Call her Hannah

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“Young people are never too young to change the world. They can do anything,” says Hannah Alper.

At 10 years old, this Richmond Hill resident has already worked with organizations like Free The Children and World Wildlife Fund to spread the message of change in her community. It all started with her blog, Callmehannah.ca, where she began writing about her passions — animals and the environment — with encouragement from her parents.

Eventually, the subjects evolved. “It became about the issues in the world — pollution, climate change,” she said.

On April 9, Hannah will be speaking at National We Day in Ottawa, an event for the youth across Canada, inspiring them to stand up and create social change.

For those of us who can't be there, her message is simple: “Little things add up to make a big difference. Find your spark.”

It’s clear that Hannah isn’t your ordinary 10-year-old. To add to her list of accomplishments, she’ll be taking part in the We Create Change tour, a 10-week cross-country event where she’ll be going to different schools to meet with young people just like her — youth ready to make an impact in their communities.

Also the official eco-blogger for the 2014 Juno Awards, Hannah will be writing a blog series focusing on what artists do to stay eco-friendly at home and on the road.

Hannah does take time away from her activism — she is a brown belt in karate. But she says it’s important to be passionate about what you do. “If you don’t enjoy something, why are you doing it?”

Taking up the torch

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The echoes and spirit of 20th-century political trailblazer Agnes Campbell Macphail are still resonating through East York citizens.

On March 24, Leaside-area resident, volunteer and social activist Sheila Lacroix was honoured as the 21st recipient of Macphail’s award for her stalwart support of the community.

“I’m touched and I feel humbled,” Lacroix said. “I mean, who can really ever live up to what Agnes did and those who came after her?”

Lacroix is the chair for the issues and actions committee with the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) and chair of its provincial body’s legislation committee. She volunteers with the Leaside United Church and works at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Through her job, she sees to the annual International Women’s Day events that support some 300 homeless or impoverished women every March. She said it can be hard work, but she does not consider this toil nor chore.

“I think a lot of people would say, when you volunteer, you get so much more out of it than what you put in,” she said. “The one thing about volunteering though is to not be complacent. When I think of what Agnes and the other people who have won this award before me, they were not complacent in creating change.”

In 1921 Macphail (1890–1954) was the first woman elected to the Canadian House of Commons and became one of the first two women elected to the Ontario legislature, representing the East York riding in 1943. In 1994 the award was established in her name to honour those in East York who have helped advance human rights.

North York residents await pipeline reversal

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After months of hearings, the National Energy Board (NEB) has granted Enbridge’s bid to reverse the flow of its Line 9B in order to pump diluted bitumen from the Alberta oilsands to eastern Canada. The line runs through North York, near the Finch Avenue hydro corridor.

Coun. John Filion, whose Willowdale ward is home to this section of Line 9, is disappointed in the NEB’s decision. “They certainly didn’t allow much citizen participation,” said Filion.

In 2013, Enbridge unveiled a new application process for members of the public to be able to participate in NEB hearings. The 10-page application form was lambasted by environmentalist groups, a decision which was heavily criticized by some, including Filion.

“You pretty much couldn’t participate unless you were an expert in the field,” said Filion. “And even then, I’m not sure how much they listened to that.”

Advocacy group Environmental Defence echoed Filion’s disappointment.

“They rubber-stamped the project without listening to any of the important groups that intervened,” said Adam Scott, program manager, climate and energy, for Environmental Defence. “It puts millions of people at risk unnecessarily.”

“They rubber-stamped the project without listening to any groups.”

Scott and Filion said they both fear Enbridge’s track record. The company has seen a number of spills, including a significant rupture in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 2010. With the aging pipeline running close to many homes, critics are not impressed.

“The line runs through the hydro field, which has homes on either side,” said Filion. “And the Yonge-Finch intersection, of course, has high-rises.”

North Yorkers should expect the reversal to take place before the end of 2014.

“We need to meet all of the NEB’s 30 conditions,” said Graham White, manager of business communications with Enbridge, “but [we] are still targeting [the fourth quarter] of this year for an in-service date.”

All you need is love

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“We have a responsibility to do good in our community, and I’ve come a long way. It was so easy to go the other way,” said Zane Holder, who has been involved with the Leave Out Violence (LOVE) organization, located in North York for the last 14 years, and is somewhat of a graduate of the group.

The local organization helps Toronto youth share their experiences with violence to help break the cycle in their schools, homes and communities.

Holder’s family came to Canada from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent to escape a family history laced with physical abuse. “[The] cycle continued from generation to generation. That’s the way life [was],” explained Holder.

At 15 years old, adjusting to a new life in Toronto proved difficult, and the environment was hostile.

