OCTOBER 2021
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
ANNUAL FOOD & DRINK EDITION
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ETOBICOKE-LAKESHORE I am humbled and deeply grateful to the people of Etobicoke-Lakeshore for the honour to continue as your representative in Ottawa.
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MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS KELLY FARRELL Founder and Director at Oak Learners; Private Alternative School in Mimico
MIKE WIXSON Producer of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast & Owner of The Pod Plant
KAM SARAN BRAD JONES South Etobicoke Resident & Business President & Owner of Ridley Funeral Development Manager at Office146. Home in New Toronto DEREK STOCKLEY HILIARY BREADNER Principal, Lakeshore Campus; Dean, Production Manager & Graphic Design; Faculty of Social & Community Services Owner of Hiliary Breadner Graphics AMANDA KIRKLAND Long Branch Resident and Personal Development Coach
BILL ZUFELT Long Branch Resident and Chair of the History & Culture Committee, LBNA
JONATHAN NHAN Pharmacist, Hypnotist & Certified Diabetes Educator
JAMES MALONEY Member of Parliamen for the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore
DR. TIMOTHY KODSI Etobicoke Resident & Medical Lead at Mimico Medical
LIZ MARTINO-DURBANO Teacher, Certified Fitness Instructor & Wellness Guide
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE FOOD & DRINK EDITION
ROGER TUMMINIERI
Publisher, Etobicoke Lakeshore Press
etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com @etobicokelakeshorepress Happy Fall! This is my favourite time of year. Maybe it’s the cooler weather or the trees changing colour, or maybe it’s the start of a more reflective season. Either way, I do love the Fall. I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate James Maloney on being re-elected as Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. I’ve said this many times before, he’s the right person for the job so I’m very happy to see him get reelected. I’d also like to thank Derek Stockley of Humber College’s Lakeshore Campus for his years of service as Principal and for his ongoing editorial column. Derek’s moving on to a new role at the College and I’d like to welcome Humber Lakeshore’s new Principal, June MacDonaldJenkins. This month, we’re highlighting some great, LOCAL places to eat and drink in our Annual Food & Drink edition. Featured on our cover is everyone’s favourite little Irish Pub, T.J. O’Shea’s. They’re launching a brand new Comfort Food menu and we’re happy to highlight it for you. Well, at least the existence thereof. You’ll have to visit them to get the skinny on their full menu. I have a feeling it’ll be worth it.
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We’ve also featured an article by Lionel Doe, a South Etobicoke resident and lead singer of the band, So Dirty The Flamingos, who went underground to record a new album during the pandemic. It’s a great read. You can find it on page 7. With that, I hope you enjoy this edition and, as always, thank you very much for reading!
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LOCAL MUSIC “SO DIRTY THE FLAMINGOS”
SO DIRTY THE FLAMINGOS
There comes a time in one’s life where it is necessary to reach a little deeper, sometimes to find a purpose, to find one’s voice, perhaps courage, or to rekindle a passion. At this moment there are friends and colleagues who are dealing with the ultimate struggles day to day, real health emergencies and the fundamental fight to survive; or have been caring for sick and at-risk parents and grandparents. The latest plot thickening developments of conspiracy-driven protests at hospitals incite in many a particular rage, another blow to the weary. These struggles were not at all lost on me and the rest of my band, So Dirty the Flamingos, while we squirrelled away late-night hours and endeavoured to record this last record. 2020 2021 has been marked by anger, pain, and stress, but also a resolve to survive and carry on. Not long ago my wayward internet ramblings discovered an image of what I was to learn was the bloodroot flower. A simple yet beautiful species with roots that produce a blood-red dye, historically used by Indigenous populations to decorate pottery and their faces with war paint. I, of course, love the imagery here - a beautiful flower that reaches deep into the earth and spews fake blood. That captures our times perfectly! After all, the band’s name, So Dirty the Flamingos was inspired by an elegant bird that eats dirt - (answering the most asked question regarding the band). And thus the title of our forthcoming EP, “The Bloodroot Sessions” was born. The songs we’ve been cobbling together this last year had not yet been given their full life until most recently. They were played at shows here and there and in rehearsals and then as the COVID times emerged - they should have been killed altogether, as the pandemic has crippled and ended so many good things. For over a year, the five of us had not been able to collaborate or rehearse. Somehow we pushed on in our silos,
and these songs survived by sheer will alone. I had a small studio built in my basement. I pushed aside the kids’ toys, doll houses and organized some storage - et voilà, 170 square feet of semiacoustically isolated space for me to do my thing. This new space, called “Bloodroot Studio” is where I recorded all the guitars and lead vocals on this record, while the rest of the band contributed their respective tracks in isolation. The rhythm section was recorded off and on at the steadfast Sodipop Studio. This was not fun, it was actually more akin to a fight, however, the frustration of recording vocals by myself, (with the ubiquitous summer construction season on my street), coincided with the pandemic and its annoying effects on government and society, and then you add their annoying and idiotic responses to it, well, it fueled the whole project with a very necessary, and possibly, saving ingredient: pure rage. The first single, “I’ll Take You On” is this rage incarnate. It’s a challenge to fight on its surface, but a deeper reading proves it to be an angsty love song, with lyrics like, “If you’re falling to pieces, just another reason, that I’ll carry yours and you carry mine. If you feel it, you’ll know I mean it, I’ll take you on by myself.” This is a record that came to be in all its juxtapositions – the love and the hate, the creation and the destruction, like the beautiful flower that sits in blood, “The Bloodroot Sessions” has bloomed. So we push on, always steering to the light, working together and separately to overcome the difficulties and to achieve a common purpose. On October 30th, at Living Colour, 3367 Dundas Street West, we will celebrate the official release of two songs from “The Bloodroot Sessions” with a live 45-minute set of our best music. At 9:30 p.m. we let loose the material that fought, bit, and raged to live. Just like we’ve all been doing.
