44:4 (2003-04): Chronicle, year leave, Chess teaching, occasional teaching, Windermere,

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44.4 Family During This Period, 2003 to 2004

44.4.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of the Fletcher and Mackness families that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

44.4.2 Alive at this Time

Context of Generations V, W, and X
within Partial Family Tree

The generational position of the Fletchers alive at this time (during the period November 1987 to December 1988) are shown in bold. Their context amongst all of the other individuals and generations discussed in this chronicle can be summarized below:

                   !
                   !
                   !
                  ___________________________________________
                   !                                         !
           H: ........  Fletcher                        Gilles Fletcher
                   !                                  "Ambassador to Russia"
                 (1550-1620)                             (1548-1630)
                   !                                         !
                   !                                         !
           I: ...... Fletcher                           Phineas Fletcher
                   !                                    "tutor in Russia"
                   !                                     (1582-1650)
                   !                                         !
                   !                                         !
           J:  ...... Fletcher                          A..... Fletcher
                (1573-1650)                             (1612-1680)
                   !                                         !
                   !                                         !
           K:   Andrew 
                "the Leveler"                         
                (1596-1650)
                   !
                   !
                Robert
           L:   (16.. - 1665)
                and Catherine Bruce
                   !
                   !
                   ____________________________________
                   !                                   !
                   !                                   !
            M:  Henry I                              Andrew 
                (1658 - 17..)                    ("the Patriot")     
                   !                              (1655 - 1715)
                   !
            N:  Henry II
               (1675-1730)
                   !
                   !
            O:  Archibald 
               (1697-1773)
                   !
                   !
            P:  William I
               (1721-1769)
                   !
                   !
            Q:  William II
              (1747-1778)
                   !          
                   !
                   _____________________________________________________
                   !                  !             !                   !
                   !                  !             !                   !
            R:   James I           Richard        David I             Job
               (1774 - 1854)      (17..-181.)    (1788-18..)       (17..-18)
                 see               see 3.4         see 3.7          see 3.8
                   !
                   !
                   !
                   _______________________________________________________
                   !           !               !           !             !
                   !           !               !           !             !
            S:   James II    John I       David II      Margaret   William
               "teacher"  "homesteader" "Donetsk founder"
               (1815-64)    (1809-73)     (1811-81)    (1815-85)  (1821-88)
               see 3.       see 3.10       see 3.12     see 3.13   see 3.14
                   !               
                   !
            T:   John II
               "the Communard"
               (1845-1943)
                see 3.15
                   !
                   !
            U:   James III
               "the inventor"
               (1878-1972)
                   !
                   !
            V:   John III
               "the musician"
               (1911-2002)
                see 11-19
                   !
            _______!______________________________________________ 
            !                        !                            !
       W: Ron                     Bernard                       David III
          Wayne                   Gordon                        Murray
          (1945-)                 (1949-)                       (1955-)
            !
            !
            !
       X: Laura
          (19..)

44.4.2 Mom At Angus Ewitt Home

Throughout this period (since March, 2003) Mom lived at the Ewing Angus Home on _____. She was well cared for and happier than she had been in years. She was in good physical health, but had lost most of her memory. She did not remember her husband, John, indeed thought she was a young woman. Once, when given a skirt by Miria, she did not like it because it was too long and did not show enough of her leg.

44.4.3 Mom's Birthday, 12 November, 2003

44.5 High Park / Bloor West Community

44.5.1 Introduction

44.5.2 History of Bloor West / Swansea

Bloor West Village has a history that began with Jean Baptiste Rousseau, the first permanent settler of Swansea. He established a trading post in the Swansea area in 1670. The French by this time had already abandoned settlement in the Toronto area. Following the success of the British at the Plains of Abraham, slowly but surely English traditions came to bear here. The area near the lake and West of what is now High Park is called "Swansea".

According to a popular legend, during the War of 1812 a brave and determined but 'foolhardy' band of British soldiers lost their lives trying to cross Swansea's largest body of water during a winter storm. Others say that no soldiers drowned there, but rather it was the red coated soldiers that hunted and fished by the pond that gave it its name. Whatever the origin, the body of water has become known as Toronto's "Grenadier Pond".

During the 19th Century, the area of Swansea was called "Windermere" because, to the many immigrants from the British Isles, its hills, valleys, and seven ponds resembled the area of a Lake District which went by that name. It is still unsure as to how the community became known as Swansea.

Some say it was because of all the immigrants from Swansea, Wales, that settled here, while others attribute it to the Bolt Works that carried the Swansea name. It is believed that the owner of the local Bolt Works, James Worthington, came from Swansea Wales. In 1909, Bloor West Village, with the assistance of Swansea, developed as a neighborhood. Directly north of Swansea, it became a district in the city of Toronto and many call it Swansea's newest addition.

