2015 TTC Budget Promises Better Bus Service

By Tom Rakocevic

 It is commonly said that religion and politics are topics that do not make for friendly conversation. Transit could probably be added to that list.While the debate usually surrounds big transit projects such as subways and LRTs, bus service can be more important for suburban residents.Consider this: even though the new subway line through our community will be open in 2016, most Downsview residents will still need a bus to get to it.Our community was mainly established in the 1960’s and has grown ever since. Has local transit service matched the growth? A comparison of local bus routes in 1975 to 2015 suggests there has certainly been a great improvement to the service in our area.According to 2011 census data, there are around 50,000 people living in Toronto’s Ward 8, a community residing within Downsview. TTC data indicates that there are almost 82,000 bus trips a day that either begin or end in Ward 8.So how do Downsview bus users feel about local service?At Jane and Finch, Meghan Robinson, a weekly 6 am regular on the 36 Finch West bus isn't impressed, "The 6 am bus is packed like sardines and if you miss it, there's no bus until almost 6:30 [am].”Overhearing the conversation, Nam Do joins in saying he is satisfied with service, although noting that “for some routes you have to wait 30 minutes for a bus in cold weather."Not too far away, at Driftwood and Niska, Kim says, “Sometimes, I could walk to Jane and Finch before an afternoon bus comes by.”At Sentinel and Finch, the view seems a little more optimistic.Billy, a York University student who rides the 106 says that TTC service is “good” while Josey Williams, another 36 Finch West passenger says the bus 2 “comes fast.”This year's TTC budget promises improved bus service through the restoration of services that were cut in 2011, expansion of the Express Bus and Blue Night Network, management improvements to reduce bus bunching and more. See https://www.ttc.ca/News/2015/February/020215_Board_Approves_Budget.jsp for details.As well, effective March 1^st, 2015, children 12 years or under will be able to ride the TTC for free. For children who may look a little older than their age, the TTC sends Proof-of-Age Cards to local schools. These cards are also available by calling 416-393-3030.The good news about improved bus service and eliminated fares for children does come with a 10 cent fare increase; which some people are unhappy about.Ms. Robinson also had something to say about that, “What are we going to pay an extra 10 cents for? More lousy service?”I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.--- In a separate text box below:We want to hear from you! Tell us what you think about the TTC service in your neighbourhood by e-mailing us at info@downsviewadvocate.ca

Debate Continues Over Future of Bathurst Manor Plaza.

By David Ros

Plans to build a mixed condominium and townhouse complex at the site of Bathurst Manor plaza near Dufferin Ave., and Finch Ave. W., has been met with opposition from local residents.The proposal seeks to create 44 townhouses and two 350 unit condominium buildings with retail space on the site at the corner of Wilmington Ave., and Overbrook Pl.Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 10 York Centre) said that he is opposed to the proposal as it would drastically alter the neighbourhood, since the surrounding area mostly consists of low-rise single family homes.“The level of intensification would put enormous pressure on existing infrastructure including water and electricity,” he said. “It would also create unspeakable traffic congestion; moreover, the heights and built form are out of character to the neighbourhood.”Residents loudly voiced their opposition to the development at a Sep. 30, 2013 community meeting where Adam Brown, a lawyer representing the plaza's owner, Kilbarry Holding Corp., presented the plan.Residents not only voiced concerns about the increased traffic and intensification, but also that the influx of new residents would add additional strain on the neighbourhood's already crowded schools.At the meeting, Brown assured residents in attendance that any school aged children living in the new development would be bussed to schools in other neighbourhoods, rather than local ones, which are currently full.Despite these assurances, Pasternak said residents have a right to be concerned.“There are added pressures on local schools, especially at the high school level, bussing is not ideal,” Pasternak said. “It creates new pressures on the local road system and extends the school day unnecessarily.“Bussing is also expensive, and the cost will take away resources from other educational supports.”The status of Bathurst Manor plaza has been up in the air ever since Sunnybrook produce store was demolished in 2004.At the Sep. 2013 meeting, Brown stated that neighbourhood plazas, such as Bathurst Manor were going into decline, and that residential developments were a more “viable” use of the land.Pasternak said he believes that “modest residential construction with a strong retail presence,” would provide the best development of the land.“Despite the decline and neglect of this plaza, it is still quite popular and can operate as a community focal point,” Pasternak said. “We need to build communities such that shopping is near and there is a balance between commercial and residential.” We want to hear from you! Tell us what you would like to see at the site of Bathurt Manor plaza by emailing us at info@downsviewadvocate.ca 

