Beach Metro News, December 16, 2025

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Volume 54 No. 19

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December 16, 2025

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Holiday Pancake Breakfast fun at the Beaches Recreation Centre

PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON

The Beaches Recreation Centre hosted its annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday morning. Featuring food, arts and crafts, music and a visit from Santa Claus, the annual event helped to collect donations for Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program. Photo above left, mom Laura and ‘Little Santa’ enjoy the breakfast. Photo above right, Maya and Nova, both 5, work on their colouring during the breakfast. For more on Centre 55’s Share A Christmas, please see Page 13.

Changes to blue bin recycling Community Christmas dinners collection to start in New Year help share holiday cheer on Dec. 25

By Matthew Stephens

THE SPIRIT of the season will be in full swing in East Toronto on Christmas Day as a number of events are planned to help spread holiday cheer.

On Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), St. Aidan’s Church on Queen Street East in the Beach will continue its more than 25-year tradition of hosting a lunch for community members.

The doors open for the lunch at noon and those seeking a meal or wishing to partake in some holiday companionship on Christmas Day will be welcomed warmly by the volunteers at the church, which is located at 2423 Queen St. E., at Sil-

ver Birch Avenue. The turkey lunch itself will be served at 1 p.m.

Also on Christmas Day, local restaurant Fearless Meat on Kingston Road will be providing free smoked turkey sandwiches for all who wish to have one.

Located at 884 Kingston Rd., Fearless Meat will be distributing the sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 25.

No purchase is necessary to receive the free turkey sandwiches, but there is a limit of one per customer and they must be picked up personally – no online or delivery app orders. The sandwiches will be provided while quantities last.

Dec. 25 will also see the longstanding tradition of the East York Seniors’ Christmas Dinner continue.

Celebrating its 43rd year, Christmas dinners and some holiday cheer will be delivered to many local seniors next Thursday.

The dinner has shifted from what was once an in-person event to doing at-home deliveries following the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, fire regulations in the East York Community Centre on Pape Avenue limited the number of seniors the organizers were allowed to welcome in for the dinner.

Continued on Page 3

THE CITY of Toronto has issued a reminder that, effective Jan. 1 of 2026, the municipal government will no longer be running residential recycling –­ blue bin – services.

Under new provincial legislation, the private company Circular Materials will be taking over recycling collection and related services for single-family homes, some multiresidential buildings, schools, longterm care facilities and retirement homes.

Changes to recycling collection services will not be applied to commercial customers, city divisions or agencies, charities, institutions, or religious organizations.

For residents across Toronto, blue bins will remain in use and there will be no changes to how residents recycle or collection schedules, apart from some new additions to materials that can be recycled.

The city is urging residents to continue participating in the recycling program “regardless of who manages the program.”

The only noteworthy change to the blue bin program is that now, rather than calling the city, residents will need to contact Circular Materials at 1-888-921-2686, or online at circular materials.ca/ toronto for requests and inquiries related to any recycling services, Continued on Page 20

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BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

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Beaches Lacrosse Club vows to fight decision to keep ice in at Ted Reeve Arena’s main rink during the summer

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THE BEACHES Lacrosse Club is crying foul over a decision by the Ted Reeve Community Arena Board of Directors earlier this month to keep the ice in on the main rink during the summer; a decision that will have a profound impact on the club.

The club has been playing box lacrosse at Ted Reeve Arena during May, June and July for the last 30 years, using both the main rink and the bubble, said club executive members Chris Kidd and Dave Lembke.

Also, the Toronto Beaches Junior A lacrosse team uses the main rink to play its home regular season games during May, June and July.

The two organizations are separately run.

The lacrosse club is a community non-profit sports organization for youth; and the Junior A team a privately-owned organization that competes in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League.

In response to the decision by the arena board, the Beaches Lacrosse Club has

started a petition calling for the action to be reversed.

Posted on Change.Org, the petition says the decision to keep the ice in over the summer came as a surprise to the lacrosse club.

The petition letter is also posted on the Toronto Beaches Junior A team’s Facebook page.

“As many of you are aware, on December 2nd the Ted Reeve Community Arena Board of Directors voted to keep the ice in the main rink throughout the summer months, effectively relocating Toronto Beaches Minor Box and Jr. A Lacrosse out of Ted Reeve Arena, a place they’ve used for decades,” reads the letter.

“As you can imagine this news came as a complete surprise to the Toronto Beaches Lacrosse Club...

We feel deceived by a group we’ve had a decades long partnership with.”

The petition letter said the lacrosse club is working to have the decision reversed and questioned the timing of the board’s vote.

“We need your support.

Please sign our petition to reverse the decision made by the Ted Reeve Board. Let’s show the Ted Reeve Board, City Council and the City of Toronto just how important lacrosse is to the community,” the petition letter concluded.

Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford, who is a member of the Ted Reeve Arena Board but was not at the Dec. 2 meeting, said he is working to achieve an outcome in which all user groups feel heard and respected.

“Ted Reeve is more than an arena – it’s been a second home to east end families for more than 70 years,” said Bradford in a statement sent

to Beach Metro Community News.

“The community arena is governed by an arms-length independent Board, with an explicit mandate to ‘allocate use of the arena and other recreational facilities in a fair and equitable manner among neighbourhood citizens and organizations and arena user groups, with particular consideration given to addressing the needs of the local community,’” he said.

“Recently, a decision about the use of the facilities for summer 2026 raised important procedural concerns that city staff are currently investigating and reviewing.

I am continuing to work with the Board, city staff, and all our community stakeholders to try and achieve the best outcome in this situation and ensure that all user groups feel heard and respected.”

Kidd and Lembke said they did not want the issue to become one that pits lacrosse players against hockey players in the community, especially given that so many young athletes play both sports.

Beach Metro Community News reached out to the Ted Reeve Hockey Association for a statement from the community minor hockey league regarding the situation.

“We are writing to provide context regarding the recent discussion surrounding year-round ice at the Ted Reeve Community Arena (TRCA) and its relationship with the Ted Reeve Hockey Association (TRHA) and Ted Reeve Thunder (TRT),” said Stephen King, Chair of the Board of Ted Reeve Hockey Association and Ted Reeve Thunder Minor Hockey in the statement.

“It is important to clarify

that TRHA and TRT are simply arena user groups, similar to Leaside Girls Hockey, the Balmy Beach Club, and other community programs.

The TRCA (Ted Reeve Community Arena) Board governs the facility and is solely responsible for facility allocation decisions. The decision made by the Board regarding year-round ice does not directly impact TRHA or TRT, as our sanctioned programming operates from mid-August to mid-May in accordance with Hockey Canada guidelines.

“Founded more than 71 years ago alongside the opening of the rink, TRHA is proud of its long-standing role within the community.

We provide local youth with opportunities to develop teamwork, respect, and dedication—values that help them become not only strong hockey players, but responsible citizens. Today, we serve over 1,000 players, the vast majority of whom are multi-sport athletes also participating in lacrosse, rugby, baseball, and other community sports.

“Given this context, it is unfortunate that this topic has been portrayed in a negative light. As members of this community ourselves, we recognize how fortunate we are to have access to a wide range of facilities and resources that allow local families to participate in the sports they love.”

Kidd and Lembke said the lacrosse club plans to file a complaint with the City of Toronto’s Integrity Commissioner this week regarding the situation.

Beach Metro Community News also reached out to the Toronto Beaches Junior A lacrosse team for comment but did not receive a response before our press deadline.

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BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

East York Seniors’ Christmas Dinner tradition continues ‘Community’ from Page 1 “We always had to turn seniors away, or pick-ups, because we couldn’t take more than X amount at the community centre,” said longtime organizer Kam Babulal. “So we decided to deliver.”

Babulal has been the head organizer of the East York Seniors’ Christmas Dinner over the last 26 years.

A former Agnes Macphail Award winner for her volunteer work in East York, she was inspired to help after working previously at a hospital where she saw senior patients who were isolated and alone during the holidays.

She said she wanted to find a way to help them.

“My passion was for seniors,” said Babulal.

“Seniors and kids, that’s my passion.”

However, Babulal is not alone when it comes to making the annual East York Seniors’ Christmas Dinner a reality.

A team of volunteers makes the event happen, and there is also great support from Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford, Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher, and Toronto-Danforth MP, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Julie Dabrusin.

Last year Mayor Olivia Chow helped out delivering the dinners to local seniors on Christmas Day. “We don’t know yet,” said Babulal of

whether the mayor would be able to participate this Dec. 25. “She went and delivered (in 2024) the meals to one of the buildings.”

Babulal and the team of volunteers started preparing for the deliveries in September.

They reached out to several seniors’ homes in East York by letter to coordinate how many meals are to be delivered on Christmas Day. The dinner originally started with 350 seniors in person, but when organizers shifted to delivery they now deliver up to 430 seniors.

This year’s catering will be done by the Swiss Chalet located near Birchmount Road and Lawrence Avenue in Scarborough.

Sarge, who manages the catering, started working with Babulal in 2022 and was responsible for saving the deliveries after a last-minute cancellation.

“When I told him what it was for, and how many people and it’s for seniors, he looked at me and he says ‘I cannot say no to you,’” said Babulal.

“So he made a commitment to me that he will be doing this until he dies.”

Babulal also wants to thank all of the businesses that have continuously contributed and supported the East York Seniors’ Christmas Dinner, including the Big Carrot, George’s No Frills, Food Basics, Foodland, Peek Freans cookies, and Sobeys.

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Beacher Justin Gray nominated for Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album

By Matthew Stephens

FROM GLEN Ames to the Grammys – the Beach’s very own Juno Award-winning bassist, producer, sound engineer and college professor Justin Gray is making history as the first Canadian artist nominated for an award in the Best Immersive Audio Album category at the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards.

“It’s a great honour, and an exceptional feeling,” said Gray.

“We don’t make music for awards, but with the recording academy specifically, and just to have your peers and the industry recognize something and really hold it up to say that ‘this is being appreciated, this is excellent work,’ it’s very touching and inspiring.”

The eight-track album, aptly titled Immersed, takes listeners on a musical journey unlike any other.

With songs using Indian classical music as a backdrop that sets the stage for unconventional drum patterns, jazzy horns, and ethereal strings, the album blends different styles of music to create a listening experience tailored to a global audience.

“It really goes through a number of different genres between jazz music and Indian classical music, chamber music, electronic music,” said Gray. “It’s just a reflection of my own musical professional life.”

The album features the collective efforts of more than 38 artists, 34 of which are based in Toronto, and represent cultures from different parts of the world.

“That’s been the coolest part about it. And then, the Toronto aspect of it is that this is 38 artists. Almost everybody lives in Toronto, or at least calls Toronto home,” said Gray. “It certainly is representative of folks from every part of the world.”

PHOTO: SUBMITTED

Justin Gray has been nominated for a Grammy Award for the album Immersed which blends different styles of music to create a listening experience tailored to a global audience.

As an artist with more than 20 years of experience in the music industry, Gray decided he wanted to take the listening experience of his second studio album to the next level.

