Nipissing First Nation-born artist Que Rock is a traditional Anishnawbe graffiti artist.

And Lakeshore Arts is fortunate to have him as an artist facilitator at their Home Summer Camp, which runs from August 10 to 14.

“I take interactions of my daily life, the city I live in and my Anishnawbe culture,” Rock says. “I use it as a challenge for me to try out new styles and incorporate new subject matter.”

His love of nature and animals is ‘prominent through my work because of its deep meaning and connection to life.’

“I aspire for my artistic evolution to form a distinct look and feeling,” says the artist. “I call my style, ‘making the woodlands dance.”

Rock started life learning about his cultures’ teachings, approaches and ceremonies through visual healing art forms.

“Painting, dancing, leatherwork and story-telling were taught through traditional Ojibway and Odawa ways,” the artist notes. “My mentors encouraged me to be creative and to not let anything go to waste with what I share in art.”

He points out that his work has matured from quick pieces into large street art projects and canvas work.

“I focus on unique painting styles and techniques to create smooth transitions of colour, blending abstract form with realism and expressionism,” says the graffiti artist.

His goal is to portray the teachings of his ancestors, sacred geometry and shapes in all his art forms.

“My art has allowed me to work closely with art directors, city officials and corporate clients to make their visions come to life,” Roc continues. “I love travelling and seeing art and I love to paint and have people enjoy my work.”

The owner of Dakota’s Sports Bar and Grill and other area pub owners are all smiles as their COVID-suffering venues begin bouncing back to generate income this time from their curbside patios.

Dozens of clubs, pubs and other venues have taken advantage of a CaféTO program, in which patios are added on road or walkways, so extra customers can be served to make up for physical distancing.

With indoor dining still prohibited in Toronto, the patios have been a lifeline for restaurants that previously had limited, take-out or non-existent outdoor dining space in which to serve customers.

Dakota’s patio has been packed as patrons escape from the simmering heat to enjoy a pint or some food.

“Business has picked up a lot with the patio,” says owner Darlene Simpson. “People love being outdoor in a patio when it is this hot.”

It is the first time since April, when COVID-19 struck, that many of the bar owners feel they can make their bills again considering some weeks were rough without only takeout available.

Simpson is pleased that the Lakeshore Village BIA pushed and were able to get many licensed clubs or bars a patio. Many businesses have picked up due to the nice weather as well.

The City of Toronto is still working to provide some local restaurant and bar operators access to public space on city streets and sidewalks to assist with expanding outdoor seating capacity while maintaining physical distancing requirements.

The normal café permitting and application process is intended to be paused in order to provide this expedited opportunity for café operators, City officials say.

There are dozens of the patios to help small restaurants along Lake Shore Blvd. W.

Chris Korwin Kucyznski, Chair, of the Lake Shore Village BIA, says most bar owners seem to like the CafeTO program because it offers then an opportunity to earn some badly-needed funds.

Authorities out in force to curb COVID-19, the lighting of fires and partying.

Police say they’re stepping up their fight this weekend against illegal bonfires, alcohol parties and virus spreading at Humber Bay Shores and other lakefront hot spots.

Police, bylaw, parking enforcement and others are working to crack down on the shoreline lighting of fires and partying to discourage the spread of COVID-19.

There has been many complaints filed by area residents to police and Councillor Mark Grimes detailing the loud and rowdy late-night behaviour that can cause fires.

Officers will man entrances of some of parks and vehicles leaving after 7 p.m. will be able to do so freely.

Police were out in force earlier this month to step up enforcement and help with concerns surrounding fireworks, bonfires, litter, disorderly conduct and a lack of regard for public health directives.

Members of Toronto Police, Bylaw, Toronto Fire Services, Parking Enforcement and Parks staff are hoping to get the message out that visitors must be respectful of the parks, the surrounding communities, and must continue to follow public health orders.

Parking will be restricted beginning at 7:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday at Humber Bay Park West and East, and Marie Curtis Park.

Staff will be present in Colonel Sam Smith Park to deter illegal parking and manage any arising issues. Parking Enforcement will also be out to address illegal parking on surrounding streets, but if you see a parking issue that requires attention please call 416-808-2222.

A New Toronto businessman is lucky to be alive after suffering a bad six-foot fall from a ladder outside his paint store.

John Miele, owner of Harvey’s Paint and Wallpaper, shows large bruises to his feet, arm and other areas, after his step-ladder managed to break a plastic sewer clean-out cap on which it stood flat on the surface outside his 2908 Lake Shore Blvd. W., which is one of the oldest paint stores in the area.

The plastic cap allows City workers access to clean the sewers.

High-quality video from a security camera shows Miele setting up then climbing the ladder as he performed some work outside the front door.

Minutes later the video showed the ladder collapsing as the popular paint seller takes a solid fall to the ground. He laid there briefly in shock.

“I was stunned and it hurt a lot,” he says as he shows scars of the fall. “I was in pain for weeks and I am still in pain.”

He has since filed a complaint with the City of Toronto, which led to a City crew exchanging the demolished plastic cap for a large metal one, which appears to be solid.

Miele says over the years the City has had to replace the plastic caps, which he claims become weak when salted over the winter.

