Police warn that movie will depict waterfront panic Tuesday

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Toronto Police are warning that from Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at 12 p.m. to Wednesday December 6, 2017, at 1 a.m. a film shoot will be taking place at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal which will, among other things, simulate panic on a ferry. This will include approximately 25 cast and crew on board the Trillium Ferry and part of the pretend terror includes the setting off of two marine flares into the sky of the Toronto Harbour at approximately 10 p.m. What could go wrong?  But the ferry will not be in transit and will not have any public riders on board. The Coast Guard rescue service in Trenton, the Toronto Port Authority and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport have been notified.

TORONTO FERRIES TO BE REPLACED, MAYBE SCRAPPED

The City plans to get rid of, and possibly just scrap, four of Toronto’s friendly ferry boats in the name of speed, it seems. There are no real plans available for what will replace the Sam McBride, Thomas Rennie, William Inglis and Ongiara, but the decison has been made that people have to cross the water faster than they do at present. There are lineups at peak times. The Trillium, which is now 107 years old, will be saved. Some think this scheme is like replacing the San Francisco cable cars with Bombardier dream streetcars. It is said to be coming in about two years. Below is a wonderful picture of the early 20th waterfront where the present day Trilllium, is seen in berth with other ferries of the day.

 

One dead, 2 in critical condition at North York THC fire

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One person has died and two remain in crticial condition followiing a fire in North York at 5 Flemington Rd., a Toronto Community Housing building near Allen Road. The call came in at about 9:40 p.m. Monday. No names have been released but the victims are thought to be a woman of about 40 and two teens. Toronto Fire said the victims were located after firefighters made a forcible entry to a unit on the third floor of the building. Personnel rang a second alarm before the blaze was extinguished..

York Mills residents meet to discuss 160 burglaries in 2017

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A wave of break-ins has occurred this year in York Mills and especially the Bridle Path neighborhood. Police say millions of dollars of loot have been stolen from homes by burglars. They have targeted the area contained by Highway 401, Leslie Street, Lawrence Avenue, and Bayview Avenue. One incident (below) was captured on surveillance video. It shows two men climbing up onto a balcony before entering a home in the area. The pair is seen using the homeowner’s backyard patio furniture to hoist themselves into the home. About $50,000 worth of valuables were taken.York Mills Gardens Community Association

 

Woman claims camera pointing into shop’s change room

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Security cameras in the change room?  Close enough maybe, although it’s not clear whether we have expert knowledge about just what happened here at Yorkdale. Faiza Amin of City News. Then to the right, Ben Stein is eating a pizza as he declares the tax changes about to be passed by the US Congress may have been great for the Dow, but are going to fuel inflation. Below that,.Silverdome Stadium takedown Part Two. Maybe. And finally, Weight Watchers has added 200 food items to its list of things that members can gobble up guilt free.






Free trade with China? Talks stall as each side has its spin

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Smiling faces emerged from free trade talks with a message that did not match the jovial demeanors. There had been no progress toward Canada’s sought-after goal of a deal which might be even better than NAFTA.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exited talks with Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing saying “China is very aware that this is a precedent as they move forward with the first trade deal with a G7 country and there is a desire that we get it right.”  He said there wasn’t one particular issue that held up the talks, but he wants a progressive trade deal that includes addressing issues such as gender, the environment and labour.” Premier Li lauded the “golden age” of relations with Canada and said China was amenable to continuing exploratory trade talks.

ANGRY EXCHANGE OVER  REPORTERS PASSPORTS

But tempers flared on the Chinese side during Trudeau’s Monday visit to Beijing’s opulent Great Hall of the People. Chinese security guards blocked photographers from The Canadian Press and the Prime Minister’s Office by throwing up their hands and moving their bodies between them and Trudeau as he walked a red carpet next to Li. A Chinese foreign ministry official berated a diplomat from the Canadian embassy for not bringing the passports of the reporters travelling with Trudeau. The diplomat fired back at him in what was clearly an angry exchange. Afterwards, the Chinese side cancelled a planned press conference, Trudeau’s office said. It seems so very Communistic.

