Area codes 437 and 365 added to city, suburbs

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As reported previously, the 416 area will soon share the city with another code, 437, and the suburban 905 zone will add the 365 area code.  Starting tomorrow Bell, Rogers, Telus and others can begin handing out the 437 area code in Toronto alongside 416 and 647 and the 365 area code in the 905-289 region. It may however take a bit longer than that because there a few old numbers left. “These new area codes reflect the growing use of cell phones and other mobile devices,” says Glenn Pilley. Mr. Pilley has the fascinating title of Canadian Numbering Administrator and he points out that adding a new area code can create more than seven million new phone numbers.

The line between casino and all-day kindergarten

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As we see it there’s a line between the urgent insistence of government that we have a casino in or near Toronto, and the seemingly benign idea of all-day kindergarten.  It’s not a direct line, of course, the two parts are symbolic of the way Ontario has spent itself into a huge hole and now hardly has control over how it is going to dig its way out. There are many things on which the government has spent money– some less useful than all-day kindergarten — but taken together over many years they have turned Queen’s Park into a basket case. It’s no secret. When Dalton McGuinty trumpeted his blue ribbon report last year the author of that epic work, former TD Bank top economist Don Drummond, told the Premier to cancel the idea of all-day kindergarten immediately. It was way too expensive given the size of the provincial debt. Willful to the end, the government told Mr Drummond to shut up. There was an election coming and the kindergarten stuff was a yummy good vote catcher. And that’s fine. But as we ponder the scattering of NoCasinoToronto.com lawn signs along Southvale Drive those who, like The South Bayview Bulldog, would rather not have a casino here, should remember how Ontario became so desperate for money.   

New Acropolis trolling for recruits on Bayview

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A fresh wave of posters with tear-off tickets for the rather vague organization known as New Acropolis has hit the utility poles of South Bayview (inset below). This time the appeal is for those so inclined to answer the question: What is your Archetype?  The answer, as provided by New Acropolis, can lead one to a kind of heaven on earth.  Tickets are sold for $25 a pop to a “seminar” and a website makes it sound important:

It is essential to rediscover the profound identity of women and of men through archetypes. Hence, both men and women will be able to embrace their respective strengths, values, and aspirations, in order to build harmony. This seminar is dedicated to the understanding of the feminine and masculine polarities, so as to promote a new art of living together. An activity to free ourselves from misunderstandings and irritants, and to recover our joy and sense of humour!

On South Bayview

New Acropolis appears to be a mostly South American and European body. The hearts of those involved may be in the right place but their simplistic appeal and over-done sense of belonging has gotten them into trouble in the past with government in France and Belgium. Most mature minds will find the New Acropolis appeal roughly like a sad pickup line — “”what’s your sign”” — or someting like that. But those with adolescents whose sense of themselves is not yet fully formed might wish to be aware of this trolling for recruits going on right here on South Bayview.  

Lineups at liquidation sale at 1685 Bayview Ave

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Shoppers were lined up to grab decor and furniture items being liquidated at 1685 Bayview Ave. Saturday morning. The nice patterned pillows we photographed yesterday and shown in the picture were snapped up in minutes.  And business has been brisk all day at the store,  Detail Interiors, as all inventory will be sold. The sale is expected to last about a month. That address is just north of Fleming Cres. and south of  Leo’s Barber Shop. The store closed a few days ago after barely 18 months in business and now it appears the landlord has seized the inventory for unpaid rent. The agents are Danbury Liquidation Services.  Liquidation Notice

Bid for 4 towers on Dawsco’s Eglinton land

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The scent of multi-unit construction along Eglinton Ave. E shouldn’t surprise anyone these days. So the news, as reported by writer Will Ashworth, that the partnership of Diamond Corporation and Dawsco Property might build four towers at the south-east corner of Eglinton and Brentcliffe Rd. seems somehow written in the stars. We may wish it were otherwise but this is what we invite with an LRT along Eglinton Ave. in a city that just has not learned how to stop growing. Those in the neighborhood will know the landscape. The Dawsco buildings stretching west toward the eastern boundary of the Mercedes Benz property. Then south past the pleasant strip mall on Brentcliffe to Vanderhoof Ave. where the development would look across the street at St. John’s Music and the other businesses that take us down to Laird. On this corner, incidentally, the developers are suggesting a 3/4 acre park. The information, as reported by Mr. Ashworth, comes out of a meeting of  the Leaside Property Owners Association, which he attended.    

