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TRANSCRIPT
Winter 2014
Inside
Guildwood News & Views
Please check the GVCA websitewww.guildwood.on.ca for information updates between newsletters.
News & Views is available incolour on our website
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Paul Ainslie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
We’ve Got Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Guildwood Library . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Scarborough Bluffs United . . . . . 9Church Concert Series
Guildwood Jr. PS . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
The Hon. John McKay . . . . . . . . 13
Elizabeth Simcoe School . . . . . . 15
Guildwood Garden Tour . . . . . . . 15
Guildwood Community . . . . . . . . 15Presbyterian Church
All About Laurier . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Friends of Guild Park Photos . . . 18
Candy Cane Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Ice Storm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Community Police Liaison Ctee. 21
Guildwood Calendars . . . . . . . . 21
Living Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Guildwood 2014 Events . . . . . . . 21
St. Ursula School . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Friends of Guild Park Fundraiser 25
Church of the Holy Trinity . . . . . 25
4Life Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Mitzie Hunter MPP . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
What a Year for Guild Park . . . . 31
Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Rejuvenate, Reinvent, and . . . . . 33Rejoice in Winter
The Oeno Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Around Guildwood . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
GVCAAnnual General Meeting
Please join us for theGuildwood Village
Community Association’s Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, March 25, 7:00 p.m.at
Church of the Holy Trinity85 Livingston Road
nGuest Speaker ‒ Joseph Khargie,Program Director 4Life FoundationSee story on Page 27
nOther guests include our elected officials
Agenda items will includenPresident’s, Treasurer’s and other
Committee ReportsnElection of GVCA Officers
Please send nominations for officer positions to [email protected]
nCommunity Announcements
Please attend yourCommunity Association’s
Annual Meeting
2 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Executive Committee
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donna Milovanovic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 410 [email protected]
Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . .Dave Arnold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 410 2755Past President . . . . . . . . . . . .Timo Puhakka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 410 2755Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Whitney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 410 2755Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .James Gilchrist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 410 2755
Coordinators and Members at LargeAdvertising Coordinator . . . . .Reg Wolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 410 2755
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Audrea Douglas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 410 2755News & Views . . . . . . . . . . . . .Judy Baribeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 264 4527
[email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Macklin . . . . . [email protected] at Large
Shelley Angus Andy Douglas Audrea DouglasLeslie Hetherington Anne Marie Johnson John MasonBruce Villeneuve Kathleen Wolfe
Community Volunteers for Specific Activities Distribution Coordinator .Gerard Baribeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .416 264 4527Clean-up Day . . . . . . . .Lutchman SinghGuildwood Day . . . . . . .Mary Ellen ChaterMembership List . . . . . .Dave Wilmot
GVCA Website www.guildwood.on.ca
GVCA Infoline . . . . . . . 416 410 2755
Guildwood News & Views is published
four times a year, with occasional
special editions. Articles and advertising
are welcome. Advertising must be
received and paid by the deadline
date. Advertising deadlines are
approximately one week earlier than
for articles. Deadline dates for 2014
articles are:
Winter Edition – January 10
Spring Edition – March 28Summer Edition – June 27
Fall Edition – September 26
Each article expresses the opinion of
the author and does not necessarily
reflect GVCA policy or practice.
Mail to:Guildwood News & ViewsBox 11001105 Guildwood ParkwayScarborough, Ontario M1E 5G5
Email to:
Did you know…that the
Guildwood Village Community
Association has its own infoline?
If you have any questions or any
issues you would like to bring to our
attention, please call the following
number and leave a message The
messages are checked regularly.
416 410 2755
Name
Address
Email Phone
Would anyone in your household be interested in volunteering in any of the following ways?
Canvassing for membership Distribution of News & Views Contributions to News & Views
Help on Guildwood Day Become involved in the Executive Other:
Memberships can be purchased at Maritime Travel, Guildwood Village Shopping Centre; Guildwood Physiotherapy, 84 Dearham Wood; from Shelley Angus at Chartwell Guildwood Retirement Residence, 65 Livingston Road; or return yourapplication along with payment of $15.00 to: Box 11001, 105 Guildwood Parkway, Scarborough, ON M1E 5G5.
The GVCA reserves the right to refrain from printing unsigned letters and/or those that containdefamatory statements or contentthat would otherwise be consideredinappropriate in a communitynewsletter.
2014 Advertising Deadlines(Advertising may be cut off earlier thandeadline if advertising maximum isreached)Winter Edition – January 3Spring Edition – March 21Summer Edition – June 20Fall Edition – September 19
Advertising RatesHalf Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125Quarter Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65Business Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35One Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $90Two Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175
PLEASE PROVIDE CAMERA-READY COPY
2014 Guildwood Village Community Association Membership Application
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 3
President’s Message
Happy 2014! Well 2013 sure went
out with a snap, crackle and pop,
just like Rice Krispies. On
December 21 and 22 we could hear the
snap and crack of trees and limbs break-
ing and falling, the crackle and pop of
ice melting and utter silence in our
homes as the power shut down. It was
hard to reconcile the beauty of the sun
shining on trees, glittering with ice,
compared to the devastation to com-
munities and personal property from
downed power and service lines and
tree debris.
Scarborough, and in turn Guildwood,
was hit pretty hard and the power out-
ages ranged from a few days to over a
week. Hard to believe in 2013, in a
major metropolitan city, that we could
feel so isolated and out of touch and
have no electricity for such an extended
period. I started a list for supplies that I
wish I had during the outage including a
battery operated radio, more flashlights,
extra batteries and an old pot that I could
use on the gas barbecue to boil water for
a cup of tea.
I have since checked out a few web-
sites http://www.wikihow. com/Prepare-for-a-Power-Outage and http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/pwrtgs-wtd/pwrtgs-wtd-eng.pdfing that give
excellent information for power outage
preparedness. It might be a good idea to
review the information. Throughout this
ordeal I heard about and witnessed many
acts of kindness by Guildwood neigh-
bours in the days after the ice storm.
Guildwood truly is a caring community.
In this edition you will see some pic-
tures of the GVCA annual Candy Cane
Hunt. Many
families attend-
ed this event
over at the
Guild Park on
December 7.
Every time the
bell rang anoth-
er child had suc-
cessfully fin-
ished following
the trail of
candy canes
and was look-
ing forward to a
cup of hot
chocolate. Thanks again to the Macklin
family for organizing and running this
fun family activity.
At our last executive committee meet-
ing in 2013 I brought a bag of Christmas
themed hats which some of the execu-
tive were brave enough to don. Check
Khargie, program director 4Life
Foundation, to be our guest speaker. The
4Life Foundation is a Canadian charity
working to make a difference in troubled
neighbourhoods by providing opportuni-
ties for at-risk youths to have a better life
through sport, education, music and
dance. The foundation helps establish
and build positive relationships between
individuals and community groups to
help fulfill the needs of the community.
We will also be presenting Committee
reports and electing a new executive
committee. I hope to see a good turnout
from the Guildwood community.
As always, any questions and/or
concerns can be directed to the GVCA
hotline (416-410-2755) or email
[email protected]. Our web-
site www.guildwood.on.ca also is
updated regularly with any pertinent
notices for the community.
Donna Milovanovic President
out the pictures. Doesn’t Councillor
Ainslie look cute?
