March 2021 - Issue 51
STYLE OPINION BIA REPORT FORSYTHIA FESTIVAL NFT’s
Who Really Renovated
The Winchester Hotel
In January, I got a call from Michael Hepburn of Hepburn Landscaping. He was calling to get my address. We chatted and told him (during a pandemic) that the PSN’s future was not clear. A few days later I received a letter, (with is a self-addressed and stamped envelope so I could send an invoice when the time was right). In the letter, Michael stated how much he loved the paper. He mentioned that Hepburn Landscaping gets several calls a year from his ad and to “not to underestimate the importance of local stuff like this...and to keep going.” Well, I gotta say I was flattered. In the following days of January, I decided to take the plunge..and in doing so, decided to change the format, use Canada Post for delivery and solicit more opinionated articles. Thanks to all of the advertisers and contributors. Everybody is allowed to contribute. If you have an opinion, we want to hear it, and so does the community. Don’t forget to follow, share and reach out via your social media of choice and remember to read the paper. The advertisers count on it, and so do we. Pete Lovering , Publisher
PSN Numbers • Years in publication 11 • Issue number 51 • Number of Issues per Year 5 - March May. Sept. Oct. Nov. • Distribution area South of Bloor, East of Jarvis, North of Queen to the Don Valley • Number of Copies 3000 per issue • Delivery of 2500 copies to every house via Canada Post • 500 copies to lobbies, mail rooms, cafes and local businesses • 25 Advertisers this issue • Instagram Followers 1000+ • Online impressions over 100,000 • Number of articles 16 • Population living within 500 Meters of parliament street 100, 000+ • Parliament Street 2.3 km • Next Edition May 14th • Twitter followers 800 + • Web Visits over 600 per month • Space for advertiser? Unlimited.
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@cabbagetownnews www.pstreetnews.com 647-281-3417 ParliamentStNews@gmail.com
This edition Over 21 articles combined with 26 advertisers
NFT’s For the Rest of us, find out how you can protect your creative on the block chain
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Brick By Brick, Sparing no expense. The Winchester Hotel
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Cabbagetown South Takes things into their own hands
50th birthday for the Forsythia Festival.
A gentle Treasure hunt from the gallery Arcturus
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Double Take Season of Growth
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| Parliament Street News - Issue 51 -
Cabbagetown Fashion you heard it here first and it does exist
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Brick By Brick, sparing no expense. The Family behing the Stunning and expensive renovation of the Winchester Hotel deserve all of the credit. Brick By Brick, sparing no expense. A little while ago, the Globe and Mail ran a great article about the Winchester hotel. The author went into great detail describing the artisans and trades that went to so much effort to restore the building. They forgot to mention one thing… the people that paid for the project. Well, we decided to look into it. The Owner of the Winchester hotel is a man named Ron Black. The Black Family is originally from Montreal, going back over 4 generations. Their ancestry can be traced back to Odesa, Ukraine. Over the eighteen months, we have all seen the effort put into the property. With the help of Tom Mintsopoulos of One Oak Design and Build. They oversaw the restoration project, including adding a 13 ft lantern 26 ft. flag pole, tuckpointing, windows and a full cleaning, taking out and redoing over 6000 individual bricks. Sparing
no expense whatsoever. But what kind of person invests so much into something so long forgotten. (Editors note I still miss “The Winny” and its seedy undertones, illegal streaming of pay per view fights and live music…did I mention the 10$ pitchers on Thursday night) Yes, some brave soul repurchased the building and decided to invest heavily to bring to the level all heritage buildings should strive. Who does that? Well, lots of people in Cabbagetown. The neighbourhood is full of proud homeowners themselves spare little expense on heritage. It is no wonder the community is so happy. Mr Black and his family not only did the job right, they are continuing to renovate the inside of the building extensively in the months to come. We chatted with Mr Black recently to find out about the person that had the vision to hire the best artisans in the city (likely North America) to do the
job right. Why did you buy the Winchester? “We have been invested in the Montreal real estate market for a long time. We had been looking to make an investment in Toronto real estate for years and never quite found the right fit. Until we came across the Winchester hotel. We have always loved heritage properties and were thrilled to be able to acquire such a historic building. We took over ownership in August of 2018. “ People are over the moon about this project. Have you ever been involved with a project of this size (or cost) before? What was your motivation for going above and beyond? “This was definitely the largest project we had gotten involved with at the time. It can always be scary to venture into the
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YOUR EXPECTATIONS... SURPASSED
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unknown but at the end of the day, the site was so gorgeous we figured if not risk it for this, then when? We wanted to fully restore the building and bring it back to it’s former glory. We were not interested in patching up problems - our goal is to fix things in a way that will stand the test of time, even if that means having to spend more money.”
then when we were able to start up again, staffing was an issue. We felt terrible for our tenants because the project took longer than anticipated.
What was the biggest challenge?
Let’s hope the Mr Black and his family does.
The COVID 19 pandemic forced us to pause construction, and
Would you do it again? Time tells all, but thinking about how unique the project is and how good the long term prospects of Toronto are, it’s hard to think otherwise.
The Winchester Hotel (then called the Lakeview Hotel - 1888) Courtesy of cabbagetownpeople.ca The imposing 3½-storey red brick Winchester Hotel (built in 1888) with a 2½-storey red brick south wing, and the adjoining two-storey red brick Winchester Hall (built in 1881) are located at 531 Parliament Street, on the southeast corner of Parliament and Winchester streets in Cabbagetown. The Winchester Hotel is a well-known local hotel noted for its distinctive Second Empire style and was designed by the noted architectural firm of Kennedy and Holland. In 1941, architect Benjamin Swartz oversaw alterations to the site, including the Art Moderne well-appointed interiors. The space currently occupied by Tim Horton’s used to be one of the toughest drinking spots in the city, so tough that it’s nickname was “The Bucket of Blood”. Featherweight boxing champion and Cabbagetowner Albert “Frenchy” Bélanger once worked there as a waiter/bouncer. Winchester Hall, at the back (east) of the hotel once housed a very popular jazz establishment where greats such as Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker entertained the crowds. The Winchester Hotel and Winchester Hall are local landmarks that form part of the important collection of intact Victorian buildings in Cabbagetown.
