Category: Misc

Imagine Toronto.

by Peter Lowry

Toronto, a city on the north side of Lake Ontario, is not a planned city. It is more of a happening place than people realize. After many years of haphazard approvals by myopic city councils, Toronto has become interesting, challenging and a city with a great future.

But, like any challenging project serving millions of people, Toronto will never be finished. A city has to be a living organism. It needs constant updating and change. It does not stand still. It is not historic. It is forward looking to its future.

And a city such as that needs politicians who can look to the future. For every naysayer on council, it needs visionaries. For every bicycle enthusiast, it needs the practical people who see the need to speed delivery trucks and people movers.

And a city thrives on action. It is a happening place. It can plan, it can let happen, it can share joy and share despair. It can be a place for theatres and a place for buskers. It is a place that rejoices in births and shares the sorrow of death.

A city has sports enthusiasts and libraries. It has theatrical performances and concerts. It has movie theatres and gymnasiums. It has food stores and restaurants. And those restaurants in Toronto serve the foods from around the world. Food truck vendors will sell you poutine or falafel, or hot dogs.   

It is a city of learning and education, of colleges and universities, of study and research. There is full day kindergarten and handy grammar schools. There are high schools for commerce and for the sciences and leading to higher education.

It is a city of clean cool water and breathable air. It is a city that sweeps its streets and allows no buildup on the roads of ice or snow.

It is a fashion-conscious city, dressing to the nines, with stores for the practical and for the flamboyant. It is a city that dresses for warmth in the winters and shows deepening skin tones in the summer.

It is a city of towering condominiums and single-family dwellings, of triplexes and townhouses in distinct neighbourhoods. They house people of all religions, of all colours, and a myriad of languages, with English as the lingua franca.

Today, I live in a city an hour north of Toronto. Toronto still feels like home.

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]

Harry Remembered.

by Peter Lowry

It was actually Lou Rosen, I first met. We were in that little custom tailoring shop he and brother Harry had opened on Parliament Street in Toronto. A fellow salesman and friend had convinced me to get away from Eaton’s menswear racks and check out custom tailoring. I went in with him but kept a tight hand on my wallet. I wasn’t too worried though. Parliament street was definitely in the lower price ranges.

It was Harry Rosen, himself, who sold me. He joined our conversation about custom tailoring versus off-the-rack and said, “Do you want to see the difference?”

When I said ‘yes,’ all he did was take off his suit coat.

Harry was no Charles Atlas. He was almost as pudgy as myself. His point for custom tailoring was made without another word. It reformed me and moved me up in the world. Those suits from Harry Rosen stores over the years spelled success in so many ways.

Only once did I falter and give into my brother John’s insistence that I give Lou Miles in his Yonge Street store a trial. Lou Miles was a great guy but those tight Italian style suits were never made for my somewhat oversized belly. They were a great fit for my skinny brother, but I went back to another of Harry’s new stores. There, I was at home.

I remember a long chat I had with Harry one day on Richmond Street near his store number two. It was one of many stores at this time. I was on the way to Hy’s for a luncheon appointment. The business appointment could wait. I always enjoyed chatting with Harry when I had a chance. He was working with some friends of mine in the advertising business and he was becoming a household name in menswear.

It is probably more than thirty years now since I last bought a Harry Rosen suit. That last one hangs in my closet. Last time I had it on, I realized how much I had shrunk.  I will probably be buried in it. Living north of Ontario Highway 7, you only wear a suit for serious funerals. I expect I have forgotten how to tie a Windsor knot for a tie.

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]

   Let Us Not Be Divided 

by Peter Lowry

Canada holds a special place in the world this year,

We want to share our homeland with those in fear.

We will not let those who try to divide and control,

Be they tyrants, politicians or others out on parole.

Our hearts and help go to those in desperate need.

We send ammunition to those facing Putin’s greed.

In Gaza, Canada has called for a humane cease fire,

 The needs of the non-combatants in Gaza are dire.

Our political system helps make our country strong,

Using it to divide Canadians could be so very wrong.

Life is to be lived in joy for those of us, young or old.

And leave a verdant world for those new to the fold.

Watching the seasons pass on our earth, is not dull.

Each, in our way, should want to enjoy life to the full.

At this special time of year, lets all enjoy the season

 With love, sharing and good wishes without reason.

And a Happy and Healthy New Year to All!

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]

Crombie Causes Concern.

by Peter Lowry

It is good to see that Bonnie Crombie has already put the fear of God into the conservatives at Queen’s Park. While she has already been to the Ontario Legislature to meet with her liberal caucus, the new liberal leader will not be turning in her mayor’s chain of office until January. She wants to leave things shipshape in Mississauga before taking over the liberal reins.

But the conservatives are already firing salvoes of criticisms at her to see if anything will stick. No election is likely in Ontario before June of 2026. Much can happen in the next two years. While Crombie will want to start by visiting electoral districts throughout the province, she also needs to be ready to run in a byelection. The public needs to see her in action in the legislature, for her to be credible in the coming election.

