March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen will not seek re-election in the next Federal election.
The two-term Member of Parliament, who served as Mayor of Newmarket for more than a decade, announced his decision in a statement on Monday, March 11.
In doing so, he said it has been an honour to serve the local constituents and will “continue working hard” as MP until the next Federal election is called.
“After nearly 25 years of public service, I’m shifting my focus to family, and in particular to my wife, Roxanne, who has been my greatest supporter,” said Van Bynen. “I look forward to more quality time with my loved ones.”
“From Councillor in 2000 to Newmarket Mayor (2006-2018) and now a two-term MP from Newmarket-Aurora, serving my community has been rewarding,” he continued. “I stood for election in 2019 out of a deep concern for the environment and for future generations, and I’m proud that our government has made this a priority. Facing climate change is essential for our future; we must achieve a balanced, and more compassionate relationship with nature.
“Reflecting on our efforts to build a stronger, healthier Canada, I’m proud of our focus on supporting families. Our initiatives, including our flagship childcare support, have significantly relieved financial burdens, enabling more women to contribute to the economy. The Canada Child Benefit has helped lift hundreds of thousands of children from poverty. And our initial dental benefit allowed many children to receive dental care, while our new Canada Dental Plan extends that coverage and will be including seniors going forward.
“Strong families help build healthier communities and caring, engaged communities support family growth. We are fortunate to live in Newmarket and Aurora, which are wonderful places to call home. I am grateful for the support our government has given to community organizations and even more grateful for the compassion and caring nature of these organizations and the thousands of volunteers who make a positive difference.”
Public service, he concluded, is more than a career, “it’s a calling and my commitment to our community doesn’t end with retirement.”
“This is my home, and I am deeply grateful for the help and encouragement I’ve received along the way.”
Van Bynen was first elected as Newmarket-Aurora’s Federal representative for the Liberal Party of Canada, defeating Conservative incumbent Lois Brown 26,488 votes to 23,232. He retained his seat in the 2021 Federal election, fending off Conservative challenger – and Aurora Councillor – Harold Kim by a vote of 24,208 to 21,173.
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
A jury has found John Sedo guilty of manslaughter following the death of his wife, 61-year-old Helen Sedo, in 2020.
Sedo was found guilty of manslaughter on February 29 and York Regional Police say sentencing will take place “in the coming months.”
“Helen Sedo was reported missing on July 29, 2020 from her residence in Aurora,” said YRP Sergeant Andy Pattenden in a statement. “Her disappearance was deemed suspicious and the Homicide Unit was engaged. On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, John Sedo was arrested and charged in connection with her death.”
York Regional Police first asked for the public’s assistance in finding Helen Sedo on Sunday, August 2, 2020.
At the time, Police said Ms. Sedo was last seen leaving her home on the evening of July 29 and was carrying a red and white olive-coloured duffel bag and driving a 2012 silver Acura RDX with the licence plate CDBY 015.
Later that week, members of Ms. Sedo’s family released statements to the public – and to Helen herself – appealing for information on her whereabouts.
“Mom, if you read this, I want you to know I love you very much and that all I want in this world right now is to know you are safe,” said her son, through the YRP. “I understand if you need space and will fully support you in anything you need to be happy! Your grandson needs you, I need you. Please Mom, if you are out there, please call someone… anyone!”
Added Helen’s siblings: “To anyone who has seen or knows about our sister Helen Sedo’s whereabouts or wellbeing, please contact the Police. To Helen – we miss you dearly. We are here for you unconditionally. We are desperate. Please contact someone if you are able. You are the glue that keeps our family together. We love you so very much.”
By September 14, however, the investigation shifted with Police announcing the Homicide & Missing Person Unit, along with the Search and Rescue Unit were conducting searches in the Huntsville area.
It was in a quarry northeast of Huntsville that a burnt-out vehicle connected with Ms. Sedo’s disappearance was found.
“On October 12, investigators recovered the vehicle belonging to Helen Sedo in a quarry near Williamsport Road, which is northeast of the Town of Huntsville, after it had been located by hunters in the area,” said Police at the time. “The vehicle had been completely burned.”
They appealed to anyone who may have seen the vehicle or a fire between August and September at the location come forward. The same appeal went to anyone who may have had trail cameras in the area that captured anything suspicious.
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
Southlake Regional Health Centre will be able to improve trauma care after being named a Level III Trauma Centre.
The new designation was announced by the local hospital on Monday.
