@CP24 major fire on argyle st west of ossington pic.twitter.com/69bINQlyUo
— Devin Glowinski (@dglowinski) July 5, 2017
Toronto Fire has knocked down this raging blaze that engulfed as many as three homes on Argyle Ave. in the west-end of Toronto northwest of Queen W and Ossington Ave. So far there are no reports of injury. More as available.
The German engineering conglomerate Siemens says the Ontario government broke its own rules for tendering contracts by handing a $528-million sole-sourced contract to French manufacturer Alstom for 61 light-rail vehicles. Among other uses, the cars would provide a substitute for vehicles from Bombardier if that firm fails to deliver as required. Siemens wrote to Steven Del Duca in May suggesting the province was violating its own policies in awarding a contract without a competitive tender process. The letter also said that the awarding of the contract “effectively eliminates Siemens from competition for future light-rail car procurement in Ontario, thus causing us irreparable harm.” “We believe the decision violates the government’s own procurement directive,” Siemens Canada President and CEO Robert Hardt said. In the letter, Hardt said that Siemens was “extremely disappointed” with the province’s decision and will be “exploring all options available” to it to respond to the decision. Cabinet drops Bombardier, orders LRT trains from France
City Council has voted overwhelmingly to disregard its own planning by approving a 24-storey condo tower at 90 Eglinton West, a neighborhood that is approved for midrise buildings with a maximum height of seven or eight storeys. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) and Christin Carmichael-Greb (Ward 16) were among councillors to vote against the motion, which was approved 35 to 6. City staff recommended allowing the high-rise and to only replace only 50 per cent of the six-storey office space at the Pilot Building near Henning Street. Star
The East York Farmer’s Market is held Tuesday from 8 to 2 until October at the East York Civic Centre at 850 Coxwell. Photos: East York Farmers Market/Twitter
Lawn Summer Nights charity lawn bowling returns to the Leaside Lawn Bowling Club on Hanna Road this month with the first such evening to be held Thursday, July 6. Others will run July 13, 20 and 27. LSN raises money for cystic fibrosis research and is supported by the accounting firm KPMG. The national lawn bowling night is marked by themed (sometimes hilarious) costumes. Team names are outlandish. Past examples are Guaca-BOWLE, High BOWLERS, The BOWL-erinas. This year people may observe the fun with a $20 specator pass. Website
Leaside business owner Warren Porter likes to tootle around on his Vespa. But Porter, owner of Iron Gate Private Wine Management on Laird Drive, has added a sidecar to this company transportation and he is often seen with his dog Molly aboard. She is widely known by her extensive gallery on Instagram as #sidecarmolly, a nickname that is inscribed on the Vespa. Sometimes wife Rem is out and about with Molly. It’s a dog’s life.
A Middle Eastern influenced restaurant will open at the former Rosie’s shortly. It’s 2 Bros. Cuisine, a new outlet of an established business at 1500 Royal York Road. The menu looks tempting. Shawarma is the sliced presentation in various forms of spit-roasted lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal and buffalo, according to Wikipedia. We don’t guarantee you’ll find buffalo on Bayview. Upper right, Star Catering at 900 Millwood has closed and will be replaced by a new restaurant. More to come. And on Forman Ave., big trucks are still playing havoc with low-hanging local wiring. The street was blocked south of Eglinton Tuesday and neighbours say it is the second time in a month.
A video has emerged of Drake on stage at Nathan Philiups Square with his impromptu performance Sunday night. High energy but not exactly melodious. Next, in Los Angeles a plus size model calls out the guy next to her on a flight who was texting insults about her weight to a friend. And the heartbreaking case of a naive Chinese girl who had hardly landed in the US before she was lured into a car by a man who is now accused of killing her. Finally, the North Korean chill gets colder as they trumpet their alleged first ICBM firing. What a lot China has to answer for as it keeps this despicable regime alive.
Ottawa is going to apologize and give millions to former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr, according to multiple reports. Khadr — who pleaded guilty to killing a U.S. soldier when he was 15, under interrogation that was later deemed “oppressive” — will receive a settlement of more than $10 million, according to unnamed sources who spoke to The Associated Press, The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. CBC
The City of Toronto has issued an apology for what it called “inappropriate content” during a performance at the Canada Day celebrations at Nathan Phillips Square Monday night. CP24 reports that an attendee said spectators were shocked at the repeated use of profanities during the performance of Ottawa rapper Belly, which was attended by children and teenagers. The language might well have offended many but the standard for rap performance is well known. Complaints prompted Special Events Toronto to issue an apology which is quoted by CP24 as follows: “The #CityofTO apologizes for the inappropriate content during tonight’s closing performance at Nathan Phillips Square,” the city’s tweet read. Belly is responding much in keeping with “drop dead” photo below saying he doesn’t think parents should have brought their children to a July 1 fireworks display. Uh-huh. Further, says Belly, his important epithets are not to be censored by anyone.
Hundreds of residents enjoyed a Canada Day plus two fireworks display from the hill overlooking Leaside High School playing field Monday night. Families filed down streets leading to the heights from Parkhurst Blvd and all over Leaside for the show, which began about 9.30. It was produced by a local man, David Bryant and friends, as a community service and public-spirited act. A drone was seen above and around Monday’s show clearly operated by the organizers. It should have created a great recording of the pyrotechnics.
Canadian Press reports that a married couple, Lacob and Ursula Kokotkiewicz, were found dead on Thursday by police who went to investigate a vehicle parked on the side of the road. Ursala Kokotkiewicz, a Canadian citizen, studied at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Police say both had been shot in the head and ominously the man had a handgun between his legs. CP says Ursula Kokotkiewicz was living with her husband in Flower Mound, Texas, about 45 kilometres northwest of Dallas.
