Our weekly recap of the week’s news nuggets in Toronto will bring you up to date and add some fuel to your small-talk tank heading into the weekend.
Subway, subway, subway song!
Metro Morning’s Matt Galloway posted a link to this delightful little 1940’s tune on Twitter—and believe it or not, it just may be stuck in your head all day. The song gallantly sang the praises of the soon-to-arrive subway. “With the help of you and me and the blessed TTC, we’ll soon have a real subway!” We hear they’re still singing that song in Scarborough.
Shirtless Jogger becomes Internet sensation
It’s rare someone gets this much attention just for heckling. But Joe Killoran, the school teacher better known as the Shirtless Jogger who confronted Mayor Rob Ford at a Canada Day parade has not only had the media spotlight thrust upon him, he’s become somewhat of an inspirational figure in the city.
The not-so-blessed TTC
Now that you have that bustling, happy tune about the TTC in your head, time to come back down to reality—data obtained by the Toronto Star shows that TTC vehicles have been involved in more than 18,000 collisions in the past five years. Stay safe out there, folks!
Good-bye to The Grid
The popular alternative weekly The Grid has ceased publication, with its last issue appearing on stands July 3. The free magazine, owned by Torstar, was a hit with downtown readers, but had difficulty attracting advertisers. The magazine business is a tough one these days—so if you're out and about, pick up a magazine, read it and cherish it. Cherish it.
Slow down, you move too fast
The Star’s Big Ideas series explores, well, big ideas—ideas for radical solutions to our city's most pervasive problems. One of those big ideas is to lower the speed limits on city streets, which would increase safety for pedestrians and drivers alike. Cities such as Paris have taken the action. When asked for his opinion on the subject two years ago, Mayor Rob Ford called the idea “nuts nuts nuts.”
Councillor Paula Fletcher in the journalists’ corner
Many were critical of Mayor Rob Ford’s by-invitation-only press conference, and Coun. Paula Fletcher is no exception. Fletcher has placed a motion on next week’s council agenda that would prohibit the office of the mayor from restricting accredited members of the city hall press gallery from media events.
The labyrinth returns
Three years ago, the half-century-old labyrinth at the Toronto Islands was scrapped after the hedges grew old and wilted. Now, thanks to a $200,000 donation from local businessman William Meney, the maze is complete and open to the public once again.
Deal reached following Sunrise explosion
A settlement has been reached in the class-action lawsuit that came following the Downsview-area propane explosion that took place nearly six years ago. $23 million will be given to claimants. Approximately 12,000 people were displaced from their homes following the fiery blast.
Raptors re-sign Lowry
Though the postseason was short, the Toronto Raptors managed to get Toronto psyched about basketball once again. Now they have one more reason to cheer—Kyle Lowry has signed a four-year, $48 million contract. We're already pumped for next year.
Doug Ford says the father of an autistic child can go to hell
After Coun. Doug Ford sided with residents several weeks ago complaining about an Etobicoke-area group home for developmentally disabled adults, the father of an autistic child has filed a complaint against the councillor. Ford, who was quoted saying, “My heart goes out to kids with autism, but no one told me they’d be leaving the house.”
