LEASIDE Today Spring 2010
The Leaside Look
Is there one?
MEMORIES
Growing up in the area
Toronto’s Casual and Classy Community Another MulticomMedia Publication
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
1
2
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
Today’s dynamic community fun exploring the different aspects of Leaside by going on a Culture Crawl, where we ask you to take a little Leaside stroll with us. We have even hit the streets and asked some area fashion retailers if there was such a thing as a Leaside “look,� which we’ve teased out in our centre spread. Last year the cover of Leaside Today asked if you were a “typical� Leasider. This year on our cover we have featured Arianna and Richard McWhirter, who, while they may look like the traditional Leaside couple, and are in many ways, also reflect how Leaside is changing. Enjoy.
W
elcome to the Town Crier’s fourth annual Leaside Today, which celebrates the people and places that make up this unique community. This year we’ve decided to change things up a bit, because, after all, Leaside isn’t static, nor we be. In the past we’ve brought you a detailed history of the development of Leaside from the early days of William Lea, drawing heavily on Jane Pitfield’s excellent book, Leaside. This year we’ve interviewed the community activist and author herself, bringing you an exclusive story on Pitfield’s association with Leaside over the years. Speaking of memories, we have played historians ourselves, uncovering some great personal anecdotes from Leasiders — including area businesspeople, real estate agents and those who grew up in the area but now live around the world. We also decided to have a bit of
Trusted in Real Estate since
1928
Lori Abittan, Publisher
Leaside Today: Covering the communities of Leaside, Moore Park, Bennington Heights, North Leaside & South Eglinton.
LEASIDE ON THE COVER: Leasiders Richard and Arianna McWhirter. photo by francis crescia
Another
Printed and Distributed by
Today
SPRING 2010
THE LEASIDE LOOK
Is there one?
MEMORIES
Toronto’s Casual and
Growing up in the area
Classy Community
MulticomMedia
1
MulticomMedia Publication
Diversity Publishers & Printers
105 Wingold Avenue, Toronto, ON M6B 1P8 For all your printing and distribution needs call: 416 785 4311 ext. 614
Robert Brackett Director of Distribution
Lori Abittan Publisher
PRODUCTION SERVICES
Director of PRINT
Joe Mastrogiacomo
Tony Lomuto
James Arscott
Vice President of Finance
Doreen Iannuzzi
Vice President of New Media
EDITORIAL Eric McMillan
EDITOR-in-chief
Supervisor
Mark Winer Production
Tony Baron
Production PrePress Manager
Anna Maria Arcuri
Group Circulation Manager
Advertising & Sales
For a limited time only, you can also find this guide on our website: www.MyTownCrier.ca
Don Bettger
Gordon Cameron
Director, GROUP Sales
101 Wingold Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6B 1P8 Tel: 416 785-4300 Fax: 416 785-7350
Kelly Gadzala
Jennifer Gardiner
MulticomMedia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Multimedia NOVA Corporation, an integrated communications company publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MNC.A
MANAGING EDITOR
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
Shadi Raoufi
EDITORIAL ART DIRECTOR
Director, Corporate Sales
Kathy Kerluke
Business Manager
13' ,42("'
%1$-"'' # -"$' -# 3' 3¨2 )423 !$%.1$
)4("$ 3(,$ 63$&(6 $9$,/$%/( )25 6(37 2/ "$2 5 (+ !+$ %.1 2$/3
Bayview Glen’s Preschool programme is like no other. It’s a nurturing, safe environment where your two to four-year-old will unleash their creativity, develop their language skills and build their self-esteem – while having mountains of fun. We offer a curriculum where your child will learn at their own pace and have their thirst for knowledge quenched every day. ED\YLHZJOHQ FD
1 2 : 7 + $7¡6 ( 1 & 2 8 5 $ * , 1 *
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
3
Do you remember?
Digital memories
Stories of growing up
M
emories ... in the corners of your laptop. Chatting about times past needn’t always occur at the pub or at your high school’s 25th reunion. For 800 or so Leasiders and former Leasiders, childhood and teenage memories went viral last year when a flurry of recollections were posted on a Facebook page dedicated to the area. Some of the fans have moved out of the city; others have stayed in Leaside or Toronto. What is obvious, judging by the comments on the page: Leaside isn’t an easy place to forget. Take Ian Clarke, one of the group’s posters who grew up in Leaside from 1962 onwards, attending Bessborough Public School and then Leaside High before moving away from his Sharron Drive home in 1982. Though he says he now lives out of the city, the place where grew up is like no other. “It has a charm and character that I’ve yet to find anywhere else in Canada,� he writes. “I’ve lived in the Arctic, and almost every province except Newfoundland. I still go back regularly and get my fix.� Another member writes that Leaside felt like its own little haven, an idyllic place that was separate from the rest of the city. It’s a comment that you still hear today when you talk to people about Leaside. And that’s another thing that stands out about the memories people have shared on the page: many of them reference places or things that still exist in Leaside today, a good 20 or more years later. Interestingly enough, a good bulk of those memories centre around the heart of Leaside itself, where Millwood Road and McRae Drive intersect near
francis crescia/town crier
STILL THERE: Many members of the Leaside Facebook page mentioned the taste of Bravo Pizza, still made by Jack the owner, and at least resident had an interesting story about the pay phone near Trace Manes Park.
Trace Manes Park. Many people reminisced about the China Food restaurant on Millwood, which is still there to this day. Several commented that the Bravo Pizza just a few doors over had, and still has, the best pizza ever. The Town Crier did a little investigating and it seems the original owner, Jack, is still there making pizza. Though it’s been gone for over 20 years, it seems no one who grew up in Leaside in the 1970s and 80s could ever forget the Endangered Animal Sanctuary on Millwood Road that was right next to China Food. Some write that they were fascinated by it and used to love the place, while others were creeped out. Others couldn’t believe there was essentially a corner store in Leaside that housed a tiger, leopards, parrots and other exotic animals. What ever happened to the animal sanctuary? The Town Crier covered the issue in the 1980s. It was eventually forced out of the neighbourhood. Other memories include hanging out at the Leaside arena, Sunnybrook Plaza, and Trace Manes Park. Susan Spence, a former Leasider who grew up there and still lives in the city, has a particular memory
involving the phone booth across from the park. “I used to love it when people would call the phone booth ‌ We used to call to see who was hanging out at the park and if it was worth the trek from North Leaside.â€? The phone booth, we are happy to report, is still there. – Kelly Gadzala
!T 3T #LEMENT S 3CHOOL EACH AND EVERY
#LEMENTINE
FROM GRADE ONE TO UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE DISCOVERS HER UNIQUE WAY TO SHINE
JOUFMMJHFOU JNBHJOBUJWF PSJHJOBM
4U $MFNFOU T 4DIPPM UIFSF JT OP DPNQBSJTPO &ULL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE 6ISIT WWW SCS ON CA OR CALL TO BOOK A PERSONAL TOUR
4
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
Author shares her story
Living history
S
Jane Pitfield
ay “history” and “Leaside” to most Leasiders today and two more words invariably jump to mind: “Jane” and “Pitfield”. Though she calls herself a lover of history over a historian Jane Pitfield brought the story of her community and its development to the world in her 1999 book, Leaside. Ironically, Pitfield’s connection to the place she lived in for 20 years unfolded in an almost fate-like way. Take her 1984 move to Leaside. It was her dad, an avid marathoner who used to run through Toronto’s many neighbourhoods, who told her Leaside was a good place to live as it was close to downtown and had good resale value. “He liked that it small town in a big city,” Pitfield says. It was an ethic she also appreciated. “Growing up I always lived in small towns,” she says. “I like small communities.” So, pregnant with her first of four children, Pitfield and her husband moved to
Fleming Crescent. The years of community activism and involvement started practically right away, though again, almost by chance. Still new to the neighborhood and at home with a newborn, Pitfield says a friend approached her about becoming the director of the Leaside Property Owners’ Association. She did and it was an experience that cemented her local spirit. “It’s the single most important way to know about what’s going on in your neighborhood,” she says. In October 1989 Pitfield started Concerned Citizens of Leaside in reaction to a proposed high-rise development at Eglinton Avenue and Brentcliffe Crescent, which resulted in the developer pulling out and to the eventual development of the Hyde Park community. “We also got a two acre park for free,” she says of the group’s efforts. In the same year she founded the After Four program at Bessborough Public School. It all started because her daughter’s Parks and BOOK Page 7
francis crescia/town crier
COVER ART: Jane Pitfield holds artist David Peacock’s painting of William Lea’s octagonal house that adorned the front of her book.
