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Santa Claus in the Beach celebration in Kew Gardens
Indigenous community’s links to Glen Stewart Ravine highlighted
By Matthew Stephens
AS TORONTO Council prepares to decide on the next steps for a development proposal at the north end of Glen Stewart Ravine, residents have come forward to highlight the ravine’s significance as a ceremonial site for the Indigenous community.
The development proposal for 847-855 Kingston Rd., west of Beech Avenue, calls for an 11-storey resi-
dential building on the site located on top of the ravine’s north bank.
During the meeting on Nov. 13, Toronto Council was expected to provide city legal staff with “further directions” regarding the proposal in advance of an Ontario Land Tribunal hearing set for April of next year.
Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford was made aware of “new information” about Glen Stewart Ravine’s potential use as
a ceremonial site by Indigenous community members, and called for the item to be deferred until the upcoming Toronto City Council meeting starting Dec. 16.
Due to the fact that council is expected to discuss parts of a Confidential Agreement between city representatives, city legal staff, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the developer, councillors are limited in what they can say publicly.
Bradford said in a Nov. 14 newsletter that “On the advice of city legal staff, I moved to defer the item to the December Council meeting so staff would have more time to look into this.” He has provided no further comment or information regarding Indigenous community links to the ravine.
According to the City of Toronto’s media relations team, the city’s Indigenous Affairs Office received
Continued on Page 4
THE ANNUAL Carolling in the Park celebration in the Beach is planned to take place on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Glen Stewart Park.
The community celebration will be happening from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Carolling in the Park has been a Beach tradition since 1989, bringing residents together to celebrate the holiday season and sing some carols.
The Salvation Army Band will be playing to accompany the community members who come out to sing along.
There also will be a collection for the Salvation Army taking place at Carolling in the Park. Donations will support the Salvation Army’s efforts to help those in need during the holiday season.
Along with the carol singing and music on the night of Dec. 9, there will be refreshments available. Also, a special visitor who is often known to wear a red suit is expected to be in attendance for the youngsters.
Everyone is welcome to attend Carolling in the Park, but participants are reminded to dress warmly for the weather and to bring a flashlight.
Glen Stewart Park is located north of Queen Street East, east of Glen Manor Drive and south of the wooden bridge.
For more information on this year’s Carolling in the Park, please call David at 416-578-0656.
Donations on behalf of Carolling in the Park can also be made to the Salvation Army’s Scarborough Citadel by going to www.scarboroughcitadel.ca and clicking on the donate button.
PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON
The Beach BIA’s Santa in the Beach and Christmas Tree Lighting celebration was held in Kew Gardens on Saturday. Visiting with Santa in the Alex Christie Bandshell were Miller, 2, Kai, 4 (as Spiderman) and parents Allie and Terence. Santa in the Beach was sponsored by the Shea Sells Boutique real estate office of local realtor Shea Warrington. The event also helped collect donations of new unwrapped toys for Centre 55’s Share A Christmas. For more photos, please see Page 23.
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Beacher Gwen Carroll to celebrate her 100th birthday on Dec. 23
BEACH RESIDENT Gwen
Carroll will celebrate her 100th birthday with a party later this month.
Born Gwendolyn Louise Lammerse at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Dec. 23, 1925, she has lived in East Toronto since she was a young child.
Her father was Dutch and her mother English. Carroll and her family lived on Morse Street and then on Woodmount Avenue.
She attended Eastern Commerce High School and said she was a “very good student, with good marks and only sent to the VP’s (vice principal’s) office just once or twice.”
After high school, Gwen worked at the Bank of Commerce, later merging with the Imperial Bank to become CIBC.
She met her husband Emerson Roy Louis Carroll at a party in Toronto. He proposed to her on the Danforth streetcar (when there was a Danforth streetcar).
They were married on May 3, 1945. Em was on leave from his service in the Second World War as a wireless operator and gunner with the Royal Canadian Air Force at the time of the wed-
They had a two-week honeymoon in Haliburton, and then Em returned to Europe to finish his military service.
Gwen and her husband first lived on Pape Avenue, then they moved to Norway Avenue in the Beach and later to Kenilworth Avenue.
While raising her children Grant, Wendy and Paula, Gwen also worked part time at the Simpson’s store at Mutual and Gould streets in Toronto.
“Gwen was never a stranger to hard work, having been raised during the Depression,” said her daughter Paula in a note to Beach Metro Community News in advance
of her mother’s 100th birthday celebrations set for Dec. 23 with family members in Whitby.
“That unmatched inner strength and determination has allowed her to stay healthy, happy and cognizant.”
Em died in 1996, but Gwen has continued to live an active and happy life with her daughter Paula and son-inlaw Chris in the Beach. Along with her three children, she has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Gwen said one of her tips for living a long life is maple syrup, which she has on oatmeal and with other meals on a daily basis.
“If you ask Gwen, and I hope you will, what her secret is, she will tell you good old Canadian maple syrup. Gwen insists that she has it in all her beverages wherever we are,” wrote Paula and Chris. “And this has been going on for years. Tea in the morning, syrup…oatmeal for breakfast, syrup. If it has worked this long, who is going to argue with her.”
Among her regular annual activities is attending the Canadian National Exhibition, which she has never missed since first attending as a child. Going to The Ex with family members is one of her traditions which Gwen enjoys greatly.
Acoustic Harvest’s It’s Great to Be Canadian concert set for this Saturday
ACOUSTIC HARVEST will be hosting an It’s Good to Be Canadian celebration this Saturday night in southwest Scarborough.
The evening will be headlined by John Prince & A Piece of Rock, a band bringing East Coast energy to the stage with a mix of folk, roots and blues.
The band delivers songs and stories that will make audiences clap, laugh, and dance the night away, at what Acoustic Harvest said will be the perfect holiday concert with an iconic Canadian flair.
“The music’s honest, the stories are real, and the vibe is pure joy,” said a statement from Acoustic Harvest.
The Dec. 6 concert takes place at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets can be bought in advance for $35, and at the door for $45.
For more information on this Saturday night’s concert, and to buy tickets, please
PHOTOS: SUBMITTED
Gwen Carroll’s 100th birthday will be on Dec. 23. Photo above left, Gwen on her annual visit to the Canadian National Exhibition in 2024. Photo above right, Gwen and her husband Emmerson Carroll on their wedding day in May of 1945. ding.
Riverdale Share concert slated for Sunday at the Danforth Music Hall
THE 32ND annual Riverdale Share concert will be taking place on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Danforth Music Hall.
The charity fundraiser will start at 3 p.m. Hosted by Matt Bernard, the benefit concert will include a multitude of artists and local bands, including Trainwreck, Hermina George, Erika Raum, The Daniel-Raums, Jamie Shannon, the Bowmore Public School Intermediate Choir and many more. There will also be a visit from Santa Claus and his Elves during Riverdale Share.
All proceeds from the Riverdale Share concert will go toward charitable organizations within the community. The Riverdale Share community organization is also a registered public foundation.
Since 1991, Riverdale Share has raised
hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities within the area, supporting families and food banks. Past organizations supported by Riverdale Share include Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Services, Out of the Cold at Eastminster, The South Riverdale Child Parent Centre and the East York Foundation Seniors’ Christmas Dinner.
Tickets for this Sunday’s Riverdale Share are $25 plus a donation of a non-perishable food item. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the Big Carrot, 348 Danforth Ave., and Treasure Island Toys, 581 Danforth Ave.
The Danforth Music Hall is located at 147 Danforth Ave. For more information on Riverdale Share, and how to buy tickets, please visit https://riverdaleshare.com
Christmas Miracles show at Birchcliff Bluffs
BIRCHCLIFF BLUFFS United Church, 33 East Rd., hosts its annual Christmas Miracles: The Magic of Hope show on Friday, Dec. 12.
The evening features Christmas stories and songs, and is a fundraiser for the Bluffs Food Bank and the church.
Storytellers slated to be reading on Dec. 12 include Steve Paikin, Ann Ward, Avis Favaro, Scarborough Southwest MPP Doly Begum, and John Moore.
Musical entertainment will be provided by Randy Vancourt and the church choir, Daniel Giverin and Loralie Vancourt, and the Ault Sisters with David Warrack.
The live presentation takes place starting at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 12. There will also be an online version available for viewing from Dec. 19 to Jan. 4.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by visiting the Birchcliff Bluffs United Church website at www.bbuc.ca
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Proposed building near ravine a concern
‘Indigenous’ from Page 1
an email pertaining to the proposed development from a member of the Indigenous community.
“The City’s Indigenous Affairs Office (IAO) received an email from an Indigenous community member regarding the proposed development at 847–855 Kingston Road,” said the city’s media relations team. “The IAO did not prepare or deliver a separate letter to Council, nor did staff have direct contact with Councillors on this matter.”
For local resident and Indigenous community member Edward Cyr, encroaching on the ravine goes against his spiritual beliefs to honour the lands that were once cherished by his ancestors.
Beach Metro Community News was able to meet with Cyr and talk about the Indigenous community’s links to the Glen Stewart Ravine in an interview arranged with the help of the Friends of the Glen Stewart Ravine (FGSR) advocacy group.
Cyr said that his Indigenous ancestors never considered Canadian lands to be owned by anyone. Rather, they always believed the land belonged to anyone who lived on it.
“That’s the saddest part. They never felt like it was their land,” said Cyr. “We’ve always felt like the land belonged to everyone. My ancestors didn’t like the idea of taking dominion over the land. When the Europeans came here, we welcomed them with open arms, taught them how to survive their first winters here, gave them hides to keep them warm, showed them how to live here.”
Although he now conducts much of his outreach work in the city’s west end, Cyr said it is common for him to meet with at-risk members of the Indigenous community in green spaces similar to Glen Stewart Ravine.
“We all belong to this earth, and it’s our responsibility to honour our relationship with this earth. Not to exploit it and take advantage of it for our own financial gain,” said Cyr, a local social worker and member of support group 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations’ crisis response team.
Cyr is part of the Kebaowek First Nation (also known as the Kebaowek community), an Algonquin (Anishinaabe) First Nation. As an East Toronto resident, Cyr said he uses Glen Stewart Ravine as a place to conduct ceremonies deeply connected to his ancestors’ traditions.
“I come down here once a month. I have a small fire; put my tobacco down. We pray, we cry, we connect. It is the teaching from our Elders,” said Cyr. “Sometimes, what I’ll do is cook some food and bring down what’s called a spirit plate to honour lost family.”
Cyr is among many community members who fear what kind of impact the proposed building’s 0-metre setback will have on the ravine’s north slope, which goes against the TRCA’s requirement of a 10-metre setback from the top of a ravine’s bank.
In the latest iteration of their petition calling on Toronto councillors to prioritize the protection of the ravine, FGSR referenced the “spiritual significance” the ravine has among the local Indigenous community.
“The Glen Stewart Ravine—known to parts of the urban Indigenous community as ‘Secret Ravine’ —is not just a green space. It is a ceremonial place,
tended for generations by Fire Keepers, including members of Turtle Island Carers of Fire (TICOF), and it remains a site of grief, healing, and continuity for Indigenous families in Tkaronto,” reads the petition.
The Indigenous community’s use of the Beach area for hunting, fishing, healing, and ceremony can be traced back hundreds of years, long before the first European colonization of the Toronto region through the establishment of French fur trading posts.
East Toronto historian and Indigenous community member (with Mi-k Maq heritage) Joanne Doucette said she’s aware that the few remaining springs and rivers in the area were likely used as healing spaces for Indigenous ancestors. And that many of the area’s natural spaces that once existed have been overtaken by development.
“I have heard that the springs were used for healing purpose by Anishinaabe and other First Nations,” Doucette told Beach Metro Community News
“I do know that Dawes Road was an Indigenous trail that until the railways were built extended south of the Danforth and probably as far as the lakeshore trail which is now Kingston Road. Another trail extended from the lakeshore at Woodbine Avenue along the old sandbar to what is now Toronto Island.”
“In the west end, a lot of our Indigenous people ask us to meet at places much like Glen Stewart because it’s rural, it’s in a place where they can go in and not have to be seen and heard by the busy streets of downtown Toronto – where it’s full of people who are often judgmental of their addictions and issues,” said Cyr.
