What to wear this weekend, Juno Awards-style

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12:05 pm

This year’s Juno Awards promises to be memorable, with its eclectic mix of both homegrown and international talent — some of whom are known for their keen (or kitschy) fashion sense as much as their music. With the awards show fast approaching this weekend, we thought it might be fun to help you borrow some style from the brightest stars of the night. You may not win a statuette, but you can still look like a winner.

Katy Perry: Nominated for International Album of the year, you can steal her quirky pin-up girl look with this Tivoli dress with silk flowers at Fashion Crimes.
Where to buy: Fashion Crimes, 322 Queen Street West, 416-592-9001

Sarah McLachlan: The Junos wouldn’t be the same without Canada’s “Earth Mother.” McLachlan epitomizes natural beauty with soulful balance as both a working mom and superstar — all the while championing her causes for animal rights and vegetarianism. Get the look with this organic halter dress (at right) by Revolve Conscious Clothing.
Where to buy: Distill Gallery, 55 Mill Street, 416-304-1917

Drake: Not only is he a multiple-nominee, but he’s also hosting this year’s show. Drake likes high-priced designers, but he always manages to keep it real. Try this Engineered Garmets jacket in charcoal (at left).
Where to buy: Jonathan and Olivia, 49 Ossington Avenue, 416-849-5956

Meaghan Smith: You may not recognize this sweet, sultry singer yet but a nomination for New Artist of the Year might change that. Emulate her soft, girly style with this cherry blossom romper.
Where to buy: Robber, 863 Queen Street West, 416-351-0724

Justin Bieber: Whatever you may think of the Biebs, you can’t deny his cute street-style that’s highlighted by a great pairof kicks. Never afraid of colour, Bieber it up with these fancy red sneakers by Clae (at right).
Where to buy: Get Outside Shoes, 437 Queen Street West, 416-593-5598

Beauty and the Buddha

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10:50 am

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Xiaolan Zhao is a Western-trained surgeon who gave up her career in trauma to pursue traditional Chinese medicine and push it to the forefront as a viable alternative treatment option. We spoke with her on the eve of the publication of her second book, Inner Beauty.

So just what is traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)?
It is a part of Chinese culture that comes from Taoist religion and was passed generation to generation. It comes from experience and observation, not really science, just experience and life trial.

How long has it been around?
From 3,000 to 5,000 years.

You are also trained in Western medicine, so why the shift?
Yes, I did Western medicine first and was sent to work as a surgeon at a hospital. But the weakness was that it was all operation and trauma, the last call for the results. You do help lots of patients, but by practicing clinically, we can prevent, and we don’t have to go to that stage.

Are you a licensed medical doctor in Canada?
No. I just came here for medical research, pharmaceutical research.

Who should use TCM?
There is a benefit for everyone. It is preventative, so we talk about lifestyle and qi, energy balance and how to feel good. I think everyone can use that.

What is qi?
Qi (pronounced “chi”) is energy. If a person is alive, it is because we have qi flowing in our bodies.

Do you need to accept the spiritual side to go ahead with treatment?
No. Actually, for most of my patients, I’m usually the last option when they’ve tried everything else, and say, “OK, maybe let’s try this one.” That’s the very beginning always when you’re really sick and you hit a wall and don’t know where to go anymore.

So what percentage of your patients are Westerners?
About 90 per cent. I’ve never advertised in any newspaper. So when I started, my first patients were all medical doctors, like Carolyn DeMarco, and were very much into holistic and into TCM. First they’d send their relatives, then their patients, and it was all word of mouth.

So how many patients do you have now?
About 12,000.

Your new book concentrates on our perception of beauty and focuses largely on skin treatment. Why?
We all notice beauty — everyone cares — especially external beauty. I can see how many people suffer from that by cosmetic surgery. We’ve forgotten what is inner beauty. Good health comes from inside: how you honour yourself and are at peace with yourself.

So why skin, exactly?
Skin is really the expression of internal problems. The body has 14 meridians that represent each organ. The meridian spots, if skin problems show up, that’s a message. We need to listen to our bodies — the symptoms are language — dialogue with ourselves to say maybe you don’t have enough sleep; too much sugar, coffee, alcohol.

What about wrinkles?
I don’t deal with wrinkles. I don’t do anything. The reason I would deal with it is if there is a skin condition — psoriasis, acne, eczema … but for beauty, if someone asks for acupuncture in the face, to be wrinkle-free, I don’t do this.

What about more obscure Chinese medicines, such as rhinoceros horn, shark fin, that use animal parts, endangered species?
I don’t use any animal products. If you use animal products — for example, bear, dog — I think that is not really good karma. Pretty much, it is awareness that underneath we are one, which is very much Buddhist thinking. You just need to use herbs or something else instead.

