The South Etobicoke News

Serving Humber * Mimico * Lakeshore Village * Long Branch * Alderwood

Metrolinx moves on 15-minute service and Long Branch Go station

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Finally work on the long-awaited Long Branch GO Station is moving ahead.

Metrolinx’s GO Expansion is working on its goal of 15-minute rail service on the Lakeshore West line and is upgrading its rail network to enable electrified and fully accessible service, in addition to making much-needed upgrades to the Long Branch GO Station.

Metrolinx, in an update, says the work on the Long Branch Go Station will be completed by 2023 and when completed it will be replaced with a new station building.

The company said there will be two new east and west tunnels with elevator and stair access to platform level.

There will be revisions to the existing parking lot, including a passenger pick-up and drop-off area, bike lanes, pedestrian walkways and bike shelters.

The station will have barrier-free washrooms and upgrades to communication, mechanical and electrical systems. There will also be improved access from Edgeware Dr.

It will feature an accessible west entrance building with a passenger pick-up and drop-off area.

In addition, there will be a rehabilitation of existing platforms, including snow melt systems, heated shelters, elevators, stairs and integrated platform canopies.

And provisions for electrification, including grounding and bonding and Overhead Contact System.

Metrolinx is promising to deliver “better service for you and your family for everything you need from your transit system.”

“The Lakeshore West Go expansion will expand your possibilities,” the company says.

They promise 15-minute service during the day between Toronto and Burlington, and new hourly service to and from Hamilton seven days a week.

Weekly trips on the GO network are increasing from about 1,500 weekly to nearly 6,000, Metrolinx promises.

“Even more residents can enjoy the convenience and seamless journey of our transit system,” it states. “We’re making it easier for you to choose transit first.”

The Lakeshore West line delivers two-way, all-day service seven days a week, from Toronto to Aldershot. It delivers rush-hour service from Hamilton to Toronto in the morning and back again in the afternoon. They have been operating a weekend service between Toronto and Niagara all year round.

 

Get your dancing shoes out for festival at Amos Waites Park

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Do you like to dance!

This foot-moving event takes place on September 13 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Amos Waites Park.

Dance Together Festival 2020 invites you to move, shake and boogie safely through the “Dance On Map” at the park, at 2441 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

Organizers say there will be a vibrant collaboration between dance and visual artists as Mimico Square is transformed in to an open-air dance space waiting for your nimble feet.

So get your tap dance or other type of dancing shoes. Then pick a pathway on the square and follow the steps, or make up your own dance along the way.

Go any time and get your dance on!  You too could be like Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers.

Share your own #danceonmap videos on Instagram and tag @dancetogetherfestival for a chance to win cool art and dance prizes!

Protestors march with signs outside proposed New Toronto shelter

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More than 100 area residents held a noisy protest outside the proposed site of a New Toronto homeless shelter while calling on City Council to find another spot and not one in a prime commercial location.

Area residents called for the shelter to be relocated or for smaller shelters to be created across the city rather that the use of so-called ‘mega-shelters.’

“This is a primary commercial site on our main strip and it is not the right place for a shelter,” says Vashti King, of the New Toronto Ratepayers Association, which organized the September 3 demonstration. “We support the shelter and propose alternate solutions.”

The group is proposing that Councillors create smaller shelters across the city rather than treat people in “mega-shelters.”

Toronto City Council are slated to vote to purchase the 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W. properties in a virtual meeting on September 30. A sale signals a shelter may be coming.

King says more than 300 anti-shelter letters have been sent to Mayor John Tory and others and more than 1,200 area residents voted against the proposal in an online survey. A slightly higher amount voted online for the plan.

Residents warn that there are about 14 social agencies in the area and ‘enough is enough.’

Rattan Gandhi, Treasurer of the Lakeshore Village BIA, was encouraged by the turnout of residents who showed up to voice their concerns.

“The community is very much concerned about this issue,” Gandhi says. “You can just see that by the turnout of people, which is very encouraging.

He believes property taxes may rise since the lack of taxes paid by the shelter will be passed on to local residents and businesses.

Debbie, a community worker, says there are long waits to access the local social agencies for people needing help.

“There are many families who cannot afford to pay rent,” Debbie says. “It is so bad that we are now giving away the highest amount of food vouchers that we ever have.”

News of the shelter, which will have rooms from COVID-19 patients, have split the community with businesses and homeowners calling on Council to relocate the facility.

The site is the former BiWay store and empty office building near Lake Shore Blvd. W. near Eighth St.

