Toronto cops and the Canadian Bankers Association have jumped the reward to $50,000 for the capture and conviction of the “Vaulter Bandit.” This  is a slippery guy who is flitting around the country, so far undetected in his movements, robbing banks in bursts of as many as ten at once. He has struck in18 places in total including branches across Ontario and in Calgary over the past four years. The CBA announced Wednesday it has increased the reward from $20,000 to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the Vaulter. Toronto police believe the man started his heists in York Region in 2010 before moving on to Peel Region, Hamilton and Ottawa. The man is also wanted for robberies in Alberta after he, according to Sgt. Insp. Mike Earl, hit Calgary “like a tornado” by holding up four banks in 10 days back in 2011.

A launch party was held tonight (Tuesday, June 17, 2014) for David Sparrow, candidate for Councillor in Ward 26. Mr. Sparrow is president of the Toronto local of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). The William Lea room at the Leaside Arena saw an estimated 75 people out for the event on a night when the weather probably kept some supporters at home. Mr. Sparrow faces off in the Don Valley West ward against the two-time incumbent, John Parker and John Burnside, a well-known Leaside businessman. He owns Healthy Heart Meals. Mr. Sparrow spoke of the diversity of the ward, referring to a wide mix of neighborhoods ranging from Bennington Heights to Thorncliffe Park. He spoke passionately about such things as the water service in Thorncliffe Park where he said the 1970s infrastructure is inadequate to the present day. The candidate was accompanied at the event by his wife Lisa, the mother of their two grown daughters and a registered nurse. She spoke effectively of her husband’s sincerity and interest in people. The picture of their conventional Leaside life will be helpful to Mr. Sparrow with small-c conservative voters who make up the majority of the ward west of the tracks.  Some core support this night seemed slightly left of centre. It seems fair to conclude that both Mr. Sparrow and Mr. Burnside are contenders. The results were close in 2010 between the first three candidates, with Burnside coming in second. The launch meeting saw an enjoyable few moments when baritone Constantine Meglis sang O Canada.  

An extraordinary picture of hydro poles snapped and collapsed on Warden Ave. between Steeles Ave. and Denison Street in Markham has been tweeted tonight by CP24’s Arda Zakarian. Police say the poles and cables have trapped as many as 40 vehicles in the aftermath of the storms that swept Southern Ontario Tuesday night. This collapse, caused apparently by high winds blowing horizontally, is the cause of the power outage that has customers in the dark in Markham. Witnesses say the moments after the hydro pole collapse was a frightening time for trapped drivers. Power was cut and everyone left their cars safely. Meanwhile, as other parts of Southwestern and Central Ontario began to mop up from tornado damage and high winds a cracking good thunderstorm rolled over South Bayview.  We have to hope those lightning strikes accompanied instantly by piercing thunder claps landed somewhere safe, like the cemetery. At Pearson Airport, winds were said to be gusting to 85 kilometres and planes were being told to divert to other fields. Ontario has reported pockets of darkness. About 4,400 were affected mostly in the west end. An Ontario Powerstream spokesperson said power was out to as many as 13,000 customers and that restoration of service might take until 7 a.m. Earlier in the day, four men were struck by lightning on a golf course in Stouffville. They were apparently seriously hurt and are all in hospital. 

Pictures off Twitter, apparently captures of  CTV Barrie coverage, show damage in the Town of Angus near Barrie, and inset a shot of impending trouble. The tornado was part of widespread disturbances acrcrss Southwestern and Central Ontario  CP24 quoted Peter Kimbell of Environment Canada:  “We cannot say with 100 per cent certainty but very likely it was tornado that went across the area and produced the damage. We won’t know for sure until we send teams to investigate probably tomorrow.” Numerous warnings still in effect The concern existed from early today but by mid-afternoon the area warning went out. Environment Canada began issuing the first of several tornado warnings and watches for areas north of Toronto. As of 5:40 p.m., tornado warnings were also in effect for areas including Hamilton, Caledon, Brantford, Orillia, northern Dufferin County, Newmarket, Georgina, Uxbridge and northern York and Durham regions. Toronto and much of the Greater Toronto was under a severe thunderstorm warning. Below is a montage of damage from the same neighborhood in Angus.