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LIONEL DOE Lead Singer
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TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2021 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p6
Roger Tumminieri kicks off our Annual Food & Drink edition while congratulating MP, James Maloney on his recent election win. Campus’ new Principal, June MacDonald-Jenkins.
LOCAL MUSIC...p7
WELLNESS...p26
Jonathan Nhan dives deep into the philosophical story of reality.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT...p27
Amanda Kirkland writes candidly about her past relationship with food and some tips on mindful eating.
Etobicoke’s own So Dirty The Flamingos go underground during the pandemic to record a new album.
HUMBER COLLEGE...p28
Bill Zufelt goes way back to the 1800’s (and a bit before that) in this month’s History feature about Apples.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS is the only
HISTORY...p10
FOOD & DRINK...p14
Check out these mouth-watering foodie features!
COVER STORY...p16
Everybody loves Colby. Read about his new Comfort Food menu at T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug in Long Branch!
FIELD TO TABLE...p18
The fellas from Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast go Pheasant hunting with former Long Branch resident, Andie Rennie.
FINANCE...p20
Moya Financial on Brown’s Line points out some simple and fun ways to teach kids about the importance of savings.
This is Derek Stockley’s last address as Principal of the Lakeshore Campus. Thank you, Derek, and good luck in your new role at Humber! free, monthly magazine that’s focused on life in South Etobicoke. It is mailed to houses in Long Branch, New Toronto & Mimico by Canada Post. Additional copies are available for pick-up at Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch and Espresso Bar Namaste in Alderwood. We capture life in South Etobicoke by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local business owners, elected officials, and residents. No part of this publication in any of its forms may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. 146 Thirtieth St, Suite 100, Unit 25, Etobicoke, ON M8W 3C4 Follow Us on Instagram #I EL @etobicokelakeshorepress www.etobicokelakeshorepress.com
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS...p22
Brad Jones writes wonderfully about his late father and his love for life, food & drink. Published By
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HISTORY APPLES “So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry” Song by: Don McLean, 1971 If ever there was a scent to set your olfactory glands into a happy frenzy, it would be the arresting aroma from a freshly baked ‘apple pie’. So much so that when a WWII journalist asked American troops “What are you fighting for?” their answer was “Moms and apple pie”. Truth be known, the quintessential classical apple pie was actually a recipe of a fruit-based pastry honed in Renaissance England. The Roman Empire brought apples to Europe and Great Britain and the Far East traders brought apples to the Romans from the apple’s native soils in Asia and China. In the 1600s, Jesuit missionaries, explorers and colonists were the first Europeans to bring the apple tree and its delicious fleshy fruit to the New World. A few years ago I had the privilege to have a lengthy coffee chat with an elder of the Mohawk Mississauga’s of the Credit. Not sure how we got onto the rarity of finding a ‘Snow Apple’ variety (another casualty of Global warming he surmised) but he did acknowledge that if anything was to be celebrated about the colonists, it was their bringing of the ‘apple tree’ to ‘our’ native lands. Here in South Etobicoke, an 1846 county map highlights numerous apple orchards throughout the region. When the United Empire Loyalists took up free land in Canada they brought the apple tree with them including the ‘Empire’ variety - hence the name. Besides the apple’s edible fruit for cooking and livestock feed, pressed apples with various degrees of fermentation made liquid currency; that of Cider. Like flour from grist mills, cider production had an equally important role in the local economy for trade and commerce. Of the six apple orchards mapped, the last
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remaining fragmented apple orchard is the Hugh J and R McNeil orchard which is situated on the southwest corner of Lake Shore Blvd and Colonel Samuel Smith Drive. The orchard was already half a century in productivity before the Mimico Psychiatric Hospital was built in the 1890s. The Provincial purchase of the land from farm and land owners, included the McNeil farm, south to Lake Ontario and westward to Twenty Third Street. The acres of land (including the orchards) were then farmed and harvested for root crops including potatoes, turnips, squash, onions, and cabbage for the hospital kitchens. In recent years the orchard was considerably reduced in size, giving up fertile land with the building of the Humber College Welcome Centre and Holy Trinity Catholic Public School. On a recent study of the McNeil Orchard, a sample fruit was given to a pomologist and she said the apple fruit was extremely sweet, indicative of ‘very old trees’. “Aged fruit trees have a substantial deep root system that absorbs the rich mineral bases,” she explained. Today you can still experience the Historic Hugh McNeil Orchard, pick and scrunch on an apple or two, by strolling on the Humber College passageway between West and East campuses. Plans are afoot to have the 175-year-old Hugh J &R Apple Orchard nominated by the Long Branch History and Culture Committee for Heritage Tree Grove recognition with Forests Ontario.
