Best wishes to Molly on her special day!

Happy 5th birthday to Molly Matlow! #VeryProudDad pic.twitter.com/6EHTFZc5Wo

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) January 4, 2018

Grand Opening & Ribbon-cutting event is January 6 @ 11:00 am – 11:00 pm. Enjoy Pop-up ice lounges with family friendly activities, pop-up curling with Rock Solid Productions, meet and greet with Canadian pairs silver medalists Lubov Ilyushechkina and Dylan Moscovitch, ice breaking demonstration by the Toronto Ice Skate Group, DJ sets, and much more!

The Mayor’s Skate Party is January 7 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Free hot chocolate, skate rentals and family-friendly music.

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Tomorrow the City of Toronto opens the Bentway Skate Path, the first part of the Bentway project, that will see the area under the Gardiner Expressway West of Bathurst developed. The ice trail is near the entrance to @fortyork @cityoftoronto #TheBentway pic.twitter.com/PWYQyahwkT

— Steve Russell (@SteveRussell) January 5, 2018

CityNews reports that mementoes from Justin Bieber’s formative years as an aspiring Canadian singer will go on display at a museum in his hometown of Stratford, Ont. next month. “Steps to Stardom” — a reference to the young singer’s busking shows on the steps outside the local Avon Theatre — opens at the Stratford Perth Museum on Feb. 18. More on CityNews

Justin Bieber museum exhibit to open in hometown of Stratfordhttps://t.co/cyfUrqy9AY pic.twitter.com/5FgPMJpWhh

— CityNews Toronto (@CityNewsTO) January 4, 2018

The January 2018 issue of “Neighbours of Leaside & Bennington Heights” magazine features the Laureola family as their cover story. Carrie Laureola is the proprietor of Bamboo Bay, a small and friendly school for creative expression offering art and music classes for children, teens, and adults. The article, written by Richard S. Todd, credits the Laureola family with bringing the Arts to family and community. “Without art, the world would be bland, boring and devoid of joy.” We agree. Carrie grew up in North Leaside, and if you’ve been around for a while, you may remember her parents’ Bayview restaurant, China Feast. “Leaside is the community that I grew up in and have many fond memories of. It’s still a great place to live and we’re so happy to be part of it.”  The heartwarming story of how Carrie met her husband Mike, a dentist running his own practice, and their journey through life as they started a family and grew their careers is well worth the read.

While no official recalls have been issued, some restaurants are ditching romaine lettuce after a deadly E. coli outbreak has hit eastern Canada. The outbreak has been linked to romaine lettuce. Cara Operations Ltd. has stopped serving romaine in their restaurants in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Cara operates Swiss Chalet, Milestones Grill + Bar, Montana’s Cookhouse, Kelsey’s, East Side Mario’s and other chains. Boston Pizza and Sobey’s grocery stores have also jumped on board, removing romaine from their shelves. On December 28th, the Public Health Agency of Canada issued the following statement, “Currently, there are 41 cases of E. coli O157 illness under investigation in five eastern provinces: Ontario (8), Quebec (14), New Brunswick (5), Nova Scotia (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (13). Individuals became sick in November and early December 2017. Seventeen individuals have been hospitalized. One individual has died. Individuals who became ill are between the ages of 3 and 85 years of age. The majority of cases (73%) are female.” Newstalk 1010, Health Canada Public Notice

I don’t think it comes as a surprise to anyone that it’s cold outside. Here’s the scoop.

This morning’s video wheel focuses on the aftermath of the winter weather bomb that hit the eastern seaboard. The images of frigid floodwaters in Boston are particularly bone chilling to watch. At least seven people have died in weather-related accidents. Global news.

https://twitter.com/Adam28691/status/948997646852808704

EXTREME COLD WARNING

Environment Canada has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for Toronto. A prolonged period of very cold wind chills is expected. Temperatures will fall rapidly this evening to reach lows of minus 20 to 25 degrees celsius. Wind chill values due to northwest winds up to 50 kilometres per hour will be in the minus 35 to 40 range tonight. Temperatures and wind chill values will be slightly lower Friday night. The extreme cold will continue until Saturday or possibly into Sunday morning. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ec.cpio-tempetes-ospc-storms.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

TORONTO WARMING CENTRES

The City of Toronto has announced the opening of two 24/7 warming centres to provide additional relief for homeless individuals and their pets.

“We continue to explore all options and opportunities to protect our city’s most vulnerable residents,” said Mayor John Tory. “These warming centres provide accessible immediate relief during Extreme Cold Weather events and are in addition to the City’s other winter respite services.”

The overnight warming centres, located at Metro Hall, 55 John St., and Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter St., will operate 24/7 daily beginning this evening at 7 p.m. and continuing until the current Extreme Cold Weather Alert is terminated.

The Regent Park Community Centre warming centre will be operated by the City’s Office of Emergency Management in conjunction with the Canadian Red Cross and provide 100 cots, meals, showers, hygiene kits and referrals to additional supports. Metro Hall will be accessible 24/7 for the same time period and provide drop-in access to a warm, welcoming space. Toronto Paramedic Services will have a dedicated resources available at both warming centres in the evenings to provide assistance to those in need.

“Extreme winter weather conditions can turn a heart-breaking situation into a tragedy,” said Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 10 York Centre), Chair of the City’s Community Development and Recreation Committee. “Through action, policy and resources at the City we must do everything to bring hope and save lives.”

