Humber Happenings Fall 2018

HBSCA.CA

FALL 2018

WISHING OUR
HBS COMMUNITY
BEST WISHES FOR THE

HOLIDAY
SEASON!

THANK YOU

TO ALL OF OUR
ADVERTISERS,
CONTRIBUTORS &
VOLUNTEERS



IN THIS ISSUE

26

A Community Publication by the Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association

4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 8

By Jim Reekie

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
6 CANADA STRONG

By James Maloney, MP

13 NEW LOCAL BUSINESS FEATURE

Rustic Social House
Sponsored Advertorial

20 FROM THE DESK OF CHRISTINE HOGARTH

By Christine Hogarth, MPP

23 NEW LOCAL RESTAURANT FEATURE

Dakota’s Sports Bar & Grill
Sponsored Advertorial

26 HBS FARMERS’ MARKET RECAP

By Zacharie Weingarten

28 PROPERTY TAX FAIRNESS 24 27 HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING

My Opinion By Mary Hutcheon CLEANING TIPS
By David Hatton
30 NATURE WALKS WITH BOB KORTRIGHT
HEALTH & WELLNESS
By Bruno Clausi 12 HEALTH UPDATE

EXPERT ADVICE 16 By Dr. Maureen Henderson
10 REAL ESTATE NEWS UPDATE
TRAVEL
By Alex Porritt 14 THE REAL COST OF TRAVEL

18 RETIREMENT INCOME STRATEGIES By Krista Garney Cluettt

By Michael Storino 24 GENIUS GETAWAYS |

22 ZOONOTIC DISEASES | NAPLES, FLORIDA
By Iris Benaroia
IS YOUR PET CONTAGIOUS
By Dr. Farzad Ghazi FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 3

LIFESTYLE
8 ESCAPE TO NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
By Toby Saltzman

16 GADGET GIFTS UNDER $100

By Marc Saltzman

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

CELEBRATING AN EVENT
FILLED SEASON
AND THE VOLUNTEERS
THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN

BY JIM REEKIE, HBSCA PRESIDENT

I n the cold months ahead of January business in our community. They come and we all need to work together.
and February our committees will out and set up information booths and let
start working on our Annual Clean Up our residents know they here. We want to TTC
in May, our Farmers’ Market and our keep retail business in our community so
Annual Waterfront Festival continue to get out and support them. Thanks to our This past July we saw a new Express Bus,
be successful. committee, vendors and residents who 176 leave from Park Lawn and Lake Shore
supported the Farmers’ Market for the to the Mimico GO Station. We hope this
This year’s Clean Up was again a fan- season. See you all next year. will be great for the community to help
tastic success and it was great to see some get more people out of their cars and on
of our member buildings bring groups The Waterfront Festival continues to to the TTC. Yes, there is more work to be
out to help. Thanks to the committee grow every year. Our committee is always done on public transportation in our
members and the City of Toronto Waste looking at ways to improve the overall community and we will continue to work
Dept for garage bags and quick pick up of experience. This year we moved the kid’s with all City Staff to get this done.
the waste. Every little bit that we do area from the parking lot to the street
makes our community a better place to which was a huge improvement for Traffic
live. Whenever you’re out there, pick up everyone. Also, moving our Farmers’
garage and put it in trash cans. Market to the east side of Marine Parade We continue to work with the city’s
Drive let everyone see how much it has transportation dept. The new PXO (cross-
Our Farmers’ Market committee grown. Our vendors were happy for more walk) will be installed on Marine Parade
looked at ways to improve what we did residents, which may not have been to Drive; this will help our residents get to
the year before. We added 10 new vendors the Market yet, to just see what the the south side of the street. We have been
for this year’s Market. We had 25 to 30 Market has to offer. The bands provided a informed that the PXO will be installed
vendors on our waiting list; time was great sound for all of you. Our event was by December of this year.
spent speaking with potential new ven- very well attended this year, including a
dors to see if they would fit into our lot of new residents we hadn’t met yet. If you see driving infraction, you
Market. When planning, we try not to can complain directly to the Toronto
have any more than two of the same type We will have one new building Police at: www.torontopolice.on.ca/
of vendor. Our Market is food based but opening this year, and two more next core/drivingcomplaints. We encourage
on occasion we try to help new retail year. The community continues to grow to engage in your community and report
what you see. HH

4 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

FALL 2018 VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4

ABOUT HBSCA: The Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association (HBSCA)
was established and incorporated in 1997. HBSCA is a volunteer-based, not-
for-profit corporation representing the interests of condominium corporations
and their residents in the Humber Bay Shores community.

WHAT WE DO: We supply representation of the community to all levels of gov-
ernment for the enactment, amendment, or repeal of legislation dealing with,
but not limited to, all aspects of condominium ownership, real estate devel-
opment, and usage of real property in the area. In addition to the above we
conduct research and provide awareness and education to our community on
issues related to ownership, development, management, financing, and pro-
motion of real estate property in the area.

MISSION STATEMENT: Provide strong leadership for the development, preser-
vation and beautification of the vibrant, valued, sustainable condominium
community in which we live, work, and play.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT: Jim Reekie, Palace Place
VICE-PRESIDENT: Dina GodinHo, Lakeside Place
TREASURER: Ron Anderson / Juliette Sweeney
SECRETARY: Laura Nash (acting rep.), Jade
PAST-PRESIDENT: Don Henderson, Bal Harbour

DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE:
Kathryn Winter, Grand Harbour
Jacqueline La Ronde, Waterscapes

DIRECTORS:
Vladyslav Kostyuk, Westlake Tower 1 | Ron Anderson, Palace Place

Eleanor Sled-Kurrie, Grand Harbour, Bldg C
Mary Hutcheon, Voyager 2 | Jim Simone, Nautilus
Betty Brooker, Hearthstone by the Bay | John Petrie, Grenadier Landing
David White, Beyond the Sea, Star Tower | TBD, Waterscapes
Dina GodinHo, Lakeside Place | Sharon Jazzar, Newport Beach
Jeremy Greenberg, Ocean Club | TBD, Riva del Lago | TBD, Lago
Laura Nash, Jade | Jim Faichnie, Waterford | Don Henderson, Bal Harbour
Ron Ross, Marina Del Rey 3 | Tom Arkay, Palace Pier

CONTRIBUTORS
Jim Reekie | James Maloney | Maureen Henderson | Krista Garney Cluett

Bruno Clausi | Marc Saltzman | Michael Storino | Iris Benaroia
Christine Hogarth | David Hatton | Farzad Ghazi | Toby Saltzman

Alex Porritt | Mary Hutcheon | Zacharie Weingarten

PRODUCTION
DESIGN: Markintosh Design | Mark Tzerelshtein

PUBLISHING CONSULTANT: Fred Sanders
MANAGING EDITOR: Monique Charbonneau

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Hunter Peebles

ADVERTISING
For advertising inquires please contact HBSCA:

[email protected] or call 416.792.4964

Humber Happenings Magazine is published 4 times a year by MJ Rochester Pub-
lishing Inc. 2 St. Clair Ave East Suite 202, Toronto, ON. All rights reserved. No part
of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the consent of the
HBSCA. The HBSCA, MJ Rochester Publishing Inc. or any member of the production
team is not responsible for any errors, omissions, facts or representation in edito-
rials or advertisements in this publication.

OFFICE: 2240 Lake Shore Blvd West, Unit M-227,
Toronto, ON M8V 0B1 • Ph: 416-792-4964

CONTACT INFORMATION: email: [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.hbsca.ca

Have ideas to share, feedback or wish to volunteer?
Reach us at [email protected] or 416-792-4964

Made possible with the support of the

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 5

COMMUNITY NEWS

CANADA STRONG

BY JAMES MALONEY, M.P.

