Stintz on Midtown: After years of construction, Midtown deserves a better public space

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4:12 pm

Nearly 100 years ago, the Toronto Transit Commission, then named the Toronto Transportation Commission, purchased nearly 10 acres of land at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue. Since the TTC did not need all the land to operate its buses, streetcars and then the subway line, it became a landlord along the way.

As a way of bringing additional revenue to the TTC, long-term leases were signed with tenants and many are still operating today. The current tenants include the Canadian Tire Office, the Cineplex Odeon Theatre and parking complex, and the Mandarin.

In addition to the tenants, the TTC owns the current staging area for Metrolinx and the bus bays that operate onto Duplex Avenue.

When the leases were negotiated, the Yonge subway had opened and operated from Union Station to Eglinton. Although there were some apartments in the area, it was not an employment hub, so the city leaders of the day likely used the 100-year lease to entice corporations to locate at a transit hub. Today, the land is some of the most valuable in the Greater Toronto Area and a significant redevelopment opportunity.

Although the TTC has collected $75 million in revenue, the rents are below market rates.

The leases are up for renewal in 2021, which is also when Metrolinx expects to complete the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The timing creates an opportunity for the City of Toronto to consider these 10 acres and engage in some city building.

Various city agencies have attempted to sort out the long-term leases. Initially it was the Toronto Transit Commission, then Build Toronto and now a new city development corporation, CreateTO.

In 2016, Toronto City Council directed CreateTO to work with the tenants and come back to council with the cost of buying out the leases.

Two years later, Don Loggie, the lead for development at the new agency admitted there is not much to report. Although discussions are ongoing, tenants are not interested in terminating the current leases.

In spite of the development opportunity that exists, it is unlikely the city will be able to terminate these leases in the next three years, except for one parcel that will be returned to the TTC in 2021 — the former bus terminal currently being used by Metrolinx in the construction of the Crosstown. Once the staging site is no longer required, it becomes surplus land.

The next opportunity won’t be until 2070 when all the leases expire.

The city may try to develop the smaller portion of the site, but doing so would miss out on a bigger opportunity. The air rights over the parcel have also been sold.

In light of the challenges, the city has an opportunity to completely rethink how that space should function for midtown. The land creates a perfect opportunity to add parkland to an area that is lacking in green space. It could also function as a civic square with urban art that draws people to the area.

When the leases are terminated in 2070, the city will have an opportunity to rethink the development potential. Between now and then the greatest use for the former bus terminal is a public space that offers a little respite from the construction that has dominated the area for the last 20 years.

Plan to build 14 storeys near Hogg’s Hollow met with criticism from North York residents

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2:38 pm

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A development proposal for a 14-storey residential building in North York has been met with resounding criticism from North York residents and the local councillor alike.

During the City of Toronto community consultation meeting on Feb. 13 at St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church, the consensus was overwhelmingly against the Goldberg Group application for a development at 4155 Yonge St. across from the historic Auberge du Pommier north of York Mills Road.

Trevor Jones, vice-president of the Yonge Ridge Homeowners’ Association, declared to the audience of about 150 people that the proposal was “an invasion on the privacy of our community” and “an unbridled assault on the historical character of this neighbourhood developed and maintained over the past 200 years.”

“Residents are very disillusioned. There’s a lot of outrage,” said Ward 25 councillor Jaye Robinson.

Among the concerns raised by community members are that the mechanical penthouse would push the total building height above 15 storeys, the proposed height of the development would dwarf adjacent buildings and the site is set back only one metre from the bottom of the valley’s slope instead of the bylaw-required 10 metres.

According to the York Mills Office Centre Secondary Plan, a five-storey office building had been pre-approved for the site.

“We hope the city will reject this proposal and that the developer will truly listen to the community and propose something that is right for this location,” said Mitchell Shnier of the St. Andrew’s Ratepayers Association.

This isn’t the first time a developer has proposed a high-rise property in the area and received disapproval by residents. In 2013, a 10-storey condominium building proposal was ultimately rejected by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) after community members fought against it.

Given that this proposed building is even higher, councillor Robinson said residents are preparing for another potentially long battle.

“We’re back in the boxing ring for round two,” she said.

Some of the tactics used by the applicant also drew the ire of residents. Prior to the public meeting — generally considered the first step of the process — the developer had already filed an appeal at the OMB.

“That is without a doubt the most disconcerting thing about this application,” said councillor Robinson, adding that the move “completely usurps the city’s planning process and is completely disrespectful to the neighbourhood.”

A City of Toronto planner is currently in the process of compiling a report and recommendation. Goldberg Group declined to speak to press about the proposed development.

Meet 13 of Yonge Street's Retail All-Stars

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1:44 pm

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Post City X Yonge Street

Yonge Street is the main street of our community. Its shops are some of Toronto’s finest and its business owners are some of Toronto’s most exciting entrepreneurs.

Every year Post City Magazine runs a special section dedicated to these local shop owners who are as proud of the services they provide as they are of the community in which they work and live.

Here are their stories…

New Balance Toronto
Sean McGrath, President
1510 Yonge St., 416.962.8662

At a young age Sean McGrath watched his retailer father at the kitchen table buying shoes for his business. “He was a workaholic, respected by his peers and understood the importance of great customer service,” McGrath says. McGrath spent his summers working in retail at his father’s store, learning that proper fitting was equally as important as providing a memorable experience. At University he earned a BCOMM degree with the goal of becoming a retailer. In 1998 New Balance was looking to open concept stores and he jumped at the opportunity…but was denied, too young and inexperienced.

After a promotion within his job at Intrawest he reapplied and opened his first store at Yonge and St.Clair in 2000. New Balance is privately owned by the Davis Family, and like McGrath’s father, they too are customer focused; its about the fit, shoes from 2a-6e, sizes 4-20 and kids widths too. With all those sizes comes serious managing of inventory which initially was daunting.

Luckily with years of experience and a consistent team they have been fortunate to expand to neighborhoods around the city, Oakville, D.C. and soon Ottawa. “I want to thank them for their continued support, passion and candor,” McGrath says.

Paola Di
Paola D. Powell, Owner
3357 Yonge St., 416.322.0430

After graduating from fashion design school, Paola opened Paola Di in 1985, with her mother, Elsa. In a small space in Woodbridge, they began selling their own designs, as well as couture wedding and evening dresses. By 1989 the business grew and moved to the Yonge St. location. There they began selling ready to wear from Europe, as well as Canadian and US designers.

Over 20 years later, they are still here, because their keen sense of style, appeals to a large array of clients. Hand picking interesting pieces, from a vast selection of lines, keeps the store unique, and filled with many hidden treasures. Paola Di carries everything from jeans and tee-shirts, to long evening gowns. Accessories and shoes also play a very important role in finishing the outfit of a Paola Di customer.

They attribute their success to the personal customer service they give to each of their clients, putting together outfits that are appropriate and on the cutting edge of fashion. Canada’s Fashion Guru, Jeanne Becker has included Paola Di in her list of favorite fashion boutiques and Rita Zekas of the Toronto Star wrote “Intermix meets tres chic boutique in the south of France.”

