[turbanplanner]

The problem with North America is everyone in school just aims to pass courses with just a C or even D. If they beat the average, they are happy. When schools try to set curriculums to higher standards, parents complain their is too much homework and it's too hard. They proclaim As for for Aliens and thus they being this to everyday life and society. This is how York University Station with a huge concrete patch on the wall on opening day passed the test and was deem acceptable.

In East Asia, everyone aims for As and thus all the designs and plans are reflected in this mentality. How can we expect better when half the class graduating in this society just wing it and do the same in the workplace?

I wouldn't say I agree? I think it's more our work culture than anything. "Good enough" is something I hear a lot from the lower management folks, there is an emphasis on fixing things now, not right. I know this isn't every work environment but people who WANT to make things better often get push back or told not to bother.

 

[Undead]

I definitely don't remember anywhere close to the majority of people just trying to coast by... more so the opposite, competing to get the highest grades and grubbing every last point was a pretty common phenomenon.

I think SteveX above expressed it better than I did:

There are strict high schools that makes it hard to get an A. Then there are schools that give out grades. They enter university with super prepared or not prepared at all. Grades really means nothing.

 

[Steve X]

Speaking for a couple decades ago, it was also a known fact that grade 12 English 4U was difficult and would affect your average. So many took the option to take it in a easier summer school which allows students to reduce course load and get a higher average overall. The same could be done with the math courses but was highly not recommended if you are going into sciences or engineering. You simply don't get the same background. If you just want grades without learning much and studying hard, the option is there.

 

[Jonny5]

There are strict high schools that makes it hard to get an A. Then there are schools that give out grades. They enter university with super prepared or not prepared at all. Grades really means nothing.

Were there not reports from several years ago (pre-pandemic) that some Universities were actually grade-weighting to compensate for this?
I want to say it was Western but maybe it was Waterloo that had identified schools with too high averages and weighted their grades at a lower average.
I can't find the news now, but the Universities know about it and at least a few caught on to the game and were actively adjusting grades because of it.

EDIT: I found something on it.

Grade inflation? University of Waterloo's 'secret list' suggests it's not the case with Ottawa schools

Six Ottawa high schools are on a “secret list” used by the University of Waterloo to select students to admit to its prestigious engineering school.

ottawacitizen.com

I assume other Universities do this, but have not been found out.
For about 20 Ontario high schools they specifically adjust your grades down by over 20% for the Engineering program, and if you go to high school in Grimsby you are basically never getting in.

 

[Sauga89]

This isn't directly related to the TTC, but for those interested, Andy Byford has just been appointed to oversee the rebuild of New York's Penn Station.

 

[drum118]

Reminder: TTC stops accepting tickets, tokens, and day passes this weekend

May 29, 2025

The TTC is reminding customers that Sun., Jun. 1, 2025, is the last day tickets, tokens, and day passes - aka legacy fare media – will be accepted as valid fare payment. Wheel-Trans customers can continue to use these methods until the end of the year.

There will no refunds, exchanges, or credits for any unused legacy fare media.

The transition away from these fare payment types began in 2019 when the TTC stopped selling them in subway stations. Customers have since embraced the tap-and-ride convenience of PRESTO fares, including PRESTO Cards, PRESTO Tickets, PRESTO in mobile wallets, and debit and credit card payments.

Today, fewer than one per cent of TTC customers pay with legacy fares.

Starting Mon., Jun. 2, 2025, fares on the conventional transit system must be paid using a physical or digital PRESTO Card, PRESTO Ticket, debit or credit card, including those stored in an Apple or Google Wallet.

Customers can use cash to purchase PRESTO Cards and Tickets from Fare Vending Machines in subway stations. Cash payments will also continue to be accepted on buses and streetcars.

Select branches of the Toronto Public Library have free PRESTO cards available on a limited basis.

For more on that program, visit: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/services/presto.jsp

Information on other ways to pay a fare is available at: https://www.ttc.ca/riding-the-ttc/Updates/TTC-to-retire-tokens-tickets-and-day-passes

 

[ShonTron]

White smoke from the chimney at 1900 Yonge Street: Mandeep Lali will be the new TTC CEO.

TTC chooses new CEO, nearly a year after Rick Leary’s resignation: sources

Mandeep Lali, with experience working for New York and London’s transit agencies, has been picked by the chair of the TTC board to take over as the new head of Toronto’s beleaguered transit agency.

www.thestar.com

 

[Northern Light]

White smoke from the chimney at 1900 Yonge Street: Mandeep Lali will be the new TTC CEO.

TTC chooses new CEO, nearly a year after Rick Leary’s resignation: sources

Mandeep Lali, with experience working for New York and London’s transit agencies, has been picked by the chair of the TTC board to take over as the new head of Toronto’s beleaguered transit agency.

www.thestar.com

IF, the Mandeep Lali appointment is finalized, there will be more to say in due course.

For now, I would share for others a point of interest that has been discussed by those who knew he was in contention.

That is that he has extensive experience with subways, but limited to none w/surface transit.

 

[RapidTransit]

White smoke from the chimney at 1900 Yonge Street: Mandeep Lali will be the new TTC CEO.

TTC chooses new CEO, nearly a year after Rick Leary’s resignation: sources

Mandeep Lali, with experience working for New York and London’s transit agencies, has been picked by the chair of the TTC board to take over as the new head of Toronto’s beleaguered transit agency.

www.thestar.com

What's his history and experience like. I wonder what we can expect from him?

With Byford and Leary we had a good history on them both to know what to expect. I don't see much information with this guy.

 

[RapidTransit]

IF, the Mandeep Lali appointment is finalized, there will be more to say in due course.

For now, I would share for others a point of interest that has been discussed by those who knew he was in contention.

That is that he has extensive experience with subways, but limited to none w/surface transit.

There's always a focused on subway , since Byford.

I'm pretty sure if the Star is announcing this, it's expected for Mandeep to be finalized. It's been half a year search already for a CEO.

Does he have experience in running a transit system. Or has he always been under someone.

Part of me was hoping Greg Percy would stay because he's home grown experience, being Canadian. And comes off very straight forward with experience within the GTA and what to expect from local politicians.

Only time we'll tell.

 

[Richard White]

IF, the Mandeep Lali appointment is finalized, there will be more to say in due course.

For now, I would share for others a point of interest that has been discussed by those who knew he was in contention.

That is that he has extensive experience with subways, but limited to none w/surface transit.

Not ideal but with all the slow orders and everything else it may not be a bad thing.

As well, it may be helpful to have a blank slate where surface transit is concerned. Do you really want someone like Rick Leary who has extensive experience with surface transit leading to an "I know best" attitude?

Just my 5 cents but I would rather have someone who knows nothing and has to think on his feet than someone with a ton of experience and bad habits.

 

[Northern Light]

What's his history and experience like.

Notable former employers in reverse order

MTA - NYC

Otis Elevator

Transport for London

Background subways/rail

Degree(s) Engineer, has credentials related to signalling.

Has never been the big boss.

 

[bearcat]

Otis Elevator

Perhaps he will use his elevator expertise to expedite elevator installations throughout the system to make all the subway stations accessible.

 

[TDE]

Reminder: TTC stops accepting tickets, tokens, and day passes this weekend

May 29, 2025

The TTC is reminding customers that Sun., Jun. 1, 2025, is the last day tickets, tokens, and day passes - aka legacy fare media – will be accepted as valid fare payment. Wheel-Trans customers can continue to use these methods until the end of the year.

There will no refunds, exchanges, or credits for any unused legacy fare media.

The transition away from these fare payment types began in 2019 when the TTC stopped selling them in subway stations. Customers have since embraced the tap-and-ride convenience of PRESTO fares, including PRESTO Cards, PRESTO Tickets, PRESTO in mobile wallets, and debit and credit card payments.

Today, fewer than one per cent of TTC customers pay with legacy fares.

Starting Mon., Jun. 2, 2025, fares on the conventional transit system must be paid using a physical or digital PRESTO Card, PRESTO Ticket, debit or credit card, including those stored in an Apple or Google Wallet.

Customers can use cash to purchase PRESTO Cards and Tickets from Fare Vending Machines in subway stations. Cash payments will also continue to be accepted on buses and streetcars.

Select branches of the Toronto Public Library have free PRESTO cards available on a limited basis.

For more on that program, visit: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/services/presto.jsp

Information on other ways to pay a fare is available at: https://www.ttc.ca/riding-the-ttc/Updates/TTC-to-retire-tokens-tickets-and-day-passes

And people will still sell tokens on Marketplace for $1.00 - $2.00, and warn that use will end on June 1st. They're souvenirs at this point.

 

[Sunnyside]

Were there not reports from several years ago (pre-pandemic) that some Universities were actually grade-weighting to compensate for this?
I want to say it was Western but maybe it was Waterloo that had identified schools with too high averages and weighted their grades at a lower average.
I can't find the news now, but the Universities know about it and at least a few caught on to the game and were actively adjusting grades because of it.

EDIT: I found something on it.

Grade inflation? University of Waterloo's 'secret list' suggests it's not the case with Ottawa schools

Six Ottawa high schools are on a “secret list” used by the University of Waterloo to select students to admit to its prestigious engineering school.

ottawacitizen.com

I assume other Universities do this, but have not been found out.
For about 20 Ontario high schools they specifically adjust your grades down by over 20% for the Engineering program, and if you go to high school in Grimsby you are basically never getting in.

Speaking as someone who chose not to attend a high school that would get adjusted down (for other reasons), and instead one that’d get adjusted up (favoured), this is well justified and almost entirely necessary. It’s not just grade pumping; the depth and breadth of learning is itself often hampered.

Smart people from that ‘bad’ school got in and did very well at UW. It’s not a barrier; no public high school is actually pumping out 90% math averages, but the ones getting 97% there are still top of the line. I also know quite a few folks at UW who came from Grimsby, ironically. So again, these people are not all screwed.

Think what you will, but it’s usually the high schools in wealthy areas with this problem…