Beach Metro News August, 26, 2025

Summer fun BuskerFest and Bark in the Park at Woodbine Park

By Abby Russchen

THE TORONTO International BuskerFest for Epilepsy and the annual Bark in the Park festival are returning to Woodbine Park for the Labour Day long weekend.

The four-day festival takes place from Friday, Aug. 29, to Monday, Sept. 1. Hours for BuskerFest and Bark in the Park are 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; and noon to 7 p.m. on Monday.

In its 24th year, BuskerFest Toronto is dedicated to raising funds for Epilepsy Toronto.

Over the weekend, buskers from around the world will perform and provide entertainment for attendees of all ages.

One of the many buskers is Beacher and local children’s musician Ned Gordon, who goes by Ned on stage.

He will be performing his original tunes in the children’s area and at the entrance of BuskerFest. “I’m very excited to be performing in the Beach,” said Ned. “It’s not just rewarding, but it’s also just really fun to give anything back to this community as they support me.”

PHOTO: SUBMITTED

Beacher Ned will be one of the performers at BuskerFest, slated for the Labour Day weekend in Woodbine Park.

Along with busker performances, Bark in the Park will be taking place in a dedicated area of Woodbine Park.

The annual event is dedicated to pets and animal lovers. Expect photo opportunities, a pet costume contest, and a market featuring pet products and services.

Highlights from BuskerFest include a variety of busking acts, a comedy tent, fire shows, food trucks, a beer garden, artisan vendors, and a family fun zone.

Admission is free, but a suggested donation of $10 is recommended to support Epilepsy Toronto.

For more on BuskerFest Toronto and Bark in the Park, please go to www.torontobuskerfest.com

Taste of Bangladesh slated for this weekend in Scarborough

THE 2025 Taste of Bangladesh festival is set for this weekend in southwest Scarborough.

The festival will take place on Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31. Times each day will be from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. with activities slated along Danforth Avenue between Birchmount Road and the Kingston Road split.

Portions of Danforth Avenue east of Birchmount Road will be closed during festival hours.

The Taste of Bangladesh will feature numerous food vendors, activities and entertainment.

Some of the scheduled performers include Balam, Ashraful Pavel, Shahnaz Belly, Momo and Selim Chowdhury. Organizers say the Taste of Bangladesh is expecting crowds in the tens of thousands for this year’s festival.

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/TasteOfBangladesh.net

East End Refugee Committee marks 30 years of helping newcomers to Canada

By Abby Russchen

WHAT STARTED as a response to the Yugoslav civil war in the 1990s has grown into three decades of helping refugees resettle their lives in Canada.

The East End Refugee Committee is a coalition of faith communities in Toronto’s East End that works together to sponsor a family, or sometimes a single refugee, at a time each year to help them rebuild their lives.

While many of these faith communities had previous involvement in refugee sponsorship, they felt they could offer stronger support by working together.

Current East End Refugee Committee members include Kingston Road United Church, Calvary Baptist Church, Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, St. Aidan Anglican Church, and St. John the Baptist Norway Anglican Church.

Refugees sponsored by the committee are already approved by the United Nations and the Canadian government to seek refuge, often after years of waiting.

Once selected for sponsorship, the committee provides refugees with comprehensive assistance in every aspect of resettlement, including financial

support, housing, education and healthcare.

Sponsorship is costly and timeconsuming, which is why the committee sponsors one family or individual per year.

“It works out to about $10,000 per person,” explained Elaine Hick, one of the committee’s longtime members. “We have to have it up front in order to go into an agreement with the federal government to be the sponsors for this family.”

Due to these constraints, the committee chooses to sponsor refugees who are in the greatest need of assistance, typically those with health concerns.

“That’s our mantra,” said Hick. “We sponsor anyone and everyone with the greatest need.”

Last year, the committee sponsored a family from Myanmar whose young son had been diagnosed with cancer while they were on the waiting list to come to Canada.

When the family arrived in Toronto, the committee picked them up from the airport and took them directly to SickKids, where the boy started treatment within 48 hours and is now cancer-free.

This kind of comprehensive assistance is the foundation of the com-

mittee’s work, but they can’t continue without steady support from the community. Hick hopes to maintain interest and donations so that the committee can continue to support those who need it.

She also hopes that more individuals will take an interest in the committee and become volunteers, specifically young people who are familiar with modern technologies, as there is a lot of technology involved in sponsorship, explained Hick.

As the committee reaches 30 years of helping newcomers from all over the world, Hick hopes for more robust awareness.

“I’d like to see greater awareness on the part of the public, in terms of understanding the refugee system,” said Hick.

“Understanding what it takes for an individual to get here, all that they’ve been through, and appreciate that.”

At a time when global conflicts persist, the East End Refugee Committee continues to provide help to those who need it most.

For more information on the East End Refugee Committee, and how you can support the group’s efforts, please go to https://eerc.ca

Annual Beaches Terry Fox Run planned for Sept. 14

THE ANNUAL Beaches Terry Fox Run will take place on Sunday, Sept. 14.

The run/walk in support of cancer research begins at Woodbine Beach Park, 1675 Lake Shore Blvd. E., at 9 a.m. and participants are welcome to join in anytime up to 1 p.m.

In-person registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 14 at the pavilion across from the Woodbine Beach Bathing Station. Participants are also encouraged to register in advance at https://run.terryfox.ca/92843

The Beaches Terry Fox Run has been taking place since 1982 and has raised more than $2.3 million in that time. Everyone is welcome to take part in the Beaches Terry Fox Run as it is accessible for runners,

walkers, cyclists, people using wheelchairs and people pushing strollers. Those taking part can choose to do either a five or a 10-kilometre route.

Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope to raise awareness of and funding for cancer research in 1980. The run started in April in Newfoundland and saw Fox run for 143 days, through six provinces, and covering 5,373 kilometres.

Fox had to end his run on Sept. 1, 1980, just outside of Thunder Bay, Ont. The cancer he had had returned and he was unable to continue the run. Fox died in June of 1981, at the age of 22. The first Terry Fox Run in his memory was held in September of 1981.

Walk of Hope to take place locally

OVARIAN CANCER Canada (OCC) will hold its annual Walk of Hope on Sunday, Sept. 7. The nationwide event raises funds for innovative research, support programs and advocacy efforts for ovarian cancer.

Locally, the walk will be taking place at Ashbridges Bay beginning at 9 a.m.

Participants of all ages are encouraged to come out for the family-friendly five-kilometre walk in support of the cause that affects thousands of Canadian women each year.

The Walk of Hope is a nationally occurring

event during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September, taking place in more than 35 communities across Canada, and has collectively raised more than $34 million.

Started in 2002 by Peggy Truscott in Toronto, the Walk of Hope has grown into a show of support by Canadians from coast to coast. Registration is free, with no fundraising minimum. The Walk of Hope is open to everyone to take part in. For more information, and register for the Walk of Hope, please go to https://ovariancanada.org

Judy’s Beach Café offers meaningful employment for adults with intellectual, developmental disabilities

By Abby Russchen

IN TRIBUTE to her late sister Judy, who had Down syndrome, Donna Shannon Paterson and co-founder Leslie Grant are opening Judy’s Beach Café on Queen Street East. The café is dedicated to hiring and supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

“The whole concept behind it is to provide a safe and welcoming place where individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities can find meaningful employment with the appropriate levels of support that they need,” said Grant.

It’s an all-too-common reality for adults with disabilities, that once they graduate from high school, finding employment becomes a real challenge, said Shannon Paterson.

“So often their world comes to a bit of a standstill,” she said. “We didn’t have to look very hard to find potential candidates – they found us.”

Judy’s aims to reduce employment barriers for its staff and inspire more businesses to hire adults with disabilities.

Judy Shannon, who passed away in May 2024, had worked at a flower shop in her adulthood, where she found joy and independence in doing her own thing.

Years later, her sister and Grant, both retired teachers, are carrying on that spirit by creating fulfilling employment for others who need it.

For their opening, Judy’s has hired 10 staff members with disabilities,

spanning a range of ages. They also have a management team and a strong volunteer base to monitor and support Judy’s employees to ensure their needs are met.

Opening by the end of this month, with their grand opening on Monday, Sept. 1, (including a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m.), Judy’s is much more than a new coffee shop. Those visiting can expect delicious drinks, a variety of food and dessert options, as well as alcoholic beverages.

