| In my neighbourhood portrait about the Beach I | | | | over the world. |
| definitely wanted to include Sandra Bussin, City | | | | I also asked Sandra to give me a general overview of |
| Councillor for Beaches / East York, who has | | | | the Beach neighbourhood. She explained that the |
| represented the Beach for the last 18 years. After my | | | | residents are on average well educated and really |
| January 25 interview with Carole Stimmell and Sheila | | | | value their quality of life. They also pitch in to keep their |
| Blinoff from the Beach Metro Community News and a | | | | area nicely maintained. On issues that are important to |
| wonderful tasty lunch at Konditor I headed downtown | | | | them they can be rather vocal in making their views |
| towards Toronto City Hall, where I had an opportunity | | | | known. Sometimes there are competing interests, |
| to meet Sandra Bussin, City Councillor and Deputy | | | | particularly when you mix dog owners, seniors and |
| Mayor of the City of Toronto. | | | | families with young children together. That's where |
| I don't usually get a chance to interact with senior city | | | | Sandra's talent as a mediator and compromise-seeker |
| officials and I asked Sandra what the proper way of | | | | comes into play. |
| addressing her would be. She simply said "just call me | | | | The Beach also has a strong commitment to the |
| Sandra", and the ice was broken. We sat down and | | | | environment and Sandra was instrumental in closing |
| Sandra was ready to tell me her life story. | | | | down the local garbage incinerator. Other local |
| Sandra Bussin grew up just north of the Beaches, | | | | environmental issues include the Ashbridges Bay |
| near Woodbine and Danforth, in the Dawes Road | | | | Sewage Treatment Plant. Sandra added that local |
| area. At that time the area was mostly Scottish, Irish | | | | residents are very keen to get engaged, and they |
| and English. She attended a tiny primary school: | | | | become experts on topics that are important to them. |
| Coleman Avenue Public School, a 6 room school | | | | We had just gotten into a really interesting |
| house which functioned as a hospital during WWII. As | | | | conversation when Sandra's 2:30 appointment arrived. |
| a child she played in a series of parks: little and big | | | | That meant I had to reschedule for another time, and |
| Dentonia Park, where she also learned to play tennis. | | | | February 2 was going to be the date when both |
| Some of her friends even went on to become | | | | Sandra and I would be able to reconnect again. So I |
| provincial tennis champions. Recently she had a | | | | arrived shortly after 1 pm today at the lunch spot that |
| chance to meet some of those friends again at the 30 | | | | Sandra suggested: "Cool Runnings", a small |
| year anniversary of the Dentonia Park Tennis Club. | | | | neighbourhood Jamaican restaurant near Gerrard and |
| When Sandra grew up there was no Crescent Town | | | | Main Streets, just across from the Main Street Library. |
| yet, the area of residential highrises just northwest of | | | | Sandra had already arrived, her executive assistant |
| the Danforth / Victoria Park intersection. The entire | | | | Dave joined us for a bit, and we were ready to order. |
| area here was part of the Massey Estate, and | | | | Caribbean food is one of my favourites, and this place |
| Victoria Park Avenue did not even continue all the | | | | certainly has it all: Oxtail, Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken, |
| way through and dead ended at Dentonia Park. | | | | Curry Goat and many other Caribbean delicacies, at |
| Sandra recalls construction work on the subway in the | | | | extremely reasonable prices I might add. Sandra and |
| 1960s. | | | | Dave started off with a hearty looking stew and I |
| Her father and mother were both born in Toronto, | | | | ordered Fried Plantain as an appetizer. We continued |
| while her grandparents came from Scotland. Her | | | | our culinary samplings - I had a very filling Veggie Roti |
| maternal grandfather had 13 children and owned his | | | | while Sandra ordered the Jerk Chicken and Dave had |
| own business near Gerrard and Broadview. Two of | | | | some Fried Salted Cod. |
| her uncles were jockeys and had a race horse in their | | | | The food was definitely hitting the spot, and a perfect |
| back yard. Sandra fondly recalls her mom's stories, | | | | backgrop for our conversation. Sandra mentioned that |
