Library: More than a Learning Institution [Save the TPL]

The unprecedented and deep cuts to many Toronto social services are incredible. But none other then the attacks on the Toronto Public Library. I remember the days we would cram for finals at Central Library and all 6 floors would be filled with familiar faces, studying (and slacking). The library goes beyond hitting the books. It is the heart of a community, one of the last public spaces left where friends and neighbours gather together. Unfortunately, the service is being endangered by city council. 

October 17, 2011

Dear Councillor David Shiner,

            Thank you for representing the citizens of Willowdale in Ward 24 over these many years. Currently I am a 19-year old university student in your ward, and having followed municipal politics for a few years, I believe you have been a strong voice for us in council. I would like to strongly voice my concerns and firm opposition to the recent cuts to the Toronto Public Library. Having immigrated to Canada at the age of 6 and growing up in Willowdale ever since. The Toronto Public Library is the heart and soul of this city and it serves as one of the last community hubs and meeting place that unites seniors, adults, students and children from all demographics. The Toronto Public Library is the busiest and biggest urban library system in the world - incomparable to say the least, and its world-class facilities as well as its excellence in quality of service are what us Torontonians are proud of. I am strongly urging you and the rest of city council to reconsider the budget cuts and the reduction in staff and service hours as the library is a vital part of most Torontonians’ life.

            In fact, over 1.2 million Torontonians frequent the library in their weekly life, and KPMG surveyed that 73% of residents use the library in some way. The library is a fundamental public institution that provides basic access for its residents to literature, videos, books, social programs and entertainment. It serves as a multi-purpose facility that serves all types of people, not only the book lovers. Reducing its services and staff would be detrimental to the quality of life that we are blessed to have in this great country.

            Canada is a nation that stands proud for its diversity, along with its freedoms and multiculturalism. Today, this country is built upon the incorporation of many newcomers to this country, and I know the library is a strong reason for their success. As a proud Chinese-Canadian citizen, I arrived in grade 1, with minimal English skills. My parents and my sister brought me to the North York Central Library daily and it was through the time I spent reading books there that I learned English so quickly. My experience only resonates the similar experiences of thousands of new Canadians. Entering a new life in Canada, the library is the first place these people go to in order to learn English, as it provides limitless ESL resources, classes and convenience. Literacy is what helps immigrants learn, build up confidence and find jobs, through which the Toronto Public Library is able to support. Reducing service hours, cutting staff and resources will immensely impact our newcomers’ ability to integrate into our society.

Not only is the library a place to learn for immigrants, it is the place where parents introduce toddlers to their first book. The success of this nation’s future can easily be determined by the investment into our children. Now, it may be argued that books can be easily bought at the local bookstore if residents wants to read, but the endless variety of materials at the TPL provides more exposure to our kids and allow the parents to foster their child’s imagination. Kids learn the importance of reading and the library is where a child gets to grow in knowledge and be creative. In addition, the TPL also supports child literacy through its many interactive programs, like the Summer Reading Club, Ready for Reading, Storytimes, and Dial-A-Story. For me, the library was where I grew up and learned, having adventures in mysteries and classic fairy tales. The service reduction would severely impact the city’s kids.

            Besides kids, the TPL is a central hub for our seniors to drop by to borrow a quick read or enjoy programs such as computer literacy classes or book clubs. Closer to home, I have worked at the Bayview neighbourhood library for almost 3 years, and many of the senior citizens in our wards quite enjoy dropping in and borrowing dozens of books to be enjoyed during their leisure time. The Bayview branch has grown quickly and tremendously to be the busiest neighbourhood branch in North York and it has taken many years until recently that an increase in staff and service hours were introduced to meet the exponential usage of the library by our residents. Cutting services would be reversing what the neighbourhood has demanded.

