Some 300,000 immigrants landed in Canada in the past year. It is the highest number since record-keeping began in 1971, Statistic Canada says. July to July figures show that 320,932 immigrants arrived. The largest element of these was the 25,000 Syrian refugees which the federal Liberals agreed to settle here. That number is a 33.3-percent increase over the prior year, when 240,844 immigrants came to Canada.
Spadina, Davenport signs have aboriginal names added
by •
Nice touch. A number of other streets have signs similarly enlarged. Read comments of CBC users. Facebook
Baby escapes fatal defect courtesy “third genetic parent”
by •
Fertility doctors using a brand new technique to eliminate inherited disease have helped a woman deliver a baby with “three genetic parents.” The child who is now five months old, has the usual DNA from his mother and father, plus a small amount of genetic code from an unknown female donor. The method was carried out in Mexico by U.S. Dr. John Zhang and his team because the procedure is illegal in the U.S.
BlackBerry quits the hardware business as losses continue
by •
BlackBerry will cease designing, ordering and selling handsets the Waterloo firm announced Wednesday. itbusiness
Ontario hints at cutting Bombardier out of subway action
by •
The Globe and Mail says Wednesday the Ontario government is offering bidders for work on the Finch Ave. West subway a chance to quote on the vehicles which will roll on the rails there. It is a slap at Bombardier — the more or less sacred manufacturer of Canadian streetcars and subways trains. Of course, Bombardier can’t get the job done. The Globe seems to think Ontario might act on its own to cut Bombardier out of the Finch Ave. action but it seems unlikely. It is safe to say the federal Liberals would do anything to prevent such a damaging decision to their status in Quebec.
Tom Hanks photobombs Central Park wedding
by •
Yes it’s fluffy for sure but this video conveys much enjoyment on the part of the bride and groom, and Hanks too, as he takes a break from a jog to shoot selfies and schmooze with fans. Better than having to land in the Hudson River.
“Microtransit” to replace 40-foot buses that are empty?
by •
Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong has discussed the concept of TTC “microtransit” prior to Wednesday’s meeting to explore this type of service. Things that stand out are Mr. Minnan-Wong’s concern about “40-foot buses that are virtually empty”. Transit overkill perhaps. It is a thought that has crossed the mind of more than one taxpayer. Minnan-Wong says that microtransit services are already employed in places like New York, Boston and San Francisco. In Kansas City they call it the “pop-up bus”. In KC and elsewhere, a seat on a pop-up bus may be ordered by app. But some follow a regular route. In San Francisco they are called Chariots. These buses are driven by municipal, unionized employees. You know who you are dealing with. CBC
Sarah and Claire’s food drive gets lift from Sport Clips
by •
We love our community partners. Thanks to @SPORTCLlPS #Leaside, $3 from every MVP haircut til Oct 9 goes to https://t.co/G5QHSkfigi
— Mark Jordan #GiveMore 🚴🏻⛷🎸 (@mojorising) September 28, 2016
Isreali statesman Shimon Peres succumbs to stroke at 93
by •
Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres, the former Israeli prime minister, president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has died at the age of 93. The Israeli statesman suffered a stroke two weeks ago and died in hospital in Tel Aviv early on Wednesday. Most notably, he won a Nobel peace prize along with Palestinian Leader Yassir Arafat and former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin for attempts to reconcile Jews and Arabs in the Levant
Harris work Mountain Forms to be auctioned in November
by •
The 1926 Rocky Mountain oil canvas Mountain Forms, now owned by the Imperial Oil Co., will be auctioned in November at the Heffel Fine Art Auction House in Yorkville Six of the top 10 paintings sold at a Canadian art auction in recent years are by Group of Seven painter Lawren Harris. He was born in Brantford in 1885 and died in Vancouver in 1970. Harris is a revered part of Canadian art history but his fame has grown in recent times after an international exhibition that took his work to places like Los Angeles and Boston. The exhibition was given added impetus by the role of actor Steve Martin, an owner of Harris art, who co-curated the exhibit. Guessing about the value of the canvas, a depiction of Mount Ishbel in the Rocky Mountain Sawback range near Lake Louise, runs to $3 and $5 million. Nice profile of Harris in Toronto Life
Mountain Forms
Falling glass from condo balcony on Yonge at Davenport
by •
A stretch of Yonge Street was closed after a pane of glass fell from the 32nd floor of a building in Yorkville on Tuesday. Davenport Road to Yorkville Avenue was effected.
HAZARD:
Falling Glass-SB Yonge St closed from Davenport Rd to Bloor St
-Yorkville Ave closed from Bay St to Yonge St
-Expect delays
^rm— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) September 27, 2016
Wild and crazy corner about to begin a new adventure
by •
The corner of Bayview Ave.and Eglinton East is about to begin another convulsive adventure in building the much-loved (by politicians) LRT. Medians on Bayview are being demolished Tuesday to permit traffic to be switched back and forth from one side of the street to the other. A new maze of traffic lights to somehow or other control confused drivers is being installed. Thus it will not be long before work begins on the excavations into the street which are required to construct the Leaside Station facilities. As is known, this site is also going to be the scene of a high-rise condominium on Bayview Ave. built by Countrywide Homes. It will probably test the nine-storey bylaw again, just as RioCan is doing at the Sunnybrook Plaza site. Wild and crazy.