Is there a traditional Chinese version of Viagra?
We do talk about how we open the sexual energy channel. Sex energy is most important in TCM and can help you to well-being. We use the three modalities [herbs, acupuncture, massage] to boost libido.

Rival ex-mayors and other reps cleared

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10:47 am

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A judge recently tossed out 40 charges for alleged violations of the Municipal Elections Act faced by former Vaughan mayor, Linda Jackson, due to ambiguity in the legislation. On these grounds, remaining charges against regional councillor Michael Di Biase and councillor Bernie DiVona would also likely be dismissed, the City of Vaughan said in a statement.

“As a result, the City will not be pursuing any further proceedings in respect of these matters, as any further proceedings would involve additional legal costs for Vaughan’s taxpayers,” it said. To meet its obligations under the Municipal Elections Act, the City of Vaughan has spent around $1.5 million over the last four years.

Jackson was originally slapped with 68 charges in connection with the 2006 election, where she won over incumbent Michael Di Biase by only 90 votes. Her campaign manager and husband, Mario Campese, was also cleared in the recent decision.

Di Biase, who had already been acquitted of seven charges, is glad that the ordeal is finally over. “We can move on, eliminate all the lawsuits and concentrate on providing services for our residents,” he said.

Police apprehend alleged pimp in sexual assault case

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10:46 am

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A Canada-wide warrant, issued by the York Regional Police, for a man accused of multiple crimes against a sex trade worker led to the suspect’s recent arrest in Richmond Hill.

Joseph “Ben” or “Benito” Bernadel, 33, was to be held in custody until a bail hearing scheduled for late last month.

Upon the suspect’s arrest, he was charged with robbery, assault, assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault, uttering threats and living on the avails of prostitution.

Police became aware of the incidents back in November 2010.

“A female victim involved in the sex trade reported she was sexually assaulted, robbed and subjected to violence by her pimp throughout the duration of their relationship,” police said in a press release.

“The suspect also used money she earned to live a lavish lifestyle.”

Police reported that the suspect might be the driver of a grey Mercedes-Benz convertible or silver Mercedes-Benz G Wagon. He was further identified as “armed and dangerous.”

Police believe there may be additional victims in the GTA, and as far as the Niagara region and Montreal.

Bernadel does not have a fixed address.

The suspect is believed to have attended area adult entertainment establishments on a regular basis and to have associated with a number of females in the sex trade industry.

Richmond Hill students make safe return from Japan

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10:46 am

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A handful of local parents can rest easy now that 43 students from Richmond Hill’s Holy Trinity School have returned home safely from Japan. The teens, accompanied by four teachers, were in flight when the Asian country was ravaged by a monstrous 8.9 earthquake.

Liz Robinson, a communications co-ordinator at Holy Trinity, said school officials were in constant contact with parents once news of the natural disaster — followed by a tsunami and fears of a nuclear meltdown — broke.

Their plane was about 40 minutes out from Tokyo (about 375 kilometres from the epicentre) when the earthquake struck. As a result, it was redirected to a military base where the students and teachers were kept on the tarmac for a couple of hours. They spent the night in Sapporo before flying to Narita.

The trip, planned as a 10-day arts and culture tour over the March Break, was two years in the making. Their itinerary included stops in Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima to check out monuments, museums and temples.

The students, in grades nine through 12, had some opportunity to explore Tokyo, where they visited a market, temple and sang karaoke.

“They were very tired the whole time, but they were in good spirits,” Robinson said. “They all were just basically concerned about what was happening around them, and for the people who have been affected directly by the devastation.”

The only visible indications of the natural disaster that had taken place at the stops on their trip were a few cracks in the sidewalks. They also think they may have felt some of the aftershocks. The students only stayed in Japan for four days.

“They all arrived home … just happy to be home and reunited with their families,” said Robinson. Dimitri Kaklamanos, a music teacher who was on the trip, said that in light of what had happened, he’s grateful that everything worked out okay.

“We were just happy to return 43 students to their parents safe as promised,” he said. Students have already started to discuss the idea of a fundraiser to help Japan as it grapples with the devastating fallout of the back-to-back natural disasters.

“That’s one of the first things the kids were talking about when they got off the plane,” Robinson said.

It is expected that Japan’s death toll will climb to exceed 10,000. At press time, the country was still fighting the potential meltdown of a nuclear reactor located in Fukushima.

