| One person who has been extremely supportive | | | | During his last few years with the Immigration |
| of my "Celebrate Toronto" project is Provincial | | | | Department he ran six times for politics and won |
| Member of Parliament, Michael Prue. He and his | | | | twice and became a Councillor in the former |
| staff have connected me with various individuals | | | | Borough of East York, which since our municipal |
| in the Beach who are good candidates for my | | | | amalgamation on January 1, 1998 is part of the |
| first Toronto neighbourhood portrait. Way back in | | | | City of Toronto. |
| November I was invited to come out to lunch | | | | All East York Councillors were part-timers who |
| with him and his team and Michael and I even | | | | would attend committee meetings on various |
| recorded a joint Rogers television show together. | | | | evenings and afternoons, and Michael would simply |
| He came across as a very open and friendly | | | | take unpaid time off work to mind his civic duties |
| individual with a bright smile and a boyish charm, | | | | as a Councillor. From 1993 to late 1997 Michael |
| and I thought Michael himself might be a good | | | | was the Mayor of the Borough of East York, a |
| candidate for an interview so people in his riding, | | | | time of a major economic slowdown. Michael is |
| "Beaches - East York", could get to know him | | | | indeed the first person that I heard refer to this |
| from a more personal point of view. So we | | | | era as a "depression". And by any economic |
| arranged to meet at the Boardwalk Café | | | | definitions this time was indeed a depression since |
| on Toronto's waterfront, in the Woodbine Beach | | | | it was a period of more than six quarters of |
| area. For a few hours I had a chance to pick his | | | | negative growth in a row. |
| brain and ask away while Michael freely opened up | | | | This was a time when no new major commercial |
| to me. | | | | or industrial projects were undertaken at all in |
| Michael is one of those rare Torontonians whose | | | | Toronto. As a matter of fact, Michael indicates |
| family tree is anchored for several generations in | | | | that the new Dorothea Knitting Mills factory in |
| the Toronto area. Toronto is one of the few | | | | East York was the only new commercial / |
| cities where the majority of people were born | | | | industrial project in all of Toronto, and his borough |
| somewhere else (myself included) and immigrated | | | | was able to attract this new investment due to |
| here. Not so with Michael. Both his parents were | | | | their favourable licensing program that would give |
| born in Toronto, six out of eight of his great | | | | new entrepreneurs all necessary permits within a |
| grandparents were from Toronto. He traces his | | | | 90-day period, unheard of in any other part of |
| roots back to Irish / English / Scottish immigrants | | | | the city. |
| generations ago and some of his relatives have a | | | | Michael loved being Mayor since he could really |
| bible with Laura Secord's name in it. (Laura Secord | | | | effect change and make a difference in people's |
| warned the British Army of the advancing | | | | lives. Being a provincial Member of Parliament in |
| Americans during the War of 1812.). Another side | | | | opposition is a different story. Since Michael is a |
| of his family is related to the Thompson family in | | | | member of the New Democratic Party's caucus |
| Scarbourough - David and Mary Thompson were | | | | he is not part of the ruling Liberal government. As |
| some of the pioneers who opened up land to the | | | | a result his role is limited to being a critic, |
| east of today's metropolis. A grandfather on his | | | | something that he finds frustrating. He has, |
| mother's side was actually from Montreal of Irish | | | | however, been able to make some changes. |
| and French background. His paternal great | | | | One example was the case of a woman on |
| grandfather's name was Proulx and that name | | | | welfare who found a $25,000 bundle of money |
| was later anglicized to Prue. | | | | on the streets. She correctly assumed that these |
| Michael was born at Women's College Hospital and | | | | funds were the property of the local bank, and it |
| grew up in a tenement building on Oak Street. | | | | was indeed confirmed that this large bundle of |
| That's where Michael spent the first four years of | | | | money had been dropped by armoured car |
| his life before the tenements were torn down and | | | | employees. The bank gave her a $3000 reward |
| Regent Park, Toronto's most (in)famous public | | | | for her honesty, however, because she was on |
| housing project was built. Families who were living | | | | welfare the provincial authorities clawed back the |
| in the area before the housing project was built | | | | $3000 from her welfare payments, in effect |
| had first dibs on some of the apartments that | | | | punishing her for her honesty. This honest citizen |
| were going up in the new housing complex. | | | | would have seen none of her reward if Michael |
| Michael Prue's father was born in 1921 and had a | | | | Prue had not intervened. He brought this case to |
| very difficult time finding work during the | | | | the attention of the Minister of Community and |
| Depression. He quit school in 1936 to work in | | | | Social Services and after persuasively arguing his |
| various odd jobs. In 1939, when World War II | | | | case, the woman was allowed to keep her |
| started, he was one of the first to volunteer for | | | | reward without having the same amount clawed |
| the Canadian Army and was sent to the | | | | back from her welfare payments. |
| battlefields of Europe. His father often talked | | | | Michael also went to bat for a man who is |
