Canada gives refuge to persecuted Christian girl

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Reports Saturday say that Rimsha Masih, the Christian girl of Pakistani nationality who faced blasphemy charges in 2012, has successfully sought political asylum in Canada. A Pakistan TV outlet Geo TV says the Down Syndrome child has reached Canada. Her age is given variously as 12 and 14. The family is said to have made the journey to Canada arriving at a location in Toronto, according to Peter Bhatti, who runs a Christian organization that is helping them settle in Canada.  Bhatti says that Rimsha, her parents and her brother and sister had to leave Pakistan in order to have safe, secure lives, the CBC said.  Mr.Bhatti also said the girl and her family are “”thriving”” in their new Toronto home. Rimsha’s case became an international crusade to have her released when she was charged last year, because she was said to have  burned pages of the Holy Quran. The court had granted her bail and later blasphemy charges were dropped for want of evidence. Witnesses had told the judge that the cleric had given false evidence and framed the girl. For its part, the Immigration Department would not confirm  that Rimsha is in the country. A lawyer who represented Rimsha in Pakistan said that the girl and her family left Islamabad for Canada on March 14, 2013. He said the family had been forced to keep on the move for fear of the type of attack suffered by Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani woman who was hunted down by the Taliban and shot while on a school bus. Malala is now recovering from her wounds in the United Kingdom.

Yoga studio hinted for Millwood storefront

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There is a “rented” sign on the little shop in the strip mall at Sutherland Drive and Millwood Road . Word along the mall has it that an enterprising person wishes to open a yoga studio  Incidentally, the stores at 899 Millwood are set in a magnificent blossoming of the White Lilac trees along the boulevard courtesy of the current tropical weather (picture). The fragrance is slightly intoxicating. It’s a fitting welcome to the new tenant and good news for residents who have seen the unit that formerly used to house Anna’s Spa papered over for at least a year.

Bill Murray shreds script of Ghostbuster III

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It seems Bill Murray (centre) is not interested in  a re-make of the 1980s comedy classic Ghostbusters. Murray, who is pushing 64, was sent a script for a second re-make of the movie. He is said to have shredded the document and sent it back to co-star and (we think) friend Dan Ackroyd (left). His note read:  “No one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts!” It has long been reported that Murray was lukewarm about re-making the inventive franchise. Nonetheless, there is an expectation that a whole new cast of younger players could yet get the call. It is clear however that Mr. Stay-Puft (right)  the emblematic mascot of Stay-Puft Marshmallows, will play himself. Normally Mr.Stay-Puft is a happy chap but he was able to assume a very memorable menacing role in the climax of the original Ghostbusters.  

Pride Week a time of sober satisfaction for most

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The Rainbow Flag may well have made its first official appearance on South Bayview as Scotiabank has adorned its branch with the colourful pennants. For most people here the hard-won advances in equality and fairness for which the flag stands will be cause for sober satisfaction more than a call to party. The importance of the pride that comes with knowledge of one’s acceptance in  a community is easily understood. The pride  rallying cry is  well-rooted in North American culture.  Many will remember the importance it had for Black people in the 1960s. For those who have been privileged to feel this security of place all of their lives the exhortation to the party may seem a little unnecessary. “What does Pride mean to you?” is the insistent query. Well relax. The question is rhetorical. We need not worry about making a pedestrian response such as “my chess game” or “I make a good pot roast.” Remember instead that millions of people are celebrating the exercise of life-sustaining principles which have been denied them for a very long time.         

30-minute GO trains — or a cap on the HST?

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As Premier Kath hinted a few months ago, the province is going to turn the GO Lakeshore into something like a rapid transit route. The minister, Glen Murray, announced today (Friday, June 28, 2013) that the trains will soon be running every 30 minutes instead of hourly.  How will we pay for this? The minister says it’s all okay — taxes will pay for it. Of course, the Liberals at Queen’s Park are still nursing the idea of a 14 per cent HST. We all know how well that was received in Ottawa. So, what do we really want? Really need? GO trains every 30 minutes or a cap on the sales tax? We suspect we will be hearing abut it

Proposal to convert Don Valley Hotel to condos

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Allied Don Valley Hotel Inc has applied to convert the business at 175 Wynford Road into a condominium. Allied Don Valley also wants to build two new buildings soaring 30 and 34 storeys to accommodate another 671 units. There will be a community meeting at a date to set before the plan is further considered. 

