94th Warriors’ Day Parade

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Edward Brain

On Saturday August 22nd, Toronto celebrated the 94th Warriors’ Day Parade at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).  This year’s Warriors’ Day Parade also commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The Parade started at 10:30 a.m. at the Princes’ Gate, at the east end of the CNE grounds, and continued past the Direct Energy Centre, before turning south and ended just east BMO Field.

The parade also gave us a chance to thank our veterans and current members of the Canadian Forces. Continue reading →

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2015 CNE is Underway

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Edward Brain
Canadian National Exhibition poster, Toronto, ...

Canadian National Exhibition poster, Toronto, 1919. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, August 21st, 2015, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) opened for the 2015 season.  The CNE runs until Labour Day, September 7th.

The Buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the grounds remain open until midnight.  The Midway operates from 11 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. until midnight on weekends.

Labour Day sees reduced hours, with the buildings closing at 7 p.m., and the grounds and Midway at 9 p.m.

The grounds and gates officially open at 10 a.m., although people are usually allowed to enter a little earlier.

Admission to the CNE is $18 for General Admission (14-64 years old), $15 for Seniors (65+), and $15 for Children 5-13.  A Family rate is $52 (either 2 adults and 2 kids or 1 adult and 3 kids).  Prices include HST.

For the Midway, an unlimited pass costs $40.  4 Coupons are available for $5, 22 Coupons for $22, and 55 coupons for $55. Continue reading →

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David Price Debuts for the Blue Jays

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Edward Brain

August 3rd, 2o15 will be remembered in Toronto as David Price made his first ever Blue Jays start.  Price started his first game since being traded from Detroit to Toronto on July 30th.  In nine previous starts in Rogers Centre/SkyDome, David Price had a record of 7-0.

Price would pitch eight innings of one run ball.  He would give up only three hits and two walks, and would strike out 11 batters (a new Blue Jays record for a pitcher in his first game for the team.)

The offence would help him, by scoring five runs. Continue reading →

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Canada Succeeds at Toronto Pan Am Games

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Edward Brain
2015 Pan Am Emblem

2015 Pan Am Emblem

Team Canada has pulled off a success at the 2015 Pan Am Games held in Toronto, Ontario.  In total, Canada finished with 217 medals (78 Gold, 69 Silver, and 70 Bronze.)  This was good enough for second place behind the United States with 265 medals (103 Gold, 81 Silver, and 81 Bronze.)  The third place team was Brazil, hosts of the 2016 Summer Olympics, with 141 medals (41 Gold, 40 Silver, and 60 Bronze.)

Canada was represented by 720 athletes competing in all 36 sports, the most athletes to represent Canada at any multi-sport event. Continue reading →

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Jon Vickers has Passed Away

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Edward Brain

Jon Vickers, the legendary Canadian heldentenor, has passed away at the age of 88.  His family announced that he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease for a number of years.

Mr. Vickers was born October 29th, 1926 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.  He was the sixth of eight children.

Mr. Vickers sang in a number of leading opera houses, including the Royal Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and La Scala.  He also sang with at the Salzburg and Bayreuth Festivals. Continue reading →

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Omar Sharif is Dead at 83

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Edward Brain

It has been announced that Oscar nominated actor Omar Sharif has passed away.

Mr. Sharif became famous for starring in such movies as Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago.  Other movies included The Fall of the Roman Empire, Funny Girl, The Pink Panther Strikes Again (uncredited), Juggernaut, and Monsieur Ibrahim. Continue reading →

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MLB All-Star Teams Announced

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Edward Brain

Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced the players who will be the starters for the 2015 All-Star Game on July 14th in Cincinnati.

With the exception of the starting pitcher for both teams, each position player starting the game is voted in through popular voting.

The following players were voted to start the All-Star game: Continue reading →

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Happy Dominion Day!

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Edward Brain
The Maple Leaf

The Maple Leaf

Happy Dominion Day to everyone in Canada!  July 1st, 2015 marks the 148th birthday for the Dominion of Canada since Confederation on July 1st, 1867.

Confederation was created thanks to the hard work of many people, and helped to create the Canada we know today.

On July 1st, 1867, three British colonies: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada (the combined colonies of Upper and Lower Canada.)

Other provinces and territories were added over the years: Manitoba (1870), Northwest Territories (1870), British Columbia (1871), Prince Edward Island (1873), Yukon Territory (1898), Alberta (1905), Saskatchewan (1905), Newfoundland and Labrador (1949), and Nunavut (1999.)

So, Happy 148th Birthday, Canada!

English: Proclamation of Canadian Confederation

Proclamation of Canadian Confederation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Matt Boyd Makes an Impresses in Major League Debut

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Edward Brain

Today, Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher Matt Boyd made a huge impression in his first ever major league appearance.  Despite losing the game 4-0 to the Texas Rangers and Yovani Gallardo (who pitched an impressive 8 1/3 innings), Boyd pitched with confidence.

Boyd would give up three solo homeruns to open the fourth, fifth, and seventh, he would get the next three batters out in the fourth and fifth, and the next two out in the seventh.  Boyd would also get seven strikeouts and no walks. Continue reading →

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Toronto Argonauts 2015 Season

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Edward Brain

The Toronto Argonauts open the 2015 regular season on June 27th vs. the Edmonton Eskimos in a game to be played in Fort McMurray, Alberta.  The game will count as a home game for the Argos.

In total, the Argos play 18 games, nine at home and nine on the road.  They play two games (one at home, one on the road) against the BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, Montreal Alouettes, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  They play three games each against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Ottawa RedBlacks.

The schedule breaks down as follows: Continue reading →

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