Peter Kormos had the heart of a lion

Peter Kormos was a wild-hearted maverick, a colourful character in an often grey political landscape - and one of the most brilliant and fearless politicians this province has ever seen.

He had the heart of a lion. He would take on any cause and fight to the death to win.

And he always, always battled hardest when he was fighting for his beloved hometown of Welland.

Kormos died Saturday at age 60. He had collapsed in Toronto on Wednesday and was taken to hospital. He checked himself out and returned to Welland, where he died.

In many ways, Kormos personified Welland. He was gritty, hard-working and no nonsense.

But behind that gruff exterior was a heart of gold. The last time I saw him was when he dropped by my office at Queen’s Park with chocolates on Valentine’s Day. That was just the kind of guy he was.

He would bring treats for some of the women in the press gallery, and he’d sit and chat and open up about his latest concern - whether it was right-to-work legislation or the state of the auto industry.

He cared passionately about the Canadian car industry, and would wag his finger at me in admonition when he saw me driving my import.

And he was one of the most honest politicians I’ve ever covered.

Like most honest men, though, he caused waves with his frankness and his absolute refusal to compromise his staunch socialist beliefs. And he made enemies.

He was a true socialist, not a save-the-whales, social democrat. He cared deeply about the union movement, and teased me about that when the Sun went through a certification process.

In his younger days, he cut quite a sartorial figure at Queen’s Park, even posing as a SUNshine Boy, leaning against his flashy Corvette. Former Premier Bob Rae was not amused. It cost Kormos his cabinet seat. He favoured cowboy boots, rarely wore a tie and in the early years of the McGuinty government, he was the subject of a Liberal MPP’s motion to introduce a dress code to the floor of the Legislature.

After the motion passed, Kormos showed up in a tuxedo, mocking the woman who’d insisted on the dress rules in his own wry way.

Kormos was bitterly disappointed when the New Democratic government, of which he was a part, failed to deliver on its promise of public auto insurance. He clashed with Rae over that decision and the two never really made up.

A lawyer, Kormos never forgot who it was who sent him to Queen’s Park. It was the little guy on the street in Welland he owed his living to. It was his commitment to the needs of average folk that drove him.

He never got too big for his cowboy boots. He was a favourite with the media simply because he could distil the most complex issues into a few pithy sentences.

Kormos’ death is a shock, but not a surprise.

He’d been unwell in recent years and took several months off just before the 2011 election. He didn’t run again for his provincial seat, chosing instead to run for Niagara Regional Council. He’d also become a frequent commentator on radio and TV.

Peter, I can’t imagine Queen’s Park without the possibility of you rapping at my door as you always did to announce yourself.

You were, my friend, quite simply the best - the bravest and the most courageous guy around here.

I’ll miss your humour.

Most of all, I’m going to miss your passion for politics. The way you made this place make sense because you understood it so well.

We all miss you already. And the guy who is most bereft, who’ll feel your loss for ever, is that little guy in Welland you always fought so hard to represent.

Goodbye, my friend. And God Bless.
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Man killed in Yorkdale shooting

TORONTO  - A man was killed and another seriously hurt when gunfire erupted outside a bustling Yorkdale Shopping Centre Saturday night.

Toronto Police say the shooting began around 8 p.m. with an altercation “between two groups” inside the mall, located near Dufferin St. and Hwy. 401 and spilled outside into the west parking lot.

“The initial confrontation began inside the mall but there were no shots fired inside the mall,” Homicide Det. Rob North said early Sunday at Yorkdale.

He said it was too early in the investigation to offer many details but he did confirm the were no innocent bystanders.

It’s believed the man who was killed was shot as many as 10 times.

His body lay on the ground outside the Sears department store after the shooting.

“I saw the paramedics working on him,” Michael Troya, 16, said, at the mall. “They were working on him for about 10 minutes.”

Troya said patrons weren’t sure what was happening at first and most didn’t see the man because everyone was focused on another victim about 20 metres away who he and others initially believed was a woman.

“I was pretty scared,” he said, adding such violence is not something he expected to see when he headed to the usually safe mall to hang out with his girlfriend.

