Locked school gate causes uprising in Midtown area

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2:58 pm

While a decision last April to permanently lock a gateway on school grounds left locals in the Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue West area feeling unwelcome, a recent community meeting has unhinged a solution: keep the gate locked during the day and open at night.

The public meeting was held by local Coun. Mihevc last month and more than 75 people attended. Nancy Lerner, principal of Hillcrest, said the original decision to close off the Nina Street entrance was a safety one. “The gate is very close to Bathurst Street: we’ve had children chasing after balls.… we’ve had intruders,” she said.

However, the closed gate also made some locals feel shut out. While the one entryway was closed, another remained open on the more affluent Hilton Avenue. In addition, the school attached a ‘private property, no trespassing’ sign to the locked gate.

Local Molly Ladd-Taylor said she first noticed something wasn’t right last Victoria Day when a usually busy playground instead was empty. “It used to be a real hub, lots of basketball, soccer games,” she said.

Concerns over the locked gate came to a peak last June when a nearby altercation led to a 16-year-old being murdered. Ladd-Taylor said many believe that had the gate been open, there may have been more people in the area, producing a watchdog affect.

After the murder, a petition against the closed gate was signed by more than 150 locals. Mihevc held a meeting with school and board officials in July and then followed up with the public meeting last month. “There was virtual unanimity that the gate be open at night,” said Mihevc.

According to Ladd-Taylor, community members at the meeting volunteered to work with the school and board officials, to look at how they can make the compromise a reality. Lerner said the group will be meeting this month.

“The gate is still locked right now,” said Ladd-Taylor. “But we’re hopeful for a resolution."

Local public school may be next in line for a condo deal

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2:57 pm

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Accompanying the new North Toronto Collegiate Institute is a neighbouring condo and a controversial deal made between the local school board and a developer. Also accompanying the new building is a question: does the same fate lie ahead for nearby Davisville Junior Public School?

Seven years ago, North Toronto Collegiate Institute was falling apart. With no funds to pay for upgrades, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) sold a portion of the school’s Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue area land to Tridel; the money from the deal covered the cost of building a new school. “I would say that our board is challenged in that we receive limited capital funding,” said Sheila Penny, TDSB head of strategic building and renewal. “Our challenge is can we raise funds by selling the surplus land we have?”

Penny said Davisville is part of a five-year capital building program that includes looking into the redevelopment potential and the selling off of land at five school sites across the board jurisdiction. She said a local school community design team — an amalgam of community, school and board members — will meet to begin discussing development potential.

Josh Matlow, the local school trustee, said he is hesitant about development discussions but is assured that plans for Davisville cannot proceed further without the community giving written agreement as to what type of development occurs.

Rob McCready — a local, involved parent of two Davisville students — said that though parents are open to discussion, they have a number of concerns that will have to be addressed. “How much of the school property would be sold, how much green space would be left for the community?” asked McCready. “The site would be under construction for a couple of years at least. Where are our kids going to be educated?”

In the case of North Toronto Collegiate, classes continued in the 100-year-old building until the new building was completed. The school’s principal, Joel Gorenkoff, said, though there were small challenges, such as not having a field during construction, the gain far outweighs any pain felt. “The kids knew the old school and they see how amazing the new facility is,” he said.

According to Coun. Michael Walker, North Toronto Collegiate was in poor condition. The condo plan was acceptable because the school is in a high-density area designated for apartments. However, Walker does not accept redevelopment for Davisville, which he said is in good shape and resides in a low-density area. “The school board is sounding like a developer, wanting to maximize an asset,” said Walker.

Plans to develop Bathurst Manor plaza loom large

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2:55 pm

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As Mike Feldman steps down as the councillor for Ward 10, he said one of the major issues in the area is the proposed development at Bathurst Manor plaza.

The controversial project has been in the works for about four years now, but the owner recently submitted a revised planning application for the site, located on the northeast corner of Wilmington Avenue and Overbrook Place.

Residents have raised standard development issues, such as height and increased traffic, said Coun. Feldman, but what residents are especially interested in is maintaining access to the local retail the plaza has provided.

“People want their stores because Bathurst Manor is sort of an isolated area geographically, so people have to go out to Dufferin or to Finch or to Sheppard for shopping,” he said.

