Eglinton LRT chugs along

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WITH A BOOST from the provincial government, the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit line took the next step forward last month. Premier Dalton McGuinty pledged the $4.6 billion needed for the new route, which will link the city’s east end to Pearson International Airport, with stops along Eglinton Avenue.

“We need to move quickly to build a better transit system for commuters,” McGuinty said in his April 1 announcement. “Our investments in transit will create jobs, help stimulate the economy and improve the air we breathe.”

But local politicians and community members remain divided on the issue, with some saying the city should have held out for a subway system.

“It’s a second-rate solution, and it’s the one that doesn’t accommodate the growth that we expect on these lines over the next decades,” said Coun. Michael Walker. “I think it should be a subway.”

The projected ridership of the 31-kilometre line is about 5,000 to 5,400 riders an hour along the route by 2031. A bus system would not be able to accommodate that level of ridership, but an LRT system could accommodate those numbers, according to the city’s preliminary planning report.

Bus stops are approximately 240 metres apart along Eglinton Avenue, but with LRT stops located 900 metres apart in the new system, Walker worried that the elderly and disabled will not be able to use public transit easily.

“People aren’t going to walk 400 to 500 metres when they can walk 40 metres to a bus stop.”

But bus service could be eliminated completely on Eglinton Avenue, and with 10 kilometres of the 31-kilometre line running underground between Leslie Street and Keele Street, local store owners are concerned business will suffer.

“There will be less foot traffic in the area during construction and then even less after completion,” said Steven Petroff, president of the Upper Village Business Improvement Area. “I am not optimistic that this will bring people to our area to shop. That’s one of our biggest concerns. But it’s something that we are just going to have to grin and bear it.”

Petroff said some business owners in the area are reconsidering signing leases for another year and are looking to relocate to a spot that will have more foot traffic in the future.

But Coun. Joe Mihevc, also the vice-chair of the TTC, said the new transit line will actually link communities and create a stronger city.

“ I am not optimistic that this will bring people to our area to shop. That’s one of our biggest concerns.”

“The Eglinton LRT spans the entire city, and it actually connects all six former municipalities as well. It has real potential to be a real community builder,” he said.

Ben Daube, of the Sherwood Ratepayers’ Association, said that a stronger transit system is needed with the growth expected at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

“In the long term, Yonge and Eglinton is going to be even more important an intersection than it already is. People are saying it’s going to be the next Yonge and Bloor.”

Mihevc said that the city is completing the final environmental assessments, and, subject to approval, construction on the project could begin as early as 2010, with service beginning in 2016.

Field of dreams

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AFTER A LONG fundraising campaign, a divisive battle between local residents and Northern Secondary School, and a drawn-out planning process, a new playing field will be constructed this summer at the high school.

With the help of the community, alumni of the school and the school board, $1 million was raised for the project to replace the current field, which has been referred to as a “dust bowl” by local residents.

“Students will benefit, local residents will benefit,” said school board trustee Josh Matlow. “This will be a great community asset for the entire Mount Pleasant and Eglinton area. It also means that, aside from the use of it, the neighbourhood will look a lot nicer. It will be a beautiful, modern green field rather than a dust bowl.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in late June or early July, and the field should be ready for action by September or October of 2009, he said. It will be named the Clarke Pulford Field, after a former physical education teacher at Northern Secondary School.

“We have enough money to put a new field there that will have artificial turf, and it will be really one of the finest fields in the city,” Matlow said.

Dale Callender, president of the Northern Secondary School Foundation, said the details of what will be included on the field have yet to be confirmed.

Callender said he believes they will be able to obtain the list of things stakeholders agreed they would like to achieve with the $1 million raised. The architects for the project will confirm whether or not that is possible. Those aspects include markings for football and soccer, a rubberized, 400-metre, four-lane track, fencing, a scoreboard, refurbished washrooms and bicycle racks.

The planning process included an effort to welcome the local residential community as a partner in the field’s use, Callender said.

“We see the playing field as an educational setting for students, but also, because it’s directly in the community, it’s an opportunity for the use of the playing field during non- educational times. Part of the consensus was that we would make sure the community has access to it.”