He said the city has not done any work with the developer to leverage support for the Indigenous community, or even those in need during the process to secure the development project.
“It’s just another step in disrespecting the Indigenous people’s rights and integrity. They love to do a land acknowledgement, but they don’t want to honour the land,” said Cyr.
“Let’s be clear about this, these condo developers aren’t building affordable housing for Indigenous people, or even for people that are disadvantaged. They’re building condos for people who have wealth and abundance.”
Despite what he sees as a lack of support from the city, Cyr said he is thankful for the community’s continued strength in fighting for the protection of the Glen Stewart Ravine.
“We will continue to fight, and there’s a lot of our community members who feel the same way,” said Cyr.
“I’m grateful because I can’t think of a better community to have Indigenous allies than we do in the Beaches. We really do have a lot of great allies who are woke, who speak up on our behalf, who actually show up at our events, who give more than they take.”
Beach Metro Community News reached out to the developer’s representatives for comment but did not receive a response before press deadline.
PHOTO: FRIENDS OF THE GLEN STEWART RAVINE
Edward Cyr, a local resident and Indigenous community member, spoke recently with Beach Metro Community News about the Glen Stewart Ravine’s cultural and historical significance.
Silly Goose Kids store helps Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program with online toy registry
By Jessica Shackleton
55’s Share A Christmas program, have maximum reach.
The store itself has been on Danforth Ave. for more than a decade, but Ti-Anna Wang bought the business in May of this year.
One of the first things she did was set up an online shop, something the store didn’t offer before.
As the holiday season approached, she noticed that many toy drives had an Amazon link to wishlists for people wanting to donate. This got her thinking.
“Now that we have an online store, we could provide a similar service. This is the idea that it would make donating gifts easier,” she said.
“The holidays are a super busy time, and participating in a toy drive means you have to go buy a gift. A lot of people are not interested in shopping on Amazon these days, so we built a registry on our website.”
One of the causes Silly Goose Kids is collecting donations for is Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program. The program has been helping families in need in the community over the holidays for more than 40 years, and part of the campaign includes collecting donations of new unwrapped toys for distribution before Christmas Day.
Wang reached out to Centre 55 to see what they needed and to make a toy registry based on that information.
“Toy drives generally are missing things
from the baby category and the 12-plus category, so we curated our registry, especially for Centre 55, to include more things for those sections,” she said.
“From the baby section, we have things like rattles, teethers, baby toys, and for the older kids we have books and board games so that everyone can have something to open on Christmas.”
Silly Goose Kids is making it easy for people to donate to the toy drive by handling the delivery and logistics of the items. Donors can also enjoy a 10 per cent discount at the store. Online orders of donations and a physical box at the cash register are available.
The store is located at 2054 Danforth Ave. and has a large selection of books, pretend play items, and craft activities.
“We want to make our store more than just a retail space. We’re also a community hub for families. This neighbourhood is full of kids,” said Wang. “And Centre 55 is great because it really prioritizes families in our neighbourhood. The catchment area is the same customer base we serve. We find that our clients are really interested in supporting Centre 55.”
Silly Goose Kids is also collecting donations for CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish and the Super Sophia Project. Donations for Centre 55 are open until Dec. 17.
To visit the Centre 55 gift registry, please go to https://sillygoosekids.ca/pages/swymregistry-gifter?registryId=2042783
For more information on how to help Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program, including volunteer opportunities, please go to www.centre55.com
Giving Tuesday is about neighbours helping neighbours
ensure that no one is left behind.
EGuest Column
very year, on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Canadians are invited to pause the shopping frenzy and turn their attention to generosity.
Known as Giving Tuesday, this global movement began in 2012 and was introduced in Canada in 2013. It has since become a powerful reminder that the holiday season is not only about receiving, but also about giving back to those in need.
That’s why Giving Tuesday matters so deeply in our neighbourhood. It’s about neighbours helping neighbours—coming together to
Local organizations such as the Calvary Grace Food Bank play a vital role in meeting this need.
One of the oldest food banks in the city, the Food Bank at Calvary Baptist Church has been a lifeline for residents of the Beach and East Toronto. Staffed entirely by volunteers, it provides groceries, household essentials, and compassion to hundreds of families each year.
Across Canada, Giving Tuesday has grown into a nationwide tradition. In 2024, Canadians donated more than $16 million in a single day, supporting thousands of charities from coast to coast.
This year, on Dec. 2, the call to action is louder than ever, as food insecurity continues to rise.
Here in Toronto, the numbers
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are stark. According to the Daily Bread Food Bank’s 2025 Who’s Hungry Report, there were more than 4.1 million food bank visits between April 2024 and March 2025, a 340 per cent increase since 2019. More than one in 10 Torontonians now rely on food banks, and one in four clients is a child. These statistics reflect the reality faced by families right here in the Beach.
The scale of support is striking: nearly 900 people are registered with this food bank, and on average, 300 individuals and families rely on its services every week. These numbers underscore just how essential the food bank has become in our community.
This Giving Tuesday, the food bank is asking for help with specific items that are most in demand. Non-perishable foods are
always welcome, especially:
· Canned fish and meat
· Soup
· Canned pasta sauce
· Canned beans in sauce and vegetables and fruit
· Cereal and oatmeal
Beyond food, there is also a pressing need for toddler diapers and even cat and dog food, recognizing that pets are part of many families who struggle.
And if you cannot donate food, monetary donations are very welcome and donors will receive a tax receipt. Financial contributions allow the food bank to purchase fresh meat, and dairy and fill urgent gaps where supplies run short.
Donations can be dropped off at 72 Main St. (rear entrance) during food bank hours: Wednesdays from
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Thursdays after 5 p.m. Questions can be directed to the volunteer team at gracepascoevolunteers@gmail. com or by text to 416-333-5710.
Giving Tuesday is not just about one day of generosity—it’s about building a culture of care that lasts all year. Whether it’s a can of soup, a box of diapers, or a financial contribution, every act of generosity makes a difference. Together, we can ensure that the Calvary Grace Food Bank continues to serve as a beacon of hope in our community.
Every little bit helps, now and throughout the year.
This Giving Tuesday, let’s show what the Beach is made of: compassion, solidarity, and the simple but powerful act of neighbours helping neighbours.
Happy Holidays!
Protection of affordable rentals is key to solving housing crisis
Open Letter to Toronto Council regarding Ontario’s Bill 60: Don Valley Community Legal Services (DVCLS) is a community legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario. Our catchment area includes Wards 14 (Toronto-Danforth), 15 (Don Valley West), 16 (Don Valley East) and 19 (Beaches-East York), and sections of Wards 11 (University-Rosedale) and 12 (Toronto-St. Paul’s).
We serve many diverse communities and our clients are lowerincome, racialized, and primarily renters.
We are very concerned about Bill 60 which was recently pased by the provincial government.
More than one third of our cases at DVCLS are housing related and we mainly help tenants facing evic-
tion.
We assist some of the most vulnerable and marginalized residents of Toronto, helping them keep their homes so they do not end up in an already overwhelmed shelter system.
We were pleased to see Mayor Olivia Chow address Bill 60 and voice concerns about the proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). We applaud the City of Toronto’s Executive Committee for approving the recommendations put forward and we are pleased that Toronto Council did the same at its November meeting.
We have been appreciative of the actions the City of Toronto has taken in the past to help renters, such as supporting programs like
RentSafeTO, EPIC, MURA, and Rent Bank, and implementing the Rental Renovation License Bylaw (“Renovictions Bylaw”). We have seen the difference these programs and bylaws make in our clients’ lives.
We must protect the affordable rental units we already have if we want to solve the housing crisis.
Bill 60 will make it easier to evict tenants and make it harder for them to fight evictions at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
This Bill makes it harder for us at the legal clinic to assist tenants and help preserve their homes.
We strongly encourage Toronto councillors to continue advocating for renters. We would like to note the following items which would significantly improve the lives of
tenants across Toronto and Ontario:
• Oppose changes that weaken tenants’ rights and security of tenure or a further weakening of rent control.
• Reinstate full rent control on all buildings.
• Reintroduce vacancy control.
• End illicit renovictions and help tenants facing renoviction.
• Amend Above Guideline Increase (AGI) rules.
• Allow tenants the right to inperson Landlord and Tenant Board hearings.
We would also like to acknowledge that bringing this to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) for information and joint advocacy is an important step.
We have seen several munici-
palities introducing renovictions bylaws in the absence of provincial political will to tackle this issue. We know municipal advocacy can make a difference and hope that a large number of municipalities opposing Bill 60 will impact the province.
We thank Toronto Council for its efforts to date to help tenants. In a growing housing crisis and affordability crisis, now is not the time to weaken protections for tenants or expedite evictions. We hope the province will listen to advocates and municipalities, and walk back Bill 60.
Marjorie Hiley Executive Director Don Valley Community Legal Services
Debbie Visconti
Letters to the Editor
Toronto’s electricity plan is a missed opportunity
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Energy Minister Stephen Lecce have presented Beach residents, and all of Toronto, with a wrenchingly disappointing gift as we head into this season of giving, the plan for Toronto’s electricity supply for the next 20 years –the Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP).
The plan was recently released by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), a Crown corporation responsible for planning and operating the electricity grid in Ontario. It cements the Ford government’s priorities – nuclear expansion and continued fossil gas reliance – over Toronto’s climate goals and community-driven solutions such as rooftop solar, energy efficiency, and storage.
The IRRP recommends a third transmission line running from the Darlington nuclear plant to Toronto’s Port Lands, most likely drawing on power from yet-to-be built Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
In the interim, and possibly for many more years to come, the fossil fuel powered Portlands Energy Centre (PEC), located on the lake just west of the Beach, will continue to release healthharmful and atmosphere-damaging pollution. This plan minimizes the considerable potential of the city’s local re-
newable energy strategies and locks us into the most expensive forms of electricity, thereby ultimately worsening the affordability crisis facing residents across Toronto.
In 2024, Toronto Council passed a motion asking that the IRRP align with the city’s 2040 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by phasing out gasfired electricity generation at PEC by 2035 (except in extreme, exceptional and emergency circumstances) and by rapidly increasing local renewable energy generation, storage, and energy efficiency. The IRRP fails to meet this direct request and does not provide a plan for the phase-out of PEC.
Recent data from the National Pollutant Release Inventory indicates that, in 2024, PEC was once again the largest single source of nitrogen oxides in Toronto. According to the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), health issues linked to emissions of nitrogen oxides include lung and heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, Alzheimer’s and more. Emissions of fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds – substances associated with serious health risks –also increased last year.
PEC holds the title for the largest single emitter of greenhouse gases in To-
ronto. Greenhouse gases drive climate change, the consequences of which are now all too familiar to Torontonians: increased days of extreme heat, flooding, and forest fire smoke. These consequences have the greatest impact on the vulnerable in our city with heat and smoke most affecting the young, the elderly and the unwell, and with low-cost housing more often located in flood risk areas.
In addition to not providing a path to phase out PEC, the IRRP is further misaligned with the city’s climate strategy by minimizing the potential of local renewables, energy storage and energy efficiency.
Renewables can contribute significantly to meeting Toronto’s energy needs. McDiarmid Climate Consulting has estimated that rooftop solar on Toronto’s homes, buildings, and large parking lots could supply more than 60 per cent of the forecasted rise in electricity demand.
Affordability is a real concern for our city. With hydro rates on the rise, we need our leaders to support energy solutions that are both affordable and sustainable. Analysis by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance indicates that energy efficiency and renewables can meet Toronto’s future electricity needs at a much
Continued on Page 21
LTHome is a proud supporter of the Royal LePage Shel ter Foundation benef iting Women and Children escaping violence Throughout the year you
Why these two east Toronto businesses keep stepping up for Red Door, year after year
by Erin Horrocks-Pope
On a small industrial stretch of Wagstaff Drive, two beloved East End businesses are once again carrying forward a holiday tradition that has quietly shaped the lives of countless families in Toronto.
Left Field Brewery and Pilot Coffee Roasters are continuing their longstanding seasonal fundraising efforts for Red Door Family Shelter, partnerships that, over the past decade, have helped raise nearly $115,000 for one of the community's most essential organizations.