“People can come in and have a glass of wine instead of a coffee,” said Grant.

“It’s five o’clock anywhere.”

From salads and sandwiches to donuts and croissants, Judy’s sources its goods from local distributors.

“We’ve got a great lineup of specialty beverages and delicious food,” said Grant.

Taking over the location previously occupied by the plant-based establishment Tori’s Bakeshop at 2188 Queen St. E., Judy’s will continue to serve Tori’s baked goods to maintain plant-based and gluten-free options.

With the soft opening approaching, Judy’s Beach Café is ready and eager to begin this experience.

“We are all going to be so happy to greet people coming through the door,” said Grant. “We hope to please everybody.”

For more information on Judy’s Beach Café, please go to https:// judysbeachcafe.com

Group holds weekly vigil on Kingston Road calling for end to Gaza ‘genocide’

By Alan Shackleton

FOR MONTHS, a number of East Toronto residents have been gathering on Thursday mornings along Kingston Road by Victoria Park Avenue to hold a vigil raising awareness about the actions of Israel’s government in Gaza.

Organizer of the weekly protest is longtime area resident Ted Schmidt, who taught religion at Neil McNeil Catholic High School for decades and is also an author, journalist and former editor of the Catholic New Times

“We are doing this quietly but this is something people of conscience should be doing,” said Schmidt, 85, during an interview with Beach Metro Community News on Kingston Road in June.

The vigil is to stand against what he said is the genocide taking place in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli government.

“People see what’s going on and say ‘I’ve got to do something.’ People show up. People with a conscience,” said Schmidt.

The vigil, that goes from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., sees the participants on the north side of Kingston Road west of Victoria Park Avenue holding up signs against Israel’s actions.

On average there are about 30 to 40 people taking part, and Schmidt said it has grown considerably in numbers since it first began.

“We just started with some of my former students and guys I have coffee with,” he said of the grassroots event.

“People started hearing about it and Charlie Angus really boosted it up,” said Schmidt.

A former NDP MP representing TimminsJames Bay for more than 20 years, Angus grew up mostly in Scarborough and formed a band in the 1980s with former Neil McNeil Catholic High School student Andrew Cash who also had Schmidt as a teacher.

In his Charlie Angus/The Resistance Substack post from April of this year, Angus let people know about the Kingston Road vigil and the role Schmidt played in organizing it.

“Ted has never stopped being a truth-teller, which is why he stands against the horrific genocide in Palestine,” wrote Angus of Schmidt.

“He has been part of this struggle for decades. Ted grew up in Toronto’s old Jewish downtown and built deep friendships with his Jewish schoolmates. He learned from them the tradition of the prophets and the Biblical tradition of social justice. This has led him to be an active voice for peace in the Middle East, even when it made him seem like an isolated voice in the wilderness.”

Schmidt said that under no circumstances should the Kingston Road vigil be seen as antisemitic or against the Jewish religion.

“They can’t lump me in as an antisemite. I have trees planted in my name in Israel because of my work on the Holocaust,” he said.

“You don’t do this to people. Judaism to me, as a Catholic who grew out of Judaism, it is the greatest gift to humanity. Humans are made in the image of God and you don’t do this to human beings.”

However, Schmidt said some of his Jewish friends are critical of the Kingston Road vigil and his role in it.

“The values of Judaism are forever. Of the dignity of the human person, you know. It’s sad to me, but I don’t scapegoat. I have many Jewish friends and some don’t talk to me now. But that’s inevitable. They don’t get it.”

The vigil is against the actions being taken by Israel’s government and the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Schmidt.

He said Netanyahu’s government is “terrible” and has to change what it is doing in Gaza.

Israel’s response is to the threats and actions from terrorist group Hamas including the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw another 251 other people taken hostage.

Among the many who have taken part in the Kingston Road protest is former Ontario NDP leader and Canadian United Nations Ambassador Stephen Lewis, who was also the MPP for Scarborough West in the 1960s and 1970s.

“Stephen was wonderful. He came on his walker. His daughter took a photo and then Avi got going,” said Schmidt.

Avi is Stephen’s son and he wrote a social media post saying how proud he was of his father, who is 87 years old, for taking part in the Kingston Road event.

In his post about that morning, Avi Lewis wrote:

“When he was Canada’s ambassador to the UN from 1984-88, Dad was truly shocked by the regularity of open, vitriolic antisemitism in the cocktail parties and ambassador receptions that surround that crucial but flawed institution. For this reason (among others) he’s always been the one in our family with the deepest atavistic fear of antisemitism. He was sympathetic to the idea of Israel as a refuge longer than the rest of us. This is no longer the case. Like so many Jews who for decades adopted the dominant narratives of Zionism, he can no longer defend the current actions of Israel…

“He spent an hour standing at the side of the road in his old riding of Scarborough West. Standing up as a Jew against genocide. Standing up for justice for Palestine. Standing on the right side of history, where the vast majority of humanity stands.”

In his post, Avi Lewis also wrote that the Canadian government must oppose Israel’s present actions in Gaza with “every tool and tactic in Canada’s diplomatic arsenal.”

In his interview with Beach Metro Community News, Schmidt said the Canadian government has to do “a lot more” to stop what is happening in Gaza.

“Call for an end of this genocide and speak out,” said Schmidt of what he wants to hear from Canada’s government.

However, he’s not convinced that will happen since he said the Canadian government is “terrified” of getting on the “wrong side” of this issue when it comes to how the United States is supporting Israel’s actions.

“Canadian people, you can’t think this is OK to normalize. This is in prime time. We see what’s going on. Stop the killing of these people. Just stop it,” said Schmidt.

PUBLISHER’S AND EDITOR’S NOTE:

The story above has been changed since originally running on our website.

Our original online version of July 16 did not specifically include the context that Israel’s war in Gaza began after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.

This story reflects the voices of local residents and sharing their perspective isn’t about taking sides — it’s part of our responsibility to report on what’s happening in the community.

Please see the Letter to the Editor on Page 6 in response to the online story.

Judy’s beach café is a non-profit social enterprise offering meaningful employment to individuals with disabilities. Now open and serving great coffee, delicious food and specialty drinks. Come join us! 2188 Queen St. East (416) 699-JUDY judysbeachcafe.ca

Need for more homeless shelter space and support highlighted

Matthew StephenS Reporter’s Notebook

Recently I was assigned to cover an issue regarding concerns about unhoused individuals and drug use occurring directly adjacent to a daycare facility.

Now, if you’ve been following affairs in the Scarborough Southwest ward, you may subconsciously think about the upcoming homeless shelter at 2535 Gerrard St. E., and the Teach Me to Fly Preschool across the street – which has been a contentious topic of discussion within the community.

However, after covering the shelter extensively (almost to my wit’s end), I can say, with a breath of relief, that this is not the homelessness issue I am referring to.

In an interesting and oddly similar twist of fate, the issue I am referring to pertains to a homeless encampment at Stanley G. Grizzle Park, which had been located (until recently) next to Muppets Childcare Centre and across the street from Main Street subway station.

In recent weeks, both Muppets Childcare Centre and members of the surrounding community had been navigating a homelessness encampment and persistent drug use within the park, which has had a significant impact on daily opera-

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Letters to the Editor

tion. (See our story on Page 11 for more on this.)

I recently spoke with Lama Abou-Merhi, an early childhood educator and supervisor at Muppets Childcare Centre. She told me about the crippling impact dealing with unhoused individuals and drug use had on both the daycare and the community.

“Over the past several weeks, the park directly beside our daycare has become the site of a growing encampment. What began as a few tents has quickly escalated into a situation that’s impacting the daily operations of our centre and, more importantly, the safety and well-being of the children we care for,” said Abou-Merhi in a previous statement.

“Staff have witnessed drug use in plain view, loud altercations, and, on a few occasions, individuals yelling at our children and staff while on our childcare playground. Some of our families also raised concerns of used needles appearing near the encampment while walking their children to the childcare.”

I was immediately reminded of the Teach Me to Fly preschool centre operating less than three kilometres away from Muppets, which had been dealing with the same issues related to drug use and public safety in recent years.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we encountered homeless individuals residing in the Quarry Lands and using our playground

facilities for showering. Additionally, drug paraphernalia was discovered in our playground,” said Teach Me to Fly supervisor Eloise Morrison in a Beach Metro Community News story earlier this year.

