Edward Brain's Blog

Spectacular Madama Butterfly

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Edward Brain

The Canadian Opera Company (COC) has opened a spectacular production of Giacomo Puccini‘s Madama Butterfly Friday night at the Four Seasons Centre. The production starred Patricia Racette (Cio-Cio San), Stefano Secco (Pinkerton), Elizabeth DeShong (Suzuki), Dwayne Croft (Sharpless), and Julius Ahn (Goro.) The performance was conducted by Maestro Patrick Lange, and directed by Brian Macdonald.

The production takes a more literal interpretation of the opera, with a traditional set, and period costumes. But this makes perfect sense and allowed the all star cast to take centre stage, which they did. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged Brian Macdonald, Canadian Opera Company, COC, Dwayne Croft, Elizabeth DeShong, Four Seasons Centre, Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly, Maestro Patrick Lange, Patricia Racette, Patrick Lange, Pinkerton, Review, Stefano Secco, Suzuki, The Canadian Opera Company | Leave a comment

Joan Rivers has Passed Away at 81

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Edward Brain

The American comedian, Joan Rivers, has passed away at the age of 81. She had suffered a cardiac arrest a week prior to her passing.

Miss Rivers first success was as a guest on the Tonight Show in 1965, which she would go on to guest star on a number of occasions. She would also was a guest on the Ed Sullivan Show, as well as the Carol Burnett Show. Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries | Tagged 81, An Audience with Joan Rivers, Cardiac arrest, Carol Burnett Show, dead, Death, Ed Sullivan Show, Edgar Rosenberg, Fashion police, Joan Rivers, Joan Rivers Show, Late Show, Melissa Rivers, Mount Sinai Hospital New York, Tony Rivers | Leave a comment

New Streetcars in Toronto

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Edward Brain

On August 31st, 2014 the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) entered their new Flexity Outlook streetcars into service along their 510 Spadina Line. Two of their new cars, #4400 and #4403, operated along Spadina Avenue between Spadina Station and Queen’s Quay.

The new cars, the first two of the 204 that the TTC has on order, will continue to operate along Spadina Ave. Other new streetcars will enter service as they arrive and will eventually expand to all their routes. Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged 510 Spadina, Articulated Light Rail Vehicle, Canadian Light Rail Vehicle, Flexity Outlook, Queens Quay, Spadina Avenue, streetcar, Toronto, Toronto Transit Commission, TTC | 4 Comments

Richard Attenborough has died at 90

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Edward Brain

Famed British actor Richard Attenborough has passed away days short of his 91st birthday. He was created Lord Attenborough in 1993, after previously being created a Knight Baronet, and a Commander of the British Empire (CBE.)

Lord Attenborough was born August 29th, 1923 in Cambridge, United Kingdom to Frederick Levi and Mary Attenborough. He was the eldest of sons, his brothers being broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, and John Attenborough, businessman. Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries | Tagged Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Brannigan, Cambridge, Chaplin, Commander of the British Empire, David Attenborough, Doctor Dolittle, Dunkirk, Eight O'Clock Walk, Father's Doing Fine, Gandhi, Golden Globe Award, Guns at Batasi, I'm All Right Jack, Jurassic Park, Knight Baronet, London, Lord Attenborough, Miracle on 34th Street, Private's Progress, Richard Attenborough, The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom, The Flight of the Phoenix, The Great Escape, The Man Upstairs, The Moustrap, Young Winston | Leave a comment

Lauren Bacall dead at 89

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Edward Brain

Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, from the trailer for the film To Have and Have Not. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lauren Bacall, the famed Hollywood actress, has passed away at the age of 89. It was reported that Miss Bacall had recently suffered a stroke.

