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When Liberal MPP Steven Del Duca was campaigning with Premier Dalton McGuinty over the summer, he came to two major realizations. The first, he says, is that the premier apparently has no trouble connecting with everyday Ontarians. “I was struck by the sense of understanding in people’s eyes, once they got over the shock that our premier … [Read more...]
Don Valley Village artist Donald Black can proudly say he’s carved the coats of arms for every Canadian province. After all, it only took him two decades. “I didn’t have any deadlines, so it took me about 20 years or so to finish the thing,” he says with a chuckle. The North York carver has lived in the neighbourhood for more than … [Read more...]
Danny Scherer and Dani Lunsky both love coming to Reena’s weekly bowling event for adults with developmental disabilities, but for very different reasons. Lunsky comes because she genuinely enjoys bowling. Scherer? He admits he finds it boring. But he has a more meaningful motivation. “I just come because my fiancée loves it so … [Read more...]
A short distance from Vaughan’s super highways, megamalls and the massive roller-coasters (and parking lots) of Canada’s Wonderland sits the historic Village of Kleinburg. In addition to being one of Canada’s wealthiest neighbourhoods (According to Canadian Business magazine, in 2010 the average net worth was $2.5 million), … [Read more...]
Like a bird with clipped wings, jazz singer Lara Solnicki found herself separated from one of her most well-known attributes: her voice. A classical singer and teacher in the fall of 2005, the East York resident was advised by a speech pathologist to go on a period of vocal rest when she realized teaching was taking a toll on her vocal cords. … [Read more...]
Leaside improv comedian Colin Mochrie makes getting on stage without a script look easy. “It’s the best job for lazy people,” he said over the phone from Red Bank, New Jersey, where he’s currently touring. “You show up, the audience gives you all your ideas and you just goof around.” The Canadian funnyman, best known for his roles … [Read more...]
It’s enough to make you want to buy a car. As city council debates whether to put Light Rail Transit on Sheppard Avenue or extend the current subway line, and Queen’s Park ponders when council will make up its mind, Torontonians have been left wondering when — or if — anything will actually get built. Now industry spokespeople are … [Read more...]
When Kelita Smith gave birth to her daughter Serenity at the age of 16, she was all but alone in the world. That’s until she found Humewood House, which is celebrating 100 years of helping young mothers find their way. “I needed somewhere to go where I could finish my education and where my daughter could go to daycare,” Smith … [Read more...]
Ask artist, photographer, jazz musician and carpenter James C. Swartz if he’s a jack of all trades, and he’ll answer your question before the words leave your mouth. “A jack of all trades is a master of none,” he says with a steely gaze. Swartz is no master of none. Take a stroll through his house and you’ll see he is a man of … [Read more...]
When York Mills singer and actor Gabi Epstein was asked by an elderly woman in Pender Island, British Columbia how she has the moxie to get on stage and belt out tunes without a single inhibition, her answer was simple. “I told her I grew up with chutzpah,” Epstein says with a snicker. For those not familiar with the term, ‘chutzpah’ … [Read more...]
3 hours to deadline. Aaand go !RT @listentoTHISguy: @OmarMosleh We need to be straight up about who we are. Taking a risk is too much of a gamble, and lord knows we hate …Lol - /w @listentoTHISguy http://t.co/je1fLMz7q1I feel you bro, I feel you. #life http://t.co/Xg2IG9XAvyRT @gavdcrites: @OmarMosleh So... are we not even looking at the role of space lizards in the gerbil masacre? http://t.co/uylKNlDNyB
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