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
Turbo is found a couple of miles from his home
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Turbo has been found. The lively six-month old pup was found through the good offices of a pet-owner reading the Human Society’s “found” listings. Turbo got away from his home near Trace Manes Park and galloped all the way to the Don Mills Rd. and St. Dennis Drive neighborhood.
4 a.m. mugging reported at Yonge and St. Clair
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A 24 year old man has told police that on June 1, 2014 shortly before 4 a.m. he was in the area of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue West when he was approached by a male suspect. The suspect punched the victim in the face, removed two cell phones and fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim sustained minor injuries and attended a hospital for treatment. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described person in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect: male, 6’0”, muscular build.
“Cell phone mugging” at Thorncliffe-Overlea
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Police report a cell phone mugging at Thorncliffe Park Drive and Overlea Blvd. on Friday, May 30, 2014. An 18-year-old youth was on the street at about 5.30 p.m. when he was approached by two suspects, one armed with a knife. One suspect hit the victim, knocking his cellular telephone to the ground. The suspects grabbed the cellular telephone and fled the scene in an unknown direction. The assailants were also in their teens, police say.
ABC daycare will open at old Leaside Town Hall
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ABC Academy Child Care has put up a sign to tell new parents locally that it will be opening its new daycare in the old Leaside Town Hall at 235 McRae Drive at Randolph Rd. this Fall. ABC bought the heritage building a year ago but the deal did not close until May 4, 2014. The renovated offices and rooms will be home to local children ages three months to four years. ABC already has a centre at at 1432 Bayview Ave. at Balliol Street across from St. Cuthburt’s Anglican Church. The building was renovated a couple of years ago by ABC Academy and it has been turned into a solid, good-looking asset to the community. The original ABC Academy is on Melrose Ave. near Yonge Street. Previous post
Longest voting campaign lives in Leaside
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No one will ever know how many qualified (or likely) voters in Ward 26 actually search Twitter but for those who do, there’s no missing the smell of politics in the air. Yes, there is a municipal election coming, albeit after what seems like the world’s longest election campaign. The vote isn’t until October. Here we see the evidence of two candidates as (top) well-known meat and food retailer Andy Elder (Grilltime on Laird Drive) and Hand and Stone fight over a Jon Burnside jersey. Burnside, close second in 2010, recently declared for 2014. Charlene Kalia tweeted this. Right below is the incumbent, John Parker with Henry Chong and his inventive Revelo LE-1 bike. It is said to be the “coolest compact ebike around” and a “Leaside cottage industry.” We know that candidate Dave Sparrow must be is this Twitter run somewhere and we will find him. Beyond Leaside, the campaign is seems to be riveted on transit and polls which suggest this is the “number one” concern. Of course, public opinion is frequently led by the media, fed by politicians. In Toronto all polls ask questions inspired by the idea that the City is mired up to its hips in “Gridlock” Heavy machinery at Bayview and Belsize
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Bayview & Belsize is a busy intersection this Friday afternoon. The sidewalk is getting torn up on the north-west corner. Trucks and scaffolding take up the south-west corner as roof repairs continue above the Royal Bank. Proceed with caution.