Gidon Aesthetics & Medispa
Dr. Martie Gidon MD FRCPC FAAD
1849 Yonge St., Suite 307, 416.483.4541

Dr. Martie Gidon is a board certified Dermatologist, specializing in non-surgical facial and body rejuvenation. She is an innovative leader in Cosmetic Dermatology and is constantly searching for new treatments and products to offer her patients. With over 20 years’ experience, she combines her extensive knowledge in medical and cosmetic dermatology to create a natural, youthful appearance for her patients.

Gidon Aesthetics and MediSpa uses an extensive array of state-of-the-art technologies to achieve the best possible results in a caring environment. Lasers such as Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant and CO2 are used in combination with Thermage, IPL, Botox, fillers, Sculptra, or Selphyl PRP. An exciting new treatment is radio frequency microneedling to improve skin texture, laxity, acne scarring and stretch marks.

UltraShape is a popular body contour treatment. Medical grade cosmeceuticals are recommended to complete the comprehensive package. Dr. Gidon and her aesthetic team will create an individualized treatment plan to achieve a natural, refreshed look. The result is healthy, beautiful skin.

Potato Skins Slipcovers
Lisa Buckland, Owner
2073 Yonge St., 416.484.6299

Creating slipcovers since 1994, Potato Skins specializes in made-to-order covers for any style and size of furniture. Owner Lisa Buckland recognized a need for quality designed covers to be made using a well-curated selection of fabrics. Everyone has to sit on something – sofas and chairs are definitely the focal point of any comfortable room. The adaptability of slipcovers offer a completely different look while still being easy to take off and wash. Whether your furniture has sentimental value; is tired and has seen better days; or is new and loved and deserves protecting – slipcovers have a place in any setting.

Our success has a lot to do with the great neighbourhood we are located in, and the many loyal clients that continue to come back to us to have more pieces covered. Customers appreciate the low impact on the environment by re-using existing furniture. A wide selection of outdoor fabrics is available to update decks, cottages, boat cushions and wicker furniture. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will help transform your dining chairs, ottomans, wing chairs, sectionals, throw pillows, bench seats, headboards – the possibilities are endless.

Narnia
Sharon Crawford & daughter Lois, Owners
3236 Yonge St., 416.487 7287

Narnia Boutique is located on the west side of Yonge Street just north of Lawrence. The co-owners of this amazing little women’s boutique are a fantastic mother-daughter duo. Sharon Crawford and daughter Lois MacKenzie, say that the secret to their many years of retail success is caring about every single customer that walks into their store – her attitudes, personality, lifestyle and fashion. Sharon is passionate about both fashion and her clientele and states “It’s not only about what fits her or what the trends are. We follow the trends so that we can help each customer interpret them in her own way.”

From jeans to that little black dress (and everything in between!), Narnia offers an amazing mix of moderate to higher-end fashion, including trend lines like Fidelity, Sanctuary, and Velvet. 50% of their collection is made in Canada. As for the rest, you will find great lines from Europe and the United States. Narnia is your ‘go to’ boutique for great style! “We think buying fashion should be a fun, feel good experience!”

MacPherson Toy House
Angie Lewis and daughter London, Owner
1128 Yonge St. (entrance on MacPherson), 416.546.0895

Her name is Angie and that sweet girl on her lap is her daughter, London. Like so many mothers had discovered before her, the arrival of her first born was life changing. London is the inspiration behind MTH, as well as being its number one customer and product tester.

“Shopping for London when she was first born was a real eye opener. Either I found gorgeous clothes that were made with the worst materials, or I found very safe products that were not so pleasing to the eye and London deserved better.” Angie wanted to be able to dress her own daughter & provide her with products that are natural and great quality. And so she embarked on the adventure of opening her own store that could deliver all the things she felt so passionately about: beautiful design, natural products, safe and gentle-to-the-touch clothes and toys — all ethically produced.

“I found a lot of beautiful lines in Canada, but as a traveler, I couldn’t resist in also bringing in the best from Scandinavia, Australia, South America, pretty much the whole world!”. Not stocking anything she wouldn’t have in her own home, it’s quite obvious how personal this store is to her. “I want to create a beautiful experience for customers, every time they visit."

The Coop
Mike & John Corallo, Owners
3435 Yonge St., 416.544.9944

Brothers John and Mike Corallo bought The Coop, a staple of the Men's clothing industry for over 30 years in north Toronto. Then they moved it. When they decided to move The Coop from its original location to its current home at 3435 Yonge St., it felt like starting over. They got to design and build the new store exactly as they wanted it, to create a local neighbourhood shop that also feels like a destination.

There is no doubt The Coop is an independent shop with a wide product selection but John and Mike want their customers to enjoy every part of The Coop shopping experience. They strive to provide exceptional customer service – which includes free tailoring, wardrobe consultation, drop-off & pickup, coffee and lunch bar. They’ll even park your car for you!

John and Mike believe the secret to The Coop’s success stems from their ability to adapt to the changing times. By tailoring their services to their clients’ evolving needs over the years, the relationships they have maintained with their clientele have flourished. “Meeting new generations of clients, folks who bring in their kids to shop, has been exciting. It also connects us to our father’s barbershop, Corallo’s Hair Care. He has generations of families as clients as well!” says John.

S igna Computer Systems
Greg Stapells, Owner
3457 Yonge St., 416.488.9208

“I remember that very first day when we opened in 1993, standing there behind the counter… I was as nervous as I was excited!” When Signa Computers was just getting started, their initial struggle was trying to convince prospective customers that they would be around long enough to cover their 1 year warranty period — they managed to win them over, one customer at a time! 25 years later, they're still here and going strong.

“We have a loyal customer-base, and have continued to improve by adding rush service, in-home/in-office visits, remote assistance directly over the Internet, and now even provide help on evenings and weekends!” Back in 1993, Greg never imagined he’d come so far, or have so much fun dealing with the day-to-day challenges of running a small business and keeping up with the ever-changing technology that Signa Computers services and sells. “Doing what we love seems to come naturally, and we must be doing something right as our customers still seem to love us right back.”

CLEMENTINE'S
Christina & Kelly McDowell, Owners
1260 Yonge St., 416.966.2662

CLEMENTINE’S, the go-to luxury fashion & lifestyle destination, located in the heart of Summerhill/ Rosedale, continues to expand its Concept shop. This atelier-style shop houses beautiful new lines from contemporary brands, including Iro, 3 x 1 Denim, PAIGE, J Brand, and Vince, etc. They also produce their own private label, CLEMENTINE’S x MEROTTO, a capsule collection of chic, modern fashion — all made in Canada.

