Volkswagen executive Winfried Vahland has quit the firm rather than take charge of the diesel-testing scandal in the United States. Vahland had been named as the man who would clean up the mess but today (Wednesday, October 14, 2015) he resigned instead. News of Vahland’s bolt for the door came as media reported that at least 30 Volkswagen managers were involved in the test cheating, citing internal and external investigations. VW said the figure was without any basis.
Abduction attempt at Thorncliffe school by unknown man
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A man apparently unknown to his targeted victim has tried what appears to be two abduction attempts on a 9-year-old boy near Thorncliffe Park Public School at Thorncliffe Park Drive and Overlea Blvd. The first attempt occurred today (Tuesday, October 13, 2015) between 8:35 and 8:55 a.m. when the man approached the child. He grabbed him by the shoulder. Then at noon, the same man approached the boy again. The lad ran back into school and told a teacher. The suspect is described as brown, 40s to early 50s, 6’0″, with short light brown hair, short facial hair near the chin that is light-grey, and a moustache. He was wearing a white shirt, dark zip-up jacket, black pants with word ‘ADIDAS’ written near pocket, Nike shoes with orange on them, and a black hat with an orange circular symbol. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
It’s official — two new (tiny) Giant Pandas born in Toronto
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Toronto Zoo has releaed this picture of two teeny-weeny Giant Panda cubs born today (October 13, 2015). They are the first first pandas ever born on Canadian soil. The zoo’s female Giant Panda, Er Shun, gave birth to the first cub early this morning, at 3:31 a.m. EDT. A second cub followed at 3:44 a.m. EDT, according to zoo staff. The first cub weighed 6.6 ounces (187.7 grams), and its slightly younger twin weighed 4 ounces (115 g). John Tracogna, CEO of the Toronto Zoo, called the births “historical,” and praised the organization’s successful reproduction program.
What does “shelter hoax” portend for future advertising?
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The video produced and shot on Bayview Ave by Leo Burnett Advertising has been released on the website of the charity Raising the Roof. The deceptions used to obtain comments are revealing. The audio is all taken from phone recordings of people who were invited to “reach out” to the fictitious Jefferson Homeless Shelter with “questions, comments and concerns.” Callers were well primed for their calls with misinformation that a 62-bed shelter with a three person volunteer staff would be installed at 1591 Bayview. In the final decision-making by Leo Burnett, there may have been some concern by legal counsel about what was being done because the video carries a tiny-type advisory that “We’ve re-recorded and edited the messages to protect people’s’ privacy.” It isn’t too clear just what that means — are these the actual callers we are hearing?
MISSED THE MARK
There were cameras rolling from a high point on the west side of Bayview across the street and seemingly from a moving vehicle. There are eight clips. One man calls the homeless “drug addicts and drunks.” Others express concern about what the presence of such a hostel would do to business and property values. Councillor Jon Burnside says he thinks the effort “missed the mark.” He told CP24 that he did not think the hoax did anything to address the needs of the homeless. He questioned the claim by Raising the Roof that Leaside was picked at random. The charity however seems to firmly believe that its trickery is justified by the end. What was the purpose? Promotion of the charity? A spontaneous outpouring of interest in opening a shelter in neighborhoods across the country?
TRUST BROKEN
In South Bayview the hoax has broken a trust in many homes. These are neighborhoods of unparalleled generosity. Will ordinary property owners and business people everywhere find themselves comfortable with this standard? What other tricks might people with a certain zeal attempt? Public relations codes are replete with the insistence that members of the public be dealt with fairly and honestly. The advertising council proclaims Truth, Fairness, Accuracy. YouTube
SAMMY YATIM: Trial starts for police officer in shooting
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CBC From 2013: Critical moments of the streetcar shooting
Dancing for the blind dazzles at CNIB on Bayview Ave.