Much like a movie theatre sound system, the album has been mixed in Dolby Atmos to deliver a 360-degree, multi-speaker listening experience – a fact Gray is proud to say that he’s “one of the first in the world” to be making music in this format.

“The history of composition in relationship to space is not brand new. But in the case of this particular record, it is me really pushing that concept to a new place of really integrating it at a compositional level,” he said.

“With this music, I started at the very beginning, imagining that you might hear certain instruments behind you, or beside you, or even in front and above you.”

The album is accompanied by visuals showcasing each song’s live performance, integrated with dance performances, and what Gray describes as “nature performances.”

“This record was recorded over the course of 35 days in the studio,” said Gray.

“We captured every single

performance with beautiful cameras and lighting.”

Songs on the album champion Gray’s mixed Indian and Canadian heritage, blending the western sounds of rock, blues, and jazz with popular Indian instruments like the sitar, sarod, and tabla, to create a listening experience that simultaneously feels both familiar and foreign.

“At the end of the day, the biggest thing when you’re writing music is that it needs to come from a place that has really embedded itself in into your musical language or your creativity,” said Gray, referring to his extensive 20year study of Indian classical music.

During a two-year stint in India after college, Gray developed a deeper connection to Indian classical music.

Born and raised in the Beach, Gray attended several local schools, including Balmy Beach, Glen Ames, and Malvern Collegiate, where he met his wife, Natalie.

Growing up with parents who were “avid music lovers,” Gray spent his childhood years in an environment where it was “very common” to gather with family for the sole purpose of listening to albums.

“We listened to music records more than we watched television,” he said.

It was at Glen Ames Public School where Gray developed an affinity for music, after being introduced to his instrument of choice, the bass guitar.

“When I was in Glen Ames, there was a battle of the bands, and my friends and I wanted to do something,” said Gray.

In an odd twist of fate, his childhood obsession with the bass lines in rap-metal band Rage Against the Machine would later evolve and flourish into a passion for jazz.

“They showed me Rage

Against the Machine, and I became totally enamoured with it, and literally learned to play bass so that I could join the Rage Against the Machine band for the Glen Ames battle of the bands.”

Gray honed his skills as a bass guitarist at the beloved Scarborough Music, which was located at the intersection of Victoria Park and Kingston Road and closed in June 2022 after 50 years in business.

“I took bass lessons at Scarborough Music, which of course, is gone now. I had a fantastic teacher named Ivan Zilman,” said Gray. “He took my love of rock music and slowly transitioned it into a love of jazz.”

After high school, Gray enrolled in the renowned music program at Humber College, where he now works as a full-time professor of music production. He has worked with big names in the industry including Snoop Dogg, Olivia Rodrigo, The Tragically Hip, and Brandy.

Between 2015 and 2020, Gray received several nominations and awards, including a number of nominations at the Canadian Folk Music Awards for Best World Album, Best Solo Artist, as well as a Canadian Screen Award for Co-Producer of Best Original Song, and an Emerging Jazz Artist Award at the Toronto Arts Foundation.

In 2022, Gray received a Juno Award for Jazz Album of the Year: Group, for Avataar’s Worldview.

In 2010, Gray invented and co-created the Bass Veena, a hybrid fretless bass instrument designed for Indian classical and contemporary world music performance.

With his latest album, Gray pays homage to traditional music in a modern setting, blending the serenity of Indian culture with otherworldly characteristics found in modern North American music production.

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Kew Beach Unit marks five years of integrated care for patients transitioning from hospital

By Kat Bergeron

DURING THE first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, VHA Home HealthCare and East Toronto’s Michael Garron Hospital partnered to create what was supposed to be a three-month program for off-campus alternative integrated care for bed-bound patients called the Kew Beach Unit.

Five years later, the Kew Beach Unit offcampus integrated care program continues to serve the community as an adaptive measure to support the increased need for hospital beds even since the pandemic.

Based on Kingston Road, just west of Main Street, the program now hosts upwards of 80 patients (up from 20 beds since it started) which supports about 400,000 people in East Toronto.

The program is “just really demonstrating the need and the support that this sort of collaboration provides to the patients we serve,” said Jennifer Sampson, Director of Seniors & Aging and Transitional Care at Michael Garron Hospital.

For patients who are entirely bed-bound, VHA Home HealthCare provides assistance with basic needs such as bathing, rotating laying position to avoid pressure ulcers and eating. For patients with some or limited mobility, the program focuses on healing, mobility and rebuilding strength gradually.

The work to accommodate and rehabilitate patients typically involves multiple specialists, working within the program. The unit began with mostly nurses and PSWs (Personal Support Workers), but has expanded to include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and memory supports, with the help of the OHA (Ontario Hospital Association).

“The ALC (Alternate Level of Care,) patients are bound to be transitioned to the LTC (long-term care) or go back to their homes,” said Oliva Mabborang, Manager –

Community Programs and Partnerships for VHA Home HealthCare.

She added that when those patients “are in the hospital, there’s a lot of deconditioning. So although they don’t need a lot of acute care in the hospital, they still need some basic care. And then this is where they transition. And then we do help them to get better, or, I would say, to re-acclimate them.”

As of May, the Kew Beach Unit was working to relieve the stress on hospital bed capacity limitations with 14 of the original 18 staff providing off-campus hospital bed support as the demand continued to grow. For comparison, when it opened in 2020, the program housed 82 patients in off-campus extended care, showing that it was working to increase the number of available hospital beds. By this year, in 2025, the Kew Beach Unit saw an increase in usage to 343 beds off-campus.

According to Health Quality Ontario data from this fall, the average wait to receive hospital emergency room care was two hours, while admitted patients spent an average of 18.9 hours. The OHA data reports show Ontario’s average available beds per 1,000 people, was 2.28 in 2023.

To expand the alternative care program over a larger network would require more staff, facilities and funding.

“It would be nice to have it expanded, if we are able to, and, of course, VHA will always be there to support in terms of supplying the nurses, the PSW and the allied health workers,” said Mabborang.

Sampson said the Kew Beach Unit’s success has shown that alternative integrated care can help both the patients it treats while relieving pressures on hospitals.

“In reflection, what was a short-term, innovative idea born out of a pressure, has really turned into a sustainable model and exemplifies what integrated care and cross sector collaboration looks like,” said Sampson.

Spirit of the Longest Night concert slated for Dec. 20 to welcome the Winter Solstice THE SPIRIT of the Longest Night: Concert for the Winter Solstice will be presented on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 20.

Performed by Beach guitarist and composer Mark Battenberg and Shakuhachi flute master Debbie Danbrook, the concert takes place at Danforth Mennonite Church, 2174 Danforth Ave., starting at 7:30 p.m.

The concert is honour of the Winter Solstice which takes place this Sunday; when we experience the longest night and shortest

day as the season changes from fall to winter.

After the Winter Solstice, the days slowly begin to get longer and brighter.

Admission is $20 or pay-what-you-can.

Those attending are also asked to bring a donation of a non-perishable food item for a local food bank. However, everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy the gift of music and community.

For more information, contact Mark Battenberg at markbattenberg@rogers.com

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BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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In My Opinion

Celebrating the true spirit of the Beach community Gene Domagala Beach Memories

A

t this time of year, we recognize the true spirit of the Beach community.

We especially recognize the charitable work that our many religious institutions have been

doing all year round, culminating in the holiday season at the end of the year.

There are probably close to 200 Beachers who give their time, energy and financial help to those who are less fortunate or are in temporary need of help including the elderly or those in other circumstances.

People often think that the

Beach is a place for the well-to-do to live, but this is not the case.

There are people here who need help not only at this time of year, but all year round.

And it is charitable Beachers and institutions that help their fellow residents who are less fortunate. These 200 Beachers help feed, clothe and give help in every way possible.

Now this is nothing new here in the Beach area.

Historically speaking, many of these charitable/religious institutions have been in the community for more than 130 years.

It would take me too long to name all of them and credit them for the many things they do.

But here are few of them that make a difference. I regret if I have

left any out.

Thanks to Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, St. John’s Norway Anglican, Beach United, Kingston Road United, Beaches Presbyterian, Beach Hebrew Institute, St. Aidan’s Anglican, Grant African Methodist, St. Nicholas Birch Cliff Anglican, Calvary Baptist, Centre 55, and the Beaches Recreation Centre.

SERVING THE BEACH, BEACH HILL, BIRCH CLIFF, CLIFFSIDE, CRESCENT TOWN, EAST DANFORTH, GERRARD INDIA BAZAAR, LESLIEVILLE AND UPPER BEACH Beach Metro Community News, published by Ward 9 Community News Inc., is a non-profit, non-partisan community newspaper founded in 1972 and published 23 times a year. It is distributed free by volunteers in East Toronto and Southwest Scarborough and paid for by our advertisers.

2196 Gerrard St. E., Toronto, ON, M4E 2C7 PHONE: 416-698-1164 beachmetro.com PUBLISHER & GENERAL MANAGER Susan Legge susan@beachmetro.com EDITOR Alan Shackleton (ext. 23) alan@beachmetro.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Mark Ireland (ext. 26) mark@beachmetro.com PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Melinda Drake (ext. 27) melinda@beachmetro.com NEWS REPORTER Matthew Stephens matthew@beachmetro.com ACCOUNTS MANAGER Hope Armstrong (ext. 21) hope@beachmetro.com CLASSIFIED AD/PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY LEAD Carolin Schmidt (ext. 22) carolin@beachmetro.com NEXT ISSUE: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 ADVERTISING DEADLINE: 5 p.m., Monday, December 29 VOLUNTEER EXECUTIVE: Mary Beth Denomy, Desmond Brown, David Morrow, Doug Black, Tim Doyle, Daniel Loberto, Sheila Blinoff This newspaper accepts advertising in good faith, but does not endorse advertisers or advertisements.

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Letters to the Editor

Aurora House reaches out to community for support A letter to our Beach neighbours from Aurora House: Dear Neighbours, You may not know us, and you may never see our front door, but Aurora House has been part of the Beach community since 2016.

We operate quietly, intentionally and necessarily, to protect the safety and privacy of the women and families who stay with us. Though our home is at a confidential location, our roots are here.

And today, we are reaching out to you, our neighbours, for support.

Aurora House is a transitional home for women and families fleeing violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.

For nearly 10 years, our doors have opened to survivors at some of the most painful moments of their lives. Many arrive with nothing more than courage. Some come directly from unsafe situations. Others from shelters or safe houses.

All come needing the same things: safety, dignity, and stability.

Inside our house, they begin again. They heal.

They regain their footing. They prepare for the next chapter of their lives with the support of our small but deeply dedicated team.

And though our work happens quietly, its impact lives throughout our community.

As we approach our 10-year anniversary in 2026, we are launching a new campaign: Safe-

ty. Dignity. Stability., and we are asking you to stand with us.