Originally, the school planned to erect a dome over the playing field. Some residents were incensed when they found out about the plan, creating a divide in the community.

Dan Burns was one of those angry residents, but once the dome idea was ditched, he became part of the group planning for the field.

“I think it’s a positive feeling,” Burns said. “We’ve gone from a very negative situation to a very positive situation, and now we’ll all have more access to the field.”

“It’s about overall wellness and family time, partnered with building future leaders for tomorrow,” Callender agreed. “It’s a great partnership.”

Northern Secondary School will host a farewell picnic to the old field on May 9, with a barbecue and games for the entire community. They will also celebrate what’s to come.

North Toronto pools will not be drained

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AFTER LOCAL RESIDENTS rallied twice last month to save the community’s school pools, Premier Dalton McGuinty pledged $12 million toward capital funding.

The pools at North Toronto Collegiate Institute, Rosedale Heights Secondary School and Winona McMurrich Junior Public School will no longer be drained this June. However, how the $80,000 to $100,000 operating costs for each pool will be financed is still a question mark for former mayor David Crombie and his Aquatics Working Group.

“We need to sit down together and find long-term solutions,” said school board trustee Josh Matlow.

Last year, the school board announced that 39 school pools would close, citing insufficient funding from the province.

Sunnybrook doc the next Canadian astronaut?

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A DOCTOR AT Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is in the running to be a new member of Canada’s AstronautCorps.

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) president Steve MacLean announced that Christopher Denny, a staff physician in emergency medicine at the hospital as well as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, will be among the top 16 candidates for the job.

“The top 16 candidates in the National Astronaut Recruitment Campaign represent an incredibly accomplished, well- rounded and diverse group of Canadians,” MacLean said.

The group was selected from 5,351 people who applied in May 2008 for two spots. Since then, CSA interviewed candidates and put them through a series of medical exams and physical and skill-related tests in often extreme conditions.

Denny, a local resident, completed a BA at Queen’s University in philosophy and went on to study medicine at McMaster University.

The winners will be announced this month.

Not just a walk in the park

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AS OFFICIALS AT Downsview Park inch closer to releasing the Downsview secondary plan report, which will outline how the North York park will be developed, work has commenced on other projects on the site.

Workers have already completed work on new sanitary sewers, water and hydro, to support existing housing on the site, and the finishing touches on a geothermal system — an environmentally friendly heating and cooling system — that will service the newest building at the park, 70 Canuck. Ave. are being added this spring.

Workers are currently constructing a pond that will double as a storm water management system for surface runoff from precipitation on the park site.
“There will be boating, canoeing and skating if it gets cold enough,” said David Soknacki, chair for the Parc Downsview Park corporation. “There will be all of those things — paddleboats, model sailboats.”

But some North York residents are critical of the way the project is being advertised.

Michael Calabrese, the executive secretary for the Downsview Lands Community Voice Association, said officials are putting more emphasis on the water feature aspect of it ratherthan what it will be used for.

“It’s a storm water management facility,” Calabrese said. “PDP officials will call it a pond. They can call it that. But we know what it is.”

Calabrese’s group works to voice the concerns of local residents to the officials at Parc Downsview Park and to local councillors that represent the three wards in the area.

“ There will be boating, canoeing and skating if it gets cold enough. There will be all of those things — paddleboats, model sailboats.”

Their major concern is that park officials are selling off too much parkland to developers, which will intensify the neighbourhood. Areas that are closer to the subway stop at the park, which will be constructed as part of the Spadina TTC extension, will have denser populations than areas further away. Calabrese said he’s worried that the people who eventually move into the area won’t be taking the subway as much as planners think.

“The planners are working on the assumption that 45 per cent of these people will take transit,” he said. “But what if only 25 per cent use public transit?”

Coun. Mike Feldman said his constituents expressed a similar concern.

“In the city, infill is the thing, and I’m not opposed to infill, and there’s going to be a subway going somewhere up there, if ever, and you have to have ridership and all hat. But having said that, everybody’s obviously concerned about the more people, more cars, more traffic congestion.”

