By NATHANIEL ERSKINE-SMITH BEACHES-EAST YORK MP Language is central to our sense of identity, community and culture. As a country of official bilingualism, we have a strong history of celebrating and defending minority language rights. As a recent example, we saw significant public outcry in response to the Ontario Conservative government’s cancellation of a French […]
By MARY FRAN McQUADE BOOM! What just happened? Suddenly, houseplants are exploding out of the Internet and into shops and people’s homes. Just a little while ago, all the buzz was about native and pollinator plants. Gardeners were rushing to spread milkweed and asters all over the place. Some years before that, perennials were all […]
By BERNIE FLETCHER Toronto’s Sandra Bezic is one of the most influential people in the competitive world of figure skating. She has played many roles: five-time Canadian Pairs champion with her brother Val, television commentator, producer, director, author, Emmy Award-winner for Stars on Ice, choreographer for three Olympic gold medalists and co-creator of Battle of […]
By JAN MAIN Chocolate, also called the food of the gods, has a long history. It was first discovered by the Aztecs hundreds of years ago and called xocolatl, meaning bitter water. At that time, the cocoa bean was pounded then mixed with spices and water to be consumed as a beverage. The Aztec king […]
By GENE DOMAGALA I have been asked many times over the past years about having a museum where people can donate historical artifacts about different aspects of the east Toronto area, particularly the Beach. This idea has come up many times in the past, and again I begin to ask should there be such a […]
By CHRIS ROBERTS and BRIGID ELMY New Year. New Look. With the start of a new calendar year, we often write down our resolutions, intentions or lists of things we want to accomplish in the year ahead. It’s also a good time to look around your space and see where you can incorporate some of […]
By RIMA BERNS-MCGOWN, MPP BEACHES-EAST YORK Happy New Year, neighbours! It’s been quite the first six months for the Doug Ford government. You have let me know how unhappy you are with the flood of laws and changes from Queen’s Park that have dragged us backward as a province: on climate change and the environment; […]
By GENE DOMAGALA During the past 100 years ago or so there was in 1918-19-20 a couple of historic events which involved the Beach area. One was a world-wide catastrophe, the other was a local issue, but both deserved an historic plaque. One was the First World War and at the same time the Spanish […]
By FIONA BRAMZELL While the holidays are a time of eating, drinking and much merry-making, the following weeks can leave us feeling less than our best! Long after the gift wrap has been recycled and the last of the leftover turkey has been eaten, we’re left with subtle reminders of the excesses of the season […]
By ANN BROKELMAN Just because it may be more comfortable to stay inside, by the fire or just under some blankets, doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of amazing birding to be done around our city. Yes, it may not be as pleasant to be outside as it is in the spring and summer, but […]
