The South Bayview Bulldog

Researchers at the University of Southampton have concluded that as many four cups of coffee a day do a person more good than harm. They gathered observational data on the impact of coffee on all aspects of the human body and published the results in the British Medical Journal Tuesday. Those who drink three or four cups of coffee every day could significantly reduce the chances of early death, a study suggests. A review of more than 200 studies found coffee consumption was “more often associated with benefit than harm,” adding even people who drank as many as seven cups of coffee were likely to be safe. They warned people should not start drinking coffee, or increasing their intake, for health reasons. Too much coffee for women during pregnancy could also be harmful, the study said. The study found that compared to non-coffee drinkers, those who consumed three cups of coffee each day appeared to reduce their risk of being diagnosed with heart problems. Drinking coffee was also linked to a lower risk of diabetes, liver disease, dementia and some cancers.

Those heading downtown Saturday are reminded of road closures related to the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square. The following streets will be closed from 4 to 11:30 p.m.

• Bay Street from Dundas Street to Richmond Street West (local traffic only from Dundas Street to Hagerman Street and controlled access point for Albert Street and James Street)
• Queen Street West from University Avenue to Yonge Street
• York Street from Queen Street West to Richmond Street West
• Elizabeth Street from Foster Place to Hagerman Street
• Hagerman Street from Elizabeth Street to Bay Street

Cavalcade of Lights

Quite a show

Happening Saturday

Please check each of these worthwhile events taking place in the next few days. A couple are Friday. The posters are interactive. Click, read and go there — Bulldog ed.

There is a lively discussion ongoing at Leaside Community about the proposed variances being asked for at 39 Divadale Drive where a new build is underway. Barbara Ann Mason says there are 11 variations requested to do with height and width. She feels it sets a bad precedent particularly on “venting/chimney encroachments.” The Committee of Adjustment meeting is Thursday, December 7 in the council chamber at North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St.

A fight among young people outside the Meadowvale Town Centre in Mississsauga has left one young man  dead of stab wounds and two other people with wounds. It is not clear Wednesday night what precipitated the fight.

The Toronto and District School Board has voted to end the School Resource Officer (SRO) program.  The outcome was well telegraphed beginning with publication of a staff report last week that called for such a decision. The vote was 18 to 3. At issue, as stated by trustees, was that some students (perhaps 2,000 out of 15,000) said they were uncomfortable and felt as if they were being watched by the police. There were heartfelt concerns expressed that these “intimidated” students should be free from such pressure. There was however opinion beyond the board that cancelling the program against the majority opinion was not the most sensible way to address the fears expressed by the minority.

At @tdsb Board meeting, discussing discontinuing the School Resource Officer (sro) program. Pic: Student Trustee @shamsmehdiTDSB speaking to it. So happy to be parent & Volunteer at a school (Leaside High) where such well-spoken students attend – impressed as always, kudos & thx! pic.twitter.com/VzK7nJ1Ode

— Wilmar Kortleever (@WKortleever) November 23, 2017

The federal government has announced a $40 billion long-term housing strategy designed to provide “affordable” housing and help the homeless. It will not begin until after the next election and roll out over ten years. Among other things, the prime minister said that “housing rights are human rights.” The ambitious plan promises to tackle everything from homelessness, the shortage of new housing units and repairs to existing units. Mayor Tory was laudatory of the strategy saying it shows the federal government was paying attention to the concerns raised by Canada’s seven big-city mayors when they met last year.

The changing skyline on Esandar Drive opposite Leaside Village and behind the Telus building is #19, shown at the Toronto Building Application site as a six-storey self-service storage building “with some retail space on ground floor.” The frame of this building has jumped up almost overnight and presents a surprise on all sides, including how it looms up in the view from Southvale Drive heading to Laird Drive. The steel structure has a large concrete apron in front which would accommodate a lot of retail if that is what it is for although it may be mostly for parking.

Glenn and Stacey Murphy

A Toronto couple, Glenn and Stacey Murphy and their children, have donated $10 million to build the Murphy Family Centre for Mental Health at Sunnybrook Medical Sciences Centre on Bayview Ave. It will be a state-of-the-art 27,000 square foot space within the new Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre where mental illnesses will be treated the same as other brain disorders like stroke or dementia. The Centre’s inpatient units for adults and youth will offer advanced clinical facilities that include home-like private suites, a gym, a classroom, and an outdoor courtyard. SHSC said in a recent release that the donation brings the project within reach of the $62 million needed to break ground for the 60,000 square foot Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre. Glenn Murphy is the head of FIS Holdings Limited, a Toronto investment firm. He was Chairman and CEO of The Gap from 2007 to 2014 and previously Chairman and CEO of Shoppers Drug Mart from 2001 to 2007. He has also had leadership positions with Indigo Books, Loblaw Companies, Lululemon Athletica and Yellow Pages Income Fund.

ST MICHAEL’ S TO BUILD MS CENTRE

St. Michael’s Hospital will build the BARLO MS Centre to treat multiple sclerosis on the top two floors of a 17-storey tower under construction at the downtown Toronto complex. MS is known as “Canada’s disease” because the country has the highest prevalence of the neurological disease in the world, with one in every 340 Canadians living with MS. It affects three times as many women as men.

The Competition Bureau has has ended its three-year investigation into how Loblaws deals with its suppliers. It found no action was necessary but added it could re-open the case if it had new information. The issue relates to fees and discounts Loblaws might impose to do business. At the same time, the bureau confirmed it continues with a multi-firm probe of what it says might be price-fixing in the sale of bread. BNN