April 2008 - Good News Toronto

2 April 2008 Good News Toronto VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3Good News Toronto VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3April 2008 3Dear Reader,Welcome to the third editionof Good News Toronto:Our Everyday Heroes and tothe journey into a glimpseof the lives a few more ofour fellow Torontonians.You may have seen thesepeople on your commuteto work, shopping forgroceries, or picking up alatte at your favourite coffeespot, because they areyour neighbours. However,they are being recognizedin this paper for makingchanges. They have eithermade changes in their ownlives or facilitated changesin other people’s lives. Theheroism is in taking therisk of acting on the decisionto make a change.Each of the wonderfulindividuals in this issuehas used her or his skillscreatively to impact ourcommunity. Whether it isthrough media or music,humour or hockey, counsellingor cooking, theyhave each extended beyondthemselves to reach othersin their realm of caring. Iextend my admiration andgratitude to each one forhelping to make Toronto acommunity.Spring is finally upon us.As we come out of hibernation,we can start to see it,smell it, hear it. We beginto venture out from thosecramped spaces. This isthe time to begin to stretchout our bodies, minds,and spirits. Let’s examinewhich parts of our lives wecan expand a little more,which parts of our lives wecan extend out to our world— to our family, friends,and neighbours. Then, likeeach of our heroes, let’s doit — let’s act on it. Let usplay with our children, letus say hello to our neighbours,let us clean up ourcommunities, and thenlet us reap the rewards.Like the powerful air currentthat the flutter of abutterfly wing can create,so, too, can our mindful,positive actions producemomentous results in ourcommunity.I hope our EverydayHeroes are a source ofinspiration to you. I can’twait to feel the results of allyour kindness as a wave ofgoodness covers Toronto,making it an even more exemplaryplace to live, work,play, and belong.In appreciation,Eva KarpatiPublisher/Editor“A Glimpse of Toronto” by Jason PrupasLetters to the EditorHello Good NewsGood News Toronto offers stories about the multitude of diverse,generous, caring, and inspiring people who live in Toronto, withthe goal of motivating all of us to continue to make this a cityrich in everyday heroes.Good News Toronto is a monthly newspaper distributed throughoutthe Greater Toronto Area.Good News Toronto is a not-for-profit endeavour committed topublishing works by aspiring and experienced writers and artists.My sister sent me a copy of your inaugural issue and I found it a very good read.It’s marvellous to read the stories of people using their own special talent toimprove the world in some way. I wish you the best of luck in spreading the happynews that heros are all around us.Thanks for doing what you are doing.Finally, some Good News!GOODNEWSTORONTOSend us yourheroesReport acts ofkindnessGive us yourcommentsJoin our GNTteamInquire aboutadvertisingVisit our websitefor more informationShare your favouritephotographsof Toronto.Share thisnewspaper withyour family,friends, andneighboursKaren YamazakiMarch 16thRohan BaderMarch 25thI wanted to let you know about the wonderful neighbourhood in which I havelived for 30 years. In this Pape and Queen Street area neighbourhood of 22 homeseveryone watches out for each other. Even though this has been such a hardwinter with all the snow, someone from the neighbourhood comes around every2 hours to make sure my walkway is cleared as well as anyone else housebound.This has been the case for years. I had surgery a few months ago and myneighbours have been very helpful in getting me to various appointments and thatI am looked after. In the warmer months we have neighbourhood BBQ’s and oftensit with each other on our porches to have tea or a beer. We help each other withhandywork as well. People often wonder why I don’t move into an apartment but Idefinitely do not want to leave my neighbourhood community.LouisePublisherEva KarpatiGraphic DesignerIllustratorHye Kyong SonCopy EditorEmmanuelle HertelGNT Team:Robin BondSabina BuninKate de FreitasNicole Georges-BennetDavid KatesRosa Soo Young ParkJason PrupasAndi RétiJuli SmollanSamia TecleEmily Walker ThorntonTroy WhiteAlexandra YeboahMarni ZaretskyContributors:Ali AbbasMarsha BarberNora Mular-Richards416 661 2556info@goodnewstoronto.cawww.goodnewstoronto.caMusic for OthersNora Mular-Richards and her studentsFront Row: Johnny Choi, Amy Lu, Maria Ning, Maliha Hossain, Betty XieBack Row: Jimmy Chu, Peter Zhuang, Shiping Shen, David Wang, Jamie Li, CathyZhang, Helen Wang, Stefan ChanBy Nora