A secret video is said to capture animal abuse at Chilliwack dairy farm. Charges of animal cruelty are pending against eight workers at the farm, Canada’s largest dairy farm, after undercover video captured workers using chains, canes, rakes and fists to abuse dairy cows. The British Columbia SPCA says Criminal Code charges were recommended for wilfully causing “unnecessary pain, suffering and injury” after their officers viewed the footage (shot by non-profit group Mercy for Animals Canada) and visited the farm last week. “The images in the undercover video are extremely disturbing and highlight an urgent need for better standards to protect farm animals in B.C. from abuse and neglect,” said Marcie Moriarty, the BC SPCA’s chief prevention and enforcement officer.
Pope fires entire Vatican financial board
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Pope Francis has fired the entire board of the Vatican’s financial regulator in an apparent attempt to clean up the leaky management of the the church’s money. Francis has dismissed the Italian five-person board and appointed four new experts from Italy, Singapore, Switzerland and the US. The church has seen the same mishandling of OPM (Other Peoples’ Money) that afflicts almost every bureaucracy.
Rosedale residents fear parking from Brickworks
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The notice for the Chorley Park Switchback meeting tonight says that some people in Rosedale are against the idea of a path to the Brickworks because it might make their neighborhood a secondary parking lot for the weekend activity down in the valley. It is a prickly issue apparently with some, maybe a few homeowners, who want nothing to do with public access to that business site. The meeting goes at 6.30 p.m. at Rosedale United Church, 159 Roxborough Drive.
It wouldn’t be Bayview in the summer without it
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Bayview is reduced to two lanes at Belsize Drive today (Monday, June 9th) for even more construction. Gotta love summer weather in Toronto.
Heartbreak as fire kills 10-year-old Brampton boy
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Heartbreak is piled on heartbreak in that Brampton town home today. The most terrible wound is the loss of a 10-year-old boy because he stayed over at friend’s home. The 4 a.m. fire ripped several homes and has displaced as many as 100 people. Police have identified the lad as Nicolas Gabriel. He was visiting a family for a sleepover and he was reported missing after everyone escaped the burning complex and they were unable to find him. Firefighters found Gabriel’s body as they extinguished hotspots and did a sweep through the gutted complex. Fire broke out at the homes on Ardglen Drive in Brampton early Sunday, June 8, 2014. Peel Regional Police spokeswoman Const. Lilly Fitzpatrick said the boy’s family lives in the neighbourhood and is “completely devastated” after learning about his death. “It’s a very, very fresh wound for them. They need some time to collect themselves and deal with this horrible blow that they’ve been dealt,” Why can’t Manor Rd. lawn bowling be a park?
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A plan to sell the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowing Club at 196 Manor Road to a developer has galvanized neighbors and some former members of the club to stop the move. Derek Tilley (inset) who bowled at the club for ten years is spearheading a petition and campaign to have the nicely situated green space turned into a city park. Through the auspices of Josh Matlow (Ward 22) the municipality is said to be ready to match the price offered by the so far unnamed developer. But, according to Mr. Tilley, executive members of the club are determined to sell to a developer. No one seems to know why. The Glebe Manor Lawn Bowing Club was founded in 1923 and this last remaining green space in the immediate neighborhood cries out for rescue. The proponents of a park at this spot have a site at Friends of the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club. The distressing part is that there seems to be no down side to club members, who own shares in the limited company, if the city pays the freight for the property. Why is it necessary to sell to a developer? It’s a question on everyone’s mind. Those interested in this patch of local green becoming a city-owned public park may contact the local Josh Matlow’s office at (416).392.7906 or by email councillor_matlow@toronto.ca Hey Toronto, you’re looking pretty sharp today
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So here’s another one of those “city awards” like “most liveable city” and others. This one crowns Toronto with the world’s “intelligent community award”. The title is said to honour the best in information and communications technology. Kingston, Ontario, was named the third most intelligent city in the world. Life is an on-going struggle against needless cynicism so let’s just say that we should take all this for what it is worth. Both Toronto and Kingston are wonderful places. There is no reason why they should not win prizes. But the Intelligent Community Forum, a think tank, appears to be a group of Canadian-American business interests which must have more on its mind that this award, and that’s fine too. But it’s good to keep it in mind when we are measuring ourselves against the entire rest of the world. Here is the Globe and Mail story all straight-faced and breathless.
Portuguese Day Parade in west-central streets
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Anyone heading into west central Toronto today might wish to check road closures for the Portuguese Day Parade. Police website
Drug lords pull off “green helicopter” escape in PQ
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Three desperate drug bosses awaiting trial have escaped from the Orsainville Detention Centre near Quebec City in a green-coloured helicopter. The last time something like this happened was slightly more than a year ago when accomplices hi-jacked a chopper pilot at gunpoint to free convicts. But the 2013 escapees were quickly apprehended about 85 km away. The three break-out drug accused are identified as Yves Denis, 35, Denis Lefebvre, 53, and Serge Pomerleau, 49. All three were arrested as part of a major police operation in 2010 called Operation Ecrevisse.
Calif. Chrome falls short,Tonalist wins Belmont
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Profile of coffee-coloured colt who nearly did it
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“Declined ballot” the first turn on the road to Hell
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You may be certain that democracy’s great reformers, every single one of them from Lord Grey (Reform Act 1832) to Canadian rebel democrat William Lyon Mackenzie (Upper Canada Rebellion) would snort in derision at the idea that voters might actually go to the polls and elaborately refuse to cast their ballots. Only this cossetted and self-involved society could conceive of an idea so stupid, so arrogant. A story linked below in the Huffington Post floats the notion for those who are “unconvinced and unimpressed” and who want to vote “none of the above.” Really. The idea raises fecklessness to a new level. Democracy isn’t about liking the people who are running or getting your issue all fulfilled on a platter. It isn’t about sulking because the political process isn’t neat. People died to create the democratic way. Stalin and Hitler laughed at “none of the above.” Are you stamping your feet about the gas plants? Pouting because that silly Tim Hudak can’t count? Well suck it up baby. Get busy and meet the candidates. Maybe you want to vote for a one-issue candidate. Fine. That can be your protest. After the election, you’ll have the right to complain. “None of the above” is the first turn on the road to Hell. Huffington Post