The City of Toronto will collaborate with the CN Tower and CHUM1045 to host tonight’s New Year’s Eve display online. Based on the recommendations of Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Toronto, like other municipalities across Canada, is celebrating New Year’s Eve virtually. All in-person New Year’s Eve events, including celebrations in Nathan Phillips Square, have been cancelled.

The CN Tower light show will be live-streamed on the City’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/thecityoftoronto and simulcast on Jamar’s House Party live on CHUM1045 on December 31 starting at 11:58 p.m. Microprocessor-controlled, each of the CN Tower’s more than 1,300 LED lights can produce 16.7 million colours and an infinite variety of lighting effects. Synched to music, the show will ring in a brighter year ahead.

Another tall tower half way around the globe has already welcomed 2021 with a dazzling light show and fireworks display. Emaar Properties collaborated with Zoom to host its New Year’s Eve celebrations live from Downtown Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Up to 50,000 people from around the world were invited to tune-in to the global Zoom video call, while thousands watched in person.

Mayor Tory and Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson will also be a part of TVO’s New Year’s Eve event, From Ontario with Love: A Celebration of Hope. The 90-minute event, featuring incredible performances, storytelling and fireworks, will start at 10:30 p.m. on TVO, the TVO YouTube Channel, and thestar.com and will include Toronto sites such as the Princes’ Gates at Exhibition Place. Headlining the special are Avril Lavigne, Barenaked Ladies, Loud Luxury and The Halluci Nation.

• New Year’s Eve in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic – in pictures

Collapsed crane on Eglinton Ave east of Mt. Pleasant

A mobile crane used to move lighting for night work on the Eglinton LRT collapsed Monday evening when the ground under it was eroded by water, workers on the scene reported. One man closely involved in the incident said the crane operator was aware of the erosion and was making “one last move” of a light standard as the crane toppled over. This source, who identified himself as an apprentice crane operator, told The South Bayview Bulldog that he and the operator leaped clear of the crane as it fell over. He said no one had been injured in the incident although police reports spoke of one person with injuries.

Collapsed crane on Eglinton Ave E., east of Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Collapsed crane on Eglinton Ave E., east of Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Close call: Collapsed crane nearly crushed this loader

Baseball at Howard Talbot Park / Instagram @marionalbaum

Batter up! at Howard Talbot Park / Instagram @marionalbaum

Life during a once in a century pandemic is a challenge. Having lived through months of lock-down, phased in openings and social distancing, small things can bring happiness. Seeing the baseball fields in the neighbourhood alive again with players and spectators enjoying a team activity warms the heart. Never knew we’d appreciate a game of little league quite so much.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDh7_-IAtyC/

Leaside’s favourite chippy has come up with a fun and creative way to deliver your takeout order to you. The concept has gone viral on social media, bringing smiles to people as far away as Europe — and of course to Leasiders as well. “It’s a thrill for everyone. The staff get a giggle how happy the customers are, and for the customers it gives them something to smile about,” owner Olivia Feather told Global News.

Watch the video here:
https://globalnews.ca/news/7267708/coronavirus-toronto-businesses-customers-safety/

The City of Toronto will perform annual maintenance and improvement activities on the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) this weekend from Friday, August 14 at 11 p.m. until Monday, August 17 at 5 a.m. The closure will extend the entire expressway from Highway 401 to the F.G. Gardiner Expressway. The rain date is planned for Friday, August 21 to Monday, August 24. This year’s annual closure, typically planned for the spring or fall, has been moved to August to take advantage of warmer summer weather as well as lower than normal traffic volumes the city continues to experience. City staff estimate that it would take approximately 30 separate days with lane closures to complete the same amount of highly coordinated work performed in just 54 hours over a single weekend. Motorists can use Kingston Road, Victoria Park Avenue, Leslie Street, Bayview Avenue and Avenue Road as alternative routes into the city during the weekend closure.

As well, there will be one ActiveTO major weekend road closure this weekend, along Lake Shore Boulevard West from Stadium Road to Windemere Avenue. ActiveTO weekend closures that would typically be in place on Lake Shore Boulevard East and Bayview Avenue will not be available this weekend in order to provide alternative routes for drivers. All three weekend closures are expected to return the weekend following the DVP maintenance closure. Learn more about ActiveTO at http://www.toronto.ca/activeto.

Here are some specific activities that the City is expected to undertake during the closure, all numbers are approximate:

• 10 lane kilometres of roadway milling and paving
• 3,600 tonnes of asphalt will be used
• Inspection and controlled chipping on bridges
• Construction and repair of roadside ditches
• Cleaning of bridge joints and catch basins
• Debris removal and sweeping
• Graffiti removal
• Guiderail repairs and replacement
• Inspection and repair of ‘crash’ barriers
• Roadside and overhead sign maintenance
• Inspection of maintenance of RESCU cameras and equipment cabinets
• Repair of traffic detection equipment
• Pothole repairs
• Other work related to expressway lights and utilities may be done by Toronto Hydro.

This weekend’s DVP maintenance closure has been coordinated with important overnight work related to the renewal of the Gardiner Expressway between Jarvis and Cherry Streets. To facilitate this work and minimize disruption to the travelling public, the westbound lanes of the Gardiner Expressway, from the DVP to the Yonge-Bay-York ramp and the on-ramp to westbound Gardiner Expressway from Lake Shore Boulevard East at Logan Avenue will be fully closed. The first opportunity for motorists to enter westbound Gardiner Expressway is the on-ramp at Jarvis Street. These closures will take place on:
• Saturday, August 15 at 10 p.m. to Saturday, August 16 at 8 a.m., and;
• Sunday, August 16 at 10 p.m. until Monday, August 17 at 5 a.m.

A map is available to residents and visitors to help make their travel plans, available at http://www.toronto.ca/roadrestrictions. In addition, the City’s T.O. INview map shows planned capital construction work taking place across the city: http://www.toronto.ca/inview. Details about this closure are available at http://www.toronto.ca/dvp

Air Canada is revamping the Aeroplan program including changing miles to points based on the cost of your ticket. The relaunch on Nov. 8 will allow all members to book seats on any Air Canada flight using Aeroplan points, a change from the current model where seat inventory is limited. Members will also be able to share points with up to eight friends and family members, combining them in a pool anyone in the group may put toward a trip. More on CTV, Aeroplan

Jays win Buffalo opener, topping the Miami Marlins in 10 innings. Bo Bichette hit a three-run homer for the Blue Jays, who took a 4-1 lead into the ninth. Travis Shaw singled with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Toronto Blue Jays a 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.