It has been an unseasonably chilly Good Friday and wet as well all across South Bayview. Many residents will have spent time with family or perhaps making a visit to church on this holiest day in the Christian calendar. On South Bayview most shops were closed, indeed they were forbidden from opening under Toronto’s odd and inequitable arrangement of holiday business hours. See our earlier post on grocery stores. But the Starbucks at Bayview Ave. and Belsize Dr. experienced what one employee called “maybe the busiest day I’ve ever seen.” Well, going to Starbucks is part of life too. The William Lea Room at Leaside arena saw a busy Good Friday evening as a very large congregation of Toronto Jehovah Witnesses held a service to mark the day on which Christ died. These congenial and courteous people were eager to have anyone in the area attend their event and offered invitations to all within ear shot. Elsewhere in Toronto, the annual St. Francis of Assisi Parade was held. This classic parade of Roman Catholic origins and culture portrays the passion of Christ and proceeds through Little Italy. Mayor Tory walked in it and is seen with other participants and officials.
