Massive fire guts College St. building

 

CTV.ca

 

A six-alarm blaze late Sunday night charred a building near Kensington Market that housed a computer store and several apartments.

Two firefighters were injured while trying to contain the fire, which started in the basement of 338 College St., a Canada Computers store, around 11:15 p.m. Sunday. One was treated for smoke inhalation, another for a minor leg injury.

Dozens of residents were left homeless as the flames rose to six apartment units above the store. Fire officials said all occupants managed to escape before the fire reached them.

At its peak, the fire engulfed the building, but did not spread to other structures nearby.

Fire crews got the flames under control by 3 a.m. and later checked the walls for any spots that could set off a new blaze.

Authorities blocked College St. between Spadina Ave. and Bathurst St. for part of Monday morning to make way for the clean-up.

The Ontario Fire Marshal will investigate, though officials say they don't suspect any foul play.

 

 

Report: Toronto one of the worst 'Speed Trap Cities'

 

CTV.ca

 

Drivers in Toronto should keep their eyes peeled for speed traps around every corner, according to the National Motorist Association's annual list of "Worst North American Speed Trap Cities".

Toronto ranked first overall in North America on the list compiled with data from the association's National Speed Trap Exchange, where drivers from the U.S. and Canada can report locations where police regularly look for speeders.

Toronto has more reported speed trap zones than Los Angeles, New York City and Montreal combined, but Sgt. Tim Burrows of Toronto Traffic Services said that the city also has one of the lowest traffic injury and fatality rates of the top cities on the list.

Sgt. Burrows said of the list: "The more awareness about our officers making Toronto roads safer, the better. After all, heavy speed enforcement makes for safer roads."

He explained that Toronto police set up speed traps in areas where the public have complained of unsafe traffic, or where analysis of car accidents has determined speed was a factor in the collision.

 

 

Rob Ford leads in mayor’s race, poll shows

 

Toronto Star

 

Revelations of an impaired driving conviction in Florida apparently didn’t hurt Rob Ford. A new poll indicates the controversial candidate is the front-runner in the mayor’s race.

The poll of 400 Torontonians, which was conducted by Ipsos Reid over the weekend, shows 32 per cent of voters support Ford. George Smitherman, the one-time front-runner, had 21 per cent support among those polled. Sarah Thomson followed with 10 per cent, Joe Pantalone had 9 per cent, Rocco Rossi trailed at 7 per cent, with 21 per cent undecided.

The results suggest large numbers of Torontonians are looking past the 1999 Florida charge for which Ford paid a $664.75 fine. He also eventually worked 50 hours of community service with the football team he was already coaching. An additional charge of possession of marijuana was later dismissed.

The poll also suggests plenty of Torontonians are okay with the candidate’s controversial views about making Toronto a “refugee-free” zone.

But a spokesman for Smitherman downplayed the results. “Typically, when candidates are involved in something controversial it takes five to seven days for reaction to be felt,” said Stefan Baranski. “I’m not sure we’ve seen the impacts of (Ford’s) indiscretions reflected in the polls yet.”

The poll was commissioned by the National Post, Global TV and Newstalk 1010, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
 

 

 

TTC looks to 'wave-of-the-card' fare system: report
 

CP24.com

 

The TTC is planning to catch up to other transit systems like those in New York City and Chicago by bringing a credit or debit card system to let riders pay their fare, the Toronto Star reports.

TTC Chair Adam Giambrone told the Star that the transit commission will put out a request for proposals in early August, and the system could be in place in 2011.

Riders would pay at the turnstiles by tapping their credit card, debit card or cell phone.

Those without a credit or debit card will likely be able to use a Presto or similar card to tap or swipe for entry, the Star reports.

Toronto mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi, however, says he would scrap the plan and instead move ahead with the Presto card system which would be heavily subsidized by the province.

 

 

Ontario Place 2.0 - plans underway for massive revamp
 

CP24.com

 

For almost 40 years, the oversized golf-ball-like cinesphere of Ontario Place has been a landmark along Toronto's waterfront.

Adolescents tangled themselves in its roped obstacle courses, while others funnelled through water park slides.

Nearby, automaton mine workers waved mechanically at log riding patrons, about to plummet into a pool of water.

But soon the Ontario Place that many remember will be no more.

Ontario's tourism ministry, which owns and operates the amusement park, is asking for architects and developers to submit ideas to completely revamp the 39-hectare waterfront property.

