RBC blows lid off earnings record with $3.1 billion result

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Royal Bank of Canada raised its dividend as it reported a record $3.1 billion in net income for its third quarter, up 11 per cent from a year ago. The bank’s results, which beat analyst expectations, were driven by earnings growth in its wealth management, capital markets and personal and commercial banking divisions. Royal Bank chief executive Dave McKay said the bank delivered record earnings with “strong results in our largest businesses.” “We maintained our focus on risk management and expense control; at the same time, we continue to invest in long-term sustainable growth, including in the United States,” McKay said in a statement Wednesday — Canadian Press

Frightening crash at Hwy. 7/Red Maple in Richmond Hill

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Red car turns left into oncoming traffic

A dashcam caught this frightening collision at Highway 7 and Red Maple Rd in Richmond Hill Wednesday morning. There are no reports on how the occupants of these vehicles are doing. The highway has re-opened between Red Maple and Yonge St.

Ideas for 1-stop subway’s wonderous Town Centre terminal

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Rendering of the entrance hall off McCowan Road, image courtesy of AECOM.
Rendering looking south on Borough Drive, image courtesy of AECOM.
Aerial rendering of the east entrance and public plaza, image courtesy of AECOM.

Design proposals for the grand subway terminal of the so-called one-stop subway station at Scarborough Town Centre reveal a distinctive showplace which has ignited fierce criticism among those commenting at Urban Toronto. The depictions are from the US multinational firm AECOM. It provides design, consulting, construction, and management services to a wide range of clients.

Mommys picnic in park, kabobs at former Laird Starbucks

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Mommy Connections Picnic
Naan and Kabob on Laird
50 Hanna Rd.
Back-to-school with Mabel’s Fables
White roses at Longos
Park and Bark September 15

Attention moms, the Mommy Connections Picnic in the Park is this Friday in Oriole Park just off Chaplin Crescent. Over on Laird Drive, the sign is up next door to Grilltime as Naan and Kabob prepares to open at the former Starbucks. Nice parking with the lot entrance off Kenrae Rd. Centre right, a new home is built at the large lot at 50 Hanna Rd. (Hanna and Sutherland) by Ivy Glen Homes. Such busy guys. Lower left, you can look ahead and mark September 22 for a day on Mt. Pleasant at the annual Harvest Fair. Next, Mabel’s Fabels kids bookstore at Mt. Pleasant and Hillsdale offers a reminder about back-to-school. Mabel’s will celebrate 30 years at this location come September. Then some white roses seen at Longo’s. This is the blossom of Purity, Innocence, Sympathy, Spirituality. Finally at the right, this lady and her friend are here to remind of the Park and Bark show set for September 15 at Davisville Ave. and Yonge St.

Mayor asks people to take in burned out apartment dwellers

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Displaced apartment dwellers at Wellesley Community Centre/Mark Carcasole ✔@MarkCarcGlobal
Fire chief, Mayor Tory/TFS Twitter
Exhausted fire fighters/Matthew Pegg@ChiefPeggTFS
Watching drama/Tony Fera @tonyfera1
Rainbow over fire vehicles at scene of 650 Parliament/Kevin Young‏@KevinYounge

Hundreds of apartment dwellers from fire ravaged 650 Parliament — perhaps as many as 1,500 — have been made homeless by the smoky, six-alarm fire at the building on Tuesday. Mayor Tory said Canadian Red Cross officials are working to find accommodations for more than 1,000 people. The remaining residents made arrangements to stay with family or friends. The mayor appealed to hotel operators, Airbnb hosts and others with spare accommodations to email gtaresponse@redcross.ca to assist with temporarily housing those with nowhere else to go. Fire Chief Matthew Pegg says the fire has been extinguished but is uninhabitable. TFS and others were called to the address south of Bloor St. E. at 12:51 p.m. The fire was originally deemed a two-alarm blaze but was steadily upgraded throughout the afternoon. At one point, Chief Pegg said extra alarms were rung just to get more men on the ground for the exhausting job of evacuating residents. Officials said crews found heavy black smoke coming out of the basement and moving up the building. Toronto police said an electrical box was the source of the fire, but fire officials said it was too early for investigators to identify the cause. During an update late Tuesday evening, Pegg said there has been “significant damage” to the building.

