news
Newsstand: August 13, 2012
The Olympics are over and it's Monday. Tough times, we know. To spare you the end-of-weekend-and-sporting-events blues, we've got for you some local news (and a little poem, did you catch that?): People are happier with the new private garbage collection than the negative hype might suggest; Olivia Chow's ahead in the theoretical mayoral race; Toronto residents feel safe, despite sensing a rise in gun violence; and coming soon to a city near you: sharks and the Ex (separately, of course!).
Despite the controversy surrounding the much-discussed Green for Life Environmental Corporation, nearly half of the Torontonians (48 per cent) who had their garbage picked up by the company last week were “very satisfied” with the City’s new contracted private service provider, according to the results of a poll published in the Toronto Star. This is especially true for those who live in Etobicoke, vote conservative, and are high earners. Wait a second—that description seems oddly familiar…. Rob, Doug…is that you?
Poll findings from the same survey reveal that Olivia Chow, who has stated that she will not run for mayor, would easily win a three-way race with Mayor Rob Ford and talk-radio host and former mayoral candidate John Tory. Four out of 10 respondents said they would vote for Chow, compared to just 26 per cent for Mayor Ford, and 24 per cent for Tory, who, like Chow, has not thrown his hat in the candidacy ring. This not-actually-happening race is really heating up!
In other poll news, while most Toronto residents believe gun violence is on the rise this year (61 per cent), the majority also feel safe in their own neighbourhoods and in the city as a whole, according to a new poll published in the Toronto Sun.
What does every aquarium worth its salt (water) need? Sharks. With Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada currently under construction in Toronto, marine biologists and shark specialists have set out to fulfil a shark quota by capturing 10 sand tiger sharks. So far, the aquarium has snagged eight, five of which were fished (sharked?) out of the waters off South Carolina, and three that were donated by other aquariums. Please, nobody tell Pamela Anderson or Bob Barker about this—who knows what kind of semi- to totally-nude activist photo or video could come out of that mess (shudder!).
This Friday (August 17) marks the start of the CNE, and, for the first time in 41 years, a ticket to the fair won’t allow access into Ontario Place as well. Devastating though this may be, fair visitors can still sample many gourmet dishes (burgers sandwiched between donuts, meat parfaits, deep-fried everything), blow a few bucks on the midway, and ride the always-broken-down-and-then-rebuilt carnival rides. Hurray! The Ex runs until September 3.
