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Probus-Gui ldwood
Our Strength is Fellowship, Our Success is Participation.
ISSUE #95 NEWSLETTER February 2020
Probus-Guildwood Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each Month, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church,
140 Guildwood Parkway, Guildwood Village – Everyone is most welcome.
President’s Message
We all know that February is
the month when we express
our affection and appreciation.
February 14 is Valentine’s
Day and February 17, Family
Day, an Ontario Statuary
holiday. Alan will continue to
delight you will other unique celebration dates
for the month in the later part of this newsletter.
This is the year when more people are taking
green action. On January 8 we presented Ed
Stahlberg with an artisan ceramic mug to draw
your attention to practising
individual green
initiatives. Ed along with
Gerard Baribeau, Jadwiga
Brazda and Margery
Levere bring their own
flasks and mugs to reduce
‘single use items’ at our
meetings. We invite you to
bring your own mug/container to support this
enterprise and share your green ideas with us.
Sadly much of what is placed in city blue bins
still ends up in landfill due to contamination or
misadventure.
Following John Tory’s October declaration that
Toronto is experiencing a climate emergency,
residents are gathering to share grassroot
initiatives in their communities. The
Scarborough Village Recreation Centre is host
to many.
January 15 the City Community Development
Officer Wayne Robinson oversaw reports from
various southeast Scarborough communities, and
on January 26 Transform Toronto conducted a
community consultation with residents including
the GVCA.
Green Neighbours 24 is the latest initiative to
engage/mobilize people in Ward 24 into action
for the preservation and love of their
environment. They are looking for concerned
residents with some creative ideas. Contact
organizers John Dolewood at
[email protected] or Mark Takefman at
[email protected]. For further information
google Green Neighbours to see what
Torontonians are doing. Wendy Hooker
We will remember with
Barbara Dickson
At our January 8 gathering, Scarborough
researcher and author Barbara Dickson
introduced our members to the WWII
Scarborough GECO munition plant and the
unique stories of several ‘Bomb Girls’ who were
employed there.
Bob and Phil Hamilton, owners of GECO
mining company, were approached by the
Canadian government to build and operate a
Scarborough munitions plant south of Eglinton
and east of Warden. A similar plant was created
in Whitby. The Scarborough plant was
constructed on 346 acres of expropriated
Scarborough farmland. There were 172 above-
ground buildings with four km of underground
tunnels for wiring and air conditioning. Only 21
repurposed buildings remain today, sadly with
no recognition of the area’s historical
significance.
From 1941-1945, GECO employed over 2,100
employees, mostly women, who generated a
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Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people.
quarter billion rounds of munitions for the war
effort. There were three shifts operating six days
a week. The massive change houses could
process 500 women every 30 minutes. After the
war, the Canadian Government ordered all
munitions records to be destroyed. When Bob
Hamilton died, his widow donated his personal
documents about the plant to the Ontario
Archives. The collection of 84 editions of the
Fusiliers, the GECO employee newsletter stored
with the Scarborough Historical Society, is
another resource. From these records, Barbara
was able to connect with some of these women
or their families and have access to their diaries
and war letters.
What was the life of a Bomb Girl? Before the
war, the country was recovering from the Great
Depression when employment was difficult to
secure, and life was challenging. Women were
fortunate to earn an elementary education. There
were significant records of high child mortality,
domestic and sexual abuse, homelessness,
suicide, murder and alcoholism.
With all able-bodied men called into the
Canadian Armed Forces, GECO relied on
Canadian women as the workforce. Many had
children or family to support so their domestic
life altered significantly having to balance their
responsibilities of home and work. Those left at
home read about the progress of the war and
were impacted by learning of the injuries, death
or imprisonment of their loved ones and
passionately wanted to contribute.
Barbara related the personal stories of several
women employed at GECO, starting with
Florence Ignatieff. Florence was able to secure
her father’s permission to complete a Bachelor
of Home Economics degree. She then pursued a
degree in Biochemistry. With a staff of 120,
Florence was hired by GECO to supervise all the
meals for their ‘army’ of employees for all three
daily shifts. Florence was a pioneer of nutrition
science.
