Shoppers Drug nearing completion

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With the opening set for the 24th of May weekend. the new Shoppers Drug Mart on South Bayview is busy inside and out. This week we got a look at the dramatic signage and frontal treatment of the new store. It is housed in the 1936 building which for many years was a movie theatre, the Bayview Playhouse. Today the red and white Shoppers signs are complimented by black marble and brass appointments. Very nice.

Bessborough event to seek stem cell donor

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A donor event will be held tomorrow, May 14, 2011, at Bessborough school to try to find a stem cell donor for Leaside mom Cathy Anagnostopouloon, 44. So far, despite an overwhelming amount of support for this life-saving mission no matching donor has been found. InsideToronto.com has published an update on the story.

South Bayview dog owners beware

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South Bayview is a wonderfully safe street but the “removal”of a dog from outside a City Loblaws should give dog owners pause. The owner tied up her Shih Tzu Maltese at a St. Clair Ave. West supermarket and went inside to shop. Security cameras caught a man who stopped to pet the dog, then picked it up and walked away. The dog has since been recovered after someomne phoned in a tip about a noisy dog. It’s a lot of heartache to lose a dog but they are expensive to replace as well. Many shops permit dogs but those selling and serving food do not. One or two other shops also forbid dogs although most dry goods stores are okay with the dog on a leash..

Chestnut blossoms in startling pink

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The streets of Toronto will soon be decorated with the blossoms of the Horse Chestnut (genus Aesculus for purists). But seldom if ever are seen the pink blossom trees so common in Central Europe. These are in Vienna. For those who care to know, Wikipedia offers this. The genus “comprises 13-19 species of woody trees and shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere, with 6 species native to North America and 7-13 species native to Eurasia; there are also several hybrids. Species are deciduous or evergreen.”

Canadian Tire rolls into Forzani sports deal

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Canadian Tire Corp is moving into the sports store business as it moves to take control of the Forzani Group Ltd for 771 million in cash. It’s all about concern that U.S. retailewrs will eat CTC’s lunch. Today CTC is crowing however. “Canadian Tire is on offence,” Chief Executive Stephen Wetmore said. Forzani Group operates more than 500 retail outlets under banners such as Sport Chek, Atmosphere and National Sport and has annual revenue of about C$1.4 billion.

53 Division sees huge drop in car injuries

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The monthly report on community affairs from the TPS says personal injury accidents in 53 Division (which includes South Bayview and area) have dropped a rather staggering 41%. That’s compared to the same period last year — presumably the Spring of 2010. Property damage accidents are said to have increased some 3%. There’s no explanation for this remarkable drop other than happenstance. Good luck perhaps. Of course the police are urging everyone to be careful and keep up the good work. Police also warn that the division is experiencing a rash of break-ins related solely to the theft of keys, which are then used to the steal the vehicle outside.

Camel Smoking Zones a culture shock

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While Canada grapples with illegal tobacco (see post below) the European acceptance of cigarettes has resulted in things like the Camel Smoking Zone. There’s one or more in most German airports. The supervised Plexiglas smoking rooms sport interesting Camel “art” (centre) and offer users high quality music audio (right).

Bob Rae touted as interim Liberal leader

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Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, is being put forward as interim Liberal Party leader. Jean Chretien is urging Liberals to support the Toronto MP as interim leader. “Sources” tell the Canadian Press, former prime minister has been phoning dozens of defeated and re-elected MPs since the Liberal party’s historic defeat in Monday’s election. The once-mighty party was reduced to third place with only 34 MPs. Even Leader Michael Ignatieff lost his seat. Since then, MPs say Chretien has been calling around, promoting the idea that Rae should be interim leader for up to two years. That would give the party time to pick itself up off the mat before launching into a contest to choose a permanent successor to Ignatieff. It’s not surprising “sources” told CP because any strategy to do this would involve getting people to talk about it.