Still defiant in the third week of his hunger strike, dairy farmer Michael Schmidt told the Toronto Star yesterday he is willing to die to defend the sale of unpasteurized milk and other products to the public. “I will go right to the end,” he said at a Queen’s Park news conference. “I wouldn’t do that if I wouldn’t have tried for the last 17 years to establish a dialogue.” Schmidt read from a letter addressed to Dalton McGuinty, promising his self-imposed starvation will continue until the premier meets with him. The Durham farmer claims he’s lost over 30 pounds during this second hunger strike, drinking only raw milk and water for 19 days (though he’s skipped the milk for the last 10). Schmidt then cranked up the dramatics: “I came from Germany,” he said. “I have seen the aftermath of a situation where people didn’t rise up when there was still time to rise up.” Say what you like about his politics and rhetoric—it’s clear the man is dead serious. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »
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Gawker gotchas: a roundup of Toronto’s most embarrassing moments according to the gossip giant
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Earlier this week, the Globe and Mail’s “Caption Writing Person” set off an online frenzy with a series of epic one-liners mocking Hollywood excess in the age of the Occupy Everywhere movement. But it wasn’t long before people began wondering—for no good reason, really—whether the Globe had been hacked. For its part, Gawker published a post saying the caption writer had gone “rogue” (an adjective we think remains best reserved for failed vice-presidential candidates). Of course, we’re just grateful that this Can Con moment was far less embarrassing than the usual appearances. Nonetheless, some Toronto Gawker headline highlights, after the jump.
Earlier this week, the Toronto Star reported that York Regional Police was attempting to finagle its way out of providing information requested by the paper under freedom of information laws. Then, late yesterday afternoon, we received a copy of a letter from the cop shop to the paper alleging that the Star’s story is inaccurate and their reporter is a bully (yes, that’s a lowly ink-stained scribe pushing around the boys in blue). Which all sounds like the makings of good ol’ sparring match to us. The Star threw down the gauntlet, the police fired back, and now the ball is back in the paper’s court. We’ll be watching for its next move. Read the full letter [PDF] »
Toronto Star’s Jennifer Bain wins North American food writing award
(Image: Toronto Star)
Jennifer Bain is the food editor at the Toronto Star and the author of the paper’s Saucy Lady column. She’s also this year’s recipient of the Association of Food Journalists Award for best newspaper food column. The awards “recognize excellence in reporting and writing in all media, newspaper food section design and content, food illustration and food photography.” Specifically, Bain was honoured for two articles: one about natto, in which she enlists Ryo Ozawa of Edo to elucidate the charms of the stinky, fermented soybeans; and another about Uptown Fine Caribbean, a tiny smoked-jerk takeout shop tucked away beside a Scarborough gas station. The annual competition drew 280 entries in 15 categories, with Bain beating out writers from the Kansas City Star and the San Francisco Chronicle. “There are so many incredible, offbeat food stories to tell in a city like Toronto, and I’m thrilled to be honoured for writing some of them,” Bain told her own paper. We’re just as happy she’s telling those stories.
• Saucy Lady column wins top award [Toronto Star]
• Association of Food Journalists Announces 2011 Winners [Eater]
Earlier this month, the Toronto Star reported that Peel police had misplaced “a small arsenal of weapons in recent years,” including ammunition and sniper rifles. Now, York Regional Police is attempting to block a request that could see the paper obtain similar information about its force. The squad’s argument for stymieing the request is that the lost weapon reports include personal information about its officers, which, of course, is a pretty weak response. For one, that same argument could be applied to just about any internal police document. Secondly, there isn’t any personal information in the documents that can’t be removed with a black marker and a little time. Even a Peel police spokesperson agreed, stating, “There was no personal aspect in what we provided [to the Star].” York police’s delays will probably just make the Star angry, and police forces around the province should know by now that making the paper angry isn’t the best idea. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »
Les Misérables returns to Toronto—but will Justin Bieber play the lead?
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We nearly started to sing in the office when we heard the city’s latest musical theatre news: Les Misérables is coming back in 2012. After what’s been a gruelling six-year absence, the beloved musical will return to the Toronto stage next July with an all-new, all-Canadian cast, producer Cameron Mackintosh told the Toronto Star yesterday. The British impresario will team up with Mirvish Productions to stage the epic adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, which follows the redemption arc of reformed thief Jean Valjean set against the backdrop of the 1832 rebellion in France. But we’re starting to wonder whether Mackintosh is losing his marbles: he’s considering Justin Bieber for the part of Marius.
Yesterday, the Toronto Star reported that the official in charge of disciplining troublesome Ontario teachers was moonlighting as a soft-core teenage porn author (he has since resigned). Sun News, finding itself doing commentary on a story it probably would have loved to break, decided to go all out. Host Jacqui Delaney began with an irresistible cold open: “Strip poker and a bloody spanking. Orgasms, sexual assault, drugs and blackmail. No, it is not Dalton McGuinty’s failed new sex ed plan.” (She also quoted directly from the Star without mentioning the paper’s name.) Michael Coren, meanwhile, noted that the book in question will “probably win a Governor General’s prize, it’s so badly written,” before wondering out loud if the publisher had received any public funding (the publisher didn’t return our request for a comment). Most amazing of all was Coren’s final comment: “This teacher is a member of the union [that has] been telling us throughout the Ontario election, ‘Don’t vote for the Tories.’ I think you must take that under consideration.” Delaney responded: “Very good point. Cherry on top.” We’re not so sure we’d agree. Watch the entire segment [Sun News] »
Major daily newspapers offer totally predictable political endorsements for the provincial election
Toronto’s various daily newspapers have announced their endorsements for Ontario premier, and most of the recommendations are entirely as expected. The Toronto Star endorsed Dalton McGuinty, hailing his track record on education and health care. The Globe and Mail also supported McGuinty, noting he’s the best man to—nautical metaphor alert—guide Ontario through “tempestuous waters.” Apparently, none of the candidates is sufficiently conservative for the Toronto Sun, although they claimed that they “wanted” to endorse Tim Hudak (just in case you had any doubts). While we weren’t shocked that the National Post endorsed Hudak, we have to admit we were somewhat surprised by its rationale. The Post argued that McGuinty’s conduct during the 2006 Caledonia dispute makes him unfit to govern. Really, if the Post was looking for a legal crisis that might resonate with voters, they could have chosen something a little more recent.