Toronto Zoo welcomes new-born pygmy hippopotamus calf

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Unnamed female pygmy hippo at Toronto Zoo
Mother and calf doing well

A new-born pygmy hippopotamus calf is seen beside her mother at the Toronto Zoo. Kindia, a 12-year-old female delivered the female calf August 10 at 10:52 p.m. The baby hippo weighed 5.48 kilograms the day after she was born. Not yet named, she weighed 8.7 kilograms (roughly 19 pounds) as of Tuesday morning. Facebook

Watts says wife strangled girls when he asked for separation

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Authorities are not buying the story told by Chris Watts about the death of his pregnant wife and two daughters. He claims he found her strangling the girls after he had asked for a separation because he was having an affair. Then, a 95-year-old former prison camp guard has been deported from the US to Germany. Below that, there is much upset over the self-involved speech made by Madonna in tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards Monday. And finally, every cruise ship passenger’s nightmare is falling overboard. Here is a woman who did just that and was in the water for ten hours. Astonishing.






Aeroplan returns to AC 34 years after it was created there

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Aeroplan going home

Canadian Press reports Tuesday that a group led by Air Canada will buy the Aeroplan loyalty program from Aimia Inc. The customer incentive program will return to Air Canada some 34 years after it was created there in 1984. The buyers group includes the airline, TD Bank, CIBC and Visa Canada Corp. It will pay $450 million in cash and assume the approximately $1.9-billion liability associated with Aeroplan miles customers have accumulated. Over the years, the credibility of Aeroplan declined because of the difficulty of redeeming points This seems to be especially true after Air Canada sold it off in 2002. Air Canada said: “This transaction, if completed, should produce the best outcome for all stakeholders, including Aeroplan members, as it would allow for a smooth transition to Air Canada’s new loyalty program launching in 2020, safeguarding their miles and providing convenience and value for millions of Canadians.” The price is up from an initial offer of $250 million in cash and the assumption of the reward point liability in July that was rejected by Aimia. The deal is expected to close this fall.

Further soaking for City causes local floods, more to come

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The rains came (again) Tuesday to give Toronto its third good soaking in about two weeks. Across South Bayview there is local flooding but the intensity of the downfall did not seem to match the basement flooding onslaught of August 8.  Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch: “Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and torrential rain,” the national weather agency said. The threat of thunderstorms will continue into the afternoon and early evening. The City of Toronto is advising everyone to take extra care when travelling and to take precautionary steps to protect their property and ensure their safety. Transportation Services staff are monitoring conditions on the roads and working to keep catch basins clear. Both the city and Metrolinx has additional staff at Union Station in case of flooding. #onstorm

Penny Oleksiak scores Vichy sun protection endorsement

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Pride of the Toronto Beach and four-time Olympic medalist Penny Oleksiak, 18, appears in an ad for Vichy sun screen currently playing in Canada. Penny Wikipedia

Motorcyclist in miraculous survival at Coxwell and Queen

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Biker flying through air/SaveManMedia
Car turns left/SavedManMedia

A young man has apparently survived with only non-life threatening injuries after a frightening collision with a car at Coxwell Ave and Queen St. E. Monday morning. Upon colliding with a white car, the motorcyclist launches into the air and flips multiple times before landing on the street. In dashcam video posted to YouTube, the motorcyclist can be seen going straight-on through the intersection. A small white car makes what appears to be an unsignalled left turn. The impact sends the rider flying through the air.

RR crossing gates reported stuck on Wicksteed east of Leslie

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The railways gate were repaired and were operational later Tuesday.