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Ontario legislation goes into effect today which is intended to prevent counterfeit tickets being sold online. The regulation under the Ticket Speculation Act will allow ticket holders to resell their tickets at more than their face value as long as the tickets are verified by the original vendor or are resold with a money-back guarantee. The government will leave policing of this to the re-sellers. Critics note this essentially legalizes scalpers (re-sellers) and permits them to buy up whole lots of tickets. CBC’s Michelle Chung

Stan Wadlow Park was teeming with families this July 1, 2015. The large East York recreational area also had lots of food concessions and politicians with tents. The playground (swings, monkey bars) was busy as was the fish pond. Above we see Ian riding a Toronto Police water vehicle. Below, the demand for hotdogs was brisk but not as great as that for an R and M burger, lineup at right.

The East York Canada Day parade was held in excellent weather today (Wednesday, July 1, 2015) and it again caught the imagination of the community. The inventive and patriotic appeal of the parade always brings people together. Scenes from the marshaling of the parade on Cosburn Ave. top to bottom: A wonderful Captain (Madam) Canada cyclist with many associates, the East York Garden Club contingent and charming soccer kids from a variety of businesses. Love the Maple Leaf flag faces, guys. The parade finds its way to Stan Wadlow Park where there were events, rides and concessions all day, and fireworks in the evening. Below is the goofy goings-on of the Hogtowners, also known as Rameses Hillbilly Shrine Club, Clan  46. Watch for the friend with the hillbilly teeth at the end. Howdy Bub!

George Fierheller, the first CEO of Cantel Communciations, fires up his cell phone for a conversation back in 1985. He is standing in the doorway of the company’s headquarters at 40 Eglinton Ave. E. Cantel was later to be known as Rogers Wireless. The first cell phone service was introduced in Toronto, Montreal, Hamilton and Oshawa on Canada Day that year. This small beginning would soon become the world’s longest contiguous cellular network (Windsor through Quebec City) only a short time later, and the wireless network we know today. CBC report below is fun.

The outlook for Canada Day morning has improved substantially from earlier in the day. Many people like to get an early start and those organizing local parades, bike rides and walks were looking forward to a second straight year of getting drenched. Now the probability of precipitation is down to 40 percent and the thunder and lightning previously called for has been dropped.  Happy Canada Day everyone!

Two downtown darlings of the political left may face each other in the freshly created riding of Spadina-Fort York in the October federal election. They are Adam Vaughan and Olivia Chow. Ms Chow, seemingly born to represent someone, is rested from her unsuccessful run for mayor. She says she is thinking about it.  Mr Vaughan, a former City Councillor who knocked the NDP out of Trinity Spadina in a byelection last year, will have his popularity tested. A Liberal, he jumped to the Trudeau bandwagon when Chow resigned as MP to run for mayor.  No doubt the NDP would find it a sweet victory. And according to a Mainstreet/Postmedia poll published in the Sun, Chow could win Spadina-Fort York.  Some 36% of those polled on Saturday said they’d vote for Chow while 30% said they’d vote for Vaughan, the MP for Trinity-Spadina.  Among  decided voters, Chow is at 44%  Vaughan at 36%

A note on the front door of The Elegant Garage Sale Tuesday announces the death of founder Lynn Albert. She died on Monday, June 29, 2015. The store is closed today. The Elegant Garage Sale was Ms. Albert’s concept and she was the abiding presence in the popular consignment store for some 37 years.

New York police have released this surveillance video of a vicious attack by two men on a motorcyclist in an attempt to steal his bike. It happened earlier this month. A furious fight occurs and it appears that the owner of the motorcycle is able to hang on to his bike. The two thieves are seen running off camera at the end of the video.

Toronto Police say that what appears to be a harmless replica hand grenade caused them to shut down Jarvis Street Tuesday morning. The fake grenade was found by workers in a vacant building. Jarvis Street re-opened about 11.15 a.m.

The annual East York Canada Day Parade will be a local focus of interest on Wednesday,, July 1, 2015. It begins at 10 a.m. Once again marching bands will make their way at from Dieppe Park (at 455 Cosburn Ave.) to Stan Wadlow Park (373 Cedarvale Ave.). There entertainment and kids activities from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with the fireworks show set for 10:15 p.m. Last year