EAT WELL. BE WELL.
Featuring: Kira Bauer, Holistic Health & Wellness Coach
Supporting Local in South Etobicoke Since 2015
FREE . June 2023 . FOOD & DRINK EDITION
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
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Ice Cream FOR EVERY YOUR SOURCE FOR QUALITY CANNABIS PRODUCTS
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OPEN DAILY 11AM - 10PM 3759 Lake Shore Blvd., Etobicoke 416-551-8087
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S S E N T N I S O U R F P B U E H T N I Y T R K C A P BA P A T I 0 OP EN
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BLUE BOX Sunday mornings, (okay...most mornings), I finish a small double-double and a “Dutchie” at my local cafe. However, I don’t leave empty handed. The employees go out of their way for me to fill a 5 gallon bucket with used coffee grinds; about 40 pounds worth. There is no financial benefit for doing this, to them or the cafe. These coffee grinds were destined for the landfill but now are destined for my gardens. So far this year (by the time this magazine reaches you), I will have diverted almost ONE ton of waste from our landfills. My goal for yearend is 3 tons. Imagine if everyone were to go to some establishment and divert 3 more tons from the waste stream! I would argue that most individuals use their blue box and feel they’re doing their part. I would also argue that it’s the very least they can do. Indeed, how many paper coffee cups are pitched into the garbage or worse, onto the side of the road? Most should be brought home to be recycled!
JOHN VAN GOCH The next time you’re “thinking outside of your blue box”, please consider what more you could recycle and keep from the landfill.
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MASTHEAD FIAT LUX CONTRIBUTORS Roger Tumminieri, Publisher etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com Instagram: @etobicokelakeshorepress (416) 788-0716 Published Monthly by Fiat Lux Media All rights reserved Proudly Based In Alderwood
Kira Bauer
www.linktr.ee/kirabauer (Health & Wellness)
James Maloney, MP
www.jamesmaloney.libparl.ca (Community)
June MacDonald-Jenkins
www.humber.ca (Humber College Community Update)
Jonathan Nhan
www.curateandupgrade.ca (Wellness)
John van Goch
johnvgoch@gmail.com (Thinking Outside The Blue Box)
Adriana Koloper
www.moyafinancial.ca (Personal Finance)
SUPPORTING LOCAL Since 2015
LIFE’S UNDERTAKING a podcast
ys represented Brad Jones’ 1971 VW Camper, which alwa adventures. ul joyf and s tion spring break, family vaca
Brad Jones, the funeral director believes this spring we’re all travelling toward new beginnings and positive potentials. You can listen to Life’s Undertaking Podcast wherever you listen. You may even hear a story or two about his Purple and Yellow VW Camper. 3080 LakeShore Blvd. W. Toronto 416.259.3705 RidleyFuneralHome.com
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The County Life is a celebration of rural life in Grey County. It aims to inspire readers to explore and discover the countryside two hours northwest of Toronto and to enjoy its natural spaces, appreciate its farming culture, and patronize its local businesses.
Support Local is all about showing big love for the local business communities in West Toronto and Midwestern Ontario. We give back to those local business owners who give so much of themselves to make these communities great places in which to live, work, and also visit!
GOODBYE CITY magazine
Goodbye City is not intended to be disrespectful to cities or the people who call them home. Rather, it is meant to be an honest and humorous commentary on the transition from city living to country life from the people who’ve made the leap of faith.
Go Local is an adventure guide focused on Day Trip & Staycation recommendations in Grey County. Join us as we highlight the best in agri-tourism, food & drink, arts & culture, health & wellness, family fun & events!
