Ellen Lowden, a North Toronto hockey mom for girls, is taking to the calling quite seriously.  Mrs. Lowden, 53, of Cranbrooke Ave., was recently chronicled in the Toronto Star for her gumption (with the help of husband Jim) in learning how to become a head coach of her daughter’s hockey team. For Ellen Lowden, that meant learning which end of the rink was which. She was terrified, she told The South Bayview Bulldog. The moment of truth came seven years ago at Leaside Arena and Ellen has not looked back. Tomorrow (Tuesday, April 28,, 2015) she will be overseeing a day-long girls tournament for the Toronto Catholic School Board at Don Montgomery Arena at 2462 Eglinton Ave. E. The event is for girls in grades 5 to 8 and 28 schools have signed up with just under 150 girls skating. It is a volunteer undertaking so it does not cost the players or the schools anything to attend. The games will run back to back starting at 9 a.m. with a championship tilt sometime in the early afternoon. Mrs. Lowden’s growing interest in girls hockey prompted her to start a line of girls hockey dress. She operates under the name Goldiegear, a name chosen to honour her mom, Goldie. It is a fascinating foray into what is so-far a niche market where business is buoyed along by the sheer fun. Goldiegear 

Bus off the road and under bridge at Albion at Weston ramp

Southbound Weston Rd. was closed W after private bus went off the road and slammed into an Albion Rd. Monday morning. The incident happened around 7 a.m. near the Albion Rd. overpass. The driver of the vehicle was temporarily trapped but was rescued by emergency crews. Michael Bakun Twitter 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvN_jdCYuLM&w500&h=290

The powerhouse 18U girls of the Leaside Volleyball League have won their third Ontario Volleyball Championship this weekend at RIM Arena in Waterloo. Leaside Red took the gold by winning every game at the three-day provincial championship tournament. They triumphed Sunday with a 25-20, 25-19 victory over Mississauga Pakmen 17U. The tourney was host to a field of 43 competitors. Congratulations ladies and well done.

It appears the opening cannot be far off as slick window coverings and decals appear at the new location of Ron White Shoes. Looking forward.

A toddler fell 17 storeys from a window in a towering high-rise apartment at 3 Hickory Tree Road in   the  Weston Rd. and Lawrence Ave. area. It is an obscure street that runs along the Humber River. The accident happened around 2 p.m. Police got the scene in response to several “unknown trouble” reports and are now asking the neighbors and the public to report anything they can about the tragedy. The boy was taken to hospital and died in hospital later in the afternoon. Paramedics told CP24 the child fell from an “extreme height.” The building does not have balconies. One neighbour said the windows in the building don’t open expect for a small portion that has a screen. “They must have removed the screen because otherwise, there’s no other way you can get out,” he said. “It’s pretty shocking that this could happen.” The child has been identified to CP24 by family friends as Wallace Passos.

The delivery scene of Princess Kate’s baby has become a passing issue in the British General Election set for Thursday, May 7, 2015. Inevitably, government critics were complaining that Prince William and his wife had chosen to have their second child born in the  private Lindo Wing of a public hospital, St. Mary’s. The Lindo Wing is where Prince George was born. In Britain’s two-tier medical system it is possible to have care for which one pays for personally, or be cared for by the National Health Service. Sometimes, as at St. Mary’s, the two levels of service are in the same building. Prime Minister David Cameron was asked today (Sunday, April 26, 2015) what he thought of the royal couple’s choice of private treatment over public care offered by the NHS.  Asked on TV if the royal couple’s decision was disappointing, Cameron said he supports peoples’ right to choose treatment options. He did praise the NHS, which is a source of national pride for many Britons. “The NHS is superb and I’ve seen that in my own life in so many different ways,” he said. “But I believe in choice. I believe in people being able to do what they want to do.” He said he is praying for a safe delivery of the royal baby. The baby is expected before the election.