We have set a bold but essential goal: to raise $100,000 for urgent capital upgrades that will allow us to continue offering the safest possible environment for survivors. This includes modernized security systems, room and facility improvements, and necessary repairs that come with operating a home that supports families 365 days a year.

We are proud of the work that has happened within our walls. But to continue it, and to prepare Aurora House for the next decade, we need the support of the neighbourhood we call home.

If you are able, we invite you to make a direct donation to our campaign by going online to www.aurorahouse.ca Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to ensuring women and children fleeing violence have a safe and dignified place to rebuild their lives.

The Beach has long been known as a community that shows up for one another.

Many of the women who come through Aurora House go on to become strong, independent members of Canadian society, but the first step is simply having a safe place to rest, recover, and rebuild. With your help, we can continue to offer that.

With gratitude.

Aurora House

What kind of waterfront do we want in Toronto?

Have you explored the spectacular new Biidaasige Park at the mouth of the Don River?

The flood protection and naturalization measures are so well considered and have integrated Indigenous input effectively. I love that staff planted dead trees to create homes for water creatures.

The Snowy Owl stage, the winding trails, the shaded picnic tables and the kayak-friendly waterway are inviting much of year.

Best of all is the playground. Its delightful aspects await discovery by explorers old and young.

Would that we could enjoy the same care in designing public space at the other

waterfront area under renewal, Ontario Place.

Citizen input welcome? No. Instead we get secrecy around the Therme Spa instead.

Commitment to restoring nature? No. Gone is the forest of 50-year-old trees.

Huge costs to taxpayers? Yes. Estimates now surpass $2 billion.

Traffic congestion? Yes. Accompanied by emissions that are not healthy for us or for our environment.

We need to work with Ontario Place for All to Cease the Lease and Repeal the Deal.

Marilyn McKim

Glen Stewart Ravine’s old-growth forest a valued community member Re: ‘City must protect Glen Stewart Ravine’, Letters, Beach Metro Community News, Nov. 18.

The letter writer has correctly directed our attention to the old-growth Carolinian Forest that exists in the Glen Stewart Ravine.

The “ Rights of Nature” movement ad-

vocates for the preservation of such important forests by granting them Personhood with Rights to Thrive.

Considered that way, it would be disrespectful to harm such a valued member of the Glen Stewart Ravine and our community in the Beach.

Donna Keystone

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

‘Inspector Brackenreid’ fundraiser for Beach Metro

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

7

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Joining Craig on stage for a question-and-answer session were (from left) director Gail Harvey, director Katie Boland, and Shanice Banton (who plays Violet Hart in Murdoch Mysteries). The event featured socializing, food, a silent auction, fun, trivia and a showing of the Murdoch Mysteries Holiday Episode that was directed by Boland.

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PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON

The Beach Metro you make possible As the year comes to a close, all of us at Beach Metro Community News want to say a sincere thank you.

Since 1972, this community-owned, non-profit newspaper has existed thanks to the trust and support of the neighbourhoods we serve. This year, you showed that trust in action once again.

We are grateful to our readers, volunteers, donors and business owners who make independent, communityfocused journalism possible.

This is your newsroom, and these are your stories.

This year reminded us why community news matters. We covered many of the local candidates running in two elections — provincial and federal — bringing local voices and issues such as housing, affordability, and immigration into focus.

We also hosted two candidate town hall meetings with the Balmy Beach Resi-

dents Association, creating space for residents to ask questions and engage directly on local issues.

We reported on development pressures, neighbourhood planning meetings, and education funding challenges, including potential pool closures as school boards wrestle with deficits.

We also want to thank our columnists — many of whom have been sharing their voices and perspectives for decades — and give Beach Metro much of its character and soul.

Our interns this year have brought energy, curiosity, and dedication to our newsroom: Matthew, Amarachi, and Josh, with Amarachi and Josh now at the Toronto Star and Matthew continuing here as a reporter; Conrad, Vincent, Mai, Abby, Sierra, Wren, Kat, Natasha, and Marqus from Centennial College; Julia from TMU; Violet from Seneca College; Cole and Aunalya from Malvern Collegiate Institute; and Isabelle

from Notre Dame Catholic High School.

Their work reflects our role as a teaching newsroom, and we’re proud to work with them.

We are especially grateful to our devoted volunteer carriers, who deliver the paper 23 times a year, rain or shine, snow or sun, and to our board of directors for their time and fresh ideas.

Special thanks to Thomas Craig and the Balmy Beach Club for another wonderful fundraiser earlier this month, hosted by the amazing Michael McLaughlin.

Your support reminds us why this work matters and helps sustain it, at a time when fewer and fewer communities have access to local news.

As we look ahead, our commitment remains the same: to show up, listen, and tell this community’s stories with care, fairness, and integrity, and to keep earning your trust.

-- Susan Legge, Publisher.

Next advertising deadline is Monday, Dec. 29 mark@beachmetro.com

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BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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Community Calendar proudly presented by Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford 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. Please join us for 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 DEC. 22: Welcome Winter! a community family event at Henley Gardens Pharmacy, 1089 Kingston Rd. (at Victoria Pk.), 5-7 p.m. Hot chocolate, stories and festive music by Melanie Peterson. Come for friendship, fun and maybe even a flu shot.

DEC. 25: Christmas Day Turkey Lunch at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, 2423 Queen St. E. Doors open at 12 noon, lunch served at 1 p.m. All are welcome.

DEC. 25: Dave’s Annual Free Christmas Day Turkey GiveAway at Fearless Meat, 884 Kingston Rd., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Free Smoked Turkey Sandwiches. No Purchase Required.

Limit 1 per customer. In person only. While quantities last.

JAN. 1: Hair of the Dog Run at the boardwalk, beginning at 11 a.m. Funds raised go to support the amateur athletics programs at the Balmy Beach Canoe Club.

Participants have the option of doing either a 3km walk or a 9km run. Info and registration: www.balmybeachcanoe.com/event-details/2026-hair-of-the-dog-run JAN. 11: MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith & MPP MaryMargaret McMahon host their New Year’s Levee at the Naval Club, 1910 Gerrard St. E., 2-5 p.m. Drop by for refreshments, lively conversation, and good company.

MONDAYS: WEE FOLKS DROP IN at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, 35 Wood Glen Rd., 9:30-11 a.m. except holidays. For ages up to 3 years old, with care givers.

Play and story time with snack. Info at 416-699-3084.

TUESDAYS: EUCHRE. Join us for a fun and friendly evening of progressive Euchre at the Church of St. Aidan, 2423 Queen St. E., 7-9 p.m. (enter from the northeast side door, $5 to play, all proceeds go to outreach). Beginners welcome.

THURSDAYS: BUSY BEES DROP-IN PLAYGROUP at the Church of St. Aidan, 2423 Queen St. E., 10:00-11:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. For ages 0-3 and caregivers, featuring stories and crafts.

THURSDAYS: CALVARY GRACE FOOD BANK, 72 Main St., Thursdays, 6-8:30 p.m, by appointment only, through Daily Bread Food Bank. Info: 416-691-2899, 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., is open from 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 SUNDAYS: “MEDITATIONS FOR WORLD PEACE” class at Atisha Buddhist Centre, 1823 Gerrard St. E., on Sundays from 10-11 am (Free). Wednesdays “Simply Meditate” on Wednesdays from 10-11 am ($10). Thursdays Lunchtime Meditation 12:1512:45 pm ($5). Drop-in classes. Everyone is welcome. Info: atisha.ca, atisha.centre@gmail.com ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SPECIAL MUSIC at St. Paul’s with Guest Musicians at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St. •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 BEACHES LIONS CLUB meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at their Clubhouse, 10 Ashbridges Bay Park Rd. Interested in serving your community? Info: www.beacheslions.com 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. 23, Jan. 6, 20; St. Aidan’s Anglican Church (2423 Queen St. E.) Dec. 16, 30, Jan. 13 •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 speak-

ers, 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 EARLYON FAMILY RESOURCE CONNECTION, 184 Main St. Play Learn Explore: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.3 p.m., Friday & Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. All children from birth to six years are welcome. Info: 416-690-0102, Jennifer.hooker@familyresourcecentre-dcc.net GERRARD ASHDALE LIBRARY, 1432 Gerrard St. E. •Dec 20, 27, Jan 3, 10: Chess Club, 1-4 p.m. Drop in every Saturday for a few friendly games of chess. All ages and levels.

Children under 12 require supervision. No registration required. •Dec 20: Holiday Sing-Along, 2-3 p.m. Sing your favourite Christmas carols and other winter melodies. Please register in advance. •Dec 21: Sunday Family Time, 2-2:30 p.m. Now added to Sundays! Enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes. For ages 0-5 and their parents/caregivers. Note: There will be no Family Time on Dec 28. 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. Blue Christmas service is on Thurs., Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve services are at 4:30 and 8 p.m. Christmas Day service is at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome at any of our holiday or weekly worship services. 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).

BEACH UNITED CHURCH, 140 Wineva Ave., invites you to share in worship with us every Sunday at 10:30am.

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 Saturday, Dec. 20th at 7pm, and our 10:30am service on Sunday, Dec. 21st will feature our annual Christmas Cantata performed by the Beach United Choir.

On Dec. 24th at 7pm, we will celebrate Family Christmas Eve together (no communion). Please visit our website for more information: beachunitedchurch.com FALLINGBROOK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 35 Wood Glen Rd at Kingston Road. Please join us for our Advent & Christmas Events this holiday season. All are welcome! Fallingbrook is an affirming congregation and is accessible by a lift. Advent Sunday Worship Services weekly at 10:30 a.m. Blue Christmas: Saturday, December 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.

December 24. Please join us on Live Stream via Facebook or through our church website. Minister: the Rev. Angela J. Cluney, Music Director: Nick Jessome. For more information please contact us by e-mail: fboffice@rogers. com or call us at: 416-699-3084. Please see our website for more details: fallingbrookpresbyterianchurch.com.

Easy access by TTC from the Victoria Park subway.

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 pm. 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.

For a link to the services and more info please visit our website at www.beacheschurch.org or call 416-6995871. Minister: The Reverend Katherine McCloskey ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 794 Kingston Rd., 2 blks. east of Main St. All are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the joy of Christ’s birth and the hope of the New Year. Advent Day of Confession: Tues. Dec. 16 - 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm in the rectory and from 6 pm to 8 pm in the church, also avail. 3:45 pm to 4:15 pm every Saturday in the church or by appointment. Christmas/ New Year Schedule: Celebrant and Homilist: Fr. Joshua Roldan - Dec. 24 Christmas Eve: Children’s Christmas Pageant at 4:00 pm followed by our Christmas Eve Early Mass at 4:30 pm. Our Mid-Eve Mass will be at 8 pm with pre-Mass carols led by the choir at 7:40 pm and our LateEve Mass begins at 10 pm with pre-Mass carols led by the choir at 9:40 pm. There will be no Midnight Mass. Dec. 25 Christmas Day Masses will be at 9 am and 11 am. No daily Mass on Dec. 26. Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Mass will be at 4:30 pm. Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Masses will be at 9 am and 11 am. No daily Mass on Jan. 2. Regular Mass times continue every Sat. at 4:30 pm, every Sun. at 9 am and 11 am, Tue. to Fri. at 8:15 am. Contact church office at: https://stjohnsto.archtoronto.org or call 416-698-1105.

