Local woman and her family determined to raise $600,000

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Two cycles of chemotherapy, four weeks of radiation, a stem cell transplant and drug treatments were supposed to help the now 22-year-old resident get her cancer under control and her life back on track. But after her latest relapse, an expensive stem cell transplant that is not available in Canada may be her last option.

For Courtney Render and her family, the campaign to raise awareness and the $600,000 necessary to fund an allogeneic stem cell transplant in the United States is a matter of life and death.

Friends, family and community members have raised over $350,000 for the Cure for Courtney campaign since Render was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2009.

Back then, she was just an average second year student attending McGill University in Montreal. She had to drop out when it was discovered what was lurking behind a bout of night sweats and feeling ill.

“It was definitely rough. I had standard chemotherapy,” says Render. “That took the summer. I was excited to be done and to move on with my life. And then we found out the cancer did come back.”

She then went on to receive even more treatments, including higher-level chemotherapy, radiation and a transplant of her own stem cells.

“It’s what our family is all about. It’s teamwork.”

Today, the Render family attributes the success they have had thus far — both monetary and moral — to a united effort put on by friends, family and their community.

A recent fundraising event on June 13 at the Avenue Banquet Hall saw over 60 volunteers come out to lend a hand, not counting those who made donations.

Currently, Render is with her father and sister at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. Render is going through the preliminary medical tests necessary before her 24-year-old sister Hailey can donate stem cells that could potentially save her younger sister.

Render says knowing that Hailey may be the key to her survival warms her heart.

“It’s kind of a surreal thing. But it’s amazing to know that my sister, one of my closest family members, my best friend, is able to do this for me,” she says. “I know she’s really happy that it could be her, too.”

When Hailey found out that her sister had cancer, she said the news rocked the family.

“My biggest fear from a child has always been a family member, particularly a sibling or a parent, getting cancer,” says Hailey. “Finding out was probably the worst news I’ve ever gotten in my entire life.”

However, the ordeal seems to have drawn the women together closer than ever.

“She’s my number one priority,” says Hailey. “It’s what our family is all about. It’s teamwork and being there for her.”

Render’s family will be there to support her throughout the stem cell procedure.

All the while, Render remains optimistic that she will beat her cancer.

“I know I’m in the right hands and I’m definitely very positive about this procedure,” she says. “I know it’s definitely what I have to have done.”

The Cure for Courtney campaign is still far from over.

The Render family continues to call upon the community at large for donations to meet their $600,000 goal.

The Post urges those who wish to make a donation to visit TheCureForCourtney.com.

Tennis ace nets place on Team Canada

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When Joel Dembe looks back on his decision to quit his job at a major financial institution, it seems easy. Now, the wheelchair tennis player is training rigorously in preparation for the Paralympic Games later this summer. But a successful bid to secure a spot at the Games did not come overnight for the 28-year-old.

In order to improve his Canadian and world standings, Dembe has played 22 events in the last 12 months. His recent triumphs include netting a handful of singles and doubles titles, representing the country in the Pan Am Games and being named Canada’s top male wheelchair athlete.

Dembe didn’t initially know if his efforts would pay off. But since leaving his job in March of 2011 to focus on his sport, he has climbed from No. 4 to No. 1 in Canada and to No. 41 in the world. In London, he will face fierce competition, with half the contenders getting knocked out in the first round.

“You want to focus on pushing yourself past your limits, focusing on goals and not necessarily the outcome,” he says. “It’s about the process.”

As Dembe continues to train hard, his biggest concern is burnout. He has done a lot of strength training to build his endurance and prevent injuries. Shoulder issues are common in wheelchair sports, he says.

In London, Dembe hopes to feed off of the energy of the crowds. Most of all, he’s excited to represent his country.

“It’s the honour of getting to wear the red and white.”

“It’s the honour of just being there and being there for Canada and getting to wear the red and white,” he says.

Canada tends to dominate in sledge hockey and wheelchair basketball but lags behind Asia and Europe when it comes to wheelchair tennis, the athlete says. He is, however, optimistic that his going to London may help to raise the sport’s profile back home.

Dembe has already seen a shift in how the sport is perceived.

