Living
March 2016
Neighbourhood ShowcaSing life
in the eaSt enD
21 Creative People in the east end & 12 of their insiders tips
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In a world where bad news and everyday stresses can weigh you down, it’s nice to know there’s a place you can go to find pure joy. “With so much going on, we don’t consider making a commitment to joy,” says Jennifer Jones, CEO and Dean of Joy of Dance Centre & Teachers College. “We invest in providing that. It’s magical to sit at the front door and see how people look when they come in and how they look when they leave. Three-year-old little ballerinas come in crying and go out twirling.”
_____________________________________ UPPER RIVERDALE
The studio has the same effect on adults. They may enter stressed or feeling down but leave with joy in their hearts, she says. “After lyrical classes, they may not be twirling when they leave, but they feel like they’ve left it all on the dance floor.” Jennifer fondly recalls the dance lessons she took as a child. “I remember the happiness I felt and I wanted to make it happen here.” A little over a decade ago, Jennifer was ready to leave the corporate world to create a better workplace. All it took was a suggestion from her mother, Joyce Jones, that they join forces and open their own studio. The search for suitable studio space was long and hard – a large space without pillars wasn’t easy to find. As luck would have it, they discovered an 8,000-square-foot space on The Danforth, around the corner from the Broadview subway station and in the middle of a family neighbourhood. A renovation created four bright studios with rich hardwood floors and high ceilings.
KIDS, TEEN & ADULTS Ballet Ballroom Bollywood Burlesque Contemporary Ginga Hip Hop Jazz Lyrical Modern Nia Salsa Tango Tap Zumba and so much more...
Jennifer and Joyce opened their doors and their hearts in 2002 and Joy of Dance has been a neighbourhood fixture ever since, first starting as a ballroom dance studio. Following requests to open classes to other age groups, it now offers “every type of dance both in group and private lessons to dancers aged three to 93.” The centre offers the only certified college program for Ballroom Dance Teacher Training in North America. The program offers students both part-time and full-time options. “Our biggest joy is the teen program, because teen dancers choose to be here,” says Jennifer. “They’re kids who are motivated and who recognize the therapeutic aspects of movement. They need an outlet and there’s nothing better than dance.” Dance is great for “all things that ail us,” regardless of age, she says. Sixty-nineyear- old dancer Ellen Nichols suffers from Multiple Sclerosis. “From her second lesson she said she was profoundly affected by her ability to move, to get past the constraints of the disease.” The mission at Joy of Dance Centre is, quite simply, to inspire joy through dancing. “Joy is a specific feeling; a confidence, a happiness that enables you to go out and live positively in the world, Jennifer says. Ask any of the dancers and they’ll tell you, mission accomplished.
JOY OF DANCE CENTRE 95 Danforth Ave, third floor Toronto, ON M5A 4K3 416-406-3262 www.joyofdance.ca
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Living
March 2016
NEIGHBOURHOOD SHOWCASING LIFE
IN THE EAST END
Meet 21 Creative People On our cover: Painting by Grethe Jensen, Titled “May Be” Reach Grethe at grethe.je@gmail.com, grethejensen.com, 416-699-6710
Next Issue May 2016 Serving the East End of Toronto. Patron Supporter: Medfit Rehab Writers and Photographers: Tracey Coveart, Greg Barsoski, Sophia Hirst-Barsoski Graphic Designer: Pam Hickey Publisher: Greg Barsoski Neighbourhood Living Magazine celebrates its seventh year celebrating the people of the East End. All rights reserved info. No article or ad may be duplicated without the consent of the publisher. Neighbourhood Living makes no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the qualification or accreditation of those whose opinions are expressed herein, or with the respect to the accuracy of completeness of information (medical or otherwise) provided to, or published in, this magazine. The views and opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publisher.
in the East End &
12 of their Insider Tips The East End is an exciting place to shop, eat, stroll and live. Here are 21 creative people who create their art, run their businesses, cook for their customers, promote their community and call the East End Home. This is the first issue with our Insiders Tips section showing you special foods, products and places in the East End. Studies have shown that for every dollar spent supporting a local independent business, 48 cents stays in the community versus 13 cents of every dollar spent at chains. Shop local and support your community.
2 Joy of Dance - 1 8 The Beaches Easter Parade - 2 16
Copy Cat - 3
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Susan Hirst - 4
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Dawn Thorpe - 5
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Big Thanks John - 6
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Studio B - 7
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Ziliotto - 8
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Medfit
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Yellow House - 9
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Lucsculpture - 10
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Yuri’s Garden - 11
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Michael O’Brien - 12
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Grethe Jensen - 13
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North Pole - 14
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Mary MacLeods - 15
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Meat On the Beach - 16
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Black Bear Pub - 17
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Rendezvous - 18
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El Sol - 19
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Royal Beef - 20
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Danforth Pizza - 21
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12 Insider Tips for the East End
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Seth Godin— Hot: A theory of propulsion
www.neighbourhoodliving.com Follow us on Facebook. neighbourhoodlivingmagazine
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Nothing Else is Swiss!
Dine In! Takeout! Delivery!
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Swiss Chalet 4410 Kingston Rd. 416-281-0230 Pickup and Delivery 1-866-381-1163
www.swisschalet.com
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It’s about Toronto and its many parades. photo by Mike Maclaverty
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It’s about Toronto the home of the Easter Bunny. photo by Mike Maclaverty 10 Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE
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photo by Mike Maclaverty Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE 13
Big
Know Your Body Best is Celebrating
25 years
serving our industry.
