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. |
| 225 Davisville |
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
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| Playing for Leaside |
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.
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.
