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A few years ago, our intrepid Business of Leaside columnist Glenn Asano posed this question about Leaside’s Business Park: Why not a food truck festival? After all, there’s ample room in the park for the rolling behemoths. There are any number of foodpreneurs in Leaside eager to showcase their culinary wares. And there’s surely an audience hungering for food truck-sized tasty treats.
So, imagine my surprise when a writer new to Leaside Life – Lisa Parker (welcome, Lisa!) – came to us wanting to profile Leaside business feasTO , which touts itself as Canada’s first dumpling food truck. Not only are food trucks viable in Leaside, but there’s already one here, which has been thriving for years, even during the pandemic. This business managed to pivot during
Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life
those lean times with a move into frozen dumplings, and in the process gained new converts.
Now in our post-pandemic times, feasTO is once more on the move, to various locations around TO.
But back to Glenn’s not so piein-the-sky idea: a Leaside-based food truck festival. There’s already a popular food truck event in Woodbine Park, in August this year, but surely there’s room in the city for more than one such festival.
Food trucks are having a moment... again! What would happen if word got out that Leaside’s Business Park is open for food truck business? I taste opportunity.
What do you think? Are you a food truck devotee? Want to sample more food truck delights closer to home? Let us know at leasidelife@ gmail.com. n
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Inside the Leaside fire hall (Toronto Fire Station #321) at McRae and Randolph, there’s a modest wooden plaque honouring a fallen firefighter named Bruce Catchpole. The plaque only tells us that he died Jan. 26, 1964 “in the line of duty serving the community from this fire hall.” But behind this brief epitaph there’s a bigger story waiting to be told.
Bruce Catchpole was born in Hamilton, Ont. in 1909 and served in the Canadian Army during World War II at Camp Borden, north of Toronto. In the late 1940s, he moved to Leaside with his wife and young family and purchased a newly built home at 255 Donlea Dr., where he lived for the rest of his life. Soon after arriving in Leaside, he joined the town’s fire department.
Bruce loved being a firefighter, according to his son Bill, who remembers waking up late at night to the sound of his father bounding down the stairs on his way to a fire. “He drove a ladder firetruck with an open cab; it was known as
Ted DeWelles Leaside Heritage Preservation Society
a California cab,” recalls Bill. Bruce not only drove it to fires, he also drove it on special occasions like the department’s annual Fire Prevention Week parade – photos of which are available at Toronto Archives, on the Leaside Heritage Facebook page, and in Jane Pitfield’s (ed.) Leaside Margot Nicol, Bruce’s daughter, remembers how her father also used the truck during the department’s Christmas celebrations. “Every year, he played Santa Claus for staff and their families who had assembled at the municipal building on McRae.” The firetruck would arrive at the building, and Bruce, dressed as Santa, would climb the ladder and enter through the second storey window – to the delight of the waiting children.
In 1952, Bruce made the front pages of the Toronto Star when he helped save a five-year-old boy who became lost overnight. Bruce was the first to find the lad, who
HERO Page 32
“If I’d known better, I’d have changed the name.”
“The two great women in my life are my mom, who died last August at age 95, and my wife”.
“I’m not a spring chicken.”
“As long as I have a roof over my head, I’m happy.”
“My mom raised a very honest child. She put the fear of God into me.”
“I want to die in front of my oven.”
No, these are not one-liners from a standup comic. They’re typical quotes from Jack (whose last name is a bit of a well-guarded secret), or Bravo, as most people know him, at Bravo Pizza in the middle of the plaza on Millwood between Randolph and Sutherland. The business has been there since 1969, and owned by Jack since Jan. 2, 1986.
Jack’s Armenian family came to Canada from Cairo in 1967, finding
a place to live near Wilson and Avenue Road. When Jack’s father died a few years later, Jack remembers his mother buying three-dayold bread at A&P grocery for 10 cents a loaf, and taking three buses to get to a job that paid very minimal wages. He and his two older brothers did their best to contribute to the household.
Early on, Jack realized that he was prepared to work hard, but that if he worked hard, he wanted it to be for himself, rather than someone else. He was in his early 20s when the opportunity arose to buy Bravo, and he snapped it up. In those early days, the business wasn’t making money, so his mother would come to Bravo to work, and he also parlayed a courier job to make ends meet. Then, through improving his product and by virtue of hard work, Bravo found its niche.
While the shop closes at midnight, Jack is often on site until 3 a.m. prepping vegetables for the next day or making his special tomato sauce. His wife comes in a few days a week to help out as well.
A wide network of suppliers makes Bravo Pizza special – among them Armenian sausage from Montreal, Hank’s soft drinks from Pennsylvania, Kawartha Dairy ice cream (starting from the days when it was a very small, unknown company), various torshi (Arab or Persian pickles), originally from Lebanon.
Bravo is now a Leaside fixture. Jack tells the story of university students who insist their parents stop at Bravo for pizza as they are being driven home for school breaks. Or the man who comes in with his family, and wonders if he’s remembered from when he was a kid. Of course!
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The advent of food delivery services during Covid turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Bravo. Jack went from using his own drivers to deliver locally to using the various other food delivery companies to expand his reach.
One holdover from his early days at Bravo? There is no phone number listed for the business –advice from one of his brothers. If you’re not using a delivery service, you need to make your choices in person. n
The eye-catching sign on the window of Defy Functional Fitness at 94 Laird Dr. encourages passersby to “Get Better at Life.” Who doesn’t want to get better at life? This slogan summarizes perfectly the philosophy of Darren Thornton, owner and CEO of Defy.
Much of Darren’s life has centred on physical activity and fitness. He spent six years as a Royal Marines Commando, then started coaching and competing in the sport of CrossFit. Ten years ago, he moved to Kuwait to train and coach fulltime before moving to Canada in 2016 for North American competitions. When he stopped competing in 2018, he was ranked in the top 250 in the world.
Not surprisingly, Darren met his wife Michelle, a family physician from Newfoundland, at a gym. She is also an avid runner and athlete. They are co-owners of Defy and pride themselves on building programs for individuals based on their individualized needs. With her medical and nutritional expertise, Michelle acts as the nutrition coach, complementing Darren’s strengths.
Darren and Michelle were happy to find the location on Laird in 2018 because it aligned with their vision of building long-term relationships within a stable community like Leaside. They also have a strong focus on kids’ programs and feel that Leaside is a great place for working with families.
Darren explains that “functional fitness” refers to the concept of preparing the body “for common movements in everyday life at home, work and in sport.” For that reason, Defy’s equipment is minimal and focuses on dumbbells, kettlebells and barbells, which are “the best way to mimic everyday experiences” to build strong, resilient bodies. And the name “Defy” refers to defying those modern sedentary lifestyle norms that stack the odds against
becoming fit and healthy for life.