In their Home/Lifestyle section, you will find that perfect gift, or must-have item- candles from Paris, artisanal wooden bowls from Boston, baby alpaca throws from Peru, and organic creams from Sweden — a refined collection of luxe home décor. CLEMENTINE’S continues to offer a very edited & expertly curated collection of luxury resale. This includes contemporary, New & Like-New designer fashion, handbags and accessories. This shop/ gallery also exhibits & sells contemporary art with rotating installations profiling local & international artists.

CLEMENTINE’S owner, Christina McDowell, and daughter Kelly, credit having a loyal community of costumers to their personalized relationship-based service, and their beautiful selection of products. Customers leave knowing they’ve made the perfect purchase for them.

Richard Librach Architect Inc.
Richard Librach, Owner
3414 Yonge St., 416.482.9224

Richard Librach Architect Inc. has been creating unique architectural solutions since 2000 to home and business owners across the GTA and beyond. RLAI prides itself on its close relationship to clients throughout the design and construction process. Inspiring clients to use a relevant personal starting point quickly leads to interactive three-dimensional simulations so that clients can immediately visualize their project. The firm offers representation at hearings and prepares construction documents to obtain building permits. Interior selections are offered as part of an essential service to provide design consistency.

Richard prides himself on offering a unique collaborative approach allowing his clients to be an integral part of the design process. RLAI takes a hands on approach working closely with the client throughout the many stages of the project and often finds inspiration from his clients and their diverse backgrounds and interests. Following his recent talk at Toronto's Interior Design Show, Richard’s passion for his process is now being translated to an intimate three part talk series from April to June this Spring. The first talk entitled “Designing Your Dream Home From The Inside-Out” kicks off in his Yonge Street Studio on April 4, 2018 at 7.30 pm.

Hopson Grace
Martha Grace McKimm & Andrea Hopson, Co-founders
1120 Yonge St., 416.926.1120

Founded in 2015, Hopson Grace is a lifestyle concept that focuses on the art of entertaining. Owners Andrea Hopson (formerly Tiffany & Co. VP) and Martha Grace McKimm (a retail + luxury goods PR exec) gave up corporate life to pursue their dream of launching their own business. Venture inside and you'll find a curated selection of items sourced locally and from around the globe for their beauty, craftsmanship and exclusivity.

The duo believes in mixing materials, styles and prices, considering it to be the key ingredient that leads to great style. Whether it's an Italian pewter platter, agate coasters from Brazil or an Ontario walnut salad bowl, one thing's for sure – you'll be hard pressed to find it anywhere else. Since opening, Hopson Grace has received wide acclaim and has become a go-to for anyonelooking to update their home, find a unique gift or register for their wedding. Hopson and McKimm, whose goal is to inspire you as you plan your next celebration or update your home, will be expanding this year, responding to demand from loyal customers as well as couples who are looking for a one-stop-shop wedding registry experience.

Pop Physique (Toronto)
Jody Watson, Owner
1560 Yonge St., 416.975.0123

Entrepreneurs Richard & Jodi brought Pop Physique, a fitness and lifestyle brand from LA to the GTA. Together they opened up Canada’s first Pop Physique in heart of Midtown Toronto. They fell in love with Pop while in LA and knew that their favorite fitness-focused city would too! “It’s our mission to have Pop be a fun place where everyone feels comfortable to try something new. A place that can change your day, so that no matter what happened, you can come to Pop and leave feeling like life is good.” Pop Physique offers an artistic approach to exercise. They offer 1-hour Barre and Pilates inspired classes and pair them with the perfect playlist to keep you moving. “It's hardcore, fat-burning and fun! Full-body muscles get strengthened and toned, while improving posture and core strength.”

New to the Pop Physique line up is Pop Yoga. Pop Yoga, originating in Toronto, is an athletic flow focusing on core engagement and moving with your breath to great music. Richard and Jodi credit their success to their love for the brand, and their amazing community. Customers new to Pop are welcome to try their first Pop Physique and Pop Yoga classes for free!

Alexia von Beck
Alexia von Beck, Owner
1228 Yonge St., 416.975.8615

Known for her unique linen clothing that is always timeless and elegant, Alexia von Beck’s work has always been in a league of its own even when she started to make her own clothing at the age of 13 in Santiago, Chile. At the age of 14, she started modelling and soon found that people showed more interest in the clothes that she came to work in than those she was paid to model.

After coming to Canada at 20 and then starting a family, Alexia opened her first retail location, a small atelier in Kensington Market, where her linen and leather became an instant hit. After one year she moved to the Queen’s Quay Terminal where she would hone her fashion consciousness with innovative textural colour and design exploitations of linen. After 10 years at the Queen's Quay, she closed shop and went back to Chile but returned two years later and the label Alexia von Beck was born at her present location on Yonge Street where she has been for 25 years. Alexia's secret to success is that she never wavered from her aesthetic vision. Over her 35 years in business, she has built a loyal following of customers. And at present Alexia is using linen, silks, cotton, wools and microfabric thus enabling her to cater to both winter and summer fashions.

Raising Toronto

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11:59 am

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With epic commutes, sky-high real estate and taxes up the wazoo, we asked eight Toronto families why they love raising their kids in the city.

Food industry heavyweights

The parents: Grant van Gameren, chef/owner of Bar Isabel & Sunny Stone, metal worker and chef on mat leave
Home: Detached house in Trinity Bellwoods
Kid: Wylie van Stone, nine months

What has it been like so far having a baby in the city?
Sunny: We had a midwife for the birth. The midwife was amazing, the follow-up care was unbelievable. There were a lot of babies this year at my GP. They just did a whole group together for their checkups, and then individually at the end you see a doctor.

What’s the biggest headache about city life?
Grant: Parking sucks around here. I drive everywhere, mainly because at any given moment I need to rush somewhere. We pay for two cars to park, but there’s generally no parking on our street. I’ll just park on Dundas and hope to God I wake up at 8 a.m. Sometimes I’ll wake up and be so tired and pay for parking, but I got a ticket at 8:03 a.m. I’m constantly paying for parking.

Do you eat out as much since having a kid?
Grant: Since we had the baby, we eat at home 99 per cent of the time. Sunny was a professional chef for most of her career, so she cooks amazing dinners.

Have you had many dealings with child care yet?
Sunny: We’ve had three dates in nine months. We take him to every event, every restaurant opening. Daycare is so expensive here in Ontario. Babysitters start at $15 an hour. As it is, child care would be more than my annual salary.

Are there many neighbourhood programs accessible to parents?
Sunny: The Artscape has cool programs; I’ve taken him to the drop-in.

Grant: I want to get him in the restaurants, washing dishes.

Midtown’s cultured condo-ers

The parents: Peggy Sher, full-time parent, former operations manager at Hermès, & Ori Sher, senior director, procurement and security at MedReleaf
Home: Condo at Eglinton & Avenue
Kids: Kai, 12, & Ami, four

Did you always want to raise your family in Toronto?
Peggy: We lived in Thornhill. We moved to Toronto when I was pregnant with Kai, my first child. I was extremely unhappy being pregnant and living up in Thornhill. We were always city people.

