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Thursday October 9, 2025
Local High School Football Rivals Battle Ahead Of Thanksgiving Weekend







By Doug Whiteside for the Slam (Scarborough)
Images by John Smee for The Slam (Scarborough)
Right around the time the Blue Jays were prepping for what would be their ALDS series-winning game against the New York Yankees, a growing football rivalry was unfolding at Leaside High School.
The hill at what is commonly known as Talbot Park, at Bayview and Eglinton, filled up nicely with fellow students and family members, who watched and cheered as an intense back-and-forth ensued between the two juggernaut varsity football teams.
First Half
The Birchmount Panthers looked to be in cruise control, having scored an early touchdown and showcasing a prolific passing game.
Leaside’s defence worked to contain Birchmount’s running game and took advantage of a couple of turnovers, eventually scoring a touchdown of their own.
The second half seemed to be all Leaside, as their defence again forced a couple of turnovers, which deflated an otherwise impressive Birchmount offensive drive.
Leaside Remains Undefeated
In the end, it was Leaside who scored two more TDs to cap the victory with a final score of 22-7.
Leaside remains undefeated, while Birchmount, with a record of one win, one loss, looks ahead to a clash against Malvern.
Both teams should hold their heads high after another strong effort on the gridiron.
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Thomson CI and Malvern Play to a Scoreless Draw






Monday October 6, 2025
Durga Puja at Durgabari: A Festive Celebration


September 27 – October 1, 2025 | Birchmount, Scarborough
Autumn in Canada brings more than just a palette of vibrant colors — it ushers in a season of cultural celebration and spiritual awakening. Among the most revered events is Sharadiya Durga Puja, and for the Bengali Hindu community in Toronto, Toronto Durgabari has been its sacred epicenter for the past 16 years.
Since its inception in 2009, Toronto Durgabari has stood as a pillar of Hindu tradition and cultural expression in Scarborough. This year, from September 27 to October 1, the temple marked its 16th annual Durga Puja with grandeur, devotion, and inclusivity — celebrating not just a festival, but a deeply cherished legacy.
A Grand Opening to Five Days of Festivities
The celebration began with Mahalaya, invoking the Goddess Durga to descend and bless her devotees. On Maha Shashthi (September 27), the atmosphere came alive with the sacred rhythms of mantras, rituals, and a special musical rendition of “Mahishasuramardini” — performed by children and youth — infusing tradition with youthful spirit.
Every ritual was performed in adherence to scriptural traditions and Bengali customs, creating a space that was both spiritually uplifting and culturally rich. Each day brought sacred Pushpanjali (floral offerings) in the morning and Sandhya Arati (evening prayers) that captivated all present in divine reverence.
Tradition, Culture, and Community
A highlight of Saptami was the launch of Drishti, the temple’s annual Puja magazine — a heartfelt collaboration of writers, sponsors, and volunteers whose efforts were acknowledged with deep gratitude. The temple itself was a vision of devotion, its entrance adorned with traditional Shola (pith) artwork, and both the interior and exterior glowing with vibrant lighting installations.
Devotees traveled from across the GTA and neighboring cities, drawn to the mesmerizing spiritual and cultural experience, making Toronto Durgabari a center of unity and celebration.
Standing for Peace and Justice
In keeping with its commitment to social values, the temple also held a solemn protest condemning the barbaric attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh — reaffirming the temple’s dedication to peace, unity, and justice for all communities.
A Historic First in Canada
One of the most remarkable moments came on Bijoya Dashami (October 1), when, for the first time in Canadian history, the immersion ceremony (Visarjan) took place at Woodbine Beach. The event marked a significant milestone in the diaspora’s cultural journey.
The sacred Sindoor Khela — a traditional ritual where married women apply vermillion to each other — transformed the beach into a radiant canvas of red, symbolizing love, strength, and unity. It served as a reminder that beyond caste, creed, or race, all are children of one Divine Mother — Jagatjanani.
A Festival Beyond Borders
Durga Puja at Toronto Durgabari has transcended its ethnic roots to become a universal celebration. It is a space where people from all walks of life gather to share joy, food (Prasad), and blessings (Pushpanjali), leaving behind worldly divisions to embrace spiritual unity.
As Rabindranath Tagore so eloquently said, Durga Puja is a liberal platform for social unity, free from prejudice and inequality. The temple reflects this spirit in every prayer, every smile, and every offering.
In the Spirit of Durga
To her devotees, Goddess Durga is the supreme protector — her ten arms symbolizing omnipresence and divine intervention in times of adversity. In a world that sometimes falters under the weight of injustice and division, her arrival serves as a powerful reminder that good always triumphs over evil.
As this year’s celebration draws to a close, we hold onto the hope that communal harmony will endure, that divisions will dissolve, and that humanity will rise — united in love, compassion, and peace.
Friday October 3, 2025
Friday Night Lights. Birchmount Park CI Tops Thomson CI 24-6 in Season Opener










By Doug Whiteside for the Slam (Scarborough)
Images by John Smee for The Slam (Scarborough)
It was a spectacular kickoff to the 2025 High School football season. A newly constructed field, with pro-grade Astro turf. The yard lines were freshly painted and at each end zone, stood the tall, yellow uprights. The band was playing, as the crowd of roughly a thousand chanted and cheered on a warm October evening, under the “Friday Night Lights.”
Warm Weather, Fun Vibe
This would typically fit the description of a High School football game in West Texas, or any of the football hotbeds across the US. Instead, this was the scene last night, at David and Mary Thomson CI, in the heart of Scarborough, for their season opener against Birchmount
High School football players from generations past, in Scarborough had dreamed and often pitched the idea of playing a “Friday Night Lights” classic. Now, in 2025, these two Varsity teams, with players ranging from grade 9 through 12, have brought this idea into action and reality.
The vibe in the stands, and on the field was incredible. Friends and family members from both sides were mingling, laughing and loudly cheering at the onset of every play.
Action Packed
The game itself, began with some awe-inspiring plays at both ends. Birchmount got on the board early, with their second drive culminating in a 3-point field goal. Then DMT answered back in highlight-reel fashion. Their quarterback took the snap at their 30-yard line and launched a perfect spiral downfield, catching the receiver in stride, for a 70-yard touchdown pass.
The score remained low, at 6-3, until Birchmount’s defense began containing DMT’s attack on almost every drive. One interception before the half, put Birchmount deep into DMT territory, where a combination of smart handoffs and timely blocks led to a Birchmount TD.
A Memorable Night
The crowd never let up with its support, and positive energy. The players, and coaches responded with outstanding performances and inspiring efforts. It became more than just a game, it turned into a community celebration that these young players, and those in attendance will cherish as a lasting memory.
Panthers Prevail
The final result of the game, was a 24-6 victory for the Birchmount Panthers. The score doesn’t reflect how well the DMT Titans actually played. This is the very first year of the football program, at the beautiful, and newly renovated David and Mary Thomson Collegiate. They competed valiantly, and they’ll be back for more. As for Birchmount, they have their sights set on accomplishing big things in 2025.
High School football in Scarborough has never been better. Who knows when the next “Friday Night Lights” spectacle will be, but for now, we’ll keep smiling and hold on to the memories of an awesome evening.
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Monday September 29, 2025
Ward 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park has a new Councillor.