Our next big event is the GVCA
Annual General Meeting which will be
held on Tuesday, March 25, at Church of
the Holy Trinity. We have asked Joseph
Some GVCA Executive members show their Christmas spirit. (L-r) John Mason, Andy Douglas,Timo Puhakka, Anne-MarieJohnson, Donna Milovanovic, Bruce Villeneuve and Dave Arnold
4 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
In-store Deli
Hot take-out foods, fresh made salads
Fresh baked daily breads, rolls, croissants, muffins
Fresh meats and seafoods (custom cut meats)
Large assortment of fresh produce
Selection of gluten-free products
Fresh flowers and greeting cards
Ample parking
Open seven days a week
Friendly customer service
Many in-store specials
Guildwood Valu-mart
123 Guildwood Parkway
Scarborough, ON
M1E 4V2
416 261 6273
check on line at www.valumart.ca
Watch for…
ü Our Garden Centre
opening in early April
ü President’s Choice
Insider Report starting
mid-May
ü Many new exciting
items to come
In store Deli
Hot take-out foods, fresh made salads
Fresh baked daily breads, rolls, croissants, muffins
Fresh meats and seafoods (custom cut meats)
Large assortment of fresh produce
Selection of gluten-free products
Fresh flowers and greeting cards
Hot breakfast sandwiches now available
Gift Cards
check on line at www.valumart.ca
Hot take-out soups are
now available.
See us for:
Gift Cards
Greeting Cards
Movie Rentals
Follow us onTwitter@guildwoodvaluma
for specials
Guildwood Valu-mart
123 Guildwood Parkway
Scarborough, ON
M1E 4V2
416 261 6273
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 5
From Paul Ainslie, Councillor, Ward 43
Dear Friends,
I would like to wish
you and your fami-
lies All my Best for
a Happy New Year
with much happiness and good will in 2014.
I would also like to thank all of the resi-
dents of Guildwood for their endurance
and compassion towards neighbours dur-
ing the ice storm. A number of Ward 43
residents remained without power for up to
eight days, while some were fortunate to
have their power return before Christmas
Day. A number of questions arose from this
experience ‒ namely communication and
why certain areas remained without power
for so long.
Although I kept my website updated,
visited all my communities, utilized social
media to speak to residents and had my
staff work throughout the ice storm, it was
clear the city did not have a good enough
communication plan in place. How do we
reach residents who do not have power or
any means to call for help or for updates?
This question remained one of the high-
lighted issues as I asked Toronto Hydro if
they had any means to visit the sites hard-
est hit to announce updates. In our world of
ever-changing technology it is clear during
certain situations simple tools to reach
residents are needed as well.
We teach our children what to do in
cases of emergency at home and at school;
yet the City does not have an emergency
plan for adults to follow which is put in
place well before one is needed. It’s time
we employ a plan to advise residents what
to do and designate local sites for residents
to reach to obtain information and aid in
emergency situations.
On January 10 during a special Council
Meeting to discuss the ice storm, I put for-
ward a number of motions. You provided
some of the suggestions, thank you.
n That a full report on how the City of
Toronto and Toronto Hydro communicate
with residents during emergencies. A
review of the appropriateness of Reception
Centres and Warming Centres as well as a
review of utilizing the Toronto District
School Board sites which are located
within communities.
n That the City of Toronto direct Toronto
Hydro Corporation to include within their
emergency communication response
mechanisms to reach residents who are
without power.
n That Toronto Hydro Corporation
include manual methods for communica-
tion which may include an onsite vehicle
with speakers to drive through communi-
ties to update residents, that Toronto Hydro
Corporation report back to City Council
on all manual methods to be included
into their communications response in
emergency situations.
n That the City of Toronto begin discus-
sions with the Province of Ontario, the
Toronto District School Board and the
Toronto Catholic District School Board to
determine how local community schools
can be utilized as sites in emergency situa-
tions as these public buildings are easily
accessible to residents.
n That the City of Toronto work with the
Province of Ontario and the Toronto
District School Board and the Toronto
Catholic District School Board to deter-
mine what services are to be made avail-
able at the local school sites during
emergency situations.
n That the Toronto City Council work
with the Toronto Transit Commission to
explore the use of public transit buses to
drive through communities in need during
emergency situations to offer trans-
portation to those who require access
to a warming centre or a community
information centre.
After Storm Clean upTree debris removal is expected to take
approximately eight weeks, weather per-
mitting. The City will haul away all tree
branches from front yards and roadsides
and will include those that have fallen on
private property if they are less than 15 cm
(six inches) in diameter and have been
taken to the curb. Residents should neatly
stack limbs/branches at the front edge of
their properties without blocking either
sidewalks or roads and with the butt ends
of branches towards the road.
2014 BudgetOn January 16 Ward 43 residents will have
an opportunity to attend a Budget Town
Hall meeting and view a presentation on
the proposed 2014 budget and voice their
suggestions. Staff are proposing a residen-
tial property tax increase of 2.5% which
includes the special tax levy of 0.5% for
the Scarborough Subway for an estimated
increase of $64 per household (the subway
levy of 0.5% = $13). The Budget will be
before City Council on January 29 and 30.
Guildwood Parkway: DeerCrossing Warning Signs fromChancery to NavarreFurther to a request from a citizen, Deer
Crossing warning signs will be installed
along Guildwood Parkway as it has been
determined the travel patterns of the deer
warrant the posting of signs. Research of
the collision data from the Toronto Police
Services collision data did not reveal any
recent animal collisions along Guildwood
Parkway between Chancery Lane and
Navarre Crescent.
Community OfficeScarborough Civic Centre150 Borough Drive 2nd Fl.
416-396-7222www.paulainslie.com
E-mail: [email protected]: Councillor Paul Ainslie
Twitter: cllrainslie
Continued on Page 11
6 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 7
We’ve Got Mail
Porter’s proposal to fly to new destinations
I want to convey my support for Porter Airlines and their proposal to fly to new
destinations on the clean and green Bombardier CS100 from Billy Bishop Toronto
City Airport.
Porter has become Toronto’s airline… providing affordable fares and first-class
service from an amazing downtown airport. Toronto should be proud that Porter calls
our city home.
Unfortunately, there is a group that wants to quash Porter’s proposal – including
some who want to close the airport altogether. We can’t let that happen.
First they said jets would be too loud. We now know that isn’t true, but they
continue to employ an endless list of unproven scare tactics trying to turn people
against this plan. They are also telling the people of Scarborough that jets will be fly-
ing over our homes at all hours of the day and night. This isn’t true of flights today and
it won’t be if jets are allowed. Don’t be fooled.
What some people don’t tell you is that the island airport contributes over $2 billion
annually to Toronto’s economy. They don’t tell you that waterfront real estate value has
increased by 70% in the last ten years. They don’t tell you that Porter’s proposal will
help create 2,000 new jobs.
This is a group stuck in the past. They’re trotting out the same people and arguments
against the airport as they did 10 years ago. Their predictions simply didn’t happen.
We have to look to the future. Porter’s proposal will bring more jobs, increased
economic stimulus, and will shine a spotlight on downtown Toronto. It is important that
we come together to support a great Toronto asset.
Karl Popow, GVCA member and 36 year Guildwood resident
Thank you to CouncillorAinslie
I am hoping that we can give a shout
out to Paul Ainslie in the next News &Views for being the Councillor who put
his promise into action. My 92-year-old
mother-in-law moved into the building
by the lake last May and she is very
mobile but a bit wobbly. (Also very
proud because she does not want to use
a walker with a chair in it.) So I asked
Paul if there was any way we could get
some benches along Livingston Road ‒
from the building by the lake to the
Guildwood plaza ‒ since that corridor is
rife with senior citizens living in
different buildings ‒ many of whom still
enjoy very mobile lives. It would pro-
vide essential rest stops. And suddenly
last week they appeared. I sent him a pri-
vate email to thank him but thought it
would be nice to acknowledge him more
publicly given the recent hits he has
taken with the whole subway and Ford
fiasco.
Thanks so much,
Sheila McGovern
Christmas Caroling
Please thank the organizers of the
Christmas Caroling event for me, espe-
cially Tracey Goddard. It was a wonder-
ful event and was good to see Dorsey
James. I hope this will turn into an annu-
al event. It was one of the best parts of
Christmas.
Thank you.