“There have been instances of inebriated individuals roaming around the adjacent parking lot, as well as individuals residing in the vicinity of the TD bank machine area. This situation had necessitated us to bring the children indoors at times to ensure their safety.”

Both daycare facilities encountered the same issues and shared the same concerns. The only difference was that Teach Me to Fly will eventually get a potential solution

Selective outrage is divisive and fuels antisemitism

Re: “Weekly protest along Kingston Road calls for end to “genocide” in Gaza’, Beach Metro Community News website July 16. The July 16 online post on the Beach Metro Community News website presented the political views of a small group regarding the Israel-Gaza war. Our local community paper, publicly-funded and with a mandate to present non-partisan community content, has deviated its focus by including one-sided political commentary.

The situation in Gaza is undeniably tragic. It is however not “genocide”. Israel is defending itself after repeated attacks by Hamas, a terrorist organization whose charter calls for Israel’s destruction and whose leaders have vowed to repeat the October 7 massacre. Israel, like any nation, has a legal and moral duty to protect its citizens. In doing so, it warns Gazan civilians before strikes, opens safe corridors, pauses military operations for evacuations, and provides humanitarian aid, fuel, and millions of vaccines — actions

unprecedented by any military toward an enemy population during wartime. Civilian deaths, which are heartbreaking, are exploited by Hamas, who use its own citizens as human shields and manipulate casualty figures to fuel outrage abroad.

The protest group is led by Ted Schmidt. His anti-Israel activism predates the Gaza war as documented by his speech at the Toronto Al Quds parade 2019. Al Quds Day was initiated in 1979 by Iran’s first Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini to call for the destruction of Israel.

Other extreme atrocities draw little attention from Mr. Schmidt and his followers. Millions face possible genocide in Darfur which includes a million children starving. Uyghurs suffer mass persecution in China. The Rohingya in Myanmar, Druze civilians in Syria, and over half a million victims of the Assad regime’s civil war receive no comparable demonstrations. After the October 7 massacre, kidnappings, and documented system-

atic rape and torture by Hamas, there were no protests from this group, only silence. The murdered body of the Canadian school teacher, Judy Weinstein, was held by Hamas for 1.5 years with no outspoken words. The silence suggests the group’s outrage is not rooted in universal human rights or “conscience” but is directed specifically at Israel — the world’s only Jewish state.

Selective outrage is divisive and risks fueling antisemitism when that is already the highest hate crime in Canada. The Jewish people in Canada are being targeted and harassed with vandalism, hate-speech, threats, firebombing at schools and blocked from some synagogues and university classes. These are Canadians being targeted. When you isolate, it fuels hate, which is dangerous and unconscionable.

One-sided blame doesn’t build momentum to peace. Peace can only happen with moral clarity, terrorists held accountable, and support for those defending democracy. At any

time in the last 21 months, the hostages could have been released and the war would have ended. Why did this protest group not stress that urgency? Protests that target only Israel, while ignoring hostages and other atrocities, do little to advance justice or reconciliation.

As a local resident, these demonstrations do make me feel uncomfortable. As members of the community, the Jewish people are proud Beachers and proud Canadians and we will continue our fellowship in the community. These discussions and protests can isolate and trigger painful memories.

Beach Metro Community News should reflect its community mission by avoiding partisan narratives that inflame tensions. Let’s focus on the local issues and values that bring our wonderful neighbourhood together.

Rabbi Sholom Lezell, Chabad-Lubavitch Synagogue of Danforth Beaches

Safety concerns at sites must be addressed

‘Need’ from Page 6 right across the street – Muppets will not. Don’t get me wrong, as a member of this community who lives 900 metres away from the upcoming shelter along Gerrard, I share those concerns and frustrations over the lack of transparency and effective consultation, as well as other zoning issues that I won’t get into. I also believe that placing a shelter directly next to any facility which houses children, poses considerable risks to public safety.

However, to those who claimed that unhoused individuals don’t exist in the area, the proof is not far away.

The encampment at Stanley G. Grizzle Park has been dismantled, but those unhoused individuals don’t just magically disappear.

In fact, a recent statement from Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford took the words right out of my mouth. “The increase in drug use is in part due to a very calculated attempt by bad actors to distribute drugs amongst our most vulnerable population. Even now, when the encampment is gone, these characters may remain,” said Bradford in a recent email.

City staff said 30 per cent of Toronto’s unhoused population lives in Scarborough; if you think that population doesn’t trickle and find its way into other areas and communities, you’re sadly mistaken.

Especially when that community is

just a couple of kilometres away.

I asked Abou-Merhi – an individual who is currently experiencing the reality of what some residents around the Gerrard shelter fear – what her thoughts were about the upcoming shelter at 2535 Gerrard St. E.

“In principle, having a properly resourced and well-managed shelter could contribute to a more sustainable solution — especially if it includes supports for mental health, addiction, and housing transition. However, any solution needs to be part of a coordinated strategy that also addresses public safety and ensures spaces like childcare centres are protected,” said Abou-Merhi.

This led me to question what kind of effective solution people are expecting to address homelessness in the area. Whether people believe it or not, clearly, unhoused individuals and uncontrolled drug use exists in the area – and it’s having an impact on the community.

After speaking with Abou-Merhi, I left with the impression that she was in favour of any potential solution to the issue; as long as it was managed effectively. And the upcoming shelter on Gerrard could potentially be that solution. Without more shelter spaces, issues like these will persist. Hopefully, that could be lessened with a shelter in the area. Unfortunately, safety concerns will always be in the back of my

mind when it comes to the operation of shelter facilities – and they should be.

After the fatal shooting of Karolina Huebner-Makurat in Leslieville near a now-closed safe drug consumption site on Queen Street East near Carlaw Avenue in July of 2023, it’s become abundantly clear that sites like these must be managed and supervised with the utmost efficiency moving forward.

And although I have little faith in the city’s promises to ensure public safety this time around, I agree with AbouMerhi’s sentiment that any potential solution is better than none.

Again, don’t get me wrong, 2535 Gerrard St. E. is (in my opinion) not the best place for a shelter to be built. And I’m sure other locations have popped up in recent months that are much more suitable for a shelter site.

However, based on the time it has taken for the city to acquire the site, conduct studies and surveys, get approval, and provide (ineffective) consultation before even getting shovels in the ground; we simply don’t have time to wait for another drawn-out, arduous process, just to arrive at the same conclusion.

There is an issue that needs to be addressed, and although I don’t entirely support city staff’s judgement or implementation when it comes to the Gerrard shelter site – I’m in favour of a possible solution to protect all communities in the area.

Provincial takeover will impact local students

By Sara Ehrhardt, Toronto District School Board Trustee for Toronto-Danforth

September is almost here. Alongside preparing for the first week of school, I’m hearing people wondering what has happened with the provincial takeover of school boards, and what it means for our community.

On June 27, the provincial government placed both the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) under ‘supervision’, using legislative powers to prevent locally elected school trustees like me from fulfilling the decision-making role for Toronto’s schools that we were democratically elected for.

But what does that really mean? The news coming from Thames Valley District School Board should serve as a warning of what could be coming. The province took over that board in April of 2025. It was recently revealed that there would be over 100 staffing cuts, almost entirely to school-based staff: teachers, guidance counsellors, educational assistants, early childhood educators. Vague references to future property sales were released with no details. If the same template is applied in Toronto, we are unlikely to hear about specific cuts until after decisions are made. I fear it would mean the loss of several hundred positions across Toronto schools. How on earth would each of our schools function with one or two

fewer adult workers in their building?

Since being elected in 2022, I have supported provincial efforts to revise literacy curriculum, bring back cursive writing, and strengthen limits on cellphone use in schools. I have been very outspoken about chronic underfunding of education and what that means in our local schools. The province has refused to fund the needed staffing levels to keep schools clean, safe, and functional. This includes not just teachers but also caretakers, vice principals, teaching assistants, mental health professionals, and special needs support staff, to name just a few.

I have also spoken up about the need for increased funding for the broad services that we know children need to thrive: smaller class sizes, child care, school nutrition, special education, languages, pools, libraries, music, the arts, outdoor education, public health. When we think about what kids need in schools to thrive we also need to think about the conditions they live in. Several reports have documented the need for adequate resourcing for children and youth that touch across several provincial portfolios. The November 2024 Report on Child and Family Poverty in Ontario revealed that over the pandemic, Ontario experienced the highest increases in child poverty rates ever recorded. Child poverty in Ontario increased by 3.5 per cent in 2022, the highest on record and the largest increase among Canadian

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provinces. Other reports have noted increased deaths of children in provincial care, exclusion of children with special needs from schools, increased suicide rates amongst Ontario’s youth, declining achievement for students in core subjects, increased food insecurity for children, and widespread youth unemployment.