            Willowdale boasts a healthy population of seniors, but also a vibrant young generation of students. As a student of Earl Haig SS, most of my friends and I would spend many hours a week studying and borrowing research materials at NYCL, Bayview and Fairview. It provides us with a quiet place to study, to learn, to further enhance our knowledge and also to relax. Many library users enjoy checking out the huge selection of DVDs, CDs, graphic novels, audiobooks or a good ol’ paperback for leisure. In a time where our economic condition is not stable, many more residents use the library as a source of inexpensive entertainment, family time. The TPL also supports a big collection of materials from over 60 languages and is important to the diverse population of our city. I have only touched the surface of the pool of educational and cultural services and resources that the TPL provides to its residents. There are many more usage of the library that garners mention, such as shows, concerts, museum passes, guest speakers, bookmobile and many more.  

            All these services are made possible only by the friendly librarians, public service assistants and pages that run the programs, helps the patrons, offer suggestions and maintain the library collection. Without the staff and investment into our libraries, we would not have the best public library system in the world.

I would strongly ask that council reconsider the proposals to cut the staff and reduce the hours. The collection spending can be trimmed, but I believe the staff and service cuts would leave a potent effect on the literacy of our fellow citizens and would prohibit the freedom and convenient access to learning that is key to an innovative and better city. Willowdale is a place that I’ve grown to love. As a young citizen, I would love to start my family here in the future. I would like to see the libraries to be an active part of my family’s life, just as my parents used to bring me as a kid.

             I am a proud Torontonian and I would like to see us to build a great city that foster innovation, creativity and possibility. The Toronto Public Library plays an integral role in building the foundation of a good standard of living in Canada. There are many places in the world that do not have access to literacy as we do in Canada. We are greatly blessed to have such access to literacy, which provides people with freedom and a future.

I understand our city is going through a tough financial situation at the moment, but I believe this library is too vital to be reduced. I strongly echo my friends and neighbours’ support of the library, and we are willing to pay more taxes to maintain the current quality and level of service. I agree that there are efficiencies that can be found. For example, 400 copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is unnecessary.

 The TPL is a community hub that unites residents of all ages, whether to use the net, to read, to research, to relax or socialize, it is an essential public institution that is too valuable to diminish.

Again, I thank you for representing the voices of Willowdale.

Sincerely,

Abraham Yuen

Willowdale Citizen

Demonstrating Excellence, Celebrating Achievements.

The above acronym has been an active part of my life for the past 5 years. The four letters signified a time of passion, competitiveness, adventures as well as storms and controversies. But frankly, it is time to move on....

DECA has molded my life in so many ways imaginable. Like athletes, there is also a time to hang the jersey and call it a career. After 5 years of competition, training and teaching, I've decided not to renew my membership. Firstly, the thrill isn't there anymore. I've had my fair share of excitement, from the local school competitions to making it to provincials to repping Canada in the International competition in Atlanta. From dealing with harassments to drama to the adrenaline filled moment of hearing your name and going on stage, to interacting with a red-headed scary lady....DECA had been something that I loved no matter what.

There's so much more I want to say, but I don't want to bore you with my memories of DECA.

Certainly I am nostalgic as I look back at the fun and not so fun times (drama) of DECA...but the time has come for me to open a new chapter of my life.

Thank you.

Home Sweet Home!

Oh, how I love you, Toronto! <3

Oh, What a Year!

Reflections: A Year in (Brief) Review

1st year done, second year to come...

I woke up this morning to a grey, ominous sky casting over the sleepy suburban neighborhood outside my bedroom window. What shadows and darkness for a morning sky would hopefully not be a foreshadowing of things to come in this brand new school year. This morning was my trip back to Waterloo. It would be the first of many commutes to come as I embrace the dull visuals of rolling fields and the familiar urban landscape that would too often be painting over my windshield. Looking out into the overcast, a wave of nostalgia hit me as I realized the significance of the occasion. Today marked a full year since I moved into UW Place, Eby Hall 2/3 with my roomies, Kysen and George.  Oh, how it feels like it was only yesterday when we came out of high school as brand new froshies, apprehensive yet excited at what the new future holds for us at Waterloo. Now, a year has past. And what a year it has been...

Can you believe it, we are heading into the second year of our university! Frosh week felt like light years ago! I remember the moment I first arrived at UWP, moving in my stuff. As I reached out for the doorknob, a tingle of anticipation excited me of the journey to come. I opened my door, and found that I got placed into a small room the size of a prison cell. Maybe smaller. Nevertheless, it was my room, in which I had grown into loving the tight, but comfortable space; and home was what I had called it for 8 months of my university life. It was certainly to be full of adventures to come, as I was to room with two of my closest friends from high school! It was very special indeed, a day I had previsioned for many days, and even years. It all traces back to a bored day in grade 7 french class. My best friend Kysen and I had written yes and no on the sides of an eraser. We began to toss the "magic" eraser and asked it questions. Evidently, after tossing the eraser on the first try, it had predicted six years earlier that Kysen and I were to go to the same university, Waterloo, be best friends in university, AND be roomies.

(L to R) George, me, Kysen

Indeed, there I was, that first day of rez, an outcome of the unbelievable predictions of eraser flipping by two bored junior high kids! Life was going to be good. During orientation week, we were like hyper bulls, craving for the crazy excitement of this new environment, with only nightfall keeping us from jumping over the pen to get out there and explore further. What would university life be like, we kept asking? I think social and media influences really depicts college life in a stereotypical way. It was after the third day that a tinge of fear and regret swept over me. After three days, college life wasn't all it appeared to me. The lost of the leash and newfound freedom was quickly going out of control all around. I had heard and seen stories of raves and parties, drunk people puking, and an overall euphoric atmosphere that was pushing the limits of the order of society. Even I had caved in, looking door to door for parties with my friends, only to be denied.

~knocks on door~
* Boy opens, glares at us
Boy: (reeking of beer) Hey guys, there are some Asian boys outside, what should we do with them?
*inaudible responses from inside
~Boy slams door~

At that point university appeared to be a wild experience, full of lawlessness and yes, drunkenness. Those first couple of weeks were accompanied by slight loneliness and days of missing home. However, brighter days were indeed ahead, and to tell you all the crazy stories in one blog would be unfair to your eyes and my poor fingers. But all I can say is, with my first year finished and under my belt, a look back certainly highlights many of the good, the funny and the not so good that happened! So much had happened this year! I met the coolest neighbours in Eby 207, had some great fun rez events with my floormates, Frosh Cell, DG, CCF (oh the benefits of being a frosh! i sure miss them!), finding a home at Creekside, exploring Waterloo, and especially growing spiritually.

With the fun, also came the hardships: watching my academics plunge, relationship heartbreaks, arguments with my roomies, my health, trying to support a friend on drugs and family.

Many of these items had hurted me physically, emotionally and spiritually, but it is through learning from these hardships that we become a better person.

Maybe the biggest lesson I've learn is that love can hurt. Loving someone is also very hard. I also can't love someone if I don't love God, because God is love. What it means to be the man in a relationship is probably one of the hardest to do (properly) and especially one that glorifies God. It can certainly pack a sting. Moving on from it, I think boys, though mucho on the outside, may take even longer to heal and are actually quite sensitive beings on the inside. That's just one of the many things I've learned and am still learning to become a better person.

Emotions often get the better of me. And often, I tend to worry a lot. I think it comes from my meticulous side that is always so detail-oriented. I was thinking and analyzing. Over-thinking often leads to worrying. This year, I hope to do less of that and rejoice. Like in Matthew 6:25 onwards says, do not worry about your life, for the Father will take care of you. Can anyone of you add one hour to your life by worrying?" I have to fully understand that, as much as I love to be in control of things, I can't and I am not, and sometimes, I need to be still and submit to him, fully.  

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33b-34

Maturing takes time. It certainly requires patience. It also requires perseverance. As the second year quickly dawns upon us, I sincerely hope that my maturity will continue to be nurtured by God, and that no matter what happens, my faith will stand upon a solid foundation, unwavering in the second year storms ahead.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."Proverbs 3:5-6

In Memory of Jack...

It is with great sadness that the nation has learned of the sudden passing of the Honourable Jack Layton this morning. In many ways, Jack Layton has touched the hearts and lives of many Canadians, whether they know him personally or not. This year, it was strange not seeing Jack Layton going onto the streets to personally chat with people on the Danforth for the annual festival in Greektown, his riding. His presence was greatly missed. Every year, I see him heartily greet and shake hands with dozens of Canadians, welcoming them with the genuine warmth of his trademark smile and enthusiasm. Jack is one-of-a-kind, a rare breed in the world of politics, as he displays genuine passion and determination to work hard for the people. Politicians often forget that, that they are representing the people. He fought for the little guys that society often neglects, bringing awareness to issues such as homelessness, AIDS and environmentalism. Whether you agree with his party's policy or not, you cannot not like the guy. He is a leader with an exceptional drive and passion, working and fighting hard for the lower income Canadians.

Having followed politics actively since 2003, I've watched his leadership emerge from when it started. He is such an honest, determined man with a great vision to better Canada that he will be sorely missed in parliament.  Jack appears to be such a down-to-earth, friendly type of guy who demonstrates such genuineness  in character to help other Canadians and is so trustworthy and civilized, qualities that are hard to come by in politicians today. With all the mud slinging across the party floors, Jack never engages in such attacks and is certainly a class act in all aspects. He never attacks personally and is full of respect for all, friend or foe.

When the NDP swept the country with a wave of orange crush earlier this year, you couldn't help but be happy for him, a man full of energy and direction for Canada, especially after a tough year of fighting prostate cancer and a hip fracture. 

It was really unexpected and sad when he announced that he was battling a second cancer, and in his announcement, he looked thin and he sounded raspy. It was a shock to see him in such a condition and I think we all really wished him the best in his recovery and expected to see him back healthy, going at it again in fighting for the people in Ottawa. Sadly, this will never come into reality....

Jack reminds me of an Atticus quote from To Kill a Mockingbird:

" I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.  It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.  You rarely win, but sometimes you do." 

Jack Layton truly displayed true courage, and even as he faced an uphill battle, he stilled faced life with a smile and optimism.

I can only imagine what Canada would look like if NDP came into power under Jack Layton as prime minister. As a leader, I've always admired his fire, passion and determination that drives him forward, yet they are all so gracefully tied together by his civility and humbleness. I used to think that if we had a presidential system, I would've picked him as leader. I've never really warmed to the idea of an ndp government, as I believed that a left wing agenda would bankrupt the country and lead it into despair. However, maybe all we needed was a man like Jack to pull it off. A man that fights for social rights and environmentalism. Two of the things I take heart of. How different would Canada have been if we've given him the chance for change?

It is a sad loss for his family and this country. He has inspired so many Canadians and especially the youths to stand up for their country and be active in shaping this country. In his last words to all Canadians, Jack displays the character that we all love in him:

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

Rest in peace, bon Jack.

Homelessless May Finally Disappear...for the wrong reasons.

Taken from CityNews, August 10, 2011

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti believes the best way to deal with the homeless is transitional housing.  He just doesn't think the city should pay for it.  In the meantime, he wants all homeless people to be removed from Toronto's streets and placed in hospitals until the federal or provincial governments fork over the cash to house them. 

"It is a huge problem and this administration knows it's a huge problem - a problem we can't afford," Mammoliti told CityNews on Tuesday.

"We do need to take them off the streets and we need to do it forcefully."

"I would rather use police resources and actually take them off the streets and put them in the hospitals, and continue to put them in the hospitals until the province recognizes it's best to give the municipalities the money that they need to be able to deal with this long term - which is resources and housing."

"Jail is not the place to put them because it costs us $3000/day per person."


----

Now, before I proceed to lashing out at this article, I would like to make it clear that I am not a radical left-wing socialist.  But this is another outrageous idea that will continue to wreak havoc in this great city that we love! First, the city suggests to set up a special district for prostitution, now it decides to clean the streets of homeless and treat them like trash. literally. Councillor Mammoliti says that homelessness is a huge problem and is a problem that we can't afford. On the contrary, it is such attitude that creates a negative stigma in society, in which it spurs society to ostracize the homeless. Homelessness is not a problem. If most of these people have a choice, do you think they would like to live out on the streets, not knowing if they might see another day? Indeed, homelessness is NOT the problem. In fact, rounding up the homeless like a herd of cattles and locking them up in hospitals will not be beneficial, and by the way, it is a step backwards for the city. In the 1980s, when the government released the people from mental hospitals after realizing they do not get better being locked up in psychiatric wards and can be integrated back into society. However, at the time, they had no sufficient plan and resources to help them, and therefore many of them ended up on the streets to fend for themselves.

According to a recent City of Toronto's report, at least 2/3 of the homeless suffer from some sort of psychological disorder. Now by locking them up in hospitals, or even jails would definitely not have a positive outcome. Instead of targeting homelessness as a problem, these people needs to be treated with love and compassion, and the problems CAUSING homelessness needs to be tackled. The city cannot expect them to find a job, get a house and voila, the issue's gone. Each and every individual on the streets has a different story. Whether it's drugs and alcohol, domestic abuse, job loss, or other reasons, what the city needs to invest in are the social programs that offer assistance to them. In addition, many homeless people are victims are situations and conditions, like rising house market prices, high unemployment rates, sluggish economy, family violence and have fallen into them not because they want to. These issues may be harder to improve on in the short term, but the city can invest in job training programs and counselling that will help these people have a chance to get back on the right track. 

Some of these people are hooked on alcohol and drugs to provide them with relief from reality or are dealing with addictions and the government should look at how we can treat and offer the support ready that they need if they choose to take it.  By providing them with the proper resources and guidance many of them need to re-integrate as productive citizens of this city. It will be costly, but it will be a step in the right direction.  But throwing these people into the hospital and expecting this "problem" to fix itself is not gonna happen. 

Any thoughts?




Also, for more on my view on homelessness, please take a look at my three part series from February 2011.

Rocket!

--3:30pm, August 6, 2011, Bloor-Yonge platform, Toronto, ON.

(On my way back from the Taste of the Danforth)

As I waited for the northbound train to roll into the station, I noticed a pair of boys talking loudly and making a huge commotion as they wait. "Probably drunk from Beerfest," I thought. I looked up at the screen and it informed me that the next train will arrive in 4 minutes. I went on to stare pointlessly at nothing as I waited. As the seconds ticked on, a distant orange glow could be seen coming closer through the tunnel. There was a strange hue to the incoming train that seemed out of the ordinary. As passengers leaned out for a better view, I couldn't help but grin. So we meet again, I thought.

As the object became more distinct, one of the drunk guy yelled and motioned his hand in a circle, " HEY EVERYBODY, IT'S A NEW TRAIN!!!!" Many passengers turned their attention to the tunnel. There it was, shooting out like a rocket, the newly minted, Toronto Rocket, with its sleek design at the front and a shiny stainless steel shell all around, its orange headlights glowing like a ball of fire. As the train rolled into the station,it was greeted by outrageous applause and loud cheering, and there was a sense of excitement as everybody chattered about their upcoming journey. As the doors opened to allow access onto the new train, it was bound to be an adventure and a moment worth to be cherished in photo, via smartphones, of course! :)

Source: Urban Toronto

Never have I encountered such excitement about taking public transit in Toronto. It certainly brought a little joy to everyone's day! People are buzzing about taking the new subway all over the internet. The new trains are smooth, quiet and comfy. It has put the "Rocket" back into "riding the rocket". As I entered the doors, I was immediately greeted by a glowing map. I couldn't help but smile :)