Earthquake magnitude 5.2 felt in Ottawa, Kitchener, Brantford, and Toronto. The earthquake was followed by a 4.1 aftershock. The quake centered in Shawville, Quebec. Did you feel it? Comment below.
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Category Archives: Toronto
Rob Ford: Faced with a Camera. Literally.
More Freezing Rain Coming to Kitchener-Waterloo, Brantford, Cambridge and Norfolk
Significant freezing rain on the way. Potential for a major ice storm likely tonight for parts of Southern Ontario.
A slow-moving low currently over Illinois combined with Arctic air over Southern Ontario to produce a wintery mix this morning over parts of Southern Ontario. But the bulk of the precipitation is yet to come, and is threatening to produce quite serious consequences. The main precipitation is expected to arrive this evening in the form of freezing rain and ice pellets. It may fall heavy at times and be accompanied by a few rumbles of thunder. It will change to rain later tonight in most areas as temperatures rise above the freezing mark.
This afternoon’s commute should not be problematic, but deteriorating road conditions are likely this evening. As temperatures hover near the freezing mark, treated roads may tend to be merely wet while untreated roads may become slippery. Also, shoreline areas near Lake Ontario, including downtown Toronto, may see mixed rain and freezing rain, which will significantly limit the impacts in those areas.
The greatest concern is the risk of widespread power outages beginning this evening from downed tree limbs and power lines due to significant ice accumulation combined with northeast winds gusting to 60 km/h. Freezing rain amounts up to 10 mm are quite possible in many areas with some regions possibly exceeding 20 mm. The heavier amounts would be primarily to the west and northwest of the Greater Toronto area, over the higher terrain of the Oak Ridges moraine and above the Niagara Escarpment.
Rainfall Warning continues for Norfolk County, including Delhi, Simcoe, and Port Dover.
Heavy rainfall again tonight.
Several rounds of significant rain and thunderstorms have been affecting the warned regions over the past few days. Yet another heavy area of rain is threatening the area tonight as a slow-moving low approaches from Illinois. It is expected to develop this evening and continue well into the night along with more potential thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. An additional 25 to 30 mm are expected by Friday morning.
This Warning is for: Ancaster, Boston, Brant, Brantford, Caledonia, Cambridge, Delhi, Hagersville, Haldimand, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kitchener, Langton, Norfolk, Norwich, Oakland, Oxford, Paris, Port Dover, Scotland, Simcoe, St. Thomas, Tillsonburg, Toronto, Vanessa, Waterloo, Waterford, Woodstock
Susan Beattie will not be pushed by ETFO.
Richmond Hill teacher Susan Beattie will not let her union “illegally dictate” whether she can volunteer for extra ciriculars any longer. Below is her letter.
Open letter to David Clegg, ETFO-YR President:
Here are my reflections following the Feb. 26 union meeting and your March 1 conversation with Matt Galloway on the Metro Morning radio show.You suggest the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation decision to lift the advisory on voluntary activities was “politically motivated”. Is the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario’s decision to maintain the advisory not politically motivated?
You explain ETFO’s decision by suggesting the union wants to bargain an acceptable deal for the next school year. But if the contract were re-opened, would ETFO propose an increase in class sizes to meet the budget requirements?
You hope to defeat the Liberals in the next election. But what will you do if we find ourselves with a Conservative government under Tim Hudak?These are concerns for many teachers.
Last fall you said “[teachers) want to know leadership is leading them”. Now you claim ETFO’s decision is not being “directed by union bosses”, but is the “grassroots” consensus of “well-educated” teachers.
If anyone thinks that the decisions of ETFO members are not driven by union leaders, they are mistaken. In fact, you are actively working to create a group of stewards who will obey instructions without question, and who will in turn demand compliance from their colleagues. Stewards who do not conform are asked to step down, as I did.
I have learned from experience that raising concerns about the actions of our union executive is greeted with hostility and disrespect.
You claim that teachers want their “voices heard”, but sadly, the only voices that are welcomed in our organization are the ones that concur with the leadership.
Toronto Star’s Martin Cohn (March 3) wrote, “Public school teachers have allowed their union to bamboozle (if not bully) them into … a withdrawal of services during the school day.” He referred to “despair within the labour movement over ETFO’s self-righteous, self-defeating tactics”.
I’ve had enough. You cannot compel me or any other member to withdraw from voluntary activities. I will attend monthly staff meetings. I will run my choir. I will plan field trips. I will attend meetings outside the instructional day, if I so choose. And I will not allow you or other executive officers to diminish or dismiss me.
