The South Bayview Bulldog

Ron Taverner has withdrawn from consideration to be the next commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police. He did so in a statement released Wednesday citing his desire to protect the integrity of front-line officers. Taverner, 72, is a long-time Toronto police superintendent and personal friend of Premier Ford. “This decision is not an easy one for me to make,” Taverner said. “I believe the OPP requires new leadership and a change in culture at its most senior levels. The thousands of men and women who make up the front lines of the OPP deserve leadership that will put their concerns and well-being at the forefront of decision-making.” The announced appointment of Taverner to the OPP post was met with bitter opposition from Deputy OPP Commissioner Brad Blair who was fired from his position this week.

• OPP deputy fired in open-warfare with Ford over Taverner
• Taverner asks delay so his nod to OPP boss can be reviewed
• Picture of unknown origin spreading among Ford critics

The five big banks have endorsed a return-to-work program for qualified women who left financial careers to have a family. It is a program called Return to Bay Street created by Women In Capital Markets (WCM) a large gender diversity non-profit organization. The returnship program brings experienced women back to the senior roles from which they left, rather than them having to work their way up the ladder again. The 2019 program gives candidates the option of choosing between the Asset Management Stream (Buy Side) or the Dealer Stream (Sell Side) Applications are due on March 25, 2019. Learn more here.

Al Moritz

Brie Larson

Marie Henein

It’s not entirely clear to The Bulldog why the City of Toronto has a poet laureate, but it does. The latest incarnation of this public office was named today. He is Al Moritz (left) the Blake C. Goldring Professor of the Arts and Society at the University of Toronto. At centre is Brie Larson. Her portrayal of the first distaff Captain Marvel is in theatres Friday. Shazam Ma’am. And at right is Toronto criminal law practitioner Marie Henein. Wednesday she told an Ottawa court that she will subpoena Gerald Butts and anyone else she can think of if the PMO doesn’t pony up documents she wants to help defend her client, Vice Admiral Mark Norman.

The annual general meeting of the South Eglinton Ratepayers and Residents Association (SERRA) will be held Tuesday, April 30 at Greenwood College School, Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Davisville Ave. starting at 6 p.m.  Councillors Josh Matlow (Ward 12) and Jaye Robinson (Ward 15) will speak. .

Doug Putnam, head of Sunrise Records, has assumed a huge business burden by taking over the bankrupt HMV retail giant both here in Canada and the UK. How will he keep record sales alive in the age of digital music? This CBC report has limited reference to this question, namely “more music-related merchandise, vinyl showcased at the front of the store, wider selection.” This may refer to the toys which were the foundation of Sunrise stores in Canada, a business founded by Putnam’s mom and dad in Hamilton. Hamilton vinyl holdout Sunrise Records does HMV rescue

The overall winner of the Great Canadian Bonspiel held last Saturday at Leaside Curling Club was Team Harling from Leaside (skip Rob Harling, vice Ted Hellyer, second Don Dawson and lead Floyd Dempster). Well done guys. Paivi Liitela, general manager of the curling club, also reports that the barbecued pork dinner was amazing. No doubt. The large fully-dressed pig was cooked on the barbecue just outside the club’s front door on Millwood Rd. Great Canadian Bonspiel, barbecue at Leaside Curling Club

Done to a turn/Paivi Liitela

I’ll have a bit more/Piavi Liitela

An HIV patient in London has been found clear of the disease for more than 18 months after receiving a stem cell transplant which has a natural immunity to the virus. It is a tantalizing glimpse of what may be possible if and when physicians are able to artificially edit genes to universally shut down HIV infection. The report at the right from Fox News hears from a TV doctor about this possibility.

Two boys riding with three adults after midnight on Lake Muskoka have died when three snowmobiles plunged into the water at Lighthouse Narrows near Gravenhurst, OPP report. The accident occurred early Monday. OPP Central in Orillia name the boys as Alexander Martin, 15, of Gravenhurst and Mitchell Paris, 12, of Bracebridge. Police did not provide details on the relationship between the boys or the status of the other three people involved in the accident.

Snowmobiles went through the thin ice at lighthouse narrows on #LakeMuskoka #Gravenhurst resulting in 2 fatalities. Please remember #NoIceIsSafeIce #RideSafe ^jf pic.twitter.com/YGjHLRO4Rh

— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) March 4, 2019

William Secord Mattson, 22

Burned out scene at 160 Bathurst St.

The victim of Tuesday’s 5-alarm fire on Bathurst St. is William Secord Mattson, 22, the step-son of the building’s owner. Mattson lived in the basement apartment where the fire is believed to have started. A second person in the apartment, is in hospital. The step-father is a barber who has operated a business at the address for decades. One dead, one injured in basement fire in store on Bathurst

Toronto Public Health is investigating a confirmed case of measles in an infant child and officials are warning people who may have visited two Scarborough locations about potential exposure. Anyone at these locations may have been exposed: The emergency department of Scarborough Health Network at 3030 Birchmount Rd., between 5:12 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 and the Huntingdale Medical Centre at 3061 Pharmacy Ave. between 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 26 and between 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28.

(Top) Cleveland Street between Millwood and Belsize.
(Bottom) Belsize Drive, west of Bayview. March 5, 2019.

New school safety zone signs have popped up guarding the perimeter of Maurice Cody Junior Public School as part of Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan.  The two signs pictured above include eye-catching flashing beacons.  The Vision Zero Road Safety Plan is a comprehensive five year (2017-2021) action plan focused on reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto’s streets. With over 50 safety measures across our six emphasis areas, the Plan prioritizes the safety of our most vulnerable road users, through a range of initiatives.  September 2018 saw newly painted zebra crossings surround Maurice Cody school.

Zebra stripes on Cleveland St. as Vision Zero hits Davisville