Monthly Readers
We See You
Dr Ying Lu’s dedication to quality eye care earns her the Ontario Service Award
By Trevon Smith
Keep an eye out for Chief of Ophthalmology, Dr. Ying Lu, next time you see her. She’s just received the Ontario Service Award for her outstanding volunteer work.
Lu, an eye health expert, has volunteered at organizations around the world but has called Scarborough her home for the last 20 years. Working through the Scarborough Health Network (SHN) and its community partners, she’s delivered world-renowned healthcare to the folks at Carefirst Seniors and Community Services Association. continued
Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts
By Larraine Roulston
During this holiday season, we strive to surprise our family and friends with useful and memorable gifts. At the same time, it helps to have a spending plan in mind to avoid the woes of receiving over-extended credit card bills.
To remain within your budget, make a list of family and friends with the amount of money you can afford to spend on each. In the time remaining until December the 25th, keep an eye open for any sales. Although shopping online may be convenient, try to shop locally so that the dollars you spend remain within your community. As well, if purchasing a bicycle or other sports equipment, for example, local retailers are best equipped to help you with selection, accessories and any ongoing maintenance issues.
Check out thrift stores for board games, toys and unique gifts. Books in particular are popular and many that can be found in thrift and used book stores are in mint condition. See what is available on websites such as Craigslist or Kijiji where you’ll often find items priced as ‘best offer’ from people who continued
Federal Election 2019
King Kids for Climate Change
By Bree-Ann Gittens
Thousands of students attended climate change protests on Friday, Sept 27. The Toronto District School Board allowed students to protest during school hours. This is a climate strike rally for climate justice for future generations.
The protest at RH King began at 1: 00 pm where students were holding posters, chanting climate change slogans on the sidewalk in front of their school.
Over 50 students raised their voices chanting “climate justice now” or ” hey hey, ho ho, fossil fuel has gotta go.”
Climate change protests took place across the country on Friday to address the world’s climate change problem.
Many RH King students went to the Queen’s Park rally instead. Vice Principle Armand Van Bochove said “many parents called the school giving their children permission to be absent to so they could participate in the events at Queens Park.”
Full story in November Bluffs Monitor
Provincial cuts threaten affordable housing project
A plan to add more than 100 affordable apartments to a Scarborough neighbourhood is up in the air after the province cut a program that would have helped pay for the project.
“We work hard to … create affordable housing in the city, and so it’s always very disappointing when we see that it doesn’t come through,” said a frustrated Coun. Ana Bailao, the city’s affordable housing advocate.
Podium Developments had planned a 27-storey, 386-unit rental building on Dale Avenue, near the Guildwood GO station with about 30 per cent of the units earmarked for lower income residents, the developer told CBC Toronto in an email.
Another Solution Proposed for Birchcliff Quarry Lands
The city is proposing to build affordable housing with park space on its portion of a Scarborough site known as the Birchcliff Quarry Lands, a Toronto councillor told a community meeting on Monday.
Coun. Gary Crawford, who represents Ward 20-Scarborough Southwest, told about 100 people that a new redevelopment plan by the city for the Quarry Lands calls for about 120 units of affordable housing to be built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The housing will be a mix of ownership and rental. About 70 units are proposed to be rental.
“The plan, I think, is an improvement from the last plan,” Crawford said at the meeting.