The South Bayview Bulldog

Barbara Hall

As reported by the CBC  and others, that old bugaboo the  Culture of Fear is back to explain what’s wrong at the Toronto and District School. There are surely more accurate and complete ways to describe what is wrong at the TDSB. Who was there? What were they doing? But the report, authored by the Premier’s political pal Barbara Hall, doesn’t make public what went on at the board. Did trustees act like they owned the board? Did Donna Quan carry a gun? Did she need one?  This effort should be called a Fear of Facts. As is frequently the case with such politically-inspired reports, the government doesn’t really want to say much except that it has things in hand.

Early Saturday afternoon saw things pretty much at  a snail’s pace on Jarvis Street north of Shuter St. as workmen lifted what appeared to a huge air conditioning platform onto the roof of a new building. Traffic north was squeezed into a single lane furthest away from the suspended load while southbound vehicles were detoured west at Dundas.

A Friday morning collapse of a concrete block wall during demolition of the Art Shoppe caused a few minutes of distress and happily, missed hurting a pedestrian. We posted an earlier flash on this story from Councilor Matlow. Now this picture has emerged on Twitter thanks to Melissa Goldstein @erraticheretic (nice handle). Steve Diguer ‏@stevediguer tweeted “Whoa! This could have killed someone.” Other similar reactions are at any search of Art Shoppe.

There will A Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas at Leaside United Church this Sunday, December 6, 2015 beginning at 7 p.m. The musical program will feature the Chancel Choir and the C Flats Jazz Group as well  as Sharon Beckstead, Music Director. It sounds like a lovely event and there will be an offering in support of the Out of  the Cold initiative of the church.  Leaside United is at 822 Millwood Road

NORTHLEA UNITED CHURCH

Also this weekend, Northlea United Church at 125 Brentcliffe is kicking off a program of Christmas music events starting Sunday, December 6, 2015. The first one is Jazz to the World on Sunday at 4.30. To see the full program  go here.

Toronto Jews are preparing for Chanukah, which begins Sunday. Scott Rappoport has this to say about the potato pancake which is a staple of the Jewish holiday meal.

The speech from the throne is here courtesy of the CBC. It is said to contain nothing particularly new but recalls again the soaring language of Mr. Trudeau during the election campaign. One wonders however if Governor General David Johnston, who was appointed by the previous government, rolled his eyes at the government’s pledge to be “smart and caring on a scale as never before.”

Premier Kathleen Wynne and three of her staff will fly to Europe and back twice in order to fit in duties here and there. Ms. Wynne, the member for Don Valley West, went to Paris November 28 but returned home Monday so she could be present for the release of the Auditor General’s annual report and Question Period. The Premier and her staff will now embark Sunday for Paris for the second stage of the Paris climate talks which are scheduled until Wednesday, December 9.

Previous poinsettia show at Allan Gardens

The annual Christmas flower show at Allan Gardens opens Sunday, December 6, 2015 and run daily until Sunday, January 10, 2016  The flower shows will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours during the opening events and on select weekends, and will feature many new varieties of poinsettia.  About 40 different types will be on display.

OPENING EVENT

Allan Gardens Conservatory’s opening event will take place on Sunday, December 6 from noon to 7 p.m., with Victorian carollers, hot apple cider, children’s activities and horse-and-carriage rides. Allan Gardens Conservatory is located at 19 Horticultural Ave. More information is available by calling 416-392-7288.

Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has tweeted Friday noon hour that he is at the Art Shoppe construction site on Yonge Street. The Councillor reports that scaffolding has collapsed and is unsafe between Soudan and Hillsdale Aves. He says the sidewalk is being closed off on the affected section.

Scene outside 18 LeMay Rd. (right) where family’s puppy died in fire

A family puppy has died in a one-alarm fire at 18 LeMay Rd. between Millwood and Davisville Friday. LeMay is two streets west of Bayview Ave. “We did our best but it was impossible for anything to live in there when we arrived,” said a fireman. “It was just too hot and smoky”. Cause of the fire has not been determined and there was no one home at the time. Neighbors said the firefighters worked for 45 minutes on the dog to try to revive it.

CBC