Despite the rain, Rodney’s Oyster House drew a huge crowd of oyster aficionados for its annual festival

A masked contestant stripped down to his skivvies before shucking at the competition

By Khristopher Reardon

Delicious seafood, smashing beer and good times were shared at this year’s Ontario Oyster Festival.

People were packed in the alley beside Rodney’s Oyster House (469 King St. W.) with early lines extending all the way across the front of one of Toronto’s premiere oyster pubs. You could smell the seafood in the air as people pawed their way through lobster, oysters, mussels and beer.

“I really like seafood and I like the summer and I like Toronto. So I came out and had some beers with some good friends and I’m just rockin’ out,” says Ian who withheld his last name. He thought his level of drunkenness might be too unprofessional for the microbrewery he works for, which was on tap at the festival.

He wavered slightly where he stood but maintained a bright smile as he spoke.

The Ontario Oyster Festival has been around for 24 years or since Rodney’s Oyster Shack was in its former location at Adelaide and Jarvis.

“[The festival] actually started with Upper Canada Brewery back when they first opened up,” says Bronwen Clark, Rodney’s daughter and front house manager at his oyster house. “There was always oyster shucking competitions, so we wanted to do our own within Ontario. So we’re like ‘okay so we’ll have a competition and we’ll make the beneficiary Environmental Defence because we’re protecting the ocean.’ So it all makes sense because if we don’t have the ocean we don’t have the oyster’.”

The first Ontario Oyster Festival began with about 150 people in a little parking lot. Bands played, beers poured and the event was capped off with oyster shucking. The festival has mostly remained the same, though it has grown significantly. This year the organizers even started to pre-sell tickets to the event, which now includes multiple beer vendors.

Clark says they sold out their 400 pre-sale tickets and sold another 500 tickets at the door. For $35, ticket-holders got two drinks and a plate of oysters.

Environmental Defence has been working with Rodney’s Oyster Shack since the festival’s humble beginnings and is still a beneficiary. The organization set up a tent near the entrance and spread their message about the state of waterways.

“Our water quality has gotten so bad that people don’t trust the water right here where they live. They don’t trust it enough to swim in it or to even drink it,” says David Donnelly, legal counsel for Environmental Defence.

Donnelly says he wants people to realize that we’re all connected to the issue and we have to strive for better water practices. At the event, Environmental Defence was touting their Blue Flag Canada campaign. They’ve marked bodies of water on a map with blue flags to show that the source of water is clean and safe.

Over the years Rodney’s has donated thousands upon thousands of dollars to the charity to ensure there will still be seafood for his restaurant and a carnival atmosphere at festivals in later years. This year the oyster pub handed over a big cheque for $16,184.92 to Environmental Defence.

Shannon Fitzpatrick, a seasoned Oyster Festival partier, hung out in a poncho with other water proofed friends while the rain washed other people in under the big tent. Undaunted by the rain, she and her friends were able to keep a table in the crowded alleyway.

Fitzpatrick’s come out in support of Rodney’s and Environmental Defence for several years now.

“I had probably way too many lobsters. I had a bunch of oysters, a couple beers – can’t forget about the beer ­­– and sat around, socialized, played in the water, the immense rain, hung out with a lot of buddies and,” says Fitzpatrick, “had a great time.”

Second victim still sought by police

By Ryan Saundercook and Richard Frankel

An Honest Ed’s employee and an unknown second victim were sexually assaulted inside the Honest Ed’s retail store on July 22, the day of the store’s 64th anniversary celebration.

Police said the accused, Eugene Previlon, 29, of Toronto, was in the store between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. when the alleged assaults took place. He fled the scene shortly after and was arrested a short distance away.

“Within the same time, a second woman approached staff members and claimed that the same male touched the hand of [her] family member inappropriately,” said Det. Robert MacInnis of 14 Division. “All sexual assaults are considered severe, though the second one sounds more minor in nature.”

