It's a Dog's Life

This bulldog was enjoying a nap in his handler's arms.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to New York City with a couple of friends to attend the Westminster Dog Show. It is the Super Bowl of the dog world, and for those of us who love our pets, it's the ultimate in anything to do with pooches.

But arf! The top dog was a Pekingese named Malachy. The crowd at Madison Square Garden yelped in horror! I heard comments like, “A mop won!” “That just ridiculous!” “The judges are nuts!”

Now, I realize that the judges probably saw something we didn't, but really! A Pekingese! The other finalists, including a gorgeous German shepherd, a handsome dalmation, a shiny Irish setter, a delightful kerry blue terrier and a cute little wirehaird dachshund.

 

Soldier Boy (Frankie) is an 8-year-old West Highland terrier from Scorybrek Kennels in Niagara.

Now, I know there are only two kinds of people in this world, dog lovers and those that live alone. And the show got me to thinking about the kind of pets that are suitable for living in the tight confines of apartments and condos in Toronto. For an answer to that query, I sent an email off to David Frei, the voice of the Westminster Kennel Club (anybody who has ever watched on TV knows the voice). I've yet to hear from David, but I'll let you know as soon as I do.

My life is much the richer for my two companions, Murphy, a West Highland terrier, and Joey, a fun-loving cairn terrier. I won't bore you with their pics, but I'll show you a couple of the handsome animals I met in New York City.

I'd also like to hear your pet stories. Send me an email at newhomes@thestar.ca and I'll post of the best!

Have a barking good week!

An Afghan hound named Honey is a beautiful blond!

 

Hugh Heron is one of my heroes

Hugh Heron with one of the Mikey defibrillators on the back of a moving truck. (Jim Ross photo)

One of the joys of my job is meeting wonderful and interesting people, including designers Colin and Justin and Glen Peloso, TV strongman Bryan Baeumler, interesting characters like Patrick O’Hanlon of Kylemore Communities, and stalwarts of the industry like Paul Golini Jr. of Empire Communties.

But one of my great pleasures is spending time with Hugh Heron of the Heron Group of Companies, which includes Heathwood Homes and the Canadian franchise rights to moving company Two Men and a Truck.

Hugh is a wonderful raconteur with a sharp wit, a wonderful sense of irony and a Scottish brogue that seems to get stronger every year.

Born in Glasgow, Hugh left the city’s famous shipyards and moved to Canada 45 years ago, where he learned the building industry from the foundations up.

But in 2002, Hugh lost a good friend, Mike Salem, when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on the golf course and died. A year later, Hugh and some of Mike’s other friends began the Mikey Network, with the goal of placing portable defibrillators (known as Mikeys) in as many public places as they could. Hugh thinks there should be one wherever there is a fire extinguisher.

To date, over 1,200 Mikeys have been placed and 12 lives have been saved with them.

So, really, it’s no surprise then that Hugh Heron put two of his companies together to benefit the not-for-profit Mikey Network. As of this week, all Two Men and a Truck vehicles will be equipped with Mikey defibrillators as part of the Mikey-on-Board program and all of the moving company’s staff will be trained on how to use them.

“These moving trucks, with their EMS-trained personnel, circulate throughout their communities every day,” Heron says. “By carrying a Mikey, they carry a second chance at life for people who might be affected by sudden cardiac arrest. This program is a tremendous venture and for Two Men and a Truck, it’s an industry first.”

And that’s why Hugh Heron is one of my heroes.

 

New in Homes celebrates its 35th birthday

 

In 1977, Pierre Trudeau was dancing to the tunes of the No. 1 album, Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, the Blue Jays thrashed Chicago in their very first game, and audiences laughed as Woody Allen chased a lobster in Annie Hall, the Academy Award winner for Best Picture.

It’s also the year the first New in Homes section appeared in the Toronto Star, right.

Nobody seems to be able to remember who the first editor was, but notable journalists Denis Greyhurst, Pat Brennan, Ellen Moorhouse and Rick Orchard helmed the section through years of change in the development — and the newspaper — world.

Back then, most new homes were detached and in the suburbs; today, condos have overtaken new home sales, both in the city and the 905 regions, according to a recent report by RealNet Canada.

So, here at the Star we’re celebrating 35 Years of New in Homes with special new features and a surprise or two. You’ll have to keep checking back here find out what they are . . . but you won’t be disappointed.

Over the next 35 weeks, in Saturday’s New in Homes section there will be profiles of Industry Innovators who have helped change the Greater Toronto Area over the past 35 years. It’s a long list, but I’m going to endeavour to boil it down to 35.

