On the morning of Tuesday September 13th, approximately 250 people gathered at Teknion furniture headquarters for some breakfast and to hear Mayor John Tory speak. It was the Mayor’s Economic Update Breakfast and the purpose of the event was to remind everyone that manufacturing is an essential part of Toronto’s economy.The mayor’s message was clear: we need manufacturing in order to be a successful economy and there was no better neighborhood to deliver this message than in DUKE Heights. This is a neighborhood that provides many of the manufacturing jobs in the GTA, with manufacturing being the second largest source of employment for the 30,000 employees who work in the area.Mayor Tory emphasized that Toronto has a very competitive market for manufacturing. Toronto is home to some extremely innovative and intelligent individuals who create quality goods whose production is supported by good laws. The Mayor stated that because of these things, despite the economic downturn of 2008, manufacturing has grown in Toronto. In the last few years the GTA has added 1300 new jobs in manufacturing.Despite this growth, our local manufacturing sector is suffering. Canadian companies do not seem to have very strong exports and despite the Mayor’s claims that there are laws setup to support the manufacturing sector, there are many other road blocks from the city and local infrastructure that hinder development. The Mayor gave an example of a local company that wished to expand their food processing plant. For this addition they needed to receive new permits and hook up hydro to the new part of the building. It took so long to go through these official processes that the new addition of the plant was built and ready long before hydro was hooked up. Mayor Tory stated that he is aware of the roadblocks that manufacturers face when dealing with the City and city infrastructure and says he takes responsibility for these problems. “Time is money” says Tory “and we are working on that”. What form that work and responsibility will take remains unspecified at this juncture as this update seemed to serve mostly as a morale boost to the manufacturing sector.It is understandable since more than ever manufacturing is seen as a less viable career option. Part of the importance of holding his update at a factory like Teknion is to showcase what modern manufacturing can be. The products at Teknion are sleek and professionally engineered and the work is both craftsmanship and technology based. Teknion is a good example that to be successful in modern manufacturing requires intense training, education, trade skills and more.One thing to take from this economic update event is to try a little harder to support our local industry by buying local and supporting Canadian manufacturers.
Opening of the Mao Art Gallery in Downsview!
Mao Correa, a local Downsview artist, has really proven that art has no limits. After transforming his 700 foot flat into an art gallery. Every wall and surface from every room on both the interior as well as the exterior of the house is covered with pieces of art. The gallery is open to the public and showcases his spectacular pieces along with other works from other up and coming artists.Mao, is a recognized plastic artist, photographer, and graphic designer who was born in Bogota, Columbia. After receiving much recognition for his work in Columbia and Central America, Mao brought his unique style to Canada. Toronto is now where Mao calls home.Mao uses art to illustrate his internal journey as a new immigrant in Canada. He does this by, creating pictorial pieces made entirely from recycled materials. Mao states “Mirroring my own experience, and re-signifying my esthetics through the view of diversity, I’m now not only breaking down pre-existing materials, reinterpreting and offering them a new form with a new purpose, but also reintegrating my soul to a new country”Visiting Mao’s Art Gallery truly is like watching the story of his life narrated by the pieces on every wall and surface of his home, with every piece offering new insight to his experiences in Canada. The gallery is the only newcomer artist-led gallery in Downsview area, and attracts a wide diversity of artists in the community.Mao has been an active leader in the art community. In 2015 Mao was the recipient for the RBC Arts Access Fund and the 2015 Finalist, for the Neilson Park Creative Centres 23 annual Juried Exhibition in Toronto. Mao is an advocate for for other immigrant artists struggling to showcase their art work here in Canada. The Gallery hosts art work from other artists in order to promote their work. The gallery also provides art classes for those who are interested. Mao has truly gone above and beyond for his community and is Downsview Advocate’s ‘Community Spotlight Leader’ of the month.Mao’s art and listings for upcoming shows can be viewed on his website at www.maocorrea.com
The Repair Cafe is coming to Downsview
What is a Repair Cafe? A Repair Cafe is an event where people with experience in repairing things, or ‘fixers’, help people repair their broken items, for free. They gain this experience either as a hobby or from their work (e.g. as a bike mechanic).Repair Cafe fixers work on anything that needs repairs, such as books whose bindings have fallen apart, socks with holes, non-working toasters, laptops that won’t start, cracked vases, and other formerly working items.Started in Amsterdam in 2009, the Repair Cafe movement quickly spread all over the Netherlands and to more than 20 countries. The Repair Cafe Toronto was founded by a small group of volunteer fixers and have helped thousands of people with their broken items. Their goal is not to fix things for people but to teach them how to fix things for themselves.In our existing culture, we are encouraged to throw away our broken things, even things which require only minor repairs. In fact, many things are designed to break down easily and are even designed to be difficult for regular people to repair. Apple, for example, has designed their brand of popular phones such that they can only be opened with specially made tools which no one who isn’t an Apple technician would have. Many people with a damaged Apple phone are often told that the repairs would cost almost as much as a new phone so why don’t they just get a newer model? Or perhaps a $10 skirt from H&M develops a small hole – easily repaired by someone with the knowledge and tools, but since it’s so cheap anyway the owner decides to throw it away and just buy a new one.Corporations have encouraged the growth of this throwaway culture because it leads to greater profits for them. Many people have either forgotten that they can repair things themselves or they have forgotten how. Many older people still have the knowledge to fix things, knowledge that younger generations have lost. The Repair Cafe movement is trying to change that. Fixers take peoples’ broken items and try to fix them. However, the point is not just to fix things for people but to teach them how to fix it themselves. Fixers will take people through the repairs that they are doing so that the owners can learn how to do it. Not every item can be fixed but many can still be diverted from the landfill.The Repair Cafe Toronto is in a different neighbourhood each month; on June 18th, it will be at the Driftwood Community Centre (4401 Jane St) from 12 to 4 pm. People are encouraged to come early as it can become busy. There will be free, donated refreshments available so attendees can wait, chat with their neighbours and fixers, and find out how fun it is to repair things.
