The Bulldog

Visiting for Heather MacLeod at Humphrey’s on Sunday

Friends of Heather Lise Lyle MacLeod may pay respects Sunday, March 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Humphrey Funeral Home at Bayview Ave and St. Cuthbert’s Road. Heather MacLeod died Friday, February 24 in Toronto. She was a native of the Beach and attended Branksome Hall, the National Ski Academy and the University of Western Ontario where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. She went on to do post-graduate studies in medicine at Charles University in Prague  Heather was an accomplished paddler at Balmy Beach Canoe Club and UWO.  She ultimately joined the National Ski Academy then went on to coach skiing in Collingwood and Whistler. The funeral service will take place at Rosedale United Church, 159 Roxborough Drive on Monday, March 6 at 2 p.m.  Obituary

Many skeptics as Premier pushes hydro cost into future

There is widespread skepticism about the plan announced Thursday by Premier Wynne to reduce household hydro rates by pushing costs into the future. It will cost taxpayers even more because of the delay in paying for long-term green-energy contracts. These schemes have seen the cost of conventional power soar in recent years. All news leads are here.

Narrow structure on Leslie snaps like a reed in high wind

High winds were too much for a narrow structure on Leslie Street south of Queen St. last night. The unfinished building snapped like a reed. Fire and police personnel were called to the home around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday for a report that a house under construction was swaying in the wind. The wood frame was “swaying back and forth,” Toronto Fire District Chief Stephan Powell told CBC Toronto.

North Leaside traffic discussed Wednesday evening

A meeting to discuss traffic calming and volume in North Leaside was held Wednesday night at the William Lea Room in the Leaside Arena. The meeting was organized by the Leaside Property Owners Association. It heard from Traffic Consultant Gene Chartier of Paradigm Traffic Solutions and from the chair of the North Leaside Traffic Committee, John Gaitanakis. Paradigm has advanced a series of concepts presented in previous meetings which include radar cameras and red light cameras (but only a few because of the cost). The main staples are prominent crosswalks (laddered stripes on the road) raised crosswalks which provide visibility for pedestrians, elongated “traffic cushions” (which narrow the street and slow cars) and signs which announce to drivers that they are entering a controlled area. Much of this attempts to harness psychology. A proposed speed reduction is also on the table. The meeting heard from residents of streets such a Glenvale, Broadway, Donlea and others about traffic volume and the presence of cars owned by outsiders. Among these are those who drive to midtown to park for free on the streets before taking transit downtown. Residents of east-west streets said drivers were avoiding construction on Eglinton. Others speculated how traffic will find its way to as-yet unopened places like Whole Foods at 1860 Broadway, 660 Eglinton (Sunnybrook) and the Overlea Costco. Mr. Gaitanakis said all planning is for the purpose of a traffic plan which will be made permanent only if residents agree.

BCBG Max Azria closes in Canada and US bankruptcy move

Women’s wear retailer BCBG Max Azria has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US and Canada. It will close all its 51 stores in Canada. Court documents obtained by Canadian Press indicate BCBG is “exploring alternatives” to closing its boutique presence inside Hudson’s Bay stores. The end was seen to be coming earlier this year as BCBG began closing stores — 120 out of its 550 were locked. At the time, it blamed poor sales in recent years to a “general shift away from brick-and-mortar to online retail channels” a trend it says has negatively affected many similar retailers. BCBG was founded in 1989 in Los Angeles and employs 4,800 workers.

Error causes Toronto property taxes to double for some

About 44,000 Toronto property taxpayers who pay their taxes using pre-authorized payments saw an unexpected dip in their bank accounts Wednesday because of a banking error took out twice their March 1 tax installment. In total, $87 million in un-owed property taxes was withdrawn. But city officials say that by the end of the day the matter should be resolved. “If they checked their bank balance this morning they would have seen their bank account was less than they expected it to be but by the end of today customers will see their accounts reversed with a credit amount, that will bring the accounts back into balance,” said Casey Brendon, Toronto’s Director of Revenue Services. The error occurred between Toronto and its banking service provider, Royal Bank of Canada, said Brendon. “There were two files produced, and both were sent.” — InsideToronto  Toronto News Release

Metrolinx show and tell Tuesday on Leaside LRT Station

There will be a Metrolinx information meeting to discuss the Leaside LRT Station being built at the corner of Eglinton Ave. E. and Bayview Ave on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. It will be held at the William Lea Room in the Leaside Arena Millwood and McRae beginning at 6.30. Photos by Bob Arsenault

Bid to build a 98-floor residential tower at Yonge, Gerrard

Cresford Developments hopes to build a 98 storey tower — Toronto’s and Canada’s tallest building — on the southeast corner of Yonge and Gerrard Sts. Urban Toronto

Flying pickup truck in Louisiana a Youtube sensation

Who knew that Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks could fly? As a prison escapee at the wheel of this one learned, they don’t fly too far. It happened in Webster Parish, Louisiana as police chased Kevonte Dekorey Austin. The story is here on the local TV station

Saudi King manages to make do with 500 tons of luggage


In the first visit by a Saudi ruler in almost half a century, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has arrived in Indonesia Wednesday accompanied by 1,500 people, two escalators and 500 tons of luggage including some gold-plated furniture. He will also visit China and Japan. A man of the people.

Writer asks why TTC union fears drug and alcohol testing?

TTC operators don’t want to be randomly tested for drugs and alcohol when they come to work. Why? The best answer seems to be that it’s some sort of low-level artificial notion about freedom. Michele Mandel 

Yee Haw! Leaside Skating Club ladies honorary Calgarians

Here are the ladies of the Leaside Skating Club in Calgary for competition at @SkateCanada. They were made honourary Calgarians. The picture alone is worth the trip.