Leaside Life Issue 145 June 2024

ROLPH ROAD ELEMENTARY KIDS READY TO DIG IN!

First Leaside school to get a Butterfly Canoe!

by DEBORA KUCHME

It should come as no surprise that Rolph Road Elementary School is the first school in Leaside to have a Butterfly Canoe. After all, this is a certified EcoSchool with Gold EcoSchool status.

Carol Lee, a local Butterfly Ranger with the David Suzuki Butterfly

Way Project, told me about this new canoe last fall. Her mission is to help create neighbourhood corridors of pollinator plants to support our native bees and butterflies. To do that, she reaches out to Leaside schools and churches to promote the creation of native pollinator gardens on their sites.

Last year, Carol visited Rolph

Leaside Life is announcing an exciting partnership with UHN

for Rehab. Join us in our effort to raise $25,000 in support of the two world-leading rehab centres right in our own backyard! See page 3 for more details!

Road Elementary and met with the office administrator, Anna Ivans. Coincidently, Anna was already making inquiries about getting a Butterfly Canoe for the school. As they say, timing is everything!

Smooth sailing from the start

It sure helps when everyone is on board with a project like... pg 18

Rally

I should have known when Business of Leaside columnist Glenn Asano wrote in our May issue about the City’s consultations on the ‘night economy’ and what that might mean for Leaside that we’d hear about it. “Opportunity or threat for Leaside?” was how he phrased it.

Well, email letter-writers have come down unanimously on the side of… threat!

Here are just two of the more printable comments (edited for space) that we received:

“In brief, my opinion is ‘absolutely no!’ Actually, I’m beyond perplexed that anyone would think of a ‘nightclub or two in Leaside Business Park.’ Perhaps another place like The Local, but only in line with the growth of local population and not to attract folks from other parts of the city. You want to go to a club or a place that’s open past 11 p.m.? Please feel free to go to Yonge & Eglinton or downtown. Mayor Chow should consider developing Toronto Waterfront if she

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

wants more clubs…Imagine your Friday night, trying to relax in your Divadale or Stickney Rd. home and you hear the bass coming from the Leaside Business Park’s nightclub. I can go on and on.” Or this one:

“I am not a fan of this idea for Toronto at all. But, more importantly, NOT FOR LEASIDE whatsoever. I think the hours that are set, and the days, are just fine here in our city. We do not want to become like some of the USA cities where people never sleep. Let’s keep our communities, and our ‘neighbourhoods’ even more so, a place of peace during the night hours. People need times of calm to rest. There is enough chaos in our world as it is.”

There were enough comments sent to us that Glenn has chosen to take another look at the issues around the night economy. Will he still see opportunity? Read on to find out. n

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Leaside Life partners with UHN Rally for Rehab

We are thrilled to announce an exciting partnership between Leaside Life and UHN Rally for Rehab. Set against the backdrop of our vibrant neighbourhood, this collaboration marks a significant step towards fostering wellness within our community.

Rally for Rehab is a fundraising event to be held on Sept. 8, 2024, in support of the two world-leading rehab centres right in our own backyard.

Our goal? To raise $25,000 from the Leaside community, helping these centres to continue their

invaluable work in restoring health and hope to countless individuals. At Leaside Life , we are dedicated to celebrating our community – its character and compassion. Partnering with UHN Rally for Rehab allows us to extend our commitment further, amplifying our impact and making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. In the coming issues, we will share stories from your neighbours, like Rob Thomson, profiled in this issue, who have received care at our local rehabilitation centres.

Mark your calendars for Sept.

8th and join us as we support this endeavour. Whether you choose to walk, run, or donate, your contribution will make a difference. Join Team Leaside Life, participating as an individual or creating your own team. Simply search Rally for Rehab 2024 to find out more. We are also looking for volunteers to assist our team before and on the day of the event. Interested? Email us at leasidelife@gmail.com or call 416-5048047 x 120. n

Rob Bertelink, cardiac rehab coach, to the rescue!

by SUZANNE PARK

We’ve all done it! Skipped an exercise session, watched just one more episode on Netflix instead of getting in our 10,000 steps, ordered fries with our meal when we know salad is the better choice. Now there’s hope, in the form of Leaside’s Rob Bertelink.

Rob Bertelink describes himself as an accountability coach whose area of specialization is cardiac rehabilitation. His credentials, career path and kudos from patients are testament to his expertise and commitment to results.

For three decades Rob was the clinical coordinator and cardiac rehab supervisor for the Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program at the University Health Network, which includes Toronto General and Toronto Western hospitals, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, The Michener Institute of Education, and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. He just retired in mid-April yet isn’t ready to hang up his stethoscope. Instead,

he is launching an executive cardiac rehab business so he can continue to contribute to the health and wellness of past and potential patients, including those who have graduated from 12-week hospi -

tal programs and those who want to prevent a cardiac event or be held accountable to maintain their health and wellness at any age.

For those unaware of cardiac rehab, in 1967 Dr. Terence Kavanagh became medical director of the Toronto Rehabilitation Centre (TRC) and introduced what has now become the largest outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in North America.

During his 32-year tenure at TRC, 25,000 patients passed through the program and benefited from his groundbreaking approaches. Patients are referred by their doctor after surgery or a cardiac event to UHN’s 12-week cardiac rehab program located at UHN’s Rumsey Road Rehabilitation Centre.

As Rob explains, “Participants begin the program with a cardiopulmonary exercise assessment measuring their cardiovascular fitness. A personalized program of exercise and education is designed by the team to address each person’s needs, goals and fitness level.”

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As an advocate of current hospital-based programs, Rob urges “anyone who has had a heart attack or cardiac surgery to undergo a cardiac rehab hospital-based program, which has been shown to decrease the odds of repeat events by upwards of 50 per cent supporting participants in living active, healthier, more independent lives.”

