The South Bayview Bulldog

Louise and Emily Hunter

LUC Variety Show

Meraki wins Bronze

Sticky toffee pudding

Please wear trousers

Here we are again with a summary of area events beginning (upper left) as proud dad Jason Hunter tweets the success of his girls Louise and Emily wearing the red, white and black of the Leaside Wildcats. Way to go, ladies. Upper right is a reminder of Leaside United Church’s 30th annual variety show. Get in there. Center-left we see the Leaside Skating Club’s synchronized skating team Meraki. They won Bronze at the National Canadian Synchronized Skating Championships this week. Congratulations. At the bottom left is Danielle Loncar’s sticky toffee pudding. Yikes, we want some. Finally, at bottom right, the gags continue at McSorely’s where as most regulars know, you still have to wear your pants to gain entry. Har!

Facebook carries a limited account of an accident in which a man crossing Davisville Ave at Bayview Ave was struck and seriously injured by a truck. The sequence of just how it occurred is not given but this hugely busy corner is one that requires a lot of attention especially if you’re on foot. His partner tells of how helpful passersby looked for his glasses with phone lights. FB

Monday has been Russians lining up at banks to pull out what’s left of their plummeting money. The currency is said to be in freefall as the world takes economic action against Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. And there are historic scenes in Western Europe as EU countries turn from traditional neutrality to assist Ukraine.

Dave Bottoms/Facebook

Toronto Ukrainians and their friends have marched in large numbers down Yonge St to Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The event was called a “Mega March for Ukraine” and many signs recalled the historic domination of Ukrainians by the Soviet Union. University Rosedale MP Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister, walked at the front of the march. Among those present was Margaret Atwood.

Margaret Atwood

Thousands have rallied at Nathan Phillips Square Sunday to show support for Ukraine. Below, UN ambassador Bob Rae is interviewed by the CBC. He suggests Vladimir Putin sliding into mental instability. It is a frightening prospect for the entire world, including Russia.

CNN is reporting that Ukraine has agreed to meet Russia at the border. This word comes three days into the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army and follows much loss of life and damage. The role of China is debated in such a meeting. Some say the huge Asian superpower has become quite uneasy with its role as a Russian ally. Other reports Sunday say Vladimir Putin has put Russian nuclear weapons on alert. It seems insane and there are many who wonder about the mental stability of the nearly 70-year-old dictator. God forbid he has decided to go out with a bang. Below is Global news live, starting at 11 a.m. Sunday.

• Russia, Ukraine agree to meet — CBC

Please, officer, get us to the Clamshell on time/TPS

Ron Fanfair of the Toronto Police Service tells the story of how PC Marcie Beaven-Brindle agreed to take a stranded pair of sweethearts to City Hall in time for their marriage. It happened on February 19 when Brijesh Patel and Arohie Chopra found their ride-share car hopelessly stuck behind road closures related to the trucker convoy nuttiness. Desperate not to miss the time set for their civil ceremony, Brijesh dared to ask Constable Beaven-Brindle for a lift. Well, she said yes. And there’s nothing like some flashing lights and the odd woot woot from the siren to clear the way to a happy wedding day. Police escort down the aisle.

Brijesh Patel and Arohie Chopra happily wed/TPS

The situation on the ground in Ukraine is grim Saturday as politicians take up arms and many families hide in bomb shelters. Russian lies about the nature of the Kyiv government seem increasingly outlandish. So, is Putin’s decision to make war all about a fragile ego (he’s got a big one) or a genuine fear for the future of Russia? This report by Eric Sorensen addresses that question.

As seen in the 1980s/HBC Heritage

Hudson’s Bay will close its landmark store at Yonge and Bloor Sts on May 31, the company has announced. It says the location at Queen and Yonge will continue to serve the community with a “seamless omnichannel experience.” As explained by CTV, the closure of Hudson’s Bay on Bloor follows a legal battle between the company and the Ontario government last year. At the time, shopping malls were forced to close due to pandemic public health measures and Hudson’s Bay stopped paying its rent. Although, a provincial judge later ordered the department store chain to pay 90 percent of its rent and resume full payments by Nov. 2021.