April Luckese of Mississauga has been sentenced to six years in prison for the death of a 14-month-old child who, the court found, had shaken the child in frustration and failed to obtain medical care. Ms.Luckese operated an illegal daycare at the time of the death of Duy-an Nguyen in 2011. The child was found unconscious at Luckese’s daycare died in hospital two days later after suffering a fractured skull. Luckese previously said that she tripped while holding the girl, who then hit her head on a bannister. The Crown argued that Luckese had become frustrated with the child and shook her. During sentencing Monday, Justice Gordon Lemon said he believed that Luckese’s behaviour was “entirely out of character for her.” “I have no doubt that Ms. Luckese is remorseful,” Judge Lemon said. “I have no doubt that Ms. Luckese is a good person who has done a bad thing. I have the utmost sympathy for her and for her family. What has occurred is a tragedy.”
Illegal marijuana stores are blooming like dandelions
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Mayor Tory has declared a need to control the illegal pot dispensaries that are popping up in Toronto like dandelions in the Spring. The consulting firm Canadian cannabis brands says there are 100 stores as of today and there are 21 more moments away from opening. It produced the interactive map above. None of them are legal. Many have rib-tickling names and all offer brain soothing smoking material. Mr. Medicinal, Sticky Stems, Green Wagon, HempClub and who knows what else. They populate streets where they might never have been expected, even if legal. Avenue Road, Mt. Pleasant, Lawrence and the Allen, The Danforth — they are everywhere. Speaking with reporters Monday, Tory said the appearance of marijuana dispensaries with heavy concentrations is some neighbourhoods is like a crisis. “This can’t continue on this basis,” Tory said regarding the budding of the new businesses. City News says Vancouver councillor Kerry Jang is calling on Toronto to adapt his city’s dispensary licensing system. The bylaw, which was approved last June, is about “taking back our storefronts, controlling the situation that saw businesses selling and promoting marijuana sales to kids and stores opening near schools,” Jang says.
Cultural Hotspot program to be launched this Wednesday
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The third edition of the City’s Cultural Hotspot program will be launched by Councillor Jon Burnside (Ward 26) and the City’s Arts Advocate, Councillor John Filion (Ward 23) with Hotspot partners on Wednesday, May 11 at 3:30, remarks at 4:30 p.m. All this to take place at the Aga Khan Museum and Park at 77 Wynford Dr. More information is available at here
No pretense at news as Star issues odd Saturday jumble
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The Toronto Life daily newsmail (also known as 12.36) writes Monday of the strange Toronto Star front page on Saturday. Missed it again. But this time it was worth a look for the odd composition of Don Tapscott, described as an “in-house innovator” by 12.36. Who knows. Remember the Star feature that invited readers to pose “semi-nude.” @1236
$250,000 spay and neutering truck hits the road in Toronto
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Whoopsy Daisy, we seem to have taken out a brick fence
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A driver took a tour along the sidewalk on Kingston Rd. at Kingswood Rd. Monday morning and blew away a brick fence intended to protect a hydro installation. It happened about 3.20 a.m. and there have been no injuries reported through the police. Kingswood is two blocks west of Victoria Park Ave.
Queen between Bathurst and Spadina a no-go zone
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Queen Street West between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue should be avoided this summer as the City does water main replacement and road reconstruction. Parking meters will be shut down and anyone parking will be towed. Queen Street is expected to be given back to drivers and others in October.
Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig on Bessborough Dr. Monday
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The Leaside location for the movie Downsizing is on the west side of Bessborough Drive at Annesley Ave where a large crew was present at noon Monday, May 9, 2016. Bystanders said that Matt Damon (and maybe Kristen Wiig) were already inside the home with the black light filters. But crew members said they would arrive later. There is a large crew for this story about a man who feels his life is out of control and wants to downsize. It is adapted from a work by Alexander Payne described as a high concept sci-fi satire. Reese Witherspoon was expected to co-star but Wiig is now opposite Damon. The two are expected to be here just one day.
Rita Moreno raps college commencement “oh yeah uh huh”
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Rita Morena raps the commencement address at a Boston area college (Berklee) which is well-received. Actually, rap seldom sounded better although the genre has many low points. The 84-year-old actress said she had been inspired by the off-Broadway musical Hamilton about the U.S. father of the republic Alexander Hamilton.
Premier’s Jane Jacob’s walk on Laird Drive Saturday
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Leaside Walk 2 celebrate Jane Jacob's 100 Birthday.Lead walkers Jane Farrow+Joe Lobko @Kathleen_Wynne @farrowjane pic.twitter.com/S0QN4btahr
— Afie Mardukhi (@AfieM) May 8, 2016
Two hurt as car slams bakery shop near Jane and Wilson
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Two people have gone to hospital after a car crashed into the Tung Hong Bakery in a mall near Jane Street and Wilson Avenue Sunday. A man is said to have serious head injuries. Another victim has non-life-threatening injuries.
Dawn from CTV chopper shows Toronto in ghostly garb
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Great video from the @CTVNews chopper of early morning after daybreak in #Toronto today @CTVToronto pic.twitter.com/X8KyDi8iK3
— Ian Caldwell (@iancaldwellCTV) May 3, 2016
Ian Caldwell posted this eerie but lovely view of Toronto looking east from the CTV helicopter at about dawn on May 3. That’s Humber Bay in the foreground and downtown beyond.