The late Emmy Duff

The Northlea Elementary and Middle School biannual blood donor clinic will take place Monday, April 20, 2015. This first such clinic was organized in 2003 in response to the diagnosis of leukemia in not one, but two Northlea students. The efforts of volunteers and ordinary Leaside citizens extended the lives of these two young people and helped many others. But it was a losing battle for Emily Elizabeth Duff, who died in September 2012 having been originally diagnosed at the age of seven. She fought a courageous battle and inspired thousands with her cheerful spirit and hard work. Here is what is said on the website of the scholarship established in her name. It gives you all the reasons you need to find time to get over to Northlea School on Monday between 2 and 7 p.m.  “Throughout her journey, Emmy’s remarkable spirit inspired those around her. With her never-failing strength and positive outlook, she embraced life at every turn, including her time away from home as a university student at Laurier.  Emmy was a fundraising advocate for a number of causes, sharing her story with those that were important to her, including childhood cancer organizations, as a Sick Kids Ambassador, for Canadian Blood Services, L.U.C.K at Laurier, and Look Good Feel Better. Em will be remembered most by all who knew her as a thoughtful and caring friend. Emmy was an extraordinary young woman with a courageous spirit and love for life.  This scholarship will not only ensure that Emmy’s memory is carried on but also provide the opportunity for others in similar situations to live out their goals and further their education.”

Very amusing to see old stuff and anticipate must-see later this year. Closing on 3,500,000 looks on YouTube since posted this morning. Enjoy.

Residents of Moore Park, Bennington Heights and South Leaside ask

The revelation that the TTC has a small army of drivers being sent home on full pay every day has reminded editors of the South Bayview Bulldog how nice it would be if even one of these drivers in one little bus was assigned to operate a shoppers, students and medical patients service from neighborhoods in the south to our lovely business district. These people could then shop. have lunch, get their teeth fixed, see the chiropractor or go to school, if classes were at Leaside High or St Anselm’s. Or they could catch the 11 Bayview to Sunnybrook Hospital for other medical needs. It is a campaign of many years from these offices. A bus for South Bayview. A single vehicle that originates at St. Clair station and goes up Bayview to loop around Davisville, Cleveland and Belsize. So simple. Toronto Sun

New location of Tim Horton’s at Bayview and Eglinton

Faithful reader Bob Arsenault has tipped The South Bayview Bulldog to the impending arrival of Tim Horton’s on the main level of the condominium at the southwest corner of Bayview Ave. and Eglinton Ave. E. It will occupy two units that were previously occupied by Herbal Magic and Eco-Pure Dry Cleaners. Renovations are currently under way  The revelation comes in the wake of The Bulldog’s story over the weekend that Tim’s has passed up the specially built store in the Metro Grocery complex across the street. So what’s going on? Some will say there’s no parking for customers at the chosen location. Maybe, but this seems to be a long term play for when the Eglinton LRT station is open across the street on the site of what is now the McDonald’s.  It is going to be a busy corner for many years. There will be construction on the Metro site for the secondary entry to the LRT. As well, Rio.Can, owner of the Sunnybrook Plaza, has a proposal. to build a condominium and commercial twin towers on the site of the 1950s strip mall. There may be enough construction workers to fill the Tim’s store between now the time the LRT is running. Thanks Bob, we love tip offs.

The Ontario government’s one-two punch Thursday turns out to be a hydro right hook and light lager left to the chin. Hydro electricity and beer. Why not?  Premier Wynne was out front to explain it all. The sale of 60 percent of Hydro One will finally help the province invest adequately in transit. It appears that the cabinet will in fact continue to control the enormous utility with 40 percent ownership because there will no single private owner. Some will say this is wise. Some will ask what about the provincial debt. Honestly, what about it? Only time will tell. As to beer, the Premier announced there will be 450 “beer licenses” available to grocery stores. Whether this will make much of a difference as to how we buy beer here in South Bayview is really an open question. The government was excruciatingly cute as it offered the advice that “wine sales will have to wait a while”. What this means is that consumers will have to wait and not know why. Beer consumers who for whatever reason don’t like the way beer is sold will have access to a Beer Ombudsman. How odd. Who pays for him? The availability of beer at grocery stores may yet bring Loblaws to the table with President’s Choice Ale because why would Loblaws start selling anyone else’s stuff now.  Globe and Mail 

Cirque du Soleil, a Quebec side-show tent concept that became the international show business pride of Canada, will soon move into the hands of a Texas private equity firm, TPG Capital, and a minority partner Fosun Capital of Shanghai China. The Quebec government’s Caisse de Depot is said to be part of the deal, to help ease political concerns. The Quebec Liberal government has publicly called for Cirque du Soleil to retain local ownership. Sources said TPG Capital agreed to preserve Cirque du Soleil’s headquarters in Montreal, and the local staff of close to 1,600 people. Laliberté announced he wanted to sell 90% of the company in late March. The deal is less than the $2 billion that he had been seeking, according to the report.

Toronto and East York Community Council has voted to explore the process of lowering the residential speed limit to 30 km/hr from the present 40 km/hr. Such a decision would be noticeable across South Bayview neighborhoods. It is a move much sought after by some residents of Leaside, Davisville Village and Moore Park. In fact, a mixed response may be expected. The old saying that people are in  favour of lower speeds for others may apply. It will certainly strain the control of drivers on a street like Moore Ave between Mt. Pleasant and Bayview. Bulldog readers will be able to think of many such streets in their own locales. Of course, lower limits might not effect all 40 km streets. The committee’s move covers the same ground as a policy that had been under consideration by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee to devise standards to lower speed limits on some streets across the city. That committee was split on the issue, and sent it on to next week’s council meeting without recommendation, leaving it up to the full council. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) moved that the community council simply assert its authority and cut the speed limit across the entire community council area.  He is quoted in the Mirror as saying: “There was a valiant effort by my colleague (Beaches-East York Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon) at Public Works and Infrastructure to move forward with this item there and now we are fully aware we have delegated authority to move forward, we are moving forward,” said Matlow. “We believe there should be ample opportunity for public consultation but from the residents we’ve heard from, the vast majority are strongly in support of safer roads in our neighbourhoods.”

Five employees of a Victoria B.C. Target store offer a poignant lament to the end of their jobs this week. Good luck guys.