Florentia restaurant, CafeTO patio, Mt. Pleasant Road (July 2020)

A news release Wednesday from the City of Toronto recommends that CaféTO patios on main roads be made permanent. The decision will certainly surprise some people who reasonably believed that such patios were a pandemic emergency phenomenon.

Today, Mayor John Tory endorsed a City of Toronto report that recommends making the successful CaféTO permanent and waiving permit fees for the program again in 2022 to continue emergency support for restaurants and bars.

The staff report, CaféTO 2022 and Beyond, recommends CaféTO be made a permanent program that can continue providing support to local restaurants while also making City streets more vibrant for years to come.

Designed as a quick-start program in 2020 to help provide outdoor dining space to local bars and restaurants during the pandemic, the popular program was approved by City Council to return in 2021 and saw a 51 percent increase in participation when compared to 2020 registration.

Hundred of people are complaining about booming music from the handstand at Polson Dock but as seen in the comments to this City News stories those who attend such events take it as their absolute right to keep the City awake at all hours. Name-calling like Old Cranky Karens is posted. Hmm.

Tuesday’s $55 million jackpot has been won by a single ticket holder in the Prairies. However, the four $1 million Maxmillion prizes went unclaimed. The jackpot for the next draw on Oct. 22 will be an estimated $14 million.

Gantry crane at Mt Pleasant station site

Metrolinx has announced the pending removal of the gantry crane at the site of the Mt. Pleasant LRT station. Construction underground is said to be sufficiently complete to permit work to begin above ground. That will mean the stone-by-stone reconstruction of the 1920 Bank of Commerce building — much adjusted to accommodate LRT passengers. Release

Rebuilt 1920 Bank of Commerce as Mt Pleasant Station (Metrolinx)

Edward Rogers

Newspapers of the Postmedia chain are quoting the Globe and Mail Tuesday about the apparent ongoing power struggle in the board of Rogers Communications.

Rogers Communications Inc Chairman Edward Rogers had discussions with potential candidates to replace board members at the Canadian telecom company, the Globe and Mail reported on Monday. Rogers told the newspaper he sees “room for improvement” in the company’s long-term performance as it awaits regulatory approval on its C$20 billion ($15.69 billion) takeover of smaller rival Shaw Communications Inc.

• Edward Rogers expected to run the family empire after the death of his father, Ted. But the board squeezed him out — Toronto Life

It’s Canada’s cowboy town but Tuesday has dawned with Jyoti Gondek firmly in charge of Calgary. She is a married, 53-year-old mom who has been a City Councillor since 2018. Her husband is an engineer who likes to play the guitar. Also last night, Amarjeet Sohi was elected mayor of Edmonton

Rope made of jackets saves hikers in BC park

Rope of jackets saves hikers

A group of hikers from abroad is being praised for their quick thinking at Golden Ears Provincial Park near Maple Ridge last week when they used clothing and turbans to save a man who had fallen down a steep embankment. See it here.

Viewing platform at Canada’s beloved Peggy’s Cove

That pretty little corner of Nova Scotia named after an 18th Century Irish immigrant’s wife has a lovely new viewing platform. Can you still be Canadian if you haven’t been there?

There’s been a brief blackout Tuesday in the area of Rolph Rd and Southvale Rd. The power remained on elsewhere but the tell-tale evidence of a blackout somewhere was revealed in a nano-flicker of lights as far west at Mt. Pleasant Rd about 8 a.m. FB

Dr. Rochagné Kilian

Alex Bishop

Jonathon Goodwin

Faces in the news as October flies along include Dr. Rochagne Kilian of Owen Sound. Along with fellow physician Dr. Mark Trozzi, of Harrow south of Windsor, she has been banned from giving medical exemptions related to COVID-19 vaccinations. Then there’s 6 foot 4″ Alex Bishop, 24, recruited from the University of Toronto to play goal for the Maple Leafs. At right, stuntman Jonathon Goodwin has been badly hurt during taping of the TV spinoff America’s Got Talent: Extreme. Word is he was squeezed between two cars. The program has been temporarily put on hold.

Toronto police have gathered a clear gallery of a man who they claim commits break and enters in order to cause damage to the locations he targets. He has been active since August of last year near Lakeshore Boulevard W and Parklawn Road. He has allegedly broken windows, caused flooding, set off fire alarms and generally damaged commercial and condominiums locations. He is described as 5’8″, 150-160 lbs., clean-shaven, with dark hair. He has been observed running through the neighbourhood, with no shirt, on a number of occasions. Call (416) 808-2200 if you know him.

Hwy 401 at Simcoe St/OPP

Wrong-way collision in westbound lanes/OPP

It seems unlikely but both drivers are still alive after a head-on collision on Highway 401 at Simcoe St in Oshawa early Sunday. OPP say it occurred just before dawn which is getting later each day. In one case the injuries are serious but the woman driver is expected to survive. The other driver received only minor injuries. Twitter

Unsanctioned homecoming — this time at Queen’s

On Aberdeen St in Kingston/KPS

It’s estimated that some 8,000 students defied the Queen’s University administration and the police on Saturday to carouse on a campus street drinking. Some are said to have thrown stones at Kingston police.

Kingston and Neilson/Google

Toronto police Saturday called an ambulance to the corner of Kingston Rd. and Neilson Ave after reports of a dog having attacked two people. They subsequently reported the dog had been caught and was contained in the rear of a police cruiser. In their first disp[atch, the TPS warned residents to stay indoors until the dog was leashed. Early reports do not specify how seriously the two people were hurt.

Seen on Bessborough Friday/Carolyn Ansley

Dozens of residents of central Leaside are commenting on the photograph of a coyote seen Friday on Bessborough Drive. Some remarks are informative, others rather jocular. One speaks of a local coyote which has “a tracker on its neck” although just what this might be is unclear. FB