As a father, Rob likes to inform students that “at the Rumsey Centre we do a lot of student placements in physiology and kinesiology and have a number of volunteers supporting our program.”

As you can appreciate, Rob’s patients prefer to remain anonymous, yet one provided this testimonial: “With his compassionate counsel, empathy, knowledge and expertise, Rob has even helped a couple of grateful people at Leaside Life with their own health issues.”

“I was thrilled to receive the 2023 Clinical Educator of the Year award from the Toronto Rehabilitation Centre for my work with doctors and students,” Rob says. “Back in 2019, the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute fundraising president

OLIVIA BERTELINK

Niloo Saiy PharmD, CDE, RPh Associate-Owner

by LORNA KRAWCHUK

No, not that Peter Sellers

What does it take to run a successful second-hand book business in Toronto? And where?

According to Leasider Peter Sellers, College Street in Little Italy has the same feel as Bayview did when he was growing up in Leaside in the 1960s. Lots of foot traffic, independent stores and family homes just around the corners – in other words, the perfect location for Sellers & Newel Second Hand Books at 672 College Ave.

The name honours both his father’s and mother’s family, the Sellers and the Newels, whose family home was on Donegall. His mother’s brother, Walter Newel, is one of those honoured on the memorial plaque outside Leaside Memorial Community Gardens as one of the sons of Leaside who died in WWII. Peter took possession of his 600-sq. ft. property on Oct. 15, 2011 and opened on Nov. 12. The first book

papers around Mallory Crescent. The dog could run around while they were delivering, and then they’d all head down the ravine to the valley afterwards until it was time to head home for a meal.

After graduation in 1978 with an Honours English degree from Glendon College – “the easiest course I could think to take” – he worked for IBM, delivered pizzas and worked at W.H. Smith Books on Yonge Street north of St. Clair. He wanted to be a writer, “but it’s very difficult to make a living, and I lacked the focus and dedication, but maybe I can do something in the ad business.” And he did, for the next 30 or so years, “always working in small places, with fewer rules, that suited me down to the ground.”

The call of the book business

he sold (he still remembers) was The League: The Rise and Decline of the NFL , by David Harris. Working with him for the first few years was his cousin, David Newel, who suggested that poetry books would sell. Much to Peter’s amazement, they did – and they still do. He’s expanded the section four times since opening. Another big seller is books on philosophy.

Unlike other bookstores, with electronic inventory lists, Peter keeps a list in his head of what’s in the store or in two storage lockers.

The Sellers of Leaside

Peter’s family home was on Southlea, but when he was 11, the Sellers moved to Bessborough at the foot of St. Cuthbert’s Road. This was handy, as the family spent a lot of time at St. Cuthbert’s Church over the years. Peter attended Rolph, Bessborough and the University of Toronto Schools, while his hangouts included Leaside Gardens, for swimming and doing a bit of hockey coaching. It was worthwhile to go through the rubbish bins behind E. S. & A. Robinson on Laird to see if there was Sellotape or hockey tape that had been discarded but was still usable.

Peter and his brother Tim would take their dog with them to deliver

But with his love of books, and those two storage lockers, and the thought “how hard can it be to run a bookstore,” Peter decided the time had come in 2011 to try his hand at actually running a bookstore.

He also became an author. The short story, “Closing Doors,” in his book Kickback and Other Stories won the 2020 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story. He has written two other collections of short stories, and has edited, among others, a series of Canadian anthologies, Cold Blood 1 through 5, all published by Mosaic Press. In the early 1980s, he and Rob Milling got the idea for a book that would include descriptions of people with hangovers. “It got rejected all over the place, so we sat on it.” Again, and again, but this year Howard Aster of Mosaic Press agreed that the time was right. Be on the lookout for The Last Martini: A Hangover Bedside Companion ,” available soon from the publisher, or at Sellers & Newel. Peter also thanks his wife at the time, Rochelle Khan, for her great assistance. What would a bookstore be without a literary society associated with it? But this one is a surprise. When you check what’s on offer, it turns out to be musical performances. On select evenings, the limited space is rearranged for performances by musical artists

Page 12

Sellers in front of his store.

Opportunity knocked for Rob Thomson... UHN’s Cardiac Rehab Centre answered

by SUZANNE PARK

Every now and then opportunity knocks. Sometimes we heed the call, but sometimes we are tone-deaf. Rob Thomson is grateful he was listening and was all-in when the University Health Network’s (UHN) Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program – Rumsey Centre was offered to him. In fact, as Rob commented, “I couldn’t wait to be well enough to immerse myself in the program and take full advantage of everything that was accessible within the centre’s program.”

Rob’s history

Like many active Leasiders, on the May 24, 2018 weekend, Rob was enjoying a long bike ride. He described the aftermath. “Arriving home I experienced some indigestion and pain. Then soon realized the pain wasn’t going away, so I got myself to Sunnybrook Hospital. There, I was told I’d suffered a cardiac event.”

Rob credits the hospital’s quick

diagnosis, subsequent medical care and the Rumsey Centre’s cardiac rehab program with restoring him to health after that heart attack six years ago. He’s not alone. According to the UHN’s website,

Stanley’s White House Meats

the program graduates 1,800 patients annually.

Describing his experience, Rob said, “I was enrolled in August, just two months after my event and joined a group of about 15 others once a week for six months. During the second half of each of those visits, I was on the track. I wanted to start running right away, but they did a really good job of getting me to start with walking and incrementally get my heart back to a spot where, after the six months, I was able to run comfortably. By the end of the year, not the initial six months, I was up to running seven kilometres.

“I credit my progress to this fantastic program and the team’s knowledge, experience, and their firm yet kind responses, whenever I asked a silly question about what I should or shouldn’t do or eat.”

Rob’s degree in kinesiology made him an excellent choice for learning from the program. “The UHN rehab program was a great refresher and updated my knowledge and commitment to healthful living. The educational part really grounded me around diet, exercise, and other key factors. This helped me get back to feeling healthy and not broken,” he said.

