The South Bayview Bulldog

Picture by Natalie Hardy posted to Facebook

The newly constructed suspension bridge over the Nipigon River in Northern Ontario has snapped like a pretzel in cold weather about two months after the $106 million structure was opened. A report in the local newspaper says the shift in the bridge, captured by local resident Natalie Hardy above, closes direct traffic across Canada. According to reports, the alternative require vehicles headed west or east to detour through the United States. Westbound traffic from Thunder Bay would have to travel south to the Pigeon River Border crossing and then from Duluth to Sault Ste Marie. It says the Lake Helen First Nation Band is concerned about assisting westbound travellers who will be forced to stop on the east side of the bridge looking for gas and food. The NetNewsLedger says it may be necessary to close roads in order to keep large numbers of people from getting stranded.

$106 million Nipigon bridge under construction

Windy weather and cold temperatures have caused a tree to fall in Etobicoke, severing power to about 2,900 customers, and in Scarborough, sending a TTC bus into a tree on Lawrence Avenue East near Brimley Road. The tree subsequently fell over onto several parked cars.  Three passengers received minor injuries.  There is no cause detail on the cause of the accident but it appears to weather related. Which is what people will be dealing with this week as temperatures sink, as reported by the Weather Network above, to more seasonable winter values.

Leaside Jr. Wildcats romped to victory over the Ottawa Lady Sens Sunday afternoon at Leaside Arena. Leaside was able fend off all power play attacks by the Lady Sens as they tried to score during the Wildcats worrisome  12 minutes of penalty time. Leaside remains in 7th place in the league with the fewest games played among contending squads. Below are the teams to beat.  PWHL summary

CBC

Chief Mark Saunders drops puck as Mayor Tory looks on

In discussion

TPS Chief Mark Saunders dropped the puck Sunday for the ceremonial face off which saw the Canadian Tire Jumpstart team (in red) play the City TV Breakfast Television squad (in gold) at Angela James Arena in Flemington Park. Opening Day saw hundreds of children and parents along with civic leaders like Mayor Tory, Councillor Jon Burnside, Chief Saunders, Flemingdon alumnus and hockey veteran Angela James and 54 Division Superintendent Mark Barkley on hand. In remarks before the game Mr. Tory thanked Councillor Burnside for his early work in getting the ProActive Hockey League established. At that time Mr. Burnside was a police officer. He in turn thanked all those in the police department and the community for their help in taking him seriously. Sunday’s first game is one of many that will be played at the arena this season. The project is dependent almost solely on the work of members of the TPS, many who give their own time to coach and help organize the league. It is supported by the charity ProAction which is profiled in an earlier post this day. Superintendent Barkley told The South Bayview Bulldog that charitable efforts and the work of volunteers has equipped and trained six teams of young people ages eight to 11. About 150 kids are enlisted, he said.

Flemingdon kids know this is an important moment

Long-time Toronto residents sometimes wistfully recall the civil public behaviour that made it the envy of the continent. That would be then, not now, because the hunt is on to find the persons who were angry because a man asked them to  turn down their loud music on a bus. So angry they followed him off the TTC and viciously beat and robbed him. These are security camera images of two men suspected of the attack around 5:30 p.m. on November 26 on the Jane Street bus approaching Lawrence Avenue West. Both suspects are described as being between 18 and 25 years of age and standing about five-foot-seven. The first suspect is described as having a medium build. He was unshaven with blonde/brown hair. He wore a black Blue Jays baseball cap and a grey hooded sweatshirt. The second suspect has a thin build, short black hair, was clean-shaven and was last seen wearing a black Moose-Knuckle jacket with a fur hood. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1200 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

Who knows what curious motive prompted the bizarre Sean Penn to get together with Rolling Stone magazine to interview the Mexican druglord El Chapo (Shorty) Guzman. Guzman is five foot, six inches tall. From all appearances Guzman is also short on a grasp of reality claiming he “never wanted to hurt anyone.” Cynics are saying Penn turned in Guzman though this would be an uncommonly sensible thing for the showboating Penn to do especially since the meeting is said to have taken place in October.  More likely, the authorities got wind of the caper on their own.

Chief Mark Saunders, Angela James, late John Bitove Sr.

Angela James Arena in Flemngdon Park will be ringing to the sound of kids hockey Sunday (January 10, 2016) as the ProAction Hockey League (PAHL) gets underway for kids eight to 11 years. Chief Mark Saunders will be present for this important Cops for Kids event as will Angela James, who played senior hockey locally in the 1980s and 90s. Ms. James is now 51 but is still a revered figure in the community. It’s believed Mayor Tory will also make a visit. The PAHL season will begin with a puck-drop at 2.45 marking the start of the league’s 2016 season. PAHL is organized by officers from 54 Division, members of the community and sponsored by ProAction Cops & Kids and Canadian Tire Jumpstart. The puck drop and all league games are played at Angela James Arena at 165 Grenoble Drive.  ProAction is a charity that is not well enough known. It works in co-operation with the police. It was founded in 1991 by John L. Bitove Sr.  PAHL provides kids from priority neighborhoods like Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park Drive with an opportunity to play hockey. Officers, volunteers, ProAction Cops & Kids and corporate sponsors, are able to provide the kids with equipment, teach them hockey skills as well as coach them during games. Many of the youth are new or first-generation Canadians who would never have the opportunity to play hockey if it wasn’t for the program. Very good work everyone.