In one brief evening of doing God’s work, City Council made plastic bags illegal in Toronto. For the public, there was no blip on the radar that this was coming and no one asked us what it thought. Whatever you feel about plastic bags, compare that summary execution to the ponderous course the City has travelled on the subject of holiday openings. Before the last election two years ago, City staff told Council that Toronto really had to get with it and permit shopping on statutory holidays like today. Even the Executive Committee voted in favour of it. But Councillors just couldn’t summon up the courage to take a vote. After the election, the City organized a huge public opinion poll. It’s still going on. Recently flyers were delivered to announce a large series of public meetings. Meantime, stores like Staples and other big chains are open today. The Eaton Centre and heaven knows how many other malls are open. The theatres are open and so are the bars and the restaurants. There’s something about this issue that terrifies your average Councillor.
Last night’s fireworks from brenda043
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She calls herself brend043 and she did a great job of shooting the fireworks last night.
Northern Secondary loves rocking O Canada
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Kids at Northern Secondary School on Mt. Pleasant Road at Broadway Ave. are among thousands across the country who enjoy a rock version of O Canada as part of morning exercises. The principal at Northern, Ron Felsen, received a copy of the upbeat national anthem from the band Daylight for Deadeyes and liked it immediately. Mr Felsen is quoted in the Toronto Star today as saying “I get a lot of unsolicited. . . mail. I don’t normally respond to these things but it said ‘free O Canada’ and I was looking for some variety in our recorded versions of O Canada. They (the band) sent it to me and I listened to it and it was different. For a teenager at 8:50 in the morning when we play O Canada, I certainly thought it would wake them up,” Felsen said, with a laugh. “Now it’s part of our regular cycle. I wasn’t quite sure about the staff’s reaction but no-one has come in with any negative comments. I’ve had positive comments from a lot of the kids,” Felsen added. Toronto Star
East York, Chinese Canadian Parades
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In addition to the Pride Parade closures (noted in post below) be aware of East York’s 55th annual Canada Day Parade motorcade beginning at 9:30 a.m. July 1, 2012 at the East York Town Centre, 45 Overlea Blvd. The motorcade will make its way to Dieppe Park, where the marching bands will start at 10 a.m. The motorcade parade is scheduled to finish at noon at Stan Wadlow Park, 888 Cosburn Ave. Canada Day celebrations at Stan Wadlow Park will begin at 11 a.m. and finish at 11 p.m. Residents will be able to enjoy bingo, live entertainment and a display of antique cars. The Kiwanis Pool will be open from noon to 7 p.m. The fireworks display will start at 10:15 p.m. and the park will close at 11 p.m. Admission is free. The National Congress of Chinese Canadians will hold their colourful annual march downtown along a route that winds through most parts of the Chinese district. The parade will proceed along King St W, University Avenue, Dundas West and Spadina. It will go along Front West to Blue Jays Way and the Canadian Pacific Railway Workers Monument.
OCAD students create concept for Glebe Manor Square East
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Students impressions
These enjoyable concept pictures are contained in a blog called Spacing Toronto which showcases the conceptual work of students from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). These pictures show how the students see the Belsize Drive treasure called Glebe Manor Square East. As we know, there is a Glebe Manor Square West, but the kids focused on a vision for the east one. Their concept includes a charming stone path along the present path worn through the grass, a play fountain, green space, and a small “town square” stage at the west end down by Harwood Road. Many thanks to reader Rudy L. for sending us this interesting story.
Historic 33 Heather Road for sale
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The historic 1902 home of James Lea, a grandson of Leaside’s founder, is for sale at 33 Heather Road. The home has been renovated in recent years but retains its gracious appearance from the original building.
Order of Canada for celebrated Canadians
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Hometown favorite Pat Quinn is one of 66 Canadian appointed to the Order of Canada yesterday. Also honoured were long-time CTV Ottawa reporter Craig Oliver, CBC commentator Chantal Hebert and former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. Other new recipients of the Order of Canada include Victoria geologist Paul Hoffman, Surrey theoretical physicist Gordon Semenoff, Vancouver composer Stephen Chatman and former Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie Toronto Star
Tilt! Foundation work goes very wrong
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What is reported to have been an attempt to underpin the foundation of a west end home has gone very wrong. The house took a tilt to the right as workers burrowed under the foundation on Wednesday. The home at 63 Maria Street in the Junction area was declared unstable and condemned by city officials. It was torn down today. The CBC says the home was bought in May 2011 for $555,063, with a mortgage of $440,000. Underpinning the foundation is a fairly common renovation technique used to give more headroom in the basement. CBC story. See video.
Yeh! Yogurt applies to open on Bayview
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An application has been made to the City of Toronto to open a restaurant at 1617 Bayview Ave. That’s the north half of the TruValu Hardware building. The owners of the hardware store have recently consolidated that business on the south side of the double store, placing 1617 up for lease. You can look at the application particulars yourself by going here. The application is in the name of the Yeh Yogurt Restaurant and proposes 30 seats or less. The application was accepted on June 6, 2012. The status of the application is “not started”. The website of Yeh! Yogurt glace and cafe indicates the firm has stores in Montreal and in Burlington, Massachussets and Albany, New York. It advertises the Bayview store “bientot” (soon) and also stores bientot in Montreal and Halifax. It should be noted that the owners of 1617 Bayview continue to show a For Rent sign in the window of their store at that address.
Analyst’s predict the end for RIM
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Contractor’s misstep causes house to tilt
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The perils of home renovation that involves structural changes is well illustrated by the small home in the Junction area of Toronto that is now tilted to one side and will shortly be torn down. The wreckers are expected today at the two-storey brick house that is now so unstable that the owner has not been allowed inside to collect belongings. It happened Wednesday at 63 Maria St., just north of Dundas St. W. near Runnymede Rd., when contractors were digging out the basement with their hands, according to Mark Sraga, deputy chief building official and director of Toronto Building. “It appears the foundation wall, I don’t want to say buckled, but it moved inwards, which resulted in the house shifting and dropping in height on the one side by about 12 inches” Picture of the tilting home.
Melanie Aitken quits her job two years early
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Many people at all levels are concered by the surprise annoucement that the consumer’s friend and Canada’s antitrust watchdog will quit two years before her term ends. Melanie Aitken, head of the Competition Bureau, will step down on Sept. 21, her office said in a statement. She joined the bureau in 2005 and took on the top job there in August 2009 for a five-year term. Ms Aitken says she was not fired but does she say what she’s going to do next. She has been dividing her time between her office in Ottawa and her home and family in Toronto. Many will hope that Melanie Aitken, who is a lawyer, is not heading into the obscurity of private practice or complete retirement. More