| about his experiences in Europe and the places he | | | | suffering from late-stage diabetes. His disease is |
| had seen: North Africa, Italy (he fought at | | | | so serious that he is losing his vision and will have |
| Montecassino), Germany, Holland, Denmark, and | | | | one of his legs amputated in the next few days. |
| England/Scotland/Wales. Michael recalls his father | | | | This man is receiving a regular disability support |
| talking often about the places, but very rarely | | | | payment because he is unable to work. The |
| about the war itself. He still remembers one of | | | | provincial government has cut his nutrition subsidy |
| the highlights: a story of his father finding a secret | | | | in half, a supplementary payment that allowed him |
| stash of wine in Italy. | | | | to pay for a special diet which involved expensive |
| After the war Michael's father worked on Queen | | | | items such as macrobiotic yoghurts and protein |
| Street at a factory that produced rubber | | | | shakes since he has a hard time digesting proteins |
| components. His job as a regular factory worker | | | | due to his condition. |
| was later followed up by a position as a janitor | | | | Michael explained that the government was saving |
| which he held until retirement. Michael's mother | | | | $10 a month in nutrition supplements while |
| stayed home with her children until Michael was | | | | incurring extra hospital costs of $600 a day for |
| about 12 years old and then started to work as a | | | | the leg amputation which happened it is believed |
| part-time bookkeeper. | | | | primarily due to the lower grade diet the man |
| Growing up in a working-class family in Regent | | | | was forced to eat because of the cut in his |
| Park shaped Michael's outlook on life a great deal. | | | | nutrition supplement. Sometimes governments' |
| His family was doing better than average in this | | | | decisions do not make sense from an economic |
| neighbourhood considering that many families in | | | | point of view and they can cause serious |
| Regent Park were single-parent low-income | | | | hardships to the individuals in question. Wherever |
| households. Once he entered high school, things | | | | he can, Michael tries to point out these |
| started to change. Michael attended Jarvis | | | | contradictions and tries to help the people |
| Collegiate which at the time was attended largely | | | | affected. |
| by children from Toronto's affluent Rosedale | | | | I questioned Michael about his Beaches-East York |
| neighbourhood. | | | | riding - the electoral district that he represents. He |
| Michael was one of the few people who attended | | | | explained that some areas of his riding have a fair |
| an academic high school, most of the boys he | | | | number of low income residents, new immigrants |
| grew up with ended up at Central Tech while the | | | | and other people with social issues. A relatively |
| girls attended Central Commerce, preparing them | | | | recent wave of Bangladeshi immigrants along |
| for work in the trades or in lower-level | | | | Danforth Avenue has caused a readjustment in |
| administrative jobs. Only 8 or 10 of Michael's | | | | the neighbourhood as they have started to open |
| colleagues went to Jarvis Collegiate, but Michael | | | | stores and hold cultural events along this popular |
| said the class differences during his high school | | | | Toronto thoroughfare. Michael has experienced |
| years were almost insurmountable. Despite the | | | | the Bangladeshi immigrants as a very adaptable |
| fact that he was on student council, he never got | | | | and resourceful group of people who have |
| invited to dances or special events, and that | | | | adjusted quite successfully to their new |
| experience of being excluded on the basis of his | | | | environment. Michael has found them to be hard |
| social class made him feel "a little bitter towards | | | | working and very interested in the local |
| rich people". He admits that he still works on | | | | community. Individuals from this community have |
| overcoming this feeling to this day. | | | | gotten involved in political campaigns of different |
| This is also what attracted him to the ideology of | | | | candidates from all parties and they participate in |
| the NDP, a party whose constitution states "we | | | | the democratic process. |
| will invite the co-operation of all persons who are | | | | We also talked about the Thorncliffe Park area, |
| dedicated to the extension of freedom, the | | | | for which Michael was responsible when he was |
| abolition of poverty and the elimination of | | | | Mayor of East York. This area has Canada's |
| exploitation". Of his schoolmates Michael was the | | | | largest concentration of Muslim immigrants and |
| only one to go on to postsecondary education, | | | | many of these residents are Ismaili Muslims, a |
| and many people ask him today why he is so | | | | Shia sect that celebrates the Aga Khan as its |
| determined to fight for underprivileged individuals if | | | | spiritual leader. Michael characterizes this group of |
| he himself has done well. To that he responds | | | | Muslims as real immigrant success stories since |
| that he has seen how so many people have | | | | they often arrive from other countries without |
| gotten shafted based on their economic (or ethnic | | | | much money and a lack of English skills. He admits |
| or racial) background, and that's why he continues | | | | that when he saw some of them arrive in winter |
| to fight on their behalf to this day. | | | | in short sleeved shirts and light cotton pants, just |
| His university career includes an Honours | | | | having landed from various places in East Africa, |