Shops on Steeles deal would see 1,235 units

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10:45 am

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York Region; the Town of Markham; the German Mills Residents’ Association (GMRA); and the developer, Bayview Summit, recently agreed to a settlement on the developer’s controversial Shops on Steeles proposal. The counter-offer, put forward by the local residents’ group, permits 1,235 units. Bayview Summit had previously appealed an application to build 1,787 units across five high-rise towers to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The revised plans would translate into a reduction in the heights of the three tallest towers — from 30, 32 and 28 storeys to 24, 24 and 25 storeys, respectively.

For Alan Diner, president of the GMRA, the decision was not easy. But his group received legal advice that put the odds of a victory at about 30 per cent if it put up a fight. “We knew that there was going to be some development there.… We decided to go with the safer option,” Diner said.

Bob James, a GMRA member who was active on the Shops on Steeles working group, isn’t convinced that this was the best deal his group could have gotten. He would have liked to have consulted independent legal counsel. “I’d been saying for two years that we should be collecting funds to fight this development,” James said.

Coun. Howard Shore acknowledged that the settlement may not be the outcome everyone was looking for, but he pointed out that, at this stage, the matter had to be considered from a legal perspective.

“If you take a look at where this project started three years ago, Bayview Summit was proposing 2,056 units, and through the community involvement over time, they’ve reduced that by over 40 per cent,” he said.

The minutes of settlement are expected to be signed before the OMB hearing, which commences on April 7. But the matter may not be over, as the City of Toronto has yet to withdraw its opposition. James, among other residents, is planning to speak as a participant at the hearing. The traffic impact of the development continues to be a big concern.

Concerns arise over plans to replace mature trees

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10:44 am

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Seven mature trees that have been part of a lush, park-like setting on the grounds of the Canadian Film Centre for decades, are slated to be cut down for the centre’s upgrade plan. They may be replaced with twice as many of saplings, but is it a fair trade?

Jack Radecki, executive director of the Ontario Urban Forest Council, has his doubts. “It’s still very deficient,” he said. “The way to look at a tree is to look at the number of leaves … those … provide the oxygen.”

Last month, councillor Jaye Robinson opposed the motion to cut down the trees, but the motion was passed anyway.

As per a city bylaw, the trees must be replaced, but Radecki is concerned the centre’s upgrade will reduce the amount of soil on the property, soil that will be crucial to the development of so many young trees.

“Roots need a lot of space,” he said. “What they’re planning sounds like a crock.”

Meanwhile, Tamara MacKeigan, communications manager for the Canadian Film Centre, said they are happy the application has been approved and they are continuing with their renovation plans, which include building a one-storey actor’s conservatory.

“We see no problems whatsoever,” she said, “and we’ll be working closely with the Urban Forestry Council.

Theatre maverick directs North York festival

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10:43 am

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Garth Drabinsky, who once headed up the now-defunct theatre production company, the Live Entertainment Corporation of Canada (Livent), has been named the artistic director for the upcoming Black Creek Music Festival.

The outdoor festival starts this June and brings an array of jazz, country, broadway and more to the Rexall Centre at York University, boasting seats for up to 14,000 spectators.

So far, the lineup includes Diana Krall, Sondra Radvanovsky of the Metropolitan Opera, and spoken-word performances by James Taylor and Helen Mirren.

Jeff Melanson, cultural advisor to Rob Ford, said despite its size, Toronto hasn’t had an outdoor concert this large, or this diverse.

“Black Creek changes that dynamic and at the highest level of artistry,” he said. “I for one, cannot wait until opening night.”

Drabinsky also co-founded Cineplex Odeon. He is currently out on bail pending an appeal hearing, after he and his Livent co-founder were charged with falsifying Livent’s financial statements.

Local community centre may have program fees cut

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10:42 am

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Toronto’s community development and recreation committee will be reviewing a motion this month to make the Antibes Community Centre a “priority centre,” which would cut fees for some programs.

A priority centre — usually designated in a lower-income neighbourhood — is a community facility that waives fees for children, youth and senior’s programs.

Until recently, adult programs at priority centres were also covered. But budget proposals at a recent city council meeting saw fees reinstated.

Andrea Cohen, CEO of Unison Health and Community Services, a local advocacy group agency for lower-income residents, supports the motion.

“The city needs to look at the changing demographics of its neighbourhoods.

As neighbourhoods become either more well off, or more impoverished, the city needs to evaluate what that means for the neighbourhood resources and the people who use them.”

The Antibes motion was put forward at a city council meeting on March 9 by Councillor James Pasternak and referred to the city’s community development and recreation committee. If the committee adopts it, the motion will go to city council on April 12 for final approval.

“Ward 10 has not been given its fair share of resources,” said Pasternak.

“We have only one small library, one covered hockey arena, and we face major challenges when it comes to the revitalization of our parks. This is what I was elected to do: to put resources into the community.”

