The South Bayview Bulldog

Loblaws has announced that it will build 50 new stores and renovate at least 100 existing locations in an expansion program that will add 20,000 jobs through staffing and construction. All of Loblaws store flags including Shoppers Drug Mart will benefit from this expansion, the company said in a statement. There are no details of where stores will go but the plans seem to be fairly urgent, set to get underway this year. Local business handicappers have often guessed that Loblaws would like to be stronger on Laird Drive, perhaps replacing the hidden store on Redway Rd. with one that is on the street. Time will tell. Nor is there any way of knowing what might be in store for the venerable location of 301 Moore Ave. A continuation of Redway to the Bayview extension might permit the closing of the dangerous (but convenient) piece of Pottery Road that runs between Loblaws and the Rexall strip mall at 320 Moore. Such an extension of Redway is bitterly opposed by many but would speed traffic east during rush hour. CNW

An unexpected but very welcome group of students and their teacher from the Toronto French School at 306 Lawrence Ave East helped swell the ranks of donors at the Leaside blood clinic Tuesday at Northlea School. As many as a dozen kids made the trip to the school’s auditorium on Rumsey Road in the late afternoon although because of testing standards not all were able to give blood. Teacher Krista Bryndza was quickly persuaded by her Grade 12 students to join the contingent and is seen giving a pint. Regulations permit students 17 and older to donate. Organizers report that the clinic met its target if 72 units.

What seems to be a medical marijuana dispensary of some type will open at 562 Mt. Pleasant Rd. The South Bayview Bulldog confirmed the planned location but was unable to learn much more from employees working at the Green Room Society store at 402 Spadina Ave. Call back later was the best that an unnamed person at that store could offer. Still, the Green Room organization seems ready to sell by whatever letter of the law it can, that good old-fashioned Mary Jane from its Midtown “pharmacy.” The law aside, the Green Room Society is a fast growing chain using as its brand image, the green cross so familiar as the symbol of pharmacies in Europe.  The state of marijuana law in Canada is in serious flux with governments making policy statements and then reversing them, or just backing away from stated future policy. Doctors may prescribe marijuana for medical use although the College of Physicians and Surgeons has told its members to be sure the diagnoses are reliable. It appears that smoking marijuana for personal use has been de-criminalized but the sharing of amounts of weed seems to be problematic. In any case, as indicated above, there is no information from the Green Room Society as to the who, what or when of activity at the Mt. Pleasant location which sits on the west side between Belsize Drive and Penrose Ave. It appears however that the place will be heavily defended at least by bars. That is the way the other locations (two in Vancouver) and on Spadina appear.

Green Room Society store at 562 Mt. Pleasant

Bryan Charles Vickers

Bryan Vickers, the well-liked former history teacher at Leaside High School, has died at the age of 82  Mr. Vickers is survived by his wife Elizabeth and children Janet and Bruce and their spouses. Pierre and Lina. Bryan Charles Vickers dedicated his life to teaching, a profession he followed for 30 years, most of them at LHS.  His passion was history and he co-authored a book on American history from a Canadian viewpoint. In retirement, he was appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada where he spent four years presiding over several cases. He continued to travel and led several seniors groups to exotic locations around the world. He also enjoyed golfing, tennis and following sports (especially cheering on the Blue Jays and Leafs)   His obit is in the Star.

The CBC reports that the Toronto Parking Authority’s new bike sharing operator will sell it 1,000 new bikes and 120 new stations this year. PBSC Urban Solutions is the new supplier, an international company that already provides cities like Montreal, New York, Washington, San Francisco and London with bike-sharing systems. Just as interesting is the combative reactions of readers about the cost and value of bicycles. Representative remarks include this one from Patishere: “Love the bike sharing plan, I see plenty of tourists taking advantage and expanding the service will get more on board for a healthier community.” Honestly comments: “Nothing new here, complete waste of taxpayers money. This has been, and will always be, a complete waste of taxpayers money.” CBC

The Annual General Meeting of the South Eglinton Residents and Ratepayers Association (SERRA) will be held Wednesday, April 20 at Manor Road United Church, 240 Manor Road at Forman Ave. Organizers are eager to see as many homeowners as possible at this important gathering to increase awareness about condo and commercial activity and the planning department’s Midtown in Focus program. There will be an update on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and remarks about what’s happening at City Hall from Josh Matlow (Ward 22). Doors open at 6.30 and the AGM begins at 7 p.m. Residents are invited to come early and browse information booths and meet the executives and Mr. Matlow. 

Hey, it’s going to be 12 today according to the Weather Network. And there are warming temps predicted all week. It won’t be long before the trees on Bessborough Drive (below) and all over South Bayview turn green.

Clare Dietrich and her husband had a scary moment or two Sunday evening as they walked along McRae Dr. near Randolph Rd. That’s when an impaired driver barreled down McRae from behind them heading toward Laird Drive. Apparently she wanted to turn left at Randolph but overshot the corner. She wheeled back and bounced over the northwest curb then dipsy-doodled across the northwest corner and along the sidewalk dinging a Lexus SUV as she went. Police were called (they received a number of complaints) and say the woman was stopped before she got too much farther.

New Democratic leader Tom Mulcair has been resoundingly rejected by his party. The NDP leader received less than 50 percent of the votes in a convention motion at its annual gathering in Edmonton Sunday and said merely that he will stay on as leader until a leadership convention is organized.  According to Canadian Press, it is the first time in living memory that a party leader of any political stripe has received less than 50 percent of delegate support. CP says that a stunned silence fell over the convention floor at Shaw Conference Centre as delegates realized that not only had Mulcair not attained a respectable level of support, he hadn’t even reached the 50-per-cent threshold. Canadian Press  Twitter  Chantal Hebert 

Leaside’s Martha McCabe has won a spot on the Canadian Swimming Team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio at the qualifying event in Toronto last night. The trip to Rio will mark McCabe’s second shot at Olympic glory, as the 26-year-old also competed at the London games in 2012. The Leaside Sports Hall of Fame member is an alumnus of the UBC Thunderbirds swim team. Her friends and family celebrated her success last night after she  qualified

"It takes a village to raise an Olympian", certainly holds true for Martha McCabe flanked by family and friends! pic.twitter.com/kWvoNNZAdF

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) April 10, 2016

A second incident of a child falling through the rear hatch of a van has emerged in China. Both cases are wrapped up in this video. It seems likely given the rarity of child safety seats that more kids have unlatched the cargo door and dropped out onto the road. Some surveys say that fewer than half a percent of children in China are properly belted in place. Amazing.