Police later confirmed that victim was a man and that he was rushed to Sunnybrook hospital in critical condition.

Shortly before midnight, Const. Wendy Drummond tweeted that he had been stabilized.

Meanwhile, the first victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A lot of people were upset that Yorkdale didn’t tell us what was going on right away,” Troya said.

The mall did release a statement about an hour after the city’s latest murder — the 15th killing of the year.

“Yorkdale Shopping Centre is currently working with the Toronto Police Service as part of the an active investigation,” the statement read. “All vehicles entering or exiting the property will be stopped and spoken to by Toronto police officers.”

“Further information will follow,” the statement continued. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

Police cruisers blocked every exit immediately after the shooting and officers were checking every vehicle that pulled in or was heading out.

Just last summer there was a horrific shooting at Toronto’s busiest mall, the Eaton Centre.

A gunman opened fire in the food court on June 2 killing two men and wounding numerous innocent bystanders.

“Some people just don’t seem to care, they have no morals,” Troya said of those who would open fire at a mall.

Investigators are looking over surveillance video from mall security cameras but were unable to offer any description of the gunmen.

However, as many as six people are believed to have fled the scene after the shooting, North said.

Anyone with information in the Yorkdale mall shooting is urged to call the Homicide Unit at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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Thousands line Little Italy streets for Good Friday procession

TORONTO - A ton of work goes into the Church of St. Francis of Assisi’s popular Good Friday procession every year and Friday’s was no different.

Thousands lined the streets of Little Italy to watch parishioners garbed as Jesus, Roman soldiers and disciples with banners tell the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and the events leading up to it.

Joe Maneli, the procession’s director the past 27 years, said the procession “is really a re-enactment of the passion of Christ.

“We usually have about 2,000 participants within the procession and we’ve hit crowds of about 200,000 people back in years with great weather,” said Maneli. “It’s a huge challenge. It requires a team of people start in January to organize this thing.

“And it gets done. We’re not perfect, but, we try to make it better each and every year,” he added.

Maneli said there were 10 floats with a total of about 105 characters portraying people of the time, including five portraying Jesus in different chapters. Maneli’s father introduced characters to the procession in 1977, and Joe Maneli was one of them, before taking over as director in 1985.

Unlike Maneli, Chiara Pereira was helping to organize the parade for the first time.

Why did she get involved?

“I just wanted to be part of something amazing. I’m a part of the church and I’ve never been a part of this and I wanted to be a part of this,” she said, motioning to the unfolding spectacle.

While the procession was started by two Italian men more than half a century ago, Maneli said “it’s open to everyone. It’s an everybody event, because it’s about togetherness.”

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Giorgio Mammoliti rushed to hospital, undergoes surgery

Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti is undergoing surgery Friday.

Mammoliti's staff confirmed just after midnight that the councillor was rushed to St. Michael's hospital Thursday night.

Alex Barbieri, Mammoliti's executive assistant, said the councillor would be having surgery Friday.

He didn't say what the surgery was for but said it was "not life threatening."

The Ward 7, York West councillor has been a lightning rod of controversy at City Hall but has never complained of health problems.

Late last year, Mammoliti left Mayor Rob Ford's executive committee.

In January, Mammoliti alleged he is the victim of a "conspiracy."

Without naming names or providing any concrete evidence, Mammoliti said a preliminary investigation he’s conducted has pointed to a group of people “out to do some damage, personal damage.”

Last week, Mammoliti issued a statement saying a private investigator turned up evidence he has been targeted by an undisclosed “organized” group.

He alleged investigators at the Toronto firm, Executek International, have evidence someone attempted to access his computer remotely and copy files, impersonated him to obtain his phone records, and tampered with his phones.

The city's compliance audit committee voted in February to commence legal proceedings against Mammoliti for alleged breaches of the municipal elections act.

At least one councillor to Twitter Friday to wish Mammoliti a "speedy recovery."

"My thoughts & very best wishes are with Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti and his family as he undergoes surgery," Councillor Josh Matlow tweeted.
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One man dead following double shooting on King St. W.

