It’s a funny thing how our goofy mayor has a way of stating issues that are burning just under the surface of public discourse. That would be Rob Ford and the ding-dong trolleys of Toronto. At Jaye Robinson’s Ward 25 Transit Town Hall in February the well-dressed Lawrence Park crowd had more than one cranky word to say about “19th century technology” embodied in our a streetcars. TTC chief general manager Andy Byford dodged the topic by saying he got streetcars as a fait accomplis (our words) when he stepped off the plane from Australia. It didn’t take much to read his mind. Now Ford is back on the topic. “I won’t be buying anymore streetcars as long as I’m mayor and I’m planning to be mayor for a long time, much to your chagrin, .” he told reporters. Ford blamed streetcars for “causing congestion in this city” and argued that buses would be a better alternative. Before Ford swept into office, council agreed to a $1.2-billion deal to buy 204 new streetcars. They are expected to start hitting the streets this August and a new garage is being built on Leslie St. to house the vehicles. The new fleet is expected to last as long as 35 years. TTC officials say the capacity of one new streetcar equals that of three 12-metre buses. They also sit in the middle of the street and block traffic.
#Leaside High kids give blood at Northlea clinic
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The Northlea Elementary and Middle School blood donor wrapped at 8 p.m. Wednesday night after a busy day that saw the eight donor beds mostly occupied all day long. Some 126 people came out to donate, but after the rigorous testing required, the number who actually gave blood was 96. That’s a solid figure and just about met the clinic’s average of 100 based on past events. Traffic was steady in the gymnasium with regulars like Bob Moenk and MaryJane McIntyre (inset top) and some wonderful young donors from Leaside High School. Inset centre are (front l to r) Ashlyn, Ashley and Grace. At rear l to r, Ben and Russell. These great kids showed up right after classes ended and their mere presence gave everybody a boost. The idea to give blood came from Grace. Dare we say she was born to be a leader of men? In any case, every single donor honoured the legacy of Northlea students Emmy Duff and Noah Wolfe (inset bottom). Emmy was diagnosed with Leukemia in 1996 and a second time in November 2002. It was shocking news but there was even worse to come. The Leaside community reeled when one of Emmy’s schoolmates, Noah, was diagnosed with the same disease within a week of Emmy’s second diagnosis. The Northlea blood clinic was born out of the desperation of those difficult days and has gone on to become a signal event for the Canadian Blood Services.Pink Day grips hearts and minds of Leaside High students
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Kyle Woolacott
From slashes of pink makeup across their cheeks to elaborate crusader-type costumes, students in South Bayview observed International Day of Pink with an admirable enthusiasm for their cause. Most schools had events to pursue the curbing of bullying and discrimination in schools and communities. At Leaside High School, former Ontario Health Minister and one-time candidate for mayor George Smitherman addressed an assembly. In the audience was an eminent advocate of tolerance named Kyle Woolacott (inset). Kyle is pictured as he dropped into Loblaws to check his schedule after school. “Everybody was wearing pink. I just sort of over did it,” the young cashier chuckled. Not at all Kyle. You make Loblaws proud. The pink initiative was led by Jer’s Vision, a Canadian organization that provides anti-bullying and anti-discrimination programming, and it encourages everyone to wear pink. Students from Northern Secondary School were honoured to hear directly from Jeremy Dias, Executive Director of Jer’s Vision. He spoke to students about his personal story and the importance of intolerance for bullying or homophobic behaviour in our schools, in our community or in our country. Photo: Kyle Woolacott celebrates Day of Pink.
Chip truck for Leaside and other dog owners
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A useful news release comes from Toronto Animal Services this morning that its so-called chip truck (for dogs) will officially kick off a third season on April 12 at Pet Social Stay and Play Centre, 5 Bruyeres Mews. This location is out in New Toronto and not so convenient to South Bayview. The chip truck, sponsored by PetSecure, is a low-cost, mobile microchip clinic for dogs and cat owners. The chip truck offers a microchip and a pet licence for $25 for cats and $35 for dogs. If your pet has a current City of Toronto licence, the cost of your microchip is $10 with proof of licence. Appointments are not required. To use the chip truck, dogs must be on a leash and cats must be properly contained in a carrier. Pet owners are asked to bring a piece of photo identification with their address. More information is available here. Let’s not lose our heads over bug #Heartbleed
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People should be careful about working themselves into too much of frenzy over the so-called Heartbleed bug. One good sign is that the encryption software flaw has been out there for some two years according to an excited media. No one seems to have noticed. This does not mean that we should not be concerned, but it does mean that nothing has happened in areas that really matter to us. Like banking. There is no word from any of the big banks that their systems have been compromised. Canada Revenue Agency said Wednesday it has temporarily cut off public access to its electronic services over this flaw. This has been done as a precaution. And again, the bug is something that has been out there for a while. If you haven’t noticed anything — lost money, phony bills, nasty e-mail — whatever — it may not be a concern to you.
McDonald’s to hire 6,000 kids on Thursday
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McDonald’s Canada is getting out ahead of the fuss over its supposed preference for newly-migrated Filipino employees. Nothing wrong with that really, but McDonald’s has announced today (Wednesday, April 9, 2014) that its franchisees are set to hire more than 6,000 presumably homegrown young people at a one-day event tomorrow at participating restaurants across the country. They’ve done this before but it is a good reminder that as a place for kids to get work and some life-training experience, McDonald’s is a good opportunity. The fast food chain notes that youth unemployment rates are almost double the national average of 6.9 per cent in March. However, it also says 75 per cent of McDonald Canada employees are between the ages of 15 and 24. McDonald’s says job-seekers can apply in-person and be interviewed on-the-spot for one of more than 6,100 available positions, including 6,000 crew and 150 managers. Candidates can also apply online at McDonalds.ca/Careers.
Jogger hurled across Bayview Ave. by impact
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Sunday night’s accident at the Soudan Ave crosswalk on Bayview Ave. remains under investigation by 53 Division Traffic officers. Simon Baker was what might be called an audio witness as a southbound van struck a women dressed in jogging clothes in the crosswalk. “The sound was almost as loud as two cars colliding.” say Mr. Baker. He was just sitting down to dinner with his girlfriend when he heard the thump and screams of people on the street. Other witnesses told Baker that the jogger had pressed the crosswalk button on the west side of Bayview by Parker’s Cleaners. She was thrown into the northbound lane by the Toyota van. Her body landed in front of a northbound Mercedes driven by driver who was sufficiently alert to stop before she hit the victim. The van was driven by two young men who Mr Baker estimated to be in their early 20s. One supported himself on crutches. Baker, a videographer, saw the scene from the balcony of his apartment on the northeast corner of Bayview and Parkhurst Blvd. “I grabbed my cell and called 9-1-1,” he said. “When I got down to the street there were already five or six people trying to help the girl. But she was absolutely unconscious. The woman remains in Sunnybrook Hospital and her injuries are now said to be not life-threatening. Photos: Courtesy Simon Baker Top, woman jogger was thrown from the Soudan-Parkhurst crosswalk to the opposite side of the intersection. Her body landed in front of the northbound car; centre is a chalk outline of where victim lay; bottom, police photograph fender of car that hit the woman. Ben Johnson joins Rob Ford mayoral campaign
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It’s a bit like a funny-caption contest on the popular Twitter search #TOpoli tonight. Voters are laughing to chase away the tears. This tweet seemed suitably succinct. Don Peat, QMI
Moore Park home of late Peter Worthington
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The Moore Park home of the late Peter Worthington has been listed for sale. The spacious residence is on Heath Street East just a few steps from the footbridge across the Moore Park ravine. The listing appeared April 4, 2014. The four-bedroom, five-bath home is offered for $1,300,000. It is a traditional Moore Park house on a 46 foot frontage lot that extends 100 feet back. Taxes in 2014 are set at $9,471. Peter Worthington was a legendary reporter editor and soldier. He died last year. Worthington and his wife Yvonne lived in the home for many decades. New garden centre to open on Bayview Ave.
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Davenport Garden Centre will open a new location on the site of the former Garden Court Nurseries at Bayview Ave. and Davisville Ave. The street address is 1466 Bayview. Work began Monday and continued today on the metal and translucent plastic structure that will house springtime offerings at this traditional spot for flowers and Christmas trees. Carla Rose was overseeing work at the site as she also hefted wheelbarrows of earth across the strip of land that for decades hosted the Garden Court business. “We”re excited,” said Ms. Rose. ” We hope everyone is happy to see flowers and plants back on this corner.” The land in question is a narrow strip running along Davisville at the end of the parking lot for the Valu mart. After its sale two years ago, the whole block is now owned by a numbered company which is keeping its option open for future development. The Valu mart is owned by Loblaws subsidiary National Grocers but it is understood that Loblaws has no ownership of the land. Davenport Garden Centre is located at the corner of Davenport Rd. and Dupont St., a space that has also been a garden nursery for many years. Previously it was known for decades merely as “Ron’s”. Photos: Top and centre, construction underway on the new Davenport Garden Centre location at Bayview and Davisville, bottom, Garden Court Nurseries sign as the business prepared to close in 2012. Eeew! Executive sleepovers at Whole Foods
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Prospective employees of the new Whole Foods in the now-building development at 1860 Bayview may wish to ponder carefully a career with the trendy grocer. According to BBC retailing reporter Katie Hope, the man at the top of the firm thinks that “there’s something about sleeping in the same house and then fixing breakfast or dinner together that is very much a bonding experience.” Or so says John Mackey, the fellow who founded Whole Foods back in 1980 and who has overseen its rise to international success. He seems to get it that most people would rather eat glass than chat with their boss in their pajamas. “I know this sounds weird,” he admits. Yes. And then there’s the whole gender thing. BBC
You gotta love Kate and William’s Kiwi gallery
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are in New Zealand tonight. They have their infant son, Prince George along, and the first pictures are especially enjoyable. For once, baby George isn’t stealing the show. At right we see the royal arrival in Wellington today. Kate is a good sport about the Maori custom of rubbing noses as a welcome. Prince William participates in a Maori ceremony and at bottom, the duke and duchess meet the athlete. The look on Kate’s face is priceless. Prince George is a star attraction of course. CTV royal correspondent Victoria Arbiter says the couple received a warm welcome. The duchess appears to be taking a hands-on approach with George, insisting on carrying her son herself off the plane rather than pass him on to the nanny who is travelling with them. While the family is now resting after their 30-hour journey Down Under, George will join his parents for his first official engagement Tuesday during an informal event at Government House, where the royal couple will meet with 10 New Zealand families, who each have babies born within a week of George. As the tour progresses, William and Catherine plan to balance out their more serious official engagements, such as meeting victims of the Christchurch earthquake, with more informal events such as meeting with “The Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson and enjoying a few sporting events of their own. CTV