Visit us and receive this
$5.00 Coupon KybbCC2016
Valid April 2 - 22, 2016
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! ! s w e N
On April 1 we move to a new 12,000 sq. ft. facility. For our valued customers, the new space will provide: • More Selection • Larger Inventory • A Climate Controlled area for storage of lubricants • Free Parking – Easy TTC access • Easy & Quick on/off QEW, 10 mins. from downtown
25 Connell Court, Unit 4, Toronto 416-367-3744 1-800-881-1681
Shop 24.7 at www.knowyourbodybest.com Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE 15
Copy Cat RepRoduCtions 746 danforth avenue 416-405-8484 www.copycatreproductions.com
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Hi. Hello I’m Stephanie Axford proud owner of Copy Cat Reproductions, a small business on the Danforth that specializes in print, copy and design. Our services range from every day copy needs to corporate requirements; always delivered with quality, care and a smile. After graduating from Durham College with a diploma in graphic design, I began my career in the print industry and soon realized I wanted to take my passion one step further. With the Danforth’s strong sense of community, it was an easy decision to establish my business in this neighbourhood and in 1999 my doors opened. We have seen remarkable growth over the years and this is attributed to not only repeat business from our loyal client base but also to Caitlin Legere, my lovely assistant. Caitlin’s skills, knowledge and easy going personality, have made her a huge asset to Copy Cat Reproductions. Our goal at Copy Cat is being able to deliver quality products with care as well as helping the many wonderful people who live in this great community. We would love to take care of all your print shop needs. Please drop in to say hi! Steph & Caitlin 16 Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE
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SuSan HirSt Yoga & Fitness teacher 416-778-9074
I am Susan Hirst. I have lived in The Pocket neighbourhood with my family for 16 years. Because of a strong passion for health and well being, I started teaching Yoga 12 years ago. I teach at several locations in the area. Yoga can be challenging, having done a 90 day meditation assignment as part of the requirement for my level 2 teacher training. The best advice I ever got was from a teacher, Yogi Bhajan, “Keep up-You’ll be kept up.” I love the street I live on and the people I know. The best reason to see me is that I can show you quick ways to de-stress and feel more A-L-I-V-E.
Hi.
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Dawn & Company InterIor DeCor 525 Carlaw avenue 416-405-8760
Hi. I am Dawn Thorpe. I grew up in this neighbourhood and have run my store since 1998. My dream was always to have my own shop. I enjoy working with my clients and taking care of their interior designing needs. My biggest challenge is balancing family with business. The best advice I got was “a happy client is a repeat client�, so I listen well. I like the neighbourhood as everyone is friends with each other. The best reason to visit is to get everything for your home designed to your specs and produced here in the heart of Riverdale.
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A BIG
Thanks — to —
John Koufis
Since 2004,
John has tended the rink in Phin Park. From the early fall before the frost (so they can place the stakes to set up the boards), through the first watering to build up the ice, John would keep an eye on his creation. Each year it would get bigger to the point where a smaller rink for beginners was added. This past season was a short one but everyone who used it and everyone, myself included , who supported the idea of a volunteers doing something for their neighbourhood give him a “Big Thanks” John.
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If you have been diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
wE CaN hElp you. Introducing ScoliBrace®
Super Corrective • Non-Surgical • Effective ScoliBrace® is a unique scoliosis bracing method used in conjuction with 3D imaging software to create a customized brace. By positioning the body and the spine in their overcorrected or mirror image position, curve reductions are achieved as well as improvements to rib humping, shoulder level and the overall appearance of the body. You will experience a tremendous alleviation of lower back pain.
Relieves lower back pain and improves appearance Etobicoke Reader’s Choice Award Winning Clinic 2011 to 2015
Call now for your ScoliBrace® Consultation highly Effective for: • adult Degenerative Scoliosis, • Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis and • adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
2896 Bloor Street West, Toronto 416-769-1163 info@completebalancehealth.com www.completebalancehealth.com 20 Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE
Part of the medical team for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games
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Studio B Hair Salon
Adriana Balea When You Feel The Need to Look Fabulous! We all have days where we do not feel our very best, and with Spring around the corner everything is in bloom. The inspiration it draws for me being a hairstylist, is the want to refresh and update your look. Goodbye Winter Blues! Whether it is new clothes, new shoes, or new hair; women deserve to feel their utmost powerful and beautiful self. I love having a hand in providing these already established attributes to women. Taking their ‘blahs’ to ‘oohlalas’ is what continuously puts a smile on my face, and in the end the client feels amazing. Trust your instincts when you feel the need to look fabulous!
“It’s a beautiful job, making clients happy” 22 Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE
Members of Adriana’s Team:
Jessika
Hilary
In 2006, Adriana won Ontario Hairdresser of the Year and Canadian Colourist of the Year. In 2007 and 2008 she won back-to-back North American Colourist of the Year awards.
Marcia
Studio B Hair Salon 563 Danforth Ave 647-748-8840 www.studiobhairsalon.ca Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE 23
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Are you a Ziliotto girl? ?
Jennifer Durand?
Fashion designer, store owner, wholesaler. I’ve lived in the neighbourhood for 13 years. Fashion is what I have always wanted to do. After being an apprentice at one of the fashion icon houses in Paris, I came back to Canada. I feel everyone has challenges in their lives. It’s having the courage and the faith to keep believing in yourself and to keep striving for your best. I was once told when I worked at Chanel to follow your heart and do what you believe in. One thing I admire about the Danforth neighbourhood is that people are stylish and dress well. I try to make it fun, easy and relaxing to shop at Ziliotto. Our designs last in quality and style. Once you leave our store and you see how much you wear our pieces, you realize you are a true Ziliotto girl.
