The North York Mirror

There was “substantial” damage to Madonna Catholic Secondary School on Dubray Avenue, but engineers will be reporting back to the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) on Friday with more conclusive results on whether there has been any structural damages.

An information meeting has been tentatively scheduled for parents of Madonna Catholic Secondary School for Monday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at St. Norbert Church Hall.

A discussion on accommodation plans for students is to take place in the event that the school won’t be open by the start of the school year. Updates will be posted on the TCDSB website at www.tcdsb.org.

No structural damage or broken windows were reported at St. Norbert Catholic School on Maniza Road. Two rooms will require some repair with the ceiling grid sagging, but it’s anticipated the school will open next week. 

A second information meeting will be held at the St. Norbert Church Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. for the St. Norbert community. Senior staff, consultants, public health officials, board chair Catherine LeBlanc-Miller and local school trustee Mary Cicogna are scheduled to be in attendance at both meetings.

Air quality tests performed at both schools have been good with further testing to be done throughout the week as a precautionary measure.

JP Pampena, the owner of JP Pampena Public Relations Inc., is a community relations representative for disabled residents. He also lives near the blast site.

As a blind man with a severely disabled daughter, Pampena learned the hard way how vulnerable the disabled are in an emergency when Sunrise Propane on Murray Road exploded just before 4 a.m. on Aug. 10.

Last week, he helped organize a community meeting to discuss neighbours’ concerns following the blast.

Now, he is turning his attention to the specific needs of the disabled and elderly.

Issues such as establishing a community registry of vulnerable residents will be discussed at the meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Ancaster Community Centre, 41 Ancaster Rd. northwest of Dufferin Street and Wilson Avenue. All members of the community are welcome.

Meanwhile, Pampena is also working with the city to try to establish an emergency relief fund, but details are not yet available.

Humber River Regional Hospital Foundation is hosting its 25th annual Awesome Golf Tournament Sept. 8 with an exclusive golfing experience for 120 guests.

The sold out event takes place at the National Golf Course of Canada in Woodbridge, the nation's No. 1 rated golf course. It is also ranked Canada's most difficult course.

The day's highlights will include valet parking, equipment testing and driving range instructions with a golf pro, and a long list of live and silent auction items.

For more information, visit www.awesomegolf.ca.

The goal of this year's marathon is to raise $1 million for more than 60 small Toronto charities including Invest in Kids, the Assaulted Women's Helpline and Fort York Food Bank.

The marathon (42 kilometres), which also offers a half marathon (21 kilometres) and five-kilometre run has become one of the premier sporting events in Toronto and across North America, according to organizers.

"This race is Toronto's race and there is truly a way for everyone in our city to participate," said Alan Brookes, race director, in a press release.

This year there are three ways for Torontonians to get involved. People who aren't running can participate by pledging a runner or by coming out to cheer along the race route or at one of Scotia Toronto Waterfront's 10 official Neighbourhood Cheering and Entertainment Centres from the Humber to the Beaches.

This year's marathon starts and finishes at Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W. beginning at 7:30 a.m. Visit www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com for the full race route.

But if you're not careful, the beauty of the outdoors can quickly take a dangerous turn, requiring you to be hospitalized and require a blood transfusion.

According to Canadian Blood Services (CBS), that blood may not be available.

Typically, in the summertime the number of people who donate drops, but the rate of accidents tends to spike.

But there's also an additional reason for the high demand for blood donations this year according to John Bromley of Canadian Blood Services.

On average across Canada, CBS forecasted a 2.9 per cent increase in demand for blood between April to June compared to last year. But in reality, the need for blood grew by 4.9 per cent in the first quarter. That translates into 36,000 extra units of blood that must be collected before Labour Day to meet the demand.

If you want to help, there are several blood donation clinics slated for North York in the next coming weeks.

They include:

Tuesday, Aug. 19, Toronto Hydro Electric Systems Ltd., main floor ballroom, 5800 Yonge St., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 25, St. Gabriel's Parish, front foyer, 670 Sheppard Ave., E., 2:30 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 26, Bathurst Jewish Community Centre, Hallway and Jerusalem Room, 4588 Bathurst St., 3:30 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 30, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, E-Wing auditorium, 2075 Bayview Ave., 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

For more information on these and other clinics or to make an appointment call 1-888-2-DONATE.