BILL ZUFELT
Long Branch Resident and Chair of the History and Culture Committee Long Branch Neighbourhood Association bill.zufelt@lbna.ca
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COVER STORY COMFORT FOOD AT O’SHEA’S This time of year, food is on the mind for many. The thought of eating salad, though, just doesn’t cut it - at least not for me. As the weather starts to cool off and all the Fall feels set in, I caught up with everyone’s favourite local pub owner, Colby Kriegl at T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug in Long Branch, to talk about their new Comfort Food menu. When I start to envision the slow roll of steam pouring off a bowl of hot Irish stew - the potatoes, the meat, the vegetables - oh, yeah...that’s what I’m talking about...the ultimate in Comfort Food is near at hand. Let me catch my breath. Ok. Now that we’re all on the same page, the imagery of such a delicacy described above can now be your reality. T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug’s new Comfort Food menu is sure to warm more than your soul this Fall. If you’ve eaten there before (and if you’re reading this, there’s a strong likelihood you have), you’ll know that the food at O’Shea’s is some of the best you’ll find along the Lakeshore and certainly in South Etobicoke. Maybe it’s all the little Leprechauns working away in the kitchen or maybe it’s simply skill. Either way, the food is fantastic. So...what’s on the new menu? I’m not going to spoil the fun. You’ll have to see for yourself. If you like Comfort Food or you like Colby...or maybe both, O’Shea’s needs to be your next choice for a great home cooked meal. T.J. O’SHEA’S IRISH SNUG 3481 Lake Shore Blvd. West Instagram: @irishsnug www.tjosheasirishsnug.ca (416) 253-5500
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
By: Roger Tumminieri
IRISH STEW
Part of the New Comfort Food Menu at T.J. O’Shea’s in Long Branch
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FIELD TO TABLE HIGHPOINT HUNTING PRESERVE
ANDIE RENNIE
Owner & Guide, Highpoint Hunting Preserve 238222 4 Line NE, Melancthon, ON Facebook: @highpointhuntingpreserve (226) 974-0759 This is an article about pheasant hunting. If you’re still with me, you should know that I’m a relatively new hunter and this was my first time hunting pheasant. As the publisher of your favourite, little local magazine and the co-host of Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast, I felt it fitting to include this feature in our Food & Drink edition, as well as tape a show about the experience with my good buddy, hunting partner, and host of Canada’s Cast & Blast podcast, Brian Glassey. In pursuit of the noble quarry, it doesn’t get much better than pheasant hunting. The civilized nature of the sport avoids the calamity of freezing in a winter duck blind or sitting solo for hours on end in a tree stand waiting patiently for a deer to saunter by, something seasoned hunters may well appreciate. For myself, a newbie hunter, I sought out Highpoint Hunting Preserve in Dufferin County, just outside of Dundalk. Owner & Guide, Andie Rennie, was gracious
to have Brian and I visit the Preserve and I’m grateful for having the opportunity to meet him and hunt on his land. He spent a good deal of time with us sharing stories of legendary moose hunts in Northern Ontario; the kind of intangible benefits of hunting with an experienced guide like Rennie who spent his formative years living in the South Etobicoke neighbourhood of Long Branch - a place near and dear to my heart. Now, it should be known that hunting pheasant without the help of dogs is next to impossible. Rennie supplied two dogs for our hunt. Both Llewellin Setters from the same litter; first was Bruno who did the lion’s share of the work and then Molly came into the game as the day became hotter and Bruno began to tire. Without their skill and perseverance, Brian and I would still be out there walking aimlessly through the scenic acreage with our 12-gauges. It’s an amazing experience watching the dogs as they sniff out the hidden quarry and
Bruno at rest 18
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
Molly in action
