A good travel agent might be useful when it comes to knowing that your perfectly valid Canadain passport might not be good enough for some countries. This Toronto couple learned the costly way that entry into France requires a passport that is valid for three months beyond the end of their stay.
Car fire on the #Gardiner – insane! Hope everyone was OK #Toronto @CP24 pic.twitter.com/HHUastpQ3S
— Vanessa Hartung (@VanessaHartung) October 8, 2015
There are a number of subtleties in a case of racial profiling by an employee of Shoppers Drug Mart that has recently been disposed of by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. For many, the most striking aspect will one that is not subtle — the rather rude behaviour of the employee. But the tribunal found that there had been racial profiling “consciously or unconsciously” without it seems any language or specific act (apart from rudeness) that might have led to such a decision. It happened in the evening at the Shoppers Drug Mart Bloor St and Spadina Rd. in 2011. Metro News
Josh Matlow (Ward 22) is one of a number of municipal representatives who have decided to make public his support of certain candidates running for federal office. His alignment with the Liberal candidates in Don Valley West and St. Paul’s isn’t a surprise but it reveals a small political divide among City members who technically carry to no label. Jon Burnside (Ward 26) is shown as specifically not supporting any candidate. You must guess. Interesting little exercise by Global News
A Jumbotron of sorts has been installed at Nathan Phillips Square to permit mass viewing of the post-season Jays games late this afternoon and beginning at noon Friday, October 9. It is, as anyone with a memory knows, 22 years since the birds broke into after season play. We love this miracle. “It’s an exciting time for Toronto. Let’s come together and cheer on our Blue Jays at Nathan Phillips Square,” said Mayor John Tory. “See you in the #BirdsNest!” The first two home games take place in the afternoon on Thursday, October 8 at 3:30 p.m. and Friday, October 9 at 12:30 p.m. Food trucks will be on the Square to give viewers a stadium-like experience.
This is a deeply moving story. We can only stand in awe of the science and human hands that saved this lad. The video was posted by the CBC.
The Canadian situation comedy Man Seeking Woman is being shot in Leaside at several locations in Leaside. Just Wednesday there was activity on Bayview north of Fleming, the parking lot of 321 Moore Ave and outside Leaside United Church where there is a huge collection of trucks and equipment. This was the scene Wednesday afternoon. Toronto Star
South Bayview veteran, Marie Pyzyna has passed away. The diminutive storekeeer presided over Globe Toy and Variety at 1538 Bayview Avenue for many decades. If you have been a South Bayview resident long enough, you will remember buying lottery tickets, chocolates, tobacco and greeting cards from Marie, and on occasion, her late husband Stan. She spent much of her spare time, walking up and down the street checking on the state of affairs, chatting with neighbours and picking the occasional weed from our tree boxes. Her death was announced by Humphrey Funeral Home in the Globe and Mail Wednesday, October 7, 2015. They are holding a private service in their facility. After Marie retired, she sold her business to a young family who continued to operate the variety store. When they moved on to pursue other careers, the variety store closed for good. It was converted to a money exchange for a short time. The fire that destroyed Leaside Cleaners in October 2011, caused enough smoke damage to the premises to prompt the money exchange business to move on as well. It is currently the happy home of Sport Clips hair cutting business.
The candidates debate was underway Wednesday night at the Lea Room of the Leaside Arena. It featured the incumbent, John Carmichael, Liberal Oliphant and NDP candidate Syeda Riaz. There will be further post on the debate Thursday.
Signs outside the Lea Room as candidates gather
Sam Tsemberis
This story is compelling reading even though it leaves some questions around the edges. Sam Tsemberis is being celebrated among municipal officials in the U.S. for bringing the level of this phenomenon to zero in many places. His system involves finding buildings, apparently suitable for flats, renovating them and then simply giving them to the homeless. There are certain rules which follow by way of medical treatment as needed and responsible conduct. But the magic element appears to be the ready access to housing without the execution of these conditions beforehand. One can see how the investment would pay off, even though there no accounting given of costs versus benefits. Most important, if this story tells the germane facts, it has accomplished the realisation of getting homeless people off the street regardless of their various mental and social baggage. Worth a read. Washington Post