Russell Lazar, Honest Ed’s general manager, said the incident is certainly not common.

“I’ve been managing here for 54 years and it’s never happened before,” he said. “The employee reported it and security and police responded very quickly. She’s fine and happy that the police dealt with it.”

MacInnis said he could not provide more details on the initial assault as of press time.

Police said they are looking for the second set of victims, the woman who made the allegation as well as the family member that may have been assaulted. Neither were on the scene when police arrived and have not been identified.

MacInnis said there was no evidence to support any connection with this incident to the recent rash of sexual assaults in the area.

Anyone with information is urged to contact 14 Division at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers.

Ancient play set in modern-day Toronto leaves room to debate what happened at the G20 Summit protests

By Mickal Aranha

It’s been two years since the G20 Summit in Toronto, cause for Canada’s biggest security operation and the largest mass arrest in peacetime history, and almost a year since the Occupy Toronto movement began.

Many believe the response to the G20 Summit was the most massive compromise of civil liberties in Canadian history. Though a mish mash of disparate reports, reviews and inquiries investigating how the protests were handled by authorities have been released, we, as a city, are hungry for a sense of resolution.

Set in Toronto during the G20 protests, Soup Can Theatre’s adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone has drawn a lot of attention since its July 4 premiere at the Toronto Fringe Festival. The theatre company is behind the hit Love is a Poverty You Can Sell and the critically acclaimed Marat/Sade.

Soup Can Theatre’s version of Antigone is ambitious, and while the production does have its flaws, it’s well executed overall. It adds much-needed creative input to the discourse surrounding the G20 and Occupy protests.

The play begins with the familiar incendiary images of authorities armed with gas masks and batons and the deafening noise of chaos. The Theban war has ended and two sisters, Antigone and Ismene are being cornered as they discuss what to do with their brothers’ remains. The two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, have died fighting on opposite sides. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes has decided that Eteocles will be honoured with a hero’s burial, while the body of Polyneices, the rebel, will be left on the battlefield to rot.

Antigone bravely decides to bury and honour both brothers without help from her sister. Ismene is afraid of what Creon will do to punish such a blatant defiance. Indeed, when Creon learns of Antigone’s transgression from a messenger, he decides to make an example out of her, despite the protests of his son Haemon to whom she is engaged. Antigone’s noble act ultimately leads to tragic consequences for all those involved.

The depictions of security forces with gas masks and batons in the play echo the images of the G20 and Occupy protests published widely by newspapers. But other than that, I initially thought other comparisons between the Greek tragedy and the Toronto protests were a bit of a stretch. I didn’t see how the production strayed much from a classical interpretation of the play.

However, my opinion shifted after asking Scott Dermody, who conceived and directed the play, how he made the connection.

“I would love to say that I immediately saw parallels between Antigone and the events of the Toronto G20 as they happened, but a much simpler event triggered the connection in my mind.”

Dermody made the connection after reading a news sidebar about the experience of two brothers during the G20 protests. One was a protestor and the other was a police officer. The article looked at how they came to terms with personal division in the city after the summit.

“I picked up Antigone for another reading and began noticing a whole host of blatant modern-day parallels to the ancient script,” he said.

The text addresses basic issue of power, politics and personal responsibility that carry into present day. And in some ways, Dermody believes the discussions of these topics in Antigone are far more even-handed than the discourse today.

“Far too often these days, we hear polemic after polemic and are forced into a left-wing, right-wing state of mind. Sophocles has an opinion – as do I for that matter – but allows his characters to debate the relative merits of each side. I think that is part of what was missing during the G20 Summit here in Toronto. Antigone helps fill in the gaps even now.”

Antigone had a number of standout performances. Cydney Penner as Antigone, Thomas Gough as Creon and Chloe Payne as the messenger were excellent, managing to create powerful moments in the play. There are a few other good performances, however a couple members of the chorus were unconvincing.

