TPS report: Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, reports that between 1230 hours, June 2, 1011 and 1558 hours, November 9, 2011, unknown suspect(s) removed an Echo Transesophogeal Probe from the premises. (This device is a kind of uttrasound, according to Wikipedia — Ed).
St. Cuthbert’s Fair Saturday the 12th
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Lorna Krawchuk of the St. Cuthbert’s congregation notes that the church will hold its Christmas Fair this Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 11 am to 2 pm in the church hall at Bayview Ave. and St Cuthbert’s Rd. Last year’s fair (inset) drew a large crowd. As usual, the St Cuthbert’s fair will feature a wonderful silent auction which is usually a huge crowd pleaser.
Mayor Ford says it’s time to move on
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Mayor Ford said today that it’s time for the Occupy Toronto encampment to leave St. James Park and “move on.” His remarks follow a successful move by London, Ontario police to remove a similar community in a local park. They arrived in large numbers and firmly removed all tents and structures. No one was injured. Ford stressed he was not announcing a decision nor speaking on behalf of the police chief.
Toyota recalls 550,000 vehicles over steering
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Toyota said today it is recalling about 550,000 cars globally because of certain steering related issues, which are making the vehicles harder to steer. Dion Corbett, a spokesman for Toyota said that this recall will affect 25,000 in New Zealand and Australia, 447,000 vehicles in North America and also 38,000 cars in Japan. Most of the vehicles that are being recalled are from the United States. Also included in the recall are 14,000 vehicles in Asia excluding Japan along with some 14,000 in Europe and another 14,000 in the Middle East.
Tribute Communities centre progress
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The new Tribute Communituies sales centre is shaping up at 1600 South Bayview. The former location of The Sleuth of Baker Street will be in operation before Christmas.
Hungarian Roma “refugees” flood Pearson
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Welcome to Toronto. As many as 50 Hungarian Roma a day are filing refugee claims at Pearson airport, putting a strain on airport staff and medical services, according to border services officials, the Toronto Sun reports. A record 110 claimants arrived at the airport one night last week, creating a challenge for immigration and security personnel working to process them, officers say. Entire Roma families, from babies to grandmothers, are getting off flights and claiming refugee protection at Pearson, alleging they’re being persecuted by “skinheads or Neo-Nazis” in their homeland, border officers said. A similar influx of Roma’s from the Czech Republic led to Canada imposing visas on all Czech citizens.
“Öut-for-the-evening” breakin on Woodlawn
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Toronto Police Service: A resident of Woodlawn Avenue West reports that between 1815 hours and 2145 hours, November 5, 2011 entry was gained into the premises by forcing a door. Removed were two laptop computers, a set of car keys and a quantity of cash and jewellery.
Work on curb sidewalks begins
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Sidewalk replacement is speeding ahead on South Bayview with backhoes today ripping on the curb lane of old sidewalk on the east side. By nightfall, work had proceeded to Homefront, at 1579 Meantime, down at Millwood and Bayview, fresh concrete was poured and the curb portion of the sidewalk was being trowelled and smoothed into place.
Indigo to sell Kobo for US$315 million
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A sea change in strategy for Indigo Books and Music with word that it will sell off its Kobo ereader division. The buyer is Tokyo-based Rakuten Inc., a large world-wide e-commerce company which will continue to run Kobo as a stand-alone company with head office in Toronto. The linked top-notch story from Canadian Business contains pretty much all the information you might need to try to guess the why and whatever of this startling decision. Notably, Kobo’s minority 49 percent shareholders will also sell. They are the Australian book and music chain RedGroup Retail and Cheung Kong Holdings, an investment company controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka–shing. Among the factors which may have contributed to this decision is the intense competition coming from Amazon’s Kindle and others. Another will be the US$40 million quarterly loss announced by Indigo at the same time as the sale. This loss occurred notwithstanding Kobo’s stellar performance increasing its sales some 219 percent during the quarter. One survey of ereaders placed Kobo behind various editions of the Kindle and Novo, as well as the Sony reader. Canadian Business.
Starbucks IPhone app puts cash in their account
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Starbucks has released the IPhone app that let’s you pay for your coffee with your phone. It’s a convenience they say. And it may be for some people although, as coffee lovers, we find it hard to see how. In order to be able to use the app you have to load money onto your Starbucks card first. That gives you credit, the same kind you have at the bank with your debit card. Is that easier than just producing the debit? Tell us. And oh yes, this app represents a nice windfall of advance payment for Starbucks. Put $50 on your card and buy an espresso for $3. The rest, multiplied by millions of customers, is one nice piece of sugar cake sitting in Starbucks bank account.
City union predicting it will be locked out
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The battle lines between the large CUPE local (Toronto municipal workers 416) and the City are drawn, it seems. The union is predicting it will be locked out early in the new year. National Post.
Rob Ford scouting at Lancer games
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Mayor Ford was on the sidelines doing some scouting when the Leaside Lancers went down 12-0 to the Central Tech Blues October 21. Ford continues to coach the Don Bosco Eagles, a hitch he took on before he was mayor. There’s a story here written by Brian Baker in the Town Crier.