Barbara presented a sampling of the remarkable
stories of other bomb girls such as: Millie
MacRae who filled the detonators and is
remembered as dropping one; fortunately, it
didn’t explode; Florence Walker, Marg Strama,
Isobel Main, also a member of the Canadian
Women’s Army Corps, Clara Brown and Edith
George.
Previously these women relied on their husbands
to provide for them and their families. By 1945
they had acquired new skills and most
significantly their financial and societal
independence. The war effort drastically altered
cultural and societal norms.
As told to our members, Barbara is currently
searching for a new publisher for her 100 Stories
of the Bomb Girls after her previous publisher
sold his company. The collection is truly a
celebration of these wartime heroines in their
own communities. Barbara and her husband
graciously provided copies of her previous book,
The Bomb Girls for members to purchase and
maps of the former GECO plant.
If you would like to contact Barbara, her email
address is: [email protected].
Did you know? - National Flag of Canada
National Flag of Canada Day was officially
proclaimed on February 15, 1996.
Canada is the only country with a maple leaf
on its flag..
The stylized maple leaf on the flag has eleven
points.
Red and white were proclaimed Canada's
official colours in the proclamation of the
Royal Arms of Canada in 1921 by King
George V.
The Canadian flag is twice as long as it is
wide. The white square and its maple leaf
make up half the surface of the flag equal to
the two red bars combined.
Vexillologists (flag experts) often cite the
National Flag of Canada as one of the world's
most beautiful based on its compelling design
and measured use of colour.
In 1982, Canadian mountaineer Laurie Skreslet
brought the national flag with him to the
highest point in the world, Mount Everest.
February 2020 Probus-Guildwood Newsletter Page 3
Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people.
In 1984, the Canadian flag reached new
heights when it was launched into space on the
flight along with the first Canadian astronaut
on the NASA space shuttle Challenger.
When the National Flag flies along with the
flags of the 10 provinces and three territories,
the flags of the provinces and territories follow
in the order that they entered Confederation. January Birthday
Bonnie McBride
No January Anniversaries
Membership Sixty members (including four new members)
and five guests attended the January general
meeting and listened to Barbara Dickson’s
exciting presentation. Ninety-four members have
renewed and with nine new members bringing
our total to 103 members. If you have not
renewed your membership (and you know who
you are), please do so as soon as possible. Bring
your cheque for $25 to the February meeting or
mail: P-G, 50 Sunnypoint Crescent,
Scarborough, ON, M1M 1B9.
Updating Your Information – occasionally we
need to contact members either by phone or
email. A reminder that if you have changed your
address, phone number or email address, please
advise the membership team when you sign in at
our meetings. Or you can contact Alan Burt at
416-266-4682 or email: [email protected].
Keeping in Touch and Celebration
Kindly inform Karen Manuel at: 416-283-5079
or by email: [email protected] about
any member who is ill, hospitalized, or has
experienced a recent bereavement. We would
also enjoy announcing any special event of
yours at our next meeting, such as an award, or
significant anniversary or birthday. Come to the
meeting and we will announce it and celebrate
with you. Membership Committee
Lunch with Friends
On January 31, 15 members went to Swiss
Chalet for lunch. On February 28 we will go to
Scaddabush Italian Kitchen & Bar located at 580
Progress Avenue, shared space with Jack
Astor’s.
A sign-up sheet will be at the February meeting
or call 416-990-6801. Jan Eaton
P-G Speakers
Date Speaker Topic
Feb. 12 Chris Cormack Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority
Mar.11 Jason Newman Opioid Overdose Education
and Naloxone Training pgrm.
