Would you travel with man you had never met?

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Jordan Axani wants to make it very clear, there’s no romantic intent in his planned fantasy trip with a young woman he hardly knows. But then, who can predict that? The lucky (we suppose) girl is Elizabeth Gallagher, 23, a student who applied for the opportunity when she saw the offer on Reddit where Axani advertised it.  CBC tells the complicated tale but as excited as she is, Ms Gallagher, from Cole Harbour N.S. hints at what many people might feel about this adventure. “It’s less spooky now that I’ve spoken with him.” Well, that’s nice.

Can the Classic help Blackberry hang on?

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BlackBerry launched its greatly heralded Classic phone Wednesday (December 27, 2014). The reviews are very good and yet it seems impossible that the Classic can do more than shore up the remaining Blackberry clientele who have stuck with previous keyboard devices. Of course the talk is highly opstiistic with Blackberry saying it can win back market share and woo those still using older versions of its physical keyboard devices. The Waterloo technology company said the new device has a larger screen and longer battery life. It is reminsicent of the  popular Bold and Curve handsets and expanded app library with access to offerings from Amazon.com Inc’s Android App store, and a browser three times faster than the one on its legacy devices. Business Today

Caring enough about Rehteah to speak the truth

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The Justice Minister of Nova Scotia has lifted a ban on the publication of the name of the unfortunate and now deceased young woman who has been the subject of a national tale of gossip and scandal for more than two years. She is of course Rehtaeh Parsons. Her story has been sensationalized to an outcome which leaves many people with deep regret. Regret not just about bullying and teenage bad judgement but also for the morbid fascination it held for the media. It is true that this pretty teen with the delicately rebellious name (Heather spelled backwards) suffered a terrible agony of humiliation and shame at the hands of those she thought were her friends. But it is also true she committed indiscretions which exposed her to this abuse. Please do not bother to complain that this is blaming the victim. The facts are the facts. If others had had as much concern for Rehtaeh she might still be alive. Any adult knows the odds were high for her to grow up and lead a happy life. In making the decision to permit publication, the Nova Scotia Minister, Lena Metlege Dia, has said there will  be no prosecution as long as Retahah’s name is not used in a derogatory fashion. That’s fine but we trust the minister will accommodate the truth about this sad matter before seeking to charge anyone.

Topping off Gingerbread house at Bamboo Bay

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Carrie Tse owner of the kids creative school Bamboo Bay has tweeted this picture of important Gingerbread house construction.  Bamboo Bay is in the heart of South Bayview, upstairs over Write Impressions at Bayview Ave. and Millwood Road. (416) 901-1255 or visit www.bamboobay.ca  

Sydney hostage describes siege and escape

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Metro

Gerald Storch is the new CEO of Hudson’s Bay

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Gerald (Jerry) Storch

Gerald (Jerry) Storch, a veteran of Toys R Us Inc and Target Corp, has been appointed the new chief executive of Hudson’s Bay Co. Mr. Storch will have responsibility for guiding The Bay and its blue chip subsidiaries Lord and Taylor and Saks to a successful launch in Canada and especially to expand their online presence. Storch replaces Richard Baker. He remains at vice-preident and governor.   Hudson’s Bay’s total online sales touched C$228 million ($196 million) in the third quarter, accounting for about 12 percent of the company’s retail sales. Storch’s appointment will come into effect on Jan. 6, Hudson’s Bay said on Wednesday. Baker will continue as governor and executive chairman of the company, a centuries-old firm with roots in the fur trade. Reuters

Fire call on Davisville between Yonge-Pailton

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There was a call for the Fire Department on Davisville Ave. between Yonge Street and Pailton Crescent this evening (Tuesday, December 16, 2014). It was cleared shortly.
GAS LEAK IN ETOBICOKE
A gas leak forced the evacuation of an Etobicoke seniors’ home on Tuesday but residents were returned to the building shortly after firefighters got the situation under control. It happened at Leisureworld Caregiving Centre, a 3-storey facility on Humberline Drive with approximately 160 beds.. The call was upgraded to a two-alarm event, though no injuries were reported. It’s unclear what caused the gas leak.

