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Rev. Helena Houldcroft of the Flemingdon Park Ministry, who acted as interim director for the food bank says it has lost its accessibility and visibility following its eviction from the neighbourhood plaza. But incumbent John Parker says the current space addresses concerns over privacy raised by users of other food banks. Here, Houldcroft challenges what she calls a popular assumption.

(Also hosted on Ryerson MediaLink.)

When the Flemingdon Community Food Bank faced an unexpected eviction last spring, it settled in a nearby basement that has raised concerns over its accessibility and visibility.

Last spring, the food bank received an unexpected eviction notice due to the revitalization of Flemingdon Plaza, where it had occupied a storefront location. The food bank was forced to move to the basement of the nearby Flemingdon Health Centre, located at 10 Gateway Blvd.

Rev. Helena Houldcroft of the Flemingdon Park Ministry, who acted as interim director for the food bank says it has lost its accessibility and visibility following its eviction from the neighbourhood plaza.

But incumbent John Parker says the current space addresses concrns over privacy raised by users of other food banks.

The food bank currently provides services to 250 families per month, many of whom live in Flemingdon Park, one of Toronto’s priority areas, Thorncliffe Park, and surrounding areas.

According to census data from 2001, 71 per cent of the 22,000 residents were immigrants, and 34 per cent lived below the poverty line. The average family lived on less than $45,000 a year.

The city has spent $1.5-million to build parks and playgrounds in the neighbourhood in the last year. But Flemingdon Park does not have a bank in its central plaza and its lone grocery store closed about two years ago.

Access to healthy, affordable food is an on-going challenge for the neighbourhood, where residents must travel outside of their community to buy groceries.

A study by the Marin Prosperity Institute identifies the growing number of “food deserts” in the city – areas where residents cannot easily access good quality and affordable food. It estimates that only 54 per cent of the population lives within 1 kilometre of a food store.

Food deserts are most prevalent in the inner suburbs and the city’s 13 priority areas, which includes Flemingdon Park.

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Incumbent John Parker held onto his seat in Ward 26 against tough competition from political newcomer Jon Burnside and 2006 runner-up Mohamed Dhanani. Photo taken at all-candidates debate Oct. 19.

Incumbent John Parker held onto his seat in Ward 26, after a hard-fought battle, which pitted two strong challengers against the incumbent in the closely watched riding.

With 52 of 53 polls reporting, Parker had 5,777 ballots, receiving 31 per cent of the total vote.

Jon Burnside, former police officer and political newcomer was the runner-up in the closely watched race in Ward 26, where he lost by only 405 votes to incumbent Parker.

Mohamed Dhanani, who was expected to defeat or come in second to incumbent Parker, was the surprise third runner-up. Dhanani received 28 per cent of the total vote, with 5,076 ballots. In the 2006 election, Dhanani had lost to Parker by only 214 votes.

Parker, took over from Jane Pitfield, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2006 and is a former Conservative MPP who focused extensively on the city's fiscal budget. He recently endorsed Rob Ford for mayor.

Burnside, a lifelong Leaside resident is a former police officer who spent his decade-long career with the Toronto Police Service working in Leaside, Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park, the major neighbourhoods that comprise the ward. He recently introduced a free House League hockey program for girls and boys in Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park, the success of a three-year effort.

Dhanani, a first-generation immigrant would have been the City's first Muslim councillor.

"I think it's unfortunate that such a diverse riding wil represented by a councillor who, although experienced, only represents part of the Ward's population," says Lauren Simmons, a high school teacher in Leaside. 

"Dhanani is a young progressive leader with a diverse voice who would bring a fresh perspective to issues in Ward 26, and with the margin of victory being as close as it was, one has to wonder what might have occurred if landed immigrants such as those who make up much of the Thorncliffe Park population could have had their say at the polls as well."

Ward 26 is comprised of affluent Leaside and the Wynford/Concord area along with densely populated and low-income priority neighbourhood Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park.

The ward had the highest voter turnout in the 2006 election at 52 per cent.

Also running were Tanvir Ahmed, Nawab Salim Khan, Shaukat Malik and Yunus Pandor.

These are the five most central issues in Flemingdon Park, as cited by those who live and/or work there.

• Additional support and services for youth and newcomers.

