Thursday, 12 August 2010
Monday, 9 August 2010
Is politness dead?
If you've ever heard someone say that Canadians are polite (or even if you haven't), consider the following:
The other day, I stopped for gas. After I paid inside, I opened the door to exit, and right at that moment, I spotted a woman approaching the entrance from the right, so I held the door open for her and gestured for her to enter. At that same moment, another young lady arrived from the left. The lady on the right gestured to the girl on the left to enter. Ms. Left said "Thank-you", Ms. Right said "You're welcome", and as Ms. Left entered, she thanked me and I said "You're very welcome". Then the original woman stepped inside and we repeated the polite exchange. Just as I was about to finally exit, a guy had come to the door. Again, I stood there holding the door, but I guess he had seen me holding the door for the two before him and he said "Thanks--you go ahead". I exited through the door and said "Thanks". He said "You're welcome".
I won't say this scenario can't or doesn't happen elsewhere, but I imagine there's often the odd person who spoils the whole thing by either not holding the door or not saying "Thank-you" or "You're welcome". Anyway, the experience had me smiling for a while, and proud of my community and even my country. Am I too easily impressed?
Click here to go to most recent posts.
The other day, I stopped for gas. After I paid inside, I opened the door to exit, and right at that moment, I spotted a woman approaching the entrance from the right, so I held the door open for her and gestured for her to enter. At that same moment, another young lady arrived from the left. The lady on the right gestured to the girl on the left to enter. Ms. Left said "Thank-you", Ms. Right said "You're welcome", and as Ms. Left entered, she thanked me and I said "You're very welcome". Then the original woman stepped inside and we repeated the polite exchange. Just as I was about to finally exit, a guy had come to the door. Again, I stood there holding the door, but I guess he had seen me holding the door for the two before him and he said "Thanks--you go ahead". I exited through the door and said "Thanks". He said "You're welcome".
I won't say this scenario can't or doesn't happen elsewhere, but I imagine there's often the odd person who spoils the whole thing by either not holding the door or not saying "Thank-you" or "You're welcome". Anyway, the experience had me smiling for a while, and proud of my community and even my country. Am I too easily impressed?
Click here to go to most recent posts.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Monday, 26 July 2010
Honest Ed's
As newly arrived immigrants, and without much coinage, my mom used to occasionally shop at Honest Ed's discount department store. True to its name, you got honest value for your dollar. Sometimes I went along with her and when I got a bit older, perhaps 10 years old, I sometimes went with my friends. You could always find some bargain toy, treat, or game.
Today, the store celebrated 62 years of serving bargains at the same location at the corner of Bathurst and Bloor by serving 15,001 free meals consisting of hot dogs, chips, drinks and pastries. The extra meal went to Police Services equine Honest Ed, named after the late store owner. This isn't the first time Honest Ed's has thanked the public for their patronage. Every Christmas, the store hands out 1,000 free turkeys for those who may otherwise not enjoy a traditional Christmas meal.
In June 2006, Ed and Anne Mirvish marked their 65th wedding anniversary with a party at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The mayor of Toronto, the chief of police and other public figures delivered congratulatory speeches, followed by a program of vocal music by some of Toronto's opera and theatre stars. In July 2006, Mirvish celebrated his 92nd birthday with a lavish party at Honest Ed's. In honor of this occasion, many items in the store were on sale for 92 cents.
(Honest) Ed Mirvish was a longtime Toronto philanthropist until he passed away in 2007. He is survived by his son David and Ed's wife Anne, who was on hand, today, to enjoy the festivities which also included activities for children, surprise gifts and more. Visitors were entertained by Caribana performances and hula dancers.
Ed has been bestowed with the following honours and awards:
Honest Ed's still sports the gaudy Burlesque-like marques from back in the day.
Click here to go to most recent posts.
Today, the store celebrated 62 years of serving bargains at the same location at the corner of Bathurst and Bloor by serving 15,001 free meals consisting of hot dogs, chips, drinks and pastries. The extra meal went to Police Services equine Honest Ed, named after the late store owner. This isn't the first time Honest Ed's has thanked the public for their patronage. Every Christmas, the store hands out 1,000 free turkeys for those who may otherwise not enjoy a traditional Christmas meal.
In June 2006, Ed and Anne Mirvish marked their 65th wedding anniversary with a party at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The mayor of Toronto, the chief of police and other public figures delivered congratulatory speeches, followed by a program of vocal music by some of Toronto's opera and theatre stars. In July 2006, Mirvish celebrated his 92nd birthday with a lavish party at Honest Ed's. In honor of this occasion, many items in the store were on sale for 92 cents.
(Honest) Ed Mirvish was a longtime Toronto philanthropist until he passed away in 2007. He is survived by his son David and Ed's wife Anne, who was on hand, today, to enjoy the festivities which also included activities for children, surprise gifts and more. Visitors were entertained by Caribana performances and hula dancers.
Ed has been bestowed with the following honours and awards:
- Appointed a commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Named a Freeman of the City of London in recognition of his contributions to British theatre (he subsequently drove a herd of sheep across London Bridge, a right of a Freeman of the city)
- 1978, Made a Member of the Order of Canada
- 1984, Awarded Retail Council of Canada's Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award
- 1987, Promoted to Officer of the Order of Canada
- 1999, Awarded Retail Council of Canada's Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2009, One block of Duncan Street in Toronto, near the Royal Alexandra Theatre and the Princess of Wales Theatre in the Entertainment District, is renamed Ed Mirvish Way
Honest Ed's still sports the gaudy Burlesque-like marques from back in the day.
Click here to go to most recent posts.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Macabre Map
This happened two days ago about two miles from my place:
Saturday 2:12 p.m.: A blue car going from Steeles Ave. to Hwy. 410 hit a silver Mazda, causing the Mazda to cross into oncoming traffic and strike a tractor trailer. The blue car fled, leaving the driver of the Mazda to die in hospital and her passenger critically injured.
About two hours earlier, I had used that very stretch of highway.
Last year, when I was driving that same highway, I passed an accident scene that had a car that was almost vertical, nose down between two cars.
When I first saw the story of the more recent tragedy, there was a small map of this on the same page. How nice that people can click on accident sites and read the details of the horrible deaths of their neighbours, friends and family members.
Click here to go to most recent posts.
Saturday 2:12 p.m.: A blue car going from Steeles Ave. to Hwy. 410 hit a silver Mazda, causing the Mazda to cross into oncoming traffic and strike a tractor trailer. The blue car fled, leaving the driver of the Mazda to die in hospital and her passenger critically injured.
About two hours earlier, I had used that very stretch of highway.
Last year, when I was driving that same highway, I passed an accident scene that had a car that was almost vertical, nose down between two cars.
When I first saw the story of the more recent tragedy, there was a small map of this on the same page. How nice that people can click on accident sites and read the details of the horrible deaths of their neighbours, friends and family members.
Click here to go to most recent posts.
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