I live here with my family. I support the youth, local businesses, schools and associations. My children play and go to school here. No one knows the value of your home or the community better than I do! I care!
D L O S 9 Leacrest Ave. 40 Rowley Ave. Bayview Eglinton, 4 Bdrm. Home South Leaside 4 Bdrm., Fam. Rm. $1,189,000 $1,469,000
302 Forman Ave. Stunning Davisville Semi., 3 Bdrm. $649,000
27 Southvale Dr. South Leaside, Bungalow $569,000
19 Tilson Rd. Davisville, 3 Bdrm., $729,000
220 Broadway Ave. Bayview Eglinton Bungalow, Condo Alternative $549,000
This special certificate entitles a residential property owner to one Market Evaluation. This service will be performed by the issuing salesperson without obligation to the home owner, and is valid only for properties not currently listed for sales within the Greater Toronto area. Please retain this valuable certificate and call to arrange for an appointment.
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
5
Fun times
&
Highly awarded and recognized for exceptionally outstanding achievements in Early Childhood Education. Nurturing, a solid joyful foundation - the children flourish!
mber 2010
te Camp & Sep r fo � ’S O “ TEENY TW
....
Announcing
100 Ranleigh Ave. (Yonge/Lawrence),
1585 Yonge (at Heath)
(Yorkminister Park Baptist Church)
www.yesicannurseryschool.com
Maria Montessori School
Teenage memories francis crescia/town crier
For children two and a half to twelve.
Accredited by the Association Montessori Internationale 123 Brentcliffe Rd., Toronto (416) 423-9123 www.mariamontessori.ca
.DWKOHHQ :\QQH 033 0HPEHU RI 3URYLQFLDO 3DUOLDPHQW IRU 'RQ 9DOOH\ :HVW
$V \RXU 0HPEHU RI 3DUOLDPHQW LW LV P\ MRE WR KHOS \RX GHDO ZLWK WKH SURYLQFLDO JRYHUQPHQW DQG LWV DJHQFLHV DQG UHSUHVHQW \RXU LQWHUHVWV 'R \RX QHHG KHOS ZLWK \RXU KHDOWK FDUG ELUWK FHUWLILFDWH GULYHU¡V OLFHQVH RU DQRWKHU SURYLQFLDO PDWWHU" 1DYLJDWLQJ WKURXJK JRYHUQPHQW VRPHWLPHV LV D FKDOOHQJLQJ WDVN 0\ VWDII DQG , DUH KHUH WR KHOS \RX (JOLQWRQ $YH (DVW 6XLWH 7RURQWR 21 ZZZ NDWKOHHQZ\QQH RQPSS FD
Bennington Heights x Flemingdon Park x Leaside Thorncliffe x Wynford-Concorde
Let me help you with your municipal questions and concerns. 416 392-0215 • councillor_parker@toronto.ca
6
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
SCHOOL DAYS: Drew Homewood has fond memories of growing up in Leaside.
Drew Homewood
O
nce a Leasider, always a Leasider. Drew Homewood has been involved in Leaside life for over 40 years. He was born there in 1964, attended Bessborough Public school and Leaside High School, and lived in the neighbourhood until he moved to East York about five years ago. But Homewood still considers himself a Leasider. His two children attend the same schools he did, his real estate office and main business focus is in Leaside, and he sponsors and coaches sports team in the neighbourhood. In fact many of his clients are Leasiders who have returned to the community to raise their own families, he says. It’s fitting, then, that when asked about Leaside memories Homewood says he remembers hanging out as a young teen in an abandoned home built in the 1890s. The Gundy mansion, Homewood says, was located in the woods behind what is now the Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation centre. It was still standing in the 1970s, he says, though it was completely dilapidated. “A lot of people didn’t know it was there,� Homewood says. But the kids who did used to break in and hang out or party, he says. There was an indoor pool with brass ladders that he vividly remembers. The house was torn down years ago and he says he doubts he could find the site today. Homewood has no troubles finding Trace Manes Park, site of the Leaside Winter Carnival he says was held in the 1960s and 70s. “It was a huge deal,� he says of the festival. There were kids’ games and racing on the skating rink, plus music, hot chocolate and hotdogs — and a bonfire that was at least 5 metres high, he says. Across from Trace Manes there was the Endangered Animal Sanctuary, he says, which was in a corner store on Millwood until the 1980s. “You used to see (the owner) Bill walking his tiger on the hill.� Homewood says he’ll never forget the fire on Eglinton Avenue East between Laird and Sutherland Drives around 1985. The blaze originated in the Rendez Vous restaurant, he says, and destroyed the resto and the pool hall above it on the second level. The pool hall was a neighbourhood draw, he says, that brought people to the block. “It was an institution for decades,� he says, and after that fire, the commercial strip never really recovered. Speaking of restaurants, Homewood and his Leaside High classmates organized a reunion of sorts at Originals on Bayview Avenue last June, after a classmate had died. Over 100 people showed up, he says, and the event was so well attended they’re hoping to do it again this year. Originals, by the way, is referred to by locals as “OG’s,� he says, and it’s the place to go if you want to bump into Leasiders. While we’re on the subject of local lingo, Homewood says Leaside High students who graduated in the late 1980s and 90s will never forget “The Butt Hut,� a shack between the small baseball diamond at Talbot Park and the west doors of the school. The hut was off school property, he says, so students would congregate on the stairs and smoke. The hut is still there, though the smokers aren’t. Good to know some things change. – Kelly Gadzala
Book built history room Cont. from Page 5
Recreation ballet class was cancelled. The feeling was that there wasn’t a market for ballet in Leaside, Pitfield says. After approaching the principal of the school to see if there was space for a class, he told her yes — only if she ran it. With a four-year old, a two-year old, and newborn twins to take care of, Pitfield says she wasn’t wild about the idea. Then she was told the position was paid. “I said, ‘I’ll take it.’ ” Subsidized by the board of education, the classes were inexpensive for parents, she says, and grew to include other kids’ classes like theatre, and eventually adult classes, PA day courses and March Break programs. “Before I knew it I had 50 courses a week,” she says. “Bessborough really became a hub.” She ran the program until 1994, when she was asked to run for school trustee. “It was the furthest thing from my mind,” she says of running. But she won and became a trustee for Leaside and Thorncliffe Park with the East York board of education. But she found that she thrived in the political environment. One could say her book on Leaside was part political move, part labour of love. The idea for it came about before amalgamation in 1998, something Pitfield says she was opposed to. To her the book was an antidote, of sorts. “It was a way of ensuring the local community didn’t get swallowed up,” she says. And during her time with the Leaside Property Owners’ Association, she says she had the opportunity to read several old books on Leaside, most of which were out of print. “I found the little bit of history available fascinating.” Several residents did the bulk of research, while she wrote about 80 percent of the tome, she says. The book was a wonderful way to engage the community, Pitfield says. “The more people know about their neighborhood, the more they appreciate it.” Leaside sold 800 copies straight off so they did a second release right away. A third printing happened last year. Proceeds from the book — $25,000 from first issue, Pitfield says — helped to build the Leaside Room in the Leaside Library. Though there’s a plaque on the wall commemorating the donation, Pitfield says she asked the library not to put her name on it. “It’s not about me.” Over 10 years after the book’s first printing, Leaside’s legacy lives on. Members of the group who fought to save the historic Talbot Apartments, used information on Henry Talbot from her book to bolster their arguments over the site’s importance, she says. Now running for city councilor in Ward 29 in East York, Pitfield is optimistic about her win, and plans are already in the works to write a book on the area in conjunction with the East York Historical Society. This past summer, she penned and self-published a book on the history of her great, great grandfather, who emigrated from Scotland and built up a lumber and banking businesses in Quebec around the same time William Lea was building up Leaside. “Like the Leaside book I lost myself in it,” she says of the experience. “I take myself back and imagine what it was like to be there.” Though she’s moved on in a way, Leaside always remains. “My heart is in Leaside,” she says. “I miss it but I haven’t completely left.”