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ZILIOTTO ON DANFORTH AVENUE 752 Danforth Avenue Toronto, 416-463-0632 www.ziliotto.com
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The CosT of Living:
Investing in your Health with MedFit by Tracey Coveart
We
grumble about the price of gas and a litre of milk, the expense of daycare and hair care, the cost of cab fare and our monthly cell phone bill. But we pay, because we can’t imagine life without these things. So why is it different when it comes to our health? Why do we put our body on the back burner, when it is the one thing we truly can’t live without? It’s a gamble that could prove fatal. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases account for 89% of all deaths in Canada.
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Disease by numbers According to Statistics Canada, in 2014: • 54% of Canadian adults and 23.1% of Canadian youth (12-17) were overweight or obese. • 5.3 million Canadians (17.7%) suffered from high blood pressure. • Every 7 minutes in Canada, someone died of heart disease or stroke. • More than 2 million Canadians (6.7%) were living with diabetes. (Rates jumped 70% from 1999-2009, likely from increasing rates of overweight and obesity. The number of diabetic Canadians is estimated to reach 3.7 million by 2019.) • More than 4.8 million Canadians (16.5%) aged 15 years and older reported having arthritis. (With the aging population, this number is expected to increase to approximately 7 million – or 20% – by 2031.) • Approximately 1.5 million Canadians (10%) aged 40 years and over were suffering from osteoporosis. And when it comes to cancer, almost half of Canadians (41% of women and 46% of men) will develop the disease in their lifetime. One quarter of all Canadians are expected to die of it. These statistics are shocking. But there is good news. According to the WHO and the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund, at least 80% of premature heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes and 40% of cancer (about one-third of 12 major cancers) are preventable through a combination of changes in behaviour and lifestyle, including a healthy diet, tobacco avoidance, regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight. The cost of living Like everything else we need and want, there is a cost associated with staying healthy or getting well after an illness or injury. We may be inclined to play the wait and see game, finding other places to invest our hard-earned money, but
too many people realize too late that there is no better investment than one’s health. It is not an expense that can be deferred. It is a cost of living. Fortunately, there is a medical fitness company in our neighbourhood that is changing the face of chronic disease prevention and treatment, and it’s doing so for as little as a few dollars a day – the price of that morning cup of coffee which isn’t all that good for you anyway. Angela Hill is the Financial Officer at MedFit Rehab. A big part of her job is working with clients to develop programs and pricing packages that are customized to meet their individual health and wellness objectives – and their budget. Whether clients are interested in Preventative Fitness, Active Therapy or Post-Rehab Training, the process always starts with a questionnaire (filled out by clients, sometimes with input from their physician and help from the MedFit team) followed by an initial assessment. “We evaluate your overall health and fitness or your stage of recovery if you’re coming to us after an illness or injury.” Typically, the assessment takes two hours; three for individuals with complex needs. The responses on the questionnaire determine the scope and breadth of the assessment. Taken together, “we get a very clear snapshot of where you are when you come to us and what it is that you need,” says Angela. Once the assessment is completed, the assessor, who is either a Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) or physiotherapist, confers with the team on a recommendation for an exercise prescription and protocol. Once clients have a written prescription, they come to see Angela. “We review your assessment and prescription, as well as your goals and any concerns, and then we develop a financial plan. I provide you with options regarding cost and you decide how – and if – you are going to move forward.” There is no upfront commitment. The assessment fee begins at a nominal $40. Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE 27
The perfect plan MedFit offers a range of financing packages and plans that can be customized to match a client’s prescription, ranging from four months to one year. “A prescription is very specific. It provides the frequency, the dosage and duration,” explains Angela. “The Dosage might be three pound weights, with no flexion. The Frequency could be three times a week. The Duration, four months. Based on the frequency and duration, I can price out a package – which is very symptom focused – for that specific time period.” At the end of the package, the client is reassessed and, based on the result of that assessment, a new prescription is written and a new package offered. An extended health care plan is more flexible and also more detailed. “The assessor and the full multidisciplinary team engage with us in terms of what a plan might look like over the course of a full year,” says Angela. “For the first four months, the team might focus solely on the symptoms. Managing pain, for 28 Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE
example. After the second assessment, we might introduce nutritional counselling and other therapies, some from outside partners like osteopaths and cardiologists.” This plan operates much like an insurance policy. The rates are inclusive for the year. Clients purchase the full plan, but only pay for the services they use on a deductible basis. They must commit to a four-month minimum, “because it takes four months to see a difference,” says Angela. One of the benefits of the extended health care plan is that family members can be attached at a considerable discount. For example, a father who suffers from chronic heart disease and wants his kids to be part of his recovery process can attach them to his plan. This gives them access to MedFit’s full menu of services, from Lean Teens to Fit Teens to Food Preparation and Delivery. The plan owner pays a single deductible for additional family members and the result is one big family plan at a significantly reduced premium.
It benefits the client, but it also benefits MedFit. “We are assuming responsibility for improving our clients’ Functional Outcome Measures (FOM),” says Angela. “Enlisting the support of families and involving them in the client’s program – even having them attend a session with their loved one at no charge – helps to promote adherence to the prescription and ensure an improvement in FOMs. Family members need to understand that if dad is scheduled for therapy every afternoon at 5 pm, he needs to have that prescription delivered every afternoon at 5 pm. They need to be onboard and supportive.” Budget driven Another benefit of MedFit’s financing packages is that they are income driven. “We are a medical exercise clinic, so we work within your budget,” says Angela. “We also help clients assess the Revenue Canada guidelines and determine what tax credits and incentives they can access based on age and income eligibility.”