Mular-RichardsInstead of sitting in frontof video or computerscreens on ProfessionalActivity days, music studentsfrom Dr. NormanBethune have discoveredan alternative way to spendtheir time. They have beenentertaining patients, theirfamilies, and seniors at anumber of care facilitiesin Toronto. The first P.A.day found the students atToronto General HospitalIrv Helpert’s Jokers Wildand Humour GroupBy Emily Walker ThorntonThere is a group who always meetEach month, the last We’nsday,We impart humour, such a treat,And each one has his say.We get together for some fun,To relieve us of life’s tensions,Some come in pairs, some one by one,And most of us on pensions...performing in the lobby ofthe Munk Cardiac Centreand the De Gasperis Atriumfor patients, families,and staff. The studentsperformed for two and halfhours and were eager toreturn. “Being in the hospitalis really depressing. Ithought it was awesome tobring happiness to them.”said Amy Lu, 16.On the next P.A day, ensembleswent to BelmontHouse, a seniors’ home,where they performedThis is how the song“The Joke’s On You,”penned by JokersWild and Humour Groupmember Sonny Walerstein,begins. The group has beenrunning since 2001, thoughfounder Irv Helpert initiallyconceived the idea in 1999.“Well, what happened,”Irv says, explaining thegroup’s beginning, “I putan ad in the paper. I had noparticular objective and noparticular goal. I just decidedI’m gonna see if I canget some people together,and maybe make some newfriends or something — justtell some jokes, just casual.”There was no response tothat ad, but he tried againand got one phone call. Irvthought that if there wasone person calling, theremust be more. And therewere more. One caller confidedto Irv that she hadn’tbeen feeling herself — shewas extremely depressedfor the residents. MahaliaHossain, 16, spoke of hermotivation for these events,saying, “The fact that elderscan take pleasure inhearing us [the ensemble]makes me happy.” Recently,the students went to SunnybrookHospital K-wingto perform for veterans,their family members, volunteers,and staff. Theirperformance was extremelywell received. Again, manymembers of the audiencerequested a repeat perfor-and just wanted to go toa place where she couldlaugh and meet people. So,with four people on board,Irv decided to find a placeto meet, finally settling inat the Antibes CommunityCentre near Bathurst andFinch, where he’s been eversince. “I had no idea whatwas going to happen, andno sense of direction,” hesays. “I just did it.”Members begin totrickle in a little beforethe meeting’s 7:30 pmstart time, notebooks inhand, ready with the jokesthey’ve prepared. The numberof participants variesfrom meeting to meeting,and while newcomers arewelcomed and encouragedto keep coming back, thereare regulars, like Tom whocomes from Georgetown,and Marvin, Irv’s brotherin-law,who monitors themeetings. Three dollarsIrv continued on 11Reader’s Submissionmance. Some of the audiencemembers were formerToronto District SchoolBoard staff members, whopraised the performance.The students do notperform in order to accumulatemore volunteerhours. These students havealready each accumulatedan average of 200 hoursof volunteer time. Whenasked if he was expectingsomething in return for hisgood deed, Johnny Choi,16,exclaimed, “Of course not!It is just to bring joy tothem [war veterans]. Theyhave already served thecountry. We are just here toserve them back. They’veraised us up. It’s time for usto do the same.” This is anopportunity to share theirlove of music with peoplewho are not able to attendperformances outside oftheir present dwellings.One of the groups thathas been performingplayed at the McMichaelGallery at the beginningof March. This group hasbeen practicing and performingas an ensemble forfour years, and this was anopportunity to representDr. Norman Bethune in thegreater community. FormerBethune student, flutistChristopher Lee, workedwith the students, assistingthem in their preparationsfor the concert. ChristopherIrv Helpert sharing a jokeLee will be performing withthe Bethune Band as part ofthe school’s spring concert,May 28, at Markham Theatre.This is anopportunity toshare their loveof music withpeople who arenot able to attendperformancesoutside of theirpresent dwellings.Another part of theirbusy schedule involves aconcert at Good ShepherdChurch on Friday, April 25.The choir, jazz ensemble,and chamber ensembleswill present a concert aspart of the church’s concertseries.The music students fromDr. Norman Bethune arebusy in large and smallensembles performing forthe community, enrichingboth their lives as well asothers.Nora Mular-Richards isa retired music teacherworking part-time at Dr.Norman Bethune School