Information meeting Feb. 9 on Laird development

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The eight and seven storey towers planned for 146 to 150 Laird Drive will be the subject of a public information  meeting Monday, February 9, 2014 at the William Lea Room in the Leaside Arena. It is a chance for the public to learn and ask questions about the proposed development. The buildings are designed as rental apartment living and a residence for the elderly. Click to enlarge notice
 

Builder switches King St. condo to rental project

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Writer Susan Pigg has the inside story on the cancellation of Kingsclub Condo on King St. W., the second such change of plans by a builder in recent days. The Kingsclub will become a rental building instead. The move reflects the waning condo market at least downtown, while rental demand stays fairly brisk. The tale is a cautionary one for those who buy un-built properties. A number of buyers at Kingsclub have thousands tied up on condos that will not be built.  Susan Pigg, Toronto Star 

Privacy, freedom and Internet file-sharing sites

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Which should frighten us more  — the federal government or unknown persons with a taste for the slaughter of thousands of Canadians? We admit, the question is rather loaded but it encapsulates the concerns about the federal spy agency monitoring all kinds of file-sharing sites on the Internet to try to catch the latter group of people. In this well-done CBC piece we have the left-wing writer Glenn Greenwald of the Guardian worrying that scientists and writers will have their privacy breached. They might, but have they? Or is it at all likely? And if there is a “breach” would it materially effect anyone’s legal pursuit of his business? Will freedom be compromised? Will our loosely held notion of privacy cause us real loss?  Or merely trouble our minds?  It is the essential question. Mr. Greenwald would surely have struck a more sinister note if he had said the government might be gathering information to advance the interests of a political party or to learn the addresses of all those following Buddhism. But he didn’t. And it isn’t. Nor could any such thing happen in Canada. Still, it is good to keep watch of the watchers 

Michael Prue Appreciation Night is February 26

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There is a well-deserved tribute planned to former East York mayor Michael Prue at what is being called Michael Prue Appreciation Night. It is set for Thursday, February 26 at the Palace Restaurant at 722 Pape Ave just across the street from the Pape station. It is scheduled to run from 6 to 9 p.m and will acknowledge the more than 25 years of Mr. Prue’s involvement in the East York community. It will celebrate his terms as a councillor, mayor, hydro commissioner and MPP and his commitment to the Borough of East York. In lieu of gifts, friends are asked to consider making a contribution to the Michael Prue Art Award. The aim is to establish a fund to purchase art from local artists and add to the East York Foundation’s collection. Cheques can be made out to the East York Foundation, and either dropped off that night or be mailed to 50 Merritt Rd., East York, M4B 3K6. Income tax receipts will be issued for the donation. All of Michael Prue’s friends and colleagues are invited to attend this special evening. 

Chartered banks cut prime lending rate today

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Following a reduction of last week of .25 percent in the Bank of Canada rate, the chartered banks all cute their prime rate by a smaller .15 percent effective today (Wednesday, January 28, 2015).

Talk host: Shame of the Tim Horton’s layoffs

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Larry Fedoruk

Winnipegers told to boil water in E. coli scare

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Maclean’s

Bernese Mountain Dog learns about skating

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Charming video of Quinn, a young Bernese Mountain Dog, is available on YouTube. It shows the pup bounding along until she goes out of control on a large patch of ice. Her owner, T.J. Parker, said Quinn’s co-ordination “is really quite stunning.”

Facebook group Leaside Community of interest

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A newly-created Facebook group called Leaside Community is getting interest from many residents. Among the entries catching our attention was Andy Elder’s  post about a daytime break-in next door to him this past weekend on McRae Drive. Investigating police said another home on St. Cuthbert had recently been hit and terribly ransacked. Carl Spitzer mentions a group collecting money door to door for sobriety. Pardon, us but we would have to less than sober to give them anything. In fact, no money should never be given at the door or on the phone unless of course the people and the cause are known personally to you. Leaside Community is off to good start and is worth a look. Leaside Community

Metro grocery ups dividend, splits stock 3 for 1

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That big Metro store at Bayview and Eglinton Aves. is still part of a gold mine of grocery outlets according to third-quarter results released Tuesday. They reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit as same-store sales rose 3.8 percent, the biggest increase since the third quarter of 2009. The company increased the quarterly dividend to 35 Canadian cents per common share from 30 Canadian cents. It also announced a three for one stock split. Nice. Metro reorganized its Ontario store network converting some of its Metro stores into Food Basics (like the one in East York Town Centre). That discount grocery brand is intended to attract customers looking to spend less as money gets tighter. 

Tim Horton’s confirms layoffs, number unknown

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CBC

Philanthropist Joseph (Joe) Rotman dead at 80

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Toronto philanthropist and businessman Joseph Rotman has died at age 80 while at home. “Mr. Rotman was a true city builder, demonstrating a commitment to developing Canadian institutions in the arts, education and healthcare,” Mayor John Tory wrote. An officer of the Order of Canada, Mr. Rotman donated $3 million to the University of Toronto in 1993 to help open the Rotman School of Management. The businessman was also a major backer of the arts, having served as the chair of the Canada Council for the Arts since 2008. Mr. Rotman’s family grew from modest beginnings in the retail coal and later the fuel oil business to become wealthy. Rotman is survived by Sandra Frieberg, his wife since 1959, and their two grown children, Janis and Kenneth.