokens, and childcare will be provided. Those interested in learning more can contact Nicola from CLASP at 416-736-2100 ext. 30130.Future workshops will also be placed in the Downsview Advocate’s event calendar.

'Water Does Wonders’

“Would you like a drink with that?” -a frequent question when ordering food. You look at your child and they ask for a soft drink or juice. Do they ever ask for water or milk? If not, it’s time for a change!The human body is 60-70% water. Water helps to digest food, regulate body temperature, lubricate organs and joints, transport nutrients, and eliminate waste from the body and much more.  Children are less heat tolerant and more susceptible to dehydration, especially when physically active and in hot climates. Encouraging children to drink regularly is vital as they can get so involved in what they are doing that they forget to drink enough.Fruit and vegetable juices contain much more sugar and calories and much less fiber compared to whole fruit.  Calories in drinks contribute to our daily energy intake in the same way as food. Drinking too many calories overtime causes weight gain, whereas water is a calorie & sugar-free way to keep hydrated. Children do not need juice of any kind to have a balanced and healthy diet.Encouraging water & discouraging sugary drinks is important because:

• Sugary drinks contribute to the obesity epidemic
• Children who are obese have a higher risk of chronic disease and premature death as adults
• Unhealthy weights can influence self-esteem and mental health in children and youth
• Sugar is linked to poor oral health, leading to tooth decay & damage to tooth enamel; most tap water is fluoridated which means that it helps teeth stay strong and protects against cavities
• Exposes them to the ‘habit’ of drinking water instead of sweet drinks

Patterns of drinking behavior appear to be established early in childhood, so it is important that young children get used to drinking water in order to maintain hydration and establish good habits early on.The Healthy Kids Community Challenge (HKCC), an initiative by the Province of Ontario, unites communities with a common goal: promoting children’s health through physical activity and healthy eating. Humber-Downsview is one of 45 communities across Ontario taking part in the HKCC. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has launched a new theme for HKCC titled ‘Water Does Wonders’. This campaign encourages kids and families to reach for water when thirsty in an initiative to help kids make healthy choices.Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health, states, “I am excited to move forward with the second theme of Ontario’s HKCC, encouraging kids and their families to drink water instead of sugary drinks. Helping kids and their families to make healthy choices in their everyday lives is an important part of our plan to help Ontarians lead happier, healthier lives.”  Myriam Castilla, HKCC Manager at Humber-Downsview Region says, “We all know healthy eating is important for growing children. So is healthy hydration.”Tips to promote healthy behaviors early & keep children hydrated:

• When your child asks for a drink, offer water and/or milk first
• Pack a water bottle for children heading off to school/outings/other activities
• If your child is already used to sweet drinks, start to reduce their intake by offering water diluted drinks and then move on to water and/or adding slices of fruits or vegetables (cucumber, lemon, lime, orange, mint) for natural flavor
• Encourage your child to eat fresh fruit and vegetables instead of drinking juice and other sugar drinks
• Be a role model by not keeping sweet drinks in the house or consuming sweet drinks yourself
• Remember: Young children only eat or drink what is given to them!

For more information about partnerships and to invite Water Does Wonders to your next event, contact Myriam Castilla via:Website: http://healthykidstoronto.comEmail: myriam.castilla@bcchc.comOffice:  (416) 249-8000 ext. 2256

Your Child can Love Learning too!

After a summer of running around and generally driving you crazy, your kids are finally back in school. But now that they’re in school, you remember that they need some help with their learning habits, or maybe they need more stimulation than they’re getting from school. In either case, there is a business in Downsview geared towards helping your child achieve their very best, all while having a great time.Last October, Mathan Thava started teaching the UCMAS Mental Math Program at the Aizen Academy. UCMAS mental math is a program that teaches children to do high level calculations mentally.Learning mental math is a great skill that helps children develop better short term memory, focus and control. All this while boosting their general confidence as they continue to succeed and improve in the classroom and beyond.One of the greatest benefits of enrolling your children in UCMAS, is that you won’t need to fight to get your children there in the first place. When speaking to Thava he says the kids can see the benefits they are getting. “It’s not a program that they don’t want to go to, the kids really do love it. It’s so rare to have programs where the children love learning”. In classes at Aizen Academy, students can challenge each other and see their peers succeed. This is an important factor, as it allows kids to see that if their friends can accomplish these tasks, they can too.One example of the success that the Aizen Academy has had with the UCMAS Mental Math program comes from Vraj Patel, a 7-year-old student from Derrydown Public School who won a Merit Award at the 11^th Canadian UCMAS Mental Math competition recently held in Mississauga. After being enrolled with Aizen Academy for just 8 short months, Vraj improved his mental math skills and was able to answer 82 questions correctly, in 8 minutes. Each question constitutes 7 rows of numbers that require functions of addition or subtraction.Thava emphasized the incredible accomplishment it takes for children even to compete at this level, but the work is worth it he says. “It helps them face a lot of challenges and fears going into it”.  Going through this program allows children to use the more creative parts of their brain to help them solve more logical tasks. Practising mental math helps children efficiently deal with the problems in front of them.Enroll your child today for the September sessions!Call: (647) 990-0864, open 7 days a week.Or stop by for the Aizen Academy’s official UCMAS launch on:September 17^th, 20161290 Finch Ave W Unit 2210AM-3PM*Receive a FREE UCMAS Student Kit (valued at $35 plus tax) by presenting a copy of this article before September 17, 2016.

