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BBLOORDALET IMES Neighbourhood news worth repeating
SEPTEMBER 2014 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 8
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NUIT BLANCHE TO HIT STREETS OF BLOORDALE BY MELISSA MILLERSON
melissa.millerson@igmail.com
Every year, just as the weather sends us for our jackets and sweaters, the city is lit up by Nuit Blanche, a spectacular celebration of Toronto’s contemporary art scene. The 9th annual event will begin Saturday, October 4, precisely at 6:53 p.m., running through the night, concluding at sunrise. Bloordale and area will again play host to a number of art installations, making it a great starting or end point for the over one-million art crawlers expected to be out in the city that night. In the heart of Bloordale, the Toronto School of Art at 980 Dufferin Street (intersection of Bloor and Dufferin Streets) will host the interactive installation Kalos Eidos. Inspired by “the hypnotizing visual evolution of a kaleidoscope”, project directors Gabriella Borg and Kate Hogg invite participants to explore their own sense of sight and touch through a number of mobile sculptures and video. Over 50 GTA artists collaborate for what is...
see NUIT BLANCHE page 2
INSIDE KINDNESS CAMPAIGN SUGGESTED FOR SAFETY Local resident has plan to make the city’s roads safer
Page 2
BLOORCOURT ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR RETURNS See gallery page 6
THE HISTORY OF DUFFERIN STREET The storied history of one of Toronto’s major roads is told
Page 3
NEW SHOP ADDS TO BLOOR STREET’S RICH VARIETY A music-centric cafe/eatery opens its doors to the public
Page 7
02 The Bloordale Times September 2014
Community Essay ~ News
LOCAL RESIDENT LOOKS TO START ‘KINDNESS CAMPAIGN’ ON CITY ROADS BY BETTY WALTON
boopbw12@gmail.com
I know this sounds airy-fairy and Bambi-esque but I want to start a Kindness Campaign and I have no idea how to go about it. I wish the campaign to apply to how we get around the city: whether it’s walking, biking, driving, skateboarding, E-biking, or commandeering a wheelchair. I could load the importance of the kindness responsibility on the most dangerous mode of transportation (to others)—like a pecking order—down to the most vulnerable, but that’s not the point. The point is we all need to be more considerate of each other whether on foot or wheels. To state one unavoidable fact: cars can kill others. Other modes of transportation are much less likely to do so. This does not mean that I put the responsibility on drivers only. Not at all. I think in confrontational situations, there are moments when it is obvious who could pause the moment to give someone else the
right of way. I want everyone to be kind to everyone. Pedestrians to pedestrians. Pedestrians to cars. Cars and bikes to each other. Bikes to everybody. I saw an accident on a bike lane on Roncesvalles. A young skateboarder went the wrong way up the street and knocked over a middleaged cyclist going the right way on the road. The skateboarder did not apologize; did not even stop to see if the cyclist was injured. (He was shaken up.) The young man just picked up his skateboard and ran away from the scene. A moment of kindness from the young skateboarder to assess any damage and offer an apology would have meant the world to the cyclist and to all around who witnessed the event. Why do pedestrians stroll across a yellow light about to turn red, giving a “too f@#!@#g bad for you,” Mr. Driver look in their eyes. Just scoot a little, and nod recognition. Sorry. Be gone in a jiffy. Why does no one thank TTC drivers when getting on or off? Maybe if people did, the conductors
NUIT BLANCHE from page 1 ...expected to be a very vibrant and colourful installation. A little to the east at 718 Ossington Ave., Site 3 coLaboratory hosts another collaborative installation named Galaxy Heist, Five Magic Cubes, and Photon Gallery. Here an assembly of fun, interactive installations will be set up both in and outdoors, allowing participants to play with several types of light art. The Galaxy Heist portion, developed by Toronto artists Kyle Duffield and Daniele Hopkins, is a challenging obstacle course of sorts, giving anyone the opportunity to retrieve an object if they can beat the buzzer and avoid all the laser trip wires. With Five Magic Cubes, artist Kris ‘Doctor Kiwano’ Coward makes his official Nuit Blanche debut. His work was unofficially at Nuit Blanche 2011, then known as ‘deathtraps’, as people could climb inside the geometric frame while it was being moved and rolled about, although that was only a piece of what he was trying to create. This year, the new and completed sculpture, along with some timed lighting, will make those magic cubes appear before your eyes.