These initiatives aren't new, flashy, or promotional stunts. They are steady, reliable acts of neighbourliness, woven into the identity of each business, and into the fabric of an East End community that has repeatedly shown how deeply it cares for its own.
For Caitlin FitzGerald, Manager of Community Engagement at Red Door, that consistency is everything. "This community rallies behind us," she says. "People here understand the realities families face, and they've always stepped up - year after year."
That commitment has shaped Red Door's history. When the shelter's Queen Street East location was threatened during redevelopment in 2016, the East End responded immediately: nearly 50,000 residents signed a petition in a matter of days, urging the city to protect the space.
"People weren't just aware of Red Door," FitzGerald recounts. "They were willing to take collective action to keep families safe. It was extraordinary."
Today, that same community backbone sustains Red Door's most critical programs, many of which receive little to no government funding. With children and youth making up roughly 60 per cent of residents, specialized supports like art and music therapy, counselling, homework clubs, and youth advocacy exist solely because East Enders show up.
"Kids come to us during enormous transitions," FitzGerald explains. "They've experienced trauma, they're in new environments, new schools, new routines. These programs help them heal and move forward. They exist because the community believes they should."
That impact is what has kept Left Field Brewery committed to Red Door for ten consecutive holiday seasons. This year, they’re continuing that longstanding support with a special edition of their well-loved Bricks & Mortar Coffee Porter: from which, 15 cents from every 473mL can will be donated to the shelter.
The beer is now available at Left Field's Leslieville and Liberty Village taprooms, online through their Fan Shop, and, starting the week of December 8, at select LCBO stores across Ontario. Every can sold, no matter where it's purchased, supports Red Door.
Marketing Manager Merissa Vuylsteke says the longevity of the partnership comes from deep community alignment. Over the years, Left Field’s holiday support has taken many forms, from per-pour donations to six-pack fundraisers and merchandise proceeds, all powered by the generosity of their customers.
"We've raised over $49,000 for Red Door over the years, plus countless donations of food and essentials collected through the brewery," she says.
"Red Door is close to us, literally and emotionally. They don't just offer emergency shelter; they help rebuild lives. That's why we continue to show up for them."
This year’s special Red Door edition of Bricks & Mortar Coffee Porter is also a collaboration with their neighbours: the 2025 brew features Pilot Coffee Roasters’ direct-trade Kenyan Privam beans, adding bright notes of fruit and honey. "We're small, craft-focused businesses who look out for one another. Supporting Red Door is just one of the ways this community comes together."
On Sunday, November 30, Left Field also hosted its annual Santa Meet & Greet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring Red Door's Pay-What-You-Can Hot Chocolate Bar. One hundred per cent of proceeds from the station will support families staying at the shelter.
Just next door, Pilot Coffee Roasters is continuing its own longstanding tradition: the release of its Holiday Winter Blend, with $1 from every 300g bag sold supporting Red Door.
Since 2015, this initiative alone has raised more than $65,000, not including additional support from food drives, volunteer efforts, and Red Door's Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser, where Pilot's Leslieville café serves as a warming station and hub.
Brand Director Trevor Walsh says the partnership began organically in the early days of Pilot's history, long before the company expanded across the city.
“Our relationship with Red Door goes back to 2009, when the roastery first opened in Leslieville,” Walsh explains. “At the time, our co-founders saw firsthand how the shelter was supporting classmates of their children, and they’ve been an important part of Pilot Coffee ever since.”
This year's Holiday Winter Blend, roasted in-house in Leslieville, features notes of cinnamon, blackberry, and buttercream, warm flavours inspired by holiday baking and meant to evoke a sense of home. Walsh says customers look forward to the annual release not just because of the flavour profile, but because they know the tradition behind it.
"It's something people feel good buying. It supports their neighbours, and it's become part of the community rhythm."
Across conversations with Left Field, Pilot, and Red Door, one message rises above all others: East Toronto cares. And not just during the holidays. From local Girl Guides troops assembling care packages to faith groups running donation drives, and families signing petitions to small businesses committing to decade-long partnerships, the East End's generosity is steady and deeply felt.
FitzGerald says these longstanding Wagstaff Drive initiatives are meaningful because they reinforce something vital. "It goes beyond raising money," she says.
"It's about awareness. It takes an average of three years and seven attempts for a woman to leave an abusive household. When local businesses highlight our work, it lets people know: we are here for you when you're ready."
For anyone looking to help this season, FitzGerald emphasizes that support doesn't have to be financial. "We know the cost of living is affecting everyone. Volunteering, school drives, in-kind donations, they're all essential."
Still, the holiday efforts from these two small Wagstaff Drive businesses offer an easy, meaningful way to give back: pick up a bag of Pilot's Holiday Winter Blend, or grab a can of Left Field's Bricks & Mortar Coffee Porter.
Because when local businesses support local families, the whole East End grows stronger, year after year, season after season, one caring act at a time.
Every contribution, big or small, helps Red Door support families in crisis. To donate directly, visit: www.reddoorshelter.ca
Community Calendar
proudly presented by Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford
DEC. 3: The Beach and East Toronto Historical Society (TBETHS) presents Authors and Historians Joanne Doucette and Scott Burk at Beaches Sandbox, 2181 Queen St. E., 7-8:30 p.m., who will present their recently published book ‘Toronto’s Lost Golf Courses, Volume Two, 1920 –1939’. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event. Admission is free. Info: www.tbeths.com
DEC. 4: Withrow Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. Info: paulafletcher. ca/withrow_park_tree_lighting_2025
DEC. 5: Dieppe Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. Info: paulafletcher.ca/dieppe_park_tree_lighting_2025
DEC. 5-7: Karen Franzen and Friends Holiday Show at 3 Wembley Dr., Friday 6-9 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Featuring artists Karen Franzen, Fred Franzen, Sandy Galloway, Irene McRae, Sunny Mills, and Leslie Songer Terry. Info: karenfranzen.ca
DEC. 6: Breakfast with Santa and Clothing Thrift Sale at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 904 Coxwell Ave., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Breakfast ends at 1 p.m.). Bring your camera for a picture with Santa. Admission to Breakfast: Adults $8, Children $6, Family of 6 $30. Admission free for Clothing Sale. Tops, skirts, and pants $5; Dresses $10; Coats and Jackets $15-$20; Shoes and Purses $10.
DEC 6: Jazz & Reflection with Red Hot Ramble at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., 4:30 p.m., bringing the vibrant spirit of New Orleans to our Main Hall with a special Christmas show that blends traditional jazz, blues, funk and more! Pay what you can at our doorssuggested minimum $15. Info: beachunitedchurch.com
DEC. 6: Christmas Cookie Crawl at St. Nicholas Anglican Church, 1512 Kingston Rd., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Buy an empty box and fill it with delicious homemade cookies! 1 box $20, 2 boxes $30.
DEC. 6: Christmas Marketplace at Kimbourne Park United Church, 200 Wolverleigh Blvd., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is free, food donations would be greatly appreciated. Come see 20+ vendors. We are an affirming church & fully accessible – absolutely everyone is welcome! Vendors & info: www.kpuc.org
DEC. 6: Acoustic Harvest presents “It’s Good To Be Canadian” Celebration with John Prince & A Piece of the Rock at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St., 8 p.m. Blending East Coast energy with folk, roots, and blues, this holiday-season concert will lift your spirits and warm your heart – with a distinctly Canadian flavour. Tickets $35. Info: acousticharvest.ca
DEC. 6: Christmas Market at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Vendors, BBQ, Bake Sale! Christmas shopping, food, vendors! Info: admin@stpaulsscarborough.org
DEC. 7: Breakfast with Santa at RC Legion Branches 11 & 22, 1240 Woodbine Ave., 10 a.m.-12 noon. Pancakes, Bacon or Sausages, Coffee or Tea for the adults & Juice for the kids - all for $5. Tickets at the door - this is not an all you can eat buffet! Info: 416-425-1714
DEC. 7: Scarborough Model Railroaders Train Show at 17 Jeavons Ave., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy two floors of layouts – HO scale of Southern Ontario through the ages, and N scale through mountainous scenery. Fun for families and all ages! HO and N scale equipment (engines and freight cars) for sale. Admission $10 adults, $5 children. Cash and e-transfer. Info: scarborough-model-railroaders.org
DEC. 7: Riverdale Share Holiday Concert - A Festive Benefit Concert for Families at Danforth Music Hall, 3 p.m. Tickets on sale at The Big Carrot & Treasure Island Toys for $25 (no fees) or through Ticketmaster. $28 (plus fees) with a non-perishable food item. Info: riverdaleshare.com
DEC. 9: Carolling in the Park at Glen Stewart Park (Queen St. E. at Glen Manor Dr.), 7:30-8:30 p.m. Featuring the Salvation Army Band, choirs, refreshments, and a special visitor. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight. Donations can be made at www.scarboroughcitadel.ca. Info: David Breech 416-578-0656
DEC. 12: Christmas Miracles: The Magic of Hope at Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Rd., 7:30 p.m. An entertaining evening of Christmas stories and music. Storytellers: Avis Favaro, Ann Ward, Doly Begum, John Moore & Steve Paikin. Guest Musicians: The Ault Sisters with David Warrack. Tickets $20. Tickets & info: www.bbuc.ca
DEC. 13: Community Pancake Breakfast and Social at Beaches Recreation Centre, 6 Williamson Rd., 9:30-11 a.m. Hosted by the Beaches Recreation Centre Advisory Council. Please bring a non-perishable item or new unwrapped toy for donation.
DEC. 13: Scarborough Harmony Chorus presents “Snow Day - An A Cappella Concert”. An afternoon of popular and holiday music at Scarborough Bluffs United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd., 2:00p.m., doors open at 1:00p.m for craft and bake sale. Tickets $25 online at www.scarboroughharmonychorus.com or at the door (14 years and under free).
DEC. 14: Dramatic Reading of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Beaches Presbyterian Church, 65 Glen Manor Dr., 3:30 p.m. Featuring Tom Allen and a stellar line up of readers and musicians. This is also a charitable fundraising event and this year’s funds go to support a local Food Bank. Refreshments and snacks also included. For tickets and info: office@beacheschurch.org, 416-699-5871
DEC 15: Holiday Jam Nite at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., 7 p.m. Bring your voice, your instrument, and join us for a fun, relaxed jam session on wellknown seasonal songs and carols. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Info: beachunitedchurch.com
DEC. 18: An evening of Carolling at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St., 7 p.m. Free event for all ages!