Unlike Swansea, Bloor West's first residents were of Eastern European background. These are the residents who created the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Area, the very first of its kind in Canada.

The names of some of the area's earliest setters are remembered in the streets and parks that bear their names - John Howard, John Ellis, Mark Coe, William Rennie, and James Worthington.

One of the most notable residents was Lieutenant Colonel William Smith Durie, the first commanding officer of the Queen's Own Rifles. The street that ran through his estate is now known as Durie Street.

44.5.3 High Park

The photo below is on the South side of Bloor with High Park on the right. The view is facing North-East. The tall apartment towers are on High Park Avenue.

The photo above is facing South-West. Grenadier Pond can be seen, and the far shore can be seen to be fully treed. Beyond this is the apartment on the Queensway.

Grenadier Pond
The West side of High Park is Grenadier Pond.

44.6 Purchase of Windermere Townhome

44.6.1 Introduction

44.6.2 Noticed Hordings Go Up for New Project

I also found inspiration in a new condominium project being planned for the intersection of Queensway and ______ called " Windermere by the Lake". The hordings had just gone up and a temporary sales office constructed. I liked it so much that I ended up buying a one bedroom condominium townhouse, #34, for $ 146,000. It has a great location but it is tiny, at only 422 square feet. It is located at the South-West corner of High Park, directly accross from Grenadier Pond (see map above and below).

44.7 Substitute Teaching, Sept. 2003 to June, 2004

44.7.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of my teaching that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

Click here to see my public records page at the Ontario College of Teachers

44.7.2 TDSB

Back in Toronto, but still on leave, I decided to have my name on the so-called "occational" teachers list of the TDSB (secondary). The pay was less than regular teaching and no benefits, but there was no preparation required, no marking, and if I did not like a situation I would choose not to go back to that class or school.

44.7.3 Subject to Change

One of the things I liked about substitute teaching was that every day I was teaching a different subject. A partial list of the more interesting assignments included:

Subject:	School:
girls' physical education	at Rosedale Heights
auto body repair	at Danforth Tech
Science	at Humberside
African Studies	at Oakwood
.	.

44.7.4 OSSTF OTBU

What I liked least about substitute teaching was that this "Occational Teachers Bargaining Unit" of OSSTF D12 was going through turmoil. This situation had persisted for years. Substitute teachers had previously been part of the OPSIU but Ontario provincial government decisions made them to be moved to become part of D12 OSSTF against their will. This change exacerbated existing tensions between "dailies" (sub. teachers who teach for years) and those retired teachers who teach for only a short time. Retired teachers were allowed to only teacher 95, 95 and then 20 days during the three years after their retirement. The long-time leader of the substitute teachers union, Barry Weisledder opposed weakening the power of the "dailies", and wanted to bargain to retain a the "cap" (maximum) on the number of substitute teachers on the TDSB list. This would effectively limit participation by retired teachers. D12 took over control of contract negotiations and bargained a new contract which had no cap. a power struggle ensued within the union. Barry lost and was barred from participation in union politics because he was found guilty of all kinds of charges. The conflict did not end there. D12 moved to rest complete control of the OTBU from all those dailies who had previously run the union. The OTBU was put under trustee control.

On 20 January, 2004, this culminated in a meeting which I attended. At this meeting the retired teachers showed up in force, and ratified a new constitution which they had drafted. AT this meeting delegates for the upcoming AMPA were also elected and the D12 retired teachers slate was elected, to the exclusion of the dailies. For the last year or so, while the dialies have made up the majority of the OTBU, they had no effective voice in the union.

44.8 Chess and Pool
With Vilen, Frank, Lena,
Bern and Michael

44.8.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of chess that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

44.9 Events and Elections, Summer-Fall, 2003

44.9.1 Introduction

44.9.2 Fergus Highland Games

One of the criteria for choosing material for this Chronicle is that I am aiming at including consideration of all aspects of the lives of Fletchers which connect with Celtic and Highland Scot heritage. For this reason, Highland Games are important. Just as the ancient Olympic Games were re-invented in the 1890s to become the Modern Olympic Games, so too was the ancient Celtic practice of games re-invented in the 1860s to become the modern Highland Games. But these Games were done in such as way as to serve the agendas of the English ruling class. Only recently has the friendly, small-scale, local nature of the games been revived, at places such as Fergus (see below). The photo below shows myself and Frank MacCrie in front of a Highland bagpipe band.

