Khalsa Parade marks Sikh faith, new year

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As many as 85,000 Sikhs thronged street downtown leading up to Nathan Phillips Square today to mark the 29th annual Khalsa Day parade. It is intended to mark the birth of Sikhism and Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year. The event is filled with traditional music, hymns, prayers, and food served from the langar, a communal kitchen. The Khalsa Day Parade began at Exhibition Place and went along Lake Shore heading to Nathan Phillips Square. Mayoral candidates Olivia Chow, John Tory, Karen Stintz, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Don Valley West MP John Carmichael, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau were all present at one time or another for the parade. Since its inauguration in Toronto in 1986 with 2,000 people, the event has grown to become the city’s third largest parade, featuring colourful floats, martial arts performers and members of the community dressed in traditional saffron colours. Everyone attending is asked to bring donations of non-perishable food items for the annual food drive by Sikh youth for the Daily Bread Food Bank. More than 15,000 pounds of food donations were collected at last year’s event.

Will #BVhornets stop ticket cash grab? #TOpoli

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In 2009, when Twitter was not as advanced as it is now, The South Bayview Bulldog wrote a post saying that it was possible to use social media to warn motorists that parking enforcement cops were prowling the street. Today it is even more feasible to warn drivers that they may be at risk of a ticket. A few, maybe even as few as ten or a dozen committed merchant-tweeters, an established hashtag (like #BVhornets) and a few weeks of word-of-mouth store chat, and this system could be thwarting the cash-grabbing City of Toronto from picking pockets as easily as it does. Once the idea caught on, everyone could tweet information. No such system would wipe out tickets completely, nor should it. But tweets to your phone saying the parking guy has doubled back at Belsize and is hanging around the blue Mazda could be very helpful. Take it for what it’s worth. The knowledge that even 20 percent of tickets are being stopped dead would be good for the customers and good for business. Apart from anything else, it would show the public that merchants care. Is it legal? You bet it is and the lawyer who dares to say otherwise better be ready for a ton of free speech literature in his virtual mailbox.

Man declared “vexatious litigant” for 29-year court tussle

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Rogers Callow’s incredible 29-year tussle with the court system to regain a job he lost way back in 1985 would seem to be very near its end. Ontario Superior Court Justice Colin McKinnon has issued the ultimate “don’t come back” order to Callow by declaring him a vexatious litigant.  Callow’s ill-founded odyssey began when he was fired as a social studies teacher by the West Vancouver Board of Education. His union looked at it and passed. Since then Callow, of Ottawa, has launched 20 legal proceedings at unknown expense to himself. He has been declared unwelcome by the B.C. Supreme Court and generally rebuked for his lame complaint by the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. Justice McKinnon said. “Having been rebuked by the courts and tribunals of British Columbia, the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada, Mr. Callow has now taken aim at Ontario. Ontario lacks the jurisdiction to deal with his case. As a result, Mr. Callow’s litigation must be stopped. Now.”

206 shoppers waiting for doors to open at fair

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Saturday’s St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Spring Fair drew its usual good crowd with some 206 people waiting outside the doors to Lamb Hall to get the best choice. Rev. Beth Benson greeted each personally. Business was brisk throughout the tables and on the green there were plenty of takers for the BBQ and jambalaya. Sportplay, one of the church’s tenants, had activities for the kids and the weather held. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) attended with his family. Money raised at the fair is donated in part to about ten charities which include the Flemingdon Food Bank, East York YMCA Women’s Shelter and Moorelands Camp. St. Cuthbert’s also provides space for groups like the Girl Guides, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers who meet at the church. Proceeds also go to support the church itself. Some other events set for this season are the church picnic on the green on June 22 after the 10 a.m. service and Summer day camp July 21- 25 for campers ages 4-12. 

So. Bayview garden centre open May 2 (Toronto)

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Carla Rose has told The South Bayview Bulldog that the new garden centre at Bayview Ave. and Davisville Ave will open as early as Thursday, and most certainly by Friday (May 2, 2014).  As reported earlier, the established firm Davenport Garden Centre will pick up at the central spot where Garden Court Nurseries did business for so many year before it closed in 2012. Please stop by and say hello.