O ur economy is thriving and this is of wage growth for Canadians in a decade.  • We announced Canada’s first Women’s
course a very good thing. We had When you take a closer look, it is clear Entrepreneurship Strategy to improve
solid economic growth of women’s access to financing, talent,
3.1%  in  2017, having weathered the oil that small and medium-sized businesses networks, and expertise.
price shock of the past two years. As the are the backbone of the Canadian
Business Development Bank of Canada economy. They account for 99% of all • We are investing in Futurpreneur, a
reports, the expansion has been broad- businesses and almost 90% of all private national not-for-profit organization
based, with all sectors of the economy sector jobs. This is why the federal gov- that provides young entrepreneurs
contributing. Our goods exports are up ernment made it a priority to support with mentorship, learning resources
8.7% year over year. Business investment, small businesses. To help them, this and start-up financing.
which is absolutely critical to continued summer we made small businesses one
growth, has also improved. At the same of the five national priorities of the • We launched Innovation Canada, a
time, Canada’s labour market has been Canada Summer Jobs program by pro- one-stop shop for business owners
thriving. There have been 540,000 full- viding a 50% subsidy of the provincial looking for government support.
time jobs created in the last three years minimum wage for the 2018 Canada
and as a result, the unemployment rate is Summer Jobs students. Here are some of • We are supporting the new Innovative
close to a 40-year low. The share of the other initiatives we have undertaken. Solutions program, a procurement
working-age Canadians employed is • We are lowering the small business tax program that supports early-stage
close to its highest in Canada’s history, research and development, late-stage
and 2018 so far is marking the strongest rate from 11% to 9% by 2019 — saving prototypes and other innovations by
small business owners up to $7,500 Canadian entrepreneurs.
each year.
• We are implementing a new regulatory
reform agenda to ensure federal pro-
grams and initiatives are supporting
innovation, business investments,
and other initiatives.

• We are launching a new electronic
procurement platform to help Cana-
dian small to medium enterprises
access opportunities to collaborate
with the government.
It is such an incredibly rewarding

feeling to support Canadians and Cana-
dian businesses achieve their goals.
Supporting them supports the commu-
nity and the economy and together we
thrive. Our future is bright. HH

James Maloney is the Federal Member of
Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore and has
been a resident in the riding for 40 years. Prior
to becoming the M.P., Mr. Maloney served as
the City Councillor for Ward 5 and practised
law, full-time, as a partner at Hughes Amys.

6 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A



lifestyle

Escape to
Niagara-on-the-Lake

FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL
TIME OF THE YEAR

BY TOBY SALTZMAN

Dreaming of a getaway to someplace well as famed musicals, from spring to
magical, embracing and vitalizing? late fall — Niagara-on-the-Lake this year
It’s the most wonderful time of the provides the perfect, Victorian-era set-
year to escape to Niagara-on-the-Lake, ting for the entrancing production of A
where the air is breezy with anticipation Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic
for the coming season and the atmosphere novel. Running at the Royal George The-
rings with the appeal of true Canadiana. atre from November 14 to December 23,
Established in 1792 by John Graves Simcoe adapted for stage and originally directed
as the temporary capital of Upper Canada by Tim Carroll, the play stars Michael
— before the capital moved to York, later Therriault as the miserly Scrooge who
renamed as Toronto — Niagara-on-the- faces three ghosts before turning into a
Lake exudes quintessential, small-town kindly, lovable character. Delightful for
intimacy, where local charm sets the pace all ages, the play sets the tone for a
for your festive meandering. Stroll or take joyous season.
a horse-drawn carriage ride in any direc-
tion from the Clock Tower at the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake abounds with a
Queen Street, you’ll find historic buildings variety of places to stay, from full service
and quaint, gingerbread-fringed homes hotels to elegant inns to cozy Bed &
that give a nostalgic sense of travelling Breakfast lodgings. Among them, three
back in time to the era when Canada was a landmark hotels — collectively known as
fledgling nation. Dedicated as a National Vintage Hotels (vintage-hotels.com) —
Historic Site, today this picturesque pocket offer special “Christmas Carol packages”
of Ontario — set at the shore of Lake and promise “a better night’s sleep than
Ontario, at the mouth of the Niagara River the one Scrooge had” with rooms starting
near Niagara Falls — has retained the best as low as $199 per night, including break-
of its past to make it an ideal getaway des- fast for two. All decked out with festive
tination for the present. holiday décor, each offers deluxe accom-
modations, dining and a full-service spa
Renowned around the world for the for relaxing and rejuvenating. The
Shaw Festival (shawfest.com) — which splendid, Victorian-style Prince of Wales
annually celebrates the works of George Hotel — considered one of the world’s
Bernard Shaw and other playwrights, as finest heritage hotels — holds court at the

8 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

TOP LEFT: The historic Prince of Wales main corner of Queen Street, diagonally on-the-Lake and its environs turn into a
Hotel holds court over the main across from the Clock Tower. Reflecting fantasyland, making this the merriest
intersection of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Old the English era of Upper Canada, Queen’s time of year to explore the Niagara
Town. Photo: Vintage Hotels. TOP RIGHT: Landing is a grand Georgian-style man- Parkway all the way to Niagara Falls. The
Michael Therriault plays Ebenezer Scrooge sion in a serene, waterfront setting. A Winter Festival of Lights (wfol.com, run-
with Sarena Parmar as Christmas Past in couple of blocks from town centre, Pillar ning from Nov. 3 to Jan. 31, 2019 by Ontario
the Shaw Festival’s production of A and Post has the cozy charm of a country Power Generation) starts with opening
Christmas Carol. Photo: David Cooper. inn and the added attraction of indoor and ceremonies in Queen Victoria Park just
ABOVE: Jazz up your holiday entertaining outdoor swimming pools. steps from the Falls — its cascading waters
skills for the holidays in heart of Niagara- awash in kaleidoscopic hues — with a
on-the-Lake wine country. Lakeview Wine If the spirit moves you — for all the temp- lively parade of characters including
Co. offers wine tours and Mixology Tasting tations of indulging in the wellness kiddie faves Paw Patrol’s Chase, Skye, Mar-
programs on the basics of making wine- therapies of a Vintage Hotel spa, simply shall and Rubble. To see the Fallsview
based cocktails. Photo: Diamond Estates / snuggling in front of a cozy fireplace with a Sound & Light Show and fireworks, daz-
Lakeview Wine Co. BOTTOM LEFT: Purely hot toddy, or kindling romance over a zling floral displays, illuminated creatures
enchanting, the Ontario Power Generation gourmet dinner with Niagara wine — there’s and artsy structures, follow the 8-km-long
Winter Festival of Lights illuminates the plenty to do in an around Niagara-on-the- illumination route along the Parkway,
Niagara Falls area and an 8-km-long route Lake. Besides visiting historical museums, through the Dufferin Islands and Niagara
along the Niagara Parkway and through nearby Fort George or Underground Rail- Falls tourist areas.
the Dufferin Islands. Photo: WFOL.com road sites, this is the perfect time of year to
inspire your holiday entertaining skills at a When the night is over, and you cuddle
local winery. For example, along with wine into your home-away-from-home, you
tours, Lakeview Wine Company (lake- may very well decide to make magical
viewwineco.com) offers Mixology Tasting Niagara-on-the-Lake a getaway tradition
classes that teach the basics of making for this wonderful time of year. HH
wine-based cocktails and pairing wine and
spirits with the perfect cheese. For more information:
www.niagaraonthelake.com and
As daylight dims early, darkening to www.ontariotravel.net
indigo skies, brilliant lights turn Niagara-

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 9

expert adviCe

WANT TO KNOW WHAT CONDOS
IN YOUR AREA SOLD FOR WITHOUT
ASKING A REALTOR? NOW YOU CAN!