For example, she says, everyone 65 and over receives an age-related tax credit. Additionally, if they are still working, individuals and their spouses may qualify for medical expense credits based on an income formula of a fixed amount and 3% of annual net income. If you are certified CRA disabled, you can receive up to $7,766 a year in health services. As well, all MedFit programs are eligible for the Children’s Fitness Credit from CRA. “This is a $1,000 credit per eligible child, and adding a child to your extended health plan costs less than $1,700 a year.”
with at least one chronic disease, we just don’t know when or with what we’re going to get hit.” Whether you want to stay healthy and prevent future health issues or you need help recovering from an injury or dealing with an ongoing illness, MedFit Rehab is an affordable intervention. “We even provide services in kiosk locations,” says Angela. “Offered in community centres
and churches in areas where there is little or no access, these programs focus on heart and bone health and are available for as little as $7 a class.” Spending a little money on your health is one of the best investments you can make. If you choose to gamble with your body, you might want to think about what it will cost if you lose.
Tax breaks can make a MedFit plan even more affordable, says Angela, “and by mitigating the financial burden, it means people can focus on their health.” What if you’re neither a child or a senior? “You may still qualify for medical expense and disability credits regardless of income, as long as the program is supervised by a doctor or implemented by a third party health care provider. And all of our programs meet CRA criteria.” And while MedFit does not require doctor referrals, some extended care or employment insurance packages do cover services if clients have a prescription from their doctor. “There are so many ways that people can take charge of their health and their finances while they are trying to get better.” Money well spent The investment, says Angela, can buy miracles. “We’ve seen people bedridden who can now walk. Women with osteoporosis, hospitalized with bone fractures all over their bodies, outside, shovelling snow. One gentleman, a former weightlifter and bodybuilder who was in a devastating car accident five years ago, went skiing in Colorado last winter. We see these dramatic changes every day, and we’ve seen them in thousands of people.” Until they face a crisis, Angela says, “people tend to shuffle health to bottom of the deck. And yet, we’re all at risk. With more than half of North Americans living
Book a consulTaTIon
Program Locations by Appt. only
361 Danforth Avenue Toronto ON M2K 2V6 1701 Avenue Road Toronto ON M5M 3Y3 901 Lawrence Ave West Toronto ON M6A 1C3 427 Bloor Street West Toronto On M5S 1X7 2 Wembley Road Toronto ON M6C 2E9 25 Lakeshore Road West Oakville ON L6K 3X8 385 Sheppard Ave East Scarborough ON M1T 3L4 30 Gibson Drive Markham ON L3R 2S3
caTcH us on THe raDIo! 100.7 FM Healthy tips every weekday morning. Monday through Friday at 10:40am conTacT us 647-348-9150 inquiry@medfitrehab.com www.medfitrehab.com
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Our IWD and Spring Image
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Yellow House Gallery and Framing
“Crater” Michelle Tourikian oil on canvas, 36”x36”
Christina Kostoff Owner and Operator Yellow House GallerY and FraminG 921 Kingston road Toronto, ontario 416.792.8460 yellowhousegallery.ca
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LucSculpture School & Studios Spring is a great time to start on new activities in the neighbourhood. At LucSculpture School and Studio, they have a line-up of art classes. At this issue, we had a chance to interview the owner, Luc Bihan. NL (Neighbourhood Living): Tell us why is it so important for us to engage in creativity? Luc: “Children are born creative; they just need the right support and assistance in bringing the creative ideas to flower. For children, being creative really helps to develop the brain function and it also gives them self-confidence. “ “On the other hand, for the adults, being creative can be quite uncomfortable act and gives a lot of self-consciousness because most of adults tend to only focus on the end products, but forget the importance of the process in creativity. For adults, regaining creativity contributes to the self-development.”
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NL: I like your tag line, “Relief through Creativity”, but what do you mean by that? Luc: “For adults, creativity brings the awareness and helps tuning into ourselves and subtle emotions. Through the act of creating, it draws certain conclusion to this awareness and emotion. That is what “release from creativity” means. “ NL: At last, tell us about your art classes. Luc: “We offer a variety of art classes and workshops such as clay sculpture, pottery, painting, drawing, and mixed media for both children and adults throughout the year. Some are gear towards the beginner and we also have many professionals taking the classes as well. Our wish is for people to engage with their creativity through fun, insightful, and inspirational classes.”
LucscuLpture 663 Greenwood 416-461-7936 info@lucsculpture.com www.lucsculpture.com 34 Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE
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On the top floor of LucSculpture School and Studio, Yuri’s Village Naturopathic Clinic exists like an oasis for people to heal and to restore their well-being. Yuri’s Village primary offers naturopathic medicine, which uses effective natural substances to provide the body for optimum function to restore health. The clinic also offers a various holistic medicine such as reflexology, counselling, energy healings, and massage.
The owner and a naturopathic doctor, Yuri Murakami, is passionate about helping individuals achieve their wellness goals with accurately individualized treatment. She excels in working with endocrine issues, depression & anxiety, and autism. Unlike many other typical clinics, the experience here at Yuri’s Village is homey and welcoming, just like a small village, there is a sense of healthy community that strives for living in harmony and shares the joy. If you are curious about their services, the best way is joining the monthly health workshops and events to get to know the Yuri’s Village and their team. If you are ready to embrace optimal health and receive treatments, it is a wise decision to step into this warm community to get supports on your path to wellbeing.
Yuri’s Village naturopathic clinic
Danforth avenue & greenwood www.yurisvillage.com 416-466-5773 appointment@yurisvillage.com Clinic Opens Monday to Saturday (Office Hour: Wed to Sat, 10-5pm) EAST SIDE Neighbourhood Living 37
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Insider’s Guide to the East Side
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Insider’s Guide to the East Side 2929 Bermondsey Bermondsey Road, Road,416-690-5505 416-690-5505www.alfsantiques.com www.alfsantiques.com Neighbourhood Living
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ZEN PORIUM’S WEBSITE AND E - STORE Shop online from the comfort of your home. Our website has been updated with new products, multiple images and a shopping feature. Visit Zenporium.com.