“All the plastic caps in the area here should be replaced with metal ones,” he swears. “We have complained many times and it could be a senior next time.’

He said no one would have believed his story or witnessed his fall if it was not for the video.

Toronto Police say they will be out in full force this weekend to enforce bylaws that ban bonfires being lit on our lakefront parks by unruly visitors.

Police say dozens of residents, many who are drinking alcohol, are lighting the illegal fires along our lakeside parks, which stretches from Humber Bay Park Shores to Col. Samuel Smith and west to Marie Cutis Park.

Some of the fires are left burning all night or can spread, police say.
Insp. Timothy Crone and a few of his officers on July 6 were able to visit some of the hotspots where they say “fires and disorderly behaviors are being displayed by unruly visitors.”

“Residents may not see our officers at their front window,” police say. “We are out there every day including weekend, patrolling on bike, car and on foot.”

Police say they are out there on most days with officials with Municipal Licensing Standards, Parking Enforcement educating, ticketing visitors and occasionally putting out a simmering fire with their water bottle.

They are seeking for the City to change its entry policy, where visitors are expected to pay the vehicle parking fee at the main gate for parking to not allow any cars once the allotted parking spaces are full.

Police also want parking tag and tow officials to help with the enforcement.

Officers say they will be out in full force to enforce No Alcohol, Open Fire, unpermitted tents and park time with extra help from City of Toronto, Toronto Fire and other bodies.

A number of residents have taken to social media to complain as to why police were conducting their checks in broad daylight, when the fires and rowdies come out later at night.

This pandemic has presented an opportunity for income generating households to increase savings if they are being diligent in budgeting and reviewing spending patterns.

Changes in usual personal expenditures; whether it is child care, personal grooming, entertainment, car related expenses – gasoline and insurance, vacations and to certain extent reduced business attire.

The question will be, what to do with this additional cash? To conserve, invest or debt reduction are all viable options.

Reduction or paying down debt should take precedence over other options, assuming that one has access to some sort of emergency fund. Credit card debt should be addressed primarily followed by car loans, PLCs, and lastly HELOCs and prepayments on mortgage balance (if possible).

Investing is another option which will have various instruments available to you. GICs (negligible interest rates), stocks and bonds (if one has the risk tolerance to take the ups and downs like we are currently witnessing), gold and precious metals (no yields or dividends but has its benefits, good investment for small amount of portfolio).

These investments can be made through direct holding, ETFs and mutual funds. Evaluate all the options, know the fees and associated with each, and ask your financial advisor to see which is the right option for you.

Conserving cash is important as well, it can be kept as part of an emergency fund or it can be kept on hand for future investment opportunities.  Each person’s unique situation will help dictate what is the best financial plan for themselves.

I strongly advise against spending hard earned cash on superfluous items.  An example of this could be trading your car for a newer or better one, especially if your current car is in working order.

These are trying times as the economy is going to go through significant changes.  More people working from homes, less large gatherings, less need for office space, cruises and travel business will be reduced etc.

Almost all industries will be affecting by these changes so we need to recognize and adapt our lifestyles to these continuing changes.

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 and Wellness with ADRIANNE SZABO-PAYNE

As the world slowly starts to reopen, and we are given tidbits of permission to get back out there, it is evident that what once was, may never be again. So, it’s within ourselves to establish our new “normal”
and resume our lives in a way that will enrich our health; mind, body and spirit.
I will be the first to admit that COVID-19 lock-down has been a doozy. As a small business owner of a boutique health club, we are standing at a light that is still very much red and the countdown counter is still
in the high double digits. But are we going to let worry of wonder get the best of us?
Not a chance! So, what can we do while we wait for the light to turn green?
One thing we can be thankful for is that this pandemic descended upon us as winter was turning to spring. The promise of warm weather on the horizon means that we can be outside and maintain the required physical distancing to reduce the spread while still enjoying the world.
If you’re missing your workouts at the gym, there are plenty of substitutes outside that can both keep your fitness level up, help to clean out the mental fog and reduce the spread by maintain distance.
There is the obvious – walking, jogging, riding your bike, or roller-blading. There is also a ton of free and paid workouts on the Internet. Many instructors are trying to keep busy and build a following by offering live virtual classes through Facebook and Instagram live. If these are not for you, consider starting a garden at your home, or joining a community
garden in your neighbourhood.
As the daughter of an avid gardener, my green thumb was initially brown, much to my mother’s chagrin. However, over time I found the therapeutic and physical benefits of gardening. Planting something, nurturing it,
and watching it turn into something beautiful or nourishing provides incredible reward for the soul. It creates a sense of pride and accomplishment.
And if you decide to build a vegetable garden, which can even be done in a small space with creative vertical containers, it’s an opportunity to not only grow food for your family, but the abundance can be shared with
neighbours and friends, which builds great community.
However you establish your new “normal,” do it with the intention to bring about a positive change.

Adrianne Szabo-Payne can be found at
Monkey Tree Fitness & Wellness located
at 800 Islington Ave. As a certified
holistic nutrition and wellness
practitioner, her passion for helping
others find their path to wellness drives
her to bring unique tools and methods for
healing to her community. Connect with
us @monkeytreefitness on Facebook or
#monkeytreefitnesswellness on
Instagram, or on our website at
www.monkeytreewellness.com