Northern Secondary is film location for horror epic Carrie

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Chloe Moretz

Kids returning to Northern Secondary School this fall will have stories to tell, but few will be as interesting as that of the school itself. Since June, the venerable old high school has been the scene of filming for the re-make of the 1976 horror movie Carrie. Sissy Spacek played the first blood-soaked Carrie, a shy girl who gets back at her bullying classmates by, well, supernaturally whacking them until she is covered in blood. That shot of Carrie dripping red is the trademark picture of the Carrie film. This time it’s Chloe Moretz who plays Carrie. The Gothic and slightly sinister Northern (built 1930) was a good location for this creepy tale. Shooting was still going on a few days ago although it may be over by now since there is that back-to-school thing. On an interesting note, 14 student-athletes from St. Michael’s College School were cast as extras. They are members of the Varsity Lacrosse team, cast specifically for high school lacrosse practice/game scenes that are in the script. Student Joe French was hired as a consultant to work with the lead actors on sport-specific technique and authenticity. The cast members of the re-make are Julianne Moore (Magnolia, Children of Men), Chloe Moretz (Hugo, Dark Shadows), and Alex Russell (Chronicle).

Playing hooky at the USS Enterprise museum

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One of many places to play hooky from business when you are in New York is the space museum on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (1943). As everyone will know, this museum is home to the Space Shuttle Enterprise, commissioned in 1976. It is a very popular tourist attraction. Above left, hundreds crowd the walkways around the spaceship which is housed in a large inflatable building on the aircraft deck. It is little known that the space shuttle was named Enterprise only because thousands of fans of the televison series Star Trek petitioned the government of the day to do so.  A ceremony was held at which actors and members of the crew of the fictional USS Starship Enterprise were present. Left to right, George Takei  (Mr. Sulu, Helm Officer), James Noonan (Mr Scott, Chief Engineer), Michelle Nicholls (Lieutenant Uhuru), Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) Gene Roddenberry, creator, unknown party and Walter Koenig  (Pavel Chekov, Russian Starfleet officer). A notable abense on that day was William Shatner who played Captain Kirk. News video from 1976.  Note at the end that military band is playing the theme from Star Trek.

Industry Canada clears way for in-flight Wi-Fi

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Industry Canada has issued a U.S.-based wireless provider a license to provide airline passengers with in-flight Internet access. The air-to-ground (ATG) radio frequency spectrum subordinate access will allow Gogo to serve passengers on commercial and business aircraft flying over Canada. Gogo uses its own network of broadband terrestrial ground-to-air cellular towers to connect aircraft flying overhead to the Internet. It has also released an iOS app for mobile devices which supports sign-in to the company’s Wi-Fi services in the sky. Mediacaster

Highest ranking black officer honoured

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Canada’s highest-ranking black police officer is to be recognized with a prestigious community award. Toronto Police Service Deputy Chief Peter Sloly will receive a “Changing Lives” Diversity Award at the annual Planet Africa Awards. Patricia Bebia-Mawa who, along with her husband, Moses Mawa, established the award program, said Sloly has used his position as a senior police officer to affect lives. For many young blacks, policing was not an attractive career choice until he came along and steadily climbed up the ranks,” Bebia-Mawa said. “He has also played a huge role in transforming the police service into one of the most diverse organizations.” Sloly who, in 2001, became the first and only senior Toronto police officer to take part in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, will be presented with the award on October 27 at Roy Thomson Hall. “The award represents validation by the African-Canadian community of my work in crime prevention through social development,” Sloly said. TPS

Don Valley West would be eliminated

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The riding of Don Valley West is merged into a new riding of Toronto North in proposed changes announced yesterday by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission. Here are the new boundaries as given on the commission’s website. Map

 Official description of boundaries
Toronto North — Consisting of that part of the City of Toronto described as follows: commencing at the intersection of Highway No. 401 with Leslie Street; thence generally southerly along said street to Eglinton Avenue East; thence southwesterly along said avenue to the Don River West Branch; thence generally southeasterly along said branch to Overlea Boulevard; thence southwesterly along said boulevard to Thorncliffe Park Drive; thence southeasterly along said drive to a point at latitude 43°42’15″N and longitude 79°20’28″W; thence easterly in a straight line to the intersection of the Don River West Branch and the Don River; thence generally southwesterly along the Don River to Pottery Road; thence northwesterly and southwesterly along said road to Bayview Avenue; thence generally northwesterly and northerly along said avenue to Broadway Avenue; thence westerly along said avenue to Yonge Street; thence northerly along said street to Lawrence Avenue West; thence westerly along said avenue to Avenue Road; thence northerly along said road to Highway No. 401; thence northeasterly and easterly along said highway to the point of commencement.