| talking about her grandfather riding his horse along | | | | the Main Street Library was the one that she would |
| Gerrard Street. | | | | go to as a child. She explained that there are a lot of |
| As a child she displayed artistic talents and enjoyed | | | | new developments going in on Gerrard Street just |
| drawing. Her father would take her to the ROM (the | | | | east of Main, and that some of the older residents in |
| Royal Ontario Museum) on Saturday mornings where | | | | the area felt a little nervous about all the new homes |
| she studied civilization and drawing. By grade 4 Sandra | | | | going in. On the other hand, the area was going |
| would take the street car and go to the ROM all by | | | | through a transition , and it was important to redevelop |
| herself. This exposure shaped her interest in the world | | | | it. |
| and allowed her to interact with other people in a | | | | Sandra and Dave shared some of their experiences |
| structured educational environment. | | | | about political campaigning, and that both of them |
| During the summer Sandra attended art programs at | | | | together probably have about 50 or 60 years of |
| Central Tech High School and participating in these | | | | campaigning experience between them. What I did not |
| activities helped her develop a sense of independence. | | | | know was that at the municipal level all the candidates |
| Sandra was supposed to attend Monarch Park | | | | have to use their own funds for campaigning. There is |
| Collegiate once that newly built school opened. For | | | | no party support for candidates as there would be on |
| some reason she had always wanted to go to | | | | the provincial or federal level. Sandra laughed and said |
| Malvern Collegiate which had traditionally been the | | | | when you run for politics you learn to be a "tinker - |
| feeder school for this area. But Monarch Park | | | | tailor, soldier - sailor". Due to the absence of external |
| Collegiate Institute had just been built, and Sandra was | | | | funding, municipal politics apparently requires a jack of |
| supposed to be sent there. Instead she decided that | | | | all trades to succeed. Sandra went through many |
| Eastern Commerce would be a good option. In later | | | | years of campaigns by herself, and to this day she |
| years, when Sandra herself became a school trustee, | | | | creates her own election signs. Many election |
| she tried to facilitate her constituents' school choices | | | | pamphlets are printed on someone's personal copier in |
| when they presented a good reason for wanting to | | | | a basement somewhere. I learned that it often takes a |
| attend a particular school. | | | | kind of apprenticeship to become successful in politics; |
| After high school Sandra went to York University | | | | Sandra for example worked with other politicians |
| where she studied fine arts. To get there she had to | | | | before running herself, and she learned some of the |
| take the subway and a bus. During university she got | | | | important ropes. She said "The press sometimes |
| involved in film and TV production. In her third year of | | | | implies that it's easy to throw your hat in the ring", but |
| university she took a summer job with then City | | | | based on the fact that candidates have to invest their |
| Councillor Ann Johnston and got introduced to the | | | | own funds to run campaigns, it is not as easy as one |
| dynamics at City Hall. Sandra got to run Ann's | | | | might think. |
| constituency office as a volunteer. Leveraging this | | | | For the last 9 years Sandra Bussin has been |
| experience allowed her to get a job at Queens Park, | | | | representing the Beaches / East York area at |
| Ontario's provincial parliament, a year later. She had an | | | | Toronto City Council, and she says that development |
| interview with Morton Shulman, the former provincial | | | | issues, i.e. new real estate developments, additions, any |
| coroner who had then become a Provincial Member | | | | type of construction, have increased enormously. |
| of Parliament representing the Toronto area of High | | | | When she started at City Council there was relatively |
| Park / Swansea. | | | | little redevelopment going on in the Beach. Today, this |
| At that time the CBC was running a TV series called | | | | has become one of the most popular neighbourhoods |
| "Wojeck" that was based on Morton Shulman's | | | | in Toronto, and to mention one example, a 400-unit infill |
| character and John Vernon, a tall good-looking actor, | | | | subdivision is being built as we speak in the area north |