Apr. 8 Sue Williams Ready to come about
May 13 Eric Hong Momiji
June 10 Larry Tozer Getting to know opera
Chris Cormack, February speaker on –
“The Meadoway: meadow restoration within
Hydro Corridors” a look at the process involved
in transforming the hydro corridor in
Scarborough into a vibrant 16-kilometre stretch
of urban greenspace and meadowlands that will
become one of Canada’s largest linear urban
parks. Cyclists and pedestrians will soon be able
to travel from the heart of downtown Toronto to
Rouge National Urban Park without ever leaving
nature. Over the next seven years, this site will
become a place filled with butterflies, birds and
wildflowers – a rich meadow landscape realized
on a scale never before seen in Toronto.
February 2020 Probus-Guildwood Newsletter Page 4
Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people.
Let the changes begin
We were very pleased when we volunteered at
Scarborough Theatre last Friday. They were
selling plastic reusable water bottles that can be
reused. No more commercial single use bottled
water which gluts our landfills and sucks up
water from our lakes and aquifers for a pittance
in payment.
Refreshments
Thanks to Liz Atkinson, Zaiga Banbrough,
Sue LaJeunesse and Sue MacDonald who
volunteered to provide our February
refreshments. We will have a self-serve service
for the tea and coffee, but still require additional
help with setting up and cleaning up after the
refreshment break. Doris Elovaara has
volunteered to help clean up the kitchen.
Betty Hitchcock and Pauline Steel have
volunteered for March refreshments, we still
need two more volunteers.
Kudos to Jadwiga Brazda, Wendy Hooker,
Karen Manuel, Dorothée McKinlay and Ed
Stahlberg for providing our January
refreshments and clearing the kitchen area.
Dorothée McKinlay will prepare the coffee and
tea for February. Volunteers usually set up at
noon.
Q. What do my dog and my phone have in common?
A. They both have collar I.D.
Q. Why don’t cats play poker in the jungle?
A. There are too many cheetahs.
Share the Wealth Congratulations to our January winner
Margery Levere
and our potential
‘Million Dollar Winner’
Elizabeth Williams Thank you for your continuous support
Have you lost the magnet?
Gerard has purchased a supply – a new
magnet for your name tag – just $2.
See Gerard
February 2020 Probus-Guildwood Newsletter Page 5
Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people.
FYI contains items-notices-events that members
feel others may be interested in. Thank you to
members who submit items. Please send to
[email protected] or directly to the
interim NL editor [email protected]
Driftwood Theatre Group – Trafalgar 24 Friday, March 6, at 6:30-10:30 p.m. at Trafalgar
Castle, 401 Reynolds Street, Whitby. This is a
unique event which we promote annually as it
serves as a fundraising gala for accessible summer
outdoor theatre for everyone in public parks in
southern Ontario.
Twenty-four artists receive a scant 24-hours to
write, rehearse and perform six site-specific plays
in Whitby’s beautiful 19th century castle.
TRAFALGAR 24 is a theatrical event unlike any
other, where the audience is right on top of the
action as each of the 10-minute scripts play out
around them in locations throughout the castle.
The gala includes an enticing silent auction
beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed by the
performance starting at 7:30 p.m. and post show
wine and cheese and dessert reception.
www.driftwoodtheatre.com
P-G at the GVCA AGM Probus-Guildwood has accepted an invitation to attend the GVCA AGM on Tuesday, March 24 at
7 p.m. at the Guild Inn Estates.
The theme is ‘Celebrating Our Community’. The
AGM will follow with a short panel discussion
involving key community members. The intent is
to celebrate the people in the Guildwood
community and their initiatives.
Probus-Guildwood will have a display table
among different groups of people who live and
work in Guildwood Village. There will be fivc
executive members displaying information about
the club and answering questions. This is an
excellent opportunity to showcase P-G and
promote membership. We will be there from 6:30
to 9:30 p.m.
Scottish Country Dancing Brenda Scherk advises us that John Clark offers
for a small group every Thursday afternoon 1:30 -
3:00 p.m. The location is St Andrew's Presbyterian
Church Scarborough, 115 St Andrew's Road
I am so old that when I was a kid, you actually had to win to get a trophy.