BY ALEX PORRITT

F ollowing the Supreme Court’s deci- vations; hosting and promoting open any number of other factors that are not
sion not to hear the appeal from the houses; fielding offers and negotiating immediately evident. As well as studying
Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), you the best price and conditions and the data, the chances are that one of our
sold prices can now be made available then, once it’s all done, helping you pack team has actually been through these
online to the general public through a up and move. houses or condos so when we look at the
Virtual Office Website (VOW). comparables, we are looking at actual
On the buy side, your Realtor should be homes, not just numbers.
What does that mean? an expert in the area you are looking to
buy in. They should know the schools, the So How Do I Access This Data?
Up until now, while the general public restaurants, the parks, the transit and how
could access list prices for properties, if all of that affects the value of the proper- As you’ve probably gathered by now, TREB
you wanted to find out what a property ties you are viewing. They should have a is not that keen on releasing the data. As
sold for, you could only get that informa- list of trusted contractors that can help such, while the data is available, it cannot
tion from your Realtor. In Toronto, where you with renovations and give you prices be used for advertising purposes and can
properties sometimes sell for 10%, 20% quickly to see if a project is viable. They only be made available via a Virtual Office
or even 30% over asking, the list price is should know the bylaws and building reg- Website (VOW). A VOW is really just a fancy
less important than knowing what com- ulations. They should know if you like name for a password protected website
parable properties have sold for. white or red and they should know how that is operated by a member of TREB. Cre-
you like your coffee! If all you are getting ating these sites is not inexpensive but we
The battle to keep sold prices under from your Realtor is sold home data, certainly view it as essential to be able to
wraps has been raging on and off since maybe it’s not you, it’s them! serve our current and future clients better.
2003, but in 2016, the Competition Tri- Our website will be ready to post sold
bunal ruled that TREB was restricting That’s not to say the data’s not vitally homes data as soon as it is available from
competition and innovation by pre- important. It is, it is just that it is not the TREB (on or before October 22nd).
venting its members from openly sharing data itself, but the analysis of that data
home sales data. TREB appealed that that matters. Two houses or condos are If you have any questions on this sub-
ruling all the way to the Supreme Court rarely the same — two similar looking ject or any other real estate matters,
but in August this year, the Supreme homes may have been in very different someone from our team is always avail-
Court refused to hear TREB’s appeal and condition even if they looked superfi- able to speak with you. HH
gave them 60 days to comply with the ini- cially similar, they could have different
tial Competition Tribunal ruling. views or orientations and there may be Alex Porritt is a sales representative with
the Red Square Team | Royal Lepage Real
Realtors – don’t be a one Estate Services, Ltd. Brokerage.
trick pony www.redsquareteam.com

For any Realtor worth their salt, sold
homes data should make up just a small
part of their formula for your success. On
the sales side, your Realtor should be
holding your hand from the day you
decide to sell: helping you set the price;
de-cluttering and staging your home and
even co-ordinating any necessary reno-

10 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A



health & wellness

HEALTH UPDATE

“HEALTH IS NOT VALUED TILL SICKNESS COMES”

– Thomas Fuller

BY DR. MAUREEN HENDERSON

C an we minimize our health risks term pain and cartilage breakdown in increased risk of breast, endometrial,
and lead a more enjoyable life? Of these joints. A Mayo clinic study con- ovarian and some other cancers. 
course, we can! There are genetic cluded that for every 1 pound of weight
factors, but lifestyle choices can signifi- loss, there was a resulting 4-pound reduc- I encourage you to look at your cur-
cantly impact our health. Let’s look at a few tion in knee joint load or pressure. Lose 10 rent lifestyle and make any necessary
common disorders and their risk factors pounds and that’s 40 fewer pounds per positive changes.
and preventative solutions.
step that your knees must support. Excess Don’t hesitate... we have all heard the
It is estimated that up to 50% of the fat can add to harmful inflammation in saying “life is short”! ...it takes work to stay
cases of Alzheimer’s disease worldwide and around your joints. healthy, so you can enjoy your journey!
may be the result of seven key modi-
fiable risk factors; diabetes, high The relationship between obesity and Set your goals. Improve your nutrition
blood pressure, obesity, smoking, cancer is very notable. There is consistent and develop new health habits. Exercise
depression, cognitive and phys- evidence that higher amounts of body fat
ical inactivity. are associated with increased risks of a will produce endorphins which are
number of cancers, for example; your “happy chemicals” and are also
In Metabolic Syndrome (or endometrial, oesophageal adenocarci- natural pain and stress
Syndrome X) there are a com- noma, liver, pancreatic, kidney and fighters. Create a daily routine/plan
bination of risk factors for colorectal cancer. In addition, fat tissue for yourself starting when you
heart disease such as being produces high amounts of estrogen, wake up in the morning…commit
overweight (excess abdominal which have been associated with fully, step on the scale, log your
fat), high cholesterol, high sugar progress and think positively, “I
intake and high blood pressure. can do it”, and it will make a big dif-
Each of these risk factors individually ference in your life.
put you at risk for heart disease and if you I believe that the greatest gift you
have three or more of them together, they
increase your risk six times more for a can give your family is a healthy you. The
heart attack or stroke. Syndrome X is the rest of your life begins today! HH
result of inactivity and a diet rich in sat-
urated fat. It can be controlled with Dr. Maureen Henderson
lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, has been a practicing chiro-
weight loss, exercise and quitting practor in Etobicoke since
smoking. 1975. She is also the head
coach of the Ideal Protein
Arthritis occurs when the cartilage that Weight Loss Program. Her
cushions the ends of bone in your joints son, Dr. Shawn Henderson, has been a chiro-
gradually deteriorates. Knee pain, as an practor at Kingsway Health for 20 years and
example, is a frequent issue that con- is also an acupuncture provider. Kingsway
tinues to increase as people age. Increased Health has a full range of NATURAL HEALTH
weight increases the load your hips and services to meet your individual and family
knees must support. This can lead to long- needs. Call 416-231-9502 today or book online
at www.kingswayhealth.ca to schedule an
appointment with Dr. Henderson.

12 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

New Local Business Feature

WELCOME

RUSTIC SOCIAL HOUSE

BY RYAN WILSON-LALL | CHEF OWNER

L ocated on the picturesque shore of Lake Ontario, Rustic
Social House brings unique tastes & flavours to the
dining experience.  Bringing family and friends together
to enjoy old world comfort favourites from around the globe
with a modern twist, not to mention incredible cocktails that
change seasonally.

Rustic Social House is about the combined efforts of chefs,
cooks, servers, farmers, vineyards, and brewers joined in a part-
nership with our guests by providing the highest quality food
service in a warm and welcoming environment.

