PC David Hopkinson at Toronto Police Operations has confirmed a major police operation in North Leaside Tuesday evening related to car thefts. Posts to Leaside Community tell of many scout cars and two police communications units in the Ryert Blvd area. One thief was caught after what appears to have been a chase. Apparently, the man now in custody was stopped at the bottom of Broadway Ave at Rykert by the entrance to Serena Gundy Park. Nowhere to go, at least not in a car. Another person fled south. Much police activity seemed to focus on Don Avon Dr. nearer Eglinton Ave. PC Hopkinson said he expects there will be a release issued Wednesday on the operation.

Broadway and Rykert: No place to run/Archives

Andrew Scheer’s popularity has suffered in Ontario from prime time TV ads saying he will be like Doug Ford if he’s elected. But apparently, Scheer is still more popular than Mr. Trudeau outside of Ontario. Then, Colin Kaepernick says the Betsy Ross Flag (1776) is racist because, well, because. As Orwell said in 1984, to control the past is to control the present. Then, the indignation about a violent Canada Day weekend in Toronto has Chief Saunders saying that if you don’t live a “high-risk lifestyle” Toronto is a safe place. Okay, maybe. Finally, Spiderman is back in a new film that has him more eager to go to Paris with his present squeeze rather than fight crime. Hmm.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met Prime Minister Trudeau

Newly-elected Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met Prime Minister Trudeau in Toronto Tuesday. Volodymyr is a popular actor and comedian with no political experience. He easily won this spring’s presidential election, unseating Petro Poroshenko and sparking concern about whether someone who played the Ukrainian president in a fictional TV drama was cut out for the actual job. Could something like that happen in Canada? Toronto Sun

• Canadian woman arrived in Australia with her young child and a large load of cocaine: police

Deceased woman found near Millwood and Donlands?

Jordan Armstrong

Suspect picture removed after he was found to be a minor/Police Operations

Police are requesting assistance identifying a woman (left) who was found dead near Donlands Ave and Millwood Rd on June 7. There was no identification on the body. They estimate the woman in life was 33-50, 4’8″ to 5’2″, 88 lbs., short, straight brown hair with prescription eyeglasses. She had no scars, marks or tattoos. She had her natural teeth and appeared to take care of herself well. She was wearing a green winter coat, grey knitted toque, a blue t-shirt with heart-shaped patterns, blue hoodie, blue track pants and brown knee-high ‘Blondo’ leather boots. Pictures of clothes and possessions.  At centre is Jordan Armstrong, 33, of Markham, the man shot to death at the Orchid Nightclub, 82 Peter Street over the weekend. Police are urging any patrons of Orchid Nightclub to come forward with information, photographs and/or videos taken from inside the nightclub on the night of June 29-30, 2019.

Heading to Colombia

Dollarama is exercising an option to buy a majority stake in Latin American retailer Dollarcity, expanding a relationship that’s been in place since 2013. Analysts say Dollarcity is best established in Colombia, the large republic adjoining Panama and with coastlines on both the Caribbean and Pacific. It has a population of 50 million, 15 million more than Canada. Under the terms of the arrangement disclosed on Tuesday morning, Dollarama will make a US$40-million upfront payment, with the total purchase price rising to as much as US$95 million in the third quarter of Dollarama’s 2021 fiscal year.

Tim Hodgson

Tom Woods

Hydro One Ltd. says Tim Hodgson has been appointed by its board of directors to serve as the utility’s chairman starting next month. He will replace Tom Woods, who announced last week that he would step down from the role at the end of July. Hodgson is managing partner of Alignvest Management Corp., a private alternative asset management firm, and chair of the investment committee of PSP Investments which invests funds for the pension plans of the federal Public Service, the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He has also served as a special adviser to the governor of the Bank of Canada and as chief executive of Goldman Sachs Canada. Woods and Hodgson were both among the 10 directors named last year as replacements after the utility’s previous board resigned amid pressure from Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government — Canadian Press

Don Mills

Spanbridge

As reported earlier, four bridges on the Don Valley Parkway are being repaired and that requires some lane closures for traffic on the critical north-south artery. These schematics were released by the City early Tuesday to help drivers get ready and plan for what’s out there. The closures are expected to remain in effect until possibly the end of August and form the first phase of a plan to repair the four ageing bridges.

Wynford

Lawrence

Dave Bryant’s fireworks display at LHS field Monday night

Many hundreds of resident lined hills overlooking LHS

Several hundred people watched local fireworks impresario Dave Bryant’s show at Leaside High School field Monday night. The first rockets went up about 9.45 p.m. for the hour-long program. The weather was perfect. There was much applause after each series of explosions.

As many as 16,000 people gathered on Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa Monday afternoon to celebrate Canada Day 2019. The CBC recorded events and it may be seen here. The entire length is about three hours.

• Thousands gather on Parliament Hill for Canada’s 152nd birthday

Beach Cheer Athletics ladies are in good spirits

Hillbilly Shriners having a ball

Annual July 1 parade from Dieppe Park

Dozens of floats, clubs, families and friends soared to a sunny Maple Leaf high on Cosburn Ave. Monday as the annual East York Canada Day parade assembled at Dieppe Park. Shriners and lawn bowling club members mingled with garden societies, scouts and the owners of patriotically decorated cars, trucks and buses. It was the first year for the Beach Cheer Athletics who were in red-uniformed splendor. Parade organizer Kim Lewis, who is in her second year on the job, said she invited BCA and other new celebrants. “We want a big parade, right?” said Lewis. The parade wound its way to Stan Wadlow Park where many spent the rest of the day.

Shriners of course

Beach Cheer Athletic kids invited to stretch

Owen has been an auxiliary TPS officer for 17 years

Mounted friends

Old Scarborough FD ladder truck

You wanted it in red?

Pumpkin

Celebrated deuce roadster

Lawn bowlers are present with headgear

Here’s a happy unofficial anthem from the late Tom. Get out and enjoy the day. Celebrating Canada Day in Davisville, E.Y. & Riverdale!

They’re four women from the Beaches called The Beaches. They launched in 2013 and were the Breakthrough Group of the Year at the Junos last year. So guess what, Jordan Miller (lead vocals, bass), Kylie Miller (guitar), Leandra Earl (guitar, keyboards) and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums, percussion) opened for the Rolling Stones at the Oro-Medonte concert last night. Hear them talk about their surprise and delight at the chance. Very smart of the Stones too. The Beaches women also address Stones lad-music like Under My Thumb and Brown Sugar. An estimated 71,000 aging fans filled the open air concert site near Orillia.