| was playing the lead role. When Sandra first met the | | | | of Gerrard and east of Main Street. Much to the |
| real Morton Shulman she said "you don't look like John | | | | chagrin of the neighbours, old historic homes are |
| Vernon". (Morton Shulman was a short slight man). | | | | sometimes torn down and replaced with larger |
| Morton broke out laughing, and Sandra had the job. | | | | "monster homes". Sandra explained that short of |
| Right away Sandra felt at home at Queen's Park. | | | | designating the entire area a protected heritage district, |
| Originally she did not plan to stay in Morton's office, she | | | | the hands of the planning department are often tied, |
| had planned to go back to university and take another | | | | and the city is not able to prevent a new project from |
| degree. But she was impressed by Morton Shulman, "a | | | | going in. |
| fighter for the little guy" as she calls him. Dozens of | | | | Continuing our discussions about the changes in the |
| people would line up to see him on a daily basis, and | | | | neighbourhood, Sandra remarked that redevelopments |
| Sandra was there to assist them with their needs and | | | | along Kingston Road have revitalized that entire area |
| inquiries. | | | | and brought new retailers, galleries and cafes to the |
| Before the Ontario government had an ombudsman, | | | | area. Sandra added that a local business owner by the |
| Morton Shulman would represent people that were | | | | name of Chris Papadatos, owner of the Fade In |
| wronged. Sandra's role was to be "Shulman's sleuth", | | | | Café, has done much to revitalize the area |
| to research people's inquiries and prepare him for the | | | | around Main and Gerrard. Often one individual can |
| legislature. People with concerns and worries would | | | | make a large difference in a city. |
| come in from far and wide, and Morton would help | | | | The owner of "Cool Runnings" had entered the building, |
| them. Later Sandra worked on a TV show called "The | | | | and this was our chance to get to know a local |
| Shulman File", a show where Morton would take up | | | | hospitality entrepreneur. Kiplin - "KC" - Cooper hails |
| cases of people who had been unfairly treated and | | | | from the Port Antonio parish in Jamaica, an area |
| help them. She did a lot of research and investigative | | | | where a famous Erroll Flynn movie was filmed. Since |
| work and really enjoyed this opportunity. | | | | he was 18 years of age he has worked in the |
| When Morton Shulman retired he asked her to come | | | | hospitality industry. After his move to the United States |
| work with him at his TV Show at City TV, but Sandra | | | | he completed a program in food and beverage |
| chose to stay at Queen's Park, and worked on | | | | management at Howard University. He decided to |
| various politician's campaigns until she decided to run | | | | start a new life in Canada and arrived in Toronto in |
| herself. Somewhere in between Sandra got married | | | | 1997 and settled in the Warden and Danforth area. |
| and had a daughter. As her daughter got older she | | | | KC had a hard time adjusting to the climate and |
| became interested in the school system and ran for | | | | decided to return to Jamaica. After three weeks in his |
| school trustee. That was the start of her political | | | | home country he reversed his decision and came |
| career, and Sandra Bussin spent 9 years as a school | | | | back to Canada and has been in Toronto ever since. |
| trustee representing the Beaches and part of | | | | He became a chef in a variety of well-known |
| Riverdale. | | | | bar-restaurants and started his first business, a |
| Her next step was a decision to run for city Councillor | | | | Caribbean takeout, in the Danforth and Danforth area. |
| in Toronto and for the last 9 years Sandra Bussin has | | | | The key event happened in 2005 when he was |
| been the city councillor, representing the Beaches/ | | | | delivering a catering order for a local restaurant to a |
| East York area. To her long list of achievements | | | | nursing home in the Beach. He realized he is working |
| Sandra Bussin has also added the titles of Deputy | | | | so hard for someone else, and for a while he had |
| Mayor of Toronto as well as that of the first Speaker | | | | been eyeing a local property just south of Main and |
| of Toronto's City Council, a newly minted role which will | | | | Gerrard. When it became available for lease, KC had |
