Believe in Leaside to honour Georgia, her mom asks

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Jillian Walsh says she wants parents to believe that Leaside is safe for children because that is what she believes. The mother of Georgia Walsh, 7, spoke to The South Bayview Bulldog about the death of her daughter and the ambitious events to celebrate her life. Georgia died last year in an accident at the corner of McRae Dr. and Millwood Rd  One of the things to commemorate her is the Georgia Walsh All-Star Games which take this Saturday. Another and more lasting tribute to Georgia will be a million dollar renovation of the little playground in Trace Manes Park that sits between the library and tennis courts. Jillian Walsh spoke of how the idea of a better, safer playground formed in her mind.

A PLACE THAT GEORGIA LOVED

“It was a place where George loved to go and loved to play and it was very close to the accident scene,” she said. “I never wanted the message to parents in Leaside or the greater community to ever be that their children aren’t safe in Leaside.” Ms. Walsh said: “It’s a wonderful community and Georgia just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do I believe there could be improved traffic measures, absolutely. But it doesn’t mean that this neighbourhood isn’t safe. It doesn’t mean that you have to walk your child a block to her friend’s house.

WHY NOT IMPROVE EVERYTHING

The playground plan is an ambitious and exciting project. Ms Walsh said she understood how parents might be concerned that there was no fence, for example, on the Rumsey Road side of the playground. This is a main goal of the project. But then, said the energetic mother of three boys, “if we were going to improve the fence, why not improve everything.”  And so they will over time and with the generosity of residents and businesses. The renovation of the playground calls for the installation of a rubberized surface to replace the sand. It is much friendlier than sand for a rough and tumble playground and also permits wheelchair access. The biggest cost will be the construction of a splash-pad to replace the present wading pool. Modern water playgrounds are safer and more fun. Splash pads are designed to permit interactive water play  More benches and seating plus shaded seating is also planned. It will eat up the budget fairly quickly. An architect’s rendering of the playground by the firm of Harrington McAvan will be on display Saturday at the All-Star Games at the Trace Manes baseball diamond.

STEWARDSHIP OF FUNDS

Baseball is a game that Georgia loved. Her childhood running, throwing and batting mirrored the pleasure of so many her age. The Georgia Walsh All-Star Games are a worthy way to remember this happy little girl and for the Walsh family to somehow thank those who, as Jillian Walsh says, “rallied around us so tirelessly in a kind and thoughtful way”  It is a mark of the thoroughness and care of the playground project that the organizers have placed the care of contributions in the hands of the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation. This long-standing organization offers the best advice and reputable stewardship of funds. There will be an opportunity to make donations and patronize the concessions at the Georgia Walsh Games on Saturday. See you there.

Tricks and schticks galore at Buskerfest on Yonge Street

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Buskerfest is the best six-block street closing in Toronto. This four-day carnival of tricks and schticks is on again starting today (August 27, 2015) on Yonge Street between College and Queen. It features musicians, acrobats, tricksters (honest ones) mimes and musicians. This year the music includes Samba Squad, a loud rhythmic gang and Bulldog favorite. There is endless food offered along the way and many concessions to entertain between acts. There are also side stages with frequently excellent acts as well. This event is now 16 years old and is sponsored by Scotiabank. Be generous when the buskers pass the hat.

Polls shows NDP surge but Harper preferred as PM

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Polls reveal a dynamic state of public opinion across Canada where the NDP is said to have as much as 40 percent of the popular support. With the election still nearly two months off, a poll by Forum Research in the Toronto Star suggests unprecedented acceptance of the NDP nationally. That level of support on voting day would probably give the NDP leader Tom Mulcair a majority government.  At the same time, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is holding on to a slim lead as the person  Canadians would prefer as prime minister. This week, 29 per cent of those polled chose Harper as their top candidate, with NDP leader Tom Mulcair placing second at 27 per cent and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau third at 22 per cent

McDonald’s take a pass on creating a McWhopper

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McDonald’s seems to have taken a polite pass on giving Burger KIng the publicity it was seeking by calling for the two firms to create a McWhopper on United Nations Peace Day. Burger King, owner of Tim Horton’s (which may be blushing) took out full-page newspaper ads Wednesday calling for a “truce” with McDonald’s so that they can could create the McWhopper. In a Facebook response, the president of McDonald’s, Steve Easterbrook, said he hoped that his competitors would concede that their competition is simply business not actual war requiring a truce. He added “P.S. A simple phone call will do next time.”

