Month: January 2011

Schreiber out at Shoppers Drug Mart

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Shoppers Drug Mart is on the hunt for a new chief after it was announced Wednesday that CEO Jurgen Schreiber is quitting the drug giant. Shoppers is an anchor in every business district and street in the country. The move comes suddenly after Shoppers had it first earnings decline since 2001. During his tenure, Schreiber oversaw the somewhat revolutionary two-storey drug store format (right) at Shoppers. As is known, such a location will be installed on South Bayview in the old Bayview Playhouse. Schreiber will be replaced temporarily by Chairman David Williams, a former food retail executive, until a permanent successor is found.

What Common Ground, Mr Premier?

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The Premier thinks that there is “common ground” between Canada and the UAE in the landing rights dispute. Possibly, but he’s keeping it a pretty good secret. It’s fairly clear the UAE wants things done on its terms and its terms only. Some reporters have called Air Canada hypocritical because it proposed a landing deal with Emirates Airline in 2006. But if you read the story carefully, the deal only fell apart because Emirates would not share profits with Air Canada from expanded access to Toronto airport. And it seems that the Germans, French and South Koreans have come to the same conclusion about Emirates, turning down expanded landing rights. Our relationship with the UAE may well be important. But the UAE is trying to bully us. Punitive visas, not for security reasons, but because we won’t give in. What common ground?

Raccoon meat is an acquired taste

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Of course in Toronto they are protected from adventurous human carnivores, but raccoons (like this one seen last night on Roxborough Ave. W.) are a delicacy in many parts of the world. That’s when they’re cooked of course. It’s also an adventure to even speak about such things in this happy municipality, where all things great and small survive the roasting pan in perpetuity. If you’re adventurous, take a look at The Food Detective: Raccoon for Dinner? Photo by Peter Rehak.

U.S titans battle for the big box buck

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Spurred no doubt by the imminent arrival of hundreds of Target stores, Wal Mart has announced that it will open 40 new stores across Canada. Great, if you like that sort of thing. On the same day, Yorkdale, the mall that ate North York, announced that it will add 40 stores. Some of them will be pretty big too. Apparently Riocan is talking to discount mall operator Tanger for the use of some of that space. These retail titans will now duke it out with other big U.S. operators such as Costco and T.J. Maxx (Winners, Homesense, Marshalls) for the big box buck. Where to go, where to go? It’s like trying to do your grocery shopping at ten supermarkets. On South Bayview, we should never worry about such things. Let’s just talk service. If you like a challenge, try to find it at the boxes. Oh yes, there’s lots of talk in the commercials about how much they love you, but try to find it at the checkout. No, our only wish is for the City of Toronto to stay off the necks of small business. We know, that’s a lot to ask.

ServiceOntario now open for business

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ServiceOntario has moved its storefront to 854 Eglinton Ave E near Laird. The old location closed Monday and the new one was supposed to be open today. No doubt the rather enormous job of shifting so many records and making the new place ready for business caused some delays — and the “Closed” sign in the window. A postscript to this story: ServiceOntario was open for business on Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Old rail yard on Laird Dr awaiting a plan for redevelopment

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Canadian Northern Railway Eastern Lines locomotive shop looking southwest/Toronto archives

The old rail yard and maintenance building on Laird Ave. continue to await approval of a plan to redevelop the nearly nine-acre site. The plan calls for a retail and commercial centre with more than 900 parking spaces, seven new buildings and the “adaptive re-use” of the Canadian Northern Railway Eastern Lines locomotive shop. This building may be seen today from Laird and was photographed above at a time when the yard was apparently in full operation. The building has 12 large doors for locomotives to enter for repair. The City Planning Division of the North York District has told us recently that the project continues to be under review from a policy and design viewpoint.

Fire house sold for $850,000 in 2010

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The bad luck house at 250 Sutherland Drive which burned Sunday morning, and then was demolished the same day, sold for $850,000 in March of 2010. This was some $150,000 above the listed price. Above left, is the house as it was sold, centre, the morning of the fire and right, the empty lot taken Tuesday, January 26, 2011.

Czech transit riders reject new trams

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Transit riders in the Czech city of Brn0 rebelled against the new Porsche designed streetcars (lower left). The day the trams went into service, riders began to complain about the face-to-face seating (upper left). Riders had too sit to close together and practically rub knees across a narrow aisle, they complained,. So great was the furore that authorities reconfigured the cars with traditional front-facing seats (upper right). This was an unintended win-win. Riders liked the seats and the transit operator found an extra 12 spaces for strap-hangers to stand. Lower right, the new Toronto subway cars are much wider and seem to have a combination of across the aisle and front facing seats. Incidentally, still no word on when those subway cars go into service.

Now a kids ski recall

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Sears Canada Inc has said that Tech 4 Kids is recalling its Snow MX-Skidoo snowmobiles because of a potential safety hazard. Sears has alerted customers to immediately stop children from using the product. The front ski on the Snow MX-Skidoo may crack or break when used, posing a risk of injury to children, Sears said in a statement, citing Tech 4 Kids. It said the replacement will be made for free by Tech 4 Kids.

Fire destroys 250 Sutherland Drive

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Fire has destroyed the home at 250 Sutherland (left). Firefighting efforts coated 248 next door (right) in a sheets of ice. No. 250 is on the west side of Sutherland just north of Lea. The home was vacant and was undergoing major renovation for a family which intended to move in presumably this year, according to the builder. He hinted that the fire might have been arson. The only known source of flame was the furnace but the furnace room was apparently undamaged. The fire was noticed by neighbors about 6 a.m. Sunday, January 23, 2011. A man who lives across the street said his children woke him and they watched together as the flames whipped through the house. “It moved very quickly, he said. No one was injured. More pictures linked off the headline or at left