01 SKOLA ANTI QUE SCHOOL CHAI RS Zenporium’s Skola Antique School Chairs have been refurbished, refining the rustic finish, while maintaining an authentic look. The Skola Chairs are light-weight and ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.
02 CAHAYA BOAT WOOD FURNITURE 01
The Cahaya Boat-Wood furniture line is constructed using colourful wooden panels salvaged from decades-old retired fishing trawlers. Artisans reclaim interior and exterior wood from the retired trawlers and reinvent it into functional furniture with character, brilliant
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colours, and a unique history.
CUSTOM & COM M ERCIAL FURNI TURE Contact us to discuss how we can transform your concepts into furniture or decorative finishes for your home, office, or commercial space.
Zenporium’s Guilt-Free Wood is an environmental sustainability standard that ensures materials used are reclaimed, salvaged, or responsibly-harvested. Zenporium is dedicated to oΩering unique furnishings that are skillfully-crafted using environmentally sustainable materials.
VISI T OUR WAREHOUSE Zenporium’s warehouse is a short walk away. It’s conveniently located at 388 Carlaw Ave (Unit 102), between Dundas St and Gerard St. Retail and professional customers are welcome to visit our warehouse. Please email or call to let us know when you would like to drop by the warehouse.
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PORTRAITS
BY MICHAEL O ’BRIEN
When making a portrait, I aim to create meaningful images that reveal the essence of a person’s character. This is more than a job to me; it’s a creative collaboration that includes me and the subject. Trust and rapport are key—as that trust builds, the images start flowing. I am really fortunate because the process allows me to meet and connect with so many amazing people.
“classic and timeless”
I believe a strong portrait is classic and timeless. It’ll be more precious in 25 years than it is now. I love working with natural light and minimal equipment in unique locations. A portrait isn’t finished until it’s made into a fine print. We can provide prints made with a digital printer or unique heirlooms handmade with traditional printing processes in the darkroom. www.michaelobrienphoto.com • 416 778 6521 • michael@michaelobrienphoto.com
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Grethe Jensen teaches art classes at Rebellion Gallery. She calls her class - “Just Do It�. Next classes start in Mid-April. She will be adding an afternoon class to accommodate the high demand.
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Grethe Jensen grethejensen.com 416-699-6710 Rebellion Gallery 1495 Gerrard St. E. EAST SIDE Neighbourhood Living 45
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Easter Specialty Little Duck Cake from North Pole Bakery
Easter is when Gaby , the pastry chef and son-in-law puts together a special cake, “Little Duck Cake.� The creation is a multistage process; starting with the baking of the various pastry pieces, creating a rum flavoured sponge cake, covered in ricotta, the fitting of the pieces which are dipped in dark chocolate and covered with white chocolate flakes. The dark chocolate is 70% cocoa butter. The little ducks are gathered round the mother in the nest.
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NORTH POLE BAKERY 1210 Danforth Avenue Toronto ON M4J 1M6 416-466-6435
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Welcome to Jawny Bakers, East York’s favourite place to meet.
W
e trust that you will enjoy whatever occasion brings you here, whether it’s spending time with family or meeting friends, we want to extend some warm hospitality to you and your Guests. Our menu is eclectic and offers global fare prepared with pride and passion. The selection is diverse and aims to satisfy all tastes. Our food is classic and prepared with a signature twist. Wherever possible, we strive to source fresh, local ingredients to prepare addictive and tasty dishes, and partner with the most reputable suppliers. Whether you choose a fresh market salad, a perfectly grilled prime steak or a handmade burger, there’s a lot of homemade goodness is everything we prepare!
We know you will like what you see and love what you taste! We look forward to you joining us. Hours Sun to Thurs 11:30am - 10:00pm Fri and Sat 11:30am - 12:00am
Jawny Bakers Restaurant 804 O’Connor Drive, Toronto, Ontario M4B 2S9 416-285-1165
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Gift giving time is the best time! Mary MacLeods Shortbread 639 Queen St East Toronto 416-461-4576 www.marymacleod.com EAST SIDE Neighbourhood Living 51
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“If it doesn’t taste good to me it isn’t good enough for my customers.” Anna Skalko
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Purveyors of Local Handmade Foods Meat on the Beach is the sort of shop every neighbourhood aspires to call its own, and it’s been serving The Beach since 1996. The staff are passionate about what they sell and cook, and care about their customers and are driven by quality first and foremost. Our butcher is always be on hand to discuss the origins of our locally farmed meats and poultry, the differences between cuts, and offer tips on how to prepare it at home. You’ll also find fresh, local, and organic seasonal produce.
Meat On the Beach 1860 Queen Street e toronto On 416.690.1228 meatonthebeach.com
And if you’re in a rush to get home and get dinner on the table, you can grab something hot from our large assortment of entrees in our deli section such as roast chicken, lasagna, meat pies, quiches, and soups made with our own stock. Also look for our Meat on the Beach branded pastas and pasta sauces, salad dressings, and fresh pies.
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From our farmers to your table
FrEsh From thE Farm at 350 Donlands Ave.
