Paul Godfrey: Toronto's Leading Man

If you heard the name Paul Godfrey what image would pop into your head? For the 25 or so young professionals who attended the first Bay St. Breakfast of 2011, most could not wait to ask the former owner of the Toronto Blue Jays about his thoughts on Roberto Alomar being named the first Blue Jay to be entered in the Hall of Fame, the use of HGH (Human Growth Hormones) by top athletes in all sport and what Toronto's chances are of getting an NFL team.

(From left Community Connect’s David Goodman, David Spiro, JUMP’s Ali Silverberg and Paul Godfrey)

Hosted by Toronto Federation's community connect in joint partnership with JUMP (Jewish Urban Meeting Place). Godfrey the long time businessman and former politician, took us on a retrospective journey from his modest beginnings to his present status as CEO of the PostMedia Network and chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

The top tips given that most people walked away with from the breakfast were as follows:

If Godfrey ever had to choose between being smart and being lucky he would choose being lucky every time.

Fortunately when he was a North York alderman and Chairman of Metro Toronto, the economy was in a balanced state and all across the board performing well. "Anyone can be a good politician when the economy is right" he said. It's when the economy takes a major hit you discover which politicians can really manage the hardest of times. All in all, it takes a real thick skin to be a public servant, he said.

Finally, with the majority of his life spent running major publications, Godfrey admits he is excited to see what the future holds, as the media landscape keeps its physical embodiment largely still at the forefront, while building up it's cyber audience online.

Bummed Out Bubbie

Dear Ella,
I’m a 75-year-old widow who has raised three children. I am blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren whom I love dearly and equally.
But what kind of bubbie dreads having her grandchildren visit for a week in her Florida condo? When my son, Adam, his wife, Susan, and their two boys, Lucas, 4, and Dylan, 7, come to visit, it’s like a tornado ripping through, destroying everything in its path.

Adam and Susan believe discipline means a “time-out.” When one of the boys misbehaves, which means they have already done irreparable damage, he’s forced to sit at a table for a few minutes, but with access to an electronic gaming device. This is a consequence? There was an incident in which I grabbed Dylan’s arm as he was jumping on my living room couch and I smacked his bottom. The way Susan berated me, you would have thought I committed the worst crime. I love those two boys, but not in my home. They’re planning to visit during their spring break. How do I get out of it without being a shrew? I’m feeling very guilty.

Bummed Out Bubbie

Dear Bummed Out Bubbie,

Adam and Susan have put you in an unfortunate position. There’s no proven method of disciplining a child. Many of us grew up being spanked from time to time and have not turned out too badly. However, many experts feel physical discipline is a form of violence acted out when a parent has lost control.

Discipline without physical punishment can be very effective if it’s done properly, but many parents have not mastered this method. A time-out during which a child is playing a game or watching TV isn’t much of a deterrent from committing the same unacceptable behaviour in the future.

Adam and Susan have made a decision on how to raise their children, and you must respect their choice. If you feel their method is ineffective and your solace and personal property are being damaged because of it, you have every right to protect yourself.

At 75, you’ve done your time and it’s your turn for enjoyment and relaxation. You need to communicate your feelings. Don’t lecture them on whether their method is working. It’s not your place. However, as you respect their choices, they must respect yours. You have earned the right to a peaceful, safe home without the whirlwind of two unruly children. Tell them how much you love them and how you would enjoy spending time together, just not under your roof. Suggest that they rent something nearby, and maybe offer to help them find something. Let them know that at this stage in your life, you don’t have the patience to live with two rambunctious, albeit adorable, boys.

Adam and Susan need to take responsibility and accept the repercussions when their disciplinary methods don’t work. If they’re smart, they’ll realize that time with Bubbie is more important than where they stay during their visit.

Can there be a Roadmap to Peace on Campus?

In an effort to curtail the perpetual hostilities, protests and verbal demonstrations on university campuses in the GTA, the ACL (Advocates for Civil Liberties) will hold a one day conference on Tuesday Feb. 16 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The advocates will examine the war against Israel on campus, the realities of war, perspectives for peace and discuss tools to improve the toxic, anti-Israel atmosphere that threatens to rear its ugly head yet again on campuses this March.

For more information on the conference or to register, just click here

Technion to propel us further into the Final Frontier

Next Thursday January 27th, The Canadian Technion Society will once again host an exploratory look into Israel's technological advances as part of a joint program with JUMP (Jewish Urban Meeting Place) and event co-sponsor iRisemedia.com.

In an interactive discussion, titled Batteries Not Included 2, keynote speaker will be Dr. Victor Chernov. A graduate from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Technion, his work has focused on the rheology of gel fuels. Dr. Chernov, presently a Lyon Sachs post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, investigates the creation and behaviour of soot in hydrocarbon-air flames.

With the human race continuing to push the boundaries on how far we can travel through space, rocket and jet propulsion is a fascinating and complex field that is based on simple, intuitive principles.

Dr. Chernov will discuss the basic physics and the principles (we promise - no equations!) behind modern, state-of-the-art aviation and space propulsion. Additionally, it will be shown how these principles are taken to the edge at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in several ground-breaking works of water ram-jets, the aforementioned gel fuels for rocket propulsion and more.

The cost is $5 at the door. Wine and Cheese Refreshments will be served (Kashrut observed). For more details you can view the flyer from the Heebonics Facebook page. And while you are there, join for the updates on all the latest City Wide Events.