Anna Ritacca, a resident who has sat on the working group that was established four years ago, said that keeping commercial space was of particular interest to her.

“The site needs to be redeveloped,” she said. “We just have to make sure that we maintain the services. We need to make sure that we get some decent urban design and enough critical mass to revitalize all of Wilmington.”

For Ritacca, the developer’s latest application includes the right amount of retail and represents a good design, but she would like assurance that these elements will be retained. Other residents are still worried about density and the impact it would have on infrastructure, she said. In the meantime, the shopping centre — once a vibrant community hub — has deteriorated.

“The plaza looks like it’s in complete disrepair,” said Ritacca.

The current proposal lays out plans for two mixed-use buildings, the first standing three to six storeys, and the second six storeys. This would include roughly 20,000 square feet of retail and services on the ground floors.

At this stage, the applicant can revise the plans or ask city staff to make recommendations to council based on the current proposal.

From political power to empowering youth and women

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2:54 pm

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Belinda Stronach says life is, at times, a matter of circumstance. Though she has always been extremely active in her 905 community and as a philanthropist, it wasn’t until after she got the opportunity to travel to Africa — where she witnessed the devastating effects of poverty first-hand — that she decided to launch her own foundation.

“I really do appreciate the good fortune that I’ve had in my life, and I think it’s important to be able to give back,” she says.

What began as a vehicle through which to manage Stronach and Rick Mercer’s Spread the Net campaign to fight malaria has become a full-fledged charitable organization with initiatives at home and abroad. The Belinda Stronach Foundation now focuses on three main areas: girls and women, Canadian Aboriginal youth and global initiatives.

The Lifford Wine Agency recently hosted its fourth annual Ladies’ Night event, this year in support of her foundation.

“They wanted to do something that recognizes an organization that empowers girls and women, so we’re really excited about that,” says Stronach.

The funds raised will go toward these efforts and, specifically, future G(irls)20 Summits — meetings designed to take place ahead of annual G20 meetings, to put women’s issues on the global agenda. Stronach’s foundation recently pledged as much as $5 million in the next five years to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to facilitate this.

The CGI is only one of the many organizations Stronach’s has partnered with. She says she finds her motivation in teaming up with like-minded individuals.

“That’s what inspires me: working with volunteers, creating momentum toward greater change,” she says.

Stronach recalls a 2008 trip to Liberia where she visited hospitals. She couldn’t help but notice the lack of medicine and equipment.

“A $10 net, when you hand it to someone, it’s a life-saving gift,” says Stronach. “You really see it in people’s faces, how much this means to them.”

It’s these interactions that really drive home why she’s doing this, she says.

Last April, the Spread the Net campaign reached its initial goal of distributing 500,000 bed nets.

Stronach’s foundation also recently launched the pilot program One Laptop Per Child, to deliver laptops to Canadian Aboriginal youth, creating educational opportunities.

But Stronach’s tireless efforts aren’t limited to her foundation. After a personal battle with breast cancer, she raised $1 million toward establishing the Belinda Stronach chair in breast cancer reconstructive surgery at the University of Toronto.

As for the future of her foundation?

“Sky’s the limit,” says Stronach. “We don’t really think about where the ceiling is. We try to tackle issues one at a time.”

TTC looks to finalize Hogg’s Hollow lease

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2:53 pm

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The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is poised to finalize a lease agreement for the proposed eight-storey, 450,000-square-foot office building slated for Yonge Street and Wilson Avenue early this month, said TTC chair Adam Giambrone. After the board authorized the move in late August, a 30- to 45-day timeline was established to iron out details with Build Toronto, the city’s arms-length real estate agency.

Giambrone is confident that his organization will sign on as the lead tenant for the future building.

“It was designed effectively for the TTC although it could be changed a little bit for another tenant … but we’re moving in,” he said.

Coun. Karen Stintz said that, even though this has been the assumption, no one has been confirmed as the lead tenant yet.

She maintains her position that the development application has raised a handful of issues that need to be resolved — concerns relating to the size of the proposed building, its proximity to the ravine and loss of public parking are among them.

“Until those issues are addressed, I don’t believe there’s any way to move forward on this file,” she said. “They shouldn’t try to find a tenant and then make a building that may not fit the site.” Bruce Logan, Build Toronto’s director of communications and public affairs, said that his organization would like to have shovels in the ground by next summer. But this depends on having the appropriate approvals in place from the community and tenant by spring.

