The Bulldog

How about some fun in the sunshine at UBC snowball fight

It is an annual event full of less than sophomoric conduct as University of British Columbia students let loose. Fun though. UBC snowball fight history.

Classic pileup in snow on Hwy 401 west of Hwy 25 at Milton

Highway 401 was slowly getting back to normal late Wednesday afternoon west of Highway 25 at Milton after a classic wintertime pileup of more than 25 vehicles. The good news is that injuries were light. Check the video below narrated by Sgt. Kerry Schmidt of the OPP to catch the flavour of this mess at its height.

Ford recalls 221,000 F-150 pickups over gearshift slippage

Ford is recalling nearly 1.5 million pickup trucks in North America because the transmissions can suddenly downshift into first gear. The recall — 1.26 million vehicles in the U.S. and 221,000 in Canada — covers F-150 trucks from the 2011 through 2013 model years with six-speed automatic transmissions. CBC

Toronto images to help you blot out this wretched weather

It may take a lot of doing, we know, but here’s Indigenous model Michaella Shannon to help. Her face is currently gracing a massive Nordstom billboard downtown. Something of a first. Upper right, the CN Tower was painted gold last night to honour Grammy winners and nominees. Below that, a vivid image of the destructive fire at the Agincourt Recreation Centre last week. Fire officials have declared it accidental and plans to rebuild are underway.  Centre left, 19th Century doors are in place as little privacy walls at the Starbucks at Dupont and Christie Sts. Yes, it is a fancy old branch of the Dominion Bank. Nice touch. At right, residents of Molson St. in Summerhill west of Yonge St. were treated to this mounted unit checking out alleys in the neighborhood. Finally at bottom, you have to see these wheels at the auto show which starts Friday.

Impact of ice felt as power out in east end, Rogers Rd. area

Toronto Hydro also says about 8,000 customers in area bordered by Eglinton Ave., Rogers Rd., Avon Ave., and McRoberts Ave. are currently without power.

Abbas Kolia was a tireless advocate for Thorncliffe tenants

Abbas Kolia, the tireless advocate of tenants in Thorncliffe Park, has died. His passing occurred late last week while he was visiting his home in India. He was buried there. Many friends and notable persons have tweeted their respects. Kolia was president of the residents’ association in Thorncliffe Park. He was known as the Sheriff of Thorncliffe. His responsible leadership included strong support for the Costco store on Overlea Blvd. as a place where immigrant families would find employment. As many as 200 people in the area of Thorncliffe Park have received jobs at Costco. They are said to pay as much as $15 an hour and include benefits.

It’s War: “We can dig in our heels and make this impossible”

Many Councillors are expressing bitter resentment and threatening to make it impossible for the City and the Ontario government to upload transit construction to the Province. Listen to Councillor Perks (Ward 4).

Minor injuries as GO bus in collison on 407 in Burlington

OPP and Go Transit are investigating after a GO bus ended in ditch after some sort of accident on the 407 Eastbound east of Dundas St in Burlington. The bus was loaded with passengers during the collision but there were only minor injuries.

https://twitter.com/TO_WinterOps/status/1095424718557962240

Jody Wilson-Raybould quits cabinet, says nothing on why

Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned from the federal cabinet a day after Prime Minister Trudeau suggested her continuing presence in cabinet was proof she didn’t think she’d been improperly pressured to help SNC-Lavalin avoid criminal prosecution. In a letter to Trudeau published on her website Tuesday, Wilson-Raybould said she is resigning “with a heavy heart” but did not explain why.

Cars struggle locally as salt trucks try to keep up with sleet

Traffic does not seem very heavy at midday but those who are out will struggle with the icy roads. Police reported that at Park Rd and Rosedale Valley Rd cars were sliding backwards down hill. Good advice to stay away until the salt trucks have visited.

Police know name of chair-thrower, work on her surrender

Toronto Police have made contact with “either the perpetrator herself or her representative” related to the  chair-throwing video shown here and elsewhere on Monday. In it, a woman is seen hurling a chair from the balcony high above Lake Shore Blvd. There is a negotiation on how and when the women will surrender. Police have described the incident as “outrageous.” They are also looking into whether the condo unit – some 20 to 30 storeys high – was being rented out at the time of the incident. Woman hurls chair from high-rise onto Lake Shore below

Self checkout FB post yields outpouring of mixed concerns

Comments at Leaside Community Tuesday about the self checkout addition at Loblaws at 301 Moore have extended to concern about layoffs, expiration dates (?) and a preference for Longo’s (except those who say they’re “poor”). One post that rings true is that self checkout is seldom faster than standing in line, especially at 301 Moore. Those with fruit and produce have to plunge into search mode and hope they don’t select the fancy Anjou pears instead the blah Bartletts. As concern mounts among members about potential (and unknown) job losses caused by self checkout, one man meanly snipes that it’s a shame there are no more blacksmiths. Loblaws staff is represented by a pugnacious union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, which often talks about going on strike and sometimes does.