Episode 3 - Stronger Together
​Show Notes

Hosted by: Arthur Geringas & Meg Marshall
Recorded & Edited by: Arthur Geringas & Telejet Studios
Featured Guests:  Annabelle Bernard (Sistering), Michelle Palmer (Pause Beauty), Antonia Yee (Chair of Bloorcourt BIA), Simone Weir (former Manager of the Bloorcourt BIA) 

Listen to the Podcast Here

---

Guide to this Podcast

• 1:20 -  Introduction to Stronger Together 
• ​12:32 - A Moment with Our Chair​
  
• 40:20 - Interview with Annabelle Bernard from Sistering 
  
• 52:30 - Tips on De-Escalating a Situation 
  
• 66:30 - Interview with Michelle from Pause Beauty
  
• 87:10 - Discussion on How To Care For One Another 
  
• 96:24 - Bite of Bloor ft. Tierra Azteca
• 97:55 - Bite of Bloor ft. Laziza Mediterranean Cuisine 
• 99:34 - Bite of Bloor ft. Machino Donuts

Links and Information to Topics Discussed in the Podcast

• Socan Article - “TORONTO’S TRINITY / LITTLE PORTUGAL: CANADA’S MUSIC CREATOR GROWTH CENTRE” https://www.socan.com/torontos-trinity-little-portugal-canadas-music-creator-growth-centre/?fbclid=IwAR2d_ZCK1sEXh4raN_6FNC1A6BBJMjaG1aWPUAW1Ktarj0bhNmjYZl8VlDc
• ​Golden City Fruit Market - basketball mural tribute to Kobe Bryant
• Article: Major Companies Talking About Permanent Work From Home Positions https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/01/major-companies-talking-about-permanent-work-from-home-positions.html
• Canadian Wage Subsidy https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy.html
• City Councillors - Ana Bailao, Mike Layton
  • Ana Bailo - Councillor for Ward 9, councillor_bailao@toronto.ca, (416) 392-7012
    • Bloor Street West from Dufferin to Ossington 
  • Mike Layton - Councillor for Ward 11, councillor_layton@toronto.ca (416) 392-4009
    • Bloor Street West from Ossington to Montrose ​

• CafeTO “The CaféTO program aims to provide space for expanded outdoor dining areas to help some restaurants and bars who are impacted by COVID-19. On February 5, 2021, City Council approved a report to authorize a reprisal of the CaféTO program from April 15, 2021 to April 14, 2022.” - https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-reduce-virus-spread/covid-19-cafeto/
• The Laneway Project - open air dining and using back lot patios 
  • https://www.thelanewayproject.ca/
  • PRIVATE OUTDOOR REAR-YARD PATIOS IN TORONTO https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kGohv2jhR3rd8vARVgiNxirb-C5P_lmu/view?usp=sharing
  • PRIVATE OUTDOOR SALE AND DISPLAY AREAS IN TORONTO https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pz2-HL9f4RnavTN-QtHqf6KDjNblpPMp/view?usp=sharing

​Bag of Toronto Initiative 

• • https://bagoftoronto.ca/
  • “There is no better time to support and celebrate small businesses in our community, and there is no easier way to do this than with the Bag of Toronto - a curated assortment of specialty products from local vendors in five different neighbourhoods, delivered right to your doorstep. Each purchase is for one bag, this is not a subscription service.”

• Advocacy - Property Tax burdens for commercial property owners
  • https://www.toronto-bia.com/property-tax-page/property-tax-explained/​
• Parkettes
  • Refer back to Episode 2 
  • http://www.bloorcourttoronto.com/bloorcourt-podcast-episdoe-1-show-notes-835020.html

• Social Service Agencies 
  • Houselink - Houselink provides permanent affordable housing, supports and programs to enable people with mental health challenges to stay housed, connected, healthy and in charge of their own lives.
    • https://houselink.on.ca/
  • Sistering - Sistering is a multi-service agency for at-risk, socially isolated women and trans people in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed.
    • https://sistering.org/
  • CONC (Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre)
    • https://www.conccommunity.org/
• The World in Ten Blocks 
  • https://theworldintenblocks.com/

