At Women’s Day event Friday: Milayjah Tefanis, Karen McKenzie, Assistant Superintendent Joanna Beaven-Desjardins, event host Sharon Stewart and school principal Franca Capano
One of many local events for International Women’s Day was held at John G. Diefenbaker School at 70 Dean Park Rd. in Scarborough where Assistant Superintendent Joanna Beaven-Desjardins spoke about her advancement in the Toronto Police. She is now unit commander at both 41 and 42 Divisions. She’s also the mother two teens. She is seen above with two students from left, aspiring hip hop singer Milayjah Tefanis and Karen McKenzie. To the Assistant Superintendent’s right are event host Sharon Stewart and school principal Franca Capano. Ron Fanfair
High levels of air pollution have developed in parts of Toronto says an alert from Environment Canada. “The observed Air Quality Health Index values for Toronto are generally in the moderate risk category, however light winds and stagnating weather conditions have resulted in increasing levels of fine particles and nitrogen dioxide in northern and eastern parts of Toronto. High risk AQHI values are expected to persist for several hours at these locations before improving later this morning.”
The Leaside Wildcats March Madness Hockey Tournament will see players, families and friends throng Leaside Arena Saturday and Sunday. Many will wish to check out the many raffle and silent auction items. Don’t leave it too late. Every player a champion at 40th March Madness next week
A cosy gathering of ladies on British television included Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. Brash inquiries about “the bump” were handled with grace. Things seem to be going fine. Elsewhere, Friday was International Women’s Day. This City News report has the state things in that field from a number of capitals. And recent documentary hand-ringing about the messed up life of Michael Jackson has led to the suspension of his music in many places. Now 20th Century Fox Television has pulled the Michael Jackson episode of The Simpsons from circulation. It should be kept in mind that whatever Jackson’s transgressions, and they were many no doubt, the guy is dead.
The hunt is on in East York for Duarte Borges, 56, after he slipped out Michael Garron Hospital at Mortimer and Coxwell Aves. Thursday as he received treatment while in custody. He is described as 5’5″, 140 lbs., with a slim build, grey hair, and unshaven with a slight moustache. He was last seen wearing a black hooded top, a grey toque with a logo on the front, black pants, and tan boots. He walks with a limp. He is also known to frequent East York area as well as the downtown core.
Despite the predicted rain, Sunday can yet turn out to be a Springtime high as temperatures soar to 6º Celsius and Daylight Saving Time returns at 2 a.m. This means sunset will gallop back to 7.17 p.m. Spring forward. We like it.
Risk of freezing rain Saturday night followed by 15 to 25 mm of rain. Gusty winds Sunday. Rain will begin late Saturday evening or after midnight. In areas where temperatures remain below the freezing mark, this precipitation could fall briefly as freezing rain before temperatures rise above zero. Rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm are expected before the rain tapers off late Sunday morning or early Sunday afternoon. Ponding of water on streets with blocked storm drains and in low lying areas is possible.
In addition, southwest winds gusting to 70 or 80 km/h will develop on Sunday and continue for much of the day. The rain and wind are associated with a Colorado Low that will track through Northeastern Ontario on Sunday.
Fire crews continued to deal with hot spots Friday at the scene of a six-alarm house fire on Rochester Ave. in Lawrence Park. Trees and shrubs are coated with ice from a night of trying to extingish the fire at a home under construction. A contractor’s sign calls the property 111 Rochester.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will involve full and rolling road closures on Sunday, March 10 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The following streets will be fully closed from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to accommodate the parade formation area:
• St. George Street from College Street to Bloor Street West
• Harbord Street from Huron Street to St. George Street
• Devonshire Place from just north of Hoskin Avenue to Bloor Street West
• Hoskin Avenue from Queens Park Crescent to St. George Street
Rolling closures will be in effect to accommodate the parade route starting at noon:
• Bloor Street West between St. George Street and Yonge Street
• Yonge Street between Bloor Street and Queen Street
• Queen Street West between Yonge Street and University Avenue
• Northbound lanes on University Avenue between Queen Street West and Armoury Street
• Armoury Street between University Avenue and Chestnut Street
Additional road closures will be in effect in the area around City Hall from noon to 3 p.m.:
• Charles Street East from Jarvis Street to Yonge Street
• Elizabeth Street from Dundas Street West to Hagerman Street
• Hagerman Street from Elizabeth Street to Bay Street
• University Avenue from Queen Street West to Armoury Street
• North curb lane on Queen Street West near Bay Street
Road closures to accommodate the parade dispersal area will be effect from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.:
• Armoury Street from University Avenue to Chestnut Street
• Centre Avenue from Armoury Street to Dundas Street West
• Northbound lanes from University Avenue from Queen Street West to Dundas Street West
The full parade route is available at https://stpatrickstoronto.com/
‘Old Toronto Series’ Facebook page has posted old video of the CBC quiz show for teens called Reach for the Top. The episode features a long-ago contest between Leaside High School and Monarch Park C.I. It comes as Alex Trebek has announced he has stage-four pancreatic cancer. The legendary MC began his career as quizmaster on Reach the Top. Here is 1970s theme music.
Closed from north of underpass to Lawrence Park School
Bayview Ave. has reopened at Lawrence Ave. after flooding caused by runoff from water used to fight the house fire on Rochester Ave. Bayview was closed from Lawrence Park School to north of the underpass.