Do you find living in a condo is cramped?
Right now we’re currently looking for a house, and it’s been a challenge because we love this area so much. The kids are sharing a bedroom now. My daughter came along when I was 40, so she is sharing her bunk bed with her brother. But if I had one child, I probably would stay in a condo.

Are there many safety concerns with the kids being in the city?
My son walks to school. He goes to Starbucks. He does his own thing. Now he’s got a phone. Kids with phones are life changing. When he’s walking, we use an app where we can literally see him walking to school, and we know he’s on track. When he’s going to his friend’s house, we know he’s on his way, so it’s good.

Does your family take advantage of Toronto’s cultural offerings?
We just signed up for the Infinity Mirrors at the AGO. We take advantage of every event at the ROM or AGO — we have family memberships. We just came back from Ripley’s Museum too.

Neighbourhood-driven news anchor

The parents: Dwight Drummond, host of CBC Toronto News at 6 & Janice Drummond, model
Home: Detached house at St. Clair & Bathurst
Kids: Jolie Kara, 11 & Kayla Catherine, 15

Was raising your family in the city always in the cards?
Dwight: We thought about raising a family out in the burbs, but it didn’t really appeal to us — especially after the long drive back into the city after looking at houses out there. We were lucky enough to be able to stay in the city.

What do you love about your neighbourhood for kids?
We like that our kids can walk the neighbourhood with friends that they’ve had since kindergarten. They all started playing at Hillcrest Park in the sandbox, and now they play there on the basketball court. We go for family walks at Cedarvale in the summer and tobogganing there in the winter. There is a lot to do close by.

Do you think your kids have unique advantages living in the city?
With the population density in the city, there is more diversity, which for us is a good thing. We chose our neighbourhood over others because there were so many different kinds of folks living here. Our children are being exposed to different cultures, and their circle of friends reflects that.

T.O. nature lovers

The parents: Jurgita Dronina, principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, now in The Sleeping Beauty & Serguei Endinian, real estate agent with Chestnut Park
Home: Semi-detached house in Summerhill
Kid: Damian, five

Did you always plan on living in the city?
Jurgita: I did want my child to grow up having both a city and nature setting. Once we moved to Toronto, we were looking for something very central in the city as well as having a neighbourhood that offers plenty of nature.

So how easy is it to access that nature?
We live just by a city ravine and have a small house. We come from Europe, where it’s all apartment living in the city, so having a house feels like a luxury. We spend a lot of time outside and are rarely stuck at home.

Do you take much advantage of Toronto’s cultural offerings?
We love going to the Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre or to a kids’ performance. Days off are strictly for family, and we treasure our time together.

How does your commute affect your family time?
I don’t drive, so the distance between work, home and the theatre is very important to me. Home to school is a 30-minute walk, and home to the theatre is 15 minutes. I don’t depend on traffic.

What unique advantages does your child have here?
Our son loves the city, and no matter how much we all travel, we always want to come home to Toronto. The education is fabulous, and the balance between work and life is splendid. Damian is often a guest at the National Ballet of Canada performances.

Community- loving east enders

The parents: BJ Barone & Frank Nelson, TDSB high school teachers & bloggers
Home: Semi-detached home in the upper Beaches
Kid: Milo, three

What unique advantages do city kids have?
Frank: I think for us, for a diverse gay family, I think the most diversity per square mile is here in Toronto. There are a lot of families that look like ours in our community.

How engaged are you in your community?
We’re so involved in our community. Having a smaller house, all the kids on the street play together, and we’re lucky enough to live across the street from the school. We play movies on the back of our fence. One of the perks of being a teacher is they lend us the projectors for the summer.

How is your access to health care?
Milo’s had a few health scares. We constantly talk about how lucky we are to live in a city like Toronto, which has an amazing hospital like SickKids. Milo had surgery when he was four weeks old, and they took very good care of him and us.

Do you have any safety concerns stemming from city life?
It’s a question after a shooting in a school, and it’s hard not to reflect on safety in bigger cities. We had a neighbourhood kid one night last winter write “f**k LGBT” on our car. I don’t know if it’s only being city-bound, but you feel unsafe — and you worry more about safety — when you have a child. We probably should have more of those talks, but we’ve been more worried about him running across the street and other things — those have been huge safety concerns.

What has it been like sharing your journey as a gay family on your blog?
BJ: After our birth photo went viral, we decided to start the blog, Family is About Love. We wanted more visibility for gay families out there. We have the same problems and issues as straight families in terms of disciplining and how much iPad time Milo gets.… We’re different, but we’re the same.

Forest Hill power couple

The parents: Debra Goldblatt-Sadowski, president and founder of Rock-It Promotions, & Matt Sadowski, head of production and development, partner at Original
Home: Detached house at St. Clair & Bathurst
Kids: Mila, nine, & Jax, four

How family-friendly is your neighbourhood?
Debra: We love it. We have a lot of young families all around this area. All of the kids’ pals are in this neighbourhood. My daughter takes piano lessons on the street. My son goes to Hebrew school five minutes away.

What has your experience with schooling been like?
We’ve had an interesting journey. I thought it would be an interesting time for me to talk about our daughter’s learning disability — now they call them LDs — because a lot of people don’t talk about it. We’ve empowered her so that there’s no embarrassment attached to it. Identifying it for us was a really long journey with the TDSB, but now that she’s diagnosed, they’re really supportive. We’ve had to use some private resources to help her as well. I would say our decision to keep her in the TDSB so that she is able to walk to school every day — stay with her friends, stay with her routine — has been a positive decision on her behalf. We are so proud of her for working so hard and dealing with her additional challenges. What I want to tell other parents is don’t be afraid to be loud and don’t be afraid to trust your gut.

How do meals work at your home?
Because I’m an entrepreneur and a mom, I tend to use grocery delivery services. Our school has a new program this year where they provide hot lunch for kids and they do it three days a week. It’s healthy; they love it.

Has living in the city taught your kids anything special?
I think it’s taught them a different sense of empathy and a little bit more about what real life is like. There’s not a filter. They’re seeing it every day.

TV parents in North T.O.

The parents: Catherine Reitman, creator, executive producer, writer and star of CBC’s Workin’ Moms & Philip Sternberg, producer and actor on the show
Home: Detached home at Lawrence and Yonge
Kids: Liam, one and a half, & Jackson, four

After living in L.A., what’s Toronto been like?
Philip: There is an ease here. We work stupid hours, but people do respect the holidays and the three-day weekends. People definitely embrace family time more. There’s a little more humanity. It’s a beautiful quality when you’re trying to raise good people.

What do you like about your ’hood?
Catherine: We love the people in the area. We moved from L.A. two years ago. It’s got a really nice family feel here that we find grounding.

Philip: It’s not necessarily as hip as downtown but it’s got a lot of character. There’s a lot of great families in the neighbourhood who are like-minded and hard-working and smart.

