Tag Archives: home is where - Page 2

I’m On A Train!

I’m heading North of the Arctic Watershed this weekend!

Now that's North.

I grew up in Northern Ontario, near the Quebec border. I was thirteen when I left home, moved down south and became the kickass urban diva I am today, but the part of me that ISN’T city bred could be divided into equal parts hayfield, ice fishing, rocky wilderness, blueberry picking and snow. My roots are still firmly and proudly planted in the North!

This weekend, I’m heading home to visit my father’s family. And for the first time in my life, I’m taking the train! Specifically, I’m on the Northlander, operated by Ontario Northland Railway. It’s kind of like VIA Rail’s older, less hip spinster cousin. And I’m having a blast!

If you’d like to follow my northern adventure, come find me on Twitter! I’m live tweeting from everywhere my BlackBerry has service.

http://twitter.com/gwenstyles

#imonatrain

It’s Not Just About Mayors, Folks!

Posted by gwenstyles on September 24, 2010 No comments

As Toronto gears up for the municipal elections on October 25th, one thing that is becoming very evident is that while EVERYONE is following the mayoral race, many Torontonians don’t even know what ward they live in, let alone who their councillor candidates are.

This morning, I decided to do a little research to see if any of the candidates running in my ward are labour-friendly and progressive. What I found isn’t great. I live in Ward 25, which is one of the richie-rich wards in this city. According to their websites, my candidates don’t seem very concerned with tenant rights, affordable housing, public transit improvements or programs for newcomers.

Well, okay fine. Not one to just blindly swallow what’s presented to me on the internet, I’ve decided to write each of the candidates running for councillor in my ward to find out where they stand on key issues that concern me. Here’s the letter I sent; let’s see what kind of responses I get from the candidates (or their spin doctors).

Dear __________,

As a new ward 25 resident (I moved here from another Toronto ward in 2008), I am keen to learn what I can about the candidates running for ward 25 councillor in the upcoming municipal election.

I am interested in voting for a progressive, labour-friendly candidate who recognizes that while they are certainly in the minority*, not EVERY resident of Ward 25 lives in a McMansion, has a university degree and earns over 200K per year. I’m looking for a representative at City Hall who will look out for the best interests of ALL residents, not just the rich ones. Can you tell me where you stand on the following issues?

1. A proposed requirement that all new residential building developments include a portion of affordable housing units, which would promote gentrification and would give all Torontonians the chance to live in a beautiful, vibrant neighbourhood.

2. As you may remember, a cyclist was fatally struck by a City of Toronto transportation vehicle on June 8^th, 2007 at the corner of Bayview Avenue and Fifeshire Road, so I’d also like to know what you’ll do to make Ward 25 more bike- and pedestrian- friendly.

3. One mayoral candidate pledges, as part of his plan for food prosperity, a 25% increase in City funding for school nutrition programs. Statistics show that 31% of elementary school children do not eat a healthy breakfast.** What schools in your ward do you feel would most benefit from increased funding for nutritious snacks?

Finally, _______, can you tell me what federal political party you’re a member of?

I appreciate your time in answering my query. Not sure if we’ll have the chance to meet. I’ve noticed that no candidates have canvassed my street to date – maybe because it’s all apartment buildings.

Thanks,

Gwen Styles

* According to the Ward 25 profile on the Inside Toronto Votes website, 70% of residents aged 25 to 64 have a university degree, there are only 3,600 single parent families in the ward, and the average household income is $143,868.

** http://www.breakfastforlearning.ca

Sunday Dinner Extravaganza

Posted by gwenstyles on September 20, 2010 3 comments

I’ve only lived in Toronto for nine years, and I credit this fantastic city with my love of all food ethnic. I grew up in northern Ontario where the most multicultural cuisine around was pizza or Chinese food! In my childhood and youth I didn’t even have more than a conceptual awareness that people of other cultures must eat different food than me. Now not a week goes by where our dinners don’t include the deliciously varied ethnic and cultural ingredients you can only find in a city like this one. Check out what I made for dinner on Sunday. Read more »

Gwen’s Home Highlight

Posted by gwenstyles on August 15, 2010 1 comment

Don't freak out or stop doing what you're doing!

Every so often, I will give you a peek at my favourite corners of the home I share with my family. This week is my kitchen.

I don’t think my kitchen has a specific style – unless “don’t paint the walls you naughty naughty renter” is considered a style. But we’ve added eclectic touches to make it our own.

On top of the refrigerator you’ll see our fantastic vintage turquoise breadbox. On the door of the breadbox is a small number of magnets from my expansive Places of the World Fridge Magnet Collection. Yes folks, the secret’s out: I’m an eighty-six year old woman who collects magnets from around the world.

The fridge itself is covered with a variety of things: my spices (which I use a LOT), our insult-themed magnetic poetry (which my teenage daughter particularly loves) and a portrait of me my husband sketched on a restaurant paper tablecloth with the wax crayons they NORMALLY only give to kids (but my husband is special). During the school year, the fridge would also be covered with timetables and schedules, shopping lists, school notices, chore charts and the like.

Finally on the (unpainted, renters-white) wall is the coolest thing I’ve ever bought in my life: a Keep Calm and Carry On wall decal. I found its at Winners yesterday. I’ve always loved the old British WWII posters and (surprisingly) the room I most often find myself in when I need to calm down is the kitchen, so it was the ideal spot. I’m on the lookout for a frame I can remove the glass and back from and hang around this new decal.

So there you go. Now you know what the room I cook, clean, and create in looks like.

What’s your favourite room? I challenge you to take a picture of your favourite corner and tell us why you love it so much.

Happy Sunday!