Shane Baghai sign on south Leaside property
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The nondescript building at 3 Southvale Drive beside the Leaside Arena driveway is now showing a sign from the Shane Baghai firm on the lawn. The sign requests inquiries about the property be made to (416) 449-5994 extension 231. The long-standing property has housed Homeculture Limited and Gallery Sixty-eight Auctions for years. Mr. Bahai is the builder of residential structures in Toronto and is known for a stately condominium named St. Gabriel Manor at 676 Sheppard Ave E and numerous others. In 2012 the Toronto Star published an article profiling Mr. Baghai. Acting on concerns for his wife’s health he started raising his own cattle. He then branched out into the restaurant business. This in the context of his career up to that point, building and selling luxury homes and high-end condos. Venay Menon, Toronto Star
Ernie Eves chairman of medical marijuana firm
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Former Ontario premier Ernie Eves has joined a medical marijuana company as its chairman, according to Canadian Press. Mr. Eves will work for the Jamaica firm Timeless Herbal Care. It has what CP calls ties in Canada and Israel.
Left turn goes wrong at Bayview and Millwood
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This late morning collision in South Bayview’s downtown appears to have been a left hand turn gone wrong. No one was hurt. It was a noisy crash that reversed the direction of the Dodge van and left it near the east curb. It appears the driver was making a left turn off Millwood onto northbound Bayview in front of the Volvo.
Dad claims boy, 4, found wandering in North York
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Police say the father of a boy about 4 years old found wandering has claimed the lad. It happened near Leslie Street and Sheppard Ave., presumably near the boy’s home.
Winterlicious restaurants locally are listed
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This is the list published by the City. If it is incomplete, please tell The South Bayview Bulldog. Winterlicious list for Midtown
Branksome Wellness Centre opens today
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The greatly anticipated opening of the Branksome Hall Athletics and Wellness Centre is underway today (Friday, January 23, 2015) with students thronging the new building. The imposing building is already a landmark to South Bayview area residents. Branksome Hall’s award-winning Athletics and Wellness Centre is at the corner of Mount Pleasant Road and Elm Avenue. The nearly 68,000-square-foot (6,300-sq.-m.) building includes two saltwater swimming pools (a training/lap pool and a shallow-floor teaching pool), a viewing gallery that overlooks them, a gymnasium, a dryland rowing centre, dance and yoga studios, a fitness centre, a rooftop terrace, meeting rooms, a 300-person dining hall that specializes in simple, delicious and healthy meals and a fireplace lounge. Branksome Athletics Centre nearing completion Athletic,Wellness complex rising on Mt. Pleasant
Soft footballs? Facts seem pretty soft too
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The fog surrounding the soft football semi-scandal is thick enough to cut with a pigskin. The Patriots say they don’t know anything about it. To indignant reporters demanding how it could happen, the team principals have said, in effect, how are we supposed to know. The journalism is miserable. There is no information in the stories about who actually said first there were soft footballs. It’s a galloping rumour. No source, lots of speed. The balls are supposedly checked by the league two hours before the game. Did they? What was found? The balls are supposed to be checked again at half time, it is said in some stories. Were they? What was found? Not banner day for the fifth estate. New York Times
Rio.Can pays $31.5 million for rest of Leaside Ctr
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The Rio-Can REIT, known as Rio.Can, purchased the outstanding 50 percent of the Leaside Centre at Eglinton Ave. E. and Laird Drive last week. The following statement is of interest but makes no reference to plans to redevelop the centre.
On January 15, 2015, RioCan completed the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in RioCan Leaside Centre, in Toronto, Ontario from Kimco Realty Corporation (“Kimco”). This 133,000 square foot new format centre is anchored by Canadian Tire. Other tenants include PetSmart, Pier One Imports, and Alexanian Carpet & Flooring. The property is very well located at the corner of Eglinton Avenue and Laird Avenue along the Eglinton Light Rail (“LRT”) line, currently under construction. The site is planned to host a secondary entrance to the LRT stop at the southeast corner of Eglinton Avenue and Laird Avenue. The 50% interest in the centre was acquired from Kimco at a purchase price of $31.5 million, which equates to a capitalization rate of 5.5%. RioCan assumed Kimco’s $16.5 million interest in the debt on the property, which carries an interest rate of 3.3% and matures in 2017.
Eglinton LRT tunnel boring reaches Allen Road
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Hodgson rink to open early for Friday PD Day
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Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has posted information that Hodgson School Ice Rink will be open tomorrow (Friday, January 23, 2015) between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. He notes for everyone’s information that the City’s website currently still indicates regular school day hours starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday is a PD Day and thus kids will be able to skate from 10 a.m. tomorrow. This seems like a very useful decision.
“National costume” stuns Canada and the world
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It’s not often the CBC calls anything Canadian “insane” but that word has crept into coverage of our Miss Universe candidate’s national costume. The response to Caledon native Chanel Beckenlehner’s eccentric costume on Twitter has been mixed. Many appreciate Beckenlehner’s commitment to achieving a puckhead look. The event was held Wednesday, January 21, 2015 in Miami. CBC CTV Winners, losers and train wrecks of the Miss Universe costume contest