30-km limit passes Toronto, East York without objection

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wards

These are the 12 wards of the Toronto and East York planning area

Councillors of the Toronto and East York Council have voted unanimously Monday night (June 22, 2015) to reduce the speed limit on residential streets in the 12 wards it includes from 40 km/h to 30 km/h. The large task of changing signs will take some time and there may be an issue about approval of the money needed to do this. That decision is said to belong to City Council as a whole. Mayor Tory has voiced opposition to the plan as has City staff. Leaside is not included in this decision.   Here are the Councillors who voted Monday night: 14 (Parkdale-High Park) Gord Perks 18 (Davenport) Ana Bailão 19 (Trinity-Spadina) Mike Layton  20 (Trinity-Spadina) Joe Cressy 21 (St. Paul’s) Joe Mihevc 22 (St. Paul’s) Josh Matlow 27 (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) Kristyn Wong-Tam 28 (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) Pam McConnell  29 (Toronto-Danforth) Mary Fragedakis  30 (Toronto-Danforth) Paula Fletcher 31 (Beaches-East York) Janet Davis  32 (Beaches-East York) Mary-Margaret McMahon  Toronto  Star 

Rainbow flag raised to mark start of Pride Week

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The rainbow flag has been raised at Toronto City Hall to mark Pride Week Mayor Tory proudly wore a matching rainbow-coloured tie. He said: “We stand here today united and eager to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ2 community,” said Tory The 10-day celebration includes events, performances and marches from June 19 to June 28 in the City of Toronto. At Queen’s Park Premier Wynne issued this cry: “There is no angry voice or negative note that is going to take away the fact that I am a lesbian and I am the Premier of Ontario, how great is that?” said Wynne.The Pride parade starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the corner of Church and Bloor Streets.

Damaged plane lands after mid-air collision kills two

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Two people have been found dead in the wreckage of a small aircraft located in bush northeast of Fort McMurray after a mid-air collision caused one plane to crash. The pilot of the other plane was seen on video (now withdrawn) landing his damaged craft and running to safety from the plane at the Fort McMurray airport Sunday night, an eyewitness said Monday. Stephen Baker, a helicopter mechanic, watched as the Cessna float plane came in “faster than he needed to be.”

 

Markets rebound over “deal” to avert Grexit from EU

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A new offer by Greece to somehow mollify economists at the European Union has sparked a buying party on the North American markets. Both New York and Toronto are up but many may be cautious. There is flimsy information on this hoped for deal. Another day or two may be needed to see it’s real. Eurozone finance ministers left a meeting with Greek officials optimistic over Athens’ offer, with talk of more work ahead to achieve a potential deal this week. The ministers agreed to reconvene before the week is over, after Greece thrashed out details with its international creditors the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

 

Forecaster predicts warm July, August and Setpember

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Climatologist Dave Phillips of Environment Canada is suggesting that Toronto will have a warmer than usual summer. He is quoted by CP24 as saying: “Last summer June was pretty nice but then it went downhill. I think it will be the reverse. This year June was kind of disappointing, very not summer like, and I think July, August and September will be more like the kind of summers that we dream of and that we haven’t seen so much in recent years,” Phillips said. “I think most Torontonians would say ‘Hey, just bring on some of that beer drinking tank top weather’ and I think they won’t be disappointed.” He said last year the average daytime high in June reached 25.1 C but so far this month the city has only seen an average daytime high of 22.4 C with plenty of days failing to break the 20 C threshold.  “In Toronto July looks normal to warmer than normal and when you package July, August and September together it looks like it is going to be a warmer than normal summer,” he said. “You always have to be aware of the extreme weather, but I think there is a going to be good weather to enjoy in the Toronto area this summer.”

Matlow and others to talk speed limits tonight

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The twelve members of the Downtown and East York sub-committee of City Council will meet tonight (Monday, June 22, 2015) at 6 p.m. to decide whether to reduce the speed limit on residential streets in the city’s the east-central neighbourhoods to 30 km/h from the present 40 km/h. The idea, which would affect 387 kilometres of local roads that fall within the Toronto and East York community council’s jurisdiction, is a project of  Josh Matlow (Ward 22). There is much interest and concern following the death of Georgia Walsh last July at the corner of Millwood Road and McRae Drive.  It is well-documented however that Georgia did not die in a high speed accident but rather one where the driver was inattentive. At the time, Mr. Matlow noted a 2012 report from the Chief Medical Officer of Health that suggested that pedestrians have a 20 per cent chance of dying when hit by a vehicle travelling at 50 km/h and only a five per cent chance of death when that vehicle is travelling at 40 km/h  Some reports say there has been criticism of the such a reduction but it has not caused much discussion by the public. Many parents like the idea lower speeds limits. A City staff report released last week has asked that no changes be made because they would probably not be very well obeyed. The cost of any such changes would have to be approved by the whole of City Council, which might be a stopper. Tonight’s meeting is at City Hall and gets underway at 6 p.m.

MMVAs red carpet: Some sailed while others drowned

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Toronto Sun 

Loblaws employees getting ready for a strike, says union

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As many as 28,000 Loblaws employees in much of Ontario including Toronto are set to go on strike after a strike vote earlier this month. A meeting of Local 1000A of the  United Food and Commercial Workers rejected a tentative agreement between the union and Loblaws. Strike preparations are in order, with picket captains being trained this week, according the union local’s website.

Man rescued from “ice and snow” 12-metres down in cavern

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rescue

A harrowing entrapment and equally challenging rescue mission are told in the linked story. Barrie firefighters are said to have hung upside down as they drilled adequate passage to release a man from what might have become his grave in the Singhampton conservation area near Barrie. The 30-year-old is in good condition having been handed food and water by rescuers. He is now in hospital. But he was trapped 12-metres down in the cavern for several hours before other hikers heard his cries at about 8.30 last night and for help. Toronto Star

NSS year-end summary a record of signal achievement

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Northern at a Glance, 2014-2015 pdf

Much excitement about completed Queen’s Quay on Twitter

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One may say that even drivers should go down and take a look. They built some parking spaces into the amenities that have taken three years to finish. Mostly the tweets are paeans of love and triumph about cycling and that’s nice. Former Councillor John Parker has tweeted a link to the Toronto Star story by Shawn Michaleff in which the writer asks (honestly): “Are we allowed to have something this nice?” That’s what the man asked. And he replies to The Bulldog that he answered “Yes.” So we’re okay and he’s okay. Countless burghers will find the spirit to shake off wretched self-doubt and declare the new Queen’s Quay to be quite good enough for them. Enjoy. Twitter

Watermain, natural gas breaks hit St. Clair and Rexleigh

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flood water

Police say there is a terrible mess on St. Clair Ave East of O’Connor Drive where workers are dealing with a large watermain break plus a gas main break which occurred as repairs were being attempted on the watermain. The precise intersection is St. Clair E and Rexleigh Drive. Watermains have been known to break right here before. Officials say the closure will be extended. The 23 Dawes bus is diverting north on Plaxton.  Thanks to @dcrampton7919 for tweeted picture.