DEC 20: Strings & Pipes: A Christmas Jazz Concert for Organ and Guitar at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., 4:30 p.m. We welcome father-son duo Christopher & Simon Dawes as they usher in the season with a dynamic program featuring jazz duets on the guitar and organ based on well-known Holiday favourites. Pay what you can at our doors - suggested minimum $15. Info: beachunitedchurch.com
DEC. 20: The Spirit of the Longest Night: Concert for the Winter Solstice st Danforth Mennonite Church, 2174 Danforth Ave., 7:30 p.m. A magical Concert and Musical Meditation to celebrate the longest night and the return of the light, created and performed by Guitarist Mark Battenberg and Shakuhachi flute master Debbie Danbrook. Admission is $20 or Pay what you can. Please bring non-perishable food items for the food bank. If you can’t afford anything please come as a guest and enjoy the gift of music and community. Info: makbattenberg@rogers.com
THURSDAYS: CALVARY GRACE FOOD
BANK, 72 Main St., 6-8:30 p.m, by appointment only, through Daily Bread Food Bank. Info: 416691-2899, gpcc@calvary-baptist-church.ca, www. gracepascoefoodbank.ca/access-our-services
FRIDAYS: GRANTFUL FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP
Food Bank and Soup Kitchen, 2029 Gerrard St E., 3:30-6 p.m. Registration is required. New clients must present identification for members in their household on their first visit and annually thereafter. Time slots are handed out and clients are encouraged to arrive at the food bank the time slot they have selected. Info: 416-690-5169
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SPECIAL MUSIC with Guest Musicians at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St. •Nov. 30: Advent 1 “Hope” - Meditative Evensong, 7 p.m.Hildegard von Bingen chant; Rachmaninoff Vocalist. •Dec. 14: Advent 3 – “Joy” – Magnificat Sunday, 10:30 a.m. “Mary did You Know?”, Bach, Britten and Leontovych. •Dec. 24: Christmas Eve – “Love”, 7 p.m. Carols by Candlelight. “O Holy Night” – Adolphe Adam. Info: 416-261-4222, admin@stpaulsscarborough.org
BEACHES MENTAL WELLNESS GROUP meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St. at Swanwick. Info: www.mentalwellness. help. Or join us most nights of the week on Zoom. Go to: https://www.meetup.com. Ask to join us: Mental Wellness Peer-to-Peer Support-Groups A A at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., Saturdays 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info: 416-691-1113 AL- ANON at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., Wednesdays 7:15 p.m. Alateen members are welcome to attend. Info: 416-691-1113
BEACH INTERFAITH OUTREACH FELLOWSHIP LUNCHES for adults in the community, 11 a.m. •Mondays at Corpus Christi Church (16 Lockwood Rd.). Closed Feb 15 and April 6 •Tuesdays – alternating locations: St. Nicholas Anglican Church (1512 Kingston Rd.) Dec. 9, 23, Jan. 6; St. Aidan’s Anglican Church (2423 Queen St. E.) Dec. 2, 16, 30 •Wednesdays at Beach Hebrew Institute (109 Kenilworth Ave.). Closed April 1 and April 8 •Thursdays at Beach United Church (140 Wineva Ave.). Closed Dec 25 but open Jan 1 •Fridays at Kingston Road United Church (975 Kingston Rd.). Closed Dec 26 and Jan 2. Lunch format may vary from site to site. BEACH PHOTO CLUB. Are you interested in photography? We invite all shutterbugs to check out our local photo club. We offer a range of activities including guest speakers, mentorship, opportunities to share your work, photo
excursions, competitions, practical seminars and more! We meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from September to June, 7-9:30 p.m., at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave. (unless specified in program). Info: beachphotoclub.com or email beachphotoclub@gmail.com
GERRARD ASHDALE LIBRARY, 1432 Gerrard St. E. •Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27: Chess Club, 1-4 p.m. Drop in on Saturdays for a few friendly games of chess. All ages and levels. Children under 12 require supervision. No registration required. •Dec. 9: Seniors E-Connect, 4-5:30 p.m. Bring your tablet or phone and your questions and get help from our tech-savvy teen volunteers. For seniors. Registration is required. •Dec. 20: Holiday Sing-Along, 2-3 p.m. Sing your favourite Christmas carols and other winter melodies. Please register in advance. Info: 416-393-7717
THE CHURCH OF ST. AIDAN (Anglican), 2423 Queen St. E., is an energetic, active faith community committed to following Jesus as we gather for meaningful worship, spiritual growth, and community engagement. We live this out through our vibrant children’s and youth programs, diverse sacred music offerings, and active community outreach and environmental stewardship ministries. Advent Lessons and Carols service is on Dec. 14, at 4 p.m.—all are welcome. Blue Christmas Service is on Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. On Sundays, we welcome you to join us for worship at 8:30 a.m. (spoken service) and 10:30 a.m. (with music and children’s and youth programs). Wednesdays please join us for the Eucharist Service at 10:30 a.m. Weekly euchre on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. (enter from the northeast side door, $5 to play, all proceeds go to outreach). Busy Bees drop-in playgroup for ages 0-3 and caregivers features stories and crafts on Thursdays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. BEACH UNITED CHURCH, 140 Wineva Ave., invites you to share in worship with us every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. For the month of December, we will have several special Christmas-related worship services - anyone is welcome to join. Our contemplative Blue Christmas service will be held on Dec. 20th at 7 p.m., and our 10:30 a.m. service on Dec. 21st will feature our annual Christmas Cantata performed by the Beach United Choir. On Dec. 24th at 7 p.m., we will celebrate Family Christmas Eve together (no communion). Info: beachunitedchurch.com BEACHES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 65 Glen Manor Drive. (S of Queen). We are an inclusive and affirming congregation in the heart of the Beach. BPC has strong commitments to community service and social justice issues. We provide non-perishable food for those in need through our Free Food Pantry located outside the church building. Every Wednesday we host a Coffee Outreach from 1-3 p.m., an opportunity for people in the neighbourhood to gather for coffee, snacks and fellowship. A full lunch is provided every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Sunday, December 14 at 3:30 p.m. we host a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. A great charitable fundraising event with storytelling, music and refreshments. Tickets are $25 and proceeds go to support a local food bank. Info: www.beacheschurch.org or call 416-699-5871. Minister: The Reverend Katherine McCloskey FALLINGBROOK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Please join us for our Advent & Christmas Events this holiday season at 35 Wood Glen Rd. All are welcome! Fallingbrook is an affirming congregation and is accessible by a lift. Advent Sunday Worship Services weekly at 10:30 a.m. with our Lessons & Carols Service with special music on Dec. 14. Charlie Brown Christmas Musical Event: Saturday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. $20 Adults, $10 Children. Doors open at 4 p.m. Blue Christmas: Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. A service for those lonely or grieving this season. Then join us as welcome the Christ Child into our hearts during Christmas Eve Worship at 7 p.m. Dec. 24. Please join us on Live Stream via Facebook or through our church website. Minister: the Rev. Angela J. Cluney, Music Director: Nick Jessome. Info: fboffice@rogers. com, 416-699-3084, fallingbrookpresbyterianchurch.com WAVERLEY ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH, 129 Waverley Rd. We invite you to join us either on-line for our Sunday Morning Worship Services (www.twitch.tv/waverleyroadbaptist) beginning at 11 a.m., or in-person as we share “Good News of Great Joy” during this Advent Season! We warmly welcome you, your family, and your friends to our Christmas Eve Service on Dec. 24th at 4:30 p.m. Info: 416-694-3054, info@waverleyroad.ca, www. waverleyroad.ca. Find us on Facebook & Instagram, too!
The original, iconic Bimini in the Beaches sweatshirt returns
By Jessica Shackleton
THE ORIGINAL Bimini in the Beaches sweatshirt from the popular Queen Street East clothing store of days gone by has made its return after more than 20 years.
Though the physical Bimini store isn’t coming back to the neighbourhood, the classic sweater is now available online for orders. Joshua Blodans is the oldest son of Bimini founders Marilee and Uldis. He was born about eight months after the store opened. He has a brother and a sister, four and nine years younger.
Blodans went to Williamson Road Public School in the Beach and remembers heading over to the Bimini store on Queen Street East after school while his parents worked.
“I didn’t know any different, I thought it was totally normal; that my parents owned the store and I would go hang out after school,” he said. “It was not a normal childhood growing up in a household of entrepreneurs who were busy trying to make their passion projects come true.”
Blodans said the iconic Bimini in the Beaches sweatshirts are still popular, even though the store itself has been gone for two decades.
“Bimini went away 20 years ago, but it’s always been a constant in our family. In all our photos, one of us is wearing a Bimini shirt. It’s forever, you can’t escape it,” said Blodans. He said that when he made a social media post about bringing back the sweatshirts, he received numerous messages from people who still had their originals.
“There’s a staying power to them. At this point some of them would be 40 years old, and they’re still kicking around,” said Blodans. “So that’s something to be said about what my parents were making back then.”
Originally opened in 1978, the Bimini store was located at 2064 Queen St. E., between Lee and Hambly avenues. Marilee and Uldis named the store after Vancouver’s Bimini’s Tavern, where they first met in 1976. After getting married they moved back to Uldis’ hometown of Toronto and settled into the Beach.
“My mother decided to open a small retail shop, named after the dive bar where their lives together had first begun,” wrote Blodans in a social media post about the store’s history.
In 1988, Bimini was sold to Grafton-Fraser, a Canadian clothier, and 25 Bimini locations were opened across the country. Marilee and Uldis worked at Grafton-Fraser’s corporate offices for two years after that before opening and operating a restaurant for a few years.
Around the time they made the decision to leave the restaurant business, Grafton-Fraser was declaring bankruptcy and selling its assets, said Blodans.
“My parents decided, ‘Bimini was where we were happy, maybe we should never have sold.’ So what they ended up doing was buying back the flagship store. All of the other locations besides Queen Street East were closed and one that was really killing it in Moncton, New Brunswick. My parents were running both stores from Toronto.”
While it owned the store, Grafton-Fraser had ended up using the Queen Street East location as a sort of discount store, he said.
“What Bimini was had changed. The energy changed, the vibe changed, the character changed, so as much as my parents always loved this location, Moncton was the one where it was happening,” said Blodans.
His parents closed the Toronto store, and the family moved to the Maritimes. Blodans went to high school in Charlottetown.
From there, they franchised Bimini and a number of stores were opened in Atlantic Canada. That concept continued until 2005.
Most Beachers will remember Bimini in its
Blodans, son of the Bimini store’s founders Marilee and Uldis, is bringing back the Bimini in the Beaches sweatshirt which was hugely popular among local residents in the 1980s and 1990s.
first 10 years of operation, and many don’t know that it went out east for many more years of operation.
Blodans said he’s trying to recapture some of the magic his parents felt around the original shop in the Beach.
“With me wanting to bring this back, we’ll see what happens. I have no idea. I’m trying to recapture that magic my parents stumbled into back in the ’80s because there was something special about what they did,” he said.
Growing up with entrepreneurs, it’s no surprise that after high school Blodans studied business at the University of Western Ontario, eventually becoming an accountant. Though he soon realized accounting wasn’t his true passion, it helped open doors and give him experience, he said. In 2004, he moved to Vancouver and eventually to Whistler.
He operated a leather shoe company with his former partner and honed his business skills. When that ended, he got in his car and drove back to Toronto.
“Despite the fact that I lived there for 20 years, it never felt like home; it felt like I was just visiting,” he said of British Columbia.
“As soon as I got back, I felt this is where I’m meant to be.”
As he’s gotten older and spent time away, Blodans said he has realized the importance of being close to family. Over the years, Blodans and his siblings floated the idea of bringing back Bimini to the Beach.
“Of all the different versions of Bimini, it was the sweatshirt that people remember. These funky coloured sweatshirts from the ’80s and ’90s,” he said.
“We thought we should do a small run for friends and family. Not bringing it back, we had our own lives, but once I didn’t have my own thing going and started sharing the story that was when I realized maybe there’s more to this.”
Blodans was going through old photos and knew he had to do more than a small batch of the sweatshirts since the Bimini magic meant so much to not only the family, but the community as well. He wanted his parents to look back fondly on Bimini.
“Even if I don’t sell a single sweatshirt, the fact that through my journey it’s giving them an opportunity to revisit their journey, and I feel really fortunate that I can even have a small part in bringing that back,” said Blodans.
Blodans took his father’s sweatshirt and had it replicated. The classic Bimini sweatshirt is garment-dyed, and the logo is stitched on. It is one thing done well, he said, and will be available in black and purple. For more information or to order a sweatshirt, please go to www.biminiinthebeaches.com
PHOTO: SUBMITTED
Joshua
Fearless Meat’s Fill The Cruiser toy drive set for this Saturday
Fearless Meat will be partnering with police officers from 55 Division to host a Fill The Cruiser toy drive this Saturday.
Residents can bring donations of new unwrapped toys for the CP24/CHUM Christmas Wish to Fearless Meat, 884 Kingston Rd., on Dec. 6, for the Fill The Cruiser event. Those who bring a donation will receive a free six-ounce Meat Beach Burger from Fearless Meat. A free vegan four-ounce Beyond Meat Burger, cooked on Fearless’ dedicated vegan grill to preserve integrity, will also be available for those who make a toy donation but
do not eat meat.
The Dec. 6 toy drive is carrying on an annual tradition started by local resident Robert Adams who lived in the neighbourhood for 50 years before passing away in November of 2023. A highly respected Second World War air force veteran, Adams had asked that his tradition of collecting toys for the CP24/CHUM Christmas Wish be continued after his death and Fearless Meat owner David Brown said he was happy to do so.
CP24 will be broadcasting live from Fearless Meat between 2 and 3 p.m. this Saturday as part of the toy drive.
Christmas Oratorio dinner and music event slated
FOR THE past 13 years, the Kingston Road Village Concert Series has been a labour of love—run entirely by volunteers who believe in the power of live music to build community.
As part of this year’s Christmas celebrations, the Series has joined forces with the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto to present J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio - Eat, Drink and Be Merry on Sunday, Dec. 7.