Alongside these reports are insights from Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office. They’ve made note of the shift away from funding children’s services and education in the overall provincial budget. The Ontario Auditor General in December 2024 made specific recommendations for funding children’s mental health, and also noted that the province should work with the TDSB to address structural funding issues. This broader picture should give pause to anyone who may be thinking that a change in school board governance will resolve all that is happening.

However much the government may wish to change the channel, we can’t let them keep shifting funds away from education and children’s services. This government continually talks about protecting Ontario. But what about Ontario’s children and investing in their success? Because, really, who else would we be protecting Ontario for?

-- Sara Ehrhardt maintains a community website at saraehrhardt.ca and can be reached at saratorontodanforth@ gmail.com

LEGION WEEK

Community Calendar

SEPT. 7: Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope at Ashbridges Bay, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. This family-friendly 5k fundraiser has raised over $34 million, funding innovative Canadian research, crucial support resources, and advocacy efforts that are changing the ovarian cancer landscape across the country. Info: info@ovariancancerwalkofhope.ca, https://secure. ovariancanada.org/site/TR?fr_id=2151&pg=entry

SEPT. 7: Councillor Fletcher’s Fall Community Environment Day near Bridgepoint Hospital (on Bridgepoint Dr. & Blue Rodeo Dr), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info: paulafletcher.ca/environment_day_fall_2025

SEPT. 9, 16, & 23: Gardening Group Meetings at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., 8-10 a.m. Our garden is maintained by a group of volunteers who meet biweekly. Both experienced gardeners and beginners are welcome to drop-in! Info: beachunitedchurch.com

SEPT. 10: Estate Planning at Danforth Coxwell Library, 1675 Danforth Ave., 7-8 p.m. Do you have an estate plan? Sign up for a free information session to learn what an estate plan is and the key steps needed to ensure that your assets are distributed – in life or after death. Presented by CPA Canada. Please register in person or by calling 416-393-7783.

SEPT. 10, 17, 24: Scarborough Harmony Chorus Open House at Scarborough Bluffs United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd., 6:45 p.m. Join our rehearsal, get to know us, and sing a song or two. Singing in a chorus provides many benefits—physical, emotional, mental, and social. We invite you to stop by, say hello, and discover how joining us could open the door to an exciting new chapter in your life. This is a 17+ age event. SHC is a non-profit, women’s community chorus singing a cappella music in four-part harmony. Info: www.scarboroughharmonychorus.com

SEPT. 13: Historical Walking Tour with Gene Domagala along Queen St. E., 1 p.m., beginning at the NE corner of Queen and Woodbine Ave. Stops include the historic Beach fire hall (Toronto (Beach) Fire Station 227 and Kew Beach Public School, ending at the Ashbridge Estate at Woodfield Rd.

SEPT. 13: Calling all Vendors and Artisans: Parking Lot Sale at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 904 Coxwell Ave. (at Cosburn), 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (In case of rain, we move indoors). Table rental $60. Call the office 416-421-6878 x 21. This is a long-running and wellattended sale. We look forward to welcoming you!

SEPT. 14: Beaches Terry Fox Run at Woodbine Beach Park, 1675 Lake Shore Blvd. E., 8:30 a.m. registration, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. start to close time. Run 5km, bike 10km. Info: run.terryfox.ca/55940

SEPT. 20: Community Environment Day at Shoppers World Danforth, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Join Councillor Bradford (Ward 19) and the City of Toronto to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Drop off household items for donation, electronics for reuse or recycling and household hazardous waste for proper disposal. This event will take place in the vacant parking lot of the closed Lowes store. Pick up free bagged compost while supplies last and kitchen catchers for organics ($7 each – cash, debit and credit accepted). Info: toronto.ca

SEPT. 20: Music for the Autumnal Equinox featuring Beaches composer/guitarist Mark Battenberg and special guest, world-renowned Shakuhachi flute master Debbie Danbrook at Danforth Mennonite Church, 2174 Danforth Ave., 7:30 p.m. Please join Mark and Debbie as they welcome the glorious season of Fall with the gift of music at this first concert of Battenberg’s ‘Autumn Trilogy of Music’. $20 or pay what you can. Info: markbattenbergcreations.com. Music proudly made in Canada. Next concerts are Oct. 4 and Oct. 25. SEPT. 22-26: Legion Week by RCL Branch 11 at host Branch 22, 1240 Woodbine Ave., Mon-Thurs 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. This free event is open to the public and features a Canadian history learning experience, memorabilia of veterans past and present, uniforms to try on, and veterans on hand to talk with. Teachers call for appt. time for a students’ tour: Helen Pearce 416-690-6388 or helends4pearce@bell.net

THURSDAYS: EAST LYNN FARMERS’ MARKET at East Lynn Park, 1949 Danforth Ave., 3-7 p.m. Market runs to Oct. 9. Info: eastlynnparkfarmersmarket.ca

THURSDAYS: CALVARY GRACE FOOD

BANK, 72 Main St., 6-8:30 p.m, by appointment only, through Daily Bread Food Bank. Info: 416691-2899, gpcc@calvary-baptist-church.ca, www. gracepascoefoodbank.ca/access-our-services

FRIDAYS: GRANTFUL FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP

Food Bank and Soup Kitchen, 2029 Gerrard St. E., 3:30-6 p.m. Registration is required. New clients must present identification for members in their household on their first visit and annually thereafter. Time slots are handed out and clients are encouraged to arrive at the food bank the time slot they have selected. Info.: 416-690-5169

SUNDAYS: LESLIEVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET at Greenwood Park, 150 Greenwood Ave., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Outdoor market runs to Oct. 26. Info: leslievillemarket.com

BOWLING CLUB SENIORS 55+ at Parkway Bowl (Parkway Mall), Wednesdays 1 p.m., starting Sept. 3. No experience necessary. Call for info or to register: 416-724-5162 or 416-830-9655

OPERATION VETBUILD is a Royal Canadian Legion peer-to-peer program by veterans for veterans and includes RCMP and allied veterans, run by the RCL’s BSO/OSI Special Section, with an objective to help improve mental health through hobby and in this case, model building. Free to veterans. No experience is necessary! All materials are supplied. Meetings are the last Saturday of the month at RCL Br. 10, 1083 Pape Ave. Next meeting: Sept. 27, 12 noon-4 p.m. Info: James Le Roy torontoopvetbuild@gmail.com, 416-735-7362

BEACHES MENTAL WELLNESS GROUP meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St. at Swanwick. Info: www.mentalwellness. help. Or join us most nights of the week on Zoom. Go to: https://www.meetup.com. Ask to join us: Mental Wellness Peer-to-Peer Support-Groups

A A at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., Saturdays 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info: 416-691-1113

AL- ANON at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., Wednesdays 7:15 p.m. Alateen members are welcome to attend. Info: 416-691-1113

BEACH PHOTO CLUB. Are you interested in photography? We invite all shutterbugs to check out our local photo club. We offer a range of activities including guest speakers, mentorship, opportunities to share your work, photo excursions, competitions, practical seminars and more! We meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from September to June, 7-9:30 p.m., at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave. (unless specified in program). Info: beachphotoclub.com or email beachphotoclub@gmail.com

GERRARD ASHDALE LIBRARY, 1432 Gerrard St. E. •Aug. 28: Intro to 3D Printing, 6-8 p.m. For adults. Learn how to use a 3D printer! Registration required: 416-3937717 •Aug. 30 and Sept. 6: Chess Club, 1-4 p.m. Drop by for a game of chess in a welcoming environment. All ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. •Sept. 6: Deadly Doings: Writing Mystery and Crime Fiction, 1:30-3:30 p.m. An engaging panel discussion and Q&A with four writers and a retired police detective. Please call to reserve your spot: 416-393-7717. Info: 416-393-7717

THE CHURCH OF ST. AIDAN (Anglican), 2423 Queen St. E., is an energetic, active faith community committed to following Jesus as we gather for meaningful worship, spiritual growth, and community engagement. We live this out through our vibrant children’s and youth programs, diverse sacred music offerings, and active community outreach and environmental stewardship ministries. On Sundays, we welcome you to join us for worship at 9:30 a.m. (with music and children’s and youth programs). On Sunday, Sept. 7, we will return to two Sunday services at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays please join us for the Eucharist Service at 10:30 a.m. Busy Bees drop-in playgroup for ages 0-3 and caregivers features stories and crafts on Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall.