The first profile — of Hugh Heron, below at Traditions in Milton, of the Heron Group of Companies — can be found at yourhome.ca.

I’d love to have your feedback on what you think makes a great community, what you love about your home and your neighbourhood, and what a new home means to you. We will post the best online at www.yourhome.ca — and perhaps even print a few in the paper. Just send them to newhomes@thestar.ca.

Oh, and in case your curious, here’s what was happening in 1977 — it’s the year I graduated high school, by the way (oops, I think I just gave away my age).

LEADERS

Canadian Prime Minister: Pierre E. Trudeau

U.S. President: Jimmy Carter

British Prime Minister: James Callaghan

HEADLINES

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Amnesty International

Road signs go metric in Canada.

Jan. 21: President Carter pardons U.S. Vietnam war draft evaders.

Feb. 10: Eaton Centre opens in Toronto.

April 7: The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Chicago White Sox 11-5 in Toronto in the franchise’s first game.

July 22: Deng Xiaoping, purged Chinese leader, restored to power as Gang of Four is expelled from Communist Party.

Aug. 14: 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz is arrested and charged with being the “Son of Sam,” the serial killer who terrorized New York City for more than a year.

Aug. 16: Elvis Presley dies, age 42.

Sept. 8: Torontonian Cindy Nicholas becomes the first woman to complete a return crossing of the English Channel

Sept. 12: South African activist Steve Biko dies in police custody.

Sept. 21: Nuclear-proliferation pact, curbing spread of nuclear weapons, is signed by 15 countries, including U.S. and U.S.S.R.

SPORTS

The Montreal Canadiens defeat the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.

The New York Yankees defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

The Oakland Raiders defeat the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl.

MUSIC

Billboard No. 1 album: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Billboard No. 1 pop single: “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone

MOVIES

Annie Hall (1977) wins Academy Award for Best Picture.

Other popular movies: Star Wars, Julia, Saturday Night Fever, The Goodbye Girl, Smokey and the Bandit, A Star is Born, The Spy Who Loved Me

TV

Roots becomes the biggest mini-series of all time.

After seven years on the air, The Mary Tyler Moore Show ends.

Other popular shows: Laverne and Shirley, Happy Days, Three’s Company, Charlie’s Angels and 60 Minutes.

BOOKS

Top-selling books: Oliver’s Story by Erich Segal, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkein (and Christopher Tolkien)

PEOPLE BORN IN 1977

Michael Fassbender, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom, Kanye West, Jarome Iginla, Shakira, Tom Brady

Compiled by Astrid Lange / Toronto Star Library

SOURCES: Canadian Encyclopedia; Infoplease; The Timetables of History; Billboard; IMDB

A Day with Colin and Justin

Colin McAllister, Glen Peloso and Justin Ryan pose in front of one of W Studio's great rugs.

I am a very lucky girl! I got to attend last week’s Interior Design Show with three hot designers, and I do mean hot.

HGTV stars and Toronto Star columnists Colin and Justin were my “dates” to roam the show, but we soon ran into Glen Peloso — also a columnist for the Star — who made it a very lovely foursome.

There were so many great things to see and feel and touch and it seemed it went from good, to better to amazing.

Particularly interesting was the modern systems from Resource Furniture, where all the pieces transformed from one thing into another. For instance, the wall unit with the flat-screen TV hanging from it turns 180 degrees to reveal a fold-down bed. And a narrow console table opens up to become a dining table for up to 12 people. These pieces really hit the mark for condo dwellers living in tight spaces. All of the pieces are imported from innovative European companies and are extraordinarily modern in feel and function. My dates were duly impressed.

The carpets we saw from W Studio and Weaver’s Art were scrumptious. They spanned the style range from classic and sophisticated to funky and bright. I particularly liked the colour mix of grey, beige and brown in “Sahar” from W Studio, above.

 
Rick Mugford and Caroline Robbie of Quadrangle Architects set up a diorama in a shipping container called “How Do We Live,” which they describe as a tongue in check look at the delicousness of design. I just thought it was huge fun!

There were also great new taps at sinks at the Blanco Canada booth, where they presented their new Silgranit products, which are made of 80 percent natural granite. It makes an ordinary sink scratch proof, chip resistant, stain resistant — and food can be prepared or cut on the surface without making a mark. I want one!

There was so much to see at IDS and so little time! But Colin and Justin and Glen and I made the most of the time we had and saw everything we could.