You have spent most of your career in the union. I am deeply concerned that, along the way, you have forgotten that teachers do not work for you — you work for us!
Susan Beattie
Richmond Hill
Snowmageddon 2013?
Depending on the temperature, Brantford and area could be in for a whack of snow today.
Rain mixed at times with ice pellets and perhaps some brief
Freezing rain has moved into Southwestern Ontario and will continue
its northeastward March into remaining districts this evening. The
rain is expected to become mixed with wet snow tonight, but will
remain more predominant near Lake Erie and along the shoreline of
Lake Ontario where temperatures will be slightly milder.
For areas farther north of Lake Erie and inland, such as Sarnia,
London and Brantford, temperatures will likely cool to the zero
degree mark a couple hours after the cold rain or mixed
Precipitation begins. If this happens, expect a changeover to all
snow with a possibility of 10 to 15 cm of heavy snow overnight into
Wednesday morning.
The heaviest snowfall is likely to occur overnight into the morning
rush hour. This will result in rapidly accumulating snow and low
visibilities during the early morning hours. Motorists should adjust
travel plans accordingly as this snowfall event may have a
considerable impact on the morning commute to work.
Periods of wet snow, possibly mixed with rain, will continue later on
Wednesday, but at this point, additional snow amounts appear to be
In the 2 to 5 cm range.
For areas farther north and inland, such as Stratford, Waterloo
region through Guelph and Milton to Orangeville and over northern
parts of the Greater Toronto area, temperatures will likely cool to
or slightly below the zero degree mark shortly after the
precipitation begins. If this happens, expect a changeover to all
snow with a possibility of 10 to 15 cm of heavy snow by Wednesday
morning. Should the precipitation fall as all snow, total snowfall
amounts of up to 20 cm are possible by Wednesday evening. Over these
areas, the heaviest snowfall is likely to occur late tonight into the
morning rush hour. This will result in rapidly accumulating snow and
low visibilities during the early morning hours.
Freezing Rain coming to Brantford and Area – Be Ready
Environment Canada is issued a special weather statement for Brantford, Simcoe, Delhi, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and the rest of Southern Ontario.
A low pressure system developing over Colorado will track toward Southern Ontario tonight and Monday. Precipitation ahead of this low will reach Windsor this evening, then the Toronto to Georgian Bay area towards midnight, and finally the Ottawa Valley Monday morning.
Precipitation will start as snow, then change to ice pellets and freezing rain. Precipitation will change to rain for most areas Monday. The main concern is that the freezing rain may last for several hours before changing to
rain. Untreated surfaces may become slippery making for hazardous traveling conditions.
Generation Zel! Radio will keep you up to date as the system approaches and as watches / warnings are issued.
Ikea Monkey: The Game
Yes! Finally the Ikea Monkey Game!!! Help Darwin the Ikea monkey build furniture!!! Awesome sauce! Darwin Ikea Monkey Game
Snowstorm coming Boxing Day?
A low pressure system is expected to develop over Texas on Christmas
day and then move northeastward to pass south of the Great Lakes
region late in the day boxing day into Thursday. Such a storm track
would place Southern Ontario on the cold side of the storm, with the
potential for significant snowfall accumulations.
Present indications suggest that the snow would start in the
southwest during the day on boxing day, and then spread eastward to
reach Eastern Ontario later in the evening. In addition, gusty
northeast winds would result in local blowing snow reducing
visibilities. Conditions should improve from west to east on
Thursday.
Current indications suggest that in areas from Lake Erie across
Niagara as well as the St Lawrence Valley area the potential exists
for snowfall amounts near the warning criteria of 15 cm in 12 hours.
Special weather statement for:
City of Toronto
Windsor – Essex – Chatham-Kent
Sarnia – Lambton
Elgin
London – Middlesex
Simcoe – Delhi – Norfolk
Dunnville – Caledonia – Haldimand
Oxford – Brant
Niagara
City of Hamilton
Halton – Peel
York – Durham
Huron – Perth
Waterloo – Wellington
Now Available: the Munke at Ikea
Freezing Rain Warning Issued
Be careful travelling this afternoon, especially if you are heading north or west of the city of Brantford. A freezing rain warning has been issued for Tillsonburg, Oxford, Woodstock, London, Middlesex, Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo, Ancaster and Hamilton. Edit: Brantford, Delhi, Simcoe, Paris, Norfolk and Haldimand Counties added to the warning effective 2:30 pm.
The first real taste of winter may cause roads to be icy and if it changes to snow after ice is on the roads, driving my be treacherous. Be prepared for a quick change in road conditions.