Construction on the new Ontario Place could start by the end of next summer -- making the summer of 2011 the last for the amusement park as many know it.

Ontario Place opened in 1970, with the purpose of being a tourist attraction that celebrated the achievements of Ontarians.

Then it was a five-pod pavilion, with paddle boats, a marina, and the world's first permanent IMAX theatre -- the cinesphere.

It was built in the spirit of Montreal's Expo '67.

Now known mostly as a water park and concert venue, spokesman Hugh Mansfield said Ontario Place has drifted from its original purpose.

"I would say the last 10 or 15 years have been certainty not its best," Mansfield said Thursday.

The plan is to "breathe some life into the facility," which saw just under a million visitors last year.

The Ontario Ministry of Tourism plans to turn the land into a year-round venue that brings together retail opportunities with education, culture, arts and entertainment.

No price tag has been set for construction, however some of the project may be eligible for Ontario Infrastructure funding, Mansfield said.

The ministry will also "welcome and embrace" federal participation in the project.

Mansfield said developers will have a blank canvas for the new Ontario Place, and outdated facilities like the cinesphere will likely be retired.

Ontario Place's popular concert venue, the Molson Amphitheatre, may have the best chance of remaining -- in its current form or another.

Music fans flock to its grassy hill for concerts. Among the artists slated to perform this summer are Sting and Rihanna.

But while the entertainment component is important, Mansfield said developers will be under no obligation to include the amphitheatre in their plans.

"We're interested in seeing what people come up with," he said.

 

 

Subway stations could get cellphone reception: report
 

CP24.com

 

The TTC is bringing back plans to get subway commuters connected to the outside world.

The Globe and Mail is reporting that the commission will give the green light for plans to add cellphone transmitters to 68 stations.

The TTC has a meeting next Wednesday where it will begin to solicit bids from three companies vying to provide reception.

The report says the winning bid could be selected by the end of the year and some stations could come online in mid-2012.

 

 

Transit Safety Tips

 

CityNews.ca

You're on the TTC and you run into a problem - someone is either threatening you or presenting a danger to others. You can sit there reading and hope they go away. Or you can take action that doesn't put your own life in peril.

Here's a primer on what the TTC suggests you do if it happens to you:

Subway

Here's where you're the most vulnerable, because there's no way to get off until the next stop and the nearest TTC employee may not be in the car. You can get out when the train stops and try to evade your harasser but if that's not possible, reach up and hit the yellow strip located at every section of every car. They can be used to report crime or illness, and while the TTC doesn't want you to use it frivolously, they do say it's OK if you're feeling uncomfortable, sick or in danger.

What happens when it's pressed? The train goes on to the next station and stops there with the doors open, allowing you to get out if necessary. Crews come immediately and check out the nature of the problem and take steps to fix it.

There are also 96 special constables who patrol the underground. Some wear uniforms, while others are undercover. The TTC won't say much about them except that they keep records about when the most problems occur and that's when the bulk of them are riding the rails with you. They can detain troublemakers and get police involved if necessary.

Buses

This is a lot simpler. If you have any problems, report them immediately to the driver. They have two different kinds of emergency devices to contact transit control, and they can dispatch police, fire trucks, an ambulance or whatever is needed to the scene right away. Despite privacy concerns, cameras are coming to buses, although it may be a while before they're all deployed and they obviously won't stop an attack.

Platforms

You're waiting at a bus terminal or a TTC stop and you see someone suspicious hanging around or acting odd. Move to the Designated Waiting Area, where you'll be in camera range of the collector. A push of a button puts you in contact with the man or woman in the booth and they can not only see what's wrong but immediately summon help. And it's a good place to sit even if you just want to read while waiting for that bus or train because the areas feature brighter lights than other spots on the platform. There's almost always a pay phone in these places so if your cell doesn't work underground, remember that 911 is a free call from any of them.

On The Street

The TTC can't take responsibility for what happens on a city street - that's a police matter. But if you're a woman and you're traveling on a bus between the hours of 9pm and 5pm, you can ask the driver to let you off between stops, so you can exit close to your home without walking. The policy only applies to women and the TTC won't let a man get off in the same mid-point stop to ensure safety. But being male doesn't mean you're not entitled to use the program. Drivers are given wide latitude about the issue and will let you off if they feel it's in your best interest.