Let your friends and neighbours at Rustic Social House
welcome you to this new spot in the Humber Bay Shores
neighborhood! HH

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 13

TRAVEL

THE REAL COST OF TRAVEL

BY KRISTA GARNEY CLUETT

T ravelers hate fees. Yet every week, When comparing two different air- when you are greeted at the door by the
there are announcements from fares, be sure to calculate what each host, they take your coat and tell you
some airline or hotel about new includes, because sometimes the ini- there is a $20 cover charge. What?
ones. They tell us that they are doing us tially higher fare that includes the extras
a favour by allowing more consumer you require is the better value. Once you Some hotels just add a fee of $7 — 45
choice. But for most consumers, this just have added these extras onto the dis- per night onto your final bill — whether
means more confusion, misrepresenta- count fare — it is really no discount at all! you use any extra services or not, stating
tion and nickel and diming. Fasten your they are for housekeeping, energy, local
seatbelts because this source of revenue Hotels calls, a daily newspaper and more. But if
is not going away. Some fees you can these fees are mandatory, shouldn’t they
avoid and many you can’t. Here are a few Booking a hotel seems pretty straight just be part of the price? Others charge
things to consider. forward — pick your destination, enter for parking ($20 — $100 per day), Wi-Fi,
payment and voila! Is that great deal too beach towels, early check-in or tourist
Airline Tickets good to be true? Not always however, and visitor taxes. And of course, watch
there are often pitfalls along the way. out for that mini-bar. Even taking some-
That $199 advertised flight? While the thing out and then returning it can add
government has legislated pricing must Sometimes an online fare may be in a an automatic fee to your final bill.
be all-inclusive, it is important to read different currency. Sometimes the taxes
the fine print. Often this is a one-way, not don’t show until you click the “Book Cruise Lines
a round-trip flight. How much does it Now” button. What type of room are you
cost to bring checked luggage and some- booking — better room placement does Even cruise lines, once considered virtu-
times even carry-on? What is the cost to not always go to those who book the ally all-inclusive have extras that can
pre-select your seat? Are meals included? lowest fares. And don’t expect your add up. While true that there are more
requests (i.e. King Bed / High floor etc.) to exciting options on a cruise ship today
Recently, most airlines have intro- be guaranteed. Often these bookings are than there were even five years ago,
duced a new “Basic Economy Fare”. “run-of-house” which means you will get some of these come with a fee — spe-
While this may seem like a good thing if whatever is leftover at the time of check- cialty dining restaurants, bar beverages,
you just want to get from point A to point in. Often the “advertised” rate is for the gratuities, shore excursions. Make sure
B, it is important to understand just how off season. You won’t learn the true fare you know what is included in your fare
minimal these No-Frills offerings can be. until you enter your travel dates. to avoid an unexpected final bill. Con-
The cost to check luggage is higher than sider some of the luxury cruise lines that
an economy fare and you may not even And travelers beware — a misleading offer a higher price tag upfront. Once
have free access to the overhead bins. hotel name or location description could you compare the inclusions, you may
You may not be able to reserve your seat lead you to book an airport hotel when you find that the overall total is not that dif-
until check-in even if you are willing to think you are booking a central location. ferent. And there is a lot to be said for
pay for it or there may only be a section “Located near the heart of downtown” being able to leave your wallet in the safe
set aside in the back of the plane — this could mean the hotel is an hour away. for the duration of your vacation!
is especially important to note if you
need special seating or are travelling Always check the terms and condi- Take the time to educate yourself on the
with family. You will be the last to board tions of a rate. Non-refundable rates are travel arrangements you are making. Or
the plane — so even for airlines that lower than regular “rack rates” because work with a professional who is trained to
allow carry-on, there is no guarantee that the hotel benefits from locking you in. do this. A good travel agent can make sure
you will actually find any space And no amount of begging will bring you get the best value and take away the
remaining. Don’t expect to use any of your money back if something unfore- nasty surprises so that your vacation is all
your upgrade certificates or collect your seen should happen (think weather, that you expect and more! HH
frequent flyer points. And these tickets illness, missed flight connection).
are usually completely non-refundable, Ready to be inspired? For more information
non-changeable even if you are willing And then there are “Resort Fees”! I was visit www.HumberBayTravel.com
to pay the difference or fly stand-by. once given this example to explain how Humber Bay Travel, 88 Palace Pier Ct. #103.
frustrating these fees can be. Imagine 416-236-2266 • [email protected]
being invited to dinner. You RSVP and are
told “just bring yourselves”. And then

14 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

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Planning & Financial Planning.

There’s Wealth in Our Approach.™

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company
of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ®Registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ©2015 RBC Dominion Securities Inc. All rights reserved.

Niagara Falls | Festival Of Lights Fun New York Weekend Getaways
Sat. Dec 1, 2018 Departure Dates for 2018: (FRIDAY TO SUNDAY DEPARTURES)
Sat. Dec 8, 2018 November – 16th - 18th / 23rd - 25th
December- 7th - 9th / 14th - 16th / 21st - 23rd
Niagara Falls | Ice Wine Festival
Sat. Jan 19, 2019 New York Erie & Grove City, PA
EXTENDED WEEKEND Black Friday Shopping Trip Weekend
November 23-25, 2018
December- 28th- 31st

Sunny Orlando Florida
March 7th -17th , 2019

For more info: 905-738-8469 email: [email protected] website: www.tripon.com

Niagara Falls, New York, Orlando
Ontario NY Florida

holiday shopping

GADGET
GIFTS UNDER

$100! BY MARC SALTZMAN

Good news for cost-conscious holiday shoppers: you don’t have to break the bank to pick up some cool gadgets and gear.
From wireless speakers and touchscreen tablets to streaming media players and fitness trackers, you might just be surprised
what you can find at your local electronics store or favourite online retailer for under $100. The following is a list of a few gift
ideas that deliver a lot of bang for the buck.

Kitchen companion

Question: What’s a $79 gadget that
could change your life? The answer is
Google Home Mini, a donut-shaped
voice-activated personal assistant
that serves as the younger sibling to
the trendy Google Home speaker.
Powered by the Google Assistant,
simply plug in the Google Home Mini,
connect it to your Wi-Fi and now say
“OK Google” followed by any question
or command. Make free phone calls in
North America; ask for recipes, jokes,
or sports scores; find out the traffic
and weather info; and control your
smart home gadgets.

Casting call

If your TV is more dumb than smart, you can change all that without having to
buy a new television. The new and improved Roku Streaming Stick+ ($89) plugs
into your HDTV’s HDMI port and joins your home’s Wi-Fi network, so you can
easily access on-demand HD or 4K video and music from popular services, such
as Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, Spotify, and thousands of others. Included is a
comfortable remote that supports voice commands, so simply ask for something
specific to watch (or use the companion app on a smartphone or tablet).

16 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018

Fitness fun

If your New Year’s Resolution is to lose the spare tire (join the club),
the Fitbit Zip ($69) helps you stay informed and motivated while on the
go. This water-resistant wearable lets you set a daily goal — such as a
certain number of steps taken, distance traveled, or calories burned —
and the lightweight clip-on keeps track of your daily progress. Along
with some info displayed on the device’s small screen, it wirelessly
syncs with your phone or tablet (via Bluetooth) to see how well you’re
doing with colourful charts, graphs, badges and historical data.

Keeping tabs

What’s the only thing better than a Kindle ebook reader for under $60?
How about a 7-inch colour Kindle tablet for that price? The Amazon Fire
7 tablet ($59) is ideal for playing games, viewing videos, reading ebooks,
listening to music, taking photos, browsing websites, and more. Along
with hundreds of thousands of apps, you’ve got access to the $79/year
Amazon Prime service for millions of movies, TV shows, books, and
songs. If the built-in 8 gigabytes of storage isn’t enough, add a microSD
card (up to 128GB) for more. Battery life lasts up to 7 hours between
charges.

Now hear this

Music lovers, listen up, you can now pick up a pair of Sony H.ear In-
Ear Wireless Hi-Res Headphones for $99. Along with completely
wireless connectivity to your smartphone — through Bluetooth,
LDAC, and tap-to-pair NFC support — these earbuds also support
high-resolution audio support for uncompromising sound via
wired listening (cable included, along with travel pouch). On the go,
take advantage of hands-free calling thanks to the sensitive inte-
grated microphone while battery life lasts up to 7.5 hours between
charges. Colour options include blue, red, green, and others.