The event features performances of the oratorio along with dinner at one of six Kingston Road restaurants.
The three-hour masterpiece by J.S. Bach will be performed in two parts with a dinner break in
between. Audience members will attend both concerts and enjoy a full restaurant meal as part of the ticket package.
The first half of the oratorio (cantatas one through three) will be performed from 4 to 5:30 p.m. There will then be a dinner break followed by the performance of cantatas four to six starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this special combination of music and a fine meal are $100.
Kingston Road restaurants taking part in the event are The Porch Light, Feathers Pub, The Lighthouse 971, Cafe Parmesan, The Beech Tree, and The Kingston House.
The $100 ticket cost includes the
performances and dinner -- excluding alcohol, taxes and tip.
As part of the event, trumpeters will call back the restaurant patrons to the church for the second half of the concert.
Tim Dawson of the Kingston Road Village Concert Series said the Dec. 7 event is extra special. “It’s stunning music, lovingly played, combined with the warmth of a shared meal at our wonderful local restaurants,” he said. Tickets must be purchased in advance due to the need to co-ordinate with the restaurants. Tickets will not be available at the door on Dec. 7.
To order tickets, please go to christmasoratorio.eventbrite.ca
KINGSTON ROAD restaurant
A look back at the Main Street Library
By David Van Dyke
The Main Street Public Library was established on Main Street (east side, between Swanwick and Gerrard) in 1921. This image above was taken in 1977. Do you have any photos of this library you’d like to share with our readership? Please contact me at gdvandyke61@gmail.com
Franzen and Friends Holiday Show set for this weekend in East Toronto
THE 22ND annual Karen Franzen and Friends Holiday Show and Open House will be taking place this weekend in East Toronto.
The show’s dates are from Friday, Dec. 5, to Sunday, Dec. 7.
The show will feature a variety of artworks from six talented local artists.
The works of artists Karen Franzen (ceramics); Fred Franzen (fine art); Sandy
Galloway (hand-woven tote bags); Irene McRae (gemstone and eco-friendly jewelry); Sunny Mills (fine art, cards and tea towels); and Leslie Songer Terry (handmade baskets) will be featured at the show.
The show takes place at Franzen’s studio which is located at 3 Wembley Dr., two blocks east of Coxwell Avenue and just north of Gerrard Street East.
Admission to the show is free.
The opening reception is slated for Friday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m.
The show then continues on Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7. Show hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information on the upcoming Holiday Show, visit https://karenfranzen. ca
PHOTO: DAVID VAN DYKE
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
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PATHOLOGIST reg. Casplo
All ages, early language, L.D., articulation, reading, apraxia Leslie Rennie 647-994-8255 leslierennie@gmail.com
PSYCHOTHERAPY
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Bert van Delft
Complete financial services for the business owner, manager, entrepreneur & self-employed Corporate & Personal Income Tax Services Bus: 416-270-9898 98 Scarboro Beach Blvd.
Kriens LaRose, LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
• Accounting services for owner-managed businesses.
• Personal and corporation income tax preparation.
• Audit services for not-for-profit organizations www.krienslarose.com kriens@krienslarose.com
Melani Norman CPA, CMA Accounting Issues and Systems, Bookkeeping, Personal and Corporate Taxes Call 416-471-0337
Patrick Ruiz Professional Corporation CPA, CA An accountant you can count on For your Small Business Self-employed income & investments Real Estate Rentals 647-300-4062 • patrick@prtaxcpa.com
Dashwood & Dashwood
Barristers & Solicitors Geoffrey J. Dashwood 961 Kingston Rd. Tel. 416-690-7222 Toronto, M4E 1S8 Fax. 416-690-8738
Snider & DiGregorio
Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries. 978 Kingston Road, Toronto, Ont., M4E 1S9 Tel: 416-699-0424 Fax: 416-699-0285 Email: info@sdlegal.ca
DENISE BADLEY-CASTELLO Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Family • Wills
DIVORCE
Peter J. Salah Family Law Lawyer 124 Merton Street, Suite 300 We Collaborate, Negotiate & Litigate 416.752.8128 peter@salahlaw.ca www.salahlaw.ca
KAMRUL HAFIZ AHMED REAL ESTATE LAWYER 416 690 1855 [P 416 690 1866 [F 2972 DANFORTH AVE.
QUINN Family Law
Shelley C. Quinn, LL.B., LL.M. (Family Law) 2 - 921 Kingston Rd. t. (416) 551-1025 www.QuinnFamilyLaw.ca
Janet D’Arcy DC, FRCCSS (C) Chiropractor Sports Injury Specialist 2455A Queen St. East 416 690-6257 Open Saturdays
CHRISTINE KATO, B.Sc., D.V.M. KATO ANIMAL HOSPITAL 2830 Danforth Ave. (East of Dawes Rd.) 416-690-2112 Dogs, cats, pocket pets. Housecalls available.
HOUGHTON VETERINARY HOUSECALL SERVICES Vaccines, examinations, diagnostics, palliative care, and home euthanasia provided for your pets in the comfort of your own home. Dr. Barbara Houghton 647-221-5516
FUNERAL SERVICES
eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc. Life Celebrations. Done Differently. In Service with St. John’s Norway Cemetery & Crematorium. 647.660.5056 www.ecofuneral.ca
GARRY M. CASS
BARRISTER & SOLICITOR, TEP Wills/Estate Administration/Advice to Estate Trustees 416-767-CASS (2277) x 207 416-795-4899 (cell) 416-491-0273 (fax) garry@garrycass.com
Glover & Associates
Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries Real Estate, Family, Litigation Wills & Estates, Corporate 416-691-3700 Queen and Hammersmith
Shelly Pereira, Paralegal Commissioner/Notary, Small Claims, Landlord & Tenant/other Tribunals, Municipal Offences, Letters & Mediation. Call for a Free 30 min. Consultation 647-693-6240 Toronto info@toronto-paralegal.net
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
Your gateway to connecting with skilled professionals
PATHOLOGIST reg. Casplo
All ages, early language, L.D., articulation, reading, apraxia Leslie Rennie 647-994-8255 leslierennie@gmail.com
PSYCHOTHERAPY
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Bert van Delft
Complete financial services for the business owner, manager, entrepreneur & self-employed Corporate & Personal Income Tax Services Bus: 416-270-9898 98 Scarboro Beach Blvd.
Kriens LaRose, LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
• Accounting services for owner-managed businesses.
• Personal and corporation income tax preparation.
• Audit services for not-for-profit organizations www.krienslarose.com kriens@krienslarose.com
Melani Norman CPA, CMA Accounting Issues and Systems, Bookkeeping, Personal and Corporate Taxes Call 416-471-0337
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Toronto Beach Chorale’s Ceremony of Carols concert slated for Sunday, Dec. 14
By Sean Mallen
ON A dreary, dark Wednesday night in November, choristers step out of the drizzle to gather at a local church.
They are retirees and top executives, teachers, a former surgeon and professionals from a broad variety of fields, brought together by a common love of great music and the joy of choral singing.
A silver-haired man with a honeyed voice at the front of the room directs them to their seats, arranging altos and sopranos, tenors, baritones and basses for best effect.
Once he is satisfied, Mervin Fick, Artistic Director of the Toronto Beach Chorale, begins the rehearsal.
“Let’s have everybody stand and sing the Silent Night.” Their voices ring out with a variation on the familiar carol, a moving arrangement titled Love’s Pure Light by composer Elaine Hagenberg, with lush, complex harmonies.
Fick is in continual animated motion, keeping the beat with his baton, reaching out to one section to urge them on, pointing to his ribcage to remind of proper breathing technique and occasionally stopping to give notes.
“It sounds like it’s forced, rather than letting it emerge,” he says at one point to the sopranos.
After a couple of run-throughs, he exclaims: “Right from a Hallmark movie! That’s your benchmark. The choir sounds great!”
Toronto Beach Chorale is rehearsing for their first concert of the season a holiday performance on Sunday, Dec. 14, at Kingston Road United Church.
It will be highlighted by a performance of Ceremony of Carols by the British composer Benjamin Britten, a stunning piece of music featuring solo harp, with many of the lyrics in Middle English.
“It’s so well-balanced between dancelike and lyrical, almost like a juxtaposition of the sacred and the secular,” said Fick.
For more than 40 years, he has been an evangelist for choral music.
Along with the Toronto Beach Chorale, Fick is the Artistic Director of the Mississauga Chamber Singers, the PCS Singers in Brampton and the Church of St. Peter and St. Simon downtown. And he gives private voice lessons.
“I just love teaching. One of the best things is when you see a singer is surprised at their own achievement. There’s a rush,” said Fick. For the choir’s performances, they bring in professional musicians -- an orchestra and
soloists. But the 40 people who form the core group are mostly volunteer singers.
Soprano Sheila Gill has been a member since the fifth season in 2012. A psychotherapist by day, she studied flute in high school, but had never before been in a choir.
“It created a renaissance in my musical self, which was always an undernourished part of my life,” she said.
Like many members of the choir, she takes private lessons with Fick and credits him with elevating her performance.
“I love making music with others and the community aspect,” said Gill.
“As a therapist, I also know that it’s extraordinarily good for our overall health.”
Retired music teacher Elizabeth Bowes has been with the group for six years and believes the Chorale is a tremendous benefit for the Beach community.
“It allows people to hear great art music in their neighbourhood, sung well with the appropriate approach. Because Mervin knows the musical details required,” she said.
A lifelong French horn player, Bowes had never sung before joining the choir, leaning on lessons from Fick to improve.
“I didn’t sing. I hated my voice. But that’s because I didn’t know how to sing,” she said. “Learning how to do it well is very freeing. I really truly love it.”
Robin Green, a software engineer, joined the choir 10 years ago, after spotting a poster on a telephone pole that called out for new members.
“I think singing is such a joyful thing. I enjoy being with other people and singing together,” said Green.
“Choirs in general are a really strong indicator of the health of the community and community engagement.”
As for the upcoming Christmas performance on Dec. 14, Bowes said concert-goers are in for a treat.
“I’d played (Britten’s) music before but I had no idea of the Ceremony of Carols. Oh my, what a beautiful piece of music!”
Performance time for the Sunday, Dec. 14, concert is 7:30 p.m. Kingston Road United Church is located at 975 Kingston Rd.
Tickets for the performance of the Ceremony of Carols concert (including other holiday music) can be purchased from the choir’s website at www.torontobeachchorale. com/2025-26-season
Upcoming concerts by the Toronto Beach Chorale in 2026 will include Songs of Spirit and Nature on Feb. 22 at St. Aidan’s in the Beach; and Carmina Burana on April 26 at Kingston Road United Church.
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PHOTO: SUBMITTED
Artistic Director Mervin Fick directs a rehearsal of the Toronto Beach Chorale recently in advance of the Sunday, Dec. 14, concert slated for Kingston Road United Church.
Sports
Ted Reeve hockey helping children make wishes come true
By Julia Sawicki
THE TED Reeve Hockey Association is joining in with two other Toronto leagues to take part in Make-A-Wish Canada’s Trees of Joy 2025 fundraising campaign.
With participation from both Tornado and Thunder teams in the Ted Reeve association, the campaign has also joined forces with the Leaside and North Toronto hockey leagues with the goal of raising $10,000 to help children and families in need through Make-AWish Canada.
Make-A-Wish board director Jennifer Jones and board advisor Christine Miles, long-time east end residents and Ted Reeve Hockey Association moms, are the ones responsible for bringing the campaign to the local hockey community.
They managed direct communication with Make-A-Wish, helping organize initiatives and fundraisers along the way. Make-A-Wish Canada helps make wishes, such as trips, possible for children with critical illnesses and their families.
“I was eager to support this amazing cause and felt there was a natural connection between these important com-
munities,” said Jones.
“All three of my children have had the pleasure of playing for Ted Reeve. Two of them also played at North Toronto and Leaside. It was an obvious choice to combine these three incredible associations in our efforts,” added Miles.
After a month of planning, the impact was immediate, with teams rallying, organizing bake sales, auctions and community skating events. The general manager of Ted Reeve Thunder (which has teams playing in the Greater Toronto Hockey League), Andy Johnstone said it’s been amazing to see everyone come together to support such an important cause.
