Funny Picture

http://www.toronto.ca/parks.

Feeling like a pro skater is easy when you see the 'passion that unites us all' wrap around the Zamboni that cleans the ice at City Hall. The vinyl treatment was part of the after-the-NHL-strike-fan-zone thingy. They must have forgotten to take it back so you can still see the blue and white themed vehicle whipping around the rink
Ten dollars gets you a pair of rental skates for two hours and you can pay extra for socks and mitts.

Protesters gathered their signs and banners during the OPSEU local 540 smorgasbord of complaints against the #Toronto municipal government: "Bad Management. You're paying for it." Striking housing workers who work with low-income tenants were picketing from noon to 4 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013.
Members and supporters of the union brought the signs out that said "stop union bashing, stop policing the poor, dignity first at homes first, making a difference one person at a time and end the lockout now." Calling for the City funded First Homes Society to return to bargaining after contract talks broke down a few weeks ago.

"Homes First receives more than $6 million in annual funding from the City of Toronto. The workers, represented by Local 540 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), are calling on city council to demand that management get back to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith. The union has filed a bad faith bargaining application with the Ontario Labour Relations Board."

The #Toronto Maple Leafs home opener happens tonite (Monday, January 21, 2013) and as part of their ‘Passion Unites Us All’ post-lockout tour, the Leafs are paying the costs for skate rental at City Hall beginning at 10 am today. The team will also give away home opener tickets.
“The Leafs will ambush three city rinks previously refurbished by the MLSE Team Up Foundation. The ambushes will feature murals, full rink board graphics, Zamboni wraps, giveaways and appearances/autograph opportunities. The outdoor rink at Nathan Phillips Square will also receive the full Leafs treatment and in celebration of the Home Opener, the Maple Leafs will cover the costs of skate rentals on January 21.” And “January 21 - ticket giveaways, Leafs alumni and Marlies appearances and a special Leafs treatment for the rink”
As the long line circles around the square more reporters began to show. The crowd was getting restless as they had started to assemble very early in the morning. Chants of “give us free tickets” filled the air, but I think I heard people say that only 1-5 tickets would be given out.

Maybe it was all the boats displayed at the @TorontoBoatShow scaring away winter but spring is in the air as we hit the midpoint of January in Ontario. There was even a little blue skies on Saturday, January 12, 2013.
The average high temperature for January is a blistering -1.1 degrees Celsius and this weekend we have been in double digits above freezing. Saturday's high was 14.6 degrees, Sunday was 13 and no one brought up wind chill. At Harbourfront the Natrel Rink, above, was full of skaters taking advantage of the warm day.

Meanwhile, back at the lake....
Lake Ontario in the inner harbour remains free of ice and the reflection of colourful kayaks in the waves is a bright and welcome sight.

The 28th annual City NYE 2013 (#City2013) bash starts at 10 pm on December 31 in Nathan Phillips Square with headliners Johnny Reid, The Tenors, Kardinal Offishall and hosts Dina Pugliese, Kevin Frankish, Gord Martineau, Tracy Moore and other celebrities.
Also included in the lineup are Serena Ryder, Bridgit Mendler, Victoria Duffield, Shawn Desman,
Massari and Jully Black.

"With Canada’s most diverse lineup of musical talent, City New Year’s countdown show invites viewers to ring in 2013 with millions of their closest friends during the 28th annual City New Year’s Bash, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/CT and 8 p.m. MT/PT. Hosted by Citytv and Rogers Radio on-air personalities City New Year’s Bash 2013 will usher in the New Year live with exciting musical performances, and loads of family entertainment in front of tens of thousands of revelers from Citytv’s three party centrals: Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Olympic Plaza in Calgary, and Churchill Square in Edmonton."

If you forget the politics and the seemingly endless landscape of concrete you can just see a wonderland under the curved arches of #Toronto City Hall's outdoor ice rink. During the rainy weekend most of the rink became a wet puddle, sad for the skaters, but pretty impressive for photographers.

Workmen set up the rather large Menorah that sits in Nathan Phillips Square. Other workers are on the hunt for the rather large lighter that will be required to set these flames alight.
The nine-branched candelabrum is used during the eight day Jewish festival of lights and holiday of Hanukkah which takes place from Saturday, December 8 to Sunday, December 16, 2012.