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE FOOD & DRINK Welcome to our Food & Drink edition! In addition to highlighting one of our local favourites, T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug, we’ve also included a cover story featuring one of our newer Editorial Contributors, Kira Bauer. Kira is a Holistic Health & Wellness Coach. She also lives in Long Branch! You can read her Go-To Health Hacks on page 8. If you’re planning to get out of the city for a bit this summer, you’ll want to check out our next edition featuring Fiat Lux Media’s brand new Go Local Adventure Guide as we highlight the best of Grey County. Thank you to our Editorial Contributors and, of course, thank you for reading! Roger Tumminieri Publisher, Etobicoke Lakeshore Press etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com Instagram: @etobicokelakeshorepress www.fiatluxmedia.com (416) 788-0716
ROGER TUMMINIERI
ADVERTISING INQUIRES etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com (416) 788-0716
YOUTH SPORTS TORONTO DRAGONS RFC
TRY RUGBY For more info on joining, visit: www.torontodragonsrugby.ca
Physiotherapy by Mimico Medical Book at : www.mimicomedical .com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS JUNE 2023 Publisher’s Note
Welcome to our Food & Drink Edition Page 6
Cover Story
Featuring Kira Bauer’s Go-To Health Hacks Page 8
Humber College
Update From The Lakeshore Campus Page 10
In The Community James Maloney, MP Page 14
Who profits with a credit union? You do. As a credit union account holder, you’re a member and an owner, so our profits go back to you. 747 Brown’s Line, Toronto T: 416-255-1742 E: main@moyafinancial.ca Visit MoyaFinancial.ca LENDING
DAILY BANKING
BUSINESS
INVESTMENTS
MORTGAGES
US BANKING
PERSONAL
& MORE
Scholars is accepting new students for the summer break!
Giant personalized
colouring sheets for kids! The perfect gift, or rainy day activity
Don’t procrastinate get ahead of the game.
We are helping all students to use this time to catch up! Contact us to find out more Tel: 416-252-5177 Email: EtobicokeLakeshore@ScholarsEd.com Address: 827 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke, ON M8W 3V7
@doodlers.ca www.doodlers.ca
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COVER STORY GO-TO HEALTH HACKS
EAT WELL. BE WELL.
KIRA BAUER Hello, Summer! With the warmer weather and outdoor activities increasing by the week, our eating and drinking habits also enter a period of transition. Patios, beach dates, socialising in the park, along with enjoying colder foods like ice cream and dining out more often – all of these seasonal joys are welcomed by us Canadians after a grey winter. When it comes to food and drink, it can be tricky to navigate balancing both going out and fully enjoying ourselves, while also staying consistent in our healthy eating patterns. Here are a few Go-To Health Hacks to keep blood sugar balanced, energy levels stable, and mental health supported... If consuming alcohol, stay hydrated with filtered water and electrolytes.
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Make sure you eat a protein source with
every meal (this might look like adding a side of shrimp, chicken, or tofu). Lastly, remove any guilt or shame around foods you enjoy. Some research says that the stress we take on when we are fixated on counting calories and sugars in what we eat and drink ends up being more detrimental to our health than what we are actually consuming. Be kind to yourself and eat the ice cream this summer, okay? Cheers! Kira Bauer is a Holistic Health & Wellness Coach & Long Branch Resident. She can be reached at kbauercoaching@gmail.com
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3481 Lake Shore Blvd West . 416-253-5505 . www.osheasirishsnug.com
LOCAL FAVE T.J. O’SHEA’S IRISH SNUG
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HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE
Humber’s Lakeshore Campus is home to unique landscapes, heritage buildings and a rich and storied history. We are lucky to have an engaged community of residents, historians and our curatorial team at the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre to research, preserve, and share the history of this land. When you visit the Lakeshore Campus, I would highly encourage you to ‘experience history’ through their exhibition spaces, tours, and resources to connect with the land we share. The Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre opened recently compared to other heritage organizations in Toronto. The Centre opened with the Student Welcome and Resource Centre in 2017 as a space for both College and Community learners to engage with the natural and built heritage of the Lakeshore Grounds Region in South Etobicoke. The “little room that could,” as it is informally known around the Principal’s Office, has hosted 10 exhibitions in collaboration with subject matter experts and artists in their main gallery space, showcasing themes including Indigenous Heritage, Mental Health Heritage, Educational Heritage, Ecology and Sustainability, and stories of the grounds from cottage country to film history. In sharing these histories, the Interpretive Centre has grown to host an art, artefact, and archival collection to help record heritage through materials.
