If you’re heading downtown this weekend, pass by HTO Park where you will catch a glimpse of the World’s Largest Rubber Duck. The spectacle stands six stories tall and is making its first visit to Canada to join in the Canada 150 celebrations. This weekend the duck will be bathing in Lake Ontario as part of the Redpath Waterfront Festival.
DUCK STATS
Height: 61 feet tall (just over 6 stories)
Width: 79 feet wide
Length: 89 feet long
Weight: 30,000 pounds
Police have modifieid their assessment of what appeared to be gunfire at the scene of a dispute at the Fraser Mustard Early Learning Centre in Thorncliffe Park Friday. They now say it appears to have been fireworks.
Customers using the popular e-mail cash transfer feature of Interac are finding the service suspended Friday because of a technical failure of some type. All five of the big chartered banks — Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, TD and RBC — have had difficulties. From tweets to @INTERAC it seems the service started to act up Thursday night. Some people have come to rely on the service for very time-related transfers like money from family to buy good and to pay rent. Tweets indicate the system remains down as of about 3.30 p.m. Friday. Banks are closed for three days straight starting Saturday. CBC Interac
We have temporarily taken the INTERAC e-Transfer service offline to address technical difficulties. https://t.co/iwP62Z1YV3
— INTERAC (@INTERAC) June 30, 2017
The Toronto Police are asking for help to identify a person of interest in an arson investigation. The murky shots provided show a man apparently carrying a flashlight in the area of Queen Street East and Booth Avenue in the middle of the night on June 27. Two fires were set. He is described 5’10″-5’11″, in his 30s, thin to medium build, black scruffy beard, wearing a white shirt with a logo, dark jacket with side vents, dark baseball hat with logo, dark pants, and white high-top running shoes.
TPS Operations has noted Friday morning a call for police to the corner of Keele and Dundas Streets for a man who was begging. He was using a known technique — standing in front of cars in the street so they can’t drive off. Recent days have seen news reports expressing concern for the “tickets” given to homeless and generally destitute people who panhandle. The present law was written to stop this practice.
Toronto has created a series of emoji-like graphics to be used by those with civic pride. There are 50 of the so-called Torontomojis and ten of them are intended to reflect the indigenous community. The app can be downloaded and used to brighten up messages. These symbols include that flavour-of the-moment name 6IX as well as a blanket reference to the six boroughs that were amalgamated in 1998 to form the present Toronto. The East York symbol is missing. This may not be the final verdict however since the City asks anyone with an idea for further symbols to make a suggestion. See them all here
NDP Leader John Horgan will be the next premier of British Columbia and have the opportunity to test the confidence of the house with a planned NDP-Green alliance. Horgan made the announcement to reporters at Government House at about the same time as lieutenant-governor Judith Guichon issued a statement: “I have met with Premier Clark and will accept her resignation. I have asked Mr. Horgan to form a government, he having assured me that he can form a government which will have the confidence of the Legislative Assembly” Post-election deals to defeat the party with the largest number of seats in the Legislature are typically frowned on in Canada. The federal Liberals and NDP decided not to try it against the last Conservative minority. The argument that neither Liberal nor NDP voters had cast a ballot for a backroom deal carried the day. Guichon had the alternative of calling another election. Premier Christy Clark’s Liberals gained 43 seats in the May 9 election against a combined NDP-Green opposition of 44. Tight.
Roads have re-opened at the scene of a collision between a TTC bus and minivan in Etobicoke that injured eight people. One person on the bus is said to have received a serious head injury. The accident occurred near The West Mall and Rathburn Rd.
Sophia Harris of the CBC finds Tim Horton’s Canada Day strategy totally upside down — like much of the world these days. They will offer a poutine special in the US only. Photos reveal triumph of Canada 150 marketing. CBC
Sgt Kerry Schmidt recorded this Facebook Live video from Yonge Dundas Square today, where MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) and safety partners are sharing words of caution for motorists and thrill-seekers as we head into the Canada Day long weekend. Have a look inside OPP and TPS vehicles, chat with paramedics and have your picture taken getting handcuffed! Their messages could save a life. Be smart. #NeverDriveImpaired
Sue Byford put together this Canada 150 video wheel. You may or may not relate to all of it but there’s no denying we live in an excellent place. And it’s good to remember that many of the things we rightly brag about are made possible by the enormous mineral and natural wealth of our huge homeland. Happy Canada Day to all.
Leaside High School Commencement Wednesday marked that timeless end and beginning of youthful experience. MP Rob Oliphant spoke and right, Danielle, is congratulated online by Gavin Dac Bang. Davisville Kitchens was showing us Drake’s modest Post Road home and giggling that they are ready to give him a hand fixing it up. Nice try. And then, it’s nearly time for the 60th Annual East York Canada Day Parade. The bike contingent hopes to say hello at Dieppe Park.