He said the community centre, in the Westminster neighbourhood near Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue should have been declared a priority centre long ago.

BIA proposed to revitalize shops on Wilson Avenue

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10:42 am

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Councillor James Pasternak, and a handful of local business owners, want to fight competition from the Yorkdale Shopping Centre development by forming a business improvement area (BIA) that would revitalize part of Wilson Avenue.

A BIA is a group of commercial owners and tenants within a district that works with the city to keep the area safe, competitive and appealing to shoppers.

Though Pasternak said the idea was on his mind before Yorkdale — just north of the stretch — announced plans for a $220 million expansion, he said a facelift for the neighbourhood may keep patrons shopping locally.

“The area needs to be more robust and aggressive, to keep shoppers in the area,” he said, of the stretch between Dufferin and Bathurst Streets.

With increased density coming to the area, he said, “We want those people to walk east [to Wilson Avenue], rather than get in their car and go to Yorkdale.”

Many of the local shops have been there for decades, including Marky’s Deli, which has been there almost 30 years. Owner Ezra Karp said it’s still early in the BIA-forming process, but he supports the idea.

“The neighbourhood is changing,” he said.

Marco Ventola, a developer with the nearby Station Condos, attended an initial meeting to discuss the issue.

“I think the councillor really would like to raise the bar on that business district,” he said. “He feels … this could keep [condo residents] supporting the businesses in the district.” Ventola thinks a BIA would provide a sense of leadership the area may not have had before. He said the stretch could benefit from a more “pleasant streetscape,” improved storefronts and some sidewalk repairs, things individual business owners may not have the time for on their own.

Pasternak said the next step is to form an official steering committee, which he hopes to have in place by May.

Controversial Downsview Park plans revealed

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10:40 am

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The Downsview Area Secondary Plan, which involves 530 hectares of land and has a long history of contention between residents and park officials, may finally be moving forward.

Councillor Maria Augimeri has deferred the issue twice at North York Community Council meetings in the past but said she believes the mayor’s office wants the issue resolved once and for all. She said an upcoming community council meeting may result in the issue being moved to city council for final approval.

A representative for Augimeri’s office said the councillor is still waiting to review the latest planning reports for the area before making a public statement about her platform.

But Augimeri did say she intends to fight for the local residents who have concerns about the development, including infra-structure problems, flooding, congestion and loss of parkland.

“The development of this federally owned land has been on the table for nearly 20 years,” she said. “I have been with the community every step of the way to ensure that they not only get a voice at the table, but also that it is heard.”

The plan calls for more than 600 housing units on the former military base, plus shops, restaurants and an artificial lake, but Augimeri says many locals aren’t happy with the potential density coming to the area. City of Toronto planning staff have collaborated back and forth with the park’s board of directors in recent years, but an agreement with North York Community Council has never been reached.

“It’s déjà vu all over again,” said David Soknacki, chair of Parc Downsview Park Inc.’s board of directors, of the council meeting.

“The whole point of getting this approved is so we can give back to the community.” He said plans for the area include making it “pedestrian-friendly,” including a promenade, a bandstand and a running track.

Future of local heritage home still up in the air

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10:40 am

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While last month Toronto City Council rejected an application to demolish the historic home once owned by Maclean’s magazine founder John Bayne Maclean, the current owner of the property has made an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

The Georgian Revival home at 7 Austin Terr. was built in 1910 by architect John Lyle, who also designed Union Station. John Todd, president of 1626829 Ontario Ltd., plans to build a rental unit and eight townhouses on the site. Coun. Joe Mihevc confirmed that Todd has appealed to the OMB, though no date has been set. “We have a very strong case,” said Mihevc. “Even the province has weighed in on the importance of this property.”

Mihevc said Todd first applied for a building permit in the fall of 2009, which is needed before a demolition permit can be granted. Regarding the application, Mihevc said the developer cited that only minor changes would be made. The permit was granted without any red flags being raised.

Dyan Kirshenbaum, an Austin Terrace resident, said around the same time, the owner took an additional step to destroy heritage value. She said workers started removing heritage elements of the house, such as a portico and sashes, without a demolition permit. “They did not get that the history around the building was even more important than the actual structure of those pieces,” she said. “They didn’t even try to understand what it is to be in a neighbourhood with history.”

Locals notified the province and the city about the destruction. The minister of culture issued a stop order in December 2009. In January, the home was placed on the city’s inventory of heritage properties, meaning the owner must receive city approval before heritage elements can be demolished. According to Mihevc, the designation is key in the argument that will be presented to the OMB in support of preserving the building.

Todd was unavailable for comment.