“I think there is a segment of the population that believes that the Paralympics are about everyone getting a medal and obviously sometimes confuses it with the Special Olympics, but that … is changing because, I think, there’s more media attention now,” he says.

Dembe started using a wheelchair at the age of six. He was born with a benign tumour that was removed near his spine, which resulted in partial paralysis.

The wheelchair tennis player originally started out in sledge hockey, but as a self-proclaimed puck hog and a kid who admittedly liked to be in the spotlight, playing a solo sport held a certain appeal.

“It’s just you on the court,” he says. “You win by yourself, you lose by yourself, so everything’s on your shoulders, and I kind of like that.”

Dembe has since gotten into doing motivational talks for schools and organizations. He finds that the kids really relate to him.

“I generally talk about the importance of sport and staying healthy, no matter what your limitations are,” he says. “I think, whether you’re in a wheelchair or not, that applies to everyone.”

Anyone who wishes to support Dembe as he heads to the Paralympics can do so through his Web site at www.joeldembe.ca.

The Post salutes Joel Dembe for representing Canada in the Paralympic Games and for raising the profile of wheelchair tennis.

Avenue Road condo plan draws density concerns

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Even after a study was completed to create a framework for development along a portion of Avenue Road, a recent condo proposal at Fairlawn Avenue is breaking the area density maximum and leaving neighbours concerned. One of nine proposed condo developments along Avenue Road, the seven-storey, 136-unit mixed residential and commercial building would have a density almost 25 per cent greater than the 2007 Avenue Road Study stipulates.

Fairlawn Avenue neighbour Miriam Moss compared its density to the area’s first “reasonable” seven-storey, 80-unit Tribute project at 1717 Avenue Rd., and said the plan is flouting the study made in consultation with locals.

“We’re not trying to stop the developers. We’re trying to stop the developers from running roughshod over it,” she said. “The concern is that whatever we let happen here is going to get worse as each condo is built.”

Her informal residents group was also concerned that local stores would be harmed, but Sarah Bayat of nearby Floris Flowers is looking forward to a growing community.

“I think, as long as it’s done the way that Tribute did across the street and maintaining a ground floor storefront, that’s a happy medium where we can preserve the retail climate in the neighbourhood while having the residential on top,” she said. “We see that in downtown Toronto all the time, and it works great.”

Previous height and density limits may shift, said Ward 16 councillor Karen Stintz, as ongoing changes are made to the original study, including a secondary plan.

“The reason we did the secondary plan is so we could set expectations for Avenue Road,” she said, “and I think, by and large, this application sits within those expectations.

More density at one of Bayview’s busiest intersections

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On the heels of a settlement that will add more density to a condo development at the old Canadian Tire lands near Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue East, the intersection was identified as one of the city’s top 10 most congested areas. Topping the list was Bayview Avenue and Sheppard Avenue, with Yonge Street between Sheppard Avenue and Highway 401 not far behind in the second slot.

Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong, chair of Toronto City Council Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, put forward a motion to have transportation services study the city’s busiest locations and report back in the fall on ways to alleviate the problem. As for the agreement on additional development, Coun. David Shiner stressed that most of the project had already been approved back in 2002.

“It accomplished what I would say is a reasonable settlement of the site to contain substantially the amount of new development there,” he said.

Toronto City Council also recently rejected another Sheppard Avenue East and Leslie Street area application that would have added nearly 3,000 residential units to the northwest corner. Given that the density of the proposal greatly exceeded what’s permitted in the official plan, City of Toronto staff took the unusual step of writing a refusal report instead of the usual preliminary report.

“They came in with a ridiculous application that was over five times [lot] coverage,” Shiner said. “And the city solicitor with city planning staff will go to the [Ontario Municipal] Board if the application appeals the decision to fight any chances of building what he’s recommended now.”

He said that the city’s most congested locations really highlight the need for extended subway lines versus putting light rapid transit on the roads.

“We have all these new developments and our transportation staff never say they won’t work, unfortunately,” Shiner said. “Even when our intersections are in horrible shape, they keep approving these developments.”

That the Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue East location was identified as one of the city’s most congested did not come as a surprise to Doug Stephens, president of the Bayview Village Association.