Yvonne Garson
Lost Card
I am attempting to get a “thank you message” to the wonderful person who found
my lost card, addressed to my son and his wife in Georgina, Ontario, and so very kind-
ly put it in the mail for me. I had lost it in the Metro (Dominion) store at Markham and
Eglinton on Sunday, Dec.1. I had already advised my daughter-in-law that I had lost it
(and the $500.00 gift certificate enclosed which was to be their housewarming gift
combined with their Christmas gifts). I received an email reporting that it had been
received on Tuesday and on Wednesday a letter from the unknown angel who found it
and mailed it (I had put my return address on the card). Unfortunately, I have no way
of letting her (excellent cursive writing) know how grateful I am for her kindness. It
certainly confirms that there are still good people among us.
So, whoever you are I sincerely thank you and wish you an excellent holiday
season.
Verbena Smith
8 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Scarborough Civic Centre2nd Floor150 Borough DriveScarborough Ontario M1P 4N7City Hall Tel: 416-392-4008Scarborough Office: 416-396-7222Fax: [email protected]
Paul AinslieCouncillor Ward 43
Scarborough East
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 9
What’s On – Guildwood Library Winter 2014
Guildwood Library 416 396 8872
Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-8:30
Wednesday and Friday 10-6Saturday 9-5
Closed Sunday and Monday
NewGuildwood will soon have a self check-
out terminal so that if you’re in a rush
or just like to do it yourself you’ll have
that option.
Children’s ProgramsReady for Reading - Babytime
Ages birth to 18 months
Babies and their parents/caregivers will
enjoy bouncing and tickling rhymes,
songs, and stories. No registration is
required, but attendance is limited to 12
babies.
Wednesdays, January 8 – February 26,
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Ready for Reading – Toddlertime
Stories, songs and rhymes for children
aged 19 months to 3 years
Fridays, January 10 – February 28,
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Black History Month – Calypso with Roger GibbsMusic and stories tracing the Caribbean
folk roots of calypso and how the music
spread to the world and to Canada.
Roger Gibbs sings, strums, drums,
dances and narrates an interactive jam
session presentation of traditional songs,
n April 4 ‒ The Bishop’s Man by
Linden MacIntyre
Local Art on Display n February – the paintings of Suzanne
Lychowyd
n March – the paintings of Clare
Bonnell.
Recommended reading fromGuildwood staffn Cori recommends The Ruins of Laceby Iris Anthony
n Kathy recommends Gone Girl by
Gillian Flynn
n Alice recommends The One HundredYear Old Man Who Climbed Out of theWindow and Disappeared by Jonas
Jonasson
n Frances recommends The Sisters FromHardscrabble Bay by Beverley Jensen
Frances Johnson
retro and contemporary calypsos for all
ages. No registration required. Every-
one welcome. February 19, 2:00 p.m.
March BreakThe Twisted Ones
Join Debbie and her balloons for a show
and workshop that is packed with
incredible balloon costumes, magic and
cool music. Watch Debbie as she trans-
forms a few volunteers into balloon but-
terflies, angels, monkeys and spiders.
The selection is endless. Everyone
learns how to make their very own
balloon dog and can take it home.
Friday, March 14, 2:00 p.m.
Limited to 40 children ages 3 and up.
Tickets will be handed out to the first 40
children starting at 1:30 p.m.
AdultsGuildwood Afternoon Book Club
This popular discussion program meets the
first Friday of each month from 2-3 p.m.
Please call the library to pre-register.
Our next meeting dates and the books
that will be discussed are:
n February 7‒ February by Lisa Moore
n March 7 ‒ Are you Somebody? by
Nuala O’Faolin
Scarborough Bluffs United Church Concert SeriesSaturday, February 22, 7:30 p.m.
The third concert in the SBUC Concert Series will
feature Six sparkling stars from Royal Conservatory
of Music Young Artists Performance Academy
Here’s your chance to see tomorrow’s stars before they
become famous.
Saturday, April 26, 7:30 p.m.
The final concert in the SBUC Concert Series 2013-2014
will feature Jean Stilwell, mezzo-soprano, Robert
Kortgaard, piano.
3739 Kingston Road (at Scarborough Golf Club Road)
Tickets are $15 each and may be reserved through the
church office (416 267 8265) or purchased at the door,
space permitting. Phone orders not claimed at least 15
minutes prior to performance will be released for door
sale. Wheelchair accessible, TTC routes Morningside
116 & Scarborough 86 stop at the door. Parking lot
access is 12 Crestwood.
scarboroughbluffs.org
10 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
l GRASS CUTTING / YARD CLEAN-UPl SODDING l TREE PRUNINGl SHRUB/HEDGE TRIMMINGl EAVESTROUGH CLEANINGl GARBAGE REMOVALl INTERLOCKINGl TOP SOIL/TRIPLE MIXl SNOW REMOVAL l INSURED
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 11
Guildwood Jr PS
Fall FestGuildwood Jr. P.S. held its Fall Fest in
October. Despite the hasty preparations
and rainy weather, Fall Fest was a great
success and raised considerable funds
for the school. Many thanks to the hard
work of our families and friends who
pulled it all together quickly. Thanks to
everyone who attended. It was a warm
and wonderful community event.
AthleticsThere has been lots going on athletically as
well. Guildwood’s cross country team
practiced every morning thanks to the
coaches, parent volunteers and a commit-
ted group of runners. We placed well at the
Brock Gordon Meet at Thompson Park,
and one of our students received a special
award for her dedication to running and
her outstanding sportsmanship. Two
runners made it to the city finals with
impressive finishes. Congratulations team!
We also had great success with the
junior girls slo-pitch and basketball
teams. Once again an army of volunteers,
dedicated coaches and great teamwork
contributed to the success of these teams,
both of which made it into the champ-
ionship round. Our junior boys are just
beginning their tryouts for the basketball
team. We wish them well and know the
team will represent Guildwood well. The
junior girls are also busy again with
volleyball. In addition to the many com-
petitive teams, Guildwood also offered a
floor hockey house league for all Grade
One to Six students at lunch time.
The co-ed league was very well
attended and had some exciting final
games. Thanks to the Guildwood staff
for continuing to offer such a range of
opportunities to our students. There are
certainly more teams and activities
planned for the rest of the year.
ECOIn addition to our teams, Guildwood has
some very active clubs. One of the most
important is our ECO club. Students from
grades 2 to 6 meet almost every week to
learn about important issues and to pro-
mote stewardship of the environment.
Guildwood is currently the only ECO
Platinum school in our Family of Schools.
We have achieved the highest status
awarded by the Toronto District School
Board for the past seven years thanks to
the hard work of our students, staff,
community and ECO club members.
We plant a Three Sisters garden (corn,
beans and squash) in our courtyard every
year along with other fruits and vegeta-
bles so students can see where some of
their food comes from. We are also
adding trees to our playground and are
nursing some evergreens in the court-
yard. Every year each student has the
opportunity to participate in some kind
of planting.
Guildwood has a “Litterless Lunch”
policy to ensure we produce as little
waste as possible. Our photocopier and
classrooms use GOOS paper (Good On
One Side) so that we use less paper,
which, by the way, is 100% recycled. We
monitor our electricity consumption,
adopt a Toronto Zoo animal every year
and host Community Gardening Days in
the spring and fall to try to maintain our
grounds. We also have a teaching gar-
den, a no mow area and encourage the
growth of milkweed to provide food
for Monarch butterflies. We know we
can still do more to help protect our
environment and promote awareness.
Science and TechnologyGuildwood uses some of the funds
raised by our dedicated School Council
to enhance technology at our school. All
of our grade 2 to 6 classrooms have a
Smartboard and we are getting an
“Elmo” (similar to, but better than
an overhead projector) for our
Kindergartens and our Grade 1/2.