Cabbagetown Cares
A unique partnership between the Cabbagetown BIA, Dixon Hall and St. Luke’s United Church Contributed by Rick Matthews, Executive Director of the Cabbagetown BIA
This unique partnership between the Cabbagetown BIA, Dixon Hall and St. Luke’s United Church began thanks to a grant and donations secured by Rev. Jim Keenan and a collective desire between all three organizations to work together to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. With enough funds to make 100 lunches a week for six weeks, the BIA set out to find local businesses to partner with. Chew Chews Diner, Daniel et Daniel, Phö U, The Epicure Shop, Tim Horton’s, and DOVA were all quick to participate, and just a week later on a cold and snowy Thursday afternoon, we handed out our first lunches in Allan Gardens. As you might expect, the hot homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy served that day by Chew Chews were very well received. Delicious wraps, hearty sandwiches
and subs, pasta and roast chicken lunches have all been equally enjoyed and appreciated. But we couldn’t serve these meals without help, and each week dedicated staff and volunteers from Dixon Hall set up areas for food distribution, screening, sanitization and the handing out of face masks. They also work to ensure physical distancing is maintained while also making sure that people waiting in line know they’re not alone. Each week their enthusiasm and kindness are handed out as readily and warmly as the meals. ‘Cabbagetown Cares’ was originally slated to stop at the end of February, but thanks to generous financial donations from the wider community it has been extended until the end of this month. We’ve also received countless messages from people wanting to volunteer, make meals or find other ways to support this initiative. Your kindness and goodwill have been heartwarming. So often during this pandemic we’ve heard the expression “we’re all in this together,” and while it’s become a bit cliché and debatable to some, this project has been an example where that’s actually the case. Meaningful and important bridges are being built that we all hope will last beyond the pandemic.
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The idea for ‘Cabbagetown Cares’ started off as a simple one, as most good ideas do. How could we help Cabbagetown’s most vulnerable residents while also supporting our struggling small businesses, both of which are dealing with the impacts of a year-long pandemic? The answer: pay local restaurants to make healthy, well-balanced meals for people in our community facing increased food insecurity.
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Combatting THE Opioid Crisis
Heart 2 Heart First Aid & CPR Helps Combat Toronto’s Opioid Crisis Contributed by Nick Rondinelli Heart 2 Heart First Aid & CPR Services Inc. has been in operation for 21 years, servicing Downtown Toronto East. We have provided emergency response training to thousands of healthcare providers and support workers in harm reduction, outreach, shelters, and community health centres. In a national press release published on October 22, 2020, we identified reasons for the spike in opioid overdoses and the all-time high number of deaths in Toronto shelters. This was followed by two letters sent on Oct. 24, 2020 and Nov. 2, 2020 to Mary-Anne Bedard (General Manager), of the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) and to 6 other senior staff members within the City and shelters.
| PSTREETNEWS.COM -- spring 2021
At a meeting on November 16, 2020, the Board of Health requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with Mary-Anne Bedard, to work with community partners toward urgently expanding overdose prevention response and other harm reduction measures in several hotel shelters in Toronto. Almost $2.6 million in funding has been directed to organizations and programs providing these services. Although this is a step in the right direction, the City of Toronto must still create and regulate up-to-date standards and guidelines for ALL shelters and workers. Furthermore, unless ALL Toronto shelters receive the extra support from this new funding, we are still left with under-trained staff, lack of PPE, improper breathing barrier equipment, and no AEDs. Instead of creating stronger systems within all shelters, the City is providing band-aid solutions. What will happen when the money runs out?
Currently the training that is required for shelter and 6 support workers does not
cover the most important skills required for opioid overdoses. These skills include pulse check, assisted breathing, bagvalve mask (BVM), 2-Rescuer CPR, Automated External Defibrillation, and proper Naloxone administration. A social entrepreneurship branch of my company called The Johnston-Brais Initiative is a task force that seeks to provide education, awareness, training, certification and best practices for the unique and challenging circumstances that shelter staff, and harm reduction workers, face each day. This taskforce is made up of industry leaders in First Aid training, EMS professionals, and frontline harm reduction workers. Our goal is to have one reliable program that becomes accepted as the standard of care for better training, equipment and resources for all Toronto shelters, respites, harm reduction and outreach services. A best practices approach that empowers and develops highly skilled support staff while providing them with immediate access to full PPE and a minimum second trained staff person, per shift. I am very proud to dedicate and name this social entrepreneurship strategy after two of my late friends. Natalie Brais, who overdosed alone in her apartment in Cabbagetown last year, and my best friend Garth Johnston who died from HIV related causes and experienced homelessness several times in his life. We are confident that this initiative will provide a platform for offering similar standardized programs across the province and country. It will provide a legacy that I know my friends would be proud of. One that will keep their memories alive in the form of a movement that will save countless lives.
Some Cabbagetown Favourites Contributed by Kathy Flaxman for Weenen General Contracting Limited Cabbagetown’s an excellent place for walks that take in an array of architecture with countless special homes and fascinating details! Presenting a few of our favourites! Let’s talk about clinker bricks. An excellent example of recycling, you can see them deep inside Cabbagetown’s Riverdale Farm, at what is now called the Residence, built in 1902 as the Zookeeper’s residence. Local Historian Giles Huot of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association gives us the dirt on those bricks. “A clinker brick is an “overcooked” or overheated brick that would have broken during firing which would have been discarded, likely thrown into a pile where it would “clink” when hitting others,” he explains. “In the late 19th century and early 20th, these were often recycled (they were cheap or even free!). Since they are fragments of bricks, they would often be used sideways rather than lengthwise, often blackened,
which give them that characteristic rough look. They even became a staple in the Arts and Crafts Movement architecture.” And in Riverdale Farm, where there is not only the Residence, but Simpson House near the front entrance, plus lovely barns and sties and coops on view. Award winning homes of today Winner of the 2015 Peggy Kurtin Restoration Award from the Cabbagetown Preservation Association and originally built in 1876, 377 Sackville Street, the former home of Francis Shields, a drover, is unique. “There is not another house like it in the city,” according to Patricia McHugh in her book Toronto Architecture, A City Guide. Notable features include the second Empire or Mansard roof and window treatments. Renovated by Weenen General Contracting Limited, the home’s interior features carefully chosen details such as tiles imported specially from Mexico.