“It’s been so well received and not only the community jumped in, but all the teams and players and families are all doing different events to help make sure that it’s a success for everyone,” said Johnstone.
Trees of Joy is an initiative started by Make-A-Wish, creating customized holiday trees for children and their families. Make-A-Wish Canada has matched the hockey associations with a Wish Child, a nine-year-old whose medical journey began at just 19 months, after being diagnosed with an inflammatory disorder. He has since undergone
numerous medical procedures, with a wish to visit his favourite theme park with his family.
Through the efforts of the hockey community, his family has already received a personally decorated, hockeythemed tree and gifts, but Ted Reeve’s fundraising for Make-A-Wish will continue. The tree is the first one ever sponsored by any hockey association in Ontario.
“By creating Hockey for Wishes, our goal was twofold: to bring the strength and values of our hockey community to help critically ill children and wanting our kids, families and teams to be able to see their impact and connect in a way that drove empathy and compassion through action. The opportunity to drive hope, joy and healing power through the creation of wishes for children has had a great impact on all involved. Thank you to Ted Reeve, North Toronto and Leaside associations, players, families and friends,” said Miles and Jones in a joint statement to Beach Metro Community News
Donations will be open until Dec. 15. To donate, please visit https:// makeawishca.donordrive.com/participants/45377 and/or https://makeawishca.donordrive.com/teams/11923
George Politis retires after 33 years at The Duke
By Alan Shackleton
GEORGE POLITIS wrapped up his 33 years of owning The Duke tavern at Queen Street East and Leslie Street with a retirement party.
Pretty much the whole neighbourhood along with friends and supporters from across the city turned out for the event on a sunny late October afternoon at the tavern.
Both Politis and The Duke are now to be considered East Toronto legends.
Politis came to Canada from Greece at the age of 16. He was familiar with the hospitality business before as his father had owned a restaurant/bar in Sparta where he’d worked while growing up. Politis also worked for many years in the construction business in Canada prior to 1992, when he became the owner of what was then called The Duke of York Hotel and tavern.
The building’s history goes back to the 1870s when it first opened as a stagecoach stop known as The Morin House on the route in and out of Toronto. At that time, the stretch of Queen Street East that the building is on was called Kingston Road.
During its many years of operation, the tavern has had a reputation varying from respectable to notorious.
When Politis took ownership, the Duke of York tavern and hotel was definitely in one of its “notorious” modes with a heavy influence of rough characters making up the clientele.
Politis knew that was not a recipe for long term success. If the business was going to survive and start attracting customers from the neighbourhood, some changes were going to need to be made.
“It had a rep,” said Politis in an interview with Beach Metro Community News during his retirement celebration. “But we had to be a little bit careful as we just couldn’t say to people ‘You’re out of here.’ We had to do it little by little, you know what I mean.”
One of the ways The Duke made the space more appealing to neighbourhood residents, and less attractive for those looking to cause trouble or carry on dubious behaviour, was by changing the music and entertainment being presented.
“I love music, but I also did kind of change the music and bring in more live music,” said Politis. “There was a time, you know, when we could have made a lot more money just bringing in a DJ but it was something that had to be done.”
Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula
scene anymore and they made the choice themselves to go elsewhere as opposed to being specifically told they were not welcome.
Along with supporting numerous local musicians, The Duke also became a fairly regular spot for Robbie Lane to perform. A Canadian music legend since the 1960s, his band Robbie Lane and The Disciples served as Ronnie Hawkins back-up band and then went to have a number of hits of their own. Lane was among the many guests at Politis’ retirement party at The Duke.
Also attending the retirement party was Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher who made a presentation congratulating Politis not only on his retirement but for the numerous contributions he has made to the community.
“I want to pay tribute to your many years of wonderful work here and making this a home for everybody,” said Fletcher to Politis.
“We all feel at home when we’re at The Duke … I’m looking up on the boards and seeing all the wonderful people that have been here – community members, artists,” she said.
“George we are so happy to have known you and so happy that you have done such great things for the community … George is well known as a kind and generous person in this community. Such a big heart. The biggest heart ever.”
BIRCHCLIFF BLUFFS UNITED CHURCH 33 EAST ROAD, SCARBOROUGH
STORYTELLERS: ANN WARD, AVIS FAVARO, DOLY BEGUM, JOHN MOORE, STEVE PAIKIN MUSIC: RANDY VANCOURT & BBUC CHOIR + DANIEL GIVERIN & LORALIE VANCOURT SPECIAL GUEST MUSICIANS: THE AULT SISTERS WITH DAVID WARRACK
LIVE SHOW: FRIDAY DECEMBER 12 TH 7:30 PM
For some of the customers who had frequented the tavern before Politis took ownership, The Duke became not their
Politis said that even though he is retiring, The Duke remains in good hands as ownership has passed to long-time staffers Stephen Silliker and Gwynne Moore.
“Things will still be good here,” he said.
PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON
Fletcher congratulates George Politis as he retires after 33 years of owning The Duke at Queen and Leslie.
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In My Opinion
Back to the Beaches -- 30 years later
steVen Hignett Guest Column
The crunch of maple leaves beneath my feet and the fog rolling over Lake Ontario pulled me into a moment I hadn’t felt in 30 years.
It was Thanksgiving of 2023. My fiancé and I had flown back to Ontario for a family visit, and my father, now in his seventies, insisted we drive into Toronto so he could see his old favourite, and mine, The Goof. How could I refuse such nostalgia?
As we drove down Kingston Road, memory seemed to rise from every street corner. I hadn’t seen these blocks since I was 15, when our family left the city. My parents had bought my childhood house from my great-grandmother. I was a fourth-generation Beacher, one of those legacy families whose histories wove through the streets like the roots of the huge maples that lined the area.
The neighbours weren’t just other adults; they were the people my mother had grown up alongside.
Once, as a small child, I told her I was scared of a woman down the street. She laughed. “Yeah, I was scared of Mrs. Samachuck too when I was your age,” she said.
Across the street lived the Bates family. The patriarch, the elder Mr. Bates, had babysat my mother when she was a child, and years later he watched over my brother, sister, and me. Eventually, his own children would babysit us as well.
From the stern ones to the kind, I knew all the
names. Every neighbour felt familiar, a part of the neighbourhood’s rhythm, a presence that tied generations together. The city was layered that way; our childhoods stacked like film reels of the same story.
Nearing our destination, driving down Queen Street East was like a guided tour of memories. My internal dialogue never stopped. Woolworths used to be here. Shoppers Drug Mart over there. IGA. Hobbit Town.
The corner store where I’d stop after Cub Scout meetings for a Coffee Crisp and a bottle of Coca-Cola, bought with the 50 cents my mother would slip me in secret so my siblings wouldn’t see.
My dad grinned quietly at his own distant memories, while my fiancé, seeing The Beaches for the first time, smiled at its charm.
Then The Goof appeared, its neon sign still glowing. Officially called the Garden Gate Restaurant, the neon had once spelled “Good Food,” with “Good” vertical and “Food” horizontal. Decades ago, the letter D burned out, leaving the accidental word “Goof.” That name had stuck ever since, and I don’t believe the D ever lit again.
From the outside, the restaurant hadn’t changed. It was a time capsule, stubbornly holding its place in the neighbourhood.
Inside, the air carried the same mix of soy sauce, roasted meat, and fried onions that had once mingled with cigarette smoke. Even without the haze, the scent alone transported me back decades.
For a moment, I was a boy again, my legs dangling from a red vinyl booth,
waiting for sweet and sour chicken with my family.
After a nostalgic lunch, my dad beaming over his liver and onions, thrilled it was still on the menu, we walked down to the water. Or was I drawn to it?
The smell of damp leaves and cold sand triggered memories too numerous to comprehend.
Passing under the canopy of autumn-coloured leaves, there it was: the Leuty Lifeguard Station, standing like a sentinel at the edge of the lake. Built in 1919 and the last of its kind, the white clapboard building was unchanged, the same stoic guardian that oversaw our games of frisbee and sandcastle building, our barefoot sprints down the hot sand during those endless summer days, as if the place had been carefully bookmarked, waiting for me to return.
Stepping onto the Boardwalk, generations of memory came rushing back, biking, dog walking, pickup games of catch with a found ball.
When my feet touched the sand for the first time in over 30 years, something in me stirred. A quiet space I hadn’t known was empty suddenly filled. The energy of the sand charged through me, familiar and electric. In my mind, I could hear my younger self joyfully calling out: There you are! We’ve been waiting for you.
After years of moving across the country, 25 of them spent in British Columbia, I realized with a bittersweet clarity that I would never be entirely whole anywhere else. The Beaches still held a piece of my soul.
My dad clapped me on the shoulder, wordlessly acknowledging the weight of the moment, and my fiancé slipped her hand into mine. She wiped a tear from my cheek and didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. My eyes said everything my soul was experiencing.
The Boardwalk stretched ahead of us like a familiar
dream. The fog hovered over the lake, the smell of leaves hung thick in the air, and the Donald D. Summerville Olympic Pool loomed empty and closed for the season.
The windsurfers, the sailboats, the sunbathers were all gone until next year. The playgrounds I’d run to as a child stood silent, swings motionless, yet the waves of the smallest Great Lake still lapped at the sand with the same rhythm they always had. A rhythm that seemed to match the beating of my own heart.
In that moment, I was all me, and it was all mine, my city, my neighbourhood, my beach, my childhood, my soul.
My thoughts drifted to the summers of my youth. We spent every day either on the sand or by the pool. No one swam in Lake Ontario then; the water was too polluted, the warnings too dire. We’d watch scuba divers and windsurfers pull on thick wetsuits, knowing they risked parasites or worse. Fishing was allowed, but we were told never to eat what we caught.
It seems strange now, growing up beside a lake you couldn’t touch. Dead fish washed ashore, but we hardly noticed. We had the pool, and we had each other. I didn’t know how much of myself I was leaving behind when I stepped off that beach for the last time.
Now, standing there three decades later, past and present collided in a way that was both simple and profound. The fog, the smell of autumn, the crunch of leaves beneath my shoes, all of it reminded me that some places will never truly leave you, and you never fully leave certain places.
The Beaches had waited, patient and steadfast, holding on to the laughter and echoes of a boy who once ran along the sand. My father and fiancé stood beside me, witnessing a moment they could never fully understand, but I knew, for that instant, I was home.
City’s lost golf courses topic of presentation
AUTHORS AND historians
Joanne Doucette and Scott Burk will speak about Toronto’s lost golf courses at a presentation hosted by The Beach and East Toronto Historical Society on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at the Beaches Sandbox, 2181 Queen St. E.
Doucette and Burk are the authors of the book Toronto’s Lost Golf Courses: How the Game of Golf Shaped a Region. To provide some background on what the presentation will include, Doucette recently sent the following information on East Toronto’s golf legacy to Beach Metro Community News: James Lamond Smith from Aberdeen, Scotland, the home of golf, arrived in Toronto from Fergus, Ontario, to work for the Bank of Upper Canada handling its real estate portfolio.
When the bank failed, he and Benjamin Morton handled selling what was left of those assets. The close friends bought estates on the Heights in the Benlamond neighbourhood. “Ben” for Benjamin and “Lamond” for Smith’s first name.
The realtors, Morton and Smith, sold Toronto’s elite land for their summer homes, close to sandy beaches for picnics and swimming. The breezes up there not only blew away any stray mosquitoes from Ashbridge’s Bay, but provided natural air conditioning.
Crucially, at a time when tuberculosis was rampant and did not respected class
or money, those spacious estates on high ground were believed to protect from disease. The first north-south roads, such as Beech Street, originally Beach Street, were paths to those Beaches.
But those doctors, lawyers and business executives also wanted to golf. What was then known as Scarborough Heights, the long hill up from Lake Ontario, was ideal for golf, offering lots of sand for bunkers and easy course construction, along with deep ravines and water hazards in the form of creeks like Ames and Small’s Creek.
By 1876, Lamond Smith and some of his other friends wanted to form a golf club and founded the Toronto Golf Club, the first Canadian golf club west of Montreal.
Location, Location, Location. They played on leased ground at Small’s Corners (Kingston Road and Queen Street East) behind the nowclosed Murphy’s Law and used the Woodbine Tavern across the street where the doughnut shop is for their clubhouse.