"We need more services for youth and immigrants to engage the youth and newcomers to make them feel more comfortable in the city," says Shamis Hagen, of the Flemingdon Health Centre, who has lived in the area for six years.

• Accessibility to housing that is clean and well-maintained.

Maymuna Shaikh, outreach worker for Flemingdon Neighbourhood Services says that "not many people have affordable housing here and even if they do, it is not worth what they pay. It's not well-maintained and the services they deserve are not available."

• Connecting residents across diverse neighbourhoods.

"I've noticed we seem to always be forgotten. Everyone spends more energy or emphasis on Leaside, which is a higher economic area," says Murray Guy, a Flemingdon Park resident for 40 years.

"Part of the riding is Toronto community housing and the rest of it is private and they don't seem to intermingle. Toronto community housing is segregated from the rest of the community so there is no real community involvement and we have no leadership at all in that part of the riding," he says.

• Supporting young people in education.

"There is a big disconnect between school officials and youth that come from certain areas. A lot of youth are not in school, kicked out of school and we need to bridge that gap," says Charuka Kirindem, youth outreach worker for the Hincks Dellcrest Centre, a children's mental health centre.

•  Addressing community violence and ensuring safety and well-being.

"There were two murders of two young people this summer. People are afraid to talk and so the killers go unpunished. We need to build trust between the community and police," says Kamal, who has lived in the area for 18 years.

Much of the media attention in the municipal election has focused extensively on the mayoral race. But in the last few days, a number of local newspapers and major dailies have given endorsements to specific candidates in the City’s forty-four wards. In Ward 26, incumbent Councillor John Parker who won his seat by only 214 votes in 2006 is facing two especially strong challengers – 2006 runner-up Mohamed Dhanani and former police officer turned entrepreneur Jon Burnside. City-wide media have unanimously endorsed Dhanani. Other candidates running to the ward are Tanvir Ahmed, Nawab Salim Khan, Shaukat Malik and Yunus Pandor. 

Eye Weekly chooses Mohamed Dhanani.

Eye Weekly says incumbent Councillor John Parker is in trouble. "[Dhanani] is back for a rematch and has a good chance of becoming Toronto's first Muslim councillor."

North York Mirror chooses Mohamed Dhanani.

North York Mirror says Mohamed Dhanani “will be a much more effective councillor” than incumbent Councillor John Parker. They say the ward needs a councillor who can represent the diversity of the area, “not just pockets of it.

“The need for community services in the ward is strong, especially in Thorncliffe and Flemingdon. It's an issue Dhanani has emphasized and one we believe he will be committed to delivering on.”

NOW Magazine chooses Mohamed Dhanani.

NOW says the sooner incumbent Councillor John Parker is “trounced, the better.”

“The good news is that Dhanani, an activist with the Flemingdon food bank who lost by a mere 200-some votes last time, is running strong again. Though Dhanani once worked for George Smitherman at Queen’s Park, he doesn’t urge a tax freeze and is eloquent on the need for more public services in the challenged ward. An opportunity for an upset if ever there was one.”

The Globe and Mail chooses Mohamed Dhanani.

The Globe lists Mohamed Dhanani as one of the “people who can bring real change to Toronto.”

“An Ismaili Muslim, he would be the first Muslim on council if he were elected on Monday. ‘You need dynamite councillors as much as you need a dynamite mayor,’ he says.”

The Globe says “He would be one.”

The Toronto Star chooses Mohamed Dhanani.

"Our enthusiastic nod goes to Mohamed Dhanani over incumbent John Parker. Dhanani, who lived in the Flemingdon Park part of the ward before graduating from Yale, has worked in government, business and the community."

The Star also lists Dhanani as one of six new faces “for shaking up Toronto city council.” They say there are other council members who reflect incumbent Councillor John Parker’s “small-c conservative” views and that Dhanani would bring a new perspective to council.

Torontoist chooses Mohamed Dhanani.

Torontoist says Mohamed Dhanani is “more than just a convenient alternative” to incumbent Councillor John Parker. Dhanani “is the best of both worlds” because of his professional qualifications and immigrant background.

“Dhanani could bring needed change to Ward 26, and would help tip the balance of council away from the slash-and-burn mentality that has pervaded the rhetoric of some candidates during this municipal election.”