Online petition opposes condo at 2 Laird Drive

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A petition opposing the eight-storey condo development on the site of the old Postal Station R at 2 Laird Drive  is circulating throughout Leaside. It is also online. So far nearly 650 people have signed it. The petition is a cry from the heart from citizens who fear another “variance” to city zoning may yet approve the structure. The petition, which is here, says: “The proposal contravenes the intent of the Toronto Official Plan on many levels and raises concerns for the future growth of Leaside. We believe the excessive height, density, massing, and the built form’s incompatibility with the existing neighbourhood’s context will have an adverse affect on our community. In the best interest for positive change, please join the Leaside Community and LPOA by requesting that the current 2 Laird Drive rezoning application filed with the City of Toronto be refused.”

Aging pothole filled in at Bayview and Millwood

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The city’s much vaunted pothole fighters were at work Friday morning cleaning up the broken pavement that has impeded cars and the TTC on Bayview just north of Millwood Rd. for many weeks. This scene is on the west side where buses are supposed to pull in. We’re so happy to see these guys. It is especially nice to think that the big “Arrow Trailer” will now find a new home. For a while there we weren’t sure which was worse, the pothole or the trailer. Well anyway, we hope they are both gone soon. 

TD shutdown a serious public concern

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Attacks on Internet services such as the take-down of TD Bank’s online service tend to pass into history too quickly.  Banks being what they are, there is a tendency for them to say “sorry” and then hope the public forgets about the incident. It must be clear that these disruptions are not the private business of the banks and that they require the most complete and on-going explanations possible. It isn’t just a matter of the inconvenience. The public, business and indeed the government owe a duty to the country to know from whom such attacks originate. Are they a precursor of more serious attacks to come? We understand that there may be security issues related to the investigations but it is important that it be made clear that attacks on public systems are being rigorously investigated. 

Alan Redway winner of the Agnes Macphail Award

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Alan Redway is the winner of the  20th annual Agnes Macphail Award for his commitment to the East York community. Mr Redway, 78, is a former mayor of East York (1977-1982) and long-time MP for the area during the years of the Mulroney government. Alan Redway has been cited in the awarding of the Macphail honour for his tireless work on behalf of the Daily Bread Food Bank where he has also served as chair of the board. He is now retired from the firm of Redway and Butler LLP. Friends and admirers of Mr. Redway are invited to attend the presentation of the award at East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave. on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 2.30 pm. Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons and in her later political career lived in Leaside and represented the riding of York East in the Ontario Legislature. She was a  force for progressive politics in Canada. Inside Toronto   Previous post 

Bayview Bagel maker moves down to Kensington

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Shawn

Those who remember long-time counterman Shawn Shahzad at the Bagel House on Bayview Ave. may have been wondering where he has gone. Shawn is now part of a team that owns a new Montreal style bagel shop at 240 Augusta Street down in Kensington Market. The new place is called Nu Bugel. and as we wish Shawn well it’s still bucks to bagels that we’re picking up our Montreal chewies at Bagel House, 1548 Bayview. 

Funding for National Digital Hub at CNIB

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Today’s federal budget is said to contain funding in the amount of $3 million for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) on Bayview Ave.  Specifically, these funds are designated for a project known as the “National Digital Hub”. It is a CNIB creation which provides important services to Canadians with print disabilities. The MPP, John Carmichael, made the announcement today.