Formerly a federally run military base, Parc Downsview Park Inc. was established in 1996 as a Crown corporation. Its executives were granted administration authority over the property, with the stipulation that the park be self-financing. Residents like Michael Calabrese thought all of the lands would be turned into parkland but were disappointed to discover that land would have to be sold off to finance any park development.

“I don’t envy Mr. Soknacki because he has a big job ahead,” Calabrese said. “We hope for the best, we really do, but we fear the worst.”

Bus boost for 905

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WITH THE HELP of the provincial government, transit officials can move forward with the York Viva Bus Rapid Transit system upgrade.

Premier Dalton McGuinty pledged the $1.4 billion needed for the facelift, which will create dedicated bus lanes along Highway 7 and Yonge Street.

“We need to move quickly to build a better transit system for commuters,” McGuinty said in his April 1 announcement. “Our investments in transit will create jobs, help stimulate the economy and improve the air we breathe.”

Construction is already underway on some sections of the dedicated bus lanes, as in Markham Centre, said Mary- Frances Turner, vice-president of operations for Viva and York Region Transit.

Environmental assessments have already been completed for the sections of the line that will commence construction next fall.

The bus system will connect commuters from the Vaughan Corporate Centre to Downsview station in Toronto, which will be constructed as part of the Spadina subway line extension. A 6.8-kilometre extension from Richmond Hill Centre will connect to Finch station, on Toronto’s Yonge Street subway line. The system will also connect to GO Transit service to Barrie and Stouffville.

“This is great news for all those who live, work and travel through York Region,” said Bill Fisch, the chairman and CEO of York Region.

“The funding will not only enable us to make the Viva system faster and more convenient, it will help build a seamless transit system and create jobs when we need it most, right now.”

Transit officials say that the upgrade to the bus system will get more cars off the street, which will benefit the environment and will assist people in getting where they’re going faster.

“What we’re looking to do is put the ‘rapid’ into rapid transit, which will allow the community to get around a lot faster, with a lot less reliance on the need to have a vehicle to get around the community,” Turner said. “What it means is that our roads will not continue to be congested.”

Thornhill on high alert after home invasions

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LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE on high alert following a string of home invasions that took place in York Region last month.

On April 9, at about 8:15 a.m., a resident of the Bayview Avenue and Elgin Mills Road area answered her door and was confronted by a suspect who forced his way inside.

The suspect tied the woman up and then ransacked several rooms, obtaining a quantity of cash. He then threatened her with a knife and tried to obtain her banking information. The woman managed to break free and contact police. She was treated at the hospital for minor injuries.

On April 20, at about 11:30 a.m., a similar incident took place. A woman answered the door of her Vaughan home and was greeted by two suspects posing as couriers. One of the suspects then produced a firearm and forced the victim into the master bedroom, holding her at gunpoint while the other suspect searched the room.

During the home invasion, the woman’s husband returned and entered through the garage where he was confronted by a third suspect. However, her husband was able to escape, and all three suspects subsequently fled the scene.

Another invasion took place in Vaughan, near Bathurst Street and Centre Street, on April 23. At about 7 p.m., three men entered the basement apartment of an elderly couple through an unlocked sliding door. One of the suspects brandished a shotgun. The suspects stole a cell phone, then fled the scene in a waiting vehicle.

Police are reminding local residents not to open the door for strangers. They should also keep all doors and windows in their home locked at all times.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact police.

Hockey great bonds with local hockey team

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FORMER NHL GREAT Darryl Sittler paid a special visit to Thornhill’s Peewee Rebels minor boys’ hockey team last month after the team won a contest through Scotiabank. The hockey legend worked with the youths on their defensive, offensive and puck- handling skills. Off-ice, he gave them a pep talk about the importance of teamwork and dedication.

“This is a great opportunity for young hockey hopefuls to learn about the experiences they can have by setting goals and following their dreams,” said Sittler.

The Rebels are one of 10 teams who won on-ice training with former NHL stars under the Scotiabank NHL Alumni Skills Contest. Participating alumni included Trevor Linden, Lanny McDonald, Bryan Trottier and Yvan Cournoyer.

Sittler was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.

How is Main Street coping?

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THOUGH THE WINTER months were slow, Main Street businesses in Thornhill and Richmond Hill are on the upswing, say local shop owners.