By: Roger Tumminieri then retrieve them once downed. We made some good shots, bad shots, and even a noshot. I failed to remove the safety on my gun at one point as a hen flew successfully away from me. In all, Brian and I harvested five roosters (pheasants of the male persuasion), a hen, and a chukar - a tasty little cousin of the pheasant. We parted ways with Rennie and home I went to prepare my feast. As I tend to do when lucky enough to bring home game, I happily did all the dirty work on the tailgate of my pick-up with the help of our three-year-old son. Later that afternoon, once our eldest son was home from school, we cooked the chukar over an open flame as if surviving in the wilderness and, in a more sophisticated fashion, barbecued the three pheasants - stuffing them with slices of home-grown apples and pears, glazing them with garlic-infused honey, and finishing them with a light sprinkling of sea salt and black pepper. I like to keep these things simple. The boys loved both the chukar and the pheasant, but the true test awaited. Would my wife like the taste of pheasant? My future hunting trips hung in the balance.
Brian Glassey ready to hunt Host, Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast
After some hesitation (she’s still getting used to the taste of wild game), she tried it and, let’s just say, this won’t be my last hunting article! Thank you again to Andie Rennie of Highpoint Hunting Preserve for a wonderful experience; one most definitely worth repeating. If you’re interested in a nearby pheasant hunt, I’d highly recommend giving Andie Rennie a call. He offers group hunts as well as trap shooting. He also helps train dogs and sells an all-natural dog food that he feeds his own pups; Dyce’s Naturally Raw. After all, a pheasant hunt is just a leisurely walk without a good dog by your side. Catch the coverage of this hunt on Canada’s Cast & Blast Podcast and watch footage of our good, bad, and no-shots at www.castandblast.ca.
CA
N A DA
The author harvests his first pheasant Photo by: Brian Glassey
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FINANCE 3 FUN WAYS TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO SAVE MONEY others at the store, are critical steps you take that may come as second nature to you by now. However, this can be a great example to teach kids the value of money and the importance of cutting costs in order to save. Going to the store may not be an option all the time, so why not bring the store to you? It can be as simple as using paper cut-outs of money that kids can hold and “shop” with using some of the products you have at home. This can help illustrate that when they purchase an item, the money in their hand gets less and less, which will demonstrate the importance of saving.
Teaching kids about the value of saving money at an early age is a great way to help ensure they are not only familiar with the process, but that they have a positive outlook on it long term. Think of the first trip to the dentist – the more positive the experience is, the more comfortable they’ll be with future visits. The same can apply to finances. Here are three ways you can incorporate money-saving techniques into playtime. 1. Play Money-Focused Games This will vary depending on age, but there are countless games out there that focus on finances. Think of Monopoly or The Game of Life – both require the use of fake money to play the game, and saving is an important element that is seamlessly integrated within them. For the next family game night, bring out Monopoly and add in some teachable moments throughout the game. If you think some board games might be a bit advanced for your kiddos, try kid-friendly versions, such as Monopoly Jr. – an even easier way to still teach the value of saving money, but in a way that can reach kids where they are. Playing online games that focus on saving money can also be a great way to make learning more enjoyable. With a quick search on the app store, you can find several savingfocused games such as Savings Spree or Peter Pig’s Money Counter that teaches young kids important money skills, including the value of saving before spending. 2. Mimic Real-Life Scenarios Using scenarios that we encounter daily can act as valuable lessons that kids can become more familiar and comfortable with.
3. Use Saving Jars Are there certain toys your child has been asking for? Arrange a couple of glass jars with printed images of each item they want on the front and set a certain amount of money they can receive each week as an allowance. That way you can let them dictate how much of that money they want to put towards each purchase. Each week your child will see the money grow in the jar, and when they receive the item they want, it will act as a reward for saving their money. You can also get the entire family involved by setting up a family goal, such as a trip or family activity, and have everyone put any spare change they have in the jar. By modelling this behaviour, kids will understand saving is something even adults do and that even though saving for something may take time, it is worth it in the end. Any type of activity that will get you talking with your kids about money is important, as it can lead to better financial literacy down the road. Opening a savings account with your child is another more apparent way that you can start the saving process and get the conversation started. 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!