By Jake Ross
Neethan Shan, chair of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and former City Councillor, won 27 per cent of the vote in Monday’s by-election, returning him to City Hall after seven years.
Speaking to reporters, Shan pointed to his experience both as Chair of the TDSB and a former councillor, saying that voters knew he would work hard for them.
Shan represented the old ward of Scarborough-Rouge River between 2017 and 2018. When Premier Doug Ford realigned the city’s wards ahead of the 2018 municipal election, Shan ran in the new Ward 25 Scarbrough-Rouge Park but lost to former councillor Jennifer McKelvie.
A former candidate for the NDP, Shan was endorsed by numerous labour groups and Progress Toronto, a municipally based left-wing advocacy organization. In his victory speech he said, “Scarborough just elected a progressive candidate,” but he also promised to work with anyone “regardless of political spectrums.”
Supporter Sadman Rafid said he voted for Shan because he was the “most progressive candidate.” He said the city was seeing a decline in the quality of services, and he believed progressive policy was the answer.
There were a total of 20 candidates in the race, including Vice Chair of the TDSB and Ward 19 Scarborough-Guildwood Trustee Zakir Patel, Anu Sriskandarajah, TDSB Trustee for Ward 22, Scarborough-Rouge Park and wife to Ward 20 Scarborough-Southwest Councillor Parthi Kandavel, and Shawn Allen, a local businessman.
The race was widely seen as a harbinger for what’s to come in the 2026 municipal election. It saw CUPE President Fred Hahn canvass in support of Shan, and right-wing advocacy group, Integrity Toronto, campaign on behalf of Shawn Allen.
In attendance at Shan’s victory party was Mayor Olivia Chow, who said Shan was “an experienced and hard-working councillor who will champion the needs of people in Scarborough.” She praised his previous experience at City Hall and said she looks forward to working with him.
The by-election was called after former Councillor Jennifer McKelvie resigned following her election as the Member of Parliament for Ajax.
For a full list of results, readers can head to the City of Toronto’s website, Toronto.ca.
Monday September 29, 2025
You Do Not Own Your Social Media
By Nick Kossovan
Social media platforms offer a compelling deal: they provide, for free, the infrastructure, the audience, and the tools that promise exposure (read: ego-boosting recognition). In return, they quietly hold your audience hostage. On the surface, this seems fair. After all, the platform is providing a valuable dopamine-ensuring service.
A skeletal village is what I see when I look at my over 23,000 subscribers to my Substack job-hunting newsletter, The Art of Finding Work. Those subscribers aren’t mine; they belong to Substack. I built my audience, but I can’t truly reach them on my terms. The same applies to my over 12,500 Instagram followers, my 165,000 X/Twitter followers, or my 19,850 LinkedIn connections.
Because it’s uncomfortable to acknowledge, social media users, especially creators, overlook the truth that social media is fundamentally about renting, not owning. Essentially, I’m a tenant on someone else’s property, paying rent with my time and content. For a long time, I celebrated (Okay, I admit, “boasted.”) the number of followers I have, as if they were assets I own.
They’re not.
While I own the content I create, the social media platform holds a broad license to use my content, since they technically own my account and its following. If you read a platform’s terms of service—who does—platforms grant themselves extensive rights to your photos, videos, and other intellectual property, without requesting your permission or compensating you. Platforms have significant carte blanche control, which you agreed to when you signed up and created your account, over your content, even being able to use it for commercial purposes. Furthermore, they can change the rules at any time, which is unnerving.
Several years ago, I finally established in the back of my mind that I’m only a “guest” on any social media platform and that my participation is dependent on my adherence to a long list of terms and conditions, which, like most people, I haven’t read.
The way platforms lock you in is by ensuring that your posts have a short visible shelf life, reminiscent of the days when slaves on ships had to keep rowing to get the owner of the ship to their destination. A short shelf life enslaves you to the platform, as you need to continue posting to maintain ego-boosting likes and comments, which is how the owner of the platform metaphorically steers their ship to profitability.
Then there’s the algorithm, akin to a ship’s rudder, which the platform owns and controls without input from its tenants. When Instagram tweaks its algorithm, as it habitually does, my reach can drop by 80% overnight. There’s also the issue that platforms are free, without having to consult their tenants, to pivot their business model, or can simply cease, such as Friendster, Orkut, Vine, Google+, and Bebo, without warning, my followers, whom I worked hard to grow, become unreachable, trapped behind the platform’s walls. Additionally, there’s the real possibility of your account being suspended or shut down, which happens frequently due to a misstep outside of the platform use guidelines, which you agreed to when you signed up.
Social media companies exemplify the adage, attributed to the artist Richard Serra, who was referring to television, “When the product is free, you’re the product.” In the eyes of a social media company, its users are commodities to be sold to advertisers. Personal data, attention (eyeballs), and digital interactions are collected and analyzed to create targeted advertising, which is the primary revenue stream for these “free” platforms.
Platform-provided metrics can be seductive; however, they only tell part of the story. Having 28,500 Facebook followers sounds impressive, but what does it mean when you can’t reliably reach even a fraction of those followers? The metrics that truly matter aren’t visible on your profile page. They’re found in the depth of engagement, the quality of connections, and most importantly, the sustainability of your posting efforts.
My experience as a heavy social media user has led me to the conclusion that social media platforms are masters at the art of making their services feel essential, especially to businesses, as if they’re a public utility, and fostering pseudo feelings of a sense of community and belonging. Platforms start you out with generous organic reach that inevitably encourages you to build a following. Steadily, they dial back your ability to reach the very audience you’ve built. It’s a subtle form of vendor lock-in, masked as a free service.
The real price we pay isn’t measured in dollars. It’s measured in the amount of time spent, time we could be spending nourishing our real world, chasing views, likes and comments. Every time a platform tweaks its algorithm, people, particularly creators, scramble to adapt their content, voice, and entire creative process to match what they believe is the platform’s new preferences. The constant pursuit of what platform owners strategically keep out of reach is the Greek tragedy of our times, keeping us glued to screens that we voluntarily allow to influence our emotions and self-esteem.
Bottom line: Your existence on social media is at the whim of the companies that provide those services.
Nick Kossovan is the Customer Service Professionals Network’s Social Media Director (Executive Board Member). Feel free to send your social media questions to nick.kossovan@gmail.com. On Twitter and Instagram, follow @NKossovan.
Sunday August 24, 2025
Nepali-Canadian community celebrates Teej










Scarborough, ON — On Sunday, August 24, the Nepali-Canadian community gathered at The Stage Magna, 1320 Ellesmere Road, Unit 8, Scarborough for the Teej Festival 2025, a vibrant celebration of women, tradition, music, dance and devotion.
What is Teej?
Teej (or Hartalika Teej) is a Hindu festival predominantly observed by women in Nepal and parts of India. It falls in the lunar month of Bhadra and typically spans several days. On Teej, women fast, worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, sing folk songs, dress in red, and dance in joyful processions. In diaspora communities, Teej also becomes a social and cultural gathering, preserving heritage and offering younger generations an opportunity to connect with ancestral traditions.
What to Expect at the Festival
The Scarborough edition, organized by Srijansil Nepali Samaj (SNS Canada), provided a full evening of cultural programming beginning around 8:00 p.m.
• Traditional dance and musical performances, featuring Nepali folk and devotional songs
• Cultural fashion displays, with participants often adorned in red sarees, jewelry, and symbolic accessories
• Ritual observances and devotional worship to mark the spiritual dimension of Teej
• Social interaction and community bonding, especially among women who observe the fast
• Food and refreshments providing Nepali cuisine and sweets
Why It Matters
For many Nepali women, Teej is both a deeply spiritual occasion and a cultural affirmation. In diaspora, the festival plays an important role in preserving heritage, passing traditions to younger generations, and creating a sense of belonging. It also allows non-Nepali attendees to learn about the importance of women’s role in cultural rituals, familial bonds, and devotion practices.
By placing the festival at a visible, accessible venue in Scarborough, SNS Canada aims to reach not only established Nepali immigrants but also newer arrivals, youth, and interested Torontonians who wish to engage with Nepali culture
Sunday September 28, 2025
Seniors grow food and community connections with funding help from RTOERO district