The facility is open from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and many of the programs are completely full, especially in the early mornings. Their capacity is around 175 to 200 members and their numbers are consistently in that range.
Defy runs seven group classes a day, but before joining classes, members need to go through an “on-boarding process” that starts with personal training to ensure they are safe in the gym and that the coaches know their abilities. The classes are small since Defy sees itself as more of coaching facility than a gym. In fact, no one can train there without being in a coached class or a personal training session to ensure that individuals get “the best workout for them and their goals,” says Darren. Members’ progress is checked every six weeks by their five full-time coaches.
Defy’s program has generated great enthusiasm among their members, as can be seen from the almost 150 five-star reviews on Google. Sylvia Kovesfalvi, who joined last year and has belonged to several different gyms, speaks for the group when she says that she has never felt “so inspired and motivated” and that she is grateful to be part of this “special community where the coaches are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and hugely supportive” and the environment is “warm, accepting and safe.”
For their part, Michelle and Darren are also grateful for the success of their facility. Darren credits Defy’s professional coaches and carefully planned programs for the business’s popularity. Adds Michelle, “It has been a privilege to build a community of like-minded people who want to work hard to get better at life through health and fitness.”n
Ada Mok and Cam Pounder love dumplings.
As it happens, so do many Leasiders. Luckily for all of us, these foodpreneurs turned their love into a food truck business called feasTO. The dumplings are made right here in Leaside, at their kitchen at 28 Industrial St., where they set up back in 2015. They have been long-time business partners, and the feasTO food truck will be celebrating its 10th anniversary next year. Theirs, they say, is the only dumpling food truck in Canada.
Ada, who grew up in Hong Kong, says, “I ate dumplings at least once a week for my entire life.” When she moved to Canada for university, her mom taught her some family food staples, including dumplings. After graduating and working in Toronto, Ada made dumplings for her roommates and friends, including Cam.
Pretty soon Cam and Ada were teaming up to make and serve dumplings at pop-ups at various markets and events around Toronto. The duo were doing this on eve-
nings and weekends, in addition to their full-time day jobs. This was a true passion project given that they both really liked to make and eat dumplings and wanted to share their passion with the world. Cam says they were having a great time doing this, despite the long hours and “were thrilled to break even with
their first pop-up.”
The pair continued to do pop-ups and developed a good following. A decade ago, they were cast in the Food Network show Food Truck Face Off – and won. They both agree the win meant a chance of a lifetime to open a dumpling food truck business.
“We quit our full-time jobs to focus on the business,” says Ada. Building out the food truck for their needs was a great experience. They were also able to utilize ‘non-food’ skills they gained from their previous professions in their new venture. From 2015 on, the feasTO food truck has appeared at many places and events around the GTA, including downtown Toronto for the lunch crowd, TIFF and the CNE.
Come March 2020, the pandemic created a lot of uncertainty. “In April we realized that all of the events we normally take the food truck to would be cancelled,” Cam says. So, the dumpling dynamos had to pivot and move to an online business for frozen dumplings. Ada recalls that “we were lucky it worked.”
The online business helped feasTO through 2020/21 as they managed through supply chain issues for key ingredients like soy sauce and sriracha. Now they have both the frozen dumpling order business and the food truck at events, giving people two ways to enjoy these tasty dumplings.
In the spring and summer, you will find the feasTO food truck at many events like the Do West Fest and the CNE for the entire duration of the exhibition. You can also enjoy feasTO at home by ordering frozen dumplings from the website. Dumplings can be delivered to you or picked up on Thursday or Friday at their Industrial Street kitchen (pre-ordering is required).
The dumplings come in a variety of flavours including Lemon Grass Chicken, OG Pork (Ada’s Mom’s original recipe), Chili Shrimp, a vegan option and many more, with a special dumpling offered bi-monthly. Ingredients are sourced locally and all the dumplings are made by hand with great care. When asked if they have personal favourites, Ada says hers is OG Pork, while Cam’s is the beef dumpling.
Next time you have a craving for dumplings, look no further than Leaside. n
On the evening of Fri., March 8th, a Leaside Curling Club team achieved an extraordinary feat. An eight-ender.
Eight-enders are a curler’s ultimate dream come true. According to Curling Canada: “An eight-ender (8-ender) is an end where all eight stones score for one team; a very rare occurrence.”
The thought of attaining a perfect score in one end by scoring the maximum value of eight points by having all eight rocks remaining in the house (the target) is almost unfathomable.
Let’s talk odds!
The chance of hitting a hole-inone in golf is 1 in 12,500. The odds of finding a pearl in an oyster is 1 in 10,000. The odds that an amateur bowler will bowl a perfect game is 1 in 11,500.
And the odds of curling an eightender? An estimated 1 in 120,000. As in, incredibly rare!
Susan Scandiffio Columnist
They are so rare in fact that the Canadian Curling Association has a special award to recognize any eight-ender scored in the country.
How did the Leaside Curling Club achieve this feat?
MAY 1 to 30, 2024 Leaside Branch, Toronto Public Library
May 4
The team of Mike Ball, Grace Bugg, Brad Morrison and Christie Stevenson had the club buzzing with an impressive performance most, if not all, patrons there that night had ever witnessed.
The Friday night team have played together for some time with each having their own unique experience in the curling world.
While Ball didn’t play as a child, he has been a member of the Leaside club for 23 years. Morrison curled as a junior and has been with the club for 21 years.
Stevenson began playing in Grade 9 and came from a long line of curlers. Her father curled so often, in fact, that her mom joked that “her first “sentence” was “Daddy gone bonspiel.”
Bugg, meanwhile, has been curling for 40 years and has been with the Leaside club for the past 23 years.
Each curler remembers the exact moment of the eight-ender.
Bugg recalls, “I didn’t realize that Brad was drawing for the eight-ender until I was holding the
Good things are growing at Leaside High School, literally and metaphorically. The garden circle at the front of the school is getting a revamp; the visual arts program is expanding in a myriad of creative ways and the best news is the Leaside community is in the picture.
The plot in front of the school’s main doors was, for at least a half century, grass, flagpole and nothing more. In the late ’90s there were efforts to create a garden there. But it was 2018 when real change was in the offing. Principal Barb Nixon explains that “the TDSB carved out a segment of the circle for accessible parking, reconfiguring the space and leaving behind some asphalt and a lot of soil.” Teachers Mimoza Stermasi and Cecily Osborne, staff advisors for the LHS Eco Club, saw this as an opportunity for a sustainable garden.
“There were no outdoor school clubs so planning, creating and
caring for a pollinator zone connects students to nature, helping them learn an appreciation for the envi-
ronment,” says Osborne. And, according to Stermasi, “students get involved from early spring to late autumn.” The one hiccup was the summer: two long, fertile months of flowering and ripening when no one was there to care for the garden.
