The South Bayview Bulldog

Here is the new Liberal cabinet. Chrystia Freeland, the member for Univerity-Rosedale (UR) has been appointed deputy prime minister.

• Chrystia Freeland: deputy prime minister and minister of intergovernmental affairs.
• Anita Anand, a new member of cabinet: minister of public services and procurement.
• Navdeep Bains: minister of innovation, science and industry.
• Carolyn Bennett: minister of Crown-Indigenous relations.
• Marie-Claude Bibeau: minister of agriculture and agri-food.
• Bill Blair: minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
• Bardish Chagger: minister of diversity, inclusion and youth.
• Francois-Philippe Champagne: minister of foreign affairs.
• Jean-Yves Duclos: president of the Treasury Board.
• Mona Fortier, a new member of cabinet: minister of middle class prosperity and associate minister of finance.
• Marc Garneau: minister of transport.
• Karina Gould: minister of Iinternational development.
• Steven Guilbeault, a new member of cabinet: minister of Canadian heritage.
• Patty Hajdu: minister of health.
• Ahmed Hussen: minister of families, children and social development.
• Melanie Joly: minister of economic development and official languages.
• Bernadette Jordan: minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
• David Lametti: minister of justice and attorney general.
• Dominic LeBlanc: president of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.
• Diane Lebouthillier: minister of national revenue.
• Lawrence MacAulay: minister of veterans affairs and associate minister of defence.
• Catherine McKenna: minister of infrastructure and communities.
• Marco E. L. Mendicino, a new member of cabinet: minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship.
• Marc Miller, a new entry to cabinet: minister of Indigenous services.
• Maryam Monsef: minister of women and gender equality and rural economic development.
• Bill Morneau: minister of finance.
• Joyce Murray: minister of digital government.
• Mary Ng: minister of small business, export promotion and international trade.
• Seamus O’Regan: minister of natural resources.
• Carla Qualtrough: minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion.
• Pablo Rodriguez: leader of the government in the House of Commons.
• Harjit Sajjan: minister of national defence.
• Deb Schulte, a new member of cabinet: minister of seniors.
• Filomena Tassi: minister of labour.
• Dan Vandal, a new member of cabinet: minister of northern affairs.
• Jonathan Wilkinson: minister of environment and climate change.

Proposed residential infill looking southeast on Randolph

Click to read about consultation meeting December 3, 2019

A community consultation meeting is scheduled for December 3 in the library at St. Anselm Catholic School at 182 Bessborough Drive starting at 6.30 p.m.

Lowe’s will close 34 underperforming stores across six provinces as part of a restructuring of its Canadian business. Five of the stores are in the GTA and four others scattered across the province. In total, the closures include 26 Ronas, six Lowe’s and two Reno-Depots spread across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The closures will leave at least some employees out of work and although efforts will be made to get them jobs at other stores.  It appears the move is rooted in the need to upgrade online service on a world of Amazon and related Canadian competition like Canadian Tire.

Five stores in GTA (Click to read)

Tuesday’s StarMetro subway tabloid

The Toronto Star (TorStar) is shutting down its StarMetro commuter newspapers across Canada. An internal memo Tuesday said final print editions in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax will be published December 20. The reason for the end of publication is commuter preferences for smartphones, laptops and tablets to access their news,” Bob Hepburn said in an email. As the owners of the Washington Express subway tab snarled in September: “Hope you enjoy your stinkin’ phones.” The email sent to staff by Torstar president and CEO John Boynton stated: “print advertising volumes have decreased significantly in recent months to levels below those required to make them commercially viable.” It seems as many as 73 employees would be “affected” by the closures.

A set of dual wheels came flying off of a UPS truck and struck vehicles on Highway 407 in Markham Tuesday. The hurtling projectile slammed into a convertible causing it to roll over as it headed for the ditch. The scary incident occurred in the eastbound lanes near Leslie St about 11 a.m. The driver of the Chrysler ragtop is recovering from the experience. OPP Sergeant Kerry Schmidt said UPS has been charged with the careless maintenance offense related to detached wheels.

A woman aged 47 has sustained life-threatening injuries in an after-dark hit and run accident on Midland Ave. Monday evening. She was crossing Midland east to west near Duxbury Dr., south of Steeles Ave. E. The presumed hit and run motorist fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV. However, Toronto Paramedic Services told CP24 the woman may have been struck by more than one vehicle. One driver did remain at the scene.

Classic 4-lane road folly

The above report from Carl Hantske tells again of the classic folly of getting stuck in the middle of a dark four-lane road where drivers are literally unable to see you because of other traffic. There are no pedestrian crossing opportunities in the estimated 1,200 metres between lights at Passmore Rd. and Steeles Ave. Deeply dangerous.

Clipping apparently from the early 1960s

Tunnel under Bayview pedestrian and parking mall from Millwod Rd. to north of Eglinton Ave.

Toronto historian Mike Filey has sent an old clipping which describes an election campaign idea to build a tunnel under Bayview Ave. from Millwood Rd. to north of Eglinton Ave. The story quotes former Leaside mayor Lloyd M. Dickinson as saying the cost of the scheme would be borne by merchants on the street. It appears to date from the early 1960s before the amalgamation of East York and Leaside. At the time, Bayview Ave. divided Leaside from Toronto and it appears that people were complaining then, as they are now, about traffic. But it seems likely the idea was not taken too seriously.

Ahmed Hussein, executive director of The Neighbourhood Organization and Jen Quinlan, CEO of the Flemingdon Health Centre celebrate decision to create the Thorncliffe Park Community Hub on second floor of the East York Town Centre/Joanna Lavoie/Torstar Twitter

Left to right, Alison Thomas, nurse practitioner in St. Michael’s hemodialysis unit; Fiona Harrington, clinical leader manager for the Hemodialysis and Apheresis units; and Elizabeth Anne Anderson are core members of the St. Michael’s Hospital dialysis care team/Katie Cooper St Michael’s Hospital

Thousands of square feet of retail space left vacant by decision of Target to abandon Canada in 2015/Bulldog

Spirits are high as the Flemingdon Health Centre, The Neighbourhood Organization and Michael Garron Hospital collaborate to build a new 60,000-square-foot health centre to be called the Thorncliffe Park Community Hub. The hub is one of two health centres which will occupy the large two-storey east wing of the East York Town Centre left vacant when the Target store moved out in 2015. It has been a long-held dream of residents and professional people to deliver one-stop health care to Thorncliffe Park, a neighbourhood full of newcomers to Canada. As many as 22,000 patients are expected to seek care at the hub. It is planned to open in the Fall of 2021 on the second floor of the former Target store. The main floor below will be home to the nearly-completed St. Michael’s Hospital Kidney Care Centre dialysis site. It is scheduled to open in 2020. Not profitable! Target’s sudden move closes Canadian stores

Investigators on eighth floor balcony at 235 Gosford Blvd/Toronto Sun

The City has released a statement on the known circumstances of the fire at 235 Gosford Blvd Saturday as well as repairs to the rental building and plans to house and care for tenants in the interim.

Toronto Hydro (has) disconnected power to the building as directed by the Electrical Safety Authority and the building will not reopen until all repair work required has been completed by the owner. The investigation into the origin, cause and circumstances of the fire is being conducted by Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services and the Ontario Fire Marshal.

A handful of residents were assessed by paramedics at the scene and one was transported to hospital for further care. Tragically, one person was found deceased on a balcony on the eighth floor. Condolences on behalf of the City are with the deceased’s family and friends.

An emergency reception centre was set up at the Driftwood Community Centre to meet the immediate needs of the displaced residents. Approximately 165 residents registered with the Canadian Red Cross and over the past two evenings approximately 100 residents (accumulatively) stayed overnight at the reception centre.

Today, thanks to a generous offer from York University, the emergency reception centre will move to the Tait McKenzie Centre at 1 Thompson Rd., less than two kilometres from the apartment building. Red Cross will continue to operate the reception centre at its new location. The TTC will assist with transporting the residents to the new location.

The reception centre is pet-friendly and will offer meals, cots and blankets, washrooms and showers, secure storage of personal belongings, animal care for pets and service animals and personal services such as hygiene kits and mental health support. The City is also in discussion with the school boards to facilitate travel to schools for children staying at the reception centre.

Displaced residents should contact their tenant’s insurance provider to determine what support and assistance is available to them during this time. Residents are also encouraged to contact family members and friends to arrange for accommodation where possible. The City provides emergency shelter and related support for up to 14 days after an emergency to all residents who require it regardless of their financial status and whether their residence is publicly- or privately-owned.

235 Gosford Blvd. is privately-owned and the property management company is working with the appropriate authorities, engineers and restoration experts to assess damage to the building and to restore the building as quickly as possible.

235 Gosford Ave. is not safe for public entry. Limited and escorted access is being provided to retrieve pets and medications that cannot be refilled from a pharmacy. Retrievals of any other items are not being allowed at this time.

Residents of 235 Gosford Blvd. should register with Red Cross whether or not they need support or shelter at this time. Registering makes it easier for residents to access service should they need it later and ensures they receive critical updates.

Family members and friends of residents of 235 Gosford Blvd. who have concerns can email on.familyreunification@redcross.ca and include details about who they are looking for, their relationship to the person, and their own contact details.

At this time, the City of Toronto and Red Cross are not requesting or accepting donations of any kind in support of the residents of 235 Gosford Blvd. Through the emergency reception centre, the immediate needs of the displaced residents will be met. The processing, storage and distribution of food, clothing and other material donations is challenging and costly. The need for such donations and/or financial contributions will be re-evaluated as needed.

Specializes in wildlife

Jerry Rudd, artist and showman

Artist and showman Jerry Rudd and his assistant have completed a mural on the east wall of 1 St. Clair East (the Scotiabank). It features a deer which, as Mr Rudd explains in this City News report, is a salute to Deer Park. The artist employs mystery to advance his presence in the community. He almost always appears in a huge Falcon’s head covering. Be prepared.

Red Kettle campaign begins December 1/Salvation Army

Tap and go donations/Monex

The Salvation Army will test a form of tap-and-donate device this Christmas as it battles to combat the cashless society. The Sally Ann and many other charities have seen willing and sympathetic citizens sadly pass by their kiosks and charity bins because they’re not carrying cash. A pilot project starting December 1 will allow donations at some kettle stations in the Greater Toronto Area. The new tap-and-go machine eliminates having to swipe a card or enter a cash amount or PIN. The machine will be mounted on the side of kettle stands and have three discs to tap, one for a $5 donation, another for $10 and a third for $20. See how it works here. 

Road construction on Glen Rd/Bulldog

Bonus archive picture shows Glen Rd. was clear for 1930 visit of Mississauga Horse Guard at Rosedale United/Old Toronto

Brave fans of the traditional Holly Berry Fair at Rosedale United Church scrambled across torn up roads to get to the annual fundraising event Saturday. Driving was difficult too as work on pavement and sidewalks made Glen Rd. one way north. But inside the large old church, things were busy. Hundreds of shoppers picked through books, art, furniture, glassware, baked goods and much more. Many stopped for baked ham and a special recipe egg salad sandwich in the church’s “Rosedale United Deli.”

Book sale busy/Bulldog

Ham ready for slicing/Bulldog

Rosedale Deli prepares for lunch/Bulldog