Providing Toronto with local, farm-fresh meats, raised without hormones or drugs. Plus eggs, dairy, produce and more. From Ontario Amish and Mennonite farmers. Since 1996. Monday-Friday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Debit / Visa / Master Card / Cash
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350 Donlands Ave. 416-422-FARM (3276) info@freshfromthefarm.ca
click here to watch the video! https://youtu.be/HL1UzIK-flA
Give yourself a treat with a taste of the Caribbean The Real Jerk Restaurant has been a landmark restaurant in Toronto for over 30 years. The Real Jerk has developed a strong following of loyal returning customers and is a well-known name with tourists. TRJ has been serving great Caribbean food and Caribbean vibes to residents and visitors in Toronto. This award winning restaurant offers dine-in, take-out and catering options. The Real Jerk Restaurant has been able to capture that island vibe with great service and a wide selection of food, rum, wine and cocktail options. TRJ is a great place to celebrate with family and friends. If you’re looking for a place the best Caribbean food in Toronto with great vibes, check us out. Our loyal customers come back every time for the food, great Caribbean rum selection, tasty cocktails and great ever-vibrant atmosphere.
842 Gerrard Street East 416-463-6055 therealjerk@therealjerk.com Groups are welcome
The Real Jerk Beaches 1004 Kingston Road 416-690-8752 therealjerkbeaches@therealjerk.com
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Our Sunday Open Jam starts at 4:30 – every Sunday!! COme On Over!
Welcome to your second home! Hi , I’m Mark Ma and I own the Black Bear Pub. After 6 years in this location, lots of our customers see the Black Bear as their second home. I serve All Day Breakfasts $4.95 and Homemade Soup $3.95. We have kids meals, French Toast, pancakes and Saturday-Sunday; Eggs Bennie. Drop by and enjoy our great food. Ask for Mark!
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Black Bear PuB 1125 O’connor 416-752-5182
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Banchi Kinde, owner of Rendezvous, performing the traditional coffee ceremony with fresh roasted Ethiopean coffee.
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Insider’s Guide to the East Side
Saturday night at the Rendezvous Restaurant
Travel to Ethiopia and back
T
he first sign of a good family place is the friendly atmosphere where guests are greeted like old friends and made to feel right at home. When Banchi is in the house, everyone is family. Banchi is from Ethiopia and wanted to run a place where her guests could eat authentic Ethiopian food. Since 2001, she has built her restaurant on the reputation of great fresh cooked food served in a friendly atmosphere. It is intimate eating food with your hands; sharing the injera bread and sharing the great tastes of ethiopian food culture. It slows the pace of eating allowing space for conversation and connection.
There is both meat and vegetarian dishes at Rendezvous. The injera bread is gluten free and rich in minerals. The spices used are paprika, garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric. There is no deep frying, no transfat, no preservatives, vegan dishes and coffee in the traditional way. Try the coffee ceremony seen on the opposite page. Rendez-Vous offers courteous service that will invite you to travel to Ethiopia over and over again.
RENDEZ-VOUS 1408 Danforth Avenue & Monarch Park 416-469-2513 www.ethiopianrendezvous.com EAST SIDE Neighbourhood Living 59 Insider’s Guide to the East Side | 97
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Since 1991 Authentic Northern Mexican Cuisine
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El Sol <
Mexican Gallery Restaurant
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EL SOL 1448 Danforth Avenue, Toronto ON M4J 1N4 Tel: 416 405 8074 Fax: 416 405 8112 Email: elsol@belinet.ca Web: www.elsol.ca Open from Tuesday through Sunday from 3pm to 11pm Closed Mondays Space available for rehearsals
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If I wouldn’t feed it to my family, I wouldn’t feed it to yours.
I’m so excited to see the great weather we’re having, Another great grilling season ahead....although some of us didn’t let a little snow keep us away from from our BBQ’s. The boys will be busy making your favorite burgers and sausages, 100% natural and R.W.H.A. Don’t forget to try our gluten free Turkey and Chicken Sausages, all made in house. It wouldn’t be BBQ season if i didn’t mention my favorite Tri-Tip Sirloin, great for feeding a crowd, and simple on the barbee or in the oven. Just ask? We’ll be glad to give you all our secrets. Also I’m very excited about our new beef supplier. Alfonso has been working with John from MILL GROVE Ont. John raises great Angus Beef; 100% GRASS FED, then 4 weeks dry aged - “Royal Millgrove Angus”. Look for it in our counter.
It’s not what you Eat...... It’s what your eating Eats.!!!
Carmen
Royal Beef 1968 Danforth Ave 416-421-1029 EAST SIDE Neighbourhood Living 65
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Welcome to Gerrard Pizza Three generations of fine Italian dining. Since 1966 we have been serving Toronto a little piece of Italy using our familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s authentic Italian recipes made with love straight from our hometown in Calabria: San Vito. Come and let us treat you like one of the family with a delicious meal and good company.
Food photography by Donna Griffith photography
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Gerrard Pizza wins the DECA GEM! Thanks to all who voted and to everyone involved and remember people we are all GEMS on the DANFORTH so come check us out!
Gerrard Pizza House 1528 danforth avenue Toronto, oN M4J 1N4 T 416-463-7792 Monday: 4 pm - 10 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11:30 am - 10 pm Friday: 11:30 am - 11 pm Saturday: 4 pm - 11 pm Sunday: Closed
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PAN Mediterranean Cuisine
Sun –Thur: 12-11:00pm • Fri-Sat: 12-12:00 pm
Thurs: Enjoy $20 bottle of Wine Promo. We have live music. Fri-Sat: Live Band & Belly Dancing
516 Danforth Ave. • 647 977 6371 • www.panonthedanforth.com • FREE DELIVERY
Get your free copy of Neighbourhood Living. Go to www.neighbourhoodliving.com and click on the black square labeled Download PDF Or leave your email address and get the next issue sent to you.
