The South Etobicoke News

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

Brian can now hear the lovely singing of birds with new hearing aid

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AREA RESIDENT Brian Fortner received a new hearing aid in a Hearing Life Hearing Campaign and now loves to listen to the singing of songbirds. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

Life-long area resident Brian Fortner had forgotten of one of life’s pleasures, the singing of songbirds, until he recently received a new hearing aid.

Fortner, 70, is a recipient of a Campaign for Better Hearing, contributed by Hearing Life, at 2905 Lake Shore Blvd. W., which sponsored the event and donated his tiny hearing aid, which is valued around $6,000.

“I received a flyer in the mail advertising a free hearing test,” he says. “I obtained a test and didn’t realize that my hearing was failing.”

Fortner at that time could not fully hear or appreciated the singing birds.

“I can now hear the birds chirping in the trees for the first time in years and didn’t realize how loud they are and how nice they sing,” he smiles. “I can even hear the neighbours complaining and talking. Before I couldn’t hear that.”

The deluxe Oticon OPN S hearing fits in the palm of a hand and is barely detectable when worn.

“It is light, comfortable and has changed my life,” Fortner insists. “Before the sounds were muffled and distant.”

The area resident, who at one time worked on the Motel Strip, near Park Lawn Rd., and Lake Shore  Blvd. W.,  didn’t realize how loud he tuned his television and can now hear instruments he never heard being played in his favourite tunes.

Hearing Instrument Specialist Sandra Przepiorka, a clinician, nominated Fortner for a Campaign for Better Hearing, contributed by Hearing Life, which meant he stood to obtain a free hearing aid if he was selected.

“He is very lucky and was the recipient of the free devices,” Przepiorka says. “Hearing Life Canada offers free hearing tests to anyone who requests them.”

The company says nearly half of all Canadians over 60-years-old suffer from hearing loss and are urged to obtain free hearing tests and risk-free hearing aid trials nationwide.

They point to a recent report by The Lancet, one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals, which found that people in midlife, ages 45 to 65, have nearly twice the risk of developing dementia due to hearing loss, relative to those without hearing loss.

Their research shows connections between hearing loss and other serious health problems like social withdrawal and isolation, depression, and mental fatigue

Most of the nearly 250 HearingLife centres are open with COVID-19 safety measures in place and you can book a free hearing test by calling 1-888-927-0548 or visit www.hearinglife.ca.

 

Local musician Roger Zuraw strikes a chord for the Veterans

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As we remember our veterans, local musician Roger Zuraw is reminding the community about an award-winning song he has written called “Remembrance Day (From the Lakeshore).”

Zuraw says he wrote the tune in a contest featuring Lakeshore artists some years ago.

“About 20,000 contestants from all over the world submitted their songs to this competition and my tune came out with an Honourable Mention credit,” he recalls.

He was inspired by a photograph of Vimy Ridge Parkette, at 2456 Lake Shore Blvd. W., and visited the parkette to obtain a ‘personal contact and feel of this spot.’

Zuraw says his song is about a “World War II Veteran from this area who contributed in the freeing of Holland from the Nazis, coming back to Canada with his English war-bride, raising a family and eventually becoming a president of Legion 101.”

This song appears on Roger Zuraw’s CD called “Remembering The Lakeshore,” which you can listen and download for a small fee from Amazon Music and Apple Music.

The musicians on the song includes; Dougal Bichan on the bagpipes, Alex Radeff on electric guitar, bass and keyboards and Zuraw on acoustic guitar and vocals.

Zuraw has been playing gigs in area bars for more than 20-years and claims to have played in every live music tavern in Mimico, New Toronto and Long Branch back in the day.

Calls by Councillor Holyday to keep prized Estate Lots from developers

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City of Toronto officials are being asked to preserve large Etobicoke Estate Lots to prevent developers from snapping them up for their land to build condos.

Deputy Mayor Stephen Holyday, the Councillor of Ward 2, Etobicoke Centre, on October 7 wrote a letter requesting that Etobicoke York Community Council ask City Planning to identify and protect residential estate lots, with frontages of more than 66-feet, from “being severed through consent applications, thereby changing the character of the area.”