Soup Can Theatre’s project is an admirable creative endeavour and the sort of project that will get people thinking about political issues. Dermody’s view on the role of the arts in political discourse seems in line with what they have achieved with this play. He believes in theatre’s role as an engaging forum for debate.

“Creative portrayals of events like the G20 remind us that we cannot live in self-contained isolation,” he said. “Somewhat ironically, Soup Can Theatre’s production of an ancient script happened to bring much of the subtext of modern Canadian political discourse into the foreground, albeit with the stakes raised considerably.”

The risk Dermody and his cast have taken in bringing a unique adaptation of Antigone to life is paying off – audience feedback has so far been outstanding. The story is striking a chord.

After a rough start, the Toronto Maple Leafs triumphed over the London Majors after a series of consistent hits

By Jonah Birenbaum

A relentless Maple Leafs offense erased a seven-run deficit with a 13-run explosion in the fourth inning. The Leafs overcame a rough outing from starter Brandon Horgan as they outslugged the London Majors 23-13 at Dominico Field on Wednesday night.

The comeback victory improved the Maple Leafs’ record to 16-15 on a night of offensive indulgence: every Toronto starter collected at least two runs, and with the exception of one player, recorded multiple hits.

“These guys do not want to quit,” said Drew Taylor, who surrendered five runs over four innings of relief.

“Any time that we’re down, everybody on the bench is always up. No one sulks their heads, no one feels sorry for themselves. They just go up, grab a bat, and try to make a good swing on a pitch. And if you look at today, that’s exactly what we did.”

The slugfest started rather inauspiciously for the Maple Leafs, who were in a sizable hole before they even got a chance to hit. In fact, Toronto was down 5-0 before recording an out. The rookie Horgan surrendered five runs on two walks, a double, and two homeruns – from Byron Reichstein and Derrik Strzalkowski, respectively – before retiring a batter.

It didn’t get much better for Horgan after that eventful opening frame. After the right hander plunked Strzalkowski with one out in the third, left fielder Paul LaMantia took Horgan deep to extend London’s lead to 7-0 and effectively chase Toronto’s starter from the game.

But despite the seemingly insurmountable deficit, Toronto staged an improbable rally in the fourth inning that saw 13 runners cross the plate, all with two outs. After a walk to Dan Marra and a pair of singles from Jeremy Walker and Raul Borjas, Will Richards was issued a free pass with the bases loaded. This cut the deficit to six and brought Branfy Arias to the plate. Toronto’s shortstop promptly emptied the bases with a grand slam to left-centre that reduced the deficit to two.

“I know he’s definitely found himself now,” centre fielder Glenn Jackson said of Arias, who finished the day 2-for-6 with three runs and six RBI. “The way he carries himself, the edge he has on the field . . . you need to have that fire, and we definitely see that in Branfy.”

After a pair of walks, Toronto proceeded to tie the game on a two-run single from Aaron Guinn. The single plated third baseman Jordan Castaldo and Jackson, who enjoyed his second consecutive four-hit game on Wednesday.

Toronto would tag on six more runs with a barrage of base-hits from Walker, Borjas, Richards, and Jackson, in an inning that saw 18 hitters step to the plate and each player score at least one run.

“I think it just shows character,” Jackson said of his team’s comeback. “It shows that we’re not giving up.”

The Maple Leafs wouldn’t relinquish the lead for the rest of the game. Thanks to Taylor’s steady relief efforts and another offensive outburst in the seventh, Toronto extended the margin to 12 runs. Taylor, who has struggled with consistency this year due to off-season arm trouble, said Wednesday’s performance was a significant step in the right direction.

“Hopefully I’ll be peaking in the playoffs and ready to contribute for this team,” he said.

Lucas Kawa, who pitched the pivotal fourth in relief of Horgan, picked up the win for the Maple Leafs, who have lost just once in their last four games.

