24 Apr
The senseless murder of at least nine and injuring of 16 people in Toronto yesterday was very disturbing. The tragedy took place in one of my favourite areas of the city where Korean stores and restaurants stand within sight of Iranian grocery stores and bake shops. My Chinese niece and friends live nearby. And one of my favourite event venues, Mel Lastman Square, usually has hundreds of people milling around during a weekend festival.
We don’t know the motive of the van driver as I write this, but all such horrible events point to the need for people to work together to prevent such tragedies and solve them when they do happen. We need to know each other better.
The Toronto Star today lists ways to help: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/04/23/how-to-help-victims-of-the-van-crash-that-killed-10-and-injured-15.html
Here are a couple more events we hope will help us come together as a community in general:
China. Jewish. A Place for Wholesome Amusement Walking Tours. April 29 and May 13. 10am-1pm. $12-$15. Discover little-known stories of Toronto’s Chinese and Jewish Past and Present. Route: This walk will take approximately 90 to 120 minutes. “We’ll meet at FENTSTER (402 College St.) in front of the window gallery and end the walk at the site of the former The Standard Theatre (northeast corner of Spadina Ave. and Dundas Street). There are busy sidewalks on this route. Please note that one stop includes a special visit inside an existing synagogue that has stairs leading up to the sanctuary. Accommodation can be made for those with mobility issues. Please contact us, info@fentster.org. Register at: https://guestlist.co/events/503445?utm=c8o8mdh3rzoy3hdc
Thanks to Arlene Chan, tour leader.
Muilticultural. First Nations. Echo Women’s Choir Concert. I’ll Be Your Refuge. April 29. 3pm. $10-$20. Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Square next to Eaton Centre. Special Guest Leela Gilday is a member of the Dene First Nations. This choir specializes in celebrating “diversity in our members and our music. We are a community-based, non-affiliated organization. Echo welcomes any woman who loves to sing and can make the weekly rehearsal commitment.” http://www.echowomenschoir.ca/. More about Juno-award winner Leela Gilday on http://leelagilday.com/about-leela/. Thanks to Nancy Whitla for sending this poster..
Alas, I don’t think the cherry blossoms will be in bloom until later next month — if we’re lucky. — Ruth