Asked if he ever compromised on the program’s guidelines, Rob smiled. “Oh, I think we all occasionally bend the rules a bit. However, I am very dedicated to my health and wellness and so appreciative of the six months in the program. Plus, after graduating, there is an annual stress test, which is so reassuring. A member of the clinical team provides the results, offers advice, and we discuss any potential issues. And throughout this journey, my family was so supportive in normalizing the situation.”

A self-confessed private person, Rob mentioned that a persistent Leaside friend encouraged him to share his story, a wise and generous act that may encourage others experiencing pain, to see it as a valuable opportunity, and quickly present their symptoms to a medical professional.

Thanks in great part to the program, Rob is back enjoying full-time work and relishing his regular runs.n

Rob Thomson

A noteworthy year for the Leaside Aerodrome

1918 was an eventful year for the Leaside Aerodrome (also known as Camp Leaside), the large military facility north of Wicksteed which trained cadets and airmen for combat during WW1. That was the year, of course, when the aerodrome received Canada’s first air mail delivery, on June 24. This historic event has been well documented in Leaside Life and elsewhere.

The arrival of two visitors

But it wasn’t just airmail that made 1918 a significant year for the Aerodrome – or for Leaside. Two other incidents occurred there which have gone largely unnoticed, but deserve recognition. The first was a visit to the camp in July by one of Canada’s foremost historical artists and illustrators – Charles William Jefferys. The second was a visit a few months later by a young man who would later become one of the modern world’s greatest novelists –William Faulkner. What makes this story even more intriguing is that both men came to Leaside for the same reason – to see airplane engines.

Ted DeWelles Leaside Heritage Preservation Society

A key structure at the Leaside Aerodrome was the engine-testing shed, which housed several stationary airplane engines – mainly Curtiss OX5s – that were bolted onto wooden frames mounted on concrete blocks.1 As part of their pilot-training,

cadets would go to Leaside to learn how to start these engines by cranking their propellers. This was the building which brought both Jefferys and Faulkner to the Aerodrome.

C. W. Jefferys (1869-1951) came to paint a picture of the building and the cadets training there. Commissioned by the Canadian government to record military training in Ontario, Jefferys probably arrived in Leaside in the summer. By July, he had produced a coloured pencil sketch showing nine individuals – presumably cadets and groundcrew trainees – grouped around an airplane engine. Entitled Instruction in Propeller Swinging, the work is signed “C. W. Jefferys Leaside, July 18.” It was exhibited at the Art Gallery of Toronto in 1919 and is now deposited at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

William Faulkner (1897-1962) came to Leaside in September as a Royal Air Force (RAF) cadet. Four months earlier in June he had joined the RAF in New York City in hopes

AERODROME Page 13

WIKIDATA

C.W. Jefferys lithograph of the Leaside Aerodrome Engine Test

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO

He shoots, he scores!

Inspirational author Dr. Orison Swett Marden once wrote that “all who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.”

Daniel Shafransky has lived his life with his eyes fixed on seemingly impossible goals and with the determination to reach them.

As father of Leaside High School Grade 12 twins Angie and Benji, Shafransky has supported them in all of their pursuits from academics to athletics, and beyond.

Both kids have been involved in high level athletics with Angie’s field hockey team winning an Ontario championship and Benji being the provincial winner in discus.

But in an interesting twist, support ing his kids has encouraged Daniel’s own athletic aspirations. “I have always wanted to model what I talk to my kids about,” he says.

A lifelong athlete, Shafransky learned about the Canadian Masters Indoor Field Hockey program

Shafransky with his kids Benji and Angie at the airport.

post-pandemic, Shafransky joined two indoor field hockey clubs, and the work continued to ramp up.

With Canada qualifying for the World Cup in England this past March, Shafransky was deservedly named to the national team in January and competed in the event in Nottingham, England.

For Shafransky, “it was a dream come true” to make the team and represent the country on a global stage.

Shafransky scored Canada’s first goal of the tournament against Guyana, a memorable and remarkable moment for a man who only five years earlier had undergone disc surgery.

So, what’s next for this athlete?

In his ongoing bid “to show my kids that anything is possible,” Shafransky will continue training with the aim of participating in the next Indoor Field World Cup in 2026.

Ninjas Camps

He is also exploring the sport of race walking.

With his perseverance, determination and hard work, it will be exciting to see where this next pursuit takes him. n

BERTELINK From Page 4

announced at a cardiac department event that more donations had been made in my name than any other TRI employee. Receiving Honour Your Hero award had me smiling because it’s not one donor giving a million bucks. It’s a thousand people giving $10 or $15, which to me just means so much.”

Looking to stay on your personal health and wellness track? You can find Rob, the accountability coach, at: https://executivecardiacrehab.ca. n

SELLERS From Page 6

from around the world. There is a minimum donation, 100 per cent of which goes to the performers. Initially, from 2015, he was aiming for one performance a month. But now performers come to him asking to appear in this special space. It even has the Sellers family piano on site, regularly tuned. This past May alone there were 20 performances. “It’s really fun and great publicity for the store. The performers can play what they want, and everyone shuts up and listens.”n

LEASIDE SPORTS

of becoming a pilot and was sent to Toronto for basic training at the Long Branch flying camp west of the city. From there he went to the University of Toronto for instruction in military aeronautics, which included a trip on September 24 to Leaside to study airplane engines.2 Faulkner wrote home about the experience, which he found somewhat disturbing: “We went out to flying camp [the Leaside Aerodrome], and I learned how to crank an aero motor by swinging the propeller. I was rather surprised when I did it. It’s rather scary though, the thing goes off with such a roar. Saw lots of flying, as yesterday was very clear, a great flying day.”