• Jane’s Walks 
  • https://www.janeswalkfestivalto.com/
  • Links to past walks: 
    • https://www.facebook.com/events/571103643382071/
    • https://www.facebook.com/events/166614027345005/

​

• Storefront Theatre - did plays from various time periods in front of theatres 
  • https://www.facebook.com/TheStorefrontTheatre/
• Ann Ball - local historian 
  • https://www.toronto.com/opinion-story/9130662-the-rosina-shopkeeper-s-project-recognizes-contributions-of-immigrants/
  • https://www.toronto.com/opinion-story/9671284-bloorcourt-bia-at-40-more-than-hanging-baskets/
• Dufferin Mall - Horse Race Track 
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dufferin_Park_Racetrack
• List all of the old theatres in the area
  • Metro Theatre (1939-2013 at Bloor/Christie)
  • Paradise Theatre (1937-present at Bloor/Dovercourt)
• The Hurly Burly 
  • https://www.facebook.com/WorkingWomenCommunityCentre/photos/introducing-the-bloorcourt-hurly-burly-film-festival-a-community-arts-event-cele/761231874037794/
• The Comedy Bar 
  • https://comedybar.ca/
• Innovation Grant 
  • “The BIA Innovation Fund provides grant funding to BIAs to test innovative and creative solutions to BIA issues and share the findings with other BIAs. The program exists to encourage innovation within the BIA model and to allow for unique projects to be piloted throughout the city.
    
    Previously funded projects have included a virtual street art museum, rear laneway activations, creative retail recruitment strategies, asset monitoring systems and other unique pilot projects that push the limits of the work traditionally done by BIAs.
  • https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-improvement-areas/bia-financial-incentives/innovation-fund/
    
    
• Sistering 
  • https://sistering.org/
  • https://youtu.be/4-TD9v5lI5k
  • Annabelle Bernard - Community Engagement Associate
    • 416 926 9762 ext.430
  • Alice Awweh - Director, Fund Development and Communications
    • 416-926-9762 ext. 233
    • aawweh@sistering.org
      
      
• 24 hour Respite Standards (SSHA, 2019) - City of Toronto 
  • https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/community-partners/24-hour-respite-site-operators/24-hour-respite-site-standards/
  • *In the standards, respites are required to have the following mandate: "Access and supports will be provided using a low-barrier approach that is client-centered, trauma-informed, grounded in harm reduction, approached from an anti-racism/anti-oppression perspective and involves clients in all key decisions regarding their needs."​

Tips on De-Escalating a Situation

• Ask for someone’s name - shows that you are genuinely trying to connect and shows respect  
  
  • Also give your name 
    
• Respect personal space - making sure there is an “exit” for the person to leave 
  
• Use a non-threatening and non-verbal behaviour 
  
  • The recipient to the message might be more sensitive to non-verbal body actions
    
• Re-Direct challenging questions 
  
  • Re-Direct their attention to the behaviour at hand that is 
    
  • Don’t engage in a power struggle 
    
  • “Your voice is quite loud” - it would be safer if you could take this outside 
    
  • Note why you are asking someone to leave 
    
• Setting Limits
  
  • Provide clear, forceable limits 
    
  • People may not always be able to immediately  self-regulate or self de-esccalate themselves 
    
  • Will call the police as a final strategy
    
• Choose wisely on what you will assist upon 
  
  • Consider what is negotiable or what you can provide
    
  • If there is something generous that you can do, offer it to them i.e. offer them a coffee or drink to take with them 
    
  • Have a candy bowl so that people can take a free candy and help fulfill the  need for them to take something 
    

• Harm Reduction 
  
  • Became a practice in Vancouver in 2001 
    
  • Having a safe disposal for harm reduction materials is a huge help
    

Bites of Bloor

• Tierra Azteca - 1115 Bloor St W
  https://aztecatoronto.com/
• Laziza Mediterranean Cuisine- 950 Bloor St W 
  https://www.facebook.com/lazizatoronto/
• Machino Donuts - 823 Bloor St W 
  http://machinodonuts.com/​

Listen to the Podcast Here

---