Likewise, at 397 Carlton Street, what was originally the home of James Reeve, a barrister was, according to McHugh’s book, the first on the block when it was built in 1883 in “a pleasing Italianate villa style in what was still a countrified part of the City.” In 2017 this home won the Peggy Kurtin Award for Excellence in Renovation for many features, including the brickwork, which was cleaned, repaired, repointed and replaced as needed. No clinker bricks though.
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE? As your local Cabbagetown realtors and neighbours, we’re here to help you create a plan that will fulfill your real estate dreams. The present market offers exciting opportunities in every segment. Perhaps you’re looking to buy an investment property or want to up-size, you can take advantage of historically low interest rates. For those looking to sell, this hot sellers’ market is breaking record-high prices. If you’re looking to invest in a condo, downtown condos are a specialty. The current high level of inventory has created a rare buying opportunity for the savvy investor. Whatever your dreams, our thirtyplus years of experience will help guide you toward the right move.
Forsythia Festival is turning 50!
The 50th Anniversary of The Cabbagetown Forsythia Festival Sunday, May 2 2021 Contributed by Shawna, Carolyn and Katie That’s right neighbours....we will not let a global pandemic stop us from welcoming Spring to Cabbagetown! Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 2nd 2021 for the 50th Anniversary of the Cabbagetown Forsythia Festival.
In the 2020 by-election, so many Toronto Centre residents took a leap of faith by voting Green. I asked them to “Be Daring” and to vote for the positive change they wanted to see — and so many did. I am going to repay that trust, and take the leap again — if you can be daring, so can I.
Time to Be Daring. Annamie Paul
Since we can’t gather together to celebrate and welcome Spring to the neighbourhood, festival organisers have decided to bring the celebration to your door step.
Here’s the scoop: -We will be offering Special Edition 50th Anniversary Forsythia Festival Experience Bags for purchase. These specially designed canvas tote bags will contain a number of activities, decorations and crafts to help your family celebrate everything Forsythia. -Can’t find anything yellow to wear? We hear you! Special edition yellow t-shirts will be available for purchase as well. Contests will run throughout the month of April leading up to the festival with prizes and recognitions. If you haven’t already, remember to follow us @torontocraboard on Instagram and Cabbagetown Residents Association on Facebook to stay in the loop!
So put some spring in your step and get ready to welcome Spring to Cabbagetown! #ForsythiaBig50 #ThinkSpring2021
This is just a peek of what’s to come!More info on where to purchase bags/t-shirts will be posted on our social media channels as well as at: https:// cabbagetowner.com/
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| Parliament Street News - Issue 51 -
Fine Jewellery by
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Haddad Hudson Law Office Barristers & Solicitors
Michael Peter Haddad michael@haddadhudsonlaw.ca
Anne Hudson
anne@haddadhudsonlaw.ca 548 Parliament Street t: 416-926-8151 f: 416-927-9005
Private security hire highlights Moss Park’s chronic social ills
The decision last November by residents of Cabbagetown South to hire private security has suddenly become the talk of the town. Contributed by Andre Berman, Publisher of the Bridge The decision last November by residents of Cabbagetown South to hire private security has suddenly become the talk of the town. Playing out in people’s minds were imaginings of a privatized police force patrolling neighbourhoods and beating up transgressors, in a dystopian scenario where government services have all been sold off. But rather than an outcome of unbridled Reaganomics, the decision was the culmination of resident frustration over a string of break-ins, assaults and overdoses in a neighbourhood long beset by social ills. Nevertheless, both the media and politicians weighed in on the news with sensationalism. “The question is what the role of [private security] is, how they interact with the public,” cautioned Mayor John Tory in statement aired on CP24. “That has to be watched very carefully because we have a police service; they are excellent at what they do.”
FROM ALL OF US AT EPICURE
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Have a Happy Easter!
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WISHING YOU A JOYFUL AND PEACEFUL EASTER SUNDAY!
CLOSED GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER SUNDAY
For a mayor not known to speak on parochial issues, the need for high-profile commentary was less about the ethics of private enforcement and more about shoring up confidence in the Toronto Police Service. After all, the TPS invests a lot of time, money and human resources policing the Cabbagetown South/Moss Park corridor. “This is the division,” Superintendent Peter Moreira of 51 Division told the bridge, “that make more criminal arrests than any other in the city, by a large margin.” He said eight neighbourhood officers are permanently deployed in the Moss Park/Cabbagetown South area, “but we don’t own the solutions to these problems.”
These “problems” are as diverse and complex as in any other marginalized inner-city neighbourhood. Resource mismanagement, poor planning and willful neglect usually lead to a stigmatized and ghettoized urban poor population. Moss Park and its environs have long endured debilitating experiments of urban renewal schemes, and a concentration of poverty and social services. However, the advent of ever more powerful street drugs, crime and addiction have changed the neighbourhood’s cultural landscape. Prolific drug dealing isn’t just visible in the Moss Park community, it’s outright brazen. The destructive effects of drug consumption are hard to ignore. This was true long before Covid-19, whose health restrictions and lockdowns have exacerbated street-level social problems. Society’s once-hidden underbelly, complete with trauma victims, addicts, prostitutes and the homeless, is now bare for the world to see – much to the annoyance of homeowners and small businesses. Concerns from residents in adjacent neighbourhoods like Cabbagetown South are by no means novel. Only a worsening situation convinced a young couple to solicit money from neighbours to finance a private security service they perceive
will boost community safety. This indicates not the hardening of NIMBYist attitudes towards the downtrodden—although they are no less prevalent—but a response to chronic social ills that have challenged the Moss Park community for decades. Since solutions have not been forthcoming, the “official unofficial policy” is simply to confine the poor and vulnerable to where the inevitable machinations of crime and violence can proceed without troubling affluent and established neighbourhoods. Common to these transient and disjointed districts is lack of a stable voting base. If there is no meaningful constituency, how can a community develop and express political will for change? Moss Park is unique as Toronto’s last inner-city “ghetto” at a time of unprecedented development. People are waiting to see if condo buildings force a transition the city otherwise has been unable to conceive. But can we have our cake and eat it, too? Can we gentrify without alleviating the regressive conditions of the neighbourhood? Covid-19 will one day abate, but the problems on the streets of Moss Park will persist, as it has since many of us can remember.