“It was drug dealers and people overdosing. My education suffered greatly because of that,” he said. As a result, a teacher referred him to LOVE.

His appreciation for the group grew quickly, and he became a youth leader while in his teens. In March 2011, his life was rocked by the tragic murder of his 19-year-old nephew. Holder called LOVE and said, “I need all the fliers, newspapers, brochures [and] everything you have because our job is not done. In that moment [I had] to think about all the other youth in the city.”

Now 29, Holder is still involved with the organization on a daily basis. It has become his second family, home and a lifestyle. Holder is continually amazed by the tenacity of the youth involved the LOVE community.

“To go through such a traumatic situation and not be consumed by it,” said Holder, “is certainly something to be proud of.”

Bathurst development concerns mounting

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The fight against an incoming development has gathered traction. The Preserve Thornhill Woods community group has come together to make their case against a proposed 17-storey mixed-use development at the Jaffari Centre Mosque at 9000 Bathurst St. operated by the Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat (ISIJ), a Toronto-based Muslim association.

Thousands had already signed an online petition opposing the high-density development, which includes two 17-storey towers, 61 townhouses, and sports and recreation facilities. Now, Preserve Thornhill Woods (PTW) has become an officially recognized community group with the City of Vaughan, and they are diligently meeting to strategize on their fight against the development.

PTW president Rom Koubi said that the Jaffari Centre is already crowding the neighbourhood. “They’re basically drowning us every time they have an event,” said Koubi.

Though the majority of PTW’s concerns lie in the density and the heritage aspects of the development, a flyer circulated by the group also addressed concerns over the apparent exclusivity of the development.

“They’re basically drowning us every time they have an event.”

“The proposed development is for an EXCLUSIVE group in an already established multicultural community,” said the flyer.

ISIJ president Shabbir Jeraj said that this is not the case. “Many parts of the development will be open to all residents of Vaughan and the surrounding areas, including the playing fields and tennis courts.”

Jeraj and ISIJ say they want to work harmoniously with the broader community, but Koubi said that it has not been going well.

“We are willing to work with them,” said Koubi. “But they have to understand that they’re the ones who are applying and they’re the ones who have to satisfy the people who are standing behind us right now.”

Coun. Sandra Yeung Racco, however, said that she’s confident tensions will subside. “All parties are very willing to work together to come to a mutual-ly acceptable solution,” she said. “I’m optimistic this will be reached.”

Art Shoppe debate reaching final stage

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The conflict over a large, two-tower development in the place of the Art Shoppe in midtown may become a full-blown battle at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

“The developer is ignoring all urban planning principles just to make a buck,” said Coun. Josh Matlow. “We simply can’t let that happen, so we need to figure out our best option.”

Freed Developments has applied to build a 38-storey north tower with a top-storey restaurant, a 29-storey south tower and a common six-storey base at Yonge Street and Hillsdale Avenue. The Art Shoppe would be demolished.

“We obviously believe that our proposal is not out of place for this site. We believe it is a good area to add density and intensification and the city does, too,” said CEO Peter Freed.

“The developers are asking to damage city planning law.”

Freed built several large towers in the city’s Entertainment District, such as 500 Wellington St. W., the Thompson Residence and the Fashion House.

“We always try to work with communities and avoid the OMB process. We’ve done close to 20 projects, and the vast majority have not gone to the OMB,” Freed said.

The OMB has tended to side with developers, which is one reason why some councillors, such as Matlow, are fighting to remove Toronto from its jurisdiction. Going to mediation would likely mean both sides will need to compromise.

“We don’t want large towers, but we would be willing to work with mid-rise buildings,” said Matlow.

As for the residents, the choice seems simple. “The developers are asking to fundamentally damage city planning law and to create something that clearly goes against the neighbourhood structure,” said Michael Visser, a long-time resident in the area. “I wouldn’t consider moving if this went through, but I suspect some of the people who are immediately adjacent to it might.”

Two local dog parks to stay open

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The Tower Hill off-leash dog area (Yonge and Tower Hill) has been a subject of controversy since it first opened in 2009 as a pilot project. Now, Richmond Hill Town Council has recently made a decision to keep that park and the other local off-leash area at Phyllis Rawlinson Park open. They have also instructed town staff to investigate the feasibility of opening up two more.

The decision was made at a town council meeting last month. Many turned out in support of and against the current and future dog parks.

Yuri Gerber, of Moraine Ridge Drive, near Tower Hill, spoke out against the decisions. He brought forth a number of concerns, from safety to noise and mess cleanup.

“I have a personal responsibility for my backyard,” said Gerber. “You [dog owners] are personally responsible for any accident that may be happening.”