might wait for that person running to catch the car or bus rather than pull away chuckling. (Although, my understanding is that drivers are on a tight per-second timetable and maybe this is the fault of the system, not the drivers.) Calling all cyclists: don’t weave in around cars. It scares them—especially if they’re from out of town. The cars are bigger than you and they can turn in your direction, unaware. Drivers, why do you pick up speed past a cyclist when you are trying to drag-race a streetcar? Drivers, you are the top dogs. You can cause the most damage. I know you want cyclists to obey every rule of the road and I think on main streets with lights and traffic, it’s a no-brainer that they should. Remember though that bikes do not take up whole lanes. Bikes are doing their best to stay in that corridor between parked cars and moving ones, always on the look-out for that ‘door prize’. Imagine traffic, if drivers had to stay behind slow bikes because the bikes used the
Photon Gallery is a collaboration of members of Site 3 coLaboratory, with no specific description available, offering an element of mystery and surprise. At the southern tip of Ward 18, the Gladstone Hotel at Queen St. and Gladstone Ave. will open its doors to four independent installations. The Gladstone hosts its own installation with Gladstone 125 THEN/NOW/ NEXT, in celebration of its 125th anniversary of the establishment. Feature projects, performances and installations focus on the ‘now and then’ of one of the area’s most historic landmarks. Also at the Gladstone: The Red Carpet by Apollonia Vanova, where electroluminescent wire lights up the floor as a beautifully woven carpet; Fungal Overtake, where artist Mary Dyja will crochet her 3D installation in real time as to mimic the growth and spread of fungal infections; The Death of Queen West, a film installation by Adam Bialo, showing the construction of condominiums through time-lapses and multiple frames. For more information on Nuit Blanche and the mentioned installations, please visit the official Scotiabank Nuit Blanche Toronto website, http://www.snbto.com
road, as they are entitled to. I thought about the policeman in Montreal who had so much rage at a cyclist going the wrong way on a one-way street. The policeman backed up with speed and ran over the cyclist. The incident was not a two-way possibility. No way a bike could have caused that kind of damage. The car will always win. The policeman proved two points. 1) Crimes are down in Montreal if the police have to manufacture them. 2) Cycling down a one-way street the wrong way can indeed kill you. I walk, I’ve driven, and I do ride a bike, so my view may be slanted. But I try to be considerate. I am aware of how all the modes of transportation react to each other. I don’t want to upset people. I want to make life more pleasant for all of us. (This is my Bambi- ism coming out.) We all have problems. Why not make the way we get around the city not be one of them? Do I ride down oneway side streets the wrong way? Guilty. I do love that bikes are small, nimble and can go where no car has
gone before. When a car comes towards me, I pull over so the car does not have to worry about me on his one-way street. I usually smile and nod as the driver passes. I always stop at the cross streets. On regular roads, I thank parked car drivers about to open doors who wait for me to pass. I thank drivers who let me in a lane or slow down to pass me when traffic is heavy. I offer a smile and a wave in appreciation. It always helps. What can I do to start a Kindness Campaign to help avert Road Rage? (hence, the RR of the title). Wear Kindness Campaign T’s? Make buttons and hand them out at the street festivals? March outside City Hall with a placard? Get Matt Galloway and Jill Deacon on CBC radio to promote it? I just want people to be more considerate and spare the moments it takes. Those seconds we gain by speeding up and revving up anger cost us more than we realize. Be kind. Just a little bit. One smile, one nod at a time.