“It was a way of ensuring the local community didn’t get swallowed up.”
– Kelly Gadzala
Skills, habits and attitudes for lifelong success!
CALL NOW!
OWNED & OPERATED by ONTARIO CERTIFIED TEACHERS
Changing Lives through our Expertise, Professionalism, Integrity & Commitment to your Family
2 Yonge St Locations NORTH TORONTO: 416.487.2875 ROSEDALE: 416.924.6305
VISIT US ONLINE SylvanLearning.com/northtoronto & SylvanLearning.com/rosedale
Reading, Math, Writing, Study Skills, Test-Taking, College/University Prep and More!
DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING THE WHOLE CHILD
PK TO GRADE 12 CO-ED SCHOOL Lower School Superior, balanced curriculum Stimulating, nurturing environment Dedicated, highly qualified teachers Small class sizes Individual approach to learning Early-start literacy program Full-day kindergarten program Outstanding facilities Technology integrated into classrooms Wealth of clubs, sports & arts Before & after-school program
Upper School Unique, flexible 3-semester program Challenging, rewarding environment Experienced, caring teachers State-of-the-art computer & science labs Wireless campus Tutoring program available Helpful guidance & support staff Wealth of clubs, sports & arts Advanced Placement program 100% of graduates accepted to university or college of choice
Summer Day Camp Program Available - Join Today! 21 Ascot Avenue, Toronto | 416-631-0082 | hudsoncollege.ca
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
7
Retail future
Pedals and pages The Softer Side Of Stickley
MARCH FLYER SALE
Seriously Different Construction Would you like to communicate with us online? To receive a $50 Internet Coupon To use on a purchase of $300 or more... 1. Simply register at manderleymanor.com for our Preferred Email List. 2. Print your exclusive coupon for extra in-store savings! 3. Receive Sales and event notification promptly by email. We promise not to overload your email box.
Stickley/Manderley Manor 561 & 567 Mount Pleasant Road (647) 435-4268 • (416) 486-3045 www.manderleymanor.com - sales@manderleymanor.com
David Sandquist
D
avid Sandquist is a wrench jockey and an intellectual and from his long standing vantage point he’s almost seen it all when it comes to Leaside. The owner of Sandy’s Cycle Shop and Books, Sandquist has been working in the neighbourhood for 20 years. “I’ve been watching how the immediate neighbourhood around me has changed over time,” he said. Sandquist points to the neighbourhood’s workingclass beginnings in the post-war era that saw developers plant two-bedroom bungalows on sprawling lots. “Leaside in the post-WWII era was relatively remote. Toronto has grown a huge amount since then,” he said. These days, he said, it’s become common practice to replace those original homes with houses that take up most of their given lot. “There are a lot of newer monster homes here,” he said. “Now working-class people can’t afford to live in Leaside.” This includes Sandquist himself, who’s always commuted to the area from more affordable environs. Although the shop has moved around the neighbourhood from time to time, the current spot is on
Laird Dr., an area Sandquist remembers as being heavily industrial. “When I first got involved, the area that was behind Laird was exclusively manufacturing, now it’s become more retail,” he said. But the retail has been slow to come, and it looks to Sandquist like its development into the future will be slow, too. For years, especially in the area’s industrial heyday in the 1950s, industrial practices were such that the soil in the area became heavily polluted. Remediation, he said, is just too expensive for most developers. “I think that issue probably more than any other is going to make this conversion from manufacturing to retail a very long process,” he said. But Sandquist is one of the few small businesses who’ve set up shop looking toward that retail future for this part of Leaside. His father opened the first incarnation of Sandy’s in 1972 on Millwood Road. The shop was tiny; a labour of bicycle love. Teaching at the University of Toronto during the day, the older Sandquist would open the shop on weekends and once or twice during the week, but over the summer it became a fulltime operation. After 15 years on Millwood, son David bought
Leaside
STORE HOURS
Mon - Wed: 10 am - 6pm • Thurs - Fir : 10pm - 8pm Saturday: 10 am - 5pm • Sunday: 12am - 5pm
Come visit our showroom
8
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
“I’ve been watching how the immediate neighbourhood around me has changed over time.”
A read on the future francis crescia/town crier
Elegance Timeless Beauty Integrity
David Sandquist says retail development is slowly coming to Leaside’s former industrial area.
the shop and, needing it to function as his livelihood, moved it a few times over the years. In the latest spot, Sandquist discovered a small area out of the way that wouldn’t be suitable for bicycles. “So I built shelves, purchased books, organized books and voila, you have a used book store,” he said. But it wasn’t just a random fancy that spurred the creation of Toronto’s only cycle and book shop. “I’ve been a book collector for decades,” he said. Sandquist reported with pride on one of his biggest book scores. “Seven or eight years ago I bought an enormous
library that had belonged to a prominent lawyer in Toronto, Sir Aemilius Irving, an MP who worked with Sir John A. Macdonald,” he said. Many of the books, which generally hail from prior to 1850, have been sold to public archival institutions, but a good portion of them are for sale in the shop and range in price from $5 to $2,000 plus. But it’s the cycles at Sandy’s Cycle Shop and Books that remain Sandquist’s primary business. “I don’t know how anybody makes a living selling books,” he said, “(but) to me it’s really immensely fun to do.” – Christopher Reynolds
Custom Made Jewellery
Providing customers with quality, service and value for over 70 years.
1597 Bayview Avenue 416-481-9084 www.belljewellers.com
Your Neighbourhood School at Bayview & York Mills! Founded in 1988
NURSERY & KINDERGARTEN MARCH & SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS
www.mrs-parksschool.com Leaside United Location 416-424-2135 St. Cuthbert Church location 416-482-4131 mrs-parksschool@sympatico.ca
JK - 8
Call to arrange a tour!
New Facility opened in 2008
416-425-4567 2454 Bayview Avenue www.junioracademy.com admissions@junioracademy.com 2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
9
Please do not hesitate to contact my office located in Leaside
Mysterious book store
Happy to serve you!
Oliphant M.P. DON VALLEY WEST
146 Laird Drive, Suite 203, Toronto, Ontario, M4G 3V7 Tel: 416.467.7275 Fax: 416.467.8550 roboliphant@roboliphantmp.ca www.roboliphantmp.ca
Whodunits on Bayview
brian baker/town crier
HOUND OF BAKER STREET: Co-owner Marian Misters not only stocks stacks of mystery novels in her shop, but also shares it with a pooch named Percy.
The Sleuth of Baker Street
I
“
r
fo the GTA g n i v r Se ars 10+ Ye
10
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
t was a diamond all right,” Dashiell Hammett’s novel The Dain Curse begins, “Shining in the grass half a dozen feet from the blue brick wall.” If talking about a precious gemstone in the middle of a lea, the Sleuth of Baker Street, all snug in its commercial strip along Bayview Avenue, would be the sparkle catching any private eye’s attention. Whether you don Holmes’ deerstalker cap, Spade’s fedora or Miss Marple’s bonnet, there’s bound to be a few mysterious discoveries for the thrill-seeking, bookish type here. But it’s the warmth and enchanting atmosphere, much like Harry Potter’s Flourish and Blotts that keeps proprietor Marian Misters happy. “We work in here all the time, so we try to make it look like that country manor house library feel,” Misters says. “At one point we just thought we would hang up a bunch of chandeliers, and then I thought, ‘Oh no, I’d have to keep them clean’.” She runs the novel sanctuary with former husband J.D. Singh. Both are chartered accountants and they purchased the shop 28 years ago when it was situated a little further south on the Leaside throughway. “It was a two-line ad in the Globe and Mail that just said bookstore for sale,” Misters says. “We drove over. We walked in and it just felt right. “Then we looked at the financial statements and said we shouldn’t,” she adds. “But there was just something about the place.” After their first location, the Sleuth moved to 1595 Bayview Avenue, now home to a Second Cup. After some time at that spot, they moved again across the street to 1600.
