Sea of red and white for Sunnybrook veterans

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The promised sea of red and white flags greeted veterans and their relatives at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre as Remembrance Day ceremonies took place in the residence of the largest single group of vets in the land. Wartime leader Winston Churchill overlooks this vista of flags, one of many near the George Hees Wing of the hospital. Sunnybrook  is home to some 500 men and women who have fought in  World War II, the Korean war and more recent actions against terrorism in Afghanistan. Downtown, services were held at the Old City Hall Cenotaph. Hundreds participated in  a ceremony that saw a march by colour parties and music from 7th Toronto Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery band. After the clock tower’s bells tolled at the 11th hour, bugler Cpl. Steve Abra of 7th Toronto Regiment  performed  The Last Post. Remembrance Day, which began in Britain in 1919, honours members of armed forces who have died in the line of duty while serving Commonwealth countries. Photo: The South Bayview Bulldog 

Canada will match funds raised for typhoon relief

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Canada will contribute $1 for every dollar donated by the public to help the estimated 600,000 Filipinos left homeless by Typhoon Haiyan. The International Development Minister Christian Paradis made it clear that the matching funds will be in addition to $5 million emergency contribution announced yesterday. The matching funds offer will continue until December 9, 2013, Paradis said.

Sea of red and white to greet vets at Sunnybrook

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In the early morning hours of November 11th just off Bayview Avenue  thousands of Canadian flags will be planted on the lawns in front of Sunnybrook Veterans Centre. The flags, which were purchased by citizens and corporations to raise funds, will honour and inspire the 500 Canadian veterans living at Sunnybrook. The health centre says that when when the vets awake on Remembrance Day “there will be a sea of red and white flags in a magnificent tribute and show of appreciation, from Canadians far and wide who have not forgotten their courageous contributions”. Proceeds from the campaign will go to the Veterans Comfort Fund at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre. This fund provides veteran residents with things such as computers, community outings, and continued learning opportunities, all in an effort to enable Veterans to attain the best possible life experience while at Sunnybrook. Raise A Flag

Fighting despair in storm-ravaged Leyte province

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Canada and the world are struggling to respond to the human crisis in Leyte province in the southernmost part of the Philippines. As many as 10,000 are feared dead in the wake of the ferocious typhoon that hit the country. Canada has pledged $5 million in aid immediately.  Here in Toronto, there were prayers for relatives and loved ones in Filipino churches.  

Some Pakistan schools ban Malala’s book

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Dispiriting to say the least that Pakiaston education officials feel this heroic young woman is not sufficiently respectful of Islam in her efforts to guarantee education for girls. It’s a position that will reinformce all the suspicions and prejudices against which we might otherwise like to fight. Independent

Week II of the Crisis at Toronto City Hall

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Amid universal belief among addiction authorities that Mayor Ford is in deep denial about his condition, the mayor continues to appear at City Hall and Saturday night he attended a Ukrainian event at which the prime minister was also  present. There were no untoward incidents. Ford-watchers will have noticed a renewed care he (or someone) is taking with his dress. The picture at the right shows the mayor six days ago (top) with his tie askew and shirt undone. Below is the mayor yesterday, looking neater and necessarily more in charge of himself. Whether he is in the hands of a dresser, we cannot say but it is a relief to see him looking like he is fit to appear in public. Hints from Mr. Ford’s brother, Doug, that the mayor might take time for some type of treatment remain just hints. The mayor is now said to have a driver. We can only hope that the man is also something of a chaperone when it comes to the mayor’s drinking. That may be asking a lot.  

Cyclist falls under police car on College Street

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A man riding a bicycle is has been seriously injured when the vehicle’s wheels became stuck in streetcar tracks on College Street near Shaw Street early Saturday.  It caused him to fall under a moving police cruiser.  According to police, the victim was conscious and breathing when taken to hospital. In June of 2012 a man died when he fell to the pavement after his bicycle became stuck in streetcar tracks on Wychwood Ave. Previous post

Man, 87, charged in death of roommate at home

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A disturbing insight the lives of the elderly as a resident of the Castleview Wychwood Towers nursing home is accused of homicide in the death of another elderly man with whom he shared a room.   CP24

Typhoon Haiyan: death toll could reach 10,000

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A stunning jump in the number of deaths caused by Typhoon Haiyan.  Now there are concerns the death toll from one of the strongest storms on record that ravaged the central Philippine city of Tacloban could reach 10,000 people. Early reports suggested the Pacific Island country had largely escaped fatalities.  Telegraph

Could Tories vote NDP to beat Liberal Freeland?

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Thomas Mulcair was putting a brave face on things this week as he suggested that the NDP candidate Linda McQuaig can defeat Liberal Christia Freeland in the Toronto-Centre byelection. Some pundits are abuzz with the NDP leader’s mental gymnastics. He has implied that Justin Trudeau is a shallow opportunist (our words). The saucy question for New Democrats to ponder is whether Toronto Centre Conservatives would consider voting for the NDP in this byelection in order to poke a hole in Mr. Trudeau’s boat. In recent years, the Conservatives have run behind the Liberals and under Stephen Harper haven’t paid much attention to the riding. In fairness, Bob Rae and before him Bill Graham, once established, were unbeatable. You have to go back to the 1980s, when the riding had more Conservative voters in it at the north end, to find the Tories winning. In 1988, David MacDonald won a slim victory over Graham who was still a newcomer. The enormously popular David Crombie doubled the vote in an easy win against Graham in 1984. Crombie also won in a slim victory over Liberal Ann Cools in 1980. Neither the CCF nor NDP have ever won this riding in any of its forms. These days, with Toronto-Centre slated to disappear in favor of University-Rosedale, there isn’t much of an effort being made by the Tories.  Geoff Pollock is no doubt an estimable man but his nomination came embarrassingly late in the run-up to the byelection. He has a team making calls but they seem to be falling two calls to one behind the Freeland door-knockers. And what kind of chance does McQuaig have anyway? In 2008, the NDP ran third behind the Liberals and Conservatives. In 2011, they came second. The popular vote was: Rae 41.01%, Susan Wallace (NDP) 30.21% and Kevin Moore (Conservative) 22.64%. This time around everything is unknown except the desire of the NDP to break through in this area, the visceral dislike of Justin Trudeau by the Tories and the urgent need for the Liberals to hang on. It should be fun. Voting day is Monday November 25.   Pictures top to bottom: Chrystia Freeland and Justin Trudeau, Linda McQuaig and Thomas Mulcair, Geoff Pollock and family. 

Lamb Hall full for Fabulous Christmas Fair

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Inset Lorna Krawchuk 

The St. Cuthberts Anglican Church Fabulous Christmas Fair on Saturday was a busy and profitable affair both for the church and shoppers. At noon, an hour after opening, all of the many little rooms in Lamb Hall were filled with to a friendly closeness. More than 200 fair-goers had waited outside at 11 a.m. There was fun in the air and an excellent sandwich lunch to be had as well. The “cafeteria” was zoned off in the church’s little theatre room and business was brisk enough to push some diners to take tables up on the stage. It gave them a nice view of the other side of the room where people were busy signing in for the auction. Inset, church stalwart Lorna Krawchuk and her friends in the women’s auxiliary organize and run this fair as well as the other many activities at St. Cuthberts. Lorna was saying how pleased she and the auxiliary are to have representatives from the 69th Toronto Scout Group helping out this year. All those healthy young men can lift and lug stuff. The 69th is a venerable organization which was created at St. Cuthberts in 1923. 

The problem with Trudeau’s ladies night

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Emma Teitel has a few thought about the Justin Trudeau soiree for girls. Maclean’s