Faulkner never became an RAF pilot. The war ended before he could finish his training. But his experience in Toronto and at Leaside must have made an impression. When he returned to the U.S., his very first published story – Landing in Luck (1919) – was about a young pilot who barely avoids a crash landing during his first solo flight at an RAF “aerodrome” in Ontario. Did Faulkner have Leaside in mind when he wrote the story? While there’s no

direct evidence to that effect, it’s tempting to think so.

Postscript

An established and respected artist when he visited Leaside, C.W. Jefferys continued to draw and paint well into the 1940s. Many of his works are part of the public collections of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto City Hall, University of Toronto and the National Gallery of Canada. His three volume Picture Gallery of Canadian History is considered a masterpiece of historical illustrations depicting Canada’s past. C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute in North York is named in his honour. William Faulkner returned to the U.S. in December 1918. For the next three decades he wrote and published some of the most innovative and brilliant novels in American literature –including The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, Light in August, and Go Down Moses. In 1949, he was awarded the Nobel prize in literature.

Sources: 1 Michael Zeitlin, Faulkner, Aviation and Modern War [New York: 2022], page 109 2 Michael Millgate, “William Faulkner, Cadet,” University of Toronto Quarterly, 35 (1966), page 118. n

The Committee of Adjustment just ‘cain’t say no’

by MITCH BUBULJ

While a song about a character’s inability to rebuff a “suitor” in the classic Broadway musical Oklahoma was vaguely comedic, Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment’s seeming indifference to the word “no” is nothing for Leasiders to laugh about. Many of us don’t know the role the committee plays or even that it exists. According to the City of Toronto’s website, the Committee of Adjustment, or CofA, “is an independent quasi-judicial body administrative tribunal that makes decisions under the Planning Act on applications for minor variance, consent, and permissions to extend or enlarge legal non-conforming uses.” There are five members of the North York committee, the group that scrutinizes Leaside property owners’ requests for variances. All Ontario municipalities have CofAs, but Toronto’s are the busiest, with between 3,000 and 4,500 applications heard at 90 hearings a year. It’s a good system…at least on paper. Say a homeowner asks for

a dozen variances – one at the April hearing requested 15! – and plans on replacing a classic Leaside bungalow with a McMansion in the faux-Versailles or Malibu beach style; in the name of good governance and sensitivity to community identity, the CofA rejects the application, right?

Not always! Take a walk along Broadway, Rykert, Southvale or McRae and you’ll know what I mean. In fact, the committee can decide any one of three ways: accept, reject or defer, in other words yes, no or rain check. From participating in several hearings, I have heard “yes” far more than “no.”

321 Laird got a yes (?!) from the CofA.

To be fair, the CofA mostly considers the sheer number of variances being requested and the magnitude of the variances, i.e. minor or major. They do not consider aesthetics. How do you define “minor”? And how does the CofA define “minor”? That is an issue that frustrates par-

ticipants. Another is that some applicants request 15 or more “minor” variances. But a proposed house that incorporates that many changes, albeit “minor” ones, will make for one very large house on a relatively small Leaside lot. Let’s be clear: this is not addressing the housing shortage but offering a family 4,000 or more square feet of living space where once there was 1,500.

The CofA’s need to make the right calls has never been more important. With the housing market heating up because of the projected interest rate reductions and “for sale” signs mushrooming on front lawns, Leaside’s built heritage and predominantly Tudor-revival streetscapes are at risk. Luckily, our robust Leaside Residents Association keeps a close eye on all applications. Consider joining if you have not done so already to support their good work. If you are a homeowner thinking of a renovation or demolition, consider reading the Leaside Character Preservation Guidelines first, found at leasideresidents.ca . Lastly, be aware and involved. All neighbours within a 60-metre radius of the subject property must receive written notification of the hearing 14 days before the meeting with details about the plan and ways to participate at the hearing. Every subject property must also place a notice in a prominent spot for all passersby to read. Consider attending in person or via Zoom. Write a letter to voice your perspective on the project. Your views matter.

MITCH BUBULJ

LAYERS OF LEASIDE

An ode to Sunnybrook Plaza

It’s gone now. Built in 1952 as the first suburban strip mall in Canada, Sunnybrook Plaza at Bayview and Eglinton had a good run. But it’s gone now.

Growing up at the corner of Parkhurst and Donegall, I could literally see Sunnybrook Plaza from my parents’ bedroom window. I remember the big Power store in the middle of the plaza in our early years in Leaside. Eventually Power moved out and Consumers Distributing moved in. Consumers Distributing seemed to be a retailing experiment where you would scan the catalogues provided and fill out a purchase form noting the names of the desired products and their identification numbers. Then you submitted the form at the front counter and a staff person would disappear into the back of the space through double doors. Then you waited patiently until the staffer returned – they almost always returned – usually bearing the products you were seeking.

They sold a broad range of consumer and household items. I remember doing a good chunk of my shop-

Terry

Fallis

Columnist

ping at Consumers Distributing for more than one Christmas. It may have been modeled after the old LCBO outlets that pursued the same approach to retailing where all the “products” were secreted offstage in the back of the store. Nowadays, the LCBO clearly wants us to see the complete product range available as it becomes increasingly difficult to navigate an LCBO store on foot for fear that the nine-foot-high pyramid of Veuve Clicquot champagne bottles might collapse and bury a customer. Consumers Distributing lasted a long time, but eventually, it too closed down to make way for a Boots Pharmacy and then a Pharma Plus. There were many other stores that came and went from the plaza including some classics like the

men’s clothes store, Woodhams (I think that was the name), Mac’s Milk (or was it Beckers?), John and Chris Interiors that my mother used for all our reupholstering needs, a Second Cup, a Blacks photo store, a Home Hardware, and of course the Sunnybrook Restaurant.