Take, for example, grocery shopping. The process beforehand, such as making the budget and ensuring you stay within it and then choosing certain items over
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JUST THE FACTS:
HOW ITEX BARTER CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS & YOUR LIFE Yes, it’s true. The concept of bartering has never been more valuable and the trend is growing. The largest barter company in Canada, ITEX, has its head office in Etobicoke. What is a well-known, 1-on-1 practice in theory now operates within a modern, sophisticated network of people who use barter credits known as ITEX dollars as a means to conduct transactions without the use of traditional currency, but instead leverage idle stock, capacity in schedules, empty tables and hotel rooms, and more. Let’s answers some questions so we can see if it’s good for your business. Q: HOW DOES THE ITEX MARKETPLACE WORK? A: Member businesses buy and sell products and services with one another utilizing the unique medium of the ITEX dollar, instead of cash. You can buy from, and sell to, any of our thousands of member businesses here in Toronto, Ontario, across Canada and even across the US. The top ITEX office in North America is the head office for Canada, here in Etobicoke.
Q: HOW DO I REGISTER WITH ITEX? A: Simply “Sign Up” on itex.com. There are association fees and a nominal transaction fee of 6%. A local ITEX broker will contact you to get you started. As part of the online registration process, you will be prompted to enter contact information and a description of your business.
Q: HOW WILL ITEX BARTER EXCHANGE HELP MY BUSINESS? A: ITEX members enjoy many benefits, but here are the 3 primary benefits: 1. New business/sales opportunities to new customers that otherwise don’t currently exist. 2. Conservation of valuable cash flow by using ITEX dollars instead of cash to buy products and services needed from other members of the ITEX Marketplace. 3. Increased buying power, trade against the cost of your goods and services buy buying other goods and services at a tremendously discounted rate with ITEX dollars.
Q: WHAT BUSINESSES IN THE ETOBICOKE AREA ARE ON ITEX NOW? Here are just a few examples: Branding Centres, Office146, Classic Tan, Dariva Jewellery, FP Dry Cleaning, Ford Performance Centre, Para-Mass, Osmow’s Restaurant, Total Tint, Mottacom, The Pod Plant, Evanov Radio Group, and many more!
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LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS FAMILY, FRIENDS & passionate, dedicated avoidance of exercise. Although I absolutely believe life is beautiful and every morning a miracle to make life great again, mid-life has shown me that a life of joy and passion is not built on lifeless, joyless actions dedicated to staying alive. A solidary focus on eating organic, watching our cholesterol, counting steps and huffing around in a vain attempt to weigh what we weighed in high school – I really must give up the dream! – sucks the joy out of life. There’s no way to know whether my dad knew of Professor Randy Pausch and his “Last Lecture” work but both men held the same view: You don’t beat the reaper by living longer, you beat the reaper by living well.
BRAD JONES
Owner, Ridley Funeral Home My father was not a small man.
At the peak of his prime, long before poor health and old age rolled up on him, Dad’s physique was what you’d call fashionably rotund or happily round. His impressive height and weight radiated abundance and prosperity, and showed his deep, life-long commitment to savouring joy while navigating life’s tragedies. Back in the day, before fat-free diets and gruelling “fun” exercise routines, being (male) big signified you were blessed with a rich and enjoyable life. Whether the fruits of your labours appeared at the dining room table or inside the boardroom – I refuse to say bedroom! – having a belly meant you were successful at taking bites out of life and you were celebrated for sharing your pie slice with others. Imagine that famous painting of chubby-happy King Henry VIII. Sure, the man is huge but in his gaze and stance, you can tell Henry knows he’s king. Within that 16 th -century frame we see that life’s troubles (e.g., Henry’s six wives) have not diminished the monarch’s expectation that, like his big body, life will continue to expand, grow and improve. I miss those days. Daily choices would be a lot easier, and more delicious, if my ever- expanding waistline were a reflection of my appreciation for life rather than my love of late- night eating and a
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How better to live well than to sit down with family and friends, and break bread (carbs!) together. “Eat, drink and be merry” is not a lifestyle mindset exclusive to the holidays. Every day we have the opportunity, whether eating alone or with others, to give thanks for the food on our plates, forks, tongues and ties. (I’m a funeral director. I wear a tie.) There’s a reason why food is showcased so spectacularly when we are extremely happy or extremely sad. Whether you’re at a wedding or a funeral, food thaws the ice as we mingle among family, friends and strangers just as funeral sandwiches and tuna casseroles warm a broken heart. Irrespective of what kind of day or night you’re having, food helps. Just ask Oprah. But true, longlasting nourishment comes from the meals made, served and shared with love. When I look back on my childhood I remember my mother always wanting to sit me down so she could feed me. (Don’t get too nostalgic. There are plenty of families still committed to the tradition!) My father’s contribution to the family joy effort was welcoming me into the grown-up world of wine. He’d slow me down enough to see, sip and savour. And as a father to six children, I’ve had the privilege of watching my wife feed each of our babies for the very first time; the love and connection between a mother and child are undeniable. I know my parents, and yours too, would agree. Ironically this life-long, sort of obsessive thinking about food and family made my first few years as a funeral director challenging. You see, families rarely, if ever, accept a cup of coffee from an undertaker. Or at least not at first. Accepting food and drink from someone,
