Month: April 2017

The North York Community Council voted unanimously Tuesday to defer granting a demolition permit to permit construction of the 35-storey apartment next door to John Fisher School on Erskine Ave. Councilor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25) was in a fighting mood over the high-rise development. “I think it speaks volumes that every single City Councillor voted to defer this item,” she told the CBC. It is unclear however just where Robinson and other opponents can take their cause. They have deferred the permit twice before. The development has already been approved by City Council — unanimously — according to a statement from the developer, KG Group. Each has a different version of just what happened when the Ontario Municipal Board approved the development. The OMB and KG Group characterize the 2015 mediated settlement as a victory for both sides. But opponents say the City clearly opposed the project — planning papers show this — and mediation was a lesser evil than the outcome if opposition continued.

Chemical weapons have again been used in Syria against rebel populations including children. This horror comes four years after the US and Russians did a deal to supposedly see such weapons removed from Syria. In Hong Kong, the Pink Star diamond has sold at auction for $490 HK dollars. That’s something like $85 million Canadian. Below that, the latest in the current genre of animated movies for grownups and kids is Boss Baby. Alec Baldwin is the voice of the intolerable infant. And then finally video of a woman escaping from police which is both scary and a bit funny all in once. She is said to be fleeing from a kidnapping attempt in Detroit.

The recall of Robin Hood brand flour because of an E. coli outbreak in the four western provinces has been extended to Ontario and the rest of Canada to the east. The original recall issued last month by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on 10-kilogram bags of flour was limited to B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. One illness has been confirmed from consuming the flour, and 24 other cases are being investigated.​Several of those who fell ill reported having contact with Robin Hood flour. Food inspection agency officials say any 10-kilogram bags of Robin Hood brand all-purpose flour with a best-before date of April 17, 2018, should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. The recalled product’s UPC is 0 59000 01652 8.

#TTC 56 Leaside: s/b via Duplex, Orchardview, Yonge, Roehampton, Redpath; n/b Redpath, Soudan, Berwick; 9 pm-5 am. Tunnel borer removal.

— Transit Toronto (@transittoronto) April 5, 2017

Transit Toronto details of closures on Eglinton between Dunfield and Holly

Rapper Robin Banks

Rushawn Anderson

Nicholas Rhoden

Honda Accord BZMX845

Police said Wednesday that one of the suspects that one suspect in shooting at a Vaughan club, Rushawn Anderson, 19, has surrendered to police. York Region Police have a warrant fora second man, Nicholas Rhoden of Toronto for a shooting at the Cameo Lounge, located on Steeles Avenue West in Vaughan early Sunday. A victim of the gun play was a 22-year-old rapper named Liban Randall — but more widely known by his stage name, Robin Banks. He is now in stable condition in hospital after critical injuries along with another man following the shooting. Randall was identified online by a number of fans and friends who are pulling for his recovery on social media and beyond. On Twitter the hashtag #PrayForBanks is being used by some. As well, a 26-year-old woman from Aurora suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He remains in hospital in stable condition. The two were seen in a 2013 Honda Accord Plate: BZMX845

Councillor Robinson, Ward 25
Date: Saturday, April 8
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: York Mills C.I., 490 York Mills Road – East Parking Lot

Councillor Davis, Ward 31
Date: Tues. May 16
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: East York Memorial Arena Parking Lot, 888 Cosburn Ave.

Councillor Carmichael Greb, Ward 16
Date: Tues. May 23
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: North Toronto Memorial Arena, 174 Orchardview Blvd. (off Yonge St., north of Eglinton Ave. W.)

Councillor Matlow, Ward 22
Date: Thurs. June 1
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: North Toronto Memorial Arena, 174 Orchardview Blvd. (off Yonge St., north of Eglinton Ave. W.)

Councillor Fragedakis, Ward 29
Date: Thurs. June 22
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Dieppe Park, 455 Cosburn Ave. (east of Greenwod Ave.)

Councillor Burnside, Ward 26
Date: Sat. August 12
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Leaside Memorial Community Gardens, 1073 Millwood Rd.

More info: City Website

A teenager was fatally struck by a subway train after she went on the tracks to retrieve her phone Sunday afternoon, police say. Deena Kadribasic, 13, was struck by a southbound R train at the 63rd Drive-Rego Park subway station on 63 Drive and Queens Boulevard. ABC

Photo by Manish Ajmani/CityNews viewer

In Streetsville, the driver of this SUV tapped the gas while waiting for a GO train to pass early Tuesday. It sent his vehicle through the barrier and into the side of the train. The driver had only minor injuries. City News

The East York Barbershoppers 49th Annual Auction and Sale will take place Friday May 5, 2017, at Harmony Hall, 2 Gower Street, just west of Dawes Rd. between Danforth and Victoria Park Aves. All proceeds will benefit the not-for-profit EYBS Chapter, enabling it to continue its support of Harmonize 4 Speech and the Harmony Hall Centre for Seniors in East York. The auction features household goods, tools, theatre and sports tickets, golf foursomes, frozen meats, hanging baskets and plants and more. Renowned live auctioneer Matt Penstone will preside. The sale features fruits and vegetables generously donated by merchants of the Ontario Food Terminal, along with household goods all at unbeatable prices. Admission entitles the bearer to a hot dog, snacks and refreshments in a family atmosphere where some singing usually breaks out. Start time 7 p.m. EYBS

Kindergartener Rosalia gets advice from Constable Peter De Quintal on fitting her helmet

Here’s a lovely picture from the distribution of free bike helmets at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Elementary School Monday. Each student received one thanks to the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Helmets on Kids program and lessons from experts on how to stay safe. Police law firm to give away 525 helmets at school

• Suicide bomber behind St. Petersburg subway explosion, Russian investigators say
• Melania Trump shows she means business in black jacket for her official portrait
• Accused in Amanda Todd case can be extradited to Canada: Dutch court
• Liberals lose support, Conservatives gain in status quo byelections

The open space of Don Mills Crossing — the corner of Eglinton and Don Mills — is in the process of a sweeping transformation. The intersection is morphing from wide highway-like roads and vacant land known to generations into a citified place where people will live, work and walk for pleasure and business. Plans to combine tracks and traffic of the Eglinton LRT and downtown relief line at the Don Mills LRT station will make Don Mills and Eglinton an equal to Yonge and Eglinton or Yonge and Bloor. Urban Toronto