Scarborough, Ont., Sept. 25, 2025 – Area seniors will soon enjoy a new way to stay active, eat well and connect with their neighbors thanks to a $4,000 donation from District 24 Scarborough & East York of RTOERO (soon to be Entente Education Canada). The grant is going to BGC East Scarborough for their Happy Roots Community Garden. This project will provide older adults with hands-on gardening, cooking sessions and opportunities to share fresh produce with those in need.
The District 24 funding is part of RTOERO’s annual community grants program. Since 1968, RTOERO has been a voice for teachers, school and board administrators, educational support staff and college and university faculty in their retirement.
Their mission is to improve the lives of our members and seniors. RTOERO members also share a desire to give back. Each year, districts apply for grants to support community projects. For 2025, RTOERO funded 26 projects for a total of $103,948.
In District 24, the Happy Roots Community Garden initiative allows older adults to grow herbs, vegetables and fruits in raised gardens. The results are then used in cooking sessions and shared in Good Food Boxes. The project combines elements of health, learning, sustainability and community engagement.
“This isn’t just about growing food, but about growing connections, skills and confidence. Through gardening and cooking, participants gain wellness and purpose, while inspiring others,” says Annemarie McKee, President, District 24 Scarborough & East York, RTOERO.
A committee of RTOERO members assesses the merits of each grant submission. Projects touch on everything from environmental sustainability, to healthy and accessible communities. Since the inception of the community grants program 25 years ago, RTOERO has donated almost $2.2 million to more than 600 programs and projects.
“Our members have always been deeply engaged in the places they call home. Through the grants program, they’re able to extend that spirit of service and ensure meaningful initiatives receive the support they need to thrive,” says John Cappelletti, chair of the board at RTOERO.
District 24 Scarborough & East York includes about 3,100 members, and plays a key role in helping them stay engaged and connected, with each other and the community.
25
Monday September 22, 2025
Advance voting turnout for the Ward 25, Scarborough-Rouge Park by-election
A total of 4,376 voters cast their ballot during advance voting in the by-election for the office of Councillor Ward 25, Scarborough-Rouge Park. Turnout for advance voting was as follows:
-Saturday, September 20 – 2,049 voters
– Sunday, September 21 – 2,327 voters
Election day Election day is Monday, September 29. On election day, 37 voting places will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eligible voters choosing to vote on election day must do so at their assigned voting place, which can be found on the MyVote webpage: www.toronto.ca/myvote.
To receive a ballot at a voting place, a voter needs to present identification that shows their name and qualifying Ward 25, Scarborough-Rouge Park address. Eligible voters with acceptable identification who are not on the voters’ list can be added at the voting place on election day.
A Voter Information Card (VIC) was mailed to each voter who was on the voters’ list by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 4. Eligible voters who were on the voters’ list by 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 21 can review, print or download a digital copy of their VIC to a mobile device from the MyVote webpage: www.toronto.ca/myvote. A VIC is not needed to vote and is not an acceptable form of identification for voting purposes. However, eligible voters are encouraged to bring their (paper or digital) VIC with them to the voting place for a faster experience.
For more information about VICs and acceptable identification documents for voting purposes, visit the Ward 25, Scarborough-Rouge Park by-election webpage: www.toronto.ca/byelection.
By-election results Starting at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday, September 29, unofficial by-election results are expected to be available on the Ward 25, Scarborough-Rouge Park by-election webpage: www.toronto.ca/byelection.
Unofficial by-election results will include vote totals from advance voting, Mail-in Voting and election day. For media outlet technical and/or production staff who plan to download and access unofficial election results, information can be found on the Toronto Elections Results webpage: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/election-results-reports/election-results.
Monday September 22, 2025
Bluffers Park Yacht Club hosts the Virgin of Peñafrancia Fluvial Parade











TORONTO, September 2, 2025 – Each year, members of the Bluffers Park Yacht Club (BPYC), along with the Bicol Canada Community Association (BCAA), host the Virgin of Peñafrancia Fluvial Parade. This event is the largest celebration of the statue outside of the Philippines and the biggest in North America.
Our Lady of Peñafrancia is a wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in Naga City, Bicol, Philippines. The image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia traces its origins to Salamanca, Spain, where the original is enshrined. Today, her revered image is housed at the Peñafrancia Basilica in Naga City, Philippines. Each September, thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad gather to celebrate the
Peñafrancia Festival, a nine-day novena of prayer and thanksgiving. The festivities culminate in the traditional fluvial procession, where the image is carried on a pagoda along the Naga River. Honored as the Principal Patroness and Queen of Bicol, Our Lady of Peñafrancia continues to inspire deep devotion, unity, and faith among the Bicolano people.
The celebration begins with the traditional Fluvial Parade from Bluffers Park Beach and ends at Bluffers Park Yacht Club. From there member boats take the statue and participants of the congregation out to Lake Ontario. The event concludes with an evening mass at Our Lady of Assumption Church at 2565 Bathurst Street.
Symbol of Joy and Spirit
In the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the color yellow carries a special meaning. It represents the uplifting joy and vibrant spirit of the faithful—an expression of hope, gratitude, and unwavering devotion.
Monday September 22, 2025
Cyclists Take to the Streets for Danforth Kingston 4 All Ride

Scarborough residents and cycling advocates came together on Sunday, September 21, for the annual Danforth Kingston 4 All group ride, a community event promoting safe, accessible, and sustainable transportation.
The ride began in the morning at Danforth Avenue and Main Street, drawing families, seasoned cyclists, and first-time riders alike. Participants followed a route east along Danforth Avenue into Scarborough, highlighting the need for continuous, protected bike lanes along the corridor and into Kingston Road.
Organizers said the ride was not only about enjoying the streets together, but also about sending a message to City Hall. “We want safe, connected cycling infrastructure that works for everyone — kids, seniors, commuters, and recreational riders,” said one volunteer with the organizing group.
The event featured marshals ensuring a safe and inclusive pace, with several local community organizations also joining to show their support. Families with young children in tow rode alongside more experienced cyclists, creating what participants described as a “rolling festival” of colour and community spirit.
Advocates note that while the City of Toronto has expanded its bike network in recent years, Scarborough still lacks major east-end connections. The Danforth Kingston 4 All campaign has been urging city officials to extend bike lanes eastward, connecting neighbourhoods and encouraging more people to cycle.
The ride concluded with a gathering in a local park, where participants shared stories, signed petitions, and discussed next steps for advancing cycling safety in Scarborough.
Monday September 22, 2025
Scarborough's First Firehall