Thoughts on local health care?
Catherine: Coming from America, we’re astounded at how amazing the Canadian health-care system is and, in particular, our pediatrician has been. I just adore her. She’s a working mother herself, and I’ve been floored with her generosity with my boys, who seem to catch everything under the sun.

What’s a constant city parent struggle?
Philip: Crosstown traffic. If there’s a snowstorm or something, it takes me about an hour to get home, and then I miss dinner with the kids. You’re negotiating with people to come pick up your kids or meet them at the house.… It’s a humiliating constant challenge that working parents have to face.

Has school in Toronto been a positive experience?
Catherine: We love the school we’re at, and he loves it too. We can’t wait to get his brother in. His brother is with a nanny, and he comes to set a lot — in fact he threw up on set all over Mommy when she was in full wardrobe and about to shoot a scene. Now every time he comes to set, the crew goes, “Uh-oh.”

Curator of culture in Koreatown

The parent: Mia Nielsen, director of arts and culture at the Drake
Home: Two floors of a rented house in Koreatown
Kid: Ian Le Quelenec, 13

What is the best part about your nabe?
Mia: It’s a really creative neighbourhood. There are lots of little parties and festivals in the summer that are very unique to the area. I walk a lot, and my son skateboards, so we’ll walk down to Kensington Market. We’ll go to the AGO. We’ll go to concerts. That’s what I love about the city.

What has your experience been like with schooling in Toronto?
Ian goes to an amazing school: Horizon Alternative. I was looking for a program that was academically advanced and challenging but something with a little bit of a different approach than the gifted stream. It’s a lot of work, but I think it’s a good fit. There’s also a lot of room for creativity. It’s a really neat program.

What has your journey been like as a single parent?
I think there are lots of pros and cons to being a single parent. I feel like Ian and I have a really special bond because it is just the two of us. He often comes with me to openings and receptions and performances. I feel like, with it just being him and I, there isn’t as much distinction between “adult time” and “kid time.” Sometimes I’ll have friends over for dinner, and he’s usually there at the table with three other adults, discussing politics or whatever. One thing I’m really fortunate to experience is that, because I work in culture, I’m always really curious about it — whether it’s new music or street art — and I think that aspect of my job has allowed me to connect with him in different ways as he gets older.

Do you feel that city kids grow up with certain advantages?
City kids learn to be independent because of the public transit system. My son told me a story where he was on the subway with a friend engrossed in conversation and they missed the stop where they had to transfer. When you’re 11 or 12 years old, you have to think on your feet and be confident that you can solve this.

Nature-loving 905ers

The parents: Nikki Andal, photographer and blogger who works in IT, & Lenard Andal, software developer
Home: Detached home in Richmond Hill
Kids: Mason, four, & Carter, two

Did you always plan on raising your kids in Richmond Hill?
Nikki: We didn’t want to be downtown Toronto. Raising two kids, we wanted to be outside with parks and have just a little bit of a slower life. It’s like cottage life, but we’re five minutes from the 404 to go downtown.

Do you find there are any challenges that come with living north of the city?
If you’re trying to go to a concert or a Blue Jays game, you might have that extra half hour drive. And sometimes we miss that downtown food. We’re OK with those two.

Where do your weekends take you as a family?
We love the outdoors and we have a lot of adventures. Every weekend now, we’re out on the boat in the lake in the summers, or we’re hiking through the trails. I find we’re a little more physical now. The kids are inside less and spend less time on their electronics. They’re more apt to be outside with the kids in the area playing.

Do you find that there’s a great sense of community in your neighbourhood?
When we moved in, all the neighbours came out and started telling us where to go and where to eat. There are so many kids around us. It’s just an amazing environment that we love raising our kids in. There are days when we don’t even lock our door. It’s just a different mindset. We can just go walking at night and not worry about the kids playing. We always have our eyes on them, but it’s a different kind of safety. It’s a great feeling.

Bayview brood

The parents: Ann Kaplan Mulholland, Real Housewife of Toronto and CEO of iFinance Canada, & Dr. Stephen Mulholland, plastic surgeon
Home: Detached house on The Bridle Path
Kids: Luke, 28; Gabie, 26; Barrett, 26; Keaton, 25; Destiny, 20; Rock, 18; Molly,15; & Chase,14

Do you think city kids have unique advantages over those raised elsewhere?
Ann: I know kids who have grown up in more remote areas, but it doesn’t seem to be the area as much as the parenting. I’ve always wanted to raise my children where they had access to different activities. We utilize the Duke of Edinburgh program, so they can measure their community involvement in arts and athleticism.

How much independence do your younger kids have?
My younger ones would call me a helicopter parent, but I do need to know where they are. I think independence has to be earned and proven. There’s a lot of temptations and choices and being keenly aware and working with your kids on having parameters and limitations is important. I do have a group of parents that are like-minded, and we talk on a regular basis. When we do have concerns, we meet up and get coffee. That is something that I am proactive about.

Do you have many safety concerns, especially with your daughters?
There’s a lot of safety talk in our home. I find it frightening that my 20-year-old daughter has men come up to her, making gestures. Look at what’s come out with #MeToo. I couldn’t help but look at my daughter and think, “Have I done enough to teach her to speak out? Or to be able to assess a situation and say, ‘This is wrong’?” If I don’t talk to them and give them the tools, how can they learn?

Humewood homeowners

The parents: Marnie Adler, freelance TV producer & director and Pilates instructor, & Stephen Adler, executive director for the Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University
Home: Detached house in Humewood with detached Pilates studio in back
Kids: Samantha, 11, & Mia, 9

How has it been raising a family in the city?
Marnie: We lived in Thornhill for 10 years, and we only recently moved to Toronto. It was unaffordable for us to live in the city, so we made a 10-year plan to move into the city. The Humewood neighbourhood is unbelievable. We spent a lot of time thinking where the best place for adults and children and school and social would be, and I think we nailed it.

How has the move affected your commute times?
When asking my daughter Mia, the major difference that’s a big deal for her is that she gets to see her parents more often. Stephen now has a 10-minute commute. The accessibility has been life-changing. It was 10 years of commuting. I can remember the day when I got into my car technically “early” at six o’clock, and it took me two hours to get home.

Do you have major safety concerns now that you’re in the city?
I worry about it 10 times more than when we lived in Thornhill. We read about break-ins in the neighbourhood. Friends of ours have had their cars broken into multiple times. Did I ever think about locking my door in Thornhill? Here I’m locking my door and putting my shades down. We will need to get our older daughter a phone way earlier than I would have considered it. For safety, I think it’s a priority.

How has the schooling transition been?
In Thornhill, we put them into French immersion, and they started getting bussed to their school. When they got home, there was no one to play with. Now they can they can walk to school, have play dates after school.…

Downtown transplants

The parents: Jessica Kalsi, full time parent, & Tony Kalsi, chiropractor
Home: Detached house at Yonge & Sheppard
Kids: Nyla, two, & Nolan, 13 months

Had you always planned on raising children uptown?
Jessica: We were downtown initially, and after I had my daughter we moved. I prefer living uptown over living downtown as a family. When we were downtown, we were in a condo, so we didn’t have the kind of space that we do now. Just having neighbours is the best part about being up here. Now I’m part of mom groups in the neighbourhood. I’ve now started my own circle time in my house and have a guy who comes over and plays the guitar and sings. I do like parenting up here because everything is so accessible.