Disability Legal Opinion How Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and COVID-19 Pandemic Could Lead to a Short Term Disability (STD) or Long Term Disability (LTD) Claim W E A R E C A B B AG E TOW N , W E A R E TO R O N TO , W E A R E G LO B A L TORONTOism.com | silverburtnick@sothebysrealty.ca | 416.960.9995
SAD is a type of depression related to seasonal changes which typically occurs in the fall and winter months when the days are shorter and there is less daylight.
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How does COVID-19 impact SAD? Considering the combination of the lack of light during this time of year, and the COVID-19 pandemic still raging around the globe, there are concerns that there will be a culmination of mental health issues. Canadians are inside more this year due to all the restrictions and are less likely to wake up on time in the morning, factors which may increase SAD. Many people have also lost the structure and routine in their daily lives, which can increase depressive symptoms. A recent study from CAMH found significantly higher rates of anxiety in women and individuals with children as a result of the pandemic. Mental health professionals are concerned about how hard seasonal depression could hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. We may see an increase in more severe symptoms for those that suffer from SAD and an increase in people experiencing SAD for the first time.
Has Your Disability Claim Been Denied? SAD and poor mental health in general has the potential to become yet another challenge for employers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health issues can impact your ability to work, including energy levels, and your ability to sleep and concentrate. As with other types of psychological illnesses, employees with SAD and are unable to work may apply for STD or LTD benefits. This assumes you have those benefits available to you. Your STD or LTD claim could be denied at any point in the application process. Although some people appeal a denial, these appeals are often rejected. Beginning a legal claim is the better alternative as it creates more pressure on the insurance company. It is very important to seek experienced legal advice if your STD or LTD claim has been denied. Please contact Tony Lafazanis, Cabbagetown Disability Claim Lawyer at your earliest convenience for a free initial consultation.
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COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES WORLDWIDE
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The Champion Heavy Weights in our Gardens Contributed by H. Wilberforce
Much has been written in praise of the earthworm. In fact, someone said that all the fertile areas of the planet have passed through the bodies of earthworms. Wow! As organic material passes through the gut of the earthworm it is broken down and passes out as casts (poo) the richest and finest fertilizer for our gardens. Those casts are higher in good bacteria, organic material, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium than soil itself. The worms thrive and multiply in the well managed compost bins in our Green Thumbs gardens. Because they do such a superb job for us, we strive to make them as happy as possible. In normal times, we would take fruit and vegetable leftovers from the school cafeteria and put these in our compost. Currently the cafeteria is not open so there is no waste to make compost. Neighbours to the Rescue! A caring group of neighbours set up a compost collection depot
over with a garden fork. If the compost is not aerated many of the essential organisms will not survive. Throughout the winter the neighbours keep the compost depot going and now that it’s January Micah is keeping the bugs, worms and other organisms cozy and well fed. In spring this is going to be rich dark compost ready to be worked into the garden beds where it will feed growing vegetables and fruit. where they deposit fruit and vegetable kitchen waste, coffee, tea bags as well as other things like egg shells and once a week Micah carries the pails of kitchen waste across the road to our bins where the worms, bugs and other healthy organisms break it down so we can use it to fertilize the garden. The temperature in the bins can be 48.8 to 65.5 Centigrade. Micah laughs when he says in winter months the heat in the bins is hot enough to cook a pizza because it can get as high as 70’ C. Maybe not that hot but you get his point. Every 1 or 2 weeks he aerates the compost to bring in fresh oxygen by turning it
Green Thumbs Growing Kids (GTGK) is a local charity actively creating and managing school food gardens in order to connect children to food and their environment. Gardens at Sprucecourt Jr. PS, Winchester Jr. & Sr. PS and Rose Avenue PS are managed by Green Thumbs and we support gardening projects at Nelson Mandela Park PS. No funding is received from the Toronto District School Board so GTGK depends on funding from members of the community and friends of the gardens. Look us up and learn more about what we do. Please support our work by donating at www.greenthumbsto.org.
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Every year, people across the country are affected by SAD. Since March 2020, Canadians have also had to cope with the additional stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health has an incredible impact on one’s ability to work and could cause an employee to make a STD claim or LTD claim.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Cabbagetown is a neighbourhood of beauty, heritage, cultural diversity and inclusion. We are Anita Bostok and Norman Hathaway and we’re proud to contribute this regular feature where you get to know the people and businesses that make Cabbagetown so special. If you’d like to be featured or would like to nominate someone please get in touch.
Iman and Clint - Chef Iman and marketing expert Clint created a unique catering and private dining experience in Noushe, 200 Carlton. Farsi for “may it nourish the soul,” Noushe brings a modern twist to Persian food with a commitment to quality and sustainability. Orders require 48 hours, allowing traditional flavours to emerge. The bountiful pantry carries house made sauces, jams, and spices, and a wonderful assortment of tea and wine. Iman’s love of cooking began when he attended university in the UK. Missing his mother’s cooking he would call her to ask for recipes. When they’re not creating food magic, Iman and Clint love to travel, collect art, or spend time in Cabbagetown walking their golden doodle. Ansar - Two years ago, Ansar opened Tech Shop
at 231 Carlton. Selling and repairing electronics, his shop has buzzed with activity throughout the pandemic, attracting Cabbagetown residents who rely on their devices more than ever and want to shop locally. Customers appreciate Ansar for his honesty, professionalism, and exceptional service. The shop is clean and well organized, and the prices reasonable. Originally from Pakistan, Ansar came to Canada 26 years ago to find a better future. When he can pull away from work, the father of three loves spending time with his family. He also enjoys playing cricket and listening to classical Indian music.