The Bloordale Times September 2014
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Feature ~ Photo Caption
LORD DUFFERIN MAKES HIS MARK ON TORONTO PART 1 OF 2 BY MELISSA MILLERSON
melissa.millerson@gmail.com
When Toronto was still in its infancy and limited to what we now know as the downtown core, Dufferin St. was the westernmost border of the city, a second town line from Yonge St. merely known as Side Line. It was not until 1876 when the road was officially named Dufferin St.. Between the over 39,000 transit riders and the thousands of vehicles that travel along this route every day, Dufferin St. is considered a major artery from North to South. While this thoroughfare is often just a means between point A and point B, Dufferin St. - and the man it was named after, Frederick Temple Blackwood, Lord Dufferin - is notable in the early development of both Canada and the City of Toronto. Entering this world in Florence, Italy in 1826, Blackwood was born into a lineage of Irish nobility and prominent landowners, who originally descended from Scotland to occupy a growing parcel of land in Northern Ireland. At the time of
his birth, his father Price Blackwood was the 4th Baron of Dufferin and Claneboye. Dufferin and Claneboye (since changed to Clandeboye), geographical areas in Northern Ireland, are similar to what we would consider a township or even a large city neighbourhood. In 1841, he succeeded his father as the 5th Baron. While the authority of the family name was of great importance, influence from Blackwood’s mother Helen Selina Sheridan is not to be dismissed. Sheridan was well connected in English literary, political and other high society circles. Through those connections, Blackwood would eventually build his own reputation of high regard. In 1849, Blackwood was appointed a lordin-waiting for Queen Victoria, a position that would prove useful to his subsequent career success. Despite his acclaim as a published author for his work titled “Letters from High Altitudes”, letters he wrote detailing his journeys while touring the North Atlantic, Blackwood decidedly pursued a life of public service. Blackwood first officially served in 1860
The Jenna Morrison Reflexology footpath now open at Dufferin Grove Park. Photo courtesy Ana Bailão
as a representative of Britain in an investi- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia. gation of civil unrest in Syria. Successfully com and Dufferin Papers (Public Record working with an international commis- Office of Northern Ireland). sion to resolve the conflict in the interest of the British, Blackwood’s next appointment was in 1864 as India’s Under-Secretary of State. He would be appointed in several other roles before making the move to the newly established Canada. Next month, we will look at how Frederick Temple Blackwood, Lord Dufferin, continued to devote his life to public service on behalf of Britain, highlighting his career and contributions to Canada, which would become integral in the shaping of what is our nation today. Information for this part sourced from Toronto Street Names (Leon- Lord Dufferin (1826-1902). Photo courtesy Creative Commons ard Wise & Allan Gould),
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04 The Bloordale Times September 2014
Feature
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY DRAWS COMPARISONS TO STAR WARS SAYS FILM BUFF BY JESSICA BERRY
myyearatthemovietheatre.tumblr.com
Guardians of the Galaxy Running Time: 121 Minutes (Translation 2 hours and 1 minute) Director: James Gunn Writers: James Gunn and Nicole Perlman (screenplay), Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (comic book) Cast: Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Vin Diesel (voice of Groot) and Bradley Cooper (voice of Rocket) The Review: *Spoiler Alert Disclaimer: If you haven’t yet seen this movie and want to go in blind do not read this review. Guardians of the Galaxy is a movie everyone loves. But why? Those who love it say it’s a unique, funny, thrilling Sci-Fi adventure. Many of these Star-Lord worshipers believe they are seeing something original, but what they are actually viewing is the classic SciFi formula, made spectacularly famous by the original Star Wars Trilogy. Take the lead characters for example, you can place each one into a Star Wars archetype almost perfectly. The lead character, Peter Quill AKA Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is orphaned at the beginning of the film and clearly has some sort of special powers that become apparent in the third
act. Sound familiar to Luke Skywalker? Then there is Gamora, who is privileged, a great warrior, and driven to accomplish her goals; a la Princess Leia. I have a sneaking suspicion that Star-Lord and Gamora are somehow related, which I’m confident will be revealed in an upcoming sequel. Drax is the 2014 version of C3PO, and instead of stating the obvious as 3PO does to the chagrin of Han Solo, Drax uses literal metaphors to annoy his fellow rebels; yet also plays a critical role in the story arch, similar to C-3PO. Finally, there’s Groot, who plays the lovable sidekick/pet to Rocket, the raccoon-man mutant, who is sarcastic, annoyed by everything, and a seemingly uncaring bounty hunter, but in the end reveals himself to be a big softie (sound familiar?). Let’s move onto the symbolism. Star Wars gave us “the force”, which symbolizes nature, life and synergy; and, Guardians actually gives us nature, life and synergy as represented by Groot – the living embodiment of “the force”. And finally, Guardians of the Galaxy focusses on “the orb” and its powers, which is basically a miniature replica of the Death Star. Ironically both have immeasurable power with the capability of destroying everything in its path. On the other hand, Guardians of the Galaxy gives you much more than the traditional galaxy far, far, away fodder that Sci-Fi geeks