“It’s still way too many units [at the old Canadian Tire lands], but it’s better than what the initial proposal was,” he said. “All this adds is approximately 3,900 more units in here that will just drive additional cars, additional traffic and further logjam the whole community at those key intersections that everyone uses.”

Stephens said that the community has known for some time that this site would be developed, but with further development pressures in the community, the traffic impact will continue to be a big concern.

“Everyone who’s living here is faced with those time erosions that impact your personal life; take time away from you, family, social things, other things you’d rather do [while you’re] sitting in your car.”

No city support for 140 homes facing costly falling fences

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Locals living next to railway tracks are facing safety and noise concerns as the noise attenuation fences in their backyards have started to fall apart.

The fence in Laurie Orrett’s backyard has completely fallen over, and she is calling on the City of Vaughan and Canadian National Railways (CN) to help her and approximately 140 neighbours on Mullen Drive and Gilmore Crescent to pay for new fencing.

In 1990, the then Town of Vaughan ordered developers to put up noise barriers between the area’s residences and the CN railway tracks. Now, the developer no longer exists and the fences are formally owned by the residents.

Orrett said that repairing each segment of the fence may cost upwards of $8,000 — around four times the average estimate — so she asked the City of Vaughan for help.

“All we want is to come to some kind of conclusion with the city, with CN and the residents,” she said. “A lot of people think I’m asking for a free fence. That’s not what I’m asking for. I’m asking
for fairness and a reasonable compromise with the other involved parties.” “

Local councillor Alan Shefman said that Vaughan is not in a position to fund private property.
He said the best option for Orrett and her neighbours would be to find a contractor themselves and ask CN to co-operate with builders, to make the project go smoothly, but not to expect CN to fund the repairs.

“CN doesn’t want to touch it with a 10-foot pole because CN basically ignores most urban issues, and they go along on their merry way,” Shefman said, “and of course, the residents end up with the problem.”

A CN spokesperson said the wall is not the company’s responsibility because it does not own it.

Residents, city representatives and CN were scheduled to meet June 27 to discuss the repairs.

Parenting the anxious child is no easy task

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I am forever harping on the virtues of communication, the necessity of teaching your kids to talk out their problems rather than act them out. But there’s one kind of child that this just plain doesn’t work with: The struggles of an anxious child are often silent.

The anxious child is the most confusing child to parent because we too often misinterpret anxiety as non-compliance. Anxious kids look like they’re digging their heels in when they go silent or run away. What they look like is hostile or rebellious. Anxious kids will be our “refuseniks.” The child who hides under furniture to avoid doing his homework. The child who runs away from you (or the teacher or the camp counsellor) when she did something wrong. The child who screams or yells in situations that don’t appear (to you) to warrant such a big reaction. The child who won’t get in the water at swim class or on the ski slopes at ski class. Or maybe even out of the car at a play date. These kids look like they’re uncooperative and sullen. But what they feel like is anxious.

The hardest aspect of this confusion of ours is that they can’t talk about it. Anxiety is a silent affliction that dares not speak its name. And most especially for children, for whom it is both humiliating and confusing — they don’t know what they feel, so they either hide or lash out. And if they do have a glimmer of awareness about what they feel, they will do everything in their power to camouflage their anxiety because they’re so embarrassed.

So what’s a parent to do? If you suspect your child is struggling with anxiety, look for the times when he goes silent. If he clams up at a difficult time, in a situation that needs talking through, step one is: Don’t pressure him to talk. That will make him more anxious. Instead, seek his permission to speak for him.

“Anxious kids tend to be smart data crunchers. They don’t forget.”

Let's say he’s in a fight with his sister and he’s refusing to talk about it. So say: “I’m guessing that you could use some assistance here. Will you let me help you? Just nod if it’s okay and shake your head if it’s not.”

Once he assents (and they usually do) say: “Am I right that you didn’t mean to hurt your sister and you wish that hadn’t happened? Nod or shake your head.” Having gotten that answer (usually a nod) go tell that to your daughter and come back to your son, saying to him: “She was really glad to hear that and she appreciates it.”