Activities and services taking place in our community

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Here are some of the many events taking place in our community.

–GOOD FOOD MARKET OPEN EVERY WEDNESDAY from 4
p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Lakeshore Village Park. Get fresh fruits and vegetables
at affordable prices. The Gardens Lakeshore is hosting several workshops Harvesting 101,
Contact christianaz@lampchc.org
–JEAN AUGUSTINE CENTRE FOOD TO TABLE PROJECT for young women in the area experiencing food insecurity due to COVID19. You can qualify for a monthly $50 gift card. Registration opens the first Monday of the month and you will be notified of pick up date. Program runs until December. Email the Centre at info@jeanaugustinecentre.ca or visit them at jeanaugustinecentre.ca
–HAVEN ON THE QUEENSWAY HAS SHUT MOST of its programs and services
due to COVID 19 but will continue to serve its food bank users by appointment and pick-up at their 1533 The Queensway office. Call 416-640-2005 to make arrangements to
access the Haven foodbank.
–MOST PROGRAMS AT STOREFRONT HUMBER, at 2445 Lake Shore Blvd.
W., are cancelled with only essential services, like personal care, support
or respite provided. For more call them at 416-259-4207 or visit sfh@storefronthumber.ca
–SENIORS CLASS FINDING PEACE IN CHORES sign up for September 17 Zoom
talk taking place at Stonegate Community Health Centre or via Stonegate at 10 a.m. For
more info call 416-231- 7070 ext, 239. The Centre is located at 10 Neighbourhood Lane, Unit
201.
–SEPT. 14 – 15 TWO DAY FOODIE EVENT at Cloverdale Mall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Rain or
shine at the North parking lot. Free event with lots of food trucks, celebrity
chefs Rob Gentile, Grant van Gameren, Cory Vitiello and Shahir Massoud. Lots for the kids and aspiring chefs to do. Visit  info:http://bit.ly/RELISHTheFoodieEvent2019
–SEPT. 17, LAMP COMMUNITY HEALTH Centre’s 43rd Virtual Annual General meeting
at 7 p.m. On Zoom.“Stronger Together” Partnerships and Collaborations Lowering
The Risk Together to Reduce COVID-19 spread. Achieving community health and
well-being together. To register for the virtual AGM link call 416-252-6471 by Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.
–SEPT. 19 LAMP AND STONEGATE CHC hosts a Virtual Bike Maintenance
Clinic, with Repair Cafe, at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom. Learn how to properly
inflate your tires, fix your chain, brake and more. To register call 416-231-7070 ext. 307.
–SEPT. 19 PUBLIC PARK PICNIC from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Col. Samuel Smith
Park, Mask required and social distancing. Get some fresh air and meet your neighbours.
-SEPT. 28 ETOBICOKE CAMERA CLUB presents virtual session with photographer Joe
Desjardins as he presents Crazy About Wildlife Photography. Tickets $10 for non-members through eventbrite.ca – purchase tickets from the ECC Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/etobcc. For the full fall
schedule or to join the club go to http://etobicokecameraclub.org.
–SEPT. 11 – 13 COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP DAYS. Please join the Lakeshore Village BIA as they work to clean up the community. Cleaning equipment available free at 10 a.m.
on Sept. 11 in front of JobStart, at Islington Ave., and Lake Shore Blvd. W.
–EMERGENCY FOOD TAKE OUT MEALS continues to be offered Monday
through Saturday from 9:30 am to 11:30 am through LAMP’s adult drop-in program. Group programs are closed. Located at 185 Fifth St.
–SEPTEMBER AT LAMP IS GREAT to boost your wellness journey with another free wellness series to get you through these uncertain times. There will be four Zoom workshops
on breath work, strengthening moves, meditations and encouragement. Wellness
specialist Mary Craig has been working in the mental health field for more than 20 years and is a certified instructor in Yoga and Qigong. Mary will help with your wellness needs. Call LAMP to register at 416-252-6471.
–SEPTEMBER 6 LABOUR CARAVAN AND FOOD DRIVE to help migrant farm
workers in Leamington farms who are affected by COVID-19. Seeking
non-perishable food items. Sponsored by PSAC Toronto Racially Visible Committee. To
donate mail rvctoronto@gmail.com.

Increasing your money and wealth with Rattan

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The colour of the leaves begins to turn and the days are becoming shorter and
cooler, a sign that summer is approaching its conclusion and that it is
time to start preparing for your 2020 Tax Return.
Covid has brought about some major changes to individuals and families
daily living and these changes may potentially impact tax filing for the year
2020 and beyond.
Working from home, you may feel the need for a larger accommodation. Here
is where an RRSP can assist greatly.
Contribute as much as you can (within your contribution limit) and then use
your RRSP funds, via the Home Buyer’s Plan to use towards a down
payment and get a tax relief in the year of the contribution.
Covid has also created havoc in some specific industries and many are in a
position where they must enhance their skills and/or education, to reach the
position or income desired. Here too, an RRSP maybe the answer. Contribute
and then use the RRSP for the Lifelong Learning Program and get a Tax Relief
in the year of the contribution.
In some households Covid has increased the savings due to reduced
living expenses. Set aside these monies for the future in the form of
contributions to an RRSP and/or TFSA.
If you are working from home, get your employer to provide you with a T2200
(Condition of Employment form.) Use the form within the constraints for your
2020 Tax Filing. One will need to accumulate all the documentation
namely, rent/mortgage interest or utilities.
Self-employed, commissioned employees and commission agents
should start preparing and collecting receipts. This group of people have the
most to gain and yet in my experience tend to be rather carefree in regard to
record keeping.
Here is a list of expenses that may be covered and need to be kept for record
keeping.
-Automobile: includes lease payments, gasoline, repairs and maintenance,
parking, 407, car washes, insurance and interest payments.
– Home office: Mortgage interest/ rent, utilities, property taxes (commission
agents only) and repairs and maintenance.
Rattan Gandhi is owner of Quick Refund Tax, 133 Sixth St. His opinions
stem from 15 years of experience in
helping clients in the tax area. If you
have questions, he can be reached
at 905-616-5253 or
rattangandhi@gmail.com.

Health, Wellness and reducing stress with guru Adrianne

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Back-to-school can be an extra stressful time of year, even under the most ideal circumstances. Now throw a pandemic into the mix, along with a whole lot of uncertainty, and suddenly last year’s back-to-school days seem like a long-lost dream.
For parents who are opting to keep the kids at home, for online learning, your concerns about them bringing COVID or other nasty illnesses home from school may be reduced.
However, maintaining good social contact with their friends and peers is vital to their mental and physical well-being.
For parents sending their kids back into the classroom, there may be new concerns to contend with, and some extra preparation must be accounted for.
Does your child have enough masks to last the day, and are the masks comfortable enough to wear throughout the day? Should you send hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to school?
What about lunch time and recess? Will your child comply with proper social distancing requirements to keep them and your family safe?
Whether you kids are learning from home or going back into the classroom, the reality is their immune systems will need extra support to get through these trying time.
There are a few things you can do to set your child up for a successful school year that hopefully includes fewer trips to the doctor, fewer days in bed sick for them and your entire family, and less stress overall.
To build on last month’s article on the benefits of adaptogens, here are a few adaptogenic plants that can help the body better regulate itself when faced with adverse conditions that may come from being back in the school environment.
Ashwagandha– calms the nervous system, reduces inflammation, has antioxidant and anti-tumour properties, balances the immune system, and is rejuvenating
Ginseng (American, Asian, Syberian, or the three combined) is immune boosting, antidiabetic, anticancer, and boosts memory and focus
Rhodiola – helps relieve depression and anxiety, enhances mental clarity and focus, and boosts energy.
Holy Basil (Tulsi) – protects against different kinds of stress like environmental toxins, noise and cold weather, is antimicrobial, improves memory and mental function, and helps to normalize blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol.
There are many other adaptogenic plants out there to choose from. Incorporating just a few of these amazing herbals into the daily routine, along with a whole food diet rich in colourful vegetables and healthy protein and fats, and daily physical exercise of at least 20
minutes a day, can greatly improve the health and wellness of your child and entire family.
We wish you good health and a successful school year.
Namaste.
Reach Adrianne @monkeytreefitness
on Facebook;
#monkeytreefitnesswellness on
Instagram or
www.monkeytreewellness.com

Two Sherway Gardens restaurants reopen after deep cleaning

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Deep cleaning has taken place in two restaurants at CF Sherway Gardens which have reported positive for COVID-19 cases.

The restaurants affected are the Keg and JOEY Sherway, according to Cadillac Fairview officials.

The company says their restaurants acted “quickly and responsibly,” and both have since undergone deep cleanings.

They say JOEY has already reopened following a deep-cleaning while the Keg was reopened following a similar process on Tuesday.