As a Level III Trauma Centre, Southlake will care for medium acuity patients who have suffered traumatic injury, including wounds resulting from accidents, falls, sports injuries, violence, and other incidents that cause damage to the body’s tissues, organs and bones.
While Southlake currently cares for an average of 500 medium acuity patients each year, formal recognition as a Level III trauma centre means they will be able to do so as “part of an inclusive, integrated and accountable system” that can call upon the expertise of leading trauma centres like Sunnybrook Hospital, SickKids, and United Health Toronto.
“When patients come to our hospital, they know they’re in good hands and that’s a good thing because new patients enter our emergency departments every four-and-a-half minutes,” said Dr. David Mackary, Southlake’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, at Monday’s announcement. “Many of these patients come to Southlake because of traumatic injuries and in these moments they need the best care possible as quickly as possible.
“This recognition [as a Level III Trauma Centre] reflects our commitment to the patients and communities that we serve. It also connects Southlake with an inclusive, integrated and accountable trauma care system that will improve patient outcomes and experiences.”
When a patient experiences trauma, added Trauma Medical Director Dr. Leeor Sommer, time is of the essence in improving chances of survival and recovery.
“That is where trauma centres really come in,” said Sommer. “Data shows that areas with Level 3 Trauma Centres have lower mortality rates because those patients have immediate access to care in the right place. Trauma Centres save lives. As a Level 3 Trauma Centre, Southlake now has connections to a huge trauma network, so we’re working together with lead trauma hospitals like Sunnybrook, Unity Health Care, SickKids, to ensure all patients can receive quick access to specialized trauma care. Together, we can give patients the best chance of recovery.
As part of this recognition process, and to improve capacity within the healthcare system, six hospitals across Ontario met the criteria of Level III.
Stella Johnson, Director of Emergency and Mental Health at Southlake, said the Trauma Program will be led by “highly-skilled teams of medical staff” including surgeons, emergency medicine specialists and critical care nurses that are available around the clock to support needs.
“As a Level III Trauma Centre, Southlake has made numerous changes to support the patients who present to our Emergency Department,” said Johnson. “We have hired staff to successfully implement the Trauma Program, its requirements and ensure that our operations are meeting and exceeding the Trauma Level III standards and that begins with our trauma team activation process. When a trauma patient arrives at Southlake or is on their way to Southlake to receive emergency care, the trauma team activation page will be heard overhead across our organization and lead to awareness amongst all our care partners that this designation has occurred and patients presenting will receive the best trauma care possible. This situational awareness ensures the team is also available and ready to provide life-saving treatments.
“High acuity or very sick trauma patients or those with multi-system injuries will continue to be triaged here at Southlake and then transferred to a lead trauma hospital in the Greater Toronto Area, with one of our partner hospital sites as part of our integrated trauma care here in Ontario. This has not changed. Instead, what we are most proud of and what we can say has changed is the relationships we have been fortunate to build both inside this hospital and with community partners and with the trauma system at large.
“Communication with our emergency medical services and individuals who we otherwise may not have partnered with have also significantly changed and improved for the better. This is just the beginning. We are so excited about our Level III trauma journey here at Southlake. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnerships with the Ontario Regional Trauma Network, with our lead trauma hospital sites, and continue to move forward in our journey as a Level III Trauma Centre.”
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
Aurora youth are invited to register to take part in an “Innovation Disneyland” as the Town re-launches its Youth Innovation Fair after a five-year hiatus.
Originally organized as part of the Canada 150 celebrations in 2017, the Youth Innovation Fair was put on the backburner due to the global pandemic, but organizers this year are looking to bring together more young residents than ever before to share their ideas and their visions for a better world.
Geared towards students in Grades 4 to 12 in Aurora and the surrounding areas, the Fair is a chance for students, or even teams of students, to “showcase their ideas and innovations to tackle real-world issues,” whether it’s in technology, science, performance, conservation, building projects and more.
“We’re excited to get this back off the ground,” says Shelley Ware, Special Events Coordinator for the Town of Aurora. “If you need the extra push to enter, just re-watch Iron Man and look at Stark Industries at their innovation expo. This could be your first step trying something like this. I can’t underscore enough how much opportunity is there for like-minded youth to meet others from different schools, different towns and cities and bringing these exceptional minds into one space is like an innovation Disneyland.”
Helping to spearhead the 2024 Youth Innovation Fair is Erin Hamilton, Sport & Community Development Specialist with the Town of Aurora.