drool over. It gives you something with a little more bite; something with a little more substance... it gives you comedy. And not just any comedy; awkward, relevant, Mel Brooks stylized comedy. The writers of this film are quite genius. They not only based this film on one of the most successful Sci-Fi franchises of all time, they set out to make a Sci-Fi Dramedy. Guardians of the Galaxy is a genesis of Sci-Fi genres that give you the best of both worlds: classic Sci-Fi adventure and cheeky comedy; it’s as if Star Wars and Space Balls came together for a one night stand and gave birth to Guardians of the Galaxy. Side Bar: The obvious similarities of Glenn Close’s character Nova Prime to Admiral Ackbar’s is not lost on me. Movies are no different than music. Instead of stimulating our brain through our eyes, music stimulates our brain through our ears. Believe it or not there is now a scientific formula to predict a hit song. And any scientist will tell you that a formula leads to problem solving which leads to finding an answer. This new formula has given music producers and writers an answer to an age old problem: how to write a hit song. The formula uses variables such as time signature, tempo, beatvariation, “danceability” along with harmonic simplicity of the songs and how loud they are. All of these variables end up being patterns in our brain; and our brain
loves patterns. The brain tries to find patterns in everything to simplify our existence. The hit song formula is counting on the brain’s ability to recognize patterns and it bases its predictability percentage on this knowledge. (Read all about the hit song music formula here: http://www.gizmag.com/predicting-hit- songs/20939/) Many people are astonished at the box office success of Guardians of the Galaxy. I’m not. In fact, is it really far fetched to believe that Hollywood via its billions of dollars has possibly stumbled upon a scientific formula for predicting box office hits, thus paving the way for a blockbuster screenplay template. Only time will tell if my theory is true. But for now, know this: there is a plethora of literature out there which breaks down the brain and how it uses patterns to make our lives easier. One of the
great reads exploring how the music and advertising industry take advantage of our brains need for patterns is The Power Of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. Reading this book will change the way you take things in from now on and will open your eyes to the subliminal control many industries have garnered by simply using our minds against us. But, I digress. I bet you are wondering whether or not I liked this film. Well, I found the film incredibly entertaining, with just the right amount of special effects, comedy, tenderness, laughability and loudness. So, yes I loved it, but then again my brain recognizes these patterns and recalls: Star Wars, SpaceBalls, E.T., Flash Gordon and Ice Pirates. Hmmm, I think Marvel Studios might be on to something. Overall Grade: 5 out of 5 stars
Local resident Jessica Berry completed an improbable challenge that saw her watch 365 films in 2013. The project inspired a monthly film review here in the Bloordale Times. Photo by Mutiara Samosir
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The Bloordale Times September 2014 05
Letters from your political representatives COUNCILLOR ANA BAILÃO
416-392-7012
Like you, I believe that transit is a major issue holding our city back. I believe it impacts every part of our daily life, including how we live, work and play in our city. As your City Councillor, I have been a strong voice for transit improvement for our community and our city. During my first term, I have: - Approved Toronto’s first, dedicated revenue source for long-term transit development - Revitalized Dufferin Station; accelerated full accessibility of Lansdowne Station by 2016 - Worked with Councillors to approve additional investment in the TTC during the City budget - Brought new articulating buses to the 29 Dufferin route to improve service for riders
- Supported two Council motions requesting the Georgetown Corridor be electrified - Successfully passed a motion at TTC to explore using of the Georgetown Corridor as a western downtown relief line for use by the local community - Passed a motion on fare integration between GO - TTC at Liberty Village and Dundas West Stations - Secured additional space for the West Toronto Railpath, with plans to extend to Fort York But this important work is not finished. With your support, I will continue to make transit a top priority, I will continue to tackle local transit issues and I will continue to invest in a longterm transit vision for our city. In my second term, I will: - Champion fare integration between GO - TTC and explore use of the Georgetown Corridor for local service as the fastest
opportunity to create a western downtown relief line for our community - Work with Council to create and commit to a long-term transit investment strategy for Toronto - Integrate the future Railpath extension with local routes, neighbourhood connections and new parks - Extend BIXI program to our neighbourhood to provide for local commuting alternatives - Continue service improvements on Dufferin and Dupont bus routes for better reliability and frequency - Bring new streetcars to Queen and Dundas streets, which have 40 per cent more capacity With my experience, community-knowledge and strong trackrecord, we can move forward on making the transit investments our neighbourhood and our city needs.
