Jack Kohane, National Post
Published Friday, September 25, 2009
Councillor Joe Pantalone built his green roof in the 1970s, long before the concept was trendy.
The strains of an Andrea Bocelli aria drift from the doorway of a bistro east of Beatrice Street. The sweet perfume of homemade pastries and buns lingers at Riviera Bakery, mingling with the aroma of a Café Diplomatico omelette. Just a smattering of Little Italy's allure.
A Toronto district packed with trattorias and shops, Little Italy is home to many Italian-Canadians born during the Baby Boom and immigrants from the 1960s onwards. The area, which runs west along College Street from Bathurst to Dufferin, has always welcomed newcomers.
It's also the core constituency of city councillor Joe Pantalone's Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina, where he has lived in the family home for the past four decades.
"One of the major changes I've seen in this neighborhood over the years has been the change from a historical, immigrant, working class reception area (Irish, Jewish, Eastern European, Italian, Portuguese) to a mainstream one, overwhelmingly composed of young professionals," says Mr. Pantalone, the city's deputy mayor. "The retail strip has changed. There used to be only one restaurant. Today there are about 70 along College Street between Bathurst and Ossington."
Mr. Pantalone, 57, immigrated to Canada with his family in his early teens. Joining his first political party at age 15, his political precociousness resulted in his being elected student council president while at Harbord Collegiate. He later earned an honours geography degree at U of T, his thesis examining ethnic voting behaviour in Toronto.
Councillor Pantalone's local roots run deep. Since first being elected to Toronto City Council in 1980, he's built a formidable powerbase here.
Even if he hadn't entered civic politics, he says he would have served the people. "I did a stint with an immigrant services agency, enjoyed it, and would have worked in the community helping others in some way."
Ward 19 is a community of homes built primarily between 1900 and 1920. "It was in this time period that many of the people who immigrated to Toronto saved up enough money to purchase a home," states Mr. Pantalone. "Property values have since gone from affordable to being one of the most valuable neighbourhoods in Toronto."
His parents purchased the solid brick, semi-detached property soon after arriving in Canada from Sicily in the mid-1960s.
It's a 2,500-square-foot century home hugging a path connected to the mostly filled-in Garrison Creek Ravine. The councillor's stepmother lives on the first floor, while he resides on the second and third. Fiorella (meaning "little flower"), his 10-year-old gray cat, wanders wherever her whim dictates.
A popular politico known for his efforts to green our urban landscape, Mr. Pantalone (often called Toronto's numero uno "tree advocate") has planted thousands of trees across the city annually.
No wonder his two favourite spots at home are - in order - the front yard and back deck.
At our morning interview, Mr. Pantalone sits on his stairs leading to a curious terrazzo front porch of green, black and orange tiles; they came with the house, and are bordered by a wrought iron railing and white pillars.
In a sweeping motion, he gestures to the trees on his property. "This is a mulberry, which bears black fruit that are very sweet and juicy."
The other is a mountain ash, its branches crammed with fire-red berries heavy with dew. Out back are a cherry tree and a pear tree. Being this close to nature not only gives him pleasure, he says "it's also a great stress reliever after a long day at City Hall."
As a devotee of green roofs, who ensures the idea remains at the forefront of Toronto's Environmental Plan, Mr. Pantalone leads by example. His home's roof deck, accessed from the kitchen, was set atop the rear extension in the late 1970s - "before the concept of green roofs became hot," he says with a chuckle.
A sign on the deck's latticework reads: "Gardeners know the best dirt." As proof, the perimeter is lined with a panoply of boxes containing Black-eyed Susans, bulbous bluebells and morning glories. A salvaged claw-footed bathtub bears drought-tolerant echinacea. Grapevines lace the iron steps that descend to the tiny yard below.
Trees and flowers are pretty to look at, but they have a more important purpose - plants bring butterflies and butterflies bring birds, says Mr. Pantalone.
The councillor also cultivates chives, which find their way into the salads, soups and fish dishes he prepares for family and friends.
Asked how homeowners can create a rooftop green space of their own, Mr. Pantalone replies, "Roofs that involve rebuilding the whole area from scratch require the know-how of expert roofers." Such green roofs can have an alpine meadow look or have full-grown trees, depending on structural support and soil depth.
Natural elements in - or on - the home, enrich the spirit, enhance our quality of life and give city folks a sense of inner balance and harmony with the environment, observes Mr. Pantalone, "but to create a green roof one must start with a will to do so."