“It was a two-line ad ... bookstore for sale ... We walked in and it felt right.”
Store a hangout for fans They’ve been at their current cubbyhole for 15 years, with Misters residing above. And owning the bookstore has been quite an enjoyable way to spend her time, says Misters. “Imagine waking up every single morning and loving where you work? “That’s the best thing,” she adds, “and obviously loving to read, I can read whatever I want, wipe the fingerprints off and put it back on the shelf.” With the comforts of home, there’s only one thing missing. Like all famous detectives, there needs to be an amiable sidekick: the Watson to Holmes, the Sneaky Pie to Mrs. Murphy or the Asta to Nick and Nora Charles. Enter Sir Percival — aptly named after the knight of Arthurian legend due to his Pendragon Poodles breeding — and he is hardly the hound of Baskervilles infamy. He is the first canine to tally-ho through the stacks, after 15 years of cats. All of the Sleuth’s four-legged friends have names starting with the letter P and they all have prolific lifespans. Misters can’t explain why the letter P is prominent, but she has an answer to the mystery as to why a pooch was purchased: she saw it in a dream. Percy, as he is known in brief, can even read three flash cards Misters specially prepared for him. But the long line of felines has not been forgotten. Paddington, discovered as a kitten at Eglinton station, has a portrait above the cash register. Porky and Princess are found in photos inside the shop, and Poppy has been immortalized as the logo of the Sleuth, wearing a deerstalker cap and smoking a pipe. “Before we used to have the Sherlock Holmes profile, and then we decided we’d put Poppy on every thing,” she recalls, adding Poppy was a great big, fat tabby. Much like the cats before him, Percy loves the warmth of the spotlight. Though his services come with a voluntary fee: dog treats. “There’s no point telling (customers) that we want scotch for Christmas anymore, they just bring dog biscuits,” Misters says, with a laugh. But be forewarned: Percy has a solid schedule. “If you read the little sign in the window, it says, ‘If you really want to see Percy, you have to make an appointment’, because people would come in and he wouldn’t be here,” Misters says. Besides meeting up with bookshop royalty, it’s not uncommon for patrons to cluster around, much like an Ellery Queen denouement, and talk whodunits. “We get a lot of people who are just going to dinner, they’ll come here shop and meet their friends here,” Misters shares. “It’s not as though it’s a gathering place, but I think people associate books with good things.” She even shares an anecdote of how a couple met each other while at the Sleuth. “A man and a woman came in carrying a tulip basket and said, ‘We would like to give you this’,” she recalls. “J.D. and I were here and said, ‘Why?’ Well they were standing in line to checkout and one of them started talking to the other about mys-
tery books that they had in their arms, and one of them asked, ‘Do you want to go out for a coffee? “Anyway they’re dating now. That was just last August,” she adds. “I thought, ‘You know this is what that’s all about’, there’s just something about it.” That something draws people not just from Leaside but from around Ontario. “We feel we’ve become a destination shop. People come to us to get mystery books,” Misters
says. “They make an effort to come here because the parking is terrible and we keep bankers’ hours.” “And if I had a dime for everybody who came to see Percy, I wouldn’t have to sell any books.” She looks to bookshelves with an expressive Sam Spade smile, knowing they hold the stuff that dreams are made of, then nods to Percy, who awaits his investigations of Bayview Avenue. – Brian Baker
We’ve got you covered! • Shingling • Eavestroughing • Custom Roofing & Copper Work • Aluminum & Vinyl Siding • Soffit • Fascia • Repairs FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
DominionRoofing.com or call (416) 789-0601 ext 285 Sub-Contractor of the Year Award Winner!
Celebrating 85 Years in Business! 2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
11
A land of firsts
Stocking up for Spring and Summer! Clothing, toys, furniture, equipment and more! Get ca$h on the spot for your gently used items. No appointments necessary.
Dreaming of space
F
or Paul Terry, Leaside is a place of many firsts. It’s where he first discovered his love for books at Leaside Library, where he first learned to play hockey at Leaside Memorial Gardens and where he first explored his love for science. “It was an amazing time (in Leaside),” said Terry, who is now the supervisor of traveling exhibitions for the Ontario Science Centre. “I decided early on I was interested in space. I’d seen Sputnik around ’58, I remember being in the yard with the neighbours, everybody was watching it. I was about five (years old) and I remember asking ‘Can we go to the moon?’ and everybody laughed. Well just about 10 years later people were on the moon.” Terry said he owes his early fascination of science to his parents, who got him his first library card allowing him to read about the cosmos during the early days of the space race. He said he’s glad his old neighbourhood offered so many opportunities for learning right on its doorstep. “The Ontario Science Centre being so close is such an important thing for the people of Leaside,” said Terry. “It certainly was important for me when I was growing up.”
1386 Bayview Ave. (3 blocks S. of Eglinton at Merton)
(416) 485-2776
Hours: M-F 10-8 Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5 www.onceuponachildtorontosouth.com
JK JK Kitchen JB & Bathroom Renovations Inc.
When you just want things done right... you have to hire
Derek LaMarche!
est in T
GOLD AWAR D
ow n
B
416-784-3535
VISIT OUR GALLERY AT www.kitchensandbathroom.ca
2008
“Thank you for voting us best Kitchen & Bathroom Renovator”
12
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
Paul Terry
KOHAI EDUCATIONAL CENTRE 41 Roehampton Ave, Toronto Phone: 416-489-3636 www.kohai.ca email: barbarakec@bellnet.ca New! Integrated Preschool Programme: We are now accepting enrolment.
francis crescia/town crier
ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE’S Paul Terry got his first taste of space and science at the Leaside Library.
Kohai’s all age school has been providing quality education for students with a wide range of special needs for over 30 years. Our students experience a full academic, physical education and arts programme. We integrate socialization and personal skills into our programme. We believe everyone can learn
DON RITTER Karate WOW!
Congratulations to the new Junior Black Belts!! Five Children from Our Community have successfully attained the Junior KARATE Black Belt Level! And Congratulations to Our Community for another fantastic year at the Don Ritter Family Martial Arts Centre
94 Laird Drive www.donritter.com
Eglinton Avenue
Entrance off Lea Avenue
Southvale Drive
Lea
Laird Drive
416-488-4334
Bayview Ave
This success does not come easy. Through their hard work, dedication and commitment for the past four to five years, these children have persevered to be the best that they can be and their perseverance has paid off. Their effort and achievement are to be recognized. They not only have attained a comprehensive knowledge of Karate and other Self Defense techniques, but they have also developed essential life skills that make the difference between success and failure in life. Not only have they learned to focus on completing a task, but they have also developed confidence and self assertiveness when confronted with what at times may appear insurmountable challenges. These five children have also learned the true meaning of leadership and initiative, while at the same time working in a cooperative setting to help others to improve and achieve their goals. The Don Ritter Family Martial Arts Centre is proud to have dedicated Martial Arts Educators, whose overriding goal is to empower children to improve their character qualities that will make them better prepared for the teenage and Young Adolescent years ahead, and that will stand them in good stead into adulthood. By helping our children grow, we are empowering them to build a stronger community. Don Ritter
le Sa ndsh 31 E rc a M
One of Terry’s fondest memories of Leaside involved the Confederation train that toured across the nation during Canada’s centennial celebration in 1967 paying the community a call. “It was a train of 12 cars, you entered at one end and effectively saw exhibits related to each province and territory from across the country,” said Terry. “It was nice, it was important, and most people didn’t get a chance to see it more than once or twice in their lifetime.” When he thinks back to his earlier days in Leaside, he recalls participating in annual canoe trips at Wilket Creek Park and stopping by the music store that used to be on Bayview Avenue and Millwood Road where he and his friends grabbed a CHUM chart and got their first taste of rock and roll. He recalls Leaside as being a special place to live and although he has since moved, he still holds his former neighbourhood in high regards. “Sometimes, I might go out of my way just for the joy of going through Leaside,” said Terry. “It’s really just a great community to be a part of.” – Matthew Cohen
We are offering 30% off our exceptional selection of unique in-stock floor and table lamps, lampshades, mirrors and decorative items.
WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT SUNNYBROOK SCHOOL
“Sunnybrook is JK to G6 and not a large overwhelming environment. It’s a great way to prepare kids for big school.” OPEN HOUSE
CRAIG COLRAINE
April 14th, 2010 1:30pm 3:00pm
SON: JK SUNNYBROOK SCHOOL
The measure of a great school starts here
JK
SK
GRADE SUNNYBROOK SCHOOL
1
GRADE
2
GRADE
3
GRADE
4
GRADE
5
GRADE
6
SEE WHAT OTHER PARENTS ARE SAYING AT
sunnybrookschool.com ON MERTON STREET EAST OF MT. PLEASANT 416.487.5308
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
13
The Leaside look
At work
W
A style for every occasion
ho is the Leaside lady, and what’s her style? We talked to two women’s clothing retailers who cater to Leaside shoppers, asking them to give us their interpretation of the Leaside look. Their answers ranged from eternal elegance to casual chic. Classic sophistication Coco Chanel once said, “Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress.” But it may very well consist in donning a great vintage ensemble with a darling little hat or alligator bag. And if it is a new dress, make sure it’s from some Paris couturier. Inga Welsman of Act Two has been selling new and vintage couture fashions from her Mount Pleasant Road boutique for 14 years. She caters to Leaside women, even buying pieces from ladies living within Leaside. For Welsman, the Leaside woman is all about classic elegance. As Welsman sees her she’s in her 30s with one to three children. She may be a lawyer or a doctor or a stockbroker, and she’s well-educated and well-paid. Or she’s more mature, possibly a member of the tennis or curling club who may not necessarily work. But whatever her stature, Welsman says,
Thirty Years of Student Success
Visit us: Tuesdays at 10:00 am and April 22nd at 7:00 pm Please R.S.V.P.
www.willowwoodschool.ca 14
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
WillowWood offers: • A holistic approach • A low pupil to teacher ratio • Ontario curriculum, grades 1 to 12 • Qualified, caring teachers • Individualized teaching • Summer school, grades 1 to 12 • Tutoring services • Robust athletics and arts programs
416-444-7644
Easy she’s independent, upwardly mobile and elegant. Welsman sees the Leaside working woman wearing an Armani skirt and Max Mara cardi to work, a dressy casual outfit that can take her from the office to picking up kids after school or parent-teacher interviews. For that event after work, perhaps a cocktail party, she’s dressed her in a black, brown and pink contemporary dress by Missoni. Don’t forget the brown vintage alligator bag to complete the outfit — a classy finishing touch that actually came from a Leasider. Perhaps she’s going to a fundraiser. Then she’ll take that bag and pair it with a vintage winter white wool dress and jacket by French designer André Courrèges, a look Welsman calls the “classic Leaside look.” And if the event is quite la-dida, she may have a nibble and some bubbly at French resto Mogette Bistro beforehand, while diners gape at her in her gorgeous black floor-length gown by Ballestra Couture. COURT Page 16 francis crescia/town crier
CHIC CHICK: The “new Leaside woman”, seen here posing in Mogette Bistro on Mount Pleasant Road, is upwardly mobile and elegant, says Inga Welsman of Act Two boutique.
• Serving the Leaside community for 57 years • A fun-filled environment with nationally certified coaches • Skater:Coach ratio maximum 6:1
CLUB
• Learn to Skate sessions for all ages and levels of ability •(for 4 years and up) • Synchronized Skating Teams • Skate Canada Star Test Level sessions Registration available on line for the Spring 2010 program at www.leasideskatingclub.com. Register on line for the 2010/2011 season after July 20, 2010. For further information please email info@leasideskatingclub.com.
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
15
dancexperts
Court
Photography: © 2005 Lois Greenfield
Cont. from Page 15
Yo u r C o m p l e t e S o u r c e
Dancewear - Accessories - Specialty Leaside
852 Millwood Rd. To r o n t o , O N M4G 1W6
416-421-8506
Watch for our
50% OFF
Fashion Event Starting May 1st *While Quantaties Last
Pickering
6 0 R a n d a l l D r. # 3 Ajax, ON L1S 6L3
905-427-0443
www.dancexperts.ca
Colour chameleon Coco Chanel also said, “The best colour in the world, is the one that looks good, on you.” That’s a mantra Andrea Watley of ACE Boutique could live by. Watley designs and manufactures tennis, golf and sporty casual wear for women in her Millwood Road shop. With numerous tennis clubs and courts in the area, Leaside women are no strangers to the game, she says. Though classic white is the rule in many private clubs, Watley says, there’s nothing like a pop of colour, especially when the spring arrives and people move to the outdoor courts where rules about tennis garb shades are more relaxed. “My Leaside is all about energy,” she says. For those early spring days on the outdoor courts, layering pieces is essential, says Watley. That’s why she’s dressed her Leaside woman in white warm-up pants underneath a matching A-line dress, pairing them with a pop of turquoise in the jacket that goes overtop. Or if pink is more your shade try adding a jolt of fuchsia to that white, as Watley did when she combined a fuchsia skirt with a white tank. If you’re a member of a private club the same skirt is available in white, and you can zoot things up by wearing pink bootie shorts underneath the skirt, she says. Watley serves serves up her sporty wear to Leasiders from their mid-30s to mid 60s, which is why she designs outfits, like her classic A-line tennis dress,
PROUDLY SERVING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR OVER 9 YEARS. www.pealac.com
Persian-Indo Persian
Does your child attend French Immersion Morning Kindergarten? If the answer is Yes… Please consider our Afternoon Kindergarten Enrichment Program to support and help build your child’s reading, writing and math skills in English.
*Great Year End Inventory Sale*
Size 8’ x 10’ Now 60% Off
- Specializing In Custom-Made Rug, At No Extra Cost. - Area Rug Cleaning. $1.50 sq.ft. - Hand Wash. - Area Rug Repairing.
*FREE PICK UP & DROP OFF*
815 Broadview Ave,(North of Danforth Ave) Toronto,Ont. M4K 2P8 • 416-778-7585
16
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
We offer Two, Three or Five Afternoons. Spaces available for September 2010. 1847 Bayview Avenue
416-488-4298
www.childrensgarden.ca
Winter Clearance Sale Come Visit our 15,000 Square Foot Showroom & Warehouse
francis crescia/town crier
SERVING UP AN ACE: Andrea Watley of ACE Boutique on Millwood Road says the Leaside look is all about energy, colour and comfort.
in styles that fit all body types. Her Leaside look, she says, is savvy sport fashion, and it’s all about lifestyle. “You’re comfortable on the court in the same way you’re comfortable at a cocktail party.” It’s also a style that’s bereft of logos. Instead of the company symbol Watley features a sweet silver-tone heart on the zipper of some of her jackets — very apt for the game of LOVE. “You look more polished when you don’t have logos everywhere.” – Kelly Gadzala
Now In Store:
Window Coverings
103 Miranda Ave. • 416-787-1707 www.allanrug.com
An Early Start is a good start
At CGS our Early Starters (Pre-K) play, sing, dance and learn, getting ready for their transition into our school age curriculum (JK-Grade 3). CGS classes are co-ed, small, nurturing, challenging and fun. Ask us about our superior reading program. Half Day and Full Day Kindergarten available. Open Door Days every Wednesday. Please register in advance at: www.cgsschool.com 670 Eglinton Ave. E. (at Bayview) Toronto (416) 423-5017
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
17
The new face of Leaside
A demographic shift Richard and Arianna McWhirter
I
s there such a thing as a typical Leaside couple? At first glance Richard and Arianna McWhirter seem like the average upwardly mobile Leaside husband and wife. They’re young and have two small children. He’s a partner at a national real estate firm specializing in commercial properties, wears a suit to work every day, and has an office in the downtown financial district. Meanwhile she’s a personal trainer specializing in pre-and post-natal exercise classes. She jokes that she spends her life in Lulu Lemon. “We’re corporate versus cardio,” says Richard of he and his wife. But in another way the couple represents a new kind of Leasider. Arianna is from South America and, though that differentiates them to a certain extent, says Richard, the area is transitioning and diversifying to reflect a different demographic. Long-time Leasiders are selling their homes to new couples coming in, he says, some of which are Latin, French and Spanish. Their next-door neighbours, for example, are Iranian and Japanese. The couple has been in their home in North Leaside only two years, having previously lived in the Annex. Arianna admits she was hesitant
about moving to the area. “I was afraid when I moved here,” she says. “(I thought) ‘This is a white neighbourhood.’” But it’s not like that at all, she says. The neighbourhood has always been welcoming and it feels like home, she says. “It’s like a little town.” Her neighbours watch out for each other, she says. One day a car pulled up in her driveway and her neighbour actually called her to see if she knew about anything about it. It turns out she did, but she appreciated the gesture. “I don’t find that anywhere else in Toronto,” she says. In fact she loves the area so much she’s even recruited friends to the neighbourhood, she says with one now living two blocks away. When she’s not working or attending one of the many kids and moms programs at Northlea United Church, Arianna can be found in Trace Manes Park or Sunnybrook Park in the summer with her kids. She says
“I was afraid when I moved here. (I thought) ‘This is a white community.’ ”
TORONTO FRENCH SCHOOL A bilingual education. An international perspective. A co-educational environment. And the International Baccalaureate Diploma respected around the world.