I’d nearly forgotten the full name of the restaurant. Nearly every single student at Leaside knew it simply as “the Raunt,” (rhymes with “taunt.”) It became a very convenient student hangout given its close proximity. If you were dragging yourself slowly from class for a much-needed coffee or a piece of apple pie, it would still only take you about three minutes to get there. I didn’t spend a lot of time at the Raunt, but the really cool kids sure did. No, there was a different retailer where I spent lots of time and hard-earned babysitting money. Yes, I frequented Hunts Bakery. The aroma that greeted you when you entered Hunts Bakery was enough to send me into some kind of pastry-high. I would just stand there inhaling deeply and exhaling only when I had to. The older women who stood behind the counter to serve customers would often ask if they could help me, but I usually just delayed so I could spend more time breathing in the glorious scent of baked goods for a little longer. When I’d stood there long enough for it to be weird, I’d finally place my order. “Three glazed and three chocolate donuts, please.” I can still see them loading a small box with my six donuts. They were bigger than any other donuts on the market back then, and I think would still come out on top today, all these years later. Every square millimetre of donut was glazed, and as for the chocolate donuts, we’re talking full immersion here, not just a drizzle on the top. Chocolate completing encased the donut. Both flavours were gastronomical works of art. And the taste was something I cannot describe, but I remember it oh so well. You may be wondering with whom would I share my six donuts from Hunts Bakery? Bite your tongue. I never shared them with anyone. They were all for me. And now, Hunts Bakery, and all the other retailers at Sunnybrook Plaza, are gone, replaced by a big condo development now under construction. They say change is good for us. But I sure miss those donuts. n

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The first Leaside school to get a Butterfly Canoe!

(continued from cover) this one, and that seems to be the case with this particular Butterfly Canoe crew.

Alexandra Stefanoff is a kindergarten teacher at the school who started (and leads) the equity committee there. She’s been involved with this project from the very beginning. “Once we knew we were getting a canoe, our principal had me and the equity committee lead the project,’’ she said.

Alexandra planned to include everyone at the school, and wanted to use this opportunity to link learning to the land.

“We want students to understand the significance of native plants, their origin and why they are important to the land,” Alexandra said. Students will be able to explore, learn about the plants, bees, butterflies, pollination and so much more.

All docked up and ready to grow

The canoe arrived last June (generously donated from the Guildwood Butterflyway), and its greatest adventure has only just begun. At the beginning of this school

The Leaside Gardener

Debora Kuchme Columnist

year, in recognition of Truth and Reconciliation Day, students learned about Ontario native plants. Each class from kindergarten to Grade 6 chose a plant to research, understand its unique qualities, and even learn its Indigenous name. Every class will have an opportunity to plant in the canoe. Some of that activity began last month, when students began to dig in with donated plants.

(The photo shows kindergarten students from Ms. Stefanoff’s and Mr. Sauve’s classes, all ready and eager to get their hands dirty.)

Throughout the school year, dif-

ferent classrooms and the Eco Club will maintain the canoe garden. But during the first summer (when these seedlings are most vulnerable) they will need some extra care. Alexandra told me she is more than happy to tend to the young plants (if needed) but hopes that community members will pitch in too. Ultimately, this project is really about connecting to nature. There are so many ways this native pollinator garden will help these students understand the importance of natural spaces. “We hope we will inspire students to do the same at their homes and for the community,” added Alexandra. Butterfly Ranger Carol Lee said, “Children are my biggest hope for our future, and the planet Earth’s.” And that’s why she does what she does. Looks to me like everyone at Rolph Road Elementary School feels exactly the same way! n

FROM THE COVER

Boon or burden? Navigating the challenges of a night economy in Leaside

In last month’s Leaside Life article, “Exploring the night economy –opportunity or threat for Leaside?”

I posed the question: do you think a burgeoning night economy would be an improvement or a detriment for Leaside? And, you guessed it, Leaside responded in spades. Whether via email to the editor, impromptu chats in several stores, and even in a parking lot, residents, business leaders and property owners had a lot to say!

As a reminder, City Council aims to grow the city’s “night economy” over the next three years by building “a foundation that encourages a vibrant nightlife [across the city rather than only in the entertainment district as it is today] by supporting talented artists and entrepreneurs, creating jobs and spurring economic growth for Toronto.” And it isn’t just about nightclubs; it extends to late-night eateries, retail outlets, cultural spots, social clubs and more, potentially enriching

Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside

risk, given the weak economic situation many of us face. In addition, should Ontario’s Bill 97 reach royal ascent, the updated zoning might make many of the night economy activities non-starters since they will be prohibited.

Development should enhance, not undermine community well-being

urban life for those seeking afterdark cultural and social experiences while boosting economic growth. But in Leaside?

Economic benefits are enticing, but not at a cost

Residents like Mr. Milan Zelcevic are concerned. Strongly opposed, he cites potential increases in noise, crime, and other disturbances that could undermine the family-friendly atmosphere. His commentary suggests that while the economic benefits are enticing, they should not come at the cost of community well-being. These feelings are shared by others too, who moved to Leaside for its relatively safe, calm environment, one ideal for raising families. Drawing parallels with challenges faced by those living near Toronto’s current Entertainment District, residents’ top concerns include a variety of issues

Noise

Safety and crime

Traffic and accessibility

Litter and maintenance

(see table).

The fact remains, without a strong business case or interested investors and supportive zoning, I personally doubt we will see noticeable change anytime soon. Perhaps this is best because it prevents us as a community from having to have those tougher discussions about NIMBYism and facing the accusations that get hurled at us from time to time, whether deserved or not (e.g., the homeless shelter “hoax” on Bayview by Raise the Roof back in 2015). Such resistance is indicative of the broader challenges cities face in balancing development with community preservation.

Should Toronto move forward, efforts to mitigate potential problems must include enhanced policing and security, the enforcement of strict control measures, increased measures to ensure cleanliness, and effective traffic management planning. This would help ensure development enhances, rather than detracts from, the quality of life in Leaside.