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FOOD
GRAHAM JONES had a tremendous
capacity for joy which he taught his son, funeral director Brad Jones, is best celebrated with good food, wine, friends and family. especially a stranger, is a signal that trust and camaraderie are in the room. The last thing on a person’s mind when they walk into a funeral home is whether they want their coffee black or served with cream and sugar. I understand now. Saying no to my funeral home coffee is saying no to what has happened, the loss that’s fracturing mind, body and spirit. There is nothing sweet about dying and death. Yet not everything about death is black and bitter. Like good food, good family and good friends, death reminds us that there’s goodness in being alive; that there’s still hope for us because we’re still here, blessed with the opportunity to eat, drink and be merry. In my profession I don’t talk all day about death – every day I listen to what it means to live, to love, to laugh and to let go. And I’ll warn you now: letting go might be the hardest thing you’ll ever do in your life. My wish for you as an undertaker? (No mean jokes, please.) My wish for you, and for every person I love, is possessing the strength of character and the spiritual maturity to meet death as you’ve met and embraced life.
– then, my friend, take it from me: the time to start living is now. For the love of food and family, eat that favourite cheese. Sleep in on a weekday. Avoid that workout. Splurge on that beverage you covet. But above all, be merry and grateful as you treat yourself. Join this party called Life and celebrate. And who better to celebrate with than family and friends over food and drink? The next time you’re all gathered together, imagine (privately) that it’s your funeral – and smile as if you’re a big-bellied king or queen. You’re still alive and breaking bread with the people you love and cherish the most. Brad Jones is president of locally-owned, commission-free Ridley Funeral Home (3080 Lakeshore Boulevard) in Etobicoke. He’s often seen enjoying fall sunshine, raking leaves and thinking about working out. Every family, every individual is welcome to gather, grieve and mourn at our funeral home. You’re welcome to reach out to Brad by calling 416-259-3705 or emailing him at Bradjones@ridleyfuneralhome.com
If that approach feels scary – to die as you’ve lived
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WELLNESS THE STORY OF REALITY understanding. Part of the energy expenditure comes from moving away from the innate reaction of disagreement and polarizing yourself against the opposing viewpoint. Our initial reaction to an opposing viewpoint is often to move firmly into the position that we hold and stand firm to defend our perspective. This reaction happens unconsciously and it can take significant effort to recognize it and allow yourself to become aware of other perceptions of our shared reality. How much easier would it be if you considered the viewpoints of others as a story for you to explore?
JONATHAN NHAN
Curate and Upgrade www.curateandupgrade.ca Does the phrase “objective reality” have a meaning we can comprehend? To be objective, you must not be influenced by personal feelings or opinions. To observe reality requires an individual. At one level, your experience is processed and observed by you. By nature, you will have feelings and opinions about what you experience. On another level, there is a reality that exists that is available for observation, but can you ever actually view what is actually there? If you have ever wondered how so many differing understandings and interpretations of what is “real” can exist, consider views that differ from your own as the story of another person’s reality. If we assume that we all share one world, and there is a common reality to observe, how can we end up telling vastly differing stories about one “object”? This comes down to the perspective we have on what we are observing. For a moment, let’s set the idea of what is “true” aside, and consider our own perspective as a story. This is a tale that we tell, both to ourselves and to those around us, about our perception of the world as we observe it. This story we tell describes what we experience through our senses - what we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel - as well as emotions surrounding this experience. The raw data that we observe is processed and refined into an internal experience. We then take this internal experience, and process it through the filter of language to develop a story that best represents this experience to ourselves. This can be one source of miscommunication - the language we use to tell the story holds a specific meaning, but when shared with another person, those words we use may have another meaning to the listener. When the listener assigns meaning to your words, it is easy to miss the meanings of the words that you’ve used. The process transmutes your original meaning into a possibly inaccurate understanding. For ideas and perspectives that seem far from our own, it can take significant energy to come to an
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We always live in a reality where there are two sides to every coin. This has been even more apparent in recent times, but regardless, this duality always existed. Consider the fact that even the most high profile philosophers haven’t come up with a definitive definition for reality. Thinking that you have THE story of our shared reality could be an easy way of limiting your own experience and the ability to experience a larger slice of this existence.
Learn more at thecuratorium.ca/learnmore
Jonathan Nhan Co-Founder, Curate and Upgrade Jon is a pharmacist, hypnotist, and Certified Diabetes Educator. He is passionate about making a tangible, positive impact in the world and has seen the power that changing mindset can have. Jon works with people like you, to find the perfect blueprint for healthy in your life and make that change effortless.
In Support of Youth Mental Health Awareness
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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT MINDFUL EATING “The Belly Rules the Mind.”
– Spanish Proverb
“To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we will not be able to keep our mind strong”. – Buddha
The stomach (belly) is no longer in control of the decisions we make about the amount of food we eat, what food we eat, and what time we eat. We are now developing a hunger-body-mind connection. How can you make a shift toward a healthy diet and eating habits?
In the past, for me, food has been challenging.
Mindful eating brings more awareness and presence to everyday eating habits. Bringing more self-awareness to the present moment helps to break old eating habits and stop selfsabotaging behaviours. Intuitive eating teaches us how to reconnect with our innate knowledge of how to nourish our bodies. Eating psychology embraces the psychology of the eater – the heart, mind and soul dimension of what it means to truly nourish one’s body and being.
Food pervades most things we do. It’s often among our first thoughts of the day. Our days are usually structured around a three-meals-a-daytradition, so it’s never far from our minds. Do you only eat on schedule, or do you snack and eat for any other reason? Do you grab for the closest, easiest thing in sight to overcome sudden hunger pangs, irritability, or crankiness, getting “hangry”, or to give you a quick energy boost?
Ways to create a healthy mindset around eating: - Slow down when eating to prevent overeating and get more satisfaction from the flavours of the food. - Pay attention to how hungry/full you are and start paying attention to your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues - Notice your emotions to see if you are making emotionally-based food choices
If you think about it, you realise that your eating habits affect EVERY area of your life. And most definitely the ones that are important for you to function properly: • Maintaining a Healthy Body Weight • Physical and Mental Motivation • Concentration • Energy • Confidence
By learning more about your relationship with food you will learn how to listen to what your body is telling you it needs. All seriousness aside, besides being nourishment for the body, food can be many other things. Have fun, make it experimental and exploratory, indulgent, and spectacular.
Definition: Food, substance consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, fat, and other nutrients used in the body of an organism to sustain growth and vital processes and to furnish energy. The absorption and utilization of food by the body is fundamental to nutrition and is facilitated by digestion.
Our ability to control or be effective in all the things above is directly linked to what we eat. Some of them are obvious, like energy and concentration. Sometimes we need a reminder that what we eat doesn’t just affect our physical health, it can also affect our mental health and wellbeing. Eating well can improve your sense of happiness and your mood. It is important that we must develop a healthy mindset when it comes to eating and making food choices. Instead of making impulse decisions about what food to buy, pause and think about the health and nutrition values of what you are buying. Then perhaps, grab an apple rather than a candy bar. Slow down and make better eating choices.
For now, signing off from a place of calm, joy, and love
AMANDA KIRKLAND
Personal Development Coach www.amandakirkland.com If you are interested in making positive changes in your life, let’s book an initial consultation call. Tell me your story and we can evaluate where you are right now and where you want to be and identify what’s blocking you from achieving the results you desire. My coaching programs use specific ENLP tools that can rewire unhealthy strategies and breakthrough existing challenges to find more ease and joy in your life. These tools are different because they uncover the root cause of surface-level problems. We will clear these blocks at the unconscious and cellular level allowing you to see effective results over a short time period. I am passionate about my work, because I’ve experienced firsthand the life-changing results and shifts that are possible when working with the unconscious mind. Email me at amanda@amandakirkland.com or visit amandakirkland.com
With more awareness and focus than ever on health and nutrition, we are becoming more thoughtful when it comes to considering both the nutritional and health benefits of what goes into our mouths.
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Prioritize your health.
We beat with the heart of this community. Reach out now to register with one of our Family Doctors. We'll be here to welcome you. Let us help.
416.201.0836 www.mimicomedical.com 398 Royal York Rd. (one block north of Sanremo bakery)
HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE partnerships while also having sustainability practices rolled into it,” said Pyke. She and her peers were paid for their internships and Pyke completed the 420 placement hours required for her program. She also discovered a knack for marketing and social media, which opens doors to a career she hadn’t even considered.
