Bombardier will cut as many as 550 employees, more than half its staff, at its rail car operation in Thunder Bay. The news is a body blow to the northern Ontario City of 110,000. Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said the provincial government has spoken to Bombardier executives “to express our disappointment that their company has taken this step.” In a statement, she said: “We urge the company to work with the provincial government to come to an agreement that would see jobs remain at the Thunder Bay plant.”

GO train blows car to bits but driver still alive

This capture of City News video shows a car that tangled with a GO train in Mississauga on Tuesday. The driver is said to be alive but it really isn’t clear how badly hurt he might be. Somehow he got in front of the commuter train near Port Credit. And there was motor mayhem in Thornhill where a man is dead after his car came flying out of a parking lot into traffic.

The 14th annual Neighbours Night Out in Thorncliffe Park will be held on Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. in the R.V. Burgess Park. The main entrance is at 46 Thorncliffe Park Drive. Neighbours’ Night Out represents a wonderful opportunity for residents, friends and visitors to get together and enjoy a summer afternoon and evening together – accompanied by musical entertainment, games and activities for all ages, bazaar tables and delicious locally prepared food. NNO is organized by an independent volunteer committee that works tirelessly to create an enjoyable event for Thorncliffe residents and all others. All are welcome. The committee members are Geoff Kettel, Masood Alam, Sabina Ali

Councillor Robison (Ward 15) posts a reply at Leaside Community that she has spoken to the Manager of Public Relations and Issues Management in the City Parks Division about a middle-aged man who uses the wading pool at Trace Manes Park. She asked for an investigation of the matter. A long thread continues to grow in which parents and others express concerns related to the welfare of children. The man is said to defiantly reject suggestions by lifeguards that he leave the pool

Toppled cube van/@djrobinjames

“The cavalry has arrived,” says Twitter agent @djrobinjames

This was what Robin James Wynne saw from his balcony Monday. It is a view that keeps you up to date on Gardiner traffic. The cube van got itself oddly wedged on the Spadina ramp. Mr Wynne (@djrobinjames) tweeted: “Just heard a thunderous noise from my balcony and saw this just happen at the Spadina offramp moments ago. A single-vehicle collision involving a cube van has shut down a busy off-ramp downtown from the Gardiner Expressway.”

Living memory still cherishes a Toronto where flying lead wasn’t a common peril of an evening out but of course, that’s all changed. Three men were shot after they took a bar fight outside at Queen and Ossington. Little is known. And a woman is dead after emerging from a nightclub in Mississauga. Tammie Sutherland and Carl Hantske tell what is known.

Wreckage of motorcycle and at top grim reminders like a pair of shoes/Hugues Cormier City News

A man of 50 has life-threatening injuries after his motorcycle hit a tractor-trailer at Black Creek Drive and Lawrence Ave. Monday morning. A bike passenger, a man 21, has pelvic injuries but is expected to recover. The driver of the transport, an LFL vehicle from Quebec, was not hurt. Police are unable at present to say who had the right of way.

LFL Transport from Quebec/Hugues Cormier City News

Sidewalk ripped up beside arena

Motorist got out of car the threw orange cone onto sidewalk

New sidewalks at Village Station

Dance of the orange cones

Traffic creeping east

Cyclist found her way through on sidewalk

After nearly two months of Hydro One digging on the north lanes of the Millwood underpass at Redway and Village Station Rds., the south lanes are now closed for sidewalk work. Orange cones big and small dance around the road from Southvale east onto Millwood stretching to Overlea Blvd.

An expression of frustration with the congestion and effective denial of access caused by the LRT construction is seen in a long thread on Facebook. It’s a seeming life sentence. There is despair that resonates when one woman writes: “I’m so sick of it. All the noise and extra risk and pollution.”

Aviation party in 1928

Leaside bowlers win East York Cha;llenge

Rob Oliphant and Patrick Rocca

Peek behind facade at former DeSantis Men’s Hair Salon

DeSantis and other now departed businesses in 2011

Jeremy Hopkin coloured and posted this wonderful photo of six ladies at an “aviation party” at the Leaside Aerodrome on July 7, 1928. What fun. The men can be seen struggling with aircraft in the background. Upper right, congratulations to bowlers from Leaside Lawn for their win over Cosburn Park Lawn Bowling Club. The old rivalry is known as the East York Challenge. Below that, MP Rob Oliphant awards Patrick Rocca his Citizenship Medal at a charity barbecue outside Valumart at 1500 Bayview Ave. Bottom left, peek behind the facade of the former DeSantis Men’s Hair Salon at 688 Mt. Pleasant Rd. where a new storefront is emerging. It’s beside Meridian Credit Union. At right is DeSantis and other gone but not forgotten businesses in 2011.

Reports of widespread cell phone network outages name Rogers, but in some reports cite all known Canadian users. The issue appears sporadic and location specific. The network problems began on Sunday afternoon. Text messages, internet and data services are still active. Rogers’ website confirms “some customers may be intermittently experiencing dropped calls or are unable to place or receive calls on their mobile phone or wireless home phone service.” The outages as they impact 9-1-1 calls are serious. Calls dropped are not able to be placed again. Rogers, Telus, Bell Suffering Network Outages: Can’t Make or Receive Calls