Our Home School Program is part of
a pilot project using Read and Write
Gold, a TDSB licensed software that is
available at both home and school. Read
and Write Gold reads to students and
also has a word prediction tool for writ-
ing. We are excited that our students
have the chance to become experts in the
use of this extraordinary tool.
Kindergarten RegistrationKindergarten registration day is Thursday
February 27. Please call the school at
416 396-6295 for more information and
to make an appointment.
Wendy Sharpe, Principal
Guildwood Jr is a Busy School
Paul AinslieContinued from Page 5
Emerald Ash Borer in theCommunityForestry held a meeting on January 9 to
review the plans to remove ash trees from
Guildwood Park and South Marine Park in
the Guild community. After a site inspec-
tion following the ice storm, staff advised
many of the diseased trees remained stand-
ing. South Marine Park was identified as a
priority site for the creation of a manage-
ment plan to remove potential hazard trees.
A certified tree marker will use blue paint
to mark trees for removal. Additional
information may be found on the City of
Toronto website at www.toronto.ca/trees,
to report a tree for removal on public
property please call 311.
Please continue to contact me at
Tel: 416-396-7222 or visit my constitu-
ency office located in the Scarborough
Civic Centre, 150 Borough Boulevard
2nd Floor.
Your Councillor, Paul Ainslie
12 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 13
Community News from The Hon. John McKay, PC, MP
Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Guildwood
Dear Friends,
In August I was
appointed by
Justin Trudeau
to serve as the
Liberal Party of Canada’s Critic for the
Environment. I have greatly enjoyed this
new role, as the responsible stewardship
and protection of our environment is
one of the most critical issues facing all
Canadians.
In particular, I know that the people of
Scarborough-Guildwood truly appreci-
ate the value of our natural heritage. We
live in a beautiful area of tremendous
ecological value, where the Highland
Creek watershed meets Lake Ontario,
only a short distance from the Rouge
Park. Our community understands better
than most that climate change is not
some far-off issue that impacts only the
North or the West, but a very serious and
costly problem that has already begun to
affect our daily lives. We know the
importance of environmental preserva-
tion, because we can see its effects every
day in our own backyard.
As we begin a new year, I look
forward to working with you all to
develop pragmatic solutions that will
ensure both a prosperous economy and a
healthy environment.
• • •
On January 27 my new Private
Member’s Bill will come to a vote in the
House of Commons. The “Sunshine Bill”
(C-474) would require Canadian natural
resource companies to disclose all pay-
ments made to foreign governments in
annual transparency reports.
Mining projects abroad are often
extremely controversial for local popula-
tions, facing accusations of corruption,
human rights abuses and environmental
degradation. For years, a movement has
grown to develop worldwide standards
of accountability and transparency in the
natural resource extraction industry.
Since 2010, the U.S., U.K., Australia and
the E.U. have considered or passed laws
requiring companies to disclose all
payments made in return for foreign
mining concessions.
With head offices for 16 of the world’s
top 100 mining companies located in
Canada, we are the mining capital of the
world. Sadly, despite pressure from our
friends in the international community,
Canada has not joined the global push for
transparency. If we fail to take action,
Canada will become a haven for compa-
nies seeking to avoid regulatory oversight.
We must demand better, and passing
my “Sunshine Bill” would be a good
first step. As it helps to stamp out odious
business practices, disclosure is good for
investors, management, NGOs and
indigenous peoples. Transparency will
preserve the reputation of our own
mining industry, as well as Canada’s
international reputation and credibility
as a world leader in social responsibility
and human rights. After all, sunshine is
the best disinfectant.
• • •
On Friday, November 15, I was proud
to join the fine men and women of the
Toronto Police Service (43 Division) for
Family Skate Day at Heron Park Arena.
Thank you to the East Scarborough
Storefront and all those who volunteered
to make this event such a great success.
Of course, truly deserving of special
recognition are the members of the
Community Police Liaison Committee
(CPLC) for all of their hard work,
not only for Family Skate Day, but
throughout the entire year.
John McKay
Constituency Office: 3785 Kingston Road, Unit 10, Scarborough ON M1J 3H4Phone: (416) 283-1226 Fax: (416) 283-7935 Email: [email protected]
14 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 15
Aboriginal Month at Elizabeth SimcoeIn honour of TDSB’s November
Aboriginal Month, Elizabeth Simcoe has
done a
variety of
i n t e r -
a c t i v e
activities
with their
students
to raise
a w a r e -
n e s s
about the
history, culture, and views of First
N a t i o n ,
Métis and
Inuit peo-
ples. Over
the course
of last
November,
the students
i n v o l v e d
with the
E q u i t y
Committee,
have designed fun activities for all
classes from kindergarten to grade 6.
These activities were based on certain
Aboriginal picture books that were read
out loud, with each focusing on a certain
part of Aboriginal history and/or culture.
Prepared for appropriate grades, the
crafts included creating dreamcatchers,
writing up fables, and making ‘memory
bags’. Other than having students partic-
ipate in
f u n
activi-
t i e s ,
t h e
experi-
e n c e
h a s
b e e n
that of
a liter-
acy event. Teaching younger students on
the struggles for equality, the hardships
of residential schools, and the fascinat-
ing culture of the First Nation, Métis,
and Inuit people have been an amazing
educational opportunity.
Also, while going on with the incred-
ible picture book crafts, two students
from the Equity Committee presented
daily morning announcements on
Aboriginal facts. These would highlight
different aspects of aboriginal life, both
historical and modern life. Culture and
h e r -
itage,
differ-
e n t
tribes,
popu-
lation,
l i f e
today,
a n d
famous Aboriginal people were some
of the highlights of our learning. The
books we used to hook our students for
the activities were excellent and our
student inquiries were worthwhile
and meaningful for our Simcoe students
and staff.
The Equity Committee had a marvel-
lous time organizing this Aboriginal
literacy event. Simcoe Shines.
The Student Equity CommitteeArticle by Mimi Huynh, Gr. 6
A Day in the Gardens ofGuildwood ‒ Sunday, July 6
12th12th
AnnualAnnual
We’re all starting to think about Summer and our gardens while everything is
resting under the ice. We invite GVCA members to open their garden gates to
the many visitors we welcome to our gardens each year.
Please consider showing your garden, or recommend someone’s garden.
Each year we show new and popular re-visited gardens. This is a wonderful
opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of viewing some of Guildwood’s most
beautiful gardens and to get ideas for our own gardens.
For more information, contact
Gerard or Judy Baribeau
416 264 4527
World Day ofPrayer Service
atGuildwoodCommunity
Presbyterian ChurchMarch 7, 2:00 p.m.
This year’s service is writtenby the people of Egypt.
16 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
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Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 17
All About Laurier
The Laurier community is extreme-
ly proud of the results achieved
by Laurier’s 2013 graduates and
the glowing feedback received on their
first five-year review as a World
International Baccalaureate (IB) School.
One hundred ninety-two or 62% of
Laurier graduates are currently attending
an Ontario University. Ninety-three or
30% of are attending an Ontario College.
That means that 92% of Laurier’s 2013
graduates are continuing their studies at
the post-second-
ary level.
For the second
year in a row, the
p e r f o r m a n c e
demonstrated by
Laurier IB grad-
uates exceeded
the world average in English, Chemistry,
History, Economics, French, Math,
Physics and Biology.
In May 2013, of the 62 students who
completed the IB program at Sir Wilfrid
Laurier C.I., nine received scores of 40
or above, including the first perfect IB
score of 45/45 points achieved by Aaron
Clasky. This made Aaron one of only
0.2% of IB diploma holders in the world
to graduate with such a fantastic result.