You might go back and forth in the same manner a couple of more rounds, asking him to nod or shake his head if you’re right or wrong about wanting to say he’s sorry for hitting her.

But the endgame of this conversation is crucial. You say to your son: “I’m so proud of you for how well you communicated with your sister, and thank you so much for letting me help you.” What you’re telegraphing here is that he made a step towards competence as a communicator, and that it was a good thing that he accepted help. It’s important to say those two things because anxious kids tend to fear and shrink from communication in any situation of conflict, and they are hyper vulnerable to humiliation, which makes them lousy at asking for and accepting help.

The more we can teach them to do those two things, and then celebrate them for taking those steps, the more they’ll feel safe taking on those challenges. Every time the anxious child feels understood and supported, that’s data he uses — anxious kids tend to be smart data crunchers. They don’t forget. Your accurate and appropriate support is like a crutch that helps him walk, where before he could only crawl. That’s a great leap forward for him — the first, we hope, of many — and a great gift of understanding from you.

There’s nothing wrong with a crutch to help someone get moving.

Parenting columnist Joanne Kates is an expert educator in the areas of conflict mediation, self-esteem and anti-bullying, and she is the director of Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park.

Neighbours rallying to fight reopening of off-leash park

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Neighbours against the proposed reopening of a pilot off-leash dog park are considering enlisting legal representation to make sure their voices are heard during an upcoming appeal.

The judicial review that could potentially reopen the off-leash area of Ledbury Park is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2012, and is closed to the public. With the appellants represented by a lawyer, residents such as Jan Petrook don’t want to be left “hanging in the wind.” Petrook said she and her neighbours have already approached the Toronto City Solicitor and will have held an informal meeting in late June to discuss getting their own lawyer.

“What we’re concerned about is nobody has any input in this, and they’re hoping to get the park back,” she said of the appellants, who won a Superior Court ruling to challenge the park’s closing.

The appellants claim the city’s decision to close the pilot park was illegal because it was made on the basis that an unresolved conflict arose among “park users.” They are hoping to reopen the pilot park on the technicality that neighbours whose homes abut Ledbury are not necessarily people who use the park.

The appellants had previously worked with neighbours to address noise concerns and even discussed a new location for the park.

“If it does revert back,” said Petrook, “we’ll sue the city.”

In her opinion, Ledbury Park has improved since the closing. “Now, the grass has come back. You see people walking their dogs with a leash — lovely,” she said.” It’s being used as it should have been used.”

The resident said the area is still being used for unleashed dog walking (which carries a fine of $250 from City of Toronto: Toronto Animal Services), something that Ward 16 councillor Karen Stintz said she finds unsurprising.

Stintz said the city itself will be well represented in the judicial review. She feels very strongly that it correctly closed the pilot park.

“We will be making a strong representation that we did operate within our authority,” she said. “My position is that it was a pilot, it was always supposed to be a pilot, and we have changed our policies as a result of that.“ City policy now prohibits off-leash parks abutting on residential property.

More big box stores on Laird a threat to Bayview shops?

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As Leaside residents unite in opposition to the 147,000-square-foot SmartCentre application on Wicksteed Avenue, opinion from local business owners is mixed as to how another big box plaza would impact main street Bayview.

Karen McLellan, a long-time Leaside resident and manager of Oddjects, isn’t bothered by the prospect of a SmartCentre, even expressing optimism: “If it brings people into the neighbourhood that shop at my store, then I’m all for it,” she said.

Grant Allardyce of the Source Menswear, however, is concerned about the big box plaza attracting customers away from Bayview.

“Our little area of shops relies a lot on the parking availability, and I think this is another [shopping] option for customers — to be able to park without being harassed by local parking authorities,” he said.

Allardyce is one of the local business owners Coun. John Parker is currently working with to create a BIA that would promote the main street. As the city’s planning staff continues to review the application, a community working group has been formed to address concerns around the application, including the impact on traffic, density and local retail.

Hindu temple fined $140K for charity

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A local temple has been fined $140,000 by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for donations it had given to an organization suspected to be a front for Sri Lankan rebels.