Keys, please

Smartphones and tablets have several benefits over personal computers
– they’re more portable, affordable, and using your fingertips and voice
is incredibly natural — but smaller screens and an all-touch interface
mean they’re not as conducive for taking notes, writing lengthy emails
or cranking out essays or reports. Instead, consider Microsoft’s aptly-
named Universal Foldable Keyboard ($95), a portable wireless keyboard
you can bring along in a backpack or purse — just in case you want to
do some longform typing on your phone or tablet. HH

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 17

expert adviCe

STRATEGIES identifying and securing the amount of
income required to cover the basic costs, you
ON MAKING YOUR may free up assets to increase your early-years
income. Making your retirement assets ‘last’
5RETIREMENT INCOME may just be a matter of evaluating how much
TAX EFFICIENT you really need.

BY MICHAEL STORINO, CIM, FCSI , INVESTMENT & WEALTH ADVISOR STRATEGY #5

A t retirement, it is natural to feel some- the benefits of government programs and tax Investigate Insurance Solutions
what unsettled as you transition from credits, but you can also increase your house- to Manage Risk to your Savings
‘getting a paycheque’ to drawing down on hold after-tax income by making sure that Insurance can be a valuable tool in struc-
your savings. While investment outcomes are these advantages are ‘doubled-up’ when filing turing your retirement income — and not just
certainly an important part of achieving your as a couple. Generally, this will involve to cover the obvious threats to your retire-
income targets, the essence of retirement income-splitting strategies to ensure that your ment savings like health care costs. It can also
income planning is to get a dollar to spend in household income enjoys two Personal be used very constructively to replace income
the most efficient way possible. In doing so, Amounts, two Age Amounts and possibly, two or capital, to create and preserve inheritances
you can reduce the strain on your savings by Pension Credits, while also keeping the max- or to ensure that you don’t outlive your
minimizing the number of pre-tax dollars you imum amount of household income taxed in income streams. A well-planned insurance
have to withdraw to deliver the required after- the lower brackets. program can guarantee the outcomes of some
tax (spendable) income. We’ve outlined our aspects of your plan and in doing so, give you
top 5 tips to help you achieve just that: STRATEGY #3 peace of mind to help you enjoy these years
to their fullest.
STRATEGY #1 Use Registered and
Non-Registered Assets in Unison These are just some of the basics of
Preserve Government Benefits Our tax system is one in which graduated rates income planning which will help you stretch
OAS was once a truly universal, non-contribu- apply to each new range of income — i.e. your your savings. We can develop a plan so you
tory income security payment which began at first dollars of income are taxed at the lowest can see all these strategies through. Please
age 65. ‘Universality’ was withdrawn when the rate of tax but if your total income crosses over contact us to receive a complimentary retire-
‘clawback’ was introduced to the OAS program in the next ‘band’, the dollars falling in the next ment planning book. HH
to essentially recover that payment from high band will be taxed at a higher rate.
income earners. Financial planning services are available through
Some sources of income, such as CPP, OAS, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. RBC Dominion Secu-
The OAS clawback may not affect most pensions, RRIF payments, RRSP withdrawals rities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate
retirees, as it only starts to apply at Net and interest income are 100% taxable. Your corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-
Income of $75,910 (2018). But the Age Amount income plan should attempt to bring these Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC
may be eroded even at modest levels of retire- sources into income at the lowest marginal tax Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of
ment income. rate. Other sources of income, such as divi- RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of
dends and  capital gains income enjoy tax Royal Bank of Canada. ®Registered trademarks of
In addition to the federal personal exemp- benefits which effectively lower the tax rate Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. © 2015
tion of $11,809 (2018), the Age Amount provides you pay on them. It makes sense to use these Royal Bank of Canada. All rights reserved. This
an additional ‘tax-free zone’ of $7,333 (2018 - sources in the higher marginal tax rate bands article is not intended as nor does it constitute tax
Federal) to taxpayers 65 and over. But once Net to control the amount of overall tax you have or legal advice. Readers should consult their own
Income reaches $36,976 (2018), the Age Amount to pay to generate the spendable, after-tax lawyer, accountant or other professional advisor
starts to be reduced by 15% of every dollar of net income you need. when planning to implement a strategy.
income, until it is eliminated at $85,863 (2018).
STRATEGY #4 Michael L. Storino , CIM, FCSI, an Investment & Wealth
We contend that if you are subject to a reduc- Advisor with RBC Wealth Management — Dominion
tion in either of these benefits due to ‘higher’ Create a Flexible Income Stream through Securities. Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
net income levels in retirement, you are actu- the Changing Stages of Retirement For more information or to inquire about offered wealth
ally experiencing a form of double taxation. By It may not be necessary to have the same level planning services, call 416-231-3850 or contact
employing income splitting strategies and con- of income (adjusted for inflation) throughout [email protected]. www.michaelstorino.com
trolling Net Income levels with tax-effective the post-retirement years. It is quite common
investment income, you can minimize the loss to need more discretionary income in the early
of these benefits and maintain their contribu- years of retirement when you may be actively
tion to your income requirements. pursuing lifestyle ambitions, but many
retirees discover that in the later years, their
STRATEGY #2 income needs are significantly reduced. Does
your income plan reflect this probability? By
Split Income to Minimize Taxation
Preventing clawbacks is one way to maximize

18 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A



COMMUNITY News

FROM THE DESK OF

CHRISTINE HOGARTH, MPP

A utumn is a wonderful time in Etobi- or school quickly and comfortably. Norseman Street, Unit 21. Our phone
coke! Our community plays host to Metrolinx continues to work with the number remains the same: 416-259-2249,
a number of fantastic events and and you can always reach us by email
fairs, and I’ve enjoyed having the oppor- necessary stakeholders to advance the Park at [email protected]. If our
tunity to meet many of you there. Thank Lawn GO proposal. Metrolinx is completing office can be of any assistance to you,
you to all of the volunteer organizers and their Preliminary Design Business Case, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
community leaders who help make south which is the next step in assessing the
Etobicoke the friendly and welcoming potential station’s viability. I am a strong As we move into the holiday season, I
place it is. proponent of ensuring the Park Lawn sta- hope that you are able to take some time
tion proposal becomes a reality and will be to visit with family or friends, relax, and
The past few months have been a busy working hard throughout the next few years rejuvenate yourself for the New Year. HH
one for the Ontario government. An to advocate for its completion.
announcement I am particularly excited Christine Hogarth is the Member of Provincial
to talk about is the increase to GO train An issue that is personally close to my Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, where
service along the Lakeshore West cor- heart is animal welfare — I am the proud she lives with her husband Paul and their two
ridor. In September I attended an fur-mom to a rescue dog and cat, Bruce rescue pets Edward and Bruce. Prior to being
announcement with the Minister of and Edward. The first piece of private elected, Christine has worked in senior posi-
Transportation John Yakabuski and member’s legislation I intend to intro- tions for a Cabinet minister and two Ontario
Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster right here in duce will be a bill that, if passed, would premiers, and as the Executive Assistant to an
Etobicoke – Lakeshore. ban puppy and kitten mills. Etobicoke City Councillor. Christine was also
the Ontario PC Party’s first female Executive
Since September 24th, those of you who As part of the bill’s drafting process, I Director. Christine’s office can be reached at
use Mimico or Long Branch GO stations have been meeting with local stake- 416-259-2249. You can sign up for her e-mail
have had access to 17 new train trips each holders to learn from their experience list at ChristineHogarthMPP.com.
day to help get you moving that much and help make the bill stronger. In
easier. This is the biggest GO Transit ser- September, I met with the Etobicoke
vice increase in the last five years! Humane Society, an organization that
continues to be a strong partner across
During the mid-day period, service on many different initiatives. In October, I
the line has increased from two trains per hosted roundtable meetings with inter-
hour to three, making it easier for you to ested stakeholders, including many from
head to a station and hop on a train rather here in Etobicoke – Lakeshore.
than having to sit and wait for the next one.
Finally, I want to let you know that my
During rush hour, six new trains are constituency office has moved to serve
available to help get you to and from work you better. We are now located at 195