How could Leaside’s night economy cater to both young professionals and families? How should the community balance economic growth

Just as in the Entertainment District, the potential increase in nightlife venues could lead to higher noise levels in Leaside, disturbing the peace and calm.

The introduction of more nightlife could lead to an uptick in petty crimes such as theft and vandalism, as has been observed in other nightlife-heavy areas.

Increased traffic and parking issues could mirror those experienced downtown, where residents struggle to navigate congested streets or find parking during peak nightlife hours.

The likelihood of littering could increase, potentially leading to higher maintenance and cleaning costs, and alter the aesthetic and environment of the ‘hood.

Putting residents’ concerns aside for the moment, the few business owners and property developers I spoke with in the Leaside Business Park were also skeptical of the opportunity and seemingly unwilling to take on more

with preserving neighbourhood character in Leaside? What strategies can be employed to address “NIMBY” concerns while still pushing forward with necessary developments in urban areas like Leaside? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. n

The Leaside station overbuild – update

It’s been almost a decade since the “overbuild” of the Leaside LRT station became a Leaside Life story, which began with rumours of extra below-ground infrastructure designed to enable a tower overbuild. Now we are approaching the end of the planning approval stage; you might say we are reaching the end of the beginning. But construction is likely still a way off. City Council recently approved the zoning bylaw amendment (subject to some conditions) and the Ontario Land Tribunal gave an interim decision on the developer’s appeal, for a 35-storey tower over the Leaside station with a podium extending south on the two adjoining properties. 35 storeys? How did we get there?

The City’s plan for development driven by the Eglinton Crosstown adopted by City Council in 2018 proposed eight storeys in lands at the Leaside station. However, a year later the Province overruled the City’s plan and designated the Bayview Focus Area at 20 to 35 storeys.

The Leaside Residents Association (full disclosure: Doug Obright and I are the LRA representatives), while

Geoff Kettel Saving old Leaside

• Dedicated design & build staff

• Phased approach to design in parallel with building costs

• BCIN certified

• Fully insured

• 2 Year warranty

• Happy clients

having to accept the vastly more intensified planning context, has been trying to consider the interests of the community through the developer’s appeal proceedings and private mediation hearings. If you compare the plans approved with those originally submitted, the key parameters have not changed much. In fact there is an increase in the density and the number of units. This appears disappointing, however it’s not the whole story. For one thing, developers are often able to squeeze more space and units at the detailed design stage, but in this case the changes were offset by the incorporation of significant improvements the LRA requested.

The settlement agreement between the developer (Condor), the City, and the LRA lists the following improvements:

• Increased setback of the building to the Howard Talbot Park

• Removal of some balconies facing the park

• Increased public realm on Bayview by setting back the tower portion

• Mid-block connection from Bayview to Talbot Park (south end)

• Tenants from the two rental quads (1779-81 and 1783-85 Bayview) signed rental replacement agreements

• 14% increase in rental GFA

• Reconstruction of the heritage façade (and more) of 1783-85 Bayview, and incorporation into the podium of the building

• Increase in the vertical separation between the Leaside station and the tower above by 3.5m.

Settlement notes

A concern raised originally was that the overbuild and its massive podium diminished the visual identity of the LRT station – which is, after all, an important public building. To address this, the developer has raised the height of the overbuild, increasing the separation distance, and thus exposing the station more.

Moving and reconstruction of one quad, with its Tudor Revival façade, while it’s technically considered demolition, nevertheless will tie the building to the rhythm of the other quads south of the station. Unfortunately, only 1783-85 Bayview had the “legal clout” arising from its designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. As an anticipatory move with respect to

1779-1787 Bayview STATION Page 27

Litter never sleeps in Leaside

by CHERYL VANDERBURG

The April “big clean” may have come and gone, but it seems that litter never sleeps. And it is never so prevalent than when you live across the street from a public space like Trace Manes Park, as I do. Here are a few things I’ve learned over the years which might be helpful to keep the park clean this summer:

Pedalheads

The sports field is home to Pedalheads bike camp. I must say, there is nothing more adorable than seeing young kids learning to ride a bike for the first time, or learning bike safety by riding through the neighbourhood. But (there’s always a ‘but’) what is decidedly not adorable is the amount of litter that gets left under the trees along Rumsey Road after snack and lunch time. If you don’t like it, rather than simply complaining on the Leaside Community Facebook site, go right to the source and email Pedalheads at info@pedalheads.com. I’ve done this numerous times; they are very

responsive and things do improve. It’s just unfortunate they need to be reminded every year! And if you use

the fields as an off-leash dog park, which it is not, please pick up your dog poop so that young feet don’t go squish. More than once I’ve seen kids playing and then exclaiming “eeww, dog poop.”

Baseball

The baseball diamond is home to the Leaside Baseball Association. Nothing says summer more than the sound of the crack of the baseball bat and teammates and parents cheering the players on as they run the bases. All I ask is that the dugouts and bleachers be left clean of sunflower seed packets, water bottles, team lineup cards and takeaway drinks and snacks. Things have definitely improved over the years. But if you do see an issue, go to the source: their email address is info@leasidebaseball.com . Once again, they are very responsive and things do improve.

Playground

The Georgia Walsh playground is truly a gift to the community. During the day it is a great place for kids to play, schools to enjoy outings, birthday parties to be held, and families to get together. At night it turns into a teen gathering spot where, unfortunately, the noise, at times, can be quite disruptive to the neighbours along McRae and Rumsey. And it can become littered with slushy cups, broken glass, eggs thrown onto the tennis courts. …I was a kid once too so I get the need to have somewhere to hang out with your friends. But think about the parents who bring their kids to the park on a Saturday or Sunday morning to these unsafe and unsanitary conditions. As we don’t have a City-sponsored community Adopt a Park program, it’s best to call 311 if the playground needs a good cleaning. This will log the complaints so the City is aware of the issues, and the mess will be cleaned up immediately. There is a plan to add a second set of garbage/litter bins inside the park on the McRae side so that might help.