Perfect, Well Almost Downsview’s Best Kept Secret

by Howard Moscoe

This can of Heinz beans was made in Canada and tastes just the same as the beans that your mother spoon fed you when you were a child. So what’s wrong with them? Well nothing other than the fact that instead of French the backside of the can is printed in Hebrew. I bought them for 79 cents at my all-time favourite store, ALMOST PERFECT. The same beans without the Hebrew label were priced for $1.59 at the nearby No Frills.ALMOST PERFECT is a gem of a discount store tucked away in a plaza on the north side of Sheppard Avenue, about half way between Keele Street and Dufferin Street. (1150 Sheppard Ave. W). It is a food clearance outlet that is the best kept secret in Downsview.This is where you can pick up an endless variety of products that you either won’t, or can’t find in other retail outlets. There you’ll pick up brands that you recognize like Kellogg’s, Betty Crocker, McCain, Hershey, and Lay’s; as well as, brands that you may never have heard of like, Super Slim, Chris Formly, Great Canadian Meat Co., Fairmarket, and Tangy Zangy. How do products end up at ALMOST PERFECT? Often times manufacturers overestimate sales, or launch products that just don’t catch on. For example, have you have heard of Heinz Red Thai Sauce? Fortunately, for ALMOST PERFECT shoppers, the goods end up on their shelves at a discounted price.The best part of the fun of shopping here is that you never know what surprise you can expect to find. What my daughter who lives in New York loves best about the store is she can get a range of organic and vegetarian products at bargain prices. (Yves vegetarian patties, $1.77) In fact, some of the products come up from the US because American manufacturers don’t want their products to appear at discount prices in local markets. Long before TARGET came to Canada ALMOST PERFECT was selling ‘Archer Farms’, TARGET’S private brand products, not only because TARGET didn’t want their discounted products to be sold in the US, but also because they were made in Canada. ALMOST PERFECT also has a huge variety of frozen food products. 50% of the store is filled with freezer cases. Wondering what the story behind Almost Perfect is? The company was founded in Whitby in 1998 by two Sisters, Carolyne Boiani and Pamela McGibney. In 1999 they took over a Sara Lee factory outlet at the Downsview location. From two outlet stores the company has since expanded into the largest ‘food only’ surplus retailer in Canada with ten stores, and an eleventh scheduled to be opened in Cobourg in the Spring of 2015. So why haven’t you heard about ALMOST PERFECT? As Carolyne explained; “We don’t advertise because our manufacturers expect us to be discrete. We don’t want to undercut their retail sales.” That’s probably why ALMOST PERFECT has largely stayed out of the Toronto Market, so we are lucky to have their only Toronto store right here in our community. I learned how to be an almost perfect shopper, and want to share a few tips with you. When you see a new product buy one, take it home and try it. If you like it return to the store and stock up because it might not ever be there again. Also, try visiting the store on a regular basis to get the best selection, and make sure you keep an eye on the product dates. The beans I bought had a January 2015 “best before” date, but I still bought two cases because how often does a can of beans go bad?You’ll love it as much as I do!

