The South Bayview Bulldog

The voters of Montreal head to the polls today (Sunday, November 5) with the scene set for one of the tightest races for mayor of that City in years. Former Liberal cabinet minister and incumbent Mayor Denis Coderre, 54, is facing off against challenger Valerie Plante, 43. They are said to be neck and neck in polls. Coderre says he has brought billions in investment to Montreal although he is accused of being a backroom operator when it comes to getting things done. Plante is the head of a left-leaning movement called Project Montreal. The outcome should be known Sunday evening.

Sunday, Sunday is quiet across our pleasant realm this first day of EST. Rain is forecast — maybe not quite the Biblical amounts in the weather warnings — but it is going to be good and wet. Above are captures of three traffic cameras showing how little interest there is in being out right now. The Pottery Rd. and Bayview Extension camera show the street unflooded, at least for now. Later may bring a different story. If you have not been through Egl.inton and Yonge recently the picture gives you an idea of just how ugly things are there. Two lanes (north and south) pushed over to the west side. And we presume the big barrier is to keep drivers from falling into a pit.

Two winning tickets were sold for Saturday night’s $7 million Lotto 649 jackpot. They were sold in Ontario and somewhere in the Prairies. The winners of the jackpot if claimed will share the sum getting $3.5 million each. The guaranteed $1 million prize was won by a ticket holder in Ontario.

This older Labrador was found on Bessborough without a collar Saturday. Take a look and see if you can help Leaside Community

Thieves in Sweden who were sneaking up behind inter-City delivery trucks at 80 km/h and breaking into the vehicles as they sped along have been captured. The felons would inch up to the rear of the delivery vehicle and climb onto the hood of their vehicle as they worked on the van’s cargo door latch. All this as the pavement sped by below. Then In Ottawa, a caustic exchange between the Environment Minister, Catherine McKenna, and a reporter for Rebel Media (which does not like the Liberals). Ms McKenna objects to be being called Climate Barbie (fair enough) and uses it to change the subject dramatically. Below that, the election for mayor of Montreal is tomorrow and the race is said by the CBC to be a dead heat between a political unknown, Valerie Plante, and the current mayor, Denis Coderre. Then finally, in Russia there’s another female challenger but she may not do quite as well as Valerie Plante. Ksenia Sobchak wants to replace Vladimir Putin.

The market for the finite amount of mud under Belsize Drive is still pretty good from the number of demolitions this week. Here’s a look at 423 and 433 Belsize.

A weather statement from Environment Canada issued Saturday morning warns of heavy rain Sunday.  It says a system developing over the western United States is set to move across Ontario, bringing rain to the south and snow to the north through Sunday night. The rain is expected to be steady and at times heavy, with 50+ mm possible for the Golden Horseshoe into eastern Ontario.

CTV News reports that the Crown has dropped all criminal charges against a St. Catharines veterinarian who was seen on camera choking and punching animals at his clinic. CTV quotes Newstalk 610 in St. Catharines as saying the local prosecutor said in court Friday that because the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) had started an investigation into Rekhi without receiving a formal complaint, he should not have been charged criminally. Dr. Mahavir Rekhi was filmed choking, punching and restraining animals at his Skyway Animal Hospital over the course of three years starting in 2013. The College of Veterinarians of Ontario later found Rehki guilty of professional misconduct and suspended him for ten months.He returned to work at the clinic in February after submitting to retraining and unannounced inspections. Videos

The Toronto coffee bar and restaurant b Espresso will open in the former Starbuck’s location at Laird Dr and Kenrae Rd. beside Andy Elder’s Grilltime meat store. The existing and highly regarded b Espresso outlets now operating are at 273 Bloor St. West in the TELUS Centre for  the Performing Arts (Royal Conservatory of Music) and at 111 Queen St. East. The new Leaside location is expected to take about three months to refurbish and install equipment. The site was considered by many Starbucks customers as the most pleasant in the area, offering light on three sides and a handy parking lot off both Laird and Kenrae. It is said Starbucks closed the location because it found that it just had too many locations in South Bayview. Among the distinctive qualities of b Espresso is the emphasis on breakfast and other dishes.like soup and roast beef wraps. 

It happened just before 1:30pm Friday. The Toronto police reconstruction crew left the scene at approximately 4pm.

(Photos provided by Ian Smith)

A driver, 26, has been charged with both careless driving and the seldom seen charge of Start from stopped position not in safety in the death of a cyclist October 18 at Cowan Avenue at King Street West. It seems to mean barging into an intersection from a stop when it isn’t safe to do so. The truck was hit by a streetcar and then spun into David Delos Santos, 39, who was cycling home after having taken his daughter to school. Man dead in freak accident after taking daughter to school