I hope I don’t sound too much like a litter curmudgeon. That’s not my intent. Rather I’m hoping to rally the community to keep Trace Manes a beautiful spot for all of us to enjoy. And as Jane Jacobs says, “people don’t litter where there is no litter.” Happy summer! n

CHERYL VANDERBURG

The leftovers of a party night in Trace Manes Park.

LEASIDE LITTERATI

Local goalie scores impressive award

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO

Juggling athletics and academics can be challenging. Add in community service work, and the balancing act can be precarious!

But for Grade 10 student Neil Katyal, his tremendous ability to deliver in school, on the ice and especially off the ice, has resulted in being awarded the prestigious Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) Roy Pejcinovski Memorial Goaltending Character Award for 2024.

The award is given to a GTHL goalie who demonstrates extraordinary community service and models the character traits of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Katyal has played hockey since he was 5 and as a goalie since the age of 8. Now 15, he plays for the U16AA/ U17AA Ted Reeve Thunder.

Off the ice, Katyal has volunteered both after school and during summer break to assist young goalies with skating and skills instruction.

He has also worked with the Toronto Public Library Teen Council (Leaside Branch) on group projects aimed at benefiting both the library and the community. He took a leadership role in coordinating an art exhibit at the library and in organizing and running workshops for the community including a sewing club.

That’s not all. Neil has also shovelled snow for seniors in Leaside, volunteered with the North York

NAVIN KATYAL

SPORTS

Neil with his GTHL Award.

Harvest Food Bank and participated in two 5 km walks to support spinal research at the Canadian Chiropractic College.

“Winning the Roy Pejcinovski Memorial Goaltending Character Award is not just about making saves on the ice; it’s about making a difference by giving back to my community off the ice,” said Neil. “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive such recognition in tribute to Roy Pejcinovksi, a fellow goaltender, who tirelessly promoted respect and compassion for the game.”

The award will be presented at the annual GTHL Awards Gala at the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 6th. n

continued STATION From Page 22

possible future development applications on Bayview, City Council passed a motion directing staff to assess the heritage value of the remaining eight quads by December 31, 2024. Of the eight, only 1755-57 Bayview is currently designated, though all 10 were nominated in 2011.

To preserve the operability of the Howard Talbot Park baseball diamonds, and the safety of players, Council signaled its intention to allocate community benefits charges revenue from the development to improvements, including baseball field netting and lighting systems. In addition to the removal of some balconies facing the park, in order to limit the liability of future residents, the developer agreed that purchasers and tenants will be required to sign an acknowledgement that there is a baseball diamond next to the building and that the City and the Leaside Baseball Association do not accept any responsibility for such nuisances as “errant balls.” The Leaside Baseball Association has indicated its satisfaction with these terms, and appreciated the support of Councillor Robinson in achieving these terms and Council decisions.

Reliable services when the dust settles

What’s next? Discussions are moving on to the site plan details. The LRA is continuing to seek improvements with regard to the midblock connection (south side), and on the east side. We have appreciated having Terry Mills, professional planner and architect, assisting with our advocacy. And the City has a number of conditions that need to be satisfied before the Zoning Bylaw Amendment will be finally approved. Onward! n Residential &

(647) 502 - 7472 | sales@angelshelp.ca | angelshelp.ca

by HOLLY REID

Time to cycle into summer

There’s a lot to look forward to for cyclists as the seasons change:

eglintonTOday Complete Street

Have you noticed the small sections of raised cycle tracks on Eglinton at Bayview? Metrolinx installed these in front of most Eglinton LRT stations where the trains travel underground. The eglintonTOday Complete Street project aims to connect these segments with a quick-build complete street right along Eglinton. The plan supports on-street cafés, parkettes and plantings, additional on-street parking and protected bike lanes. Phase 1 of the project, if approved by City Council, will be installed in 2024 from Mt. Pleasant to Keele. Phase 2, from Mt. Pleasant to Brentcliffe, will begin consultations in 2024, for installation in 2025.

New BikeShare stations

near Brentcliffe, McRae near Laird, and Southvale at Millwood. This brings the total to six BikeShare stations for Leaside with more planned for the Eglinton LRT stations at Bayview and Laird. For many Leasiders, BikeShare can make taking the future Eglinton LRT a viable option, providing efficient “last-mile” connections to the LRT stations from all parts of the neighbourhood.

CYCLING IN LEASIDE

Three new BikeShare stations have popped up in Leaside – on Eglinton

One metre please Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act stipulates that drivers must allow a minimum of one-metre clearance when passing a cyclist. In addition, the Ontario Guide to Safe Cycling notes that people cycling should ride at least one metre from the curb or parked cars. and for visibility and predictability, people biking are advised to keep to a straight line. On many of our residential streets in Leaside, where on-street parking is permitted, to be visible and safe, people often need to cycle in the middle of the road.

Tour de Thorncliffe: June 15 to July 13

Four years ago, the Thorncliffe Park Autism Support Network (TPASN) and the Women’s Cycling Network joined forces to raise funds to provide a free camp for children with special needs. Thus, the Tour de Thorncliffe was born. The camps have been hugely successful and welcome children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders – a practice that builds awareness, understanding and acceptance. TPASN’s Dr. Shakhlo Sharipova notes, “There were free camps in the city but none were open to children with special needs.” Each year the community and local businesses are invited to help raise $15,000 to fund the camps, which run over the summer in the Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and Taylor Massey communities. You can help too. Make a donation, do fundraising, join one of four community rides or attend the kick-off and closing ceremonies. All the details are at: https:// bit.ly/2024bike-a-thon.

Bike-to-Work day:

June 6th

Every year the City hosts Biketo-Work day to kick off Toronto’s Bike Month. The ride brings people from points all across the city to gather at City Hall before heading to work.