After a five-year hiatus, Hamilton says she’s looking forward to seeing what the youth in the community are looking to innovate and the problems they’re trying to solve as the world we’re living in today is quite different than the one of 2019.
“Society as a whole has developed around technology, math and how students are learning,” says Hamilton. “We’re in a different realm of what could potentially be presented at a Youth Innovation Fair with what students are using in the classroom to be able to learn and evolve. What they’re coming up with, I think, is pretty exciting.
“If we look at things around climate change and what’s going on in the real world right now, we have a group of youth who are really engaged in those topics and have some strong views and ideas as to how to address them. I think…we’re going to see a whole new realm of potential inventions and ideas that we may not have seen in 2017.”
Registrations for the 2024 Youth Innovation Fair are being accepted online through Wednesday, April 24 – visit aurora.ca/youthinnovation for more – while the event itself will be held Wednesday, May 15 at Town Hall from 6 – 9 p.m. This year’s event is sponsored by Desjardins and Alectra.
“We know the next generation is highly creative, highly innovative, and this is such a unique event,” says Ware. “It’s a chance for students [to] come up with all that will make their life faster and more efficient, maybe the things we take for granted and just accept as adults because that’s just the way it goes.”
Adds Hamilton: “This is the perfect environment where…you can be around other individuals with innovative ideas and share that knowledge with one another.”
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
The Town of Aurora is seeking input from residents on potential locations for a Community Reflection Space.
The Community Reflection Space has been in the works since 2023 and is an initiative that has come out of the Town’s Indigenous Relations Committee (IRC) as part of its work towards Truth & Reconciliation.
Since it was first floated, the vision has evolved into a dedicated area where all members of the community “can come together during difficult and tumultuous times regardless of location, cultural affiliation and cause.”
“It serves as a place for collective reflection and paying respects to those affected by tragic events,” said the Town in a statement.
Since the initial conception, the Community Reflection Space proposal has been presented to Council and members of the Town’s Advisory Committees, along with several proposed locations: the forecourt of Town Hall, Lambert Willson Park, Town Park, and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Park.
Lawmakers and committee members have voiced pros and cons for each of the sites, and now it’s time for residents to have their say – or even propose a location that isn’t presently on the shortlist.
“Right now, we’re mainly focused on finding the ideal location for the reflection space,” says Phil Rose of the Town of Aurora. “We had a report to Council and at that time we presented what we felt was our ideal location and Council wanted us to do a little bit more feedback. We’re focusing on location and in the spring we will come back to Council and we will let them know what the public has said. We have done some presentations to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee as well as the Accessibility Advisory Committee and then we’re doing some targeted consultation with certain stakeholders like the York Regional Police and we’re going to combine all that information.”
A report is expected to come forward to Council in April with the location or locations that have risen to the top and staff will make recommendations based on those findings.
“The things we’re looking for from an ideal location perspective are is there parking? Is it accessible from a walking and public transit perspective? Are there safety things associated with it such as lighting, washrooms as well, and proximity to other Town amenities that would allow us to have our staff maintain it as we need to?” says Rose. “Once we get Council’s direction, the next step will be going out to some of the design phase of the project.
“We looked at the amenities that are at different spots at the Town…different Town locations and we shortlisted. We looked at some of the space behind the Leisure Centre, Town Hall at the front, close to John West Way as you first come in by the flagpole, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Park just down the street. One of the things we’re trying to maintain is having a quiet space for reflection against competing uses. Town Park, for example, has come up and we’ve kind of quickly crossed it off the list because, of course, it is a very active space and it’s not conducive to having a reflective space to think about community loss as well as, at the same time, the Arctic Adventure or baseball tournaments happening. We are slowly winnowing the list down.”
Since the idea was first brought forward, Rose says there hasn’t been a lot of feedback on the appetite for such a space, but the Council and staff have concurred that there is a need.
“There really [aren’t] a lot of communities that dedicate space for these kinds of memorials and community grieving and we think it is important that they’re there,” he says. “This project came up as part of our Indigenous Relations Committee and how do we address the findings related to the residential schools and the bodies that are found. I think based on the Town’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, there was an early buy-in for this, but realizing there was more than the residential schools to grieve and reflect on.
“We have feedback that it would be nice to have some additional shelter in those spaces for people who might want to go on a hot day, have a lot of tree canopy, somewhere to sit under while they are there. Seating is very important for a spot to sit and reflect. Public art has come up as well, something we’re conscious of, and we have the Public Art plan coming forward. Having something that is created as a symbol of loss or reflection and… signage… letting people know what the space is about, what’s allowed and not allowed in these spaces.”