“Etobicoke is home to very unique neighbourhoods which contain clusters of large wide lots which could be called Estate Lots’” according to Holyday. “When visiting these places, there is no doubt of the history and that the intent of the designers was deliberate in their quantity, pattern, organization and spacing of the lots and buildings.”

He wrote that ‘over decades planners and developers implemented deliberate and calculated visions to create places that we call home.’

“Attributes which define our neighbourhoods include the pattern of lot subdivision, green and open spaces, size, massing and building setbacks,” according to Holyday. “When visiting an adequately protected neighbourhood, the intended experience of the place designers is still felt today.”

He said ‘residents choose to live in them because of these desirable attributes, and understandably support measures to maintain them.’

Some examples of our Estate Lot neighbourhoods include Humber Heights, Lorraine Gardens, Eatonville, Kingsview Village, Humber Valley, Princess Anne Manor, Thorncrest and The Kingsway.

“Despite the zoning standards, these neighbourhoods are constantly under threat by speculative developers who seek to sever the wide lots and make a profit in the buoyant real estate market,” Holyday warned. ”Our current planning policies make it difficult to distinguish a legitimate infill development of underutilized land from a direct attack on a neighbourhood’s character.”

He said ‘our system to permit consents allows for persistent attacks which erode Estate Lot clusters over time, and may eventually lead to their collapse.’

Holyday said other municipalities in Ontario have taken steps to recognize the value of Estate Lot neighbourhoods and have ‘implemented tools to preserve them, and help protect them from speculative development and the incremental loss of their integrity over time.’

This motion was considered by Etobicoke York Community Council on October 8 and adopted without amendment. It now goes before a full Council vote.

Musician Zuraw has performed in every bar on the Lakeshore

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Long-time area musician Roger Zuraw, whose claim to fame is that he has performed at every bar on the Lakeshore, has released two new discs for his loyal fans.

The popular guitarist, who is known for ‘his pleasant songs about the virtues of Toronto multiculturalism,’ is hoping residents will like his latest CDs ‘Long ago Lakeshore Ramble,” and another of Polish hits, for those who are familiar with his tunes.

Zuraw has been performing in area bars, taverns and other venues for years. Music lovers say beneath his innocuous exterior lurks the ‘raw, passionate heart of a man who’s seen life from both sides, as his songs, such as “Homeless Man” reveals.

He is known for his breakout hits Mimico Jail, Headboard Boogie and I gotta hunch.

“There used to be many more live music venues in the neighbourhood,” he worries. “There was always work in the bars once the people liked you and the band.”

He says much of the work for musicians began drying up before COVID-19, which totally killed the business.

Zuraw also has a line of ‘You’ve gotta love the Shore’ t-shirts for sale.

He has written more than 60 songs over the years, which he sells online, at shows or in the community.

“At one time there were many more musicians like me in the area,” Zuraw frets of past days, when the nightlife in the area was flourishing. “It is hard now to earn a living in this game.”

His discs and t-shirts are about $25 each and you can reach him by email at rogerzurawsong@yahoo.ca.

He will meet you in the community with the items.

 

Keeping busy with things to do in our community

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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 work- shops Harvesting 101, August 10-14 Food Sustainability. Contact christianaz@lampchc.org

COACH CORIN IS BACK AT LAMP with workshops on
Wednesdays August 5, 12 ,19 and 26 at 3 pm. Coach Corin De Sousa is a graduate of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program and the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program from the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute at
Women’s College. This series will focus on mindfulness meditation on ZOOM. Call or email Jasmin Dooh to register jasmind@lampchc.org 416 252 6471

AUGUST 6 – GENTLE GIANTS: A BIKE TOUR OF GIANT
TREES in Long Branch from 8 a.m. To 10 a.m. Meet at Long Branch Park, 245 Lake Promenade, and learn how trees grow and their benefits to the community. If you live in Long Branch
and want to get the trees on your property inventoried email
Trees40@LBNA.ca

AUGUST 9 – JAMAICA INDEPENDENCE DAY
VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the St. Margarets’ Church and Black Lives Matter Canada. Tickets $20 at smnt.ca Speakers Olympian and Head Coach Tamara Tatham, of U of T basketball and Rev. Michael Blair, Executive Minister, United Church of Canada. Visit
stmargaretsnewtoronto@ gmail.com or contact 416-259-2659.