In this photograph of the laying of the cornerstone of Scarborough’s First Fire Hall almost exactly 100 years ago — do you see your father, mother or grandparents? If so, please email bmccowan@netrover.com.
The McCowan family will be donating the Ceremonial Trowel in the photograph to the Toronto Fire Historical Society on November 2 2025. On Nov. 2 the cornerstone will be re-dedicated using the same trowel — all are welcome to attend this public event
Wednesday August 27, 2025
A Scarborough Olympic Push


By Bret D. Snider
Naimh Haughey (pronounced “Nav”—it’s a Gaelic thing) wasn’t initially planning on the bobsleigh/bobsled as a path to the Olympics. Her parents’ plan was hockey, a sport she was enrolled in at the age of four, largely because her brothers were bound for the sport. However, by high school she was beginning to realize that she was a “middle of the pack” player. “I wasn’t the best, but I loved hockey, and I wanted that dream,” said Haughey. “Then university rolled around, and I thought, well, I’ll go get the puck. I’ll do the dirty work in the corners, but is there anything more for me here?”
Although Haughey was born and raised in Scarborough, she lived with her parents for two years in Ireland (2008-2010) and while there played Gaelic Football for the Dublin Jr. Team. Then “…at Cardinal Newman High School, the rugby coaches asked me to try out. I did it on a whim and ended up loving it more than hockey. I went on to play for Rugby Canada, which was my first stint playing for the national team,” said Haughey. “During COVID both Rugby and hockey at school were cancelled. And I received an email in September saying ‘we have a tryout next month to make the Canadian Bobsleigh team.’ I immediately booked a one-way ticket to Calgary. The try-out was in October, and from then to February 2021, I was on tour as a member of the Development team on a circuit in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.”
Competing against other national teams provided Haughey with insights as to their strengths and weaknesses. “Our sport is very technical, and sled technology is critical.” Countries like Germany, Switzerland, the US and Latvia have invested heavily in sled design which they don’t typically share. The other factor are the athletes that provide the initial push—the acceleration to launch the sled. Then it is up to the team to maximize speed wherever possible.
Imagine heading down an ice-covered track at between 70-90 kilometers an hour facing fifteen to twenty turns with in an aerodynamically designed sled with only two hand pullies between the ‘driver’s’ legs to manoeuvre front runners and a brake at the back, controlled by the ‘brakeman’. It sounds basic but is considered a technically advanced sport and the whole process from start to finish usually takes less than a minute. The most successful teams have extremely well engineered sleighs that provide maximum advantage. Then there is the initial push to launch the vehicle down the track. Teams that combine both factors to advance speed and properly manoeuvre do well.
The year 2020 was a watershed for Haughey. It was during COVID. Hockey and Rugby were cancelled, I’m an athlete and I just wanted to play. I leapt at the bobsled opportunity. I didn’t think ‘Oh, this is how I’m going to get to the Olympics’, and then I realized I could do this thing. I could get to go to the Olympics. That was the first time I was hanging out with Olympians. I was twenty-two and the youngest on my team. Everybody else was in their early thirties. And there I was with Justin Kripps on my team who already had a gold medal.”
Now she lives in Calgary because of their ice-house; “a World Class facility that provides athletes in sliding sports (bobsleigh, luge and skeleton) to practice a critical element in their sport—the launch.” (www.winsport.ca)
Until recently the women’s teams have been restricted to just the two-man event and not the four-man version. However, a single person event, the ‘Monobob’, was introduced during the Beijing Games in 2022. It levels the playing field by making the sled technology standardized which elevates the athletic component.
As of now, Haughey lives in Calgary and considers her training to be her full-time job. She survives on limited funds from the government and fundraising efforts to pay living expenses and a $30,000 fee to participate with no guarantees of making the team in preparation for her next Olympic push.
Wednesday August 27, 2025
September Book Bites
By Cathy Austin
The time is right for new projects, school and back to work and to check out authors new to you like The Almost Widow by Gail Anderson-Dargatz, a Canadian novelist living in B.C.
This author is passionate about old growth forests and the natural world. In this novel she features Piper, a tree-hugger if you like, a woman keen on saving our old ancient trees from poachers. Her husband, Ben, is a natural resource officer, who does just that or tries to, it’s a tough go as illegal logging is high in our dense wooded areas especially in B.C., the setting for this book. The story begins with Piper being rather frantic that Ben has not come home from his visit across the lake in search of a particular suspected poacher. One thing leads to another and the pace is set with search and rescue along with Piper and Ben’s son Noah joining in the search. When Ben’s boat is found the worst is imagined but Piper and Noah refuse to abandon Ben. Things come to a head deep in the snowy woods: a disturbed grizzly from her den, suspected poachers and the Green Man who haunts the woods, but he is real. A good read, a bit frustrating at times as Piper’s character is very impulsive and knee-jerk but it serves her well in the end. Scenery, setting and plot shine.
Hands up if you know of Max Kerman and the band Arkells! Try Hard by Max Kerman is a kind of an autobiography self help creative outline, ideal for inspiration, getting started, just doing what moves you to that point of success, big or small that you crave and how to get it. Way back as a kid, Max was not overly motivated to do a lot of stuff, he got sidetracked, so many things interested him that did not involve actual work, so curious, a lover of quirkiness, let’s say, from an interesting family history. Lazy, no, not as such as he reveals in chapter four, a try hard, indeed, and a very, very honest, very hard worker at what he excels at: music, writing, playing, gathering, singing, leading, being upbeat, being a frontman, getting things done in his community, across our country, world tours. Arkells was formed from a bunch of uni guys from McMaster and Hamilton is where they jammed, became who they are now: a revered band, 20 years in as a top performing fan loving group with legions of assorted aficionados and believers. All because Max had a dream to dream big. Written in a superb conversational voice, with many key constructive points Max shares what worked for him, what didn’t and what might work for you, the reader in your pursuit of a creative bent. I turned down so many pages. I loved this book to bits. It’s fresh, it’s fun, it’s uplifting!
Kelley Armstrong’s 4th book in her time travel detective series is a must read for fans of Mallory, Duncan, Isla and Hugh plus the supporting cast of characters circa 1870 Edinburgh, Scotland. In Death at a Highland Wedding the scene changes to a manor where all sorts of things have gone on and continue, and, of course, a murder is the result, and days before the wedding. Our main crew is there, along with Hugh’s sister, the bride. It is her groom, Archie’s estate, an old school chum of Duncan and Hugh. Many clandestine meetings, midnight picnic meet ups, wildcats roaming the grounds, poachers, murderers and relations without consent. Mallory and Duncan (Dr. Gray) have quite the task to find the killer/s of a dear guest (with a very shocking deep secret) without the knowledge of the very young constable in charge. Armstrong’s characters are likeable, well-fleshed out and interact well with one another making each book shine. Victorian Scotland and the era is depicted nicely as is the scenery and dialogue. A sure winner!
On Isabella Street is a fantastic historical and well-written and researched new novel by Genevieve Graham, one of Canada’s top fiction writers. She seamlessly weaves the stories of 30 year old Marion, a psychiatric nurse at 999 Queen St., a building soon to be emptied of its patients, something she strongly disagrees with. Sassy, a 20 something upbeat hippie-like girl into singing and her guitar, coasting on Dad’s money, working for the cause of anti-Vietnam war protests alongside her boyfriend, Davey, event organizer and aspiring chef. Turns out Marion and Sassy live in the same building in Toronto and forge a friendship, sharing their strengths, changing their lives forever. The plot involves mental health care, Vietnam vets care and housing, family tragedies and gaining strength from them and living in the late 1960’s with so many world and societal changes. There is romance. And sorrow, laughter and tears. No spoilers, I’ll stop here. A must read!
This big book is a quick read, really, it is! Marble Hall Murders is a standalone but connects to Magpie Murders, both by Anthony Horowitz, who has a CBE for his services to literature. And if you’ve read him, no disputing his long list of novels, screenplays, etc. A gem of an author, one who seems to push all the buttons in delivering a riveting complicated page turner with so many red herrings, suspects, plots, murders, characters that jump off the page along with umpteen references to all things Brit and fantastic settings in London and France. Susan Ryeland, once editor of the late Alan Conway and his Atticus Pund novels finds herself embroiled in a new manuscript, a continuation of Pund written by Eliot Crace of the famous Miriam Crace family, his grandmother, who wrote the Little people series of blockbuster hits. Will Eliot be a success, too? Will Susan deliver the finished book? Will everyone involved in the Crace family lore make it to the end of the book? No spoilers. This is a genuinely fantastic book within a book peopled with a gazillion fascinating characters. Yes, I loved it.
Fans of Las Vegas shows and casinos will love The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian but will be surprised at the underbelly of new crypto crime infiltrating the strip. Two sisters at odds, one the star of the Diana cabaret running at the Buckingham Palace Casino, Chrissy Dowling and Betsy Dowling, of Vermont but newly relocated to Vegas with her guy, an up and coming crypto mover and shaker collide when mob bosses of coin enter the picture, owners of the BP end up dead and both Chrissy and Betsy get in over their heads. But, they, along with Betsy’s adopted daughter Marisa (one smart 13 year old who knows her way around the internet and hacking) unite, however unlikely that strikes each of them, to get out of the jam they’re in. This is one big read, lots of menace and sorrow, some unexpected joy and strong likeable characters in the flawed Chrissy, Betsy and Marisa. Note: I read this hot desert setting book during our recent heat wave. An experience!
