Toronto

Why do weeks that include a day off for a holiday always seem so long? In the news: councillors will likely formally reject a downtown casino today, Rob Ford will face his council for the first time since crack allegations emerged, York U students use an unlikely medium to raise awareness about rape, and the Raptors will need a new GM. City councillors will vote today on a casino proposal that Mayor Rob Ford declared “essentially dead” earlier this month when it became clear that the city’s hosting fee would be much smaller than hoped. It’s expected that the proposal to build a casino in downtown Toronto will be rejected by a majority of the 45-member council at the special meeting. The meeting will also be the first time the mayor will face his council since allegations surfaced, via reports from the Star and Gawker, that he smoked crack cocaine and was videotaped. Ford has kept a low profile since reports of the video were released last week, only making a brief statement to media and cancelling his regular Sunday radio show with brother and councillor Doug Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North). Students at York University have created comics to raise awareness about sexual assault, as part of a class called Design for Public Awareness. Students Esther Hui, Sophie Qi, and Lily Li created a graphic novella called “The Monsters I See” that addressed the experiences of a fictional university student after she is assaulted by a friend; Helén Marton, Jane Kim, and Shayna Lauer designed a comic called “In a Tight Situation” that uses the superheroes Batman and Superman to address the issue of victim blaming. York’s Centre for Human Rights is hoping to distribute a booklet of “The Monsters I See” and print “In a Tight Situation” on T-shirts. Reports are that Bryan Colangelo is out as the general manager of the Toronto Raptors, though he is expected to stay with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in a corporate role. Colangelo has been GM of the Raptors since early 2006, but he did not manage to repeat his successes with his previous team, the Phoenix Suns—the Raps haven’t made the playoffs for five seasons.

TORONTO — Toronto city hall will be watched closely today to see if Mayor Rob Ford’s camp responds to allegations that he was recorded on video appearing to smoke crack cocaine. The mayor’s brother, Councillor Doug Ford, told a Vancouver radio station (CKNW) this weekend that he would respond today to reports regarding the alleged footage. It’s not known if the mayor himself will be back at work this morning. RelatedEven if alleged video of Rob Ford smoking crack surfaces, the city can’t force the mayor to resignChristie Blatchford: Rob Ford owes his supporters the cold, hard truth over crack allegationsRob Ford still MIA on drug allegations as 'crackstarter' bid to buy video tops $82,000 The Toronto Star and the U.S.-based website Gawker.com reported the controversial video story last week, stating they had separately viewed the cellphone footage which they claimed appears to show Ford smoking crack. On Friday, Ford slammed the Toronto Star report on the video as a smear job and called it “ridiculous,” while his lawyer Dennis Morris called the reports “false and defamatory.” Morris told The Canadian Press on Sunday that he had not received any instructions from Ford about launching legal action against the Star and Gawker, saying the matter was in “pause” until it’s known whether a video will become public. The media outlets reported the video was shown to them by an alleged drug dealer who has been reportedly trying to sell the video for at least $100,000. Gawker has been trying to crowdsource $200,000 to buy and publicly post the footage and had raised $84,839 by early Tuesday.

The lovely dinner meeting with my colleague turned out to be a bad dream. Sure, we had wine with the meal. I loved every moment, morsel, and drop of it.