A review of the piece of documentary theatre that challenges ideas of intelligence and what makes a life worthwhile

By Mickal Aranha

Acclaimed Canadian playwright Judith Thompson turned once again to documentary theatre following the success of “Body and Soul” and “The Grace Project: Sick!” Thompson both wrote and directed RARE, which premiered at the Tarragon Main Stage on July 5th as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Working tirelessly with her nine co-creators ­– artists who all have Down syndrome – Thompson creates a beautiful tapestry of real-life stories that convey what it’s like to live with the condition. A play that could easily have come off as stiffly politically correct is instead moving enough to challenge ideas of intelligence and what makes a life worthwhile.

The production is made up of a number of first-person confessions, including stories about experiencing the loss of a loved one, rejection from peers, substance abuse in the family, as well as the frustration and anger that comes with living with Down syndrome in our society.

There are also stories of yearning: Krystal Nausbaum wants to be a mother someday, Michael Liu worries about keeping his job since working makes him feel like a man and Dylan Livaja wants to get into theater school. When words fail, the actors turn to art. Suzanne Love’s contemporary dance performance and Nicholas Herd’s dramatic rendition of the poem, Tiger, by William Blake are powerful.

While the acting on stage isn’t perfect, the production is an authentic expression of talent that allows the audience to get to know the actors as individuals. Nicholas Herd is a standout, providing comedic relief as well as emotional depth. Nada Mayla’s performance is charming and compelling. We learn that she loves her homeland, Lebanon, and that she is troubled by the injustices that plague the Middle East. She speaks English, Lebanese, Greek, French, and Italian and tells us she likes chocolate ice cream in all five languages.

Aside from breaking through common preconceptions about Down syndrome, the play is successful for the same reason any play is successful: it’s able to turn the mirror on the audience. Do we allow our perceived weaknesses, imagined or real, define us? Who decides what we are worth and what our limits are?

The play ends with Krystal Nausbaum’s plea to pregnant mothers. She urges them not to abort fetuses that have been determined to have Down syndrome through prenatal testing. The abortion rate for fetuses with the syndrome is staggering at over 95 per cent.

Critics may perceive Nausbaum’s plea as emotionally manipulative – and this may be true. Those who are fiercely pro-choice may have a moment of disquiet, but will likely submit to the fact that this is a rare chance for the actors to voice their opinion about an issue that is more than an abstract ethical question; it’s one that is deeply personal.

RARE’s countless standing ovations and spot in “Best of Fringe” are well deserved. The play is an inspiring, uplifting, funny, and emotional glimpse into the lives of young adults affected by a condition that is often misunderstood.

Though construction crews hit Toronto streets as soon as the snow melts, it’s still a sight to behold when a major intersection gets ripped up beyond recognition.

The TTC has shut down Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue for major repairs, closing off the crossroads from July 9 to July 23.

Photographer HiMY SYeD (special to the Gleaner) took photos of the intersection over the course of a week. A look at the big machines and big digs currently dominating the intersection:

July 10, 2012

The destruction begins under blue skies.

A panoramic view of the concrete removal, a dusty process that had to happen before re-construction could begin.

July 13, 2012

Crew members lay down a section of track, which is pre-assembled in a TTC Work Yard elsewhere in the city. The sections are brought on site and laid down pre-built (this saves time). One of the site supervisors said Queen and Spadina is perhaps the most complicated track reconstruction in the city because it’s a true four-way track intersection. Streetcars can turn left, right, or proceed ahead from each of the four directions.

Blueprints for the tracks.

July 15, 2012

The almost unrecognizable northeast corner.

Looking west down Queen Street from Peter Street. Notice the rubber from the track reconstruction in the mid-1990s in the middle of the shot. One of the TTC crew members who worked on that job mentioned how ‘temporary’ that was.

Crew members in the ‘trenches,’ right in the middle of the intersection.

Looking southeast from the corner near the McDonalds. Pedestrians are being re-routed from all four corners of the intersection.

One more panoramic shot of the intersection.

Our cartoonist takes a look at the development issues around the University of Toronto.

Inside the food co-operative. Photo: Alexa Huffman/Gleaner News

By Alexa Huffman

Smart shoppers can find a second home at Karma Co-op (739 Palmerston Ave.). The non-profit food co-operative is celebrating 40th anniversary and is eager to share its success.

Amy Andre, the shop’s general manager, loves being one of the eight employed staff at the store.

“Although I am the manager, I do work for the members,” she said.  “The members own the business and the employees serve them.”

With over 1,000 members, the democratically-run co-operative has grown from when it started out of a basement in 1972 to its current incarnation—where the spacious building is fully-owned. The members help out with the costs by paying annual dues.

There are different levels of membership. The first is paying $40 annually, the second is $10 every season and if they put down a $100 loan, there is a discount on annual dues.

“We even have a trial run where anyone can come in and shop for one time,” said Andre. “However, some people just choose to join right away.”

There is a good reason people are drawn to the store that may appear small to some but is filled with plenty of local, fairtrade, and organic products. Andre says there is a sense of conscientiousness in the community. It’s a place for alternatives for people looking for packages, processed foods. They feel good about what they put on the shelves and feel it is not only helping the health of their bodies but also has a positive environmental impact.

“Our jewel in the crown is definitely our produce,” said Andre, speaking with pride while looking around the store. “We have a deep relationship with the local farmers that has taken years to develop.”

There is food for people who care about what they put in their body, Andre describes. There are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free diets among others. There are also classes including nutrition workshops with a registered nutritionist who works at Karma.

“It’s a great community feeling,” said Andre. “We’ve built a good relationship where the customers have come to trust us.”

However, it isn’t just the food that attracts people to the store. There is also a lounge with comfortable wooden benches and chairs, a lending library, kitchen, computers, and Wi-Fi.

“It’s really not like any other store,” said Andre. “You don’t often come down to shop for groceries and sit down to talk to someone you’ve known for 20 years.”

These customers come from all over the Annex. There are students from the nearby University of Toronto, family and retirees. They come for the selection and the price, as Karma has a rigid protocol about how prices are set. The savings are passed to the members where any of the wholesale products bought are only marked above a certain price.

“We don’t do gimmicks,” said Andre. “In the end, it’s a better deal for members who don’t have to worry about a ridiculously overpriced experience.”

With Karma being selected for Doors Open Toronto, which ran May 26 and 27, Andre said this will be a great way to share what Karma is about.

“We have always been a leader in the food movement. We push the envelope. Now the mainstream is catching up and we get to decide what is the next thing for consumers with a conscious.”

The recipe for these lemon squares is a two-step recipe. Just follow the simple instructions.

Tart and tasy lemon bars. Photo: Innis O’Grady/Gleaner News

By Susan Oppenheim

After moving to Costa Rica—a country known internationally for its produce—I was stunned to find out one cannot buy lemons. There are enormous varieties of limes—green, orange, even yellow ones—but, oddly, no marketed lemons.

After four years of living there, when a neighbour brought me a bag of unsprayed, misshapen, gnarly lemons from his garden, I was so overjoyed I cooked, baked, and shared everything I could think of with my circle of friends. I generously shared lemon curd, lemon sauce, lemon meringue pie and the best recipe of all Lemon Bars.

I used to love lemons simply for their vibrant taste, but the complexity of this fruit is fascinating. There is an essential oil derived by cold pressing lemon peels that is available in specialty stores like The Body Shop, Whole Foods, and other health food stores. This can be applied topically to abolish acne, and treat canker sores.

By adding a little honey to it you can treat itchiness of a bug bite. Lemon oil also has pain-relieving qualities that inhibit inflammation and ease pain. One would massage the affected area daily with several drops of lemon oil mixed with one tablespoon (15ml) of jojoba oil.

Pain Issues? Drink the freshly squeezed juice of one lemon in a glass of lukewarm water 3 times a day and if you experience severe pain add the juice of two lemons three times a day.