Ward 26 candidate Mohamed Dhanani was the target of an anonymous flyer, denouncing his record that was delivered to residents along with official election notices.

Ward 26 candidates condemned an anonymous flyer that targeted frontrunner Mohamed Dhanani at the all-candidates debate Oct. 19.

A resident asked that candidates take responsibility or condemn the flyer, during the live question period at Leaside Memorial Community Gardens.

“One thing, I assure you, I had nothing to do with it,” quipped Dhanani.

The flyer was printed to resemble an official notice but for the spelling error on its cover that reads “Municiapal [sic] Election.”

The flyer says that Dhanani overstated his role and achievements in a prior position working closely with the provincial government.

“Mohamed Dhanani claims to have led the Ontario Government negotiations on a 9 billion dollar [sic] green energy deal. When asked about Dhanani’s role in these negotiations during Question Period [sic] at Queen’s Park, the Minister of Energy & Infrastructure said: ‘I know very slightly the gentleman the member is referring to…,’” the flyer reads.

The deal refers to the $7-billion agreement with Samsung Group and Korea Electric Power Corp. to build wind turbines and other green energy equipment in Ontario, signed in January.

It was originally negotiated by former Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Deputy Premier George Smitherman, with whom Dhanani worked as an advisor to.

In a transcript from the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, dated May 5, 2010 Whitby-Oshawa MPP Christine Elliott asks why a political staffer was appointed a lead negotiator with Samsung.

Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Brad Duguid, in fact, says, “I know very slightly the gentleman the member is referring to.”

But continues: “I understand that he was employed by one of my predecessors,” which was excluded in the flyer.

The flyer goes on suggest that Dhanani was involved in the $1-billion eHealth scandal, when he worked for Smitherman during his time as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. It also alludes to his recent endorsement by the Toronto York Region Labour Council and asks what he promised to receive their support.

Dhanani did not directly address the individual claims even when two issues were raised by residents in separate questions later in the evening.

During the live question period, a resident asks when he changed his stance on sole-source contracting, having said on the record that the key to getting Toronto’s finances in order is to stop the practice of sole-source contracting, she says.

“Any opportunity we get to recruit one of the largest multi-national corporations in Ontario, we absolutely have to take it,” says Dhanani.

“This deal is going to result in over $5-billion invested in Ontario’s economy; it’s going to result in new manufacturing in the green energy sector. Samsung could have gone to California, it could have gone to New York State but you know what, because of that deal, we brought them to Ontario. We need more of those deals,” he says.

All candidates present denounced the anonymous flyer and denied involvement.

“I think [it] is cowardly but I’m an optimist so clearly, somebody is worried that I’m going to win this election and wants to do whatever they can to cut me down,” says Dhanani. 

“People are sick and tired of nasty politics. People are already cynical about politicians and the political process,” he says.

This was the general sentiment amongst the candidates and the community.

“If you don’t respect each other, how can you respect a citizen of the community,” says Julie Dasoo, a Ward 26 resident.

Incumbent Councillor John Parker says, “I didn’t do it. I do not know who did it. I condemn that sort of approach to the political process.”

Jon Burnside, who is running in the ward, calls it a “coward’s way out.”

“I think it is totally inappropriate, I don’t condone it, [and] I didn’t do it,” he says.

“It’s good to have an opinion but at least be bold enough to back it up,” says Usama Iqbal, who pressed Dhanani to clarify his contributions to Ward 26 earlier in the evening.

Yunus Pandor, another candidate, did not condone the flyer but insisted that Dhanani address the claims.

“What’s in there, would Mr. Dhanani stand up and say [if] it’s true or not?”

“I never [saw] the flyer,” says Rick Price, a Ward 26 resident. “If the flyer was delivered to my house, I wouldn’t mind reading [it] to see if it was slanderous. [But] I wouldn’t condone that.”

No one has taken responsibility for the flyer.

Other candidates running to represent Ward 26 are Tanvir Ahmed, who was not present Tuesday evening, Shaukat Malik and Nawab Salim Khan.

This weekend marked the last two days of advance poll voting before the Oct. 25 election. In Ward 26, residents gathered at Valley Park Middle School at the corner of Don Mills Rd. and Overlea Blvd. to cast an early ballot.

