Today, November 12th, 2021, marks the 90th Anniversary of the opening of Maple Leaf Gardens.
The Gardens was built by Conn Smythe to be the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team and would be owned by the company formed to run both the team and arena, Maple Leaf Gardens Limited.
On November 12, 1931, the Maple Leafs would host the Chicago Blackhawks, officially opening the Gardens.
Continue readingToday, November 11th 2021, 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.
2021 also marks the 100th Anniversary of the Remembrance Poppy in Canada.
Continue reading
The 117th edition of the World Series is set to begin tonight in Houston.
The series features National League Pennant winners, Atlanta Braves, and American League Pennant winners, Houston Astros.
This is the fifth time that the two teams have met in the postseason, but the first time in the World Series. The previous five meetings came in the National League Division Series when the Astros were in the N.L. This also marks the second time that teams that have previously met in a divisional series have met in the World Series, following the 2017 World Series.
Continue readingAmerican-Canadian actress Martha Henry has passed away at 83, just week after appearing at the Statford Festival.
Ms. Henry was born Martha Buhs on February 17th, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan to Kathleen and Lloyd Howard Buhs.
Ms. Henry graduated from the Carnegie Institute of Technology before moving to Canada in 1959.
Continue readingBernard Haitink, the internationally known Dutch conductor, has passed away at age 92.
Mr. Haitink was born in Amsterdam on March 4th, 1929 to Willem Haitink and Anna Clara Verschaffelt.
Mr Haitink was a long time conductor, and would serve as Principal Conductor or Music Director of many orchestras and opera companies around the world, including:
Continue readingOn September 15th and 16th, 2021, I made a quick trip to Windsor, Ontario and back. I went down and back by train, departing and returning from Oakville on VIA Rail.
The trip to Windsor was aboard VIA Rail train #73. The train consisted of F40PH-2 #6405, four LRC coaches, and one VIA1 club car, with F40PH-2 #6426 bringing up the rear. The train would return to Toronto from Windsor in the evening and would not need to be turned around.
Continue readingToday, September 1st, 2021 the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) turns 100 years old.
The TTC was formed on September 1st, 2021 taking over a number of private lines that existed in the past.
Today, August 21st, 2021 would have been the 100th Warriors’ Day Parade at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). As the CNE was cancelled for a second straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no Warriors’ Day Parade.
However, in honour of the service of our military personnel, I would like to offer this virtual Warriors’ Day Parade through pictures and videos of previous Warriors’ Day Parades:
continue reading
William ‘Bill’ Davis, the 18th Premier of Ontario and former MPP from Peel Region has passed away at the age of 92.
Mr. Davis served as Premier of Ontario from 1971 to 1985.
Bill Davis was born William Grenville Davis on July 30th, 1929 in Toronto to Albert and Vera Davis. He was interested in politics from an early age, with former MP Gordon Graydon being a frequent guest growing up.
Mr. Davis graduated from the University of Toronto before earning a law degree from the Osgoode Hall Law School.
Continue reading
Edward Brain's Blog 