A woman was seriously injured when her Toyota sedan slammed into a utility pole on Lake Shore Boulevard east of Parkside Drive Monday night. The victim was perhaps 30, police said. Witnesses tried to assist the woman. They said she was unconscious and bleeding from the head before slowing regaining consciousness. Roads were slick as they are all over the City.
O’Leary waits for attrition in CP leadership before jumping
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Lowes re-brands Rona stores to Lowes even in Quebec
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Ten months after paying a whopping $3.2 billion for the Canadian hardware chain Rona, Lowe’s Canada says it will begin rebranding most of the Rona stores, even tn those in Quebec, It has been a long journey from the 2012 rejection of Lowes as a suitor for Rona because of Quebec nationalist feeling to the decision to change the name of the stores. The Quebec change will occur in 2019 once Lowes adopts a new French-language information technology system that will then be rolled out to existing Lowe’s stores. Lowes promises to keep the Rona name on many of its products. Rona says the change is being made to eliminate shopper confusion about what is sold at its various store formats. Lowes also owns the Ace Hardware brand in the U.S.
Indoor cycling studio near opening at 1860 Bayview
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An indoor cycling studio called Cyclebar is opening soon at the “Whole Foods” complex at Bayview and Broadway Aves (1860 Bayview).
Leaside United Church photographed in evening snow
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Feels great when our church 'kids' are all grown up but want to take pictures of their church in the snow when they come home from school pic.twitter.com/sqEwBS6qdH
— Leaside United Church (@LeasideUnited) December 12, 2016
Toronto Zoo video of snow-play day for Pandas
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Sunnybrook plaza deal calls for towers 11 and 16 storeys
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The City has struck a deal at the Ontario Municipal Board to set the height of towers on the Sunnybrook Plaza redevelopment at 11 and 16 floors. This is a reduction from the 13 and 19 floors originally proposed by plaza owner RioCan Inc. A letter sent to neighbours of the plaza by the Leaside Property Owners Association (LPOA) which was also a party to the negotiation, says that concessions were won from the original plan that improve the height, massing, density and design of the proposal. In the letter, LPOA co-president Geoff Kettel says: “Our objectives were to reduce height, and density, and improve the buildings’ design, setbacks angular planes, to create a simpler, more distinctive building profile and minimal shadowing. The final height reduces the originally proposed 19 and 13 storeys to 16 and 11 storeys, with a less massive appearance. Setbacks were introduced at the 5th storey instead of the 8th. The visual impact is considerably improved”
OUTDOOR AMENITIES
The agreement retains some surface parking for cars and bicycles with the main parking underground. It appears that RioCan has agreed to ongoing discussion about landscaping and the viability of trees. A study to detect potential flooding at this site, which sits above a former creek, has indicated the plan is not likely to cause local floods. The final configuration of traffic apparently remains a work in progress. The LPOA says: “We continue to have concerns regarding impact on local residents from diverting traffic and site-related traffic patterns. These are matters which fall under City (not RioCan) jurisdiction, and LPOA intends to work for traffic solutions to protect residential streets.” The settlement provides $2.7 million for community purposes. LPOA says Jon Burnside (Ward 26) has expressed an interest in these funds going towards the cost of a community centre to serve North Leaside. According to the settlement, there will be a minimum of 4000 square metres of non-residential gross floor area assigned for commercial/office uses.
Toronto buried in snow but so far casualties are light
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The good news is that no deaths are reported in this dump of snow and the following confusion it caused. A bus slipped into a pole at Dundas. West and West Humber Hill and another “out of service” jitney is seen at Banff Rd. at Roehampton Ave. Then there’s PC Randell Arsenault on twitter lamenting the absence of snow cleaning fairies for his scout car. This morning, comes the dig out. In Toronto, schools are open and buses running. That’s impressive.
See this charming video of horseplay in overnight snow
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Here is a lovely bit of video to make you feel good about the snow. It was shot in Aurora by @bomahony of Breakfast Television and tweeted this morning.
They don't horse around when it comes to snow angels in @Town_of_Aurora #BTstormcentre @BTtoronto pic.twitter.com/oJ11HDYJ44
— Brendan O'Mahony (@bomahony) December 12, 2016
Dozens homeless in condominium fire in Langley B.C.
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Dozens of people are homeless after a fire ripped through a four-storey condominium complex Sunday morning. Rory Thompson, fire chief for the City of Langley, said crews received a call about a fire on a fourth floor balcony around 10 a.m. and about 55 firefighters were still attacking the flames several hours later. A release from the City of Langley said all residents of the building were safely evacuated. Thompson said two firefighters and a resident rescued from the top floor were all taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
https://twitter.com/HandShakeVanc/status/808030480117342208
#Langley apartment fire under control, but crews keep working. Approx. 60 units in building, residents will be unable to return home. pic.twitter.com/KRmEoKB7Eh
— CKNW (@CKNW) December 11, 2016
Building in Langley BC
200th and Fraser
Really Hope no one gets Hurt pic.twitter.com/yr9vYv2cav— OurCrazeeAdventure (@crazeeadventure) December 11, 2016
“Significant snowfall” for Toronto into morning hours
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Della Rovere hat trick in Leaside 7-1 win over Aurora
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Leaside Junior Wildcats defeated Aurora Panthers in a blowout 7-1 victory at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex Sunday. Kristin Della Rovere scored three goals, two in the first and one in the third. Emma Pye scored twice in the second and Mariah Hinds twice in the third. Aurora’s lone goal came from Julia Mitchell in the third. Boxscore Jr Wildcats 4-2 over Bluewater Hawks at Leaside Arena

