The South Bayview Bulldog

South Bayview merchants are focused, as are many, on the approach of the Target stores. Everyone worries what impact will be of a new giant chain will have on disposable income. There’s only so much. The release attached however indicates that its the big box boys, like Walmart, should also be worrying most about diminished share.

Eric Morrison has stepped down as president of the Canadian Press after 14 years, the news agency has announced. The move comes after Morrison spearheaded a two-year initiative to revamp CP’s web presence and multimedia capabilities during a very volatile time for the almost century-old news service. “He was the driving force behind technological innovations in areas such as web, mobile and video, which transformed CP into a multimedia news agency, and he was passionate about delivering on the organization’s core mission of providing trusted, round-the-clock, real-time news and information in English and French for all media platforms,” said the CP board in a statement. The newswire began as an act of Parliament. It has come under increasing financial since the departure of key members likeSun Media newspaper chain. In 2010 the service ceased being a co-op when Torstar Corporation, The Globe and Mail and Square Victoria Communications Group announced they invested in a new for-profit entity, Canadian Press Enterprises Inc., to take over its financially troubled operations. An interim leadership board will oversee the agency’s day-to-day operations while it searches for Morrison’s successor. The team will be led by Scott White, CP editor-in-chief, and Sandra Clarke, CP chief financial officer. Also included on the team are Jim Jennings, associate publisher of the Globe and Mail, and Neil Campbell, director of business development at the Toronto Star.

A rather excellent service has begun for all TTC buses. It’s a GPS tracking service that tells passengers when the bus will arrive at their stop. This service is a carry-on from the GPS tracking of streetcars which was started last year. N0w, of course, many more people will be able to take advantage of the convenience of knowing how long they might wait at the stop. Above you can see the page from Nextbus.com, a U.S. company, indicating that the northbound Bayview 11 bus will be at the Bayview-Millwood stop in one minute. And (right) there he is. There is also a text-messaging service but apparently the city is looking at assessing a charge for that in the Fall. Otherwise, the service is free to your computers and phones.

It’s funny when you come upon a hole in the ground where there used to be a house. Especially when there was really nothing obvious to suggest that the place that had been there would suddenly disappear. We know of course that there are lots of reasons why homes are replaced this way. Indeed, 19 Bessborough Drive, is clearly from another time. We know from the rather rugged picture taken off Google. In any case, a new home will now rise on this lot.

Neighbors near 48 Donlea Dr. will no doubt we be happy to see work progressing finally on the excavation at that address. Not sure if the arrival of the Castleton Homes sign has anything to do with that. But as you see, there is a new concrete block foundation going in as the house is lengthened. The site has been idle for some months.

The TTC is promising us the new Canadian-made subway vehicles this summer (sometime). They’re made in Thunder Bay by Bombardier. Pictured here are some of the original cars built by the Gloucester Car Company in the U-K and delivered in 1953. An original transfer recalls how short was the first leg of the Yonge subway — Union Station to Eglinton. More here in a post on blogTO by Derek Flack

Cycling is a thriving activity in South Bayview for work and pleasure. With the nice weather however comes concern that everyone cycle safely. The Star recently published an editorial making the point that cyclists are often quick to criticize motorists, but many on bikes casually disregard the traffic rules. The Star also notes the jeopardy faced by both cyclists and pedestrians when bikes are used on sidewalks. It’s worth a thought or two. Inset an unusual sight here as a cyclist is ticketed on Yonge Street this week. Picture Courtesy Yonge and Roxborough News

The You Tube video is embedded here. Hope you haven’t seen it already because it has been viewed three and a half million times since April. But it’s quite compelling. Taken at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Parents are roaring with laughter only because their child is protected from 400 pound beast by two inches of Plexiglas.