To provide your input on the proposed Community Reflection Space, visit engageaurora.ca/ReflectionSpace.
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
Aurora’s new Active Transportation Master Plan could bring nearly 200km of new routes to the municipal trails system.
The draft Master Plan was presented to Council last week at the Town’s first Committee of the Whole meeting on March 5.
The Plan is intended to guide the development of active transportation networks – such as trails and bike lanes – for the next 20 years.
The Master Plan has been in the works since 2021 with consultants WSP Canada and has been guided by six key pillars: Provide and Support a Variety of Transportation Options; Support Community Health; Improve Connectivity; Increase Sustainability; Prioritize Safety and Accessibility; and Coordinate with Existing and Future Infrastructure Projects.
The draft plan also looked at socio-economic trends to help “develop an understanding” of the current and future needs of Aurora residents.
“Approximately 60 per cent of Aurora’s population commuted to work, with 22 per cent spending under 15 minutes and 21 per cent spending 15 to 29 minutes on their commute,” the report found, citing the most recent data from Statistics Canada. “Despite the relatively short commute times, the majority of Aurora residents (87 per cent) use driving as their main form of transportation during the week. This is followed by transit use, including GO Rail, local transit, and school buses, at 7 per cent. Active transportation, such as walking and cycling, accounts for approximately 5 per cent of the overall transportation mode share in Aurora.”
In consultation with Aurora residents, consultants say community members identified “challenges” within the existing active transportation network which affect how often residents use them, including “lack of a connected cycling and trail network, concerns about high speed and noise from vehicle traffic, poor conditions of some existing sidewalks and trails, [and] connections to key Town destinations” such as the GO Station.
“A key task of the Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP) was to develop a proposed active transportation network for Aurora that was…designed with an equitable lens to ensure that underserved communities will have optimal access to the network. Along with equity and connectivity considerations, the proposed network is intended to be universally accessible to people of all ages and abilities,” they said. “In total, the Town of Aurora’s recommended active transportation and trails network is made up of almost 490 km or routes. Approximately 300 km is existing and this ATMP proposes about 190 km of new routes.
“To create a culture of walking, cycling and micro-mobility use in the Town of Aurora, financial investment and other resources need to be strategically allocated. The ATMP outlines phasing and maintenance strategies that are intended to guide decision-making on active transportation policy and planning processes while being flexible enough to adapt to changes in active transportation trends or other opportunities that may arise over the years as the network is being implemented.”
Short term goals – those that can be accomplished within ten years of the plan’s adoption – include “quick wins” of signed bike routes, “conventional or buffered” bike lanes, physically separated facilities along roadways, the further development of sidewalks and the implementation of “road diets” to facilitate traffic flow.
A road diet in this context is a reduction of lanes for through traffic to allow bike infrastructure and on-street parking – particularly on Yonge Street and the Aurora Promenade area in the Town’s historic downtown core.
Consultants said this would allow for further turn lanes that would “really benefit businesses in terms of access to and from those properties compared to the current condition,” but said doing so at Orchard Heights would require “significant design modifications.”
“The concept has been talked about for many years now,” said Ward 4 Councillor Michael Thompson. “In the past when I have raised the concern, I am looking for more evidence, more details to corroborate that this is the right thing for us to do in our downtown core.
“When I go online and just search myself to understand road diets and implementation in other communities, there is certainly a lot of positive results and information available for anybody who wants to do some research… but there are also come cases where it didn’t work out and they’ve had to reverse it or it has created other issues. I am a little concerned when I see it being identified as a quick win to implement that program; I don’t know if collectively we have done enough due diligence to support the idea and make all of Council and myself fully aware of not just the benefits but also any potential risks.”
Another concern voiced at the table came from Ward 1 Councillor Ron Weese who questioned how Metrolinx’ plans to add a double track through Aurora on the GO line to allow for all-day, two-way 15-minute train service, and potentially a traffic underpass beneath Wellington Street, would impact plans for grade-separated active transportation infrastructure.
“Is there a reason for it being a priority 10 years from now as opposed to somewhere between now and 10 years?” he asked.
The consultant replied the priority is to complete a feasibility study to get “a better appreciation of what would be involved to design and implement” some of the grade separations.