Fall for one of these, something for everyone.
Wednesday August 27, 2025
Kill Bill 5 ~ Opinion
By Lorinda Crawford
Protect Ontario by Unleashing the Economy Act and the federal One Canadian Economy Act: colloquially known as Bill 5 and Bill C-5, hastily became law in June. Governments claim that these Acts aim to protect Ontarians and Canadians from the economic and tariff threats from the USA. Both aim to speed up development projects which they say get delayed in “red tape”.
Citizens have manifested all Spring and Summer throughout the province to “kill Bill 5”: rallies in various cities and towns, mobilization of Indigenous nations, particularly in northern Ontario, letter-writing and postcard campaigns, municipalities voting to object against Bill 5. We can hope that the public pressure from groups and individual citizens will be enough to have Bill 5 repealed, just like the Greenbelt scandal, however, the best we can expect may be tinkering. Yet, even that is worth continual communication with our elected representatives: to correct what is seriously wrong with Bill 5 (and C-5). If any of the following concerns you, please write to your MPPs.
Reinstate the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and repeal the new – watered-down – Species Conservation Act. Ontario’s ESA was considered to be the “gold standard” for recovery and stewardship of species and habitat. In Ontario, over 400 species are at risk of extinction, due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by development. Ontario has an opportunity to be the example of how to do development differently – to benefit BOTH human needs and respect the needs of interconnected wildlife. With the current new Act, developers and corporations need only inform the government that they will be causing harm, but are not obliged to take corrective action. We were promised that the federal environmental protections would be sufficient. However, federal ministers can waive environmental assessments for Bill C-5’s Nation Building Projects, so nature loses – twice.
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have no place in Ontario. The government can designate “trusted proponents” to develop in an area, suspending provincial laws, regulations and municipal bylaws, including environmental assessments. SEZs clear the way for development in sensitive areas such as wetlands. Forms of this are already underway with the Ontario Place Spa, Wasaga Beach, the Dresden Dump, Highway 413, and soon the Ring of Fire – situated in the peatlands, a globally important carbon sink in pristine wilderness. SEZs would be applied to any project the federal government would approve “in the national interest” such as a deep sea port in James Bay, oil pipelines, the 401 tunnel, and new nuclear power plants.
Indigenous Consultation and respect of Treaties was not expressly articulated in the legislation. These are important because SEZs are expected to be established in Indigenous territories governed by treaties, starting with the Ring of Fire, reputed to have the critical minerals that the current economy “needs”. Yet, there is a long history of inadequate consultation; of mining/development conglomerates reaping tremendous wealth while Indigenous communities have minimal benefit from what is being extracted from their land; of land/habitat being destroyed and waters polluted with no clean-up. However, Indigenous leaders and peoples point out that consultation should happen prior to the drafting of such an Act, and ongoing throughout all decision making.
Changes to the Ontario Heritage Act aim to streamline development by exempting certain projects from archaeological and heritage protections and assessments. This opens the potential for great loss of historical knowledge and culture dating back thousands of years.
Indigenous perspectives and input should be taken seriously. Indigenous leaders and youth speak of their sacred responsibility to steward the land and all the wildlife that dwell therein, whom/which they consider to be kin. Language like this reveals a worldview different from the prevailing paradigm that rules business, industry and governments: nature as commodities. We have a time-has-come opportunity to “nation build” and “Protect Ontario” by integrating this attitude of Earth-first, economy-second into ALL of our development, whether it is housing, urban planning, business, massive development. How can the economy prosper in perpetuity if the environment continues to be degraded?
As of publication deadline, five Indigenous “consultations” are wrapping up. Economic Development Minister Vic Fideli insists that all First Nations in Ontario were invited; except numerous Chiefs note that they were not.
Are there alternate nation-building and “Protect Ontario” projects? How about an east-west clean electricity grid? A cross-country fast rail project. Investing as much in sustainable energy production and infrastructure as we do in oil/gas. Building affordable housing in existing developed areas. Building highways with ample wildlife over-and-underpasses. Clean water in all indigenous communities.
Readers, please seek insightful perspectives: Ontario Nature, Repeal Bill 5 (Facebook), Attawapiskat First Nation, Chief Alvin Fiddler, Chief Abraham Benedict, Idle No More 2.0, Environmental Defense, Land Defenders, The Narwhal. Visit the Environmental Registry of Ontario regularly to share your comments about government actions that could impact the environment: ero.ontario.ca. And write to your MPPs!
Wednesday August 27, 2025
Conversations We Should Not Be Hearing
By Nick Kossovan
A new public coarseness epidemic that’s happening everywhere—restaurants, doctor’s office waiting rooms, bathrooms, public transportation, grocery stores—is upon us, and I need to write about it.
People are walking around using their phones as walkie-talkies, holding them to their mouths as if they’re munching on a cookie. It’s as if the unwritten rule of being discreet and respectful of others has been thrown out the window.
When I’m out and about, I don’t need to hear your conversation; neither you nor your conversation is relevant to me. Whether I’m in line for coffee, waiting at the dentist, or grabbing a quick bite in the mall’s food court, your speakerphone call is an intrusion invading my personal space. Portable devices were never intended for public broadcasts. I can’t think of a single excusable reason to use your speakerphone in public, whether it’s to touch base with a friend, listen to music, play a game, or while to your kid’s watch their favourite YouTube cartoon channel.
Besides adding unwanted noise to public spaces, it shows a troubling level of narcissism. Why are some people comfortable with strangers overhearing their conversations? Then there’s the audio-visual offenders, the person on FaceTime at the next table in a restaurant or scrolling through Instagram Reels while sitting across from you in the library. The worst offenders, those who conduct virtual meetings in coffee shops while those around them are trying to read or (gasp) have an actual conversation.
Through my observations and interactions, it’s clear that manners and common courtesy are being tossed aside in favour of self-centred behaviour fuelled by a sense of entitlement, resulting in an increasing number of people feeling comfortable using their speakerphone in public spaces. Why do you want me, a stranger, to hear everything about your son’s recent doctor’s appointment while we’re both in the cereal aisle at Loblaw’s? Are you seeking attention and, like many on social media, who post their life struggles, challenges and ‘sad news’ empathy from strangers?
What gives?
Smartphones have made it easy to entertain ourselves even when there’s a hint of possible boredom on the horizon, or to act as a distraction from everyday stresses, troubles in the world, which the media ensures you never forget exist, social pressures, and whatever problems you may be facing. Additionally, there’s fear of missing out (FOMO) and doom-scrolling, which constantly keeps your anxiety in the yellow or red zone.
Why would someone choose to use their speakerphone in public or watch a video without headphones? The answer is simple: they’re only thinking of themselves, oblivious to those around them.
Some try to justify their obnoxious behaviour by pointing out that iPhones no longer have a headphone jack. True, starting with the iPhone 7, Apple removed the headphone jack to streamline its design, free up internal space, improve water resistance, and promote the use of wireless headphones and earbuds—like Apple’s AirPods—which enable you to hear better while being considerate of others. If you don’t have earbuds, then show some courtesy by stepping away.
As the concept of freedom from constraint becomes increasingly desirable, particularly for younger generations, the conscious thought that what one does directly affects others, including seemingly harmless behaviour, such as how loudly we talk on our phones or watch videos, or more impactful actions such as cyberbullying and trolling on social media sites, is becoming less of a concern. We live in a time when the mindset: “If it suits me, why shouldn’t I?” is prevalent, overlooking the fact that everything we say and do has an impact on others.
Essentially, many people view those around them as NPCs (non-playable characters) while imagining themselves as the main character. This inflated self-worth leads them to believe the world revolves around them, so why bother considering others’ presence or personal space?
With the advent of smartphones as a mass and affordable technology, taking a call—”I need to take this”—and then having a conversation in public is your ego saying, “I’m important! People want my friendship, knowledge, and expertise!” Seriously? How important are your conversations? When you’re on your phone in public—whether you’re holding it to your ear or appear to be eating a cookie—you’re projecting a ‘look at me’ vibe.
Social media has infiltrated every aspect of our lives, influencing our behaviour and norms, generally in a grandiose manner. We’ve become accustomed to broadcasting our thoughts and actions, often unfiltered, into the world. It’s no wonder this ‘everything about me needs to be public’ ethos has seeped into our offline lives.
In fairness, each of us has a personal perception of minor annoyances. In the grand scheme of things, a person misusing their smartphone on a bus isn’t nearly as disrespectful as someone texting while driving, which can have dire consequences for them and the innocent people around them. Come to think of it, smartphones have created more pressing public space concerns, dealing with the husband on his speakerphone in the cereal aisle, asking his wife whether she wants Cheerios or Honeycomb will have to wait.
Nick Kossovan is the Customer Service Professionals Network’s Social Media Director (Executive Board Member). Feel free to send your social media questions to nick.kossovan@gmail.com. On Twitter and Instagram, follow @NKossovan.
Sunday August 17 2025
The Borough FC Battle York to 0 - 0 Draw


