What makes Aaron’s achievement
even more special is that, in addition to
excelling in academics, he was an out-
standing student
leader who was
e x t e n s i v e l y
involved in
many aspects of
Laurier life in
each of the four
years of his high
school career.
nOn the athlet-
ic front, Aaron
was part of the Laurier football, baseball
and badminton teams.
n Aaron participated in the Repertoire
Music class in each of his four years as an
accomplished double bass player and a
drummer. As a talented and dedicated
musician and spoken word performer,
Aaron was always ready to contribute his
personal time and share his talents with
others through such events as Remem-
brance Day Observances, Talent Shows,
Battles of the Bands, and the IB Done
Celebration Show. In Grade 12, Aaron
contributed his incredible drumming to
the success of the school play, Electra.
n Aaron demonstrated exceptional
leadership skills through his service on
the Laurier Student Council for four
years as a Grade 9 rep, Grade 10 rep,
Vice-President in Grade 11 and, finally,
the SAC President in Grade 12. In these
roles, Aaron inspired and led by example
through his involvement in a variety of
initiatives including African Heritage
Month assemblies, fundraising drives
for East Africa, Haiti, and the Canadian
Red Cross, Races for Dignity, and Me to
We and Unity Assemblies. Aaron was
also selected to go to the Laurier
Character Education Camp three times,
chosen on the strength of his leadership
skills. As the Grade 12 leader for Team
Respect, Aaron was responsible for
planning, organizing, and implementing
this character component at camp and
throughout the school year.
According to Aaron, “It definitely
wasn’t easy; and I didn’t think I’d be able
to do it. I put everything I possibly could
into being the best I could; and it sure
didn’t happen without its fair share of
stress and self-doubt. I owe so much to my
family and friends, and of course the
teachers and staff at Laurier, for always
supporting me and calming me down or
lifting me up whenever I needed it. To be
honest, this was just a great ending to an
amazing
h i g h
s c h o o l
e x p e r i -
ence and
I’m just
glad I got
to finish it
off this
way.”
Laurier is also celebrating the results
of their first IB Five-Year Review. The
evaluation report contains numerous
commendations on the outstanding job
done by the entire Laurier community in
every standard of the self-study process
‒ Philosophy, Leadership and Structure,
Resources and Support and Curriculum.
The review was a great opportunity for
everyone to reflect on their experiences
to ensure an ongoing commitment to
academic excellence in the future.u
Sir Wilfrid Laurier C.I. is Celebrating Outstanding Achievements
Class of 2013
18 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Halloween HauntOctober 27
Friends of Guild Park & Gardens HostedRecent Events at the Guild Park
Christmas Tree LightingDecember 21
Thank you to Barry Scheffer for all the photos
I’m going to
catch that a
pple. A smiling witch.
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 19
We had a brisk, clear and cold perfect day for hunting candy canes
on December 7. With over 150 young hunters, this was our best
year yet. We collected 350 pounds of food and over $100 for the
West Hill food bank.
Thanks Guildwood and thanks to the GVCA, valu-mart for the
hot chocolate, and Councillor Ainslie. And a special thank you to
John Mitchell for once again documenting this event with his
wonderful photos.
See you next year.
Tammy Macklin
20 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Th e I c e S t o rm — DDec emb e r 2 1
Thank You Good Friends and Neighbours
When the going gets tough, good people step forward to help.
When we moved to Guildwood Village over 30 years ago we knew it was a very
special community in which to live. Our first impression never changed over the
years. However, during the ice storm disaster we realized we lived in one of the best
communities in Toronto.
We weren’t surprised when those that were able, helped those in need. Neighbours
coming to our door with flasks of boiling water for us to make tea; Tim Horton’s
coffee delivered from friends; offers of generators from those who had power restored,
neighbours checking on people who lived alone; offers of a place to warm up and a
bowl of hot soup, the list of good deeds goes on.
Thank you good friends and neighbours for reminding us once again what a great
place Guildwood Village is to live.
From two grateful residents
P.S. A big thanks also to the Hydro workers who worked so hard, around the clock, to
restore our power.
Thank youThanks to eight or more young men, my
street was made much safer. They
removed a tree from the road.
Thanks to all of you.
Betty (Dearham Wood)
The Community that SharesIt was great to see neighbours on our
street working together to help those
who needed it ‒ sharing a generator so
more could have some heat; providing
boiling water for tea; sharing the use of
gas stoves; inviting others in to warm up
at gas fireplaces; offering the use
of their showers for those with no
hot water, use of a telephone, etc.
Guildwood is a great community.
Ed.
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 21
Community Police Liaison CommitteeDid you know that the GVCA now has
representation at the monthly 43
Division Community Police Liaison
Committee (CPLC)? The aim of this
committee is to enable police to share
issues with the greater community,
and it is a two-way street with commu-
nity associations and individuals able
to raise concerns with police. The
meetings are Co-chaired by the
Superintendent of 43 Division and
attended by his senior officers.
Some interesting things brought up in
CPLC meetings:
n Thefts from motor vehicles parked on
driveways: 70% of cars were unlocked.
nŸVandalism to a school bus at
St. Ursula’s school: two persons have
been charged.
nŸBeware of counterfeit $20 bills, even
the new polymer ones.
nŸIn crowded mall parking lots, do not
lock your car with the remote on your
key fob: thieves have found a way to
hack the signal and open up your car.
nŸMake sure you know the identity of
anyone you admit to your home. Bogus
water heater salesmen have been going
around casing homes for valuables and
returning later to break in.
nŸCurrently Honda vehicles are being
targeted for theft.
nŸReinforce front doors around the
lock. Special plates can be purchased
and when installed they act as a deterrent
as the door is then harder to kick in.
More information is available on the
43 Division website, on facebook under
Toronto Police Service 43 Division and
on twitter, hash tags #43CPLC and
#43Division.
GVCA Representative
LIVING GREENLIVING GREEN
Recycling is great but think about re-inventing recyclable materials. I
recently attended a home show and was introduced to recycled paint*, an
idea that I found very interesting. This product is made from unused por-
tions of recovered domestic paint that has been taken to recycling depots or com-
panies like Rona. They then blend, etc. to make more paint which is then sold.
This made me take step further and I looked into reinventing a product we
would normally recycle. I found a lot of great ideas that I plan to try.
For example:
n Purses and bags made with tetra packs
n Decorative bowls made from old vinyl records
n Tote bags made from old jeans or pop tabs
n Old tires made into wallets or chips for your garden instead of using wood
chips
These are only a few ideas I found on the web, there was also great ideas for
children’s projects to encourage them to think about the whole idea of recycling
or reusing materials.
Kathleen Wolfe* www.boomerangpaint.com
Guildwood CalendarsAll of the initial printing was sold out by
Christmas Eve. That was good news.
However, there were some inquiries
after that happened which could not be
relayed to me because our telephone was
not working. At that date there would
have been nothing I could have done to
produce additional copies until January.
Subsequently I have had a small number
of additional calendars printed which
are at Maritime Travel on the plaza
(telephone number 416-264-3211).
I wish to thank Amanda, Jennifer and
Sharon at Maritime Travel for their help
in selling the calendars and also the busi-
nesses who kindly displayed notices
announcing the availability of the calen-
dars, where they could be purchased and
the price.
John Mitchell
Guildwood Village2014 Events
The following events are planned for
the next few months. Please support
the community activities and
volunteer where you can.
Detailed information on activities
are included in individual articles.
n Tuesday, March 26, 7:00 p.m. ‒
Annual General Meeting at Church
of the Holy Trinity
n Saturday, April 26, 9:30-11:30
a.m. ‒ Community Clean-up Day
n April/May ‒ Annual Membership
Drive. Please renew your member-
ship and join the Association
n Saturday, May 31, Guildwood
Village Garage Sale
n Saturday, June 7, Guildwood
Day
n Sunday, July 6, A Day in the
Gardens of Guildwood
Other events may be scheduled
during the year.
