SCARBOROUGH MIRROR | Tuesday, May 7, 2013 |
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opinion
The Scarborough Mirror is published every Tuesday and Thursday at 175 Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2, by Metroland Media Toronto, a Division of Metroland Media Group Ltd.
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Ian Proudfoot Marg Middleton Peter Haggert Alan Shackleton Warren Elder Angela Carruthers Debra Weller Mike Banville
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Seeking our Urban Heroes
Write us
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here are many unsung heroes in our community, working for others to make Scarborough a better place for all. And now is the time to recognize their efforts with an Urban Heroes Award. The Scarborough Mirror and Metroland Media Toronto are proud to announce that we are now seeking nominations for the 2013 Urban Heroes Awards. As a reader, this is your chance to let us know about that special person, group or business in your community that goes above and beyond. The Urban Heroes Awards were created to honour them.
The Scarborough Mirror welcomes letters of 400 words or less. All submissions must include name, address and a daytime telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Copyright in letters remains with the author but the publisher and affiliates may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. Letters can be sent to letters@insidetoronto.com, or mailed to The Scarborough Mirror, 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.
Grassroots focus
Our focus is on the grassroots organizations, especially the ones that are working hard but perhaps not getting the recognition they deserve. our view In Scarborough, some of our past Urban Heroes include Rose Multiple Balthazar, founder of a breakclub in the Empringham categories to fast area of Malvern. Not only does she help local nominate in youngsters start their day with a nutritious breakfast, she is also there for them to talk to as a friend. “You’re not only there to prepare their breakfast, you’re there to listen,” said Balthazar. Another honouree, Raj Thavaratnasingham, helped raise both money and awareness for the Rouge Valley Health System’s Centenary hospital. Recogninzing the rising costs and financial challenges healthcare institutions face, Thavaratnasignham asked for no gifts on his 60th birthday and instead collected $7,000 for Centenary. Make our community great
These are the people who make our community the great place it is to live. We’re appealing to our readers to help us find this year’s Urban Heroes. Go online to submit nominations. Individuals, groups and businesses can be nominated in any of six categories: Arts and Culture, Community, Education, Environment, Health and Sciences, and Sports. Please send in your nominations as soon as possible as the deadline is fast approaching. To learn more about the awards program, the rules and categories, please send us an email to scm@ insidetoronto.com
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Playofff cliches are the name of the game
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he action comes fast and furious during the Stanley Cup playoffs. So do the cliches. I’m not just talking about the ones from the players, either. The fans can more than hold their own in dishing out the platitudes department, thank you very much. What’s interesting is that in both cases, the catch phrases are identical. They’re just not talking about the same thing. The players are referring to how to carry themselves on the ice, the fans about how to behave in an area where the only place you can find ice is in a margarita at the local sports bar. If you happen to drop by your neighbourhood hangout Friday night to catch the Leafs and Bruins Game Five tussle, these are a few of the standard playoff cliches you can expect to hear. “We’ve got to take it one game at a time, gentlemen. One game at a time.” That means none of that
jamie wayne BUT SERIOUSLY irritating switching back and forth to the Blue Jays telecasts routine. And yes, that includes during the commercial breaks, too. “We have to set the tone right from the outset.” This is absolutely critical in the post-season for fans. You have to make absolutely sure to OVERREACT whether things are going bad or good for your team. Being a diehard means always blowing things way out of proportion. “Stake out your territory from the opening face-off and hold your ground till that final buzzer sounds.” In this case, they’re referring to the booth in the back, right next to the kitchen. “You have to be hungry from the start and you have to stay hungry right to the bitter end.” Especially if it’s 10-cent Sizzling Scorching
Dynamite Wing night. “At this time of year it’s all about who wants it more.” So, if there’s only one drumstick left in the corner of the bucket, the $64,000 question is: Who goes in there and comes out with it, you or Bubba? “Don’t ever take your place in this group for granted. No spot is secure.” Anybody would give anything to be where we are right now. Heck, there’s probably a waiting list of 250 who’d be happy to join us even if it was only 11-cent wing night. “You don’t ever want to give up a softie, but particularly not near the end of a period.” So, I urge you, if the waitress offers you a free ice cream cone for dessert just grab it quickly without even thinking. “To be successful, our BEST players HAVE to be our BEST players.” So when they hold the nightly trivia contest during
the second intermission and the winners get 50 per cent off each pitcher until last call, that means it’s bear-down time for the socalled superstars. “Everyone – and I mean everyone – in the room has to contribute.” At the end of the night when the bill arrives that phony, “Oops, I forgot my wallet at home, can you spot me a twenty?” stuff just doesn’t cut it at this time year. And last and certainly not least: “Everybody in here is expected to give 110 per cent.” This ain’t the regular season, baby. So you can kiss goodbye to the usual 15 per cent tip per person. Anything less than 110 per cent and your waiter is liable to expose you on YouTube. Jamie Wayne is a lifelong columnist, who takes writing very seriously. The topics? Not so much. His column appears every Tuesday. Contact him at jamie.wayne@sympatico.ca
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