Deborah Lundmark
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- Originally from Saskatchewan, Deborah founded the iconic Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre and School of CCDT with longtime friend and partner Michael deConinck. For decades, the studio at 509 Parliament St has been integral to the Cabbagetown community, bringing dance to public school children through outreach programmes and offering scholarships to gifted students. CCDT has successfully trained dancers from age three to professional. Forced to evolve during the pandemic, CCDT taught online and set-up a “Zoom Lobby” so kids could socialize before virtual classes. Missing the music and laughter in the halls, Deborah is eager to once again open the doors to her dancers.
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Sam, Peter, & Amar - For more than 19 years, cousins Sam, Peter, and Amar have owned and As proud residents of operated Cabbagetown Organics at 499 Parliament. Cabbagetown, we have a fond Originally a convenience store with few organic options, the trio followed neighbourhood trends appreciation for our great toward healthier eating bringing in more products neighbours and businesses that that accommodate food sensitivities, natural foods, make it so special. and organic produce. The store carries an increasing variety as they continue to listen to customer We hope to get to know you. requests for new offerings. Delighted to be a part of Feel free to drop us a line Cabbagetown, they have bonded with many local merchants who work together and help each other you have questions succeed. The cousins live with their families in Brampton.ifWorking ten to any twelve hours a day, they keep the locals happy, which makes them happy. regarding Real Estate.
WRITE IN
Contributed by Shirin Tobie-Paul I brought my children to their weekly chess game at the Evelyn Gregory Library where I found a page about a weekly writing workshop. How serendipitous! I was looking for an activity that allowed me to slow down. I inquired about the workshop, signed up for the next week and my life has never been the same. It was beautifully cathartic to get my words onto paper. I loved that all work was and is treated as fiction. I took the liberty of using the prompts to heal. An additional opportunity to be a part of an upcoming anthology included a weeks-long workshop where I would have the opportunity to have my writing vetted by a published author. Enter Julie Hartley, poet, storyteller and all round world changer. It was an honour to work with Julie and I was thrilled to have her feedback on my pieces. I knew early on that I wanted to add value to the organization that had assisted me in reclaiming my gift. I signed up for the facilitator training session and learnt so much more about the
Toronto Writers’ Collective’s mandate and the team that makes it all possible. The team’s desire to serve those who need a safe space for their stories spans communities, provinces, and indeed the world. I am honored to write with others, to be a guest facilitator on some workshops and to assist with training. I call myself the roaming facilitator as I am able to work on different projects and collaborations with a myriad of community groups. The onset of the pandemic meant that we could expand our reach by going online We have held over 600 workshops online and are able to bring the world into one safe space to write and heal.
EXPECTING EVERYONE
SEPTEMBER 10-12 Riverdale Park
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$24.95, Available @ the LCBO Rachel Matthews, Brand Associate Rogers & Company www.rogcowines.com Jane Hunter and her late husband Ernie were among the first to discover the winemaking potential of Marlborough, New Zealand, a region now famous worldwide. Hunter’s was established in 1983, and remains a family-run winery with Jane at the helm. While Sauvignon Blanc is the darling of Marlborough, wine lovers also look to the region for fruit-forward and elegant styles of Pinot Noir. Known for being highly temperamental, Pinot Noir thrives in the cool-but-sunny climate of Marlborough. The wine pours a sheer, pale ruby, with a wonderfully exuberant nose of juicy cherries, wild raspberries, and a hint of black tea. A supremely silky palate brings more fresh red fruit, subtle earthiness and sweet spice from the well-integrated French oak. Delightful.
Find your next treasure at
I’d love to drink this with mushrooms on toast, crispy roast duck, or happily on its own. Drink now, or over the next few years.
Richard Silver As part of the new PSN we offer Business Bio’s for all of our year long larger advertisers
Richard Silver is a Sales Representative and leader of Silver Burtnick & Associates at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. On top of that, he is also designated as an ABR, e-PRO, and a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS). All these combined help him deliver an experience that goes above and beyond for his clients. A past Director-at-Large for the Canadian Real Estate Association, as well as a past President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, Richard is adept in the market and has a level of expertise you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. He is also a speaker and writer concerning the use of technology in real estate, as well as the international real estate market and its effect on the industry. He is also the founding past President of the Asian Real Estate Association of America, Toronto Chapter. Long ago, Richard understood the role of the internet and the ways in which digital marketing can play a key role in real estate. Since then, he has continued to loop in bleeding-edge technologies into his team’s approach — all for the benefit of both buyers and sellers. Inman News also named Richard one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate for 2013”. Richard also speaks French.
Double Take Thrift Store! Visit us online to check out our curated selection of thrifted merchandise!
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for discounts and store updates @doubletakeysm
OVER 25 YEARS
MONTCREST VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
Thursday April 8th, 2021 at 7 p.m. To register, please email admissions@montcrest.ca For more information, visit montcrest.ca
Preserving Cabbagetown home at a time! WE MUST BEone DOING
SOMETHING RIGHT
| Parliament Street News - Issue 51 -
www.thrift.so/store/doubletake
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YSM Double Take: A Season of Growth Written by Ainsley Boyd
Sharon has lived in Regent Park for over thirteen years and remembers visiting Double Take while working as a costume designer. Her frequent trips increased when she began volunteering with teenagers in the community teaching sewing, mending and upcycling. She got to know the staff and was commissioned to create a wall hanging for the store. A few years later she started working at Yonge Street Mission’s (YSM) Evergreen Centre for Streetinvolved Youth, drawing on her creative skills to start a drop-in art program that evolved into Jubilee Designs, a social enterprise where youth produce high-quality consumer textile products and lead corporate team-building workshops with materials often provided by Double Take.