Build Toronto hopes to hold a workshop for residents next month, in advance of the mandatory public consultation that is expected to begin in December, said Logan.

Giambrone indicated that it would make sense for the proposed $5 million transit museum to be located in the future building, but the project hinges on the TTC’s ability to attract private sector funding.

Thornhill resident wins Rick Hansen award

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2:52 pm

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Thornhill resident Paul Rosen was recently presented with the Rick Hansen Award of Excellence.

“I am honoured to receive this award,” Rosen said. “Just to have my name in the same sentence as Rick Hansen’s is an honour.”

The award is presented periodically to individuals who have made outstanding contributions, or have accomplished noteworthy achievements benefiting persons with physical disabilities.

“It is awarded to select individuals, who, like Paul, best personify the spirit of the award,” said Ruth Kapelus, media and public relations coordinator for the March of Dimes Canada.

Past recipients of the award include the Honourable David C. Onley, Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor, and musician Justin Hines.

A three-time Paralympian, Rosen recently retired from Canada’s sledge hockey team. Over nine seasons as goalie for the team, he recorded 25 shutouts in 72 games.

Rosen now plans to focus his time on his career as a motivational speaker.

“It is now my full time mission to share what I’ve learned and do my best to inspire others to achieve their own level of greatness,” he said.

Three men seriously injured in Richmond Hill altercation

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2:37 pm

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Investigations into a recent altercation in the Town of Richmond Hill that left two men seriously wounded from stab wounds are getting the full attention of law enforcement, according to a York Regional Police representative.

“A lot of guys are working on this one,” said Sgt. Gary Phillips of the York Regional Police.

On Sept. 17, at approximately 2:15 a.m., police were called to a parking lot in a popular Richmond Hill nightlife area near Highway 7 and Leslie Street. There, officers discovered two men, an 18-year-old Richmond Hill man and a 42-year old Markham man suffering from stab wounds. The two were transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

During the course of the investigation, a third victim was located in a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. The 31-year-old Scarborough man was also transported to hospital for assault injuries.

A determination as to what lead to the altercation had not been made, Sgt. Phillips said, adding that over 10 officers had been involved with the case.

No arrests have been made, and no descriptions of any suspects has been released.

Rosedale boys at centre of media deal

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2:30 pm

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Some trade baseball cards. In Rosedale, the neighbourhood boys trade media empires.

Locals David Thomson and Ivan Fecan are at the centre of last month’s high-profile purchasing blitz that will see the majority ownership of both CTV and the Globe and Mail split apart into new hands. Thomson — Canada’s richest man and a media mogul —is increasing his family’s stake in the Globe and Mail to 85 per cent. The acquistion is happening via his family’s investment company, Woodbridge Company Ltd. “The Globe and Mail is the country’s finest media property,” said Thomson in a recently released statement. The Thomson family has been a principal shareholder of the national newspaper since 1980.

As for CTV, Bell’s parent company Bell Canada Enteprises completed a $1.3 billion deal under the direction of president George Cope, attaining 100 per cent ownership of the Canadian network.

Fecan, the CEO of CTV, called the move “the right deal at the right time,” in a recent statement. Most recently, Fecan announced his plans to retire as CEO, once ownership deals are finalized in 2011.

International tastes come to Bayview

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2:28 pm

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Wenshu Zhang is in the business of conflict resolution. With Little Tea Pot, she has harmonized the coffee and bubble tea experience in one shop. “Before, if people wanted coffee, they always had to go to a separate place,” Zhang says. Coffee at the shop goes for $1.50 a cup, and some 40 varieties of bubble tea are around the $4 mark (5415 Yonge St., 416-222-1868

First there was DeBoer’s. Now with furniture design place Bijan Interiors open on Yonge Street, the area is becoming a designer furniture district. “In this area there are a lot of condos and houses going up,” says store owner Bijan Sirat. “There is a lot of demand.” The new location carries designers such as Brad Ascalon and Yoshi Hatano (5205 Yonge St., 416-301-2020).

If you want to see the similarities between David R. Josephson and his son Josh Josephson, it’s in the eyes. In 1935, the elder Josephson opened Josephson Opticians. “He was ahead of his time,” says son Josh. Fast-forward 75 years, and Josh — a pioneer in the contact lens world — now heads three Josephson locations (2536 Bayview Ave., 416-444-8485 ).

