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.

In Vancouver, Judge Frances Howard has fined Des Hague $5,000 in connection with kicking a Doberman puppy five times last July in a Vancouver elevator. Haig is the former CEO of Centreplate, a U.S. catering company. Hague has been banned from owning or being in control of an animal for three years. He pleaded guilty to animal cruelty earlier this year and resigned his executive position. This came after a video of his behaviour was shown repeatedly on TV newscasts. That caused more than 180,000 people to sign an online petition demanding his ouster from Centreplate, which provides catering at B.C. Place Stadium. The company, which employs approximately 30,000 people, ordered him to donate $100,000 to help animals. The video below was retrieved last August from the elevator and made evidence at the trial. It is quite difficult to watch so be warned.

Carrie Laureola

This story was first published in January 2014. In the meantime, Ms Laureola has gone on to make a success out of her business. Carrie Laureola is a true daughter of Leaside who has two passions —  art and children. After working for several years as a securities trader for ScotiaMcLeod, the mother of 3-year-old Ryan has decided to open the business of her heart’s desire. Carrie’s school of creative expression, Bamboo Bay, is now freshly installed in the bright offices above the shops at the northeast corner of Millwood Rd. and Bayview Ave. “I have always been interested in art,” she says. Carrie speaks with an earnest appreciation of the way children will find their own sense of style when given the right art materials. She has taken care to stock her classroom with quality paint, paper and crafts. The Bamboo Bay website details the creative programs available for children two to 12. Carrie is also offering an easy get-to-know-you drop-in opportunity on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. in February.  Bamboo Bay.  The journey to this new career started at Bessborough Public School.  A teacher who became a friend was Jane Withers, now retired. Pupil and teacher kept in contact over the years by phone and e-mail. Carrie was surprised and deeply touched to find that when she visited Mrs.Withers, the teacher had kept pieces of Carrie’s art done years before at Bessborough. Even as Carrie pursued psychology and other fields at Waterloo University, the tug of her dream was there. After her hitch with ScotiaMcLeod, she decided to hone up her business skills at Ryerson.  Carrie is the third of four daughters. Mom and dad, Yuet Wo and Shek Ming Tse, live in Leaside. They will be remembered by long-time South Bayview residents as the owners of the China Feast restaurant in the north block of the South Bayview business district. Many may long to taste again some of the excellent Cantonese dishes that were served there.

In New York, a wealthy Long Island cardiologist is charged with trying to, first, burn down the office of his bitter rival, and then have him hit, mob style. Is there a shortage of patients?