I stopped by Sunday afternoon wanting to speak to voters on why they voted early and why they think it is important to vote. Particularly because when I spoke to residents in Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park, there was a recurring sense of voter apathy. For some, the concern was whether their vote would make a difference in their lives. And others felt their vote never did.

In the last municipal election, Ward 26 had the highest voter turnout in the city at 52 per cent. There was no incumbent and 15 candidates ran. Incumbent Councillor John Parker  defeated Mohamed Dhanani by only 214 votes.

But the number is rather inflated because Leaside, a predominately upper-middle class neighbourhood, had the highest voter turnout in the ward. Many of its residents understand their vote is important.

Unfortunately, I did not get to speak to voters Sunday. I knew that I could not snap photos inside the school's gym, where voting took place but I was not allowed to speak to anyone, even outside the gym. An elections official said because he could not verify whether I was working for a candidate running in the ward - even with a press pass, I was not allowed.

He also said voters were particularly scrutinous today. Later, I found out that there were allegations that some candidates running in the ward were campaigning on the school property, contrary to campaign guidelines. This was not verified by the official.

According to Elections Ontario, “filming and photography are not permitted inside polling places during advance polls or on Election Day.” This is to ensure that voters can cast their ballot privately without disruption and applies even if the voter consents to being filmed or photographed.

I already knew privacy and secrecy of votes was the primary concern but the official said it was because I was required to get voters’ consent. He said that if the crowd was smaller, he would have let me take photos inside but he had to protect the privacy of voters.

At the time, I was not well-versed in my rights as a journalist when covering an advanced poll so I could not address the disparity between the official rules and what I was told by the elections representative.

The school's gym was full with only an hour left until the polls closed. I thought I could do a couple sidewalk interviews because there were a lot of voters waiting at the bus stop, off the school's property. As if I asked who they voted for and was keeping a tally, I was met with scrutiny. Alas, I went home, having wasted two hours in total for the commute alone.

Councillor John Parker announced his support for Mayoral candidate Rob Ford's "energetic, forward-thinking campaign" Oct. 13.

Ward 26 Councillor John Parker announced his support for Mayoral candidate Rob Ford Oct. 13, following Rocco Rossi's withdrawal from the race, who he previously endorsed.

 “Rob Ford is the only mayoral candidate who will deliver the change that Toronto taxpayers are looking for. For four years, I have voted with Rob Ford against David Miller’s tax and spend agenda," Parker said in a statement.

"I look forward to working with Rob Ford in helping to put Toronto back on the right path.”

Parker has been councillor for Ward 26 since 2006. The area includes Flemingdon Park that has been designated a priority neighbourhood by the city.

At a Mayoral debate Oct. 7, Ford suggested the initiative was a waste of money. He said that he has not seen any proof that the program is working and will have to review it before investing millions of  dollars into the program.

Parker was a member of council's right-leaning Responsible Government Group and joins councillors Frances Nunziata, Mike Del Grande, Giorgio Mammoliti and Peter Milczyn in backing Ford.

Rev. Helena Houldcroft, who acted as interim director for the Flemingdon Community Food Bank, says the basement location is inaccessible.

It has been over a year since the Flemingdon Community Food Bank was forced to re-locate to a basement from its storefront location, and the move has sparked disagreement about whether it is working for the community.

In spring 2009, the food bank received an unexpected eviction notice due to the revitalization of Flemingdon Plaza, where it had occupied a storefront location. The food bank was forced to move to the basement of the nearby Flemingdon Health Centre, located at 10 Gateway Blvd.

Rev. Helena Houldcroft, executive director of the Flemingdon Park Ministry, who acted as interim director for the food bank, says the basement location has decreased accessibility and visibility of the food bank service.

“It’s not reasonable to offer this kind of a critical service to people in a space that is not respectful of peoples' needs,” she says.

But Ward 26 Councillor John Parker says the present location addresses privacy concerns expressed by users of other food banks.

“It’s far better that they be in a discreet location, where people don’t see them coming and going,” he says. “There’s a great deal of pride involved in the whole matter and forcing them to come in the middle of a shopping centre is not the way to treat those people with pride and dignity.”

Mohamed Dhanani, a member of the food bank’s board of directors and a candidate running in Ward 26 against Parker, says the plaza location offered some specific benefits.