Thank you for reading Neighbourhood Living 68 Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE
Living
NEIGHBOURHOOD SHOWCASING LIFE
IN THE EAST END
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InsiderTips
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Insider Tips
BEST SOURCE FOR ITALIAN OLIVE OIL With more than 35 varieties of olive oil, Masellis is the place to go. Get to know the flavours and best how to use them. Some popular brands are Il Baglio-Paesemio, Vecchi Saporio-Olio Grezzo, Colavita, Borgo di Puglia, Fruttato, The SanGiulano Estates and many more. Feel free to ask the Masellis Brothers for help with any questions.
Masellis Supermarket 906 Danforth Avenue • 416-465-7901
THE BEST PEROGIES There are no deli’s in the East End like you would get on Roncesvalles or Bloor West. No one in the East End makes their own perogies but the ones at Meat on the Beach are the closest to the real thing like Momma would make. Anna says they have to continually order more – they are so popular.
MEAT ON THE BEACH 1860 Queen Street E 416.690.1228 meatonthebeach.com 70 Neighbourhood Living EAST SIDE
Le Cassoulet Royal; Confit de Canard, Saucisses Fermiete, Poitrine de Porc Rotie. Rustic Baked White Beans with Duck Confit, Sausages & Crispy Pork Belly
YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THE CASSOULET Hi, I am the owner of Batifole and the head chef. My first concern is your enjoyment from my cooking. When the Cassoulet dish appeared on the menu, clients could not get enough and so it has become a mainstay. Try it and you will become a regular at Batifole.
BATIFOLE 744 Gerrard St East 416-462-9965 www.batifole.ca
BEST COFFEE SHOP FOR A QUIET TALK Tucked away from the beaten path is one of the best coffee shops to have a quiet chat. The ambience is cool, the chairs are comfortable, the coffee is really good - like fresh roasted and full of intense coffee flavor. Here you can forget about rest of your day and hang for awhile.
Merchants of Green Coffee 2 Matilda • 416-741-5369 www.merchantsofgreencoffee.com EAST SIDE Neighbourhood Living 71
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Insider Tips Best sunrise Location the LesLie street spit Also known as Tommy Thompson park at the foot of Leslie street is the best reason to live in the East Side. Get onto the spit and forget youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the city. Jutting 5 kilometres into Lake Ontario. This photo was taken at 7:00 am and the quiet was beautiful. No traffic sounds, no street car rumblings. Just the geese getting up to start their day.
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Insiders Tips
Provenรงal Tableclothes from France
100% cotton, 68 inches round and rectangle 96 x 63 inches Acrylic coated for outside use and easy wiping.
Luberon French Style Bring a little piece if France home with you today
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Luberon French Style 2240 Queen Street East Toronto ON M4C 1G2 info@luberon.ca Facebook
Insider Tips Best Place for Beads The Queen East shop carries tens of thousands of beads from all over the world-India, Africa, Germany, Japan, The Czech Republic - in natural and painted wood, crystal, ebony, bone, glass, metal, seeds, semi-precious stones and pearls. Whether to make a bracelet, earrings, a necklace or a good luck charm, the Beadworks is your destination. Ask for Jo.
Beadworks 2154 Queen St. E. • 416-693-0780
Insider Tips Best Hostess of a RestauRant To be chosen the Best Hostess is a big achievement in the ultra competitive restaurant business. To thrive since 2001 is another achievement and it takes a special person to make this happen. When Banchi says hello, you feel most welcome, like you’re part of her extended family. Everything about Rendez-Vous is intended to give you an authentic Ethiopian experience. The dishes are cooked to authentic recipes. Even the herbs are imported from Ethiopia. When you’re there Banchi has her watchful eye on your table to make sure your needs are attended. As you leave, she says goodbye in her genuine way that appreciates you as a good customer.
Banchi Kinde Rendez-Vous 1400 Danforth avenue & Monarch Park 416-469-2513 ethiopianrendezvous.com EAST SIDE Neighbourhood Living 75
Insider Tips Tips Insider
Best LamB Roasted on a spit 10 years ago, whole roasted lamb on a backyard spit was a common sight. Today there are few spits and no restaurants on the Danforth that roast whole lambs on a spit. The exception is Florida Shish-ke bob House on Pape north of Mortimer. Every Saturday afternoon Bill fires up the spit and by supper time it’s ready. Based on the number of neighbourhood people, his place is doing well. The lamb fresh off the spit was delicious.
Florida shish-ke bob House 940 Pape Avenue • 416-422-2567
BLOWOUT SALE OF MEXICAN HANDMADE GLASS AND CURIOS El Sol needs to clear space for a dance floor! Stop by their location at 1448 Danforth to get great deals on artisan crafts, handmade glass and much more.
Call Yolande at 416-405-8074, 1:00 to 10:00 pm.
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Insider Tips Hungry for the real taste of Tomato and you can’t wait till “your grow your own” ripens in late July? Then you have to try our Passata brand tomatoes from Italy. Whether it is because they get more sunshine and are grown in that rich volcanic soil—but for flavour , they can’t be beat! A jar of Passata, a pound of Hamburg plus fixings. Supper is ready before you know it. Carmen.
Royal Beef 1968 Danforth Ave 416-421-1029
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= mmm dinner
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Insider Tips Want some Nature WOW! Cherry Blossoms in High Park!! This shot was taken May 6 2015. Keep your calendar open around the first of May thereabouts and head over to High Park. Parking can be scarce, but lots of street parking within a 10 minute walk. Bring a picnic and someone to share and enjoy theEAST collective 78 Neighbourhood Living SIDE WOW.
Hot:
Words are dead. To be more clear: Words on a page or on a screen are asleep, inert, doing nothing at all until they interact with you, the reader. That takes effort.