WAVERLEY ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH, 129 Waverley Road. We invite you to join us either on-line for our Sunday Morning Worship Services (www.twitch.tv/waverleyroadbaptist) beginning at 11:00 am, 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 December 24th at 4:30pm. For more info about Waverley, you can reach us at (416) 694-3054, info@waverleyroad.ca, or www. waverleyroad.ca. Find us on Facebook & Instagram, too!

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Oh What Fun!

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PHOTO: JULIA SAWICKI

Loretta Mcdonald creates mats from plastic milk bags by crocheting them together. The mats are used by clients of Street Health Toronto.

Milk bag mats a help for those facing homelessness

By Julia Sawicki

LORETTA MCDONALD is a lifelong crocheter whose home is filled with hooks, yarn, wool and, for the last 15 years, milk bags.

She first encountered plastic yarn while donating clothes at Canadian Food for Children.

The charity showed her how they turned the plastic material into mats, sending them to countries in need. The material was surprisingly durable, easy to clean, comfortable to sit or sleep on, and ideal for reusing.

Mcdonald took a box home that day and began making mats for the organization, a practice she continued for years before realizing she could make an impact closer to home.

“I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, we need to do something for the people in Toronto,” she said.

The 2024 Street Needs Assessment Survey reports that the number of unhoused individuals in Toronto has more than doubled since 2021, estimating approximately 15,400 people.

Many experts describe the situation as a crisis, and Mcdonald saw the effects daily.

She connected with Street Health Toronto, and learned she could create mats using regular milk bags, the colourful outer ones commonly thrown away. Through eliminating plastic waste she transforms the bags into something to help keep people warm.

Mcdonald began cutting the bags into strips and rolling the material with friends, later reaching out to schools and churches, asking them to collect milk bags for her when supplies ran low.

One bag cuts into an eight-foot strip that crochets into roughly one to one-and-a-half feet. Depending on the size of the mat, Mcdonald uses between 250 and 300 bags.

Apart from crochet, there are various techniques used when making the mats, including weaving them on a frame. Mcdonald says she finds crochet the simplest, but it depends on what people are comfortable with.

Each mat Mcdonald makes is roughly the size of a yoga mat and tied to make it easier for people to carry.

She also gives each mat a distinct look. If a milk bag has red packaging, she keeps all the red strips together or incorporates them into a pattern. She said this helps prevent theft, which she has learned is an unfortunate reality for many unhoused people.

When she has extra time, she also crochets yarn hats and gloves to accompany the mats. “The clients were really needing them.

Because you can put them down, and they

do not absorb the water, and it does not get dirty like other fabric would. You can wash it easily, the bugs do not like it, and it gives insulation. Some people put them in their sleeping bags,” explained Mcdonald.

In recent years, Mcdonald has turned to the community for help. She posts in the Beach Facebook Group whenever she runs out of milk bags and asks residents to message her for drop-off information. She said the response has been wonderful and often finds neat stacks of cleaned milk bags left at her door.

She added that once a church group dropped off the bags already cut into strips, and rolled them into makeshift yarn balls before delivery, which is a tremendous help and allows her to focus on the stitching.

She encourages others to learn to crochet the bags themselves, even if the process is not glamorous. Tutorials are available online and she has offered to teach people in the past when residents have reached out.

Mcdonald is not the only person to make milk bag mats; there are various organizations and charities that have implemented the project, but there are still far more milk bags than there are hands to crochet them.

“It’s not sexy. It’s boring plastic, nobody wants to do it. Not my family. ‘Oh mom, you and your milk bags.’ They’re so sick of me.

But it’s useful and so to me, it’s magic,” she said.

For Mcdonald, the bags are not only a way to give back to her community. They are a way for her to use her time productively, keeping her hands moving, teaching her patience and mindfulness. She works to make sure she can offer a little more comfort to the people who need it most, while taking care of herself in the process.

“It is something so simple. To me, it has been a lifesaver since retiring and losing my husband. And it helps you focus. Once you get going, it is mindless, but you do have to focus. There are all kinds of life lessons in it. But this is true of any hobby, I think. And if you have a hobby, then you can learn so much,” said Mcdonald.

For a tutorial on cutting and crocheting your own milk bags, please visit https:// www.instructables.com/Making-Milk-BagMats-Mats-4-Haiti. For information on milk bag matt drop offs, please visit https://milkbagsunlimited.ca/networks.

To reach out to Mcdonald directly, please visit https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100086602634383

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BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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Fearless Meat staffers Janet and Mark were at the Kingston Road restaurant on Saturday, Dec. 6, to help collect toy donations for the CP24/CHUM Christmas Wish campaign. The drive collected approximately 400 toys which will be distributed to families in need by a number of social service agencies across the Greater Toronto Area over the holiday season.

PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON

Community Carol Sing-Along at Kingston Road HearCANADA.com United Church KINGSTON ROAD United Church will be hosting a Community Carol Sing-Along this coming Sunday afternoon.

Everyone is invited to attend the free event and enjoy some seasonal festive fun.

The sing-along will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. in the church, 975 Kingston Rd., on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Prior to the carol singing in the church, there will be home-baked goods and crafts for sale starting at 1:30 p.m.

For more information on the event, please visit Kingston Road United Church’s website at www. kruc.ca

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

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BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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The Glen Ames Senior Public School robotics team, Guardians of the Future, gets some inspiration and help from the movie Back to the Future.

Happy Holidays

Glen Ames robotics team helps unearth history

By Jessica Shackleton

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FROM THE future to the present to the past and back to the future, this year’s Glen Ames Senior Public School robotics team, Guardians of the Future, has found a way to get students interested in archaeology.

The team showed what student life could look like in 2065 if students aren’t introduced to the importance of history and archaeology at a younger age.

In the students’ robotics project, Doc Brown and Marty McFly swiftly arrive in the time-travelling DeLorean on their way to the past. Back in 2025, apparently, students were more interested in Minecraft and screens than learning about archaeology in history class.

Fortunately, the 2025 Glen Ames robotics team created Sniffy, a dog-like robot that can dig up and analyze artifacts.

Using Bluetooth, Sniffy finds them and collects information. Users then get to interact directly with the artifacts instead of simply reading or hearing about them. It’s also a lot more fun.

The team surveyed their fellow students about favourite school subjects and found that history was one of the least popular.

They also interviewed multiple archaeologists who said they didn’t become interested in the subject until they were much older.

The research led the robotics team members to realize that students needed to spark an interest sooner rather than later when it comes to history.

And so Doc and Marty hurried back to the future and saw a student and his dog, also named Sniffy, invested in archaeology and appreciating history, thanks to this technology created by the Glen Ames students.

The Guardians of the Future team put

their project on display and took part in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge qualifier on Dec. 7, at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute in Scarborough.

The FIRST Lego League Challenge introduces students to engineering and robotics and allows them to analyze real-world challenges using teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills. Teams must come up with a product that isn’t already available on the market.

This year, the theme for the competition is Unearthed. The competing school robotics teams build the coding and design the product based on the theme.

The Glen Ames students wanted to stand out with their mini-digging tool, and there’s no one in the world who doesn’t like dogs, they said.

The current team consists of Grade 8 students who began their training last year.

It’s took many lunch periods, along with before and after school hours, to get Sniffy and the Guardians of the Future team ready for the Dec. 7 competition.

Along with demonstrating how the physical product works, teams at the competition were also expected to make their presentation to the judges in an innovative and charismatic way, hence the star-studded cast that included Doc and Marty from Back to the Future.

At the Dec. 7 competition, the Glen Ames team won the Judges’ Award which is given to recognize teams for exceptional efforts or unique stories outside of the standard award categories.

Members of this year’s Glen Ames team are Zac C., Amelia C., Noah A., Thomas S., Piper S., Nazem S., Ava K., Rhiannon B., James A., and Will J. The team’s coach is teacher Luke Martin.

Nominations for Agnes Macphail Award sought NOMINATIONS ARE now being sought for East York’s annual Agnes Macphail Award.

The award recognizes an East York resident for volunteer leadership in community building and fowarding issues of social justice.

Nominees must have exemplified Macphail’s motto, “Think Globally, Act Locally”, by making an impact in women’s rights; fairness to seniors; criminal justice reform; international peace and disarmament; or access to housing, healthcare and education.

In 1921, at just 31 years of age, Macphail became the first woman to be elected as a member of the federal House of Commons.

Continuing down her path as a pioneer in

Canadian politics, she subsequently became the first woman elected and sworn to sit in the Ontario Legislative Assembly in 1943 after being elected to represent York East.

Nominations for the 2026 award should be sent to the Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee, c/o Strategic Protocol and External Relations, 2nd Floor, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2.

For more information on the nomination process, please go to www.toronto.ca/citygovernment/awards-tributes/awards/agnesmacphail-award.

The deadine for nomimations for the Agnes Macphail Award is 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Happy Holidays from our home to yours

PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON

From left: Sunjay McAuley, with Centre 55; Natalie Johnson, Centre 55 board member; Reza Khoshdel, Executive Director of Centre 55; Rhonda Cook, Centre 55 board member; Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford; and Centre 55’s mascot Hamper were on hand for the Breakfast with Hamper and Cram the Van with toy donations event on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Centre 55’s Share A Christmas deliveries set for this week

By Matthew Stephens

WITH CHRISTMAS just over a week away, Centre 55 and numerous community volunteers will be sorting and delivering toys and gift cards this week as part of the Share A Christmas program.

“Residents play a vital role in making the program possible,” said Reza Khoshdel, Executive Director at Centre 55.

“Our Share A Christmas program embodies the true spirit of community. For many families, the holiday season can be especially challenging when day-to-day essentials are already difficult to afford. This program offers relief, dignity, and hope at a time when it is needed most.”

Now in its 44th year, Share A Christmas helps out more than 1,000 local families in need during the holiday season with donations of grocery gift cards, toys for children and other items, Volunteers will be at Centre 55 to help sort toys and gift cards on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.; and to help distribute the donated items to families on Wednesday, Dec. 17, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

To sign up as a volunteer, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Jeynes, at jennifer@centre55.com. Centre 55 advises volunteers to sign up in advance to ensure

there are enough spaces and roles available for everyone who wants to come out and help.

Though this year’s collection campaign is coming to a close, donations in the form of unwrapped toys, grocery gift cards, as well as direct financial support are always welcomed.

Although Centre 55 works with the food bank at Calvary Baptist Church on Main Street to provide food to families in need, food donations continue to be an ongoing “significant” demand all year round.

For those facing financial challenges and with little to spare in the way of personal donations this holiday season, Khoshdel said that simply informing others about the Share A Christmas cause is a worthy contribution to the program’s efforts.