The Hindu Temple Society of Canada in Richmond Hill, which has declined to comment, raised over $130,000 for victims of a tsunami that ravaged Sri Lanka in 2004 according to an advocate for Tamil Canadians.

According to CRA, the temple gave the proceeds to non-qualified donees, including Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Sri Lanka, a group CRA considers part of the “support network” of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, a.k.a.Tamil Tigers).

In a notice given to the temple, CRA concluded the temple was fully aware of TRO’s affiliation with Tamil Tigers at the time and still knowingly gave it almost $120,000.

CRA decided not to revoke the temple’s status as a charity because of the “extenuating circumstances of the tsunami disaster” and that non-qualified donations seemed outside the normal operations of the temple.

“The way the CRA handled the issue, it’s very heavy-handed.”

David Poopalapillai, spokesperson for Canadian Tamil Congress, an advocacy group for Tamil Canadians, said that CRA went beyond punishing the temple by linking it to Tamil Tigers.

“That particular temple, in this particular case, donated money to a non-qualified donee. That’s a fact. Technically, they’re wrong,” he said. “Having said that, the way the CRA handled the whole issue, it’s very heavy-handed. It hurts the community.”

Poopalapillai does not believe TRO is a front for terrorism.

“If that is true, why is the recipient of this particular donation still operating in Canada?” he asked. He also said the temple was never concerned the funds would be used to buy arms or support LTTE efforts.

“The temple people are very well-respected people by the community,” he said. “They’re good people. Nothing is bad about these people.”

International comedy tour highlights local comics

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Dateline: Israel.

I’m here with six comics as guests of the Israeli government for a stand-up comedy tour. The comics are a multicultural group of men and women from across Canada whose material ranges from safe to uncensored. The Israelis have never seen anything like it.

The tour is being shot for a documentary by Igal Hecht. The trip took almost three years to organize. I had to meet with a variety of government agencies, local philanthropists and sympathetic lobbyists before it came together. It was a lot of work, and the question everyone is asking is “Why?”

I was curious about how modern comedy might fare in a place where everyone speaks English but has had only a tiny exposure to North American comedy. Comedy has gone global, with comedy festivals in Australia, Dubai and South Africa. The Comedy Store out of the U.K. has opened up in Mumbai, and I hear it’s selling out nightly. So why not Israel?

The history of comedy has been so dominated by Jewish comedians it would seem to be the perfect fit.

In Jerusalem, religious Jews of varying levels of orthodoxy were at the shows, listening to words and ideas they rarely discuss in private, let alone in public. There were walkouts. But there were also big laughs. Tel Aviv was a different story. If Jerusalem celebrates the past and tradition, Tel Aviv is a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis.

Our shows there went very well, especially our last show — at Hesed House, a lovely Mediterranean villa — sponsored by the Gerald Schwartz/Heather Reisman foundation. The show was sold out, and the comics let loose, ending with gonzo comic Aaron Berg’s mock seduction of a woman in the front row, who turned out to be a high-ranking Canadian diplomat.

Comic Jean Paul made the best use of information gleaned from all our sightseeing, and was riffing on the eccentricities of Israeli culture. Ottawa’s Rebecca Kohler melted everyone’s hearts as she valiantly injected Hebrew phrases into her Gentile goddess act.

The Israeli acts were a bit timid, save for Kandi Abelson, a Montrealer who had moved to Tel Aviv a decade ago. She had an edge missing from the other local comics.

Kandi wasn’t the only comic who joined our merry band along the way. A Palestinian comic, Adi Khalefa, performed with us for some shows, and when his English improves, he may be a comic to watch out for. He’s moving to New York later this year.

We were also honoured to have Yisroel Campbell hit the stage on one of our shows. Campbell is an American who converted to Orthodox Judaism and created a smash Broadway hit, Circumcise Me, about his experiences.

Everyone connected with the trip had a unique agenda, and mine was to see if there were any ways to develop a presence in Israel for my brand. But the results were inconclusive.

It’s clear that they want to be part of the world of North American culture, but it’s a very long way to send comics.

The documentary will be seen on CBC next spring and will include the near-international incident we provoked when we played for the Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

Post City Magazines’ humour columnist, Mark Breslin, is the founder of Yuk Yuk’s comedy clubs and the author of several books, including Control Freaked.

