This budget is not good for Canadians, nor is it good fiscal policy.

By Olivia Chow, Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina

Canadians have a right to expect reliable government services in return for our tax dollars. And for decades, our public priorities were clear—we built a public healthcare system that became the envy of many countries around the world, a peaceful country where fair wages were paid, and where the elderly could retire in dignity.

But something is changing. The Harper Conservatives are ignoring Canadian priorities and have rammed through a budget with devastating effects.

Millions of Canadians will lose $12,000 of their hard-earned retirement benefits. They will have to wait two additional years before finally getting back some of their tax money in the form of Old Age Security (OAS). More and more seniors will be pushed into poverty if they cannot bridge the gap before their pension benefits kick in.

Our health services will suffer from a shortfall in federal support that will amount to $31 billion over the coming years. People will likely have to pay more for their prescription medicine, and wait longer for vital medical procedures.

And why all this? Because of a Conservative Government with a misguided agenda based on redirecting our tax dollars to tax cuts for corporations, rather than investing in true Canadian priorities.

This budget is not good for Canadians, nor is it good fiscal policy.

In fact, the independent parliamentary budget officer found that our OAS system is stable and sustainable—ignored.

Government spending on healthcare is in line with average spending among G8 countries and the OECD. But, the Harper budget has ignored that as well.

At the same time, the Conservative budget does nothing to address the elephant in the room—our sputtering economy and unacceptable unemployment. 1.4 million Canadians are out of work—virtually unchanged from a year ago—and at a record high for young Canadians with a 14 per cent jobless rate. And now Employment Insurance will get slashed as well.

So what was this record-length, 425-page budget bill about? Two thirds of it was not about fiscal policy, but a sneak attack on environmental and labour policies and laws that have protected Canadians. Seventy pieces of legislation were repealed or changed without due diligence or committee oversight.

The message of the Harper’s Conservative budget is clear: if you are looking for employment, you are on your own. If you are about to retire, we just tricked you out of 12 grand. If you are sick and injured, don’t you dare think that federal government will help. Don’t dare think that our tax dollars will be reinvested in our priorities.

Together with my New Democrat colleagues, I am fighting for a different vision of Canada. A more equal society where prosperity is generated and shared. Where the helpless are not left to fend for themselves. Where we invest tax dollars in our priorities for building a better country. It is not a matter of affordability to create this better society, but a question of priorities. Canadian priorities.

Fundraiser brings out chefs and designers

By Richard Frankel

Inspired by night markets from around the world, Honest Ed’s alley (581 Bloor Street W.) was transformed with art and all-you-can-eat food as hundreds of people from around the city came out on June 20 to raise money for The Stop Community Food Centre.

“In less than 48 hours, we sold 700 tickets,” said Danielle Goldfinger, events coordinator at the food centre. “We have lots of people that have helped put this on. We have designers, and we have sponsors, and lots of chefs and volunteers, so in total we’re seeing about 1,100 people come through this space tonight.

Proceeds from this event help support The Stop’s anti-hunger programs. According to their website, the centre strives to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds health and community and challenges inequality.

Tickets sold for $50 a person and Goldfinger said the organization wanted to make this more accessible as other fundraisers tend to be more expensive.

Chefs from Brockton General and Delica Kitchen joined a slew of local designers including 3rd Uncle Design and Amy Markanda Studio to design a cart for each chef.

“We have over 115 designers and 27 design teams and we gave them a booklet with parameters and dimensions and let them run wild with it,” said Goldfinger.

Goldfinger said Honest Ed’s helped them by providing the venue and navigating the requirements to attain the permit for the street closure.

“It’s a great draw for a great cause and it will be an addition to the Mirvish Village BIA,” said Russell Lazar, the general manager at Honest Ed’s.

Projected new plaza redevelopment may change the iconic storefront at 420 Bathurst

Closing signs cover neighbourhood mainstay Kromer Radio. Credit: Richard Frankel/Gleaner News

By Richard Frankel

Another historic Toronto business is closing after more than five decades of operation.

Large black block letters on a yellow background read “Retirement Sale Everything Must Go.” Other signs read “Store Closing Sale” and cover the storefront windows facing Bathurst Street as Kromer Radio, a family owned company of car radio installation and electronic sales, sets to close indefinitely on June 30.

“It’s time. It’s better to go out on top,” said Mark Stoakes, Kromer’s general manager, who has been working there for more than 30 years.

Stoakes said the owner Paul Kromer, who is retiring, has been involved since the store’s inception.

“He’s getting a little older and he’s been doing it for 55 years and I’ve been doing it for 33,” he said. “We’re tired so we’re just going to take some time and take it easy.”

The Kromer Radio property, along with two auto body shops and a supply warehouse between 410 and 444 Bathurst Street, were purchased last year by real estate developer RioCan for $8 million Canadian. They plan to build a 139,000 square foot, three-storey retail development at the site. But the proposal been met with vocal opposition from nearby Business Improvement Areas, Residents Associations and outspoken local residents.

On May 30, a motion by the City’s Committee of Adjustment also refused the company the right to demolish the existing buildings for now. It is expected that RioCan will appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Stoakes said many of the store’s regular customers are upset by the closing.

“I’ve been getting a lot of emails and phone calls,” he said. “A lot of people are pretty sad to hear that we’re closing and there’s a lot of customers that we’re dealing with that go three generations deep. It’s been a tradition. When they need their electronics, they come to Kromer.”

Paul Kromer opened the first store in 1957 on Harbord Street. Back then, the focus of the company was exclusively on car radio installation. Kromer’s reputation grew and by 1974, they moved to 420 Bathurst Street where they began selling electronics, including televisions and home audio equipment.

Making macaroons? Why not use the leftover yolks for pecan cookies?

By Susan Oppenheim

I love macaroons, especially in summer—no dairy, no flour, and low-calorie egg whites.

Here are two recipes—one for the whites, one for the yolks. Both recipes go into the oven at 325 degrees fahrenheit, and use parchment paper to line the cookie sheets. I find the paper wonderful as nothing sticks, my cookies cool better, and the paper can be used over and over again.

When buying eggs, choose recyclable cardboard boxes. In many countries, eggs are not refrigerated but I prefer to put mine in the fridge to avoid salmonella. Large or extra large eggs are always better in baking. Separate whites from yolks when eggs are cold, but use them at room temperature—especially for meringues or stiff whites.

Carefully separate them into individual bowls, one at a time, to avoid any yolk getting into the whites as it will not whip if compromised.If you separate them unsuccessfully into one bowl, you will have to toss it all and start over.

An extra egg yolk with a few tablespoons of water makes a warm golden egg wash to brush over otherwise bland whitish products like breads and cookies. That extra yolk can also find its way into your shampoo, your dog’s dish, an omelette or quiche, and any cake, pancake or muffin recipe. To use up an extra egg white, just make a great face mask. Paint it on and let it dry. Whites work great on blackheads and oily skin.

A cloudy egg white is a sign of freshness, not age: the cloudiness is from the high carbon dioxide content when the egg is laid. In a fresh egg, the yolk sits up high, and the white is thick and closely surrounds the yolk. An older egg has a flat yolk that breaks easily and a thin, watery white. The Best Before Date is an ideal way to determine the freshness of an egg. This indicates that the eggs are Grade A quality, as long as they have been properly handled and the date has not passed.

If you think you do not have access to farm eggs (obviously the best ones), more and more local produce markets and shops have ample fresh free-range eggs. Though they are more expensive, they are still very affordable.

Coconut macaroons, for the whites

3/4 cup white sugar

2 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

2 large egg whites*

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients well. Next, dampen your hands with water, and take 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough, and place in mounds on sheet, about one inch apart. Bake in centre of oven about 16 to 17 minutes, cool completely before removing.

There are variations. Substitute almond extract for vanilla; place a piece of dry fruit, like pineapple, cherry or apricot, into centre before baking; or, dip tops in melted chocolate when cooled. You can also add a few tablespoons of chocolate powder to recipe, or stir in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, or nuts.

Buttery Pecan Rounds, for the yolks

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

1 cup sweet butter-room temperature

3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 large egg yolk*

2/3 cup toasted chopped pecans**

pecan halves

Preheat the oven to 325, and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Process or sift flour and salt. With a hand beater, blend butter and brown sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg yolk, and reduce the beater speed while gradually adding in flour. Stir in, by hand, the chopped pecans.

