See later post

A Government of Canada in a news release Monday says “Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto invest in 1,738 new and revitalized buses.” It lists the vehicles this way and notably, says there will be 60 all-electric buses, not 30 as reported yesterday when Mayor Tory inspected such buses. The component lists is given as this.

• The purchase of 729 clean diesel buses, 254 second generation hybrid electric buses, and 60 battery electric buses
• The Bus Rebuild component of this project involves rebuilding 695 total buses in the current TTC fleet.
• The Government of Canada is also investing more than $10 million for 15 other public transit projects in four communities across Ontario.
• The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
• Since 2003, the Government of Ontario has committed more than $4.9 billion to the City of Toronto to help improve and expand its transit system.

The hoax perpetrated on a Winnipeg neighborhood used the audio of a video which was posted by IkeArt Films to YouTube on April 3, 2016. The message with the post runs as follows: If you want to use this in a prank video, please drop me a quick credit/link in the description. Feel free to download this and use it for personal use, but please do not re upload this exact video. Whoever took the video and played it over a loudspeaker(s) in the Osborne Village area of the Manitoba capital had a “personal use” which the posters did not intend. It seems to bear out the common belief that whatever stupid stunt mankind can imagine, it will also promptly execute. Hear it here. There is also the actuality audio below, which is less clear, from station CJOB

Extensive damage to home/Tina Mackenzie CBC

The barbecue/Tina Mackenzie CBC

A barbecue dinner gone wrong is suspected in the death of a couple said to be in their 50s in Mississauga Sunday evening. The victims are Jim and Irene Headley, both of whom were retired. Friends say the couple had been married for 50 years and have three adult sons, two of which live in British Columbia. The couple’s third son reportedly lives with them but was not home when the blaze broke Fire officials refuse to confirm this but there is no other possible source mentioned. The two occupants of a home on South Millway and Burnhamthorpe Rd. were apparently seen by neighbors using the barbecue although there appears to be some confusion about how close to the house it was located. Early reports said it was in the garage. Investigators, along with officials from the fire marshal’s office, are currently at the scene.

Jim and Irene Headley

The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a boy, fifth in line to the throne, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. He weighs 3.8 kilo (8.37 lbs). At the right below is a live transmission where the Royal Family Channel is waiting in hope of learning more.

City of Toronto golf courses have reopened for the season. Dentonia Park, Don Valley, Humber Valley and Tam O’Shanter courses are open Monday with early spring rates in effect. Scarlett Woods will reopen as soon as course conditions allow (read chunks of ice). A release notes that two of the City’s golf courses were recognized by the Golfers’ Choice Awards (Toronto Sun Golf Guide). Humber Valley won gold for Best Value Golf Course in the Greater Toronto Area and Dentonia Park was awarded silver for Best Par 3/Executive Golf Course in the GTA.

Warden Woods Park saw an outstanding day of tree planting by hundreds of volunteers this weekend. It is a high point of news related to Earth Day and our concern for the environment. The CBC report at right tells of a different result as Tesla struggles to balance its debt with ambitious plans unfulfilled. Late last week it temporarily cancelled work on the Tesla Model 3, intended to be its mass market breakthrough vehicle.

2011 you know where

Boo!

Casino for bigwigs, woods for Black Bloc

Minsters of the G-7 countries were in Toronto over the weekend at a so-far unreported location planning for the June 7/8 heads of government meeting in remote Charlevoix, Quebec. Police departments across the country will be breathing easier except perhaps for the RCMP. They will have to make sure that those nice boys called the Black Bloc, the ones who torch police cars and smash windows, remain in the wooded hinterland east of Quebec City  There is a casino at the Manoir Richelieu where diplomats and bigwigs may disport themselves. But it will be especially nice if the country does not have to deal with the usual aftermath of disgraced policemen, injured civil rights, ravaged business districts and previously unheard of criminal offenses (kettling). Here’s hoping.

A man has been struck by a hit and run motorcycle while crossing on foot at the corner of Eglinton Ave. E and Keele St Sunday afternoon. He has been taken to hospital with what police call life-threatening injuries. The suspect motorcycle is black with green rims. The rider who fled is described as black with a heavy build and wearing a yellow helmet.

BARBECUE FIRE KILLS MAN

A man is dead and a woman burned after a barbecue in Mississauga set fire to a home Sunday evening. There was reportedly an explosion. Mississauga Fire Platoon Chief Alan Hills told CP24 that the two were using the barbecue in the front of the home at South Millway and Burnhamthorpe Rd., apparently at the door of the garage.

FOURS DEATHS IN BURNED CAR TIED TO ONE OF THE VICTIMS

Police in Timmins are hinting that the death of four people in a badly burned car was caused by a disturbed person who died at the scene. There is very little information available although police are believed to know the identities of the four.

We can only ponder how long the unapproved street decoration above Bayview Ave south of Millwood Rd. will grace our lttle world. Will it see Halloween? Snow?

Bags of dog waste cause to be happy

Pansies at Davenport Garden Centre

What’s left of Stanley Cleanrs at Milllwood and Randolph

Coral Bells at Davenport

Bamboo Bay Mother’s Day painting

Laird in Focus Monday night

Josh Matlow’s Environment Day

Upper left, Sara Wickware is rightly proud of everyone who came out to Sunnybrook Dog Park Saturday to root around in the bushes, bagging many pounds of dog waste. Thank you all. Upper right, pansies and many other species are back at the Davenport Garden Centre at Bayview and Davisville. Carla Rose, the congenial owner, is eager to see you. Centre right is what’s left of Stanley Cleaners at Millwood Rd. and Randolph Rd. Earlier story is here. At the bottom from the left are Coral Bells (also at Davenport Garden) the Mother’s Day painting sessions for kids at Bamboo Bay, a reminder of the Laird in Focus Open House Monday night at St. Anselm starting at 6.30 and Josh Matlow’s Environment Day May 31.