Enter a fresh idea and the Leaside community. With the pro bono help of Anna Crombie, former LHS student and local landscape architect, who has mapped out a new design, and the school club, plus local enthusiasts keen to help plant and more importantly water and weed the garden during the dog days of summer, the traffic circle will soon be a beautiful thing. In fact, on May 24th at 4 p.m. there will be a big planting push, and all are welcome to come by to help out. Avid green thumb Leasiders, feel free to bring along your favourite perennial clippings to donate.
LHS at Leaside United Church
The visual arts department at LHS is also taking off in good ways. Leaside United Church’s (LUC) Graham Lute read about teacher Stephanie Marshall’s art program in the February 2024 issue of Leaside Life and reached out to see if she wanted to display student pieces in the new church art gallery space. Lute explains that after a generous donation from the Jean Bruce Foundation, named after a parishioner who had a passion for art, LUC was able to renovate the auditorium to include a properly lit gallery that can “display art but can also be used for a variety of purposes.” And so LHS will be at LUC on May 23rd
Serendipity played a significant role in bringing the FIRST Robotics program to children at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. This collaboration between First Robotics Canada and Holland Bloorview makes the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) accessible to kids with disabilities… in a fun and engaging way.
The first bit of luck was a chance encounter when Julia Hanigsberg met Mark Breadner, then CEO of FIRST Robotics Canada, about 15 years ago while Julia’s son was a participant in a FIRST Lego league program. A few years later Mark visited Julia when she was a vice president at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). He hoped to create a relationship between TMU and FIRST Robotics. The resulting partnership included TMU’s Faculty of Engineering and the Mattamy Athletics Centre.
Shortly thereafter, a second bit of magic occurred, in January 2015, when Julia joined Holland Bloorview as its president & CEO. Mark Breadner visited the hospital to learn
more about the organization. The tour inspired him to propose that “a partnership between the hospital and FIRST Robotics would be fantastic.” Mark and Julia worked together with a team from FIRST Robotics, the Bloorview Research Institute and the hospital, creating an adapted FIRST Robotics program. The partnership and program were designed to spread to other organizations. The model is now successfully embedded in several of Ontario’s children-with-disabilities treatment centres.
Another lucky chance encounter brought Lynn Rampertab to Holland Bloorview as the initial robotics coordinator. Her career path may inspire Leasiders in the early stages of their careers as to how volunteering, connections and passion can influence outcomes.
In Lynn’s case, she explains, “As an enthusiastic parent introducing my Lego-loving kids to a robotics competition, I enjoyed the experience so much I committed to staying on as a volunteer and was soon hired by FIRST Robotics . Then, when the program came to Holland Bloorview as a pilot, luckily, I was on the FIRST team.
“I was a fan from the outset because of what it means to the participants, their families and its influence on building the children’s confidence, curiosity and cooperation.” Her dedication caught the attention of senior leadership and so launched
I often still hear the distant sound of fireworks on Victoria Day, but there was a time long ago when the annual aerial light show of sparkling starbursts was right in our own backyard. Because our family home was on the corner of Parkhurst and Donegall, we always considered Talbot Park, just down the street from us, to be our own backyard. For years back in the ’60s and ’70s, Talbot Park was the site of a breathtaking annual fireworks show to celebrate the Victoria Day long weekend. My twin brother and I looked forward to it every year.
Our whole family would head down to the park as the sun was setting, spread out a blanket, and sit at the top of the hill at the foot of Donegall Drive. Mom would bring snacks and drinks and we’d fidget in anticipation of the explosive show to come as we watched more Leasiders stream into the park. While we waited, our parents would supervise the lighting of sparklers and we’d write our names in the air around us. In the interests of safety, the large fireworks launching area – as I recall it
was on the smaller baseball diamond near Leaside High School – was completely fenced off with several police officers and security guards patrolling to keep everyone a safe distance away. Our parents ruled that we could not leave the blanket from the time the show started until the payload of the final skyrocket had burst brightly high in the sky and faded to black.
Even in the near darkness, the lights of the traffic running along Eglinton allowed us to see the dim outlines of the fireworks masters as they choreographed the launch of what I seem to remember was about a half-hour display. If you watched closely, you could see them light the fuses on the rockets and then hasten away to safety. Then you’d hear the sound
of the rocket igniting and watch as it shot skyward at tremendous speed trailing sparks in its wake. High in the darkening sky we’d often lose sight of the firework until it “popped” and brightly coloured sparks would blossom into gigantic starbursts or what looked like perfectly formed brightly lit, polka-dotted circles in the air. The burning lights would then fall and fade until the next firework burst into the sky.
The scary part of the show – and my personal favourite – was when they’d send off a series of rockets that showered no sparks of any kind but simply “boomed” in a puff of smoke. And when I say “boomed,” it was incredibly loud and percussive. You could feel the sound in your chest. There would probably be a couple dozen booms in quick succession. It quite literally sounded like a war zone for a few minutes as we imagined the cannon balls that never landed. It gave new meaning to the phrase “the sound and the fury.”
Some years, they would ignite large pinwheels mounted on wooden poles. They held our attention briefly but were a little too pedestrian for my 10-year-old tastes. I much preferred the skyrockets and the big booms. When it seemed clear that the show was over, applause would roll through the park as we folded our blankets, exchanged reviews of the evening with our neighbours, and walked back up Donegall to our home.
I can’t really remember how many years the Victoria Day fireworks were set off in Talbot Park, but eventually they stopped. I assume they were deemed too dangerous, or at least the liability implications became too daunting, so the skyrockets were packed away. Now, as a parent, I understand the decision, and I imagine Queen Victoria would, too. But I still miss the anticipation and the excitement of heading down to the park once a year in May for the annual Victoria Day fireworks display. I can still hear those “booms” in my mind’s ear and feel them reverberating in my chest. And it happened in Leaside.
A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis grew up in Leaside and is the award-winning writer of nine national bestsellers, all published by McClelland & Stewart. His most recent, A New Season, is now in bookstores. www.terryfallis.com n
Trash pandas beware – Rick Roos has invented a way to spoil your nocturnal feasts.
The 49-year-old Leaside father of one has created BinClaw, a device for securing your garbage bin from pesky raccoons and other urban critters looking to enjoy an all-you can eat buffet.
BinClaw has sold 2,000 units in three months. And interest in the product is growing.
After discovering his neighbour had cleaned up a mess left by hungry scavengers, Rick decided there had to be a better way than relying on the city’s green bins with their “lockproof” lids.
“When I look at the world around me, I see things in terms of opportunity,” says Rick. “I was gone for the weekend and the raccoons had a party and my poor neighbour Laurie had to clean that up. I felt awful because there’s just something intimate about your coffee grounds and chicken wings.”
Test-driving a couple of bin-securing devices already on the market left Rick convinced he could build a
it up, it destroyed the mechanism,” he says.
The genius of BinClaw is its simplicity of design, which enables the user to attach it to a bin in just seconds with an adjustable weather-proof strap. The device, made of nylon,
Leaside’s Rick Roos takes on the raccoons of the city.
better, er, mousetrap.
“I bought a product and installed it. The first time the truck came to pick
rubber and polyester, fits all bins and can be easily adapted in seconds to fit securely. The handle is designed to allow the user to open a bin with one hand, leaving the other free to carry a garbage bag and keep hands as clean as possible.
“One of my governing design principles is no tools,” declares Rick. “That’s why it just snaps on, stretches forward to lock. I thought to myself, Elon Musk is sending people to Mars – I could solve this garbage problem. And so, I set out to improve on it.”
He turned to local industrial designer Philip Poissant, who added his expertise and contacts to the project.
“We worked quite closely together and came up with some prototypes,” says Rick. “He has some pre-existing relationships overseas that he trusts.”
Once introduced, BinClaw took off like a raccoon caught in the middle of garbage thievery.
“We launched in January, 2024 and within two months it was number one on Amazon by a long shot, easily over twice as much as my closest competitor,” Rick says. “There’s a lot of interest from distributors, from retailers, from people who want to license it, not only in the US, some from Canada, also from Switzerland, the UK, Germany and France.”
Sales in Canada are all online as
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types)
The “night economy” refers to all economic activities occurring between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., extending well beyond just nightclubs and bars. This sector includes late-night eateries, retail outlets, cultural spots, entertainment venues, fitness centres, social clubs, and co-working spaces, along with necessary services like transportation and security. A robust night economy exemplifies a city’s vibrancy offering round-the-clock opportunities for work, leisure, and cultural enrichment.
Taking a page from the World Economic Forum’s playbook, as downtown cores and business districts look to rebound post-pandemic, “the night-time economy is often an overlooked pathway for revitalization… [and] cities prepared to take the steps required to tap into their unrealized economic potential and rethink the way they operate, while enhancing services at all hours of the day, will experience accelerated recoveries.”
Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside
In the fall of 2023, the City of Toronto embarked on an exploration of its night economy to discover innovative ways to utilize spaces and enhance nighttime livability for those working or seeking cultural and social experiences after dark. A flourishing night economy could significantly drive economic growth, contributing to Toronto’s GDP and enriching the city’s urban life. It creates jobs that are not limited to conventional daytime hours and fosters greater community engagement through diverse activities.
Upon completion of its review, Toronto’s City Council, at December’s meeting, voted to adopt amendments to the licensing and zoning bylaws that lay the groundwork for potentially transformative changes. City Council aims to grow the city’s night economy over the next three years by building “a foundation that encourages a vibrant nightlife by supporting talented artists and entrepreneurs, creating jobs and spurring economic growth for Toronto.”
Nightlife in Leaside?
ON
Tel: 416-422-0186
Fax: 416-422-0185
Designed to “activate night culture in new ways and give a boost to the City of Toronto’s Night Economy,” the newly adopted changes will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Some of the changes include:
• Expanding permitted nightclub areas to commercial zones citywide (previously restricted to the entertainment district).
• Increasing the permitted maximum area bars and restaurants can use for entertainment to 25% of the interior floor area (up from 6%).
• Modernizing licensing and zoning rules for bars, restaurants, nightclubs, arcades, entertainment venues, retail food stores, and places of assembly.
This initiative mirrors efforts in cities like Montreal, Vancouver, New York, and London, which are also pushing to boost economic and cultural activity by making smarter use
of vacant spaces after dark.
Curious to understand what this might mean for Leaside, I attended Toronto’s inaugural “Night Economy Town Hall” held at the Beanfield Centre in January, which drew stakeholders from Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and various associations, alongside professionals from the entertainment, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
In support, Mayor Chow said, “Toronto is a world-class city that can be as vibrant, accessible and safe after dark as it is during the daylight hours. Thank you to City staff for coming together and taking a thoughtful and holistic approach to an opportunity that will better support businesses that operate in the evening hours while recognizing this work must lead with safety, inclusivity and courtesy.”
Nightlife in Leaside? Leaside currently hosts a handful of establishments that remain open past 11 p.m., but the potential for more is palpable – I can count the current ones on just two hands. The only thing “popping” in Leaside after dark is popcorn in the microwave! Well maybe not just yet, but in 2025? Councillor Paul Ainslie, the Mayor’s designated “Night Economy Champion,” said, “We want to get this right and unlock Toronto’s nightlife…so we can build more vibrant, economically viable and complete communities beyond the downtown.”
Expert opinions, like those of Rebecca Godfrey from CBRE Tourism Consulting Canada, suggest that flexible regulatory frameworks could make it easier for property owners to experiment with nighttime uses of their existing, and often underused spaces, potentially transforming underused areas into vibrant nighttime venues. “There are several offices where they have the workday, then at 5 p.m., part of the building becomes a nightclub. [Furthermore], having public spaces, public transportation, and commercial activities activated 24/7 can make a neighbourhood feel safer and more inclusive.”
A nightclub or two in the Leaside Business Park, anybody? How about a few businesses on Bayview morph-
ing into something completely different after hours? Will the City support 24/7 operations to support round-theclock activities at Leaside Gardens or Trace Manes CC? Will the transit-oriented community envisioned for the Ontario Line’s Thorncliffe Park station hold the keys to unlock the night? Only time will tell.
The question remains: will Leaside and similar neighbourhoods support continuous, round-the-clock activities to become top nighttime destinations in Toronto? Even though the number of residents in the area could double over the next 10 years, without a viable market and a solid business model, Leaside’s entrepreneurs and property owners may not bite. Another wildcard to watch will be the rise of Generation Z and the role “third places” will play in their lives…one which could be markedly different from generations before.
Should the City’s night economy strategy succeed, the creative energy new ventures bring could revitalize local areas, spur job creation, and enrich the urban experience. This transformation would foster community engagement and contribute to the social connections that strengthen our sense of community.
Quality of life is closely related to our surrounding environments. Do you think a burgeoning night economy would be an improvement or a detriment for Leaside? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. n
ROBOTICS From Page 14
her career as the robotics coordinator with the hospital, back in 2015.
Lynn explains the hospital’s approach. “During our intake process, we really take the time to meet each child, understand their uniqueness and challenges, and really adapt the program to meet those needs. Our child and family strengths-based approach encourages participants to set goals whether their interests are programming goals, or they have to build goals, or they might even have social goals … making friends with peers who share similar interests. Together we work towards goal achievement facilitated by the way we set up the program, in our classroom.”