Cycle Don Valley Midtown is organizing a feeder ride to join the main group ride to downtown. Meet up at Bike Depot (1588 Bayview) on June 6th. The ride departs at 7 a.m. and will head over to Yonge and Davisville to join the main group at 7:15 a.m. n

Summer volunteer opportunities

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

COMMITTEE From Page 14

Proof that neighbourhood action is effective is the CofA’s denial, in April, of a builder’s requests for several variances. The verdict was as heartening as it was surprising. But ultimately it was a testament to the power of several letters and deputations made by neighbours at the hearing led by the young and articulate real estate lawyer, Alexander Surgenor, who grew up adjacent to the subject property. A united and robust front that advocates for good community development is key, and one at which Leaside excels. n

EventsJune

SHESHOPSSWAP

Clothing exchange. Tues. Jun 4, 7pm, William Lea Room @sheshopsswap

LEASIDE LIBRARY

165 McRae Drive For program info: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/leaside

ST. AUGUSTINE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH

1847 Bayview, Groove Room Coffee House Fri. June 14th, 7pm.

NORTHLEA UNITED CHURCH

125 Brentcliffe Rd., 416-425-5252 Taizé in the Pines Tues., June 11, 7:30 pm.

LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY

Speaker Series: For info visit: www. leasidegardensociety.org

ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH, LEASIDE 1399 Bayview Ave., www. stcuthbertsleaside.com. Garden with us! Weds & Sats, 10-noon. Lemonade on the Green: every Wed. from 10-noon.

LEASIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

670 Eglinton Ave. E. Free Furniture in the parking lot: June 22, 9-noon.

FLAVOURS OF THORNCLIFFE

Fundraiser for TNO. Thurs., Jun 20, 6:309:30pm. Tickets $200 from Eventbrite. n

Leaside Life

leasidelife.com

Editor: Jane W. Auster

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Comments, Letters to the Editor, Advertising Enquiries: Contact: 416-504-8047 Ext. 120

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Published monthly in Leaside, Toronto, ON. Circulation 10,000 to every home and business in Leaside & Bennington.

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There has to be a better way

As I write, a giant sinkhole has opened up on Moore Avenue, by the entrance to Mount Pleasant Cemetery’s Visitation Centre. To be accurate, I should really say the sinkhole has RE-opened, as this is not the first time that a repair has been required there.

This time, the sinkhole is larger and deeper, so the repair will be a major one. Once again, it’s having a major impact on South Leaside and Bennington Heights, as it has cut off all eastbound and westbound traffic between the Bayview and Moore Avenue intersection and Mount Pleasant Road. There has been massive spillover, and widespread diversion, of through-traffic onto local streets, spreading congestion from south of Davisville Avenue. There has also been an important disruption to area public transit, exacerbated by a lengthy delay in official warnings or informative signage, at St. Clair station and bus stops. Even into the second week of the construction, TTC’s website failed to provide details of any

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

detour route for the Leaside 88A and 88B buses, adding to confusion, congestion, and passenger frustration. This is definitely not an incentive to use “the better way.”

There HAS to be a better way to inform would-be TTC passengers with up-to-date and timely detour information!

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Leaside

You may not recognize its official name: the “Beth Nealson-Pat Moore Phase 3 Electrical” roadworks project currently underway. It’s the Hydro construction matter I mentioned in last month’s Leaside Life article, part of the relocation of the underground (aka, streets being dug up) electrical system needed to supply the Metrolinx Ontario Line subway. The Leaside Residents

Association (LRA) remains in touch with Hydro, and I promise to pass on more details when I have them. Neither Toronto Hydro nor the LRA has yet received information from the contractor’s design team regarding such details as which streets may be affected and for how long. So far, we only know that the general area involved is bounded by Wicksteed Ave., Millwood Rd., and the intersection by the entrance to Leaside Memorial Gardens. Some work appears to have begun, so we hope soon to have a clear, or at least clearer, sense of what’s coming our way.

The LRA board of directors meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Trace Manes building on Rumsey, just south of Leaside Library. You are welcome to join us there. Our next meeting is on June 5th. For more details and updates between now and then, or to become an LRA member, find us at leasideresidents.ca and press the Contact Us button, or at leasideresidents.ca/contact-us. n

A MESSAGE

STORETAMMYFROMNIVET,MANAGER

It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of South Bayview Valu-mart. We will be closing doors July 1st, with the last day open to the community being June 30th.

This store has been a big part of this community for about 50 years. I have served this community for nearly 24 years at Valu-mart, and have had the pleasure of working with a great bunch of staff.

South Bayview Valu-mart has been an integral part of this community supporting many events to raise funds for schools and local churches: corn roasts and fun fairs and many more events throughout the years. We will miss being here, and we will miss serving this community. We have also helped the elderly and disabled in our community with home delivery services. We will miss the community interactions, building great customer service and having one-on-one conversations with longtime customers. My staff and I wish everyone good health and happiness with a very sad good-bye.

Take care — from the staff at South Bayview Valu-mart. ❤

Bayview’s

Jaye Robinson:

A legacy of community engagement

As Leaside Life was heading into production, we learned of the death of Councillor Jaye Robinson.

The Don Valley West councillor was a powerful and passionate advocate for the Leaside, Bennington Heights, and Thorncliffe communities.

Her original column for this issue of Leaside Life contained information on a favourite community activity of hers: Community Environment Day. This year’s Community Environment Day will be held at Leaside Memorial Community Gardens on Thurs., June 6, from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Vehicles should arrive through the parking lot entrance off Southvale Dr. Please do not drop off any items before the scheduled event start time. For more info about items that will be accepted, visit the City’s website at www. toronto.ca/community-environment-days

Councillor Robinson’s legacy will live on in her many accomplishments through tireless advocacy for Don Valley West. n