The South Bayview Bulldog

Among the host of public and private businesses closed New Year’s Day, the Loblaws at 60 Carlton Street in the old Maple Leaf Gardens is advertising online that it will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This store has been open in the past on statutory holidays. Statutory holidays in Ontario represent a complete no man’s land for merchants who legally might be prosecuted but in recent years never are  Most grocery stores in South Bayview are closed but Summerhill Market at 446 Summerhill Ave. in Rosedale is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

OPENINGS A BIG ISSUE

The issue of holiday openings continues to be a concern for shoppers and merchants because of the inequality and uncertainty surrounding potential prosecution. This is a story written earlier this year about openings that took place on Good Friday

Shoppers in Ottawa have split 50-50 in an Ottawa Sun poll asking whether the newly-opened Whole Foods Market there should have been doing business on the day Christ was crucified. In fact, there is no way of knowing what those opposed to the opening were thinking. The people in favour just want to shop. In the past, province-wide polls have shown a majority would support all-holiday openings. Ottawa area MPP Lisa McLeod got quite exercised about the Whole Foods opening, but merely said that Ontarians must obey the law. She did not say that she would demand that a charge be laid.

FINES AS HIGH AS $50,000

The fine might be as much as $50,000. In the past, a first offense has usually netted government coffers an amount equal to that day’s receipts. It is of interest in South Bayview because Summerhill Market opened Good Friday while other grocery stores were closed. And of course, Whole Foods is preparing to open at 1860 Bayview in Spring 2016. Will we be discussing a rogue opening by that store in April? Maybe not. The issue of holiday openings in Ontario (and Toronto) is an incredible crazy quilt of  “yes” and “no” even before we get to exempted workers like movie theatre staff.

CHARTER OF RIGHTS

It is believed by some legal minds that the entire system is unsustainable in front of the Charter of Rights. But the question has never been referred to the court much less tested by the justices. And it appears there haven’t been charges laid either, perhaps because the government doesn’t want a well-heeled retailer to take it to the Supreme Court. .

A Fort St John  British Columbia man, Robin Elgie, has barely  survived an attack by two Pit Bulls which barged into his trailer home when his partner opened the door to let her own small dog inside. They Pit Bulls ripped apart the family cat and then attacked Elgie, 66, who tried to defend himself with a shelf. His partner, Wendy Lee Baker, 51, hid in a bedroom and called the RCMP. When they arrived they had to shoot the dogs in order to stop the attack. Elgie was flown some 400 kilometres from the B.C. outpost of some 20,000 people to a trauma centre in Edmonton. He was interviewed there by the CBC. Doctors are trying to save his hands and the use of his arms. Elgie is heavily drugged in this video.

The Toronto Fire Service has put out a two-alarm blaze at Edo, a celebrated Japanese restaurant which has been a fixture on Eglinton Ave. W. for many decades. The current location at 484 Eglinton West is located between Heddington Avenue and Castle Knock. The fire of unknown origin apparently started in the basement. There are no injuries reported.

Tara Deschamps of the Toronto Star was first to chronicle this buried bit of history. King Falafal has been at 875 Eglinton Ave. East for 38 years but must make way for the Eglinton LRT station. As recorded, it is the end of a neighborhood favorite and proud example of private enterprise.

Those who love hockey but have not seen the top floor arena at the old Maple Leaf Gardens may want to take in the exhibition game Saturday night between the Leaside Jr. Wildcats and the Ryerson Rams. This part of the historic old building at Church and Carlton is now known as Mattamy Arena to recognize the generous donation of Peter Gilgan to fund its creation. The name is also on his construction company but it comes from the eldest two of his eight children Matt and Amy. Love that. The arena sits high above the ice where the Leafs once played (that’s now a Loblaws). Mattamy inhabits the rarefied space of the gondola from which Foster Hewitt and then his son Bill and countless other play-by-play people used to broadcast to the world. Wildcats and Rams at 7.30 Saturday.

Cities around the world marked New Year’s in the usual colourful way. This video from Youtube carries nice pictures but is light on geography. Hey, the GPS was off. Pretty sure we can see Sydney and Tokyo in here.

Stores were busy along South Bayview main streets Thursday evening as New Year’s Eve loomed. Last minute provisions for a home celebrations saw lineups at food, beer and liquor stores.  This video shows the back up on Laird Drive at Esandar Drive as shoppers tried to get into Leaside Village. Lot’s of fun. Listen to a driver honk in frustration.

NOTED ON BAYVIEW

It was noted that the store at 1592 which housed Tori and Cates Cupcakes and has been vacant for more than a year was without the for lease sign. But it appears that the location remains for lease The monthly rent is stated as $3,500.