At the time, Joe Natale’s departure from Telus was represented as a simple desire on his part to keep his family in Toronto even as his employer wanted him to move to Vancouver. That was August, 2015 and it was more than a year later in October 2016 that it was announced that Natale would become the new president of Rogers. The Toronto multi-divisional firm that Ted built had abruptly parted with Guy Laurence after less than three years. But Natale couldn’t take the job right away because he had a two-year non-compete settlement from Telus. Two years is a heck of a long time. That’s what Rogers thought too and now it has been revealed that it has worked out a deal with Telus for Natale to take over as boss at Rogers right away. Laurence out abruptly at Rogers to make way for Joe Natale.

The giraffe foal has been born about 9.55 a.m. Saturday, April 15 and can be seen in this live picture. These are scenes from Animal Adventure Park in Harpursvile, New York where the pregnant giraffe has been waiting for many weeks to deliver. Readers of The South Bayview Bulldog are among more than a million people looking at these scenes worldwide at about 10.20 a.m.

A talented artist who is also a barista at the Starbucks at Eglinton Ave. and Warden Ave. is in the charming habit of zipping off caricatures of his customers on the side of their cups. Jason Tocewicz has recently been profiled by the CBC but even before that, his added-value service had made him quite popular. “I try to sneak it in there. I try to make it inconspicuous but it’s kind of become more popular so a lot of people ask for it or are expecting it,” he told Ramna Shahzad.

It seems to be a natural territorial instinct at work. It is something primordial, formed well before the invention of duct tape. Toronto Star 

A pedestrian has died under a streetcar on Spadina Ave. Police say it occurred at Spadina Avenue and Sullivan Street in Chinatown just after 6 p.m. More to come.

 

The Radford family of Hanna Rd. has re-opened the Leaf Shack in their back yard to welcome fans once again as the Leafs meet the Capitals in the first round of the NHL playoffs. The first game went with a fight — Washington 3, Toronto 2 in overtime. But neighborhood fans are invited to the Radfords backyard Saturday to watch the second game on the big screen. Last time the Leaf Shack was open for business was 2013 when more 70 people crowded into the backyard to watch Game 7 of the Leaf’s losing battle for the cup. At the time, Doug Radford, a Toronto paramedic, told The South Bayview Bulldog that the game attracted a crowd of congenial fans most of whom he had never met before. The Leaf Shack concept goes back more than a decade as a Radford family tradition. Here’s the schedule:

• Saturday, 7 p.m.: Maple Leafs @ Capitals, CBC
• Monday, April 17, 7 p.m.: Capitals @ Maple Leafs, CBC
• Wednesday, April 19, 7 p.m.: Capitals @ Maple Leafs, CBC
• Friday, April 21, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Capital
• Sunday, April 23, TBD: Capitals @ Maple Leafs
• Tuesday, April 25, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Capitals

 

Each reader will have to decide how much concern this case should cause. Jamie-Lee Bell was taken to Brampton Civic Hospital with stomach pains. It appears she was diagnosed and treated promptly, the hallway notwithstanding. No one will say it is fun to be forced into a hallway by overcrowding. But it is a common scene in hospitals everywhere. That’s because emergency rooms reach their capacity all the time, no matter how big they are.

Dash cam footage captured the explosion of a fuel tanker hitting a dump truck in Louisiana on I-310 Thursday morning killing the dump truck driver. The fuel truck driver is said to have survived with minor injuries.

The New York Auto Show opened today with big luxury SUVs an important element. One of them is the Hyundai GV80 concept that provides a first look at what an SUV from this brand will look like. We also learn how Genesis, which has only produced sedans to date, will name its crossovers. All utility vehicles will start with “GV” followed by a number to denote its size. Sedans start with a G. The G is for Genesis, and the V is to differentiate the vehicle as a crossover. New York opening from Reuters

Details are emerging about the federal government’s attempt to somehow control impaired driving — drug and alcohol — plus offer a sop to people concerned about legalized marijuana. Critically, police are to be given the right to stop drivers and demand either a saliva or breath test without suspicion of intoxication, as at present. The distinction may seem subtle to Toronto drivers who now face RIDE checks. But police who require a breathalyzer must be prepared to testify that they had reason to be concerned — the smell of alcohol, slurred speech etc. Those requirements will disappear under a new law. Trudeau government introduces sweeping changes to impaired driving law

Toronto police have issued details of road closures and streetcar detours for the Good Friday procession of St. Francis of Assisi Church Friday afternoon. The parade forms up about 2.30 and last until 5 p.m. News release