Even though the land at that location was tiny and flat and not ideal for golf, 1876 was a great year to begin.
The year before the Woodbine racetrack had opened across the street, providing a ready-made source of new golfers as well as more money for Lamond Smith’s ever deepening pockets. He and Morton and a few other investors in 1873 created a horse-drawn tramway to carry aggregates from their
gravel pits on the Heights down to the city, providing much-needed building materials for a growing Toronto. They found that they could make money carrying passengers to and from the Beach. When the Woodbine Racetrack opened, streetcars carried both racegoers and golfers.
Before long, housing developed and pushed out the golfers. They moved out and up to a new course at Fernhill, a property that would eventually stretch from Coxwell Avenue almost to Main Street. There in 1896 they built the Canada ‘s first 18hole course. They even had their own tiny train depot, Lindenhurst Station, and when the steam engine had climbed the long hill from Toronto, the conductor would call out, “Golf, golf!”
In 1909 the City of Toronto annexed the area south of the Danforth between Greenwood Avenue and the Village of East Toronto, opening the area to more housing. The Toronto Golf Club soon decided to sell and moved to their current location on Etobicoke Creek in Mississauga.
Frederick Robins and Sir Henry Pellat, a genius in marketing, Pellatt named their new subdivision on the golf greens ‘Kelvin Park’, suggesting modernity and electricity.
In 1923 a housing boom started to fill the area with homes. But it was too late for Henry Pellatt. On Aug. 17, 1923, the Home Bank suspended operations. But the legacy of non-golfer Benja-
Renewable energy options available
‘Toronto’ from Page 7
lower cost than new nuclear reactors and continued reliance on fossil gas. Not only are renewable options more cost-effective, they have the potential to create thousands of local jobs.
We are not opposed to a third transmission line in principle, but it must support – not delay – the transition to renewable energy. Toronto needs a modernized grid to support the city’s growing electricity needs. The third line should be part of a re-
silient grid that integrates with local energy sources, storage, and efficiency strategies.
Cities around the world are shifting to renewable energy. Toronto can be among the leaders or be left behind.
We are calling on our city councillors and mayor to provide leadership where the IESO and the province have failed us – and to direct Toronto Hydro to come up with an alternative, forwardlooking, and affordable plan.
Please contact your city
councillor to request they step up for renewable energy in our city.
Members of the city’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee can be contacted with this letter tool: https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/179992/action/1
Lynn Blaxley and Corey Helm
Members of Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE)
min Morton and his friend Lamond Smith continues today in the Benlamond neighbourhood, some stately and historic homes, the long streets to the sandy beaches, a new neighbourhood from Coxwell to the old Town of East Toronto, and, of course, a golf club.
Admission to the Dec. 3 presentation is free and everyone is welcome to attend. For more information about the event, please visit The Beach and East Toronto Historical Society’s website at www.tbeths.com
Dr. nigel skinner
hen we first set out to open Shoreview Veterinary, about a year and a half ago, we had the rare luxury of time—time to think carefully about the kind of clinic we wanted to build, and time to reflect on what we had learned over more than a decade in our previous practice.
Owning a small business in a neighbourhood like ours means more than offering a service. It means becoming part of the everyday rhythm of a place, and accepting the quiet responsibility that comes with that.
Many of us who live and work in the east end know this feeling well. Community isn’t just a word on a brochure; it’s the collection of familiar faces, local shops, shared spaces, and the subtle understanding that we’re all looking out for one another.
Whether that connection forms through geography, experience, or a sense of belonging, it grows stronger
when people participate in it with intention.
For over 15 years, we’ve made our home in the Beach/Bluffs area, a part of Toronto that has always had a strong sense of itself.
It’s a place with its own landmarks and its own heartbeat: the Fox Theatre lighting up Queen Street with its century-old charm; the Beach Metro newspaper landing faithfully on doorsteps; the Leuty Lifeguard Station and the Scarborough Bluffs offering views that never seem to get old. Even the hoodies and bumper stickers declaring “Beach!” say something genuine about the pride people feel living here.
It’s not unusual to meet someone who describes themselves as a lifelong Beacher, or to learn that the teacher at your child’s school once sat in the very same classroom.
In our line of work, trust matters. People come to us during moments of worry, hope, and love—the emotional spectrum that defines life with animals.
But we’ve always believed that being part of this community means contributing
in ways that extend beyond the clinic walls. That belief is what led us to create the Shoreview Community Fund.
As the holidays approach, the need around us becomes more visible, and it feels natural to do our part. Through the small events we host—whether an anniversary gathering or a simple photo day with Santa and a beloved pet—we raise funds for local cat and dog rescues and for the Bluffs Food Bank.
None of this feels extraordinary; it simply feels like what neighbours do.
We are fortunate to care for the pets of a community that supports independent businesses with such loyalty and heart.
And as proud as we are of our team and the medicine we practice, we hope they also feel proud of something just as important: the chance to help make this corner of the city a little kinder, a little more connected, and a place we’re grateful to call home.
- Dr. Nigel Skinner is the Founder/Owner of Shoreview Veterinary.
The Main Menu
Holiday gift ideas from the kitchen
Jan Main is an author, cooking instructor and caterer janmainskitchen@ gmail.com
Christmas is the one time of year when cooks go into the kitchen to prepare seasonal treats. And this year, with rising food costs, a gift from your kitchen will be very welcome.
I have selected a range of recipes which may tickle your tastebuds and say “Make Me!” or better still, “Give me as a Gift!”
Be sure to make some for yourself as well!
Individual Christmas Puddings
Next advertising deadline is Monday, Dec. 8
mark@beachmetro.com
The old-fashioned Christmas pudding, rich with candied fruit which would feed a crowd, has been streamlined here both in production with commercial mincemeat and quantity to feed a single person. It’s ideal fare after a simple main course, perhaps a warming soup, to finish with a hearty dessert, on a cold winter’s night.
In the past, puddings had to be steamed for hours then served with custard, hard sauce or caramel sauce.
My English Nanna served her substantial pudding with a divine hard sauce flavoured with brandy and
sherry- enough to chase away the winter blues.
On the other hand, my Canadian Grandmother served her carrot pudding with a hot caramel sauce. They were both delicious!
In fact, I could never choose which I preferred. To solve the problem, I made both sauces and served them with this luscious dessert.
Instead of steaming the pudding for hours, I learned early on to divide the pudding recipe into individual one cup servings and bake them in a roasting pan with an inch of boiling water (technically, this is called a bain-marie or boiling water bath) in the oven.
This simplified re-heating immensely and produced wonderful single servings which could be colourfully wrapped and given to people (especially those who did not cook!) for Christmas! Be sure to keep one for yourself!
1 cup (250 mL) softened butter
1 cup (300 mL) packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 jar, (635 mL) commercial mincemeat. Available in the baking section of the supermarket
4 cups (1 L) mixture, candied fruit such as cherries and dried chopped dried fruit such as apricots, dates, figs, raisins, currants, prunes and dried cranberries
1 cup (250 mL) toasted nuts such as almonds, pecans or walnuts
2 cups (500 mL) fine dry breadcrumbs
2 cups (500 mL) sifted cake and pastry flour
2 tsp (10 mL) each, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger
2 cups (500 mL) buttermilk or 1 1/2 cup milk plus 1/2 cup plain yogurt
Preheat oven to 350 F (180C). Prepare 8-12, 1 cup/ 1 ½ cup custard cups or oven proof souffle dishes lining base with parchment paper and spraying container with baking spray.
Use a large roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet to hold containers. Set aside. In large mixing bowl, cream butter until fluffy, gradually beat in brown sugar then eggs.
Gradually stir in candied fruit and chopped dried fruit, buttermilk or milk and yogurt then breadcrumbs and nuts. Combine well. Spoon into prepared baking dishes leaving ½ inch (1 cm) headspace. Cover with a circle of parchment paper.
Arrange molds in roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet. Bring kettle to the boil and pour in about 1 inch (2.5 cm) boiling water into bottom of pan.
Place container in oven and bake about 1 hour or until pudding is firm to touch and golden brown around edges. Makes 8-12 servings.
Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate has become very expensive. However, it is still possible to make good truffles from imported chocolate for much less than buying ready-made truffles. Chocolate truffles are always a welcome gift!
1 bar (300 g) imported bittersweet chocolate (or semisweet for a sweeter taste). Available In supermarkets including No Frills 1/2 cup (125 mL)each, butter and whipping cream
1/4 cup (50 mL) liquor, choice of: orange liqueur, brandy, whisky or rum
Sifted cocoa to coat balls
Chop chocolate into small pieces and place in a medium mixing bowl with butter and whipping cream. Place bowl over a saucepan with at least 2 inches (10 cm) boiling water. Bring saucepan to simmer with just enough heat to melt chocolate. Stir chocolate, butter and whipping cream until the chocolate mixture is smooth and melted. Stir in chosen liquor. Remove mixing bowl to counter to cool then refrigerate until firm but not stiff. Take a heaped teaspoon of
chocolate and roll into ball. place in bowl of sifted cocoa; roll chocolate to coat evenly then place on tray. Repeat with all chocolate to produce even balls then refrigerate.
Makes about 40 to 48 truffles.
Shortbread
Shortbread is made from three ingredients: flour, sugar and butter. However, it is type of ingredients and how they are combined to work their magic that produces a shortbread which melts in your mouth but is a bit crispy and has that delicious taste of all three caramelized together to produce the perfect cookie. You will know when you taste it. Melt in the mouth delicious and always a welcome gift!
1 cup (250 mL) butter, softened
1/2 cup (125 mL) fine fruit sugar or granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) allpurpose flour
1/2cup (125 mL) rice flour
Preheat oven to 275 F (140 C) Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Using an electric mixer beat butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until well creamed. Measure your flour by spooning it into a dry measure and levelling it off with a knife. Gradually beat in flour then rice flour.
Knead with hands until smooth and satiny and form into a ball.
Roll dough out between 2 layers of parchment paper rolling away from you until dough is ½ inch (.5 cm) thick.
Cut into desired shapes using a knife or small cookie cutters.
Arrange on prepared baking sheet leaving 1 inch (2.5 cm) between cookies.
Bake in preheated oven about 30-35 minutes or until a pale brown. Cool on rack. Store in cookie tin for up to a week, for longer storage freeze for up to 3 months. Shortbreads freeze well! Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
Posh Boutique has been a fashion legend in the Beach for more than three decades
By Julia Sawicki
EVERY DAY, Aileen Selkirk gets to be surrounded by what she loves most: fashion.
Her boutique, Posh, located at 2016 Queen St. E., is a Beach staple, housing stunning textiles, silk scarves, high quality fabrics such as alpaca and yak wool, skirts of all lengths, blouses to last a lifetime, and cashmere sweaters that are as chic and cozy as the store itself.
Selkirk grew up in the Beach and opened her first store in the neighbourhood, Texas Rose, in 1977 at just 17 years old.
With only some borrowed clothing hangers from a nearby dry cleaner, and an empty shop, Selkirk went around putting up posters in the city, asking for clothes to be sold on consignment, pressing and pricing the pieces herself.
According to Selkirk, her business model at the time was mostly just “winging it.”
She said she’s always been interested in clothes. Dressing “outrageously” in high school and styling her Barbies as a child.
Selkirk said it helped her discover more about herself, and pulled her into what would soon become her life’s work.
“That was my self expression. I feel that clothing is a creative outlet,” she said.
Selkirk closed Texas Rose in 1984, before opening Posh in 1989. Since then, Posh has become the community goto for high quality garments and unique pieces, drawing in residents for more than 35 years.
Posh prides itself on the standards of the clothing that’s carried. Most items are sourced locally, from around Canada or from countries in Europe. On a walk around the shop, Selkirk showed hats from Poland and Germany, locally made accessories and jewelry, and blazers and jackets from Spain.
She also works with some of her designers, suggesting alterations or reworks, curating each article of clothing meticulously.
Selkirk could proudly tell you where every piece at Posh is from, along with materials, production processes and the people behind them.
“The basis of my store is all sustainably made, no modern slavery. I research all the places that produce the clothing and accessories for me, so I know everything about them,” she said.