MP ANDREW CASH 416-654-8048
MPP CRISTINA MARTINS 416-535-3158
These past few weeks have seen huge steps towards victory in our campaign to ban those unfair “pay-to-pay” fees on your monthly utility bills and bank statements. In case you weren’t already aware, for the past several years many large companies (including phone, wireless, cable, banks, utility providers, and credit card companies) have been charging monthly fees to customers who want to receive a copy of their statement in the mail. These fees range between 99 cents and six dollars, but most tend to be set at two dollars per statement. The companies have said that these fees are an environmental protection effort designed to get people to switch to online billing. Obviously, this poses problems for many vulnerable people in our community, including people who cannot access the internet like seniors, low-income families, people with disabilities, and people who live in remote communities. More importantly though, it’s blatantly unfair. People who do switch to online billing don’t get a discount for the paper and postage they save the company – they pay the same rate, and the company rakes in more cash off those people who can’t move online. In November 2012 I launched a public campaign against these fees. Since then over 12,000 Canadians have signed my petition to ban this practice at http://www.stoppaytopayfees.ca. You can still sign if you haven’t yet! In mid-August, the Public Advocacy Centre released a report saying that Canadians pay up to $734 million dollars in pay-to-pay fees every year. This represents a huge cash grab for companies to partake in this practice. The same study also found that 74 per cent of Canadians disapproved of pay-to-pay fees, while 71 per cent approved of offering a discount to those who switch to online billing. 83 per cent believed that sending bills in the mail without a pay-to-pay fee should just be part of the company’s cost of doing business. On August 28, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) held a meeting with the big telecom companies to discuss the use of pay-to-pay practices. The companies agreed to provide exemptions for customers without personal access to the internet, people with disabilities, seniors over the age of 65, and veterans. These exemptions will take effect by January 1, 2015. While the CRTC commended this step forward, they stated in their own press release that it didn’t go far enough and that they would like to see all pay-to-pay fees outlawed. I also echoed these statements. The next day, the government announced that they will introduce legislation to completely outlaw this practice. I look forward to hearing the government’s proposal when the House resumes its session in mid-September. However, they had previously committed to banning these fees in their last Throne Speech, nearly a year ago, and did not take any action. I will continue to fight against these unfair fees in the House of Commons until they are completely banned. If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other issue, please get in touch with my office at 416-654-8048 or andrew.cash@parl.gc.ca
Bloordale Times – September update September is always an exciting month, most of all because our students are back at school. My two boys started in Grades 3 and 5 this year, and they’re excited to see their friends and teachers again after the summer break. This September is particularly exciting because it marks the complete rollout of our full-day kindergarten program across the province, including extending the program to over 2200 fourand five-year-olds in Davenport. By the end of this school year, almost half a million children will have benefited from full-day kindergarten since it was introduced in 2010. Already, the value of the program – which constitutes one of the most significant investments in Ontario’s educations system in a generation – has become evident. A recent study by researchers at Queen’s and McMaster Universities shows that children who go to full-day kindergarten are better prepared and more successful in Grade 1 than students emerging from half-day programs. In addition to the developmental benefits for our children, full-day kindergarten saves parents an average of $1300/ year in childcare costs for every child in the program. The end of the summer also saw the release of the latest test scores from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Ontario’s students continue to make progress; a full 72% of Grade 3 and 6 students are now meeting or exceeding the provincial standards in reading, writing, and math. That’s up one percentage point from last year, and 18 percentage points when compared to 2002-2003. More students are graduating from high school than ever before, too, with 75% of students graduating in four years, and 83% in five years – that’s up from 2004, when only 54% of students were graduating from high school in four years, and 68% in five. We should be proud of these improvements, but there’s still work to be done. Full-day kindergarten is just one of the ways your Liberal government is investing in education. We’re also providing new resources for educators, including the $4 million we put toward support workshops and professional development courses for our already excellent teachers this summer. We’re also continuing support Homework Help – providing students in Grades 7-10 with live, interactive math help. Another way the Liberal government is supporting our children’s education is through the Parents Reaching Out (PRO) grant program. These grants help school councils promote parent engagement and in their children’s education, both at school and at home. I’m proud to announce that 21 schools in Davenport are receiving PRO grants this year, receiving between $500 and $1000 to get parents more involved in their children’s education. I’m proud that so many of our local schools are participating in this important program. Ontario has one of the best education systems in the world, and the Liberal party is committed to continuing to improve it. That’s part of our promise to invest in people, and to make sure that we set our students up for success, inside and outside of the classroom. Happy September, everyone, and best wishes for the new school year! Cristina Martins, MPP Davenport 1674 St Clair Avenue West; 416-535-3158; cmartins.