Shaw Communications Inc. made a $25.5-million payment to former CEO Jim Shaw when he retired in the past fiscal year, regulatory filings show. The company offered no explanation for the payment in an annual shareholder proxy circular filed late Friday, which also shows Mr. Shaw’s pension entitlement ballooned in the past year. However, the company’s first-quarter earnings released in January showed Mr. Shaw received a $25-million “package” upon his retirement, which equalled three years of compensation at $8.5-million a year. The new document shows Mr. Shaw earned $26.7-million in the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, and a footnote to the compensation chart briefly says the total includes “a payment totalling $25.5-million for Jim Shaw in 2011.” Mr. Shaw retired as CEO in November, 2010, at age 53. Mr. Shaw, the son of cable company founder JR Shaw, retired two months earlier than his previously announced retirement day of Jan. 13, 2011, shortly after he was criticized for displaying unusual behaviour at an investor luncheon. Some people who attended the Vancouver event said he appeared to be inebriated. He is still on the board of Shaw and is the company’s vice-chairman

Copies of Jane Pitfield’s Book Leaside are available the Leaside Memorial Arena or by calling (416) 456-3665. All proceeds are being donated by the author to the arena expansion fund. Each copy is $28. Many know the story of Leaside but the brief synopsis reminds us again of the rich history of the town. Leaside is a most comprehensive look at the people, significant events and built heritage, all of which contributed to the creation of this distinctive community. Named after John Lea, a successful farmer, whose house, built in 1829, is believed to be the first brick house in York County, Leaside grew from a railway settlement into a prosperous urban town. With its roots embedded in the history of three railways, Leaside has a unique industrial heritage that played a key role in the war effort during both World Wars, including its being the site of munitions plants, a wooden plane factory, and a base for the Royal Flying Corps. Leaside was also home to the Durant Motors of Canada, and later the Nash cars, Canada Wire and Cable, and the popular Thorncliffe Race Track. Did you know that Canada’s first airmail delivery touched down in Leaside and that an Olympic calibre ski jump once operated in the Don Valley? Jane Pitfield’s Leaside represent a nostalgic journey into the heritage of a most remarkable neighbourhood, still proudly retaining its identity as part of Toronto.

South Bayviewland was treated to the sight a magnificent full moon Saturday evening. The clear skies that have brought very nice late autumn weather made a fine background for the lunar orb. It is seen here from Merton Street west of Mt. Pleasant. The local sight follows what was reportedly a good total eclipse of the full moon early Saturday. It was however only visible in the skies over the Pacific Northwest. This was the last total lunar eclipse until 2014 and one of only 85 times this century that the moon will be totally eclipsed, according to astronomers. The most recent total lunar eclipse in June 2011 was visible from every continent on Earth except North America.

The Ontario Government says it will make public the nanes of teachers who behave badly. The identity and actions of so-called rogue teachers will no longer be kept secret. The action seems to have come on the prompting of a crusade in the Toronto Star which can be recalled here.