The Bulldog

Peel teacher yanked as kids given drug injection advice

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A male teacher at Erin Mills Middle School has been suspended and school board officials are expressing dismay after he gave some students printed instructions on how to make and inject crystal meth. The man is a Grade 8 teacher of drama. One distraught mother said when she saw the paper her son brought home she “popped a blood vessel.” (No doubt). The paper also included a long list of ingredients for the task. The mother, identified by the CBC as Delight Greenridge, said her son told her the teacher handed it out to students in his drama class at Erin Mills in Mississauga last week “to dramatize as part of an assignment”. “I can’t speak to his rationale for doing that,” said Carla Pereira, communications manager at the school board. “We share the parents’ concerns around that particular assignment.” Pereira said it’s the board’s understanding the teacher got the instructions from the internet.

Earl Grey School ban on cell phones in class, hallways

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Teachers at Earl Grey School on Strathcona Ave. will be banning the use of cell phones by students starting next week, except in the cafeteria during lunch. The East York Middle school is banning the phones from classrooms and hallways after complaints from parents and teachers about distractions. It isn’t said if phones will be confiscated if they show up when they aren’t supposed to but parents have been warned about the ban. The ban will require that students keep their phones in their lockers and not have them on their person while in class. There is no board-wide policy about phones at the Toronto  and District School Board (TDSB).

TEXTING IN CLASS

“After hearing concerns from parents and staff the principal went to school council to say ‘Look, we have to further restrict the use of cell phones they are becoming a distraction.’ There was some inappropriate use, people were texting during class and they were becoming a larger distraction than before,” TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird told CP24 Friday.. “This should reduce the major distraction that it has become in the within the classroom.”  He said cellphones may be allowed in the classroom for educational purposes when the teacher decides to do so. .He said the ban is not likely to be implemented board-wide.

 

Assist brings 1,000 point triumph to Crosby in 757 games

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Sidney Crosby assisted on Chris Kunitz’s goal to reach the career milestone in just 757 games. He is the 86th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 points. His parents, Troy and Trina, proudly cheered on their son.

How Cadbury replaced the Kit Kat on sign at Bayview Jug

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New Cadbury sign
Old Kit Kat sign
Chocolate bar rivals

Cadbury and Nestle are among the fiercest competitors in the world. They sell confections on seven continents. Cadbury parent, Mondelez (formerly Kraft Foods) has had a running battle in Europe over the shape of Nestle’s Kit Kat bar, of all things. Nestle claimed a patent not just on the name, but on the four-finger structure of Kit Kat. Cadbury, which has its own finger food, fought that and won. The question of who would raise the new sign on the Bayview Jug Milk store at Bayview Ave. and Fleming Crescent was not as bitterly fought.

In fact, Nestle may not even know its beat up old sign is gone, replaced with a spiffy blue Cadbury flag. The Ontario Lottery Corporation may have a part of the action since its logo is up there now as well. The change came after the Jug Milk owner asked Nestle to replace the aging sign. It was a rusting eyesore. Nestle pondered that and declined. The owner then tried Hershey. It passed too. But the Canadian arm of Cadbury, the nearly 200-year-old British firm said yes. From what we hear, it may be the start of a program to install Cadbury corner store signs elsewhere. Certainly beats Circle K. But that’s another story.

Unlucky mayor is fighting the Ghost of Gas Plants Past

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John Tory is darn mad and you really can’t blame him  He’s upset about the puppet-on-a-string game the Ontario government is playing with him about money. Premier Kath’s cancellation of road tolls seems high-handed to be sure. Problem is, she has the constitution on her side. Municipalities are entirely the creatures of the provinces, as the Fathers of Confederation writ. Toronto must do what Queen’s Park tells it to do. But in the case of this government, sadly, there is more. Call it naked political expediency. The Premier’s decision to cancel road tolls to try to win votes in the 905 suburbs summons up the Ghost of Gas Plants Past. CP24

Keeping you up to date with Genie’s “best ever” date

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Romance is in the air, perhaps. Or, are they a couple of good actors? The world awaits further word on Genie Bouchard’s excellent adventure with a young man (three years her junior in fact) who wangled a date with her over a lost bet on the Super Bowl. Is this a PR man’s invention or what?

Underpinning underway for “Brookdale” on Avenue Rd.

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The development will be called The Brookdale on Avenue Road. It is at the northwest corner of those two streets. Digging has begun for underpinning, according to Urban Toronto. The properties torn down included three walk-up rental apartment buildings, a row of low-rise retail, and a popular neighbourhood bar and grill that has since relocated. Demolition of these properties wrapped up late last year, and since then, work has begun on the project’s shoring. To be carried out over the course of the next several weeks, this phase involves the creation of a below-grade earth retention system around the site’s perimeter, allowing for a safe excavation. Urban Toronto

Buildings demolished seen in 2015

Edwards Gardens planning meet set for Thursday, Feb. 23

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Botanical Gardens
George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture
777 Lawrence Ave East

Geoff Kettel sends on the notice from Sarah Hill, Senior Consultant with Lord Cultural Resources, about the ongoing planning for the future of the Edwards Gardens and Toronto Botanical Garden Master Plan. The second meeting in this process will take place Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave. East in the  Floral Hall of the Dembroski Centre for Horticulture Those interested may write or call Ms. Hill at shill@lord.ca and (416) 928 9292 ext 296. There is also the City website.

City council approves 2017 budget after marathon meeting

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A $10.5 billion budget representing a 2 per cent property tax increase was approved by a vote of 27-16, with limited changes to what was approved by Mayor John Tory’s executive committee. Among the many sub-issues of what to cut and what to finance are school swimming pools  CBC

Police to reveal Capes for Kids “super look” Thursday a.m.

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Toronto Police will reveal a “new super look” Thursday at 11 a.m. at headquarters with the launch of their partnership with Holland Bloorview’s Capes for Kids campaign. This fundraising campaign asks the public to join forces with Holland Bloorview by fundraising and wearing a cape from March 6 to 12 to support and celebrate kids with disabilities. Research teams from Holland Bloorview will be on site to showcase innovative technologies and gadgets as well as remarks from Chief Mark Saunders; Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack; Constable Joe MacDougall, a Holland Bloorview client family; Sandra Hawken, President and CEO, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation; and Tai Holland, Bloorview Ambassador — TPS release edited. 

Estimable Lavoie checks in from Loblaws at 600 Vic Park

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The life of good local reporters is never dull because they know they’re at the start of big things to come. The estimable Beach Mirror scribe Joanna Lavoie checks in here from the Loblaws at 600 Victoria Park Ave. (at Gerrard St) where she was judging student cooks for Chopped Canada. There is another Lynn Crawford or Mark McEwan in there for sure. All news is local. Joanna Lavoie

German Shepherd “Rumor” Best in Show at Westminster

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