This enterprising Grade 8 group was busy outside Starbucks on South Bayview today speaking with members of the public for a school project at St. Anselm’s School. They were seeking input about the issue of bullying and were ready with questions, notepaper and camera. Good work guys. 

Leaside’s Michael Bliss has told CP24 host Stephen LeDrew that the ISIS situation is terrible and that “good people on both sides” will disagree on what to do about it. He spoke as the Commons re-convened to continue debate on the government’s decision to send fighter jets to attack ISIS in Iraq. Dr. Bliss said he wished Canada would postpone action until the matter became clearer.  He said he did not think Ottawa understood conditions in the region nor did the Americans. The West’s track record of figuring out how to react to such problems was not good, he said. He conceded that ISIS terrorists were “bad guys and a menace” but he added that they seemed to be a threat to others in the region, rather than to Canada. He noted that countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey are well equipped to deal with ISIS. Between them they had excellent air and military forces. Bliss referenced the last time Canada used air power in the region. That was in Libya during the so-called Arab Spring (Bliss did not use that term). He called the effort a failure. There is chaos in Libya. (Some might say that the West embarked on its Arab Spring adventure with a giddiness quite unlike the sense of horror surrounding ISIS — Ed.) Dr. Bliss said we should give credit to CSIS for being on top of the comings and goings of terrorists associated with ISIS. He said the government should pay a lot of attention to this concern. A public opinion poll done by Ipsos Reid shows that perhaps 64 percent of Canadians support some form of action against ISIS, although with feelings of caution. American public opinion registers a similar support. This sentiment is largely attributed to the disgust and outage people feel over the public atrocities staged by ISIS. Dr. Bliss mentioned his concern, when asked about the beheadings by Le Drew, that these acts alone may not be the best basis to decide if we send forces to the area. 

Jan Nguyen of Play Cafe at 1517 Bayview Ave. is mixing it up for one evening later this month with The Vintage Night on Thursday, October 23, 2014. It’s a partnership with Michelle Brickle who used to own the popular east end vintage boutique called Foxy Boutique. Michelle will be showcasing current, designer and retro/vintage clothing and accessories. For her part, Jan is keen to make Play Cafe a home for grown ups as well as kids. She cites the partnership that resulted in Date Night on Bayview earlier in the summer. This was a cross-promotional opportunity for both Play Cafe and local restaurants. After parents dropped off the kids at Play for babysitting services they then leisurely dined at participating restaurants like Satay on the Road, Lemongrass, Amaya, L’Avenue and La Croisse  It is an innovative and enterprising concept. Says Jan:  I’m personally really exciting about this event because it’s again, an opportunity for Play to be seen as more than just a “kid” space. I think having an open mind about sharing the space and offering our venue to those who have great things to sell but might not have a place to sell it at is a win-win for all. We welcome more of these collaborations.”

The Supreme Court of Canada will decide this Fall how many aboriginal jurors is enough to convict where the accused is an aboriginal.  The Government of Ontario is arguing that its a problem without a solution in the face of years of under-representation of aboriginals on juries. The case arises in the 2008 conviction of an aboriginal man by a jury with no aboriginals on it. The appeal court upheld the conviction but put its decision on hold. Until we know the answer, there’s always the evidence.  CP24