Coun. Carmine Perrelli defended the parks, saying they produced no more noise than a baseball diamond. However, Gerber doesn’t agree. “Have you heard baseball at 6 a.m. or after 11 p.m.?” Gerber asked. According to town documents, in 13 months 179 complaints involving the park were reported, 109 being for barking/noise.

“In fairness, there have been a couple of incidents that they have been concerned about where people have let their dogs off leash before they actually got to the enclosed off-leash area,” said Coun. David West who was still supportive of the parks overall. “As they’re passing these residents’ homes, these dogs are off leash, and that’s not acceptable.”

The Richmond Hill K9 Klub was quick to celebrate the decision. “Here we are, five years later, and we finally have our park,” said president David Walker. “We’re looking forward to helping the town with other parks.”

Walker is sure that the complainants will not challenge the decision again. “They threw everything at the town that they could,” said Walker. “The town’s done their due diligence and the complaints aren’t warranted.”

Pride flag, issue of petitions at Thornhill school

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According to the York Region District School Board (YRDSB), Stephen Lewis Secondary School (SLSS) came under some criticism from the a parent who has accused the Thornhill high school of trying to push a pro-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) agenda.

In February, in time for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at SLSS, with approval from school administrators, hung a rainbow pride flag inside the school.

The flag, says YRDSB trustee Joel Herz, was a symbol of protest against Russian president Vladimir Putin’s anti-gay propaganda legislation.

“It was put up in sympathy to the bad treatment in Russia of gays,” said Herz.

“A parent came into the school to vote on the [Thornhill] byelection,” said Herz. “They saw the flag and decided they weren’t happy.”

Shortly after, a petition appeared online on petition servince PetitionBuzz.com asking the pride flag to be removed.

The petition was brought to the attention of the school and board.

Herz said that this could have been solved face to face without stirring up much public controversy.

“The person attached to that petition didn’t talk to anyone at the school,” he said. “You know, there is a principal there that they could talk to, as well as a superintendent of the school. There are various other people that can deal with this sort of thing. Doing a petition right away is not necessarily best.”

Though the petition gathered 365 signatures in a short time, most of the comments attached were comments denouncing the petition.

YRDSB spokesperson Licinio Miguelo said that it’s difficult to validate the several hundred signatures.

“It looked like a lot of the names on that list were not legitimate,” said Miguelo.

The petition has since been removed from the site.

SLSS student Danny Arkadyev, one of the students instrumental in the placing of the flag, said that the goal of the flag was to make everyone, including heterosexual and cisgender (identifying with the gender one is born with) people, feel comfortable.

“This school is a safe space and everyone is welcomed, including the people who put up this petition,” Arkadyev said.

Within days of the original petition’s posting, a counter-petition was set up on the same site by a former student who asked the school not only to keep the flag up, but to fly it outside.

The petition gained more than 100 signatures.

Miguelo was proud of the students, former students and community members who stood up to the petition.

“It’s encouraging to see that people are taking the same inclusive approach that we’re taking. York Region District School Board is proud to have students from a very diverse range of backgrounds, so we try to be as inclusive as possible.”

According to Herz, the flag remained in the school until the end of the Paralympic Games, which wrapped up on March 16.

New pools and gym coming to Sheppard

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The area surrounding Bessarion subway station on Sheppard Avenue East could be a bit more active in years to come.

Coun. David Shiner said there is plenty of excitement for a new multi-use community centre and park that would provide a great deal to his constituents.

“It’s a phenomenal project that the people of Willowdale have waited [on] for a long time,” Shiner said.

On March 18, the City of Toronto and representatives from MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects met with the com-munity to discuss initial plans for the lot.

Senior project manager Douglas Giles, of the City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Parks Development & Capital Projects, said, if all goes well, ground would be broken in the spring of 2016.

Giles said that building size has yet to be determined; however, it will house two pools, a new public library branch, a full gymnasium, multi-use office space and a child care facility space. As for the parkland, Shiner said it will be a combination of passive and active use. Plans for the outdoor space do include a water park that will be convertible for winter rinks, sports fields, a toboggan hill and the possibility of a maze.

Among other current projects, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects is also responsible for the 2015 Pan Am Games’ community sports facility and the Regent Park Aquatic Centre.

$1 million for Downsview art project sparks war of words

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A million-dollar public art project from Ontario’s Planning Act Section 37 funds for Downsview Park’s Stanley Greene neighbourhood was passed at the most recent meeting of North York Community Council (NYCC). However, the vote was not unanimous.

Lone naysayer, Coun. Anthony Perruzza, expressed concerns at the meeting that these funds would mean that a community centre for Stanley Greene would no longer be a priority. The Section 37 agreement for the Stanley Greene District lands was approved last October. As per the agreement, $864 per dwelling unit and $3.80 per square metre of non-residential floor space would be used for the provision of a community centre and daycare spaces, an amount of approximately $1.2 million.