In today's Urban Planner: a solo performance by opera star Anna Christy, Write Club returns, and plenty of theatrical options.Anna Christy as Lucia in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor. Photo by Michael Cooper. Music: Soprano Anna Christy has proven to be a real ear-pleaser as title character Lucia in the Canadian Opera Company mainstage production of Lucia di Lammermoor. Witness her powerhouse voice and vivacious stage presence during a special intimate solo performance as part of the COC Vocal Series. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (145 Queen Street West), 12 p.m., FREE. Details Books: Eight writers go head-to-head in a literary battle for charity in this month’s edition of WRITE CLUB. How does it work? Two contestants and their story ideas will be pit against each other in a series of four, seven-minute-long rounds. Proceeds from the door will be awarded to charities of the winners’ choice. Feats of brain strength will be demonstrated by Brendan Pinto, Chris Graham, Anne Thériault, Zebulon Pike, Kimberly Huie, Jason Donovan, Sean K. Robb, and Alex Tindal. The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West), 7 p.m., $10. Details Ongoing… Theatre: One of the Fringe Festival’s greatest successes, and definitely Soulpepper’s biggest post-millennial hit, Ins Choi’s corner store comedy Kim’s Convenience returns for another extended run into the the summer season. Most of the principal cast, including Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as larger-than-life patriarch Appa, are back. Here’s our review of the first Soulpepper remount. Young Centre for the Performing Arts (50 Tank House Lane), 7:30 p.m., $5–$68. Details Theatre: David Yee examines life’s interconnectivity in Carried Away on the Crest of a Wave. The play follows an escort in Thailand, a housewife in Utah, and a Catholic priest in India, and how their lives are simultaneously brought together and torn apart by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgman Avenue), 8 p.m., $21-$53. Details Theatre: Delve into the world of dating, love, and marriage—sans commitment—with Angelwalk Theatre’s presentation of the off-Broadway musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Offered as a series of vignettes set to music, the show focuses on the disastrous, hilarious, and touching aspects of love and dating. Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge Street), 8 p.m., $25-$45. Details Theatre: The 2012-2013 Buddies in Bad Times season goes out with a bang, and a growl, with the world premiere of Ecce Homo Theatre’s Of a Monstrous Child: a Gaga Musical. Bruce Dow plays legendary performer and master of ceremonies Leigh Bowery, with Kimberly Persona as Mother Monster herself. Using the music of Lady Gaga as a backdrop, the show is a crash course in the history of queer performance, celebrating everyone from Yoko Ono to Madonna, and Boy George. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander Street), 8 p.m., PWYC-$37. Details Theatre: If you’ve been paying attention to musical theatre news over the past two years, you know that The Book of Mormon has a passionate and devout following of fans who swear it’s the long-awaited saviour of the artform. The show won nine Tonys in 2011, the cast recording reached number three on the Billboard chart, and tickets for its Broadway run are rare and expensive. Princess of Wales Theatre (300 King Street West), 8 p.m., Prices vary. Details Theatre: The experience of watching The Charge of the Expormidable Moose is a lot like the experience of reading the play’s title. At first, it’s a little strange, a little off-putting, and very ambiguous. But eventually, its oddness becomes its appeal. Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgman Avenue), 8 p.m., $13-$28. Details Theatre: It becomes clear rather quickly in the first scene of BEA, Actors Repertory Company’s North American premiere of British playwright Mick Gordon’s 2010 wo

Mikhail Grabovski Comes Clean About BiteYou may have seen the link to the original PD article yesterday (and this one has a link), but yes, Grabbo did bite Patch. Victoria Day Open Thread: Is London's Max Domi a draft target?I'd be happy with him at the position the Leafs will likely be picking, but we'll see. From Cam Charron at TLN. By the way, if you haven't seen this video, it's pretty awesome. Reflecting on Dave Nonis’ “exit” thoughts—and grading out the Maple Leafs, with some perspective, after a season that ended a bit too soon…Michael Langlois with a report card for the Leafs. Vintage Leafs: Carpenter behind the benchCheck out the site, because there are a bunch of new photos up. Will Acton emerging as more than a penalty killer, Tim Connolly battling health and goal slumpConnolly was sat for Game’s 4 and 5, however Eakins wouldn’t make it clear if it was because of injury or poor play. Tough year for Timmy C. From Kyle Cicerella. NHL Tooth Watch: Cataloging all the lost fangs in the 2013 playoffsThe latest from Harrison Mooney. Blackhawks robbed by refs on no-goal in Game 3 vs. Red Wings?Yeah, I'd be mad about that call. The goal that saved the Pittsburgh Penguins’ seasonYou can probably guess which one it is. From Cam Charron at BHS.