Eglinton delays in Leaside beginning immediately

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There will be new construction zones on Eglinton Ave E. in Leaside beginning as early at Monday morning (April 28, 2014).  The first one will be the occupation of the northern three lanes of Eglinton for several months in the area west of Bessborough Drive and Donlea Drive to just east of Hanna Road. This will be to construct headwalls for the emergency exit building needed presumably if passengers are unable to exit through normal entrances. Here is the traffic information as described by Metrolinx: Traffic will be shifted to the south side of Eglinton and reduced to one lane in each direction near Donlea Drive from west of Bessborough Drive to just east of Hanna Road. Lane closures will protect the general public and allow different construction crews to perform their work safely. Other limited lane closures will follow to accommodate other activities required for the work. Parking will be restricted along the north and south side of Eglinton in this construction zone. Left turns from Eglinton onto Bessborough Drive and Donlea Drive will be prohibited This link has more. Then further east, work will begin on headwall construction and water main relocation to permit the building of the Laird station  The work zone will extend approximately from Brentcliffe Road to Laird Drive along Eglinton. Click here for more.  Laird station 

Bennington beauty a midtown Toronto showplace

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A large, gracious home in Bennington Heights is on the market at 6 Moorehill Dr  That’s a typically green and leafy street with no sidewalks (just the way the residents want it).  The feel of Moorehill is of a quiet country byway. This 12 room, two-storey beauty is nestled on the flat land overlooking the Moore ravine.  It is listed at $3,350,000 and despite its considerable tax levy ($21,757 last year) that may prove to be a very competitive price. The lot of 50 feet (on Moorehill) by 234 grows wider as it approaches the ravine. Despite its elegant size and location the home seems to be of simple Cod Code style. Inside reveals an eye-opening story. One interesting feature is the foyer (or reception area) which is said to be more than 32 feet deep and that includes a fireplace. Really nice for entertaining a big crowd. There is a so-called Great Room measuring 18.5 by 17 feet and an open kitchen that’s an astonishing 23.7 by  22.5 feet.  Other principal rooms are similarly sized. Here is what the agent says about the rooms: Foyer Main 32.08 x 9.15 Hardwood Floor Wainscoting Fireplace 2 Living Main 15.32 x 14.99 Hardwood Floor Fireplace W/O To Patio 3 Dining Main 15.32 x 14.99 Hardwood Floor Separate Rm 4 Kitchen Main 23.71 x 22.57 Hardwood Floor W/O To Deck Open Concept 5 Great Rm Main 18.50 x 16.99 Hardwood Floor Fireplace O/Looks Ravine 6 Master 2nd 17.48 x 17.25 Vaulted Ceiling O/Looks Ravine 5 Pc Ensuite 7 2nd Br 2nd 14.66 x 10.17 Broadloom Double Closet Window 8 3rd Br 2nd 13.68 x 11.91 Broadloom Double Closet Bay Window 9 4th Br 2nd 17.58 x 11.91 Broadloom Double Closet O/Looks Frontyard 10 5th Br 2nd 16.50 x 10.17 Broadloom Double Closet O/Looks Frontyard 11 Study 2nd 13.42 x 12.66 Open Concept B/I Desk B/I Shelves 12 Rec Lower 41.00 x 21.65 Broadloom W/O To Garden 4 Pc Bath 

Police news meeting on break-ins west of Bayview

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Police will hold a news conference tomorrow (Saturday, April 26, 2014) 1 p.m. at the Ledbury Community Centre, 146 Ledbury Rd. Cops want your help to solve a rash of break and enters in the area bounded by Highway 401 to Eglinton Avenue and Avenue Road to Bayview Avenue . Officers will be providing heightened patrols in this neighbourhood. They will be handing out crime prevention pamphlets and encouraging the use of Crime Stoppers as a tool to help solve these cases. They willbe delviering their message door-to-door and to people walking in the neighbourhood. The community command post will be utilized and the community is invited to come by for helpful crime prevention tips.