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

No Blackberry 10 this year RIM says

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Research In Motion said today (Thirsday) that it will not be delivering a new BlackBerry until next year. The announcement disappointed the millions of loyal users who had hoped to possess a “Blackberry 10” much sooner. Instead, RIM will be slashing perhaps a third of its workforce to try to balance its books and offset poor earnings. Canadian Press

Bert F. Grant led property dynasty Lawrence Construction

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B ert F. Grant

The decision this week to name the original rink at Leaside Gardens Arena after the late  Bert F. Grant recognizes a family whose history is intertwined with that of Leaside and the South Bayview area. Mr. Grant was the second generation of the family’s construction and property dynasty in Toronto. It began with Bert H. Grant, an English immigrant who started Lawrence Construction, a firm that built much of the local housing and a number of the signature commercial buildings on Mt Pleasant Rd. His son, Bert F. Grant carried on the family’s work and most significantly, was responsible for the construction of the Crestview Apartments in South Leaside. This tranquil and treed development of modest rental homes is one of the company’s proudest possessions. The present president of Lawrence Construction, Bert A. Grant, speaks of the “quiet pride” taken in Crestview. He notes that the firm keeps a full-time gardener on the property to keep it clean and well-manicured. Although these days Lawrence is more of a property management company, it carries the historic name that built much of our neighborhoods. The naming of the rink after Bert F. Grant is a fitting recognition of the contribution the company has made.

“Ovenlike conditions” heading our way

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Environment Canada has released a special weather statement warning of “ovenlike conditions” in southern Ontario over the coming days.Temperatures are expected to reach the high thirties on Thursday, with the humidex hitting the low forties and causing “rather uncomfortable warmth” in some areas.Toronto’s forecast is comparatively chilly, with a high of 32 C, although it will feel more like 38 C.The humidity will decrease slightly on Friday, offering some relief, but temperatures will stay in the low-thirties into next week. (Take heart! They are often wrong. Maybe too often. Sure doesn’t feel “ovenlike” today.) Yonge and Roxborough News.

$45 a year for 4 years to build OneCity

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TTC chair Karen Stintz (Eglinton-Lawrence) and vice-chair Glenn De Baeremaeker (Scarborough Centre) are about to put a rather breathtaking plan before City Council to expand Toronto’s subway and LRT map. (Toronto Star map)  The plan,  named OneCity,  would require on average a $45-increase in taxes each year for four years for property owners, business and residential. The tax would be added to present property taxes and dedicated to transit. “Dedicated” may sound a little troubling for some taxpayers because staying focused with tax money is one of government’s most serious failures. It frequently gets spent on other stuff.  And, you know, property taxes are pretty high as it is.  Just saying.  Matt Gurney: Why OneCity won’t happen.

“We owe it to the people of Elliot Lake”

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Premier McGuinty has made an appeal to rescuers to keep trying to find and save one person and perhaps two still trapped in the rubble of the Algo Mall in Elliot Lake. The Premier made his feelings clear last night when the local MPP called him and then in a news conference. He said Ontario owes it to the families to “leave no stone unturned.” The Premier also said that he will not being going to Elliot Lake at this time, adding that if he thought his presence would help in the rescue he would go, but but he does not think it would assist for him to be there. “I have spoken to Emergency Management Ontario and the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team and have instructed them to determine if there is any other way possible to reach any victims without endangering our rescuers, including the use of equipment to dismantle the building from the exterior,” McGuinty said in a statement Monday night. “I believe we owe it to the families waiting for word of their loved ones to leave no stone unturned. We owe that to the people of Elliot Lake too. Ontarians expect nothing less.”  See post below.  CBC.ca on this appeal.

Search for known survivors called off

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A maddening dilemma faces rescuers at the Algo Mall in Elliot Lake. They know there are at least two people alive in the wreckage but had to call off their work because they can’t figure out how some of the remaining structure continues to stand. It is just too dangerous to keep on searching. Specifically, the engineers can’t figure out why beams supporting an escalator and stairs inside the mall in Elliot Lake haven’t collapsed already. National Post.

Eglinton and Mt Pleasant mugging at 4 a,m.

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Toronto Police Service report: A 20 year old male reports that on June 23, 2012 at approximately 0400 hours, he was in the area of Mount Pleasant Road and Eglinton Avenue East, when he was approached by six male suspects. The suspects attempted to remove the victim’s headphones and wallet and a struggle ensued. The suspects then fled the scene empty handed southbound on Mount Pleasant Road. No injuries were sustained by the victim. Police are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the following described persons in connection with this offence. Description of Suspect #1: Male, black, 18 to 19 years, 5’11” to 6’0”, 189 to 200 pounds, stocky build, collar length curly black hair. Suspect #2: Male, black, 18 to 19 years, 6’1” to 6’2”, 165 to 169 pounds, thin build, short black hair. Suspect #3: Male, 18 to 19 years, 5’11” to 6’0”, 169 to 174 pounds, medium build, short black hair. Suspect #4: Male, black, 18 to 19 years, 5’11” to 6’0”, short black hair. Suspect #5: Male, black, 5’11” to 6’0”, short black hair. Suspect #6: Male, black, 18 to 19 years, 5’11” to 6’0”, short black hair.