The Globe and Mail

In late September, the final e-newsletter from former Toronto mayor John Sewell about Maple Leaf Gardens landed on my electronic doorstep. It was the last hurrah in a campaign by Mr. Sewell and other hockey and heritage fans to save the famous sports palace from conversion into a grocery store. "Given the inability of Friends of Maple Leaf Gardens to have a useful impact on retaining an ice rink in the Gardens," Mr. Sewell wrote, "we expect not to produce another bulletin unless there is a substantial change in the Loblaws proposal or other aspects of the approval already given." Any change of direction now appears unlikely. In June, City Hall got behind the makeover, despite public opposition to derinking the building. Grocery giant Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is ready to go forward. The sweeping renovation is due for completion about two years from now. From the perspective of this hockey non-aficionado, the controversy over the Gardens has been an especially interesting contest of urban wills.