A theory of propulsion
An audiobook, on the other hand, propels itself. The words are spoken, whether you listen or not, so you better listen.
www.sethgodin.com
The next level up is new. As in news. Or previously unknown. When it’s breaking, it propels itself even harder, because we know that we’re about to hear something previously unheard.
sethgodin.typepad.com
And a video is just as alive.
And beyond that? When humans are involved. Not just news, but news from a friend. News that our peers are about to be talking about. Not just propelled, but amplified by our cohort and our culture. Social media is built on the idea of propulsion. It’s not history, it’s now. The smartphone isn’t smart, it’s merely hot. Pulsing with the next thing. [I know, you just got a text. Go check it, I’ll be here when you get back.] This, I think, is one of the giant chasms of our new generation, always seen, not often noticed. That we’re moving from the considered words of a book or even a Wikipedia article to the urgent, connected ideas that propel themselves. Words are a noun, attention is a verb. The motion of an idea actually creates its own physics. Ideas in motion not only touch more people, they have more impact as well. Slack is engineered for motion, the Kindle is a silent repository you have to press. The cliche was that the author used to live for the solitary moments of considered thought and solo writing. “Leave me alone and let me write.” The publisher paid the bills with the backlist, the old books that sold and sold. Today, without propulsion, most people aren’t making the time or the focus to pursue inert wisdom. Without motion, the words get moldy. Book publishing (and the making of movies, or songs, or articles) has always had an element of promotion associated with it, the act of introducing an idea to someone who needed it. What’s shifted is that the promotion has transcended most of the process, because the idea itself becomes the promotion. It used to be that nothing was more urgent than getting punched in the face. Instant, immediate, personal. Today, we’re getting virtual punches, from every direction, all self-propelled, many of them amplified. The ideas that propel themselves on the tailwinds of culture will dominate, opposed only by the people who care enough to propel ideas that matter instead. Maybe you. EAST SIDE Neighbourhood Living 79
Will cap-and-trade slow climate change? The principle that polluters should pay for the waste they create has led many experts to urge governments to put a price on carbon emissions. One method is the sometimes controversial cap-and-trade. Quebec, California and the European Union have already adopted cap-and-trade, and Ontario will join Quebec and California’s system in January 2017. But is it a good way to address climate change? The program sets an overall limit — a cap — on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions a province can emit. It then tells polluters, such as heavy industry and electricity generators, how many tonnes of carbon each can release. For every tonne, polluters need a permit or “allowance.” So, if a company’s annual limit is 25,000 tonnes, it would require 25,000 allowances. If a company exceeds its limit, it can purchase additional allowances from another firm that, because of its greater efficiency, has more allowances than it needs. This is the “trade” part of the equation. Although an individual company can exceed its greenhouse gas limit by purchasing credits, the province as a whole can’t. The overall limit is reduced every year, so if the law is followed, cap-and-trade guarantees annual emissions reductions. The declining cap is the system’s great strength and the way it protects the environment. How effective is it? Although the answer isn’t straightforward, there’s evidence cap-and-trade played a key role in reducing acid rain in the United States. The 1990 Clean Air Act allowed power plants to buy and sell the right to emit sulphur dioxide. Since then, U.S. sulphur dioxide concentrations have gone down by more than 75 per cent. As Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman wrote in the New York Times, “Acid rain did not disappear as a problem, but it was significantly mitigated.”
Canadian Public Policy claimed Quebec’s system “is still too weak to meaningfully address the environmental imperatives as outlined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2014 Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report, in which fully eliminating carbon emissions is the benchmark for long-term policy goals.” From 2013 to 2014, California’s allowance cap went from 162.8 to 159.7 megatonnes, a drop of less than two per cent. Ontario’s proposed legislation indicates its program will have some great strengths and a number of shortcomings. It will likely have wide coverage, applying limits on most of the province’s emissions, including those from transportation fuels. (California’s system did not initially include these fuels.) Ontario is expected to reduce emissions by over four per cent a year — about twice the initial rate of California — and generate $1.9 billion annually from the plan. That money will be invested in “green” projects throughout the province with the goal of reducing carbon emissions even further. Ontario’s proposal to give away many allowances to big emitters is less encouraging. The government says it will eventually phase out this free disbursement, but in the meantime millions of dollars in government revenue that could be used to support renewable energy and public transit will be lost. To keep the bulk of fossil fuels in the ground — as scientific evidence says we must — we need a variety of strategies. Cap-and-trade helps reduce emissions and generates billions of dollars for other strategies to address climate change. It also embodies the polluter pays principle. But it’s not enough on its own.
Despite this and other successes, some experts are skeptical, arguing that cap-and-trade amounts to little more than a cash grab by government, a tax in everything but name. Others say it’s a mistake to expect climate change can be addressed through markets, when the problem actually requires changing our entire approach to economics, with a commitment to a steady-state economy and an end to the commodification of nature.
The David Suzuki Foundation and others have long argued that provinces and the federal government should put a price on carbon, through carbon taxes, cap-and-trade or a combination of both. The urgent need to address global warming means provinces that have adopted cap-andtrade need to strengthen it by ensuring emissions drop faster and polluters pay a price that truly reflects the damage caused by carbon pollution.
Some experts have also noted that the emissions reductions it brings are often modest. A 2015 paper in
Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Climate Change and Transportation Policy Analyst Gideon Forman.
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Create. Produce. Fulfill.
STATE OF THE ART PRINTING
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IN-HOUSE DESIGN TEAM
INFO@SUPPLYANDDEMAND.CA
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Beautiful award winning fine art photography from The Beach and around the world by Michael Maclaverty
TheAccidentalPhotographer.Ca
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Mike@TheAccidentalPhotographer.Ca
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416-529-6405