Police Investigations Put Wynne’s Government on the Hot Seat

By Matias de Dovitiis

Kathleen Wynne was elected with a majority government last summer with the promise that she would step away from the Dalton McGuinty type scandals that led to his early retirement. Her previous accomplishments as a Trustee who advocated for public education made Ontarians feel like she could serve as an honest, hard working leader that would not fall in the same trappings of power politics that sunk her predecessor. That optic is now being transformed, and we are all the worse for it. It is unfortunate that it took such a short time for this other side of Wynne to appear. The old Wynne was all about participatory democracy, and having transparent, clean processes in place.Premier Wynne, apparently is not below having her power brokers push people aside with promises, something which the chief electoral officer in Ontario stated recently appeared to be a breach of the Elections Act, and which the Ontario Provincial Police anti-racket wing is currently investigating. At issue is what transpired in the lead up to a recent by-election in Sudbury, where an NDP MPP quit after only a few months on the job for family reasons. The open seat presented an opportunity for the Liberals to expand their seat margin. In order to convince the much more high profile candidate (a seating MP for the NDP) to change parties, the Liberals decided to bypass the nomination process, and asked the previous candidate in the area not to run. This is where things become controversial and where the question of legalities comes into play. The previous candidate in the Sudbury seat for the Liberals was Andrew Olivier, who was interested in running for the open seat, but two senior Liberal party organizers met with him, and tried to convince him not to run. We know this because he recorded the conversation; Olivier is a quadriplegic and often records conversations as a means of keeping notes. Since that encounter he has made the recording public. The recording has led to an OPP investigation into Wynne’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Pat Sorbara and Gerry Lougheed, another party operative. Wynne is defending her staff stating that there were “no specific offers” or favours granted during the conversation with Olivier. Unfortunately, for the people of Ontario Wynne has two political agendas, one for the Government and one for her political party. Wynne is standing by her staff saying they will not be asked to step aside, unless the investigation proves that there was some wrongdoing. It is important to consider that the issue is not only about whether something illegal took place. At this level of government our expectations and demands are higher of our elected officials and the people that do their bidding. It is therefore insufficient to say that there was nothing illegal that took place, when in fact the actions that were taken are unethical. Whatever the legal positioning Wynne’s staff is taking, they should take a leave of absence, and should only be allowed back to work if an investigation clears them. 

Manny’s Story: A Young Man Faces Cancer

By Tom Rakocevic

Emmanuel "Manny" Adwarkah is one of 50,000 students who attend York University here in our community. In 2012, while most students his age were worrying about their futures, Manny was worrying about whether he would even have a future. Manny's story is about a young man who took no chances with his health and stayed strong while battling illness.

On June 6, 2012, Manny sat on the ground at a TTC stop, his head buried in his arms. On that warm and sunny Thursday afternoon, Manny received a terrible diagnosis: he had cancer.Manny had reacted quickly in seeking answers to the cause of a strange new discomfort. Being only 19 years old, he figured it couldn’t be anything serious. He kept his concerns from his family and friends to avoid needless worry and went to the doctor’s alone.The diagnosis came as a shock.He described the news as surreal, “Have you ever noticed a scene in the movies when someone hears tragic news? It gets completely quiet. The camera zooms right into their face and everything around is out of focus. Hearing the doctor tell me I had cancer…the world around me vanished. It was just my thoughts and I. Until I experienced it myself, I always thought those scenes were too dramatic.”Despite the prognosis, Manny was told his chances were very good. Early detection was crucial in fighting cancer, and Manny had reacted quickly.Manny is blessed with a loving and supportive family. It was hard to keep his concerns from them, and it was even harder to tell them he had cancer. Upon hearing the news, his family was encouraging and very optimistic, but Manny could see the hidden fear in their eyes.Surgery was scheduled for July 8^th, a month after diagnosis. Although the time dragged on, Manny was optimistic about his chances to beat the cancer, the alternative was simply not an option for him. In fact, it was simply inconceivable; he would not allow himself to give in to despair.The operation was quick and successful, and Manny was sent home the same day. He was told that there would be follow-up, but by the end of August, almost two months later, the follow-up call never came. Manny decided to take matters into his own hands, and in late August he went to Princess Margaret Hospital to check his condition.The result of that visit revealed that his battle with cancer wasn’t over.A CT scan was taken, and a secondary cancer mass was discovered; one that would require chemotherapy treatment to deal with.That same week, Manny met with his best friend at York University and confided in her. “It was the look on her face; until that moment, everything seemed so unreal. Somehow right there seeing her reaction, I faced the truth of my situation.”He began chemotherapy in early September, and withdrew from his university courses in order to focus on his recovery. Completely exhausted, he spent a lot of time reflecting on his life. He realized that he had been in a big worrisome rush, but without a real destination.“Back then, I was easily stressed about the little things. School deadlines, my part-time job, friendships, the usual stuff. Fighting cancer put everything else into perspective.”Within the first cycle of treatment, Manny already began showing signs of improvement. Even the doctors were surprised by how well it was going. Little by little, Manny began to envision a future where he would appreciate every day, and do the things he wanted in life.On December 7, 2012 Manny learned he had beaten cancer.He was given a second chance at life, and since then has been making the most of it since. Today he is working towards a Business degree at York University, which he hopes to combine with his love of photography. You can see some of Manny's work at blog.mannydark.com or on Instagram: @mannydark.