“Even simply spreading the word helps extend our reach and ensures more families receive support,” said Khoshdel.

“It brings neighbours together, strengthens our sense of belonging, and reminds us that even small acts of generosity can have a profound impact. Each year, we see how deeply people care for one another, and it is this collective kindness that makes Share A Christmas so meaningful.”

For more on Centre 55’s Share A Christmas program, please go to www.centre55.com/ programs/share-a-christmas

Balmy Beach Canoe Club’s Hair of the Dog Run slated for New Year’s Day along the Boardwalk THE BALMY Beach Canoe Club’s annual Hair of the Dog Run will welcome 2026 on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 1.

The run begins on New Year’s Day morning on the Boardwalk at the Balmy Beach Club, 360 Lake Front, with participants starting to gather at 11 a.m.

The Hair of the Dog Run will celebrate its 44th edition with the 2026 run.

The event first took place in 1980 and has has become a New Year’s Day tradition for many local residents.

Funds raised at the Hair of the Dog Run go to support the amateur athletics programs at the Balmy Beach Canoe Club.

The event is open to serious runners, recreational walkers, adults, children and entire families.

Participants have the option of doing either a three-kilometre walk or a ninekilometre run.

The walk starts at 11:30 a.m. and the run begins at noon. The start and finish line is on the Boardwalk, south side of the Balmy Beach Club.

For the 2026 run, participants have a pair of registration options.

Those wanting to enjoy a chili lunch after taking part in the walk or the run, can sign up for the full Hair of the Dog experience which includes food served in the Balmy Beach Club’s main hall.

For those who only wish to take part in the walk or run, that is also an option.

Those who are only walking or running will not have access to the Balmy Beach Club building.

There are a variety of price ranges for tickets depending on the options chosen.

For full ticket information and to register, please go to www.balmybeachcanoe.com/ event-details/2026-hair-of-the-dog-run

GRIEVE SIGNATURE LABEL Real Estate Starts Here.

Ken Grieve & Kelsey Grieve Real Estate Homeward REALTORS® 416 587-7522 grievesignature.com

Real Estate Homeward is Proudly Canadian Owned and Operated. *Not intended to solicit anyone under agency contract.

CORBIN’S CHRISTMAS MARKET Presented by:

Discover the perfect holiday gift, a decadent treat, or the final touch for your festive décor!

Explore Toronto’s best selection of ornaments, snow globes, holiday trees, and hundreds of magical seasonal pieces, everything you need to make your holidays unforgettable.

Shop gourmet foods, beautiful gifts, stocking stuffers, and specialty festive items you won’t find anywhere else.

TWO FESTIVE LOCATIONS 1670 Kingston Road Our permanent store, open year-round & 2234 Queen Street East Our 30-Day Christmas Pop-Up Market, in partnership with DeClute Real Estate & The Wright Sisters Group (Open November 23rd – December 23rd)

EAT • SHOP • DECORATE SAVOUR THE SEASON CALL 416-699-2433

13

14

BEACH METRO NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO NEWS

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16

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Your gateway to connecting with skilled professionals in our community Interested in advertising your business in our Professional Directory?

Contact carolin@beachmetro.com or 416-698-1164 x 22 for rates.

Your Professional Directory ad also appears on our website: beachmetro.com

HEALTH

WELLNESS

ACCOUNTING

LAWYERS/LEGAL

LAWYERS/LEGAL

CHIROPRACTORS

Toronto Beach Eye Care

missfit.ca

Bert van Delft CA CPA Professional Corporation

Dashwood & Dashwood

Shelly Pereira, Paralegal

Janet D’Arcy

OPTOMETRISTS 1914 Queen St. E. (E. of Woodbine) Mon.- Sat. by appointment

in-home personal trainer

CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT Complete financial services for the business owner, manager, entrepreneur & self-employed Corporate & Personal Income Tax Services

TorontoBeachEyeCare.com

416 888 6465 mimi@missfit.ca

416-270-9898 • bert@bvandelft.com 98 Scarboro Beach Blvd.

BALSAM DENTAL

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Chartered Professional Accountants

416-691-5757

Family Dentistry * Open 6 days a week * * Evening hours available * New patients always welcome 2200 Queen St. East (at Balsam)

416-691-8555 www.balsamdental.com

BEACHES OPTOMETRY CLINIC

Dr. Linda Chan, Optometrist and Associates 951 Kingston Rd. (West of Victoria Park)

416-691-1991

Lisa Romano-Dwyer BSc, MSW, PhD, RSW

Registered Social Worker Lakeside Wellness Therapy Affiliates Individual & Couple Care Wellness Life Coaching

416-951-8280 www.modernsocialworker.ca

VETERINARIANS CHRISTINE KATO, B.Sc., D.V.M.

KATO ANIMAL HOSPITAL

DR. LINDA WINTER Psychologist

Consultations • Therapy Individuals • Couples Over 20 years experience.

Located at Queen & Wheeler

416-691-1071

Toronto Kids OT Occupational Therapy for kids of all ages. Fine motor, school readiness, self-regulation.

TorontoKidsOT.ca 416-391-6179

NEXT DEADLINE December 29

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES Best of Both Worlds.

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Same MERs as the Mutual Fund.

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Vic M. Sarju 416-560-0985

Kriens LaRose, LLP

• 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

Melanie 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

Geoffrey J. Dashwood

Commissioner/Notary, Small Claims, Landlord & Tenant/other Tribunals, Municipal Offences, Letters & Mediation.

961 Kingston Rd. Tel. 416-690-7222

647-693-6240 Toronto info@toronto-paralegal.net

Barristers & Solicitors

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 & Estates Real Estate

2069 Danforth Ave. (Woodbine)

416-690-6195

dbadleylaw@rogers.com

DIVORCE Set Fee $479 *

Affordable • Professional • Convenient

Kathryn Wright, Family Lawyer beachesdivorce@gmail.com *Uncontested Divorce

ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN Stephen G. King, Architect B. Arch. OAA, MRAIC “Serving the Beawch since 1987” Residential, Restorations, Home Inspections, Commercial, Interiors, Landscapes COMPLETE PROJECT SERVICES FROM DESIGN THROUGH CONSTRUCTION

(416) 694-8181 www.stephenkingarchitect.com

Member Ontario Association of Architects

Jon Cummings Architecture Residential new build, renovations interior/exterior, garden suites, lane way houses, multiplexes.

Commercial interiors

jcarc.ca

office@jcarc.ca 647-864-8370

Cont.

(plus HST & mandatory court fees)

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

Call for a Free 30 min. Consultation

Peter J. Salah

DC, FRCCSS (C) Chiropractor Sports Injury Specialist 2455A Queen St. East

416 690-6257 Open Saturdays John H.

Family Law Lawyer 124 Merton Street, Suite 300 We Collaborate, Negotiate & Litigate

BJARNASON, D.C.

416.752.8128 peter@salahlaw.ca www.salahlaw.ca

(1 block east of Woodbine)

KAMRUL HAFIZ AHMED

BEACHES WELLNESS CENTRE

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

Chiropractor

1906 Queen St. E.

416-694-2868

Dr. Johanna Carlo Chiropractic &

Registered Massage Therapy 2130 Queen Street East

416-698-7070

ASHBRIDGE’S HEALTH CENTRE Dr. Emily Howell & Associates

Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Orthotics

ashbridgeshealth.janeapp.com 1522 Queen St. E. 416-465-5575 www.ashbridgeshealth.ca

Beaches Family Law and MEDIATION

MASSAGE THERAPY

47 Main Street (at Lyall) 416-763-6884 Linda@BeachesFamilyLaw.com

THERAPY LOUNGE

Linda Bronicheski, J.D.

Welcome to our new space!

2152 Queen Street East • Open 7 days per week • Book Online

FUNERAL SERVICES

www.therapylounge.ca 416-916-7122

eco Cremation &

URBAN CALM THERAPEUTICS

Life Celebrations. Done Differently.

In Service with St. John’s Norway Cemetery & Crematorium.

Stephanie Gage, RMT Kristina Pearsal, RMT 1789 Queen St. East, Unit 6

Burial Services Inc. 647.660.5056 www.ecofuneral.ca

Dr. Allan Katchky Dr. Cindy Greenspoon Dr. Ashley Katchky Dr. Lindsay Katchky

www.urbancalm.ca 416-698-3157

Dr. Ryan Schure Dr. Danielle Meyerson Dr. Rakhi Tilak Dr. Puneet Sunda

and the staff of the Quarry Dental Office extend best wishes for a safe and joyful holiday season and a healthy 2026.

A donation has been made to the Daily Bread Food Bank in honour of our valued patients in the community.

2560 Gerrard St. E. | 416-694-2220 | quarrydental@rogers.com quarrydental.ca

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

COMPUTER Beacher Jared Harding skated for Canada East team at Junior A World Challenge hockey tourney

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COACH & TECH SUPPORT

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I CAN HELP!

I offer friendly private lessons, technical support, and repairs in your home at a reasonable rate.

BEACH RESIDENT Jared Harding, a defenceman with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Newmarket Hurricanes, represented Canada East at the Junior A World Challenge hockey tournament that took place last week in Quebec.

Harding was one of 44 players to wear the Maple Leaf at the tournament.

Taking place from Dec. 7 to 13 in TroisRivières, Quebec, the tournament brought together top junior-aged hockey talent from across Canada and around the world, featuring four teams: Canada East, Canada West, Sweden and the United States.

Harding, 17, began his hockey journey with skating lessons at the outdoor rink in Greenwood Park, and then with the late Bob Acton at Ted Reeve Arena.

He played minor hockey with the Don Mills Flyers and participated in several sports growing up, including soccer, lacrosse, tennis, softball, sailing and ball hockey.

Harding attended Adam Beck Junior Public School, Glen Ames Senior Public School, and Malvern Collegiate Institute.

At the Junior A World Challenge, Harding played in a total of seven games (two of them exhibition games) at the tournament for the Canada East team. He notched three assists.

The Canada East team finished first after the round-robin, but fourth overall in the tournament, dropping the bronze medal game 5-1 to Sweden on Saturday, Dec. 13.

The gold medal was won by the United States.

• Emailing, Facebook • Computer repairs and service • Connecting devices such as cameras and printers • Helping find more affordable and appropriate internet/phone plans

Alex Webster B.A., B.F.A. Professional IT Technician and Photographer

• Using your new phone, tablet, or camera to the fullest • Organizing files and photos • Much more! iOS, Apple Android, & Windows supported

www.thecomputercoach.ca contact@thecomputercoach.ca 416-550-7873

Become a Supporter!

beachmetro.com/support-us/ PHOTO: HOCKEY CANADA

Jared Harding, who grew up in the Beach, was a member of the Canada East team at the Junior A World Challenge hockey tournament in Quebec.

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18

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Find more news at BEACHMETRO.COM

EAST ON QUEEN STREET EAST EVERYTHING YOU’LL EVER WANT OR NEED WE HAVE IT ALL RIGHT HERE!

