July 2016 marked the end of urgent care at the Humber River Hospital site located at Jane and Finch. The location will continue to provide CT, MRI and general x-rays.The news may be bitter sweet for many residents who are watching the sun set on the community's old York Finch Hospital, while services are being redirected to the new hospital located near Keele and Wilson.Joe Astrella, President of the Grandravine Homeowners Assocation, says the old York Finch Hospital played a large role in his life.When Joe moved into the community in the late 1960's he immediately took up the call to help in fundraising for the York Finch Hospital that was under construction. In 1970, his daughter Grace was born there and over the years, his family would drop by when the need arose. In 1994, Joe credits the hospital for saving his life following a heart attack.When talk began of expanding the Humber River Hospital network a decade ago, Joe joined a coalition of local residents who favoured expansion of the Jane and Finch site rather than moving it to a new location.Joe learned of the urgent care closure through this interview and believed residents should have been better notified since the news came as a surprise to him.Without proper notification, some residents might seek medical assistance at the hospital only to find out through a sign that they will have to seek help elsewhere."I am disappointed." said Joe, "When I was active with the coalition, we were told that the Humber River Hospital site on Church Street would be closing, but that emergency services would still be provided at our Jane and Finch location."As services continue to be cut back at the Jane and Finch hospital location, the time may well come when the government decides to pull the plug on our local hospital once and for all. A disappointing outcome indeed.For more information on the new Humber River Hospital or the urgent care closure, residents can visit www.hrh.ca or call 416-242-1000.
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
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
Take it Outside
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!
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
Apartment Fire in Downsview: a local family’s story
Nadia and her two young children were victims of a fire that erupted on her balcony caused by a cigarette cast from a tenant above.The fire did not enter the apartment but all contents within the unit were coated with a carcinogenic black soot. What made matters worse was that she had never purchased tenant insurance.Toronto Fire later invited the family to a local Fire Hall and provided them a cheque of one thousand dollars and various household items, clothing and toys to help them in the rebuilding process.Damien Walsh, Vice-President of the Toronto Firefighters Association was on hand and spoke of this program which helps families in need, “When we think there’s going to be a need or there’s kids involved, it’s especially tough for our guys. The fire’s out and they’re rolling up the hoses and getting ready to drive away and there’s a family standing there looking at their home and they can’t get back in. That’s why many years ago we started helping out families where we can. It’s just part of what fire fighters have always done, we’re part of the community and our help in community doesn’t stop when the fire’s out.”Nadia contrasted the compassion of Toronto Fire and other first responders, with the way her landlord handled the situation. Without a place to stay, the only accommodation her landlord offered was a different unit at a higher rent, but when she said she could not afford it, her family was immediately served a letter terminating the lease.By signing the letter, her family would receive their last month's rent deposit (paid when they first moved in), and it would also free them of their obligation to pay the March rent. The letter would also relieve both landlord and tenant of further liability to one another.The family hesitated to sign the document, but as the days quickly passed and they required a deposit to secure a new rental unit, they eventually signed.Later insight from a lawyer at a local legal aid clinic revealed that the landlord did no favour to their tenant in this case.As part of the lease, a landlord is required to provide their tenant a habitable unit. The landlord should have offered alternate accommodation (such as a hotel) while the family was still under lease. In Nadia's case, Red Cross helped pay the costs for their temporary lodging.Since the tenants were not responsible for the fire, they were within their rights to seek compensation for their lost belongings at the Landlord and Tenant Board. This door was closed when they signed the letter.Despite the fire, Nadia remained positive, "It's good to know that there were people and organizations out there to help when we were in need." She also urged tenants in the community to consider insuring their belongings as she never imagined she’d be a victim of an accident like this.If you need information on your rights as a tenant and the responsibilities of your landlord call the Tenant Hotline at: 416-921-9494.For free legal aid (available to those in financial need) visit Jane Finch Community Legal Services located at 1315 Finch Avenue West or call 416-398-0677.
One Community, One Voice: A local leaders journey in uniting her community
A leader is a person who recognizes the needs of their community, and motivates, inspires and empowers a group of people to unite in order to make changes in a community. A leader does this, by advocating on behalf of those who are without a voice, and also by giving the people of their community the opportunity to actively participate and influence decisions that affect them.
Amanda Coombs, is our community spotlight leader of the month. She is a Tenant Rep, who advocates on behalf of the people who live at 4400 Jane St. Amanda was elected tenant rep after only 6 months of residency. Since she was elected, Amanda has gone above and beyond to be the voice of her community. Shortly after being elected, Amanda acquired funding and opened the once closed gym in her building, and began teaching fitness and healthy living classes. She also began assisting residents with obtaining employment by posting jobs on the buildings community bulletin board.
Amanda made it her responsibility to advocate and protect the basic rights of the people living in her building by assisting the residents in her building who are facing eviction in writing letters of appeal on their behalf. Amanda has also started an organization called Peoples Pantry, which focuses on providing fresh produce and educating people about healthier lifestyle choices. The residents of 4400 Jane St. know that when it really counts Amanda will come through for them.
Noticing the barriers between getting a good quality education and having access to employment opportunities, Amanda, started her own non-profit called “Back 2 Basickz.” Back 2 Basickz is a not for profit organization that helps youth get their GED, while also assisting them in securing employment in their field of interest. Amanda has done all of this by actively applying for grants and canvasing for donations and she does it all on a voluntary basis.
She also volunteers at the local soup kitchen, facilitating community workshops and assisting in children’s programs.Amanda cites her son as an inspiration for the work she does in her community and her work reflects her commitment to ensuring that every child is given an equal opportunity to be successful. When Amanda’s term as tenant rep concludes, she plans to run for MP.
We acknowledge Amanda for all of her contributions to our community and we wish her luck in all her future pursuits.
The Power of Parents
Many times parents are convinced that they are sending children to school to “get” an education.The reality is that children are learning wherever they go and whomever they are with, therefore all things (whether good or bad) contribute to their education.
Today social media is a huge influence on children and has even been shown to impact how children write and speak. Shifting our views helps to develop critical thinking and adds to our creative options and improves our problem solving skills in social environments, like school.
A simple action, such as taking the time to communicate with our kids about their school day, can positively improve their (and subsequently your) communication skills. These things may sound insignificant but can have a huge long-term effect.
Another extremely powerful way to play a positive role in your our kids’ lives is by becoming actively involved with the school they attend. Many parents do not realize just how important it is to take the time to be in the school and get to know the principal, the teacher and their teaching philosophy.
Teachers are essential figures that can help your child develop critical enquiry skills and foster a sense of confidence. However, they are also people who appreciate knowing and learning about the background of the child they are teaching on a daily basis. Parents are the first teachers of their child and it is important to continue to have an active part in your child’s learning by partnering with the teacher to support what the child is learning and extend that learning outside of school.
Even if homework can be difficult for parents to understand, simply asking the child if they have homework and encouraging them to do their homework in a quiet place and for a decent amount of time is really effective. Then checking the homework to make sure it is completed and done neatly will help a child see that their parents are invested in what they do. The child will begin to develop a routine of doing homework because they expect their parents to check it on a regular basis.
Parents need to recognize the power they have to help their child be successful and how important parents are to the school they have chosen to help educate their children. If parents work together and have their voice heard, by joining the parent council, attending parent-teacher interviews and parent conferences, schools can only get better. Parents are the gateway to ensuring a better education for their child by being an integral part of the school’s culture.
GET INVOLVED!