44.9.3 Ukrainian Festival and Culture in West Toronto

44.9.4 September Provincial Election Campaign

The campaign leading up to the 2 October, 2003, election was, for teachers, very important. It signalled the end of the understandable disillusionment and cynicism about political parties which has been felt by teachers since the largely self-inflicted collapse of the NDP in Ontario in 1995. We learned that we ignore electoral politics at our peril. Many on the left were less than enthusiastic about the elections in the late 1980s and 1990s and the result was not the Harris government. I worked on a number of campaigns. The following liberals defeated Tory incumbents:

Kathleen Wynne in Don Valley West,
Lorenzo Berardinetti in Scarborough Southwest,
Mary Anne Chambers in Scarborough East, and
Brad Duguid in Scarborough Centre.

Despite the best efforts of District 12 members, our endorsed NDP candidate in Etobicoke North, Kuldip Singh Sodhi, was defeated by the Liberal. Happily though, not one Toronto Conservative MPP remained in office.

2 October Result: Tories Kicked Out - McGinty Liberals Elected
After eight years in office the Progressive Conservative Party, under Earnie Eaves, was finally kicked out of office. Dalton McGuinty took over as Premier in late October.

Provincial politics had been dominated by conservatives throughout the century, except recently by one term for the Liberals under Peterson (1985 to 1990) and one term by the NDP under Bob Rae (1990 to 1995).

The 2 October election brought McGinty's Liberals to power. The results were as follows:

Liberal: 72
Conservative:
NDP: 8
independent:

44.9.5 Municipal and Trustee Election, 10 November, 2003: Miller

OSSTF District 12 Political Action Committee (PAC) officially endorsed 22 candidates for City Council, and David Miller for Mayor. 14 of these were elected, including David Miller. Having a more progressive School Board provides a much better climate for negotiations and having friends at City Hall will help us get the money to rebuild our schools. David Miller is the only mayoral candidate to list Toronto's schools as a priority and he has earned the endorsement of all the Educational workers' unions as well as backing from Labour Council.
School Trustee Election Results
Previous apathy about elections had contributed not only the Harris government but also a group of trustees who screwed teachers with the terrible 1998 collective agreement. In the last municipal election OSSTF, especially PAC, helped eight endorsed school board trustees to victory. Seven of them formed the nucleus of the eleven trustees who refused to pass a "cuts budget" and thereby brought the issue of public education funding to the forefront. Without these trustees and without the "Needs to Succeed" campaign, it is most unlikely education funding would have become the key issue of the provincial election. This year, OSSTF D12 PAC officially endorsed 18 candidates for the School Board. 12 of these were elected.

44.10 Zeitgeist: Politics and Society, 2003 to 2004

44.10.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of politics and society that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

44.10.2 Population

In 2003, the population of Toronto reached 4,500,000; Ontario: 12,000,000; Canada, 33,000,000; and the world: 6,500,000,000. The world's median age is 26.

In December of 2003, a U.N. report projected that if population patterns of growth continued, then the world would grow by 2300 to be 134,000,000,000. If the average birth rate fell to 2.35 then the population in 2300 would only be 36,000,000,000.

44.10.3 Post-Saddam Conflict in Iraq

Despite the occupation of Iraq by U.S. and British forces, violence continued mostly in the form of suicide bombings.

44.10.4 War on Terror

The war on terror, or as commedian Sacha Cohen called it "War of Terror", continued. America resembled more and more, the society of Orwell's "1984". People are kept in constant fear of a threat (anywhere, anytime) and therefore the U.S. government is engaged in a continuous, never-ending, un-winnable war. Both of these arguments are used to reduce personal privacy and civil rights.

Just as the CCCP was a corporatized state (businesses owned by the Soviet state), the U.S. was more and more a government owned by business. There were strong links between the Republican administration and large corporations. American leaders were so buffered from reality that they did not have a connection to the suffering caused by their mistakes.

44.10.5 Globalization

Globalization continued such that about 10,000,000 jobs were outsourced to places --primarily China. In China, (where for example, 90% of shoes are made) production is subsidized by cheap energy, the low pay of workers, and the rape of the environment.