Blackberry shares fall on disappointing results

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Shares of BlackBerry plunged more than 28 per cent in early trading after the smartphone maker’s latest results fell short of analyst expectations and it warned that further losses were likely to come next quarter. CTV

Aeroplan says it may move to the TD Visa

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Behind-the-scenes dealing with two major banks over the right to stamp their Visa card with the Aeorplan name is now being played out in public. There’s probably a good reason for that as Aeroplan — which is operated by Aimia Inc.– seeks to enlist cardholder support  to improve its position with the banks. Aimia says it has an open mind about replacing CIBC as its bank credit card partner at the end of 2013 unless the Commerce matches contractual terms offered by TD Bank. Aeorplan has been a CIBC product for as long as most of its cardholders can remember. It started as an Air Canada frequent flyer program. In recent years Aeroplan has evolved into an extensive loyalty scheme operated by Aimia Inc. “It’s basically a battle for Canada’s most affluent credit card holders. That’s a key and attractive market to essentially own,” Kenric Tyghe, industry analyst at Raymond James told the Star. The potential bidding war between the banks was set up  as Aimia announced what it called groundbreaking changes to Aeroplan to take effect Jan. 1, 2014. The company’s new Distinction recognition program will reward top-accumulating members with flight reward benefits, bonus mile offers, and preferential treatment. As well, Aeroplan plans to cancel its current policy where unredeemed miles expire after seven years. Instead, miles will not expire as long as members stay active in the program with at least one accumulation or redemption activity every 12 months. , 

Persistent BCE poised to buy Astral Media

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The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has approved Bell’s proposed acquisition of Astral Media.  As part of its second bid, Bell had offered to sell some of Astral’s specialty TV channels and radio stations to satisfy CRTC concerns that it would be too dominant in the market. 

Laureen Harper helps clean out flooded basement

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If anyone wondered if living in 24 Sussex Drive has softened up Laureen Harper, they should have seen her go Wednesday. The prime minister’s wife — along with a whole bunch of Calgary MPs, friends and assistants — cleaned out literally tonnes of garbage from flood-damaged Calgary-area homes, helped deliver tonnes of food at the Morley reserve and then — after putting in a solid eight hours of work and travel, continued on to Exshaw, where she helped clean out a couple more damaged homes. Calgary Herald

Canada Day weekend events and road closures

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Here are weekend events that will cause slowdown in traffic. 
 Church Street Pride Festival – Friday, June 28 to Monday, July 1 – Church Street from Carlton Street to Hayden Street will be closed from Friday, June 28 at 6 p.m. to Monday, July 1 at 6 a.m. 
 Pride and Remembrance Run – Saturday, June 29 – Wellesley Street from Jarvis Street to and including Queen’s Park Circle will be closed on Saturday, June 29 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. 
 Dyke March – Saturday, June 29 – All roads in the route will be closed between noon and 5 p.m. (The march takes place from 1 to 4 p.m.) – March route: begins at Church and Hayden Street, proceeds north on Church Street to Bloor Street East, west on Bloor Street East to Yonge Street, south on Yonge Street to Carlton Street, east on Carlton Street and finishes just before Sherbourne Street. 
 Pride Parade – Sunday, June 30 – All roads in the route will be closed for varying periods between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. (The parade takes place from 2 to 6:30 p.m.) – Formation area: Rosedale Valley Road, from Bayview Avenue to Park Road. – Parade route: begins at Church Street and Bloor Street East, proceeds west on Bloor Street East to Yonge Street, south on Yonge Street to finish at Dundas Street. Pride Concert at Yonge-Dundas Square – Sunday, June 30 – Yonge Street from Dundas Street to Queen Street will be closed from 1 p.m. to midnight. 
 Canada Day Celebrations at Mel Lastman Square– Yonge Street, from North York Boulevard to Park Home Avenue, will be closed on Monday, July 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. 
 Canada Day Celebration at Queen’s Park – Queen’s Park/Queen’s Park Circle from College Street to Hoskin Avenue will be closed on Monday, July 1 from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
 Canada Day Parade in Scarborough – Brimley Road will be closed from Progress Avenue to Ellesmere Road from 1 to 6 p.m. and from Ellesmere Road to Lawrence Avenue East from 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 1. – Ellesmere Road will be closed from Midland Avenue to McCowan Road from 4 to 5 p.m.

Corktown Common to open Friday, June 28

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Corktown Common, Waterfront Toronto’s newly-named park in the West Don Lands off Bayview Ave. will open to the public on June 28. A key component of the revitalization of the area, Corktown Common is intended to become the heart of a new waterfront community.