 

14th Annual Leaside Guys Night Out & Christmas Toy Drive

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Grab some pals and join the guys on Thursday December 7, 2017 at The Leaside Pub. Festivities start at 7:30pm. All proceeds go toward the goal of  getting Christmas gifts for every Primary Student in our neighbouring areas of Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park. There will be a great Raffle with prizes, a Silent Auction and a Live Auction.  If you have questions or would like to donate some prizing, please contact one of the organizers below:
Daryn Everett: daeverett@coca-cola.com
Jeff Hohner: jhohner@rogers.com
Edward Wong: ewong@mapador.com
Michael Zivot: mzivot@hingeinc.ca

EY Bulldogs win cup and a stunning symbol of season

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Upper left, it’s the champion Bantam East York Bulldogs in their victory photo after winning the Three Rivers Cup in Pittsburgh over the weekend. To the right, we see the gang at a Penguins game. Well done men. That sparkling reindeer is nibbling on imaginary grass at the CF Eaton Centre as a stunning symbol of the season. Centre left, a reminder to join the Carolling in the Pines this Sunday, December 10 at Northlea United Church. To the right, Saturday brings us the Maurice Cody Junior Public School Winter Fair. Finally at bottom, it’s Claire and Sarah Jordan chowing down on UrBun Eats burgers before they get on with the final push to hit 100,000 pounds of food for the Daily Bread Food Bank. Why not help them out?

Police work on Tess Richey case to be examined by top brass

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The Toronto Police Professional Standards-Investigative Unit is reviewing the conduct of the service in the case of Tess Richey. The brief announcement Monday gave no detail and speculation is flying in the media about just why this is being done. On CP24, there was a discussion of how and why police concluded that the death might be from natural causes. An autopsy revealed a crushed neck and homicide was called in. But the police have been most widely criticized over reports that they did not find the body during their preliminary search. That terrible duty fell to Ms Richey’s own mother, it is said. who came to Toronto from North Bay and conducted a search of Church St. with a friend. They found the young woman dead at the bottom of a stairwell of a vacant building. On social media, many people are asking why a police search did not find Tess first.

Chief Saunders back on job Monday after kidney transplant

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Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders returns to his office at Bay and College Sts. Monday after recovering from a kidney transplant that was donated by his wife Stacey. CBC

Cops say man with Tess was white with light-coloured hair

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Police are seeking a man who is described as white, with a slim build who was seen with Tess Richey early Saturday November 25 before she disappeared. He stood taller than Ms. Richey, somewhere between five-foot-seven and six feet tall. He had short, light-coloured hair. They are asking anyone to who knows or may have information to call them.  Tess’s mom came from North Bay to find daughter dead

School letter incorrect about location of robbery say parents

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A letter sent home to parents from Bessborough Public School which suggests that a robbery of three boys happened at “a neighbouring school” is incorrect, a number of parents have said. One source indicates this letter seems to follow a form letter sent when there is an occurrence in the area of a TDSB school. The first post about this robbery was made to Leaside Chit Chat, a closed Facebook group, and came from a man named Brad Watters, father of one of those robbed. That was Saturday evening. The investigation continues. Leaside Community. 5 on bikes with faces covered by bandanas in BPS robbery

Meet Neil, East York garden spot and three chirpy elves

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Upper left, say hello to Neil, born November 14 to Reverend Emily and her partner Nikhil. Hearty congratulations to the parents and to all those at Leaside United Church who share this happy event. Upper right, in but a few months this casual appearance on Bayview Ave by Mayor Tory will be called “mainstreeting.” That’s when we seek votes. But nothing like that happened Saturday at the Bayview Leaside BIA Celebrate Christmas Event. Below that, the busy home of Davenport Garden Centre at the corner of Bayview and Davisville Ave. The trees are in. And genial owner Carla Rose has news of a third Davenport location at Pape and Sammon Ave. Centre left, they were grousing on Twitter on Sunday morning about missing buses and slow trains at Davisville Line One station. To centre right, a reminder of the anticipated (Dec 9) repeat of the annual Maurice Cody Winter Fair. Be there. And finally at the bottom, the shining visages of three chirpy elves seen Saturday after face and hand painting.