blog Archives - Helen Polishuk Blog

St.Andrew by-the-lake

May 27, 2025June 16, 2025 Helen Polishuk

Yes, today I will tell you about my journey and acquaintance with the church, which is the oldest church on Toronto Island, this is St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.

The church was built in 1884 and existed in the central part of the island, on the main Lakeshore street.

Several decades ago the church was moved to this place where it stands today. There is a beautiful park growing around it, a boat stop and a hiking trail nearby.

On May 24 and 25, the church is open to all visitors during the Door Open Toronto.
This is a great opportunity for all Toronto residents and beyond. Residents of Quebec and groups of tourists who visit the island come here and get to know the church with interest. #DOT #DOT2025

The service that is active this year – bike rental – is also very helpful to go around the island.

At the entrance to the church there are stands that tell about the history of the church and the times and seasons that took place near the church. In winter, it was skiing, skating on frozen water. In summer, it was cycling activities, which do not stop today.

Life on the island is not easy. There have been floods and natural disasters.
But today it remains in photographs. Today a school has been built on the island, there is a water collection station equipped with the highest quality filters. But there are no shops on the island, all products are bought and brought from the mainland. Therefore, local residents have developed their own farms here, where they bake delicious bread and pastries.
I treated myself to a delicious kich, which was baked for the guests of the church.

The church preserves a history that almost coincides in time with the history of Canada itself.
And this is reflected in the beautiful stained glass windows of the church.
I have only seen stained glass windows like this in a church St.Georgeis on-the-Hill Anglican Church in Etobicoke on Dundas.

Both churches are beautiful and the stained glass windows are simply a delight. And most importantly, they contain the history of the churches themselves. I will try to tell you about the stained glass windows of St. Andrew’s by-the-lake Church.

The main ones, located at the head of the church, behind the altar, tell of St. Andrew’s patronage of fishermen.

It speaks of the hard, harsh life of the islanders in the struggle with the water element and the help and blessing from Saint Andrew.

The side stained glass windows are created in memory of events and people.
Thus, at the entrance on the left there are two beautiful stained glass windows that remind us that faith and help are very important for society and the survival of the commune.

This stained glass window depicts Christ blessing the children and was created by McCausland Studio in 1923.

This is a memory about Harry Ryrie( 1862-1917) who had a summer home on the Island at 398 Lakeshore,a few doors from the church before it was moved.The Ryrie’s family also donated 50 park benches at Centre Island.

This thrilight window showing Christ praying in the garden of Gethsemane,flanked by

two angels.This window was donated by Robert and Emy Spence.

This is a memory of the island’s inhabitants who died during the First World War. 58 island inhabitants gave their lives as soldiers and participating in the First World War.At the bottom of the stained glass window you can see a Red Cross nurse caring for a wounded soldier.

On the right, at the entrance to the church, on a gilded plaque are carved the names of those who died in the First World War for the Queen, for Canada.

WEEKLY SUNDAY SERVICE
10:30 am

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Travel to the island

May 27, 2025June 16, 2025 Helen Polishuk

Every city that is located on a large body of water, on the ocean, on a lake or river, has islands near it.
Historically, or it is the help of nature, I do not know, but in our life it is always a very interesting addition to the existence of the city itself.
To say that the island and the city are interconnected – no. They exist independently of each other and their presence only adds zest to the existence of the city itself.
To go out for a day, or for a few hours, or for a day with an overnight stay – it is pleasant, interesting and a certain experience.
Toronto Island is several islands that are connected by this name. There are bridges and connections between them. There is a domestic Toronto airport on this island. Therefore, you can always see how planes land on the island. It is especially interesting to watch in cloudy weather, when clouds cover visibility above the fifth floor and you can see how suddenly an airplane takes off from dark clouds and slowly lands on the island. All houses with a view of the lake in the central part of Toronto have such a pleasure.
But I’ll start everything in order, namely along the route that I’ll share today.

Of course, I will comment on everything that I liked along the way. So, I got on the subway at Bathurst St.Whether it’s my love for murals or classicism with baroque, I was struck and liked this mural opposite the enter on the subway.