MONDAYS: WEE FOLKS DROP IN at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, 35 Wood Glen Rd., 9:30-11 a.m. Ages up to 3 years old, with care givers. Play and story time with snack. Info at 416699-3084. No program on Statutory Holidays.

TUESDAYS: EAST YORK FARMERS’ MARKET at East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave., 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Market runs to Oct. 28.

BEACH UNITED CHURCH, 140 Wineva Ave., invites you to share in worship with us each week. We offer a combination of in person and YouTube livestream opportunities on Sunday mornings at 10:30am. In addition to Sunday services, Beach United Church offers a variety of inspirational music and educational programs open to the entire Beach community. For links to our upcoming worship services, or information about our upcoming events and programs, please visit our website at beachunitedchurch.com.

Proposal for 12-storey building on Woodbine Avenue just south of Kingston Road received by city

By Matthew Stephens

A COMBINED Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendment application has been submitted to the City of Toronto for a 12-storey residential building with 137 residential units including 11 rental replacement units at 419-425 Woodbine Ave. in the Beach.

An existing residential building at the site, which is just south of Kingston Road on the east side of Woodbine Avenue, will be demolished and replaced with new units for tenants currently living at the location.

First submitted to the city in March of this year, the development application calls for 8,370 square metres of total ground floor area, with 66 square metres of commercial space at grade.

The site application also includes a total of 124 vehicular parking spaces, and 124 bicycle parking spaces in a two-level underground parkade.

In the next steps of the application process, a community consultation meeting will be held with the devel-

oper and city staff at an undetermined date, to provide members of the public with more information about the proposal.

For information, about how to participate in the community consultation meeting (once a date has been scheduled), please go to City Planning Consultations.

Please note that information for a planning

consultation meeting at 419–425 Woodbine Ave. will not be available on the City of Toronto’s Application Information Centre website until city staff issue a date for the meeting.

For more information about the application, please go online to the city’s Application Centre website and type in the address 419-425 Woodbine Ave.

Concerns raised over public drug use in Main and Danforth area

By Matthew Stephens

RESIDENTS NEAR the intersection of Main Street and Danforth Avenue have expressed ongoing concerns regarding public and child safety following incidents of drug use in the area.

One resident shared an account of public drug use on Stephenson Avenue earlier this summer, at the bottom of the Main Street bridge stairs south of Danforth Avenue.

“Today, I witnessed five individuals actively using drugs less than 100 metres away from a community centre and a children’s park. This location is also a key crossing for GO Train access, used daily by commuters and families,” said the resident in an email to both Beach Metro Community News and Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford.

“This is not only a serious health and safety concern – it is also highly disruptive and distressing to the community,”said the resident.

Also of recent community concern was an encampment and public drug use in Stanley G. Grizzle Park on Main Street, just north of Danforth Avenue. That park is located beside the Muppets Child Care Centre and across the street from the Main Street subway station.

In a statement to Beach Metro Community News, Bradford said he has been working with residents, city staff, Toronto police, and Muppets child care to address the issue.

“Since residents first flagged the activity near Main Station, my office has been actively engaged with residents, city staff, Toronto police, and the nearby daycare to find a solution to this situation,” he said.

“As of July 17th, there is no encampment present at Stanley Grizzle. Additionally, our office coordinated with Parks city staff to ensure that ‘no camping’ signs were installed immediately after to proactively help prevent the situation from reoccurring again.”

Bradford said recent city policies are making it more challenging for officials to deal with encampments in public spaces.

“In June 2024, City Council, led by Mayor (Olivia) Chow, adopted a new protocol (EC13.8) that prioritizes intervention only at the largest encampments. This policy makes it extremely difficult for city staff to intervene in unsafe or unsanitary encampments unless individuals voluntarily agree to accept shelter and leave. It also removes any meaningful consideration of the safety and accessibility of public spaces for the surrounding community,” said Bradford.

He said that protocol was not a “sufficient way for us to deal with the homelessness crisis” in Toronto.

According to a local resident, Stanley G. Grizzle Park had become a prominent encampment site for drug use in the area.

“Main and Danforth has become a haven for drug users and homeless people, and now they are taking over a public park next to a

day care, throwing needles and used Kleenex over the fence,” said Lisa Bubas Vella, a local resident who brings her children to Muppets Childcare Centre, in an email to Beach Metro Community News earlier this summer (prior to the action by the city).

Toronto Police Service’s Corporate Communications team said police have been working with the community to address concerns and dismantle the encampment in Stanley G. Grizzle Park.

“We are aware of the ongoing public safety concerns related to Stanley G. Grizzle Park and are actively working with the city to address them,” said police in an email to Beach Metro Community News. “While the city leads efforts related to encampments, we have been supporting them in offering alternative housing options for individuals living in the area, and to our knowledge, the encampments have been resolved.”

There is now a sign prohibiting visitors from erecting tents or other structures in Stanley G. Grizzle Park.

Lama Abou-Merhi is an early childhood educator and supervisor at Muppets Childcare Centre. She said the ongoing drug use in the area presented a significant challenge for daycare operations.

“Staff have witnessed drug use in plain view, loud altercations, and, on a few occasions, individuals yelling at our children and staff while on our child care playground. Some of our families also raised concerns of used needles appearing near the encampment while walking their children to the child care,” said Abou-Merhi in an email to Beach Metro Community News

“As a result, we’ve had to stop our neighbourhood walks, which is a core part of our curriculum. Parents are anxious and expressed safety concerns. Our staff are doing everything they can to maintain a nurturing environment, but the situation has taken a toll.”

Abou-Merhi said the situation has been a challenging one for the staff of Muppets Childcare Centre and parents who send their children there.

“Staff morale is already being affected, and we’re limited in delivering parts of our curriculum, such as outdoor neighbourhood exploration that is a key element of our learning model. Ultimately, it’s the children who are most impacted, losing safe access to nature and community-based learning experiences.”

In the broader scope, Abou-Merhi is concerned that the issue could present significant safety risks when children return to school in the fall.

“We are particularly concerned about the return to school in September, when many of our children will be walking through the community to nearby elementary schools. The safety of those routes is a growing concern for parents and educators alike,” said Abou-Merhi.

JennyandShane.ca

jennyandshane.ca

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Your gateway to connecting with skilled professionals in our community

Interested in advertising your business in our Professional Directory? Contact carolin@beachmetro.com or 416-698-1164 x 22 for rates. Your Professional Directory ad also appears on our website: beachmetro.com

Dashwood & Dashwood

Barristers & Solicitors

Geoffrey J. Dashwood 961 Kingston Rd. Tel. 416-690-7222 Toronto, M4E 1S8 Fax. 416-690-8738

ACUPUNCTURE

Cynthia McGilvray Acupuncturist Pain relief, meridian balancing, electrical stimulation, preventative health care. Insurance coverage. 1716 Queen St. E. @Kingston Rd. cynthiamcgilvray.com 647-378-3182

OSTEOPATHY

Etsuko Shibamoto, M.OMSc. Beaches Osteopathy 2 Lyall Avenue www.beachesosteopathy.com Book online sarahosteo.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/6

PSYCHOTHERAPY

PATHOLOGIST reg. Casplo

All ages, early language, L.D., articulation, reading, apraxia Leslie Rennie 647-994-8255 leslierennie@gmail.com

Toronto Kids OT Occupational Therapy for kids of all ages. Fine motor, school readiness, self-regulation. TorontoKidsOT.ca 416-391-6179

SEPTEMBER 2

416-951-8280 www.modernsocialworker.ca

Kriens LaRose, LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants • Accounting services for owner-managed businesses.