For stomach ailments, drinking 1 freshly squeezed lemon in a glass of lukewarm water after each meal will stimulate the production of stomach acid and the activity of stomach muscles. Lemon juice relieves anxiety, reduces fever symptoms, fights fatigue, and helps treat the winter blues.

Halitosis? Chew a lemon slice. And if you want to whiten your white clothes,soak them in hot water with a slice of lemon for 10 minutes

When choosing lemons, pick the heaviest ones as they have the most juice. Soaking them in hot water for an hour  or microwaving on high for 20 seconds releases twice the juice.

Lemon peels or the zest contain as much as five to 10 times more vitamins than the lemon juice. By freezing the  whole lemon, then grating it on top of your dishes, you can consume all of those nutrients and get even healthier. Lemon peel is good for  making you slimmer, or adding healthy fat if you are skinny. Lemon peels are health rejuvenators in eradicating toxic elements in the body and boost the immune system,aiding in the recovery of of flu and colds. Grate the rind or zest before tossing the shells after juicing, and store in your freezer in tightly tied baggies.

Many professional chefs are using the entire lemon, wasting nothing. They simply place a lemon in the freezer, grate the whole lemon once frozen—no need to peel it—and sprinkle it on top of prepared foods. Everything will develop a more complex  taste, something that you may have never tasted before in your life.

And for the sweet tooth: lemon bars.

Norene Gilletz’s Lemon Squares, with an Oppenheim Touch
Base
1 cup cold butter  cut in chunks
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar

Topping
4 large eggs
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cups white sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
2-3  tablespoons roughly grated zest (outer peel)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

This is a 2 step recipe. For the base, process the ingredients in a food processor until crumbly, about 20 seconds. If you do not have a processor you can cut it fine with pastry blades. Press into a sprayed or greased and floured rectangular 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Place pan in center of oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and add the topping.

For the topping, process those ingredients with a hand mixer or blender until blended, about 10 seconds. Scrape the sides to blend smoothly. Pour evenly over the base. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden. Cut when cool.

Munk Centre expands to Bloor-Devonshire site

The classic architecture of the old observatory at Devonshire Place and Bloor Street West was preserved quite well in the new Munk Centre renovations. Photo: James Murdoch/Gleaner News

By James Murdoch

An old but familiar building at the corner of Bloor Street and Devonshire Place is now the “new face” of the University of Toronto’s northern entrance.

The building once housed the Dominion Meteorological Services but is now home to the University’s Munk Centre for Global Affairs.

The original Romanesque Revival style building opened in 1909 and was home to this country’s weather service until the mid 70’s when the University acquired it.

Its exterior has been scrubbed clean, revealing golden tan sandstone and the round turret where the early weather service kept their huge telescope has been re-purposed into three floors of extraordinary meeting space.

A recent gift to the University of $35 million by Peter and Melanie Munk spurred a further $50 million in funding from the provincial and federal governments allowing the University to renovate the building over two years and expand its programs of Global Studies and Cyber Security.

Janice Gross Stein sits in her second floor office and beams. That’s understandable because as the Centre’s director, Gross Stein had a hand in helping to design her new digs. She was consulted at every step of the renovation process by well known architect Thomas Payne of the firm Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB) and E.R.A. Architects, which specializes in historic buildings. Gross Stein enjoyed the consultative process. “I think there was a wonderful give and take through the whole phase, right down to the furniture.”

Many of the original building features from the gargoyles guarding the entrances to the art deco style floor tiles in the front foyer and the staircase and banister were kept.

Gone are the false ceiling tiles and the reclaimed open space has added a sense of soaring height in the hallways and offices. “Everybody who comes in remarks on it so that part is truly wonderful,” says Gross Stein. The new modern double height doors round up to points giving them an almost medieval look. It is a “marvelous experience,” adds Gross Stein, to see “these wonderful doors that both reflect the past but are contemporary in design.”