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The Lakeshore Grounds have also inspired and supported a vibrant local community of advocates, artists, and experts. The Interpretive Centre is proud to have hosted 14 art shows featuring the work of local artists, researchers, and learners dedicated to sharing their perspectives through artwork – many of whom are exhibiting for their first time with a professional gallery. Hundreds of people attend tours, exhibitions, and events every semester, exploring markers that uniquely encapsulate the history of the land. The Interpretive Centre’s ongoing work includes preserving and sharing the histories as stewards of the land. Specifically, the team is leading the research, preservation, and revitalization of the heritage apple orchards, increasing arts and cultural opportunities around the Lakeshore and, of course, continuing to offer research support, guided tours, exhibitions and art shows, and different ways to experience history. The current exhibition features the watercolour artwork of local artist Courtney Carstens. “Florals, Naturally” explores Ontario’s flora as a reflection on the intricacy and detail of Ontario’s botanical bouquet. Through an examination of permaculture and sustainable gardening practices, Carstens shares her perspectives and expertise with all those who come to visit the show – on now to July 28. You can help support local artists through your partici-
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By: June MacDonald-Jenkins, Principal - Lakeshore Campus pation in gallery shows, at exhibition events, and in bringing some of the artwork home! Price lists are available on request at the Interpretive Centre. Save the date for June 15 to meet the artist at the Exhibition Celebration hosted in the Third Floor Gallery from 6 - 8 p.m. It’s free to attend, with light refreshments available, and all are welcome. A trip to the campus to explore our lived heritage would not be complete without taking one of our very popular guided tours. Tours explore the grounds, sharing histories of mental health care in Ontario through the underground tunnels and heritage buildings of the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital (Tunnel Tour); going behind the scenes of your favourite movies and TV shows that have used the grounds as a filming location (Film Tour); and venturing through the biodiversity and development of Colonel Samuel Smith Park (Park Tour). All tours are offered free of charge and are open to all visitors. Pre-registration is required; private tours and specialized programming are available to groups on request. More information on the tours and how to book can be found online at: Lakeshoregrounds.ca/tours. With a host of exhibitions, tours, and special events this summer, we look forward to welcoming you to visit the Interpretive Centre. Stay in the know by registering for the monthly e-newsletter at: Lakeshoregrounds.ca and by following on social media @LakeshoreGRNDS on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
JUNE MACDONALD-JENKINS
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PERSONAL FINANCE MOYA FINANCIAL What to Know if You’re a First-Time Homebuyer Shopping for a first home can be fun and exciting, but it can also feel like a daunting discovery process, with crucial issues and important steps cropping up around each new corner. For obvious reasons, most first-time buyers are inexperienced, unlikely to know much about or entirely understand the important details that go into a successful property purchase. To help educate those who haven’t had much exposure to the home-buying process, here are a few tips and ideas that are sure to benefit first-time buyers. Start by surveying your financial well-being Chances are you’ve never bought anything before that costs as much as a home. This is one of the biggest investments you’re ever going to make, so it’s important to be sure you’re starting from a secure financial position before you start scouring listings. Begin with your savings. Have you been able to stash away an emergency fund equivalent to three or even six months’ worth of salary? Do you have enough left over to put towards a down payment (generally between five to 10 percent of the average property cost in your area)? Second, take a look at your spending. Build a detailed budget that includes your income, all your monthly costs, and any debts you may have, such as car payments or other loans. The goal is to find out how much you can reasonably put towards a mortgage each month, as well as other house-related costs such as utility bills, property taxes, and insurance. Once you know the precise state of your financial well-being, it is time to figure out how much house you can afford. You’ll also want to check your credit score, as this will affect the interest rate you’ll be able to get from mortgage lenders. If your credit score is low as a result of outstanding credit issues, it’s best to deal with these before house-hunting; the impact of a lower
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ADRIANA KOLOPER interest rate on your mortgage will lead to significant savings in the long term. Consider borrowing from your RRSP Depending on the state of your finances and the urgency of your housing needs, you may choose to borrow from your retirement savings to put towards a down payment. The Home Buyers’ Plan lets firsttime buyers withdraw up to $35,000 from their RRSP to contribute to the purchase or construction of a home. There’s no tax penalty on the money you withdraw, and you’re required to pay it back to yourself within 15 years, starting two years after the withdrawal. If both you and your spouse qualify as first-time buyers, you can each make a withdrawal and contribute a maximum of $70,000 from your RRSPs towards a home build or purchase. Bear in mind, however, that by taking money out of your retirement savings, even if you’re going to pay it back, you could reduce the value of your portfolio by thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars over decades of investing, potentially reducing your income and security in retirement. Look for a lender Unless you’re a super saver who’s sitting on a small fortune, you’re going to need to borrow some money to finance your home purchase. Shop around between different financial institutions and mortgage brokers in your area to see who can offer you the best interest rate.