Miss Bacall starred in many movies over her career starting out with To Have and Have Not in 1944. She would go on to start in other big name movies, such as: The Big Sleep, Key Largo, Blood Alley, Designing Woman, Murder on the Orient Express, The Shootist, and The Mirror Has Two Faces. Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries | Tagged 89, Bette Davis, Big Sleep, Blood Alley, dead, Death, Designing Woman, Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, Jason Robards, Key Largo, Lauren Bacall, Mirror Has Two Faces, Miss Bacall, Murder on the Orient Express, The Big Sleep, The Mirror Has Two Faces, The Shootist, To Have and Have Not | Leave a comment

The Strike that ended the Montreal Expos

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Edward Brain

The Banner put up at the last MLB game in Montreal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, August 12th 1994, marks the 20th anniversary of the famous 1994 Major League Baseball (MLB) strike. When the strike started, the Montreal Expos were 74-40 when the strike started, and were the best team in the National League, including a six game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East.

The Expos were in contention to not only make it to the playoffs for only the second time in their history, but were seriously considered to be potentially World Series winners. As the Toronto Blue Jays had won the 1992 and 1993 World Series, there was the possibility that the World Series would be won by a Canadian team three years in a row. Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Tagged Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Darrin Fletcher, Florida Marlins, John Wetteland, Ken Hill, Larry Walker, Major League Baseball, Marquis Grissom, Mike Lansing, Moisés Alou, Montreal Expos, National League, National League East, New York Yankees, Pedro Martinez, Toronto Blue Jays, Wil Cordero | Leave a comment

Ethics By-law Upheld by Court

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Edward Brain

A recent court case has brought up an interesting situation for condominiums. In the case of Gordon v. York Region Condominium Corporation No. 818 et al, Stanley Gordon, a former director of YRCC #818, was suing the condominium after the Board removed him from office for violating the condominium’s Code of Ethics on three different situations. Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums | Tagged Board of Directors, Condominium, Condominium Act, Ontario Condominium Act, Property Management, Superior Court | 4 Comments

Sir John Graves Simcoe

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Edward Brain

Happy Sir John Graves Simcoe Day, everyone!

Edward Brain's Blog

As today is Sir John Graves Simcoe Day in Ontario, I would like to discuss the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791 to 1796. Of course Upper Canada would later become the Province of Ontario.

Born in Cotterstock England in 1752, Simcoe would be educated at Eton and spent one year at Oxford. He joined the 35th Regiment of Foot, as an ensign, in 1770. He purchased a captaincy in the 40th Regiment of Foot and was injured in battle during the American Revolution. He was responsible for a successful battle in the battle of Crooked Billet.

He became Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada in 1791 when the British Government created the Province of Upper Canada out of land around the Great Lakes that stayed part of the British Empire after the American Revolution. Simcoe would see to the building of two major roads: Yonge Street (named after…

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Posted in General | Leave a comment

Marcus Stroman Puts on Clinic as Jays beat Boston

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Edward Brain

Today, Marcus Stroman put on a clinic in front of a sold out SkyDome as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 8-0.

Stroman threw seven innings of one-hit ball with seven strikeouts and two walks, and required only 97 pitches to do so.

Stroman did not give up a hit until Shane Victorino hit a single to centre field in the top of the 7th Inning. He would then get David Ortiz to fly out to Melky Cabrera in left field before causing Mike Napoli to hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play. Continue reading →

Posted in Toronto Blue Jays | Tagged Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, Marcus Stroman, Melky Cabrera, Mike Napoli, Rogers Centre, Shane Victorino, Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays | Leave a comment

Charter of Rights Apply in Condominiums

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Edward Brain

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

QUESTION: A number of owners who wanted to arrange a meeting to discuss management and our financial affairs taped an envelope containing a brief note to the entrance door of each condominium’s unit. Management staff removed the envelopes and a subsequent monthly newsletter stated that residents were not to discuss corporation affairs. Am I correct that removal of the envelopes and the newsletter prohibition were improper?

Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums | Tagged Board, Charter, Condominium, Condominium Act, Gerry Hyman | 4 Comments

Edward Brain's Blog

Spectacular Madama Butterfly

Joan Rivers has Passed Away at 81

New Streetcars in Toronto

Richard Attenborough has died at 90

Lauren Bacall dead at 89

The Strike that ended the Montreal Expos

Ethics By-law Upheld by Court

Sir John Graves Simcoe

Marcus Stroman Puts on Clinic as Jays beat Boston

Charter of Rights Apply in Condominiums

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