INTRODUCES MANDALAY VERTICAL SHADINGS
Although 90% of TFS students have little or no knowledge of French when they enroll, they graduate bilingual. Now offering full-day Pre-Kindergarten (3 years old) and “Jardin d’éveil” educational program for 2 year olds.
means If education you. the world to
Please call for details: (416) 484-6533 ext. 4247
www.tfs.ca 18
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
ON
ALSO SHUTTERS - ROLLER SHADES - WOOD VENATIONS SALE LAMPS - MIRRORS - AREA RUGS PICTURE FRAMING AVAILABLE 1717 Bayview Ave Free shop at home service 416-481-7207 • paralleleinteriors.com
she loves that she can walk to Bayview Avenue and shop there. “I really don’t have to go far to find everything I need for my kids.” When they lived in the Annex and it was a different demographic. “You didn’t see kids.” Richard appreciates the convenience the neighbourhood offers. He likes the Smart Centre on Laird Drive for one as there’s parking, he says. “That’s a huge home run,” he jokes, “being close to Home Depot.” Being accessible to downtown is important for him because of his work, and Leaside is great for a commute, he says. He can get to work in only 20 minutes. “The Bayview extension is one of the last north-south links that isn’t stop and go.” A North Torontonian born and raised, Richard says the commute from there to downtown was deadly. “You just idled forever.” Leaside is one of those communities where you don’t get congestion, he says. “It has that web of streets that was particularly designed,” he says. “It’s its own town.” – Kelly Gadzala francis crescia/town crier
HAPPY FAMILY: Richard and Arianna McWhirter and their two kids Sophia and Christopher enjoy life in Leaside and have recommended it to their friends.
The One & Only
Lobster Trap Restaurant Serving the best seafood inToronto for over 40 years!
Thank you for voting us the RESTAURANT Best Seafood • Live Lobsters flown in fresh from the Restaurant in Town! • Casual & lively atmosphere
ow n
• Menu also includes other High Quality Seafood Filet Mignon & Rack of Lamb 1962 Avenue Road
• Lobsters ranging from 1lb to 4 lbs in our tanks • Children’s Menu st in T Be
Maritimes
GOLD AWARD
2008
5 blocks south of Hwy. 401
416.787.3211 Open daily from 5:00 pm www.lobstertrap.ca 2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
19
9hWl_d] d[m Yebekh5
?dZkb][ oekhi[b\ ;dl_i_ed 9ebekh (&'& \hec 8[d`Wc_d Ceeh[ \[Wjkh[i ) d[m Z[i_]d[h Yebekh fWb[jj[i$
benjaminmoore.ca Pro Glo Paints 1169 Caledonia Rd.
Leaside Paint Centre 1525 Bayview Ave.
Pro Glo Paints 943 Queen St. East
416.489.7900
416.462.9300
www.leasidepaintcentre.com
www.torontopaintstore.com
Caledonia Rd.
N
©2010 Benjamin Moore & Co. Aura, Benjamin Moore, Color Lock, Quite Simply The Finest Paint We’ve Ever Made and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co., Ltd.
20
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
. Lawrence Ave.
Lawrence Ave.
N
e St Yong
.
e Rd
e.
rn Av
Easte
N
u Aven
ve. iew A
n St.
Merto
e.
d.
ood R
www.torontopaintstore.com
Orfus Rd.
w Av
t. E.
nS Quee
Bayv
Millw
E.
416.322.0437
416.256.2600
Carla
r Rd.
Mano
Upper Canada Decorating Centre 3259 Yonge St.
N
Rolling along
Fun, not formal photo courtesy Phillip Francis
FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS the Leaside Lawn Bowling Club’s members have made the grass at Howard Talbot Park their home.
W
Leaside Lawn Bowling Club
hen Phillip Francis retired five years ago, he was looking for a fun and social pastime that was readily available in his community. What he found was the Leaside Lawn Bowling Club. “I decided that I didn’t want to pursue an interest of golf, so I joined the lawn bowling club,” Francis says with a chuckle. Apparently, it was a good fit. Today, he’s club president, and proud of the deep roots the recreational club has in Leaside. The club boasts over 100 members. It opened in the early 1950s in what was then still the Town of Leaside. But the creation of the club began in the late 1940s
when the town planned for a park and sports complex at what is now Howard Talbot Park near Bayview and Eglinton Avenues. A recommendation was made to include two lawn bowling greens complete with lighting and a water sprinkler system. To get the project off the ground, town council granted a loan of $20,000. A clubhouse was built in 1952, with the club officially opening in 1953. Today, members use the club from the beginning of May to Thanksgiving. With eight lanes on two greens, the facility plays host to several provincial and national championships throughout the year. “In the winter, we do indoor lawn bowling and we have cards,” he says. Francis said the group is currently trying to get the
younger generation involved in the sport. “People talk about lawn bowlers being a bunch of old people but all those old people started lawn bowling when they were much younger and then continue to do it,” he says. “Lawn bowlers are active people typically who love to get outside, participate in some kind of sport.” Francis adds that lawn bowling is now a lot less formal than it used to be. “Some people think that it’s some sort of exclusive club and it’s not,” he said. “It’s open to all members of our community. “It is something that almost anybody can do and once people understand how the game is played it’s a very social thing,” he says. – Karolyn Coorsh
ANKS SHEst. 1948 Plu
mbing & Drai
ns
24 HOUR EMERGENCY PLUMBING & DRAINS • PLUMBING REPAIRS & • HOT WATER SERVICE FIXTURE REPLACEMENT • SENIORS RATES • DRAIN SERVICE (55 YRS +) • FROZEN PIPES • PROMPT & RELIABLE • BATHROOM REMODELLING • LICENSED & INSURED & UPGRADES
416-481-7215 Serving Toronto For 60 Years 717A Mount Pleasant Rd., Toronto www.shanksplumbing.ca
A Metro Licence P-900
WE MOVED
WALK-INS WELCOME. NO APPOINTMENTS
L L
A N D
D O N E
I N
A
APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.
A R E
P
C
O N F I D E N T I A L
R I VAT E
O
F F I C E
.