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On The Wild Side

Sharing some deer memories and facts Ann and Erik Brokelman naturephotosbyann.blogspot.ca

I

was walking through the woods on an autumn morning, the kind where every step stirs a small rustle underfoot. The trees had already let go of most of their leaves, and the ground was a soft, occasionally crunchy, carpet of red, yellow, and orange.

I paused every so often to breathe it all in, listen to the sounds of the forest, and to maybe see something new. That’s when I noticed the faintest movement to my right.

I could just see the antlers at first, peeking over the top of the bushes. I hoped it might be a large buck, but I couldn’t be sure. So, I stayed still and waited. Then, just like that, he stepped forward.

A beautiful buck, walking right toward me.

He stopped, looked straight at me, and we just stood there together, for a moment, making eye contact.

Then he turned and made his way back toward the trees. I couldn’t move. I just watched as he walked away and headed down toward the creek.

He walked as though he had all the time in the world. I didn’t think I would be lucky enough to see him cross the water. But sometimes you get those moments you don’t expect.

He stepped into the creek and moved through it slowly, the reflection just barely visible around him, as a duck perched on a nearby rock and seemed to watch as well.

And then, as quietly as he had come, he was gone.

Seeing that deer brought back another memory. A few years ago, I watched two bucks fighting in a

PHOTO: ANN BROKELMAN

A buck is seen with fall colours in the background in this photo taken by Ann Brokelman. parking lot during the rut.

I stayed in my car and watched as their heads crashed together, their antlers locked, and they fought. It felt like something out of one of those old Wild Kingdom shows. I remember feeling like I was witnessing something rare. The fight was over almost as quickly as it began, and for a moment, I wondered if I had really seen it at all.

If you’ve never heard of the rut before: bucks fight during the mating season, (usually November) to establish dominance and to earn breeding rights.

Have you ever noticed that baby deer tend to appear in the spring?

It’s because the rutting season usually runs from October to December, and deer gestate for around seven months.

Battles between the males usually only last for a few minutes, though they can go on for much

longer, and injuries are common.

Deer can hurt their legs, their feet, and even their eyes. In some rare

cases, the antlers become locked together, and neither buck can break free. When that happens,

both can perish.

What I found especially interesting was how the younger bucks behave at this time of year. They often stand off to the side, studying every move of the older males.

Sometimes they will even step forward and try to take part. It is not a true fight for them, but more of a practice round. It is how they learn what they will need in the years to come.

Some more deer facts I’ve learned over the years: Whitetailed deer are the most common hoofed wild animals in North America, which is why we see them so often around fields, roadsides, and wooded trails. They are easier to spot early in the morning or later in the day when they tend to move around more. When they sense danger, they lift their white tail to alert the others nearby and are very quick to run away.

In the wild, a deer can live for up to 20 years if conditions are good.

White-tailed deer are part of the ungulate family, which simply means that they are animals with hoofs.

A recently spotted buck crosses a creek in this photo taken by Ann Brokelman.

PHOTO: ANN BROKELMAN

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Travel Tips

Family bonding, experiences and adventures in the holiday gift of travel Sarah Bagin Travel Columnist

A

s the holidays approach, along with birthdays, anniversaries, and milestone celebrations – the question always comes up: What do I get them this year? Another sweater? A gift card? Something that feels thoughtful in the moment but is forgotten weeks later?

For most people, the best gift isn’t something wrapped. It’s something experienced.

Travel offers memories that outlast any material present.

Research consistently shows that experiences bring far more lasting happiness than things, and few experiences create deeper joy, connection, or transformation than travel.

The World: The Ultimate Classroom Travel broadens the mind in ways nothing else can. For children, it shapes how they see the world. It teaches curiosity, compassion, adaptability, and appreciation simply by letting them step into a world bigger than their own.

Picture a child wandering through a colourful market in Morocco, climbing the steps of an ancient site in Greece pretending they’re discovering hidden treasures, or racing down a giant waterslide on a cruise ship, making new friends from around the world before lunch. These aren’t

just “fun moments.” They become stories kids carry into adulthood.

For adults, travel inspires us and gives muchneeded perspective. There is something grounding about standing at the base of Victoria Falls in southern Africa, drifting along the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia, or tasting your way through France— where every region seems to have its own culinary rhythm.

These are the moments that stay with you long after the photos are posted and the suitcase is unpacked.

Travel Brings Families Together One of the most heartwarming trends in the Beach community is the rise of multigenerational travel.

Grandparents, children, and grandchildren travelling together is more than a holiday – it’s legacy building.

Imagine three generations walking the historic streets of Lisbon, sharing gelato in Florence, or watching the sun set over a Caribbean shoreline.

These trips create shared memories that become family favourites told for years.

It’s hard to think of a better gift than that.

The Rise of Expedition Experiences Expedition travel is booming because people are craving meaning, not just movement. These journeys offer rich encounters with culture, wildlife, and untouched landscapes.

Think of gifting someone

a trip to Antarctica to walk among penguins, a Galápagos expedition to snorkel with sea lions, or an Arctic voyage under the midnight sun.

These aren’t just vacations; they’re once-in-alifetime experiences that imprint on the soul.

Solo Travel: The Gift You Give Yourself One of the most empowering gifts is solo travel. More people are embracing the freedom and self-discovery that comes from setting out alone.

Picture cycling through Amsterdam’s tulip fields in April, sipping wine in Portugal’s Douro Valley, taking a cooking class in Tuscany, wandering Kyoto’s peaceful temples, or soaking in Iceland’s geothermal waters.

Solo travel offers reflection, calm, and the kind of renewal no wrapped gift can replicate.

A World Full of Wonder Whether it’s standing beneath South Africa’s mighty waterfalls, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, dancing during Carnival in Brazil, or eating your way across France, the world is filled with experiences that stretch your perspective and enrich your life.

Travel connects us – to places, to people, and to each other.

Let Someone Curate the Journey If you’re thinking about gifting travel this season, for a partner, child, grandparent, or even yourself, there’s no need to navigate the

choices alone. With so many destinations and styles of travel, having a local expert can make the process easier, more personal, and more exciting.

A travel professional can help sort through the options, understand your budget, match the right destination to the right traveller, and craft an itinerary that’s meaningful, seamless, and unforgettable.

This season, consider giving a gift that doesn’t sit on a shelf or get forgotten in a drawer. Give a gift wrapped in memories, joy, and connection. Give the gift of travel, because experiences will always outlast things.

- Sarah Bagin is the coowner of Expedia Cruises at 2255A Queen St. E. and can be reached at 647-352-6111.

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Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!

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20 BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Find more news at BEACHMETRO.COM

Parents express concerns over funding of school programs, control of boards

By Matthew Stephens

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WITH THE passing of Ontario’s Supporting Children and Students Act (Bill 33), the Ministry of Education has assumed expanded powers over 4,861 schools and approximately 2.1 million students across the province.

For one East Toronto parent, Bill 33 and a lack of funding means her child with Down syndrome is receiving even less support at school than in the past.

“Trustees have basically had all their authorities stripped from them, and so you can only escalate so far within a system that doesn’t have the resources to give you anything,” said Elizabeth Garkowski, a parent concerned about the implications of Bill 33 at St. Joseph Catholic School on Leslie Street, where her daughter Grace attends.

Under the legislation, the Ontario Ministry of Education now has extended powers to intervene in the operation of local school boards on matters such as financial mismanagement, “matters of public interest,” and other aspects of a board’s operations, including governance, budgets, delivery of education, student well-being, infrastructure, engagement with parents/communities, and more. (On Friday, Dec. 12, Toronto District School Board Director of Education Clayton La Touche was removed by the board’s provincially appointed supervisor.)

Garkowski said a lack of funding and loss of Educational Assistants (EAs) and supportive programming is impacting her daughter’s “human right” to receive a quality education at St. Joseph.

“At our specific school, we lost I think 42 per cent of our EA support staff from one school year to the next, which translated to three EAs being cut from our staff,” she said.

“They are amazing educators, but there’s so few of them to go around that they’re basically only able to do crisis management, not really sit down and educate. I just learned this week my daughter’s not even going out for recess with her peers. She’s no longer being integrated with her peers at all. My daughter’s not receiving an education, and it’s her human right.”

Beach Metro Community News reached out to the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) for a statement regarding Bill 33 and its impact on St. Joseph school.

In response, the TCDSB said “the Board is currently under Ministry Supervision,” and advised reporters to speak with Ontario’s Ministry of Education.

The Ministry has not yet responded to a request for comment from Beach Metro Community News.

Garkowski said St. Joseph is renowned for its specialty programming to accommodate “a higher portion of students with disabilities,” by providing access to specialized programs such as the “multiple exceptionality room.”

With many of these programs serving as

a pillar for children with special needs, Garkowski said the school can’t afford to sustain any further losses in EA staff.

However, she said funding cuts of approximately $700,000 since 2018 means special programming for children with disabilities at St. Joseph have been lessened or shut down entirely. “Our school had a lot of specialty programming, the multiple exceptionality room being one of them. We had a learning disabilities classroom that got shut down.

To have a cut like that was a significant hit to our school because the population of students with disabilities was not changing.”

As schools’ operating budgets continue to decline, she said Bill 33 means her elected school trustee has even less power to advocate on parents’ behalf to increase support at St. Joseph – and worries that the Ministry of Education could soon step in, given the school’s current financial situation.

“Special education is underfunded by approximately $850 million province-wide,” said Garkowski. “We’re running a deficit, so I know that the government will point and say, ‘Oh there’s mismanagement here.’ To point to that and tell us that was the problem, when really, we haven’t had the money or been properly funded for years and years – it creates a problem.”

In a public education emergency meeting in May, the Toronto District School Board reported that it spends $38.5 million more than it receives from the ministry for students receiving special education.

In previous years, Garkowski said the TCDSB’s Special Education Advisory Committee meetings acted as an essential service for parents to “get a sense of what’s going on” regarding decisions and policies being made across the board.

But with the Ministry’s new directive to have school boards block livestreams of their monthly meetings, Garkowski said it’s become even more difficult for parents to make their voices heard. “It’s another avenue that we had to bring forward complaints that were happening. As a parent with a child who has a disability, I cannot get up to North York (where the TCDSB offices are located) on a weekday. You really have no way of seeing or learning what’s going on unless you can physically get to that space.”

With nowhere else to turn, Garkowski has now assumed an “advocacy role” by creating petitions, starting interest groups, even conducting a walk-in demonstration with other local parents at St. Joseph back in late November. “Having this walk in demonstration was a way for us to stand in solidarity and collect signatures on a petition to the government, because that’s really the only option left to us,” she said.

The walk-in demonstrations have gained traction amongst other concerned parents. A similar walk-in demonstration, the Fund Our Schools Walk-in, took place outside Williamson Road Junior Public School on Dec. 5.

New blue bin collection system starts in January ‘Changes’ from Page 1 missed collections and bin repairs or replacements. These changes are only being applied to the recycling (blue bin) program, not the city’s other waste diversion programs such as green bin organics and yard waste collection, and garbage (black bin) collection.

