People

More than just a pretty face

BY CYNTHIA REASON
August 12, 2008 03:28 PM Aziza Mohammed's resume reads more like that of an aspiring diplomat than of your typical beauty queen, but her achievements are sure to help the reigning Miss Central Ontario answer the proverbial 'world peace' question in her upcoming bid for the... more

Woman's fitness journey on the small screen

Etobicoke woman joins six others on reality TV show

BY EVAN FRENCH
July 10, 2008 01:06 PM An Etobicoke woman pledged to turn her life around on television.

Bonnie Staring, freelance writer, has teamed up with six other women from around the GTA on the W Networks' new docu-soap, Stuck, airing now. Staring said she answered a casting... more

Teacher honoured for fire safety commitment

Dislike for silence leads to change

BY COLLIN HABA
June 25, 2008 02:31 PM Jo-Ann Slack's dislike for silence has seen her 50-year-long teaching career culminate with recognition for teaching kids about fire safety.

Slack, 68, a teacher at O'Connor Public School in North York, received the Fire Safety Advocate Award... more

Teacher retires after four decades

BY EVAN FRENCH
June 19, 2008 12:45 PM In a brightly-decorated gymnasium, surrounded by students and peers, a kindergarten teacher at Wellesworth Junior School said farewell to the classroom on Wednesday, June 18.

"I have mixed feelings about leaving." said Linda Campbell,... more

Disability hasn't stopped dancer from catching a break

Rehab students hear success story from performer with scoliosis

BY FANNIE SUNSHINE
May 27, 2008 03:02 PM Luca "Lazylegz" Patuelli isn't going to let a muscle disorder stop him from driving, swimming, skiing and, most importantly, breakdancing.

"There is nothing wrong with me and there is nothing wrong with you," the 23-year-old... more

War vet's memories featured in children's book

North York man recalls coming and going through Nova Scotia's Pier 21

BY LISA QUEEN
May 22, 2008 12:31 PM When Philippe Grignon was a young man of 22, he, along with thousands of servicemen, passed through Canada's famed Pier 21 in Halifax on his way to fighting the Second World War in Europe.

Three years later, he and his war bride came back... more

Celebrating 100 years of courage, compassion and commitment

BY ERIN HATFIELD
May 21, 2008 01:25 PM A sunny smile made its way across Margaret Barney's face as the entertainer started to sing Ain't She Sweet.

"This is all for you," said Barney's daughter Pamela as she leaned over and smiled back at her mother, holding her hand... more

Student heads to the top of French literacy competition

BY JEFF WIMBUSH
May 15, 2008 03:51 PM Neria Aylward is the kind of 12-year-old that succeeds at everything she puts her mind to, according to Andree Gauthier, her Grade 6 teacher. So it was no big surprise when Neria recently qualified to represent southern Ontario in the... more

Joyce Public School teacher wins New Teacher of the Year award

BY CLARK KIM
May 13, 2008 03:12 PM Andrew Schmitt has been teaching for three years, but he's already made a significant positive impact on his students, parents and fellow staff.

The elementary school teacher at Joyce Public School near Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue was... more

Author's self-published debut wins prestigious Leacock humour award

Long-time resident and businessman scoops $10,000

BY NORM NELSON
May 13, 2008 11:31 AM The past winners list for the Stephen Leacock Award for humour is home to such Canadian literary giants as Mordecai Richler, W. O. Mitchell, W. P. Kinsella, Farley Mowat and Robertson Davies.

To that exclusive list you can now add local resident... more

Man goes to Extreme in fight against cancer

Gym program geared toward those dealing with lymphoma

BY JUSTIN SKINNER
April 10, 2008 11:29 AM Shocked by the dearth of programs designed to help those with cancer improve their overall health, Yorkville resident Martin Robertson decided to take matters into his own hands.

Robertson was diagnosed with lymphoma four years ago and though he... more

North Yorker has a 'hand' in NASA's Dextre

Engineer was in Florida as robot left for the International Space Station

BY FANNIE SUNSHINE
April 3, 2008 11:26 AM A North York resident recently received NASA's prestigious Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award for his work on Dextre.

Sean Dowling spent three years as the leading technical engineer in the hand re-design of the Special Purpose Dexterous... more

Photographer angles for wife's heart

BY LISA RAINFORD
February 13, 2008 03:30 PM Photographer David Allen brings new perspective to the song 'My Funny Valentine' made popular by legendary crooner Frank Sinatra.

There is no doubt he has been making his wife Larissa laugh each Valentine's Day for the past 37 years.

It... more

Charlotte Jefferis turns 105

BY TAMARA SHEPHARD
February 5, 2008 03:47 PM Charlotte Jefferis celebrated her 105th birthday in style Friday, singing tunes spanning the decades of her life.

"It's a long way to Tipperary," the mother of five sang into the microphone, harkening the popular 1912 anthem sung by... more

Model citizen takes flight with Halifax Bomber

Airplane model donated to aircraft association

BY FANNIE SUNSHINE
January 22, 2008 03:51 PM For more than a decade, Louis Weiss has dedicated himself to the craft of model making.

From St. Peter's Basilica to Ottawa's Parliament building, the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue resident spends months to years finishing a piece, making sure... more

David Tomlin makes an 'Outstanding principal'

BY TAMARA SHEPHARD
January 17, 2008 01:48 PM When David Tomlin ran in the Toronto Marathon last year, eight of his students ran with him.

That respect is one reason why the John English Junior Middle School principal is one of 33 chosen as Canada's Outstanding Principals for 2008, an... more

Etobicoke dancer takes stage in The Nutcracker

BY CYNTHIA REASON
December 11, 2007 02:49 PM Alyson McKenzie doesn't have too many gaps in her schedule these days, but what little time the newly-enrolled, full-time National Ballet School student does have is spent making up dance moves in the basement of her family's Etobicoke... more

Robert Bateman helps students get in touch with nature

Renowned artist launches program at Forest Hill P.S.

BY JUSTIN SKINNER
November 22, 2007 01:21 PM World-famous artist Robert Bateman enjoyed a homecoming of sorts when he dropped in to Forest Hill Public School last Friday to launch a program that introduces students to nature.

The renowned painter attended the school during his own... more

Eureka! Science teacher wins two awards

Dr. Danielle Gauci recognized for unique teaching methods

BY KATE WILSON
October 25, 2007 05:00 PM Local teacher Dr. Danielle Gauci has been doubly rewarded for her innovative teaching methods, which includes showing her high school students things they might otherwise see on a popular television crime scene drama.

"It hits home that it's... more

Top marks: student shows her smarts

Youngster will appear on 'Are You Smarter Than A Canadian Fifth Grader?'

BY JUSTIN SKINNER
October 18, 2007 01:11 PM Davisville Village resident Taylor Lau is a pretty normal 10-year-old. She's cheerful, loves funny movies and dancing and, as television viewers will soon discover, is smarter than a lot of adults.

Lau will appear in five upcoming episodes of... more

Homeowner's Norway maple has great timing

Tree turns bright red every Sept. 21

BY TAMARA SHEPHARD
September 27, 2007 01:06 PM The towering Norway Maple in Mike Sabadash's front yard tells time.

"It must have an internal calendar," Sabadash marvelled this week. "Its leaves are dark green. Then on Sept. 21 every year it turns absolutely scarlet... more

Local actress does double duty at Toronto Film Festival

Kristin Booth stars in two films

BY JUSTIN SKINNER
August 30, 2007 11:36 AM Local actress Kristin Booth's latest project may garner headlines for its risque title, but the rising star feels it's only a matter of time before it turns heads for all the right reasons.

Booth will appear in two films in the upcoming Toronto... more

She's still a cougar

Former columnist on the prowl with TV series

BY CYNTHIA REASON
August 21, 2007 02:58 PM Three months since her departure from the Toronto Sun, Etobicoke's resident sexpert Valerie Gibson is still as colourful and controversial as ever - and just as busy, too.

The Dear Val columnist said she looks back at the "overpowering... more

Priest celebrates 60 years of helping others

BY JOANNA LAVOIE
June 26, 2008 04:58 PM Life has come full circle for the affable Rev. Edwin J. Platt.

Platt, who marks 60 years as a Catholic priest this year, is now enjoying a quiet retirement in the same Lockwood Road home he lived in as a young man.

He even attends and... more

Scarborough teen reaches Canadian Idol Top 10

Martha Joy credits her success to sheer dedication

BY JOANNA LAVOIE
July 17, 2007 10:47 AM Day by day is how 16-year-old Scarborough resident Martha Joy is treating her journey as Canadian Idol hopeful.

"When I auditioned, I never thought I'd make it this far," said the teen, who attends North York's Cardinal Carter Academy... more