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; @cmartinsMPP For more information on the Parents Reaching Out grant program, please visit: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/PROGrantsFlyer_EN.pdf
06 The Bloordale Times September 2014
Gallery
BLOORCOURT ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR Photos by Justin Millerson
The
Bloordale Times Neighbourhood News Worth Repeating
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New In Business ~ Short Story
NEW MUSIC-THEMED COFFEE SHOP AND EATERY OPENS ITS DOORS BY JUSTIN MILLERSON
justin.bdp@gmail.com
If your order is “Kurt Cobain, enlarged ticket stubs, a healthy dose of classic rock with a side of coffee”, the Sterling Social (1421 Bloor St.) can provide your wish. The new cafe/eatery opened its doors roughly seven weeks ago, succeeding the former Good Times Bad Times Tea Shop. Though the space changed hands to shop owner Shauna Jones about three months ago, much of the same is offered in the way of beverages. But the Sterling Social works as a cafe with a twist, offering an array of homemade foods served in a music-centric atmosphere. “[Music] is a big part of me that is for sure,” said Jones, who has lived in and around the Bloordale neighbourhood for the better part of 15 years. Jones has spent the large majority of her adult life working in bars and restaurants, but armed with a passion
to create, she eventually embarked beverages – all of which done with to chef school to hone her kitchen the likes of the Kinks, Jimi Hendrix skills. After completing her educa- and the Rolling Stones playing in the tion five years ago, Jones opened up background. her own catering business, an experience in the food industry that left her poised to land where she is today. “I knew this is something I wanted to do,” said Jones of the Sterling Social. “I wanted a place to do it all. I’ve been looking for years to open up my own space. Here, the timing was right and it was very convenient for me.” Jones now works behind her own counter rather than someone else’s, starting a new chapter on the Bloor West strip. You will find her mixing sauces, makThe charming storefront at Sterling Rd. and Bloor St. W. is ing gourmet sandwiches now serving customers again. Photos by Justin Millerson and serving signature hot
LOCAL RESIDENT BRENT WELLS PRESENTS ‘FAMILY VACATION’ PART 1 BY BRENT WELLS
brent.wells@gmail.com
Family Vacation, Part I September 1st, another allnighter behind the wheel. Stopped about 4am by the Spanish River, pooched on gas. It must have been a while before an RV pulled in, the headlights rousing me from sleep. I heard its front door open, then watched a shadow skirt across the turnout, hop over a metal guardrail and rush down into the brush which led toward the river below. With my window open just a crack, I heard with some clarity the relief of this fellow upon some logs. I could not help but find amusement at the sounds of his obvious exaltation. Then remembering my fuel situation, I endeavoured to wake myself a little so that I might speak to the man upon his return. I rubbed my fingers vigorously through my face a few times and swung open the car door. I stepped out, relishing the damp chill of the yet starry morning upon my tired skin. I looked
over the guardrail in search of the man. He was visible some fifty metres away, examining the river and its churning, hypnotic currents. I dug my hands into my pockets, yawning in a dizzy spell. Then I heard the click of the the RV’s side door, and saw that it was now open with a figure standing at its bottom step. “Tom, have we got anything to feed her? The inquiry not directed at me, I didn’t answer her. “Tom, are you there?” She spoke in a soft voice to someone who might have been 10 feet away. She apparently did not see my vehicle and had mistaken my shuffling for her companion’s. When I didn’t answer her second call, her feet landed in the gravel and she stepped around from her side of the RV. She came into view, carrying a small child in her arms. “Hi,” I said to her, and knowing I would catch her off guard, attempted to pack the syllable with as much friendly feelings as possible. “Oh hello. Did you see where my husband went?”
She smiled and stepped even closer, so at ease that we might as well have been meeting in the daytime at a family picnic. “I think down there, by the river,” I said, pointing. “Oh is that right? Gosh I can’t see him, where does he think he’s going at this hour? A little hike in the woods? I’m freezing, how about you?” “Me too.” “I’m going to head back inside, if you don’t mind. Can I get you a blanket?” “Have a good night,” I said. I suppose I ignored her question. “It’s so cold, were you sleeping in there without a blanket?” she asked. “I’m okay. I had the heat on before,” I said. “Let me grab you an extra blanket,” she said, heading back toward the open door of the motorhome. “Okay,” I said, in too much of a daze to fight about it, or work out the logistics, but mostly because her firm confidence assured me she would not be stopped. ...to be continued.