Walls that used to close off rooms now roll away to create large public meeting spaces. The main floor houses administration and meeting rooms and a library, while the basement contains student spaces and seminar and project rooms. The third floor, which requires a security pass, buzzes as the Cyber Security Studies Centre. Its once dark, windowless hallway is now bright with the addition of large skylights. The building is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. It is wired for internet and other communication needs, and is fully accessible with the addition of an elevator.

A small cottage at the rear of the property will be transformed into a seminar room this summer while the terraces fronting Bloor Street have been landscaped and will be available to host functions as well.

In Gross Stein’s words, “It’s wonderful repurposing of the building where we were able to respect its integrity, which is very important, but adapt it to new challenges and new uses.”

By Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina)

Not convinced?  Then check out what’s happening in every corner of the continent. Google “No Casino” and see what comes up. Whether it’s Vancouver or Miami, Manhattan, Gettysburg or Pawtucket, city after city, town after town, everyone seems to be fighting a casino proposal.

Now Google “Casino debt.” Just as quickly, you find out why, from Nevada to Nantucket, from Windsor to Niagara, casinos all over North America are going broke. And when they fail, the cities they reside in fail too.

Like the compulsive gamblers they create, casinos all over the continent are losing big right now. Instead of walking away from their losses, they are upping the ante by trying to open new operations in more cities. What they are hoping to find is a new generation of gamblers to keep the house afloat. Let’s keep Toronto as far away from this mess as possible.

There are good reasons to avoid a casino. The facts and experience of other municipalities make the case pretty clear. In Montreal, virtually 93 per cent of the casino’s revenue came straight out of the local economy (MacIasac 1994:38). This means that money bet at the casino wasn’t spent on clothes, rent or food locally, it was sent to the multi-national operator of the gambling facility.  Money spent on dining and drinks wasn’t spent in local bars or restaurants, it was also sent to the multi-national casino operators.

In Atlantic City, 40 per cent of the bars and restaurants near the casino went bankrupt (Corelli, Memeth and Driedger, 1994b). St. Louis had a similar experience. The most quoted expert economist, Earl Grinols of Baylor University, says that as economic drivers or job creators, casinos are “at best a wash for every job created there is a job lost.”

If the business case doesn’t scare you, consider the impact on the city’s quality of life. From a social perspective, crime goes up. Street crimes, fraud, loan sharking and prostitution rise when a casino comes to town. Before the casino, Atlantic City was rarely made the top 50 list of crime ridden cities. Since gambling came to town they almost always rank near the top.

Casinos are inward looking complexes. Windows are rare; food and drinks served cheap and on site to keep gamblers betting. The head of MGM, when talking to Toronto City Council said that a casino requires one parking spot for every slot machine. Five thousand are forecast in Toronto. Sound like your vision for the waterfront?

One study reports that property values close to a casino drop by about ten per cent. Based on the meagre amount the province shares with local municipalities, the drop in municipal tax revenue will likely outpace whatever cut of the take Toronto gets.

The casino industry isn’t even contemplating paying market-value for public land. The head of MGM has said that if they got a deal on the land, the City could get a bigger slice of the take. This is coming from a company that’s losing money hand over fist in Las Vegas right now.

Finally, there is the impact on the folks who purport to enjoy gambling.  A 2003 report by Grinols calculates the social cost at $289 for every $46 of government revenue. That is over $6 in social cost for every $1.00 generated! While most of these costs are tied to crime, there is a significant impact on healthcare costs. Addicted gamblers cost a lot to cure, they often blaze a trail of financial ruin at work and home, and require treatment to manage their affliction. It’s next to impossible to get this type of help in Toronto now. Manufacturing more problem gamblers will not help. Proximity to a casino is the most significant risk factor related to problem gambling.

Torontonians have considered this issue before and reached the right conclusion. The province is back again and talking up dreams of Celine Dion and Cirque du Soleil tents, conventions and luxury hotels. They won’t produce a business plan, won’t release the studies that support their case, won’t tell us what the city’s cut might be, and they have just passed legislation removing the requirement to hold a referendum on this issue.