As the investigation continues into the murder of Ancaster father Tim Bosma, it was eerily quiet at Dellen Millard’s North Dumfries farm Monday, where police spent the past week searching for clues.Millard, 27, of Toronto, faces charges of first-degree murder, forcible confinement and theft in relation to Bosma’s death. Police confirmed last week that Bosma’s remains had been recovered, but were burned beyond recognition. The location of the discovery has not been confirmed, but an incinerator was seized at the farm property last week.On Sunday night, CBC News reported that police found new remains on the farm property, but forensic investigators haven’t determined whether the remains are human or animal. Calls to Hamilton police were not returned over the weekend. Waterloo Regional Police said they have no information relating to the report.In addition to Bosma’s death, Toronto homicide detectives are now investigating whether Millard played a role in the death of his father, Wayne, last December. Wayne Millard was reportedly found with a gunshot wound to the left side of his head. Police are also exploring possible links between Millard and his former girlfriend, who disappeared last year. Laura Babcock, 23, of Toronto was last seen in early July. She also went by the name Elle Ryan.At the time, Toronto police issued a missing persons alert. Now her disappearance is being investigated by the homicide squad, according to CTV News. Millard’s lawyer, Deepak Paradkar, said these latest allegations are an attempt to “malign him in the court of public opinion.”A lone police car was present at the rural Roseville Rd. property Monday. A flatbed tow truck was also seen entering the property, leaving later with a small Bobcat excavator.Bouquets of flowers were tied to the wire fence surrounding the farm. A makeshift memorial with flowers, a photo and messages of condolence has come together on a gated-off driveway.There was no visible police presence at the Waterloo Region Airport, where Millard owns a massive airplane hangar. Barricades remain to block off the driveway and an employee for a private security company was on site.Both properties have been the site of significant searches by police in relation to Bosma’s murder.Police say video evidence shows Bosma, 32, was followed from his rural Ancaster home by an SUV-type vehicle when he took two men for a test drive May 6 in a truck he was trying to sell online. Police believe Bosma was targeted, but the motive for the crime remains unknown.Police allege Millard and his unidentified accomplice killed Bosma that night, burning the body “beyond recognition,” and stealing his truck. On May 7, Millard purchased a $627,524 condo at 70 Distillery Lane in downtown Toronto. Ten days later, after his arrest, he transferred the condo to his mother for $1.Friday, Hamilton Police posted a short update into the investigation, saying the forensic analysis of two properties in Waterloo Region and three vehicles seized by investigators were expected to wrap up over the weekend. Meanwhile, Bosma’s friends have set up a website in his memory, inmemoryoftimbosma.ca, to celebrate a life tragically cut short.

There will be an elephant in the council chambers of City Hall on Tuesday — the scandal over a video that appears to show Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack.After a long weekend of uncharacteristic silence, the mayor is due to appear for a special meeting on the fate of Toronto’s casino plans. It's his first public appearance since calling the Star report on the video that also appeared to show Ford making a homophobic reference “ridiculous.” Ford will not be obliged to address the video at Tuesday’s meeting, but some councillors are calling for him to clear the air. Related:· To end the uncertainty, The Star should buy Ford video: DiManno· Mayor’s brother breaks uncharacteristic silence· Time for mayor to step down: Editorial· Forty-two remarkable moments from Ford’s career“I’m urging the mayor to make an unequivocal statement about the allegations and present his side,” said Councillor James Pasternak. “It is creating uncertainty in the leadership of the city. It is creating political instability, and the longer the questions keep coming, I think the more damaging it becomes.”Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday, a Ford loyalist, said Monday evening that although the meeting has only one item on the agenda, the mayor will ultimately have to broach the issue. “I think he’s going to have to say more than he has, but he’ll have to decide for himself.” ALSO FROM THESTAR.COM:· Ottawa doing business with companies once involved in bid-rigging· Unlike Ford, Harper, Wright and Duffy are smart enough to know better: Hume· Justin Bieber booed at Billboard AwardsLeft-leaning Councillor Josh Matlow doesn’t expect any of his colleagues to hijack the meeting with drug scandal questions, but said the matter has proven to be an unwelcome distraction. “This is a surreal, bizarre vortex that the entire city’s been sucked into, with Rob Ford being the source of it,” he said. “I just feel embarrassed with what Toronto’s reputation is going through … I look forward to getting past it.”Earlier this month, two Star reporters viewed a video which appears to depict the mayor smoking crack cocaine and making disparaging comments about Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and the students he’d coached at an Etobicoke high school. At one point, he apparently calls Trudeau a “fag” and, though he is mumbling, appears to call his football team “f---ing minorities.” Outside of council chambers, the video seemed to be on everyone’s lips as Torontonians enjoyed their long weekend.The smoke from barbecues was thick in Morningside Park in the Ford stronghold of Scarborough Monday. Families gathered on blankets and folding chairs and were quick to offer their opinions on the video scandal.“I think it’s fake,” said Oscar Polanco, a Colombian refugee who’s been settled in Toronto for five years. “It’s all political,” he said.“Bad news travels fast,” added his friend William Ceron. “Once it’s out there, it’s really hard to fix.”As proof of this, Polanco said he first heard of the Ford video when his daughter, who lives in Florida, called to say that it was being discussed on CNN. “What’s with your mayor?” she said. “Always the mayor.”The fact Ford had already weathered so many previous scandals led others to believe the video must be real.From exceeding campaign finance limits to soliciting donations for his personal charity on city letterhead; from a forgotten DUI charge in Florida to a denial that he drunkenly berated a couple during a hockey game, the video is just the latest in a long string of incidents, any one of which could have led to Ford being removed from office, said Andrew Jesudasan, who works in vehicle licen