TORONTO - One man is dead and another is badly hurt after an overnight shooting that left a sidewalk on the edge of the city’s Entertainment District stained with blood.

Toronto Police say officers patrolling in the area rushed to King St. W., east of Bathurst St., when they heard gunfire ring out around 2:40 a.m. Thursday.

“When they arrived at the scene they found two men in their early 20s suffering from gunshots wounds,” Const. Tony Vella said later in the day.

It’s believed a gunman approached from behind and opened fire on the victims as they walked along the north side of King near Portland St. — an area that was teeming with people as the many nearby nightclubs were closing up for the night.

One man was shot in his torso and his arm but is expected to survive.

The other man, now identified by police as Anthony Smith, 21, suffered mortal gunshots wounds to his head and died later in hospital.

Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation into the city’s 14th murder of the year.

Two large pools of blood remained on the sidewalk after the sun came up and the area was cordoned off with yellow police tape.

Several empty shell casings were found by cops but the gun was not recovered.

Vella wasn’t able to confirm reports the shooting was prompted by an altercation that started inside the Loki Lounge — a nightclub on the south side of King that was also cordoned off with crime scene tape.

“It’s early in the investigation, so at this point the motive for the shooting is unclear,” he said.

Police have no description for the shooter yet either, but Vella said officers are gathering surveillance video from security cameras in the area.

Witnesses who have not yet spoken to police, and anyone with information regarding the deadly shooting, is urged to call 14 Division at 416-808-1400 or crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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Credibility of Toronto Star story on Mayor Rob Ford's drinking questioned

TORONTO - Depending on one’s outlook, the current debate about Mayor Rob Ford hinges on three aspects: 1) Was he drunk at the Garrison Ball last month? 2) Was he asked to leave the premises? 3) Is the Toronto Star waging a vendetta against him?

Everyone else seems to be plunging headlong into the debate, so here I go.

What seems most significant about the three issues, is that the Star broke the story — made the over-imbibing allegations — but chose to use mostly anonymous sources.

In journalism, anonymous sources are always suspect, but are acceptable if the “sources” are in physical or emotional risk if they are identified. Can that possibly be the case with Ford? If someone squeals on him, has he a team of hit men ready to exert retribution?

In writing about the case, the Toronto Sun’s Simon Kent has noted: “By my count, at least 12 anonymous sources are used in the story, but I am happy to be proven wrong. Maybe there are more … many former staffers, senior staffers, junior staffers, current staffers, committee members, party guests, a real estate agent, a source, more sources close to the mayor, restaurant staff and a DJ. All unnamed.”

Credibility is questioned, as Kent accurately notes, when anonymous quotes “are seemingly chosen because they affirm the paper’s position on the man.”

And the Star’s editorials on Ford make it clear that the paper has little use for the mayor, and will move heaven and earth (rhetorically speaking) to get rid of the guy.

One of the more curious assessments, as quoted in the Sun, was “left-leaning” Councillor Sarah Doucette’s view that there’s concern about the mayor’s drinking — but that she hasn’t personally seen him impaired.

Perhaps she should expand on just who has these “concerns.”

As for being bombed at the ball and asked to leave, the organizers deny allegations. No one complained to them. Hmm. Maybe they are fudging facts, maybe not — but still pretty thin for a front-page story and scolding editorial: “Come clean, Mr. Mayor.”

Maybe the Star could also “come clean” and identify their anonymous sources?

That said, Ford sure has a talent for controversy.

No sooner is he out of the woods on one embarrassment, but he’s into the quicksand with another.

At least the imbibing allegations at the Garrison Ball have overshadowed the strange Sarah Thomson claim that Ford grabbed her rump and made an improper proposal. Doesn’t sound like the mayor’s style.

Editorially, the Star notes that Ford dismissed that accusation as a lie “but a photo emerged showed him rumpled and stained.”

“Rumpled and stained?” What is the Star suggesting? How does “rumpled and stained” relate to grabbing Thomson’s bum?

And then Barbara Amiel joined the fray with her Maclean’s column claiming that Thomson offered to “bed” her husband in return for him granting an interview to her newspaper.

Gracious!

Amiel says “the proposition did not intrigue” Conrad Black, who found it “enterprising” and endorsed Thomson in the 2010 mayoral vote.

Amiel says the incident happened around 2002. Thomson told the Star she was joking at the time, and thought it was in 1998 when Black launched the National Post and she was running the Hamilton Examiner.

It’s unknown if Black looked “rumpled and stained” after his encounter with Thomson. Maybe a Star editorial someday will inform us.
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Number of cancelled Toronto parking tickets rose last year

TORONTO - Almost 25% of all parking tickets issued last year were cancelled by the city.

According to a report going to the government management committee next month, the city doled out 2.76 million parking tickets in 2012 — down around 2.5% from the previous year.

But 633,108 or 23% of those tickets were cancelled for various reasons and that represents a 5.5% increase in cancellations compared to 2011.

Staff said 199,215 tickets were cancelled by the courts, 143,812 by revenue services staff for time allowances and other reasons, 131,562 due to out-of-province licence plates and owner information being unavailable, 97,356 because the driver drove away before the officer served the tag, 50,113 due to “plate errors,” 5,622 due to errors on the parking tag, 4,914 due to incomplete information, and 514 tickets were scrapped because they were illegible.

The cancellations are on the rise in part because of the change in the parking ticket grace period from five minutes to 10 minutes. Council approved the change last July and allowed for the cancellation of some tickets, the report noted.

Toronto drivers may also be more aware of the rules around getting a ticket cancelled.

“As the existence of the City’s Parking Ticket Cancellation Guidelines becomes better known among the public, it is expected that the number of cancellations would increase,” the report stated.

The government management committee meets April 8.

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Sarah Thomson's 'offer' to Conrad Black not new to journalism

TORONTO - So here I am, stuck for a column idea and wondering whom I can sleep with to get one, as usual.

Hey, Justin, you free tonight?

Then I read about Sarah Thomson’s offer to boink Conrad Black.

Conrad’s lady, Barbara Amiel, Baroness Black of Crossharbour, tattled in Maclean’s magazine:

“Around 2002, publisher Thomson offered, using normal scatology, to ‘bed’ my husband in return for him granting an interview to her newspaper.”

I looked up scatology. So I think Thomson used a racier word for “bed.”

“Though the proposition did not intrigue him,” continued Amiel, “Conrad found it very enterprising and endorsed her for mayor in the last election.”

Ms. Thomson, city hall gadfly and Women’s Post publisher, says she was joking, as many people claim when they are rebuffed.

But it’s another nail in the coffin of the Rosenthal Rule, as prescribed by legendary New York Times editor Abe Rosenthal.

“I don’t care if my reporters f--- an elephant, as long as they don’t cover the circus,” said Abe.

In other words, don’t sleep with sources.

But the news business is tougher and dirtier since Abe died and we need every journalistic weapon we can lay our hands on.

If Thomson needs to sleep with Lord Black to get a scoop, bully for her.

Give me a nice merlot, a couple of candles and a night with B.C. Premier Christy Clark and I’ll get to the bottom of the Ethnicsgate scandal.

I’d hit on Hillary Clinton, too, if she’d tell me what really happened in Libya.

It would strike a blow for the greater good. And I’m guessing Hillary’s husband won’t mind.

Bill Clinton was “bedded” by Arkansas TV reporter Gennifer Flowers, or vice versa, in 1977. I doubt Flowers got a scoop, but she later made a bundle on her tell-all book.

I was kidding about Justin Trudeau, though he’s in town campaigning. Justin’s cute, but not my type. Too liberal. Let some other newshound sleep with him.

Other examples of getting it from the source abound in fact and fiction.

I assume Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane got her hands on the Man of Steel’s manly steel.

In the new Netflix series House of Cards, female reporters trade sex willy-nilly for exclusives from Washington pols.

“We’ve all done it,” says one jaded journo. “I used to suck, screw, and jerk anything that moved just to get a story.”

Ahh, the good old days. A bit of Hollywood hyperbole, maybe, but hardly alien to real life. Why do you think they call sources “Deep Throat?”