22 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 23
St. Ursula Catholic School
‘Tis the season to be jolly and
December was clearly a very
exciting month at St. Ursula. We
prepared, with great anticipation, for the
birth of Christ with many Advent celebra-
tions. Our students participated in a
variety of activities in and out of their
classrooms to extend their learning and
broaden their interests. Special events
have taken place, reflecting the height-
ened spirit of giving we feel during this
season. A big thank you to all of our staff
and parents who make these opportunities
possible for our students. Their dedication
to our school community is incredible.
St. Ursula’s Catholic School Advisory
Council hosted our annual Santa’s
Goodies and Gifts Extravaganza held on
Friday, December 13, including Face
Painting, raffles, a Bake Sale, ice cream
cones, among many other fun activities.
Students were able to look for that perfect
gift for someone special. It also proved to
be very profitable again this year and will
enhance our CSAC’s ability to subsidize
a number of activities.
Guildwood celebrated a lovely
Christmas tree lighting celebration at the
Guild Inn on Saturday, December 21.
Members of the St. Ursula/St. Cecilia
Choir sang Little Drummer Boy and OhHoly Night at this event and we all enjoyed
the free hot cocoa and more carolling.
Student Leadership is strong here at
St. Ursula. Our Student Council visited
Livingston Lodge (Chartwell Guild-
wood) on December 16 and the students
presented each resident with a keepsake
that they created with love. Evelyn
expressed the wonderful atmosphere
with her words, “I always love visiting
our friends at the home. It is so reward-
ing.” Intermediate students continue to
attend monthly e-CSLIT (Elementary
Catholic Student Leadership Impact
Team) meetings at the Catholic
Education Centre and online Minga
meetings in our school library. This
month, our e-CSLIT project involved
providing toys and clothes for children
in families who are in need. We also
organized a fundraising campaign
involving the collection of toys to be
donated to Toy Mountain. We created
our own mountain of new toys prior to
the pick up. Many thanks to Tony, our
community neighbour, for organizing
the fundraiser and also for adopting and
manicuring our gardens.
St. Ursula also had our very own
annual mini We Day. Students enjoyed
many wonderful activities such as the
We Day dance, videos and hearing our
students speak about various causes
related to Me to We and Free the
Children. We also heard from a special
guest speaker from Canadian Jesuits
International and enjoyed the variety of
student singers and dancers. We learned
about many social justice issues and
were encouraged to follow Mahatma
Gandhi’s suggestion to “Be the change
that you wish to see in the world.”
Our students also travelled down to
the Rogers Centre because the Toronto
Argonauts Football Club organized a
School Flag Football Tournament.
Under the direction of their coaches,
Mr. Torresan, Mr. Beach and
Ms. McDowell, our co-ed Flag Football
team members practiced diligently in
order to participate in this exciting tourna-
ment. It was an amazing experience, as the
students had the opportunity to play on the
same field as the Argos and then watch the
pros play in a professional game.
At our last Tribes Assembly, the entire
school gathered in their tribes and our
grade eight students led their individual
groups in making angels and a
discussion of the story The ChristmasAngel of Care by Neil Franchulo. This
story demonstrated that if we follow the
Golden Rule, “Treat others as you would
like to be treated”, our lives will be bet-
ter and happier. Every student in the
school was able to take home their own
personally hand-crafted angel.
St. Ursula’s warm and welcoming
school community provides opportuni-
ties for students to express themselves,
build citizenship skills and enthusiasti-
cally get involved in school and
community activities.
We are always excited to see new
faces. Registration for the 2014/2015
school year has begun. The TCDSB is
proud to announce the launch of the
Student Online Registration Form. It
will be available for JK/SK registration
which begins on January 8. Parents will
be able to complete an application for
registration from the comfort of home,
the office, a public library, or anywhere
there is internet access. The online appli-
cation offers built-in help functions and
features. Parents are also able to sched-
ule their appointment for registration
with the elementary school online. Upon
completion of the online registration
form, parents will be informed of the
original documentation that will be
required by the elementary school at the
time of their registration appointment.
If you have children who are eligible
for JK/SK beginning September 2014,
we encourage you to visit the following
site and complete the application for reg-
istration online: http://soar.tcdsb.org.We invite you to explore our little
school with a big heart. Please contact our
administrative assistant, Ms. Crocco, for
an appointment today at 416-393-5306.
I. McEachen, Principal
Jesus is the Reason for the Christmas Season
24 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
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Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 25
Friends of Guild Park & Gardens Hold theirFirst Fundraiser
On November 16, the “Friends” hosted their first fundraising event at Cedar Ridge. Our guest speaker was M. Jane Fairburn,
author of Along the Shore, a book about rediscovering Toronto’s Waterfront Heritage. The book contains wonderful stories and
great photos. The musicians were All Stars Band, a local group. Janet Heise and Anne-Marie Johnson served drinks at the event.
Barry Scheffer Photos
26 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 27
4Life Foundation’s Joseph Khargie TalksIntergenerational Music and Memory Project
Walking with 4Life Foundation’s
Program Director Joseph
Khargie down the halls of
Robert Borden BTI, you can sense how
immersed he is in the school’s culture.
The 4Life Foundation is a non-profit
organization empowering youth through
community partnerships. Among the
outreach programs is the Music and
Memory project, aimed at people with
dementia at Guildwood Extendicare and
Chartwell Guildwood Residence in
Scarborough.
The program is close to Khargie’s
heart. “My grandfather has Alz-
heimer’s”, he notes. “Two of the most
vulnerable people in society are youth
and seniors. If we take care of them, that’s
where the unity in community comes in.”
There’s an impressive energy that
flows from Khargie. He abides by the
old adage of ‘Talk the Talk, Walk the
Walk’. It’s not rhetoric. It’s in his nature.
When Extendicare’s Program Mana-
ger Sandy Griffin, whom Khargie calls
“someone with a lot of heart”, wanted to
introduce music to residents, she
reached out to 4Life. He calls the collab-
oration with Griffin an instant fit,
“There’s no formula for it.”
Extendicare to visit his wife daily. He
spends his time singing to her. Once,
during her iPod session, he sat behind
her. Khargie recounts how the husband
movingly told him, “I’ve never seen her
this responsive.”
Many residents get a kick out of the
visits. “Every single time, one particular
lady says, ‘I want to see how these head-
phones look on me.’”, Khargie says.
“One of the kids accompanies her to the
mirror. She loves it.”
Back in the school, Khargie’s interac-
tion with students extends beyond friend-
ly greetings. With ceaseless patience, he
spots a kid wandering the halls and
inquires why he’s not in class. A few
steps later, he’ll ask another if he’s given
a thought to joining the DJ program.
Talk turns to the mandate of 4Life:
‘Touching lives and building hope’.
“When we do that, we’re doing our job.”
says Khargie. “It’s not just a goal. If it
were a goal, we would have stopped
once we had it. It’s a bigger vision”.
At its core, the program instills a sense
of purpose in youth. It’s here where
Khargie’s pride beams, “The kids tell
me, ‘I love what you do and would love
to do it’.”
Khargie’s words hint at future actions,
“I want to change things from the top to
bottom. I worked my way from the bot-
tom to as far as I can go before someone
needs to start listening at the top.”
If political aspirations are in Khargie’s
future, what better candidate than some-
one whose priorities are deeply rooted in
the community he lives in?
Contact Joseph Khargie on Twitter
@JosephKhargie, at 647-338-5484, or
via email [email protected] Oliverio
From the onset, Khargie was insistent
on one thing. “I didn’t want to be there
just for the holidays or special occasions.
I wanted to demonstrate there’s a com-
mitment and dedication through thick
and thin,” Khargie explains. “That’s how
you show people you care.”
The DJ program counts on full support
from Toronto Police Services, in particu-
lar PC Randall Arsenault, whom the stu-
dents have
come to
know and
respect as a
mentor. No
small feat
for a police
officer in a
school envi-
r o n m e n t
where out-
siders would
consider a
relationship of this type improbable.