44.11 Culture, Books, Films, and TV: 2003 to 2004

44.11.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of culture that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

44.11.2 Books Read

Amongst the books that I read during the period, the ones that in hindsight had a lasting impact on me were as follows:

44.11.3 Films Viewed

Amongst the films that I saw during the period, the ones that in hindsight had a lasting impact on me were as follows:

"Lord of the Rings"

44.11.4 TV Viewed

Amongst the television programmes that I saw during the period, the ones that in hindsight had a lasting impact on me were as follows:

"Daily Show",
"",

44.12.5 Music

44.11.6 Other Social / Cultural Influences

Amongst the television programmes that I saw during the period, the ones that in hindsight had a lasting impact on me were as follows:

"Caravan"

44.12 Writing "Illustrated Chronicle of Fletcher Generations" Fall, 2003

44.12.1 Introduction

In developing this chronicle there are a number of organizational charts which are useful:

CONTENTS which shows the topics in the chronological order they appear in the chronicle;
threadTHREADS on a variety of themes or subjects which run throughout the chronicle;
CONNECTIONS
FAMILY TREE
INDEX of subjects, listed alphabetically.

44.12.2 Family History

In the years leading up to my father's death (2002), I experienced many conversations with Russian and Ukrainian people on the topic of family history. It reminded me of conversations with Americans, such as I had during my summer in Colorado (1968). A common response was that they did not know anything about the generation beyond their parents or grandparents. It was often also the case that they would add: "...and I don't care". They would say that this was the past and of no interest to them. In the case of the Americanas, many of them are immigrants and in the process of migration and Americanization such histories become lost. They were more concerned with the present and the future. But when pressed, it turns out that in the case of the Russians and Ukrainians, that family records were generally purposefully destroyed by those in power following the revolution. It seems that to bring about an egalitarian state, not only the Tsar had to be killed, but proof of aristocracy as well. Deeds, documents, family trees, birth records, were all destroyed. In the process of leveling, family histories were lost. The revolution and the terror which followed erased the social memory of the Soviet people. When this did not happen intentionally, it happened during the years of war, occupation by the nazis, and State totalitarianism.

Learning this strengthened in me the desire that this not happen to my family as a product of neglect. After my father died, in December, 2002, a number of family records, documents, papers, came to me and reading through became the impetus for the writing of this story of three generations of Fletchers.

It was an interesting process to research, reflect upon, and write about all of what was included in this vast range of periods and personalities.

44.12.3 Reflections on my Own Writings

To input into the computer, I had to re-type a number of articles, essays, thought pieces and theses from years earlier. This process made me reflect upon my own evolution, the paths I have taken, and the general coherence of my work. If I was the same that I was 25 years ago, I would be profoundly disappointed. But at the same time, I was happy that I discovered that I was still at least something of what I was 25 years ago.

The process was like these past years I had been going through a maze with all kinds of crazy twists and turns --many of them not making sense. But then this year I was re-considering them it was like rising above this maze and seeing the whole from a distance. I could see some sense in the whole and it engendered a kind of peace. I think now to not reflect on one's life is to forfeit one's right to the self-understanding that comes from making such connections.

44.13 Completing "Encyclopedia Mosaica" Fall, 2003

44.14 Work on 485a Manning Ave: New Bathroom (15 of 17)

44.14.1 Introduction, Context within Whole Project

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of my house that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

Date:	Tasks performed this period
, 1979	purchase, moving in
April, 1980	breaking concrete in backyard
May, 1980	digging hole
26 May, 1980	removing excavated soil, concrete
31 May, 1980	pouring footing
4 June, 1980	concrete block foundation wall
20 June, 1980	concrete columns on East side of garage
3 July, 1980	brick around garage columns
7 July, 1980	West concrete block wall on garage
early August, 1982	structure of addition and roof completed.
August, 1982	enclosure of addtion completed room.
Fall, 1982	upstairs apartment completed.
1983	major work on downstairs apartment.
1984	completion of grade-level living room and basement.
1986	Completion of the downstairs and moving upstairs.
1995	new roof, new skylights.
1996	new bathroom on second floor.
2002	new bathroom in basement.
2005	completion of basement bathroom
30 July, 2005	fire on roof
Fall, 2005	repairs by HOPE contracting
2006	covered workspace in backyard, studio in garage, finishing touch-up to whole house
late August, 2006	showings, and sale 30 Aug.

44.14.2 New Bathroom in Basement

Throughout the summer and fall of 2003, Mike and I continued work on the new bathroom in the basement. Ceramic tiles, new sink, new tub, glass block in two windows, and new cubboards all made for a nice renovation of the central part of the basement. The West room had been completed last Fall, 2002 and the East room had been completed in the Spring of 2003.

44.14.3 Plans for Backyard Pergola

44.15 Solidarity Work

44.15.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of solidarity work that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

At this time, my collegues were concerned with the trail of the man accused in the politicial assassination of the much-loved Galina Starovoitova in her St. Petersburg home on 20 November, 1998. She had been an ally of Nobel Prize winning dissident Andrei Sakharov and seemed destined to be an important leader in the new Russia. She was investigating corruption in the government. A Russian military intelligence (GRU) officer was arrested. This defendant was supposed to have a jury trial, but was higher authorities in January, 2004 insisted on a judge-only trial, which resulted in a verdict of not guilty.

