The greatly anticipated opening of the Branksome Hall Athletics and Wellness Centre is underway today (Friday, January 23, 2015) with students thronging the new building. The imposing building is already a landmark to South Bayview area residents. Branksome Hall’s award-winning Athletics and Wellness Centre is at the corner of Mount Pleasant Road and Elm Avenue. The nearly 68,000-square-foot (6,300-sq.-m.) building includes two saltwater swimming pools (a training/lap pool and a shallow-floor teaching pool), a viewing gallery that overlooks them, a gymnasium, a dryland rowing centre, dance and yoga studios, a fitness centre, a rooftop terrace, meeting rooms, a 300-person dining hall that specializes in simple, delicious and healthy meals and a fireplace lounge. Branksome Athletics Centre nearing completion Athletic,Wellness complex rising on Mt. Pleasant
Soft footballs? Facts seem pretty soft too
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The fog surrounding the soft football semi-scandal is thick enough to cut with a pigskin. The Patriots say they don’t know anything about it. To indignant reporters demanding how it could happen, the team principals have said, in effect, how are we supposed to know. The journalism is miserable. There is no information in the stories about who actually said first there were soft footballs. It’s a galloping rumour. No source, lots of speed. The balls are supposedly checked by the league two hours before the game. Did they? What was found? The balls are supposed to be checked again at half time, it is said in some stories. Were they? What was found? Not banner day for the fifth estate. New York Times
Rio.Can pays $31.5 million for rest of Leaside Ctr
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The Rio-Can REIT, known as Rio.Can, purchased the outstanding 50 percent of the Leaside Centre at Eglinton Ave. E. and Laird Drive last week. The following statement is of interest but makes no reference to plans to redevelop the centre.
On January 15, 2015, RioCan completed the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in RioCan Leaside Centre, in Toronto, Ontario from Kimco Realty Corporation (“Kimco”). This 133,000 square foot new format centre is anchored by Canadian Tire. Other tenants include PetSmart, Pier One Imports, and Alexanian Carpet & Flooring. The property is very well located at the corner of Eglinton Avenue and Laird Avenue along the Eglinton Light Rail (“LRT”) line, currently under construction. The site is planned to host a secondary entrance to the LRT stop at the southeast corner of Eglinton Avenue and Laird Avenue. The 50% interest in the centre was acquired from Kimco at a purchase price of $31.5 million, which equates to a capitalization rate of 5.5%. RioCan assumed Kimco’s $16.5 million interest in the debt on the property, which carries an interest rate of 3.3% and matures in 2017.
Eglinton LRT tunnel boring reaches Allen Road
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Hodgson rink to open early for Friday PD Day
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Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has posted information that Hodgson School Ice Rink will be open tomorrow (Friday, January 23, 2015) between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. He notes for everyone’s information that the City’s website currently still indicates regular school day hours starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday is a PD Day and thus kids will be able to skate from 10 a.m. tomorrow. This seems like a very useful decision.
“National costume” stuns Canada and the world
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It’s not often the CBC calls anything Canadian “insane” but that word has crept into coverage of our Miss Universe candidate’s national costume. The response to Caledon native Chanel Beckenlehner’s eccentric costume on Twitter has been mixed. Many appreciate Beckenlehner’s commitment to achieving a puckhead look. The event was held Wednesday, January 21, 2015 in Miami. CBC CTV Winners, losers and train wrecks of the Miss Universe costume contest
Minor injuries to 4 in North York school accident
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Leaside’s Pat and Bobbi Cochar are profiled
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BA customer denounces “filth class” seating
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A first-class passenger on British Airways from London to St. Lucia has posted a video of what is certainly a filthy-looking seat. Things are tough at the airlines and BA has had additional woes with a particularly fractious union. Welcome aboard friends.
Toronto story: There’s never enough money
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Money, money, money as they say on Storage Wars. There is never enough. It seems like a lament for Toronto as Mayor Tory goes about trying to find the cash needed to execute his plans. This morning at Executive Committee members will grapple with City Manager Joe Pennachetti’s request for an additional $1.65 to perform due diligence on the trickier parts of the mayor’s SmartTrack plan. This week has also seen the introduction of a draft budget for the City that has a sting to it. Yesterday it emerged the budget plan relied on a loan of two million dollars from the Ontario government. Have they got two million dollars? Can Toronto pay it back? Also this morning, Premier Wynne has received failing mark from the Fraser Institute as a manager of money. She will say, correctly, that the thinkers at Fraser are her political opponents but, still, the numbers are the numbers. There was a moment reminiscent of Rob Ford Thursday morning when Mayor Tory was stopped at the doors to Executive Committee by what appeared to be a down-and-out supplicant. Mr. Tory listened and promised to looked into the issue.
COBs back February 7 as a bakery, not a cafe
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The final word on renovations underway at COBs at 1539 Bayview Ave. comes from Fiona who owns local COBs and has kindly set us all straight on the City’s building designation known as Bakery/Cafe. It does not mean a business is actually a cafe. As in the case of COBs, it can be one or the other and COBs will remain the same great bread maker you have known for years. This confusion started on Twitter when well-meaning citizens saw the current renovations going on and read the building permit, as did the Bulldog. They took it to mean there was a change coming. Fiona points out that the new COBs arrangement will provide a little more space inside the front door plus “lights that work and a design for this century.” Thanks for the clarification Fiona and we look forward to getting back in on opening day (February 7, 2015) for our favorite Farmer’s Loaf. Thanks to all who commented on the story. Facebook
Amphetamine pills stolen near Yonge and Carlton
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Toronto Police are alerting the public to the theft of about 400 pills of the amphetamine family which are potentially very dangerous, especially to children. On Monday, January 19, 2015, at 8:30 p.m., a vehicle parked in the Yonge Street and Carlton Street area was broken into and a the approximately 400 Adderall pills were taken. Anyone finding the medication is asked not to handle it, but to contact police at 416-808-5100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.