BC girl, 17, dies from taking the drug Ecstasy

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The drug ecstasy has taken another life, this time a 17-year-old girl in Canada, in Abbotsford, B.C., who died just 3 days before Christmas. The death of the personable and much-loved Cheryl McCormack on Dec. 22 came after her and 3 friends took ecstasy. McCormack and her friends were having a sleepover on Dec. 19 when each took the drug; while the others did not have a reaction unlike any other they’d had when they took ecstasy before, Abbotsford police spokesperson Const. Ian McDonald said McCormack became “unresponsive.” She was taken to hospital where she died days later. Her friends were kept in hospital a few hours as a precaution but were fine.Digital Jouirnal

Kate the main attraction as royals go to church

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Locals near Sandringham Castle say they’ve never seen spectators lined up as they were this Yuletide as the royal family went to church. “People are obviously coming to see Kate Middleton,” said one woman who recalled that even Diana didn’t attract the numbers present at today’s service.  The full family except for the Duke of Edinburgh was at church. He is recovering from a coronary stent procedure. The Duke has never missed a Christmas at Sandringham before. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said Kate was wearing a hat by Jane Corbett. Her coat was created by an independent British dressmaker, he added, but declined to reveal the designer’s identity. “The Duchess is keen to use independent British dressmakers, whose skills and craftsmanship she admires,” he said. Corbett, who is based in Hungerford, Berkshire, describes herself as a “couture milliner and artist” on her website. She has been creating bespoke hats for more than 15 years and was trained by Rose Cory, the late Queen Mother’s milliner. Corbett designed the pale blue hat that mother Carole Middleton wore to Kate’s wedding in April.

Froyo the new buzzword at Sunnybrook Plaza

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As the premises of Yogurty ‘s Frozen Yogurt in Sunnybrook Plaza nears completion, the uninitiated may be grappling with the word Froyo. It seems to be everywhere. On the murals inside the partly finished shop, on license plates and on the sign outside. Of course it means Frozen Yogurt. Now we need a promouncer. Is it Froyo like Boyo, or Froyo like Yoyo? 

Homefront will consolidate on Eglinton Avenue

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Homefront has announced that it will consolidate its business at its original store at 371 Eglinton Ave W. opposite the Eglinton Event Centre. The store at 1579 Bayview Ave will close within two months into the New Year. All outstanding business will be fully discharged at  the Eglinton location. In the meantime, Homefront on Bayview is holding a Moving Sale. Owners of Homefront, Ted and Trish Stuebing, noted that they will continue to be on Bayview because they live in the neighborhood. They especially asked the many churches, schools and other organizations which have been part of their community participation  to continue to seek support from Homefront in the years to come. They said it would be their honour to participate. Those with questions may call Homefront at (416) 485-2305 during business hours or leave a message.      

TJX closes Stylesense to boost Marshalls

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TJX Canada will close its three Stylesense clothing stores in the Toronto area next month. TJX says it will focus on growing the Marshalls brand here in Canada. TJX recently opened a Marshalls and a Homesense at Eglinton Ave E and Brentcliffe Rd.. TJX, an American retail conglomerate which also owns Winners, says Marshalls has the long-term potential to grow into a 100 store chain in Canada. Global News

What will Star do with high-brow properties

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The HDTV channels, which will now be 25 percent owned by the Torstar empire, sell a fine blend of niche entertainment. Much of it appeals to the intellect. All the channels are available only by subscription. The most broadly based of the quartet of HDTV signals is Oasis HD. It appears to be a family quality nature-oriented channel. The charming video from YouTube above, which is embedded on Oasis HD’s website, tells the story of a friendship between an elephant and a sheep. The channel eqed is proudly brainy. Eqed boasts the motto “Ït’s smart in here.”  HIFI is a highbrow music and arts service. Finally, radX features risk, adventure and danger. Some may wonder what a relentlessly populist media giant like Torstar might like do with these rather narrowly-defined properties. 

Torstar to acquire Blue Ant Media

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Torstar Corp. is to acquire a 25 percent stake in domestic broadcaster Blue Ant Media for $22.7 million. The deal marks a return to broadcasting for Torstar after it sold a minority stake in CTV, Canada’s top-rated broadcaster, to phone giant BCE.Blue Ant Media is led by Michael MacMillan, a former CEO of Alliance Atlantis Communications until he cashed out in 2007.MacMillan has since returned to broadcaster with his Blue Ant Media earlier this year acquiring a controlling interest in GlassBOX Television, and a minority interest in Quarto Communications. Also Wednesday, Blue Ant Media unveiled a deal to acquire Canadian broadcaster High Fidelity HDTV Inc. and its four premium high definition channels – Oasis HD, eqhd, radX and HIFI.Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Blue Ant Media will pick up an initial 29.9 per cent stake in High Fidelity HDTV, with the 70.1 percent stake to be acquired after the deal received regulatory approval from the CRTC.  U.S. private equity firm Providence Equity Capital Markets will help Blue Ant Media finance its High Fidelity HDTV acquisition.”We view the investment in Blue Ant Media as strategic, providing Torstar with the opportunity to further diversify our Canadian media asset base” David Holland, president and CEO of Torstar, said Wednesday.  Hollywood Reporter.