296 King St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1K4 www.buroklaus.com 416 362 3434
In the summer of 2020, Sharon stepped into the role of Double Take Store Manager. It’s been a year of cautious optimism as the staff have weathered the storm of the pandemic, working hard to balance the tension between keeping the community safe and being able to provide the thrifted items people need. Throughout the winter, her team has been focusing on providing bulk orders of winter clothing to local agencies who support neighbours struggling with poverty. Sharon notes, “Since we have an industrial steam press, it’s easier for us to clean the clothes than it is for frontline workers. If they have to do laundry, they have less time to spend with community members who need someone to talk to!” Through a partnership with the city, Double Take has been able to take orders from frontline workers for their exact needs and fulfill orders in bulk. The staff have been so encouraged by the
Don
amount of local support they’ve received this winter - every time there was a call-out on social media for particular sizes of coats or boots they would often show up the very next day. Now that spring is here, Sharon and her team are starting to shift towards new opportunities. “We’ve been trying to use our time wisely throughout the winter and work on issues customers have identified to the team in the past. We’re finding solutions by restructuring our pricing and speeding up our checkout process with a barcode system. It’s been a lot of work and we’re still in the middle of it, but we can’t wait to share the changes with our community when we fully re-open.” At the moment, Double Take is serving customers through their new online platform and at-the-door sales, you can follow their updates and learn more on Facebook and Instagram at @doubletakeysm, or sign up for email updates at ysm.ca/DoubleTake!
GARDENER
Elite & Discreet Property Management | PSTREETNEWS.COM -- spring 2021
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Easter Assortments Contributed by Kateryna Horina
This year’s addition to our Easter-themed assortment is provided to us by the amazing self-taught cookie and cake decorator, Natalie, also known as Baked By Nat. You may have already tried some of her creations during the Valentine’s and Christmas seasons, but this is something completely new! Come by to The Epicure to try out her new creations: beautiful Easter cookies, delicious shortbread, and
even homemade marshmallow that just melts in your mouth. For those of you who may not know, The Epicure Shop has been a Cabbagetown staple for more than 40 years now. Family owned and operated, this store has been one of the most popular places to get your fresh pastry, morning coffee, gourmet foods, and don’t even get me started on the meats and cheese selection! With more than 40 years of history, this shop has started as a small deli store in the heart of Cabbagetown. About ten years later, it has had a massive renovation, which made the store
bigger both in terms of square footage and the product selection. These days, the variety of foods and snacks you can find here grows and changes almost every other day, but you can always be sure -- here you’ll find what you need. One thing that always stays the same is the urge to serve the community the best and freshest foods with the warmest smiles. Come by to the Epicure Shop or order online via our website. www.theepicureshop.com
Amazing place for our family! Contributed be a Momentum Montessori Family The process of finding childcare is daunting for new parents, especially in Toronto. You start thinking about the needs of your future toddler when they are still an infant. We did a lot of research and applied at city-run and private facilities; playing the numbers to secure a spot. My leave was near ending, we were growing concerned as we had nothing more than numbers on waiting lists. Momentum Montessori had left great impressions, and was our first choice, but they were completing their renovations. Fingers crossed, they would be finished before our child started. Fate was working in our favour it seemed, as Momentum opened exactly as our child aged in! Call us bias but our child is funny, energetic & sharp. As parents, we’ll be the first to ad-
mit that he can be a handful, but only because he is seeking new experiences and his brain moves fast. Momentum provides him with a safe environment to grow and explore. He can learn according to his interests, and at his own pace, which is often hyper-speed. We are able to see what is happening throughout the day, as we are sent updates, photos and videos via Brigthwheel. Our child lists his teachers when naming his friends in class. Mere weeks into our child’s time at Momentum, our entire world was upended as COVID-19 forced the school into lockdown. We were worried. We had paid tuition up-front. Momentum had just re-opened. What would happen if the lockdown continued long-term? Administration addressed our concerns and kept an open line of communication with us. They even
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OPINION
Change is in the Air, and a growing number of traditionally not involved residents are getting active. Contributed by K Fisher There has never been a greater need for change at city hall then ever before. We have tolerated mediocrity from our city counselors, in the past, because there was never a real crisis to test them as truly qualified managers and stewards of our city, wards, and the public funds that go with it. We have left them to meddle with parks, playgrounds, and some local school curriculum however, the past few years have presented challenges that have shown how grossly underqualified most of these people are as visionaries and fiduciary minded stewards of capital (the hard earned local and tourist gained tax revenue). It’s not that they have purposefully self-destructive plans for their respective wards, it’s that they just don’t have the education, skill sets, or experience to develop and execute any medium to long term plan on anything. Executives in the private sector take years before they could ever see operating budgets on this scale ($13.5 billion in 2020). No company or shareholder would risk placing an underqualified, undereducated, and underexperienced person in such a role but we have allowed it. We all showed up to vote for the Mayor and after cast a random vote a councillor. We won’t make that mistake again.
refunded a good portion of our deposit, which was huge for us. A gesture of good-faith. With enthusiastic, warm, nurturing, and caring staff, communication & a sense of community Momentum Montessori has been an amazing place for our family!
FRANKLAW Solicitor Lawyers: If your client must sue, or could get sued, you can call Albert to discuss – free. Albert S. Frank – Litigation Lawyer 203 – 603 ½ Parliament Street, Toronto M4x 1P9 Phone: 416 929 7202 afrank@FrankLaw.ca
So, here we are… with the hand we dealt ourselves. The utter lack of an actual viable homeless plan highlights the shortsighted ineptitude of the current cadre of counselors. The thoughtless and reckless kneejerk decisions to drop shelter upon shelter into the same communities as always is gross negligence. The downtown communities were just beginning to become actual family neighbourhoods. 20 years after the great migration South of Bloor, downtown was beginning to thrive with new businesses, baby strollers, young couples, enjoying rising school scores, and clean parks. I think all new families, taxpayers, home/ business owners would agree that returning to the 1990’s and earlier (with the masses retreating north of Bloor after 6pm) could return fast without new and properly qualified counselors. We need financially astute and socially minded new liberal councillors to run the City. After the next election, we can leave the bike lanes, fountain and park committees to the far left activists that currently occupy the city council seats should they find an actual municipal job. If you are interested in getting involved please visit www.downtownconcernedcitizens.com and sign up for the newsletter.
| Parliament Street News - Issue 51 -
Easter’s coming soon, and The Epicure is happy to introduce you to some of our new seasonal treats as well as the all-timefavorite specials!