Spring programs were set to begin April 23rd for Junior (6-10) and April 24th for Intermediate (10-14) participants. n
Leaside has a growing collection of empty sites waiting for development. Demolish, then construct – right? Well, not necessarily. How about Lake Leaside between Vanderhoof and Wicksteed? And there’s the further demolition of adjacent buildings at Laird and Parkhurst, this winter. And now Sunnybrook Plaza, this spring. Let’s unpack this.
First, the rules. The City allows demolition of commercial buildings without a building permit in place for new construction – so that’s the Lake Leaside and Laird situation. What about Sunnybrook Plaza?
Now let’s look at Sunnybrook Plaza (660 Eglinton Avenue East) as a prime example of the changes in the development landscape.
Sunnybrook Plaza
This update is based on information provided by Kelly Wilson, senior vice president, development, at a meeting with the Leaside Residents Association (Geoff Kettel and Doug Obright) on April 4, 2024. The LRA appreciates the extraordinary access to development chronology informa-
Geoff Kettel Saving old Leaside
be proposed in anticipation of the coming of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Following mediation, the developer (RioCan), the City, and the then Leaside Property Owners Association (LPOA) reached a settlement agree-
ment in December, 2016 for a twotower project (11 and 16 storeys). In 2017, Concert Properties purchased a 50% interest in Sunnybrook Plaza and assumed the role of development and construction manager for the project. RioCan and Concert planned to build a mixed-use, purpose-built market rental project, and between 2017 and 2019 further developed the design, focusing on constructability, sustainability, durability, maximizing building efficiency, and functional suite designs.
In March, 2019 Sunnybrook Plaza tenants were given one year’s notice to vacate to allow demolition/construction to commence in 2020. However, in the spring of 2020 the Ontario government entered the pandemic lockdown. Tenants vacated the buildings as planned. Concert continued with its planning, receiving site plan approval in 2021. But the pandemic severely disrupted occupancy levels and rental rates, especially in new purpose-built rental buildings in Toronto. Concert and RioCan were forced to abandon plans to build purpose-built rental at Sunnybrook Plaza due to increased risk and poor financial viability. As a result, the residential buildings were significantly redesigned to meet condominium market rather than rental standards. Sales launch for the Sunnybrook Plaza condo was planned for the spring of 2023.
In 2023 and into 2024 the condominium market has seen severe disruption with interest rate hikes leading to slowing condo sales. Meanwhile costs have risen dramatically in construction materials, financing rate hikes and interest on purchaser deposits. As a result, the project launch was deemed to be not financially viable, and the condo sales campaign has been delayed indefinitely.
Demolition of Sunnybrook Plaza buildings, to clean up the site, improve safety, and mitigate liability risks occurred this winter and spring. Concert salvaged and donated items deemed as having heritage value (specifically the clock tower and the Sunnybrook sign) to Leaside Heritage Preservation Society.
Changes in the market now lead the developer to believe that the project, as currently designed, may never be financially viable. To mitigate this possibility, they are now forced to explore the redesign and rezoning possibilities for the site.
Stay tuned. There is sure to be more on this development site to come. n
Living walls, green façades, rooftop gardens. Just imagine the possibilities beyond the usual lawn.
Meet Jason Rokosh, whose green creativity takes him – and his clients – to new places, and all to improve the quality of urban life. He’s part artist, part gardener and part technician, who, like a magician, can transform a blank wall into a living masterpiece, or turn a sterile flat roof into a flowering meadow.
Jason started Vertical Landscape Architects Inc. in 2012 in an effort to bring people and nature together in new and extraordinary ways. And with over 20 years of relevant experience, he knows how to get these challenging installations done right.
As a licenced landscape architect and a green roof professional, Jason is fully aware of the environmental benefits of vertical greening: how it improves air quality, reduces the urban heat island effect, increases biodiversity, and enhances energy efficiency and stormwater management. He also understands that humans have an innate biological
and genetic connection to nature, and that daily exposure to plants improves our physical and mental well-being.
“I knew I would be living in the city for some time,” Jason told me, and “I want to champion this type of green infrastructure on vertical and underutilized surfaces to benefit me, my family, and my community.”
A stunning example of his indoor work is on full display at Floka Salon on Bayview. There, a living wall soars from the main floor all the way up to the ceiling of the second. The impact is powerful thanks to the grand scale, and yet (with all that green) it’s also incredibly soothing. What you don’t see –the magic behind the curtain – is the automated irrigation system with a fertilizer injector that goes off every nine days to keep all of those plants healthy and happy.
Floka owners Alit Kerimi and Bashkim Breznica are thrilled with their living wall. “What can I say, I love it! Everyone loves it!” says Alit.
When I asked Jason if there was a dream project he would like to tackle, he said, “I would like to see more meaningful green spaces that include community gardens and amenity spaces on our flat-roofed commercial and institutional buildings. And I would welcome the opportunity to engage with partners to make that happen in our local community.
I can’t help thinking about all those ‘big box’ stores at the Smart Centre, or all of those giant grocery stores. Imagine if they all had green roofs!
Now that you know some of the many possibilities of vertical greening, and why it’s so important, you’re probably looking at your home and wondering where you can add some more green. I know I am! n
“Is it me? It must be me.” These are my thoughts after a series of conversations, all within a few days of one another. Defeated and weary, I present them to you:
The Phone Bot
Like many of my fellow Leasiders, I have been hit with the Vacant Home Tax. If that weren’t punishment enough, I also received a penalty of $21.24 – a number so random, it appears to have been pulled from a bingo ball hopper. Three dial attempts and several mind-numbing prompts later, my “conversation” begins: 5 minutes, 14 seconds: “We are currently experiencing greater than normal call volumes. Please stay on the line and your call will be answered in priority sequence.”
7 minutes, 17 seconds: “Your call is important to us and we appreciate your patience. Please select a music genre to listen to
while you wait. For Rock, press 1. For Country, press 2. For HipHop, press 3. For Electronic and Ambient, press 4.”
18 minutes, 5 seconds: “Your call is important to us. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.”
31 minutes, 2 seconds: My coffee has caught up to me, but I figure I have enough time to sneak a pee break.
Click. “City of Toronto revenue services, how can I help you? Hello?…Hello?” Click.
The Cashier
The lines at Longo’s, this day, force me to use the dreaded self-checkout. I grudgingly start scanning. First up, a jar of kefir. A $2 deposit appears under the price. I call the floating
“cashier” over.
“What’s this deposit for?” I ask.
“Oh, it’s for the glass jar.”
“So, I just bring back the jar?”
“Actually, no, we stopped taking them back,” he explains.
“So, why charge a deposit?”
“Because it’s for the glass jar.”
“But a deposit implies I will get money back if I bring back the jar.”
“Yeah,” he shrugs. “What about my jar of pickles; is there a deposit on that?”
“No. You’re good with the pickles.”
The Mechanic
Like every spring, I drop my car at M&S Auto to have my snow tires swapped out. I ask them to check my rotors because I can feel a vibration when I brake. Rick informs me that they’re under warranty and the dealership should replace them. The dealership shall remain nameless to protect the guilty.
“We did a brake check and your rotors are indeed warped. Normally, we’d charge you because it’s caused by the driver.”
“How so?” I ask.
“Because the rotors heat up from braking and when you drive through water, they can warp.”
“So, normal driving.”
“Well, you have to avoid puddles,” he says.
“Like the one currently at Laird and Millwood, under the railway bridge?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Or the one at the entrance to your dealership?”
“Yeah.”
The Dog
My watch is reminding me it’s time to “stand up” from my computer. A perfect excuse for me to make another coffee. I catch Jerry sitting at the front door, looking back at me.
“What are you looking at?” I ask.
A tilt of his head indicates the obvious, “You, ya dummy.”
“You want a walk?”
One bark and a spin. Finally, an intelligent conversation. n
What’s green and weighs 17,832 lbs.? It’s all the electronics collected by Leaside Rotary Club over the past three years. This year’s 10th annual event, on Sat., April 6, collected a record haul of 7,573 lbs. of computers, laptops, monitors, phones, TVs, DVD players, stereos, batteries and even a sewing machine.
More than 80 people dropped off electronics at East York Town Centre with the first and last arriving by bike with their electronics. The electronics are recycled by Quantum Lifecycle Partners, one of Canada’s leading endof-life technology recyclers. “Hosting a recycling day is part of Rotary’s environmental effort to spruce up the community,” said Paige Fernandes, president of Leaside Rotary Club. “Many people were glad we hosted the recycling day so that their waste didn’t go into landfill. It was a great day all around.” All proceeds from the recycling effort go to local Leaside charities. Leaside Rotary Club has been passionate about Leaside since 1941. n
Leaside Rotary has collected 17,832 lbs. of electronics recycling over the past three years.
Nominations are now open for the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame and for Athlete/Team of the year. Visit leasidesports.com for eligibility criteria and to nominate. DEADLINE
The Leaside Sports Hall of Fame gratefully acknowledges the generous support over the years from
CURLING From Page 10
broom (as vice) and looking at all the rocks in play. When it stopped in the middle of the house we started jumping up and down with excitement and looking for a phone to record the final rock placements.”
Stevenson says that, after the final shot, “I was just catching my breath and trying to believe what had happened. I think there were high fives, but I know it took me a moment to count it myself.”
The curlers in the club that night were cheering as they looked on from the lounge windows. They were also all treated to drinks by the winning team.
The support was no surprise to Morrison as he notes that “it’s been a great community there. It’s a wonderful club.”
For Ball, an eight-ender is “always something you dream about.”
Next dream on the agenda? Morrison jokes that since the team has beaten the odds with their curling feat, it might just be time to buy that lottery ticket. n
1. Carefully selected CPGA instructors with incredible ability and personality.
2. No more lost golf balls make lesson packages incredibly cost efficient!
3. Private lesson bays for the price of non private bays.
4. Shave scores! Golf 247 gives juniors and others new tools to use on the course.
5. Summer camp registration for beginners and intermediate players. Full week camps with lunch provided!
Standard and junior lesson packages available in limited capacity.
Mountain biker? Triathlete? Road rider or casual commuter? Whatever the reason you take to two wheels, these Leaside retailers have you covered. Independently-owned, all three shops are founded by people who have transformed their passion for cycling into successful businesses:
Bateman’s Trail Shop
49 Laird Dr. batemansbikeco.com
The cardinal rule of retailing – location, location, location – governed Robert Bateman’s decision to open a mountain bike-focused trail shop in 2022. Located not far from the Don Valley’s world-class mountain biking trails, the shop has quickly become a community hub for those who love the rougher terrain of trail rides. Bateman’s Bike Company was looking to expand, and Robert, a mountain bike enthusiast, saw a unique opportunity in Leaside to share his passion for off-road riding.
“Our shop is a first for the GTA – we have the largest selection of mountain bikes in Canada, plus all
the accessories, apparel and gear you might need,” explains Rob. You’ll also find a full-service tune-up and repair shop staffed by expert mechanics.
As sales manager Austin Floyd points out, “Because of our large
inventory, we’re likely to have your size in stock, so you can try the bike out for fit and performance right here.”
Whether you are new to mountain biking or a trail-riding enthusiast, Bateman’s has a complete selection for adults, youth and kids and will set you up with the right bike. For those who are curious, they offer rentals to let you give mountain biking a try.
INSIDER TIPS:
Follow @batemansbikeco on Instagram for upcoming group rides.
• Check out their youth mountain-biking camp at campdongrom.com.
1588 Bayview Ave. bikedepot.com
Owner Aarif Suleman grew up in a bike shop. His father owned Bloor Cycles, where a 10-year-old Aarif would hang out and help out. After finishing business school, Aarif launched his own bike shop in Thornhill. Fast forward to 2024, and BikeDepot now numbers four locations in the GTA, with the store on Bayview in Leaside the latest to open. BikeDepot’s motto is “two wheels, one love,” and they can outfit anyone who loves to bike, with commuter, cargo, mountain, gravel and road bikes – person-powered or pedal assist e-bikes, as well as bikes for kids. As Aarif explains, “Everyone has felt a sense of joy cycling. Through our products and services, that’s what we aim to deliver.”
Store manager Chazz Pitts says that the store caters to a wide range of customers – serious cyclists, yearround commuters and families – for
equipment, accessories and clothing as well as tune-ups and repairs. “We have everything to outfit the whole family. And with five women on staff, we can give special attention to the needs of women and girls.”
Both Aarif and Chazz like the vibrancy of Bayview as well as the foot and bike traffic that comes right to their door.
INSIDER TIPS:
• The largest dealer of specialized bikes in Canada, including electric/cargo options.
• Follow @bikedepot on Instagram for upcoming clinics, rides and events.
812 Eglinton Ave. East endurosport.com
Enduro Sport has been in the business of serving triathletes and performance cyclists for nearly 30 years but its origins were humble. Owner Dan Rishworth started the business out of his parent’s basement as a mail-order source of triathlete gear when he was in university. According to Dan, “If you were a triathlete at the time, what you needed to compete was not readily available in Canada.” It proved to be a profitable niche market and soon Dan opened a store near Leslie and York Mills.
