Sunnybrook receives walk-in shooting victim late Friday

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“How I called Trump and saved NAFTA” by Justin Trudeau

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Anyone would be forgiven for finding the imminent withdrawal of the US from NAFTA — the North American Free Trade Agreement — a bit stagy. Donald Trump swears he was ready to cancel the deal as recently as last week. Then he got calls from the golden-tongued president of Mexico and prime minister of Canada and changed his mind. Who’s kidding who?

Young public speakers excel at CGS School in Leaside

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Meeting the public speaking challenge
Captivation of Audience
Judges see everything
April Assembly
Speakers group photo

Grade 2 and 3 students at CGS participated in their Public Speaking Contest this week. Topics ranged from the history of the NHL to animal shelters to Internet and video game addiction. The children presented their speeches to a panel of four judges (who specialize in public speaking) and an audience of their peers and parents. Children are marked out of five on Memory, Voice, Content, Posture, Eye Contact and Captivation of Audience. Contestants this year showed remarkable resilience. Little gaps in memory, last-minute nerves and unexpected distractions can all affect a speaker’s performance. CGS students met these challenges with courage and grace, finding their place, gathering focus and continuing on with the same passion and confidence they displayed before the set back. Well done everyone. For children so young, this was an exceptional accomplishment. Congratulations to Grade 2 student Gavin for winning the contest and the opportunity to present his speech to the entire school community at the April Assembly. Want to know more about how CGS supports children to thrive as public speakers? Contact Director of Admission, Kelly Scott, to find out more at kscott@cgsschool.com   Also cgsschool.com  and the CGS Blog

ASIMIL8 just too offensive for aboriginals says Manitoba

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Nick Troller and Borg plate
Borg will assimilate you
Very offensive

A Winnipeg man, Nick Troller has had his Manitoba license plate ASIMIL8 yanked because the government decided it was offensive to aboriginal peoples. There were two complaints. Troller has had the plate for two years and insists that it’s about a species of aliens from the Star Wars series. They are called the Borg and have the capacity to make other species “assimilate” into Borg using nanoprobes and surgically implanted cybernetic parts. The Borg are driven by a need for “perfection” and assimilate other races to further that goal. Canadians who still secretly think (but dare not say) that assimilation is a reasonable process just be quiet.

Principal troubled by Netflix tale romanticizing suicide

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The doubtful nature of popular entertainment seems never more serious than 13 Reasons Why, a Netflix series about the suicide of a teenager. Edmonton principal Azza Ghai has sent email sent to parents this week warning them kids at St. Vincent Elementary School are talking about the series a lot. Ghali asks parents to tell their children not to talk about the show with their classmates. What kids watch at home is up to the parents, Ghali says in the email. But she wanted to let them know “many students are watching and discussing this” at school. “The discussion that is unfolding at school is troubling,” the email says. “Please let your child know that discussion of 13 Reasons Why is not permitted at school due to the disturbing subject matter.”  New Netflix Series Raises Concerns Over Teen Suicide

Manor Road Blue Radish Cafe, St. Cuthbert’s Fair Saturday

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The annual musical variety night (affectionately known as the Blue Radish Café) returns to Manor Road United Church at 240 Manor East on Saturday, April 29. This year the theme is “Multiculturalism.” Dinner and a fun-filled evening for all ages by local community talent. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7. Cash bar. Tickets are available in the church office or call 416-483-0695 to reserve.

ST CUTHBERT’S SPRING FAIR

St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church at 1399 Bayview will hold its Spring Fair in Lamb Hall Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. There’s always many things to see and much fun. Baked goods too.

Film recounts story of indentured children sent to Canada

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Click to enlarge

Cathy Hawkins of the Amsterdam Brewery at 45 Esandar Drive is the contact person for what promises to be an interesting evening on May 16. It’s a screening of the film Forgotten, the story of 100,000 children who came to Canada as indentured labourers and domestics. This is a presentation of the British Home Child Group International. For tickets write Cathy at chawkins@amsterdambeer.com

Cumbrae’s chipping away at 1589-1591 Bayview

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As Cumbrae’s continue their transformation of 1589-1591 Bayview Avenue into a big new butcher shop, workers can be seen chipping away at the façade of what was once a TD Bank branch (back in the 1990’s). Cumbrae’s is a veteran of the street with its busy store located at 1636 Bayview. The dynamic high-end meat and specialty food retailer will convert the new larger space to the complex environment needed for a sophisticated butcher shop. We are looking forward to when the new store is finally revealed. Previous

New CRA fraud mimics tempting Interac mail cash transfer

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This CBC story tells of a variation on schemes using the Canada Revenue Agency name as an authority to defraud people. This time email arrives which looks like the receipt of an Interac cash transfer. One woman was told the CRA had sent her $896.70. The purpose is to make the victim click for deposit. It goes to a site where “the CRA” asks the victim to provide useful information like credit card numbers and a social insurance number.

Jane’s Walk re-visits the Garden City of Leaside May 7

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Jane’s Walk in Leaside will take place Sunday May 7 at 1.30 p.m. with the start outside Lit Cafe at Bayview Ave and Millwood Rd. It is subtitled A Garden City Re-visited and will trod the streets laid out in 1913 by the landscape architect Frederick Gage Todd. He based his design on the Garden City principles, best exemplified by Letchworth in England. As Geoff Kettel notes the Garden City differs from suburbs in that, along with curvilinear tree-lined streets, public green spaces, and cohesive streetscapes, it also included an industrial area to provide employment and commercial streets for convenient shopping. “When people walk through Leaside today they see it as a neighbourhood of Toronto. But what is the experience when you examine Leaside through the lens of the Garden City framework as a designed landscape?” Mr. Kettel asks.

Was City streamrollered by inflated paving contracts?

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Taxpayer steamrollered?
Surely not

The City of Toronto auditor general says she suspects some paving companies have conspired to submit inflated contracts and then split the illicit profit. It was revealed yesterday that the Ontario Provincial Police are investigating this concern which may have cost the taxpayers millions. The Star says the allegations were uncovered by AG Beverly Romeo-Beehler and revealed to City Councillors Thursday.  It is said to have left many of them alarmed by warnings of lax internal controls. The paper says there is a feeling the investigation will unearth more evidence of possible corruption. No companies are named so far. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) said he was concerned that there was more to the alleged conspiracy

Jane’s Walk a first on May 6 for historic Davisville Village

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The first Jane’s Walk of the Davisville neighbourhood will take place Saturday, May 6 beginning at 2 p.m. The party will form up at the historic J.J. Davis store (now Starbucks) at the corner of Davsiville Ave and Yonge Street. The walk is sponsored by SERRA, the South Eglinton Ratepayers and Residents Association.