Newsstand: July 22, 2015

It's day two of athletics at the Pan Am Games, which means we all wonder how the triple jump works. In the news: the SIU finds no criminal wrongdoing in the Peel Jermaine Carby case, the TTC probably won't open early on Sundays after the Pan Am Games, and your unicorn chaser for the day.

By David Hains • Illustration by Brett Lamb

The Peel Police’s Special Investigations Unit has decided not to lay any charges against the officer who shot 33-year-old Jermaine Carby dead in late 2014. Carby allegedly wielded a serated kitchen knife, with the officer reacting in self defense. But the local community and the SIU is skeptical about that story, and points to the fact that the knife was only put into evidence, in a paper bag, hours after the fact. Although the SIU concludes that there should not be any criminal charges laid, the report is still damning: “In this most serious of cases, where an agent of the state has taken the life of a citizen, the community was minimally entitled to expect that an independent investigation would be left to pursue its work on the basis of a secure scene and uncompromised physical evidence… They were denied that investigation.”

A TTC advocacy group wants the earlier opening hours from the Pan Am games to continue for Toronto’s transit system. During the games, the subway system has operated from 6 a.m. on Sunday mornings, much earlier than its typical 9 a.m. opening. Mayor John Tory also wants earlier opening hours on Sundays, but there are conflicting demands. The TTC has been asked to deliver the same service on 2 per cent less money, despite increasing ridership. And TTC spokesperson Brad Ross says it’s unlikely earlier hours can be achieved soon, as that time is used for maintenance and updates to its signal control system. So maybe in five years?

If you’d like to shake off any world-weary cynicism and celebrate Toronto, then there’s a new video for you. Part of the “Toronto is Really Great” genre, Chris Hau’s nicely shot video takes viewers from the Distillery to Kensington and beyond. It’s a fun reminder that, despite the city’s shortcomings, adventure is out there.