What is particularly amusing in this interim, millionaire Doug Ford is running advertising saying Crombie is an elitist. It does seem odd that when Ford went to such lengths to make some of his developer friends’ billionaires that he is jealous of Ms. Crombie also having a few dollars in the bank.

For those of you who put some stock in the public opinion polls this far from an election, I would be willing to bet you that she has those same polls standing on their heads two years from now.

It is easy to see what our late friend, former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion saw in her when she supported Crombie to replace her as mayor. She certainly proved that she was more than capable of doing the job. The times I have now seen Bonnie Crombie in action, I can certainly concur with Hazel’s assessment.

But the one thing for certain is that Crombie needs a much stronger and better directed liberal party than Justin Trudeau will have two years from now. There needs to be pride in being a liberal. It needs to be a party that stands beside its elected wing, not under it. And there is nothing wrong with asking liberals, occasionally, to put a few bucks in the collection plate. Just stop the constant begging.

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]

The Social Media Weapon.

by Peter Lowry

After 12 years of writing Babel-on-the-Bay, I find it energizes me and gives purpose to my days. I enjoy the approbation of some readers and the criticisms of others. My only connection with Facebook is when the wife points out some interesting pictures of our far-flung family. I tested Twitter years ago and found it wanting. Other than that, I fear for the Internet as it is absorbed into the ever-deeper troubles of a dystopian world.

What brings this spurt of insight into the Internet world is an admired writer from Ottawa telling us about the weaponizing of social media by our parliamentarians. She sees it as a war zone. My problem is not knowing how she finds time for sorting that trash.

She reminds me of Canada’s famed Pierre Berton. Berton was best known for his many, many books about Canadian history. He was accused of trying to make Canadian history a popular subject. We also used to kid that he was not a writer but a factory. He would joke in his Toronto Star articles, once in a while, about the team that assisted him in doing his research. And as a writer myself, I knew that there was always good research backing up what he wrote.

I always wanted to meet Pierre Berton and I think it was our mutual friend Charles Templeton who once kept us apart. That was a time when Chuck and Pierre were doing their popular CFRB radio program from Maple Leaf Gardens while I was working for a different radio station reporting on the same conservative leadership convention. A friend was listening to them on air and told me that Pierre mentioned that I was across the arena from them and would make an interesting guest for their show. I was told that Chuck ignored the suggestion and changed the subject.

I guess I forgot about it next time I saw Chuck. He was standing in front of the orchestra section at the O’Keefe Centre hugging my wife. It’s funny that I remember that scene and I cannot remember what it was we were at the O’Keefe Centre to see.

I often wonder if that old saying about living in interesting times is really a curse or a blessing. I cannot answer that. All I know is it sure keeps me interested.

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]

How Shallow These Mortals Be.

by Peter Lowry

It tells a story. All by itself, once more, the talent of Time magazine comes to the fore. It tells tales of these terrible times. Yet it ignores the wars, their rape and pillage, their lack of decency or honour. It tells you that the person of the year is Taylor Swift. Could they have been more appropriately shallow in their assessment?

But are these not shallow times? Could we tolerate the brief dictators and right-wing politicos who ravage and destroy their neighbours. Is the destruction of Gaza such a trivial event? Is the bloodletting in the Ukraine just last year’s horror? The bombs and rockets and drones are targeting civilians, the working man and woman who seek but a decent life for themselves and their children? Must the next generation be killed at the same time?

And have we succumbed to the indecency of letting our elected leaders take second place to the prurient symbols of Hollywood—where the writers went on strike. And in these times of artificial intelligence, nobody noticed.

Are we using care in selecting our politicians?

Is Vladimir Putin to continue to stand on the bodies of his country. Who speaks for the Russian people—praying for those relations dying to please Putin? Who stands tall with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to deny Putin his land grab, his one-upping of the Holodomor of Josef Stalin.

And who cries out to the Sheiks and Mullahs and Emirs and other pretenders of the Arab world to stop funding the crazed Muslim extremists such as Hamas and Hezbollah. And what will become of their peoples when the desert sands cease to give up their oil riches? Will there still be pilgrimages to Mecca by the world’s Muslims and guilt trips to Jerusalem by the Jewish diaspora?

And who can rein in Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu? Will there ever be an Israeli prime minister who can convince the Arab world that Jews can live peacefully side by side with their neighbours.?

It certainly would not happen in another regime of Donald Trump in America nor the growing strength of the right-wing loonies in Europe. The Christian Christmas is a time of love and peace and understanding.

And who the hell is Taylor Swift?

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]

Wrestling With Wrongs.

by Peter Lowry

Two pet peeves I have these days are self-checkouts and gratuities. They are wrongs inflicted on employees and customers alike. Gratuities and self-checkouts belittle the employee and are an imposition on the customer. I am not in this place to help the owner to insult the employee and do the check-out job for them. Nor am I there to ensure that your employee receives a living wage. It is just not my responsibility.