The Wellington Corridor, agreed Ward 2 Councillor Rachel Gilliland, was a “sticking point” and the current configuration of the rails bisecting Aurora was a “great divide” that is an ongoing challenge. Now is the time to advocate for Aurora’s priorities and send a message that more infrastructure is needed for east-west connectivity.
“[Metrolinx] will be double tracking and that will then guide York Region in what they can do from that point on to provide pathway connections to the GO Station to both east and west of Yonge Street and beyond Yonge Street to Bathurst,” said the consultant.
Added Councillor Gilliland: “I understand there are a lot of challenges between Yonge and the GO because it is very narrow, but at the very least, especially with the development that will occur down that local corridor, it (traffic) is only going to increase. I have families who say they can’t walk strollers, there is nowhere to go. It is a challenge, so I would just prefer to highlight that as I feel, for Aurora, it is a priority to be able to connect east and west.”
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
Celtic music can foster a sense of “coming home” for people with Scottish and Irish roots, but it also transcends to people of every heritage.
That’s the feeling that Eleanor McCain will bring to the St. Andrew’s College stage this Saturday, March 16, with the Aurora Cultural Centre’s presentation of Eleanor McCain in Concert: A Night of Celtic Traditions & Classics.
An acclaimed singer, McCain will be joined on stage for the St. Patrick’s Day-eve concert by performers Brigham Phillips and Jason Fowler, with the North Atlantic Drift trio serving as the opening act.
Throughout her career, McCain has recorded six critically-acclaimed albums, including 2017’s True North: The Canadian Songbook, and has collaborated with Canadian performers ranging from Chantal Kreviazuk and Natalie MacMaster to John McDermott and Roch Voisine.
“This music resonates with many people because it has beautiful, lilting, lyrical melodies that really pull at your emotional heartstrings,” says McCain. “Plus, a lot of the poetry, the situations, the stories, a lot of the songs tell stories that really draw people in, but there is very often an emotional component to them. There are a lot of songs of longing for home and because the lyrics are so real and so down to earth and accessible, they are very captivating in that way.”
Hailing from the small town of Florenceville, NB, McCain’s earliest musical foundation came from her mother, who, as a pianist, could often be found at the church organ. When she was nine-years-old, however, on a visit to her aunt in New York City, she saw the musical “Annie” on Broadway, an experience which sparked a life-long interest.
“It was really a turning point for me to do something in a more professional vein,” she says. “From there, my mom took me to Fredericton once a week where I started taking singing lessons, 90 minutes each way from Florenceville. The voice teacher I had there is still one of my best teachers. She was fabulous and [fostered] the dedication to music and singing from a very young age.”
From there, McCain studied Classical Music at Mount Allison University, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree with a focus on Vocal Performance. She continued her training after moving to Toronto, but found herself deviating just a little from the classics.
“I started to change lanes and get more into working with songwriters, getting more into a sensibility of fusing the classical with some jazz, with some folk roots, pop ballads, and I mixed them together and realized what was most important for me in music was the emotion behind the song, not necessarily the vocal style. Some people have made comments over the years that maybe I should choose a style, but that is my style – focusing on the emotional content of music. It’s a mix of styles in a melting pot!”
Asked what fuels her creativity, she responds that she has “never really found the words that adequately describe the movie that goes on in my head” on what draws her to a song, but it always comes back to the emotion of things – and that is something she hopes is felt by local audiences this weekend.
“I hope the music touches them in the same way it does me,” she says. “It is not just a Celtic journey they go on, but maybe it is an emotional journey they go on as well. Hopefully in many ways the music touches their hearts the way it does me. I’m excited and honoured to be asked to sing in concert and it’s always nice to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day eve with this music.”
Eleanor McCain in Concert will take place Saturday, March 16, at 7.30 p.m. at the Wirth Theatre at St. Andrew’s College. Tickets are $40 and can be obtained at auroraculturalcentre.ca or by calling the box office at 905-713-1818.
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
Amber Esterbrooks fired the game-winning goal and Izzy Whynot kicked out 27 of 28 shots to lead the U22 Central York Panthers to a crucial 3-1 win over the Burlington Barracudas at the Mainway Recreation Centre on Saturday afternoon.
Assistant Coach and CYGHA President Mark Dubeau cited the Junior Panthers’ “second efforts, diving for loose pucks, blocking shots, and desperate play” as four key factors in the road win.
Coach Dubeau also credited the fine play of Whynot as a key to victory over the third-place Barracudas.
“Izzy tracked the puck really well today. She gave up very few rebounds and was very quiet in the net.”
The eighth-place Panthers opened the scoring when Erica Buckley one-timed “a perfect pass” from leading scorer Cheyenne Degeer at 14:57 of the first period.
Degeer’s nifty feed earned the gritty Panther her 25th assist of the season on Buckley’s 14th goal of 2023-24.
The Barracudas evened the score in the second period when high-scoring Sara Manness potted her 37th of the season at 9:26. Claire Murdoch—the leading scorer in the OWHL with 107 points—earned her 62nd assist on the tying goal.
However, the Panthers showed their resolve on the road and would not be denied in Burlington.
Central York’s leading goal scorer Amber Esterbrooks buried a rebound for the game winner with 1:22 left in the second period.
Li picked up her second assist of the game on Esterbrooks’ 22nd of the campaign.
Avery Johnston’s 15th goal gave the visitors a 3-1 lead when she redirected Esterbrooks’ pass with 7:43 left in the game to provide the Junior Panthers some breathing space and their margin of victory.
The precious road win in Burlington retained Central York’s hold on the 8th and final OWHL playoff spot that carries with it a bye into the Provincial Playoffs later this month.
By Jim Stewart
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
Aurora has long been thought of as an affluent community, but not every experience is the same, regardless of age or circumstance – and this is a perception that leaders at Hartman Public School is aiming to challenge.
Hartman Public School believes that access to proper nutrition is “essential for a child’s growth, development and academic success,” and with the help of several local businesses, including The Real Canadian Superstore at Bayview and St. John’s Sideroad, they have been able to take their school’s Universal Snack Program to the next level.
The Hartman Public School Universal Snack Program aims to provide healthy and nourishing snacks to all students regardless of their financial circumstances. The overall goal is to “create an inclusive environment where every child can thrive and concentrate on their studies without hunger as a barrier.”
It’s a cause particularly close to the hearts of Principal Saira Salman and parent volunteer Miriam Dos Anjos.
Together, the women have been working to not only amass support amongst the business community, but challenge the school’s catchment area on how a school community should be defined.
“When we first started, there was a little bit of, ‘Oh, but our community doesn’t need it,’ but I thought every community needs it, regardless,” says Salman, who joined the Hartman community last September. “School can be a place where we can address a lot of the issues we’re not willing to socially address. You can do it quietly and effectively and that is the goal here.”
Dos Anjos, however, has been a bit less quiet. Described by Salman as a “huge advocate for students,” Dos Anjos approached her children’s principal with an idea to kick programs that were already in place up a notch or two. Their efforts build upon the groundwork of school administrator Gigi who secured some funding from a partner program in Peterborough to offer select healthy snacks in the main office to anyone who needed them.
The women saw an opportunity to build community buy-in and, with the support of businesses, they’re now feeding 550 kids with granola bars, apples, bananas, Cheese Strings, juice boxes, and more.
“I had an extra driving force because if I was dropping something off [in the office] I would see some students come in and ask for a snack because they didn’t have lunch,” Dos Anjos explains.
Now, the Universal Snack Program brings these healthy goodies right into the classrooms where students might need them, allowing them to access the food without having to ask, helping to reduce the “stigma” that sometimes comes with need.
“Having a bin in their class has helped students so much because they don’t have to come down to the office and feel uncomfortable,” says Dos Anjos. “We don’t know what their family economic status or situation is, but I think just having access to something and it being in a safe place, not it being an uncomfortable thing, not being teased because you don’t have something, is part of the whole picture.
“I think every child deserves a chance and, to me, a tummy that is full is a tummy and a mind that is able to expand and learn. I have seen it with students and I have seen it in the community where some kids don’t have access to things or are uncomfortable asking. It made me think we could do something ‘bigger picture.’ Everybody deserves a chance regardless of your social or economic status. It’s not always that kids don’t have lunches here or don’t have food, but it is access in a safe, positive environment and that is the best.”
That hasn’t always been the case.
Salman says that since she joined the Hartman community, she has had kids come to the office to quietly see if there were any leftovers from pizza lunches. Although it’s less than ideal for a student to have to even ask the question, she prides herself that she has fostered an environment where students can do just that.
“I am privileged and honoured that they trust me with that but, at the same time, I want to make sure our kids are fed. Full tummies means that they’re ready for learning and for our older kids, sometimes their parents leave early and they think they are independent to pack their own lunches, or they forget their lunches, and a school should be a hub where kids feel like it’s home,” says Salman. “That’s where we’re working from.”
