The South Bayview Bulldog

RioCan has resubmitted plans to the City which would permit it to add a previously unapproved urban plaza in its huge development at the corner of Laird Drive and Eglinton Ave. on the site of what is now known as RioCan Leaside Centre. Present plans call for residential towers of 18, 21, 36 and 38 storeys. The City has objected to the size of the development. The matter will therefore be before LPAT (Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) this fall.

Source: PUBLIC REALM MASTER PLAN, 2019. 06. 25, 815-845 EGLINTON AVE. E.

Source: PUBLIC REALM MASTER PLAN, 2019. 06. 25, 815-845 EGLINTON AVE. E.

Source: PUBLIC REALM MASTER PLAN, 2019. 06. 25, 815-845 EGLINTON AVE. E.

Source: PUBLIC REALM MASTER PLAN, 2019. 06. 25, 815-845 EGLINTON AVE. E.

Source: PUBLIC REALM MASTER PLAN, 2019. 06. 25, 815-845 EGLINTON AVE. E.

Gary Poltash, 64, of Florida was killed in Muskoka accident

Suzana Brito, 48, died in boat collision

Kevin O’Leary was on one of boats

Kevin O’Leary has released a statement Wednesday saying that he was on one of the boats that collided Saturday on Lake Joseph. Police say Gary Oltash, 64, a Florida man with a cottage on the lake was pronounced dead at the scene. A 48-year-old Uxbridge woman, Suzana Brito, died later from her injuries. Police say two vessels collided on the lake near Emerald Island in Seguin Township at around 11:30 p.m. Here is O’Leary’s statement.

“On late Saturday night I was a passenger in a boat that was involved in a tragic collision with another watercraft that had no navigation lights on and then fled the scene. I am fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation. Out of respect for the victims’ families and to fully support the ongoing investigation I feel it is inappropriate to make further comments at this time. My heartfelt prayers and condolences to the victims, the families and those affected by this loss.”

An earlier version of this story was inaccurate. The Bulldog apologizes for the error. Here are reports from the CBC and City News with unique interpretations.

Crowded at rush hour

Empty later

An infusion of federal cash (is there an election coming?) will finance an expansion of the Bloor and Yonge subway station. The original 1950s station has already been expanded to accommodate crowds of as many as 750,000 riders a day. Writers pulled out the most scarlet descriptions of the station as the announcement was made. City News called it “chronically-claustrophobic.” Some one billion dollars will be divvied up between Bloor-Yonge station improvements, and the SmartTrack Stations Program, which will see six new stations built on the Stouffville, Lakeshore East, and Kitchener GO rail corridors. Just when is another question.

A post on Tuesday morning is drawing great interest among civilized readers in Leslieville and areas of Midtown. The author posts the Highway Traffic Act language relating to the responsibilities of motorists and cyclists to each other. The key elements are a motorist’s right to pass on the left and a cyclist’s right to a metre of distance (or “as nearly as may be practicable”) between the car and the cyclist. Let’s be civilized. FB

Melanie Teed-Murch

The President of Toys “R” Us Canada, Melanie Teed-Murch, has resigned from the top post after more than two decades with the company. Ms. Teed-Murch survived the collapse of the US and British arms of the business in 2017 and 2018 to oversee the continued operation of about 80 stores in Canada. Local shoppers will know that the sole local Toronto Toys “R” Us store is in the Eglinton Centre. There’s one in the Dufferin Mall and another at 1440 Lawrence E, North York (which Google has mistakenly called Victoria (?). A spokesperson said Teed-Murch tendered her resignation to accept a new opportunity, which has not been disclosed. No successor is named. Teed-Murch started her career with the toy seller as a store manager in Kitchener in 1996 before working her way up to the top post in September 2016. Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. eventually purchased the Canadian operation for $300 million and Teed-Murch embarked on a media offensive to reassure customers that the retailer remained open for business.

G7 leaders have met once against, this time in Biarritz, to hold the world together. The CBC looks at those odd table-mates Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump. Then, Pattison Outdoor Sign Group will take down billboards which advocate for an end to “mass immigration.” Below that, the must-watch discovery and return to its owner of a purse lost in 1957. Very touching. Finally, City News cavorts with those costumed dreamers from the annual Toronto Fan Expo.

Police are warning residents near Joel Weeks Parkette, 10 Thompson St., northwest Queen East and Broadview Ave., that several dogs have apparently been poisoned in the green space west of Leslieville. As a result of an investigation, police are concerned that an undetermined poison may have been left within the park area and that it has the potential to harm children and small animals. The delivery method for the harmful substance is unknown at this time. They ask for the public’s assistance in identifying any person or persons responsible for the possible dispersal of this harmful substance.

No winning ticket was sold for the $5 million jackpot in Saturday night’s Lotto 649 draw. However, the guaranteed $1 million prize went to a ticket holder in British Columbia. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on Aug. 28 will be approximately $7 million.

Oscar

Heartwarming posts Saturday tell of a community effort to identify Oscar and get him home to his family. Oscar was found at the Esso station at Village Station Rd. and Millwood Rd. He apparently galloped from Crothers Woods near the Redway Rd. Loblaws. An identifying tipoff was the two dots that sit midway along Oscar’s brown and white coat. Then, of course, a check of the chip made it official. He is a handsome guy with a distinguished colour-coordinated nose. FB

Last Northern White Rhinos

Electric power from urine?

Bicycle lane pop on Danforth/CityNews

Scientists have harvested the eggs of the world’s two remaining Northern White Rhino females so that they may be fertilized by the frozen sperm of the now-extinct males of the species. Then, those Australians are at it again with a scheme to recharge your cell phone with your urine. No really, this is science. Below that, Hong Kong democracy demonstrators link arms to demand the freedom that China promised Taiwan — two systems, one country. None deserve freedom more than these brave people. Lastly, you be the judge of this vision of Danforth Ave. as offered by pop-up cycle folks this weekend.

North American stock markets plummeted Friday after President Trump angrily told businesses to “immediately start looking for an alternative to China,” although it’s unclear what authority he has to make this happen. China ratcheted up the trade war this week by announcing tariff hikes on US$75 billion of American goods including some agricultural products, crude oil and small aircraft in retaliation to US tariffs. China will also boost import duties on U.S.-made autos and auto parts. The Toronto index fell 215, the Dow dropped 624 and the NASDAQ 239.