Profiling Local Person

Billie-Joy Grundy is a loving single parent of three, and child care provider for children at Tiago Community Child Care Centre. When Billie-Joy isn’t using her warm heart to look after her class ranging from two to five year olds, she is looking after a completely different age group, our veterans. Like most single parents, Billie-Joy works two different jobs to help make ends meet. When she is not working as a child care provider at Tiago, she spends her time at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 345 where she constantly connects with Canadian veterans.

Caring for people is something that Billie-Joy takes great pride in. She told me that helping people, helps her, that there is no greater reward in life then being able to provide support for those in need. Her attitude has definitely rubbed off on me. You see, Billie-Joy is my mother and I am blessed to have her in my life. 

Problem/ Issue

A major problem in the Bluffs neighborhood would be issues with wildlife, more specifically raccoons. We as humans have gone to great lengths in trying to coexist with wildlife, but problems still occur.

Raccoons have been known for tearing up garbage bags -- making a mess, but they also cause other problems. For one, they find ways to enter and nest in attics and garages. They tear apart insulation and damage wiring. Raccoons also defecate and urinate inside these places, which leads to many other problems as well. Lastly, the most major problem raccoons are guilty of is the damage they cause in gardens. They dig up sod looking for worms, damaging plants in the process.

If you are concerned about a possible raccoon problem in your home attic or garden, contact “Critter Control” today at 1-800 CRITTER to receive expert help.

For more information visit; http://toronto.crittercontrol.com/services/scarborough/raccoonproblems.html

Local News Story

57 percent of Scarborough is made up of immigrants. At least, that is what a 2006 consensus has determined. This article in the Toronto Observer, dives into the reasoning of why Scarborough is the preferred place in Toronto to live. One of the big reasons, is that Scarborough is known for its affordable housing.

“The abundance of apartment lots is a major reason why immigrants flock to Scarborough. The area has a lot of rental accommodations that are within the price range of low-income Canadians” said Sumit Sen, who is the owner of SEN Immigration agency and former United Nations aide.

Some other reasons include accessibility to transportation (TTC), schools, shops and hospitals. But also a huge reason is because of Scarborough’s abundance of ethnic communities. It is easy for immigrants to feel welcome when they are surrounded by their people.

Here is the link to the original, full article; http://www.torontoobserver.ca/2012/03/14/stepping-stone-why-new-immigrants-settle-in-scarborough/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

Attractions

Welcome to Birchmount Pool! This local attraction is located inside the Birchmount Community Centre at Birchmount and Danforth Avenue. There are two slides, a kiddie pool, sauna, hot tub, and of course an elephant sprinkler.

Here is the Albert Campbell Library, where you can take out books, movies, and even access the internet!

This is Gladiators paintball. Located at Danforth Road and Danforth Avenue, it's the ideal spot to go for all of your paintball warfare needs!

Located at Birchmount and Kingston Road, this arena is a great place to take children for pleasure skating, or enrollment into organized hockey.

Variety Village is home to a huge swimming pool, gym, track, basketball courts and many other organized sports. Located East of Birchmount on Danforth Avenue, Variety Village has it all.

Rosetta McClain Gardens is located just East of Birchmount on Kingston Rd. It is a beautiful garden overseeing the bluffs. Wedding day pictures are taken here often.

Introduction

The area in which I live is Scarborough. More specifically, the major intersection closest to my house is Birchmount and Danforth Road. Just south of this intersection is where I spend most of my days, the bluffs.

Sculpted from years of erosion, and home to thousands of residents, the Scarborough Bluffs is a beautiful place to live. It has seen a steady growth in population since it was incorporated into an official township in 1850. The bluffs are ideal for new Canadians to live upon arrival from foreign countries, thanks to it's vast multiculturalism and it is where I call home.

My neighborhood doesn't boast major attractions, but their are still things to do and places to check out. In this blog, I will be discussing my 'hood, and going over what it has to offer in some detail.