New Green Group in Guildwood
Green Guildwood is a new initiative to unite
Guildwood residents in combating climate change
right here in our own community. Through education
opportunities, knowledge sharing, special events, and
advocacy efforts, Green Guildwood strives to inspire
and empower everyone to take action through small
changes, big ideas, and everything in between. For
more information about Green Guildwood and how
you can get involved, email
Another new green group that has started in
Scarborough-Guildwood is Green Neighbours 24
(GN24) which is part of the Green Neighbours
Network. More information on our local GN24 is
available here.
What Can You Do?
If you are interested in learning more about what you
can do to combat climate change and reduce your
environmental footprint, here are some online
resources to help you get started:
An overview of the City’s plans: Transform TO
City programs, grants, and perks: LiveGreen
Toronto
City incentives: BetterHomesTO
City waste information: City of Toronto Waste
Wizard
Give away your unwanted stuff: Guildwood on
the Curb Note – to access the resources – hover the cursor
over the underlined text and follow the instructions.
The GVCA will be publishing more information on
the Green Initiatives in future editions of the GVCA
E-News and News & Views, as well as on the
GVCA website
Food Bank Volunteers The Bluffs Food Bank is at Warden and Kingston
Road, 33 East Avenue.
It operates out of the basement of Birch Cliff
Bluffs United Church. Gail Barkic interviews
potential volunteers who work various days and
shifts. The clients come in on Thursday afternoon
and evening. bluffsfoodbank.com
February 2020 Probus-Guildwood Newsletter Page 6
Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people.
Divine Mercy Sunday
April 18-19
There is an opportunity for a Trip to
The Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception, Syracuse, New York
– the mother church of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.
Details are available at the activities table or
check the information on our website: http://probus-guildwood.homestead.com/index.html
China with Japan Cruise tour - Probus
East York President, Dina Papadopoulos, invites
P-G members to participate in a 17-day cruise of
China and Japan. More details of this trip were in
the January P-G NL or see the flyer at the
activities desk February 12.
Janet tells us our monthly joke
Janet’s Recycled Jokes
Maybe you missed it, or forgot it, but here it is
again by popular demand. From February 2016:
A group of guys were discussing Valentine’s
Day over coffee. Tony said it was just a
commercial push and asked around the table
what the others were doing about it. Jim went
all out – a bouquet of flowers plus dinner and
dancing. They asked Tony if he bought his wife
anything. He replied: “A belt and a bag”. They
were impressed he gave two gifts, particularly
when he was so emphatic that it was just a
commercial opportunity. “Well, she deserved it,
and besides, the vacuum cleaner will work better
as a result.”
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
Alan’s commentary – days of February
This segment is intended to provide those with a
limited social calendar some alternative things to
do each month. These suggestions have been
officially registered at Internet sites dedicated
for just that. I did not make these up. February is
the month of romance so it should not be
surprising that many of the celebrations reflect
that. For those so inclined here is a selection to
choose from.
February Month:
An Affair to Remember Month (assuming
you can or want to)
Creative Romance Month (entirely up to
you)
Spunky Old Broads Month (you still know
who you are)
International Boost Self-Esteem Month
(especially for the above)
Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month (what
was it doing there in the first place?)
Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket
Month (some call it hoarding)
February by the Week:
2-8 Dump Your Significant Jerk Week (nope,
not a word)
8-14 Love Makes the World Go Round; but
Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy
9-15 International Flirting Week (makes sense
after the week before)
16-22 Random Acts of Kindness Week (flirting
the week before does not count)
February by the Day:
1 Change Your Password Day (that’ll really
muck things up)
1 No Politics Day (we can only wish)
1 Spunky Old Broads Day (A whole month isn’t
enough for you?)
2 Ground Hog/Hedgehog/Marmot Day (it’s
getting harder to be selective)
4 Quacker Day (not a clue) ed. ("Quackers,"
enthusiasts of Quacker Factory, a women's clothing
company)
5 Shower With A Friend Day (help conserve
water and build closeness)
6 Lame Duck Day (if you got too fresh
yesterday)
7 Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbour
Day (you only used one the rest of the year)
February 2020 Probus-Guildwood Newsletter Page 7
Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people.
