WINTER 2018

H B S C A . C A

REVELIN WINTER!IN THIS ISSUE:• NEW TECH & TRAVEL TRENDS FOR 2018• COMMUNITY NEWS & UPDATES• REAL ESTATE TRENDS & INFO

VISITHBSCA.CATO SEE ALL OF OURUPCOMING EVENTS

23 CONDO FEATURE QUEENSWAY PARK CONDOS By Urban Capital

28 SOMETHING TO DO | ICE BREAKERS

HEALTH & WELLNESS15 WHAT DOES YOUR HEALTH FUTURE LOOK LIKE By Dr. Maureen Henderson

TRAVEL8 GENIUS GETAWAYS | SAN FRANCISCO By Jim Flynn

24 TRAVEL TRENDS FOR 2018 By Krista Garney Cluett

COVER PHOTO:Photo: Don Henderson

4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS10 FAIRNESS & OPPORTUNITY PLAN

By Peter Milczyn | MPP

14 NATURAL RESOURCES

COMMITTEE UPDATE

By James Maloney | MP

16 WATERFRONT TRANSIT STUDY

By John Cardoulis

26 DEVELOPMENT & TRANSIT UPDATE

By Councillor Mark Grimes

30 SIGNS OF RENEWAL

By Irene Jardine

EXPERT ADVICE6 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

OPPORTUNITY

12 THE NEW MORTGAGE REALITY

By Steven Tupholme

22 MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR RRSP & TFSA

By Michael Storino

29 REAL ESTATE TRENDS

By Michael Klassen

LIFESTYLE18 RECIPE FEATURE | CHOCOLATE

CHIP COOKIES

20 NEW TECH FOR 2018

By Marc Saltzman

18

29

8

A Community Publication by the Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association

IN THIS ISSUE

15

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 3

4 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

As we move through the New Year there will be issues that

come up in our Community, not all issues can be resolved

in a day or even a week. HBSCA will continue to work very

closely with our elected officials to get things resolved.

Our community is growing and will continue to grow, this will

no doubt result in growing pains. We have to be patient when it

comes to construction in HBS. I know it’s not always fun to be out

in traffic. This is the message to all our residents: We continue to

work with the construction site managers to convey our concern

about the appearance of the properties under construction. We

will work closely with the developers and our City Councillor to

make sure that work sites and adjacent streets are kept clean. If

you see something that needs be taken care of in our community

please contact us at hbsca@rogers.com, call us at 416-792-4964 or

call 311.

We are working on events for the coming year. Our Farmers

Market will be better than ever and we are working on adding new

vendors this season, thanks for the community support! Our

Annual Clean Up will be here before we know it, it’s your com-

munity so come out and help keep it clean. Our Waterfront

Festival was a fantastic event with a big turnout and a good time

was had by all, we look forward to it again this year.

During this coming year, we will see new buildings opening,

bringing in a lot of new residents. We will work hard to keep all

the residents aware of what a great place Humber Bay Shores is

to live, play and work.

We are working with our councillor to try and get a new off

leash area in the community. Remember all the parks in HBS are

not off leash parks so please keep your pets on their leash.

OUR PARKS AND TRAILSThis coming spring, we will see work starting on the pathway

from Palace Pier Court to Mimico Creek.

TRAFFICWe continue to work will the city’s transportation department.

The new pedestrian crossing or PXO will be installed on Marine

Parade Drive; this will help our residents get to the south side

of the street.

The “No U turn” sign has been installed and enforcement

will be beginning. The fine is $110.00 and two demerit points.

If you see driving infraction, you can report it directly

to the Toronto Police at: www.torontopolice.on.ca/core/

driving_complaints.php. It’s your community so report it!

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

HBSCA NEWSBY JIM REEKIE , HBSCA PRESIDENT

HBSCA CALL FOR VOLUNTEERSThe HBSCA needs a number of volunteers

to help with various programs and initiatives.

Do you have a little spare time to contribute to your community?

Are you interested in a part-time job and have about 8 hours a week free? Do you like to spend time in your community? This may be ideal for you!

CALL FOR AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE

PLEASE CALL THE HBSCA AT 416-792-4964EMAIL: HBSCA@ROGERS.COM

HH

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 5

BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENT: Jim Reekie, Palace Place

VICE-PRESIDENT: Joyce Luesink, Beyond the Sea, Phase ITREASURER: Stephanie Mahoney, Palace Place

SECRETARY: Laura Nash, Marina del Rey, Phase IIIPAST-PRESIDENT: Don Henderson, Bal Harbour

DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE:Kathryn Winter, Grand Harbour | Tom Arkay, Palace Pier

Jeremy Greenberg, Ocean ClubDIRECTORS:

Vladyslav Kostyuk, Westlake Tower 1 | Ron Anderson, Palace PierKathryn Winter, Grand Harbour, Bldg A & BEleanor Sled-Kurrie, Grand Harbour, Bldg C

TBD, Explorer at Waterview | Mary Hutcheon, Voyager 2Jim Simone, Nautilus | Betty Brooker, Hearthstone by the Bay

John Petrie, Grenadier Landing | David White, Beyond the Sea, Star TowerGina DeLorenzi, Waterscapes | TBD, Palace Place

Dina GodinHo, Lakeside Place | John Cardoulis, Newport BeachJeremy Greenberg, Ocean Club | TBD, Riva del Lago | TBD, Lago

TBD, Jade | Jim Faichnie, WaterfordDon Henderson, Bal Harbour | Ron Ross, Marina Del Rey 3

CONTRIBUTORSPeter Milczyn | Mark Grimes | James Maloney

Dr. Maureen Henderson | Krista Garney Cluett | Irene JardineSteven Tupholme | Jim Flynn | Michael Storino

Marc Saltzman | Michael Klassen | John Cardoulis

PRODUCTIONDESIGN: Markintosh Design | Mark Tzerelshtein

PUBLISHING CONSULTANT: Fred SandersMANAGING EDITOR: Monique Charbonneau

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Hunter Peebles

ADVERTISINGFor advertising inquires please contact HBSCA:

hbsca@rogers.com 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 partof this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the consent of theHBSCA. The HBSCA, MJ Rochester Publishing Inc. or any member of the productionteam 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: hbsca@rogers.comWEBSITE: www.hbsca.ca

Have ideas to share, feedback or wish to volunteer? Reach us at hbsca@rogers.com or 416-792-4964

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 corporationsand 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 weconduct research and provide awareness and education to our community onissues 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 condominiumcommunity in which we live, work, and play.

WINTER 2018 VOLUME 22, ISSUE 1

Made possible with the support of the

When a business starts turning a

profit, smart owners invest back

into the business.

Now you will have an opportunity to

invest in your business by purchasing

your office space. Jutland Square, a new

commercial condo at Islington and the

Queensway, has just become available for

purchase and will be ready for occupancy

in the spring of 2019.

Perfect for professionals — tech

firms, graphic and interior designers,

dentists, doctors, lawyers, accountants

— it’s close to the QEW, 427 and 401, as

well as TTC and GO stations, and the air-

port. Existing retail, restaurants, and

services are also very close. In fact, the

five-acre site is in an area poised for

growth as nearby Six Points undergoes a

major city-led revitalization.

While the substantial one and two

storey units range from 1838 to 2400 sf,

owners can combine and customize

suites. For example, you may need

upgraded electrical wiring for a dentist or

doctor’s practice, or smaller built-in indi-

vidual workspaces for an accounting

agency. There’s ample ground level and

underground parking, including five

handicapped spots, and parking spots are

included with the unit purchase price.

Developed by Dunpar Homes, this

project is built to the same stringent stan-

dards that are trademarks of all Dunpar

Homes’ communities. Large windows and

12’ ceilings are standard on each of the two

levels. Walls are steel stud framed in struc-

tural steel, with Styrofoam insulation.

Contemporary exterior cladding is a com-

bination of brick, architectural panels and

masonry/precast. Aluminum doors are

eight-feet high and 36” wide making move-

in a breeze. Each unit has individually

controlled natural gas heating and cooling;

each HVAC unit has sheet metal supply &

return air duct stubs into unit terminating

at the bottom of the structural steel joist.

Building high quality townhome com-

munities across the GTA for over 30 years,

Dunpar Homes has now successfully

brought their same high standards of

design and construction to the area

of commercial condominiums. This

dynamic company also has a long history

of revitalizing underused commercial

and industrial sites throughout the

Greater Toronto Area transforming them

into upscale residential communities

and is constantly identifying new oppor-

tunities for growth. HH

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSTAKE NOTE DUNPAR LAUNCHES JUTLAND SQUARE| PREMIER OFFICE

CONDOMINIUMS AT ISLINGTON & THE QUEENSWAY

6 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

Expert Advice | Business Real Estate

“Exquisite Italian cuisine!”“Fantastic food and ambiance!”“You have to eat here!”

Oro di Napoli is an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria which has garneredimpressive reviews from pizza aficionados for its original take on pizza. Their mouth-watering pizzas are cooked to perfection in their signatureStefano Ferrara wood burning oven, hand built in Naples by the mastercraftsman himself.

What is also impressive about this gem on Lake Shore, is the daily creations offered by Chef Giovanni, a master in the art of Italian cuisine.With an extensive experience in Sora, Italy, as well as Scotland andCanada, his dishes are generating a serious buzz. His lobster ravioli issimply to die for. But there are too many dishes to mention in this limited space. For full menu visit www.pizzeriaorodinapoli.ca

Fully LicensedDelivery Available

2312 Lakeshore Blvd West

416.316.0606

BY JIM FLYNN , FOUNDER AND EDITOR OF BESTWEEKENDS.COM

DESTINATION OVERVIEWImmortalized by Tony Bennett’s song “I Left My Heart

in San Francisco”, the city is one of the country’s most

unique destinations. Ethnically diverse, and known

for its foggy climate, cable cars, colorful Victorian

homes, steep hills and the Golden Gate Bridge, San

Francisco is at the top of everyone’s travel bucket list.

Getting There The City is accessible from virtually anywhere in the

US and Canada by air.

When To Go Spring (little rain and mild temperatures) and Fall

(warmest months and less crowded) are the best times

to visit the San Francisco.

Getting Around All means of public transportation are available as is

Uber and Lyft as well as the wonderful cable cars of

San Francisco.

travel | Genius Getaways

SAN FRANCISCOTHE CITY BY THE BAY

8 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 9

Where To StayThe Four Seasons www.fourseasons.com/sanfran-

cisco is a sophisticated hotel with a gorgeous art

collection of more than 90 paintings, sculptures,

prints and works in glass. The Scarlet Huntington

www.thescarlethotels.com in Nob Hill is known for

its exemplary service, possibly the best spa in town,

and the wonderfully clubby My Restaurant & Bar.

Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square

www.fairmont.com/ghirardelli-san-francisco is like

having your own luxury apartment in the City. Great

for longer stays.

Just a short water taxi across the Bay in Sausalito,

Cavallo Point www.cavallopoint.com sits in the

shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge and is a luxury

boutique hotel converted from an old Army bar-

racks. Casa Madrona www.casamadrona.com sits

on a hillside with stunning vistas, fireplace and bal-

cony rooms and an excellent Italian restaurant.

Where To EatFine dining doesn’t get any better than Gary Danko

www.garydanko.com without any pretension. This

resto boasts the Relais & Chateau designation,

Forbes 5 star, is Michelin starred and is a Wine Spec-

tator Grand Award winner. Well worth the trip!

Boulevard www.boulevardrestaurant.com is a gastro

pub helmed by renowned chef Nancy Oakes.

Wonderful food and a spectacular selection of pre-

mium wines by the glass. Kokkari Estiatoria

www.kokkari.com is a wonderful upscale Greek

restaurant with a beamed ceiling and a candlelit

dining room. Maybe the best roast chicken you will

ever experience. As befits a 1930’s style supper club,

the entrance to Bix www.bixrestaurant.com is down

an alley. A dramatic dining room with a mezzanine

overlooking the main floor features an excellent

American menu with live jazz providing the

background music. State Bird Provisions

www.statebirdsf.com is a casual storefront serving

small plates in a dim sum style. This highly awarded

restaurant serves local, organic & well crafted ingre-

dients. Scoma’s www.scomas.com is a waterfront

institution since 1965, serving fresh seafood. Lastly,

Tadich Grillwww.tadichgrill.com provides a taste of

old San Francisco and the ocean views at The Cliff

House www.cliffhouse.com are spectacular. HH

Don’t Miss • Buena Vista www.thebuenavista.com for their legendary

Irish Coffee

• Waterbar www.waterbarsf.com for fresh oysters and an

amazing view of the Bay Bridge

• A visit to Alcatraz www.alcatraztickets.com

• A day in Sonoma or Napa Wine Country; just an hour away.

OPPOSITE TOP: Golden GateBridge over San Francisco Bay.OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Riding acable car in San Francisco. TOP: Montgomery St. andSkyline of Downtown areas ofSan Francisco. ABOVE: TheAlcatraz Penitentiary, now amuseum, in San Francisco.LEFT: Sonoma Valley vineyardsis just an hour away.PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

10 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

COMMUNITY NEWS

Ontario has moved forward with its

plan to create fairness and opportu-

nity for people across the province,

following the release of the 2017 Ontario

Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review late

last year. Our government at that time

outlined new measures to grow the

economy and help people thrive in an

uncertain global environment. The gov-

ernment will balance the budget this

year, as well as the next two years. A bal-

anced budget means more funding for

the programs and services people rely on

most, such as health care and education.

With a balanced budget, the Ontario

government is able to build greater

fairness by strengthening key public serv-

ices that matter most to the people of

Ontario. We are:

• Raising the minimum wage to $14 as

of January 1, 2018 and to $15 an hour

on January 1, 2019, and ensuring equal

pay for part-time workers doing the

same job as full-time workers.

• Continuing to support young people as

they begin their careers and transition

to the workforce. Ontario is providing

new incentives for businesses to

employ youth. Beginning in 2018, the

province will provide $124 million over

three years in supports for youth aged

15 to 29 to support employer hiring and

retention. A small business with fewer

than 100 employees would receive a

$1,000 incentive for hiring a young

worker and a $1,000 incentive for

retaining that worker for six months.

• Supporting seniors through the Aging

with Confidence action plan so they can

live independent, healthy, active, safe

and socially connected lives. The plan

includes creating 5,000 new long-term

care beds by 2022 — and more than

30,000  beds over the next  decade.

These new beds are in addition to the

30,000 existing beds that are being

redeveloped. The government will also

increase the provincial average to four

hours of direct care per long-term care

resident per day when fully phased in.

The province is also investing to

improve care for all patients, with an

additional $618 million for hospitals

this year to provide faster access to

procedures, new programs and digital

technology. And, to support a smooth

transition for patients discharged

from hospital, the government is

investing an additional $40 million to

help patients receive care at home.

• Investing in skills and training through

programs like the Graduated Appren-

ticeship Grant for Employers to

provide incentives to encourage

apprentices to complete training, and

encouraging youth employment by

providing hiring and retention incen-

tives of $1,000 to small businesses that

employ young workers. The govern-

ment is launching a new grant that

encourages employers to help appren-

tices complete their training programs,

and is expanding support to five addi-

tional trades. The province is also

modernizing its apprenticeship system

to improve completion rates — creating

clearer pathways to jobs — and

increasing opportunities for underrep-

resented groups.

• Helping 24,000  more children aged

four and under access licensed child

care this year, reducing waitlists for

families, as part of a commitment to

provide 100,000 new spaces.

• Strengthening small businesses by

providing more than $500  million

over three years in new initiatives that

will lower costs and support growth.

This includes a proposed 22 per cent

cut in the Corporate Income Tax rate

for small businesses. One-third of all

workers in Ontario are employed by

BY PETER MILCZYN , MPP

ONTARIO IMPLEMENTING PLANTO CREATE FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 11

small businesses. Along with recent

measures, such as lowering Workplace

Safety and Insurance Board average

premium rates and other business-

focused initiatives, this would result

in $1.9 billion in provincial support for

small businesses over three years.

• Helping more people find affordable

homes by encouraging increased

housing supply, protecting buyers and

renters, and bringing stability to the real

estate market through the Fair Housing

Plan. As part of the plan, the expansion

of rent control to all private market

units in the province is ensuring that

people are not subject to large, unfair

spikes in rent. To continue helping

families buy or rent a home they can

afford, the province established a

roundtable on housing development

approvals. It has issued recommenda-

tions that will help address housing

affordability challenges, increase

supply and support mixed-use com-

munities that make more efficient use

of land and infrastructure.

• Building major transit projects such as

GO Regional Express Rail and investing

in numerous highway projects to move

goods to market faster and manage

commute times across the province.

Ontario is also reducing the Toronto

Transit Commission (TTC) fare to $1.50

for PRESTO card users transferring

between GO Transit or the Union

Pearson Express and the TTC. Here in

Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Ontario is making

it easier for commuters and families to

get around the Greater Toronto and

Hamilton Area (GTHA) by redeveloping

Kipling Station into a major new transit

hub that connects subway, regional rail,

and inter-regional bus services within a

single station.

While Ontario’s economy has grown

faster than Canada’s and those of all G7

nations for the past three years, the gov-

ernment recognizes that the numbers

do not tell the whole story. Many people

are facing uncertainty and challenges.

The measures in the 2017 Review respond

to this uncertainty and will help create

fairness and opportunity for all by sup-

porting the right conditions for families

and businesses to succeed.

Please feel free to contactPeter Milczyn at the Constituency Office at 993 The Queensway in Etobicoke, or by phone at 416-259-2249 or fax: 416-259-3704 with any of your questions, commentsor concerns.

HH

12 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

On January 1st of this year the new

mortgage rule “The Stress Test”

came into effect to help adjust the

Toronto Real Estate market. Those put-

ting even 20% down on a mortgage now

face qualifying at an additional 2% on top

of the current interest rate. In other

words, if the interest rate is currently

3.44% and you would qualify $400,000

based on your income, adding 2% brings

you up to 5.44% which lowers your

amount to approximately $320,000.

What does this mean? A few things: one,

you can expect interest rates to continue

to go up; two, buying power has now

shrunk making it even harder to buy

property in Toronto and three, investors

will most likely become more active with

purchasing should prices start to dip due

to affordability. So, what do you do now?

Ask for help! Get the right advice.

Knowing how much you can afford to

spend and finding the right way to

finance it are two of the easiest ways to

begin. Contact a mortgage agent. Today

there are agents who meet you where you

feel most comfortable whether it be your

home or a coffee shop. They are called

Mobile Mortgage Specialists and they

work with you “whenever, wherever”. As

Melinda Gordon-Edmonds, Mobile Mort-

gage Specialist puts it, “I will help finalize

which type of mortgage is best, the

interest rate, mortgage term and payment

schedule, all at my clients’ convenience.”

One of the most common conditions

in an Agreement to purchase property is

the approval of mortgage financing. It is

very important to have pre-qualified

yourself to obtain financing before

making an offer. Most sellers prefer not

to agree to more than 5 business days to

fulfil a financing condition. Having a

property sold conditionally removes it

from the market. Nobody wants to waste

time and miss out on other potential

buyers. So, before falling in love with a

potential new condo or detached, you

want to obtain a pre-approval. This will

help you stay within your price range and

spend your time wisely looking at homes

you can reasonably afford.

The pre-approval meeting is the time

to find out about different mortgage

products that are available to suit your

particular needs. First-time buyers may

want to ask about special programs such

as the federal government’s “RSP Home

Buyers Plan”. Once the mortgage is pre-

approved, you can shop with confidence,

knowing how much you can spend for

the home of your choice. It is important

to understand that a Pre-Approval from

the lender does not mean that you are

approved for any property you wish, as

final financing always depends on the

actual property appraisal.

If you ever have any questions pertaining

to mortgages, condos, real estate law or any

other real estate related topic, contact me

today. I would be happy to assist you.

Steven Tupholme

Sales Representative

Royal Le Page Connect Realty

Phone: 416-726-1951

ask@thatcondoguy.ca

www.thatcondoguy.ca

HH

expert advice

The NEW MORTGAGEREALITY BY STEVEN TUPHOLME

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

Questioning Your Investments?Get an expert second opinion on your portfolio

AN UNBIASED REVIEW CAN HELP YOU:Managing your investment exposure to Risk.

Keep your Fees Low.

Minimize your Taxes.

Review your Will & Estate Planning & Financial Planning.

Michael L. Storino, CCIM, FCSI Investment & Wealth Advisor

Tel: 416-231-3850michael.storino@rbc.comwww.michaelstorino.com

Contact Michael today for your complimentary second opinion service.

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.

There’s Wealth in Our Approach.™

14 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

In addition to my responsibilities as

your MP, I serve as chair of the House

of Commons Natural Resources Com-

mittee.  We study key issues facing both

the resource industry and the country,

balancing the growth of renewable

energy, industry and the environment.

We released a report in December on

electrical interties. There is no question

that affordable, reliable electricity is crit-

ical for the sustainability of the Canadian

economy and way of life. However, the

electricity generation portfolio of each

province and territory varies, both in terms

of the volume of electricity generated and

the fuel sources used. Canada, which has

significant hydroelectric resources, has

one of the highest proportions of elec-

tricity generated from renewable or

non-greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting

sources in the world, with renewable

sources and non-GHG emitting sources

accounting for 65% and 80% of Canada’s

electricity generation respectively.

Several jurisdictions however, rely

heavily on GHG-intensive fuel sources

like coal, diesel, and/or natural gas so the

committee studied four themes: 1)

Canada’s electricity transmission inter-

ties; 2) opportunities to strengthen

Canada’s interties; 3) enhanced regional

cooperation; and 4) recommendations to

the Government of Canada. Witnesses

told the Committee that electrification is

critical to achieving Canada’s national

climate goals. While electricity repre-

sents about 22% of all end-use energy

demand in Canada today, deep decar-

bonization scenarios project this to triple

by 2050.  Increasing renewable and non-

GHG sources in the electricity mix, the

federal goal is to increase the share of

non-emitting electricity generation in

Canada to 90% by 2030. Provinces also

have their own goals. In light of these

changes, the Committee invited a wide

range of experts from government,

industry, academia and civil society to

discuss strategic electricity interties. The

Committee made recommendations.

Here are a few:

• That the Government of Canada work

with partners to assess the economic

opportunities of increased electricity

interties in different regions across

Canada, including interties that

increase interprovincial trade of elec-

tricity and provide other benefits for

electric utility operators, such as reli-

ability and resilience, according to the

findings of the Regional Electricity

Cooperation and Strategic Infrastruc-

ture Initiative; Interties to increase

Canada-U.S. electricity trade and pro-

vide safe, secure, reliable, clean and

efficient power to market; Interties

that could help reduce economic

losses from the electricity sector by

stemming curtailment and spillage of

renewable resources.

• It also recommended that the Govern-

ment explore export opportunities in

the U.S.

• Within our boundaries, the committee

recommended that the Government of

Canada work with partners to

examine: how electricity interties can

support provincial renewable elec-

tricity targets and help manage the

variable output of some renewable

electricity resources; opportunities to

coordinate interprovincial electricity

trade between low-carbon electric-

dominant provinces and their

neighbouring provinces and in

Northern and remote communities.

The Committee also recommended

that the Government of Canada engage

provinces and territories to identify

and address regulatory barriers

between jurisdictions to facilitate

developing transmission interties,

increasing interprovincial and Canada-

U.S. electricity trade, and modernizing

electric systems and markets.

• Non-GHG emitting sources of elec-

tricity are part of the energy solution

of the future.  

For more information and for a copy of

the full report, contact my office.   

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.

NATURAL RESOURCESCommittee UPDATE

HH

BY JAMES MALONEY , M.P.

COMMUNITY NEWS

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 15

health & wellness

You can’t look into a crystal ball to

see how your health will be in 5, 20

or 50 years, however there are some

signs and trends that can give us a

glimpse into our future.

What are your genetic factors?

Are/were your parents healthy, mobile

and devoid of medications in mid to old

age? Are you similar to them? Do you

exercise on a regular basis to maintain

muscle tone and a healthy heart? Are you

an optimum weight for your age? Or, as

is the current trend, are you overweight,

and gaining 2-5 pounds per year? Do you

get adequate sleep? Are you eating a well-

balanced, nutritious diet with sufficient

protein to maintain all critical body func-

tions? Do you have work/family stressors

that take up a lot of your thoughts? Are

you content with your current life?

Here are a few ideas on how you can

achieve lifestyle management.

Take control of your future by imple-

menting small steps and strategies to

reverse or minimize these harmful fac-

tors. Genetics play a huge role; we can be

predisposed to heart disease, diabetes,

some cancers and other health issues.

However, we can alter these health risks

by modifying dietary habits, improving

our nutritional supplementation, lim-

iting alcohol consumption and not

smoking. Eliminating sugar, the silent

killer, is one of the most important fac-

tors for healthy living.

If weight loss is required JUST DO IT!

You will then experience the benefits of

increased mobility, more energy, a feeling

of well-being and possible reduction in

some medications, etc. Other actions such

as regular exercise/physical training will

maintain optimal muscle tone as you age.

Eliminate the negative in your life; do

you have any control over the stressor(s)

you are thinking about or that keep you

awake at night? If not, throw it over your

left shoulder and move on! Address the

issues, one by one, that you have some

control over and reach viable, successful

conclusions.

Encourage the positives and that

begins with YOU being healthy and happy.

The old saying, “Smile and the world

smiles with you, cry and you cry alone” is

so true. Give someone a hug, an exchange

of positive energy today. The power of a

hug is beyond measure. It helps form a

strong bond with friends and family. And

the nicest thing about a hug is that you

usually can’t give one without getting one.

Hugging is good medicine!

Change is uncomfortable and that’s

why we often fail with resolutions. How-

ever, you are the only one who can make

the commitment to change your life. Do

you want health, happiness and mobility

in your final years? What are you willing

to do to achieve these goals? It’s never too

late to start your healthy journey.

Remember, 90% of success is having a

goal and preparing the necessary steps to

achieve it.

Are you ready to change? Are you worth the

sacrifice? Our office provides Complemen-

tary Weekly Health Educational Seminars:

Tuesdays at 6:00 pm — Join us and let us

inspire you to become the ideal you. Contact

our clinic at 416-231-9502 to reserve your

seat. www.kingswayhealth.ca

Dr. Maureen Henderson,

Chiropractor and Ideal

Protein Coach has been

practicing for 41 years

located at: 2405 Lake Shore

Boulevard West, Etobicoke.

HH

BY DR. MAUREEN HENDERSON

WHAT DOES YOUR HEALTH FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

16 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

WATERFRONTTRANSIT RESET STUDYSUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Back in November 2015 the City of

Toronto launched the Waterfront

Transit “Reset” Study. Phase 1 was to

conduct a complete review of the history

of waterfront transit planning since 1995.

The study was commissioned to review

waterfront transit initiatives and options

to include:

• the proposed Shore Line (closing the

gap on the dedicated streetcar right-of-

way between St. Joseph’s Hospital and

Exhibition Place),

• the relocation of the Humber Loop,

• the Park Lawn  — Lake Shore Trans-

portation Master Plan then underway,

• the possibility of a new GO Transit stop

at Park Lawn, the proposed Legion

Road extension,

• the proposed A.M. peak turning

restrictions on Park Lawn Road from

the Gardiner Expressway,

• the  Mimico  By the Lake Secondary

Plan (Mimico 20/20),

• the Long Branch Avenue Study,

• 2150 Lake Shore Boulevard West

(former Mr. Christie bakery site).

The Humber Bay Shores Condo-

minium  Association  was invited to

participate in the study as a stakeholder

and to offer its views, opinions and

COMMUNITY NEWS

IN PART BY JOHN CARDOULIS , HBSCA DIRECTOR | NEWPORT BEACH CONDOMINIUM

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 17

assessments of the study progress as part

of a broader advisory group.

Phase 2, started in June 2016, was for the

further development and costing of align-

ment concepts, detailed analysis of transit

operations and ridership, identification of

priority segments, as well as the creation of

a Business Case and implementation

strategy for delivering a coordinated water-

front transit solution. Again, HBSCA

participated in several additional Stake-

holder Advisory Group meetings.

Updates on the progress of this study

have been provided to HBSCA members and

executives at board meetings, the annual

general meetings and in various emails. The

study, completed in late November 2017,

will be considered by the Executive Council

on January 24, 2018 and by City Council on

January 31, 2018. Following below is an

excerpt for your review of the work product

of that study. The Waterfront Transit Net-

work Plan Report For Action has been

submitted by Deputy City Manager, Cluster

B, John Livey. 

An excerpt from the Summary of this report of special interestto HBSCA members:“This report was prepared in collaboration

with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

and Waterfront Toronto. 

The goal of this study was to create a

waterfront transit network from Long

Branch and Lake Shore in the west to Queen

Street and Woodbine Avenue in the east. The

results of the study and latest travel demand

forecast confirmed the direction of previous

initiatives to create an exclusive streetcar

right-of-way (LRT) from Legion Road and

Lake Shore Boulevard in the west to Leslie

Street and Commissioners Street in the east.

This direction is consistent with land use

projections to 2041 where it was found that

the waterfront will outpace most other areas

of the City and Region in terms of growth. 

In this report, solutions are being

advanced for key sections of the network

between Humber Bay Shores and Exhibition

Place, along Bathurst St from Fort York Blvd

to Queens Quay, and for the Port Lands from

Parliament St to Leslie St. 

The study has defined the primary east-

west waterfront transit corridor as a

component of a connected transit and multi-

modal system that supports significant growth

areas, the greatest concentration of cultural,

recreational and special events in the City, and

also provides flexibility and network resilience.

As a result, a series of streetcar infrastructure

projects are recommended that will support a

range of route and service options that will

allow different future demands to be served. 

The two most significant projects in the

network are the westerly extension of a new

exclusive LRT right-of-way from Exhibition

Place to serve the Humber Bay Shores area

(“Humber Bay Link”), and improving the

underground transit link from Union Sta-

tion to Queens Quay, including the

previously approved exclusive LRT right-of-

way along Queens Quay East. Without these

two components of the network, the benefits

of further transit improvements to the west

and the east cannot be fully realized.” 

The full 16-page document is available at:

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/

ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-110749.pdf

My thanks to Don Henderson, the original

HBSCA member attending the early stakeholder

meetings, for inviting me to represent HBSCA

during Phase 2 meetings. It’s been an experience!

HH

PHO

TO: A

ND

Y ZA

V

18 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

LIFESTYLE

WINTER CHILLS=WARMCHOCOLATECHIPCOOKIESW

hen the winter chills keeps us away from

our regular outdoor routine what better

way to enjoy your inside time than with

an old fashion bake day. There is a certain satis-

faction in home baking and warm chocolate

chip cookies with no additives or preservatives

is a win win!

Idea: package a few in a cute bag with a

ribbon for a neighbour or friend.

After some tasty research, we settled on this

Martha Stewart recipe:

HH

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line several baking sheets with parchment

paper, and set aside.

2. Combine butter and both sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with

the paddle attachment, and beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, and mix

to combine. Add egg, and continue beating until well combined.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly

add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until just

combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

4. Scoop out 2 tablespoons of dough, and place on a prepared baking sheet.

Repeat with remaining dough, placing scoops 3 inches apart. Bake until

just brown around the edges, 16 to 18 minutes, rotating the pans between

the oven shelves halfway through baking. Remove from the oven, and let

cool slightly before removing cookies from the baking sheets.

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 large egg, room temperature

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped,

or one 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

Mortgage AdviceWhenever, wherever

We understand that life can be hectic, so we make getting home financing advice convenient and comfortable.

Ask me how

Melinda Gordon-EdmondsMobile Mortgage Specialist

Tel: 416 689 8501

melinda.gordon-edmonds@td.com

• BOOKKEEPING

• ACCOUNTING

• INCOME TAX

• CONSULTING

• REPRESENTATION WITH

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

MAKING YOUR LIFELESS TAXING

523 The Queensway, Unit 100, Toronto ON M8Y 1J7Phone: 416 -767-3336 | Fax: 416-767-3178

E-mail: milcon@rogers.com

Conveniently located near the intersection ofPark Lawn and Queensway beside Royal Bank.

WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES:

20 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

lifestyle

If you thought last year’s tech was cool, in the immortal

words of ’70s rockers Bachman-Turner Overdrive,

“baby, you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.”

If the recent Consumer Electronics Show

(CES) is any indication, 2018 looks to be a

stellar year for new or improved technologies.

While we might not see domestic robots or

flying cars debut anytime soon, the following

is a look at a few interesting developments on

the horizon.

BY MARC SALTZMAN

TECH IT OUT:WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2018

VIRTUAL BLENDS WITH THE PHYSICALAs our lives become increasingly digital,

we’re seeing a deeper integration of these

two worlds. Look at your environment

through the camera lens of your smart-

phone (or windshield or special glasses),

and you’ll see digital information layered

on top of the real world. Called “aug-

mented reality,” the applications are

endless, such as seeing furniture in your

home before you bring it home, or GPS

directions overlaid on the roads in front

of your instead of looking at a teeny

5-inch screen. Another example of this

fusion between online and offline

worlds colliding: artificial intelligence

(A.I.)-driven “chatbots” simulate human

conversations in a messaging app like

Facebook Messenger and can interface

with you like a real person.

EVERYTHING BECOMES VOICE-CONTROLLEDSpeaking of A.I., Canada’s hottest tech

products – voice-activated personal assis-

tants in the home, like Google Home and

Amazon Echo – will continue to surge in

popularity, plus the technology will debut

in many other products, too. If you

haven’t seen these devices, they resemble

small speakers you’d place in, say, a

kitchen. After you say the wake word

(such as “OK Google,” or “Alexa” for

Amazon devices), you can ask a question

or give a command, and you’ll hear a

human-like voice give you an answer.

From booking an Uber or a restaurant

reservation to adjusting your home’s tem-

perature or turning the lights on outside,

these smart home assistants will get

smarter and more affordable in 2018. Other

products will fold in this same technology

too, including smart TVs and thermostats.

BLOCKCHAIN, CRYPTOCURRENCY BOOMAn overused yet often misunderstood term,

blockchain is a type of “distributed ledger,”

in which value exchange transactions — a

la Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies — are

sequentially grouped into blocks. As the

name suggests, each block is chained to

the previous block, and distributed

across a network, using a trusted cryp-

tographic mechanism (for a secured

platform). This disruptive technology

may be hyped most by the financial

services industry looking for a more

efficient global digital economy, but

promises to transform many other

industries including commerce (from

supply chain to transactions), digital

entertainment distribution, communi-

cations, personal identity verification,

and more.

IOT: A CONNECTED FUTUREAlong with other (and related) buzz-

words like “big data” and “M2M”

(machine-to-machine), Internet of

Things (IoT) refers to the fact all our

devices are beginning to talk to one

another. Everything is connected with

sensors on virtually all items and able to

identify themselves to other devices.

Example: Your car rounds the corner to

your home, which prompts your garage

door to open and coffee maker to brew a

fresh cup of Joe. After you pour milk into

your coffee and place the carton back

into the fridge, the fact that it’s nearly

empty prompts the fridge to add the item

to your shopping list or even add the

item to the online supermarket that will

ship the milk, along with other items,

every Friday morning. While most “tech”

items today involve a computer, phone

or tablet, IoT tells of a world where just

about everything is connected and in

communication.

SMARTER, GREENER CARS ON THE ROADThanks to relatively inexpensive electric

cars like the Chevrolet Bolt (under $30K

after government incentives) and the

upcoming Tesla Model 3, each with huge

range, electric cars will likely get the push

it needs to become more widely adopted

this year. And these vehicles aren’t just

better on the environment and much

cheaper to run than gas-guzzling cars but

they’re shopping with some serious

smarts too. The Model 3, for example,

includes the sensors, cameras and com-

puting power to essentially let the car

drive itself. Chevrolet’s vehicles are also

packed with many semi-autonomous

driving technologies to help the driver.

After all, about 95 percent of all car acci-

dents are caused by human error, so why

not get a little help from technology?

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 21

HH

22 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

expert adviCe

When it comes to saving for your

retirement or putting money away

for a rainy day you can’t beat the

tax advantages offered by contributing to

a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) and/or

a Registered Retirement Savings Plan

(RRSP). Here are some tips on making the

most of each.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN RRSP?Contributions to your RRSP are tax-

deductible which means contributing to

your RRSP will help reduce your income

tax burden during your higher income

working years. You do eventually pay tax

when you withdraw income in retire-

ment, however, in theory the tax payable

should be lower as your income

decreases in retirement.

Not only are your contributions

tax-deductible, they also grow on a tax-

deferred basis. In other words, while your

investments sit in your RRSP, their

growth is sheltered from tax so the total

value can grow more quickly.

Also consider contributing earlier in

the year, or setting up a pre-authorized

contribution plan for regular intervals

throughout the year. This can result in

greater growth over time compared to con-

tributing a lump sum at the end of the year.

WHAT IS A TAX-FREE SAVINGSACCOUNT (TFSA) AND HOWDOES IT WORK?The TFSA is an extremely flexible savings

account that can meet a wide range of

needs. It can help you save for short term

goals like a vacation or home renovation

or be used to earn tax free income in

retirement. You can even use a TFSA

simply as an emergency fund from sur-

plus savings you may have.

The main feature of a TFSA is that any

growth from capital gains or dividends

you accumulate is not taxed. Since you do

not receive a tax benefit contributing to a

TFSA, you are not taxed when you with-

draw from a TFSA. You can withdraw as

much as you want, whenever you want,

for whatever reason you want and you

pay no taxes on the withdrawal. Addition-

ally, any amounts you withdraw are

added to your available contribution

room for future years, beginning on Jan-

uary 1 of the following year.

Any Canadian resident aged 18 and older

with a Social Insurance Number can open

a TFSA. The contribution limit for the TFSA

for 2018 is $5,500. As of January 1, 2018,

anyone who has never opened a TFSA can

contribute a cumulative total of $57,500.

Be very careful not to over contribute

to a TFSA. Work with your Investment

Advisor to ensure you are within your

TFSA contribution limits. CRA has been

known to penalize those who go over the

allowable limit.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER –RRSP CONTRIBUTION OR TFSACONTRIBUTION?This is very specific to everyone’s per-

sonal situation. Speak with your

Financial Advisor or give us a call to help

determine whether an RSP Contribution

or TFSA contribution is best for you. In

many cases a combination of both can be

a sound strategy.

MAKING YOUR 2017 RRSP CONTRIBUTIONThe deadline for your 2017 contribution

is March 1, 2018. You can contribute up to

18% of your 2017 earned income to a max-

imum of $26,010 minus any pension

adjustment from your 2016 T4 tax slip.

As always, if you are unsure about any of

the rules regarding RRSP or TFSA contribu-

tions, contact your accountant or financial

advisor. We are always happy to help.

Financial planning services are available

through RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 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 trade-

marks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under

license. © 2015 Royal Bank of Canada. All

rights reserved. This article is not intended

as nor does it constitute tax or legal advice.

Readers should consult their own lawyer,

accountant or other professional advisor

when planning to implement a strategy.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR RRSP& TFSA: WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

HHHH

BY MICHAEL STORINO, CIM, FCSI , INVESTMENT & WEALTH ADVISOR

Michael L. Storino , CIM, FCSI, an Investment &

Wealth Advisor with RBC Wealth Management —

Dominion Securities. Member-Canadian Investor

Protection Fund. For more information or to inquire

about offered wealth planning services, call 416-

231-3850 or contact michael.storino@rbc.com.

www.michaelstorino.com

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 23

LIFESTYLE

The Queensway is one of the only

areas in the city where old meets new

and large meets small, all while per-

fectly blending together. A five-minute

walk east of Royal York Road along The

Queensway takes you to Tom’s Dairy

Freeze, a city-wide favourite ice cream

spot that opened in 1969. A five-minute

walk west of Royal York takes you to

Costco and Starbucks. This sort of balance

can be found anywhere along The

Queensway, and is the reason why the

neighbourhood has been a real estate hot

spot in recent months and is experi-

encing even more demand.

Near the corner of Royal York and The

Queensway, nestled between quaint bun-

galows and popular box stores, will be

Urban Capital’s Queensway Park Condos.

Located just in front of its namesake, a

lush 3.1-hectare park, Queensway Park is

helping change the face of Etobicoke’s

most popular boulevard.

RAW Design was mindful of

Queensway Park’s surroundings when

designing the building. Like its original

1950s neighbours, it’s a brick and glass

building made up of angular volumes and

characterized by a strict cadence of win-

dows and balconies in a sleek frame of

dark grey brick.

Once complete, the residence will

stand nine storeys tall and be home to 170

units ranging in size from one-bedroom

to three-bedroom spaces. Designed for

living, each unit will feature oversized

windows and nine and 10-foot ceilings

creating an expansive feel. Sliding doors

and free flowing layouts allow for rooms

to be opened up for dramatic effect, or

closed off for privacy.

Kitchens will feature extra storage

and an island so that resident foodies

can spread out while making their

favourite dishes.

Queensway Park’s amenities will offer

something for every life stage and

interest. Residents will be able to enjoy

garden plots for urban farming, a hobby

room that will allow people to hone in on

their inner craftiness, a product library to

borrow household items, a kid’s play-

room, dog bath, and of course a fully-

equipped gym. A shared interior lounge

and outdoor lounges will give residents

an opportunity to unwind.

The best amenity of all though, is

located just north of the condo.

Queensway Park has long been a local

community hub featuring two baseball

diamonds, a children’s playground and

large playing field. The park is currently

undergoing a transformation to include

an ice skating trail throughout, and two

new tennis courts.

Queensway Park residents will never

have to go far for a fun night out. Located

along The Queensway is an endless selec-

tion of gourmet restaurants featuring

cuisines from all over the world, a Cineplex

movie theatre, and boutique shopping —

all within walking distance. For even more

selection, the downtown core is just a short

drive away on the Gardiner.

For more information about Queensway

Park Condos visit Queenswaypark.ca or call

416-251-3000.

CONDO FEATUREDISCOVER A HIDDEN GEM OF A NEIGHBOURHOOD AT

QUEENSWAY PARK CONDOS

HH

Each year we watch for the “next big

thing” in travel. Yet one thing

remains constant: our appetite to go

wandering, regardless of world events.

Here are a few trends for the coming year.

A-LA-CARTE PRICINGWith the introduction of several “Ultra

Low-Cost Carriers” in the North American

market, fares will drop overall. However,

watch for the rise of pay-for-what-you-

use fares. It is important to understand

the rules of the lowest fares, as they are

restrictive, and many do not include

checked bags or even carry-on allowances

in the ticket price, even for international

flights. Hotel “resort fees” beyond the base

fare are claimed to cover extras and can be

as high as $40 per night. Many online

sites hide this extra cost to be competitive.

HOSTED TOURINGEven those who wouldn’t have previously

considered booking a package holiday are

taking a second look, recognizing the value

and peace of mind they provide in uncer-

tain times. This is the “new” hosted tour —

no longer luggage out by 6:00 a.m. and “if

it’s Tuesday it must be Belgium.” Today’s

tours are more personalized with longer

stays and exclusive options that most trav-

elers would not have access to or even

think of — the ability to connect with a

destination and dive into the food and cul-

ture, led by local insiders who share their

secrets. Tours range from fully private to

small groups — with the details taken care

of so that you can skip the lines, enjoy a

smooth ride and make the most of every

day. Imagine arriving at Machu Picchu with

plans to hike the Inca Trail only to learn

that park passes have been sold out for

months or arriving at the Vatican or

Sagrada Familia without reservations to

find the lineup three blocks long. With a

little planning and a local host, you will

know that someone has your back, even

when an unexpected event takes place!

TECHNOLOGYMost don’t leave home these days without

a smartphone or tablet. Social media is

pervasive as travelers document their

experiences by blog, post, share or tweet.

The “Selfie Stick” has been banned at many

popular tourist venues. With instant

access to relevant information across the

web, travelers no longer rely on out-of-

date guidebooks or paper maps. Some

hotels are introducing smart home tech-

nology — voice controlled speakers,

thermostats and lighting preferences.

Cruise ships are introducing Virtual

Reality experiences, enhanced Wi-Fi at sea

and a smart watch that opens your door,

allows you to order drinks and keep track

of your daily schedule. Biometric systems

(even face recognition) are being tested to

speed up boarding, luggage, security and

customs processes at airports.

24 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

travel

BY KRISTA GARNEY CLUETT

TRAVEL TRENDSFOR 2018

RIVER CRUISINGRiver cruising will continue to increase in

popularity. The slow travel a river cruise

provides allows guests to experience a

higher level of immersion in local culture.

With under 200 guests onboard, there is

an intimate atmosphere and more person-

alized experience. River cruise companies

continue to add new options for touring

destinations (bike tours, cooking classes)

and are appealing to a wider demographic.

This year, Uniworld is introducing two

ships aimed at 21 to 45-year old’s. Disney

Cruise Line has chartered a river cruise

ship with a special itinerary designed for

the whole family. Popular itineraries will

continue to sell-out up to a year in advance

so plan ahead for the best fares.

GOING SOLOThe liberation of solo travel is on the rise.

The freedom to make your own vacation

choices, of not having to be responsible

for anyone’s pleasure but your own

allows you to appreciate the experience

on an entirely different level than when

you’re with a friend, spouse or family

member. Travel companies who have

long charged 150-200% premiums for

solo guests are offering more options for

waived or reduced solo supplements. Just

You is a tour company which offers tours

for guests, all with single accommoda-

tions. Many companies such as G

Adventures offer a program with a rea-

sonable supplement for single guests or

they will match you with another traveler.

Some cruise lines offer single occupancy

staterooms — Norwegian Cruise Line

offers studios with an exclusive lounge

for solo guests. Most cruise lines offer

waived or reduced single supplements on

a selection of sailings throughout the

year — you just have to watch for them.

MULTIGENERATIONAL TRAVELOnce upon a time, you took a vacation to get

away from your extended family, not get

closer to them! But these days, with quality

time with loved ones harder to come by,

multigenerational travel is fast becoming

the most popular trend in the industry. By

traveling together with younger and older

relatives, families are able to reconnect.

“Skip-gen” trips, where grandparents take

grandchildren on a special adventure,

leaving the parents behind to experience

their own time off, are also becoming more

popular. Many resorts, cruise lines and

even hosted tours offer something for

everyone — from a multitude of dining

options to specialized sightseeing. The key

is to create lasting memories for everyone

through shared experiences.

POP-CULTURE DESTINATIONSWhen the Lord of the Rings movies came

out, visits to New Zealand spiked as

tourists flocked to experience the films’

iconic landscapes. Visiting areas of Ice-

land, North Ireland, Croatia, and Morocco

made famous by Game of Thrones is the

latest trend as fans want to see the most

popular on-screen settings first hand.

And with the announcement of the latest

Royal Wedding, watch for “Royal” themed

tours. You can soak up the royal atmos-

phere around Windsor and London

throughout the year, even if you did not

get an official invite to the wedding.

AUTHENTIC/RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL2017 was dominated by ‘over tourism’ –

with some locals feeling there were more

downsides than upsides from tourism.

Tourists, too, found overcrowding detracted

from their holiday. “Authentic travel”

shifts the emphasis to ensure local com-

munities see more of the tourists’ money

this year — working with local people

around their culture and ways of life. The

average bucket list used to consist of the

classics: the Eiffel Tower, the Greek

Islands. Today, that list is so much more

diverse, as travelers look to have experi-

ences in places off the beaten path. There

is a movement towards appreciating and

preserving the unique natural and cul-

tural features of the places we visit.

Ready to be inspired? For more information

visit www.HumberBayTravel.com

Humber Bay Travel, 88 Palace Pier Ct. #103.

416-236-2266 • info@HumberBayTravel.com

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 25

HH

OPPOSITE TOP: Cape Reinga Lighthouse, NewZealand OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Rovinj, CroatiaABOVE: Village in Morocco LEFT: NorwegianCruise Line. Photos: Depositphotos.com

The last two sessions of City Council

for 2017 yielded important initia-

tives for both our community and

the city at large.

During the November session of City

Council, I moved two motions specifi-

cally focused on Humber Bay Shores. As

I have stated on several occasions, I do

not support additional residential devel-

opment on the First Capital [former Mr.

Christie’s] site.

In addition to questions regarding the

future of this property, I also heard from

many residents concerned about the sale

of the All Canadian Self Storage property

located at 2256 Lake Shore Blvd W. and

the possibility of additional residential

density on that site.

With these community concerns in

mind, I moved a motion asking that the

City ensure no new residential develop-

ment proceeds in Humber Bay Shores until

the necessary soft and hard infrastructure

is committed. I am pleased to confirm that

this motion was unanimously supported

by my Council colleagues.

At the municipal level, both the Park

Lawn Lake Shore Master Plan and the

Waterfront Transit Reset are underway to

prioritize transit and improve multi-

modal transportation in Humber Bay

Shores. I believe it’s time for the Province

and Metrolinx to step up and support

much-needed transit in our community.

It’s a critical component in ensuring res-

idents are both willing and able to choose

public transit over driving. This will help

alleviate congestion on our roads and

address environmental impacts – tying

into larger city-wide objectives to reduce

the effects of climate change and traffic

throughout Toronto.

My second motion directed the City

to work with both Metrolinx and First

Capital Realty to make Park Lawn GO a

priority. With the future of the First

Capital site as a potential major employ-

ment centre — ideally incorporating

space for public and community ser-

vices on the property — now is the time

to support transit. I continue to say the

need for transit is at a tipping point in

our community. We cannot afford to

wait any longer.

Working in conjunction with both the

Park Lawn Lake Shore Master Plan and the

Waterfront Transit Reset, the addition of

a new GO station at Park Lawn would pro-

vide residents with a variety of integrated

transit and transportation options, ide-

ally as part of an integrated transit hub on

the First Capital site, which I have called

for. If you would like updates regarding

this motion, City Council or other Ward 6

initiatives, please sign up for my eNews

at www.markgrimes.ca.

Mark Grimes is the Councillor for Ward 6

Etobicoke-Lakeshore. He is a life-long resi-

dent, activist and businessperson in south

Etobicoke. He can be reached by email at

councillor_grimes@toronto.ca, or by phone

at 416-397-9273

COMMUNITY News

HUMBER BAY SHORESDEVELOPMENT& TRANSITuPDATE

BY COUNCILLOR MARK GRIMES

HH

26 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

ICC Theory ..................................................................................Feb 19 - Mar 8

Intermediate Coastal Nav Standard ..........................................Feb 19 - Mar 8

Intermediate Cruising Theory ..................................................Feb 21 - Mar 21

Sailboat Diesel Engine Maintenance ......................................Feb 21 - Mar 28

Red Cross Standard First Aid with CPR level C & AED ..............Mar 3 - Mar 4

VHF Radio “ROCM”with DSC Endorsement ......Multiple start dates (summer)

Powered Vessel Operators Permit(Toronto Harbour License) ..................................Multiple start dates (summer)

Basic Keelboat Cruising ....................................Multiple start dates (May-Jun)

Intermediate Keelboat Cruising ........................Multiple start dates (May-Jun)

Basic Keelboat Starter Package ....................................................................

......................(Basic Keelboat course+VHF+THL+1 month Sailing Club Pass)

Running from January 19 to February 25,

the five wintertime art installations

are located on Queens Quay West

between York Street and Spadina Avenue.

A giant red bear reclining in the snow,

a cosy cabin made from tree roots and a

jingling wind chime constellation are just

some of the installations that visitors to

Toronto’s downtown Waterfront can

experience this winter as the winners are

announced for the second annual Ice

Breakers event.

Ice Breakers, the temporary Waterfront art

exhibit presented by the Waterfront BIA and

produced by Winter Stations, asked artists

and designers to look to the stars for inspira-

tion for 2018, with the theme “constellation”.

“After the huge success of last year’s Ice

Breakers event, we decided to open the

exhibit up as an international competi-

tion for 2018. We were looking for

installations that would bring colour,

warmth and activity to the Waterfront -

attracting visitors from across the City to

experience this spectacular wintertime

streetscape,” says Carol Jolly, Executive

Director, The Waterfront BIA.

On October 19, the Ice Breakers jury

met to choose the final five art installa-

tions that will be built and featured along

Queens Quay West. It was a full day of

jury deliberations, where over 100 inter-

national submissions from around the

world were reviewed.  Jury members

included Heather A. Meltzer, Principal,

Bow Bridge Communications LLC,  Udo

Schliemann, Principal Creative Director,

Entro Communications, Ilana Shamoon,

Cultural Programming and Public Art

Commissions Manager, Waterfront

Toronto,  Jeremy Smith, Chief Develop-

ment Officer, Harbourfront Centre

and  Deborah Wilson, Vice President

Communications and Public Affairs,

PortsToronto, also joined by WBIA and

Winter Stations organizers. “We were

bowled over by the high standard of

entries this year, and the creative

responses to the theme ‘constellation’. We

chose the winners based on their origi-

nality, feasibility and how interactive and

engaging we thought they could be,” said

Winter Stations co-founder Ted Merrick

of Ferris + Associates.

The name Ice Breakers is inspired by

the utilitarian ships once used in

Toronto’s harbour to break up frozen

bodies of water, keeping commerce

flowing into and out of the City. Ice

Breakers is also a testament to the power

of design, bringing strangers together and

sparking a fresh dialogue about Toronto’s

urban Waterfront.

Developed in partnership with

PortsToronto, all five Ice Breakers instal-

lations will be dispersed throughout the

Waterfront between York Street and

Spadina Avenue beginning January 19.

The exhibition will run over five weeks,

coinciding with the debut of the fourth

annual Winter Stations competition in

The Beaches on Family Day.

28 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

lifestyle

ICE BREAKERSRETURNS TO TORONTO’S URBAN WATERFRONT FOR WINTER 2018

HH

ABOVE: ‘Winter FanFare’ by Thena Tak (Van-couver, Canada) Winter FanFare is a series ofrotated fan-sculptures that collectively form a cir-culation playscape for winter exploration. In thespirit of the competition’s theme, ‘constellations’,Winter FanFare deploys individual fan-sculpturesto create clusters of pockets where the public canmeander through or run in and around. 

WINTER 2018 | HUMBER HAPPENINGS 29

Did you know that Toronto home

prices growth is increasing faster

than any other city in Canada? The

average price of a home is approximately

$1.5 million, with condos hitting an

average of just over $560,000. In order to

capitalize on the more affordable home

prices that the outskirts have to offer, many

homebuyers are making the move to

Southern Ontario, which continues to be a

popular destination for Torontonians who

currently live near the downtown core.

Larger homes for similar prices to that

of a condo in Toronto are especially

attractive to young families and first-time

buyers who are seeing real value in being

able to purchase a townhouse, semi or

detached home with a backyard.

The most desirable product for young

families is a detached home in a new sub-

division. Newer subdivisions are

beautifully built and provide access to

local existing amenities like parks, new

schools, planned and existing infrastruc-

ture and new retail.

Take for example St. Catharines. The

average price for a pre-construction house

is around $550,000 and the average re-

sale price is $347,900, which is less than

the price of a condo in the GTA. This is

appealing to growing families who may

have started out in the city, but are slowly

making their way out for more space.

Another popular incentive to relocate is

the GO regional express train network

expansion set to be completed by 2023. The

expansion will include weekday service to

Niagara Falls, new stations in Grimsby and

upgrades to Via Rail stations in Niagara

Falls and St. Catharines. The Golden Horse-

shoe is within close proximity to the GTA

via the QEW, making Toronto accessible in

just over an hour. This is a convenient

option for commuters who may have to

drive into the city for work or leisure.

Investors are attracted to the Golden

Horseshoe market as it offers them more

affordability, capital appreciation and

lower deposit amounts.

Empty nesters from Toronto, Missis-

sauga, Oakville, Hamilton and Burlington

are also migrating further south for the

same reasons. Their homes have greatly

appreciated over the last few years and they

are able to sell them for more than double

Niagara’s prices, allowing them to pur-

chase a more affordable home while

putting the rest of their equity into their

retirement funds. The Niagara Region is a

popular option for retirees as it offers them

better home prices, more space, better

weather and a more relaxed lifestyle.

The real estate market in Niagara is

predicted to continue to rise over the next

few years which makes investing in the

Golden Horseshoe a smart decision. Any

property you purchase today will only

increase in value in the future.

Michael Klassen is a Broker of Record at Eleven

Eleven Realty Inc. Michael co-founded Eleven

Eleven with the sole focus on the growing resi-

dential preconstruction market. With a 12-year

career as a licensed realtor, his proven track

record for selling out low-rise, mid-rise and high-

rise preconstruction projects has made him a

sought-after industry expert. Often referred to

as the “Pre-Construction Specialist,” his excep-

tional relationship-building skills have been

instrumental in establishing Eleven Eleven’s

extensive investor database. www.1111realty.ca

SOUTHERNONTARIOCONTINUES TO BEA POPULAR DESTINATIONFOR GTA HOMEBUYERS

HH

BY MICHAEL KLASSEN , BROKER OF RECORD AT ELEVEN ELEVEN REALTY

EXPERT ADVICE

30 HUMBER HAPPENINGS | WINTER 2018 WWW.HBSCA.CA

“Why are they are cutting down

trees in Humber Bay Park East

without prior notice to the

community”?, was a message I received

in late October. I directed this question to

the Toronto and Region Conservation

Authority (TRCA). Danny Moro, TRCA’s

Project Manager of Restoration Projects,

Restoration & Infrastructure, apologized

for this oversight and has now supplied

the following details:

“The Humber Bay East Shoreline

project will see the enhancement of the

eastern embayment at Humber Bay Park

East by TRCA in partnership with the City

of Toronto. Part of this restoration work

includes the naturalization of approxi-

mately 375m of shoreline.   This entails

the creation of a subtle natural sloped

shoreline with tree and shrub plantings,

rock piles, submerged shoals, log

cribs/log tangles and sheltered areas that

will promote the growth of aquatic vege-

tation. Benefits of the project include:

water quality enhancement as natural-

ized shorelines absorb nutrients and

contaminants; improved erosion protec-

tion as shoreline structure helps mitigate

wave action; and enhanced fish and

wildlife habitat. Logs and rocks at or near

the water surface provide basking and

loafing opportunities for turtles and

waterfowl, while the underwater features

benefit fish, both large and small. The

native trees and shrubs that will be

installed next spring will benefit a variety

of species including migratory and resi-

dent birds. Included in this project is the

creation of two accessible recreational

nodes on the west and east sides of the

embayment. These nodes will offer more

opportunities to enjoy the Humber Bay

Park East environment and alleviate pres-

sure on the existing, very well used social

gathering areas.”

When questioned further, Moro

explained that TRCA’s Restoration &

Infrastructure, Restoration Services staff

began planning this project in late 2016

with the City providing priority locations

and funding for recreational viewing

nodes. Humber Bay Park East Embayment

was on the priority list and was selected

for recreational viewing nodes.

The total budget for this project is

approximately $350,000 of which

$100,000 is covered by an Environment

and Climate Change Canada fund.

Moro confirmed that as of December

2017 construction was complete. Plantings

will be scheduled for the spring of 2018.

This project dove-tails with the Humber

Bay Park Masterplan and is the first con-

crete sign of the park’s renewal.

HUMBER BAY PARK SHORELINE PROJECT UPDATE

SIGNS OF RENEWAL

Community news

HH

BY IRENE JARDINE

New Twitter Account Alert! HumberBayFriends@FOHBP. For more information or to become a member follow us on Facebook(Friends of Humber Bay Park) friendsofhumberbaypark@gmail.com

PHO

TO: J

ULI

E RY

AN

Expert Advice

Since 1988, Humber Bay Travel has been planning amazing vacations. Ocean and river cruises, sun getaways, cultural trips to Asia and Europe, villas and private charter flights. Our specialty is putting together itineraries that make the most of your precious vacation time.

HUMBER BAY TRAVEL88 Palace Pier Court, Main Floor • FREE PARKING

(416)236-2266www.HumberBayTravel.com

Tico 50019261

“We travel notto escape life,but for life notto escape us.”

Working on your travel wishlist?

Canada Coast to CoastThe Galapagos IslandsMachu Picchu Bora Bora Angkor Wat Iceland’s Northern LightsSerengeti Migration Himalayas Trek Great Barrier Reef DivePrivate Caribbean Villa Set foot on Antarctica

The world is out therefor you to explore.

Follow us on Facebook fortravel news, specials andupcoming events. @HumberBayTravel

Celebrating

30yearsof Business