Poll says 48% oppose Pride ban on cops, but 21% support it

by  • 

There is widespread disapproval of the decision by Pride Toronto to eject the police from their annual parade. Forum Research set the number at just under half (48%) who don’t like it. Remarkably, the poll reveals that 2-in-10 of those polled (21%) approve of the lack of a police float. The remainder have no opinion or don’t know. The polls specifics reveal a stunning divide among better-off and better-educated people of the City and those who have less and live downtown. Those most likely to disapprove include respondents aged 35 and over (35-44: 51%), (45-54: 50%), (55-64: 50%), (65+: 49%), earning $60,000 or more ($60,000-$80,000: 57%), ($80,000-$100,000: 59%), ($100,000-$250,000: 58%) with a college or university degree (53%), and supporting the PC (55%) or Liberal (52%) parties. Those most likely to approve include those aged 34 or less (26%), the least wealthy (30%) or earning $20,000-$40,000 (27%), and living in the former City of Toronto (27%).   Forum president Lorne Bozinoff  says the figures show “a really broad spectrum of Toronto residents who would prefer the police have a presence in this year’s parade.” It also suggests a mistrust or dislike of the police among the younger, poorer and some downtown elements of the population.

 

Two mumps cases reported at Ryerson, City total 48

by  • 

Two cases of mumps have been reported at Ryerson University. They bring to six the number of students in Toronto diagnosed with the disease. The others are at Forest Hill Collegiate, Davisville Public School, King Edward Public School and Hodgson Senior Public School. There are a total of 48 cases of mumps among the total population reported.

 

Twitter a rich source of valueless Leaside Pokemon alerts

by  • 

Monday morning brings Twitter messages #Leaside from Pokemon enthusiasts that their prey may be found on quiet cul de sacs like Berney Crescent (behind Garden Court apartments) or near 921 Wicksteed, a warehouse walled stretch of roadway across from the Home Depot. In recent days, even in cold weather, young men are to be seen lurking near the front door of the Leaside Arena, not to play hockey, but to find Pokemon. Yep.

A taste of the St. Patrick’s parade enjoyed by thousands

by  • 

Chief Saunders was there
Leprechaun (left) and keeper
This lady led the Magnolia Brass Band

The 30th Annual Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade was welcomed by thousands under sunny skies. It was a typically Toronto event. If you blinked you could miss the Irish. Nonetheless, between the Magnolia Brass Band and many other musical contingents, including a Philippines marching unit, and many others, a fine show was presented

Minor Bantam A Flames and Mustangs go to 4th game

by  • 

It was the Minor Bantam A Leaside Flames 0 and Don Mills Mustangs 3 Sunday afternoon at St Michael’s College School Arena in their playoff for top spot in the GTHL East Conference. The loss puts the Flames in a tough spot, trailing in points 3 to 5. Six points wins the title. The fourth game in this series will go Wednesday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Scarborough Gardens, 75 Birchmount Road. 

“Women spend more on their looks than they should”

by  • 

This Canadian Press grievance article may fall into the category of: “How do you stop them.”  You may like it if you feel you are being forced to wear short skirts and high heels when you don’t want to.

Streaming pictures of Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade

by  • 

The Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade is underway Sunday afternoon downtown. There is on and off streaming pictures on Youtube here.

East York Historical Society 35th anniversary on April 5

by  • 

The East York Historical Society will celebrate 35 years of activity at a dinner Wednesday, April 5.  The last Mayor of the Borough of East York, Michael Prue, will be the guest speaker. The society is asking community members to turn out and come together with friends to “celebrate who we are as East Yorkers.”   They ask that those interested RSVP attendance no later than Friday, March 31st and provide menu options by contacting Val Dodge at 416-617-4513 or by e-mail at eyhs@eastyork.org

REGULAR MEETING MARCH 28

The next East York Historical Society General Meeting is Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at the S. Walter Stewart Library. Storm Chaser, East York resident and producer of the TV Show “Angry Planet George Kourounis will speak on  “Exploring Earth’s Extreme.”

Honour-killing case before the Supreme Court Monday

by  • 

Jaswinder Sihu and the man she married
The fascinating case of a B.C. couple accused by the Indian government of arranging the honour-killing of a young female relative and Canadian citizen will be back before the Supreme Court of Canada Monday some 17 years after the incident. Malkit Sidhu and Surjit Badesha, both of Maple Ridge, B.C. are accused in their native land with complicity in the death of Jaswinder (Jassi) Sidhu, also a naturalized Canadian, while she was in India in 2000. The alleged motive was the disgrace that Jaswinder had brought on the family by marrying a rickshaw driver, a man of much lower caste  The CBC recounts that Indian courts asked to have the pair extradited to face trial, but a surrender order signed by former Justice Minister Peter MacKay was challenged and ultimately struck down by a B.C. appeals court last year.

“UNWARRANTED INTERFERENCE”

The ruling said the pair could be subject to violence, torture or neglect based on India’s human rights record. But the Canadian government will argue Monday that the B.C. appeal court “erred” and called its decision an “unwarranted interference” with the minister’s order to return alleged perpetrators in the “brutal and notorious honour killing of a Canadian citizen.” It said the ruling jeopardized Canada’s ability to live up to its obligations to extradition treaty partners. And by the by, it may cause much living room and kitchen table discussion about Canadian values as well.

Now TFS hazmat called to Jarvis Street near Gloucester

by  • 

The fire service is at a location on Jarvis Street between Gloucester and Cawthra Square for a level-one hazmat call. Level one indicates a relatively low level of danger. This is south of the location of the hit and run (see below) earlier in the evening.

Legendary rock and roller Chuck Berry dead at age 90

by  • 

Dead at 90
Smarter than most
Hubbard party in Leaside



St. Charles County Police in Missouri responded to a medical emergency on Buckner Road at approximately 12:40 p.m. Saturday. Inside they found a legend of rock and roll dead. Charles Edward Anderson (Chuck) Berry was 90. Berry was a  guitarist, singer and songwriter and was one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as “Maybellene” (1955), “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956), “Rock and Roll Music” (1957) and “Johnny B. Goode” (1958), Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, with lyrics focusing on teen life and consumerism and music featuring guitar solos and showmanship that were a major influence on subsequent rock music — w Wikipedia

POST MENOPAUSAL BRAIN POWER

Research discovers women have better post menopausal brainpower if they had their last baby after age 35. Moreover, later life cognition is improved if a women used hormonal contraceptives for more than 10 years or began their menstrual cycle before turning 13. The University of Southern California (USC) study is the first to investigate the association between age at last pregnancy, which can be a marker of a later surge of pregnancy-related hormones, and cognitive function in later life.

L RON HUBBARD 105 AT WM LEA ROOM

The Toronto Church of Scientology is set to celebrate the birthday of L. Ron Hubbard in the William Lea Room at Leaside Arena Saturday night. Mr. Hubbard died January 24, 1986 at the age of 74

Three get a dunking in icy Grenadier Pond rescuing pooch

by  • 

A cautionary tale for dog owners Saturday as the extended rescue of a dog that fell into Grenadier Pond led to the icy dunking of the owner, a police officer and a firefighter. Fortunately, they all were able to get out with only some mild chills. The dog was saved too. But the dog was off leash in a place where treacherous ice was waiting to swallow it up. After the owner and police tried and failed, firefighters and police together with equipment were able to rescue the animal shortly before 1 p.m.