The South Bayview Bulldog

Manor Road United Church (MRUC) plans to sell off half its land at the corner of Manor Road and Forman Ave to the City of Toronto as parkland. The sale requires the approval of City Council hoped for later this year. It will require the demolition of the newer portion of the church known as the Christian Education Centre on the east side of the property. Successful completion of the plan will give the church a sum of money so-far unstated with which to renovate the original 90-year-old building known as the Sanctuary. It sits on the west side of the property. Reverend Debra Schneider says in a news release issued Monday, February 2, 2015: “We were facing challenging questions about how to create a vibrant and sustainable future for our Church. The prospect of creating an open and public space for our community, rather than see our precious land go to another townhouse development, delights us.” The news release say the Church anticipates that a proposal will be brought to Council for approval by June. It is a reminder of the cost of running a church. Proceeds of the sale will also establish an investment fund that would help create a steady income stream to support the Church’s ongoing ministries. MRUC intends to continue to provide space for community meetings and events, and remain a hub for the neighbourhood. The Church also announced that daycare provider Caterpillar & Co.would be the  lead tenant in the lower level of the Sanctuary following renovations, which are expected to be complete by mid-2016.  The sale and renovations would impact the tenancy of Manor Road Montessori School and the Church says it is working with the School to secure a smooth transition from the current site to a new one. Councillor Josh Matlow has been a key contact with the City in the negotiations with the Church. 

The Seattle Seahawks had the New England Patriots right where they wanted them. And then Russell Wilson threw an interception which all but sealed their fate. The Patriots win probability went from 72 percent with less than two minutes to play, to 27 percent with a minute left until finally reaching 99 percent after the interception.

Smidgie the Corgi has been re-united his owner, Wayne Cardinal. This after Cardinal’s truck containing the dog vanished from Queen Street E. in Brampton in broad daylight Friday afternoon. Cardinal says he parked the truck with Smidgie inside and locked it while he went to the local fish and chips shop. When he returned, the vehicle was gone. Change scenes to Rotary Park in Orangville later Friday where Jordan Paige saw Smidige and thought that maybe he was lost. Paige took Smidgie home with him and the next morning, Saturday, January 31, 2015, a friend of Paige’s said he had seen the dog on television news. Cardinal drove to Orangeville and identified Smidgie. Still unknown, the whereabouts of Mr. Cardinal’s truck.  It is described as a black 1998 Ford F150 with Ontario license plate 962 5VC. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (905) 453-2121 ext. 2233.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says the city will refuse to issue a permit for the opening of a community centre led by Imam Hamza Chaoui. Coderre made his announcement today (Saturday, January 31, 2015) in the face of mounting alarm over the teachings of Chaoui, a Moroccan cleric who claims democracy and Islam cannot co-exist and that women should not be allowed out of the house without a male guardian. For any rational Canadian it is laughable — except the Imam means it. “This individual is an agent of radicalization,” Coderre said at a press conference Saturday. The mayor was accompanied by political leaders from the neighbourhood where the Imam had planned to build the centre. Coderre said there must be a balance between “openness and vigilance” and Chaoui’s beliefs don’t reflect the views of the majority of Montreal Muslims. Earlier, Real Menard, the mayor of the Montreal suburb of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisoneuve, said no occupancy permit would be granted to Chaoui. “It is my mayoral duty not to make a gesture that would provide a forum to the Imam,” he said. “This is a case of public safety and public order.” Coderre said he had consulted with Montreal police to determine if Chaoui was a threat to public safety. On Friday, Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil called Chaoui’s opinions “totally unacceptable in a democratic society, which obviously promotes equality between men and women,” and rejects homophobia. The public concern is easily understood as Canada — and the world — grapple with concerns about the recruitment of citizens into the killing brigades of ISIS and other radical groups Chaoui has never been accused of advocating violence but his teachings as a high leader of the religion seem alarming. Such views form fertile ground for radicalization. They are certainly alien to the Constitution. Chaoui’s background has so far been little reported upon and the facts of his arrival in this country are not yet widely known.  

Adrian Mercer (left) and Eric Brown

Adrian Mercer, who is half of Mercer Brown Contracting, has commented on the post below about the benches that he and his partner Eric Brown created for the Leaside Memorial Gardens Arena. They worked with an associate Jim Williams. Adrian reports that the bulk of the work on the rustic benches was done at Mr. Williams workshop in Brookville. Mercer-Brown is located in nearby Guelph so that the creation of the benches from raw trees saw a considerable journey. They started out of course on the property where they grew, and which is now home to the new ice rink. From there they went to Simon Stevenson’s Leaside Landscaping on Commercial Street in Leaside. Then it was up to the Fenelon Falls area where the logs were milled. After that the planks came back to Toronto for a year’s storage and drying at a facility of Canada Self Storage. Then it was time to truck the wood up to Brookville. Adrian reports on the work:  “Myself, my partner Eric Brown, and associate Jim Williams made the benches using strictly the lumber that was cut and milled from the arena property. The legs and tie piece were cut and planed. The big tops had to be belt sanded. Then the benches were constructed, stained, and coated three times with varnish. Great project! Love the ‘live edge’ finish. And the stain really brought out the beauty in that wood. We’re very happy with the result.”  The South Bayview Bulldog says well done to Adrian, Eric and Jim and passes on the reminder that these skilled men are available to create custom work for any Leasider or South Bayviewite who has a project.  They do all kinds of wood work  You can mail them here: adrian.j.mercer@gmail.com  Previous post