Salman grew up in Montreal and has vivid memories of taking part in her school’s milk program. She “hated milk with a passion at home” but things tasted just a little bit sweeter at school where she received a little blue carton of her own each day, making it a life-long habit.
“We have changed schooling so much that we have forgotten we’re in partnership raising somebody else’s child. How do we build that partnership?” she says. “I am the parent while Miriam is working and my job is to make sure they are healthy, safe, nourished and educated. I can’t do the education part without them feeling the rest.”
There are additional benefits as well. Since they started work to augment the program, they have seen students take ownership of it as well.
“Our Student Council has been very helpful,” says Salman. “We have one in our school for the first time this year and they have taken it on to help out, to make and deliver the bins, so they are part of this journey. It is leadership from them. It means they’re receptive to it.”
Adds Dos Anjos: “I pick up my kids after school and it makes it worth it for me to see the happy faces and the excitement. My kids help me go pick up our deliveries [in the morning] and it’s a battle of who gets to bring in the wagon of cases of bananas and apples. It’s a pride thing for my kids to be able to help and seeing the other kids and hearing that the Student Council is really involved in distribution and part of it just takes away the embarrassment, the uncertainty, or being uncomfortable.”
Salman and Dos Anjos encourage local businesses and like-minded organizations to partner with their local schools to make these programs take root in their schools or to bolster programs that already exist – and to re-think what it means to be part of a school community now and in the future.
“Demographics change every 10 years or so,” says Salman. “Our notion of who we serve sometimes gets frozen in time. We’re at a point in our school where demographics have now started to change and it is through that lens that I am starting to see needs arise.
“I would really like people to challenge their own understanding of school. School isn’t just a place where we come to do the ABCs and 123s; it’s a place where we can come to have someone who is safe for us, somebody we can tell what happened the night before or at the breakfast table. School is more than just classrooms with desks in a row. With that vision, I hope to really think more deeply about who our students are and who they are no longer.”
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
March 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
Seeing herself as “one of one” wasn’t the feeling Nicole Boreland anticipated when she decided to change careers after 20 years in childcare, but, as far as feelings go, it wasn’t unfamiliar.
She had gotten used to being the only Black woman in the room, sometimes the only woman in the room full stop, but was always willing to speak up and advocate for herself. But making that jump to a career in construction exposed a new facet to that feeling.
“Being a woman in construction can unlock a new level of loneliness when you don’t see a version of yourself on site,” said Boreland on Thursday night at an event celebrating International Women’s Day, one which put women in the trades and “non-traditional” jobs in the spotlight.
Hosted by Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill Leah Taylor Roy at the LiUNA Local 506 Training Centre in Richmond Hill, it was attended by representatives from across the Greater Toronto Area, including York and Peel Regions, Federal Minister for Women and Gender Equality & Youth Marci Ien, and Federal Minister of Labour and Seniors Seamus O’Regan.
Last week’s gathering underscored this year’s International Women’s Day theme of “Invest in Women, Celebrate Progress.”
“To honour this theme, we’re focusing on the importance of women in labour and non-traditional careers across all sectors and the need to ensure equal opportunities for women,” said Taylor Roy in welcoming remarks. “We continue to break barriers every day, but…I think some people sit back and think we’re really there and we don’t have to do anymore. I think some younger people still think that. Really, we still have a ways to go.
“We can’t sit back and say we’re there because some of us have been able to make it; and some of us can say, ‘There’s a woman who did it, therefore we’re good. Everyone can do it.’ It’s not the case. Until we have true equality, there is work to do.”
The women who shared their experiences at last week’s event drew a line under that sentiment. Representing careers as varied as policing, firefighting and in construction, each broke through a glass ceiling and remain willing to help others up and through.
On her first day at a construction site, Boreland said she was “overwhelmed by the stares, the very personal questions” she received from her male counterparts. They were “shocked” to see her, she recalled, and was initially only assigned tasks tailored to their own perceptions of what women could do.
“I am almost certain I was the subject of a ‘toolbox talk’ minutes before I arrived on that site,” she said. “Luckily, with the support of LiUNA (Laborers’ International Union of North America) 506, we (women) were able to build a community of mentorship and a safe space to support each other. Along with the knowledge I obtained here at this training centre, I feel confident and prepared to be a woman in construction. I wasn’t deterred by my first experience. In fact, it fuelled me. It encouraged me to show up every day ready to work, to speak up more about the skills and the [training] I have obtained and ask for help when needed.