The two new warming centres are in addition to six winter respite locations, which make available more than 400 drop-in spaces and operate continuously on a 24/7 basis until April 15.

Yesterday afternoon, the City of Toronto made a formal Request for Assistance through the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre for potential use of the Moss Park Armoury. As per the established process, the Province has relayed the Request for Assistance for use of the Armoury to the Government of Canada for consideration. Discussions are continuing today to expedite the request.

The City continues to explore all available measures and options to ensure services are available for the city’s homeless individuals. Anyone can come in from the cold at all public buildings during regular business hours, including civic centres and libraries. Beginning this evening, TTC operators and first responders have been asked to be alert for anyone in need of homelessness services and to contact 311 to engage outreach support.

The City has enhanced capacity and staff resources at its newest winter respite site at the Better Living Centre on the Exhibition Place grounds. Last night, the City increased the number of cots available at the centre to 150 to accommodate increased demand. Opened on December 21 with an original capacity of 100 beds, the centre had 115 spaces filled as of 4 a.m. this morning.

The City has also reiterated its expectations with front-line City staff as well as agencies delivering homelessness services that anyone who requests City-funded or operated homeless support and respite services will receive it.

Several staff from other areas of the City have been redeployed to support Shelter, Support and Housing Administration staff to review internal communication protocols regarding the sharing of shelter and winter respite service availability throughout the 24-hour period. Call centre staff working for the division and 311 service operators are also involved in this review.

The City will also continue to work with Ombudsman Susan Opler and her staff on their inquiry into these issues.

For emergency shelter, residents should call 311. Toll free in Toronto, it is 1-877-338-3398. Youth and adults can also get a walk-in referral to shelter at the Streets to Homes Assessment and Referral Centre at 129 Peter St.

ABC News reports that more than 3,000 U.S. flights have been canceled as a massive winter storm hits the Northeast, packing heavy snow, gusty winds and the coldest air of the season.  3 fatalities have been reported in North Carolina due to the storm.

Atlantic Canada is bracing for heavy snowfall and strong winds.

The Facebook Live video below was filmed Thursday afternoon, at the moment the Lilac Fire started to engulf the San Luis Rey Downs training facility in Bonsall, California. Trainers were frantically setting the horses loose into the inner track area as the barns started to burn. Reports say that at least 25 horses have perished in the fire, and at least one trainer was injured. Up to 500 horses are normally housed in this facility. Viewer discretion is advised. More: LA Times

BambooBay’s “Shop Local For the Holidays” event has been extended and will now take place for the entire month of December!  Pop-up shopping hours will be Monday – Friday 4-6pm and with special “P.A. Day hours” this Friday December 1, 9am-6pm.  There will also be a PA Day Art & Lego Camp on December 1st.  Half and full day rates available, contact Carrie at BambooBay for more info. 416-901-1255 www.bamboobay.ca

The City of Toronto issued a media release this morning announcing their new partnership with the Waze traffic app.

November 20, 2017

City of Toronto officially begins sharing traffic data with Waze to help motorists navigate the city

Today, Mayor John Tory announced a new partnership with Waze, the world’s largest community-based traffic and navigation app. Through this partnership, the City of Toronto and Waze will provide free access to each other’s real-time traffic and road data, providing motorists with the best information to navigate the city.

“For the first time, the City is sharing its traffic data with Waze and Waze users. This partnership will give our traffic operations centre better visibility into traffic patterns and provide Waze users enhanced information to plan and adjust their commute,” said Mayor Tory. “Over the last three years, we have finally focused on fighting traffic in Toronto and improving commute times. I am determined to build on the progress we’ve made and continue the fight each and every day.”

Through its Connected Citizens Program, Waze app users will now have access to the City’s traffic data in real-time, providing a greater ability for motorists to avoid road closures, construction and traffic jams. More information about Waze’s Connected Citizens Program is available at https://www.waze.com/ccp.

The City will also be able to leverage anonymous Waze driver and traffic insights to make data-driven infrastructure decisions. In the Toronto area alone, there are more than 560,000 active Waze app users. Traffic accidents, hazards and congestion details can also be posted by users in the app. Every app user and trip improves the Waze map, and this data will help City staff better respond to issues as they occur.

“Waze was founded on the belief that we can outsmart traffic together,” said Mike Wilson, Waze Canada’s country manager. “Our partnership with the City of Toronto will empower drivers with real-time information on routes, traffic alerts and road closures to get them to their destination on time. Additionally, by leveraging Waze insights, the City will now have greater visibility into traffic patterns and will be able to make better planning decisions.”

In addition, Waze will help the City to disseminate traffic and road closure information for major events, highway maintenance and pilot projects, such as the King Street Pilot that was launched last week.

About Waze
Waze is the social navigation pioneer, leveraging mobile technology and a passionate global community to redefine expectations of today’s maps. Waze is home to the world’s largest network of drivers who work together daily to outsmart traffic and save time and money. The app consistently recommends the fastest routes based on real-time driving and data from millions of users. From traffic reroutes to low gas price alerts and relevant offers from favourite brands, Waze is one of the most comprehensive driving companions in the marketplace. To download the free Waze app for iOS or Android, visit http://www.waze.com/get. For more information on Waze privacy policy, visit https://www.waze.com/legal/privacy.