Do you think city kids have unique advantages?
Living in the city, the kids have more options and accessibility to some of Ontario’s main attractions. But even with the zoo, for example, we’re not too far from it. We have annual passes, and we always say, if we lived anywhere else, coming to the zoo wouldn’t happen as frequently as it does. Being able to explore more might get their creativity flowing and expand their minds.

What are your plans when it comes to putting your kids in school?
My daughter is in Montessori right now. She loves it. They had several options, so we just started with the three days, and you could tell that she wasn’t very comfortable, so we did switch her to the five days, and it made a huge difference. Every morning she looks forward to going to school. We have also been looking into private schools, and we found one that’s not too far. It wasn’t like we did research on the schools in the area and didn’t like the ratings — it is just something my husband wants. We checked out a couple, and some of their methods are really good. At the Montessori school, the kids get the same teacher three years in a row, which is really interesting because the teacher can really get to know the students and work with their strengths and weaknesses.

Steff Ivory Conover, star of new series The Succulent Six, on following her dreams

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Not many career stories begin with literally being tapped on the shoulder by your calling, but for Steff Ivory Conover, one of the stars of the new CBC reality series The Succulent Six and a plus-size model, that’s exactly how it happened.

While sitting on a TTC bus, a scout for the Miss Plus Canada pageant tapped Conover on the shoulder and asked her if she’d ever considered plus-size modelling.

“I was like, ‘Me? No, I never thought about that in my life!’ ” Conover laughs.

At this point, Conover was on her way to a career as a professional artist and performer. She grew up in an incredibly creative household. Her mother was a dancer, her father a jazz bassist, and Conover used to write songs and put on plays with her sister and cousins.

She attended Leaside High School and loved the visual art studio the school had. She continued to pursue the arts after graduation, auditioning for Randolph College (formerly Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts) .

“In my heart of hearts, I really just wanted to be an artist. So I obviously jumped at the opportunity to be at Randolph.”

Conover says Randolph focused on how to make the arts a working profession, and that perspective changed everything for her.

“It was no longer a dream of being a performer. It was something I could sustain myself with financially but also emotionally and spiritually.”

But when she got that tap on the shoulder, Conover was still unsure, and she put aside thoughts of the pageant for a while. After graduating from Randolph, she modelled for the bra-fitting shop her sister was working at for a Bloor Street BIA fashion show.

“The crowd reaction to seeing a bigger body strutting down the street feeling confident, at ease and proud changed my life as well. I was the only plus-size model there that day, and I realized I needed to do something.”

So Conover registered to compete in the Miss Plus Canada pageant and ended up winning in 2007. But as a plus-size model, Conover thought it was important to speak out about the need for more diversity and representation in the industry.

“I want to see people hired for their individuality. I think we need to stop homogenizing what models look like, and that goes for the plus-size model world as well. We need to extend our ranges and our runways, but we also need to extend that into casting for humans.”

That has been just part of the mission of The Succulent Six, the new CBC series that follows Conover and four other plus-size activists as they partner with a “succulent sixth” person each episode and take on a challenge to get out of their comfort zones and complete missions to champion self-love.

The group of 5 women formed after doing a photo shoot together for International No Diet Day that went viral.

“We look for a need in ourselves that needs to be settled or fixed or a fear that should be taken down, and we document that mission,” says Conover.

The show, which is currently streaming on CBC.ca and the CBC app, falls in line with a lot of what Conover believes.

“I think people are tired of seeing these prettied up, gussied up, homogenized images of what they should look like,” she says. “I think everyone is craving authenticity, and that’s really what this series is about.”

10 hot restos we can’t stop talking about

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PICK 6IX
In Montreal, restaurateur and chef Antonio Park is quite the big name. So leave it up to him to collab with Drake, Toronto’s biggest name, for Pick 6ix, T.O.’s buzziest new resto. Although Drake isn’t a co-owner of the 33 Yonge St. space, he’s graced the splashy sports bar aplenty. (Did we mention there’s a private loo for celebs?) Park’s menu includes sushi, fancy hot dogs, Kobe steak.… The place to be seen.

IL COVO
Talented chef Ryan Campbell gets schooled at Buca Yorkville. Leaves. Opens Il Covo, an ode to Italian tapas (cicchetti) at 585 College St. Imagine: linguine tossed with clams, calamari, scallops and mussels. Or: fried bread with shrimp, scallop and smoked lemon mayo? Everyone swoons. The end.

VIT BÉO
There has been plenty of gab about the now-open Vit Béo, sitting pretty at 858 Bloor St. W. Coming from the people behind Civil Liberties (a.k.a. the “pineapple bar”), look for tasty Vietnamese fare like ban xeo, a rice crepe with pork belly and prawn and pok pok chicken wings with caramel fish sauce.

ASSEMBLY CHEF’S HALL
We’re smitten. Fried chicken! Sushi! Tacos! BBQ! Drinks! Margaritas! Under one roof!

LOGA’S CORNER
We adore their deep-fried aloo (a.k.a. potato) momos for a buck.

FAMIGLIA BALDASSARRE
This Ital fave tucked away on Geary Ave. is a secret no more.

SUNRISE HOUSE
This Koreatown nook is always busy. Get pajeon and hot stone bibimbap.

ARDO
If you’ve not been to this King East paean to Sicily and charmed by chef Roberto, for shame!

ITACATE
March break has us craving some heat. Chomp on St. Clair West’s authentic tacos for a quick escape.

YEAHYEAHS
For our last Post meal, give us a slice or two of that hot hot hot Rosedale pizza.

What actor Gabriella Albino ate the week before she hit the stage

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This month we enlisted actor Gabriella Albino to detail what she ate the week leading up to the debut of Bunny at Tarragon Theatre. Albino can be seen as Lola in the play which runs until April 1.

friday, feb. 16, start of tech week
I was born with an impressively long list of food allergies — from nuts to seeds to eggs to shellfish. They’re real, they’re life-threatening, and most of the time they make me feel really uncool and embarrassed. I’ve heard, “So … you just live off air and water?!” many a time. While my diet is more limited than the average person, food is one of the dear, sweet, great loves of life. Dinner tonight is pizza at my beloved Queen Margherita Pizza. The Gio Oldschool is what my dreams are made of. Fior di latte, roasted cherry tomatoes, prosciutto di parma, arugula. So. Delish.

saturday, feb. 17, rehearsal day
I chug a mango/raspberry/banana/kale/coconut milk smoothie then pop into my local coffee shop, Rooster Coffee, for a coconut milk London Fog and hop on the streetcar. Linner (because there is no time for separate lunch and dinner today) is maple-garlic-marinated chicken and a big kale salad with cabbage and pomegranate, sunflower seeds and balsamic dressing.