Ontario’s education ministry has quietly amended a controversial regulation around hiring teachers — changes that force school boards to interview all qualified applicants for long-term supply jobs, not just the ones they want to.The Peel District School Board estimates it will have to conduct more than 3,000 meetings alone for supply jobs, when staff would normally speak to about 400 candidates. “Anyone interested in teaching wants to get an LTO (long-term occasional) position” because it is the gateway to a permanent job, said Peel board Chair Janet McDougald. “I just think it’s an incredible waste of resources. On the one hand, the Peel board is looking at challenges with our budget, we are looking at (cutting) $9 million to balance, and now the ministry is suggesting that we put resources toward interviewing this number of people?”More education stories on Thestar.comEducation Minister Liz Sandals says the changes were made to clarify what the original intent of the regulation was, that teachers with enough experience on the job — 20 days — “shall” get an interview, not “may” get one, as the rules initially stated.“It isn’t like this is everybody who ever dropped a letter off at your personnel department” being entitled to an interview, she added.Sandals acknowledged boards’ concerns, but said “we don’t specify the structure of the interview, it’s really up to boards to decide how onerous they want the interview to be.”Boards typically bring in many pairs of principals to act as hiring panels, interviewing candidates for occasional teacher supply list on weekends, without additional pay. McDougald says Peel will have to bring in retired principals, and pay them, to handle the extra work.Both Peel and Toronto say they don’t currently have separate lists for long-term occasional assignments — typically 10 days or more — and are now forced to create one to manage the new workload.“This is going to have a significant impact at the board level,” added Michael Barrett, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association.“These changes they are making do not rectify any issues that school boards put on the table,” he said. “It compounds them even further.”Boards are most upset at the provision requiring principals to hire from the top five teachers with the most seniority, not the ones they think are best suited for permanent positions.Barrett said the amendments were done without the input of school boards, nor a committee recently created to look at the concerns around Regulation 274.“This smacks of a continued process by which they are making changes without consultation, and I thought we were past that,” Barrett added. Sandals told the Star there was no consultation because the province was simply correcting the language in the regulation to match what had been agreed upon with the province’s Catholic teachers, the deal that set the stage for all others with other teacher groups in the province.The ministry has said the “principle of the regulation (is) … to promote a consistent, transparent and fair hiring process for long-term and permanent occasional teachers.”The updated Regulation 274 also opens up the applicant pool to those who have worked 20 days in a 10-month period within the past five years. Sandals said this was done so as not to discriminate against a teacher who has taken parental or other leave.But Trustee Howard Goodman of the Toronto District School Board wonders why an exemption wasn’t simply granted for teachers who’ve taken a leave. He is not sure how the five-year stipulation will play out, “but what it does is open to door to a larger group of people; it shuffles people around a lot.” “This throws another wre

DEAR AMY: I am really scared for my younger sister. My mom has let her start tanning in tanning beds.

Ontario Ministry of Transportation contractors continue to work on the project to upgrade Highway 427. Overnight from 10 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, May 21 until 6 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, May 22, they’ll be closing the off-ramp for southbound traffic heading toward Burnhamthorpe Road. MiWay is detouring buses operating along the 11 Westwood route, while the ramp is closed.