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There are the two main types of mortgages: fixed-rate and variable-rate. Fixed-rate mortgages provide certainty, because neither the interest rate nor the size of your payment will change for the entirety of the term, usually five years. With variable-rate mortgages, your rate and payment might grow or shrink based on external factors beyond your control. Variable-rate mortgages tend to be lower than fixed-rate mortgages but come with potential risks. Ideally, you’ll find a lender who pre-approves you before you go house hunting. Basically, this means you agree to the terms of a mortgage before finding a property to use it on. Sellers prefer buyers who are pre-approved because it reduces the risk of a deal falling apart. Ask where you see yourself in 5-10 years, and how you’re going to get there Moving is time consuming and costly so the less of it you have to do, the better off you’ll be. Before you purchase a property, think about how well it fits your lifestyle now, and how it fits the life you envision in the years ahead. Will the daily commute become a problem? Are you starting or expanding your family, and expecting a need for a kid’s bedroom, or bedrooms? How will child care costs affect your ability to pay the mortgage?
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If you’re buying a fixer-upper, or perhaps a place where the kitchen or bathrooms need modernizing, do you have a plan to save for the cost of a renovation? How happy will you be living in the existing home until you can afford to upgrade it? This article is not intended to provide financial or financial planning advice, please call or email Moya Financial and they will be more than happy to chat with you. 747 Brown’s Line,Toronto ON M8W 3V7 Call: 416 255 1742 Email: main@moyafinancial.ca
Artwork By: Carolyn Graziani . www.LocalesDesign.com
Remember: just because a lender is willing to give you a mortgage for a certain amount, you don’t have to say yes. Resist the temptation to borrow it all and stick to your budget.
ART
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JAMES MALONEY, MP IN THE COMMUNITY:
CELEBRATE
CANADA DAY With a lawn sign
PICKUP AT MY COMMUNITY OFFICE
1092 ISLINGTON AVE. SUITE 202, ETOBICOKE, ON, M8Z 4R9 (416) 251-5510 Drop by my office June 19th-23rd, between 11 a.m.-3 p.m., or call to arrange a more convenient time to pick up a sign.
Small businesses are the bedrock of Canada’s economy and play an important role in ensuring the vitality of communities and local economies across the country, and certainly in our community of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. While we all use credit cards for our purchases at small businesses, what many consumers have not realized is that businesses are charged when we use them.
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I am very pleased to announce that we are delivering on the Budget 2023 commitment to lower credit card transaction
fees for small businesses by finalizing new agreements with Visa and Mastercard, while also protecting reward points for Canadian consumers offered by Canada’s large banks. Small businesses pay fees to process credit card transactions, with the largest component being the interchange fee paid to credit card-issuing financial institutions, such as banks. These new agreements will help more than 90 per cent of credit cardaccepting businesses in Canada qualify for lower rates and see their interchange fees reduced by up to 27 per cent from the
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SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES existing weighted average rate. These reductions are expected to save eligible Canadian small businesses about $1 billion over five years. With the money they will save, small businesses will be in a better position to grow their businesses and create more good jobs. For qualifying small businesses, Visa and Mastercard have agreed to: - reduce domestic consumer credit interchange fees for in-store transactions to an annual weighted average interchange rate of 0.95 per cent; - reduce domestic consumer credit interchange fees for online transactions by 10 basis points, resulting in reductions of up to 7 per cent; and, - provide free access to online fraud and cyber security resources to help small businesses grow their online sales while preventing fraud and chargebacks. Small businesses qualify with each credit card network individually. Specifically, small businesses with annual Visa sales volume below $300,000 will qualify for the lower interchange fees from Visa, and those with annual Mastercard sales volume below $175,000 will qualify for the lower fees from Mastercard.
volumes below these thresholds will also benefit from reduced rates. As specified in Budget 2023, the government’s expectation is that commitments by credit card networks to lower interchange fees for small businesses will not adversely impact interchange fees paid by other businesses. The government also expects other credit card companies to take similar actions to lower fees for small businesses, and that payment processors will pass these reductions on to small businesses. As part of these new agreements with Visa and Mastercard, Canada’s large banks have agreed to protect Canadians’ reward points. The new rates will come into effect in the fall of 2024 to allow time to complete the required system updates. Speaking of small businesses, thank you to everyone who nominated a GEM of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. While every nominee is a winner, stay tuned for the full list of winners who will be chosen by our local Business Improvement Areas in the coming months. As always, please feel free to reach out if I can be of assistance.
Non-profit organizations with transaction
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