sunday, feb. 18, rehearsal day
I made oatmeal-banana-chocolate cookies to bring to the theatre today. These are such crowd-pleasers and the only way I make and keep friends. Post-rehearsal I pop into Wvrst for a celebratory drink. The cranberry cider they have on tap here is my favourite.

monday, feb. 19, day off
The day off! I make a quick basil pesto pasta for lunch and then head out for my weekly grocery shop. I am a fiercely committed meal planner and cooker on my days off. It comes from my time in theatre school where we had 13-hour days and only one day off to play catch-up on life.

tuesday, feb. 20, final rehearsal
For lunch I eat my go-to vegan sweet potato and kale chili recipe over brown rice with some coconut Greek yogurt on top. For dinner, it’s time to pump the brakes on all this homemade business. It’s tech week. I just got out of an 10-hour rehearsal, and I’m tired and hangry. I ordered thick, greasy pizza from Panago. It’s delicious and sure to give me bad dreams.

wednesday, feb. 21, first performance
First performance of Bunny is under our belt! I end the night at another local favourite, Aft Kitchen and Bar. It’s intimate, relaxing and oh so cosy. I sip on a glass of Valpolicella while my boyfriend and I catch up on our days. Then we inevitably order a plate of frites ’cause it’s my favourite late-night snack.

Stintz on Midtown: Condo crunch heads uptown

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Ongoing construction at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue is now common. However, in light of two development applications filed just before the end of the year, it looks like there will be more activity at Yonge and Lawrence Avenue.

One of the applications is for a development at 41 Chatsworth Ave., the former site of a church. This is the second try by the developer to build condos on a neighbourhood street. The original application was denied by the Ontario Municipal Board. The summary of why the application was denied was succinct, and clearly outlined how applications need to be in keeping with the built form of the surrounding neighbourhood. The six-storey development was completely out of character with the surrounding properties, which are detached homes on wide lots.

The impertinence of the revised application is astounding in that the proposal completely ignores the spirit of the OMB ruling.

It is mind boggling why the developer figured that taking a floor off the top of the building would somehow be acceptable to the community and the City of Toronto. Either the developer did not read the OMB ruling or doesn’t particularly care. Although the application has been filed under a new developer, it turns out that it is the same developer with essentially the same plan. This is also the same developer that cut down trees next to a ravine without a permit on a Saturday morning.

If ever there was a fight worth having in north Toronto, it would be over this proposal.

The community is already gearing up for the fight. The residents organizing are far more knowledgeable about the process and have the resources to smack down this application, just like they did the last one.

In the meantime, the community should demand that Chatsworth remain a one-way westbound street from Yonge to Lawrence in order to prevent the developer from trying to turn it into a two-way street as they attempted to do in the last go-round.

The other application is for a 13-storey condo at 2908 Yonge Street, currently the site of a gas station. This plan is not as odious but is aggressive in height for the area.

North Toronto residents have witnessed much change over the past decade and are not NIMBYs. They are well versed in the development process and understand how to influence.

With an upcoming municipal election, residents are looking for leaders who understand how to build neighbourhoods.

Richmond Hill Town Council split on future of William Neal House

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Over the past six years, the William Neal House has seen several different owners, at least two demolition applications and a flood remediation. Now a new application to demolish the home, known as the William Neal House, was submitted on Nov. 14, 2017 by the current owner, the Mansouri Group, which intends to build a Chrysler dealership on the subject lands.

The property, which was built in the American foursquare architectural style, was the last home of first Richmond Hill mayor William Neal, who lived there from 1972 until his death in 1979. He was elected mayor of Richmond Hill in 1957 — the year the village was incorporated as a town — and again in 1963. He opened the first Dodge dealerships in Canada in 1931 in Richmond Hill and the town’s first motor vehicle licensing office.

In 2014, following a demolition application, the Conservation and Review Board of Ontario (CRB) recommended that Richmond Hill designate the property as being of cultural heritage value based on its associative value. The CRB indicated that descriptions of the property in the heritage register be “revised to eliminate the references to ‘architectural’ value.”

Richmond Hill Town Council is split on this matter. Ward 2 councillor Tom Muench, in whose ward the William Neal House is situated, is pushing for demolition, believing that a Chrysler dealership would help bring jobs to the community while also honouring the legacy of William Neal.

“I understand the previous owners wanted a 12-storey building,” he said. “But this is a situation where they’re saying, ‘No, I’m just happy with a car dealership here.’ ”

However, Ward 5 councillor Karen Cilevitz, who sits on the Heritage Richmond Hill board, disagrees.

“There can be no question that the William Neal House deserves designation, deserves recognition and deserves to be saved,” she said. “[The CRB] looked at all the evidence that was given to them, and without hesitation, they specifically state in the report that this house has associative value and it deserves designation.”

Of some of his opponents, Muench remarked, “If they could, they would make every building in Richmond Hill heritage.”

Recently, Richmond Hill Town Council made a decision to defer the decision on whether to demolish the property or to designate it as heritage to March of 2019, so council can deliberate further with the developer on how best to proceed.

$51.1 million REimagining Yonge project has been delayed again

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Reimagining yonge — REimagining Yonge in uptown Toronto

After a long and heated committee meeting involving sparring councillors and passionate remarks from 16 community members, REimagine Yonge, the $51.1 million streetscape redevelopment plan spearheaded by Ward 25 councillor John Filion, will have to wait at least one more month before Toronto City Council reaches a decision on whether to move it forward.

During a Jan. 19 meeting of council’s public works and infrastructure committee (PWIC), 16 of 26 registered speakers were able to air their thoughts on the proposed plan, which would see the six-lane stretch of Yonge Street between Sheppard Avenue and Finch Avenue reduced to four lanes, making room for wider sidewalks and bike lanes.

Concerns over traffic congestion and calls for further consultation were repeated issues from those who opposed the idea. Ward 7 councillor Giorgio Mammoliti repeatedly suggested that the project be opened up to a citywide vote in the municipal election in October, saying, “I believe that if councillor Filion were to bring this into the election in October then he would lose the election.”

Former Etobicoke city councillor and presumptive mayoral candidate Doug Ford vehemently opposed the project. When asked by Filion whether he had read the full report, Ford replied, “I don’t need to read a staff report to see they’re going to destroy Yonge Street.”

He accused Filion of ramming this project through council before proper consultations had been carried out.

Those who supported this streetscape plan included representatives from the David Suzuki Foundation and two local neighbourhood associations. They reiterated the need for safer sidewalks, bike lanes and more vibrant and accessible retail, and pointed out the numerous consultations city staff held with the community.

“[Transforming Yonge Street] will be of tremendous value to most local retailers and businesses such as [mine and] my wife’s …” said local business owner Pedram Rahbari, explaining that more traffic does not translate into more pedestrians. “Not only does the massive volume of traffic not benefit streetside retailers, it is detrimental to their business.”