• Personal and corporation income tax preparation. • Audit services for not-for-profit organizations www.krienslarose.com kriens@krienslarose.com

Melani Norman CPA, CMA Accounting Issues and Systems, Bookkeeping, Personal and Corporate Taxes Call 416-471-0337

Patrick Ruiz Professional Corporation CPA, CA An accountant you can count on For your Small Business Self-employed income & investments Real Estate Rentals 647-300-4062 • patrick@prtaxcpa.com

Snider & DiGregorio

Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries. 978 Kingston Road, Toronto, Ont., M4E 1S9 Tel: 416-699-0424 Fax: 416-699-0285 Email: info@sdlegal.ca

Shelly Pereira, Paralegal Commissioner/Notary, Small Claims, Landlord & Tenant/other Tribunals, Municipal Offences, Letters & Mediation. Call for a Free 30 min. Consultation 647-693-6240 Toronto info@toronto-paralegal.net

Peter J. Salah Family Law Lawyer 124 Merton Street, Suite 300 We Collaborate, Negotiate & Litigate 416.752.8128 peter@salahlaw.ca www.salahlaw.ca

KAMRUL HAFIZ AHMED REAL ESTATE LAWYER 416 690 1855 [P 416 690 1866 [F

DIVORCE

Uncontested Divorce

• Affordable

• Professional • Convenient Set Fee $479* Family Lawyer Kathryn Wright beachesdivorce@gmail.com *(plus HST & mandatory court fees)

GARRY M. CASS

BARRISTER & SOLICITOR, TEP Wills/Estate Administration/Advice to Estate Trustees 416-767-CASS (2277) x 207 416-795-4899 (cell) 416-491-0273 (fax) garry@garrycass.com

Glover & Associates

Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries Real Estate, Family, Litigation Wills & Estates, Corporate 416-691-3700 Queen and Hammersmith

QUINN Family Law

Shelley C. Quinn, LL.B., LL.M. (Family Law) 2 - 921 Kingston Rd. t. (416) 551-1025 www.QuinnFamilyLaw.ca

Allison Grande, J.D. Barrister, Solicitor, Notary • Criminal Defense • • Civil Litigation • 416-419-4131 allisongrande@yahoo.com

Melanie Brown Design INTERIOR DESIGN New builds, Renovations, Furniture & Decor melaniebrowndesign.ca melanie@melaniebrowndesign.ca 647.280.2203 NEXT DEADLINE

SEPTEMBER 2

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@BeachMetroNews beachmetro.com/support-us/

Council approves ban of jet skis near Woodbine Beach shoreline

By Alan Shackleton

TORONTO COUNCIL has approved a motion to call to ban the use of personal watercraft (jet skis) and motorized watercraft off Woodbine Beach.

The motion introduced by Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford at council’s meeting on Thursday, July 24, was unanimously approved.

Bradford’s original motion had asked the City of Toronto to call on Ports Toronto to implement a ban on the use of motorized watercraft within 100 metres of the shoreline of the Eastern Beaches, from Ashbridges Bay Park to the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant in the east. However, the motion passed on July 24 went even further and sought for the ban to be 150 metres from shore.

“In response to feedback from community members, I strengthened the motion to make it clear the zone should be a minimum 150 metres (an increase from the originally proposed 100-metre minimum), and to establish a Stakeholder Advisory Committee with representatives from the local swimming, paddling and boating community to help determine the exact dimensions of the no-go zone for jet skis and other motorized watercraft,” said Bradford in a statement sent to Beach Metro Community News

“I also made it clear that this zone must be in place before next year’s beach season begins.”

Bradford’s motion came in the wake of increasing safety concerns along Woodbine Beach regarding the operation and renting of jet skis in the area.

Beach users and licenced companies that rent non-motorized watercraft (such as paddleboards and kayaks) said there has been a rash of rentals of jet skis by people not licenced by the city to do so and that many of the users of those jet skis have been operating them in a dangerous manner.

As a result of those concerns, a crackdown was initiated by Toronto police and city bylaw officials between July 9 and 12.

However, more legal power was needed by those authorities to keep the area safe and that was the motivation behind Bradford’s motion calling for the banning of the machines within 150 metres of the shore.

Bradford said he will continue to work with community members, police and city bylaw officers to ensure safety along Woodbine Beach is maintained in advance of the ban being implemented.

“City bylaw enforcement and Toronto police will continue their enforcement actions with renewed urgency, and I am actively coordinating with city staff to implement additional measures in the coming days and weeks to get these operations shut down,” said Bradford of those who are renting the jet skis illegally.

“Rest assured, I’m going to continue to work with community members to make sure Woodbine Beach is a safe destination for everyone in our community.”

As council passed the motion, other councillors with beaches in their wards also brought forward motions to deal with the illegal renting and dangerous operation of jet skis in their areas.

Specifically, Scarborough Southwest Councillor Parthi Kandavel and Etobicoke-Lakeshore Councillor Amber Morley respectively mentioned Bluffers Beach in Scarborough and Humber Bay Shores in Etobicoke as areas of concern.

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Sept 14th 10am-2pm

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ESPRO coffee bar opens in the Beach

By Matthew Stephens

LOCATED AT 2102 Queen St. E., at the northeast corner of Wineva Avenue, in the Beach, ESPRO coffee bar celebrated its opening earlier this summer.

As part of the celebrations, Beach Metro Community News was invited to a media preview and tasting event on July 24.

“My dream of coming here was to be closer to our customers … having this coffee shop opening is fulfilling in that sense,” said ESPRO owner and Beach resident Peng Lin at the event.

Those attending The ESPRO Ritual: Premium Coffee Selection event were offered locally sourced gourmet pastries and a wide selection of meticulously brewed coffee-

infused beverages.

Coffee sampled came from rare high-altitude beans grown on mountains in Japan, presented in an extravagant fashion intended to capture the environment from which the beans are grown. Unlike traditional coffee shops, ESPRO takes the brewing process a step further, with an emphasis on creating a unique tasting experience.

“We have never had a physical space where our guests can experience the fuel that will drive their ambition – that is what ESPRO is all about,” said Lin.

On July 25 ESPRO held its grand opening celebration with local dignitaries attending for a ribbon cutting.

For more information, please visit https:// espro.com/pages/thebeach

Red Door Family Shelter’s fall programs help children

By Matthew Stephens

AS THE summer comes to an end and children head back to school, Red Door Family Shelter is preparing its fall programs tailored to children integrating back into the education system after experiencing family trauma.

“From the fall program, we get more into the school structure and routine. It’s really important for all of us,” said Wanda Lougheed, Director of Client Services at Red Door.

“We’re looking at kids at this point in time that have experienced trauma; that have experienced a great disruption in their life. They’re dealing with a lot of things. So the piece of structure and the routine becomes a really important part of the things that we offer, and it’s really to take time to help them mentally, physically, and socially adapt.”

In Leslieville since 1982, Red Door Family Shelter has been providing supportive services and shelter to mothers fleeing abuse to keep their kids safe, refugees seeking sanctuary, and families in crisis.

During each season, Red Door offers different programs designed around a particular time of year. Summer programs include camps, outdoor excursions and exercise, and educational lessons involving arts and music.

The fall programs are designed to help ease children back into the school system, with special homework programs, school liaisons, as well as education sessions focused on helping kids adjust. The programs also help to relieve back-to-school pressures on parents navigating the shelter system.

“We have a homework club, we have child and youth workers that work on homework with them – because parents are very stressed at this time in their lives, and they’re working on challenges themselves. So when they can have their children involved with someone that will help them with their homework, it just eases some of that stress,” said Lougheed.

Each year, Red Door supports more than 200 families in their shelters, according to information provided on the website.

Red Door offers several support systems designed to help visitors transition back into society – with access to food and shelter support, basic needs, case management and legal resources, counselling, immigration support, child and youth programming, mental health services, parenting programs, and pathways to housing.

“In the process, what we’re doing is we’re helping families to rebuild their lives and get reestablished in the community to go on and be hopeful about what’s ahead of them,” said Lougheed.

She said 60 per cent of the shelter’s clientele are children of the families they’re supporting. The shelter also supports refugees and newcomers to Canada who require housing. Lougheed said many of those who find housing through Red Door’s services often utilize the outreach support services after transitioning from the shelter.

“Once they’re housed and just before they leave, they go into our outreach program if they choose. And pretty much 93 per cent

of the clients that have been in the shelter who get housed will go into our outreach program, which provides a continuum of services that assist them with either childcare or legal services, having kids go to camp. But for most, it is the food bank that they come back for.”

The most significant challenge faced by the shelter is finding its users affordable housing in light of the city’s ongoing housing crisis – an issue which puts pressure on all aspects of affordability, said Lougheed.

“The costs of housing in Toronto are astronomical, and I think that things are getting more and more expensive,” she said.