20 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 21

expert adviCe

ZOONOTIC DISEASES

CAN YOUR PET BE CONTAGIOUS? BY DR.FARZADGHAZI

P ets enrich our lives in many delightful ways. They provide skin contact, contact with mucous, saliva, urine, feces, or other
people with companionship, security, and unconditional bodily discharges and droppings. Although many zoonotic
love. Dogs make us walk everyday and contribute to our diseases are not typically transmitted successfully, thanks to the
social life and cardiovascular health. Cats soothe us with their human immune system, pets bring these zoonotic organisms
purring and reduce our blood pressure. Unfortunately, it is also into closer proximity to people, thereby increasing the potential
possible for pets to be a source of unwanted “extra friends”. It is for an exposure to a zoonotic disease.
called zoonosis. i.e. diseases that can be transmitted from ani-
mals (furry, hairy, scaly or feathered) to people, given the right Round worm species are organisms that we see very
opportunity. Note: This article will only focus on some more rel- frequently (particularly in stray dogs and cats and some rescue
evant diseases otherwise the list would be very long. pets). The Racoon species (Baylisascaris procyonisis) is the most
dangerous human parasite found in North America. It can cause
There are nearly 70 human diseases that can be traced back neurological symptoms in humans. Dogs who eat grass
to animals, however it is important to note that only a few are contaminated with racoon feces are at risk as well. According to
highly contagious. Most of these infections fall under one of Health Officials, reported cases are typically diagnosed in
four categories: viral (e.g. rabies, bird flu), parasitic (e.g. worms, children who are still in the stage where they put everything in
ticks, fleas, Giardia), bacterial (e.g. salmonella, e-coli, Lyme), or their mouths.
fungal (e.g. ringworm). Any one of these is passed on through
direct contact with an animal, either through a bite, scratches, One reported case in Hamilton, Ontario in 2008 was a toddler
that suffered from blindness and seizure. It turned out that it
was transmitted by the family dog. The infection rate correlates
with racoon population in certain areas.

Other common round worms (Toxocara) can be transmitted
to puppies and kittens either during pregnancy via placenta or
during nursing via milk from a positive mother. According to the
Centre for Disease Control about 14 percent of Americans have
had exposure to toxocara, and at least 70 people die from the
infection each year. Most of the infections are in children and
many suffer blindness due to related eye disease.

Preventive care begins with adoption. Young pets which
appear underweight, lethargic or are experiencing diarrhea or
vomiting should be considered a potentially risky purchase.
Routine professional health care (e.g. fecal testing,
vaccinations, deworming, preventive medicine) will help guard
your furry family members from zoonotic diseases through all
life stages. Regularly cleaning litter boxes, bird cages,
aquariums, terrariums, and pet bedding will help reduce your
exposure to pathogens and minimize the risk of perpetual re-
infection of your pet. Washing your hands thoroughly after
cleaning pet environments or handling unfamiliar pets will
also reduce the risk of transmitting infections. As much as we
love those ‘mushy’ kitten and puppy kisses, offering them your
cheek or ear instead of your lips may be the safer option for
everyone involved! HH

Dr. Farzad Ghazi is a veterinarian and owner of Marina Animal Hos-
pital. For more information visit marinaanimalhospital.ca. Marina
Animal Hospital, 2442 Lakeshore Blvd. West, ph: 416-255-277

22 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

New Local Business Feature

WELCOME TO DAKOTA’S!

Sports Bar| Live Music |Dancing |Great Food |Special Deals|Community Support

D akota’s is the breath of fresh air that the Humber Bay Shores
and Mimico communities have been starving for, with a live
band and dance club atmosphere. Dakota’s offers ALL that
and so much more.

The owners Darlene and Cindy grew up in Mimico and Long
Branch. They have been in the industry for 30 years. They felt that
the neighbourhood needed something new where people can go
for all of their sports viewing plus music on Friday and Saturday
nights. They offer 13 55-inch screens for all your sports!

NFL Sundays and Mondays, they offer $5.50 Tall Boys, 80 cent
wings and draws for an NFL Hoodie every Monday. They are
community focused — the bread is from a local bakery and the
vegetables are from the market (in season) as well as local art works
and sponsorship of sports teams.

All food is made fresh in their kitchen and they take pride in
what they serve. Plus, 14 draughts on tap, pool table and a golf tee
machine for your entertainment! What more could you ask for,
drop by and say hello! HH

2814 Lake Shore Blvd. West, Unit 2, Etobicoke, ON M8V 1H7 | 647.352.2814

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 23

travel | Genius Getaways

IT’S NICER IN F lorida has always had a Seinfeldian
reputation of where you visited your
NAPLES! grand-parents during the school
breaks.
Whether you’re an eco buff, a spa
enthusiast or a serious golfer, this slice On the opposite end, of course, are the
of paradise offers diversions for everyone rowdy spring breakers who engage in the
sort of culturally void recreation that’s
BY IRIS BENAROIA only appealing if wet t-shirt contests are
your thing. But for the average Snowbird
who wants to luxuriate in a balmy climate,
there is a happy medium. And you’ll find
that in Naples.

Perched on the Gulf of Mexico, the
charming resort city of Naples is one of the
wealthiest cities in the United States, with
the sixth highest per capita income in the
country in 2012 and the second-highest
proportion of millionaires per capita in
the U.S.

For an unprecedented third year in a
row, Naples has also been ranked the
healthiest and happiest community in the
nation  by  the  Gallup-Sharecare Well-
Being Index, a testament to the  vibrant
local culture.   

Statistics aside, the enticing weather and
its frills are a draw. Naples has powdery
sugar sand beaches, azure waters, bound-
less blue skies and stunning tropical flora
and fauna. Grab a camera to pelican spot or
to see dozens of other species of indige-
nous birds. Cruise on the Gordon River to
get a glimpse of a dolphin or a manatee.

Fearless nature lovers can also put their
blood pressure to the test at the sight of
the alligators and black bears (yes, they
like it down south too) that gambol
throughout the swamps, mangroves and
forests in their diverse natural habitat. The
eco-tourism on the Paradise Coast is out of
this world.

But before any of that can happen, visi-
tors need to set down their luggage. We
suggest doing so at the upscale Naples
Grande Beach Resort. Set on 23 acres of
waterfront, the 474-room hotel adjoins a
200-acre mangrove estuary; its inter-
twined systems of bridges and elevated
walking paths make it a lovely place to
spend an afternoon during your stay.