| streamline the operations of city council starting with | | | | one look at it and signed the lease the same day. He |
| the first meeting next Monday, February 5. | | | | completely redecorated the place and on July 23, |
| Among many other roles, Sandra Bussin is also a | | | | 2005 "Cool Runnings" opened its doors for the first |
| commissioner for the Toronto Transit Commission and | | | | time. |
| the Chair of the Roundtable for a Clean and Beautiful | | | | "Cool runnings", by the way is a Jamaican phrase, |
| City which promotes Toronto 's beautification and | | | | meaning "it's going well, everything is cool". For |
| citizen engagement to achieve community | | | | example: How is it going?" - "Cool runnings, man." His |
| improvements. One of her proudest achievements is | | | | friends said he was crazy, opening a Caribbean |
| the renovation of the Beaches Library, a historic | | | | restaurant in this area, but KC had a dream and went |
| building on Queen Street East. The tasteful | | | | for it. |
| architecturally compatible renovation and expansion | | | | He loves this little place and plans to open up the south |
| was completed in 2005 and has made the Beaches | | | | wall of the building and build an addition that will hold an |
| Library one of the busiest and most used libraries in all | | | | additional six to seven tables. Retractable doors will be |
| of Toronto. | | | | able to open completely, adding an outdoor patio feel |
| Sandra explained that there had been an earlier small | | | | to the new section. At the moment, Cool Runnings is |
| glass-enclosed addition to the library which was not | | | | open six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, but |
| very functional. Librarians were required to carry | | | | when the new addition opens, KC plans to open seven |
| heavy books throughout the library and the overall | | | | days a week. In addition to all sorts of mixed drinks in |
| design was not very ergonomic. One of the main | | | | this licensed establishment, he also plans to introduce a |
| goals of the renovation was to create a highly | | | | variety of exotic juices, for example a cucumber / |
| functional yet visually pleasing building, and that goal | | | | ginger juice. KC is one example of the diverse |
| was definitely achieved. | | | | entrepreneurs that make up the landscape of this |
| Another local community project in the Beach was the | | | | multi-ethnic city. He has grabbed the opportunity to |
| renovation of the "Gardener's Cottage" (the Kew | | | | chart his own life as an independent business owner. |
| Williams House). A group of local female artists had | | | | Meeting the owner of Cool Runnings provided a nice |
| approached Sandra and asked to be able to access | | | | ending to our lunch, and Sandra was ready to head off |
| the building to put on some art shows. When the last | | | | with me on a personal introduction to her |
| gardener, who had been living in the cottage, retired, | | | | neighbourhood. As we walked to her car, she pointed |
| Sandra approached city council to secure the historic | | | | out the Main Street Library where she went as a child. |
| building as a community resource. In order to furnish | | | | We started driving and passed by the Ted Reeve |
| and redecorate the building, Sandra partnered with the | | | | Arena, a popular skating rink in the area and the place |
| Beach Rotary Club - Barbara Dingle, the club's | | | | where Sandra herself learned to skate. We drove |
| president was a producer on the popular "Debbie | | | | down on a street called Kimberley, and Sandra pointed |
| Travis" decorating television series. The Rotary Club | | | | out a vacant lot where a new real estate |
| went to work and was able to furnish the Gardener's | | | | development composed of several townhouses is |
| Cottage with unique locally designed pieces. The city | | | | going to go in. Sandra managed to get the neighbouring |
| contributed $40,000 while the rest was raised by the | | | | property designated as a historic property. |
| Rotary Club and the entire building underwent an | | | | Lyall Avenue, an east-west connection north of |
| amazing facelift. | | | | Kingston Road, features a row of pretty historic |
| Architectural preservation and restoration has long | | | | homes, dating back to the early 20th century. Sandra |
| been a concern of Sandra Bussin. She also got | | | | pointed out two new homes that stood out from the |
| involved with the rehabilitation of the "Maple Cottage" a | | | | visually homogeneous streetscape: in the last few |
| bit further west on Lang Street. In a local legend about | | | | years a developer had come in, taken down two |
| Alexander Muir, a songwriter, poet and school | | | | historic homes and built two new larger homes that do |
| headmaster in Scarborough, a maple leaf that had | | | | not quite fit into the street scene. Again, unless a |
| fallen on his shoulder is said to have inspired the song | | | | residential area is designated a protected historic |
| "The Maple Leaf Forever", Canada's first anthem. In | | | | heritage district, it is very difficult to impose restrictions |
| collaboration with people such as Carole Stimmell from | | | | on the design of new properties going in. |
| the Beach Metro Community News, Sandra created a | | | | Our drive continued past Malvern Collegiate Institute, a |
| committee to rehabilitate the Maple Cottage. The | | | | local alma mater for many Beach residents. Back out |
| group succeeded and the historic building was | | | | on Kingston Road we drove by the northern end of |
| preserved and is also used today as the location for a | | | | the Glen Steward Ravine and turned left onto Glen |
| gardening club. A building that was awaiting certain | | | | Manor Drive, a curvy road that hugs the ravine on one |
| destruction is now a beautiful addition to the | | | | side and is fronted with beautiful well-kept historic |
| neighbourhood. | | | | Edwardian homes on the other. Sandra's residence is |
| One project that is currently underway in the Beach is | | | | located right in this neighbourhood, just steps away |
| the Skateboard Park at the corner of Lakeshore and | | | | from the ravine, which makes her a bona fide Beacher |
| Coxwell. Formerly a baseball diamond and sports field, | | | | who enjoys walks on the Boardwalk and strolls along |
| construction has started to turn this area into a | | | | Queen Street East. |
| recreational facility for skateboards. The first of three | | | | We stopped near Pine Crescent and Pine Glen Street, |
| phases has started, and Sandra has managed to | | | | one of the few areas in Toronto that still features |
| augment the city's funding with donations from local | | | | cobble-stoned streets. One of the local homes has |
| cement companies. Their contributions in the form of | | | | salvaged some local paving stones and integrated |
| donated materials and labour are valued at $1 million. | | | | them in their garden design. |
| Sandra was hoping that the facility would open last fall, | | | | A few steps further west is a wooden footbridge that |
| but the fill continued to settle on the low land, and | | | | connects Glen Manor Drive East and West across the |
| another layer of fill will be required before applying the | | | | ravine. Sandra explained that she is holding |
| cement cap. Sandra likes being at the vanguard of | | | | consultations for a new ravine management program |
| community developments, engage the community and | | | | in order to stabilize and improve the ravine. Natural and |
| bring different stakeholders together to facilitate a | | | | man-made erosion are creating significant stress in this |
| successful outcome that works for everyone. | | | | nature area, and consultations with local residents |
| We also briefly talked about the Toronto International | | | | include school age children and adults. A new |
| Beaches Jazz Festival, the premier entertainment | | | | footbridge will be built soon whose substructure will |
| event in the Beach. Issues such as lack of parking, | | | | feature some rounded arches and an attractive |
| extended hours of noise and garbage collection were | | | | design. Despite Toronto's budget issues, Sandra was |
| addressed. Measures such as private garbage | | | | able to get some money set aside for the rebuilding of |
| collection were introduced, festival hours were | | | | this bridge. |
| reduced to close at 11 pm, allowing the local residents a | | | | Just south of the footbridge in Ivan Forrest Park is a |
| good night's sleep. Over the years Sandra has worked | | | | natural ice rink that is built and maintained by local |
| with the community, the merchants and the festival | | | | residents. Sandra mentioned that on weekends there |
| organizers to find a solution that will benefit everyone | | | | are hundreds of children that use this facility which is |
| and facilitate an event that is one of Toronto's most | | | | particularly pretty at night. |
| popular summer festivals and draws tourists from all | | | | |