“The price of food goes up, cost of housing, hydro – all those things. And then also even just in terms of meeting your kids’ needs. Kids grow, kids need things. They’re in schools where they see other people have things that they don’t have. I think it’s the demands that are challenging on everybody.”

Lougheed said she believes Toronto’s housing crisis requires a rational and unified approach from all levels of government.

“I think the issue really becomes something that the city also has to grapple with and that’s the stock of housing. We’ve got a lot of people coming into Toronto, and there isn’t enough places for people to live,” she said. “Politicians working together is something that does become extremely important for anyone that’s homeless.”

Despite the challenges, Lougheed said she remains thankful for the support Red Door receives from the community.

“We have an absolutely wonderful donor base. We have an amazing group of people within our community and abroad in terms of not just the immediate community, but wider than that. They are very generous in that sense in terms of keeping our programs going and being supportive of the cause and recognizing the great work that we do.”

With their annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser event in February, Red Door welcomes community members who want to volunteer. “We have our signature fundraising event Coldest Night of the Year, and with that, we absolutely need groups of volunteers in that,” said Lougheed.

Another upcoming fundraiser (which supports both Red Door and Nellie’s shelter) is the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk set for the night of Thursday, Oct. 23 in the Beach. For more on this event, please see the ad on Page 11 of today’s newspaper.

When asked about community support, Lougheed underscored the importance of supporting families and children in need.

“There’s a piece that comes to mind for me. ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Although we are an organization, we can’t do it without the help from the community and the donors,” she said. “When they support us, they’re really supporting the children and the families that we support. They’re helping them get back into the community and restoring their life. They’re helping them with the healing process and the trauma. And you know what, that’s a pretty worthy cause.”

For more on the Red Door Family Shelter, please go to www.reddoorshelter.ca

On The Wild Side

Some fascinating facts about spiders

ann and erik BrokelMan

naturephotosbyann.blogspot.ca

The other day, my granddaughter Cara came to my house for a sleepover. She’s at that wonderful age where anything to do with animals sparks her interest, and lately she’s even been showing an interest in photography. You can imagine my joy and excitement over this!

Along with keeping an eye out for hawks, coyotes, foxes, and other wildlife, she and I set off to find bugs, katydids, and spiders.

We wandered through a local park, our eyes sweeping over leaves, branches, and every shadow in between. We were having a wonderful time when we came across the coolest spider I’ve ever seen.

It was around 7 p.m., and the air was just starting to cool down. We were watching the spider while it waited in the centre of its delicate web, motionless.

A wasp blundered right into the sticky threads, and, in an instant, the spider slipped to the web’s edge. I imagine their first instinct is to retreat, unsure whether the disturbance is from a predator or prey.

From what I’ve learned, a spider can read every tremor in its web like a signal. Once it knows something edible is trapped, it wastes no time. In a sudden blur of movement, this one darted forward and had the wasp right on top of it. I suspect the longer an insect struggles, the more likely it is to draw the attention of a bird or other predator that could put the spider in danger.

I had never seen this happen up close before, and Cara and I wasted no time snapping photo after photo.

The lighting was perfect as the spider began rolling the wasp in its web. The wasp struggled to break free, but there was no escape. Within minutes, it was completely wrapped, immobile, and secured. It’s so impressive, and a little terrifying. No wonder they make good monsters in horror stories.

We figured out that the spider was a female orb weaver, and we went home and did some reading to learn more. One article we found, from Ontario Nature, described orb weavers as “nature’s poster spiders.”

Their beautiful, spiralling webs are a perfect trap for insects.

From start to finish, they can spin a web in about half an hour, using as much as 20 metres of silk and over a thousand tiny connections. Amazingly, the spider itself can weigh over a thousand times more than the

web it calls home. Every few days, sometimes even every day, the orb weaver will eat its old web and spin a fresh one, recycling most of the silk from the original web.

Now, I can’t say I was there millions of years ago to see this for myself, but it’s believed that early spiders first spun silk to protect their bodies and their eggs.

They would wrap their egg sacs in silk and may have even used the lines for a quick escape, like a rope dropping off a tree branch, if danger was near.

Over time, that same silk became a clever hunting tool, starting as simple ground webs and sticky traps, and eventually becoming the beautiful, intricate designs, we see in spider webs today.

Spiders make silk using a special organ called spinnerets, which are located right at the tip of their abdomen. These tiny, finger-like

parts work like built-in spools, releasing silk threads.

Some spiders even have different kinds of spinnerets for different jobs, producing silk that can be sticky, strong, or stretchy, depending on what’s needed.

A couple of final fun facts: You probably know that spiders aren’t insects at all, they’re part of the arachnid family. But did you know that this group also includes scorpions, ticks, mites, and harvestmen (which are sometimes called daddy longlegs)?

One easy way to tell them apart from insects is by counting their legs: arachnids have eight, while insects only have six. Many spiders also have eight eyes, though some have fewer, and their eyesight can range from excellent to very poor depending on the species.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer, and if you see any cool spiders, let us know!

Historical walking tour planned for September

AN HISTORICAL walking tour in East Toronto is planned for next month.

Led by local historian and Beach Metro Community News columnist Gene Domagala, the walk will take place along Queen Street East on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 13.

The walk will begin at the northeast corner of Queen Street East and Woodbine Avenue at 1 p.m.

First stops will be the historic Beach fire hall (Toronto (Beach) Fire Station 227 at 1904 Queen St. E.) which was built in 1906, and Kew Beach Public School.

From there, the walk will head west along Queen and finish up at the Ashbridge Estate which is located at 1444 Queen St. E., just west of Woodfield Road.

The Ashbridge Estate’s history goes back to the 1790s.

In 1793, the Ashbridge family arrived in what is now Toronto from Pennsylvania. It was believed that they then built a log cabin on the east side of what is now the Ashbridge Estate property.

The house presently standing on the property was built in 1854 and is known as the Jonathan Ashbridge House.

The Ashbridge Estate property on Queen Street East was donated to the Ontario Heritage Trust in 1972. That donation was made by the last remaining Ashbridge family members to be living on the site, Dorothy Bullen and Elizabeth Burton.

Other stops along the walk will include the site of the former Woodbine Race Track, the southern boundary of the area known as the Beach Triangle (bounded by Kingston Road, Woodbine Road and Queen Street East); local churches, the site of a former bowling alley; and more.

Deja Views

Six years of change at Main Street and Kingston Road

By David Van Dyke

So many changes for the intersection of Main Street and Kingston Road in the last 15 years. I took this panorama (top photo) six years ago. There used to be a very reliable car mechanic shop where this new condominium now stands. Perhaps some of our readers will remember the proprietor. Do you have an old photograph of this intersection? Maybe a photo of Bun King? If you do, I would love to see it. Please contact me at gdvandykke61@gmail.com

Shakespeare in the Ruff’s outdoor performances of Tiff’ny of Athens continue at Withrow Park this week

By Abby Russchen

SHAKESPEARE IN the Ruff performances of Tiff’ny of Athens at Withrow Park will continue until Sunday, Aug. 31.

The play’s run of outdoor performances in the park began on Aug. 14 and will wrap up this coming Sunday.

Tiff’ny of Athens is the world premiere of an original adaptation of William Shakespeare’s and Thomas Middleton’s Timon of Athens. The adaptation was created by Nathaniel Hanula-James and Christine Horne.

“This wealthy socialite seemingly has it all – until a change in circumstance makes her rethink her relationship to money, friendship and community,” said a news release from Shakespeare in the Ruff.

Following a 2024 survey

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that identified economic precarity as a major detriment to Torontonians’ physical and mental wellbeing, Shakespeare in the Ruff hopes to reflect the pressures of the modern economy through Tiff’ny of Athens, “in a way that still leaves room for lightness, theatricality, and fun.”

The quartet cast includes co-creator Christine Horne as Tiff’ny, Warona Setshwaelo as Apemantus and others, Lucy Hill as the Painter and others, and Ben Yoganathan as Flavius and others.

Directed by Patricia Allison, “Tiff’ny of Athens is a hilarious fable for our time.”

Now in its 14th season, Shakespeare in the Ruff creates original adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays, “seeking to flip the Eurocentric, colonial gaze and give a platform to marginalized voices.”

This season’s lineup, Acoustic Harvest’s 28th, will also include monthly concerts from October of this year through to May of 2026.

