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Hundreds participate in massive pillow fight, New York City, March 22, 2008 »

Pillow Fight New York City 2008
Photo uploaded to flickr.com by urbanblitz
In the age of bed bugs, it does not seem that wise for people around the world, in cities like Vancover and New York (pictured here) to have large group pillow fights.
Dave, a participant, is one who realized this after the fact. […]

Educating the public about bed bugs: Toronto to host bed bug forum for residents April 2nd »

InsideToronto.com reports that there will be a bed bug forum to educate residents about bed bugs and how to deal with an infestation, on Wednesday.
Concern about the recent city-wide rise in bed bug infestations has led to the creation of a bed bug forum, coming to Etobicoke this Wednesday, April 2 at LAMP CHC.”You have a […]

After a fire, bed bugs “rain down from ceilings” into other apartments »

If the Thai train infested with bed bugs does not have you thoroughly skeeved, Joe Fiorito has a new article today in the Toronto Star on 55 Bleecker, a Toronto Community Housing (public housing) building in Toronto, where tenants have meetings about bed bugs at 2 a.m. because they’re all up anyway.
2 a.m.!
That’s just the […]

Toronto’s Bug and Scrub: shelter guests being trained as pest control techs »

The article from Joe Fiorito yesterday (and my post on that article) mentioned an initiative being tried out at Seaton House, a City of Toronto-run shelter for men that has been operating since 1959. Men who live in the shelter are being given paid training as “pesticide technicians.” They’re being paid a […]

Toronto Public Health now has a Bed Bug Action Committee. Action, people. »

Joe Fiorito has another bed bug story in the Toronto Star today. He starts by describing pictures a public health official shows him from infestations he has encountered:
Reg Ayre tapped his computer keyboard and up popped a photo of a polka dot pillow on a lonesome bed; not polka dots. “Those specks are blood,” […]

Toronto Board of Health gearing up to fight bed bugs »

A bit of background:
Toronto has had a serious bed bug problem for some time, just like New York, London, San Francisco, Vancouver–I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
The Toronto Star also has a journalist called Joe Fiorito who wrote extensively and repeatedly about how serious a problem bed bugs were, […]

Still more on New York’s response to bed bugs »

The press release for the New York HPD bed bug seminars is here. It includes dates and times, addresses, and a phone number for more information. Seminars will be in English and Spanish. Please do call the number listed below to reserve a spot.
The first seminar is scheduled to take place on […]

Reg Ayre of Toronto Public Health: bed bugs a “health concern,” not a “health hazard” »

In some cities, the housing department inspects for bed bugs. In others, it’s public health. Toronto Public Health apparently has jurisdiction over inspections for bed bugs in the city.
Joe Fiorito of Toronto’s The Star spoke with Reg Ayre of Toronto Public Health about why that body can’t legally class bed bugs as […]

Toronto Councillor Paula Fletcher has some progressive ideas about bed bugs »

Jennifer Brown of The Star reports that Toronto politician Paula Fletcher is agitated about bed bugs–and trying to do something about them.
She wants the health department to investigate whether they’re a health hazard:
Toronto Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 30, Toronto-Danforth) has received so many calls from constituents she’s asked the health department to declare them a […]

Bed bugs not so nice either »

The Star (Toronto): “Yule tales aside, mice are not nice.”
…although bedbugs may not be quite so widespread a problem in Toronto yet, they actually bite us and “when you have little children or babies with bedbugs on them, it’s just plain gross.”
David Hayes needs to read Star columnist Joe Fiorito more often. From his […]

How bad are bed bugs in Toronto? Nobody knows for sure. »

We haven’t had any real data about how many people in Toronto are suffering from bed bugs since the 2003 survey of Toronto PCOs.
But this article in Friday’s Toronto Sun has some interesting statistics. On the one hand,
According to Reg Ayre, the city’s Healthy Environments manager, Toronto Public Health received 194 calls for […]

Toronto Community Housing does good; Orlando, Florida tenants and Billings, Montana shelter guest demonstrate why more bed bug education is needed »

TheStar.com | Joe Fiorito updates us on prior bed bug story
“… when bedbugs spread to her apartment, and when the Toronto Community Housing Corporation could not respond to her complaints…, she booked a fumigator on her own and paid… to take care of the problem. She has now been reimbursed by TCHC.” This […]