The program was recently featured on
the front page of the ScarboroughMirror. The article, which featured a
photo of one of Extendicare’s residents,
brought about a fateful encounter. At a
43 Division Community Police Liaison
Committee (CPLC), of which Khargie is
a member, he spoke of the Music and
Memory project. After he spoke, a
woman named Marilyn Brady, a fellow
member of CPLC, shared that the
woman in the photo is her sister. Brady
commented that her niece, the resident’s
daughter had, “never seen her mom so
happy and aware” as after listening to
her music.
There are many moments like this.
One of the residents at Chartwell
Guildwood crosses the street to
The following article was originally published on Alztunes.org as part of a feature series on the 4Life Foundation’s DJ Program.
Antonio Anand, Arshan Baheerathen, Sandy Griffin, Philemon Joseph,Ryan Abraham, and Joseph Khargie
28 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 29
Message from MPP Mitzie Hunter
A Strong Voice for Scarborough-
Guildwood at Queens Park
Dear Constituents:
As your Member of Provincial
Parliament I would like to wish you a
healthy and prosperous New Year. I am
committed to be your strong voice at
Queens Park.
Our riding of Scarborough-
Guildwood was severely affected during
the recent ice storm and the resulting
power outages. Our community was
tested, and it was a difficult time for the
people of Scarborough-Guildwood, but
our community is resilient. With many
of us left in the dark for several days, the
people of this riding came together and
looked out for one another.
The Ontario Government worked tire-
lessly with city officials and Toronto
Hydro to bring power back to our riding.
My focus had been to make sure
Scarborough-Guildwood streets and
neighborhoods were prioritized by
Toronto Hydro and the City of Toronto.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne visited
Scarborough-Guildwood to hear the
concerns of residents who had been
without power.
I am grateful to the crews from
Toronto and from all over the country
who gave up their holidays to put us all
back on the grid.
Community EventsOn January 5, I hosted my first Annual
New Year’s Levee at Cedarbrae
Library. It was a pleasure for me to
meet with over 200 Scarborough-
Guildwood residents who enjoyed the
entertainment along with delicious food
and refreshments. It was a delight for
me to see the children have fun in the
KidsStop Early Literacy Centre with
the Librarian reading and engaging
them in activities.
On November 29, I hosted a breakfast
forum for local businesses in the
Scarborough-Guildwood community. It
was an opportunity for local business
owners in our riding to speak to the
Ministry of Training, Colleges, and
Universities about how the Youth
Employment Fund can grow businesses
and create jobs in the community.
For more information on the fund,
please visit http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/employmentontario/youthfund/.
Upcoming Eventsn Seniors’ Tea with Mitzie Hunter,
MPP at Momiji Health Care Society,
3555 Kingston Road on January 27 from
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If you would
like to attend, please contact my office
for more information and to RSVP.
n Youth Career Fair at the University of
Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail
on March 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
n Family Skating Party at Scarborough
Village Community Centre on March 12
from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Government of OntarioThe Ontario Government is committed
to investing in people, building modern
infrastructure, and supporting a dynamic
and innovative business climate.
The Government of Ontario and
the Ministry of Finance began
their Pre-Budget Consultations this
month. Please visit http://www.
fin.gov.on.ca/en/consultations/prebud/for more information and to have your
voice heard.
Making Drive-Clean RevenueNeutralThe province is reducing the test fee
from $35 to $30 to make sure the pro-
gram does not take in more money than
it costs to run. Ensuring fair prices for
government programs and services is
part of Ontario’s plan to invest in
people, build modern infrastructure
and support a dynamic and innovative
business climate.
If you require my assistance,
please contact my Constituency Office,
at 4117 Lawrence Ave. E., Unit 109,
Scarborough ON M1E 2S2,
by phone at 416-281-2787, fax
416-281-2360, or by e-mail at
find me on facebook or follow me on
twitter @MitzieHunter.
Mitzie Hunter
30 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
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Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 31
Book Review
Bill Bonnell is a Guildwood writer and a member of a Guildwood book club.
TatianaThis is the eighth of Martin Cruz
Smith’s Arkady Renko novels and in
my opinion it doesn’t disappoint. When
Tatiana Petrovna jumps six floors to her
death from her apartment balcony,
investigator Renko is suspicious.
Tatiana was a tenacious reporter who
frequently embarrassed Moscow’s mob
figures and their corrupt brethren in the
Defence department and other agencies
in the Russian government. Arkady
questions Svetlana, Tatiana’s apartment
neighbour. She finds his questions rep-
etitious and confusing. “It was like
walking all around a horse before buy-
ing it,” she thinks. Arkady examines
Tatiana’s rooms and is convinced that
she was murdered.
A journalist friend of Tatiana gives
Arkady a notebook which Tatiana
bought in Kaliningrad, a city on the
Baltic Sea. Two days later she was dead.
The notebook is full of strange symbols
and hieroglyphs which Arkady finds
largely opaque. Danger appears when
Alexi Grigorenko, son and heir of the
recently assassinated mob kingpin
Grisha Grigorenko, becomes interested
in the notebook. Alexi asks Arkady why
he never carries a gun.
“Well when did I carry one, I hardly
ever used it. And it makes you stupid.
You stop thinking of options. The gun
doesn’t want options.”
“But you’ve been shot.”
“There’s the downside.”
When Arkady finds that the notebook
belonged to a professional interpreter
who was working for an international
conference of defence contractors in
Kaliningrad he takes a plane to that city.
He finds Grisha Grigorenko along with
other mob figures are already there.
What ensues is as fascinating as it
is deadly.
Bill Bonnell
They came. They saw. They were
astounded.
In 2013, thousands of people visited
Guild Park – the historic hub of
Guildwood. Many were first-timers,
some coming from as far away as Japan,
Germany and the Middle East. They
were surprised and intrigued at how art
meets nature in Guild Park’s 88 acres.
Here are just some of the events that
brought so many local residents and
others to this public space:
n GVCA’s Guildwood Day Family
BBQ
n Guild Park walking tours organized
for Doors Open and Heritage Toronto
n The Guild Alive With Culture
Festival
n Guild Festival Theatre’s live stage
performances
n The Shoreline Cleanup for Guild
Park’s waterfront
n The Halloween Family Haunt
n GVCA’s Candy Cane Hunt
n The Christmas Tree Lighting
Celebration.
Last year also marked the launch of
Friends of Guild Park & Gardens, a vol-
unteer group working closely with the
GVCA and other supporters to revitalize
the park. In its first year, Friends of
Guild Park won a 2013 Community
Heritage Award from the City of Toronto
for building public awareness about
Guild Park’s past and its potential. The
group’s accomplishments were also
recognized at Queen’s Park.
Thanks go to the GVCA and everyone
who attended Guild Park events, spon-
sored activities and volunteered their
time, energy and resources. Together, we
made 2013 a special year for Guild Park.
It also shows the widespread support
that exists to have the park operate so it
keeps alive the legacy of the Guild Of
All Arts and its founders, Rosa and
Spencer Clark.
The good news is this is still possible,
despite the current state of the old
Guild Inn.
Hundreds of examples exist where
neglected cultural and historical sites
have become popular centres of activi-
ty. Guild Park is an ideal home for
many of the features found at such
sites: artist studios/galleries; sculpture
gardens; community library/meeting
space; outdoor recreation areas;
farmers’ market; food services; wed-
ding facilities; education programs;
family/seniors’ services.
For years, there’s been talk of bring-
ing such facilities to Guild Park. What
will turn this talk into action? One step is
recognizing that “the community is
What a year for Guild Park! the expert.” This phrase is now a best
practice summing up how to make pub-
lic spaces better. It means encouraging
people who use a park to speak up on
issues affecting park renewal. Those
who’ve done it say the process isn’t sim-
ple, but the rewards are worth the effort.