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The Gentle Treasure Hunt Contributed by Ed Drass, with Illustration by Sae Kimura It’s time to uncurl our legs. Please join me for a gentle trip along the very northern edge of Cabbagetown and into the neighbourhoods just to the west. First, find your way to the farthest tip of Wellesley Street East – in a park perched above the Don River. Squint through the trees toward the valley before turning west. As you make for Parliament Street consider exploring the warren of lanes north of Wellesley. One light west of Parliament, chaos and colour have returned to the public square at the top of Ontario Street, between the supermarket and a busy greengrocer. This stark plaza is again lined with folks selling used clothing, boots and every manner of useful -- or pointless -- item. Calmly overlooking this scene is a patterned mural. Seek out a face, veiled in swaths of colour
that seem as if gently torn from paper. The work was created by collage artist deborah harris and commissioned over a decade ago by Gallery Arcturus*, the public art museum where she is curator. The painting itself was put up by artists Misha Hunter and Ryan Dineen, who together also painted the leaping wolf on the west side of this building.
be wonderful lines across the Rekai Centre at Sherbourne and Wellesley. Consider entering through an opening in the old stone wall and walking beneath the row of trees, or just enjoy them from the sidewalk. Let’s also wish the best for the occupants of this long-term care facility and hope they can soon enjoy the outdoors.
Dineen, a landscape painter, is the common thread in the series of murals on this stretch of Wellesley; the next is a giant phoenix that roars up the side of the building at #200. He helped bring this image to life – a 30-storey conception of artist Sean Martindale. Admire the massive work and let’s wish the rest of this apartment tower can see such careful attention. Move along westward and begin seeking shadow patterns. If the sun is right, your reward will
Follow the curve in Wellesley Street to the lights at Homewood Avenue and turn north. Wander this new residential quarter, stopping at Wellesley Magill Park where the sun may be shining through “Forest Walk” – a graceful and yet very solid fence created by artist Ed Pien. *Ed Drass works in communications at Gallery Arcturus, a not-for-profit art museum on Gerrard Street. Reach him at info@arcturus.ca
| PSTREETNEWS.COM -- spring 2021
Content Guidlines The Parliament Street News, PSN depends on local contributors fo content. In return for sharing your content and ideas with the community, we can go to advertisers who are genuinely interested in targeting and having a presence in the community. And so it goes.
We are now welcoming opinion pieces, Op-Ed if you will. We still have the same rule; you can’t say anything bad about anybody else. However, if you have issues with the local government or the way things work or are just passionate about a subject, we would love to publish it and share it with the community.
In a day and age of so many tweets, insta-posts, snaps and online communities (we have those and 14 are growing), the PSN is very well positioned to
transcend the noisy online world. The cost of being local has never been more expensive, exclusive ,fleeting or time consuming than it is today. Our content and advertising are online; however, the anchor is the paper itself. Which is why it works. The online world has bastardised the term community. A true community is most often created by physical boundaries, and within these boundaries, there lies a great deal of diversity of ideas and opinions. Sound familiar? If you have read this far, you get the point and understand that I am filling a space in the paper just before the deadline, but I do believe and hope you get the idea and don’t be afraid to submit content (and advertising) to Ye Olde PSN.
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Understanding the blockchain and creating an appliction we can all Use. S!ng is at the right place at the right time. Contributed by Sunny Shah to another, all in a decentralized space, with no middle party involved in the exchange. Pretty powerful stuff when you stop to think about it.
Enter S!NG
You may have heard the term ‘NFT’ floating around a lot in the news lately, and for good reason. Last week, the beloved ‘Nyan Cat’ meme sold online for a hefty $580,000. A clip of LeBron James dunking a basketball went for $208,000. EDM musician 3LAU recently announced his first ever blockchain-powered release, along with an auction to create a one-of-a-kind single that will become a tokenized NFT. So what’s the big deal with these NFT things anyway, and what do they mean? Let us give you a quick rundown.
What is an NFT and how does it work? In the real world, something fungible has many identical copies, and has value. Their number is limited and each is completely interchangeable with any other. One $100 bill is as good as the next because they’re fungible. Something that’s non-fungible also has value, but there’s only one of them. Your house, a piece of art, the clay pot you made in the third grade, these all have value (ok, maybe only to you) because each is unique. On the Internet, Bitcoin is fungible because their number is limited (there will only ever be 21 million of them), each has value ($46k+ as we write this!), and they are identical. Same with its younger but more interesting cousin, Ethereum. So far, so good, because now we have an amazing online currency that everyone can depend on. Bitcoin and Ethereum (or Eth for short) are both kinds of tokens.