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![Vision-Dance-Encounter-2015-Annoucement-300x241[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.bayview-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Vision-Dance-Encounter-2015-Annoucement-300x2411.jpg)
Professional dancers Tatiana Mollmann & Jordan Frisbee (California), Larissa Thayane & Kadu Pires (Brisbane, Australia)
The first weekend of October was very special for attendees of a unique event held at the CNIB on Bayview Avenue, just north of Glenvale. Organizers brought international champions in West Coast Swing and Brazilian Zouk to Toronto for a weekend of workshops, competitions and social dancing. As dazzling as that sounds, the highlight of the weekend for most, was the gala presentation of a production called “See Inside Me”. The pros danced right along side a group of blind and partially sighted individuals from the CNIB. The production featured emotional dance numbers and a narration illustrating the daily struggles a young girl went through as she slowly lost her eyesight. As the title suggests, she wanted the world to see past her blindness to the person within. The weekend was coordinated by dZouk Productions, the pioneer dance force for bringing Brazilian Zouk on stage in Canada, under the direction of founder and artistic director Darius Zi. Proceeds from the weekend will help fund future dance classes for more blind and partially sighted individuals to learn and experience the joy of dance. See video below for a clip of Brazilian Zouk being enjoyed on a social dance floor at this year’s Vision Dance Encounter.
For more information about dZouk Productions, visit their website.
Fans who went all the way to Texas and were rewarded
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Well done CBC feature on “Canada’s Team”
MEN OVER 45: Playboy eliminates photos of nude women
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Playboy has announced that it will no longer publish photos of nude women. The decision takes the publication in a sharp turn away from its origins and the thing which seemingly gave it life for so many decades. The redesigned Playboy will still feature women in “provocative poses” but they will no longer be fully nude, Playboy said in a statement. The change will take place in March Hugh Hefner, now 89, scandalized much of the world and mesmerized young men when he first published Playboy in 1953 with Marilyn Monroe on the cover.
“I get it and I hold it,” says woman who delivered own baby
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Well told story of a woman who delivered her own baby. “I get it and I hold it,” she said simply when asked how she did it.
Wonder of wonders — Jays come home tied in AL series
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The Blue Jays are fighting off the enormous odds against them of winning the American League Championship Series. Backed by Josh Donaldson, Chris Colabello and Kevin Pillar home runs, R.A. Dickey and David Price combined for 7 2/3 innings as Toronto defeated the Texas Rangers 8-4 to tie their AL Division Series at two games apiece. Now it all comes down to Game 5 on Wednesday at the Rogers Centre.
GET LIT: Cycle club leads campaign to get lights on bikes
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Cycle Toronto, Toronto Police Service and the personal injury law firm of McLeish Orlando will run an awareness program called Get Lit which will flag down unlit cyclists in the hope of educating them on the importance of staying visible and providing them with a free set for a safe ride home. The sites will be held successive weeks on busy streets as follows: Tuesday, October 13, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Boulton Drive Parkette; Tuesday, October 20, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Toronto Public Library at College and Shaw; Tuesday, October 27, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Prince Edward Viaduct Parkette
$110 FOR NO LIGHT
The Ministry of Transportation has recently increased the set fine for improper lighting of a bicycle from $20 to $110. From half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise, Ontarians must have a front white light and either a rear red reflector or rear red light on their bicycle. Ontarians riding bicycles also need to be lit when it’s dark due to rain, fog, or snow. “Improving road safety and traffic flow is one of our goals in support of and commitment to safe communities and neighbourhoods” said Superintendent Gord Jones, Unit Commander of Traffic Services. “Traffic safety is the responsibility of everyone who uses our roadways, and active transportation continues to grow in the city every day. The safety of cyclists and other road users in the city of Toronto is very important to us. We are pleased to be in partnership with our colleagues at Cycle Toronto on this innovative and important campaign.” Also participating are bike shops Urbane Cyclist Worker’s Co-op and Sweet Pete’s Bike Shop. For more information, please contact Jared Kolb, Executive Director of Cycle Toronto at 416-644-7188.
Visitation for Andrea Christidis at 50 Overlea on Tuesday
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A visitation will be held tomorrow (Tuesday, October 13, 2015) at the Heritage Funeral Home, 50 Overlea Blvd., for Andrea Christidis. She was killed last week when a car drove over a sidewalk on the University of Western Ontario campus She was a 2014-2015 graduate of Leaside High School and at the time of her death was enrolled in the Health Sciences program at Western.
REMEMBERS ANDREA
Among the many condolences published at the Heritage site is one from Kathy Botteas who recalls that her daughter Francesca attended LHS with Andrea noting “we had the pleasure of seeing her proud, smiling, beautiful face as a graduate in our home for the LHS pre prom festivities. That memory will stay with me forever.” News story