Bulldog finds Choppers, Cessnas touring downtown sky

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An examination of last night’s flights over downtown Toronto using the WebTrak flight tracking tool, has revealed a 30 minute jaunt by a helicopter out of Buttonville airport between about 8.45 and 9.15. There were also a host of Cessnas in what appeared to be “tourist mode” over downtown. There was a Jays game with the roof open, so no surprise there.  A couple of Cessnas originating from Toronto/Markham Airport and Burlington Airpark did multiple loops of downtown.  We’re sure it was a good view.  The Bulldog also noted a flight that originated near Polson Pier at approximately 11:10pm did a multiple passes around downtown and East York then passed over Davisville Village at approximately 11:40 p.m., at a mere 1400 ft. of altitude.  We think we heard that one!  It landed at Downsview at approximately 11:45 p.m.  Could that be one of the mystery choppers that kept us awake last night?

late night flight path

Screenshot from WebTrak website

Darwin Barney heroics help Blue Jays beat Yankees 4-1

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Bell Media sends Canada AM to bed for good on Friday

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CTV has announced that Canada AM  will cease its 44-year run with Friday’s program. It is said to be the longest running morning television shows in Canada’s history. “We are incredibly thankful to our viewers from coast-to-coast-to-coast who have been with us on this journey and a heartfelt part of our TV family all these years,” co-hosts Beverly Thomson, Marci Ien and Jeff Hutcheson said in a joint statement published on CTV News online.

WHAT ELSE MIGHT BELL DO?

The end of Canada AM must be a bit chilling to CTV News employees. The future of old-fashioned television from the sprawling piece of acreage at McCowan Rd. and Hwy 401 will most certainly have been discussed in the offices of Bell Media thinkers. Maybe they just love it. Maybe not. And maybe they wonder how many newscasts they need.

Midnight chopper ruckus part of “emergency services”?

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Lack of interest, opposition to lower speeds in Leaside?

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Councillor Jon Burnside has written to residents of Bessborough Drive, McRae Drive and Parkhurst Blvd reporting that his survey of households there has not yielded enough support to proceed with lowering the speed limit from 40 km/h to 30 km/h as has been done on streets in the Toronto and East York wards of the City.  Leaside is in the North York area. Burnside said that the process requires at least 25 percent of homeowners to respond with at least 51 percent asking for the change. He does not say in the letter which criteria was unmet. Road safety and particularly concern for children remains high among people. City issued lawn signs reminding drivers to slow down are popular apparently across the city. The issue for some is that the difference between 30 and 40 km/h for responsible drivers does not seem to be a material factor in safe driving. The appearance of children on a street is always a warning to slow and be cautious. The death of Georgia Walsh at the corner of McRae and Millwood Rd was attributed not to speed but carelessness.  Circumstances of Georgia’s death beggar the imagination

Mid, downtown residents complain of nighttime choppers

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The Josh  Matlow (Ward 22) Twitter account is hearing from people about one or more noisy helicopters Wednesday night. As normally heard at Bayview and Moore Aves. these are usually the in and outbound emergency choppers from Sunnybrook. Quite noisy but not too often. A couple of years ago police promised to be careful with “searches” at night after a notorious midnight foray chasing suspects in the cemetery. Josh Matlow  The man from Cabbagetown (below) has a problem.

Shop, Wine and Dine on Mt. Pleasant Thursday, June 16

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Mt. Pleasant Village BIA merchants and restaurants will have a Shop, Wine and Dine evening which features a sidewalk sale on Thursday, June 16 between 5 and 8 p.m.  Take a look.

Leaside High School girls are senior softball champs

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lhs giels The Leaside High School senior girls have won the Toronto District Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TDSSAA) softball championship. They defeated Etobicoke Collegiate Institute Tuesday in hard-fought action at Dieppe Park.  The game required thrilling extra inning — the eighth. Softball is a seven-inning game. The teams were tied in the seventh but Leaside won 8-7. City Champs, how about that.

“Houdini” 2-year-old escapes house unseen by parents

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A two-year-old boy slipped out his York Region home Wednesday unseen by parents who thought he was safe in bed. The pleasant area of Larkin Avenue and Lehman Crescent was alive with police and citizens about 8:30 p.m. as they hunted to find the lad’s home.  Police said his family  was “very, very shocked” to learn the boy was outside by himself. Sgt James Ward told CP24: “They’re like Houdini and they can get out so take all of the precautions that you can

53 Division barbecue at Eglinton and Yonge Thursday

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The 53 Division Community Response Unit (CRU) Charity BBQ will be held Thursday (June 2, 2016) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Yonge Eglinton Centre on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue West. This year the CRU Charity BBQ proceeds will go to the Canadian Mental Health Association Ride Don’t Hide Program. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and refreshments will be available. Also, officers from the Community Response Unit will attend and police vehicles will be on display.

NEW UNIT COMMANDER

The new 53 Division Unit Commander, Superintendent Reuben Stroble, along with Inspector Sonia Thomas, will be greeting the public. For further information contact Crime Prevention Officers Constable Timothy Somers at (416) 808-5337, or Constable Alex Li at (416) 808-5308.

World’s longest tunnel will speed traffic across Europe

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Lululemon founder Wilson declares war on his directors

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wilson feat

Chip Wilson

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson criticized the Canadian yogawear retailer’s board on Wednesday, calling for annual election of the entire board to make directors more accountable for the company’s performance. Wilson, who is the company’s largest shareholder with a 14.2 percent stake, said the board should be declassified to make it more effective and not staggered, where only some directors stand for election each year. Wilson said he was convinced that Lululemon did not have the right leadership to make changes necessary to “win in the current global, multi-channel and dynamic environment.” Wilson told CNBC that he could help as a consultant to the company if the board structure was changed, calling Lululemon his child. Lululemon declined to comment on the possibility. Lululemon has seen competitors like Under Armour and Nike force into its area of business  Wilson has a way of saying things that h sometimes regrets, although he seems confident of his assessment now. Last year he had to apologize and step back for saying of Lululemon pants: “Frankly, some women’s bodies just don’t actually work [for the yoga pants],”