“The advantage of being in the plaza was it’s a place where people come normally to do business," says Dhanani. "It’s less stigmatized. It becomes part of the business and service community in Flemingdon Park."

Rev. Houldcroft agrees.

“[People] loved it when we were in the plaza; they loved our accessibility there because we’re more than a food bank," she says. "It was about somewhere where they could drop in and feel at home ... If food banks are necessary then they are not to be hidden. The world needs to see them so we can move beyond them."

Parker, the incumbent, says discretion is the best policy for a food bank.

“Every bit of information that’s been brought to my attention is that the people that receive [food bank] service like to be dealt with discreetly,” Parker says.

When asked if that's also true of the Flemingdon Community Food Bank, Parker says he hasn't spoken with users of the food bank.

“A lot of them don’t speak my language," Parker says. "A lot of them are newcomers to this country and frankly, I don’t speak their language and they don't speak mine.

"I don’t speak Farsi, I don’t speak Urdu, I don’t speak Gujarati and I don’t speak whatever the other common languages that we have in the area [are]," he continues. "It wouldn’t be productive for me to go chasing the users of the food bank.”

The food bank currently provides services to 250 families per month, many of whom live in Flemingdon Park, a designated priority neighbourhood, Thorncliffe Park, and surrounding areas.

Susan, who declined to use her full name, says she's used the food bank for about a year. It's an hour commute by public transit from her home but it's worth it because she was mistreated at another food bank, according to her.

“I wouldn’t be embarrassed,” she says. “They respect you. I come here and they make me feel like family and friends here.”

Parker said the move to the basement location has resulted in significant savings on rent and utilities. The plaza was charging $60,000 in rent, plus about $40,000 for utilities annually. The health centre basement costs roughly $24,000 per year, utilities included.

Parker calls the decreased monthly rent a “gift.”

Though they disagree about the value of the move, Rev. Houldcroft notes that Parker has been of help in the past.

When the food bank faced eviction, Parker was actively involved in the community meetings and in facilitating the coalition between Muslim groups and Christian churches that now operate the food bank, according to Rev. Houldcroft.

But, she says, it’s not just about coming forward in times of crisis.

“What really needs to happen is an on-going relationship so we can continue to make this a strong neighbourhood," says Rev. Houldcroft. "It’s about being in a sustainable relationship over time and that’s what we need from a city councillor."

Traffic congestion, affordable housing and community development were among the top issues discussed by Ward 26 candidates at a live televised debate organized by Rogers Television Oct. 6.

But a recurring concern expressed by constituents in the ward is how available and responsive will their councillor be.

At the all candidates debate Sept. 30, some residents of the ward suggested that incumbent Councillor John Parker has been difficult to reach.

Here, candidates respond to a Ward 26 resident caller who asks: Who's going to be accessible?

Tanvir Ahmed

"I would suggest that I would be available 24/7."

Jon Burnside

"First of all, I'd have an office that's open, accessible and welcoming. Secondly, I'd have a website that's up and running. And thirdly, each week I would go into the neighbourhoods to meet people, to be proactive, to find out what their concerns are and then be able to deal with them the best that I can."

Mohamed Dhanani

"Three things: a constituency office that's going to be open and accessible, regular town hall meetings in the various parts of the ward so people have an opportunity to understand and hear what is going on and voice their opinion and I'll make sure that we're using technology effectively."

Nawab Salim Khan

"I have gone to every house and I [have] deliver[ed] my message there [...] and my contact number. [For] everyone who wants to contact me, it is very easy to contact me."

Shaukat Malik

"I have proven myself for the last twenty years working as a journalist and as a legal practicioner that I am very responsive [and] I am available all the time to hear my clients. It is the same idea there."

Yunus Pandor

"I would have on-going dialogue with everyone in the community. I would have an office that would be staffed to hear any complaints, comments or questions and I will answer to them, depending on the emergency, at least the same day or the very next day. And I'll have periodic meetings in all parts of Ward 26."

John Parker

"When you live in the community that you serve the issue of accessibility really doesn't arise because you work in the community, you live in the community and you come home to the community. And in the day and age of email, telephones and cell phones, frankly, you have no where to hide. So I am readily accessible and when people call, I go to them."