A strict 3:30 p.m. dismissal time was imposed, forcing the meeting to end before the last 10 people, including councillor Filion, had their chance to speak. In the end, the committee voted to pick up discussions on Feb. 27 before sending recommendations to city council.

Rosedale Golf Club cuts down 55 trees

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Residents near the Rosedale Golf Club (RGC) have been questioning why the private course decided to remove a significant number of trees from its property and are also questioning the club’s use of pesticides.

In Oct. 20, 2017, a permit was granted to RGC by City of Toronto Urban Forestry Management for the removal of 55 trees –– 36 of them were removed to manage shading of the golf course greens, only six were in poor condition. According to a representative from Urban Forestry, RGC paid a security fee of $96,150 for a future ravine stewardship plan.

However, this decision doesn’t sit well with Shirelle Layton, a resident and board member of Bedford-Wanless Ratepayers Association, who often runs around the area that borders RGC.

“That’s crazy,” she said. “I’m quite surprised that decision had even been approved.”

Private golf clubs like RGC are subject to the same laws and restrictions as city-owned courses, with some bylaw exemptions. City experts confirmed that both the tree cutting and pesticide use were regulated and approved.

Ward 25 councillor Jaye Robinson has fielded concerns from her constituents.

“I may not necessarily agree with [the tree cutting] because I think we should be saving every possible tree in the city, especially very mature trees, but staff have simply said they [RGC] are exempted from the bylaw,” she said.

Peter Oldfield, general manager of RGC, and Jeff Stauffer, the course supervisor, met with Robinson in late January where the residents’ concerns were discussed. According to Stauffer, the pesticide products were approved by federal and provincial governments and Stauffer affirmed that the products are not harmful to pets, wildlife or people walking through the grounds.

In fact, despite being a private golf club with initiation fees of $90,000, Oldfield said the property is open to “anybody who would like to walk their dog or go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing,” and RGC tries to maintain the property to allow that.

According to Oldfield, this also means being good caretakers of the land, which includes the city’s vast natural heritage system of ravines, valleys, rivers and wildlife that wind through the golf course.

“We see our property as a very special place and environment,” said Oldfield.

RGC will be filing a ravine stewardship plan this year and expects to plant roughly 150 new trees in the spring.

City council could triple the number of body-rubbers licensed to offer erotic services later this month

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A neon sign with the silhouette of a woman posed seductively overtop of the words “Minx Spa” can be easily spotted by passersby on the southwest corner of Dufferin Street and Wilson Avenue. It’s a spa, but not in the traditional sense: the parlour is actually one of 25 businesses across Toronto licensed by the city to offer services that “appeal to erotic or sexual appetites.”

In February, City of Toronto staff are expected to report back to city council on the feasibility of increasing the number of licences granted to so-called body-rub parlours in Toronto. Staff were also instructed to look into acquiring additional equipment and hiring more staff to oversee regulation and enforcement of the current bylaws. One option outlined by staff in December suggested allowing an additional 53 licences to offset the cost of regulation.

The increase is intended to prevent illegal and unlicensed operations, often masquerading as holistic centres, from sprouting up in unsuspecting residential neighbourhoods.

A holistic centre — which is defined by the city as a place offering services that focus on wellness of the body, mind, spirit and emotions, such as reiki, aromatherapy and massage therapy — requires a licensing fee of $270, with an annual renewal fee of $148. By comparison, a body-rub parlour licence costs $13,102, with an annual renewal fee of $12,660, and employees must submit to a medical examination.

Body-rub parlour premises are zoned to industrial areas, away from schools, places of worship and prying eyes, whereas holistic centres may occupy residentially and commercially zoned neighbourhoods.

A report by Toronto’s auditor general in October 2017 found at least 107 of the city’s 410 holistic centres were providing a range of “unauthorized” sexual services.

Post City found several holistic centres in midtown that appeared to advertise sexual or erotic services online. Some of these businesses are located on Mount Pleasant near Eglinton Avenue East, near Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue or on Bathurst Street near Lawrence Avenue West.

Councillor Joe Mihevc, of Ward 21, St. Paul’s West, said increasing the number of body-rub licences is in the city’s best interest.

“By removing the cap on body-rub parlours, we hope and believe that [the hidden and unauthorized] body-rub parlours can be what they want to be and then shift their locale,” he said.

One client of a licensed parlour, who spoke to Post City, requesting anonymity, said everything about his experience was above board. He said that the women working in the first parlour he attended were communicative and expectations were laid out clearly. A touch screen enabled him to choose his masseuse and while she did not offer sex, he indicated some masseuses do at various rates and that anything “extra” — nudity, client touching or bodily contact — came with a fee. The facility was clean, had showers for the clients and was devoid of any menacing, “pimp-like” figures, he said.

“Sex work will continue to happen. Relegating it to a zone or wishing it away isn’t effective.”

His first visit was borne out of curiosity, but he has since attended different licensed and unlicensed parlours –– according to him, over 20 times.

“I know many guys that have been to a body-rub parlour, and I know a lot more guys that have never been,” he said. “It’s also a place that a lot of married men attend and sort of blurs the line between acceptable monogamy and cheating.”

He said the number of fraudulent centres identified by the auditor general sounded low, and that the possible increase in licences granted to body-rub parlours is a sign of the times.

“There’s simply fewer lawmakers that would be against this kind of thing,” he said.

Councillor Mihevc, who is also the chair of the Toronto Board of Health, said the increase would help further ensure that the women working in body-rub parlours do so in a safe and clean environment.

Jenn Clamen, of the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform, noted that the commodification of sex has existed for centuries and criminalizing it puts the workers at a disadvantage.

“When you have a context of criminality, it allows exploitation to flourish because there is no recourse,” Clamen said. “Despite what people think, there is a fundamental right that needs to be respected, and that’s the health and safety of sex workers.”

She also argued that isolating body-rub parlours in the outskirts of the city won’t encourage unsanctioned ones to purchase a licence as many operators would likely fear the drawback of having so much competition nearby.

“[Sex work] will continue to happen. Relegating it to a zone or wishing it away isn’t effective,” Clamen said. “You wouldn’t put all the nail salons or McDonalds in the same zone.”

Councillor James Pasternak of Ward 10, York Centre, has several licensed body-rub parlours in his riding and is against removing the cap. Pasternak said a recent town hall on the issue brought out 50 to 60 people, many with outspoken complaints about unlicensed body-rub parlours operating near schools and residential areas.

“Until we have the ‘Wild West’ of illegal operators [contained], we can’t open more,” Pasternak said. “We should be reviewing body-rub rules as well. I think we need a wholesale review of those policies and enforcement, which is the only way to regulate and clean up this mess.”

“It’s our responsibility to protect our neighbourhood and our school-aged children,” he added.

Of the three licensed body-rub parlours in midtown contacted for this story, none returned requests for comment. Five holistic spas in the area that appeared to offer “erotic” services online were also contacted and just one vehemently denied the claim.