| Bachelors degree in Political Science and | | | | he thought that they would never make it. |
| Anthropology from the University of Toronto and | | | | Within a few years the Ismaili Muslim immigrants |
| a Masters degree in Canadian Studies and Political | | | | had achieved substantial economic success and |
| Science/Anthropology from Carlton University in | | | | virtually all their children were attending university |
| Ottawa. When I asked Michael what "Canadian | | | | or college. Michael explained that their unique |
| Studies" is he explained that it encompasses | | | | traditions are key to their success: these |
| Canadian literature, geography and history. | | | | immigrants pool their money and dedicate |
| Although he was accepted by various other | | | | themselves to helping one another achieve a |
| universities for his masters program he liked | | | | better life. But their generosity and community |
| Carlton because he wanted a broader education | | | | assistance is not limited to members of their own |
| than just political science. At this Ottawa | | | | group: they become involved in charitable activities |
| university Michael also had the opportunity to | | | | that help people of other communities and |
| improve his French language skills. | | | | backgrounds. Their stated goal is to become good |
| After completing university he got two job offers | | | | citizens of the country they belong to and they |
| on the same day: he was offered a one-year | | | | see it as a duty to make their home country a |
| contract position as chief lobbyist with the | | | | better place for everyone. Michael admits that he |
| Independent Publishers Association where he | | | | truly underestimated the ability of this group of |
| would have been supervising a staff of 5 people. | | | | immigrants and expressed his praise and |
| Not bad for a 25-year old straight out of | | | | admiration to them during a recent public event. |
| university. | | | | Another part of his riding is the Beach, also |
| His second job opportunity was as an immigration | | | | referred to as the Beaches. I tried to clear up the |
| officer, and after consulting with his future wife | | | | confusion as to why some people might call this |
| he ended up accepting the job with Immigration | | | | area "the Beach" while others might refer to it as |
| Canada, particularly since it was a long-term | | | | the "Beaches". Michael explained that historically |
| opportunity with the Federal Government. Over | | | | the area consisted of several beaches, including |
| his 20 year career with the Immigration | | | | Woodbine Beach, Kew Beach, Balmy Beach and |
| Department Michael accumulated numerous | | | | Scarborough Beach, but the commercial strip |
| interesting stories and anecdotes. He initially | | | | along Queen Street East from Woodbine to |
| worked as an immigration officer at the airport | | | | Victoria Park has always been referred to as "the |
| and in 1973 - 1974 there was a lot of illegal | | | | Beach". The wider area outside the Queen Street |
| immigration from various third world countries. | | | | strip is still mostly referred to by many as "the |
| People would arrive pretending to come here as | | | | Beaches". |
| tourists and then disappear and work illegally, | | | | When Michael's mother was growing up in |
| jumping ahead of the queue of immigrants who | | | | Toronto's East End near Victoria Park and |
| had followed the proper procedures. | | | | Danforth, the area was still very WASP (white / |
| Often the job of an immigration officer is quite | | | | Anglo-Saxon / Protestant), and especially leading |
| sad, because by definition it involves splitting | | | | up to and during the second World War there |
| families apart. Immigration officers have to assess | | | | was a lot of racism, not just in the Beach, but in |
| cases in the family reunification category, and | | | | other parts of Toronto and Canada as well. This |
| Michael recalls one story where a woman tried to | | | | era was not a proud moment in Canadian history. |
| bring in her elderly father who had cancer. Michael | | | | Michael refers to an excellent book called "Sabbath |
| declined the application due to the certain costs | | | | Goy" written by a Torontonian about his youth |
| for the Canadian health care system, knowing | | | | growing up in the Christie Pitts area and being |
| that this woman would never see her father | | | | hired by Jewish families to complete light work on |
| again. He compares it to being a doctor, having to | | | | the Sabbath. |
| make tough decisions that affect people's lives, | | | | The Beach neighbourhood generally presents very |
| but needing to remain emotionally detached. | | | | few concerns to their provincial member of |
| His university studies in anthropology came in | | | | parliament. One thing residents are passionate |
| handy several times when he was dealing with | | | | about is education, and when the provincial |
| refugee claimants from various third world | | | | government cut funding to schools, Michael |
| countries. Michael asked some probing questions | | | | received numerous letters from constituents in |
| as to the kinship system in the refugee claimant's | | | | the Beach, indicating their worries about this policy. |
| family. Which side of the family, the mother's side | | | | At the time when the provincial government |
| or the father's side, would be responsible for | | | | passed a law outlawing pit bull ownership due to |
| looking after off-spring if the parents died? His | | | | many violent dog attacks, various residents of |
| extensive knowledge of matrilineal, patrilineal and | | | | the Beach also spoke out, both on the pro and |
