Darkest transit tragedy was St. Clair right-of-way

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Marcus Gee writes in the Globe and Mail today (Saturday,September 7, 2013)  that Beijing  has managed to build as many as a dozen subway lines in the last 25 years whereas Toronto hasn’t added much if any capacity to its underground service  This is, as you will gather, a criticism of everything  transit in Toronto. Mr. Gee is a perceptive man and is seldom wrong in his commentary on the state of the municipality. His dismay at the performance of the present  transportation minister is fully understandable. Mr Murray seems to be trying to build a subway to Scarborough by having a temper tantrum a day. Our quibble with Mr. Gee is his comparison of Toronto and Beijing.  It’s a common device when we want to complain about Canadian underachievement.  The Bulldog would submit that China’s subways have been built  as much for reasons of nation-building and international status as for commuter convenience. Happily, Chinese subways aren’t finished up with laughable Greek columns like those in Stalinist Moscow and St. Petersburg.  But there’s a similar kind of nationalism at work. In a country with woeful public health, spotty pensions and a bumper crop of orphans, subways may or may not seem to have been a sensible first priority. Of course it is also quite cheap to build anything in China for all the reasons that every factory owner knows. It’s true, we have been neglectful of heavy transit in Toronto but for many years there has been little public outcry about that.  Even today transit is not  the thing that inspires lawn signs in Leaside, or perhaps even Scarborough.  The depth of our  dark night of transit tragedy occurred during the mayoralty of Mr. Miller and his youthful keeper of  the streetcars, Mr. Giambone. The construction of the St.Clair right-of way was an insanity by any way of measuring it and a shameful crushing of the will of the people of that street. 

Costco staff among the best paid in retail

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Well paid jobs for Thorncliffe Park?

We hope that North York Community Councillors will ask about the current hourly pay for employees at Costco stores in Ontario when the matter of  the old Coca Cola buildings on Overlea Blvd. comes before them next Tuesday, September 10, 2013. On council’s agenda is a proposal to demolish the 1965 Coke structures and put up a bustling Costco store plus a full up service station as well. Whatever else my be on the minds of Chair Maria Augimari and her colleagues, the members will be well served by a look at the excellent money that Costco has waiting for its new employees at this location. Earlier meetings have been told there may be as many as 100 full-time jobs. There would be few retail workers in Thorncliffe Park who would not gladly trade their present positions for a chance to see the $17 or $18 an hour that Costco is said to pay.  Research suggests that Costco rewards its employees with pay as much as double the going rate as places like Walmart, Target and others. The minimum wage in Ontario is $10.25 but under certain conditions some may be paid less. The 11-member council is in a position to approve the Toronto City Staff report on the proposed Costco and send it on with a recommendation to full council to do the same. Previously The Bulldog has reported on this and on the public spirited decision by Costco to maintain and find a place of pride for the Walter Yarwood sculpture that has adorned the Coke property for 50 years. Members of the the North York Community Council are Maria Augimeri, Chair,  John Parker, Vice-chair, Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, John Filion, Denzil Minnan-Wong, James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner and  Karen Stintz   Plan for Overlea Costco   Yarwood’s sculpture 

Large extension added at 31 Sutherland Drive

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Here at 31 Sutherland Drive there is a full size extension being added at the back.  This man is shuttling concrete to the back of the property and we can only hope he doesn’t have to personally transfer all the cement for a poured foundation. The modest home has a nice if somewhat busy location. It sits on Sutherland facing north with a view of the more exalted section of Bessborough Drive. The 88 Leaside bus passes frequently which may be both a blessing and a curse. This is just one of a number of homes being renovated or demolished in South Leaside on these desirable streets. 

Semi on Donlea Dr. changes hands for $859,262

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There’s a fairly interesting example of the prices people are paying for modest but updated homes in North Leaside published in the Toronto Star’s What They Got feature today (Friday, September 6, 2013). It reveals that the semi-detached home at 262 Donlea Drive sold in just seven days for $859,262, some $60,262 over the asking price. The property sits at the corner of Brentcliffe Rd. on a 25 foot by 135 foot lot. It has a single car garage and a shared driveway. The home was described as “Extensively Renovated” with  the kitchen re-done. It also has nicely updated baths, new electrical and a front yard irrigation system installed in 2009. Nice. Kitchen extras included stainless fridge, oven, dishwasher, microwave/convection oven and front load stacked washer and dryer. There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms in the house. It last sold in the year 2000 for $330,000.  

Canada, 9 others reject “Russian veto” on actions

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The prime minister says the G20 discussion in Russia on Syria was “extremely frank but respectful”.  At the end, Canada signed a joint statement with nine other countries declaring the regime of Bashar Assad responsible for the chemical weapons strike against civilians last month in a Damascus. The countries signing the statement with the U.S. were Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. “The world cannot wait for endless failed processes that can only lead to increased suffering in Syria and regional instability,” says the statement.  Mr Harper also offered a tough verdict on Russian leader Valdimr Putin:  “I think…we are simply not prepared to accept the idea that there is a Russian veto over all of our actions.” In all of this Canada has been a reluctant convert to the idea of taking action against the Assad. The PM has said that his decision to add this country’s name to the statement is about the precedent set by the use of chemical weapons without a response to make clear the world’s disapproval. 

Bayview extension to stay closed another month

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Bayview Avenue will remain closed for an additional two weeks between River Street and Lower River Street the gas company Enbridge has announced.  The closure has been in effect since the beginning of August for work on the Don Valley natural gas pipeline. Enbridge now expects the Bayview extension to re-open at River Street by the end of September. 

Mr. Shurman should retire for good of the party

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It’s a stupid and unnecessary embarrassment the Conservatives at Queen’s Park should have been able to avoid. Finance critic Peter Shurman has been using an expense provision that is legal but in a way that is totally outside the spirit of what was intended. He billed the public more than $20,000 for a future retirement home in Nigara Falls. The arrangement is supposed to help MPPs pay for living expenses while they are at the Legislature in Toronto. This matter follows the Bulldog’s iron-clad rule of human nature: People never — never — treat other people’s money with the same care as their own. Maybe Mr Shurman should retire now for the good of the party.  Comment

Would-be thieves armed with bear spray

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Toronto Police Service report:  A 37 year old male employee of Noor’s Fine Foods at 838 Broadview Avenue reports that on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at approximately 0200 hours, three male suspects entered the premises. Two of the suspects were wearing disguises, and one of the suspects was holding a can of bear spray. The victim, fearing he was going to be robbed, called 911 and advised the suspects that the police were on the way. All three suspects left the store empty-handed and entered a dark coloured SUV which left the scene northbound on Broadview Avenue. No injuries were sustained by the victim. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described persons in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect #1: Male, black, 24 to 28 years, 5’10”, 220 to 249 pounds, heavy build. Suspect #2: Male, black, 22 to 26 years, 5’4” to 5’5”, thin build. Suspect #3: Male, black, 5’6”, medium build.

Harper Ave. home has garage at street level

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This huge house has risen on the west side of Harper Ave in Moore Park where demolitions are eating away at the number of original 1920s homes that first sat here.  The action is not as manic as it is Leaside, but it seems to be heating up. 56 Harper sits on the sloping rocky ground that is Moore Park, terrain that gradually loses elevation from the shore of the pre-historic Lake Iroquois (above the CP tracks) down to the tributaries of the Don River. The house is very tall and most unusually it has a double car garage inside the home at ground or street level. It appears, from the height of the windows on the next level that the living quarters begin one floor up. It will be an elegant setting but the front entrance is not clear just yet. There will be some steps. You could see how an owner of this home might like an elevator in his  garage to get to the kitchen and sitting rooms but there is no indication about that, one way or the other. In any case, it is evidence again of the resources being driven  into fines homes in this  area.  

Sleuth of Baker Street event Sunday, Sept 8

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The Sleuth of Baker Street at 907 Millwood Rd. will host a party for a friend, Helena Nelson, who has had a story published in an anthology called  Nefarious North. It will take place Sunday, September 8, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the shop. Sleuth says that many of the contributors to the collection are better known in the romance and para-normal fields but it is very much worth coming out to meet Helena and many of her co-contributors. Some of the contributors who are saying they will be present are:

Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

Karen Blake-Hall
Linda Cahill
Cindy Carroll
Jeffrey Charles
Karen Dales
Graham Freeman
Patricia Kennedy
Ray Livingston
Heather Mac Archer
Rosemary McCracken
Kollene McKeown
Helen Nelson
Steve Shrott

Hand and Stone Massage a Bulldog advertiser

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A warm welcome to Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa as an advertiser in The South Bayview Bulldog. This established and reputable chain of spas is located right here at 85 Laird Drive Unit 202 (2nd floor). Their specialty is the luxurious “beyond pampering massage”. It is affordable and one of the best ways to relax and reduce stress. Phone: 647-748-8853 leaside@handandstone.ca Same day appointments available: Monday-Friday: 9 am – 10 pm Saturday: 8 am – 6 pm. See their ad on this page and check the website here