Famed pianist Oscar Peterson blew a kiss to Diana Krall after the jazz diva performed Happy Birthday for her idol, who turned 80 Monday, reported the Toronto Star Aug. 16 in a caption under a front-page photo of the former York University chancellor (1991-1994). The legendary Canadian jazzman was honoured by Canada Post, which unveiled a stamp with his portrait at an HMV store in downtown Toronto. He called it “the most meaningful event of my career.” The Globe and Mail also published a photo of Peterson at the stamp unveiling and quoted him: “I have always considered myself a person proud to be a Canadian.”
Site spat delays Toronto soccer stadium
Toronto may lose its chance to play host to games of the 2007 under-21 world soccer championship if the City of Toronto and the federal government can’t solve their dispute over the location of a soccer-specific stadium, reported The Globe and Mail Aug. 16. The city supports a plan to build the facility at Exhibition Place. Citizenship & Immigration Minister Joe Volpe, the federal political minister for Ontario and MP for the Toronto riding of Eglinton-Lawrence, backs a bid to have the stadium built on federal land at Downsview Park in Toronto’s north end.
Toronto, Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa and Montreal were chosen as host cities for the 2007 tournament. Insiders have warned that the Canadian Soccer League will pull the plug on Toronto if shovels aren’t in the ground by Nov. 1. The most recent setback came on May 12 when plans for a $70-million facility on the campus of York University fell through.
Tiger moves Serena
Serena Williams gave a surprising answer when asked what motivates her at this stage of life, reported The Toronto Sun Aug. 16. “Tiger Woods motivates me,” Williams said Monday. “He’s what, 27 or 28? And I’m 23. I have seven Grand Slam victories and he has 10. So that motivates me.” Williams won’t add to her Grand Slam list this week if she wins the Rogers Cup at the Rexall Centre at York University. But Williams can hone her game for the US Open, which takes place in New York later this month, said the Sun, one of many Toronto media following the women’s tournament this week.
Texas hockey team signs rookie from York
The Fort Worth Brahmas added their fifth rookie Monday, signing 24-year-old forward Matt Reynolds out of York University, reported the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Aug. 16. Reynolds spent five years with York, scoring 107 points in 123 games for the Lions. He graduated this year with a BA in geography. The Brahmas open their ninth season and fifth in the Central Hockey League on Oct. 21.
On air
- Kathy Gould Lundy, a course director in York’s Faculty of Education, discussed how she teaches teachers to be better educators, Aug. 15 on “Richard Cloutier Presents” on CJOB-AM in Winnipeg