Guild Park is ready to benefit from
this approach. Watch for details about
the series of events happening at Guild
Park in 2014. In addition to helping
make these activities happen, Friends
of Guild Park is committed to bring the
public’s informed perspective to the
issues affecting the park’s future.
For more information on how you can
help, visit www.guildpark.ca or call
416-265-3693.
John P. Mason, Volunteer PresidentFriends of Guild Park & Gardens
32 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 33
Rejuvenate, Reinvent, and Rejoice in Winter
The holiday season is over. The
gifts have been opened, the
Christmas tree is starting to
droop, the candles adorning the minorah
or the kinara have been blown out, and
the Festivus pole has been put away.
Many people embrace this unique time
of year, venturing out for snowboarding
or tobogganing with the kids. On the
other hand, some of us struggle with the
special requirements that are part of a
Canadian winter and find themselves in
hibernation, so to speak. The snow, ice,
and extreme cold can make travel cum-
bersome and less comfortable. It is also
very common for the cold, combined
with the minimal hours of sunlight, and
subsequent isolation, to affect mood and
energy levels. However, there are many
things we can do to keep our energy lev-
els high and moods positive during this
darker and cooler season.
Staying active, both mentally and
physically, is crucial to keeping healthy
during the long winter months. This sea-
son is a great time to practice or learn a
new skill, such as painting or writing.
Journaling is a great way to decompress
and make sense of feelings that we do not
always take time to flesh apart. After all,
winter is a time to let go of those things
that do not serve us anymore while we
prepare ourselves for new growth and
adventures. I, personally, keep a journal
of the funny things my children say. It
encourages me to take time away from
my busy schedule to indulge in the sim-
ple beauty of my children’s growth and
personalities. Staying phyiscally active
can feel more challenging in the winter
but this may be a opportune time to sign
up for a class at your local community
centre, such as yoga, aquafit, or a team
sport. Why not challenge yourself to try a
new activity, such as snowshoeing or
cross country skiing? If strenuous activi-
ty is not appealing, a walk in the forest is
a great way to take in the magnificent
beauty that winter has to offer. Leaving
the house, even for a short time, can go a
long way towards clearing your mind
and reducing stress. This is also a great
time to organize or declutter storage
spaces in the house. Pulling out old boxes
and sorting old possessions, for charity or
recycling, can be physically stimulating
as well as therapeutic.
Eating healthy meals is especially
important when we experience lower
levels of fresh air and sunlight. Trying
new recipes and giving yourself the gift
of nutritious meals is a great way to
spend the increased hours at home.
Keeping nurtured with seasonal foods
also helps to abait cold and flu viruses
that are abundant this time of year.
Eating hearty stews and soups fuels the
body and helps it to build and maintain
heat. Winter does not offer the same
bounty of seasonal produce relative to
spring, summer, and even fall, but there
is still plenty to choose from. Foodland
Ontario’s website, www.ontario.ca/food-land, offers an ‘Availability Guide,’ that
lists which foods are being harvested
each month. Apple and rhubarb are
listed as January fruits, while the
January vegetable list is more extensive
including; cabbage, garlic, leeks, green-
house lettuce and cucumbers, sprouts,
and pretty much all root vegetables.
Eating seasonally means that these foods
are more likely to be available at your
local grocery store and as a result, more
economical. Challenge yourself to
experiment with seasonal fruits and veg-
etables that you rarely eat or transform
old recipes by subsitituting ingredients
with winter produce.
This recipe is inspired by the classic
Waldorf Salad with a few additions and
substitutions to make it more reflective
of the ontario winter season.
4-6 servings; 20 minutes preparation time
The Salad
2 large outer leaf of Savoy cabbage
1 large head belgian endive
1 medium Honeycrisp apple or a less
sweet Pink Lady.
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Once all fruits and veggies are
washed, cut the central stem out of the
cabbage leaves. Stack the halves and cut
them into shreds. Trim the endive and
shred them into thin slivers.
Quarter the apple and remove the
cores. Finely dice each quarter.
Mix the all the ingredients into a bowl
including the chopped nuts.
The Dressing
4 tablespoons mayonnaise (light
mayonnaise also works well)
4 tablespoons buttermilk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground anise or fennel
seed (optional)
1/8 teaspoon ground celery seed
(optional)
Black pepper to taste
Whisk together the mayonnaise, but-
termilk and salt. Add the fennel/anise
seed, celery seed, and pepper, and whisk
them into the dressing. Pour over salad
and gently toss.
Valeria Danieli
Winter Waldorf Salad
34 – Winter 2014 Gui ldwood News & Views
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 35
The Oeno-FilesMixing it up…in the bottle
Cheers (and please drink responsibly)Harry Spindel
Whites
Cono Sur Bicicleta, Viognier 2012,
Colchagua Valley, Chile, $9.95
LCBO #64287
I’m very impressed with Cono Sur’s
whole line of “Bicycle” wines, great
value and taste. Viognier is the grape.
Makes for a very aromatic and fruity
wine. Citrus and tropical fruit flavors
and aromas abound. Add nice acidity to
make this Asian food friendly. 88 pts.
Red
Masi Serego, Alighieri Possessioni
Rosso 2010, Veneto, Italy, $15.00
LCBO #447326
Made of Corvina and Sangiovese
grapes, this red is an elegant addition to
any Italian meal. Black fruit and spices
with just enough tannin to deal with that
extra bit olive oil you love. 90 pts.
Batasiolo Bosc Dla Rei, Moscato
d’Asti 2011, DOCG Piedmont, Italy,
$14.95 LCBO #277194
I’ve been spreading the word about
Moscato d’Asti for many years. This is a
great dessert accompaniment or just for
sitting around and talking as you sip and
munch on fresh fruit. Low alcohol, aro-
mas of citrus, flowers, peach and a few
bubbles as the sweet taste permeates
each mouthful. Serve chilled. 89 pts.
Wine labels that say Bordeaux,
Chianti, GSM, Chateauneuf-
du-Pape, Meritage, and Cotes
du Rhone (to name few) all have one
thing in common. They are wines
mostly made through the blending of a
number of different grapes.
Blending of specific grapes types is
controlled by law in certain regions.
For example Chianti Classico must be
made from at least 80% Sangiovese
grapes, the rest may only come from
other locally grown types. Bordeaux
wines may include Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
with small amounts of Petit Verdot and
Malbec. Chateauneuf-du-Pape is
known for allowing the use of 13 differ-
ent grapes, though for the most part,
these wines are made from Grenache,
Syrah and Mourvedre.
Regional laws in Europe (Old World)
have loosened over the years to allow
more creativity by winemakers. These
laws now essentially say “may use”
instead of “must use”.
On this side of the Atlantic, in 1988,
winemakers in California decided that
they needed a better way to market their
wines made with Bordeaux blends. Until
then, these wines were simply called
“reds” or given a unique winery name.
The term “Meritage” was coined that
year, referring to California wine made
of locally grown Bordeaux grapes vari-
etals. Similarly, in Australia, the term
GSM was created in the early 1990s.
You guessed it, GSM stands for
Grenache, Shiraz (Syrah) and
Mourvedre, the French blend of the
Rhone region.
Why blend? Different grapes have
different characteristics, in aromas, tan-
nins, textures, fruitiness, acidity, etc.
Over the centuries, winemakers have
found the best combinations and ratios
for making high quality, balanced and
pleasing wines from the grapes available
locally.
While some wine drinkers prefer sin-
gle grape wines, others prefer blends.
Some like them all.
Time to buy a few whites for the Spring thaw:
Guildwood News & Views Winter 2014 – 36
AArroouunndd GGuuii llddwwoooodd
A deer visits in John Mason’s back yardFriends meet at theCandy Cane Hunt
First winter snowat the Guild
Despite the rain, many people had a greattime playing games and eating corn on thecob at Fall Fest on October 19 at GuildwoodJunior Public School