Accommodations at this resort are none
too shabby, either. Spacious rooms are
kitted out in soothing pastel hues — slide
open the balcony doors to let in the salty
breeze and to soak in the mesmerizing rip-
pled ocean. Or choose one of the hotel’s 50

24 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

recently renovated secluded garden villas; hour from Naples to Ochopee so while OPPOSITE: Naples Grande Beach Resort Pool.
a great option for longer stays. you’re there visit America’s smallest post TOP LEFT: A golden sunset on the Gulf of Mexico.
office and dine at Joanie’s Blue Crab Café, ABOVE: Couple massage on the beach. BELOW:
For true relaxation, there’s also a spa. a rustic shack with succulent, unpreten- Shopping in Fifth Ave South. BOTTOM: Golf is a
This sanctuary for the soul has top-of- tious grub. wootenseverglades.com popular a year-round activity in Southwest Florida.
the-line whirlpool baths, saunas and
steam rooms. Sweat it out then laze in the Everglades Excursions
meditation lounge while sipping organic Various packages include round trip
tea. This is the ultimate place to unplug transportation from the hotel, a guided
and unwind, though it’ll be hard resist 60-minute airboat adventure, an alligator
Instagramming the experience for your show and a stop to a wildlife sanctuary,
jealous friends back home. from $96 to $135 depending on tour
length. verglades-excursions.com
For those who prefer to tee rather than
tea, they can enjoy a social round of golf Manatee Tour
on the hotel’s private championship Don’t miss getting chummy with these fat
course (there are actually nearly 90 golf and friendly sea cows (an aquatic
courses in the Greater Naples area). relative of the elephant!). Guests must
provide transportation to the site, 45 min-
Then, finish the day with dinner at the utes from the hotel. A 1.5-hour visit will
Naples Grande Beach Resort’s Manra, a set you back $38 with the concierge’s $20-
chic open kitchen and bar, where pan- off coupon. see-manatees.com
Asian-inspired dishes are fresh and
flavourful. Cocktails are equally alluring. Fishing Charters
Chat up the mixologist for suggestions —
he recommends the White Dragon, a Dalis Fishing Charters
refreshing grapefruit vodka, Sake and $690 for a half-day charter for up to six
white cranberry combo.   passengers on a cushy boat.
fishnaplesdalis.com
For a perfect day in Naples, check out
the following: Kayak Tours

A Night On the Town You don’t have to go all the way to the Ever-
glades for kayaking through the beautiful
7th Avenue Social mangroves. Check out AWE Watersports
On Sundays from 8pm, a pianist enter- six miles from the Naples Grande Beach
tains in this vibrant joint. Listen to live Resort, $75 per adult for a guided kayak tour
music over southern-inspired fare such for two hours and $35 to $45 for
as grouper tacos, conch sliders and yucca kayak rentals for a two-hour solo venture.
croquettes. 7thavenuesocial.com awewatersports.com
Note: Prices may vary and are approximate.
Off the Hook Comedy Club
and ROW Seafood Shopping
This venue has featured funny bigwigs
including Kevin Hart, Tom Arnold and There is a plethora of destinations
Jackie Mason. Laughing while trying not
to choke on fresh oysters, what’s not to that include great shopping/dining
like? offthehookcomedy.com
in Naples, here are a few of the
South Street Bar and Grill
A Philly-inspired joint offering custom favourites:
pizza, Stromboli and knockout Tex-Mex.
Yes, please. southstreetnaples.com • Fifth Ave South

Get Your Eco-Tourism Fix • Waterside Shops

Wooten’s Airboat Tours • The Mercato
$60 per adult gets you the ultimate
combo — a 30-minute airboat ride, 30- • The Shops At Venetian Bay
minute swamp buggy ride, a visit to an
animal sanctuary and a live alligator • Tin City
show where you can hug a croc.  It’s an
• Third Street South HH

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 25

COMMUNITY News

HUMBER BAY SHORES

FARMERS’ MARKET

GROWING STRONG AFTER SIX YEARS

BY ZACHARIE WEINGARTEN

T his past Thanksgiving, the Humber members of the neighbourhood. It was also winter doesn’t mean we have to stop
Bay Shores Farmers’ Market a chance for our vendors to experiment enjoying local foods. Find links to your
wrapped up its sixth season. Thanks with new novelty foods or network with favourite vendors’ websites at hbsca.ca
to your support, tons of hard work from other community businesses. and find out how you can best keep in
our vendors and volunteers, and lots of touch with them all winter long. While
beautiful summer weather, the Farmer’s It’s been a fun and rewarding you’re there, we want to hear from you.
Market continued to enjoy success as a challenge growing the market to keep up We welcome feedback on what vendors
community hub and celebration of local with our rapidly developing community. and events you want to see next summer.
food. In six years, the market has grown Our organizers work all year long to We also need volunteers to assist in
from just ten vendors to over thirty and ensure quality, transparency and safety welcoming people to the market and
is poised to grow even larger next year. as the market evolves. Transparency is keeping the market a safe and
Our new and returning vendors worked one of our top priorities in managing the environmentally conscious space. You
together to offer our community the growth of our market so this year we can also help us out by making all your
largest variety yet of locally grown and worked with our vendors to ensure clear neighbours know where to find us,
artisanally produced foods. This year and compliant labelling for all food tucked into the first parking lot in
especially saw an increase in gluten-free products. We also made sure our staff Humber Bay Park West. Thank you again
and vegan options to match the changing were knowledgeable about our vendors for taking the time to support our market
dietary trends of our community. so we could answer anyone’s questions at and we look forward to seeing you again
our information tent. next spring! HH
The market organizers and I were
thrilled to see how many of you made it Just because we’re heading into the
a habit to visit the market each week.
Starting off with some coffee from
Havana Cafe, you brunched with a
sandwich from Felina and snacked on
some European style pastries before
grabbing your groceries for the week. A
couple of early afternoon wine tastings
before you leave help get your weekend
off to a great start.

In August, we continued our tradition of
participating in the annual Waterfront
Festival. This is one of our favourite times
of year because the festival gets everyone
out on the street and meeting each other.
So many people had the opportunity learn
about our weekly market, especially new

26 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

lifestyle

HOLIDAY Yikes!
It’s Your Turn To

CLEANING TIPS Host The Holiday
Festivities.

BY DAVID HATTON

I t’s great when family come to visit over • Vacuum your hardwood floor before • Try to deal with carpet and furniture
the holidays but it can also create a lot you mop to eliminate the surface dust stains right away. The longer they set,
of added stress. The cleaning experts at and dirt. Windex or simple vinegar and the more difficult they will be to
Magic Maids have put together a list of water works well on most floors to give remove. If you do spot any, use a spray
cleaning and organizing tips so everything them an extra clean-looking shine. bottle to apply a mixture of warm water
can go as smooth as a glass of egg nog: and mild dishwashing liquid. Blot with
• Pick a starting point in the room for • Keep Christmas tree lights from tan- a paper towel and continue spraying
gling by winding them around the and blotting until the stain is removed.
cleaning, then work your way around empty tubes from your wrapping
clockwise to make sure nothing gets paper. Loop the cord around the roll • For burnt pots and pans, try filling
missed. Go top to bottom so that when then insert the plug into the tube’s them with Diet Coke or a similar cola
dust starts flying off the top of your living opening. If you’ve already thrown product overnight. They will be a lot
room cabinets, it doesn’t settle on some- away the wrapping paper tubes, paper easier to clean the next morning.
thing you’ve already cleaned below. towel tubes work well here too.
• Haveadusterinonehandandadampcloth • Keepashowercaddyfullofcleaningprod-
in the other as you go through the room. • Take down the ornaments and instead ucts so you have everything you need in
• Don’t forget the usually ignored areas of tossing them back in their boxes, once place and you can grab it quickly.
like underneath the cushions on the wrap them safely. You can repurpose
living room couch, where you might used wrapping paper and tissue paper • Don’t forget to have fun. Play some
find half a cookie that has been there (if you haven’t recycled it yet) to wrap music, pour a glass of wine and make
for the past month, or check under the around them as you store everything sure you enjoy the holidays. HH
rim of the toilet seat. An old tooth- neatly back into boxes. For added
brush or spray can of compressed air cushioning, place the tree skirt at the David Hatton is the owner of Magic Maids,
can do wonders for helping access bottom of the storage box and layer the offering residential condo cleaning for busy pro-
those hard to reach crevices. ornaments on top, using tissue paper fessionals in the Humber Bay Shores area. You can
between the layers. go online, get a quote and book a cleaning visit in
less than 60 seconds at www.magicmaids.ca.

