Volume 46 No. 4
April 18, 2017
Warm welcome for new Canadian said. “I went to visit this place, I went to visit that place, I went to GRINNING FROM ear to ear in see my aunt and uncle in Barrie front of his workplace, the Top and for my immediate family, I Valu gas station on Kingston have my sister here who wanted Road, Tanzanian-born Shehzada me to stay with her, too, so I proMazherali Kassamali might be a longed [the stay in Canada] that familiar face for many drivers in way,” he said. Back then, Kassamali had a job the neighbourhood. But on a recent day in April, at a paper factory in Tanzania he’s smiling for a special reason. after completing an advanced Holding his Canadian citizen- degree in physics, chemistry and ship certificate in his hands, he mathematics. But despite having beams. It may be but a simple a life back in East Africa, Kassapiece of paper, but what it repre- mali said it was Canada that trusents is much more than that. ly felt like home because “when “I was already accepted from I came to Canada I knew I could the beginning,” he said, of his ini- feel a sense of human values, Catial years in Canada. “So I didn’t nadian values – talking to people, feel like a foreigner when I was in everybody says thank you, everythe country. I didn’t feel that at body says you’re welcome, you all … Everybody was nice to me. know. Everybody holds the door The community is amazing. [It’s for you. You see the values of a] beautiful community, diverse.” Canada and you fall in love. You Even so, receiving his citizen- just can’t not fall in love whership at a ceremony earlier this ever you come from.” year gives Kassamali a renewed And it wasn’t long before Kassense of purpose about his life samali fell in love with a Canahere. Especially because the dian girl, who in 2010 became his requirements to obtain it take Canadian wife. “We decided some time to get married and patience. and we apAc c o r d i n g plied for perto the Government of Canamanent resida, to become dence. I think a Canadian it was after citizen applitwo years I got cants must my permanent be permanent residence,” he residents who recalled. “As – Shehzada Kassamali have been soon as I got physically my permanent present in the residentship country for I went home at least 1,460 [to] Tanzania. days during I took my wife a six year period, in addition to there to see the country.” being present for 183 days within Since moving to Toronto, Kassamali has been working as a the four years prior. Applicants must also demon- manager at Top Valu, where he strate a suitable understanding says he is “very happy” – a stateof English and/or French, and ment that becomes obvious as prove their knowledge of our his boss jokingly chimes in, both history, values, institutions and of them laughing heartily, “We symbols, among a host of other don’t want him here but he stays here! We can’t get rid of him!” requirements. But now that he’s a citizen, he “I felt accomplished,” he said. “I felt like I had accomplished said he is “looking forward to something in my life to become a many different things” – specifically, the possibility of becoming citizen of Canada.” Becoming a Canadian has been a teacher. “I kept saying, How can I give a goal of his since visiting Toronto to attend a cousin’s wedding back to the community? So hope10 years ago. Shortly after arriv- fully I get more into my bachelor of ing, he realized he did not want education. I’m hoping in the future to leave so he stayed to travel the that I become a teacher,” he said. country. Continued on Page 4 “I kept extending my visa,” he By Lara O’Keefe
“” “You see the values of Canada and you fall in love.”
PHOTO: LARA O’KEEFE
Artistic expression Krishna Suthar performs a dance onstage during the annual Baisakhi festival in the Gerrard India Bazaar, April 15.
City works to preserve Leuty station By Lara O’Keefe
stone,” said Cutler. “Once that work is complete, we will review the broader impacts these storms will have on the beach.” In the meantime, city staff are asking people and their pets to stay away from the water. “Standing water can often pose concerns, especially when combined with animal and bird feces and heat, like on a beach,” said Cutler. “We’ve asked that residents (and their pets) stay away from the water and our machinery on the beach while we deal with these issues.”
RESIDENTS HAVE been voicing their concerns over the past weeks about the rising water levels along the shorelines of Ashbridges Bay and Woodbine Beach but it’s the historic Leuty Lifeguard Station that is currently raising alarm bells with the City of Toronto. City crews were on the scene last week, working to maintain and preserve the historic landmark. “This may have an impact on the beach and the volleyball courts in the long-term, but more urgently, this has threatened the 97-year-old Leuty Lifeguard Station and the Boardwalk,” said Matthew Cutler, spokesperson for the city’s Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation department. While shorelines have been known to evolve over time, Cutler explained that “recent storms have brought waves further onto Woodbine Beach and Ashbridges Bay than we have seen in decades.” The city constantly works to manage the waterfront by building break walls, dredging and strategic planting in an effort to minimize changes to the shoreline. But to mitigate the current issues creeping up on the Leuty Lifeguard Station and the boardwalk, “staff are working with the Toronto Region ConPHOTO: ANNA KILLEN servation Authority to secure these two assets by moving City workers move sand around the Leuty Lifeguard Station April 12 in an efsand and installing armour fort to combat effects from the highest water levels seen in decades.