Ward 26 Councillor Jon Burnside has told CP24 that there has been no handover of records or constituent concerns from his predecessor, John Parker. Mr. Burnside said the Ward 26 office was bare of any material from the previous term. The CP24 interview was done at City Hall on Tuesday (December 2, 2014) as the newly-elected council prepared to hold its first meeting.
Canadian Tire Showroom lights up Leaside Centre
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Here’s The South Bayview Bulldog’s rendering of a tweet from Ray White of Leaside. It shows the Canadian Tire Corporation’s Showroom decked out in impressive lights. Visit it in the RioCan Leaside Centre at Eglinton Ave. and Laird Drive. Thanks for the shot Ray.
Newly-elected school chair also wants to be MP
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Shaun Chen was elected chair of the Toronto District School Board at its first meeting of the new board yesterday. There is a good deal of talk about a new start at the dysfunctional board. But the stories announcing the election result also say that Mr. Chen, who is 34, will seek a Liberal nomination in next year’s federal election. If Mr Chen is as good as he is ambitious, everything will be just fine.NSS sugar shake a misstep says Ron Felsen
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Ron Felsen, the able principal of Northern Secondary School, was blinded-sided it seems by the school’s cafeteria staff recently when they invited the Canadian Sugar Institute to speak to kids at lunch about the nutritional benefits of sugar. Well, some of us might like the idea of a little nutritional sugar but, as Felsen told veteran education reporter Louise Brown of the Toronto Star, it was “a misstep” from the perspective of high school kids. Brown’s story of how NSS Grade Niner Ryan Young called out the school on this visit is worth a read. Louise Brown, Toronto Star
Gill is okay she says: “Ignore these (bs) stories”
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| Pictures from Gill’s Facebook page |
Gill Rosenberg, the Canadian-Israeli woman who has gone to fight ISIS with the Kurdish army, seems to be okay. Despite posts on radical Islamic sites saying she has been taken prisoner, messages which appear to have come from Ms. Rosenberg personally deny it. This afternoon (Monday, December 1, 2014) has seen a flurry of messages to Rosenberg’s Facebook page. In one which has the sign-on “Gill Rosenberg” the message says: “I’m totally safe and secure. I don’t have Internet access or any communication devices with me for my safety and security. I can’t reply regularly and only happened to have a chance to log in and see these (bs) news stories. Ignore the reports I’ve been captured.” Ms Rosenberg, 31, is by any measure a remarkable person. Her Facebook page is a compendium of content both youthful and mature. She is inspired by the de facto alliance between Israel and Kurd peoples in Iraq to defeat ISIS. Israel’s Haaretz reported Rosenberg gave an interview to Israel Radio, explaining why she wanted to join the Kurdish fight against ISIS. “They are our brothers. They are good people. They love life, a lot like us, really,” she reportedly said. Rosenberg indicated she was a member of the IDF from 2006 to 2008 and posted several photos of herself in uniform.
Siren serenade signals rubbish fire on Donegall
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Shoppers and merchants on South Bayview were serenaded by sirens about 3.30 p.m. Monday as fire department units responded to a rubbish fire on Donegall Drive between between Fleming Crescent and Parkhurst Blvd. It is now out and all is well.
Sparkling night for Uptown-Yonge tree lighting
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The evening of Friday, November 28, 2014 sparkled as the Uptown-Yonge BIA lit its Christmas tree in St. Clements-Yonge Parkette. At lower right, Ward 25 Councillor Jaye Robinson is seen with Daly McCarten, BIA Co-ordinator
Union reports ‘chaos’ with new welfare software
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How others live: In case you had forgotten
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| File |
It’s what happens to you if you are a woman and you try to enter Saudi Arabia at the wheel of car. It is, after all, the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving. Until six hours ago, Loujain Hathloul had been tweeting from the border point with Saudi Arabia’s next door neighbor, but now there is silence. Loujain, who is Saudi, said she had been held there a day. Activists said she was arrested on Monday afternoon, but the interior ministry did not immediately comment on her case. “They don’t want her to come because she is a woman driver,” one activist told AFP, asking to remain anonymous. “The customs (department) have no right to prevent me from entering even if in their opinion I am ‘a violator’ because I am Saudi,” Hathloul had tweeted on Monday morning.
Wars of Don Valley West well buried Monday
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| Premier and mayor meet |
Old opponents from the Wars of Don Valley West met in a cordial public-interest meeting at Queen’s Park Monday morning (December 1, 2014). Kathleen Wynne and John Tory battled for the seat in the 2007 provincial election. Tory lost. Today they met privately and then came before the media to speak of their plans to work together in the interests of the City. There wasn’t a lot to learn but it was nice. The most tangible evidence of action may have been with Smart Track, the mayor’s plan to electrify and integrate the rail systems into the TTC. The premier seemed to suggest that planing with her government is underway. Let’s hope so. Mr Tory has appointed Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34) deputy mayor. The new mayor has also named some deputy mayors for areas of the city. although their roles are not quite clear. These appointments are subject to a council vote. They are Vince Crisanti (Ward 1) west, Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 43) east and Pam McConnell (Ward 28) south. Importantly, Josh Colle (Ward 15) is the chair of the TTC, charged with making Smart Track happen. Gary Crawford (Ward 36) will be budget chief. Lots of griping however
Philos raises $1,080 in Movember campaign
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| Photis Philos |
South Bayview merchant Photis Philos is among local men who successfully helped raise money for the Movember Foundation in aid of research into prostate cancer. The pledges were made for the growth of a mustache. “Photi” is the owner of Bell’s Jewellers and is a prostate cancer survivor. He writes on the Movember website that he rasied $1,080 and he will never stop fighting. A picture of this year’s mustache reveals a very good-looking and well-trimmed example of the time-honoured men’s facial dress. Photi is in process of liquidating his business at Bell’s Jewellers after 34 years on Bayview Ave. The Movember Foundation work to stop testicular cancer and mental health issues in men. It has funded over 800 programs in 21 countries that are saving and improving the lives of men affected by these health issues. Every year Canadian Mo Bros take action by changing their appearance by growing a moustache for the 30 days of Movember, to spark conversation and raise funds. Mo Sistas commit to supporting the men in their lives while helping to promote men’s health. Find out more Bell Jewellers to close in 2015 Thanks Photi. Here’s wishing a most interesting and happy future as you move beyond running a business here in South Bayview.
