You’ve heard the phrase, Around the world in 80 days? We’ve got Toronto for you in 10 clicks. Behold, the week that was:
1. Want free beer? Vote!
It always seemed like those high-minded, and well-intentioned, campaigns to encourage youth civic engagement were complicating matters unduly. Want to get people to do something? Ply them with liquor. It seems to be a trend in this election cycle as several wards are offering discounted drink chips for those who vote on the Oct. 27. In fact, PUBLIC Inc. is offering a free beer in Ward 19 that can be used at Opera Bob’s, Brazen Head and The Caledonian.
2. Rob Ford ousted from community centre for illegal campaigning
Rob Ford is no less shameless in his campaign activities in Ward 2 despite his health issues. Ford was asked to leave the Driftwood Community Centre when he was spotted taking photos with people coming out of the building. The problem is that the site was an advanced polling station for Ward 2, so Ford was in pretty clear violation of the Ontario Municipal Elections Act.
3. More Ford… this time with breakfast cereal
Okay this one seems a little late to the party in the city-wide effort to put Rob Ford’s mug on just about any conceivable merchandising scheme, whether to lionize or lampoon, but we’ll indulge one more time. Subbing for Tony the Tiger, Ford can now be part of your complete breakfast with this Ford Flakes cereal. The 500-box limited run is available at www.fordflakes.ca and for each purchase $20 goes to cancer research, so it’s not all a laughing matter.
4. Mike Babcock wants to come to Toronto?
The Leafs are already dragging us down with their evident mediocrity and somehow getting themselves in a goaltending controversy after just a handful of games. As always, we turn our eyes to the future, and according to Cathal Kelly of the Globe and Mail, Mike Babcock is destined to come to Toronto to fulfill his goal of becoming the “best coach of his era” after his contract with the Detroit Red Wings expires.
5. Captain John’s boat goes back on the market
Just sit right back and you’ll hear the tale of a fateful ship. Turns out the Toronto Port Authority is going to be giving back the 33-grand and change that James Sbrolla paid for the landmark floating restaurant when it went up for auction. Apparently he couldn’t deliver a plan to actually haul the thing out of the harbor. Takers?
6. George Costanza might have been right about peeing in the shower?
A UK environmental campaign operating via the #GoWithTheFLow hashtag might be getting some traction in Toronto after a Global News interview with some of the students behind it at the University of East Angola. Apparently, relieving yourself in the shower is mostly safe and could save on those 12 litres of water per toilet flush. I would really recommend not forgetting your flip-flops next time you hit the showers at the gym.
7. Testing for Ebola to begin at 10 Ontario hospitals Oct. 20
I’m not sure if this is cause to sleep a little easier or not, but it looks like hospitals in Ontario are on the case. Ten patients have been tested for Ebola in Ontario and all have come up negative according to the Toronto Star, but 10 hospitals throughout Ontario will open labs next week. Sunnybrook, Toronto Western, St. Michael’s and Sick Kids are among the 10.
8. Woman found dead in suspected homicide outside community centre
Sad news as a woman believed to be in her 50s was found dead outside the Wallace Emerson Community Centre at 1260 Dufferin St. Wednesday morning. Police consider the death a homicide and anyone with info can of course contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS or Toronto Police.
9. Good luck driving this weekend
Looks like getting around will be a bit of a hassle so keep that in mind as you make plans that may require a moving automobile to get you where you need to go. On one hand there’s the Canada's Walk of Fame ceremony closing off Front St. East tonight and on the other there’s the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon going 20,000 people strong on Sunday.
10. Meet the new polls, same as the old polls
We would be remiss not to keep you up-to-date on the trio vying for the mayoralty of this fair city. Your update is… nothing new. John Tory’s lead on Doug Ford is still roughly 10 percentage points and Olivia Chow continues to trail both. Thanks pollsters.