A couple of lower cases:

Journalist Paula Broadwell, who polished Gen. David Patraeus’s stars.

And Wall Street Journal correspondent Gina Chon, dumped last year over her affair with envoy Brett McGurk, who also withdrew his nomination as ambassador to Iraq. The two later married, though by then nobody cared.

Surprise, surprise, it is rarer for male reporters to bunk with female sources. Not because we don’t want to. Frankly, there are still fewer high-ranking female sources with whom to canoodle.

Also because most male reporters look like me.

If you were, say, German chancellor Angela Merkel, you wouldn’t sleep with me, either, would you.

Well, what if I looked like Mel Gibson.

In The Year of Living Dangerously, a great 1982 flick, Mel’s a dashing reporter who gets a post-coital tip from diplomat Sigourney Weaver.

Sigourney, from one pillow: “You can’t use this.” (Referring to the tip.)

Mel, from the other pillow: “Then you shouldn’t have told me.”

Funny, I can’t shake an image of Sarah Thomson and Conrad Black, tete-a-tete.

Sarah, smoking a cigarette: “So, m’lord, what’s the scoop on your new TV show?”

Lord Black, chewing a cigar: “Rub my tummy and I’ll tell you.”

Yikes. This, by the bye, is the same Sarah Thomson who accused Mayor Rob Ford of groping her bum.

On the other hand, I can’t talk. I’m often accused of being in bed with Rob Ford.
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George Chuvalo accepts key to Toronto with gratitude — and a broken heart

TORONTO - Canadian boxing legend George Chuvalo joked on Tuesday that he was as “happy as a hog in slop” after being presented with a key to the City by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

The former heavyweight great went on to regale onlookers with some anecdotes of his early life growing up in the tough Junction area of Toronto and how he got started in boxing, as well as his long relationship with the Ford family in Rexdale. But Chuvalo attended the ceremony with a broken heart.

Chuvalo’s background is well documented. A former world-class heavyweight in the absolute best era in heavyweight boxing — having fought six world champs, including Muhammad Ali twice — Chuvalo was never knocked down in 93 pro contests and scored some huge wins over the likes of Mike DeJohn, Doug Jones and Jerry Quarry, among others. He was rated as high as No.2 in the world.

But the devastating tragedies Big George experienced outside the ring overshadowed his great boxing career. He lost his son Jesse, who had become addicted to heroin following a motorcycle accident, to suicide in 1985. Another son, Georgie Lee, was lost in 1993 to a heroin overdose. A few days after Georgie Lee’s death, Chuvalo’s wife, Lynne, unable to cope with the devastating loss, committed suicide. Three years after that, another son, Steven, who along with Georgie Lee struggled with addiction for much of his adult life, overdosed, leaving behind a young son and daughter.

Somehow, Big George managed to persevere. One way was to turn his pain into good work, appearing at schools and prisons to speak to kids about the dangers of drug use. He’s been awarded the Order of Canada and countless other citations for his community work as well as for his legendary boxing career. But through it all, the unfathomable sadness of losing a wife and three sons never abated. And how could it? Chuvalo has carried on, but always with a deeply wounded heart. And now tragedy has befallen the Canadian sports icon once again. His beloved granddaughter, Rachel, Steven’s daughter, passed away from cancer at the age of 30 last month after a courageous struggle with the disease. A school-teacher, who taught for a while in the north, Rachel and her mom established a scholarship, the Rachel Chuvalo Follow Your Dreams Memorial Scholarship, which goes each year to a deserving student bound for post-secondary education. By all accounts, Rachel Chuvalo was a wonderful role model and teacher. And person.

George was supposed to receive a key to the City from Ford a week ago, but the ceremony was postponed as he was still too overcome with grief to make a public appearance. His spirit is still broken. But on Tuesday, he managed to keep it together and accept the honour from Mayor Ford, though he declined speaking to the media afterward.
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Documentary on Downsview, Toronto Structures TV

Structures TV - Documentary on Downsview, Toronto from Ward Nine on Vimeo.

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