Mount Pleasant riding proposed for this area

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The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has posted proposed boundary changes on its website. One of them would create the new riding of Mount Pleasant,  a combination of parts of the present ridings of St. Paul’s, Toronto Centre  (Moore Park and Rosedale) and Don Valley West west of Bayview Ave (This section appears to be Bennington Heights).  The boundary reference points are (on the east) Oriole Pkwy. and Avenue Rd., north of the Wellesley St. to Sherbourne St. and Rosedale Valley Rd., plus part of the current riding of Don Valley West lying west of Bayview Ave.  Map.

Commission’s official description

Mount Pleasant — Consisting of that part of the City of Toronto described as follows: commencing at the intersection of Queens Park Crescent West with Wellesley Street West; thence easterly along said street and Wellesley Street East to Sherbourne Street; thence northerly along said street and Sherbourne Street North to Rosedale Valley Road; thence generally easterly and northeasterly along said road and its production to the Don River; thence generally northerly along said river to Pottery Road; thence northwesterly and southwesterly along said road to Bayview Avenue; thence generally northwesterly and northerly along said avenue to Broadway Avenue; thence westerly along said avenue to Yonge Street; thence southerly along said street to Eglinton Avenue West; thence westerly along said avenue to Oriole Parkway; thence generally southerly along said parkway to Lonsdale Road; thence westerly along said road to Avenue Road; thence southerly along said road, Queens Park and Queens Park Crescent West to the point of commencement.

New Loonie celebrates 100th Grey Cup

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The Royal Mint has released a new one-dollar coin commemorating the 100th Grey Cup, According to a government release, the coins should be available at certain participating post offices today. The mint has also produced a collectible set for each CFL team featuring a painted commemorative coin designed by Canadian artist Filip Mroz, two commemorative stamps.  Ten thousand limited edition silver dollars are also being offered to collectors and football fans alike. Featuring a stylized Grey Cup and also designed by Filip Mroz, this 99.99% pure silver coin is available for $69.95.

Rain pounds South Bayview, floods Extension

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Street and gutters overflowed with rainwater during last night’s mid-evening downpour. Low areas like the Bayview Extension at the Pottery Road were flooded. This point is a traditional collection basin for rain. Last night  a driver got caught when he drove his car into deep water. No one was injured. Gardeners are grateful for the rain which finally begins to top up water levels after our dry summer.

Liberals table bill to freeze teachers salaries

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The Liberal government has introduced a bill that is unprecedented for the party. It proposes to freeze the wages of  thousands of Ontario teachers and effectively suspend collective bargaining. The Liberals have the support of the Progressive Conservatives. It is a circumstance reminiscent of the government of Mike Harris, which came into office in 1995. In the end, Harris did not do as much to control spending as he may have wished. Now, Ontario faces a $15-billion deficit.

Wife, 23, must stay away from husband, 69

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The young wife of a Canadian senator has been told by a court to stay away from her Senator husband, someone 46 years her senior. This was a  court requirement for the release of  Maygan Sensenberger, 23. She is  accused of causing a disturbance on an Air Canada flight from Halifax to Saskatoon on Thursday. Her Monday court date coincided with her first wedding anniversary to 69-year-old Manitoba Sen. Rod Zimmer, who was appointed to the Senate in 2005 by former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin. 

Showroom window splintered by crane

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There’s been an expensive renovation accident at the premises at 333 Eglinton Ave West. That’s where Madison Shoes and Accessories used to operate until earlier this month. The picture inset has an almost artistic look to it. But it’s the cracked left over of  a splintered showroom window after a motorized crane being used to remove shelving backed into the window.  The thermal glass has held in place rather than showering all over the sidewalk and roadway. But it will be costly to replace.