Match Summary: The Borough FC vs York United Academy
Date: August 17, 2025
Venue: Birchmount Stadium, Scarborough (capacity ~2,000)
Competition: League1 Ontario Championship – Round 21
Final Score
The Borough FC 0 – 0 York United Academy
A goalless draw that highlights a hard-fought, evenly matched contest .
Key Highlights
Evenly Matched Play: Both teams battled throughout, yet neither side could break the deadlock—resulting in a 0-0 stalemate at full time.
Strong Defensive Displays: The clean sheet suggests strong defending on both ends, with neither team able to find a breakthrough.
Stakes in the Standings: Heading into the match, The Borough FC sat 3rd while York United Academy occupied 4th in the Championship standings, making this fixture critical for playoff positioning.
Home Atmosphere at Birchmount: The Borough FC hosted the match on home turf, making use of the iconic Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough, a key local venue for semi-pro soccer in Ontario.
What This Result Means
Two Points Dropped, One Gained: While neither side secured all three points, both added a point to their tallies — an outcome that can impact their promotion ambitions.
Defensive Foundations: The clash underlined the defensive grit of both squads. For Borough FC, maintaining a clean sheet provides a foundation to build upon in upcoming matches.
Momentum for Both: York United Academy can take confidence from the road point, while Borough FC will look to turn their home resilience into offensive production.
In Summary
On August 17, 2025, at Birchmount Stadium, The Borough FC and York United Academy battled to a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the League1 Ontario Championship. Strong defensive work and evenly matched play defined the night, with both teams taking away a point in the standings. With playoff implications breathing down their necks, each side will look to sharpen their attack ahead of the next round.
Thursday August 7, 2025
Crowds Flock to Thompson Park for Rotary Club of Scarborough’s Annual Ribfest











Scarborough, ON (Aug 4, 2025) – The Rotary Club of Scarborough wrapped up its 24th annual Scarborough Ribfest, held from August 1 through August 4 at Thomson Memorial Park, drawing thousands of rib lovers and families to this signature community event .
Organized by the Rotary Club of Scarborough, Ribfest has grown into East Toronto’s largest community festival, and the 2025 edition continued the tradition with 10 award‑winning rib vendors, plus over 20 food, arts and craft sellers, midway rides, and live entertainment—all supported by generous sponsors including the City of Toronto, Roadsport Honda, Skywords, Active Green & Ross and Bluffs Monitor.
Opening each day at 11 a.m., the festival ran until 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and closed at 8 p.m. on Monday, the Civic Holiday. Volunteers and staff cleared the park by 2 p.m. on Tuesday cleanup day.
Attendees were treated to finger‑licking ribs, corn on the cob, hot dogs, fries—and even Brazilian pork sandwiches and mac & cheese from vendors like Sticky Fingers and Camp 31, known to longtime visitors . Families enjoyed free parking, children’s splash pad (new in recent years), carnival games, local crafts, karaoke contests, and daily live music across multiple stages .
“Every dollar donated goes right back into local and global Rotary causes,” said committee chair Bruce Pettit. In 2025, Ribfest proceeds helped fund initiatives such as school dictionaries for Grade 5 students, support for Habitat for Humanity, the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care, and the new Thomson Park splash pad .
The event was praised for its accessibility and organization. Volunteers — many earning community service hours — managed security, traffic, and sanitation, ensuring a safe, pet‑free, no‑smoking environment as per festival rules .
Crowds were delighted to taste a wide variety of ribs, interact with vendors, and enjoy affordable food alongside rides and live sets. Many attendees noted the lively community atmosphere and efficiency of parking and layout.
As the festival closed Monday evening, locals lauded Ribfest as a perfect blend of food, fun, and fundraising. Organizers say they’re already planning for August 2026, hoping even more Toronto families will join in.
Thursday August 7, 2025
Why Should You Join Bel Canto Singers?

