Edward Brain's Blog

Commonwealth Day 2018

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Edward Brain

Commonwealth of Nations showing Commonwealth realms (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today (March 12th, 2018) is Commonwealth Day in the countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Commonwealth Day, celebrated on the second Monday of March throughout the Commonwealth, as its name suggests celebrates the Commonwealth.

Traditionally, in London, Queen Elizabeth II leads a celebration at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day along with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and the Commonwealth High Commissioners. Her Majesty is the Head of the Commonwealth, and normally reads a speech in honour of the occasion. Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, British Overseas Territories, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Commonwealth, Commonwealth Day, Commonwealth Nations, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Cyprus, Dominica, Elizabeth II, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Head of the Commonwealth, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rawanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Westminster Abbey, Zambia | Leave a comment

Condominium Act Requires More Protection

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Edward Brain

Gerry Hyman has another article for the Toronto Star. One question raised in his article demonstrates why condominium owners in Ontario still need to insist on more protections in the Condominium Act.

The question raised is as follows: Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums | Tagged Accountability, Board of Directors, Condominium, Condominium Act, Condominium Community, Condominium Reform, Gerry Hyman, Ontario Condominium Act, term limits | Leave a comment

David Ogden Stiers has Passed Away at 75

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Edward Brain

The cast of M*A*S*H from Season 8 onwards (clockwise from left): Mike Farrell, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, David Ogden Stiers, Loretta Swit, Alan Alda, Harry Morgan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It has been reported that actor David Ogden Stiers has passed away at 75. He is best remembered for his role as Major Charles Emerson Winchester on M*A*S*H.

Mr. Stiers was born in 1945 and grew up in Oregon. He would have a few guest appearances on shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Kojak, and Rhoda prior to landing the role he is most famous for, Major Winchester in M*A*S*H in 1977. He would remain on the show until the end of the series 1983. He would win two Emmy awards while working on the show. Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries | Tagged 75, ALF, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, CSO, David Ogden Stiers, dead, Death, Ernest Bloch Music Festival, Kojak, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Newport Symphony Orchestra, Rhoda, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, TSO | 1 Comment

Team Canada Makes History at Winter Olympics

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Edward Brain

Team Canada has set a personal best record at the 2018 Winter Olympics, winning a total of 29 medals (11 Gold, 8 Silver, and 10 Bronze) for third place overall. The team would also finish in third place for Gold medal count. Only Norway and Germany would win more Gold Medals (14 each) and more total medals overall (Norway 39, and Germany 31). The previous record for total medals won by Team Canada was 26, set at the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver.

The games were held with some controversies as the Russian team was barred from attending the games due to doping allegations (although many athletes from Russia were still allowed to compete as the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” or “OAR”), and for the first time since the 1994 Winter Olympics NHL hockey players were not allowed to compete at the Olympics.

The following teams/individuals are bringing medals home to Canada: Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Tagged Alex Beaulieu-Marchand, Alex Gough, Alexander Kopacz, Andrew Ebbett, Ann-Renée Desbiens, Bailey Bram, Ben Scrivens, Blayre Turnbull, Brady Leman, Brandon Kozun, Brianne Jenner, Brigette Lacquette, Brittany Phelan, Cassie Sharpe, Charle Cournoyer, Charles Hamelin, Chay Genoway, Chris Kelly, Christian Thomas, Cody Goloubef, Derek Roy, Emily Clark, Eric O'Dell, Eric Radford, Gabrielle Daleman, Geneviève Lacasse, Gilbert Brulé, Haley Irwin, Jenn Wakefield, Jillian Saulnier, Jocelyne Larocque, John Morris, Justin Kripps, Justin Peters, Justin Snith, Justine Dufour-Lapointe, Kaetlyn Osmond, Kaillie Humphries, Kaitlyn Lawes, Karl Stollery, Kelsey Serwa, Kevin Poulin, Kim Boutin, Laura Fortino, Laura Stacey, Lauriane Rougeau, Laurie Blouin, Linden Vey, Marc-André Gragnani, Marie-Philip Poulin, Mark McMorris, Mason Raymond, Mat Robinson, Maxence Parrot, Maxim Lapierre, Maxim Noreau, Mélodie Daoust, Meagan Duhamel, Meaghan Mikkelson, Meghan Agosta, Mikaël Kingsbury, Natalie Spooner, Pascal Dion, Patrick Chan, Phylicia George, Quinton Howden, Rebecca Johnston, Renata Fast, Rene Bourque, Rob Klinkhammer, Samuel Edney, Samuel Girard, Sarah Nurse, Sébastien Toutant, Scott Moir, Shannon Szabados, Ted-Jan Bloemen, Tessa Virtue, Tristan Walker, Wojtek Wolski | 1 Comment

Condo Records are Accessible

Posted on February 24, 2018 by Edward Brain

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

QUESTION: Our condominium manager responded to my request — I’m a director on our condo’s board — to examine certain condominium records by advising that I must submit the prescribed Request for Records form.

She advised that the corporation will respond within 30 days to say whether the records will be provided and, if not, then giving the reason and any applicable legislation. Is she correct? Do I as a director need to submit the form? And also, does this not render owners’ meetings useless since owners request all types of information at those meeting?
Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums | Tagged Access to Records, Board Meetings, Board of Directors, Condominium, Condominium Act, Gerry Hyman, Minutes, Noise, Records | Leave a comment

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 66 years as Queen of Canada

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Edward Brain

Queen of United Kingdom (as well as Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth realms) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today marks the 66th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s ascension as Queen of Canada, the United Kingdom, and 14 other nations. She is also the head of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne of Canada when her father, King George VI passed away in the early hours of February 6th, 1952. Prior to this date, she was the Heir Presumptive to the crown.

While Her Majesty predominantly lives in the United Kingdom, she has come home to Canada on many occasions, and has personally undertaken many duties in her official capacity as Queen of Canada, both in Canada, and abroad. When not in Canada, Her Majesty is represented at the Federal level by the Governor General, in each province by a Lieutenant Governor. Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged Ascension, Commonwealth, Commonwealth realm, Dominion of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, reign | 1 Comment

Happy 5th Anniversary

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Edward Brain

February 3rd 2018 marks the fifth anniversary of my blog. I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by to read my posts.

I have discussed many different topics from operas, stage shows, and movies that I have seen, to condominium issues and reforms, to sports, to the passing of several recognizable people. Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged 5th Anniversary, Anniversary, Blog, Canada Post, Charter of Rights, Condominium, Edward Brain, HD Broadcast, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Nabucco, Opera, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Review, Senate, Senate of Canada, Senate Reform, Shirley Temple, Social Committee, Spengler Cup, Toronto, Tristan Und Isolde, Union-Pearson Express | 1 Comment

Tosca Succeeds in HD

Posted on January 27, 2018 by Edward Brain

Poster for the opera Tosca by Giacomo Puccini (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Saturday January 27th, 2018 the Metropolitan Opera (The Met) aired their new production of Puccini’s Tosca. The director for this production is Sir David McVicar, with sets and costumes by John Macfarlane, and lighting by David Finn. The conductor was Emmanuel Villaume.

The performance starred Sonya Yoncheva as Floria Tosca, Vittorio Grigolo as Mario Cavaradossi, and Željko Lučić as Scarpia, with Patrick Carfizzi as the Sacristan. Continue reading →