7 Working Naked Day (no one else needs to see
that)
8 Laugh and Get Rich Day (t’wer it that easy)
9 Toothache Day (we’re scheduling these now?
way too organized for me)
10 Clean out Your Computer Day (I’ll need
longer)
11 Celebrations on my birthday –
Extraterrestrial Culture/Visitor Day / Satisfied
Staying Single Day / Don’t Cry over Spilled
Milk Day
13 Get a Different Name Day (if nothing else
has worked)
14 Valentine's Day
15 National Flag Day
16 Do a Grouch a Favour Day (I’ll let you
choose)
17 Random Acts of Kindness Day (okay,
yesterday can count)
17 Family Day – Ontario
22 Be Humble Day (only if the 16th and 17th
were really special)
22 International World Thinking Day (how hard
can it be – it’s only for a day)
27 No Brainer Day (keep it simple)
28 – Public Sleeping Day (pick out that special
park bench)
29 Leap Day and Open That Bottle Night (why
not, it only happens every four years)
Q. What do you get when you cross a dog
with a calculator?
A. A friend you can count on.
A smart person knows what to say. A wise person knows whether to say it or not.
February 2020 Probus-Guildwood Newsletter Page 8
Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people.
Probus-Guildwood Information – Meeting Schedule The Club meets on the 2nd
Wednesday
of each Month
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church, 140 Guildwood Parkway,
Guildwood Village
CLUB PURPOSE
To provide regular gatherings for active retirees who join together to create opportunities to keep minds active, expand interests and enjoy the fellowship of new friends.
CLUB MAILING ADDRESS Probus-Guildwood
50 Sunnypoint Crescent Scarborough, ON M1M 1B9
email: [email protected] website: http://probus-guildwood.homestead.com
Management-Executive Team 2019-2020 The Executive meets the fourth Wednesday of each month
President: Wendy Hooker [email protected]
416 266-4682
Past President: Alan Burt [email protected]
416 266-4682
Vice-President: Jadwiga Brazda [email protected]
416-509-2587
Secretary: Peggy Dear [email protected]
647-343-0534
Treasurer: John Roblin [email protected]
416 266-6349
Membership: Barrie Morgan (Assistant) [email protected] Elizabeth Williams (Assistant) [email protected] Alan Burt (Assistant) [email protected]
416 261-2735 416 282-8595 416-266-4682
Speakers: Jane Corry [email protected]
416 289-1911
Newsletter [ed.] Dorothée McKinlay [email protected]
416 264-4748
Sub-Committees and Helpers AV, etc.: Gerard Baribeau Refreshments: Glenna Hall, Dorothée McKinlay 50/50 Draw: Lee Grayhurst, Cheryn Parry, Diane Gamble
416 264-4527 416-264-4748
Photographer: Barry Scheffer Web Site Co-ordinator: Barrie Morgan Activities: VACANT Lunch with Friends: Jan Eaton 416 990-6801 Set-up/Take down: Assistance is needed – please
volunteer Resident Jokester: Janet Heise Membership Assistants: Mitzi Clarke, Carolyn Hannaford, Margaret Niemela Proofreaders: Judy and Gerard Baribeau Reporters: Articles & events welcomed –
The Newsletter is published prior to our monthly meeting. Your Assistance is most welcomed and
many thanks to all our “Helpers”
Last Column – Activity Calendar –
everything in one place Date Activity
Wed. Feb. 12 Monthly Meeting
Thurs. Feb. 13 Social Club
Fri. Feb. 28 Lunch with Friends
Wed. Mar. 11 Monthly Meeting
Fri. Mar. 27 Lunch with Friends
Wed. Apr. 8 Monthly Meeting
Fri. Mar. 27 Lunch with Friends
Q. Why was the cat sitting on the computer?
A. To keep an eye on the mouse.