The South Bayview Bulldog

(Click to enlarge.) Letter from Adam Marshall, principal of Northern Secondary School, mourning the loss of Maya Zibaie, a Grade 10 student at NSS.

Adam Marshall, principal of Northern Secondary School has written a letter mourning the loss of a Grade 10 student who died on Tuesday when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed outside of Tehran shortly after takeoff.

“Dear Parents/Guardians,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that our community has suffered the loss of one of our own. Maya Zibaie, one of our grade 10 students, passed away yesterday following the airplane crash in Iran. This has been a somber day for all of us at the school as we mourn the tragic loss of a young life. I know that you will join with all of us in expressing our deepest condolences to Maya’s grieving family and friends.

Maya was kind, happy and well-liked by her peers. She was new to Canada, enjoyed attending high school and often shared with staff how excited she was about her future and reaching her academic goals. Maya will be sorely missed. …”

Click here to download the full letter (pdf).

• CP24: GTA residents, including students in Toronto and York Region, killed in Iran plane crash
• National Post: Toronto students, relatives among those killed in Iran plane crash: board
• CBC: Here’s what we know about the numerous GTA residents killed in the Iran plane crash

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A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Jan 8, 2020 at 10:33am PST

Prince Harry and Meghan today announced on their @sussexroyal Instagram account that they will be making a transition from their role as “senior” Royals, into a financially independent lifestyle, splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America. Full text is below.

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.” – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Buckingham Palace responded with a statement saying:

“Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage.

“We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

www.theweathernetwork.com

Based on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s forecast, Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, has issued an Extreme Cold Weather Alert today for Toronto in anticipation of colder weather conditions within the next 24 hours or longer. The Extreme Cold Weather Alert will be in effect until further notice.

During an Extreme Cold Weather Alert, members of the public are encouraged to take the following precautions:

• Check the weather report before going outside.
• Dress in layers, making sure your outer layer is windproof, and cover exposed skin.
• Wear a hat, warm mittens or gloves, and warm boots.
• Stay dry. Your risk of hypothermia is much greater if you are wet.
• Choose wool or synthetic fabrics for your clothes instead of cotton, because cotton absorbs and holds moisture, no longer keeping the wearer warm.
• Seek shelter if you normally spend long periods outside. Depending on the wind chill, exposed skin can freeze in minutes.
• Drink warm fluids other than alcohol.
• Warm up by taking regular breaks in heated buildings when enjoying winter activities outside.
• Consider rescheduling outdoor activities, or limiting time outdoors, during colder temperatures, especially if it’s windy.
• Heat your home to at least 21 degrees Celsius if infants or elderly people are present.
• Call or visit vulnerable friends, neighbours and family to ensure they are not experiencing any difficulties related to the weather.

More information and tips for staying warm during cold weather are available at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/extreme-cold-weather/.

Lottery ticket scanners across the country will be getting a workout Wednesday, after last night’s buzz-worthy Lotto Max draw. The OLG says one winning ticket worth $70 million was sold in Brampton. Tickets for 19 Maxmillion prizes were also given away. Six of those Maxmillion tickets worth $1 million each were also sold in Ontario — one each in Brampton, Hamilton, the Niagara Region, Oshawa, Ottawa and Pickering. The $70-million prize would be the largest jackpot ever awarded in Canada if the winner comes forward. Friday’s Lotto Max jackpot drops to $33 million — City News

A Ukrainian Boeing-737 carrying 176 people has crashed killing all aboard. The Tehran to Kyiv flight carried 63 Canadians. Ukraine’s Tehran embassy initially blamed engine failure but later removed the statement.

Kangaroo and Koala Bear keychains

An area woman has posted to Facebook offering these Kangaroo and Koala Bear keychains she created to help victims of the Australian wildfires. She is making 80 limited edition pieces and selling them for $10 each. The money will go to the Australian Red Cross.

The eternal dilemma of caring for the homeless against keeping the City liveable. The recriminations begin but the City says its doing all that it ought to do. You decide.

The annual presentation of the Agnes Macphail award will be held on Sunday March 29, 2020, as reported by the East York Chronicle. Previously the event had been held on Macphail’s birthday, March 24.  As usual, the presentations and related events such as the student public speaking contest will be held at the East York Civic Cetnre. The deadline for submission of nominations is midnight, Friday, January 10, 2020 to Agnes Macphail Recognition, c/o Antoinette Crichlow, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 12th Floor, West Tower, Toronto M5H 2N2.

Calemaker looked up logo on Google

Not in Montreal

The strange tale has been told of a lad, Jacob, living in deepest Quebec who is nonethless a loyal fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. His family ordered him a cake with the Leaf’s logo on it but in the land of the Habitants, such symbols are hardly common. The cakemaker went on Google and mistakenly copied the trademark of Maple Leaf Foods of Mississauga. It’s a logo best known for baloney and similar products. The boy’s stepmother, Tania Levesque, said her partner ordered the cake from a bakery near the couple’s home in Mascouche, Que., a few days before Jacob’s hockey-themed birthday party. When the bakery said they didn’t have the Leafs’ logo, Levesque suggested the workers search for it on Google, setting off the hilarious miscue.

Canada’s World Junior gold medalists are home in Toronto. Well done guys. Then, online shopping is a still a distant second to the enjoyable experience of hitting the stores and picking out your choice in person. Below that, Hi-ho Kim Jung un, as the portly dictator is seen in an absurd video posing as the gallant saviour of mankind. Ugh. Lastly, dressing up for the Golden Globes.

Britain’s most prolific rapist has been unmasked as a judge said the true scale of his “perverted” crimes may never be known. Reynhard Sinaga was jailed for a minimum of 30 years on Monday for 159 offences against 48 men who were lured to his Manchester flat, drugged and raped.

Dianna Manan, 16

Hit and run scene

Two hit and run fatalities have occurred early in 2020, one in Peel Region and the other downtown at Jarvis and Gerrard Sts. In Brampton, Dianne Mana, 16, was found i the road at Gore Road and Queen Street at around 12:20 a.m. Sunday.