It’s a local community choir
Bel Canto Singers is a Scarborough-based, SATB choir composed of people from all backgroundsand all ages, most of whom live in your neighbourhood.
You love to sing. We are a fun group of people who share your love of singing.
You like getting together with like-minded people We meet every Tuesday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. to work on music from a variety of genres and styles. Fun and fellowship, as well as excellence in music-making, are the order of the day.
You enjoy a musical challenge Our Music Director, Michael Morgan, programs repertoire that offers both challenge and comfort. Together with accompanist MaFhew Coons, he guides us in learning and masteringnew music.
You love to perform for an audience In addiIon to our two regularly scheduled concerts, December 6, 2025, and May 2, 2026, we
are excited to announce that we are singing with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra November 29, 2025, as well.
We are easy to find Our base of operaIons is Scarborough Bluffs United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd. at Scarborough Golf Club Road. It is close to the Guildwood GO staIon and well served by TTC. There is amplefree parking on site for those who drive. This is where we rehearse each week and where our regular concerts are held.
Joining is painless
Come out to our first few rehearsals September 2, 9 and 16 to see what they’re like. Then do a private session with Michael to determine your vocal range and ability. Once you have his OK, you pay the membership fee and you’re in! We have an awesome website where you can learn more www.belcantosingers.ca
Still have quesBons? Call Cathy, our membership secretary, can answer any quesIons you may have about joining. Give
her a call: 905-683-6255.
Monday July 28, 2025
Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra Appoints Michael Jones as New Executive Director
Scarborough, ON – The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Michael Jones as its new Executive Director, effective August 1 2025. This decision follows a comprehensive succession-planning and search process, part of SPO’s two-year capacity-building initiative supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and led by interim Executive Director, Linda Rogers. “After an extensive search process, we are confident Michael is the right person to build on SPO’s track record of success and take the orchestra to the next level. “said Paul Tichauer, SPO’s Board Chair.
Michael Jones brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in arts management to the SPO. Most recently, he served as the CEO of SK Arts, the provincial arts funder for Saskatchewan, where he successfully managed an annual budget of nearly $10 million in support of artists. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in rebuilding relationships between the agency, the government, and the arts community.
Prior to his leadership at SK Arts, Michael directed the performing arts program for the Metcalf Foundation, one of Canada’s largest private family foundations dedicated to strategic support in the arts. His extensive experience also includes senior administrative roles at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Arraymusic, the Muki Baum Association, and Choirs
Ontario.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts in Music from Western University, along with certification in public sector governance from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. Since retiring from SK Arts, he has established a sole proprietorship arts management firm in Toronto, providing cluster management services to small arts
organizations. In addition to his role at SPO, he serves as the Editorial Director for Opera Canada magazine and has completed various short-term contracts for Arts Consultants Canada and SK Arts.
In recognition of his contributions to the arts sector, Michael was honored in 2022 as one of the first 70 recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in Saskatchewan. As an artist, he has directed and served as music director on numerous productions for esteemed organizations, including Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Drayton Entertainment, and Theatre Scarborough, with notable credits such as *Amadeus*, *Falsettos*, and *Next to Normal*.
“We are excited to welcome Michael Jones to the SPO family,” said Ronald Royer, SPO’s Artistic Director. “His extensive experience and passion for the arts will be invaluable as we prepare for our upcoming Season 2025-2026 and continue to enrich the cultural landscape of Scarborough.”
For more information about the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and its upcoming events, please visit: https://spo.ca
About the Orchestra: Founded more than 45 years ago, the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra’s mandate is to offer high-quality, affordable concerts to the Scarborough community at large and to support Canadian composers, new generation artists, music students, and the local musical/artistic communities of Scarborough. Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra resumed its in-person concerts in the 2022-2023 artistic season after two seasons of digital performances.
PRESS CONTACT: Linda Rogers, Executive Director: lrogers@spo.ca
Monday June 9, 2025
Guildwood Day Parade: In Photos












Monday June 9, 2025
The Trade-Off with Subscriber-Centric Journalism
By Nick Kossovan
I write a Substack newsletter called The Art of Finding Work, offering pragmatic job search advice which currently has over 23,500 subscribers; therefore, I have a vested interest in the monetization of content provided via a subscription-based model and why Substack’s current street-level ads announcing “Media isn’t dead. It’s on Substack.” immediately caught my attention.
Substack’s appeal isn’t just about its business model but also about the empowerment it provides to journalists and content creators. It’s a platform, one of many, that allows journalists and content creators to own our content and revenue. For the past three years, Substack has been at the forefront of a wave of prominent journalists leaving traditional news outlets, such as CNN and The Washington Post, to pursue independent journalism. This trend is inspiring, attracting names like Jim Acosta, CNN’s former chief White House correspondent, and Bari Weiss, editor of The Free Press.
Substack’s appeal, along with comparable platforms such as Beehiiv, Ghost and Medium, lies in its ability to empower journalists to own their content and revenue. Journalists are increasingly posting their work on platforms that enable them to bypass traditional media, establish direct relationships with their audiences, and earn income through subscriptions.
While journalism, in its ever-changing form, is rapidly escaping the clutches of advertisers, journalists are unwittingly handing revenue control to something more insidious. The evangelists of subscription models are selling the narrative that audience-funded journalism represents a democratic evolution, and the big “Hurray!” is that corporate strings are no longer pulling the coverage, just the people funding the press. In my opinion, this guise conceals a subtle risk that might compromise the integrity of journalism itself.
Previously, threats to editorial independence were easily identifiable: political owners, advertisers, and partisan funders. Now, the threat is analytics and performance metrics:
Churn signals
Click rates
A/B headlines (comparing two versions of a headline)
Predictive modelling
Emotional engagement heatmaps
At first glance, these tools appear helpful for guiding editorial decisions. Over time, however, they begin to replace genuine judgment with data-driven directives.
Our online content is dictated by algorithms that don’t reward courage or the truth, the algorithms reward:
Outrage over nuance
Emotion over evidence
Confirmation over challenge
Performance over principle
Data dependency doesn’t demand attention; it prompts. Therefore, if stories that consistently garner clicks shape editorial decisions more than those that matter, journalism is at risk of losing its moral compass for the sake of a dashboard. What gets measured begins to matter more, while what doesn’t get measured gradually fades into obscurity, leading to “engagement optimization” narrowing the diversity of issues covered.
I understand that data is crucial to guiding a digital content endeavour. I’m not arguing against the use of data; I’m warning about becoming overly dependent on data, as is increasingly the case. Journalism’s foundation, courage, is becoming a casualty of engagement metrics.
One notable exception to the trend is The Kyiv Independent. Founded by journalists fired from the Kyiv Post for defending editorial freedom, they intentionally built a reader-supported newsroom. Their success, with over 70% of its revenue coming from recurring member contributions, is a beacon of hope for independent journalism. The Kyiv Independent has no paywalls, no algorithm-driven headlines, and no donor influence. Its values, listed on its ‘About’ page, begins with “The Kyiv Independent serves its readers and community, and nobody else.”
Daryna Shevchenko, the CEO, states:
“We want to ensure reliable information from Ukraine reaches as many people as possible… regardless of their views, values, or political stance.”
Despite being funded by the public, The Kyiv Independent isn’t held hostage to engagement metrics, making their model rare, and that’s precisely the point.
In the absence of structural guardrails, newsrooms begin to prioritize:
What keeps readers engaged
What retain paying subscribers
What doesn’t alienate key audience segments (Dancing around the ebb and flows of political correctness.)
Journalism gradually starts avoiding:
Stories that challenge
Slow-moving stories
Stories that don’t trend
Stories that don’t “convert”
Access to journalistic content isn’t lost, but courageous journalism is. I’m not talking about idealism; I’m talking about integrity-by-design structure, which can look like:
Editorial firewalls to protect against growth (number of views, likes, reports, subscribers) pressures
A dual metric: performance and public benefit
Transparency reports showing what data isn’t influencing
A funding model that allows for slow, essential journalism-even when it doesn’t “sell” (Think of crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe and Kickstarter.)
The goal isn’t to reject data; rather, the goal is to refuse to be manipulated by it, to feel unrestrained to publish something without knowing how it’ll perform. This applies to all online content created for monetization, not just journalism. When the content must perform to justify its existence, then performance becomes the decision maker, the editor-in-chief, so to speak. This is how the truth is vanishing—quietly, efficiently, and without resistance.
Plato once said, “A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.” He wasn’t dismissing evidence; he was defending wisdom. Today’s journalism has a different perspective on Plato’s wisdom, which is why his wisdom is endangered.
Nick Kossovan is the Customer Service Professionals Network’s Social Media Director (Executive Board Member). Feel free to send your social media questions to nick.kossovan@gmail.com. On Twitter and Instagram, follow @NKossovan.
Friday June 6, 2025
Guild Park’s Greek Theatre Achieves Heritage Status