Most people hear “triathlon” and think “Ironman,” but the sport of swimming, cycling and running set distances has grown substantially with fun, low-key, accessible events for all ages in communities across Ontario. When Dan started looking for a main street space for this growing market, Leaside made perfect sense. “There was a lot of active endurance athletes in the area as well as a number of biking, running and swimming enthusiasts,” he says. Serving this community requires expert knowledge and
continuity of service for fitting and repairs. “Our long-time staff have the expertise to help people improve their experience and performance, whether they are just starting out or a seasoned pro.”
INSIDER TIPS:
• Consignment swap sale held spring and fall. Pre-owned equipment online.
• Exclusive retailer for Frog kids’ bikes –lightweight and easy to master.
• Plenty of road and gravel bike options for all levels. n
HERO From Page 3
Join Councillor Robinson
Thursday, June 6
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Leaside Memorial Gardens
1073 Millwood Rd.
Drop off household items f or reuse, recycling, safe disposal or donation.
For a list of items you can and cannot bring to Community Environment Days, please visit: toronto.ca/environment_days
was stuck in the mud in a ravine off Blythwood Rd. Two years later, he made the news again by rescuing a tourist who had fallen in the Severn River, near Orillia. Despite not knowing how to swim himself, Bruce jumped in and saved the drowning man. When his children asked him afterwards how he had become so wet, this unassuming and modest individual answered simply, “I was in the water.”
Bruce Catchpole died of cancer at the age of 54 – the result of years of
exposure to the noxious fumes and hazardous substances he encountered while fighting fires. His daughter recalls that there was an honour guard of firemen at his funeral. Years later, in 2011, through the efforts of his son Bill (who also became a firefighter), his service was officially recognized, and his name added to Toronto’s Fallen Firefighter Memorial Honour Roll. Bruce’s name also appears on the National Firefighters’ Monument in Ottawa. He is buried in Goderich, Ont. n
INTERIOR
Home Renovations
Additions • Kitchens
Bathrooms • Basements
EXTERIOR
Waterproofing
Concrete Stone
Brick & Block Work
Basement Entrances
Garages (New/Repair)
Design & Permit Services
FOR CONSULTATION ON YOUR NEXT PROJECT CALL
416.564.0149
www.pawconstruction.ca
BLOOD DRIVE FOR LEASIDER
A special donor clinic in honour of Ernesto Rubini will be held at Canadian Blood Services, 880 Warden Ave. May 9-11. To register: https://myaccount.blood. ca/en/join-team/TEAM0117037. See The Curious Idler, pg. 34 for more info.
ART EXHIBIT – JANE COUSENS
Conversation with a Meadow. Leaside Library, 165 McRae. May 1 - 30th. Opening and artist talk: Sat. May 4, 2:00 to 4:00pm. Kids welcome. Instagram: janecousens Email: janecousensart@gmail.com.
LEASIDE LIBRARY
165 McRae Dr. 416 396 3835
Leaside Branch Spring Book Sale! May 3-4, 9:00am-5:00pm. Come check out our biggest book sale of “previously loved” books. Funds raised support TPL programs.
Repair Cafe at Leaside Branch Sat., May 25 - 12:00-3:00pm. Bring in your broken household items and Repair Café will fix it for free. Drop in. After School Club Mon., May 6, 13 and 27, 3:30-4:30pm.
Join us for afternoons of fun with games and activities. Snacks offered. Food may contain allergens. Ages 6-12.
Draw Joy from a Pencil Wed., May 8 - 10:0011:30am. Find the joy in using a simple pencil and piece of paper to create a beautiful piece of art. For everyone from beginners to advanced. Debora Dunn will share simple techniques. Register in person or by phone.
ST. AUGUSTINE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH
1847 Bayview Ave
Groove Room Coffee House Listen to great live music by local artists. Fri., May 10th 7:00-8:30 pm. Pay what you can with all money going to the Flemingdon Food Bank. We are looking for performers. Contact info@saintaugustine.ca.
NORTHLEA UNITED CHURCH
125 Brentcliffe Road 416 425 5252 office@northleaunited.ca
Taizé at Northlea Tuesdays, May 14th and June 11th 7:00-7:45 pm. Come for music and quiet reflection in the middle of your busy week. When weather permits, we will be in the Pines.
LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY
Speaker Series Thurs, May 9th, 7:00pm, Leaside Library. Guest speaker Dugald Cameron on Extending the Clematis Season. The Society welcomes guests and new members at meetings. Email leaside@gardenontario.org for info.
DOORS OPEN TORONTO
May 25, 26, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm RClub, 25 Commercial Rd
ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH, LEASIDE
1399 Bayview Avenue 416 485 0329 www.stcuthbertsleaside.com
Tai chi Tuesdays 1:30 -2:30 pm in Lamb Hall. Suggested donation $4
Gard’n Angels every Wed. and Sat., 10 am to noon. All welcome to come and help on the Green south of the church.
Between May 9-19 Walk the Labyrinth on the Green. Make a Prayer Request in our outdoor Prayer Garden. Visit our Prayer Stations inside the church MonThurs, 10:00 am to noon.
Anti-Fraud and Anti-Scam Workshop Wed, May 29, 11 am to 12:30 pm Presentations by Toronto Police Services. Register in advance.
LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH
822 Millwood Rd. 416-425-1253 x. 21 www.leasideunited.org
Spring Awesome Sale Fri. May 10 3:00 pm-7:00 pm and Sat. May 11 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Donations accepted Mon-Fri (9:00 am-noon). n
“My dad is a fighter. He is incredible. He is my hero,” says Angela Rubini. Ernesto Rubini, well known to many Leasiders, has been a longtime volunteer with the Leaside Soccer Association and a familiar face around the hockey rink. In 2021, he was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and as part of his treatment has received numerous life-saving blood transfusions. Ernesto, who prior to his diagnosis was a regular blood donor, personally giving blood over 100 times, wanted to continue to give back. To that end, he has organized Team Ernesto to bring awareness to the importance of donating blood. A special clinic from May 9-11 will be held at Canadian Blood Services, 880 Warden Ave. To register: https://myaccount.blood.ca/en/ join-team/TEAM0117037.
As reported by Leaside resident Tim Fornie, the TTC bus stop on Eglinton Ave. outside Leaside High School seems to be, well, homeless. Ever since the development of the Leaside station, this stop appears to have moved around, a lot! Says Fornie: “First it vanished completely, only to reappear in several places, near the pedestrian traffic light to its present resting place near the Howard Talbot sign.” Seems like the bus drivers are confused as well, sometimes not seeing the moving target and driving by.