Place the batter—about 4 tablespoons per cookie—three inches apart on cookie sheet. Place a pecan half on top of each. Bake on the centre rack of the oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool completely before removing from tray.

For variety, swap in walnuts, peanuts, or macadamia nuts instead of pecans.

*Eggs measured by weight not size

**To toast nuts (brings out flavour), spread on a cookie sheet at 300 degrees for 7 minutes in centre of oven.

What the industry doesn’t tell you is that plastic doesn’t get recycled very well.

By Terri Chu

An attempt by Toronto city council to dispense with the 5-cent fee on plastic bags has instead resulted in the outright ban of the bags.

Whether or not this will result in environmental gain is unclear, because sudden transitions are always rife with unintended consequences.  That said, it’s likely a better decision than simply scrapping the fee.

The recycling industry says that the decision was poorly thought out, and it’s tough to argue the point when the spontaneous nature of the decision is considered: Councillor David Shiner, who proposed the ban, told the Toronto Star he “came into the [council] meeting without the expectation to do that.“

The industry has emphasized the inconvenience consumers will face and the effect it will have on the economy. If people can’t carry their goods home in stable, reusable bags, they’ll stop making large purchases, which will in turn lead to less profit for retailers.

But what the industry doesn’t tell you is that plastic doesn’t get recycled very well. The best we can really do is “down-cycle”:  using the plastic we discard in a lower-quality product.

Coke bottles, for example, aren’t recycled into more coke bottles.  They go through a treatment process that pollutes the land and water and get a new lease on life as a cheap polyester sweater.  Meanwhile, anything living downstream from the treatment facility suffers from the pollutants created during processing.

As an enthusiastic supporter of the 5-cent fee, I’m also not against scrapping bags altogether, although I do worry that doing so too rapidly could have secondary effects. Will people start treating nylon bags (which use more resources to produce) as disposable in lieu of plastic?

And for all the noise that our politicians are making over the five cent fee, it’s little more than a blip on most peoples’ radars.

The more important things: reducing energy consumption, replacing cars with public transit and bicycles, and building walkable communities, seem to have been lost in the noise of trivialities.

Making lots of noise for minute environmental issues seems to help take our minds off the real problems that five cent fees won’t resolve.

Local businesses discuss the new discount store addition to the neighbourhood

By Kristin Eliason and Richard Frankel

The arrival of a Dollarama in the Bathurst and Bloor area is forcing local discount stores to brace for increased competition.

“Dollarama is opening 60 stores this year, and Toronto, as well as the GTA, continue to offer interesting growth opportunities,” said Lyla Radmanovich, a spokesperson for the dollar store chain. “Ultimately, Dollarama’s goal is to reach new customers, and this certainly applies to the location [at Bathurst and Bloor.]”

The new Dollarama store opened on June 16 at 512 Bloor St. W., just steps away from competitors that include Honest Ed’s and Payless For Everything.

According to Radmanovich, the level of retail activity, existing Dollarama locations, presence of competitors, population, and demographics of an area all factor into the decision of where to open new outlets.

But the decision to open the Bathurst and Bloor location is raising the hackles of some small business owners in the area.

“Their store kills everybody’s business,” said Julie Yue, the owner of Payless for Everything (807 Bathurst St.), a dollar store located just around the corner from the new Dollarama. “They never asked us [how we would feel about them moving in] … if they had asked us, we would have definitely said no.”

Yue, who has managed her store for nine years, believes it’s Dollarama’s ability to sell products below cost that seriously threatens the ability of small businesses like her own to survive. Her plan for change is simple: match Dollarama’s pricing, even if it means a loss in revenue, and continue to carry a variety of goods.

“Something we sell for $2, they sell for $1. We get them for $1.30. How can we sell them for $1?” she said. “We have to change our business now … if [Dollarama is] cheaper, they will still go over there.”

Yue hopes her business and merchandise will differ enough from Dollarama’s to keep her clients coming back. Many of her customers have already told her they will continue to patronize her store.

Honest Ed’s, a larger and better-established competitor of Dollarama, is not at all concerned about its new neighbour, according to Russell Lazar, the store’s general manager. Lazar said Honest Ed’s is unique and unusual, and it’s been that way since the store opened in 1948. However, he did add that it is important to always watch pricing and be competitive, no matter what competition there is.

