Simba re-united with owner at Pearson Airport

An Air Canada pilot diverted a Toronto-bound jet to Frankfurt so that a French bulldog named  Simba could be released from a cargo area where the heating had failed. The dog was placed aboard another aircraft which arrived back in Toronto about the same time as the original flight. Simba’s journey originated in Israel and it was as the plane headed toward the frigid Atlantic air that the captain saw an indicator which showed the  heating in the compartment had failed. Temperatures for dogs are set by the airline at a minimum ten degrees. Air Canada said: “While we recognize this was an inconvenience for our customers, the overall reaction was positive, particularly once people understood the dog was in potential danger but safe as a result of the diversion.” The owner says Simba is like his child. .

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La Presse, once the dominant newspaper voice of  French Canada, will stop publishing a weekday paper edition in 2016. It is a decision that must send chills through the offices of papers like The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and others. LaPresse ruled public opinion, advertising and classified advertising for  more than a century since its inception in 1884. Now the publication will print only a Saturday paper and rely on the readership of its internationally renowned tablet. This electronic success is read daily by some 460,000 people, LaPresse says.

A bank robber known as the Vaulter Bandit for his athletic leaping of counters has been arrested in Geneva, Switzerland.  He is Jeffrey James Shuman, 53, nicknamed “The Vaulter” because of his ability to hop over counters to rob banks, had been sought under an international arrest warrant issued by Canada in connection with 21 bank robberies over the last five years. York Regional Police incorrectly said the accused man’s last name was Shulman, and then corrected it to Shuman. He is described as an American-French citizen who resided in France. His practice of leaping over counters and successful string of bank robberies in Canada brought him to  public attention. The Canadian Bankers Association has a $100,000 reward posted for the Vaulter. From what is known, there may well be a book behind the apprehension of this man. It is clear now that authorities knew a lot about Shuman. In the video below, Stephanie Smythe of CP24 speaks with a Swiss police source who confirms that Canadian police had time and location information on when the Vaulter would land in Switzerland. According to the source, it was apparently an easy arrest by plainclothes officers. At the time of his arrest, he was wanted on an international arrest warrant for 22 bank robberies committed in York Region, Peel Region, Hamilton, Ottawa and Calgary over the last five years.

There was another test in Ontario Wednesday morning of the television Alert Ready System run by the government via the broadcast regulator, the CRTC. Few people know about the system and those who do may know how it might be applied. But when it is tested, it takes over television arbitrarily as it did today. The test occurs without warning and in successive repetitions for about 20 minutes. The type of event which might require the use of the Alert Ready System would surely be catastrophic — a nuclear attack, a widespread biological attack or possibly Martians.

The BBC slugged this stunt “insane” but although somewhat chancy it appears the rider had all his marbles, so to speak. The good part is no one can try it here because we don’t have any dams. This is in Slovenia where mountain biker Primoz Ravnik has clocked up 4.4 million hits on the video since it was posted earlier in September. He hurtled down a 60m (197 feet) high dam in Zirovnica on August 28, 2015. Mr Ravnik learned to ride a bike when he was two, and is now a cross-country and downhill biker who, it might be added, is looking for fame.

The distant civil war that influenced politics in Canada and caused civil disorder in Toronto is before the United Nations human rights commission this week. Judges have concluded that both Sri Lankan state forces and Tamil Tiger rebels “most likely” committed war crimes including mass killings of civilians during their quarter-century war. At the height of the conflict, Tamil Tiger organizers were accused of extortion on the many Tamil families living in Scarborough. Money was extracted to support the uprising.  Tamil Tigers supporters marched daily in Toronto and on one occasion in 2009 blocked the Gardiner Expressway in an attempt to get the Canadian government to somehow intervene in the  civil war.

Police say they are suspicious about a fire that broke out early Monday (September 14, 2015) the York Mills Road and Fenn Avenue area where three houses were under construction. One home was destroyed and poilice find it very fishy. They hope that the busy street traffic will yield someone who saw something that will help them. Police are asking the public for assistance in identifying any person or vehicles in this area at around 5.45 a.m.

CTV 

A crushing end to the search for Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette.as her remains are found close to the town where she lived. A man has been arrested in Blairmore, Alberta in connection with the girl’s death and the death of her father 27-year-old Terry Blanchette, whose body was found inside the family home. The accused in 22.

City staff has recommended that no change be made to the present union collection (CUPE 144) of garbage east of Yonge Street. John Tory made a firm promise during the election campaign that he would extend privatization across the full city. The saving west of Yonge Street, where collection is done by a private contractor, is said to be $11 million annually. Speaking to Steven LeDrew on CP24 Jaye Robinson, chair of the public works committee, said she questions the numbers produced by waste management staff in the report, which was released late Tuesday morning. The Toronto Sun story linked is detailed but does not offer compelling information from staff as to why a similar saving would be not be a net advantage to the city. The report says things like: “A blend of in-house and private sector provision also manages operational and financial risk and provides flexibility for the curbside waste collection system to adapt to changes.” It seems vague. The report goes to Robinson’s committee. Toronto Sun 

The sixth annual Harvest Fair organized by the merchants of Mount Pleasant Village will take place on Saturday, September 26. It is a varied and entertaining family event which always fills the sidewalks. Among the most enterprising features is the petting zoo, staged by the Ken-Jen Petting Zoo of Oshawa. As usual merchants will have food and goods on the street. For those who dare, there will be an apple pie eating contest for all ages. The pumpkin carving contest may be more most people’s speed.  In addition, all Mount Pleasant Village shoppers will have an opportunity to win one of five $100 Mount Pleasant Village gift certificates.

The Toronto Star has launched a tablet format to be known as Star Touch as it struggles to make money in the digital age. Star Touch is inspired by the La Presse tablet app, which is regarded as a worldwide leader in ease of use.  The Star chiefs are talking dramatic change with Star Touch and this may be the case. Ads will also be interactive on Star Touch which presumably means that they can be played with. The one-time dominant source of want ads in Toronto has seen an enormous loss of revenue in the early years of the 21st Century. Now it continues to lose display advertising. .