Heading into October, holiday festivities and the seasonal dishes that accompany them are top of mind. One of the most difficult questions I have to answer during this time of year is apple or pumpkin? At Humber Lakeshore, we are committed to supporting programs that help our entire community access highquality food.
Like the GARDENS interns, other Humber College students are innovating to help solve real- world problems, even before they graduate. Another example of their changemaking work could affect the way you see our neighbourhood and the larger Toronto community. City Hall houses a Tiny Town model that lays out a large swath of Toronto on a huge table surrounded by glass. It was used thirty years ago as a planning
This year, the GARDENS project in partnership with LAMP Community Health Centre (LAMP CHC) and the GARDENS Advisory Council donated almost 250 pounds of produce to health centre’s Good Food Market, serving people within the South Etobicoke community. Humber staff and students have worked on the project since 2016, planting vegetables in pods across the Lakeshore community at local businesses and public spaces. GARDENS interns educate the public about gardening, cooking and food security through the project’s website, workshops and recently started a virtual learning library on YouTube. GARDENS employed five Humber College students this year, including International Development student Maggie Pyke. “Everyone in my program was looking for placements when I came across the GARDENS project. It really aligned with everything I look for in a non profit or organization. It creates community
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tool and became an attraction for visitors to the city, helping to acquaint them with Toronto. When city planners wanted to update the model, they called on Humber College student designers. Over 13 weeks, Humber interns produced a sample prototype of a new physical model and incorporated augmented reality (AR) technology. The use of AR means that eventually, someone using a Tiny Town app could point their device
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at the Rogers Centre and be provided with information on where to buy tickets, how to get there by transit and how the Raptors are playing that week. The paid internship opportunity was made possible by the Centre for Creative Business Innovation, the Faculty of Media & Creative Arts, the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology and Toronto’s CivicLabTO program. Our Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre team has been hard at work creating content and programming you can enjoy virtually during the pandemic. The newest edition of Shore Stories, the Interpretive Centre’s zine, is now available on their website. This latest issue is an exploration of the senses as experienced through periods of daily life. The Interpretive Centre also recently launched a virtual Exhibition Archive, so you can revisit the Centre and explore your favourite past exhibitions, or some that you may have missed. You can find it all at lakeshoregrounds.ca.
Visit humberwellnesstalks.eventbrite.ca tickets.
for
I invite you to take part in these communitybuilding activities and hope you enjoy the next few weeks of brilliant colours and crisp fall weather in good health. And on a final note, this will be my last article as Principal of the Lakeshore Campus as we have just announced that June MacDonald-Jenkins will be taking on this role October 8 th . You’ll hear from June next month. As for me, I’m jumping with both feet into my new role as Associate Vice-President Academic here at Humber … which means you’ll still find me at the Lakeshore campus and in our beautiful community!
Sincerely, Derek Stockley
Principal, Lakeshore Campus Associate Vice President, Academic
We continue our Humber Wellness Talks this month with keynote speaker Larissa Crawford on October 21 at 1 p.m. Larissa is a restorative circle keeper, published Indigenous and anti-racism research, awardwinning ribbon skirt artist and proudly passes on Métis and Jamaican ancestry to her daughter, Zyra. She is the Founder of Future Ancestors Services, a youth-led professional services social enterprise that advances equity and climate justice through lenses of ancestral accountability and anti-racism. Anyone can attend the virtual event and registration is now open.
DEREK STOCKLEY
Follow on Twitter: @derek_stockley
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BACK TO SCHOOL WITH KELLY FARRELL
Read our Back To School Edition Cover Story featuring Long Branch's Kelly Farrell, Director at Oak Learner's in Mimico and listen to her talk about what Back To School might look like this year on the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast.
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SHOP LOCAL THIS CHRISTMAS!
Get Inspired...
SHOP ONLINE at www.livinglightingetobicoke.com Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm • 416.236.3611 • 4242 Dundas St.W.
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Etobicoke Apparel Company "Bridge" Hoodies are In Stock at Espresso Bar Namaste in Alderwood
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SAVING TODAY MAKES A BETTER TOMORROW
Grow Your Money While You Grow Prepare for takeoff. Your kid’s savings journey begins here. At Moya Financial, we understand the importance of teaching kids about banking and the value of money. No matter where your children are on their financial journey, Moya Youth Accounts can act as stepping stones to greater financial literacy. Visit MoyaFinancial.ca to explore your options. Tel: 416 255 1742 Email: main@moyafinancial.ca 747 Brown’s Line, Toronto ON M8W 3V7 Connect with us:
