Grieving and Remembering Together Victims of the Toronto Attack at Mel Lastman Square

A Toronto Vigil was held yesterday to remember and honour the victims

It's been a few days since we watched the horror of the news report on television.

Yonge Street and Sheppard area where the attack occured. 

Every time I watch the news reports,  an immense feeling of sadness fills my chest. How could such tragic incident happen in our peaceful beautiful city of Toronto?

Around the Mel Lastman Square

When I thought about the innocent victims who were killed simply walking on the sidewalks last Monday on a beautiful spring day,  my eyes swell up with tears.

A make shift memorial site at the entrance to the Mel Lastman Square

What a senseless action and tragic wast of many lives! Young lives that have been cut short; bright hopes and future come to an abrupt end and beautiful dreams never will be fulfilled.

For the past couple of weeks, it has been a difficult time for Canadians. While  we were still mourning for the sixteen young hockey players killed in the horrific tractor trailer accident in Saskatchewan, we, in Toronto are hit by this unprecedented attack on our busiest street.

Unfortunately, Toronto joins the same list as other western countries hit by attacks that killed massive number of innocent people.

We need a place to grieve together,
to comfort and lean on each other.




















The city of Toronto organized an interfaith memorial service to honour and remember these victims. We were a part of this event.





















The Toronto Strong Vigil took place on Sunday, April 29 at Mel Lastman Square started with a walk at the scene of the massacre at Yonge and Finch.














People came by the thousand joining the walk to claim back the street.

It was the firs time we went to the site of the incident. Seeing the mount of flowers and the notes, candles left at the memorial site, many people , including me, broke down and cry.

Days of holding back our emotions, many Torontonians bursted at the sight of the memorial.

There were many people came out for this memorial service. People kept coming, laying down flowers and hand written notes at the make shift memorial site.

The service started with the drumming by the representative of native people of Canada

 We could hardly get close to nor saw the stage but were able to take part in this multi-faith vigil by watching from the jumbo tron set up in the square.

It was a good an hour and half mutli faith vigil.  with members from our community being represented.
























Different major faith and religions were represented and each was involved for a few minutes.

We had someone representing the Christian faith.


















Someone represented the Muslim faith and shared a few words.
















The police chaplain from the Toronto Police Department also represented the Hindu religion  was there.
























As well as the someone from the Jewish religion.
















Among the ten victims killed, a couple of Koreans, one of whom was a young student from Korea studying in Toronto, as well as a Jordanian father here visiting his son.

Another victim was a single mother with a young child. She just graduated from school and started working at her job for the first day o at a school nearby.

Her son is now both motherless and fatherless. Amid these tragedies, the light of humanity shone through. This gentleman told us at the vigil that the Buddhist community has decided to collectively become his new family and raise him up together.

The Yonge Street tragedy was  devastating for us. We were innocent enough to think that such evil deeds would never touch us in Toronto.


But it also bought us together.

We are a diverse society reflecting people and immigrants from around the world.

Together, we stand strong and united.

We have been living in Toronto for the past forty years. I have never had such heaviness and grieve in my heart until last Monday when the attack occurred.

Being part of the inter faith memorial service gave me an opportunity to grieve with others openly in Toronto yesterday.

















Though my eyes still swell up with tears and emotions as I remember the innocent victims, somehow, I am a little more comforted  than the day before knowing that I am not alone in this grieve.


R.T.
Mel Lastman Square
Willowdale, Toronto
Canada

A Horrifying and Devastating Day for Toronto

In Toronto, todayt was a gorgeous spring day, warm and sunny with many people walking outside and enjoying the sunshine.

But when I turned on the CBC radio, frightening news was  reported on the air wave.
A vehicle was used as a deadly weapon on Yonge Street, the  most famous street in Canada and the busiest street in Toronto at 1:30pm today.

The driver, a 25 year old white man, a student at Seneca College in Toronto, intentionally dove his vehicle along Yonge Street running down people. The terror continued for a few blocks as the driver in the rented white van kept driving at high speed and hitting pedestrians in its path.

There were ten people killed and fifteen injured after the the rampage. Emergency hospital and schools in the area were in  lock down for precautionary measure.  Since some subway stations were closed, people were unable to get home. However, many porch lights were on indicating that residents opened their houses welcoming stranded Torontonians into their homes.

Courageously, a police officer arrested the suspect without firing a shot and without incident. So far, there is no evidence suggesting that this incident was motivated by terrorism.

Toronto, our home, is a beautiful, safe and welcoming city.  It is one of the safest cities in the world. What happened today is a tragic incident that has shaken and stunned us.  No doubt this incident has rattled some nerves. But we will stand together, heal and recover. Our condolences to the  innocent victims' families; our gratitude to the first responders serving and saving lives at the scene on this most devastating day in Toronto's history.

R.T.
Grieving with my Fellow Citizens
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Where Are Our April Showers This Year in Canada?

In Canada, we have a saying that goes like this:

April Showers Bring May Flowers!

It implies Canadians long for warm sunny days ahead after a long cold winter. However, we should rejoice over the rainy days in April.

We need to  be a little bit more patient as the heavy rain and showers that come in April will bring us beautiful abundant flowers, warm and sunny days ahead in May!

View from our front door yesterday

We have been living by this saying for years! The rain and showers always bring us the bright hope that winter is ending and spring and summer will be here soon.

The freezing rain covering our windows 

Unfortunately, for this year, our winter has been long and seems without end. For the past two days, we have been experiencing a historic winter storm with freezing rain in southern Ontario while other parts of Canada once again experience some heavy snow.

Freezing rain has turned our streets into sheets of ice

The freezing rain has turned our street into  a sheet of ice slippery like a skating rink.



We got an email from our church informing us that the Sunday Service and all church activities would be cancelled on Sunday.

Freezing rain fell for the past two days

While on radio and TV,  they informed university students that their final exams have been post phoned due to concerns of possible slips and falls resulting from the freezing rain.

Tree branches covered with freezing rain on trees in front of our house this weekend

We could hardly see out of our windows

We got up this morning determined to find a church in our neighbourhood opened for Sunday Service. One church closest to us was closed but we did find one opened, the Church of St. Andrew in Scarborough.

By the time we got there, the service  was half way finished. We were there barely making it to the communion.










At the end of the service, everyone was invited to some refreshments prepared by  church volunteers. We met Marvin and Henry and  had a good time enjoying a cup of coffee, treats and good fellowship with  those who were there for the Sunday Service despite the inclement weather.

I was given a lovely bouquet by a church lady who welcome us warmly. What a warm reception did we receive!

We enjoyed our brunch at Cora.

After church, we went for a traditional Sunday brunch at the Cora Restaurant in our neighbourhood.

Though many people stayed homes avoiding the bad weather, we were surprised to find a queue waiting at the restaurant which was full of patrons enjoying their breakfast.

Decorations on the wall give a warm feeling to the diners in the Cora Restaurant

Though the weather was miserable outside, we had a delicious brunch and enjoyed the warm and cozy ambiance of  a French Canadian restaurant in our neighbourhood. It was not a bad day at all.

We  could hardly wait for the April showers to come!

R.T.
Toronto

Observing and Learning to Communicate Better as a Parent in My Neighborhood Coffee Shop

Our neihgbourhood coffee shops such as Starbucks, Tim Horton's or McDonald's are my happy places, where I can retreat from the world and do the things I love the most - writing and blogging which allow me to recapture the happy moments spent with friends and family.

Our neighbourhood coffee shop is my happy place

A little while ago,  I was sitting in my favourite coffee shop doing my writing again.

Sitting across from me were a father and his young daughter, about 8 or 9 years old. The dad was having a coffee while his daughter was enjoying a juice and a donut. Both were chatting about anything that came to their mind.


It was a cold afternoon in the middle of a harsh Canadian winter with snow blowing outside. As soon as the father sat down,  he took his daughter's hand and rubbed it gently to keep it warm.
A beautiful and touching picture of a loving father and his daughter being together.

A lovely snow scene in our neighbourhood

After a few minutes of conversation, the father took out a magazine and went over some pictures on some movies with the daughter.   Their casual conversation evolved into something more personal to about the daughter's school and friends.

The daughter asked her dad "How do you study for a grammar test?"
Her dad went over with his daughter what he did when he was a student. The discussion continued to focus on her school work and the daughter expressed how she wished she could do better in school.

My neighbourhood coffee shops are always filled with people

" The most important thing is that you keep trying. You are trying hard which is important."Dad said gently encouraging her young daughter.

" But I am having a hard time with my friends. I wish my friends would like me better. I am not the smartest," the girl replied with some
sadness in her voice.

Then  she looked at her dad's cell phone, " Oh, it's 3:30pm."

Dad said," Are you OK? You looked at the clock. Tell me what's bothering you?" He was trying to be very understanding and patient. But his daughter did not reply.

Her Dad continued:"You know when we do gardening? You put the tomato seeds in the soil, water them and look after them.Then after a little while, the tomatoes will grow. Friendship is like that. It takes a little time."

With his encouraging words, the girl continued telling her father what was bothering her about her friends.



Dad:  " What are the things you are presenting on Friday? Tell me about it. What are you going to say?"
Daughter: "I am presenting about my favourite room in the house. '
Dad:          " What do you like about these rooms. Tell me 3 things why you like these rooms? I am intereste
d. I want to hear about it."
Daughter: "Not sure."
Dad:         "You picked the bedroom. But why, you should explain why you like about it."
Dad:         "Tell me about your math test."
Daughter: "What about it? It's just a math test"
Dad:         "You have an amazing story about your Math test."

Lots of people do their work in the coffee shop

Then the Dad picked up his cell phone and said: " let me take a picture of you. A fun picture. Pick up something and do something funny. I want to do a portrait. Please don't cover your eyes. When you do a portrait of the person, the eyes are very important."

The daughter took her winter hat and posed.
Dad:         "Look up to one side."

They were having fun, taking pictures and looking at them together.What a beautiful picture of father and daughter spending time together!

I was sitting opposite from them and starting to be filled with emotions.

Being a working mom who was trying to build a career at the time, I was extremely busy while my kids were growing up. How I wish I could have spent time like that with my two sons individually when they were young and talked with them like this pair about school, friends and their problems.

Building relationship takes time.  Cultivating friendship and relationship with loved ones and our children takes years.

I admired this father's willingness and his deliberate attempt in spending time and communicating with his daughter. Listening to the father/daughter conversation, I have learned a thing or two about  talking to my own and other children better.

R.T.
At My Neighborhood Coffee Shop
Toronto

105 Gibson Centre - Celebrates Its Phase 2 Opening in Markham

Rev. Harding Ng welcome guests at 105 Gibson Centre

Sunday, March 25, 208

It was a great day at 105 Gibson Centre, Markham!

My adrenaline was flowing at its fullest!

Many people came to celebrate 105 Gibson Centre's  Phase 2 Opening on March 26, 2018

Rev. Jonathan C., Director of 105 Gibson share the centre's mission

As the stream of people kept coming into the meeting hall, we were busy adding chairs and serving food to accommodate the large crowd joining us on this special occasion - the Opening Ceremony of 105 Gibson Centre's Phase 2 Expansion.





The congregation at TCCC along with many volunteers of 105 Gibson Centre worked very hard in 2017 raising fund for the $1 million renovation project. It was amazing to see God's miraculous work and the generosity of many of our donors supporting our centre. Today was the day when the Phase 2 renovation was officially open and in use!

Ribbon cutting at the Phase 2 Grand Opening Ceremony

As one of the tour guides for this opening event,  I had the privilege of leading a few tour groups throughout the afternoon.   I escorted the visitors to see the centre and  the newly renovated 8000 square feet space as well as explaining to them our mission and expanded services.

It was a high for me as the visitors gasped in delight at the sight of the newly renovated facility.
Some of the highlight  include:

A beautiful hangout place for seniors -a  part of the renovated space 

1. Abundant Life Court - a space dedicated to serving those who are 55 and over.

Seniors entertaining visitors to the centre

It is a place for seniors to hang out socialize and have fun with others.

A new dance studio

The Abundant Life Court has a dance studio offering exercise and dance classes to meet the needs of seniors.

A classroom for workshops & activities at the Abundant Life Court

It also has a clinic for senior and a meeting room for workshops and recreational programs.















2.  A community kitchen to prepare food for centre users and community events.


It is available to the community for private function rental.

A brand new community kitchen at 105 Gibson Cenbtre, Markham

A permanent home for  105 Gibson Centre's Thrift Store 

3. A permanent space for the Centre's Thrift Store.

A lot of good bargains at the Thrift Store

The Thrift Store accepts donated items in good condition from the community with its proceeds going back to support the Centre's operating cost.

The Thrift Store is open 2 afternoons a week

The Thrift Store plans to conduct a training course offering job seekers training and on the job retail experience enabling them a better chance to find their first jobs.






105 Gibson Centre has much to offer to its surrounding community. We can hardly wait to share with our friends and neighbour how many great programs and support it offers to the residents and users of the centre. We welcome everyone to come and experience the grace and love of God in this place. It's 105 Gibson Centre's mission to reach out to the needy who in the future can make it their second home!

Come, explore,  learn and enjoy this place together with us at 105 Gibson Centre!

R.T.
A Volunteer
105 Gibson Centre
Markham, Ontario