44.16 Teaching Chess

44.16.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of chess that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

In October, 2003, I returned to teaching chess with the Chess 'N Math Association

44.17 Move to 118 High Park Ave.

44.17.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of my domestic (personal) life that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

44.17.2 Move from Dundas West to High Park

From June, 2002, I had been living with Lena and Danyil in a small one-bedroom apartment just south of the Junction, where Dundas West intersects with Annette. At the end of October, 2003, we moved to 118 High Park Ave. Having more room in this new three-bedroom apartment, I started the long process of moving furniture and files out of my garage. The latter was done so as to free up space to be able to finish the construction work on the garage. This various phases associated with this stuff in the garage are summarized on the table below:

Date	Chapter	Stuff in garage:
May, 1979	45	stuff moved from Bern's into garage
July 1979	30	reclaimed stuff from Harbord C.I. stored in garage
Aug. 1995	38	stuff moved from 485a to garage to rent out ground floor while I moved to Charles St.
2000	43	stuff moved from 485a to garage to rent out ground floor of 485a while I am in Ukraine
March 2006	46	stuff moved from basement to garage to rent all of 485a to new tenant
Sept. 2006	47	stuff moved out just prior to closing

Party: Mom's Birthday, November, 2003

The photo below was taken on Mom's birthday, 12 November, 2003.

Party: Christmas, December, 2003

The photos below were taken on Christmas day, 2003. Bern and I playing big chess.

44.18 Work on the Garage, 485 Manning Ave.

44. Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thread on the subject of my house that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these threads.

44.19 My Art During This Period, 2003 to 2004

44.19.1 Introduction

44.19.2 Manifestos

44.19.3 Paintings

44.20 LTO at Danforth C. and T. I. February, 2004

44.20.1 Introduction

From July 2004 through to September, 2005 I was on a year-long unpaid leave of absence from my home school of Oakwood. During this period I occasionally taught as a substitute teacher at a variety of schools. One of these schools was Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute. I became known and when a LTO (Long Term Occasional) position came up I was invited to take it. Click here to see my public records page at the Ontario College of Teachers

Teacher CV

44.20.2 LTO Teaching at Danforth

In late January of 2004, I took on substitute teaching for difficult classes at a difficult school --Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute for Jacqueline Matsuoko. It worked out and so I agreed to stay on till the end of the year. After a 15 days of substitute teaching, the position changed to being called a LTO (Long Term Occational) --with an increase in salary.

I taught three IUs of Applied History and three IUs of ESL. I finished out the year with these students and was the "teacher of record".

It was a difficult Spring, however, with two student suicides in the school, and very tough classes. Apathy, disinterest, acting out, swearing, sloth, pessimism, skepticism, and lack of co-operation were all de rigour. The school itself was filthy and there was little support for teachers.

Danforth is located between the Donlands and Greenwood subway stations, north of the Greek part of Danforth Ave. The photo below was taken in late April, 2004, in room C43. I enjoyed good relations with some in class, including (below):
Back row (standing left to right): Arman, Hashmat, KS and me.
Middle row (standing): Cindy and Hassa.
Front row (kneeling): Patrick and Lamin.

44.20.3 TDSB
It felt good to be back "in the system". One feels very left out when substitute teaching.

44.21 Summary, Conclusions,
Connections, Goals,
Omissions, and Regrets

44.21.1 Introduction

Perhaps like every end-of-chapter, the end of this chapter was associated with a crossroad. I decided to go this way and not that way. The starting point of the next chapter, and the rest of my life, will reflect the decision made at that crossroad. I am going on a certain path because I chose to go in that direction. I will never know what would have happened if I'd chosen another path. In the case of this chapter 44, the decision I made

. Would things have gone better ? Did I do the right thing to transfer to Subway Academy One? The next chapter, chapter 45, starts with this reality as the path I was now going down, a post-Oakwood path dominated by my new position at Subway Academy One and living with Lena.

44.21.2 Summary

This period for me was characterized by my re-settlement in Toronto --including settling down with Lena and Danyil. I resumed work to renovate 485 Manning, which had been on hold for some time.

44.21.3 Conclusions

44.21.4 Connections

44.21.5 Goals

Any consideration of specific goals, should be seen in the light of my mission statements.

See: Mission Statements

44.21.6 Omissions and Regrets

The bulk of this chronicle concerns things planned, experienced, written, won, acquired, painted, accomplished, etc. This section concerns those which were only desired, thought of, considered, not completed, lost, and perhaps regretted.