So now we have fungible tokens we can use to buy stuff, but what exactly is there to buy? How can something be non-fungible on the internet if there can be a zillion copies floating around? And if there are so many copies, how can I know which one is the original worth paying for? Enter non-fungible tokens or NFTs. An NFT is a unique digital asset that has real value and lives on the blockchain. An NFT could represent anything from a rare first edition book, to an original digital painting, or any other digitized original work: a gif, photo, video, or song. NFTs are non-interchangeable and one of a kind. Think of them like baseball cards: One player’s card is valued differently from the others because of factors like the player’s ranking, the condition of the card, how old it is, and so on. Or it could be a one-of-a kind, like the Gretzky T206 Honus Wagner card circa 1910, or one of thousands of Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1989 rookie card. This is where the value in NFTs lies. Each one is as unique as your own fingerprint, and — importantly — if Alice buys an NFT from Bob… Bob no longer has it. NFTs are created under a standard Ethereum protocol called ERC-721 (which we explained in a previous article here). Every ERC-721 token is cryptographically different from any other — it’s a mathematical impossibility there can ever be two of the same — so they’re perfect to represent non-fungible assets. They can also be directly sold for Eth, where a transfer can happen digitally from one party
So if you’ve even glanced at Twitter lately, it seems everyone wants to make and sell NFTs like our friends LeBron and 3LAU above. The problem is that until now, you need to be a crypto-head to do it. You have to create a wallet, change some dollars into Eth on Coinbase, fund the wallet, sign up on an NFT-creation website and connect your wallet. Sounds complicated, right? For the average person, this may be a tricky area to navigate. S!NG’s job is to let any creator of any skill set — musician, photographer, designer, regular person — make NFTs without a degree in cryptographic computation. With the S!NG app, if you can take a picture on your iPhone, you’ve just made an NFT. For real. S!NG was built on Ethereum and uses its standard protocols. In fact, it always has. When you sign up for an account, we automatically create an Ethereum wallet for you. When you snap a picture, upload a song or leave a voice note, we save it using the ERC-721 standard. Yup. An NFT, which we then deposit into your digital wallet for you. What’s more — it’s free. Just download S!NG on the App Store and you can make as many NFTs as you like. Manage them inside the app, save and share copies with others while maintaining complete ownership and control of the original. And coming very soon, you’ll be able to post any of your NFTs for sale online — directly from your S!NG app. So try it out. It’s free, incredibly simple to use and — who knows — maybe you will prove us wrong when that clay pot of yours actually sells for $500!
MOTHERs OF INVENTION Amid a pandemic, these women entrepreneurs are patiently watching the first shipment of product literally crossing the ocean for delivery in Canada. The VOOMCART is the shop local, walking, and environmental answer to getting out of your car and walking your shop. For many years Tori Wright and Erin Binnie were "hellbent on the 'empty stroller' syndrome. We searched and searched for a product that would replace the easy walking and shopping a stroller provided". In that quest, they "were blown away we could find nothing that suited us - there was nothing for people who were too cool or fast for granny carts". So the idea began, and the VOOMCART was born. Easy to transport and easy to manoeuvre, sturdy enough to carry lots of groceries and wine while at the same time being stylish and funky. How hard could it be?? Well, like most things worth doing harder than they thought and equally as rewarding. Four years later, many redesigns, prototypes, manufacturing changes, customer analysis, a pandemic, teenagers, go fund me campaign, websites, marketing materials they anxiously await their new urban shopping buggy for the 21st century. No more granny carts. Bring on the VOOMCART!
What was the most challenging part of this whole journey? And the best part? "The hardest part of the journey brings us to the best part - a simple, effective design. Each VOOMCART prototype took many months and significant investment. We created over 6 prototypes before landing with our supplier, who in turn, created 5 more before the finalize the design. Knowing that we've created a product that can bring joy to many people. "
What advice would you give to others in your situation trying to bring a new product to market? "If you genuinely believe you've identified a void -- whereby inventing a product to fill that void will make people happier after they own it than they were before - then the journey is worth it! "
Why do we need this product?? "Our VOOMCART is the ultimate personal shopping cart -- we engineered it for active people who want an easy, comfortable and stylish way to transport their stuff. We make it so fun to walk your shop that people are taking VOOMCART to their local neighbourhood shops and leaving the car behind. That's a win-win for a healthy lifestyle, connecting with the community, and reducing traffic congestion." For more information visit VOOMCART.COM
| Parliament Street News - Issue 51 -
NFTs for the Rest of Us
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PStreet Style
STYLISH CABBAGETOWNERS “ I am curious to see if all this time at home shows people how few things they actually wear and furthers the interest in capsule wardrobes. “ Rachel
Rachel Craig
‘Love of Dressing up’ is something that many of us miss during lockdown. We have found and interviewed some of the stylish Residents of Cabbagetown. Contributed by Lenklifephotography
”There will be a lot more different styles to see out there. People are going to be more excited about what they wear. We will be more excited about everything :)” Candace
One of the best things about fashion is the power to be whoever you want, whenever you want. Experimenting with fashion is how style is found. “I was lucky to grow up with a mom who has a big wardrobe and never throws anything away, so I started wearing her stuff from the 60s and 70s in high school.” Rachel describes how she found her personal style.
“I think the line between business casual and casual will blur even further as working from home becomes the norm.” Julia
Candace Cobbing
“Post pandemic I think that most of us will rethink fast fashion and invest in classic, quality fashion. ” Marina
Style can be moody, unpredictable, unique, gender neutral, always evolving. Julia enjoys “street wear but with a classy twist”. Shawns’s “wardrobe is based around fashionable comfort – slick tracksuits, and higher-end knits.” Sleepwear and loungewear have become a standard uniform for people working from home this year. Many clothing brands have shifted production to comfortable yet stylish clothes. Shawn, the creative director of Bustle Clothing,loves sport and leisure-inspired clothing.
| PSTREETNEWS.COM -- spring 2021
“We are in our houses most of the time so it is nice to wear the best versions of comfortable things. No ratty old pajamas. Stuff that if Covid was all of a sudden to be over and someone showed up at the door, you would feel awesome about how you look. And for Zoom calls, bottoms as well as tops, even though they can’t see :) ” says Candace.
Shawn Hewson Julia Phillips
What is the future of fashion? Finding happiness in fashion is about finding meaning in what you already have. As Julia pointed out, thrift and second hand is on the rise. Play with your clothes the same way as you would with children. Create fashion and wear what makes you happy.
Photographs by LenkaLifePhotography, a Cabbagetown-based portrait, fashion and event photographer. 16 See Lenkalife.com
Marina Simms
“It is safe to say that the pandemic has had us all dressed-down more than we’re used to. My assumption is that people are getting ready to dress up a little more, especially when they finally have somewhere to go. I think we will see a lot of brighter colours this spring and summer as people begin to have a more positive outlook. I know that is what Bustle will be producing!” Shawn