A homeowner on Hillhurst Blvd near Avenue Road reports a break-in during what appears to have been an absence for a vacation. It took place between July 3 and 16, 2014. Entry was gained into the premises by forcing a window. A quantity of jewellery was stolen.
Where is the pedestrian horn on your car?
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Following the deeply dispiriting death of seven-year-old Georgia Walsh many thoughtful people have talked again about the importance of making eye contact between motorist and pedestrian. It’s very speculative in the Leaside case because we have no official version of what happened at the corner of Millwood Rd. and McRae Drive Wednesday afternoon. But we do know that somehow little Georgia got out in front of a minivan that was turning west. She was crossing from north to south so it is easy to see how eye-contact, if there was any attempt to accomplish it, was difficult. The vehicle was approaching Georgia from behind. Whatever happened, experienced drivers will know that eye contact with pedestrians can be an effective way to ensure safety and timely manoeuvring at a corner or elsewhere. When old friends are saying goodbye on the sidewalk inches from the roadway where a driver it trying to turn right, they aren’t looking at his car. A savvy driver with a responsive well-adjusted horn is often able to catch the attention of a person on foot before he or she toddles backwards out into the road. But most cars are built with horns that send one signal — a super loud blast suited to stopping a train. Where is the pedestrian horn, the signal that sends a polite “excuse me” to distracted adults and kids at close quarters? It is a question for traffic safety and automobile manufacturers. Police talk about making eye contact and wearing bright clothes. But it takes two to make eye contact. Hundreds attend sombre vigil for Georgia Walsh
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Hundred of moms, dads and their kids attended a vigil for Georgia Walsh today (Thursday, July 17, 2014) at the corner of Millwood Rd and McRae Drive. This is the intersection at which Georgia was fatally injured 24 hours earlier when she was hit by a minivan as it turned right onto Millwood off McRae. The gathering was both large and orderly. Parents talked quietly among themselves and also to news people, who flooded the corner with their numbers and five satellite antennae trucks (inset). Parents could be heard explaining to reporters about the amount of activity in the the area — Trace Manes Park, the tennis courts, Leaside Library and Leaside United Church. One mother (inset) was holding her little ones extra tightly as she knelt with tear-filled eyes at the memorial of flowers piled against the LUC hedge just about at the point where Georgia last tried to cross the road. Earlier in the day children, classmates and neighbours sat cross-legged in front of flowers. There is much talk of increased traffic in the area for many reasons, mostly the LRT disruptions on Eglinton Ave. E. “This community has become a traffic nightmare because of all the commercial development that’s going on and it’s only going to get worse,” area resident Patrick Rocca told CityNews. Read the Walsh family’s statement here and the account of the accident hereMature heads should rule at Leaside girl’s vigil
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Residents shared a group email this afternoon calling on fellow Leasiders and others to hold a vigil at the corner of McRae Drive and Millwood Road at 4 p.m. It is clear from the message that there is a lot of emotion surrounding the death of Georgia Walsh Wednesday afternoon. It is entirely understandable. The mail says that some people think they should block traffic. The author very wisely suggests otherwise. Mature heads should try today to offer an opportunity for people to express their sadness and concern without doing careless or dangerous things. The South Bayview Bulldog can only state the obvious: The police have not yet finished their investigation and they have not given any reason or cause for this accident. The mail also notes that there is a program of lawn signs being prepared. The signs would apparently ask motorists to slow down. Nothing wrong with that. It gives an address which is either soon to be active or already working: leasidekidsatplay@gmail.com
Police ask public’s help in McRae-Millwood death
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Police are asking for the public’s helps in their investigation of the accident that killed Georgia Walsh last evening. They have issued this notice on the service’s website. Previous
Microsoft cuts 18,000 in company sea-change
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Microsoft Corp will slash up to 18,000 jobs, or 14 percent of its workforce, this year as it almost halves the size of its newly acquired Nokia phone business and tries to transform into a cloud-computing and mobile-friendly software company. Reuters
Georgia Walsh, 7, mourned by her family