Guild Park, Scarborough. May 28, 2025 –
A landmark feature at Guild Park is officially recognized as one of the City of Toronto’s heritage attractions on Saturday June 7.
The breath-taking Greek Theatre will be commemorated with an official Heritage Toronto plaque as part of the annual neighbourhood festival at Guildwood Village in east Toronto.
The custom-designed plaque describes how the ornate – and now demolished – Bank of Toronto headquarters was transformed into an outdoor theatre at Guild Park & Gardens, along the Scarborough Bluffs.
The original bank was built more than a century ago in downtown Toronto. Monumental marble pieces from the building façade were salvaged in the early 1960s by philanthropists, Rosa and Spencer Clark, then owners of the Guild of All Arts, forerunner of today’s Guild Park. The fragments were repurposed as an outdoor theatre, based on a design by Canadian architect, Ron Thom.
This heritage plaque is the result of a fundraising campaign organized by Friends of Guild Park, in partnership with Heritage Toronto. The plaque will be officially unveiled on-site during the evening festivities of Guildwood Day, the annual neighbourhood party organized by volunteers of the Guildwood VillageCommunity Association (GVCA).
Be part of this special moment in history by coming to Guild Park on SaturdayJune 7 at about 6:00 pm.
The unveiling takes place at the Greek Theatre, afterthe private BBQ for Guildwood Village residents.
Guild Park is located at 201 Guildwood Pkwy., Scarborough For details visit Friends of Guild Park website, www.guildpark.ca .
Thursday June 5, 2025
"That's Amore for Kids" fundraising campaign huge success
Toronto, ON – June 5 — Pizza Nova proudly presented a generous cheque to Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario at a special event held at Variety Village on Thursday, marking another successful year of the beloved “That’s Amore for Kids” fundraising campaign.
This year’s campaign raised an impressive $231,045 all of which will go toward supporting inclusive programs and services for children with disabilities. The cheque presentation was attended by Pizza Nova CEO Dominic Primucci, Variety Ontario CEO Charlie Johnstone as well as campaign partners, and families who benefit from the charity’s programs.
“This initiative is incredibly close to our hearts,” said Domenic Primucci, President of Pizza Nova. Every dipping sauce sold meant a .50 cent donation during ‘That’s Amore for Kids’ campaign and helps to change the lives of children and youth. Pizza Nova is proud to continue their partnership with Variety and support their mission of inclusivity and opportunity.
Running annually throughout the spring, the “That’s Amore for Kids” campaign invites customers to contribute to Variety by encouraging customers to purchase a dipping sauce with their Pizza Nova orders. Over the 26 years, Pizza Nova has been spearheading the fundraiser the campaign has raised more than 5 million, making a significant impact on countless young lives across Ontario.
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario, based out of Variety Village in Scarborough, offers vital programming that empowers children and youth with disabilities through sport, recreation, and life skills development.
As the event wrapped up, smiles and cheers echoed throughout the venue—a powerful reminder that when communities come together for a great cause, that’s amore.








Thursday June 5, 2025
Pride Flag Raised at Albert Campbell Square
On Thursday, June 5, 2025, the City of Toronto raised the Progress Pride flag at Albert Campbell Square, marking the beginning of Pride Month in Scarborough. The ceremony, held at 9 a.m. outside the Scarborough Civic Centre, was part of a series of flag-raising events across the city.
Presiding over the event was Councillor Paul Ainslie, with Mayor Chow and Councillor Michael Thompson also attending. They were assisted in raising the flag by Kojo Modesto, president of Pride Toronto, Quinn Dunn co-chair of Toronto Staff Pride Network and Jess Hollett and Tanner Hewison from Multi cultural Pride Network and Ifetayo Alabi.
The Progress Pride flag, designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018, incorporates additional stripes to represent marginalized communities within the LGBTQ+ spectrum, including people of color and the trans community.
Albert Campbell Square has a history of hosting Pride events, with the first official Pride flag-raising at the Scarborough Civic Centre taking place in 2007. The square continues to be a focal point for celebrating diversity and inclusion in Toronto’s east end.
This event is part of the city’s broader Pride Month celebrations, which include various activities and culminate in the annual Pride Parade.








Thursday May 15, 2025
City of Toronto Fireworks By-Laws for Residential Properties
Important reminder about fireworks;
Residents are allowed to set off fireworks on their own private property without a permit before 11 p.m. on Victoria Day and Canada Day. A permit is needed to set off fireworks on all other days. Fireworks are not permitted in City parks or on beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or property that is not owned by the person setting off the fireworks.
Fireworks should be handled and supervised by adults 18 years of age or older. People under 18 years old are not permitted to discharge fireworks. Those setting off fireworks must be mindful of their surroundings and not discharge fireworks where they may be a nuisance or pose a risk of fire, injury or damage to any person or property. The City’s bylaw enforcement officers and the Toronto Police Service will be patrolling parks, beaches and other areas to ensure compliance with the Fireworks Bylaw.
The misuse or illegal sale of fireworks can be reported to 311 by phone or by submitting a service request at www.toronto.ca/311.
In the event of a fire, call 9-1-1.
Safe fireworks disposal Those setting off fireworks on their own private property must also safely dispose the fireworks as improper disposal can cause fires in waste collection vehicles and at facilities. To dispose of used or unused fireworks, completely submerge the fireworks in water and soak them overnight. Dispose of them in a Garbage Bin. Never put used or unused fireworks in the Blue Bin. More information about fireworks rules, safety tips and proper disposal is available on the City’s fireworks webpage: http://www.toronto.ca/fireworks.