How do you feel about picking up your mail at a “community mailbox” like people who live Canada’s hinterland. Or, maybe you would prefer to get mail every other day. Those are a couple of options Canada Post has for you Or, you may be one of the increasing number of Canadians who don’t care if you ever sees a postage stamp again. It’s worth thinking about as Canada Post launches a national consultation with the public about how to make the service pay for itself. Although the Canadian postal model is exemplary compared to the antiquated state of things in the U.S., our post office is still headed for a $1 billion annual deficit by the end of decade. As a writer for the Kitchener-Waterloo Record observed recently, “The great race between email and snail mail is over. And the snail got its tail kicked.” CBC
Lawn sales blossom in the late April sunshine
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You can’t have missed them. Lawn sales are bursting out all over on this lovely Sunday. Here on Imperial Street just off Yonge north of Davisville, a multi-home sale yielded wonderful old radio sets. Left, 1920 wood box was the height of “furniture radios”. At right, proud vendor of a Crossley reproduction mantle top piece made in the style of a 1950s radio. But it is a reproduction piece from a little later with a tape deck included.
Harper calls Leaside a “pretty special place”
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Stephen Harper has spoken briefly at the Leaside 100 Gala tonight and called the community of his youth “a pretty special place”. When he was growing up here five decades ago, the PM noted, Leaside was a place where you felt that everyone was looking out for you and that you could knock on any door. He added dryly, “Of course, if you were doing something wrong, you could be pretty sure that your parents were going to find out about it.” CBC and CBC Video
Storage facility transformed into banquet hall
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Things are all ready to go for tonight’s Leaside 100 Gala dinner to be held in the All Canadian Storage Facility on Laird Drive. The building has been transformed into a series of venues for the reception, dining and dancing. Inset left, MCs Dave Sparrow and Deb McGrath polish up a couple of routines and right, a 1928 Durant sedan which was manufactured at the company’s plant on Wicksteed Ave. Guests may have their pictures taken with this great old vehicle and we will guess that after a couple of glasses of fine wine there will be lots of hamming it up on the running board. We’re thinking. The long banquet room is fully fixed up with screens so no one will miss anything that happens on stage. Prime Minister Harper will join other dignitaries at about 6.45 to kick off the evening. Previous post two down. (Saturday, April 27, 2013)
Marking 200th anniversary of the Battle of York
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Many streets will be temporarily closed downtown today as a parade winds its way from Queen’s Park to Fort York to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of York. This morning troops performed a “dynamic military display” on the south lawn of Queen’s Park followed by the presentation of a new regimental colour by His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, to the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. The Prince has been colonel-in-chief — an honorary title often given to members of the Royal Family — of the regiment since 1953. Regimental colours are like a ceremonial flag that historically provided a rallying point for soldiers on a battlefield. A 21-gun salute will be part of the ceremony. Details of the closures. Story of the Battle of York.Sorel Etrog works mark Davisville Ave. landscape
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The Art Gallery of Ontario opens a retrospective on the work of sculptor Sorel Etrog today. His near-lifetime of creating works in bronze and other metals around Toronto will be particularly familiar to those who live and work in the Davisville Ave and Balliol Street neighborhood between Yonge St. and Mt. Pleasant Rd. His work became a kind of signature for the Greewin developments in that area when principals of the company commissioned a number of pieces in the 1960s. Etrog will be 80 this year and the career-spanning exhibition at the AGO will cast the artist in a new light in his adopted hometown of fifty-four years. It will include his archetypal sculptures as well as drawings, paintings, book works and prints from the AGO’s collection and private collections. One of the highlights, and one of Etrog’s pivotal works, will be his rarely seen film, Spiral. This meditation on the human condition, from birth to death, will be a catalyst for renewed reflection on the accomplishments of one of Canada’s most diverse and challenging artists. Art Gallery of Ontario site
Prime Minister will attend Leaside 100 Gala
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper will attend the Leaside 100 Gala Saturday night in the community where he grew up. Mr. Harper will jet into Toronto in time to take part in opening remarks along with Premier Wynne and John Carmichael, the member for Don Valley West. It was generally not known whether the prime minister would make an appearance at the gala, but the notice was posted on Mr. Harper’s website Friday evening. The gala is an ambitious buffet dinner being held in the All Canadian Self-Storage Facility at 1 Laird Drive, a location which is right across the street from the Leaside Arena where he played as a kid. The event is sold out. It will offer celebrants a chance to immerse themselves in the history of the town and enjoy such things as a Champagne/Martini reception with hors d’oeuvres, some vintage 1913 dancing, and a photo-op with a Leaside-built 1928 Durant automobile. There will be a gourmet dinner catered by Grilltime from just up the street on Laird Drive. Music will be provided by the Toronto All Star Big Band and Celebrity MCs are David Sparrow and Deb McGrath.
Brian Burke sues 18 unknown online writers
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Mr. Burke has been a sensation on the Internet among a handful of people claiming he fathered a child with a female sports reporter last summer. He says the slurs are false and is taking meausres to sue the so far unidentified sources. Brian Burke was fired last year as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs CBC
Opposition says it will kill budget if it raises taxes
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If the premier is listening to the NDP and PCers at Queen’s Park she will back off on the array of taxes she has discussed to finance the construction of subways. Both the Conservatives and New Democrats have said they won’t support any effort by the minority Liberal government to raise taxes on people to pay for public transit. The budget comes down next Thursday and Ms. Wynne was trying to win votes outside Toronto this day by promising a $100 million fund to build roads and bridges in rural and northern Ontario.
Xococava in Delisle Court will close Friday, May 17
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It’s noted in the Post Magazine that the chocolate shop known as Xococava in the Delisle Court will close on May 17, 2013. The owner, Chris McDonald, who is also the owner of Cava restaurant, told the Post that he has “other projects in the works.” A wine store will be taking Xococava’s place in the Delisle Court.
Layers of Leaside Historical Walk this Saturday
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The first of two walking tours guided by Jane Pitfield and Geoff Kettel gets going at 1.30 this Sunday, April 28, 2013, outside the library at 165 McRae Drive. This the official Layers of Leaside Historical Walking Tour and takes in points of interest in a two hour walk. Next Saturday, May 4 at 1.30 to 3.30 is the Layers of Thorncliffe Park Historical Walking Tour also guided by Jane and Geoff. It begins at Jenner Jean-Marie Community Centre/Thorncliffe Library, 48 Thorncliffe Park Drive
Champagne to mark opening of LCBO store
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There was a champagne toast to the new LCBO at Bayview Ave. and Millwood Road Friday morning before regular customers were allowed to come in. A party of about 150 officials and business contacts gathered at the store about 9 a.m.. and then, as the clerks said, everyone was “kicked out”” so the place could start to do some business.