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The seven-year-old who died after being struck by a minivan at McRae Drive and Millwood Road was the daughter of John Walsh, president of the Conservative Party of Canada. The family has released a statement and the above picture. “The Walsh family; John, Jillian, Duncan, Liam and Finn are saddened to inform you that their beautiful daughter and wonderful sister Georgia has passed,” the family said. “Taken from them suddenly in an accident today, the family asks that they be given their space and privacy to come to terms with this incredible loss. Your prayers are appreciated.” Traffic concerns: There has been a flurry of complaints aired in the media about traffic on McRae Drive. McRae has been a thoroughfare for many years. John Parker (Ward 26) is right to say there is no way of no knowing if traffic flow is a cause of this accident, or any accident. He correctly says that the police should be permitted to finish their investigation. Previous post
CTV says impending charges against Duffy
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RCMP are said to be read to lay a number of charges against Senator Mike Duffy. CTV and others are saying they will formally accuse the one-time national televison correspondent of wrongly claiming living and travel expenses. Duffy is also expected to face charges in connection with misuse of public funds. An RCMP investigator said in October that Duffy made about $65,000 in payments to a former CTV friend under a contract by which the man said he did “little or no work”. Duffy’s lawyer said in a statement Wednesday that the RCMP has decided to lay charges. Donald Bayne is quoted: “We are confident that when the full story is told, as it will be, and shown to be supported by many forms of evidence, it will be clear that Sen. Duffy is innocent of any criminal wrong-doing.”
Galen G. becomes Loblaws chief as Trius quits
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Galen G. Weston has been been appointed President of Loblaws effective immediately. The Company also announced Vicente Trius, President since August 2011, will leave the business, also immediately, for what are called family reasons to return to Brazil. In a news release, Mr. Weston said: “Vicente has made an enormous impact on virtually every aspect of our business in the time that he has been with the Company. The moves come as Loblaws works to consolidate the acquisition of Shopper drug mart. Although the full effect of that large move does not yet seem to be fully apparent. At the store level, Loblaws is in dealing with a large re-ordering of its inventory in which brands were dropped and many new Loblaws bands introduced. It has caused some confusion.
Help the Friends of Glebe Manor Bowling
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Members of the consortium of residents and members of the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club have hired counsel to find and bring forward violations of the Corporations Act which they believe occurred in the now stalled attempt to sell the Globe Manor property to a developer. They especially draw the attention to the Donations Button on their website. A few dollars from all those in favor of saving the property will make a big difference. Friends of Glebe Manor Bowling Club
Child struck and killed at McRae and Millwood
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This story has been changed to correct information. The child killed as she was crossing McRae from west to east on the north side of Millwood. She is identified as Georgia Walsh. (See post above). The scene of the accident is the corner where Leaside United Church is located. Police are being cautious about the status of the traffic lights at the corner. There was a report that the child’s mother was in the area but police later said the mom may not have known about the accident until she heard sirens. The vehicle is said to have been driven by a 50-year-old man who stayed at the scene of the accident. EMS personnel said the child suffered serious head injuries in the fall to the pavement and died at the Hospital for Sick Children. Residents and parishioners of Leaside United were at the corner this evening. They were shocked and sombre. This had been the evening set for the LUC community barbecue on the lawn of the church. Although the streets remained closed into the evening Wednesday, July 16, 2014, police on the scene said the intersection would definitely be open for traffic Thursday morning. Photos: l-r shocked parishioners of Leaside United Church talk, police officer measures distance across Millwood (cones in rear show where child fell) and aerial capture from CP24 with south at the top and west on the right.
Cat found in Leaside
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Anyone in #Leaside know who might own this cat? Very thin not walking well. Needs his home. I’ve fed him & water pic.twitter.com/sGyVrHkUdk
— Deb Lace-Kelly (@DebLaceKelly) July 16, 2014