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 27

COMMUNITY NEWS

CONDOMINIUM
PROPERTY TAX FAIRNESS

MY OPINION | BY MARY HUTCHEON

K eeping property taxes low is often a dwellings such as Duplexes, Four- catch-up to the increased intensifica-
calling card of politicians however plexes and converted boutique condos tion of condo-villes, such as Humber
for condominium owners, their and retrofitted mansions. Bay Shores. This “double taxation” con-
call should be for fair taxation. Fair taxes 2. Double taxation in which condo- cerns the non-payment of services,
means paying property taxes at a tax rate minium owners pay twice for services but the property taxes are assessed
that considers the intensive residential generally enjoyed by residents of according to municipal services. Prop-
format of condominium buildings and standard single unit or townhouses. erty tax rates are levied for city services,
services rendered by the municipality. Condominium owners pay condo fees maintenance and programs for its res-
to their corporations for which the idents. Condominiums are assessed
Fair property taxation Condo Boards pay for services such as according to these, but not reassessed
accounts for 3 main factors: garbage removal, road clearance and for items paid by condominium corpo-
pathway lighting. Property taxes are rations as part of their common
1. Recognition that condominiums need calculated to pay the costs of these element services and contracts.
to be classed differently because they services for most residential dwellings. 3. City Planning of condominium areas:
are high-rises unlike residences such Development of City of Toronto Parks and Schools are an important
as single-family dwellings (residential infrastructure of sewers, hydrants, feature of vibrant neighbourhoods.
class) or Multiple-Residential class, roadways, public transportation have to The City of Toronto has created POPS
that of 7 or more units of smaller

28 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A

— privately owned/publicly accessible The 2018 Residential property tax rates of concern to HBS
spaces — as the new park space in our condominium owners are property value assessment based on 2016:
community. While the Municipal Gov-
ernment maintains its right to CLASSIFICATION CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE EDUCATION TAX RATE
determine what is in the POPS/Parks
and how it is to be used, the Condo- Residential 0.4632369% 0.1700000%
minium Corporations must pay for its
upkeep, repairs and retrofits. Since Multi-Residential 1.447559% 0.1700000%
condo ownership is a common entry
point for young families in the real New Multi-Residential 0.4632369% 0.1700000%
estate market, Toronto, through the
Toronto District School Board (TDSB), municipalities that provide infrastruc- the Assessment Review Board. Munici-
will not guarantee development of ture for which the neighbourhood can palities cannot do very much to adjust
schools in newly created condo-villes. function, allowing every resident to live property taxation, as most of the legal
The City of Toronto’s 2002 Official in a city with libraries, schools, parks and framework is provincial jurisdiction.
plan favours intense condominium accessible pathways. However, city governments can:
development over urban sprawl of • pass motions to support amend-
residential houses due to its Calculation of condominium property
better environmental footprint. taxes is a complicated process that ments to Ontario property tax laws;
Accordingly, condominium develop- involves the Ontario provincial govern- • lobby the Ontario Government
ments throughout the province rely on ment, municipal governments, the
this form of intensification because it Municipal Property Assessment Corpora- regarding the lack of fair taxation
helps to combat pollution, greenhouse tion (MPAC) and the Assessment Review levied against condominium owners;
gas emissions (climate change), Board. Within the provincial legislation, • provide the same services and pro-
reduce dependence on fossil fuels and real estate is classed accordingly in 7 cat- grams to condominiums as are
mitigate the requirements of road egories: residential, multi-residential, enjoyed by house owners throughout
expansion, navigation and traffic. commercial, industrial, pipe line, farm, the city;
Condo neighbourhoods in Toronto are and managed forests. Of the seven • provide tax rebates for services not
meant to replace urban sprawl and the classes, currently condominiums are rendered by the City for which the
housing of post-WWII suburbs. classed as multi-residential use. There is Condo Corporations are responsible
Twenty homes equal a 500-unit con- no classification of “High Rise” or “High for paying;
dominium; thus, houses take up more Rise and Townhomes” nor are there • create a tax rate for an area of condo-
space, are more costly to maintain per classes of the types of condominiums minium complexes, such as Humber
city resources and have less capacity to with several phases with mixed-use and Bay Shores.
share utilities and be efficient in use of retail combined. Thus, all condominiums Humber Bay Shores continues to
services and other urban resources. are classed as multi-residential except for grow. Condo developments have multi-
Condominiums are the new homes condominiums built on or after April 20, plied in the last 10 years and continue to
where areas across the city are being 2017 are classed as “New Multi-Residen- add vertical residential units changing
transformed by the development of high- tial” for 35 years, then its class changes to the demographics of the area, while the
rise and townhome complexes. Humber “Multi-Residential”. City of Toronto tries to keep pace with
Bay Shores is among many areas built or the new-builds. Fair taxation is more
planned in Toronto, such as Liberty Vil- MPAC administers the provincial gov- than untangling traffic grid-lock or
lage, Six Points, Former Massey Lands ernment’s policies, thus it oversees the adding sidewalks, street signage, traffic
along King, and new builds in the down- assessment of property values and prop- and roadway lights. Fair taxation is
town core. Property taxation ought to erty and education tax rates for all about adjusting the classifications of
reflect this “new” form of neighbour- property categories in Ontario. Property residential dwellings to depict accu-
hood. Communities are shaped by its values are assessed according to the first rately the types of condominiums
residents but also, they are shaped by the of January of every fourth year, since structures built today. Fair taxation
2000. Total property taxes are the sum of is about assessing property fairly
both City property tax rate and the Edu- according to tax rates that account for
cation tax rate. Every owner can challenge services provided by condominium cor-
their assessment, which is reviewed by porations and municipalities. HH

FALL 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 29

Community news

IDYLLIC AND INFORMATIVE
NATURE WALKS
WITH BOB KORTRIGHT

BY BRUNO CLAUSI | PHOTOS COURTESY OF IRENE JARDINE

H umber Bay Park beckons those who enjoy a slice of nature in the city
practically everyday, especially if we are lucky to have nature walks led
by Bob Kortright, a past president and now treasurer of Toronto Field
Naturalists. Bob Kortright’s history with Friends of Humber Bay Park began
in September 2017 when he was invited to facilitate and lead walks high-
lighting the diversity of the park’s flora and fauna.

Visiting Humber Bay Park almost feels like a botanical journey around the
world. The abundance and rich variety of shrubs and coniferous and decid-
uous trees in the park provide invaluable habitat for birds and mammals as
well as bees, butterflies, and other insects. It truly is wondrous how everything
is integrated within Humber Bay Park, and with such multiplicity of life
therein, one can truly appreciate nature within urban South Etobicoke. HH

Whatever the weather, Bob Kortright brings his enthusiasm and
expertise, gladly answering questions while calling attention to
specific features of the park. Although you don’t have to be a
botanist or a birder to enjoy these walks, both are often part of
the crowd.

Wild chamomile, a wonderful relaxant Imagine “olive” trees in the park, among them the Russian
and digestive aid, grows in the park as (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and Autumn (Elaeagnus umbellate) olive
well as St John’s Wort, which is often trees. The fruit of the Autumn olive tree doesn’t taste anything
used to treat anxiety, minor depres- like the olives of the Mediterranean although the berries can be
sion, and insomnia. Even so, before eaten or made into jam or sauce (similar to tomato sauce but
coming with your harvest baskets, sweeter!). The dried fruit of the Russian olive tree can be ground
beware that it is illegal to take any- into powder and used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain.
thing from a city park!
For more information or to become a member
A merlin (Falco columbarius), a small follow us on Facebook (Friends of Humber Bay
falcon, visits the park! Park) [email protected]

30 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | FALL 2018 W W W. H B S C A . C A



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