This year, the company decided to adapt one of the Bard’s least-known works by taking on Timon of Athens

The performances take place each night at 7:30 p.m. at Withrow Park, which is located just south of Danforth Avenue between Logan and Carlaw avenues.

Performances are 90 minutes long with no intermission. Admission is on a paywhat-you-wish basis, with no fee required.

Audiences are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets to enjoy an evening of theatre under the stars, while supporting Shakespeare in the Ruff’s five key values: creative audacity, education, antiracism and decolonized practice, respect, and accessibility.

For more info, go to www. shakespeareintheruff.com/ productions/tiffny-of-athens

Concerts take place at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St. For more info and season subscriptions, go to www.acousticharvest.ca

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Letters to the Editor

Second look at third transmission line

On June 4, the government of Ontario announced plans to build a third transmission line to Toronto to meet the city’s expanding energy needs. This proposed line would bring electricity from Pickering or Darlington Nuclear Stations to Toronto, with seven to 10 years estimated to complete and at a potentially high cost to taxpayers.

As a group of residents concerned about the health and climate impacts of the Portlands Energy Centre (PEC) and the need to rapidly expand renewable energy

sources, Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE) demands a comprehensive review of this announcement by the government of Premier Doug Ford.

There has been opposition from both Toronto Council and citizens’ groups to the Portlands gas plant from the beginning. It is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and nitrogen oxides in the city, posing both health and environmental problems for neighbours and indeed the whole city.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) estimates that one in seven premature deaths in Canada are due to fossil fuel pollution. Emissions are so high at the Portlands plant that they may impact the planned construction of the residential towers in areas of the Eastern waterfront, such as Ookwemin Minising (previously Villiers Island), the McLeary District and East Harbour. Levels of toxicity at greater heights could limit whether residents in upper storeys will have windows that open or balconies.

Unfortunately, the proposal to build American GEHitachi nuclear reactors to meet Toronto’s future electricity needs is problematic due to their very long timelines, high-cost and resulting dependence on enriched uranium from the United States.

In June 2024, a year before the Ontario government’s third line announcement, Toronto Council passed a

resolution requesting that the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) work with the city and Toronto Hydro to develop an Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP) for Toronto’s electricity system that would: a) phase out gas-fired electricity generation at the Portlands Energy Centre by 2035, except in extreme, exceptional and emergency circumstances totalling less than 88 hours per year; and, b) rapidly increase local renewable energy generation and storage and maximize cost effective energy efficiency.

In this context, it is premature to consider a third line which would further tie Toronto to a nuclear future.

The IESO is currently conducting its Local Achievable Potential Study to determine the potential for energy efficiency, demand management, local renewables and energy storage to meet Toronto’s growing electricity demand.

Before a decision is made by Toronto Council, IESO or the province, there must be an evidence-based examination of all of Toronto’s options, including energy efficiency investments, commercial and institutional demand response, rooftop and parking lot solar generation, energy storage, and wind power. This study must also include an alternative “third line” that would bring power from an off-shore wind farm to downtown Toronto.

An obstacle to this option

needed

is a province-wide moratorium on off-shore wind, in place since 2011. Although wind farms usually operate in oceans, the wind generated in the Great Lakes is similar to the North Sea, the site of major European energy projects. A single proposal developed before the moratorium planned to produce 500 megawatts of power, roughly equal to PEC’s capacity. New off-shore wind farms have been shown to be less costly than development of new nuclear or gas power generation.

In spite of wind’s huge potential, the government remains resistant to the many calls to lift this moratorium.

Solar also remains an underused source of abundant and low-cost energy. According to the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, if Toronto’s large open air parking lots were covered with solar panels, they could provide two and a half times the output of PEC. We have ample renewable alternatives to the Portlands plant, without tethering ourselves to increased nuclear energy.

In addition, we should be concerned that the fracked gas and enriched uranium needed to feed current and planned energy production are mainly imported from the U.S. We will never have to fear that access to wind and sun will be endangered by a trade war!

Gabriela Byron, Lynn Blaxley, and Corey Helm (TERRE members and East End Residents)

Rally calls for protection of the Glen Stewart Ravine

By Alan Shackleton

MORE THAN 100 local residents came out for a rally to protect the Glen Stewart Ravine earlier this month.

The Aug. 11 rally marked the first of three scheduled days of mediation meetings regarding a proposal for an 11-storey residential building on the ravine’s northern edge – near Kingston Road and Beech Avenue.

“You are here because you love this ravine and to stop inappropriate development,” said Sheila Dunn, one of the rally’s organizers.

While any development near the ravine is of concern to the rally’s organizers, the Friends of the Glen Stewart Ravine, the proposal for the 11-storey building has especially raised the ire of the community given that it’s southern wall be right at the line of the ravine’s stable slope edge.

“The Glen Stewart Ravine is vulnerable to many threats,” said Sylvie Dion of Friends of the Glen Stewart Ravine as she told rally participants about some of the environmental history and challenges facing the area.

“The slopes are sandy and dry, and over the last years, many trees were lost from caterpillar infestation. The

loss of trees contributes to soil erosion, which can cause slope destabilization.”

The rally began at the ravine’s entrance on Beech Avenue but moved further west to the Kingston Road entrance due to construction work taking place on stairs into the ravine and hydro crews across the street. Participants marched along the sidewalk carrying signs calling for the protection of the Glen Stewart Ravine.

Speeches were made at the Kingston Road entrance to the ravine, and a table was also set up for those wishing to sign a petition regarding their concern about the impact of the proposed 11-storey building.

Teacher Sean Hurley-Hart and some of his students from the Toronto Nature School attended the rally. The student’s had handmade signs about protecting the ravine, and Hurley-Hart spoke about its importance to the school’s students and for environmental education.

“This is our living classroom,” he said of the Glen Stewart Ravine. “This isn’t a vacant space for building. It’s a vital place for kids to learn and we use this space everyday.”

Hurley-Hart said students

at the Toronto Nature School have documented more than 800 species of plants, insects and animals within the ravine and he expects there are hundreds more still to be discovered.

Dion said the Glen Stewart Ravine is already recognized as an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) by the City of Toronto. She said it contains trees that were part of the original Carolinian forest which was once prevalent across southern Ontario prior to the arrival of European settlers.

Some of those tree species include oak, maple, American beech and sassafrass.

Dion said the ravine contains significant flora and vegetation and fauna species including the wood thrush bird.

Those at the rally said they are not against development or building more housing, but they are against development plans that ignore long-term environmental sustainability.

The proposal for the 11-storey building on Kingston Road west of Beech Avenue is asking for a zero-metre setback from the ravine’s long-term stable slope.

That proposal goes against the Toronto and Region Conservation Author-

Back to School is here!

ity’s (TRCA) rules regarding set backs from ravine slopes which call for a 10-metre buffer.

The developer, Gabriele Homes Ltd., has taken the proposal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) citing the lack of a decision by the City of Toronto. Both the city and TRCA oppose the proposal.

Mediation meetings between Gabriele Homes, the TRCA and the city took place Aug. 11 to 13. Those meeting were not open to the public.

If an agreement between the city, TRCA and the developer cannot be reached, the proposal will go to the OLT for a hearing in April of 2026.

Participants at the Aug. 11 rally were cynical about what might happen at the mediation meetings and about what the result of the OLT hearing would be next spring if it went that far.

“We are here to say that City of Toronto and TRCA rules are not up for negotiation,” said Beach resident Mike Genin of the Protect Our Ravines Initiative. He said one of the purposes of the rally was to make sure officials understood that residents wanted the city and TRCA “to fight for those issues” at both the mediation meetings and at the OLT if necessary.

In a note to Beach Metro Community News on the morning of Aug. 25, Councillor Bradford’s office said city staff had not indicated a resolution had been reached at the Aug. 11 to 13 meetings. “Mediations often require several sessions before a resolution is potentially reached - particularly in cases like this, where the proponent and the city are quite far apart. Sometimes no mediated settlement is possible.”

For more on the Friends of the Glen Stewart Ravine, go to www.change.org/p/ protect-our-ravine-fromoverdevelopment

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By Abby Russchen

PEGASUS COMMUNITY Project will host its seventh annual Pegasus Incredible Film Festival (PIFF) on Sept. 27, screening short films made by and starring adults with developmental disabilities.

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a chance to be seen and celebrated,” said PIFF festival director Jerome Simpson. “A standing ovation to someone who never received one is meaningful.”

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