“Within a few months, I was able to work on another site where my voice was heard, I wasn’t isolated from my team, the bathrooms weren’t tucked away in a dark or secluded corner and I was given the opportunity show what I was capable of – and also getting the chance to learn something new. Women in the trades are not only the future, we are embedded in the present.”
Also highlighting the power of women in the trades was Construct, a social enterprise of Blue Door Shelters, serving York, Peel, Durham, and beyond. Construct provides training and on-the-job work experience and supports to vulnerable individuals looking to secure long-term well-paying careers in trades related to construction.
Construct’s Emma Wood said, since its founding in 2020, the enterprise has trained over 500 people, with 85 per cent securing employment within six months of completing the program.
“The way our training works is a bit different across Regions,” she explained, noting that the program includes “all the things you need to get into employment,” including relevant certificates, equipment like hard hats and steel-toed boots, job interview training and more.
“They are things that might seem just normal to us, but not everyone has had the opportunity to work,” she said. “What makes Construct unique is its holistic approach to training with an emphasis on participants’ wellbeing. We recognize that is not possible for vulnerable folks to take eight weeks off… so we pay our participants for their time in the program; wraparound supports provided to further remove the barriers and allow for participants to enter and finish the program. This includes food, transportation, psychotherapy, child care, emergency assistance for the things that just pop up. If you want go into apprenticeship, we’ll cover your CVs. The best part, at the end there is a completion bonus so you can celebrate your achievements.
“There is a need to tap into an untouched demographic of individuals to curtail rapid skills training and enter into the workforce to close this gap and there is no reason why these people can’t be women. I might be biased, but I know women can be just as physically fit, determined, confident and capable of operating the same tools and machinery as their male counterparts and in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Construct is seeking not only to help meet the ongoing demand for skilled workers in the GTA, but to recruit women into participating in the program to jump-start their careers in the skilled trades.”
Women being just as “physically fit, determined, and capable” was not lost on Amber Bowman, an active Captain with the Central York Fire Services (CYFS), a department serving Aurora and Newmarket.
Previously a high-performance athlete, particularly in hockey, Bowman was one of the first four women hired by the CYFS as late as 2011.
“I was about to sign my Division 1 full hockey scholarship with the Ohio State Buckeyes,” she said. “After practice one day, I had a conversation with a male firefighter who is the dad to one of my teammates. He told my mother and I there was, ‘no way I could tell your daughter to choose firefighting as a profession because of how dangerous it is, of what you see when responding to calls and the physical challenges the job entails.’ But, being a high-ended athlete, I loved the profession of firefighting for the aspects of teamwork, community, dedication and the commitment to helping others and I was determined to prove him wrong.”
“My biggest goal now is to lead and support my little people to conquer their dreams,” she said of balancing her work with motherhood. “My hope is some of their barriers that I was a part of breaking down no longer exist for the future of our youth.”
A similar view was expressed by York Regional Police Inspector Sarah Riddell, a fellow mom, who said this year’s International Women’s Day theme was a “call to action and a reminder that gender equality is one of the most effective ways to build healthier, more prosperous and more inclusive communities.”
“I was born in 1973. Wonder Woman was a real thing and I wanted to be just like her,” she said. “As the oldest child of a single parent family, I was responsible for the safety of my little brother. This was a job I was happy to take on and diligently kept little Mikey safe – whether he liked it or not. (And those of us in the room of a certain vintage will get the ‘Mikey likes it’ joke!) Those early days shaped a personal values system that is based on loyalty, bravery, courage and responsibility.
“Through these 25 years I have been blessed with an amazing career. The Chamberlain Curse, ‘May you live in interesting times,’ is not so much a curse for our first responder as it is a promise.”
Those interesting times, she said, included “days without sleep, split-second decision-making that affected people’s life” and welcoming her first daughter in 2003, another in 2009, and then, in 2013, becoming the primary caregiver for her children while working as a detective in Markham.
There was, she said, “a very real fear of not being able to manage at all, but I did. We do. Women do, and the same way my mom did.”
“If you find your north star and keep it in sight, the decisions you make will always be sound,” she included. “They may not be easy, they seldom are, but you will know in your heart you did the right thing. I started in 1999 full of passion and ready to defend those who couldn’t defend themselves and speak to those who could not speak for themselves. 25 years later, I am so fortunate to be able to support those who do the work on the frontline, making sure they are well, that they have what they need in order to do that important work of community safety and wellbeing.”
By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter