We got off “lightly” during famous blackout

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South Bayview Bulldog readers have fragmentary flashes of the historic blackout which occurred ten years ago today. Perhaps that’s because, in the end, we got off rather lightly. Power was back on in our neighborhoods again within hours, as we recall. Many restaurants showed ingenuity in continuing business: Verdi and Small Talk (remember them?) used wood burning ovens and Groucho’s Burgers (messy but good) used a propane BBQ. Stores however seemed less versatile. It was dark in a lot of the shops and without power, there was no credit card or debit to be had. If you have a memory of the the blackout day, please send it along to The South Bayview Bulldog.

Essence du Papier to open at 1657 Bayview

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A new stationery shop will be opening in the premises formerly leased by the Country Store at 1657 Bayview Ave. north of Fleming Cres. Renovation is underway and a sign in the window seeks a part-time associate. The name on the window sign is Essence du Papier, a subsidiary of the Pierre Belvedere company of Montreal. Essence du Papier has three other stores, two in Montreal and one downtown in Toronto. The Country Store closed in January after decades on South Bayview. 

Coca Cola ads to defend artificial sweetener

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Declining sales of both regular and diet Coca Cola have caused the company to launch a series of print ads that will defend the artificial sweetener aspartame, also known as NutraSweet. The ads begin Wednesday in USA Today in the Atlanta area, followed by the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Thursday and the Chicago Tribune next week. The ad says that diet drinks can help people manage their weight and stresses the scientific evidence showing the safety of aspartame. It is a second phase of a campaign Coca-Cola launched in January to defend regular Coke from obesity concerns. But there has been declining sales of the diet drinks as well. Last year, for example, sales volume for Coke fell 1 per cent, while Diet Coke fell 3 per cent. Pepsi fell 3.4 per cent, while Diet Pepsi fell 6.2 per cent. 

Metro to close, re-brand some stores in Ontario

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Metro Inc. will close some stores in Ontario and re-brand others to its Food Basics discount name. Montreal-based Metro is the third largest grocery retailer in Canada (after Loblaws and Sobey’s) and it apparently feels the need to economize a bit and sharpen its style in the face of these dynamic competitors. It doesn’t seem likely that we will see any changes at the huge Eglinton and Bayview Metro, one of the busiest stores in the country. It’s believed that about 15 stores will be affected in some form. 

Yatim family dignified at rowdy anti-police rally

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Sister and friend 
Members of the family of Sammy Yatim conducted themselves in a dignified way at the street protest outside police headquarters on College Street today. The 18-year-old boy’s mother and his 16-year-old sister were invited into the building and had a private meeting with Chief William Blair who they described as sincere. At the same time CP24’s George Lagogianes was able to identify many faces from the Occupy movement in full fury at the Yatim demonstration. Some groups carried doubtful signs. “Give us the resources and we will defend our communities,” said one improbable placard. Sammy Yatim’s death by police gunfire has outraged many people and at the least left others bewildered by what was in the mind of the police officers involved. Yatim’s sister and her friends wore shirts inscribed with the exclamation “9 Shots….?” and indeed the number of shots fired is among the most disturbing facts of the case. The Special Investigations Unit is preparing a report on the shooting. The Ontario Federation of Labour also called a news conference during the day. It turned out to be more of an opportunity for those who have lost relatives in police shootings to ventilate. There was a demand for policy that would stop all deaths. Sadly that may be a rare hope. Police may need better training, but there would seem to be no “policy” clever enough to create accurate, instant strategies for confrontations yet to be realized.

Talbot units a ghost town as last tenants leave

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The Talbot apartments on Bayview Ave are as good as a ghost town today. The last two tenants struck a deal with the Manitoba government-owned company that has been trying to evict them. As readers of The South Bayview Bulldog will know, the holding company, ADMNS Kelvingrove, told all tenants in April that they had to get out so it could renovate the apartments. It seemed at the time — and it still seems — like a device to get long-time tenants paying lower rents out of the units so that they could be upgraded for new better-heeled tenants. The last two elderly people living there  were represented by tenants association president Jade Jenkins in front of the Landlord and Tenant Board this week. Terms of the deal may not be revealed.  The Kelvingrove firm is a company owned by the Manitoba Civil Service Superannuation Board and ultimately controlled by the NDP government in Winnipeg. Previous posts 

No more free news at star.com as paywall goes up

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The Toronto Star has announced it will  begin asking its web readers to pay for content starting on Tuesday morning  The Star is Canada’s largest paper by circulation.Word went out to staff that details of the program, including how much it costs, will appear in both the newspaper and online. The model will ask readers to pay for full access to online content with a digital subscription to the Star. Other Canadian media outlets have launched “metered” paywalls that allow readers to access a specific number of free articles each month before they’re asked to pay for further content. The Globe and Mail and National Post have also set up paywalls.  Differing opinions on the value of paywalls 

Glad you never sang naked for your grandma

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Beiber
TMZ, the scandal site,  has published pictures of Justin Beiber naked as he is said to be singing a song for his grandmother. It’s all too much. The picture was taken last Thanksgiving. In the images, the “Boyfriend” hitmaker was in his birthday suit and held a guitar which was the only thing that covered his private part. He reportedly pulled a prank on his family and friends at his grandmother’s house during the holiday by moving around the house naked. Beiber is said to have sung an impromptu composition with simple lyrics like  “I Loooove you grandmaaaa … how are youuuu … helloooo grandma” says TMZ. His grandmother reportedly thought it was funny, but told him to get back in his room to put some clothes on. 

CIBC trying to retain a share of Aerogold clients

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The company that owns the air miles program known as Aeroplan, Aimia Inc, has decided to move its business to the TD Bank. It seems like a blow to CIBC which has held the card issuing franchise since its inception. Now CIBC is struggling to retain the customers who have accounts and other business with CIBC. It’s reasonable to think that some of those customers might follow Aeorpolan to the TD with all their business, a double whammy for the Commerce.  Aerogold moving