TENANTS RIGHTS WORKSHOPS and eviction
prevention August 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. on ZOOM. The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation will be reviewing their latest housing rights resource, Eviction Prevention and Navigating the Landlord and Tenant Board for Community Workers. For more contact LAMP.

THE LAKESHORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ADVOCACY ACTION group continues to meet.
Contact jasmind@lampchc.org.

THE ETOBICOKE PRAISE CENTRE YOUTH OUTREACH is seeking performers for its online Showcase to be
broadcasted August 14 at 6 p.m. Please send in your audition video by Au- gust 8. Send to 416-252-2463 or by email at
epc_cogop@outlook.com

LAMP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE deadline for their Awards of Merit nominations is August 21. Also Emergency Food take out meals offered Monday through Saturday from
9:30 am to 11:30 am through LAMP’s adult drop-in program. Their food relief voucher program continues

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 food bank.

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

MOVIE NIGHTS AT SHERWAY GARDENS runs every weekend until August 15 as a parking lot at Sherway
transforms into an outdoor movie theatre if you’re looking for a fun family or a date night. Tickets are first come first served at $10 a car. Come see movies for all ages. For
more info and to buy tickets https://www.cfshops.com/

Some top patios and meeting spots in our community

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Darlene Simpson is doing a lot better these days.
The owner of Dakota’s Sports Bar & Grill, at 2814 Lake Shore Blvd. W., is applauding Stage 3 and the return of inside dining.
But on this hot day customers want the sun and she is welcoming them to her large roadside patio she shares with Halibut House Fish and Chips, which is part of the City’s CafeTO program, which is credited with helping
many area companies stay afloat.
More people were ducking under the tents for a cold
drink to escape from today’s heat.
“It has been a long time since we have had this many
people in here,” Simpson says. “The outdoor patio has
made a tremendous difference for us.”
At hers, and all the outdoor patios along Lake Shore Blvd. W., people are ordering meals and glad to be outside again with their friends.
At The Big Guy’s Little Coffee Shop, at 2861 Lake Shore Blvd. W., the patio has helped the ‘Big Guy’ stay in business as the outdoor area always has customers.

Ruben Pires, of Delicia Bakery and Pastry, at 2864 Lake
Shore Blvd. W., is bustling as his side patio is always filled
with coffee and snack lovers.“We had seen about 33 bakeries and loved this area right away,” recalls Pires. “We loved the people and the sense of community that exists in the area.”
In Long Branch residents love T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug, at
3481 Lake Shore Blvd. W., which boasts a large back patio
and a loyal following due to the good food and vibes.
Also rocking is Southside Johnny’s Bar & Grill, at 3653
Lake Shore Blvd. W., which features a great side patio that is
popular with locals.
Just west at the Pulcinella Ristorante and Wine Bar, at
3687 Lake Shore Blvd. W. Staff say their business has
picked up in Stage 3 and with the opening of inside dining and their street patio that seems to be always packed.

Many local residents love Sloppy Joe’s Bar & Grill, at 3527 Lake Shore Blvd. W., which has developed quite a loyal following who love the chicken wings and other pub eats. The
bar which has its popular outdoor patio in front of the building, has installed another that runs along its side on Thirty Third St.

Another area favourite is Timothy’s Pub, at 344 Brown’s Line, which is known for its live music and loyal Alderwood following, who love the food and atmosphere.

Indigenous artists sought to perform at summer camp

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If you are an Indigenous artist, this may be an opportunity for you.

Lakeshore Arts is seeking to engage and hire two Indigenous artists for a week-long virtual At Home Summer Camp.

Artists are responsible for facilitating activities of their choosing and all interactions with campers will be virtual to uphold social distancing rules, according to Lakeshore Arts.

Responsibilities will include preparation work leading up to the camp, as well as hosting virtual workshops with youth over online video conferencing applications (Zoom) throughout the week of the camp.

The goal of Lakeshore Arts is to bring Indigenous arts and culture into the camper’s summer experience. If you are interested contact communityprograms@lakeshorearts.ca

 

New plan to convert Campbell Soup site for other use

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Campbell Soup has been in our community for almost 90-years and plans are being made to reconvert the old soup plant to last another century.

Officials of QuadReal Property Group, of Vancouver, B.C., on July 4 filed a Site Plan Approval Application to Community Planning Section of the Etobicoke York Community Council for the redevelopment of the former Campbell Soup site at 60 Birmingham Ave.

The plant was a major soup producer and employed hundreds or area residents when constructed in 1931. It brought crops from many area farmers and hired generations of families.

The site was purchased by QuadReal in 2018, who has been busy designing new plans.

The 18.8 acre property is designated Core Employment Area, which permits a range of manufacturing, warehousing and other office type uses.

The company is planning to install three large warehouses that will provide manufacturing and office space, which can be rented out to entrepreneurs or small companies who want to be close to Toronto.

QuadReal intends to extend the ‘employment legacy and redevelop the property into a leading Class ‘A’ last-mile urban distribution and logistics facility’,’ the proposal says.

The company says a “rapid densification of Toronto has put stress on supply chains seeking to meet increasing urban demand from traditional suburban and rural distribution hubs.”

It said evolving consumer expectations in terms of “just-in-time” delivery and e-commerce has fueled tenant requirements to locate closer to their urban consumer bases, reducing total transportation costs and minimizing variability of delivery times.

The plan is calling for three massive single storey warehouse buildings, two of which are connected by 36,954-square-metres of floor area along with the retention of portions of the existing 1931 and 1944 building facades along Birmingham St.

“The development has been designed with strong urban design principles to ensure contextually responsive integration with the surrounding community,” the plan says.

The architect says the proposed development has been designed with strong urban design principles to ensure contextually responsive integration with the surrounding community, particularly to the sensitive residential uses to the east and south of the site.

QuadReal is a global real estate investment, operating and development company. QuadReal manages the real estate and mortgage programs of British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), one of Canada’s largest asset managers with a $153.4 billion portfolio.

QuadReal manages a $37.6 billion portfolio spanning 23 cities in 17 countries

No hearing dates has been set at this time. The plan has to be voted on by City Council.

Etobicoke Community Concert Band silenced by COVID

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Some members of the Etobicoke Community Concert Band got together on Canada Day to celebrate the country’s birthday but may have to wait a while yet to celebrate their own. Helen, John and Dave (left to right) gathered at Applewood Shaver House to perform a version of O’ Canada on the steps.

It may be a while yet before the band is able to do a full show because of COVID 19. The COVID restrictions affect rehearsals as well as performances.

The popular and well-known band had to cancel shows in March and May as well as its summer concert in the park series.

The next scheduled show is October 30 when the band hopes to celebrate its 25th anniversary but that show may also have to be cancelled if there are still COVID restrictions in effect.

You can get updated information on the band at https://www.eccb.ca/

 

Party and hang your flags up high on Canada Day

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Fly your flags high and be proud!

Merchants in the Lakeshore Village BIA are urging residents and others get out and display their Canadian flags tomorrow to honour our front-line emergency workers who show their true colours every day in battling COVID-19.

The BIA’s campaign calls on residents to shop locally and express thanks to the many area front-line workers by putting up Canadian flags or a drawing of a flag on their home or store windows.

“Say thank you to our front-line workers by putting up a Canadian flag or drawing of our flag,” says Kris Korwin-Kuczynski, Chair of the Lakeshore Village BIA. “Let’s show our heroes some love and respect.”

The BIA is also lobbying to have a public holiday declared in honour of the Canadian flag. February 15 was declared the National Flag of Canada Day in 1965.

This year most in-person events were cancelled due to the virus.

The CN Tower will be celebrating Canada Day with a 15-minute light show beginning at 10 p.m.

The fireworks will be streamed at www.cntower.ca and accompanied with a playlist featuring music by a diverse group of Canadian artists simulcast on CHUM FM, 104.5.

There is also a virtual all-star program in which residents will see over 50 artists perform, including Haviah Mighty, Gordon Lightfoot, Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Choir! Choir! Choir!, Ali Hassan, Cris Derksen, The Next Generation Leahy and more.

An emphasis on Toronto culture is part of the event, with some performances happening both live and pre-recorded from venues around the city like the newly renovated El Mocombo.

Canada Day 2020 livestreams will be available on July 1 beginning at 9 a.m.​ on YouTube.

Don’t forget your downloadable Celebration Kits are also available for free and include Canada-themed crafts, games, recipes, outdoor activities and more.