Join us tonight for Don Valley West all candidates debate. We are proud to support @PeterMilczyn standing in for @Kathleen_Wynne. Doors open at 7 pm. Debate starts at 730 pm in the William Lea Room at Leaside Arena. https://t.co/20LtPpFcj2
— TeamWynne (@TeamWynne) May 23, 2018
High court will hear appeal that terror texts are not evidence
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The Supreme Court will hear the case of Vice Media vs the Crown when it decides whether the RCMP has the authority to obtain messages between a reporter and a young ISIS convert from Calgary. Farah Shirdon, 22, a naturalized Canadian born in Somalia, is now dead according to the US government. But in 2014 he carried on communication by way of an app called Kik with Vice Media reporter Ben Makuch. Shirdon was prosecuted by the government for treason and the Mounties wanted to see the messages. Several courts have found that the communication is evidence and must be handed over. Vice Media sees a threat to press freedom.
NOUR CASE A PRECEDENT?
In December the SCOC found that texts in a criminal prosecution were privileged but only because they were on the phone of an accomplice not the accused. If they had been found on the cell of Nour Marakah, a firearms trafficker, there would have been no privilege. It is an interesting subtlety that was ripped up by Justice Moldaver in a blistering minority opinion. Now it remains to be seen whether this will be relevant in the Vice complaint. Fear not Canada. SCOC finds that some texts private but with a sharp dissent
“Origin of fire on the upper surface of the barn” Fireworks?
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No one is using the word “fireworks.” Quite the contrary as fire marshal’s personnel speak of accidental causes and multiple ignition sources. No details are stated. Yet they also speak of the origin of the fire being on the upper surface of the barn. Roof? Horses who died in fire are named in note from Sunnybrook
Jonathan Tsao elected by council to fill Ward 33 vacancy
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City Council has appointed Jonathan Tsao to be the Councillor for Don Valley East (Ward 33) to replace former Councillor Shelley Carroll who resigned to run for the Liberal Party in the June General Election. Tsao narrowly beat out Divya Nayak on the third ballot. Tsao is a former provincial government employee and is said to be an advocate for children’s mental health. Eighteen candidates, seven of whom live in the ward, applied to fill the seat. The voting went to three ballots and Tsao, who was supported by the mayor and many allies like Jon Burnside (Ward 26) won by only five votes (23-18). A Twitter search today shows many comments on the political shadings of sympathies at Council. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) joined a number of downtown and west-central Councillors in supporting Ms Nayak. Twitter
Lynx screech at each other in matter of mating or territory
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There’s much interest in this video of two Lynx screeching at each other. It was taken as Edward Trist, his girlfriend Nicole Lewis and his daughter were heading down a logging road to go fishing near Avery Lake near Dryden. This is remote country near the Manitoba border. The animals were about nine metres from where they stopped. “We started off down this road and there were two Lynx on the road and as we approached, they didn’t move which was really odd,” he said. “We got out and started filming it … what we caught on camera is very, very rare to catch.”
Boy 11, is found safe in west end after day-long search
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DVW all-candidates debate Wednesday night at Lea room
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Candidates in the June 7 general election for the riding of Don Valley West have been invited to an all-candidates debate on Wednesday, May 23 in the William Lea Room at Leaside Memorial Community Gardens. Don Valley West is the long-time seat of Premier Kathleen Wynne. She is challenged this year by Progressive Conservative candidate Jon W. Kieran. All parties have been invited, including the NDP, Green Party and Libertarian Party. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the debate is set to begin at 7.30 p.m. This debate is sponsored by the Leaside Property Owners Association.
MODERATOR BRIAN ATHEY
The moderator will be Brian Athey, past president of the LPOA. Each candidate will give a three-minute opening statement after which attendees ask questions directed to one or more candidate. Each candidate has the opportunity to make a one-minute response to any question. The Q&A session lasts approximately 75 minutes, after which each candidate makes a closing statement (in reverse order from the opening statements). Candidates’ order of speaking is decided by their drawing a number from a hat just before the meeting begins, and, as noted above, the speaking order will reverse for closing statements. Questions will be provided by the attendees only and in writing so that Mr. Athey can sort or combine them to avoid repetition. There will be index cards — and pencils, as needed —- for people as they enter the William Lea Room.
Marks and Spencer to close 100 stores in online onslaught
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Marks and Spencer will close more than 100 stores in the UK as online shopping shreds the old firm’s business to ribbons. Many jobs will be lost. Then in Washington State, two mountain bikers have been attacked by a cougar. One man is dead. Below that, fascinating video of two wild cats, Lynx in fact, growling at each other in a spat about mating or territory. This took place near Avery Lake, Ontario not far from the Manitoba border. Finally, a look again at the official wedding photos of Meghan and Harry’s wedding. The glow continues.
Horses who died in fire are named in note from Sunnybrook
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A coach from Sunnybrook Stables posted a note on Facebook expressing gratitude for the community’s support and grief over the loss of their cherished horses. In the note, the deceased horses are named. We found photos of ten out of the sixteen horses who died in the fire on the Sunnybrook Stables website and have posted them here. If you have photos or memories to share, we encourage you to share them on our Facebook page. Our hearts go out to the equestrian community as we all mourn the loss of these gentle souls. The note reads,
As many of you will have heard Sunnybrook Stables caught fire early this morning. We are deeply grateful to Toronto Fire and to the Toronto Mounted Unit for their help. Their efforts resulted in the successful evacuation of the back barn and all horses in that barn are safe. They are currently housed at the Horse Palace. All have been checked by our vet and are well.
On behalf of all of us at The Riding Academy and at Sunnybrook Stables, I want to thank everyone who took the time to reach out, come down, send condolences, and for the many thoughtful offers of assistance. Our Sunnybrook and Horse Palace herds are cherished member of our family, and it is with incredible sadness that we mourn the loss of Mr. T, Beau, Sutherland, Sandy, Sampson, Axel, Sugar, Blossom, Poomba, Hercules, Apollo, Phoenix, Marty Misty, Tess and Gifford. These horses were wonderful teachers and friends, the best of the best. We loved them dearly, and we are beyond devastated. They are forever in our hearts.
Great show ends long weekend at Leaside High School field
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Visiting today, funeral Tuesday for Michael Leo Devine, 61
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Friends and associates of Micheal Leo Devine may visit Monday (today) between and 3 and 5 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Paul O’Connor Funeral Home at 1939 Lawrence Ave. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 78 Clifton Road. Obituary
Okuda here to brighten up your morning jaunt down Jarvis
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As reported by Urban Toronto, the former Primrose Hotel on the southwest corner of Carlton and Jarvis Sts. has re-opened as the Parkside Student Residences. As part of this re-birth the east wall of the building will become a canvas for Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel. Okuda (he has the artistic inclination to a one-word name) is, at 38, an established street artist in Europe and elsewhere. Okuda is commissioned to render his work titled Equilibrium (centre) this summer. Here is a pleasant video with Spanish narration. Urban Toronto

