T H E L A K E S H O R E

VILLAGES

IN THIS ISSUE

OFFICIALNE WSPAPER

Trampolinist Jason Burnett, who won a silver medal in Beijing and rhythmic gymnast Anastasiya Muntyanu will be the Grand Marshals this year, leading the parade along Lake Shore Boulevard West from Dwight Avenue (just west of Royal York Road) to 33rd Street starting at 10 a.m. After competing in the summer Olympics in London, Jason and Anastasiya will be donning winter apparel to greet all the young athletes, our future Olympians, along the parade route. Parade co-chair Angelo Cundari says, “Having Olympians as grand marshals is so appropriate because each year we have more young athletes including hockey and lacrosse teams taking part in the parade. It will be a thrill to see Jason and Anastasiya, who have represented Canada.” New this year will also be the Giant Panda mascots – representing JiLi and Er Shun –the real Giant Pandas who will arrive at the Toronto Zoo for a five-year stay starting in spring 2013. They will be riding in the Zoomobile. In the wild they live in mountainous regions and while they don’t hibernate, they are used to snowy areas – that’s why most of their fur is white. Co-chair Cundari says he expects Santa will have a lot of furry toy pandas in his sack this year. Volunteers are busy cleaning and polishing the 15 floats. The marching bands have been booked, while hundreds of Lakeshore groups from Girl Guides, Scouts and Cadet Corps to groups such as the Lakeshore Yacht Club, Rotary Club of Etobicoke and the Moose Lodge as well as schools, senior groups and cheerleaders are all preparing their costumes and floats. The floats include the Mad Hatter Tea Party, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a Pirate Ship, the Grin-ch Who Stole Christmas and the Toy Train. Children should bring their wish-list letters to Santa because Canada Post car-riers will be on hand to pick them up and deliver them to the North Pole. More than 200 high school students will take part in the parade wearing costumes from Cinderella and elves to toy soldiers and giant mice. The costumed partici-pants receive an eight-hour credit toward their community service hours and those who carry sponsors’ banners receive a 10-hour credit. Anyone interested in volunteering should call (416) 880-1912 or email lana.pimentel@rogers.com.

Remember this holiday season to Shop Small, Spend Local, Eat Local, Enjoy Local and support the local busi-nesses that support you and your community!

2008 & 2011 Gem Award Winnersfor Culture

engage • entertain • educate • inspireVolume 05 • Issue 05 • Decemb er 2012/Januar y 2013 www.thelakeshore.ca

Strang Monument 02Men’s Health 04Culture Days 05Healthy Homes 07Community Corner 08Assembly Hall 10Lakeshore Arts 11Engage in the Lakeshore 13Small Businesses 14Building the Best Business 16Holiday Gift Guide 17Your Tax Return 18

Here comes Santa Claus plus Olympians, Giant Pandas and marching bands!Santa Claus will arrive to the Lakeshore on Saturday, December 1. On hand to welcome him to the 22nd annual

Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade will be Etobian Olympians and the Giant Panda mascots from the Toronto Zoo.

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The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother’s Own), a Canadian Army reserve unit located in Toronto, unveiled a new monument of thanks at their Regimental headquar-ters in southern Etobicoke on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. The monument is, to thank the members of the Toronto Scottish Regiment past, present and fu-ture for their service and dedication. “Tonight there will be music, but no la-ment,” said Doug Swann, a former Pipe Major of the regiment and event chair-man of the Strang monument project. “Tonight there will be reflection, but no mourning. Tonight there may be tears, but they will be tears of thanks, not of sadness.” The Strang monument is a life-size, stainless steel cut-out from its sister memo-rial in Hoevelaken. The two monuments are aligned to face each other across the ocean to symbolize the connection between the Toronto Scottish Regiment and the town of Hoevelaken. Private Strang was one of five brothers who joined the Toronto Scottish Regiment in the late 1930s. On April 19th, 1945, while at-tached to another Canadian regiment, Pte Strang was killed in action while fighting for the liberation of Hoevelaken. After the war, a small cross was erect-ed with the name “W. Strang,” but no one knew who this man was. In 2005, a citizen of the town, Mr. Theo Zuurman, began a quest to learn the soldier’s story. The result of his research was a new memorial being erected in Hoevelaken in 2008, and the story of one Canadian soldier that is now taught to the school-children of the town. Mr Zuurman was present for the unveiling of the Strang monument at the head-quarters of the Toronto Scottish Regiment.

Regiment unveils monumentof thanks to those who serve.

Maarten Doude van Troostwijk and Gerrit van Middendorp

unveiling monument

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www.migomedia.com

The Lakeshore VillagesVolume 05 | Issue 05

Quarterly Publication ~ Circulation 30,000Delivered by Canada Post

For advertising information, please contactToby Gardiner at 416-875-1409 or by e-mail

at toby@rjentertainmentpublishing.com

Editorial ContributorsJulie Knox and Lindsay Howe

Toby Gardiner | Publishertoby@rjentertainmentpublishing.com

The Lakeshore Villages is printed on 100% recycled fibre. Please recycle. www.rjentpub.com

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It is Movember! Movember was dedicated to growing moustaches and raising awareness and funds for men’s health. My friends and I joined the movement and are growing mustaches for the cause for the month of November. We are generating laughs and lots of jokes. Kidding aside, raising awareness of men’s health issues is very important. I ask all men to please follow these few simple, yet crucial rules:

HAVE AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL. Find a doctor and make a yearly appointment each Movember for a general health check. Getting annual check-ups, preventative screening tests, and immunizations are among the most important things you can do to stay healthy.

DON’T SMOKE! If you do smoke, stop! Compared to non-smokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Smoking is responsible for about 90% of deaths for men due to lung cancer.

BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. If you are not already doing some form of exercise, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Set realistic goals and push yourself to stay active on a consistent basis.

EAT A HEART HEALTHY DIET. Fill up with fruits, vegetables, whole grains; include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and eat foods that are low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT. Balance calories from foods and beverages with calories you burn off by physical activi-ties. It is better to eat small meals throughout the day rather than a couple large portioned meals, which will leave you hungrier between mealtimes and more likely to binge eat.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS. Chill out! Stress, particularly long-term stress, can be the factor in the onset or worsening of poor health. Managing your stress is essential to your health & well being and should be practiced daily.

DRINK ALCOHOL IN MODERATION. Alcohol can be part of a healthy balanced diet, but only if it’s in moderation, do not exceed more than two drinks a day. A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY. Start a discussion with your relatives about the health issues they’ve had in the past. Make sure you learn about relatives that are deceased too. Share this information with your doctor.

Changing the face of men’s health!

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Lakeshore Culture DaysIt’s official! The Lakeshore has an abundance of talent.

On September 28, 29 and 30th, fourteen community groups, arts organiza-tions and local artists united to create a cultural smorgasbord of art experi-ences including; Bollywood dancing, yoga, ghost tours, improv classes, digital photography, hip hop, printmaking, film screenings, writing workshops and children’s choral sing-along to name a few. Close to 1000 people attended 29 events hosted over the weekend in churches, art galleries, libraries, parks, edu-cational and community buildings.

26 professional artists and 14 local cultural champions donated their time, tal-ents, energy and creativity to delivery their program to the public. Thanks to the following; Lakeshore Arts, Humber College, The Assembly Hall, Sirius Theatrical Company, TDSB and Tim Kamino (LCI, ESA, Karen Kain, Second St. and Islington schools), Rhythmic Rainbow Studios, Mimico by the Lake BIA – Alison Juda and Debi Bonneville, Mimico Children’s Choir – Mary Bella and Jennifer Robinson, artist Lorna Livey, yogi Briar Boake, SEYA (South Etobicoke Youth Assembly), SNAP Etobicoke, The Music Studio, Taste Portuguese Cuisine Restaurant, the Mimico Centennial Library and The Lakeshore Villages newspaper.

“We were astounded by the resounding YES when the local creative communi-ty was asked to support this initiative, a weekend of this calibre could not have happened without the dedication, enthusiasm and talents of those community champions. We are looking forward to next year and hope to attract double the participants during the weekend activities” stated Susan Nagy, Executive Direc-tor of Lakeshore Arts.

Culture Days is a national initiative and just celebrated its third year. In 2011, over 800 communities participated in over 6,000 activities across the country; 2012 has seen a growth of 55% more events. The goal of Cultural Days is to pro-vide opportunities to participate within your own community in free, hands-on, interactive workshops and demonstrations and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, and designers at work in their community.

If you are interested in volunteering or hosting a cultural event for Lakeshore Cul-ture Days 2013 contact Lakeshore Arts at info@lakeshorearts.ca or 416-201-7093.

Lakeshore Village BIA SponsorsNew Retail Merchant Websiteby Alyson Waite

The Lakeshore Village BIA of New Toronto is proud to announce the launch of the new retail merchant website www.LakeshoreVillage.ca.

The website is designed as a Virtual Sidewalk Shopping Tour promoting the re-tail merchants of the Lakeshore Village area in New Toronto. It allows the viewer to scroll along at a street level view on the north and south sides of Lake Shore Blvd. W. and virtually enter a store or link to the merchant’s website. Regular area shoppers are able to leave their comfort zone and explore merchants that they may not normally visit while the website also promotes to new customers and businesses.

Maintained on a regular basis, the website provides a current business direc-tory and a pictorial tour promoting each of the 143 merchants along Lake Shore Blvd. between Dwight Ave. and 12th St. running east and west of Islington Ave.

The newly appointed Chairman of the Lakeshore Village BIA, Everett Shep-pard, recently stated: “I felt it was time to give back to the merchants of the area with a helpful business promotional tool, and our board members also agreed with me to sponsor this business endeavor. We are very pleased with the de-sign and functionality of the website and appreciate the efforts taken to create this unique ‘Collective Advertising’ experience. We will be keeping the website ‘Updated Not Outdated’ for the area residents and to attract new shoppers and businesses to Lakeshore Village.”

The website designer Stephen Lea added “I have had an extensive career in in-formation gathering, photography, website design and promotion. I have now met with this large diverse community of merchants and truly support the Lake-shore Village area. This is also my home town.” The www.LakeshoreVillage.ca is hoping to assist in the economic development and prosperity of New Toronto and the surrounding areas, now with sister websites www.Mimico-bytheLake.ca, www.LongbranchVillage.ca and www.MimicoVillage.ca currently in the works.

To learn more visit www.LakeshoreVillage.ca.

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Seasons Greetings!

I am very happy that Ontario se-niors and their families can now claim up to $1,500 each year for permanent changes to their homes which will help accommodate age-related needs.

The Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit is a new refundable Personal Income Tax credit that will assist with the cost of permanent home modifi-cations that improve accessibility or help a senior be more functional or mobile at home.

The credit is worth up to $1,500 each year, calculated as 15 per cent of up to $10,000 in eligible home renovation expenses that will help seniors stay safely in their homes. It can also be claimed by senior homeowners and tenants, and people who share a home with a senior relative.

You are eligible if you are a senior (65 years of age or older by the end of the taxation year for which the credit is claimed) who owns or rents your home, or a non-senior who is living with a family member who is a senior.

Some examples of eligible expenses include renovations to permit a first-floor occupancy or secondary suite for a senior, bathroom upgrades, handrails, wheelchair ramps and lifts, elevators, hands-free taps, motion-activated light-ing and automatic garage door openers. Devices are not eligible. These include such items as equipment for home medical monitoring or security, wheelchairs and walkers, and vehicles adapted for people with mobility limitations.

Services are not eligible. These include security or medical monitoring services, homecare/housekeeping services, regular house repairs and outdoor mainte-nance services.

Seniors or people living with a senior family member can claim the tax credit on their annual Personal Income Tax return, beginning with the 2012 tax return. If someone not living with the senior or not related to the senior pays for modi-fications to the senior’s home, the senior can still claim the credit and keep the supporting receipts.

There is no income test to qualify for this credit; seniors at all income levels can qualify.

Claimants do not need to submit receipts, but do have to keep the documen-tation – receipts from suppliers and contractors – in case the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) asks for them in order to verify the claim. If you file electronically, keep all documentation in case the CRA asks to see it.

Eligible expenses incurred on or after October 1, 2011 qualify for the credit.

For the 2012 tax year, the $10,000 maximum applies to expenses paid or pay-able from October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.

For 2013 and all subsequent years, the maximum applies to expenses paid or payable from January 1 to December 31 of the year.

By helping seniors to modify their homes to suit their individual needs, the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit makes it safer and easier for Ontarians to age at home and continue to live independently.

This new tax credit will also help to reduce pressure on more costly hospital and long term care services, keeping more seniors at home, where they want to be, longer and improving their quality of life.

The credit will also create jobs through additional demand in the construction sector for these renovations and for products that improve mobility around the home.

For more information about the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit call 1 866 668-8297.

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Healthy Homes Renovation Tax CreditBy Laurel Broten, MPP Etobicoke-Lakeshore Did you Shop the Shore?

The Lakeshore BIA’s were proud to present the fifth annual Shop the Shore event held on September 15th and 22nd across The Lakeshore, throughout each of the four villages.

The event featured great music, including an outdoor performance Fiddlestix, as well as food, drinks, and activities for kids. Best of all was the store savings and promotions across the villages!

Shop The Shore is organized with support by community volunteers, and con-tinues to grow every year. Benefits of shopping the shore include: walking to and from stores, not having to worry about parking, communing with neigh-bours and helping thriving local business. A big thank you to everyone who came out and participated – and remember to shop locally all year around, es-pecially during the holiday season.

Shopping local is good for the environment, good for the community and good for you!

École Sir Adam Beck Junior School Annual Winter BazaarÉcole Sir Adam Beck Junior School is holding their Annual Winter Bazaar on at 544 Horner Avenue (Browns Line and Horner) on Saturday, November 24, 2012 from 10 am -2 pm. This event is over 60 years old! There will be tons of activi-ties for the kids including Santa’s Gift Shop, photos with Santa and lots of other great stuff. The bazaar also includes local vendors selling their wares, a bake and used book sale, raffle and amazing silent auction. Refreshments are also available. Admission is free. Come and support the school. We Will Remember: Remembrance Day Assembly at David Hornell J.S. On Friday, November 9th 2012, the annual Re-membrance Day Assembly was held at David Hornell Junior School in Mimico-by-the-Lake. Students gathered for this memorable service to commemorate the Canadian soldiers who sacrificed for our freedom. The students and dignitaries gathered for a mo-ment of silence, followed by the singing of ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’ by the David Hornell Choir. A sense of unity and compassion was mutually shared among participants who clustered together to commemorate the members of the armed forces and the fallen soldiers who fought so valiantly for our coun-try. David Hornell, for his bravery in action during World War II, was awarded the Victoria Cross, the British Commonwealth’s highest award for valour. Flight Lieutenant David Ernest Hornell V.C. 1910-1944. First Annual Pumpkin ParadeMimico residents gave Halloween a rousing send-off at its First Annual Pumpkin Parade on November 1. The rain didn’t deter the hundreds of residents who brought their Jack ‘o Lanterns out to Mimico Square, with nearly 350 pumpkins lighting up the square. The free community event, sponsored by the Mimico-by-the-Lake BIA, was a huge suc-cess. Special thanks to the following people who, through their hard work and dedication, made this event possible. Alison Juda – Co-organizer, Chris Moore – Co-organizer, Jess Molinaro-Hurd – Artwork (jmhdesign71@gmail.com), Co-rey Silver – Promotion (www.coreysilver.com) To the countless volunteers that helped with the event, from putting up posters to pumpkin clean-up, your sup-port and enthusiasm has not gone unnoticed. And there wouldn’t have been an event if it wasn’t for local residents braving the rain and bringing their Jack ‘o Lanterns. With this community spirit, we’re sure to smash this year’s record and surpass 500 pumpkins in 2013!

The Maple Leaf House offers great NFL giveaways!The Maple Leaf House has huge giveaways this NFL season. Imagine leaving the bar with a collector’s Stiegl beer stein, or a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas or a NFL Jersey (they giveaway two jerseys every Sunday)? Simply order ten wings and a litre of Stiegl and keep the stein! Or order a Miller Genuine Draft and enter for your chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas. Molsons offers you a chance to win a NFL jersey every Sunday. Unbelievable! Make the Maple Leaf House the place to be to watch all of your favourite NFL games. For your viewing pleasure, the bar has six LCD TVs and a 6 by 8 foot projection screen. The Maple Leaf House patio is the largest in Etobicoke, seating 160 people. The patio is decked out with trees and shrubs, located in a prime location along the Lakeshore. No need to cut your night short, the patio is licensed until 2:45 am, with no restrictions. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, The Maple Leaf House is packed full with live entertainment. Musical performers from a variety of genres: disco, dance, the blues, rock and tribute bands.

The Maple Leaf House includes a banquet hall with a 100 plus seating capac-ity. The banquet hall is a perfect venue for any function and features a private entrance, 20-foot ceilings, a separate bar and washrooms.

Visit Maple Leaf House Bar and experience a spectacular venue with a mouth-watering menu!

The Maple Leaf House is located at 2749 Lake Shore Blvd. W. (between Isling-ton and Royal York on the south side). Contact by phone 416-255-2558, email mapleleafhouse@live.com and ask for Dave. They are always looking for teams to sponsor. Visit on web at www.mapleleafhouse.ca

Gift basket driveThis year marks the 12th Annual Gift Basket Drive for Women Shelters. A seasonal gift is a luxury many of us take for granted, but it can mean so much to those who often go without. Our volunteers are in-spired to make holiday cheer a reality for all. This year we hope to make over 2,800 gift baskets which will be beautifully wrapped and distributed to all the Women Shelters in the GTA and surrounding areas. We are in need for bath and beauty products for our baskets. If you or your company can contribute in any way, please contact us at 416-259-9639. For more information about our organization visit our website at www.annual-basketdrive.ca. A new era for Mimico-by-the-Lake officially ‘breaks ground’ with ELEVEN SUPERIORA little less than three years ago, Graham Chalm-ers co-owner of Davies Smith Developments realized the opportunity to jump-start the revi-talization of one of Toronto’s oldest waterfront villages, Mimico-by-the-Lake. Along with the City of Toronto and community partners, in 2010 Davies Smith Developments helped bring direct access to Mimico’s waterfront and created a new community hub with the creation of Mimico Square. Soon after, Davies Smith Developments launched ELEVEN SUPERIOR, a nine storey mid-rise condo offering 132 suites steps from Mimico’s new square and 1.1 kilometers of uninterrupted waterfront trails. With strong sales and lots of community support, ELEVEN SUPERIOR is breaking ground this month and will usher in a new era for one of Toronto’s most historic waterfront gems.

Upgrades Underway at Mimico GO StationOntario is making it easier for the 1,050 com-muters who use the Mimico GO Station to take public transit while creating 470 jobs.Upgrades include:• adding about 150 new parking spaces• repairing and extending the north and south GO Train platforms to accommodate 12-car trains• building a new pedestrian overpass to make it easier for commuters to get to their trains• improving the station building and the existing pedestrian tunnel to make it more accessible• expanding the Royal York BridgeWork is scheduled to be complete in 2017“This is welcome news for commuters in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore area. Im-proved platforms andmore parking spaces will give commuters a better, more accessible station and make public transit easier to use.” — Laurel Broten, MPP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore Colonel Samuel Smith Ice Skating TrailWeather permitting, the popular ice skating trail in Col-onel Samuel Smith park is scheduled to open Novem-ber 24th. This park is located along a stretch of wooded shoreline in the Kipling and Lakeshore area. It is home to a variety of plants, trees, birds and other wildlife, as well as a network of paths and is the city’s only ice skating trail. The skating trail is located next to the Power House Recreation Centre (65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Road), which houses an indoor skate changing area.

Mimico Residents AssociationHave you visited the Mimico Residents Association web page or liked them on Facebook. Mimico Residents - Visit www.mimicoresidents.ca for more informa-tion, and to join! The power of a community coming together is greater than an individual voice. Membership is open to all persons who live within the bound-aries of the Mimico community. Those who are 16 years of age or over are eli-gible for a voting membership in the Mimico Residents Association.

COMMUNITY CORNER The Lakeshore Villageswww. t h e l a ke s h o r e . c a

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1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive • 416-338-7255

Tea for Teens: presented by Junior League of TorontoNovember 20 at 11:30 amJoin us for our 8th annual fundraiser, sponsored by the Junior League of To-ronto in support of local organizations assisting teens at Christmas. Teens are often the forgotten ones during the holiday season. This year’s event includes a stylish fashion show, delectable treats served with coffee & tea and the Unique Boutique for your holiday purchasing pleasure and convenience. The entry fee is a gift card donation. For more information, please visit www.jlt.org. ‘Tis the Season Children’s Art Show: presented by the Assembly Hall, sponsored by Lakeshore Village & Long Branch BIAsNovember 28, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Art Show ReceptionCome experience the wonder of the season through the creativity of many tal-ented children who attend our local schools. Join us at Deck the Hall on No-vember 28th to cast your vote for your favourite artworks in our People’s Choice Awards. Everyone welcome! Free admission. For more information, please e-mail assembly@toronto.ca or call 416-338-7255. Show runs Nov 28 – Dec 20. Gallery hours are Mon to Fri: 12 pm – 5 pm and Sat: 10 am – 1 pm. Deck the Hall! Seasonal Open House: presented by the Assembly HallNovember 28, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pmShare a cup of holiday cheer at our annual Open House. Help us to decorate our tree while enjoying seasonal music. The kids can have fun making crafts and ev-eryone is welcome! It’s a great way to start the season and visit with your neigh-bours. Admission is free. Donations of new hats, scarves, mittens and socks for our Warm Wishes Tree are welcome. For more information, please e-mail assem-bly@toronto.ca or call 416-338-7255. Fall Concert “Welcome, Yule”: presented by the Etobicoke Youth ChoirDecember 1 at 7:30 pmThe internationally distinguished choir, led by music director Louise Jardine with accompanist Margaret Parsons, presents their 36th annual fall concert with a reception following the concert. The choir participated in a 2009 SRO Carnegie Hall performance; represented Canada in Greece at the 2011 7th annual Festival of the Aegean and accepted an invitation to participate this coming summer at the Children’s Choir Festival in Canterbury and London, England. Tickets are $20 per person, children 12 and under are free. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 416-231-9120 or e-mail eyc.secretary@sympatico.ca. Holidays and Hope Candlelight Service: presented by Ridley Funeral HomeDecember 5 at 7 pmChristmas is a time of happiness and excitement but it is also a time to remem-ber loved ones who have passed away. Ridley Funeral Home invites you to a free memorial service in honour of those who cannot be with us this holiday season. For more information, please call 416-259-3705 or visit www.ridleyfuneralhome.com. Cinderella! The Hilarious Holiday Panto!: presented by Feast of Fools TheatreDecember 15 & 16 at 2 pm & December 15 at 8 pm “Naughty Version” Adult ShowIf you think you know this classic story, then wait until you see our version, com-plete with songs, dances and hilarity! A favourite for all ages, “Cinderella” will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. Tickets: children $10, students/se-niors $14, Adults $18, $50 combo pack (2 children & 2 adults) For more informa-tion or to purchase tickets, please call 416-455-9038 or visit www.feastoffools-theatre.com.

Upcoming Events at the Assembly Hall

Join me at my annual

Laurel Broten, MPPEtobicoke-Lakeshore

New Year’s Levee

Season’s Greetings

701 Evans Avenue, Suite 100, Etobicoke M9C 1A3 416-259-2249 | lbroten.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

www.laurelbroten.onmpp.ca

Sunday, January 6th, 2013, 2:00 pm–4:00 pmRoyal Canadian Legion Hall, Branch 210, 110 Jutland Road

Wishing you a Happy Holidayand all the best in the coming year

Please let me know if I can be of assistance in any provincial matters

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Wellness Workshop: Lakeshore Arts, in partnership with Arts Etobicoke and the Artists Health Network present a series of workshops, which focus on mental well-being and stress management for Artists. Registration is $20 per workshop, or $30 for two. Visit ww.lakeshorearts.ca for more in-formation. Nov. 7 and 14, from 6:30-8:30 pm at Lakeshore Arts located at 2422 Lake Shore Blvd. West. Nov. 21 and 28, from 1-3pm at Arts Etobicoke located at 4893 Dundas St. West. Cartooning Class, Session 1: Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28, Dec. 5, 12, from 4-5pmLakeshore Arts. 2422 Lake Shore Blvd. WestAn 8-week cartooning class for kids, ages 9-12, led by artist Sonny Bean and held at Lakeshore Arts. Registration fee of $100, includes all materials. Life Drawing: Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20, from 7:30-10pm. Lake-shore Arts at2422 Lake Shore Blvd. West. Drop in sessions held every Thursday of the month at Lakeshore Arts (2422 Lake Shore Blvd. West) from 7:30-10:00. $10. Future Filmmakers: Nov 9, 10, 11 and Nov 24, 25Selected youth from local high schools participate in a 5-day intensive workshop where they create a 2 min short film working with industry pro-fessionals and equipment. This amazing opportunity is in partnership with Lakeshorts International Film Festival and is funded by Scotiabank Global Markets. The final film will be showcased at Lakeshorts in May 2013 at the Assembly Hall. YAM (youth.arts.movement): Nov. 13, 27, Dec. 11, Jan. 15, 29, from 6:30-8:30. Lakeshore Arts. 2422 Lakeshore Blvd. West. Meets twice a month from 6:30-8:30 at Lakeshore Arts, to make art and participate in workshops with professional artists, plus plan events and volunteer oppor-tunities in the community. FREE drop-in for ages 13-18! ALL WELCOME. AGM: Nov.19 @ 6:30. Assembly Hall. 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.Join the membership and the Board of Directors at Lakeshore Arts Annual General Meeting. November 19th at 6:30pm at the Assembly Hall. Artisan Sale: Nov.24, from 11am-3pm. Lakeshore Arts. 2422 Lake Shore Blvd. WOn November 24, just in time for the holidays, join a dozen local artisans as they show and sell their work in our 5th Annual Artisan Showand Sale, from 11am-3pm. Cartooning Class, Session 2: Jan16, 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27, from 4-5 pm. Lakeshore Arts is located at 2422 Lake Shore Blvd. West. An 8-week cartooning class for kids, ages 9-12, led by artist Sonny Bean and held at Lakeshore Arts. Registration fee of $100, includes all materials. Gallery: The Smith Zone Exhibition Space: Lakeshore Arts. 2422 Lake Shore Blvd. WestOpen Monday through Friday 9:30am – 5pm, Saturday 11am-2pm. Member’s Showcase: runs until Dec. 14, 2012A wonderful opportunity to view the work of Lakeshore Arts members. Featuring the work of 20 local artists. Runs until Dec 14 LCI CyberArts/ Paul Dickens: Jan 7-31, 2013Reception: Jan 17 @ 6pm.View the work of emerging artists from Lakeshore Collegiate Institute’s Cy-berArts program as they look at the relationship between technology and nature in this mixed media installation. Also on exhibit, Quantum Doodles by Paul Dickens. 1812, FORGOTTEN VOICES - BEYOND THE CONFLICT – Nov. 11, 18, 25, Dec. 3.Contact info@siriustheatrical.com to register and for workshop locations.In partnership with Sirius Theatrical Company, Forgotten Voices is a com-munity arts performance project to commemorate the War of 1812. FREE WORKSHOPS, no experience required. Script Development, ages 12-70+ will continue on November 11, 18 and December 3, 2:00-4:30. Acting, ages 12-70+, will continue on November 11, 25 and December 3, 2:00-4:30.

Lakeshore Arts upcoming workshops2422 Lake Shore Boulevard West

The End of an Era – Last Remnants of Lakeshore Motel Strip Disappears

Thursday,November 12 at 8:30 a.m. marked the end of an era in South Eto-bicoke when the wrecking ball took down the last remaining motel on the Lake Shore Motel Strip; the iconic Beach Motel.

“It’s a sad day seeing something that was part of our memories come down,” said Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes. “As someone who has grown up in this community, and raised my own family here, the motels were a familiar sight. Sadly, over the last decades the demand has declined, and so have the build-ings. This new residential community helps revitalize the area and bring new Torontonians to our community and waterfront.” The Beach Motel Toronto was located on a 5-acre property at 2183 Lake Shore Blvd west, approximately five kilometres from downtown in Toronto’s west end. Each summer it filled with holiday visitors for special events such as Caribana and the Canadian National Exhibition. On the cleared site, Empire Communities will be erecting one of Canada’s tallest and most iconic waterfront condominium communities, mak-ing way for the next generation of waterfront living in Toronto.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the motel was the most popular form of holiday resort for people taking road trips. This led to the creation of Toronto’s famous “motel strip” along the former Highway 2, now Lake Shore Boulevard, which was the main western route out of the city, At its height, the strip was lined with motels from Park Lawn to Sunnyside, with art deco architecture, neon lights, gardens and seating areas on the lake, tempting the traveller to stop and rest. The names included the Seahorse, the Cruise Motel, the Rainbow, and the Sunnyside. The Beach Motel anchored the corner of the strip with its well-recognized, Canadian designed, yellow Solair Chairs sitting along the front of the Motel. The chairs were sold earlier this year along with other hotel fixtures.

In 1966, the Gardiner Expressway redirected intercity traffic away from Highway 2 and the motel strip declined rapidly. By the 1980s, the once iconic motel strip was more infamous for hourly room rates than its holiday appeal. The demand for housing close to the downtown core has led to revitalization of the area and the creation of a new Condominium community, Humber Bay Shores which in-cludes residential units, office space, new stores and beautiful waterfront parks.

Councillor Grimes was on site this Thursday to watch along with members of the community and representatives of Empire

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Engage in the Lakeshore this Holiday SeasonBy: Lindsay Howe

Official unveiling of theMimico by the Lake Murals

Residents and merchants of the Lakeshore are blessed to be a part of such a beautiful, and inviting community. During these busy months of the year we look forward to the arrival of the holidays because it gives us an opportunity to relax, reflect and spend quality time with our loved ones. A leisurely stroll through the Villages is a revitalizing experience, particularly in the crisp winter weather, with the streets glistening with snow. As you walk along the strip, you cannot help but admire the twinkling Christmas lights and the beautifully decorated store windows. The experience fills you with the joyful spirit of the season.

From fashion boutiques, to pubs and bars, to coffee houses and bakeries, the Lakeshore has everything you are looking for. With every shop, restaurant and service available in the immediate vicinity, why not try to embrace all they have to offer?

Shop One, Shop All

With a growing list of people to buy for on your shopping list, save yourself the hassle of heading to a crowded mall or department store for mediocre items. At the specialty stores along the Lakeshore, you can find all the gifts for your loved ones in the comfort of your own neighbourhood. The Lakeshore shops offer unique, one of a kind treasures that make excellent personalized gifts. Gifts purchased at the boutiques in the village are often specially wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a gift bag, tied with fancy ribbons. This sense of comfort and personal touch, not to mention exceptional service will keep you coming back.

At local shops, the customer is always welcomed and valued, and a sense of community is established. Sales associates offer unmatched customer service and product knowledge. The value of quality customer service and expert ad-vice goes a long way to achieving customer satisfaction. Shop local and ex-perience the difference quality customer service and expert advice makes. An added bonus, when you shop local you leave with the personal satisfaction of knowing your money is going back into the community. Shopping local in the means your money goes directly back into the community. These funds are used to put on events and maintain a clean, vibrant area for your enjoyment.

Take the time to engage in the Lakeshore this holiday season and discover that ev-erything you could possible need, or want is right within the comfort of your own neighbourhood! See our special Holiday Shopping Guide in this issue.

Lakeshore Arts and the Mimico by the Lake community officially unveiled two amazing murals created this past summer. The unveiling took place on Saturday, September 29th as part of Culture Days festivities. These unveilings provided an opportunity to recognize the artists, funders and supporters acknowledging the value that these two new public art pieces will add to the community.

Location… The key for running a popular place to have coffeeBy Regina Ramos and Nathan Marchio

When Steven Turner opened a coffee shop he had no idea that the small lo-cation at 2861 Lakeshore Blvd. West would be his most successful venture.

Coming from South Africa a decade ago, Turner had tried his hand at ac-counting. Unhappy with that, he took a manager’s position at an Italian res-taurant and three years later launched The Big Guy’s Little Coffee shop.

Off the beaten track of the usual Toronto coffee chains, Big Guy’s Little Coffee finds its home in the friendly community of Lakeshore. Attempting to open at busy locations where popular coffee shops like Starbucks and Second Cup thrive it turns out the tight knit community just west of downtown Toronto was just the spot for this cozy little café.

What makes this “little-big” shop so special? Could it be the customer service? Wrong! “Customer service. I have terrible customer service,” says Turner jok-ingly. Not only is it the quality of the product that has customers from all over Toronto coming back. It’s the atmosphere that makes all the difference.

A frequent customer becomes a friend of the owners. The laid-back, preten-tious free ambiance is what will keep you coming back to the big guy for your little cup of coffee.

Sweet Olenka’s gives the Lakeshore a taste of home-made for the holidaysBy Duncan Clair and Vanessa Copeland

Ask anyone for words associated with this time of year and you’ll almost cer-tainly hear ‘something sweet’. Oddly enough, as we rush to find perfect gifts for loved ones, the special sweets al-most everyone looks forward to are of-ten overlooked. I

t’s likely youngsters will dig through stockings to find treats from the near-est convenience store – an unnecessary holiday travesty when there is still a place to find treats that rise above traditional holiday fare. After all, if you’re going to give chocolate, give the best.

Sweet Olenka’s doesn’t require a golden ticket for entry, but still serves as a whimsical departure from reality. As you walk in the door, the sheer variety is striking; from chocolates and brownies to ice cream and cakes. The staff is al-ways experimenting with new ideas – a welcome benefit of handcrafting every product.

“We just started making diabetic-friendly chocolate,” says Erin Panjer, who’s worked at the shop for two years. “So many people come in who are diabet-ic and we want to supply them with our products.” Cater to people who are diabetic is just one example of the passion that goes into everything made at Sweet Olenka’s and puts the shop on another level. “It’s very rare to find a place that doesn’t let cost get in the way of producing something of quality,” says Panjer. “People always want to save pennies here and there but the quality suf-fers every time you do that.”

As Lakeshore Villagers celebrate this holiday season, in the midst of long line-ups and bad parking spots, there’s comfort in knowing the sweetest things about the season are just around the corner.

Painty McGee’s makes Lakeshore artsy, one brushstroke at a timeBy Maleah Sparks and Marty Macerollo

Painty McGee’s Art Supplies the newly opened art store is more than just ex-traordinary. Etobicoke native Jahnine Farquharson opened the store this past summer, to cater to Lakeshore artists of all ages.

A graduate of the Etobicoke School of the Arts, Farquharson noticed the lack of art stores in the Lakeshore community. As a result, she opened Painty Mc-Gee’s to offer various art supplies as well as workshops.

“It started as a joke, making fun of a friend of mine who was ‘colouring with paint’. She claimed she was painting. I said no, you’re not painting, you’re co-louring with paint, Painty McGee.” The joke name turned into a reality in June 2012 when the location opened in the heart of Lakeshore. Painty McGee’s offers more than an average art supply shop. Not just having art supplies available for purchase, the store also offers classes and workshops for all ages, as well as hosts birthday parties for children. The classes and workshops help to fur-ther develop artists at any stage, while birthday parties for children will create a memorable day and help them find their inner artist.

Painty McGee’s also exhibits the artwork of local artists. Each month, the store showcases work from artists in the Toronto area for others to experience. At Painty McGee’s, Farquharson hopes to inspire you to pick up a paintbrush cre-ate a piece of art all your own. To learn more about supplies available at the store and classes/workshops, visit www.paintymcgees.ca.

This issue’s small business features are provided by the second-year students in the Public Relations Advanced Diploma program at Humber College.

Painty McGee’s draws in established and budding artists in Lakeshore.

Sweet Olenka’s at 2790 Lake Shore Blvd. W. satisfies the sweet tooth of villagers and

visitors.

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Christmas Among FriendsBy Carmina Canezal, Lerri-Ann Kelly and Mariah Kent

It’s almost that time of year again. Christmas carols, gifts, food and a lot of holiday cheer. Most people opt to spend this time with friends and fam-ily but have you considered doing something within your community to bring a smile to a stranger’s face?

A great place to start might be within the LAMP Community Health Centre programs located in the heart of New Toronto. In 1986, due to a demand for separation from any formal institutions, LAMP C.H.C. created a branch, Among Friends. It’s a program for those in our community with a mental illness. Throughout the year, members participate in arts and crafts, off-site excursions, as well as educational and recreational classes. “It’s rewarding to see members happy and progressing in their lives,” says Nancy Barkman, acting director of Among Friends. “With the holiday season approach-ing, we welcome the community to celebrate the festivities with our members.”Volunteering is simple. Join a class. Accompany a friend or family member who attends the program. Sing a song or donate a gift. If you would like an ongoing role, Among Friends offers positions ranging from fitness instructors, adminis-trators to fundraisers.

This spring Among Friends will host a walk-a-thon for Mental Health Week May 7-13, 2013. For more information call 416-251-8666. Among Friends is located at 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ON M8V 1J7.

Make the connection between the birds and the beansBy Mae Thompson and Paul Wujtow

Imagine walking through a beauti-ful forest surrounded by unnatural silence. You wonder what it would be like to hear something other than your own thoughts. You realize bird song is what’s missing. Birds and Beans Roastery has made the connection between growing coffee beans and the deteriorating songbird population. The effects could one day be so drastic that we never hear a songbird again. Madeleine Pengelley, owner of Birds and Beans, opened an organic, fair-trade and certified bird friendly coffee shop to create awareness of the importance of using shaded areas to grow coffee instead of tearing down forests. The song-bird population is shrinking every year because rainforests are being replaced with industrial farms. Without the rainforests, songbirds are forced from their habitats and struggle to survive. “The best coffee beans come from shaded areas of the rainforest, home to many songbirds. Without the perfect shaded structure, the songbirds are not able to live in their habitat and will gradually become extinct. “Individuals come to Birds and Beans to enjoy the coffee and they leave feeling like they did a good thing,” said Pengelley. “We work really hard to deliver the best in every cup of coffee we serve and to ensure the songbird population does not continue to decrease every year, as it is now.” Birds and Beans is the first business in Canada to offer certified bird friendly coffee. The coffee beans used at the café are helping to preserve the songbird population and habitats. Almost everyone who passes Birds and Beans stops to admire the handcrafted bird decor on the outside of the building. Upon entering the store, the first thing you smell is the fresh roasted coffee and baked goods. The café always offers a warm, inviting atmosphere for new and returning customers. Out back consists of a refreshing terrace facing Lake Ontario. Here you will see beautiful nature and gardens designed specifically for the ecosystem it surrounds. You don’t have to drink coffee in the shop to make a difference. You can give coffee, baked goods or local photographs of birds as a gift during the holidays.Consider the impact on the environment if songbirds become extinct. By pur-chasing Birds and Beans certified bird friendly coffee, you can contribute to the protection of our environment and wildlife. Everyone makes a difference with the choices they make, starting by maintaining the songbird population with the coffee they drink.

Zakopane Deli brings a little taste of Poland to the LakeshoreBy Erin Tymoszewicz and Sydney Rioux

The town of Zakopane may be known as the “winter capital of Poland” but at the unique deli on Lakeshore which bears its name customers who stroll through the doors are greeted by the sunny smile of owner Margaret Kosci-uch.

Since 2000, Zakopane Deli has provid-ed Etobicoke residents with a selection of Polish meals and treats.

Opening a deli was never part of Margaret`s initial career plan. It was a struggle to find work with no experience. Margaret accepted her job outlook and de-cided to take matters into her own hands and opened her own deli business.

For the first two years of business, the deli sold Polish-based groceries and meats. After seeing the demand, Margaret decided to start serving homemade Polish dishes made solely with Ontario grown ingredients.

“Everything is made from scratch basically. I go to Ontario Foods or small sup-pliers and famers.”

Margaret would like to see her business continue to flourish and expand, but stay close to the Lakeshore community. Margaret enjoys working in the area due to the high population of Polish residents and because Canadians are will-ing to try new types of food.

“I’m glad that Canadian people are not scared to come and try different things. Canadians are always looking for different foods to try,” said Margaret.

Zakopane Deli will not be going anywhere, anytime soon, so stop by and try the renowned potato pancake!

A volunteer smiles during an Among Friends fall outing.

The doors are always open at Zakopane Deli

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Pulcinella Ristorante celebrates three years

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“I love this place” is a comment that’s being made by many of the loyal pa-trons who have discovered this little diamond in the rough on the outskirts of Etobicoke. Open for three years now, Pulcinella’s five star reputation rivals those of high end downtown es-tablishments. Pulcinella (pronounced “pul-chee-nella”) Ristorante Italiano is located on 3687 Lake Shore Blvd. West (just east of Browns Line) and is a dream come true for co-owners Mario Boccia & Andrea Larsen, who have brought their passion for great Italian dining to this up and coming area. When you walk into Pulcinella, you’ll get the feeling that you’ve walked into a restaurant in old rural Italy. With two levels, the main floor being the main din-ing room and the lower level is intimate and cozy, seating 40 people comfort-ably in a stunning environment. The stonework, coffered ceiling and Italian oil paintings are all beautiful, but the high quality food and service here is really what it’s all about. They use only the best ingredients, both locally sourced and imported from Italy, which is evident in all of the dishes served. An impressive amount of items are in house-made, including cured meats, pastas, gelatos and desserts. On November 1st, the restaurant will be launching its new fall menu. New items such as Spaghetti Chitarra and Black Angus Braised Short Ribs are sure to please the crowds! Every Thursday night, Pulcinella offers 2oz $5 martini’s. They are absolutely worth it! For those who love to sample the menu, Tuesday evenings, Pulcinella serves a pre-fixe three course meal for only $20 per person. The Tuesday menu changes every week and it features some of the restaurant’s best dishes giv-ing patrons an opportunity to try different menu items for an affordable and luxurious night out close to home. For the upcoming holiday season, Pulcinella is the perfect spot for your company or family party! The exquisite interior de-sign coupled with the finest in authentic Italian cuisine is a magnificent recipe for a memorable family get-together or the yearly company holiday party. The restaurant offers a fabulous lower level dining area that is available for private parties. They also love birthdays! Call the restaurant to learn more about their birthday specials. This establishment is a blessing to the area and diners can take advantage of this holiday-party space while there is still availability! For more information or to book your upcoming special occasion, please call Pulcinella at 416-253-9959.

Councillor Mark Grimes , Ward 6 update On November 1 I met with representatives from Mondeléz Canada, a division of Kraft Corporation, to discuss the companies impending closure of the Lakeshore bakery plant. Formerly known as the Mr. Christie bakery, the plant at 2150 Lake Shore Blvd W. will be closing in the third quarter of 2013.

I was deeply disappointed upon hearing this sad news. The plant has been a South Etobicoke fixture for 64 years, employing many friends and neigh-bours in the Etobicoke Lakeshore community,” said Councillor Mark Grimes, City Councillor for Etobicoke Lakeshore.

While this comes as a deep loss to the community, I am committed to do-ing whatever it takes to keep high-quality jobs and high-quality employ-ers in the South Etobicoke community. In partnership with City of Toronto staff, my colleagues on Council and other levels of government, I will work to ensure that our community continues to be a leader in revitalization and a viable place to do business.

Since 1948, the Lakeshore Bakery has stood on this 27-acre site, employing 550 employees, many of whom are local workers. The bakery was originally

built to produce the Mr. Christie’s line of cookies for the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco). In 1993, Nabisco was acquired by Kraft General Foods, which recently created Mondeléz Canada, which continues to operate the bakery. As a result of this closure, a portion of the bakery’s production line will be moved to its Montreal and East York locations.

The plant is located on a site that is part of the Toronto Employment Lands and is zoned for industrial use. Retaining employment land and stimulat-ing investment is important to the City’s future economic prosperity, com-petitiveness and long-term fiscal sustainability. To improve environmental quality by limiting urban sprawl and its ability to continue to provide high quality jobs and generate wealth is the city’s goal. Toronto’s Employment Districts currently accommodate about 30% of the city-wide employment. The entire supply of land in the City’s Employment Districts will be required to achieve the growth forecast target in Toronto’s Official Plan.

I would like to encourage members of our community to write to the Toronto Official Plan Review at opreview@toronto.ca to stress the importance of re-taining employment land in the City.Sincerely, Mark Grimes

Building the Best Business Environment for EntrepreneursBernard Trottier, MP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore

On Saturday, October 20, Canadians celebrated the first edition of “Small Business Saturday”, a day when we all recognized the vital role that small-to-medium sized enterprises play in our economy.

Forbes magazine stated recently that Canada was the best place in the world to do business. As a proud member of the Government of Canada, I appreciate that a large part of that honour is due to the character of Canada’s small busi-ness entrepreneurs: hard working, passionate, determined and courageous. Small business is a big deal in Etobicoke-Lakeshore and in Canada. Canadian entrepreneurs work hard creating jobs and growth in communities right across Etobicoke-Lakeshore and the country. In order to create the best business en-vironment possible for entrepreneurs, the Canadian government is focused on the economy: keeping taxes low, cutting unnecessary government red tape, promoting Canadian exports in new markets and supporting our entrepre-neurs. With a small business tax rate reduced down to 11 per cent and a corporate tax rate recently reduced down to 15 per cent this year, Canada now stands as the most tax-competitive country among G7 nations, according to a recent report by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. Our government also understands that as we work toward a return to balanced budgets over the medium term, we will do so without raising taxes or cutting transfers to Ca-nadians or the provinces. Many Canadian small business entrepreneurs, 30 000 Canada-wide in fact, export their products and services to markets around the world. Our Government’s ambitious trade plan is deepening our trade relation-ships with high-growth markets. Since 2007, our efforts have led to the signing of nine new trade agreements and twelve new foreign investment promotion and protection agreements including one most recently with China. Toward the end of the year, we are looking forward to completing a trade agreement with the European Union, reducing tariffs to a market of 500 million consumers.

Building on these successes, our Government launched the Red Tape Reduc-tion Action Plan this fall to cut unnecessary red tape in order to save entre-preneurs time and money. The plan is ambitious and includes 90 department-specific reforms – common sense solutions to business irritants in areas ranging from tax and payroll, to labour, transport and trade. This builds on our actions taken in Economic Action Plan 2012 to help employers make new hires with the extension of the temporary Hiring Benefit for Small Businesses while limit-ing Employment Insurance rate increases. We also introduced the Pooled Reg-istered Pension Plan providing small business entrepreneurs with a framework to provide pensions to employees at a lower cost. These initiatives demonstrate the Canadian government’s commitment to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for all Canadians.

Holiday Gift Guide The Lakeshore Villageswww. t h e l a ke s h o r e . c a

Give the Gift of Coffee & Conservation Birds & Beans Bird Friendly Coffee

Birds and Beans 2413 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

416. 913.9221

FELT Bicycle

Cycle Butik2749 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

647.258.0012

LP’s

Village Vinyl Emporium & Café 2925 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

416.809.6625

Cookbooks make a perfect Christmas gift!

Community Roots Books, Movies & Art Shop

2858 Lake Shore Blvd. W. 416.251.5576

Christmas Box of Questions Stocking Stuffer Game

Loot Lady Toys 3029 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

416.503.9108

Thomas Kinkade’s Memorial Winter Wonder

Rhea Flower Shop2872 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

416.259.6346

Obus Form Swedish Massage Cushion

Kassel’s Pharmacy396 Royal York Road

416.251.1126

Pre-Built Gingerbread House KitLakeshore Valu-Mart •

2399 Lake Shore Blvd. W. 416.503.3491

PastriesSweet Olenka’s

2790 Lake Shore Blvd. W. 416.521.7444

Shop LocalThis Holiday

Season!

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You filed your income tax long time ago in April, you paid your tax bill and even received a notice from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) confirm-ing your tax assessment and payment. You assume that your 2011 file is closed and go off to your regular, non-tax related activities of life. And all of a sudden you find in your mail box another letter from CRA that start as follows: “we regularly conduct review programs as an important part of the self-assessment tax system…” If you find yourself reading that letter, do not panic. This is not a full audit of your tax return, but rather a review of certain deductions or credits that you claimed. The review process is part of CRA’s routine that takes place after the returns have been processed and assessed. It starts in June and lasts until late fall. Each year CRA selects a number of most common deductions and claims for tax credits and requests supporting documents. The following claims are most commonly reviewed: - day care costs- property tax / rent paid- tuition and education amounts- charitable donations- public transit passes- medical expenses Also, if your claim for any of the above items is unusually high, for instance when you had some major dental expenses paid out of pocket, CRA will want to confirm them with your original receipts. It should be noted that such reviews are NOT more common for electronically filed returns, just because no paper documents were submitted. The letter that you received specifies which items are being reviewed and then lists documents that need to be submitted, usually within 30 days of the date of the letter. It is important that you respond within specified time period with the requested information. Otherwise, CRA will assume that you do not have appropriate supporting documents and will re-assess your return denying your claim. You may want to contact your accountant who prepared your tax return for advice on what documents to submit and how to submit them. Here are a few points to consider when submitting documents to CRA: - always make copies in case documents you send by mail get “misdirected”- consider sending documents by fax, as specified in the letter, AND obtain fax confirmation that transmission was successful- read carefully what is required, eg. if the letter asks for proof of payment for your property tax, then make sure you send either copies of cheques (front and back), bank statements showing actual payments, or statement showing “amount paid”- when submitting forms for tuition and education amounts make sure to sign them and fill out transfer to parent or spouse instruction if applicable In case you need more time to prepare your documents contact CRA and ask for extension of time. But by all means, do not ignore the letter or let it sit in your “TBD” drawer for too long. Eva Kupiec, CMABeata Kurpiewski, CGAPrincipals of Professional Accounting Office at 3461 Lake Shore Blvd. W.www.beaccounting.ca

When your tax return is being reviewed…

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