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The Bloordale Times September 2014 09
Community Column ~ Health & Wellness
LOCAL PARK ASSOC. ENCOURAGES INVOLVEMENT AHEAD OF ELECTION BY KIM BETHKE
Dovercourt Community Park Assoc.
Your Councillor matters. Both Ward 18 and Ward 19 councillors’ (Ana Bailão and Mike Layton, respectively) are seeking re-election on October 27, and both are being challenged by new faces looking to be our community’s representative at council. Having strong local representation can make all the difference, and with that in mind the Dovercourt Park Community Association wants to focus on the important matter of who represents Ward 18 and Ward 19 at City Hall. Ward 18 Council Candidates (as of print date) Paul Alves (www.PaulAlves.com) Ana Bailão (www.anaforward18.ca) Joseph Ferrari Jolene Hunt (www.jolenehunt.com) Alex Mazer (www.alexmazer.ca) Jim McMillan Derek Power Robert Rodrigues Elsa Romao
Mohammed Uddin (voteforuddin.com) Ward 19 Council Candidates (as of print date) Scott Bowman (http://www.scottbowman.ca) Albina Burello (http://votealbina.ca/wp) Mike Layton (http://mikelayton.ca/) George Sawision (http://georgesawision.com/) Take some time to form your own opinions – contact the candidates, ask them about issues that matter to you – meanwhile, the Dovercourt Park Community Association (DPCA) will be working to support and celebrate democracy and civic participation in our community. 1. We’re doing our best to host two candidate’s debates (one for each ward) before the election. Get in touch with us if you have questions you’d like to ask these candidates (@dovercourtpark or dovercourtpark@gmail.com). We’ll keep you updated about the when’s and where’s of the debates on twitter. 2. We’re hosting a Post-vote Party in the Park, bring the whole family on Oct 27 to Dovercourt Park and celebrate your involvement in shaping our community’s future. Until then, we’re going to be asking each of these candidates one simple question and print their answers in next month’s column: in 140 characters, “Why You?”
ASK YOUR BLOORDALE NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR - DR. JENNIFER BAER BY DR. JENNIFER BAER
Got a question? health@drjenniferbaer.com
Goal Setting: Key to Successfully Making Positive Change All my patients have a health goal. They may initially see it as a problem – but I like to reframe it as a goal that is attainable and within their power. Must such goals require some degree of effort to make change – often to diet and or lifestyle habits - a challenge for many. Goal setting is a powerful way to envision your ideal future, and to motivate yourself to take action and get what you desire out of life, by creating long-term vision and shortterm motivation. It can help you to focus your time and attention on the tasks most likely to move you in the right direction. Where to Start? Start BIG! Then work backwards. Imagine your ideal life in ten (or more) years from now. What does it look like? What are you doing? Where and how are you living? Who are the people around you? What do you most want in key areas of your life:
relationships and family, career, finances, spirituality, creative expression, education and health. Allow yourself to brainstorm in any free-flowing way that works for you (journaling, flow charts, diagrams, clipping images, etc.). Next, begin to break down longterm goals into smaller “minigoals” you’ll need to achieve on the way. Break the ten-year plan down into two-year phases with intermediate goals for each, then start to get more specific with one year, six month, monthly and weekly plans of progressively smaller goals. Each of these should be based on the previous plan, and ultimately lead towards the Big Picture Plan. Finally, create a daily to-do list of the things that you will do today to work towards your weekly goal. Early on, this may focus on research and networking to improve goal setting and evaluate how realistic your plan is. Your daily to-do list and longer term goals will need to be updated regularly to suit current needs and abilities, or to reflect changing priorities. Goal Setting Tips The oft cited mnemonic device “SMART” can help with structure:
- Specific - Measurable - Attainable - Relevant / Realistic - Time-bound For example, instead of saying “I want to become a runner”, it is more powerful to state “I will be able to run 5K by December 31, 2015.” Additional Goal-setting Tips: - State each goal positively: ‘become a graceful dancer’ instead of ‘stop being such a clutz’ - Write goals down: people who write down their goals (by hand) are more likely to achieve them - Keep mini- goals mini: to allow opportunities for pride and confidence building - Keep it realistic: lest you set yourself up for failure & abandon the cause. - Celebrate successes: no matter how small the step – and consider a reward system for goals met
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- Learn from missteps: “failure” along the way is inevitable, and simply an opportunity to focus on what you learned for the next attempt. Don’t dwell on it! Jennifer Baer is a Naturopathic Doctor & Digestive Health Expert, in your neighbourhood. Ad-
Dr. Jennifer Baer, Naturopathic Doctor.