“The one per cent public art contribution is separate from the $1.2 million,” said Al Rezoski, manager, City of Toronto, North York District Planning.

Residents of Downsview became concerned following Perruzza’s comments, which were reported in publications such as Inside Toronto and Global News.

“[Coun. Maria Augimeri] said staff had explained it three times at NYCC, and Perruzza still didn’t get it,” said Rosanna Iaboni of the Downsview Lands Community Voice Association (DLCVA). “I don’t know what [his] problem is.”

Augimeri has since been working to clarify the matter. “The public art component has no effect on the amount of funds for our community centre,” said Augimeri.

Perruzza did not return calls for comment.

North Toronto arena rumour quashed

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It was recently reported that the ice rink located on Eglinton Avenue West just west of Yonge Street in Eglinton Park might soon be taken out. Turns out the idea was just a bad game of telephone.

“It’s a dead issue, and it is not happening nor is there any intention for it to happen,” said Coun. Jaye Robinson. “It was mentioned at a brainstorming session when people were throwing out ideas of how [we] could enhance that park, and it was suggested, but that is all.”

The session took place at a midtown community meeting as part of a new initiative to better plan how to use the public realm at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

The group formed early this year with the aim of counteracting the absence of a midtown community council while meeting the heavy demands of developers, residents, gridlock and congestion.

Midtown residents were invited to join the meeting to express what they would like to see happen in their neighbourhood.

Councillors Karen Stintz, Josh Matlow and Jaye Robinson lead the group and have all denied any intention to move the rink.

Stintz had expressed confusion over the idea, when asked about it in an interview with the Town Crier, and has since addressed the issue as something that is not on the table.

“[The rink] is highly valued by the community, and we are all well aware of that,” said Coun. Josh Matlow. “It is not happening — and if there ever was a proposal to do that, I would oppose it.”

But the mere thought of the rink moving had ruffled the feathers of local hockey groups and other sports enthusiasts who were adamantly opposed to the idea.

“Some residents were worried, but we’ve now let everyone know that this is not going to happen,” said Matlow.

Buzz-worthy band The Head and the Heart hits Toronto

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Josiah Johnson, one of the founders of The Head and the Heart, describes his band as “strong willed.” When the Seattle-based band was on the cusp of a breakthrough, it was Pacific Northwest stalwart Sub Pop that gave them the freedom to be who they were and do things their way. The results speak for themselves.

The Head and the Heart trot into Toronto in support of their major label debut with some serious swagger as one of the buzziest bands in all the land. “When we were making the first record, we never had any idea. When we were ready to release an album, we made it and put it out there to see how people would react to it,” says Johnson.

“Folk music was starting to break and become a more mainstream thing, but also we were working very hard and were playing a lot of shows and had some success doing our own thing,” says Johnson. “When it was time to go find a label, we had this idea that we don’t really need help. We’ve already been doing it and our method seemed to be working.”

Shortly after forming in 2009, the band, Johnson along with Jonathan Russell, Charity Rose Thielen, Chris Zasche, Kenny Hensley and Tyler Williams, released their self-titled debut to great acclaim. The band played tirelessly and along the way added more members, and slowly but surely their sound came together.

“There was no pressure to form a band and play shows or anything like that,” says Johnson. “We didn’t just go, ‘OK you play an instrument, you’re cool, you’re in the band.’ We played with a ton of people. It actually adds a whole other dynamic. And when we recognize the right fit and chemistry, we get the right people involved in the band.”

Things fell into place, and the band signed their deal, their way.

“Sub Pop has been fantastic. There has been no pressure from anyone,” says Johnson. “It’s been really great. It’ll be interesting to see how that goes as the band gets bigger. I trust we’ll be as equally strong headed into the future as we are now.”

The band caught fire after one of the first album’s songs, “Rivers and Roads,” was featured in the season finale of the TV show Chuck, as well as an episode of How I Met Your Mother.

After touring the first record, the band went into the studio, writing and hammering out new material on the fly and, for the first time, really worked on the album as a full band with a number of members writing songs.

“We had a bunch of songs going in, but it wasn’t enough,” says Johnson. “So we had to come up with more ideas and worked on them. You know, we could have gone in with more songs, but the feel of some of the songs we wrote in studio were a lot more nuanced than songs from a practice space because writing those songs allowed us to do a lot more subtle things with the arrangements.”

The result, Let’s Be Still, is stunning.

The Head and the Heart plays Kool Haus on Mar. 30 with the inestimable Basia Bulat opening.