Access to Justice at an Affordable Price

By Joy Lewis, Licensed Paralegal

 Imagine this scenario, you finally saved up enough money to get that kitchen renovated. You met with the contractor; he seemed like a reputable guy, so you gave him a deposit to start the work.The big day finally arrives, you're dreaming about how lovely the new kitchen will look after the dust settles, but then reality strikes! That seemingly trustworthy contractor does not show up. In fact, you call his number and it's out of service. What do you do? Consider hiring a lawyer? Good idea! But too expensive. Hiring a paralegal may be the best option for your requirements. If you are faced with a potential legal issue, you should consider hiring a Paralegal. In setting up my own practice, Lewis Legal Services, I was amazed at the number of people that told me they had heard of the term "Paralegal" but actually had no idea what services a Paralegal provides.A Paralegal licensed to provide legal services in Ontario has graduated from an accredited legal services program, has passed a Paralegal licensing exam, and has been found to be of good character. They are registered with The Law Society of Upper Canada, and carry professional liability insurance. Paralegals offer various legal services to the public at fees that are usually lower than lawyers, who practice law in the same areas. A Paralegal's range of practice is primarily focused within the following areas: Small Claims Court which handles cases where the total amount of money or value of goods involved is $25,000.00 Canadian or less; Ontario Tribunals, which include, the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Immigration and Refugee Board, and the Human Rights Tribunal; Traffic and other offences heard in Provincial Offences Court; Less serious car accidents, and Statutory Accident Benefits (SABS) claims; Summary conviction charges under the Criminal Code, including theft under $5,000.00, harassment, and causing a disturbance; and As a Commissioner of Oaths, a Paralegal can confirm a person's identity for the purpose of swearing an Affidavit. As Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin points out, “Our courtrooms today are filled with litigants who are not represented by counsel, trying to navigate the sometimes complex demands of law and procedure.” The number of self-represented people in Ontario has been steadily rising. This could be a result of the rising cost of legal representation, which is out of reach for middle and lower class Ontarians. If affordable, it is certainly far better to hire a legal representative who has been formally trained, and can protect your best interests. Without proper representation, a party is often likely to be at a disadvantage, and not be successful with their case.An affordable option to lawyers are Paralegals who can bring access to justice in reach. 

Make Your Own Pizza!

by Vincent Polsinelli

Description

Looking for a fun family activity? Try this simple and delicious pizza recipe. This recipe will help your children learn some basic cooking skills, will nurture their creativity, and will keep them entertained.  IngredientsPizza Dough2 1/5 cups of flour2 3/4 teaspoons of baking powder1 teaspoon of olive oil3/4 cup of waterTomato Sauce1 can (28 ounces) of crushed tomatoes2 tablespoons of olive oil3 cloves of chopped garlic2 leaves of basil choppedSalt and pepper to tasteToppings1 ball of mozzarella cheese (any cheese can be used but mozzarella is recommended)ANY TOPPINGS OF YOUR CHOICE (popular choices are pepperonis, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, etc.) Directions Pizza Dough 

• In a large bowl mix flour, baking powder and salt.
• Create a well within the bowl of dry ingredients and add your water and olive oil.
• Incorporate all the ingredients until the dough is stiff. (If the dough is too dry, add some water until it is smooth)
• Take the dough out onto a floured counter and knead the dough for 3-4 minutes. The dough should be soft and not sticky.

 Tomato Sauce 

• In a saucepan heat olive oil over low heat.
• Add crushed tomatoes and continue to cook for a few minutes.
• Stir in chopped basil, chopped garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Continue to cook until tomatoes break down and the sauce is brought to a simmer.

 Finishing the Pizza 

• Preheat the oven for 400 C
• Stretch the dough out to fit the size of your sheet tray. (it is important that the dough is stretched evenly)
• Pour your tomato sauce onto the dough leaving one inch of space all around for your crust to form.
• Then place the desired amount of cheese on top of the tomato sauce.
• Place your desired toppings all over your pizza.
• Place the pizza in the oven for 15-25 minutes (depending on the oven and desired crispiness of the dough) and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes before serving.