Edward Brain's Blog

Santa Claus Arrives in Etobicoke

Posted on December 2, 2018 by Edward Brain

On December 1st, 2018 the southern Etobicoke communities of New Toronto and Long Branch welcomed Santa Claus to their community with the 28th Annual Etobicoke-Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade.

Here are some highlights of the parade: Continue reading →

Remembrance Day at Royal Canadian Legion #101

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Edward Brain

On November 11th, 2018 I attended the Remembrance Day service at Royal Canadian Legion #101.

The service was moving as usual and a way of remembering those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Here are some pictures from the service and at the Long Branch Cenotaph: Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged #Lestweforget, 2018, Branch 101, Lest We Forget, November 11th, Remembrance Day, Royal Canadian Legion | 2 Comments

Remembrance Day and 100th Anniversary of the End of World War I

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Edward Brain

Remembrance Day 2014 003 (1024x768) Today, November 11th 2018, we mark Remembrance Day in Canada and the sacrifices made by our military during the many conflicts Canada has been involved in.

Today also marks the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I. The first world war marked Canada’s entry on the world stage. Canada begin the war as a little country that had made little contribution to the world. By the end of the war, with Canadians showed how valiantly they could fight and earned the respect of the rest of the world. Canada would never look back.

Canadians have a long tradition of joining its allies in conflicts when required and to successfully fight in many difficult situations in order that we all may enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy today.

So, if you are grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in Canada, please thank a veteran.

As an appropriate remembrance for all the sacrifices, here is “In Flanders Fields“, the poem written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae: Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged Dominion of Canada, In Flanders Fields, Lest We Forget, Remember Them, Remembrance Day, The Great War, World War I, World War II | Leave a comment

25th Anniversary of ‘Touch ‘Em All Joe’

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Edward Brain

Today, October 23rd 2018, is the 25th anniversary of the most important homerun in Toronto Blue Jays history: Joe Carter’s walk-off homerun to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays, and potentially in the history of the World Series. This also happens to be the day when 2018 edition of the World Series starts.

On October 23rd 1993, the Blue Jays were playing in game 6 of the World Series. The Blue Jays held a 3 to 2 over the Philadelphia Phillies and could win the World Series that night. The Blue Jays took an early 5-1 lead before giving up 5 unanswered runs to trail 6-5. Continue reading →

Posted in Toronto Blue Jays | Tagged 1993 World Series, 25th Anniversary, Homerun, Joe Carter, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Touch 'Em All Joe, World Series | Leave a comment

2018 World Series

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Edward Brain

The 114th edition of the World Series is set to start between the National League (NL) Pennant winners the Los Angeles Dodgers and the American League (AL) Pennant winners the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have home field advantage.

The Dodgers went 92-71 during the regular season and beat the Colorado Rockies in a one game tie breaker for the NL West Title before defeating the Atlanta Braves three games to one in the divisional series before beating the Milwaukee Brewers four games to three in the NLCS.

The Red Sox won the AL East Title and beat their arch-rivals the New York Yankees in four games before beating the defending World Series Champions the Houston Astros in five games in the ALCS. Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Tagged 114th Edition, 2018, AL, ALCS, American League, Atlanta Braves, baseball, Boston Red Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, MLB Playoffs, National League, New York Yankees, NL, NLCS, World Series | Leave a comment

Removing a Board Director is Still Hard

Posted on October 21, 2018 by Edward Brain

Gerry Hyman has another article for the Toronto Star.

I want to discuss one of the questions raised:

QUESTION: Some of the owners in our condominium want to remove the director who serves as the board president. If we cannot get the owners of at least 50 per cent of the units to vote for removal, must we wait until the director’s term is up in order to replace him?

Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums | Tagged Board of Directors, Condominium, Condominium Act, Ontario Condominium Act, Removal of Director | Leave a comment

Anna Netrobko leads a Stunning Aida

Posted on October 6, 2018 by Edward Brain

The Metropolitan Opera (‘The Met’) opened their 2018-2019 Live in HD broadcast series with a performance of Guiseppe Verdi’s Aida. The production has been in their repertoire for a number of years now, but is still visually stunning, and was well sung.

The cast was led by Anna Netrebko (Aida), Aleksandrs Antonenko (Radamès), Anita Rachvelishvili (Amneris), Ryan Speedo Green (The Egyptian King), Quinn Kelsey (Amonasro), and Dmitry Belosselskiy (Ramfis). The Met’s Orchestra was led by Maestro Nicola Luisotti. The production was originally directed by Sonja Frisell, with Stephen Pickover acting as revival director. The sets were by Gianni Quaranta, with lighting by Gil Wechsler. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged Aida, Aleksandrs Antonenko, Anita Rachvelishvili, Anna Netrebko, Dmitry Belosselskiy, Gianni Quaranta, Gil Wechsler, Guiseppe Verdi, Nicola Luisotti, Quinn Kelsey, Review, Ryan Speedo Green, Sonja Frisell, Stephen Pickover | Leave a comment

Eugene Onegin Soars at the COC

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Edward Brain

The Four Seasons Centre.

I attended the second performance of the Canadian Opera Company’s (COC) production of Eugene Onegin at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 4th, 2018. And it was worth every minute.

The production is new for the COC, although it debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1997. The director is Robert Carsen, with sets and costumes by Michael Levine. The COC Orchestra was conducted by Music Director Johannes Debus.

The performance starred Gordon Bintner (Eugene Onegin), Joyce El-Khoury (Tatiana), Varduhi Abrahamyan (Olga), Joseph Kaiser (Lensky), and Oleg Tsibulko (Prince Gremin). Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged Canadian Opera Company, COC, Eugene Onegin, Four Seasons Centre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Gordon Bintner, Johannes Debus, Joseph Kaiser, Joyce El-Khoury, Michael Levine, Oleg Tsibulko, Review, Robert Carsen, Tchaikovsky, Varduhi Abrahamyan | Leave a comment

Ontario Government to Invoke Section 33 of the Constitution

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Edward Brain

On September 10th, 2018 the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, announced that he will be invoking the so-called ‘Notwithstanding clause’ in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Section 33.)

This decision is in response to a court decision that the Ontario Government cannot unilaterally step in and cut the size of the City of Toronto’s council from 47 members to 25. Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged Better Local Government Act, Bill 5, City Council, City of Toronto, councillors, Government, Legislative Assembly, Notwithstanding Clause, Ontario, Queen's Park, Section 33, Toronto | Leave a comment

Human Rights Apply in Condominiums

Posted on August 26, 2018 by Edward Brain

Gerry Hyman has another article for the Toronto Star. Let’s look at some of the questions:

The first question is:

QUESTION: An owner in our condominium broke his wrist and needed help tying his shoes. Staff helped him, but when the property manager found out, they were forbidden from assisting the owner. Does the Human Rights Code apply to the condominium corporations in regard to discrimination against the disabled? Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums | Tagged Condominium, Condominium Act, Condominium Community, Gerry Hyman, Ontario | Leave a comment