Toronto Sports Fans Rejoice –Prizes and Giveaways at Yorkgate Mall
With the 2016 basketball season well underway, the Toronto Raptors sit in second place in the Eastern Conference breaking their franchise record of .675, marking the seventh time the franchise record has been above .500 in 21 years. As the only Canadian team in the NBA the Raptors have grown as a dominant force with powerhouse players like Kyle Lawry, DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas.Fortunately, Downsview residents can celebrate their Raptors pride close to home at the official mall of the Toronto Raptors: Yorkgate Mall.The mall is located at the northwest corner of Jane and Finch (1 Yorkgate Blvd.) and has been a popular centre for over 25 years featuring a unique blend of services including retail stores, medical offices, a grocery store and even a Seneca College campus.“The mall encourages community spirit and fun while fostering opportunities and partnerships within Downsview,” says Kimberley Loftus, Marketing Manager for Yorkgate Mall.The mall works in partnership with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), who has been a partner for three years. With this partnership, the mall hosts “Raptors Days” which features guest appearances and giveaways from the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak, players, coaches and the Raptors’ mascot.During March break, Jonas Valanciunas, centre for the Raptors, paid a visit to the mall to sign autographs and take photos with fans. In the past, Yorkgate Mall has also hosted Jamaal Magloire, the Raptors’ assistant coach, team consultant, team ambassador and former professional basketball player.During Raptors Days, Yorkgate Mall gives away Raptors jerseys, hats and water bottles and holds raffles where fans can win tickets to see a game.On April 18, Yorkgate Mall launched their SHOP MORE WIN BIG contest. Visitors to the mall could enter to win a weekend getaway to Orlando, Florida to watch a TFC soccer match. The prize includes the flight, hotel, transportation and tickets to the Major League Soccer match. To enter the contest, visitors must shop at their favourite stores in the mall and get a weekly password that they can enter online on the SHOP MORE WIN BIG website. “The more you shop the more chances you have to win!” said Loftus.Other upcoming SHOP MORE WIN BIG promotions include a getaway to San Jose for Father’s Day, a getaway to Toronto for Canada Day and a getaway to Montreal for back to school.Yorkgate Mall is also looking forward to launching their Mall Walker program in May, which helps promote an active and healthy lifestyle. This program features one stretch class a week and a group walk around on the second floor of the mall. It is a great way to meet members of the Downsview community and to get exclusive discounts from stores in the mall.For more information visit their website: http://www.yorkgatemall.com/Check out Yorkgate Malls social media pages to learn more about how to win tickets to see the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies, the Raptors and Toronto FC.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorkgateMallTwitter: https://twitter.com/yorkgate_mallInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yorkgatemall/
March North York Really Really Free Market
Photo Credit: Tahoy James
A Guide for Enjoying the PanAm Games
A Guide for Enjoying the PanAm Games
Read moreVoice Your Opinion on our City’s Budget
Townhall Meeting at Yorkwoods Library (1785 Finch Avenue West)
By Anthony Perruzza 
If you have an opinion on what Toronto’s priorities should be, now is your time to voice it.City Council will be meeting on March 10th and 11th to debate Toronto’s 2015 Capital and Operating Budget. The City Budget is the financial blueprint that funds City activities including community centre programming, paving roads, fixing sewers, and much more.I am inviting residents to take an active role in shaping Toronto’s budget by attending a town-hallmeeting I will be hosting on Tuesday, February 24 at 7 pm, at York Woods Library Theatre, 1785 Finch Avenue West.Toronto Financial Planning staff will be present to describe the Mayor’s budget, listen to your views, and help answer your questions. We will also have plenty of City information on different and exciting local projects, including the subway extension through our community.Your opinion matters and you can make a difference. In 2011, programs and facilities in our very own community were at risk of closure based on the direction of the budget. At the town-hallI hosted in 2011, a packed audience joined the fight to help me stop this from happening.You can find a link to a summary of Toronto’s 2015 Budget on my website www.anthonyperruzza.com It is important that I hear from you directly so if you cannot make it on February 24, make sure to send me an e-mail at: councillor_perruzza@toronto.ca or call me at: 416-338-5335, and let me know what you think the City’s priorities should be.