Empire that Ted built

Rogers stock was down early Friday as the world awaits the outcome of a legal battle over who controls the giant telecommunications firm. Late Thursday the Rogers board removed Edward Rogers as chairman. But now Mr. Rogers, as head of the Rogers family trust, says he will replace five members of the board with others who have a more sympathetic view of his plans. Rogers has been maneuvering to replace CEO Joe Natale. And there is more. The present management is casting doubt on the legality of a wholesale firing of directors. It says it “is not aware of this mechanism ever having been utilized in respect of a public company in Canada.”  Counsel will be consulted. CBC

Post to Leaside Community/Wilmar Kortleever

The season is upon us and neighbourhood lawns are blooming with ghoulish goodwill as shown above. Below, a reminder of the time-honoured free pumpkin morning at Valumart courtesy of Patrick Rocca. The making (and eating) of cookies is one of life’s great blessings and there are inventive ideas galore at the Leaside Community FB. Here’s a one for Chocolate Pumpkin Pinatas (really?)

How seriously should anyone take the reported Facebook rebranding leaked Wednesday? Remember, we still call Google (um) Google (not Alphabet).

Workmen take down St Cutherbet’s fence Wednesday/Bulldog

A whole new look is coming/Bulldog

Old fence seen last year was built in 1947/Google

The 1947 drystone embankment fence in front of St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church was removed Wednesday, part of a carefully prepared plan to create a more inviting entrance to the old church. The St Cuthbert’s Norman-style building dates from 1914 but the fence was something of an afterthought. As told by Lorna Krawchuck in Leaside Life, there was a lawn bowling green on the church picnic ground to the south. Bowls frequently rolled right into Bayview Ave it seems. Her article describes the many pleasant and welcoming features of the new frontage.

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