Cynical as that might be, it’s probably the only smart part of the proposal because it’s clear that if it did go to a vote, Toronto would say no again. That you can bet on.

The Bathurst music venue has seen plenty of top talent grace the stage since it opened nine years ago.

The Sharron McLeod Fauxtet performs as part of the anniversary celebration of the jazz club and restaurant. The night was hosted by dub poet Clifton Joseph. Photo: Sadie McInnes/Gleaner News

By Sadie McInnes

In April, the Trane Studio (964 Bathurst St.) hosted its ninth anniversary dinner and concert event.

Named one of the “Top 150 Jazz Venues of the World 2011” by DownBeat Magazine, the Trane merits the title. Though its exterior is simple, with a small sign and dark windows, inside it’s a different story.

The walls hold simple portraits of John Coltrane, the studio’s namesake.  Well-worn sofas, and upholstered chairs nicely complement exposed brick, and an ornate-pressed tin ceiling. At night candlelight bounces off installations of local artists’ work and as the small stage illuminates, the Trane truly comes alive, transforming into a warm and bustling hub for Toronto’s biggest jazz fans.

For their anniversary, founder and manager Frank Francis kept things running smoothly while still providing personal welcomes to each guest, making anyone feel welcome to join in their celebration of success. He seems to know everybody there, demonstrating the sense of community that exists among the Trane’s many supporters.

Francis has been involved in the production of live music events for several years, but only decided to open up this space in 2003. When asked why he created the Trane, he looks back on his own experiences as a Toronto artist.

“I had a concert at a venue in the city and they double-booked us. We had about 400 people lined up to see the show and it was a problem, I thought at the time that the city needed a space that was respectful to artists,” he said, adding that he is “a big fan of Coltrane.”

Since then, Trane has been hosting artists from far and wide. Greats like Wynton Marsalis, Kahil El Zabar, and Waleed Abdulhamid have graced their stage, as well as many local artists. “We have a great deal of local supporters who are musicians who live in the Annex area for example, Scott Marshall has been a great local talented saxophone player, Jordan Klapman, Julie Michaels … ” he adds.

Plenty of local supporters showed up to celebrate on Apr. 28.  The evening was hosted by Clifton Joseph, two-time winner of the Best Dub Poet Award and friend of The Trane, and featured a performance from local band the Sharron McLeod Fauxtet. They played tribute to the great jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln who passed away in August 2010.

“For us, it [the anniversary] is to remember Abbey’s music, and to commemorate our nine years. It’s to acknowledge our past and to talk a little bit more about moving forward into the future,” said Francis.  Singer Sharron McLeod found the perfect balance between past and future, switching without hesitation between songs that inspired recollection and sorrow to far more celebratory pieces.

McLeod has known Francis for almost 15 years, and has been involved at the Trane since day one.  She had a great success with her performance of For the Love of Abbey at the Trane in December 2010, who brought her back to once more honour Lincoln’s achievements. This year she featured songs from her project: The Trilogy Remix, which included pieces that have been performed by the likes of Nina Simone and John Coltrane himself.

McLeod says she thinks it would be nice to see The Trane stick around for at least another 9 or 10 years. “It’s a wonderful space. It’s holistic. I love that jazz exists there alongside other kinds of music,” said McLeod of the Trane. “It makes me feel at home.”

When asked what makes year nine so special, Francis says “it’s taken nine years, but I think internationally the venue is now being a little more recognized.”Already planning for the future, Francis chuckles, saying “I think every year after nine is going to be bigger, because apparently it’s an achievement for a jazz club in Toronto. I think after two years you better start celebrating!”

The Sharron McLeod Fauxtet will be at The Trane Studio again on June 28th for the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. Several other events, including CD releases, band performances, and actors’ monologue nights are frequently held.