“CF will continue our extra cleaning of all elevator banks, food court tables, common area seating, doors and stair railings, and all other high-touch points in the complex,” says a statement from Cadillac Fairview.

“At this point in time public health has advised that no further action is required and the building can remain open for business.”

News of the infections comes one day after JOEY Yorkdale temporarily closed after becoming aware of an “isolated case” involving one of its employees.

The Yorkdale location of Foot Locker has also been closed since last week due to multiple positive cases involving its employees.

An official for Sherway Gardens says the two individuals were in JOEY and The Keg Steakhouse and was unable to confirm if they were staff or patrons.

 

Food items sought to help Leamington area farm workers

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Food donations are being sought to help Caribbean and Spanish-speaking migrant workers in the Leamington area, many who are suffering from COVID-19.

A Labour Caravan and Food Drive is taking place on September 6 to raise non-perishable food, which will be taken to the workers, who are confined to their farms.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Racially Visible Members Committee is sponsoring the drive to help the farmers, many who are in isolation.

The group says that even though the workers have tested positive for the virus they are forced to work during the quarantine, rather than self-quarantine.

“The workers are forced to work on the farm and they are not allowed to leave the premises,” the group says in an online post.

They usually have to travel some distance from the farms to the local stores or restaurants to obtain their necessities.

Those with a partially- filled pantry are being encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to the Leamington farm worker’s food drive. Please email them at rvctoronto@gmail.com.

The group will get the food the ailing farmworkers.

About 10,000 farmworkers yearly leave their families at home to travel to Ontario to work in our agricultural and dairy farms. Most are from the Caribbean, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and other countries.

Some have been coming here for 20-years or more.

The workers have been, and still are, hard hit by COVID-19 because they live and work in close quarters.

 

 

Questions raised in the hiring of executive at Lakeshore Arts

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The Board of Directors for Lakeshore Arts is being accused of skirting around their anti-Black equity policies in the recent hiring of an executive director.

The well-known arts program, in an open letter on social media, said they are engaging in an external consultant ‘who specializes in anti-oppression and anti-racism training.’

“This is the first of many steps that will need to be taken to help identify and eliminate white supremacy within Lakeshore Arts,” stated the August 31 letter signed off by the program’s Board of Directors.

It all began after an urgent August 18 letter from Natassia Morris, a former Operations Manager at Lakeshore Arts (LSA), that was signed by six other Black artists.

They claim the recent executive director’s position, which was vacant, was obtained by Ashley Watson, another white woman, despite the program’s anti-black and equality policies that was put in place last June, in which staff committed look at other nationalities for jobs and opportunities.

“We will work to ensure that racialized people attain leadership positions in our organization not only part time, temporary or entry level positions,” Morris wrote.

She complained that Watson had previously held other positions on the Board and was staff at Lakeshore Arts.

‘Your placement of …, another white woman, as the new leader of LSA was a violent action towards the Black communities that support you,” Morris’ letter stated. “It is for this reason that I as a former member of LSA management team and a Black woman (along with other artists) simply cannot remain silent.”

She wrote “the culture of silence equates to complicity, and it has created a dangerous and toxic environment for Black artists, community and non-profit workers.”

“Your placement of Ashley at the helm of your organization is rooted in white supremacist culture,” the letter alleged. “It is a vicious cycle that we have seen repeated ad nauseam.”

They accused the Arts program of harbouring racism.

“Just as anti-Black racism has been an insidious, often unacknowledged across Canada, so too your organization actively evaluate and confront how you have maintained systemic racism and oppression,” the group said. “How will you take action against those in all your operations.”

The Board said there is an “urgent need to be held accountable for our actions in order to confront and dismantle white supremacy in our organization.”

 

Public meeting into expansion application by Queensway Health Centre

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More hospital beds, good news for the community.

A virtual community consultation meeting will take place on September 9 to hear a planning application filed by 150 Sherway Dr., which is the Queensway Health Centre.

The City has received an application from the Health Centre to permit the construction of a nine-storey inpatient hospital wing addition containing 416 beds to the north of the existing Queensway Health Centre, which is part of Trillium Hospital.

The proposal, which will be heard by the Etobicoke York Community Council, also includes an eight-storey parking structure, according to documents filed.

The meeting takes place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will be accessible online or by phone only. Some registration is required and presentations can be submitted.

Hospital officials say most of the funds have been raised for the Health Centre’s expansion by the community and the work is much needed to keep up with Mississauga’s growth in upcoming years.

For more information contact Councillor Mark Grimes office at 416-397-9273 or visit toronto.ca website.