| other kinship systems of different societies | | | | con side. Overall, he says the residents from the |
| around the world made one lawyer withdraw a | | | | Beach are very easy to deal with. He says he's |
| refugee claim on behalf of his client. Michael simply | | | | been having "a hoot" working in politics and really |
| knew too much about local family structures and | | | | enjoys interacting with the public. |
| lineages for his client to get away with bogus | | | | Very recently there has been some controversy |
| claims. | | | | in the Beach: St. Aidan's Anglican Church has |
| Michael also explained that deportations happen to | | | | proposed to participate in a city-wide drop-in |
| Canadian immigrants from other countries when | | | | program for the homeless called "Come in from |
| they commit serious crimes in their new home | | | | the Cold". Once a week homeless people would |
| country. He indicated that anecdotally, along with | | | | drop in and have a place to stay at St. Aidan's for |
| his colleagues they thought that about half of | | | | the night while other locations throughout the city |
| them were from Jamaica. They were not allowed | | | | would house the homeless on other days of the |
| to keep stastistics. According to Michael, there is | | | | week. Michael has received letters and faxes |
| actually a sociological reason behind some of the | | | | from people who were opposed to the project. |
| crime problems in the Jamaican-Canadian | | | | The project would have a total of 12 homeless |
| community: during the 1960s Canada imported a | | | | people spending one night a week at St. Aidan's |
| large number of female immigrants from Jamaica | | | | Church. The referring agencies in downtown |
| to work as domestic servants and nannies. These | | | | Toronto would have to call ahead and make a |
| women had to be single, have a grade 9 | | | | reservation before the homeless people actually |
| education, speak English and have "no issue", i.e. | | | | receive a streetcar token to get to St. Aidan's. |
| they were not allowed to have children to qualify | | | | Some of the local residents expressed concerns |
| for this program. | | | | that the homeless people might bring in diseases, |
| Many hundreds of Jamaican woman arrived in the | | | | or a criminal element into the neighbourhood. They |
| 1960s, seeking a better life in Canada. In the | | | | did not want their children exposed to |
| 1970s, after they had become Canadian citizens, | | | | communicable diseases like tuberculosis. Various |
| they started to send for their children, since so | | | | rather nasty articles were written in different |
| many of these women indeed had one or even | | | | Toronto media about the lack of community spirit |
| more children who had actually been raised by | | | | in the Beach. Finally a meeting was held on |
| aunts, cousins or other family members. As a | | | | January 16 which was attended by hundreds of |
| result of the missing parental attachment, many | | | | people. Details of the program were explained to |
| of these children had grown up without much | | | | the residents and most of the fears were allayed. |
| discipline and little education. In Caribbean families it | | | | In Michael's view, 95% of the concerns were |
| is often the mother that holds the family | | | | unfounded. Many of the residents stood up at the |
| together, and once she is gone the family falls | | | | meeting and said that they agree with this |
| apart. | | | | project and feel ashamed about this fearful |
| So when these young Jamaican people arrived in | | | | reaction. More than 100 people volunteered to help |
| Canada to be reunited with their mothers they | | | | out with the homeless program. Money was being |
| saw all this wealth around them, they realized | | | | collected and one woman donated $1000, saying |
| their lack of opportunities as new immigrants with | | | | that she is a devout atheist, but she supports the |
| few immediate job prospects, and they became | | | | program and wants to put her money where her |
| resentful. In the end it was Canada's immigration | | | | mouth is. |
| policy that caused this problem which continues to | | | | Michael adds that the police don't see a problem |
| cast its shadows today. | | | | with the program. Homeless people generally do |
| I asked Michael why he made a move into politics. | | | | not present a large crime issue, although they |
| He explained that politics had always been in his | | | | may get verbally abusive if they are asked to |
| blood and recalls an incident that happened when | | | | move. Michael laughs and says that many police |
| he was about six years of age. He had gone on | | | | officers have been told to get lost (Michael |
| an outing with his parents to Riverdale Park, which | | | | actually used more colourful terminology) by a |
| at that time was the location of the Toronto Zoo. | | | | diverse group of residents, not just the homeless. |
| All of a sudden Michael had disappeared and his | | | | He commented "it's amazing what 10 or 12 people |
| parents were frantically searching for him in the | | | | can do with a fax machine" and says it's ironic |
| crowd of people. His father finally found him, | | | | because the Beach is really a rather left-wing area |
| admiring a man on a soap box who was sharing | | | | that consistently votes for the NDP. So the big |
| his philosophies in front of many onlookers. | | | | controversy over the "Come in from the Cold" |
| Not only does Michael enjoy public speaking, but | | | | program was rather surprising, and fortunately |
| he also wants to make a sincere difference, | | | | the residents' fears have been addressed at the |
| particularly for the less fortunate people in society. | | | | recent meeting. |