Healthy Back to School Lunches

Children need a constant supply of energy, vitamins and minerals throughout their day to grow, play and learn.  Providing healthy lunches and snacks that are appealing to younger tastes is a challenge for most parents.  Parents want to send convenient, affordable, nutritious food that their kids will eat.  By offering a variety of foods, a child’s growing body will get all the nutrients that they need while exciting their tastes buds.Children should eat balanced meals and snacks to provide lasting energy throughout the day.  Snacks help children stay energized and prevent overeating at meals.  Without enough energy from food, they may feel too tired and find it difficult to concentrate in class. To keep a child nourished and ready to learn, a snack should include a mix and match of 2 out of the 4 food groups and a balanced lunch should include at least 3 out of the 4 food groups as recommended by Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide.For example, a snack and lunch for a child between 9 to 13 years of age needs a total of 2-3 servings of vegetables and fruits, 2-3 servings of grain products, 1-2 servings of milk and alternatives and 1 serving from the meat and alternative group for their school day .To prepare a healthy lunch and snack that your child will look forward to eating, think like a kid.  Use your imagination and the food guide for creative ideas.  Packing a lunch and a snack needs some pre-planning. Involve your child in the planning and preparation.  Not only will you spend quality time together, your child will learn about balanced eating and will be more likely to eat food they made themselves.                Tasty Bagged Lunch Ideas                                                                  Add interest and variety by trying the following ideas:

• Salmon or tuna whole wheat wrap with cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, white or flavoured milk and a plum
• Quartered chicken quesadilla made with sliced yellow and orange peppers, mushrooms & cheese with a side of grapes
• Mini-muffin eggs with spinach & onion on a whole wheat English muffin, green and red pepper slices & peach halves
• Grilled Turkey, apple & cheddar sandwich, carrots with dip & milk pudding
• Nut butter sandwich with banana and/or strawberry slices and steamed soybeans (edamame)
• Homemade sesame chicken fingers with plum sauce, sweet potato fries, vegetable sticks, milk pudding & melon slices
• Mini meatloaf muffins, thermos noodle vegetable soup, & pear quarters
• Bagel pizza with celery and carrots stick with a hummus dip, yogurt & mango slices
• Homemade mini burgers with couscous salad & orange wedges
• Turkey kebob skewers, whole wheat pita triangles with a tzaziki dip & raspberries

Nutritious Snack IdeasTry these easy ready-to-eat snacks your kids will love.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Yogurt with high fiber cereal and blueberries
• Apple slices and low-fat cheese cubes
• Sliced bell pepper sticks and baby carrots with cottage cheese, hummus or guacamole dip
• Banana bread with cheese strings or milk and kiwi

Back to School Shopping in Downsview

Going back to school, after summer break, is one of the most exciting and long-awaited moments, especially for kids. But what’s even more exciting is going back-to-school shopping!Parents are looking for deals on products that are of good quality, that will last the whole year and kids want products that look cool.Generally, when we think of where to shop, we think of the big malls or superstores. This year I encourage you to shop right here in Downsview and support a local business. Look for small business owners and help boost the economy right in the neighbourhood by shopping close to home.There are many shops in the area where you can find all your child needs for the new school year. We have two malls in the area: Jane and Finch Mall and Yorkgate Mall, both at the corner of Jane St. and Finch Ave. These malls offer great discounts to residents who live in North York with stores for students of all ages.In Yorkgate Mall they have stores like S’il Vous Plait, Payless -which usually offer a 40% discount on shoes for back to school, Ardene’s -featuring some products that are 70% off all year round. In the Jane and Finch Mall some great stores to shop at are Mega Children’s Wear, Mini Kids Fashion, Urban District. You can also check out the many shops on Orfus Rd (off of Dufferin near Yorkdale Mall), also close to Downsview.Happy back to school shopping, we wish you all the best in your new school year!

New Trustee elected in by-election

A very tight race culminated with a new name being chosen as Trustee to York Centre. The election was held on Monday, July 25th to fill in the opening created after the passing of Howard Kaplan. Alexandra Lulka is the new school trustee. She won by just over 100 votes in a very close election. 10 candidates put in their names for the contest and the top two won 31% and 29 % respectively. Erica Shiner came in a close second. This is the 4th by-election the TDSB has held as a rash of events has led to multiple Trustees needing to be replaced.

“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 20^th 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

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 25^th.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.

Driftwood Public School: 50 years teaching our kids

On June 1^st , 2016, Driftwood Public School hosted a celebration for their 50^th Anniversary in our community. This celebration was an opportunity for people to share both past and current experiences with an institution that has helped to shape and develop the very spirit of the surrounding community.Since it’s opening in 1965, Driftwood Public School has been the source of many stories from city wide news outlets for their revolutionary educational initiatives. These stories have ranged from discussion about new innovative programs for conflict resolution to kicking off the trend for environmentally friendly programs in the 90s. Programs like these are the work of engaged and concerned teachers, aiming to be on the leading edge of education initiatives. Indeed, as recently as 2012, teacher Sheri Alcordo, was awarded the Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence.But teachers can only do so much, part of what makes a school like Driftwood successful, is the involvement and support of the children and parents. Driftwood is part of an extremely diverse community whose intent is to ensure that their children can have the best education possible. The hard work of teachers’ means nothing if children are not encouraged and supported by their families to put everything they can into their school experience.We will be sure to bring you more pictures and updates about the event in our next edition, so keep your eyes peeled for that!