Provincial regulation to transition to a privatized recycling collection structure is part of the Ontario Environment Plan, which was finalized in 2021 and saw its implementation rolled out between 2023 and 2025.

The transition set out with several goals, including making product manufacturers “financially and operationally” responsible for “managing the life-cycle of their products,” and alleviating the financial burden of waste management on municipalities.

Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher said she pushed a motion at the city’s recent Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting calling on Toronto’s MPPs to provide a “comprehensive communications plan” for residents as the city makes the transition.

“I moved a motion to have the city provide all Toronto MPP’s its communication materials to ensure their constituency teams are able to support residents with questions and issues regarding recycling collection and for Solid Waste Management staff to report back on the transition,” said Fletcher in her newsletter.

For more information, please visit www. ontario.ca/page/made-in-ontario-environment-plan.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

21

Deja Views

Taking a look back at a stately home by Glen Manor Park

TA NGLE D Christmas tree lights?

Not this year!

4 Rings - 240 LED Bulbs / kit 1.

2.

3.

By David Van Dyke

Slip rings on tree trunk Clip on short strands Plug in!

 Move light strands around branches  No untangling  More depth of light  Easy storage in canvas bag

If I had to guess, I would say this coloured postcard (photo above) was taken more than 100 years ago.

This stately manor sits across from Glen Manor Park, where winter fun tobogganing was briefly prohibited. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and the city council reversed the decision.

Do you have any old photos of Glen Manor Park you’d like to share with our readership?

Please contact me gdvandyke61@gmail.com

www.ringtreelighting.com LOCAL Beacher Free delivery code: BEACH

PHOTO: DAVID VAN DYKE

Winter Solstice workshops slated for Tommy Thompson Park this Saturday and Sunday LOCAL RESIDENTS are invited to take part in this weekend’s Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Winter Solstice Series.

A pair of events are planned to take place in Tommy Thompson Park, at 1 Leslie St., on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21.

Winter Solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, with the sun rising at 7:47 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, and setting at 4:43 p.m.

It is observed as a turning point, since the length of daylight begins to gradually increase after the solstice.

On Saturday, Dec. 20, the TRCA will host an event on how to weave dreamcatchers.

Cost to participate is $30.

On Sunday, Dec. 21, there will be a workshop on lantern crafting.

Saturday’s event takes place from 3 to 5 p.m., and

participants are invited to craft dream catchers using soft hide, sinew, wooden rings, beads, and feathers.

The creation will be led by Algonquin Métis artist and Knowledge Keeper Diane Montreuil.

All materials will be provided, and Montreuil will share teachings and Indigenous Ways of Knowing about the winter season and solstice.

On Sunday, instructors will guide participants in upcycling a tin can to create an eco-friendly lantern.

There will be two 90-minute workshops on how to craft the lanterns.

The first workshop will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and the second workshop will take place from 1 to 3 p.m.

Cost to participate is $15.

For more information, or to purchase tickets in advance for the workships, please go to https://trca.ca/ winter-solstice

WE’RE OPEN FOR YOU! ONLINE, PHONE, DELIVERY, CURBSIDE, ONSITE

We’re grateful for our advertisers. Become one! mark@beachmetro.com

Your Neighbourhood Pet Store We may be small but we carry it all!

Proudly Serving The Neighborhood For Over 93 Years Home Service – Major Appliances Parts Radio/TV Appliances 249 Coxwell Ave - Ph: 416 463 1164 www.butlersapplianceservice.com

Come visit us and bring your furry friends too.

WE OFFER FREE DELIVERY!

1618 Gerrard St. E. 647 352 6066 furballspetstuff@gmail.com

THE FOOT GUY

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CHIROPODIST

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952 Kingston Rd., Suite 207 info@thefootguy.ca www.thefootguy.ca

22

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Find more news at BEACHMETRO.COM

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

PHOTO: JESSICA SHACKLETON

John Oughton with the recently released Double Vision, which is a collaboration with Nina West.

John Oughton teams up with Nina West for Double Vision with art, poetry and photos

By Jessica Shackleton

Merry Christmas Seasons Greetings

&

from the

TORONTO BEACHES LIONS CLUB We look forward to serving our community in 2026.

If you would like to join us please contact us at www.beacheslions.com or 416 985-1176 for membership information and more.

We wish to thank all our sponsors below who generously supported us in our

90th Anniversary Activities

We would also like to give a special acknowledgment and thank you to

Tom Jakobek

who has always been a tremendous advocate and supporter of our Club.

Pizzaville in the Beach

Godsoe Financial

INMIGRANTE Toronto Restaurant

BEACH WRITER John Oughton’s newest chapbook, Double Vision, was created with Nina West. It includes back-and-forth commentary on West’s art and Oughton’s photographs.

A chapbook is simply a short collection of work.

“I like them because you can do them yourself. I did the layout and put the type together with a little help from a designer and then we took it to a printer. It was done within a week,” said Oughton.

“We wanted to do something quick and get it out there.”

Traditional publishing, though rewarding, can be quite lengthy, so Oughton and West chose the self-publishing route.

“The joy of doing this is that we can do it exactly the way we wanted. We chose the cover art, we chose the title. You have to negotiate some of those things with a publisher,” he said.

West and Oughton connected on social media and chatted about their work. West had a lot of work but not much had been published.

Oughton thought it would be a great opportunity to work together, both responding to each other’s creations.

“We didn’t set many rules. Responses could be poetry or prose. When I gave her poetry and she gave me drawings we didn’t say, ‘Here’s what I was trying to do with this.’ So, we just took it as it was and responded,” he said. “It was quite an easy process.”

First published as an author in 1973, Oughton is an accomplished writer. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in English from York University and taught writing courses at Centennial College for 20 years before retiring.

He also attended the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics in Boulder, Colorado, where he took non-credit courses for two summers. This was during the Beat Generation of writers, and he worked with Allen Ginsberg and Anne Waldman.

“That was a big influence. I started taking writing more seriously after that because there were some big stars of the movement,” he said.

“Writing was probably the first thing I discovered I was good at. Writing has always been easy for me. It hasn’t always been easy to make a lot of money from it.”

Originally from Guelph, Oughton lived in Egypt and Iraq as a kid and later Japan and Nova Scotia. But he always returned to Toronto. He’s called the Beach home for about 10 years and now lives in the Victoria Park Avenue and Queen Street East area.

“It’s a great place to calm my mind and find incentive to write. I go for a walk along the Boardwalk and look at the lake. If it’s warm I take my kayak on the lake and paddle around,” said Oughton.

“I find it a fruitful time where things cross my mind I hadn’t considered before. That’s my way of finding the right space.”

Oughton acknowledges that poetry isn’t for everyone, but he encourages people to forget what they’ve been taught about it.

“When I went to school and we looked a classic poem it was kind of like there was one right answer and we had to figure it out. In fact, that’s not how poetry works. You can read a poem and get any number of interpretations from it. It should at least convey a feeling, some kind of emotion,” he said.

“What a poem can do is take all those thoughts and put them into something that other people can access, see the world through someone else’s eyes.”

In addition to his latest work, Oughton has written poetry on numerous subjects, and has published more than 10 titles, including The Universe and All That, Time Slip, and Higher Teaching. His favourite work he’s done is Mata Hari’s Lost Words.

As for advice for writers, here’s what Oughton had to say: “Just write whatever comes in your head, start putting it down. Carry a notepad so you don’t lose stuff and keep at it. Also, look for a group of like-minded people, online or in-person, who will give you advice on your work and not put you down. Don’t give up. Lots of people’s early work is refused and they eventually become bestsellers.”

For more on Double Vision, including how to purchase a copy, please contact Oughton through his website at https://joughton.wixsite.com/author/contact

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Letters to the Editor

A Walk Nostalgic in the Beach The following poem was submitted by Beach Metro Community News reader Richard A. Gervais: On the boardwalk tonight, after the tourists have all moved on, The falling leaves are swept away with this summer’s last song.

We’re remembering all the laughter from the neighbourhood back yards.

How young summer nights lasted forever and nothing was too hard.

The warm breezes we’ll trade for sweaters you had just put away.

We know that fall is a time of dreaming, till spring comes back this way You say let’s go by the old house, it’s just around the corner.

That’s where I first saw you waving from

Christmas

your dormer.

It has changed a bit, and so have we, for the better I can see.

From across the street I would watch you playing in your front yard, But your mother didn’t let me in to play, Because I had stolen some apples one day.

I was hungry and I wanted you to notice me climbing your tree.

JOIN US FOR

CHRISTMAS EVE

I was a poor boy from far away, Now I am here to stay.

I stole her princess with the silver spoon.

Now we walk together under a full moon.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 4:30p.m. Holy Eucharist for Families with a Children’s pageant 8:00p.m. Candlelight Sung Eucharist with Brass

Those apples have been repaid in full, With her grandchildren making noise in this old neighbourhood.

Richard A. Gervais

CHRISTMAS DAY

Welcome Winter community celebration set for Dec. 22 A WELCOME Winter community event is slated for Monday, Dec. 22, at the Henley Gardens I.D.A.Pharmacy.

Featuring stories, hot chocolate, and festive music performed by Melanie Peterson, the celebration takes place from 5 to 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 10:30a.m. Said Eucharist with Carols

Pharmacist Dr. Frahah Thawer of the Henley Gardens I.D.A. Pharmacy, 1089 Kingston Rd., is hosting the event.

Everyone is invited to come out on Dec. 22 for some friendship, fun (and maybe a flu shot).

Visit us at www.beachmetro.com for more community news

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 12:00p.m. Doors open 1:00pm Lunch served

2423 Queen Street East www.staidansinthebeach.com

Want to learn about wills and powers of attorney?

You’re not alone! Community members recently attended a free information session at Michael Garron Hospital organized in partnership with the Ontario Bar Association. In case you missed it:

• A will is a must – It protects your dependents and prevents the government from making decisions on your behalf.

• Wills save money and stress – A well-drafted will can lower legal fees, probate costs and taxes on your estate. It also provides clarity for your loved ones, helping reduce stress during a difficult time.

Gifts in wills and other donations to Michael Garron Hospital ensure we can respond to the evolving needs of the people we serve, for generations to come.

For more insights from the event, scan the QR code or contact Laura Byl, Legacy Giving Manager laura.byl@tehn.ca 416-469-6580 ext. 2322

23

24 BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Find more news at BEACHMETRO.COM

Reel Beach: Movies in East Toronto

What would the holidays be without Christmas movies Creating And Caring For Gardens And Landscapes Since 2000 www.quercusgardens.ca 416-778-9857 Est. 1988

Renovation Project Planning Design Drawings Budget Development

www.totalrenovations.com

416-694-2488

Happy Holidays May you find joy in the little things this holiday season and know that my team and I are here to support you.

1921013

Leane Besky, Agent 2243 Queen St E Toronto ON 416-690-7900 leane@leanebesky.com leanebesky.com

Desjardins Insurance refers to Certas Home and Auto Insurance Company, underwriter of automobile and property insurance or Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company, underwriter of life insurance and living benefits products.

