Elizabeth Dowdeswell was sworn into office Tuesday, September 23, 2014, promising to make the lieutenant governor’s office a safe space and a crucible for ideas. It was a commitment to begin her term  by convening diverse groups of Ontarians to hear ideas about the province’s place in the world. “What can we contribute and what we can learn from each other to meet the global and local challenges we face in common?” she said. “The aim will be to provide a forum for reflection in the lieutenant-governor’s office, a safe space and a crucible for ideas. And in time priority themes will emerge.” Dowdeswell said. She said her time as undersecretary general of the United Nations helped had convinced her “the world’s most important problems are Ontario’s most fundamental challenges.” “Our first challenge is to ensure responsible and inclusive prosperity so that everyone has a meaningful opportunity to participate,” said Dowdeswell. “The second and related challenge is the fragility of our planet, our mutual vulnerability. Finally, there is a third challenge: as we protect our precious natural resources and develop economically, can we ensure social cohesion?” Ms. Dowdeswell replaced David Onley who served with distinction since September 5, 2007. 

The fans of Penrose Fish and Chips are legion after so many years in business. This past weekend they mobbed the little shop at 600 Mount Pleasant and when they were gone so was almost all the food. The genial owner, Dave Johnston, who with wife Rosemary, will close the business early in October, has had to shut down for a day to re-supply for the rest of the week. If shipments are on time, Penrose Fish and Chips will re-open tomorrow, Wednesday, September 24, 2014. 

The Branksome Hall Athletics and Wellness Centre is nearing completion at Mount Pleasant Road and Elm Ave. This splendid complex of specialized facilities for students and alumnae is generating much excitement and anticipation on the Rosedale campus and in the community. Julia Drake, executive director of communications and marketing for the school says the official opening will probably slip into January of 2015. This will permit what Branksome is calling “a year of firsts” which will coincide with the beginning of the second semester. Over the months, the students and school families will celebrate milestones such as the first spin around the dance studio, the first basketball game in the gym and the first pizza that comes out of the new pizza oven. The impressive centre contains a gymnasium, two saltwater pools, yoga and dance studios, a high-performance fitness centre, meeting spaces, an erg room for rowers and a dining hall that seats 300. The building takes advantage of the especially beautiful setting of the building where rooftop terraces and a green roof will overlook the Rosedale Valley ravine.  In updating the status of the centre Ms Drake recalled the distinction it received in December 2013 when the design was recognized with the Canadian Architect Award of Excellence. “We appreciate the amazing creativity and attention to detail of our architects, MacLennan, Jaunkalns Miller Architects,” she said. “We are also grateful to our construction firm, Gillam Group, which worked hard to try to keep us on schedule during one of the harshest Toronto winters I can remember.” Artists renderings from top: Finished view from Mount Pleasant and Elm Ave., the Dining Court Hearth, the Fitness and Competition Pools and the Stairway to the Rooftop Terrace.