647 303 7499
info@bluffscommunitynews.ca

Last month, after reporting on the critical financial predicament that faced the Guild Festival Theatre (GFT), we received a letter (email) from local resident Frank Mackay (see page 2 – Your Letters, Your Voice). In danger of failing to make their 2018 season a reality, thanks to a wicked combination of Mother Nature and the loss of a major Corporate Sponsor, the non-profit theatre group reached out to the community hoping to raise its $35,000 shortfall.

We sent copies of Mr. Mackay’s letter, along with January’s front page article (“To Be or Not To Be” - GFT Scrambles to Mount New Season). Following up with phone calls, weasked these local politicians to comment on the situation: Ward 43 Councillor Paul Ainslie, Ward 36 Councillor Gary Crawford, Scarborough-Guildwood M.P.P., Mitzie Hunter, and Toronto Mayor John Tory.

While Mayor John Tory’s office was the first to respond, and even though we persisted with weekly email and telephone reminders, we ultimately received no comment from the Mayor. Similarly, while we spoke to Mitzie Hunter’s office, confirming that they had met with the GFT we did not receive further comment. Happily, though, we did hear from and spoke to the offices of, and subsequently the two City Councillors themselves.

The Guild is currently, and has been, located within the bounds of Ward 43. So, it wasn’t surprising to learn that Councillor Paul Ainslie is an “immense supporter of the Guild Festival Theatre.” He speaks highly of the GFT, calling it “an asset to the park’s revitalization, and entire city!” And we’d agree with him, that “it brings theatre goers to Scarborough to experience live theatre in a beautiful park setting.”

Councillor Ainslie is outspokenly proud of Everything Guild, and happily followed up our telephone conversation with a detailed response by email.  At present, under his direction, the City’s Cultural division and Theatre are now working together to form a partnership. “They have been actively working with the goal to have the production run this summer, and well into the future,” Ainslie assures us.

Councillor Gary Crawford’s office welcomed our invitation to talk about the GFT.  not only does the theatre group benefit his neighbouring constituency, but come the October election, it will be within the limits of his City Ward (as it will then become the new Ward 38). Councillor Crawford reiterated the message we heard from his office, that he is “trying to help out” and is doing his best “to support the Guild Festival Theatre” in anyway he can. He also reminisced about “fond memories of going to the Guild in summertime to watch theatre outdoors” with his kids.

Since issuing their press release The Guild Festival Theatre, has raised over $12,000. We encourage the Bluffs Communities to continue supporting and helping to preserve the meaningful luxury of convenient, quality entertainment. We have the opportunity to take this unfortunate situation and not only resolve it for the GFT, and our Bluffs neighbourhoods, but also to use it as a springboard to spread the word to our larger Toronto community, that it is worth the drive (or five TTC transfers) to Scarborough South West! The perks to our lakefront communities for being known for the diversity of cultural excellence, are immeasurable.

Donations in support of The Guild Festival Theatre can be made online at www.gofundme.com/help-save-guildfestival-theartre Or, cheques can be made out to Guild Festival Theatre and mailed to 118 Catalina Drive, Scarborough, On, M1M 1K8.

by Genevieve Clovis

     John sat at the dinner table listening to his parents and grandparents talking and laughing while he pushed his food around his plate searching for an arrangement that made it look less full.

    Everyone else had finished their meals. Even Sara and Ashley had empty plates, but John couldn’t eat another bite. His stomach was full to bursting and certainly wouldn’t allow even the thought of any more food.

    John wished he’d eaten the icky stuff first. The salt fish and the now cold fried plantain. Sara always said it was best to eat what you didn’t like first but John didn’t appreciate her strategy until now. He knew what was coming but there was no way for him to avoid it. If only his grandparents were like normal people and let their dogs in the house, he could slip them his food and everyone would be happy. But as ever the dogs remained outside.

    Maybe it would be okay. Maybe they wouldn’t notice his unfinished food, or maybe they wouldn’t care.

    John felt his grandma’s eyes fall on him like she had been reading his mind.

    “Finish your food, John.” She said and all the conversations stopped, and all the eyes turned to John.

    He made himself look as small as he could even his voice was small as he said, “but I’m full.”

    Sara closed her eyes shaking her head slightly and Ashley cringed. They knew what was coming even before Grandma pushed out her chair. She walked around the table stopping beside John and with one boney finger she jabbed him in the gut. John flexed but nothing was a match for one of Grandma’s pokes.

    “There’s still some room in there,” she said looking down at him with her perpetual scowl.

    “But I’ll throw up if I eat any more.” John whined near tears even though he knew it would do him no good. Even though he knew his evening would be spent at the dinner table in a battle of wills he would inevitably lose.

At the Cliffside Village Writer’s Group, the creative energy is high and the writing enthusiasm is contagious. To create our stories, we work in twenty minute bursts using prompts and a stream of consciousness process. For more information contact Genevieve Clovis at cliffsidevillagebooks@gmail.com.

Sergeant David Liska discusses local collision stats

by Kathryn McGrath

    Approximately 40 residents attended a Kingston Road Traffic Safety meeting hosted by Ward 36 Councillor Gary Crawford January 18th at St. Nicholas Anglican Church.
    The meeting followed the pedestrian death of 40-year-old mother Karla Groten, killed last month by a drunk driver at Kingston Road and Warden Avenue. Residents made it clear that speeding and reckless driving along Kingston Road have been a problem for a while, particularly between Victoria Park and Birchmount Road.
    Myles Currie, director of transportation services for Toronto, was on hand to discuss speed mitigation as were Toronto Police officers. Mr. Currie is responsible for Toronto’s Vision Zero plan, which aims to eradicate road deaths.
    Measures being looked at for Kingston Road include advanced greens and extended crossing signals for pedestrians, zebra markings at crossings, speed reduction from 50 to 40 km, and enhanced lighting. Residents say more traffic enforcement is also needed.
    Councillor Crawford has a request in to the city for a crossing guard at Freeman Street and Warden Avenue to ensure the safety of school children.

The Bluffs Voice recently had the opportunity to ask local real estate agents Frank Crisafi and Derek Cormack some questions about buying and selling property.
Q. Is it still a good time to buy? To sell?
A. Speaking generally of the city of Toronto, we have what’s considered a balanced market between sellers and buyers. Location is everything in real estate and as Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods, we find that each community represents a unique micro-market, which needs to be assessed on a hyper-local basis. Overall, prices have eased off from the highs of this past spring. However, if you’re looking to move from one property to another, a balanced market presents the ideal time to do this.
Q. Is this a good time to sell and cash-out?
A. Nope, not right now at least.
Q. How does the market in the Bluffs compare to the rest of the GTA?
A. While we sell real estate throughout the city, our personal homes and primary market focus are the communities that stretch along the Bluffs. And, within those communities, between individual pockets and neighbourhoods, we have seen various market dynamics that are dependant on location as well as price-point. On the whole, we’re no longer seeing properties sell after receiving multiple offers, though it still happens occasionally in The Beach, East York, and the downtown condo sector. Setting the appropriate listing price and selecting the right marketing strategy is more important than ever to succeed in today’s market in the Bluffs.