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wilderness adventures Volume 52 No. 15
BEACHMETRO.COM
October 17, 2023
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Beaches Santa Claus Parade set for Nov. 19
Photo above left, Peter Smith and Jennifer Jones in front of Seagull Classics on Queen Street East in the Beach. Photo above right, June Smith is shown sitting in front of the store where she would often greet customers and friends in the neighbourhood. Smith died last month at the age of 93, and with her passing also comes the end of more than 40 years of Seagull Classics in the Beach as the family is planning to close the store in the next few weeks.
Seagull Classics is saying goodbye to the Beach after more than 40 years By Alan Shackleton
AN ERA will come to an end in the Beach in the next few weeks as Seagull Classics on Queen Street East will be closing its doors. The announcement by the Smith family that they will be closing comes shortly after the death last month of June Smith, 93, who was a longtime Beach resident and familiar presence at the store. For decades, June would welcome customers to the shop that had been on Queen Street East since the early 1980s. Seagull was started as a store and renovation company by her sons Peter, Steven and Bruce in 1980 and was first located on Kingston Road. It then moved to Queen Street East in 1984. Running Seagull was always a family affair said June’s daughter
Jennifer Jones. “It’s a real family business,” said Jennifer, and June’s presence at the store was always extremely strong. “Mom was there all the time,” said Peter. “Mom worked all those years here up until just a few months before she died,” said Jennifer. “We worked as a family. She had Alzheimer’s and there was always one of us with her in the apartment or the store.” June will be remembered by many as she would often sit out on a chair on Queen in front of the store saying hello to the many people she knew and customers coming into the store. “She loved it here, greeting everyone,” said Peter. June was more than just a friendly face at Seagull, though. She played an important role in the
businesses operation, said Jennifer and Peter who run the store with brother Bruce. “She was very involved in the running of the store,” said Jennifer. “She was going to trade shows and looking for items for the store up until her late 80s,” said Peter. “She was telling us what would be good to put in the store.” Along with the wide variety of items for sale at Seagull, many people would come in just to chat with June. “A lot of customers would come in for a chat with her. She collected some interesting people from around the neighbourhood, and she was so friendly and caring. People felt very comfortable with her,” said Jennifer. June grew up in the west end of Toronto, but called the Beach home for more than 55 years.
She worked as a nurse at Women’s College Hospital before meeting her husband Lawrence. They were married in 1952 and moved to the East End in 1966 after first living in Don Mills. First they were on Beaufort Road for 17 years, then moved to Benlamond and then in an apartment (from 1995 on) above the store in the Queen Street East building owned by the family. Lawrence Smith died in 2008. He worked at, then became the owner of, Central Dental Company for many years. Lawrence and June had five children – Jennifer, Peter, Bruce, Joe and Steven. Jennifer said many customers came in to offer condolences after June’s death. “We’re just amazed at how much love we have been given. Everybody saying how much mom meant Continued on Page 9
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AFTER A three-year absence, the Beaches Santa Claus Parade is returning and set to take place on Sunday, Nov. 19. The parade did not take place in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There had been hopes that the parade could have taken place last year, but it became logistically impossible. However, this year’s parade is a go. Sponsors and volunteers are currently being sought by parade organizers Community Centre 55. The Beaches Santa Claus Parade traditionally serves as the start of fundraising for Community Centre 55’s Share a Christmas campaign that helps out families and individuals in need during the holiday season. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. on Nov. 19. It will start at Kingston Road and Victoria Park Avenue, and then head west on Kingston Road, concluding at Community Centre 55 on Main Street. For information on how to volunteer or participate in the parade, please contact Jade at jade@centre55.com or 416-691-1113, ext. 224. or go to www.centre55.com/event/ christmas-parade-2
Citizen of the Year presentation to take place on Saturday BEACH CITIZEN of the Year for 2023, Robert Gore, will be honoured at a ceremony this Saturday afternoon in the Millennium Garden at Woodbine Park. The ceremony will be begin at 1:45 p.m. on Oct. 21. The Millennium Garden is on the southeast corner of Eastern and Coxwell avenues. Gore is being honoured for his many years of selfless work in the Beach community. The Beach Citizen of the Year Award has been presented annually since 2001.