Transplant ambassadors are kidney transplant recipients or living kidney donors who welcome the opportu-
nity to share their personal experiences with people facing the need for a kidney transplant. Leasider Christine Pisapia, who donated one of her kidneys to her brother in 2014, has volunteered as an ambassador for more than five years. She is now the lead for the Transplant Ambassador Program (TAP) at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Did you know that 1 in 10 Canadians has kidney disease? That’s four million people, with over 50,000 Canadians being treated for kidney failure. To learn more about the program visit: transplantambassadors.ca or kidneyalliance.ca.
A $74,800 capital grant from the Ontario government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation has facilitated the creation of a new member-oriented office space for Epilepsy Toronto right here in Leaside.
Epilepsy Toronto’s mission is to promote independence and quality of life for people living with epilepsy and their families through support services, information, advocacy and public awareness. Located at 1425 Bayview Ave., the new community hub has numerous amenities tailored to enhance programs in support of individuals and families affected by epilepsy. The 10th Annual Purple Walk in support is scheduled for June 15th at College Park. Find out more at: Epilepsytoronto.org.
There is nothing quite as special as playing for your school team, and it is extra special when your team wins a first-ever championship. That is what happened recently for the Northlea Boys and Girls Grade 7 and 8 hockey team. Led by coaches John Ellis and Jeff Maysuik, the team captured the TDESAA Grade 8 district championship. Facing adversity throughout the season, the team came back against rival Bedford Park to win 3-2 in a thrilling shootout. Congratulations to all the players, parents and coaches. Go, Leaside, go! n
It used to be said that Toronto has two seasons: winter – and construction. This year, although winter has been less predictable, construction has been reliably predictable and more non-stop than ever.
As for spring, one sure sign of its arrival is the number of road repairs underway, on both residential and arterial streets. The City is sending out pre-construction notices to homes all across Leaside, warning drivers of delays. Most will affect only short stretches of local streets, but one upcoming Hydro project is more major, involving the area bounded by Wicksteed Ave., Millwood Rd., and the intersection with Southvale Dr. at Leaside Memorial Gardens. It’s part of the larger Beth Nealson-Pat Moore project, to relocate the underground electrical system, in order to accommodate the Metrolinx Ontario Line subway. This last is still only in the planning stage. Stay tuned for more details, when they become available.
In other traffic-related matters, you may be aware that the Leaside
Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA
Residents Association sits on the Leaside & Laird Crosstown Committee, which meets online every two months with representatives from Metrolinx and Crosstown to discuss issues and ask questions related to construction at and around those two LRT stations. At our most recent meeting, committee members expressed concern about the location of the LRT signal at the Eglinton Avenue and Leslie Street intersection. Some eastbound drivers on Eglinton who wish to turn left (north) onto Leslie have been observed confusing the LRT signal with the traffic light intended for automobiles. They thus turn left against the traffic light. We speculated that the height of the LRT signal may account for much of this confusion, since the design of some cars cuts off full visibility of the
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intersection. I wrote to Metrolinx to report this, urging priority be given to moving their light higher, so that it will be visible to the LRT driver but NOT to road users.
We have been informed that Metrolinx is investigating the safety situation on Eglinton at Leslie (and at other LRT/traffic intersections also at grade level). We have been promised a follow-up briefing on what Metrolinx has found and plans to do.
Finally, there is no real update on the much-raised issue of creating a safer crossing environment at Bayview Avenue and Sutherland Drive for pedestrians and cyclists, not to mention improved turning access for the TTC 88 bus. The LRA and local residents had expected new proposals to be presented at the April meeting of the North York Community Council, but there will be a delay while Toronto Transportation Services studies alternatives to their original recommendation. We are optimistic that a suitable solution will be found which works, and meets with public approval.
What are you doing on the evening of Wed., May 1st? The LRA board will be meeting at 7:30 p.m., as we do on the first Wednesday of each month, at the Trace Manes building on Rumsey, just south of the Leaside Library. Why not join us?
At any time you can also reach us online, via leasideresidents.ca (press the Contact Us button), or at leasideresidents.ca/contact-us n
PANDAS From Page 18
of April, 2024, but Rick also plans to explore avenues to distribute his product in bricks-and-mortar stores.
Recently returned from a show in Chicago where he displayed his wares, Rick says people are stunned by the simple and effective design.
“When I showed them that you just stretch it down to the wheel axle, they couldn’t believe this hadn’t been invented before.”
Rick is proud of the fact BinClaw not only works but it also has curb appeal.
“It’s possible to elevate the experience of taking out your trash,” he says.
The device is priced at $24.99. For more info: https://binclaw.com n
Purchase 2 half-day camps for $499 (save $79) to create a full-day, week-long camp + enjoy a week of complimentary hot lunch.
Purchase 4 half-day camps for $950 (save $209) for two fullday camp weeks + 2 weeks of complimentary hot lunch.
Minecraft®
from 6 to 9 p.m. All are welcome. Marshall explains that it will be called “Hello – Goodbye” since there will be art from the Grade 9s up to the graduating Grade 12s. Attendees will be able to purchase refreshments and admire the students’ work, which includes mixed media, sculpture, oil, acrylic and water colour paintings, textiles such as “the quilt” and images from teacher Lisa Rubenzahl’s photography class. There will also be live music.
There is so much happening at LHS. But don’t take my word for it; seize these opportunities to see, hear and feel for yourself. n
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is now accepting applications for Summer 2024 volunteer opportunities. Work alongside our exceptional team as you make a meaningful contribution to aquatics, recreation, life skills, and rehabilitation programs for children and teens with disabilities. Full-time and part-time volunteer positions are available in July and August Applications are now open.
To learn more about our summer volunteer opportunities, please visit: www.hollandbloorview.ca/volunteer
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the end of an era for the Carpet Mill. Nearing our 31st year in business, we have had to come to the very difficult decision of closing our doors to make way for the new Carlaw Station. As most in the neighbourhood are aware, Metrolinx is expropriating Riverdale Plaza and the premises must be vacated by May 31, 2024. Therefore, all flooring installations will be completed by the end of May.
We would like to thank each and every one of you that trusted us and gave us the opportunity to work in your homes and businesses over the past three decades. During this time, we have made the nicest acquaintances and secured many friendships. Thank you to the communities of Riverdale, Leslieville, Upper & Lower Beaches, East York, Rosedale, Leaside and beyond. A special thank you to our dedicated staff and installers for their tireless efforts. Without you, we wouldn’t have existed, grown and flourished; our success was achieved via your hard work. Thank you to all who have been a part of our journey; you will sincerely be missed.
Please come visit us this month as all stock is cleared – UP TO 75% OFF!
Sincerely,
Kathy & Aris Owners/Operators
On April 15th in the Grand Hall of the ROM, these Leasiders were awarded Provincial Volunteer Service Awards in recognition of their contributions to our community.
Five MPPs were on hand, including our own Stephanie Bowman, to thank each of them for their long-term service.