 

Georgia Walsh Games are in aid of Trace Manes renovations

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Funds raised this weekend at the Georgia Walsh Memorial All-Star Games will go to a proposed renovation of Trace Manes Park playground. Organizers of the games, and of the park upgrades, have set a one million dollar goal for the renovations. The games will take place this Saturday, August 29, 2015, starting at 9 a.m. There has been much planning around the interesting celebrities and well-known people who will attend. Media availability has been set for 11.30 in the morning. A release sent today (Wednesday, August 26, 2015) says the GTA’s top minor league players will participate in the Rookie All-Star Games. There will be both a junior and senior game. There will also be a special opening pitch, player announcements by Sportsnet’s Christine Simpson, skills competitions, face painting, tattoos, inflatable slides, food, games and prizes. Also present will Roberto Alomar and Walter Gretzky, father of Wayne Gretzky.

Contactless pay saves a few seconds but you spend more

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Apple is coming, Apple is coming. It’s coming to grab a piece of the contactless payment phenomenon that is said to be sweeping purchases in the U-K. It amounts to holding your device to the store’s reader and getting out of the place in a wink. That sounds fine but it seems a little deceptive when one tries to calculate just how much time it really saves over a cash or credit card purchase. You still have to stand in line. Nevertheless, the concept is very hot. The owners of such brands, like the MasterCard Pay-Pass, love it because it apparently makes people spend more. So, save 12 seconds and spend five dollars more. You figure it out.

 

Winners and losers at CTV, TSN in Bell Media shake-up

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She’s had four months to think about it since Kevin Crull left the post she now holds. President Mary Ann Turke is tightening up the lines of communication and in the process, four executives got their walking papers (and maybe some money). There are said to be others leaving as well. BNN is owned by Bell Media which it tells you at the bottom of the story.  BNN

Big-girl sizes coming to Toronto with new Torrid shop

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Plus-size retailer Torrid will open in the Eaton Centre a week from now on September 1, 2015. It plans to open three more in Toronto later this fall. Torrid is said to be the fastest growing retailer in the U.S. for young women sizes 12 to 28. It has more than 280 stores across the U.S. The company currently ships to more than 150 countries and says it has a “significant online customer base in Canada.” California-based Hot Topic, a once-public company acquired by investment firm Sycamore Partners in 2013, opened its first namesake store in Canada in 2010 and now has nine outlets in this country and 650 in the U.S., including Torrid. It’s believed women requiring plus-size clothes have done their shopping in the U.S. because of the lack of availability in Canada.

Watch out: Don Mills exit to O’Connor closed on weekend

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The intersection of Don Mills Road and O’Connor Drive will be fully closed in all directions for road resurfacing and sidewalk repairs from Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m. to Monday, August 31 at 6 a.m. During the closure, the two ramps from the Don Valley Parkway to southbound Don Mills Road will be closed. Vehicles travelling south on Don Mills Road will have access to the southbound Don Valley Parkway, all other traffic will be diverted at Overlea Boulevard. Traffic travelling eastbound on O’Connor Drive will be detoured at Donlands Avenue, and westbound traffic will be diverted at Coxwell Avenue. Pedestrian access to businesses and walkways will be maintained throughout the closure period. Alternative routes in the area include Coxwell, Donlands, Pape, Cosburn, Mortimer and Danforth Avenues. Drivers affected by this closure should consider options such as taking transit or cycling.