Agnes Macphail Award nominations are open

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Agnes Macphail

The East York Foundation has announced that nominations for the 2015 Agnes Macphail Award are open and that the deadline for nominations is Thursday, January 29, 2015. The annual award is open to citizens of the former Borough East York (see below) and is given in commemoration of the ideals of Ms Macphail, who was for many years a resident of Leaside. Agnes Macphail was elected Canada’s first woman Member of Parliament on this date in 1921 and had an active and distinguished career both as an MP and later as MPP for East York. She was a notable progressive and ardent pacifist even though she concluded that it was necessary to fight the aggression of Hitler’s Nazi regime.  The ideals embodied in the award are those of social justice and outstanding contribution to community life in areas such as women’s rights, fairness to seniors and youth. Other standards are criminal justice system and penal reform, international peace and disarmament, access to adequate housing, access to adequate health care or access to adequate education. The former Borough of East York includes East York, Leaside, Thorncliffe Park, Governor’s Bridge, and Bennington Heights. The nomination form and more detailed information about the event are found at this web site link.  The donation form is also at the web site. All funds collected for the 2015 Agnes Macphail Award will be donated to a charity chosen by the 2015 award recipient. Tax receipts are issued by the East York Foundation. Here are previous winners  (asterisk denotes deceased).

Red Jim Parker 2017
Patrick Rocca 2016
 Muhammad Masood Alam 2015
Sheila Lacroix 2014
Alan Redway 2013
Alice Carriman 2012
John Carter 2011
Bill Pashby 2010
Patricia Moore 2009
Geoff Kettel 2008
Lorna Krawchuk 2007
Shamsh Kara 2006
George Hurst 2005
Vi Thompson 2004
Dorothy Rivers-Moore 2003
Bob Hart * 2002
Grace Stephens 2001
Audrey Tobias 2000
Barbara Thompson 1999
Elisabeth and Robert Lister 1998
Ruth Goldhar 1997
Marjorie Lewsey * 1996
Eileen Morris Adams 1995
J. Edna Beange 1994

Toronto market surges as buyers hunt bargains

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Investors caught a scent of the best of all possible worlds Tuesday as the TSX surged higher but oil prices stayed relatively low. One day does not a Chrismtas make but there was widesprad optimism as stock buyers plunged back into the market to pluck up bargains. The Toronto Stock Exchange closed ahead 156 points or 1.1 per cent. The TSX had nearly wiped out all of this year’s gains by Monday’s close after following oil prices downward. Today saw a large comback. At one point the market was up 352 points. 

Eglinton now open between Yonge and Redpath

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Eglinton Ave E. has now re-opened after a two-hour closure between Yonge Street and Redpath Ave when a pedestrian was struck by a TTC bus. Police say the person was hit  on Eglinton close to Yonge. The victim was a woman possibly in her 40s  She is in stable condition in hospital. Twitter pictures by Andrew Eckford (left) and “joycey” who caught this grab shot of the ambulance headed no doubt to Sunnybrook.  

Health Dep’t warns of increased cases of influenza

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The Toronto Public Health Department warns of increased numbers of influenza cases so far this season. There were 113 cases reported as of December 6 — more than three times the 10-year seasonal average. There have been 342 in total in the province, a figure nearly double the 182 this time last year. Public Health Ontario says 120 people have been hospitalized and three have died from influenza. Most of those cases are among individuals over the age of 65. The seasonal peak of cases is usually seen around the end of the month.

Kathleen, you’ve got to do better, he tells premier

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Premier Wynne has told members of the Economic Club of Canada that she was hectored in her “local electronics store” by a man who told her that the government was “wasting our money.” It happened Saturday (December 13, 2014).  The report does not name the store in which this happened but it was in Leaside apparently. A reasonable guess — either at the Source in the Sunnybrook Plaza or the Best Buy in the Rio.Can Leaside Centre. But no matter, the man let loose across the store with the unsolicited advice, say Ms. Wynne, the member of Don Valley West. “Kathleen you’ve got to do better. You’re wasting our money.” he shouted. Ms. Wynne told the business audience that she figured the guy was having a bad day. But she also said such interactions with the public remind her of why she got into politics in the first place. That would be to create more jobs, more opportunities and a stronger economy. The auditor general’s annual report said Ontario ratepayers paid $50 billion more than it should have over a decade to cover the gap in the actual price of electricity and the price the Liberals guaranteed to power generators in long-term contracts.