ditionally a trained chef & holistic nutritionist, Dr. Baer sees diet & digestion as key cornerstones of long-term health promotion & disease prevention. For more information about her services, please visit: http://www.drjenniferbaer.com
10 The Bloordale Times September 2014
Art Exhibitions
Daniel Faria Gallery
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SEPT 11 - NOVEMBER 01, 2014 Mark Lewis
188 St Helens Avenue
12 3
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JUNE 21 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
Mark Lewis is known for his short but hypnotic silent films. Trained in photography, Lewis posits film through myriad historical references such as painting, photography, and cinema. In his moving images narrative becomes secondary, allowing for reflection on the act of vision: natural or urban landscapes, as well as genre scenes, lend themselves to composition. Brief glances are discarded in favour of long shots. The sites and the actions that take place within them, result in the production of spontaneous narratives. Balanced between stasis and movement, Lewis’ films often highlight “non-places”, or the ubiquities of the everyday. Above and Below the Minhocao (2014) surveys The Minhocão, an elevated overpass located in São Paulo, Brazil. In contrast, Observation in Cheorwon Country (2014) is set in Cheorwon, a rural area that passed back and forth between North and South Korea following the country’s division after World War II, but is now itself
split between the two nations. Mark Lewis (b. 1958) was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and currently lives and works in London, U.K. Lewis attended Harrow College of Art in London and the Polytechnic of Central London, and began his career as a photographer before moving into film. He has had numerous solo shows in museums around the world, such as BFI Southbank (London), Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto) and the Musée d’art Moderne (Luxembourg). In 2009, Lewis represented Canada in the 53rd Venice Biennale, curated by Barbara Fischer. Currently Lewis is included in the Sao Paulo Biennial, Brazil (2014) and REAL DMZ project, Korea. This fall Lewis has a solo exhibition at The Louvre, Paris. Lewis’ work is found in the collections of Museum of Modern Art, New York; Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto; Centre PompidouMusee National d’Art Moderne, Paris; Hammer Museum, Los Angles; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa and Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver.
LOOP GALLERY
1273 Dundas Street West
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SEPTEMBER 11 – OCTOBER 05, 2014 John Abrams / Candy Girling John Abrams has been painting images plucked from cinema for more than decade, returning obsessively to Jean Luc Godard’s oeuvre. The painter’s 2014 Loop Gallery exhibit Seeing Seberg, is no exception, Abrams holds an MFA from York University and is an associate of the Ontario College of Art and Design. A founding and current member of loop Gallery in Toronto, the artist is represented by Boltax Gallery in New York and Evans Contemporary in Peterborough. A City Slice of Sky:An Urban Intervention - This in-
teractive, sculptural installation, created by Candida Girling and Aaron Davis, is an attempt to re-claim public space and to facilitate green incursions into the concrete and steel of the city. It suggests that we have an inherent need for nature but instead find ourselves in a contemporary urban environment characterized by the triumph of consumer culture, with its attendant pollution, alienation and diminished green space. The installation juxtaposes elements from the natural and urban worlds with the aim of providing a momentary respite from the mania of city life.
MERCER UNION
SPACE: Liz Knox SPACE is a new series of commissioned works for the billboard space on the side of Mercer Union, at the corner of St Clarens Avenue and Bloor Street West. Liz Knox uses conceptual strategies, examining systems of interpretation with an emphasis on strategies of irony, primarily working with text. Knox studied Studio Art at the University of Guelph and received her Masters Degree in Visual Arts at Emily Carr University in 2013. Her work has been shown in exhibitions and film festivals across Canada and internationally including the Charles H Scott Gallery, Vancouver; Access Gallery, Vancouver; G Gallery, Toronto; Eyelevel Gallery, Halifax; Lawton Gallery, University of Wisconsin; Vtape, Toronto; and the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Toronto.
1286 BLOOR Street West
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The Bloordale Times September 2014 11
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