In her time between closing Texas Rose and opening Posh, Selkirk moved to the Caribbean, where her expe-
rience there contributed to a personal need to make sure all her clothes are made decently, with fair wages and safe working conditions.
She said that she saw what underpaid workers and dangerous environments did to people, and became “acutely aware” of it at a young age. She said she is happy that more people now seem to be making a conscious effort to either upcycle, or buy sustainably.
“I work with small companies that are completely transparent. There’s no ‘greenwashing’ which happens with a lot of big companies,” explained Selkirk. “I source from around the world, but I do a massive amount of research, because I don’t want to sell anything that I don’t feel good about.”
Selkirk credited a lot of the store’s success to Beach residents, and the support they show for local entrepreneurs and artists. Through community support, ethical
Scarborough Model Railroaders open house on Dec. 7
THE SCARBOROUGH Model Railroaders
will hosting an open house on Sunday, Dec. 7.
The open house will take place at the Scarborough Model Railroaders clubhouse, 17 Jeavons Ave., in the Birchmount and Danforth roads area, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for chil-
dren, either cash or e-transfer.
The Scarborough Model Railroaders’ setup features one of the largest model train layouts in Ontario, including two floors of model railroads at the clubhouse.
For more information, go to https://scarborough-model-railroaders.org/loom
practices and quality materials, Posh has become a Beach fashion legend, and Selkirk is thankful for the people around her.
“I’m very fortunate that I have a lot of customers that have followed me through my whole journey. And they are very loyal, and then they tell their friends, and they tell their friends. There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t have somebody come in and tell me that they bought a dress from me, say, a linen dress, and they bought it 20 years ago and they’re still wearing it because the fabrics hold up so well,” said Selkirk.
“I’ve always sold quality, and people understand that. If you buy a really beautiful blouse, that’s timeless.”
Selkirk also has an excellent relationship with those who visit the store, remembering customers that come in by name, warmly greeting them and acting as a personal stylist. The passion she has for her work and customers shines through as she matches the perfect top, to the right pair of linens.
For more information on Posh, please visit https:// poshshop.ca
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
PHOTO: JULIA SAWICKI
Aileen Selkirk has been in the fashion business in the Beach since the age of 17 and has been operating Posh Boutique in the Beach for more than 35 years.
Apartment/ Home for Rent
(r)
For Sale
Maps Location: East York 416-580-4290 (call first) ucandoit@bellnet.ca (19)
Stained Glass Windows
‘In Stock’ - many stained/leaded glass panels, both vintage & new www.stainedglassservices.ca Instagram @torontostainedglass StainedGlassServices@hotmail.com (19)
Join the Torontofanclub.ca Place the name of the passionate Toronto sports fan(s) in your life in the intro + outro of our Toronto Fan Pump Up song. Sports + music is a winning fusion for business brands. Call 437-226-9333 (18)
Collectibles
ST. CLAIR ANTIQUES
We BUY and SELL: Furniture, Gold & Silver, Antique Jewelery, Mid-Century Modern, Art & Collectibles! We do house calls! 3595 St Clair Ave. E. • Hrs: 11-6 Thu-Sat 416-606-7843 / 905-978-0626 stclairantiquestoronto@gmail.com stclairantiques.com (18$ Computer Services
ONSITE COMPUTER SERVICES Fast, Reliable, Affordable!
BOILER REPLACEMENTS
Hot water boiler replacements and service
Radiator & floor heating installations Tankless water heater installations 416-606-7843
ken@hydronicheatingsystems.ca hydronicheatingsystems.ca (18)
Home Decor
Vienna Upholstery
2358 Kingston Rd. (w. of Midland) 416-698-9000 ViennaUpholstery.ca (r)
General Services
WAYNE’S
RUBBISH REMOVAL & DEMOLITION SPECIALIST RECYCLING
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR CLEANING 416-264-1495 CELL 416-567-4019 (21r)
MR. FIX-IT
PROFESSIONAL, MATURE, RELIABLE RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS 20+ years experience Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry, Painting, and Handy Work. Randall 416-450-0599 torontomrfixit@gmail.com (19r)
Peter the Handyman
INDOOR / OUTDOOR
General repairs: Drywall / Caulking / Painting / Decks / Fences Odd jobs: Fixtures, TV, Shelf & Picture install / Furniture assembly (IKEA)... & much more! Call/text Peter 416 577 4252 (18)
JUNKMEISTER
Friendly, Efficient & Affordable ALL Junk & Renovation Debris Light Demo Landscape Cleanup Call anytime! Blake 416 873 0205 junkmeisterto@gmail.com (19)
Snow Removal
Tutoring
Head
Garden & Tree
BEACH PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
CALLS & PICK-UP SERVICES AVAILABLE EFILE PERSONAL, BUSINESS & CORPORATE 416-699-6641 • tariqabstax@gmail.com angela.abstax@gmail.com BY APPOINTMENT ONLY PLEASE 161 Main Street, Toronto
BEACHES LAWN MAINTENANCE BEACH SNOW REMOVAL 416 414 5883 info@blpm.ca (18r) EAST END SNOW REMOVAL Seasonal Contracts 437 269 1150 (18r)
& UPHOLSTERY CLEANING
• Bio-degradable, non-allergenic products used
• Drying time 3-4 hours
• Bonded, insured, certified Free At Home Estimates! Call 416-783-3434 (19)
RILEYS’ CLEANING SERVICES
A family business since 1956 Tile and Grout Cleaning We also do Windows and Eaves. 416 421-5758 rileyswindowcleaning.com (r)
KLEANCARE CLEANING
We offer: • Commercial & Residential • Deep Clean • Regular Cleaning Call Erika 647-989-5188 (18r)
HNC HOME SERVICES
Eavestrough Cleaning, Gutter Guards & Christmas Lighting & more 10% promo code: Metro10 www.hnchomeservices.ca 647-568-8698 (18r)
EXTREME CLEANING
I provide excellent cleaning services for residential homes and condos. Contact Martha @ Cell: 647-206-1415 (18.)
CLEANING FAIRIES
Your house has never seen such magic! Two sisters will: Clean houses, Apartments, Deep Cleanings, Move in & out, and more... Call or text
Sandra 647-289-2982 Sonia 647-216-5464 (18)
All classified ads may also be viewed at
AMELIA ROSE GARDENING & DESIGN
(18r)
& Fall cleanup. Maintenance. Garden design & plant installation. Seasonal/special occasion planters. Free consultation. Contact Deb 416-804-0646 deb@ameliarosegardendesign.ca www.ameliarosegardendesign.ca (19r)
TREE
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Meeting on plan for 36-storey building on Danforth Avenue slated for Dec. 3
AN IN-PERSON community consultation meeting on a development proposal for The Beer Store site at 3130 Danforth Ave. (just east of Victoria Park Avenue) is set to take place on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
The meeting will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre, Activity Room 1, 313 Pharmacy Ave.
To be discussed will be the proposal for a 36-storey, 483-unit residential apartment building at the current location of The Beer Store.
The proposed development will include a podium with 678 square metres of groundfloor retail space, as well as a two-level un-
MBX ELECTRIC
NEWBRIGHT PAINTING NO MESS, NO FUSS, JUST SUPERIOR WORKMANSHIP INTERIOR • EXTERIOR 30 YRS EXPERIENCE • FULLY INSURED CALL SEAN FOR AN ESTIMATE 416-985-8639
newbrightpainting@gmail.com (19)
ROB’S QUALITY PAINTING INC.
• Interior & Exterior Painting • Deck & Fence Staining • Stairs Staining • Drywall & Repairs Local resident with 20+ yrs experience Rob 647-274-1197 rhanousek@gmail.com (20)
Heather Feather Painting, Design and Wallpaper Installation Experienced, reliable, and detail-oriented painter & wallpaper installer based in Toronto. Specializing in all styles. 20 years professional experience. Clean work, timely service, and satisfaction guaranteed. Colour consultations available! www.heatherfeather.ca 905-923-0156 (19r)
CHIX WHO FIX
Painting, Tiling, Kitchen + Bathroom Renos & Small Repairs, Decks, Millwork 30 years experience • Licensed & Insured Text or Call Lisa 416-200-2424
Email lisa@chixwhofix.ca Estimates are always free (19)
Plumbers
BEACH PLUMBING
Small Repairs to complete houses Renovations 416 691-3555
50 years in the Beach (r)
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLUMBING
Beach resident for 50 years. Discount for seniors and single parent. Lic. Master Plumber • Free estimates Patrick 647-404-7139 patrickj480@gmail.com (9/26r)
TOM DAY
Plumbing & Drains All types of plumbing work. Smallest leak - complete bath reno. Internal & external drain excavating. Call the professionals 416-480-0622 24 hr. - lic# P1624 (19r) Marc The Plumber Master
• Carpentry
Your Project is our Passion 647-207-0124 patrick@greatwoodsolutions.com (19)
Roofers
LANIGAN’S
Roofing & Aluminum
An honest family service in the heart of The Beaches www.laniganscontracting.ca 416-569-2181 (r)
ROOFING & SIDING?
SOLUTION!
Flat and Shingle Roofs
Re-roofing, Repair
Eavestrough, Soffit & Fascia
Electricians
Workmanship Guaranteed Gus: 416-910-8033 (18r)
TORONTO ROOFING
INDUSTRIES LTD.
Local • Reliable • Professional
Servicing the beach over 20 years. 416 694 0906 torontoroofingindustries.com (21r)
ROOFING, REPAIRS DUN-RITE
Shingles, Flats, Eavestroughs Fascia & Soffit Chimney tuck pointing
15% off for Seniors • All work guaranteed 647-857-5656 (21/26r)
derground parking garage containing 146 vehicle parking spaces, 23 visitor spaces and 13 accessible parking spaces.
Scarborough Southwest Councillor Parthi Kandavel will be among city officials in attendance at the Dec. 3 meeting.
The meeting location is wheelchair/mobility device accessible. For any other reason-
J. BROW ROOFING
Shingles • Flats • Cedar Free Estimates
Residential & Commercial Cell: 416-788-9020 Lic# B16393 (18$)
CITYWIDE
ROOFING
416-690-1430 647-898-1440
Serving the Beaches since 1974 Family owned & operated (18$)
NEXT DEADLINE
December 8
CANADIAN CONTRACTOR
Shingles • Flats Roof Repairs • Metal Work Eavestroughing & Siding Waterproofing • Since 1984 Met. Lic. B-16-964 Steve 416-285-0440 • 416-605-9510 (18.)
Beach Co Roofing Your neighborhood flat roofing specialist. 647-309-8056 (18r)
SMALL ROOFING JOBS REPAIRS
EAVESTROUGH CLEANING & FIXING • YARD CLEANUP No Money Up Front NEWFIE TONY 647-462-3556 (18)
Masonry
BEACHES BLUFFS MASONRY
Brick • Block • Concrete • Stone www.beachesbluffs.com beachesbluffs@gmail.com 416-988-2589 (18...r)
BRICK SPECIALIST
Masonry & brickwork.
Experts at matching existing brick. New builds, tuckpointing, colour matching, parging. Stone & Block. scotstonecontracting@gmail.com www.scotstonecontracting.ca Call Scott 416.858.2452 (18$)
GEORGE’S MASONRY AND STONEWORKS
Flagstone patios • Retaining walls • Porches brickworks • Masonry restoration • Fireplaces rebuild Cell: 647 - 280 - 1827 wonderstone1004@gmail. com 19)
OTTO’S MASONRY
Your neighbour for over 45 yrs!! Chimneys.Brickwork.Interlock Pavers Concrete.Porches.Stone To BOOK NOW Call: 416 467 1717
Email: info@ottosmasonry.ca Website: www.ottosmasonry.ca (15/26
JDB MASONRY
• Brick / Foundation • Concrete / Stone • Chimney & Parging Restoration & Build www.jdbuild.ca 416-738-2119 (18r)
YORK MASONRY
S pecializing in: - Chimneys - Tuck-pointing - Brick/block repair - Patios Serving the Beaches
able accommodation or assistive services for persons with disabilities who wish to attend the meeting, please contact Community Planner Tommy Karapalevski via email at Tommy.Karapalevski@toronto.ca, or by phone at 416-392-4336. Please note that accommodation will only be provided with adequate notice.
Trades
HANDYMAN