“We’ve been here for 64 years,” he said. “And during those 64 years, we’ve had a lot of stores come and a lot of stores go. I don’t think it will have an effect on us whatsoever.”

Basketball players have been turning out for the Gamecocks tournament for the last 22 years.

Sean Loucks, the founder of the tournament, has a storied basketball career. Credit: Michael Radoslav/Gleaner News

By Michael Radoslav

Surveying the gymnasium at Royal St. George College (120 Howland Ave.) was like walking into an ageless basketball wonderland: teenagers squared off against middle-aged men, a 70-year-old warmed up for his game on the sidelines, and a referee called the shots in a chicken suit.

At the 22nd annual Gamecocks charity basketball tournament held in the school, player registrations and raffles helped raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Thomas J. Webb Memorial Scholarship Trust.

The players played for a cause while having as much fun as possible along the way. “It’s hard to get too worked up when you turn around to argue with the referee, and you’re arguing with a chicken,” said Sean Loucks, founder of the tournament.

Loucks, a basketball coach at Royal St. George’s and co-founder of the Albany Avenue Basketball Association, was a former player at York University who played professionally in Europe. Loucks has a true passion for the game and claims to have played, “more than 200 games a year across five leagues” when he was younger.

Loucks is 47, but says his body feels much older. Though he regrets the toll basketball has had on his body, he plays out his enthusiasm for the game through the Gamecocks charity tournament.

The 3-on-3 tournament entered its 22nd year on June 16. The tournament “is very inclusive,” Loucks said, and emphasizes the social aspects and charitable causes over winning and losing.

“The goal is to bring people together for a positive reason.”

The tournament is split into a high school division, an open division for all ages, and a legends division for players over 40 years of age. “There aren’t many tournaments with an over 40 league,” Loucks said. “I have one guy playing that’s over 70.”

“Your jump shot may be a little rusty, but every year you know you have a place to play,” said

Lance Winn, Loucks former teammate at York who has been involved with this tournament since it started. “It’s more about [being] social, about the exercise and reconnecting with people you have known for a long time,” he said.

Although it was only men who took to the court this year, Loucks said the tournament previously had a women’s division; however “it was hard to find a sustained interest by female players.” He said the tournament is open to women, and he’d reinstate the women’s division if interest returned.

The tournament is also a way to help give back to the community. Loucks has a personal connection to the Thomas J. Webb Memorial Scholarship. Thomas Webb was a friend of Loucks, who relocated from Chicago to Toronto. Originally from Wisconsin, the two connected over their mutual love of basketball.

Loucks said Webb loved 3-on-3 basketball and had actually made it to the championship of a 3-on-3 tournament in Wisconsin that took place during the halftime of a Milwaukee Bucks NBA basketball game.

However, Webb lost a battle to cancer at the age of 35 in the late-1990s. When Loucks heard that Webb’s parents had set up a scholarship fund in memory of their son, Loucks added that to the causes benefiting from the event.

“We did it first for the Canadian Cancer Society, but then (Tom’s) parents told us about his scholarship and that was a lot closer to us,” Loucks said.

James Webb, Thomas’ father who still resides in Wisconsin, said they came to the game as recently as last year. The Webbs have family in Toronto and James Webb said they try their best to visit during tournament time.

“We’ve been there a number of years,” James Webb said. “Sean has done a wonderful, wonderful job.”

James Webb said the memorial scholarship for his son helps benefits three to four students graduating from the Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin high school. To be eligible, the students must be entering college to play varsity sport, have good grades and also show a commitment to helping their community.

“The cause is unbelievable,” said Winn. “Any time you can do something to get so many people together in one place with the same cause in mind is great. It’s very important.”

Winn said the tournament is great for basketball in Toronto and they are always looking to help it grow, especially with the younger players in the area. “The legends division always kind of stays the same, but it’s the teenagers we’re looking to build on,” he said.

Loucks said he believes this tournament means a lot to the Webb family and for the causes he’s helping. “Any day you can play basketball is a good day,” said Loucks. “Any day you can do something positive for someone else, that’s a great day.”

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.