Foreign Buyers Snatch up Toronto Real Estate, Ferguson Still an Asset to Maple Leafs: TorontoIAM

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This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from TorontoIAM where you will find the best blogs from Toronto, Ontario as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

What Happens to Ferguson Now?

Recently on HockeyBuzz.com, Howard Berger ponders what will happen to John Ferguson now that Fletcher is back from his vacation in Mexico. If he has indeed had his final game as GM of the Maple Leafs, he “will at least be able to hold his head high for the exemplary manner in which he has conducted himself during the most difficult week of his tenure.” Since last weekend, he’s been “working under conditions whereby everyone knows” his employers are seeking his replacement, which “has to be rather excruciating.” And given that “we're approaching the most significant portion of the NHL season” we shouldn’t be surprised if an announcement about Fletcher stepping in comes in the next 48 hours.

But what will happen with Ferguson? asks Berger in his post. It isn’t a given that “he'll simply be fired.” Fletcher has been very willing to work alongside Ferguson since last summer, “when the Leafs were advertising for a senior hockey executive to ‘mentor’ the still-young GM.” If Fletcher has any authority in the process, perhaps he’ll “suggest that Ferguson stay on in a player development capacity.” Berger points out that “technically, the Leafs can re-assign Ferguson, as he is under contract to the club until July 1.” And although Ferguson “failed at building a team in the NHL, John is respected in many parts of the league for his ability to spot junior and college talent.”

Foreign Buyers Hot for Toronto’s High End Real Estate

Over at Real Estate Intelligence, our blogger reports that it has been foreign buyers who have kept Toronto’s real estate market going. “As the sub-prime meltdown spreads from city to city [and] expensive condos from London to New York now sit on the market for months at a time,” Toronto has managed to move right through the crisis without a scratch. Sherry Cooper, the BMO economics guru, reports that “the number of units sold, particularly at the affluent level, is growing by far more than the number of high-end domestic households.”

According to the post, the condos are primarily being snapped up by Iranians. Russians, South Koreans, and Brits are also a large client base. The high-end firms say that Iranians have become their “single biggest client group” and “agent Shaun Hsu says that half his sales over the past year have been to foreign buyers.”  Mark McLean of Sotheby’s tells us that “much of his business comes from his company’s 450 offices around the world.” He says business is non-stop, even with 18 working agents. McLean says “one man from Iran, who hasn’t even decided if he’ll move here, recently bought three not-yet-built condos through Forest Hill Real Estate, with a price tag of about $11 million.”

TTC and City Hold Public Meetings to Discuss Waterfront West Streetcar Projest

Robert MacKenzie of Transit Toronto announces that the City and TTC “will hold public information meetings on the Waterfront West streetcar project this week.” The meetings take place on January 23 (Bonar Parkdale Presbyterian Church) and January 24 (Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place). At both meetings there will be an “open house from 6:30 until 9 p.m., with presentations and a question-and-answer session starting at 7:30 p.m.” MacKenzie invites readers to drop in to “learn about the environmental assessment processes related to two parts of the Waterfront West streetcar project.”

The TTC and City are “examining routes to extend streetcar service westward from Exhibition Place to the existing track at Roncesvalles Avenue and Queen Street West.” They want to determine the “most effective route” that would provide “high-quality, higher-capacity service in a protected right-of-way.” This new streetcar will serve communities “from southern Etobicoke to downtown Toronto.” They’re also reviewing “alternative routes to best serve the Fort York and Railway Lands neighbourhoods, between Union Station and Exhibition Place,” as the neighborhoods have been transforming from railway and industrial to “high-density residences, high-density office buildings and hotels.” Links to details may be found in the post.

A Canadian History of Donuts Celebrated at the University of Toronto

Ashley Carter of Torontoist announces a tasty benefit to attending U of T’s “always interesting” This Is Not A Reading Series this week. Professor Steve Penfold and food writer Christine Sismondo are “joining forces… to discuss snack food patriotism and Canada’s unofficial deep-fried culinary icon, the donut,” as Penfold celebrated the release of his new book, The Donut: A Canadian History.

The post states that the book “examines the history of the donut in light of broader social, economic, and cultural issues.” And to assist in examining these issues, the event organizers are providing listeners “with the confectionery delights of honour for free.” Carter invites readers to “learn about the donut’s place in our national identity” this Tuesday at the Gladstone at 7 p.m.

About TorontoIAM

TorontoIAM is part of a groundbreaking network of city-focused blog aggregation, user generated media and social networking websites currently rolling out across North America. Each IAM website filters and organizes blog content as well as offering video upload capabilities, social networking, blog authoring, favourites lists and rumours. The IAM Network is a division of SoMedia Networks Inc which also operates Inveslogic.com, Greenedia.com, Healthedia.com and Blabaloo.com. For more information or to register an account, visit TorontoIAM.com.