GRAND OPENING 300 YORK MILLS RD. (YORK MILLS PLACE) NORTH WEST CORNER
4 1 6
•
OF
YORK MILLS & BAYVIEW
2 2 6
•
4 1 4 0
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
21
2009
(Family Owned Business)
• Shingles • Flat Roofs • Eavestrough • Skylights • Roof Repairs
*
ce
us
B
*
ers’ Ch sum o on Award ™ ic
e
C
E.W. SMITH ROOFING est 1979 ine For llen ss Exce
• Fully Insured & Reliable • Work Guaranteed • Job Clean & Neat
Call 416-467-7663 Now is the time for ROOF INSPECTION
N
ow is the time to inspect your roof and get any needed repairs done. If your roof is over 20 years old, you should have an inspection as the manufacturer’s warranty in most cases has ended. If the roof is 15 to 21 years old and you see cracked, curled, raised or cupped shingles, have it inspected. These are signs of wear and aging and sometimes lack of ventilation. If you have too
much heat in the attic, then ask your roofing contractor how to improve ventilation. Water penetration due to snow and ice build up may have afftected you during this cold winter. Call us to find out what you can do about it. Recipient of the Consumers Choice Award 2007, 2008 and 2009 for best roofing company in the Toronto area. Call E.W. Smith Roofing at 416-467-7663.
Culture crawl
Gone strolling A day in the neighbourhood
G
ot the day off? Have some time to burn? Kids at camp during the break? Why not take a leisurely Leaside stroll? So up and at ‘em and let’s get out there — it’s time to soak up Leaside culture in all its different forms.
No time for breaky? No problem, let’s nip into Leonard’s Restaurant on Laird Drive. The place has been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for over 35 years now, after all. No, it’s not on the corner of Laird Drive and Lea Avenue — that’s Olde Yorke Fish & Chips, another Leaside culinary institution that was built on the site where the old Lea log cabin once stood. Maybe a little take-out is in order for later? Just to remember to get there before the line-ups start. Those eggs hit the spot. Now we’ve got some energy to burn. We could get some ya-yas out with a little exercise by taking a spin on the ice of the Leaside Gardens. Public skating sessions go to the end of March — if we’re lucky we may drop in when there’s a free skate.
Where else, I ask Or we could meander up Millwood to Trace Manes Park. Darn, the Leaside Tennis Club isn’t open until April 10, but they were busy accepting applications in you, can early January so hopefully we got in and aren’t stuck on the waiting list. In the meantime, want to jaunt over you find to Howard Talbot Park? Maybe there’s enough snow to grab the toboggan and take a ride down the hill, what such a do you say? culture? Whew, all that exercise wore you out, didn’t it? Want to reenergize with some retail therapy at the Sunnybrook Plaza? It was Canada’s first ever shopping plaza and has everything from hardware and a drug mart to men’s suits and jewellery.
Speaking of jewellery, have you ever wondered if Leaside isn’t the jewellery capital of Toronto? There’s Arax Jewellers at Sunnybrook Plaza, and Bell Jewellers on Bayview Avenue has been around since 1936. Then there’s Bayview Diamonds, Aish, and some jewellery at Sharon’s Collection also on Bayview, not to mention custom pieces at Linda Penwarden on Mount Pleasant Road and vintage baubles at The Bead Goes On on Soudan Avenue. If you’re lucky you may be able to find vintage collectable Sherman jewellery pieces at The Elegant Garage Sale for under $50. That’s really the neat thing about Leaside, isn’t it? The fact that you can find everything from diamonds to dim sum, beer to bananas. Need a lunchtime nibble? We could do a café hop on Mount Pleasant if you’re in a European state of mind; there’s a few French patisseries and cafes where a croissant and café au lait can easily be had. Or if you want more of an old world feel there’s the Sweet Gallery, where we could bump into members of the Leaside Rotary on Mondays. It’s late afternoon, so if you want a more casual vibe we could do one of the area pub-type establishments. There’s the Fox and Fiddle on Laird, the peanutstrewn floor of McSorely’s Saloon and Grill on Bayview, Originals, and the newest of the bunch, Highway 61 Southern Barbecue. Which do you prefer? Er. Maybe you shouldn’t have had that pint. Now you feel like hauling out
22
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
Variety Camp
Ages 3-9 years
ESL Camp
Ages 6-14 years
• Arts, Science, Sports, Yoga • Conversational English • Music, Cooking,Chess • Reading and Writing • Tutoring (Language, Math) • Weekly Field Trips • Introduction to MONTESSORI
erica simmonds/town crier
Mary-Ellen Aelick of Hollywood Gelato on Bayview Avenue has the scoop on frozen treats.
For more information please call:
416-250-1022 905-889-0012 416-510-1200
Open House Thursdays @ all 5 locations 8:30 am - 4:30 pm– www.cmschool.net
erica simmonds/town crier
Bill Filipopoulos, at top, owner of Leonard’s Restaurant serves up a mean breakfast and Eddie Khatcherian, left, owner of Arax Jewellers can make your day sparkle.
27
the plastic and hitting one of the many independent women’s shops on the popular Bayview shopping strip, don’t you? I love that Canadian-made dress you just bought at Mode Suzan. Betcha you’re wearing it to dinner tonight. Haven’t decided where to go yet? I don’t blame you. Anyone who says Leaside has no ethnic diversity has never been to the many Asian, Thai, Indian, Italian and Japanese restaurants on Bayview. Wow, dinner was great, thanks for the treat! I just couldn’t eat another bite. Did you just say dessert? We can’t sit on the patio yet, but that bicycle-riding duck outside Hollywood Gelato beckons. Time to work those calories off. Want to take the long way home? Oh, isn’t that painting inside State of the Art Gallery wonderful? I’d recommend you go back tomorrow when the gallery is open. Leaside really is the greatest little town on earth, isn’t it? Where else, I ask you, can you find such a culture? – Kelly Gadzala
TORONTO 1075 Yonge St., (North of Bloor)
416-924-5060
VAUGHAN AURORA MISSISSAUGA RICHMOND HILL OAKVILLE BOLTON
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
23
Who to call in Leaside Clip & save this directory of community services in the Leaside area.
Death registrations General enquiry..................... 416-392-7036
City Agencies
Housing Improvement loans/grants.. 416-392-7620 Community housing............. 416-981-5500 Market rent units................... 416-981-7368 Email............market@torontohousing.ca Website........... www.torontohousing.ca Subsidized housing applications: 176 Elm St............................416-981-6111 Email........ help@housingconnections.ca Website.... www.housingconnections.ca
City of Toronto Phone within Toronto city limits.......... 311 Email................................ 311@toronto.ca Fax........................................ 416-338-0685 Website...........................www.toronto.ca Animal Services Dog/cat licence................... 416-338-PAWS
Long-term care General enquiry..................... 416-392-8545 Email.........................ltc-comm@toronto.ca
Garbage, recycling & yard waste bylaws Waste enforcement: illegal dumping, littering on city property, illegal recycling and collection.... 416-392-0843 Customer service................... 416-338-2010 Household hazardous waste...................... .............................................. 416-392-4330
Marriage Licence General enquiry..................... 416-392-7036 Parking Toronto Parking Authority... 416-393-7275 24 Hour Hotline................. 416-393-7300 Parking Tag & Ticket (credit card payment, inquiries).........416-397-TAGS
New and Pre-Owned Designer Fashions for Ladies and Men, Shoes, Purses, Jewellery
Save 50% - 75% Off Regular Retail Prices OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Don’t Need It? Want It? Use It? Consign It!
www.extoggery.com Or call one of our convenient locations:
yles! Great St rices! Great P
1640 Avenue Rd. 416-781-0734
10 Brentcliffe Rd. 416-696-6700
20%OFF priced item. Coupon must be presented before sale is entered. any one regular
only at Extoggery Expires March 31/10
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
Street cleaning and repair Customer service (24 hrs.).... 416-338-9999 Litter cleanup.......................................... 311 Website....................www.toronto.ca/litter Street lighting Light out calls........................ 416-542-3195 Taxes Property tax inquiries......... 416-338-4TAX Toronto Transit Commission Customer service................... 416-393-4000 Complaints............................ 416-393-3030 Rates & schedules.................. 416-393-4636 Wheeltrans..............................416-393-4111 Website....................................... www.ttc.ca Water General enquiry..................... 416-338-8888 Billing and accounts.............. 416-338-4829
BBQ DIRTY? BBQ BROKEN? BBQ GAS LINE?
y r e g g o Ext
• Lululemon • Coach • Theory • Marc Jacobs • Nanette Lepore •
24
• Lululemon • Coach • Theor y • Marc Jacobs • Nanette Lepore •
• Rebecca Taylor • Hugo Boss • Arthur Mendoza • Escada • True Religion • Rock n’Republic • Holt Renfrew
• Rebecca Taylor • Hugo Boss • Arthur Mendoza • Escada • True Religion • Rock n’Republic•Holt Renfrew
Cycling Cycling Committee............... 416-392-7592 Post & ring installations....... 416-392-9253 Bicycle safety.......................... 416-392-1311
Streets & sidewalk snow clearing Customer service (24 hrs.).... 416-338-9999 Winter Snow Operations..416-338-SNOW
For a little T.L.C.
call BBQ BOY @ 416-588-6293 WEBER • BROIL KING • NAPOLEAN
A
Perfect BBQ all the time
s the trend continues with outdoor cooking, more customers are investing in high-end BBQ’s. Now we see consumers spending between $1500.00 to $10,000 on top of the line outdoor grills. BBQ Boy provide various services for your BBQ.