“What I’ve seen with our business is [it] was pretty flat for January, February and March. But as soon as the warmer weather starts, people get out there and start shopping and start spending more,” said Matthew Glickman, owner of Hill Street Blues, a Richmond Hill clothing shop. “But sales didn’t improve. Sales are not fantastic here.”

Since business hit a slump over the winter, and economists forecasted a slow spring season, Glickman took a different approach to buying for spring.
He purchased fewer items in advance, to avoid having a large amount of sale items at the end of the season.

“No one wants to be carrying inventory,” Glickman said. “Everyone wants to be as liquid as possible.”

Dalia Lash, of Mark Lash Fine Jewelry, said she’s noticed that her customers have also been taking a different approach to buying.

“People are still getting married and still want to purchase birthday gifts, anniversary gifts and bar and bat mitzvah gifts,” she said.

“Consumers seem to be making the shift from the over-the-top lavish pieces to more lifestyle- oriented jewellery — jewellery with slight variations on the traditional theme.”

Similarly, she noticed that more customers are bringing in old jewellery to be redesigned into new pieces, rather than buying new items.

Small businesses are crucial to building strong communities, said Rebecca Reuber, a professor of entrepreneurship and small business at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

“It keeps people in the neighbourhood, for healthy, vibrant communities,” she said. “[Small businesses] understand very well the needs of the neighbourhood.”

To help combat the recession and to reinvigorate local business districts, 905 stores are working together and forming business improvement areas.

The Thornhill Historic BIA is in the very early stages, and shop owners have been meeting with local councillors to see how that could improve business.

“The area’s in desperate need of revitalization,” said Coun. Alan Shefman. “It’s not walkable, and there’s a tremendous potential, and we all really want to tap that potential.”

BIAs have been highly successful in Toronto, Shefman said, where municipalities match funds raised by local businesses in order to improve the streetscape of the district with flowers, benches or other kinds of street furniture.

“ As soon as the warmer weather starts, people get out there and start shopping and start spending money.”

The Village of Richmond Hill BIA was established earlier this year, with Calvin Ho, the chair of the board of management and owner of Big Boss Computers, at its helm. He said his group plans to focus on cleaning up the area and capitalizing on old assets, such as the historic buildings in the area, and the town’s new assets like the new Tridel condominium and the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts.

“We hope to attract more people to the area by establishing the BIA,” he said.

T.O.’s hot fall ticket

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PLAYWRIGHT

BEN ELTON

Q: If your life were made into a film, who would play you?

Keira Knightley, obviously. She has the bone structure.

Q: You’re not a big sports fan. Did that make writing this show more challenging?

Of course not. This musical is no more about soccer than South Pacific is about World War II, or Grease is about the American school system.

Q: What surprised you most about the staging in Winnipeg?

The temperature. My testicles disappeared when I got off the plane and did not re-emerge until May.

DAVID MIRVISH

THEATRE IMPRESARIO

Q: Why does the Elton-Webber formula work so well?   

Two great imports for the price of one! But seriously, they are two of the greatest creative forces of their generation, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with them.  

Q: What’s on your iPod?

  I don’t have one — it’s too hard to play a record on an iPod! I do enjoy listening to Tony Bennett, music from the Woodstock era and the scores of Andrew Lloyd Webber.  

Q: Beckham or Ronaldo?   Beckham. I like who my wife tells me to.

ERICA PECK

AS MARY MCGUIRE

Q: You said that Winnipeg is prettier than Toronto. Here’s your chance to make amends.

Ha ha, I’m afraid I did say that! It might have had something to do with meeting my now-boyfriend there.
T.O. is a beautiful city, as well, but Winnipeg has preserved more of its history. And there was no garbage strike.…

Q: You do five costume changes in Act 1. Even if you love clothes, that’s gotta be a drag.

I love clothes. The fastest change takes 15 seconds, so there isn’t a dull moment backstage.

RICHARD MCMILLAN

AS FATHER O’DONNELL

Q: As a certified pilot, where would you like to fly to right  now?   

I am indeed a single-engine, fixed-wing pilot. I’d fly to Newfoundland, my son, my son. My mother was born there, and the people are truly wonderful, honest and unique.  

Q: What were the challenges for this role?

  This is one of the loveliest and easiest roles I’ve ever performed. It was beautifully and thoughtfully written by Ben, which made it a delight to rehearse. Sometimes the gods of theatre smile upon us.

TONY LEPAGE

AS JOHN KELLY

Q: How did you master the Irish accent, m’boy?

I YouTubed as many Lucky Charms commercials as I could find.

Q: What’re the trickiest words to say in that R-rolling tongue?

Erica Peck’s character’s name, Mary McGuire, is not a walk in the park. As you can imagine, I say it a fair bit.

Q: You’re not much of a footballer, true?

True, but my ”air soccer” skills are honed! I hope to see some TFC with the cast.

Town to draft bylaw to protect Dunlap site

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STAFF AT THE Town of Richmond Hill are busily reviewing the recommendations made by the Conservation Review Board in order to draft a report that will help determine the fate of the David Dunlap Observatory.

The board heard from community activists who wanted to see the historical astronomy research centre protected in its entirety, the Town, who sought partial protection and the owner, Corsica, who sought protection of the three main structures on the site earlier this year. Recently, the board made a decision that largely reflects the Town’s wishes.

“The staff report will go through the recommendations from the CRB, and it will speak to a designating bylaw,” said Ann Bassios, commissioner of planning and development with the Town of Richmond Hill. Bassios would not reveal the details of what the bylaw could look like, but said that they’re hoping to present the report to council as soon as their summer recess is over.

But even though the site will likely be partially designated as a heritage zone, community groups in the area and otherwise are concerned that it’s not enough. The observatory park recently topped a list of 10 endangered places in Canada by the Heritage Canada Foundation.

“This national recognition acknowledges the Dunlap Observatory site’s importance on the Canadian landscape. It validates our position it must be protected from development, not only as a statement of this country’s values, but because of its contribution to the world’s evolution of science and astronomy in the 20th century,” said Marianne Yake, president of the Richmond Hill Naturalists.

Metrus, the residential development company that now owns the property, has been working with the Toronto Centre branch of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, to start outreach and educational programs this summer. Paul Mortfield, a member of the RASC, said the programs have been highly successful. “Last week we had a meteor shower and about 300 people showed up. There were families out on the lawn with blankets, watching the meteors shoot by.”

Ian Shelton, an astronomer with the University of Toronto, has also been pushing to save the observatory so it can be used for educational purposes.

Some have criticized the RASC for cooperating with Metrus, and Mortfield said they do not have an opinion on the heritage designation of the site. But, the group wants to see the observatory itself remain.

“We’re trying to turn it into a centre where space knowledge is central, to encourage and inspire the next generation of scientists in Canada,” he said. “There is so much amazing research taking place and the observatory will be a focal point for all of that to happen.”

Thornhill swimmer youngest to cross Lake Ontario

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THORNHILL SWIMMER Jade Scognamillo recently became the youngest person to swim across Lake Ontario. On July 31, the 15-year-old Vaughan Aquatic Club member completed the 52-kilometre swim from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto in just under 20 hours.

Scognamillo now holds three world records after becoming the youngest and fastest swimmer to cross Lake Erie last summer.

Born in Britain, Scognamillo first got the idea for the crossing after seeing a plaque listing the names of those who had completed the swim after coming to Canada. The then-11-year-old immediately told her mom she wanted to add her name to the list.

“Lake Ontario was always my goal,” she said. “That’s what I wanted to do.” And along the way Scognamillo raised $35,000 for the neonatal unit at Sick Kids Hospital.

One of Scognamillo’s coaches, Nancy Black, trained with the teen for the last year and a half. They worked on both physical and mental fitness, as well as nutrition. At times, training was six days a week for up to seven hours a day.

“If you’re taking on this kind of coaching endeavour, it’s a bit more personal than coaching a team,” Black said. “I would say I love her. We’ve spent a lot of time together, even more so this year.”

While she hasn’t ruled out tackling the remaining three Great Lakes, Scognamillo said there is another swim goal in her sights.

“I know that they’ve introduced a 10-kilometre marathon race now at the Olympics, so at this point I guess I can go either way,” she said. “I’m not ruling it out.”