Desjardins®, Desjardins Insurance®, all trademarks containing the word Desjardins, as well as related logos are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, used under licence.

SAFETY QUALITY

Bernie Fletcher

C

entre 55 is celebrating 50 years of service as “the heart of the community”.

The building on Main Street has an interesting history. It was constructed in 1911 as Police Station #10 on the site of the former East Toronto Town Hall.

If you’ve ever wondered why “Main Street” is way out here in the Beach, East Toronto was a small village then a town before annexation with the City of Toronto in 1908.

The pre-First World War era of policing is depicted in Murdoch Mysteries. The real Chief at Station House #4 near Parliament Street was indeed one Inspector Thomas Brackenreid (played by Thomas Craig in the television series).

One of the new recruits at Station #10 was Samuel Caulfield who lived on Greenwood Avenue with his mom, Annie, a clerk at Eaton’s.

Like most officers of the day Caulfield was of Irish or English background.

Winds of war were sweeping through the British Empire.

The young constable had only served for two years when he volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War. Sgt. Caulfield fought at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. On Dec. 20, 1917 Samuel was killed in a trench in France. He was only 27. His mother was given the sad

PERFORMANCE PRIDE

Centre 55 now calls the building at the southeast corner of Main Street and Swanwick Avenue home. A police station built in 1911, the building has been used as a location for numerous movies including 1974’s cult classic horror film Black Christmas. In that movie, the building was the Bedford Police Station House. news at Christmas.

One soldier who survived the war was Edwin Glover Boyd. He became a constable at Station #10 and raised a family near the Danforth.

His son, Edwin Alonzo Boyd, would become Canada’s most notorious bank robber.

Just before his death in 2002 the younger Boyd confessed to a 1947 double murder.

cell phones the original warning is lost.

In a sly nod to the Bedford Falls of It’s a Wonderful Life, Black Christmas is set in the college town of Bedford. Our Station #10 was back to its small town roots as the station house for the Bedford Police.

“Lieutenant, the men are here from Scarborough.”

- - Black Christmas

“Every charming little town has a dark underbelly if you know what to look for.”

-- Mistletoe Murders

Station #10 was renamed #55, then closed in 1973. In May 1974 this paper (then Ward 9 News) reported on “Murder and Mystery in Station 55”. Inspired by an urban legend, a horror movie, Black Christmas was filming that spring.

In the movie, two officers have the phone company trace a threatening call, then warn a young co-ed that the calls are coming from inside the house! Thus a “trope” was born.

The words have taken on new relevance.

Recently on CNN a political commentator claimed “the calls are coming from inside the house” meaning the problem is internal.

On Elspeth, a woman repeats the phrase, meaning “you’re the problem”.

On social media the trope means “look who’s talking”, another way to call out hypocrisy.

Of course, in this age of

A favourite storyline is the amateur detective solving crimes like Elspeth or Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher of Murder She Wrote.

A recent Murdoch Mysteries episode paid homage to the mystery writer becoming a real sleuth, even calling the author Miss Nigella Fletcher.

What is it with all these murders in fictional towns?

Sherriff Country, Murder in a Small Town, Memory of a Killer are all filmed in Canada pretending to be the United States.

In Mistletoe Murders (W/ Hallmark) Fletcher’s Grove sounds like an idyllic place, well, except for all those pesky killings.

Christmas store owner Emily (Sarah Drew) does the sleuthing with the aid of a handsome cop (Peter Mooney).

Local talent includes Lara Amersey, Jean Yoon,

Tommie-Amber Pirie, Dani Kind, Sierra Riley and Al Mukadam.

Drew has said viewers enjoy “a world where good wins”.

What would the holidays be without Christmas movies?

The Toronto area is a favourite location for films such as last year’s Netflix hits Hot Frosty and Meet Me at Christmas. Watch for Main Streets from towns such as Unionville.

Toronto-born actors Laura Vandervoort and Rachel Skarsten star in a sleigh-full of holiday films like Melt my Heart at Christmas (2025) on W/ Hallmark).

The sap is running early in A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Netflix) with Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), in a predictable rom/com (as if), but at least the snow isn’t fake.

The movie was shot here during our big snowstorms of last February.

Steve Carr, the director, said, “Instead of Hollywood snow, we had real Canadian snow, three feet deep”. (Correction 91.44 cm.)

Ah, snow drifts…something to look forward to!

Happy holidays!

Remember you can help provide much needed support to local families during this holiday season by donating to Centre 55’s Share A Christmas campaign.

Please go to www.centre55. com for more information on how to help.

TORONTO ROOFING INDUSTRIES YOUR LOCAL ROOFING CONTRACTOR All the best for the holiday season!

416-694-0906

torontoroofingindustries.com

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon and MP Nate Erskine-Smith

2026 invite you to join our annual

New Year’s Levée Sunday, January 11, 2026 2 pm – 5 pm Naval Club of Toronto, 1910 Gerrard Street East

Drop by for refreshments, lively conversation & good company.

25

26

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACHMETRO.COM

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Commercial Space for Rent

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Event Space for Rent: 485 Kennedy Rd. Meetings, Parties, Special Events, Yoga, Karaoke, Band Rehearsal. Book now. 416-754-4000 (21)

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General Services

For Sale The Yellow Door Toy & Stuff Sale

Christmas Toy Sale

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Stained Glass Windows ‘In Stock’ - many stained/leaded glass panels, both vintage & new www.stainedglassservices.ca Instagram @torontostainedglass StainedGlassServices@hotmail.com

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Collectibles ST. CLAIR ANTIQUES

We BUY and SELL: Furniture, Gold & Silver, Antique Jewelery, Mid-Century Modern, Art & Collectibles!

We do house calls!

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Computer Services ONSITE COMPUTER SERVICES Fast, Reliable, Affordable!

• Laptop & Desktop Repairs • Virus & Malware Removal • Data Recovery & Backup • Upgrades & Maintenance Phone 416-438-6360

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Eavestrough Cleaning, Gutter Guards & Christmas Lighting & more 10% promo code: Metro10

BEACHES LAWN MAINTENANCE

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BEACH SNOW REMOVAL 416 414 5883 info@blpm.ca

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WAYNE’S RUBBISH REMOVAL &

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Willow’s Dog Friends Dog walks • Overnights • Hangouts •

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NEXT DEADLINE December 29

Your Local Rockin’ Roots & Retro Revival Band Good Time Music, Every Time

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SQUIRREL REMOVAL

www.SquirrelControl.ca

One on One Tutoring Grades 3-12

Keeping the Love of Learning Alive In-person and Online Proudly serving the Beach for over 25 years Neil Bennett B.Ed./OCT • Sally Vickers B.Ed./OCT (19r)

Garden & Tree BEACH PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

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RILEYS’ CLEANING SERVICES

LOCAL TREE SERVICE

Tile and Grout Cleaning

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A family business since 1956 We also do Windows and Eaves.

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Front yard parking pads Drawings • Permits • Build 416-288-1499 www.greenapple.ca

All Season Movers

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KIM PRICE

Landscape Designer & Master Gardener

Offering Planting and Garden Maintenance 647-545-5143

We offer: • Commercial & Residential • Deep Clean • Regular Cleaning

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BEACHES PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

BEACHES SNOW REMOVAL 416-414-5883

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LORD OF THE STONE LANDSCAPING

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BEACH LAWNS

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(16/26)

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

27

Plan for 39-storey residential building at 6 Dawes Rd. to be heard at city council

By Matthew Stephens

MEMBERS OF the public continued to express concerns at the recent Toronto and East York Community Council meeting regarding affordability, lack of TTC and GO Transit infrastructure, and minimal amenity space to accommodate a proposed 39-storey residential building at 6 Dawes Rd., south of Danforth Avenue and just north of the railway tracks.

“Developers are scrambling to pivot to building rentals,” said local resident Adam Smith during his deputation at the Nov. 27 Community Council meeting.

“The 6 Dawes development went from a reasonable 17-storey condo to a massive 39-storey rental tower. A rental building takes far longer than a condo to turn a profit, so the only way to satisfy investors and lenders is to build much larger and charge higher rents,” he said.

Toronto East York Community Council dealt with a number of different development projects across the East Toronto area before final consideration at the upcoming City of Toronto Council meeting starting to-

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day (Dec. 16).

At the Nov. 27 Community Council meeting, two local residents made deputations to voice their concerns about the Dawes Road project’s lack of affordable units in what they described as an “oversaturated rental market,” as well as a lack of transportation infrastructure, amenity space, and an overarching focus on maximizing private developer’s profits.

“The only rationale that explains why 17-storeys is now required to be 39-storeys is that 6 Dawes Road is not about housing people, it’s about profits for the housing industry,” said Smith.

According to Fitzrovia Inc. and Bousfields Inc. (an urban planning company working with the developer), only three of 452 proposed units will be designated as “affordable” within the building, which equates to less than one per cent of the total units.

Also discussed at Community Council was a development proposal at 2451 Danforth Ave. (currently Sobeys), where no units are expected to be affordable.

No deputations were made regarding that proposal, and it was adopted and moved on

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rounded by tall buildings, the path forward doesn’t seem to lead to a neighbourhood with the amenities that support or complete a well-served community,” said Worden during her deputation to Community Council.

She also mentioned that, despite the city having little control over the Ministry of Education and their ability to rebuild Secord Public School, lack of public spaces will continue to burden what is an already overcrowded area.

Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford said he had met with “Secord Now,” an advocacy group working to request improvements to Secord Public School, to confirm the Toronto District School Board’s “willingness to work with Toronto Parks and Recreation to secure a new Secord Community Centre.

In his closing statements to deputants, Bradford said he supported city staff’s recommendation for the additional new affordable units he worked to negotiate in the proposal, and that the site of 6 Dawes Rd. is a location that should be encouraging more density, given its proximity to a transit hub.

Bradford said he’s “happy to get shovels in the ground” for the project.

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for consideration at the upcoming Toronto Council meeting.

The proposal for the Sobey’s site is for 13and 29-storey mixed-use building connected by a two- and eight-storey podium and consisting of 620 residential units.

Both the 6 Dawes Rd. and the Sobey’s site proposals are part of intensification taking place in the area around Main Street and Danforth Avenues north of the railroad tracks. The Dawes Road proposal is part of a broader project approved in August 2022 as part of a settlement at the Ontario Land Tribunal, which includes four towers with heights of 29, 39, 37, and 17-storeys.

With three of the buildings already under construction on the strip of land directly north of the Danforth GO station and east of Main Street, the developer is proposing to increase the height of the approved 17-storey building on the east section of the 6 Dawes Rd. site to 39 storeys.

Local resident Jenny Worden said the height increase will put a strain on an area with few amenity spaces to accommodate the increased pedestrian traffic.

“From where I stand, on the ground, sur-

(11/26)

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(19)

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(19)

28

BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS

Tuesday, December 16, 2025