We can service, install gas piping, assemble and overhaul your BBQ. With over 10 years of service and knowledge we know that our customers get a perfect BBQ all the time. Call us at 416-588-6293 or 905-773-3433.
Community Centres & Services Central Eglinton Community Centre 160 Eglinton Ave. East Phone......................................416-392-0511 Fax.......................................... 416-392-0514 Leaside Community Websites Website......................................leaside.info ......................... www.LeasideToronto.com Leaside Memorial Gardens 1073 Millwood Rd. Phone..................................... 416-421-4944 Email.......... leasidegardens@on.aibn.com Website.............www.leasidegardens.com Mooredale House 146 Crescent Rd. Phone..................................... 416-922-3714 Email...................... info@mooredale.on.ca Website........................www.moordale.org Trace Manes Centennial Building 110 Rumsey Rd. (at Millwood) Phone..................................... 416-396-2853
Libraries Leaside Public Library 165 McRae Dr. Phone..................................... 416-396-3835
Mount Pleasant 599 Mt. Pleasant Rd. Phone..................................... 416-393-7737
Politicians John Parker, city councillor, ward 26 Don Valley West 100 Queen Street West, Suite A13 Phone..................................... 416-392-0215 Email......... councillor_parker@toronto.ca Kathleen Wynne, MPP, Don Valley West Ferguson Block, 77 Wellesley St. W., 3rd Floor Phone..................................... 416-327-9200 Neighbourhood office 795 Eglinton Ave E, Suite 101 Phone..................................... 416-425-6777 Email.... .kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org Michael Walker , city councillor, Ward 22 St. Paul’s 100 Queen St. West, 2nd Floor, Suite B26 Phone..................................... 416-392-7906 Fax.......................................... 416-392-0124 Email.........councillor_walker@toronto.ca Website................. www.michaelwalker.ca Rob Oliphant, MP, Don Valley West Ottawa office Phone..................................... 613-992-2855
Fax.......................................... 613-995-1635 Neighbourhood office 146 Laird Drive, Suite 203 Phone..................................... 416-467-7275 Fax.......................................... 416-467-8550
Ratepayer Associations Moore Park Residents’ Association POB 25, 1531 Bayview Ave. M4G 4G8 Cindy Caron Thorburn, President Email................. president@moorpark.org Website..................... www.moorepark.org Leaside Property Owners’ Association P.O. 42, Station R. M4G 3Z3 Email.................................. admin@lpoa.ca Website................................... www.lpoa.ca North Leaside Residents Association Chris Markham, president Phone..................................... 416-409-3784 Email................................ general@nlrai.ca
Town Crier News tips or advertising information .............................................. 416-785-4300 Email...................... news@mytowncrier.ca Fax........................................... 416-488-3671 Website..................... www.mytowncrier.ca
Marilyn Webb Nursery School BUYERS OF ESTATE JEWELLERY ter RegisFor Now mber Septe
Monday to Friday from 9am - 11:30 am. For children ages 2.5 to 4yrs. Located in Three Valleys School, 76 Three Valleys Dr., Toronto
BUY
I T ’ S M O R E T H A N A B U S I N E S S ...
I T ’ S A PA S S I O N .
all For more information, please call
Or visit us on the web: www.uppercanadachildcare.com m
a Canad Upper
TRADE
AT VAN RIJK’S
Reading Readiness Skills · Math & Language Activities Interactive Learning Circles · Creative Arts · Sensory & Sand/Water Play · Music & Drama · Field Trips
416-443-9414
SELL
DIAMONDS & GOLD R O L E X W AT C H E S CARTIER P AT E K W AT C H E S ANTIQUE JEWELLERY
90 E G L I N T O N E A S T 416-440-1233 • 416-440-0123 2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
25
Modular Can Be Beautiful
3
SECOND±STOREY±ADDITION±IN±AS±LITTLE±AS
DAYS
n on As See Flip , Big HGTV s al New b o l G &
FULFILLED DREAMS FOR
Over 500 CLIENTS IN 9 EARS Y
After
9
Be
T st in o
wn
Read about us at: www.homestars.com
GOLD AWARD
2008
Before
www.modular.ca THE±LEADER±IN±HOME±ADDITIONS Full±Service±Contracting±&±Project±Management For±Additions±renovations±±&±New±Homes Member±of±BUILD±-±Reno±Club
416 900-4556
416 900-4556
Get free interactive Quote - for predesigned additions at -
ADD ition ONline
26
w w w. a d d i t i o n o n l i n e . c o m
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010
TOWNCRIER www.TownCrierOnline.ca
BUSINESS PROFILE Making the Dream Home Real
When Vadja Jericevic and his partner took over Modular Home Additions two years ago, they did so with the idea of offering a one-stop shop for clients looking for easy and worry free renovations, additions or the construction of a new home. Whereas Modular had previously specialized in the swift execution of the first phase of an addition (demolition and construction of a shell), it now offers a “Turn Key” approach: from architectural design to final product, Modular does it all expertly and efficiently. “Over the last 10 years, we’ve done over 650 additions and new homes,” Jericevic said, pride resonating like a bell in his voice. “I believe that we are the biggest renovation / addition company in Toronto.” The company’s acclaim has everything to do with Modular’s methodical approach to its work. Clients are each given a project manager to help guide them through, what can often be a daunting and overwhelming process. “Everything is organized for the client,” Jericevic stressed. “They have only one person to deal with from the start to the end of the project. Through our web site, customers can track schedules, make comments and communicate with the office more efficiently than through regular e-mail. We give the customer every opportunity to be involved in the process.” Modular works fast. Being a specialist in second storey additions, the company can erect a typical second storey shell in usually three days. “Everything is prepared in a factory,” Jericevic said. “It allows us to come in on the first day to demolish the roof. On the second, we’re installing new floor systems, erecting the walls and part of the roof. By the third day, it’s completed and from the outside, it looks finished.” Depending on the complexity of the project, completion of the addition will, of course, take a little longer, but the wait is always worth it. Typical turnaround from demolition of the roof to completion of the project is three to four months, which is still better than the average five to six months. To see what the Modular’s customers are saying about their experience, go to www.homestars.com. Modular Home Additions was recently voted the Best General Contractor in Town Crier’s Best in Town reader survey. Modular Home Additions is located at 27 Bermondsey Road. Call (416) 759- HOME (4663) to schedule a consultation and see how Modular Additions can help turn your house into a dream home.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 416-900-4556
2010 LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier
27
“I believe that determination and hard work are the keys to success. I apply this philosophy and work ethic to my clients’ real estate goals.”
Claire-Ann Rose, Sales Representative CHESTNUT PARK REAL ESTATE LIMI TED
Claire-Ann is committed to helping her clients grow with their Real Estate Dreams.
Looking to Buy or Sell Real Estate? Claire-Ann has been assisting Buyers & Sellers for 20 years! Call today for a Complimentary Market Evaluation! Recent Sold properties include:
For more information on properties listed & sold by Claire-Ann please visit her website at www.ClaireAnnRose.com
416-925-8427 x2540 carose@trebnet.com www.ClaireAnnRose.com
Not intended to solicit clients already under contract.
28
LEASIDE ToDAY Town Crier 2010