The Onion, that paper your friend’s friend picked up in Milwaukee that one time, now available in Toronto
This week’s edition of The Onion, complete with the debut of The A.V. Club Toronto
Joking aside: in its first export from the United States, satirical newspaper The Onion landed in T.O. this morning. Long popular with Torontonians online, the weekly teamed up with the Toronto Star to bring free print copies to some 600 boxes around the city, with particular concentrations around campuses. (The paper’s arrival might be bad news for homegrown equivalent The Smew, which, perhaps in anticipation, has put up images of its logo around town.) With the exception of entertainment section The A.V. Club and its companion website, both edited by John Semley, readers will find Toronto’s Onion remains decidedly American. Indeed, the lead story from today’s edition is “Congress Takes Group Of Schoolchildren Hostage” (which caused predictable confusion and outrage on Twitter). Torontonians are graced with Canadian advertisements, however, including promotions for noted Canadian humorists Rick Mercer, Jon Lajoie and, er, Andrea Horwath. The paper’s launch was accompanied by a party last night at the Drake Hotel, where revelers were treated to a potted (and mostly fictional) company history delivered by Joe Garden, the features editor. Garden, channelling his inner Dwight Schrute, also highlighted some of The Onion’s notable Canadian stories: “Perky ‘Canada’ Has Own Government, Laws” and “Toronto Columnist Writes Annual ‘Blue Jays Have A Chance’ Article.”
The Conrad Black Book Club: A Matter of Principle, Chapter 1
When we found out that Conrad Black was releasing a book, we smacked our heads and thought, “Of COURSE!” Really, that Black hasn’t published a memoir Read the rest of this entry »before nowsince his first try, A Life in Progress, in 1993 is somewhat shocking—the famously loquacious Lord has never exactly been shy about speaking his mind and nearly twenty years is a long time. To that end, A Matter of Principle is a gift from on high. The gargantuan tome is a timeless, epic tale straight from the baron’s mouth, a juicy catalogue of betrayal (by pretty much everyone), love (for Barbara Amiel), corruption (of the American justice system, naturally), and triumph over adversity (think Dead Poet’s Society reenactments, only Black is Robin Williams and the students are Black’s cellmates). To celebrate this momentous literary event, we bring you the Conrad Black Book Club, in which every week we’ll be discussing a chapter from this seminal work. Read our first recap—and a collection of Black’s most ridiculous passages—after the jump.
The Toronto Star continues its steadfast devotion to stalking the police force’s every move
(Image: Dave Conner)
In its ongoing effort to burn all bridges with various police forces around the GTA, the Toronto Star is reporting that a man accused of serious drug charges is also a nine-year veteran of the Peel police. Unlike the paper’s G20 coverage, this is more proof of the paper’s ability to dredge up juicy stories than its proficiency at doing the cops’ work for them—the officer would have been facing charges whether the Star ran the story or not—but it’s also yet another example of the paper’s dogged commitment to taking law enforcement to task each and every time it slips up.
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If you’re tired of reading stories about big idea man Doug Ford and literary nobody Margaret Atwood, you can thank Councillor Michael Thompson for writing what should be the final chapter on their public spat when he introduced the pair to one another at a party earlier this week. According to Thompson, “They were warm and charming and relaxed together.” Atwood took to Twitter to register her excitement in the form of a just-intelligible tweet where she channels her inner pre-teen to eerie effect: “T-pals, UnBLeevAbul! I just met D. Ford! At a NotTimmies Arts Party! (He knows what I look like now! :D) Sez #librarieswill not be cut! :D” Thank you, Councillor Thompson. Thank you. See the entire story, including an unforgettable photo [Toronto Star] »
Now and then we hear griping about Doug Ford’s outsized influence at city hall given the brief time he’s actually spent as a councillor (294 days, by our count). And just this week we saw some juicy evidence of the kind of tactics Ford employs when he’s trying to sway votes, courtesy of the Toronto Star’s Royson James. Apparently, Ford attempted to coerce councillor Chin Lee into supporting the Fords in their waterfront scheming (UPDATE: Lee’s claim that he was strong-armed by Ford applies to the effort to dismantle the public housing board, not the waterfront revitalization plan as James originally stated, according to a clarification by the Star). Like his brother, Doug Ford’s preferred method for throwing his weight around seems to be robo calls, those automated messages you receive during election campaigns. Ford allegedly told Lee that he’d use robo calls to build dissent against the Scarborough-Rouge River councillor if he didn’t fall in line. Lee, to his credit, doesn’t seem to have bowed to the bullying. Now that James has blown Ford’s cover, perhaps his readers can expect a robo call or two denouncing the paper’s predictable socialist tactics. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »
