Cirque du Soleil, a Quebec side-show tent concept that became the international show business pride of Canada, will soon move into the hands of a Texas private equity firm, TPG Capital, and a minority partner Fosun Capital of Shanghai China. The Quebec government’s Caisse de Depot is said to be part of the deal, to help ease political concerns. The Quebec Liberal government has publicly called for Cirque du Soleil to retain local ownership. Sources said TPG Capital agreed to preserve Cirque du Soleil’s headquarters in Montreal, and the local staff of close to 1,600 people. Laliberté announced he wanted to sell 90% of the company in late March. The deal is less than the $2 billion that he had been seeking, according to the report.

Toronto and East York Community Council has voted to explore the process of lowering the residential speed limit to 30 km/hr from the present 40 km/hr. Such a decision would be noticeable across South Bayview neighborhoods. It is a move much sought after by some residents of Leaside, Davisville Village and Moore Park. In fact, a mixed response may be expected. The old saying that people are in  favour of lower speeds for others may apply. It will certainly strain the control of drivers on a street like Moore Ave between Mt. Pleasant and Bayview. Bulldog readers will be able to think of many such streets in their own locales. Of course, lower limits might not effect all 40 km streets. The committee’s move covers the same ground as a policy that had been under consideration by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee to devise standards to lower speed limits on some streets across the city. That committee was split on the issue, and sent it on to next week’s council meeting without recommendation, leaving it up to the full council. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) moved that the community council simply assert its authority and cut the speed limit across the entire community council area.  He is quoted in the Mirror as saying: “There was a valiant effort by my colleague (Beaches-East York Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon) at Public Works and Infrastructure to move forward with this item there and now we are fully aware we have delegated authority to move forward, we are moving forward,” said Matlow. “We believe there should be ample opportunity for public consultation but from the residents we’ve heard from, the vast majority are strongly in support of safer roads in our neighbourhoods.”

Five employees of a Victoria B.C. Target store offer a poignant lament to the end of their jobs this week. Good luck guys.

In Vancouver, Judge Frances Howard has fined Des Hague $5,000 in connection with kicking a Doberman puppy five times last July in a Vancouver elevator. Haig is the former CEO of Centreplate, a U.S. catering company. Hague has been banned from owning or being in control of an animal for three years. He pleaded guilty to animal cruelty earlier this year and resigned his executive position. This came after a video of his behaviour was shown repeatedly on TV newscasts. That caused more than 180,000 people to sign an online petition demanding his ouster from Centreplate, which provides catering at B.C. Place Stadium. The company, which employs approximately 30,000 people, ordered him to donate $100,000 to help animals. The video below was retrieved last August from the elevator and made evidence at the trial. It is quite difficult to watch so be warned.

Carrie Laureola

This story was first published in January 2014. In the meantime, Ms Laureola has gone on to make a success out of her business. Carrie Laureola is a true daughter of Leaside who has two passions —  art and children. After working for several years as a securities trader for ScotiaMcLeod, the mother of 3-year-old Ryan has decided to open the business of her heart’s desire. Carrie’s school of creative expression, Bamboo Bay, is now freshly installed in the bright offices above the shops at the northeast corner of Millwood Rd. and Bayview Ave. “I have always been interested in art,” she says. Carrie speaks with an earnest appreciation of the way children will find their own sense of style when given the right art materials. She has taken care to stock her classroom with quality paint, paper and crafts. The Bamboo Bay website details the creative programs available for children two to 12. Carrie is also offering an easy get-to-know-you drop-in opportunity on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. in February.  Bamboo Bay.  The journey to this new career started at Bessborough Public School.  A teacher who became a friend was Jane Withers, now retired. Pupil and teacher kept in contact over the years by phone and e-mail. Carrie was surprised and deeply touched to find that when she visited Mrs.Withers, the teacher had kept pieces of Carrie’s art done years before at Bessborough. Even as Carrie pursued psychology and other fields at Waterloo University, the tug of her dream was there. After her hitch with ScotiaMcLeod, she decided to hone up her business skills at Ryerson.  Carrie is the third of four daughters. Mom and dad, Yuet Wo and Shek Ming Tse, live in Leaside. They will be remembered by long-time South Bayview residents as the owners of the China Feast restaurant in the north block of the South Bayview business district. Many may long to taste again some of the excellent Cantonese dishes that were served there.

In New York, a wealthy Long Island cardiologist is charged with trying to, first, burn down the office of his bitter rival, and then have him hit, mob style. Is there a shortage of patients?

The dynamic but money-losing Ottawa startup firm Shopify plans to launch its service on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. The company says it intends to raise as much as $100-million, but has yet to set a firm figure or a share price, it says in a regulatory filing. It seeks to be listed as SHOP on the New York Stock Exchange, and SH on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Shopify  provides a cloud-based commerce platform for small and medium-sized businesses, has been growing rapidly and raised $100 million in venture capital last year. Shopify was started in 2006 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake to sell snowboards online. Now, the company has about 500 employees, with offices in Ottawa, Montreal, Kitchener and Toronto. Growth in revenue has been astonishing — doubling from $23.7 million in 2012, to $50.3 million in 2013 and to $105 million in 2014. It loses money however, a circumstance not too fully explored in news stories today but maybe related to the cost of growth including staff.

A story in the Globe and Mail today by Susan Krashinsky makes much of a “teaming up” of Uber taxi and Loblaws for a week so that customers can try out the grocer’s Click and Collect service. You get to take Uber to the store for free. In the 20th (and final) paragraph of the story Loblaws makes its first appearance where Jeremy Pee is quoted as saying it certainly isn’t Loblaws intention to offer Uber credibility. What a team. Anyway, it would be more interesting to know just how Click and Collect is going. This is the scheme whereby you order online and specify a window within which you will pick up the groceries. It is available at the Redway Road store in Leaside. Globe and Mail 

A new espresso bar will open at 1517 Bayview Ave in the days soon to come. It is a branch of the going concern LIT Espresso. The firm is closing on College Street it says but continues to operate on Roncesvalles. Ave. On Bayview, the windows are still covered at the little shop next to Write Impressions but The Bulldog we will be in there like a shot when it the doors open. LIT sells a coffee with a catchy name — Pig Iron