Condos keep coming north of Yonge & Eg

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This month, Toronto City Council will consider a recommendation from the planning and growth committee to establish a midtown planning group that would take a comprehensive look at development in the Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue area. The request was put forward by local councillors Karen Stintz and Josh Matlow. Targeted for intensification by the province, the area has already seen a flurry of activity, from the 64-storey proposal on the northeast corner to the appealed 48-storey application on Eglinton Avenue West — and it’s expected to see more with the coming construction of the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown light rapid transit.

Recently, in Coun. Stintz’s ward, separate but neighbouring applications to build a 28-storey condo building at 2360 to 2378 Yonge Street and a 24-storey apartment building on Helendale Avenue triggered a block study of the area between Duplex Avenue and Yonge Street, and Helendale Avenue and Orchard View Boulevard. Stintz felt that it was important to consider the applications in the context of one another.
“Although they’re in an apartment neighbourhood designation, I think [they’re] a little much for that area because what we’re trying to do is make sure that any new development transitions back in to the neighbourhood to the north,” she said.

“It’s starting to feel a little bit like the Wild West up here.”

David Lehberg, president and CEO of developer Knightstone Capital Management, which put forward the 28-storey proposal, enlisted a consulting team to determine the appropriate height and density for the project.

As for transition, he pointed out that the site is located on the second block north of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, where the RioCan Centre sits, and immediately south of the post office, which he anticipates will be sold off to a developer.

Ann King, co-ordinator of community relations at Stanley Knowles Housing Co-op, which is located on Orchard View Boulevard, supports a study, as the applications represent a huge population increase on their block.
“It’s starting to feel a little bit like the Wild West up here,” King said.

Shaw Festival looks to next 50 years

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The Shaw Festival, despite playing second fiddle to those Shakespeare-loving masses that trek down Highway 401 to visit the Stratford Festival each summer, is celebrating its 50th season and is making a serious stab at wooing younger theatre-goers. It’s a fine strategy that should bolster the Niagara-on-the-Lake festival’s chances of getting even better over the next 50. Congrats to them, but as they say, on with the show. In this case, reviews of two of Shaw’s shows — surprisingly weak productions given the excitement this season presents.

Present Laughter is not one of Noel Coward’s best. It is a dated play that hardly seems worth doing. Many of the lines fall flat (“There’s something awfully sad about happiness” is a good example, and there are several dozen others). When the clearly autobiographical main character, Garry Essendine (played with far less charm and wit usually displayed by the often-fabulous Steven Sutcliffe), describes another man as having “as much sex appeal as a piece of haddock,” one wonders if this was written by the funny playwright/actor who was considered the epitome of wit through most of the middle of the 20th century.

Is this really the same Brit who wrote such semi-classics as Hay Fever, Private Lives and Blithe Spirit? Most of this play falls flat.

“As in most of Shaw, one can be talked to death or to life.”

Most of Stratford’s greatness has been captured by (most of) its productions of Shakespeare, and we have usually been safe in looking at the Shaw Festival with the same hopes for glory with its productions of George Bernard Shaw’s plays.

But Misalliance, an early play but a pretty darned good one, is not given the kind of production that it deserves, this time around, even if it is directed by the usually superb Eda Holmes. As in most of Shaw, one can be talked to death or to life by its outrageously witty and super-articulate and super-smart characters. The main role of John Tarleton, thank heavens, is beautifully performed by Thom Marriott, one of Shaw’s finest actors, and his rattling off of profound, if occasionally silly, philosophical thoughts is sheer joy. And another of my favourite Shaw performers, Tara Rosling, is also a delight as a Polish aviatrix who crashes her plane through the roof of the Tarleton mansion. Of course, moving this 1910 play to 1962 is silly enough, but having a 1920s plane hang from the rafters of that mansion throughout its second half is just “plane” bad (pun intended).

Is the Shaw Festival having an off season? Maybe not, as such plays as Shaw’s pleasing The Millionairess and Ibsen’s powerful Hedda Gabler are yet to come — along with Ragtime and other goodies. There is still much to get excited about this summer.