While Betty Barclay has just opened its first Toronto location, the German fashion line goes back a long way. The first collection in the county was released in 1955. As for fans of the line, they now have less distance to travel. “Some people told us they used to travel to Europe to buy there,” says employee Alegre Ackerman (2901, Bayview Ave., 416-221-4999).

In Iran, there are pomegranate juice places on nearly every corner. In Bayview, there’s Marouf Tochal. Named after a mountain in Iran, owner Ali Sharispouran says the new location is a good fit with the local Iranian community (5569 Yonge St., 416-877-8889).

Plenty of passion in North Toronto

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2:27 pm

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Yonge Street, where Toronto’s east meets west, is perhaps the perfect place for Aki Sushi. After all, the latest Deer Park addition offers a combination of traditional Japanese sushi with more westernized options like California rolls and teriyaki. “The real Japanese sushi tends to have stronger flavours,” says owner Billy Liu (1404 Yonge St., 416-323-9988).

Groms are hip under-16-year-olds who like to surf. It’s also the name of Leaside’s latest (and only) surf, snowboard and skateboard shop catering exclusively to youth. Manager Darin Buckingham says the store started in Simcoe and that there are now two Toronto locations, offering equipment, shoes, clothing and accessories (1707 Bayview Ave., 416-488-2030).

During the 15 years Safari Bar and Grill has been open, in addition to being a restaurant, it has also been a full-time matchmaking service. “We’ve probably had 10 weddings of staff members marrying each other,” jokes owner Dan Ferracuti, who met his own wife when she applied to be a server at the restaurant (1749 Avenue Rd., 416-787-6584).

After seeing the steep price tag on a piece of jewellery, Andrea Tsanos decided to make her own version. Five years, with a whole lot of jewellery to boot, Tsanos has left her full time job at a hospital and has just opened her own jewellery store, Stonefox. “It just took on a life of its own,” she says of her new career and store (1693 Avenue Rd., 647-343-9069).

When Bob Hong was a boy in Korea, his family owned 15 dogs. “We had to hire one person to take care of the dogs.” Therefore, it doesn’t take a genius to understand why Hong would open Mount Pleasant’s latest dog shop, Pink Paw (754 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-205-9393).

Film centre tries to get neighbours on board

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2:15 pm

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The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) is working to find a way forward with the neighbours who appealed its expansion plans to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The proceedings got put on hold until Oct. 7 after city council called on everyone to sit down to try to come up with a solution. Barry Patterson, director of communications for the CFC, is optimistic that the discussions will lead to a positive outcome.

“We really would love to resolve this with the neighbours, and that’s what we’re in the process of doing right now,” said Patterson.

If the parties can meet this month’s deadline, the film centre expects to complete its repair and renovation project before $7.5 million in stimulus funds expire next March, he said.

Jane Pepino, the lawyer representing the neighbours at the OMB, said it was really a matter of consulting her clients. As abutting homeowners with restrictive covenants, their permission is required for these changes.

“We’re negotiating through this and attempting to find some solutions that will provide the ability for the CFC to proceed with most of their plans, while at the same time protecting future rights of our client.”

Iron chef carves up giant tuna at EDO

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11:56 am

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Forest Hill sushi hotspot EDO played host Wednesday to Iron Chef Kimio Nonaga of Tokyo, who demonstrated his mastery of Japanese cuisine by whittling a 120-pound yellow fin tuna into bite-sized slabs of mouth-watering sashimi.

Even cooler? He did it with a long samurai-style sword. Check out the photos below.

Chef Nonaga, who won the Japanese version of Iron Chef in 2002, was in town as part of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America conference, which wrapped up this week at the Royal York Hotel.

Chef Nonaga is trained in the art of Kaiseki, an elaborate traditional Japanese multi-course dinner said to be the highest form of Japanese cuisine. Nonaga’s restaurant, Nihonbashi Yukari in Japan, has been awarded two Michelin stars.

This past week, Chef Nonaga was guest chef at EDO (484 Eglinton Ave. W) and his specialty dishes were featured on the menu.

Check out the photos below for the transformation from big tuna to little tuna.