Emmet’s does framing, cleaning and old paper restoration

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The internationally-known art and framing service at 75 Laird Drive is one of those places that just quietly builds business around the world while remaining an unobtrusive fixture in its own neighbourhood.  As told by the owner of Emmet’s Custom Framing, it’s been a good place to grow and prosper. Emmet Maddix is surrounded by thousands of frames and samples in his cavernous showroom. A large and wide soft-covered counter stretches six feet near windows where paintings and other works can be examined. Overhead, a mirror reflects the work and offers an alternative view. One of the paintings hung nearby is a portrait of the owner done in 1985. And after 51 years in the framing and restoration business (33 of them on Laird) Mr. Maddix is  feeling optimistic about the continued success of Emmet’s. He is looking forward to his son Adam taking over. “He has a very good eye for period frames,” the senior Maddix observes. Emmet’s is a mostly wholesale business, providing framing, cleaning and advice on art of all kinds. It receives much of the business of framing portraits and documents of the Ontario Government.

Paper restoration

Emmet’s undertakes, through specialists, tricky cleaning and even paper restoration. That’s the arcane task of removing black fungus spots from historic documents, agreements and letters. It’s a process known as “foxing”.  Emmet’s showroom and offices are in the unobtrusive gray building at the corner of Laird and Canvarco  Road.  It is what was the street frontage of the long since dissolved Canada Varnish Company. The original Canvarco property stretches down the side street named after the company, comprising many acres. It is owned primarily by three separate parties, one of whom is Mr. Maddix. He wisely saw the value of buying his location soon after moving there. He recalls that the owner of the varnish company was an accomplished organ recitalist and had this musical instrument in his office. He fitted speakers on the roof and played Sunday morning concerts to all of Leaside within earshot, whether they liked it or not. According to Mr Maddix, the music was well received. It is a vision that stretches the imagination of what it was like to live in this part of Leaside shortly after the mid-point of the 20th Century.

Premier to chat online with citizens Tuesday

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Premier Kathleen Wynne will take questions online tomorrow morning (Tuesday, February 11, 2014) at the hosting site Reddit. News stories today say a link will be established tomorrow to the Premier’s Ask Me Anything (AMA) availability. The AMA period is scheduled for 11.20 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.  The format should look a bit like a chat chain. It should be an easy one for the Premier and perhaps she will keep her answers short. 

Toronto house prices could be problem: BMO

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The Bank of Montreal is warning that the surging price of homes in Toronto may reflect a serious economic threat in the foreseeable  future. BMO includes Toronto home values along with international factors like pressures on emerging markets  and the U.S. debit orgy. Specifically, BMO says that if interest rates normalize (or go higher as most people might put it) then those who have counted on annual increases in prices of 9 percent will be hurt, as will the economy and a whole. Globe and Mail 

39 Finch bus back on route around sinkhole

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The intersection of Bayview and Finch Aves  has re-opened tonight after an all-day blockage caused by a water main break. The 39 Finch bus has resumed its normal routing after the clearance given by city officials about 8.30 p;m. The pictures suggests that rush hour might be a little slow Monday morning. The rupture flooded the Bayview intersection and cut off water to a number of residences.

Joy, pride as sisters win gold and silver in Moguls

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Justine Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal has won a gold medal in the women’s moguls, and her sister Chloe has captured silver. It is a special achievement that is being celebrated across Canada as reflected on Twitter and elsewhere tonight. Hanna Kearney of the U.S. finished third. Picture at left shows Justine (left) and Chloe a few days ago when they qualified.  At right, the ecstasy of victory grips the sisters moments after finishing their runs. In fact, Justin and Chloe have a sibling, Maxime, who apparently did not finish in the money. Of course, many people are regretting that Maxime “didn’t bronze.” Earlier Regina’s Mark McMorris took bronze in the men’s slopestyle snowboarding event. The snowboarder was favoured to win gold but was competing just a few weeks after breaking a rib. American Sage Kotsenberg won gold with a first-run score of 93.50. Norway’s Staale Sandbech earned silver with a score of 91.75. Maxence Parrot, from Bromont, Que., was fifth with 87.25, while Montreal’s Sebastian Toutant was ninth with a 58.50. Charles Reid of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was eliminated after finishing 14th in the semifinal. Canada’s women’s hockey team has won its opening game against Switzerland 5-0. They outshot the Swiss 69-14. Rebecca Johnston led the way for Canada with a goal and two assists. Charline Labonte made 14 saves for the shutout. Canada’s next game is on Monday at 7 a.m. against Finland. Canada’s Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir finish 2nd in the ice dance short program in team figure skating. Canada is 2nd overall

“U.S. and Russia rig Olympics against Canada”

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Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

The French magazine L’Equipe says it has learned that the U.S. and Russian Olympic judges have  struck a deal to help each other out at Sochi skating events. The scheme is said by L’Equipe to specifically target Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and their chances of winning the gold medal.  The magazine quotes a Russian coach, who spoke to the magazine on the condition of anonymity about the “proposed barter” between the two countries. According to the magazine, the anonymous official said the U.S. has agreed to help Russia win the pairs figure skating and team events. In exchange, Russia would purportedly ensure Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S. win gold over Canadian champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. “I stay clear of that stuff,” Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada’s high performance director, told the Canadian Press. “I have full confidence that the skaters go out and do their job, they will do their job on the ice, the judges will judge it as they see it.” Problem is. the sport of figure skating has been here already. In 2002, a French figure skating judge at the Salt Lake events, confessed that she had been pressured to fiddle with the scores to help the Russian figure skating team. When the scam was exposed, the Olympic Committee had to give a gold medal to Canada’s Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. World opinion had already concluded the two were the best team. CBC