Photo/MIKE POCHWAT

Ian and Bonnie Walker show their Canadian pride during festivities to celebrate our nation's 141st birthday in Stan Wadlow Park Tuesday.

Photo/MIKE POCHWAT

Shawn Shalizi, left, and Ryan Clarke play with some sparklers before the Canada Day fireworks display over Stan Wadlow Park Tuesday night.

Photo/MIKE POCHWAT

Emily Scheffel, right and Taylor Whittikar-Greenaway wave to parade marchers as the East York Canada Day parade winds its way along Woodbine Avenue Tuesday.

Photo/DAN PEARCE

Children take to the air in the jumping castle during Neighbours' Night Out events Sunday evening at Thorncliffe Park Public School.

Photo/ADRIEN VECZAN

Violinist Alison Porter performs as guests arrive for the Wild in the City event at Evergreen Brick Works earlier this month.

Mirror photo/BRENT LEWIN

Bettine McCullough takes time to smell the roses during The Gardens of Leaside Tour Saturday, June 21.

Photo/BRENT LEWIN

Gordan Sales walks through a neighbour's garden during The Gardens of Leaside Tour June 21.

Photo/ADRIEN VECZAN

Aerialists from A Girl in the Sky, Rebecca Leonard, left, and Ana Shepherd perform at Wild in the City at Evergreen Brick Works June 19.

Photo/ADRIEN VECZAN

Violinist Alison Porter performs as guests arrive for the Wild in the City event at Evergreen Brick Works June 19.

Mirror photo/DAN PEARCE

Zain Haq gets his eyes tested by an optometrist during the launch of the new hearing and vision screening program at Thorncliffe Park Elementary school Thursday, June 12.

BRIEFS

TCDSB high school teachers accept contract

Toronto's Catholic Secondary School teachers voted recently to accept a tentative four-year agreement that would see a three per cent increase in their salary each year of the term.

Union President Kathleen Gardiner said the members voted 95 per cent in support of the agreement, which has "considerable improvements in benefits, long sought after."

Teachers and senior management have also agreed to improved consultation processes on local issues, she added.

"Provincial discussions between the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association and the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association, earlier this year, were of considerable assistance in this round of bargaining," Gardiner said.

The agreement is subject to approval by the Ministry of Education's appointed supervisor of the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

School crossing guards wanted

The Toronto Police Service is accepting applications for one of its most important positions: school crossing guards.

Crossing guards are responsible for helping school-aged children up to Grade 6 safely cross the road. They may also assist older children, adults, the elderly, the disabled or any other person to safely cross.

Applicants are required to pass a vision test and must provide a Certificate of Fitness from their family doctor confirming that they are physically fit to carry out the job's important duties.

They must not have been convicted of a criminal offence for which a pardon has not been granted. A proof of pardon must be provided, if that is the case. Applicants must also provide proof that the RCMP has sealed their records, if a conditional or absolute discharge was obtained.

A security check will be conducted.

The pay rate for crossing guards is $10.36/hour with a 12 per cent travelling allowance and 4 per cent vacation pay.

Contact the police division closest to your home address for additional information.

Citizenship court at East York Civic Centre

A group of people from around the world with a common goal will gather at the East York Civic Centre on Canada Day.

Thirty-two people from 13 different countries will become Canadian citizens on Tuesday, July 1 in a ceremony featuring dignitaries and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The citizenship court is being held by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the East York Race Relations Committee at 7:30 a.m. in the East York Council Chambers.

Mihir Ghosh, the vice-chairman of the committee, has been involved with the citizenship court for more than 20 years.

He said it takes place the morning of Canada Day every year (except for a few years ago) and then the newly sworn in citizens are invited to the official East York Canada Day opening ceremony. He speaks to the new citizens about what Canada was like when he came here from India.

He said things are different and when he became a citizen in 1975 there wasn't even a ceremony.

The court is followed by a reception. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony and reception.

The East York Civic Centre is located at 850 Coxwell Ave.

Notice of TCDSB public meetings

The Toronto Catholic District School Board invites the community to participate in public meetings regarding Education Development Charges this summer.

The first meeting, focusing on policy review, will take place on July 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom at the Catholic Education Centre, 80 Sheppard Ave. E. That meeting will be immediately followed at 7 p.m. by a meeting regarding the Successor Bylaw (the continued imposition of Education Development Charges as set out in Section 257.63 of the Education Act). A third meeting will be held on Aug. 14 beginning at 7 p.m. to consider the adoption of the EDC bylaw in the City of Toronto.

Public presentations can be made at any of these meetings, and written submissions will also be accepted one week prior to each of the meetings.

The Policy Review document, setting out the board's policies for the current education development charge by-law, and the Education Development Charge Background Study, setting out the board's education development charge proposal, will be available on or after July 9 at the board's administrative offices, 80 Sheppard Ave. E. in the Planning Department on the third floor, during regular office hours.

To make a verbal presentation to the Board or submit a presentation in writing, please contact recording secretary Lalita Fernandes via fax at 416-229-5353 or by phone at 416-222-8282 ext. 2293.

For more information, please contact Peter Kole at 416-222-8282 ext. 2273, Joseph Ruscitti at 416-222-8282 ext. 2281 or John Volek at 416-222-8282 ext. 2084.

Dial A Story adds new language to its program

The Toronto library has added a new language to its popular Dial a Story program.

Children can now listen to a bedtime story in Gujarati as well as English, French, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Tamil and Cantonese. Stories in Urdu are planned for later this year.

The Dial A Story program (416-395-5400) sees almost 900 children 12 and under listen to stories each day. Last year, more than 316,000 calls were answered.

Stories rotate daily and the program often features special guests as readers including Mayor David Miller, Blue Jays players and dancers from the National Ballet of Canada.

TOP STORIES

Health board urges care when locating homes, parks near hydro corridors

The city should take care when locating sports fields and allowing construction on or near Hydro...

Man charged in bus stop hit-and-run

A man faces charges in connection with a June 26 hit-and-run collision that injured two pedestrians...

Committee explores making space for new bins

If you can't design a recycling bin to accommodate every house, then Ward 5 (Etobicoke Lakeshore)...

Wetland gets a diversity makeover

A wetland in Taylor Creek Park is being expanded and enhanced to create a more diverse natural...

Man points gun at police during traffic stop

A fleeing man pointed a firearm at police officers after they stopped a vehicle near Victoria Park...
  

more