news
Extra, Extra: Cats and Dogs, Steal a Painting, and a Stolen Cop Bike
Every weekday’s end, we collect just about everything you ought to care about or ought not to miss.
Photo by Ryan Kelpin from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
- Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith wants to keep cats and dogs out of your coats. The MP tabled a private member’s bill that would ban importing cat and dog fur from other countries, and require labels to say what kind of fur is used in the product. The practice of using cat and dog fur in coats is totally legal in Canada, even though it’s been banned by several countries. The ban wouldn’t do anything to stop products stuffed illegally with cat and dog fur, but Mittens and Rex support the decision.
- If you pay attention to utility poles you can check out tiny, unsigned canvas paintings that have caused a stir. For a while no one knew who the artist was, but after city councillor Sarah Doucette (Ward 13, Parkdale–High Park) asked who it was on Facebook, Spanish artist Jorge Molina came forward to take credit. The paintings were unsigned, not because of some Banksy-esque anonymity ideal, but because Molina just doesn’t like to sign his work. Since his public work has earned some traction on social media, Molina started The 416 Project. The artist will paint 416 (get it!?) paintings and hang them in every neighbourhood in the city. What’s more, Molina actively encourages Torontonians to steal any picture they find, and Instagram it so he can see where they all end up. Sharing is caring!
- Toronto Police Services really care about a stolen bike. A courageous (and stupid!) bike thief saw a police bike unlocked and unattended at Spadina and Grange Avenue, and hopped on. The TPS tweeted a picture of a similar bike that to the one that was stolen and appealed to the twittersphere for help. The public will likely be more helpful in finding this stolen bike than the police are in finding the average stolen bike.