507 Long Branch Streetcar Returns

On November 19th, 2023 the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) restored all day streetcar service to Long Branch Loop after streetcar service was suspended since January 2021 due to work at the King-Queen-Queensway-Roncesvalles (KQQR) intersection.

At the same time, the TTC announced that service between Long Branch Loop and Humber Loop would operate separate from the rest of the 501 Queen line, but also would be renamed the ‘507 Long Branch’. The 507 Long Branch ran as a separate line, between Long Branch Loop and Humber Loop for many years before being merged into the 501 Queen line in the mid-1990’s.

I ventured out on the first day of service to get some pictures and videos:

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Remembrance Day 2023

Today, November 11th 2023, we mark Remembrance Day in Canada and the sacrifices made by our military during the many conflicts Canada has been involved in.

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.

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New Statue of Queen Elizabeth II Unveiled

A new statue of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II have been unveiled at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Ontario – the home of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario – on November 7th, 2023.

The statue waas originally planned to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s ascension as Queen of Canada, which occurred in 2022. Issues over funding the statue delayed the installation of the statue.

Present at the ceremony were Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Premier Doug Ford, Speaker Ted Arnott, and Chief R. Donald Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

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Streetcar Service Returns to Humber Loop

For the first time in two years and ten months, or since January 2021, the TTC has resumed streetcar service on their 501 Queen line as far west as Humber Loop on October 29th, 2023.

The service was suspended as work occurred at the King-Queen-Queensway-Roncesvalles (KQQR) intersection and the surrounding area.

Now that work is completed there, service has resumed to Humber Loop all day, every day. Service west of Humber Loop continues to see shuttle bus service all day until November 19th when all day streetcar service resumes. However, 508 Lakeshore streetcars will operate all the way to Long Branch Loop during rush hours starting October 30th, 2023.

Here are some pictures from the first day of service to Humber Loop:

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All-Star Cast Succeed in Fidelio at the COC

I attended the October 14th, 2023 performance of Ludwig van Beethoven‘s only opera, Fidelio, at the Canadian Opera Company (C.O.C.)

The production, by Matthew Ozawa, is presented in a modern day prison. The set is a large cuve placed on a turntable, so that it could be moved to show different scenes within the prison. The production seemed to work well to demonstrate the story and to show off that tyranny and corruption still exists today and that we cannot deny this.

The production stars Miina-Liisa Värelä (Leonore), Clay Hilley (Florestan), Dimitry Ivashchenko (Rocco), Johannes Martin Kränzle (Don Pizarro), Anna-Sophie Neher (Marzelline), Josh Lovell (Jaquino), Sava Vemić (Don Fernando), Wesley Harrison (First Prisoner), and Alex Halliday (Second Prisoner.)

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Happy Thanksgiving

As this is the second Monday in October, I would like to wish everyone in Canada a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving traditionally marks the end of the harvest season in Canada and has been celebrated in Canada since 1879 and the date varied each year until 1957.

Let’s discuss the history of Thanksgiving in Canada:

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Labour Day 2023 beside Mimico Harbour

On Labour Day 2023, I went for a walk in Humber Bay Promenade Park, which runs besides Mimico Harbour.

It was a warm afternoon thanks to an early September heat wave but a pleasant time nonetheless.

The walk included seeing The Snowbirds performing in the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) Airshow.

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2023 Warriors’ Day Parade at the CNE

On August 19th, 2023 the Warriors’ Day Parade took place at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE.) This was the 102nd anniversary of the Warriors’ Day Parade.

Members of 32 Brigade (including the 48th Highlanders, the Toronto Scottish (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Own), and the Royal Regiment of Canada) were joined by Royal Canadian Legion bands, the Toronto Police, Halton Regional Police, Peel Police, and others.

Here are some pictures and videos from the parade:

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Former Ontario Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman Passes Away at 83

James Bartleman, the former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, has passed away at the age of 83.

Mr. Bartleman was the lieutenant Governor General of Ontario who was of First Nations descent, being a member of the Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation.

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Hugh Segal has passed away at 72

Former Canadian Senator, Hugh Segal, has passed away at the age of 72.

Mr. Segal was a Canadian Senator from 2009 to 2014, following which he became Master, and later Principal, of Masset College in Toronto.

Prior to this Mr. Segal was Chief of Staff to Ontario Premier Bill Davis and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. He was never elected to office, but ran for the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Ottawa Centre in the 1972 and 1974 federal elections, and ran for leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 1998 before pulling out and supporting the eventual winner, Joe Clark.

Mr. Segal, as a Senator, served as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and later as the Chairman of the Special Senate Committee on Anti-Terrorism. He was pushed out as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee in 2007 when the Harper Government wanted someone in the position who was more aligned with their platform.

He also served as a member of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group.

He was an old school Red Tory, who was inspired to enter politics when Prime Minister John Diefenbaker visited his school in 1962.

Mr. Segal was born on October 13th, 1950 in Montreal, Quebec. He wrote two books: Two Freedoms: Canada’s Global Future, and Bootstraps Need Boots: One Tory’s Lonely Fight to End Poverty in Canada.

Mr. Segal died in Kingston, Ontario on August 9th, 2023. He waas 72.

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Hugh Segal, former senator and chief of staff to PM Mulroney, dead at 72

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