I took the 510 streetcar to Spadina and rode along the street, enjoying the morning city. Few people talk about the day off. And it helps me to look at the drawings on the walls of the houses and admire the old and new buildings.

Tim Hortons is open as always and it’s impossible to resist its smell.

Well, that’s understandable. With the onset of warm weather, the city begins to undergo repairs and is all in traffic jams, congestion and repair scaffolding.

How old houses with aluminum high-rises are structured is visible in this video. There is a mixture of cultures, styles and times.

The presence of the CNTower on the horizon indicates that we are in the city center and approaching the embankment.

I got out on the embankment and calmly walked to the meeting place, to the entrance to the pier.

The meeting was scheduled near the statue of Jack Layton near Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.

Jack Gilbert Layton was a Canadian academic and polistican who served as a Leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011.

Bronze sculpture of Jack Layton was unveilled in 2013 at Toronto island ferry terminal.

Symbolizm of this bike:,,Together you support each other,just like a community.”

Layton on the back seat of tandem bicycle,much like one he rode with his family,with the front seat open for people to hop on and take pictures.

My route went from the farry station to the island.

I will immediately note that despite the early hour and the day off, there were a lot of people near the pier. People gathered in families and groups. Many moved with fishing gear and their own bicycles. The weather did not promise to be either warm or sunny. Cold, constant, strong, gusty rain.

Having bought a ticket, you find yourself waiting for the ferry to arrive and, having gathered with the passengers, you simply wait until you can take a seat on the ferry. Seats are on a first come, first served basis. But there are a lot of seats, some on top to watch and take photos and some inside the ferry. There is always enough space for everyone.

You can spend a whole day on the island. And although it is small, there are many interesting entertainments, many parks and attractions, specially organized places for children, where there is a small zoo, a cable car and even a railway. And all this together is very interesting and attractive.

There are many recreation areas on the island, there are tables and there are playgrounds where you can relax and sit with family and friends, there are cafes and restaurants.

Well, and the number of flowers, beautiful parks and blossoming trees, I just keep quiet, because in spring everything comes to life and this range of floral delight simply envelops. This year, for the first time on the island, there is such a service that you can rent a bike and ride from one side of the island to the other, walk in the most interesting places. Everywhere there are devices to put the bike and go have a coffee.

It gives me great pleasure to see beautiful tulips.

So, the ferry arrived, the doors opened and everyone waiting went to take their seats. I climbed onto the deck, I wanted, like many others, to photograph the view of the city from the ferry.

There were many ferries nearby. They go to the island strictly according to the hours and schedule. One comes, another goes to the island.

You can sit on the deck and calmly watch the waves gently rock the ferry. Perhaps in winter or during a strong storm, the waves are high. But today the weather is very spring-like and the trip from morning to evening will be eventful.

So, we unmoored, the horn blew and the ferry slowly went along the water.
The distance between the Toronto shore and the island is small, it takes 15-20 minutes.
The island became an island not very long ago.
It was part of a sand dune on the Scarborough Banff side. But then it washed away and the island separated and began to live its own life.

From the ferry station there are three directions of piers on the island.
There are a huge number of taxis that take you for 13 dollars one way.
The ferry costs 10 dollars round trip.

This is a wonderful photo, a beautiful view, because of which this trip happened.
View of Toronto from the ferry that goes to Toronto Island.
About what I saw and where I visited on the island in the next post.

I want to remind you that there is still a sale of my paintings and you can take advantage of the biggest discount of 20% off use code SUNBEAM20

https://www.saatchiart.com/en-ca/helenpolishuk

Original or Not

October 23, 2024December 5, 2024 Helen Polishuk

Today I want to talk about creativity.
This is a complex topic, but I will try to explain it to you in an accessible way and without pressure.
What is original creativity today and what is not.
Computer intelligence has existed in the Internet space for more than two years. Simply put, a bot or a chatbot.
And in two years we have already realized that when they want to deceive us, when they do not want to help, but to cause problems, we communicate with chatbots and this does not give any effect. Well, this is a whole problem and suffering for our grandparents, who “fight” all day because of some minor everyday problems, waiting for these bots on pay phones. I feel sorry for these old people, God bless them.
There is a way out of these tricky bots. If you ask a question not as a continuation of the dialogue, but contact for an appointment, then the bot turns into a live employee and everything can be solved. That is, in order to confirm each step of the request, you need to be able to understand the Internet and computers at least a little, which, unfortunately, our old people do not know how to do.

In art, the same story. We have come a long way in the last 10 years and every artist now has programs that give him the opportunity to create paintings, illustrations and help him be creative.
Can this be called original? I think so. After all, this is what we have today.
In fact, you can create a stencil (black and white image) of any picture, transfer it to canvas and paint it.
Therefore, it is easy to become an artist. And I invite you to be one.
That’s all. This is the time for lovers of experiments.
Create, create, exhibit and bear the name of an artist.

In addition to the above, I publish my works, which characterize me as a traditionally abstract artist.
And this is 1000% original
I publish my acrylic works.
Why don’t I put them up for sale on this site?
Because you are too lazy to look at previous works. Why should I spend days adding them to the site?
Ha-ha-ha, only Chinese, Jewish bots view my posts and new pages. It’s an interesting time now, my dears.
But the site is absolutely original and I run my pages and write and publish posts in an original way, not bo and not artificial intelligence. I spend my time for you to read this. I respect you, my dear readers.
So have a good trip and look at my new works.
With respect, yours

Helen Polishuk

Fish(acrylic on artistic canva)

COW(acrylic on artistic canva)

DUCK(acrylic on artistic canva)

DOGGY(This painting is dedicated to our dog MINI who passed away to the clouds a month ago) acrylic on canvas

All 1000% original ))

Let’s discuss an important topic today.

March 19, 2024May 29, 2024 Helen Polishuk

I hope it won’t be a one-way conversation, and I see you all as active participants in this discussion. The subject is history.

Topic: history
I was inspired by the lecture I just listened to about Aina.
Inspired
Now, against the background of changes in history, which is being written in our days, we are all involved in it to a greater or lesser extent, we are all witnessing new discoveries.
Discoveries in history are associated with the expansion of the study of historical facts.
At one time or another, we ascertained the events that took place, but as we become more interested in the facts, history returns to its study anew.
I have always been interested in studying history
Back in school, I remembered battles, signing treaties, and truces in detail.
In my school, the history of Ukraine was studied so superficially that when I was behind my son’s “fours”, I had to sit with him and help him learn world history, and with it the history of Ukraine (because the teacher of these subjects was the same woman, also the director of the lyceum), then I discovered a new story for myself.
That is a completely different story, in which the Cossacks and the Cossacks were described in detail.
As for my knowledge, I, and my generation, we simply did not know the real history.
She graduated from school in 1980.
Ah. Why was she an excellent student?
Maybe because even now, when everything is changing rapidly, I look into history, looking for answers.
And then, it was good that my son brought a two, we sat together and taught him several lessons in advance, so that the teacher could not pressure him and give him low grades. And I studied history again.
So then we surprised the teacher with him, he answered every question automatically.
She chastised him in both world history and Ukrainian history… and he answered perfectly.

-Sit down! Well done! But tomorrow he will call his mother to school…,- this was our victory with him.

Today I attended a very interesting lecture.
It is caused by the development of this trend in the world and gives an idea of the ancient history of the Ainu, the indigenous inhabitants of the island of Hokkaido, located in the Sea of Okhotsk.
If you are interested in the topic, feel free to search for it, but I am not talking about it today. No, I can tell you. If you are interested, write.
Listening carefully to the lecturer, respected professor, scientific researcher, I noticed several interesting details.
The first concerns the fact that humanity develops and lives cyclically. The most flourishing
of world cultures and civilizations falls on the 13-14th century. And this trend was on all continents, touching various civilizations of America, Europe, Australia and other continents.
And at that time there was neither the Internet nor airplanes.
The rapid development caused many wars two centuries later, which destroyed entire nations.
The next such peak was the end of the 19th and 20th centuries, which, after the inventions of electric machines, the Internet, airplanes… caused bloody wars.
Now about discoveries, finds, historical values.
The lecturer was asked why there is so little and how does she collect and transfer collections to patrons and collectors?
She replied that she was looking at Who is transmitting!
What (!)conveys and How!
Not everyone is who they say they are…and not all finds are real.
Now about culture and descendants.
The population of this ethnic group in the Sakhalin region is only 300 people, in Japan there are 25 thousand of them.
There are many more of them, but most of them were assimilated into Japanese culture.
How did they survive? With the help of excavations of the remains of their culture and libation stick finds with a prescription of their cultural traditions.
They survived with the help of writing and traditions.
They have their own characteristics, ethical values, traditions.
Women have a special tattoo around the mouth – mandatory for married women, because in this way they were protected.
(In many nationalities, I found that a married woman was tattooed in order to preserve her)
Recently, I found this about the tribes of the First Nation in America, but they were tattoos on the chin. It was also done to girls to keep them in the tribe. Individual poenmen tattooed the faces of girls in different ways to distinguish them.
The Bedouins still tattoo beautiful girls.

The Ainu tattooed the whole body and limbs, applying a specific pattern similar to the pattern of the Australian aborigines. (In men, on the face around the eyes, on the neck). Bald, but with long hair on the temples. The tattoo pattern was also applied to the kimono, in which they walked, that is, the pattern was repeated on the clothes and it tells about the tree, the life tree of the family.
Fishing was very developed.
Now about traditions – how did they preserve traditions?! After all, there are very few of them, they have almost died out.
Men hunted, fished (currently they are fighting to be granted a special status of catching fish), were engaged in growing plants. Women were busy with children, in the summer they went far to the mountains to collect plants for the winter.
Traditions were transferred from generation to generation with the help of customs, dances and songs.
This is how women skillfully play something like a pipe (chip) and dance plastically. The dance is accompanied by a specific exclamation.
Just imagine: they sit in a circle and start singing and dancing.
The dance and song were passed down from generation to generation and carried the spark of traditions, which helped today to restore this small nation, to give it belonging to traditionally indigenous peoples.

I notice again: everything has cyclicity. Wavelikeness.
While raising a child, women pass on traditions. This helps to preserve culture.

Connection of times

January 5, 2023January 27, 2023 Helen Polishuk

Best from 2019

November 18, 2019November 18, 2019 Helen Polishuk

Not the end of the year yet, but I can summarize the year 2019.

In my opinion, my best work painted by me over the past time is this painting.

Very gentle work. I drew it quickly and did not correct at all.
In general, I really like the whole selection of paintings of that style and time.
There is movement in it, there is tenderness, airiness. There is a search for femininity

It is on sale on my website www.helenpolishuk.com and if you like it, you can buy it using Paypal.

The best thing that I have in my house is the camera.

It takes me a lot of pictures that I publish.
I am active on my instagram page @polishukelena
On the page you can see both my best photographs and find out a lot of news about me, where I went, what I love/like
A lot of very beautiful photos and of course there I publish my stories

Connect with my Instagram page @polishukelena

My best photo that I posted on the page on Instagram is this work

I rate her as a very beautiful photo.
It was made in Toronto in a park near me. It was made after the rain. The flow of water in the river increased and it turned out like a waterfall.
Very beautiful photo.

My best photo posted in my posts here on the blog is this photo.

It speaks of my character – stubborn, invincible, desperate, adventurous and very funny

My best and most favorite phrase that I never tire of repeating to you, which has no expiration date and with which I go through life, is this phrase
…………………I love you……………………..

Don’t get tired of repeating it and repeating it.
Without it there is no meaning to life
Your little, funny, desperate, very kind and always smiling …..Helen Polishuk

P.S.This is my best photo from this year ))

The Allan Gardens

December 4, 2017December 5, 2017 Helen Polishuk

When on the calendar December, a lot of worries and preparations for Christmas and the New Year.
I really love this time.

He gives a good mood, drifting the last year and helping to plan the coming year.

It turns out that not only me preparing for this holiday painstakingly and intensely.
My city Toronto is also preparing for this holiday.

I realized this by visiting an exhibition of flowers in Allan Gardens, dedicated to Christmas.

How many flowers needs grow by this month, then to decorete everything beautifully and accurately in the collections and present them to us.

I invite you, my readers, to walk with me along the Allan Gardens instead of gossip and fantasies.

I am suspicious of mass events, but today I violated the usual rules and visited Allan Gardens on the day of his invitation to Toronto residents for an exhibition dedicated to Christmas.

I must say that the weather so far just helps to walk and enjoy nature.

The temperature slightly drops. It’s not sharp, as usual, but gradually, as if playing with us.
Today, for example, at night there was a thick fog that enveloped all Toronto in a continuous tangle and was played this way until midday, when the sun dispersed the clouds and warmed the city.

Walking in Toronto on such days is just a pleasure.

Usually for December slush, dampness, rain or snow. But the year does not happen for a year and this winter while we are pleased with the warm weather.

Only after opening the doors of Allan Gardens, you immediately get into the embraces of greenery, flowers and plants.
A huge number of different varieties of flowers and plants live in this unique garden.

We must thank the workers of this garden for their hard work.

Exhibited very interesting collections of cacti, hydrangeas,roses and various varieties of tropical plants.

Some of them are so planted that intertwine with each other and make a bright rainbow of colors.

Decorate their wooden bulls, bridges, flowerpots and garlands of Christmas lights.

The third year in a row at the Allan Gardens opening of the Christmas Flower Show.

There are free cider and cookies inside garden.

From activities there is a wagon ride around the park.

It is line with children and parents to horseback riding.
It’s not just a walk, you have to sing a Christmas song.
Of course it’s cool and cheers up.
Some people walking in the park in old clothes from Toronto Streampunk Society.

They are friendly, they smile cute, posing in front of the cameras and make good atmosphere walk in the park.

There are two places where the workshops is held.

In one you need to make a decorative toy on the tree with your name.

In the second it is necessary to cut out a toy and decorate it with ornaments.

It is popular in Toronto to conduct workshops at the events of the city.
It helps create a family atmosphere, entertains children, helps adults.

When in the middle of winter, cold and gray, you get into a tiny green, well-groomed piece of Allan Gardens, it’s like you get into a fairy tale.

Of course, this is an amazing show and I thank its organizers for this idea.

The exhibition’s location:19 Horticultural Ave.,Toronto.

From 1 p.m to 5 p.m

November 4th

November 4, 2017November 4, 2017 Helen Polishuk

Thank you for waiting for my publications in blog.
It is very difficult to write on the road .
And it’s nice to see 2760 unread mails on the blog after a 1.5-month break.

I’m slowly re-reading them all and will answer as far as possible.

Thank you for suggestions for cooperation and useful links what you share to me.
I will take into account all your suggestions.
They became very interesting. I will use and analytics of the site to improve it and sources.

Your opinion is very important for me.

Please,do again.

Yes,my blog is practical more than artistic.Thank you Annetta for filling that.I told a year ago how I started creating my website. It was absolutely new for me.
I tried to find my own business, which would be interesting to me.That year I did not imagine that I could write in English, becаuse my assessment in the Toronto language school was average.
But I wanted to overcome this fear.
I started writing by a small sentences .
I’m not trying to correct the mistakes of those first posts. On the contrary, they show how I have changed.
Just read my first blog posts and you will receive this confirmation.

I had a goal to convey to you,my audience, my understanding of what is happening to me and around me.
And it seems to me that I have reached the goal 🙂
Your letters say that you understand how I delicately convey the events and how I correctly notice the details.
You learn from my blogs, see them useful and useful.
I’m glad to see you and thank you for this.

…….,,Whats up! Exceptional blog! I favor the method
reviewed How to learn to separate necessary from unnecessary -.
Many thanks until this well-arranged document relating to How to learn to separate necessary from unnecessary -!
Available on the market I have been on the search for.,,………………..

Thanks for such praises in my address.
I will continue to work for you.

Many people write to me, who are just starting to open their blog. They ask questions about coding in the websites.
I answer:I’m not a programmer. I never studied programming and did not try.
Everything I do, I just read. I ask people around me and use the platform WORDPRESS.

This is not advertising. …..and not advice.:))
It’s really what I’m doing.
If you have any advice for me, send me,please.
I read all the letters that come to me.

I will try to further excite you with my new publications.

Have a good rest and best wishes from me……………………………………..