Ron Maclean and David Amber are new hosts of HNIC

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Rogers made it official Monday with word that Ron MacLean will host Hockey Night in Canada alongside veteran sports reporter David Amber. MacLean will host Game 1 on Saturday nights with Amber hosting Game 2. MacLean will continue to play straight man to Don Cherry in the first intermission of Game 1, an act they have shared for decades. Following his hosting duties on Saturday nights, MacLean will head out to 24 communities across the country to continue his Rogers Hometown Hockey on Sundays throughout the season. George Stroumboulopoulos will depart the company to explore new creative opportunities.

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No 2nd Brexit vote says Cameron as he makes plan to quit

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David Cameron has told the House of Commons in the United KIngdom there is no going backwards as he announced the creation of an “EU Unit” in the government which will forge plans to Britain exit. In Toronto and New York the unknowns associated with the Brexit outcome have driven markets down more than 200 points.

We’re looking for Bike Share users to tell their stories

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News Monday that about 120 new stations will be added to the Bike Share Toronto network over the next two weeks may be exciting news for Bike share users, and those who think they might like to use this system of rental bikes. It is said the additions will effectively double the size and scope of the system. There are now about 1,000 bikes spread across 80 stations but beginning today crews will be setting up 120 additional stations and adding 1,000 bikes.

CONVENIENCE, BUSINESS MODEL

The question asked about Bike Share is whether it works for anyone. The ownership of bicycles among people who are serious about cycling seems high.  But those who know and advocate bike sharing say it is really a way of expediting pedestrians. That’s fine, but what is the demand for this type of hybrid?  It doesn’t seem helpful for people riding to work unless the station is pretty handy both to home and work. Nice for tourists. Can we hear from Bike Share users about how they make the system for them?

Panel calls for on-the-job work as part of schooling

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A panel created by the Ontario government and led by former Minister of Education Sean Conway is recommending that every student in the Ontario public school system experience on-the-job training as part of his/her curriculum.  The panel calls it “experiential learning”.  Premier Wynne has spoken warmly in support of the idea.

 

New sign now hints Whole Foods to open Spring 2017

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A new sign originating with Shoppers Drug Mart in the window of 1860 Bayview Ave now says the drugstore will open in the Spring of 2017. This is the same message that was communicated about Whole Foods from anecdotal sources in the South Bayview Bulldog June 15, 2016. It came from an employee of Whole Foods somewhere in Toronto who asked his superior when the 1860 store might open. The answer was “maybe April 2017.” In the Facebook forum Leaside Community contributor Hailey Eisen made note of the new opening date Sunday. It is the first more or less official — but incomplete — word from the developers, Trinity Inc and/or RioCan, the emerging owner, about the long delay.

PEOPLE DEEPLY PUZZLED

But it is the “Why?” of all this delay that is upsetting people. “Arrrgh!!! Stop playing with me, Whole Foods!!!! For the love of god, are they making their own bespoke drywall or something??” snarls Susan Pratt in a post on the FB bulletin board. In fact, it is clear both by the silence of all the principals, and by the projected delay of a full year, that something serious is going on that none of them want to talk about. It is not unreasonable to conclude that there has been a fairly sharp difference between the property principals and the grocery firm. We do not know what it is, nor do we expect any of the parties to say publicly any time soon. It would certainly be nice if they did. The inside scoop may be leaked by someone inside the organizations at some point.

DIFFICULT TIMES?

Many issues related to Whole Foods are known. In the U.S., it continues to deal with historic complaints about prices. And although people in South Bayview are affluent enough to shop at Whole Foods, there is a body of food buyers who don’t want what they sell. Many foods that may be of doubtful nutrition but are nonetheless enormously popular (like Coca Cola, prosciutto and veal bologna) can’t be found at WF. Keen competitors like Metro, Longo’s, Loblaws, Valumart, Sobey’s and Summerhill Market are stocked to the gunnels with these things. The competition for WF will be no bed of roses. Just some guesses on what is going on.

CN Tower 40 years old as the symbol of Toronto skyline

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The CN Tower marked its 40th anniversary Sunday as living memory flooded back into millions of minds about the momentous days which saw it built. For those born after the tower’s completion, the CN Tower may seem like just another local landmark, viewed the same  way the Eiffel Tower (1889) was viewed by the millennial generation of the last century.  The video is a blast of 1970s bravado that brings back the triumph of this engineering challenge.

 

Pope said to have discussed asking for LGBT forgiveness

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Small businesses should check out Digital Main Street

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john kiru

John Kiru

The City has taken the lead with the help of major corporate sponsors and Toronto’s business improvement areas in creating an Internet sales resource for small businesses called the Digital Main Street platform. It is supported by powerhouse firms — Rogers, Yellow Pages, Shopify, MasterCard and Google. The inspiration came from John Kiru, executive director of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Associations.(TABIA). The program launched June 13 and already has some 600 small businesses participating. Any merchant who has tried to become a webmaster will know how time-consuming and potentially wasteful it can be to try to do business online. Digital Main Street has an online hub, digital service squad dispatched to train local businesses on web strategy, training and workshops to help the city’s small business community market and sell online. The basic services are free to use.

Flaming-haired escort about to set fire to NYPD scandal

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Gabi Grecko is a flaming-haired New York City escort at the center of the NYPD corruption scandal. Her story is part of a huge investigation by federal officials of payoffs and favours also involving Mayor De Blasio’s fundraising.

Man falls into bay, dies during night out with friends

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A young man has died after falling into the water near the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal early Sunday. Emergency services arrived at the scene near Queens Quay and Yonge Street at shortly before 5 a.m.  The man, said to be in his 20s, was with friends buying food. It is not clear what if any safety fencing exists at this point.

Glass slide 1,000 feet above the street an L.A. whimsy

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An incredibly scary thrill slide made of glass has opened on the outside of the 70th floor of the U.S. Bank Tower at 633 West Fifth Street in downtown Los Angeles. The Skyslide hurls those stern enough to try it out onto a 45-foot slide 1,000 feet above the street and lands them on a deck-like landing. Think of the people who cannot bring themselves to even stand near the small window of glass floor on the CN Tower’s Observation Deck. The slide is made of clear glass 1 1/4-inch thick and opened Saturday, June 25, with tickets ranging from $8 for children to $48.

Leaside scores eight in 8th inning to defeat Thornhill 12-11

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The Leaside Leafs Seniors refused to accept defeat Friday when they staged a stunning eight-run comeback in the bottom of the eighth against the Thornhill Reds. They had trailed all through the game in the Greater Toronto Baseball League tilt at Talbot Park but their heroics at the end turned the Reds11-2 lead into a 12-11 Leafs victory.  The Reds scored two runs in each of the second and third innings and one in the sixth to lead 5-0. After Leaside scored two in the bottom of the sixth but the Reds launched a barrage of six runs in the seventh to take an apparently unassailable 11-2 lead. Leaside however soldiered on getting two runs in the seventh and eight in the eighth.