If you are so miserably incapable of providing your employee with a living wage then your business model is wrong. Gratuities came into being ‘for service added.’ Why are we seeing ‘recommended gratuities’ as high as 30 per cent these days? And why are restaurants and other businesses recommending anything? If I wish to tip someone for service, I will also choose the amount. Whether it is a waiter or waitress or the person who delivers to my front door, I will determine the value, not the employer.

Face facts: it is not the value of the items delivered but the value of the extra service. If the person making the deliver has to climb a particularly arduous flight of stairs, that they might not have to climb to make normal deliveries, a gratuity might be justified. A dour and dull delivery demeanour deserves diddly.

And why should I contribute to the booster bucket at Tims? I came in for a cuppa and maybe a cruller. These high school kids at the counter are there earning some extra money as part of life’s experience. And life experience is not awash in additional dimes and nickels.

But I save my most egregious complaint for last. It goes to my corner Shoppers Drug Mart. This used to be a good store when it was really run by the pharmacist franchisee. When it was bought by the rapacious Loblaw clan, I thought they should add a sign over the door, along the lines of: Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.

They forgot that the last chance the store had for some redemption was the cashier. If you could just say hi to that last hope for a friendly face. That friendly face could lighten your step as you go out the door.

But NO. That one lonely, harassed clerk has a long line of customers to serve and your only recourse is the self-checkout. What I have found works is to attack the self serve computer with so many screw ups, it starts ringing bells for help. Someone will come soon to help the clumsy old man. I appreciate the help.

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]

Who Are We Hurting?

by Peter Lowry

Listening and reading the advice of so many, we find we are in the hands of imperfect problem solvers. We complain to our politicians and yet we find them on the next kneeler, wringing their hands in frustration. We lay the blame on industries and all they want is to complain to us of their challenges. And if we complain to the central bankers, they whip us with increased interest rates. And the cycles of pain continue.

Politicians can offer only false crutches. Wage and price controls are possible. And they can offer special taxes on the more offensive industries. What happens when those plans and taxes have run their course? The only truth is we are hurting ourselves. We are further grinding down on the poor, the disadvantaged and the minimum wage earners.

Sure. We can blame industry. Industry only thrives in friendly environments. They can fold their tents and steal away in the night. And what becomes of our jobs, our goods, our goals and our economy?

Canada is a trading nation. It is too late to think of changing that fact. Only fools want us to accept deep cuts in our standard of living, this late in the game. Nobody wants Canadians to be the biblical hewers of wood and drawers of water. Canada is a winter nation. As seasons temper, due to global warming, nobody wants to forecast the vagaries in our future. Will wildfires continue to tear at our forests? Will hurricanes and cyclones pester our shorelines? Will our rains continue to flood our homes? Will our power lines continue to be torn by high winds? We have no insight into the world of tomorrow.

What we do know about the future is that we are ill-prepared. Crops can fail in the path of droughts. Mines will be depleted. Water routes will etch in new directions. Technology will offer new revenues and changes in direction. New world-wide plagues will beset us. New diseases will be discovered as some are cured.

In addendum: When Tom Smyth retired from Heinz Canada as chair and CEO, in 1995, the food industry in Canada lost a strong advocate. Tom was, at heart, a farmer. He understood the food industry in all its stages. Canada needs others of that verve

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]

Requiem for Truth.

by Peter Lowry

When politicians fail to tell the truth, when the Internet is littered with individual versions of truth, and print media is failing to survive, where do you look for truth?  And where do you turn when your daily routine for most of your life that has started with a cup of coffee in one hand and the daily newspaper in the other? Does broadcast media fill the void? Does news on an I-pad step up? Does the electronic news fill the need for trust? Are these not similar questions to what we asked when broadcast news first challenged print?

But when American news media came to Canada and loosed their political vitriol in the form of Canadian news, were we better off? AMI, the US-based company that owns Postmedia and Sun newspapers, are an embarrassment. These right-wing Americans, with their National Enquirer falsehoods, are now likely the largest newspaper chain in Canada. The only good thing you can say about them is that they sold off their fictional tabloids, led by the National Enquirer, a couple years ago. Their version of Canadian news is best explained by their mindless devotion to Donald Trump in the United States and Trump-light, Pierre Poilievre in Canada.

The reason Postmedia seems bigger and more dangerous for our country is the collapse the other day of Metroland Media, a subsidiary of the Toronto Star. It meant the loss of 65 jobs in Ontario, without severance or pensions. It also spelled the end of the weekly publications that were nothing more than wraps for grocery fliers. Before criticizing TorStar, the owner, for this treatment of their employees, you should also wonder if the proper treatment of those employees might not have collapsed the entire TorStar enterprise? Judging by what we see in the Toronto Star every day, its best revenue generator these days appears to be the obituaries.

Metroland is expected to try to continue its dailies in print form and provide the other papers in limited on-line versions. You might want to wait until the courts are through with the bankruptcy claims before betting further on TorStar. This last step it took with Metroland is obviously a sign of desperation.

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Copyright 2023 © Peter Lowry            

Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:

[email protected]