Join Team Leaside Life
Rally for Rehab presented by BMO on September 8th
Leaside Life has partnered with UHN Rally for Rehab presented by BMO for 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.
JOIN US SEPT 8!
At Leaside Life, we are dedicated to celebrating our community – its character and compassion. Partnering with UHN Rally for Rehab presented by BMO allows us to extend our commitment further, amplifying our impact and making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.
As we lead up to the September
8th event, we are featuring stories about the amazing scientists doing remarkable work at these institutions. This issue features a story about groundbreaking research being done in post-stroke rehab for women. See page 6. Mark your calendars for Sept. 8th and join us as we support this endeavour. Whether you choose to walk, wheelchair, run, or donate, your contribution will make a difference. Join Team Leaside Life, participate as an individual or create your own team. Register and select Team Leaside Life at https://kite-uhn.com/ event/rally-2024-rehab. 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
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Byrne Hope Sanders: journalist, editor, author…and more
Some extraordinary women have called Leaside home over the years: Beth Nealson, Leaside’s first woman mayor; Agnes Macphail, Canada’s first female Member of Parliament; Maureen Kempston Darkes, CEO of General Motors Canada; and novelist Margaret Atwood, who lived in nearby Bennington Heights, but attended Leaside High School.
While this is just a partial list, I’d like to expand it by adding the name of Byrne Hope Sanders (19021981), who lived with her husband on Bessborough Drive in north Leaside from 1948 until her death in 1981.
Byrne came to Leaside already an accomplished career woman. Born in South Africa, she arrived in Canada at the age of 11 and attended St. Mildred’s College School in Toronto. As a young woman she worked as a journalist, and then in the advertising department of Eaton’s. Still in her mid20s, she was named editor of the
Ted DeWelles Leaside Heritage Preservation Society
magazine Business Woman, and by 1929 had become editor-in-chief of Chatelaine – a position she held until the early days of World War II when she was appointed Director of the Consumer Branch of the Wartime Price and Trade Board (WPTB) in Ottawa.
During the war, Byrne oversaw a volunteer staff of 15,000 women who helped control hoarding, price gouging and inflation by monitoring the purchasing needs and behaviours of Canadians. Byrne herself travelled across the country addressing hundreds of groups on the importance of price ceilings imposed by the government. When the conflict ended in 1945, she published a biography of Canadian Emily Murphy (researched and written in her spare time at the WPTB), the first police magistrate in the British Commonwealth and the driving force behind getting women legally
LEASIDE/DAVISVILLE'S REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST
Hope Sanders as Consumer Branch Director, Wartime Price and Trade Board, 1942.
Leaside’s rower supreme puts Canada on the map
Susan Scandiffio Columnist
Leasider Janet Bolton has definitely found her passion in life – and she’s got the awards to show for it.
The lawyer, mom, cyclist and former triathlete didn’t discover the world of rowing until age 50, but she is now beyond enthusiastic about, and highly successful, in the sport. Bolton is not just a member of the Hanlan Boat Club but soon after joining the club six years ago, became its president. She helps oversee grant proposals, safety issues, coaching, equipment, and so much more.
Club member Avtar Dhanota comments that Bolton “will go out of her way to help others at the rowing club. She will often drive to the club to fill in for an absent crew member or safety boat driver when no one
LEASIDE SPORTS
else is available.”
As past president of the Canadian Celiac Association, service to her community has clearly always been a part of Bolton’s life.
But beyond her dedication to the rowing club itself, Bolton has become exceedingly accomplished in the sport.
Bolton rows both on the water as a single and in team boats, and on land with an “erg” (ergometer rowing machine).
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She loves “the feeling of being on the water, a feeling of flow and power – quiet power. If you catch a stroke without the boat even noticing, if you can be that smooth, then you’re much faster. It’s just a beautiful sport.”
While she’s a powerful rower in the water and has made great friends, including her “blister sisters,” Bolton has also had incredible success in the indoor rowing field.
In the World Indoor Rowing Championships in 2022, she finished fifth in the world for her category and first in Canada.
In 2023, Bolton improved her standings, placing fourth in the world and first in Canada.
And this past February, she finished third in the world and again, first in Canada.
Bolton’s goal is “to get much better at my technique so I can be more competitive in my singles. I have learned a lot in the past five years: you can always improve, you can always get better.” n
JOANNE MCNEISH
Niloo Saiy PharmD, CDE, RPh Associate-Owner
Left: Janet (centre) with Hanlan Director of Operations Paul Charuk and Head Adult Coach Kirsten Ryan. Right: The Canadian sculling marathon in 2019.
Scientists open new doors for women’s health
by SUZANNE PARK
Being greeted by Jennifer Campos, Ph.D., Canada Research Chair (II), Senior Scientist, and Academic Associate Director at UHN’s KITE Research Institute’s Open Doors Toronto May 25th event, made my day. Jennifer, along with many of her colleagues, amazed 1,800 visitors with numerous innovative research and rehabilitation projects. She, in turn, introduced me to Susan Marzolini, R.Kin, Ph.D., a scientist and clinician at KITE (Knowledge, Innovation, Talent, Everywhere) who is also co-creator and lead with UHN’s Exercise and Risk Factor Modification Program for People following Stroke. As a young graduate student, keen basketball player and cyclist, Susan was inspired when working with the renowned Dr. Terence Kavanagh, whose 1960s research reversed the belief that bed rest versus exercise was best for stroke recovery. His legacy is the largest outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in North America. (See Leaside Life, June 2024.) Susan
reminisced, “Just two months before his death in 2018, he and his wife invited me over for dinner. He talked about the program’s history and his frustration that it was only for men.” Coincidentally, in 2018 Susan was selected by the World Heart Federation as an Emerging Leader in Stroke Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Treatment. A March 2023 article on KITE’s website states: “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death for women in Canada. Each year 25,000 women, one every 20 minutes, die because of cardiovascular disease. Despite these numbers, it’s estimated that twothirds of all research in the area focuses primarily on men.” In the article, Racquel Brown, a member of KITE’s Cardiovascular Team, stated that “the project’s purpose is to stimulate research topics that address the unmet need of people who’ve experienced heart disease and clinicians’ focus in the field of women’s heart health and cardiac rehabilitation.”
Susan Marzolini is also a wiz at explaining her recently published paper, in the Journal of the American Heart Association . “Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability,” she summarized. “After a stroke, while most survivors regain the ability to walk, they will lack sufficient walking speed and endurance to resume regular day-to-day activities. This clinical trial identified the outcomes for post-stroke walking dysfunction after six months of a customized HIIT training protocol that included shorter sessions, 20 versus 30 to 60 minutes, and brief
bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by intervals of low-intensity exercise.
“The training trial resulted in more than a two-fold, clinically significant, greater change in cardiorespiratory fitness and marked increases in participants’ six-minute walk distance. Additionally, HIIT was safe, and 96% of the patients completed the study.”
Susan urges everyone to heed the FAST symptoms of a stroke: Face drooping on one side, Arm or leg weakness or numbness, Speech - trouble speaking, and Time to call 911. Other stroke symptoms include loss of balance, trouble walking, or problems seeing out of one or both eyes.
Like Jennifer Campos, Susan emphasizes that scientists never work alone. “I’m grateful to the Brain Canada and Heart and Stroke foundations for funding for this research and to so many KITE colleagues like Sherry Grace, Tracey Colella, Paul Oh, Mark Bayley for their inspiring contributions. They’re all featured on the KITE website.”
Join us, Team Leaside Life, opening doors in support of cardiac research, Sept. 8, 2024, at the UHN’s Rally for Research presented by BMO. Links: https://kite-uhn.com/news/ cardiovascular-trainee-women and https://kite-uhn.com/event/rally-2024-rehab then click: Register & Select Team Leaside Life. n
Susan Marzolini, scientist at KITE. Inset: Jennifer Campos.
Get NAKEDFACE at this Leaside beauty studio
Janis Fertuck Columnist
Kate Kim, owner of NAKEDFACE Beauty Professionals on Bayview, states her mission right on her phone message: “Helping you achieve your skincare goals is what we are all about,” and she offers encouragement to “remember to take some time for yourself today.”
Kate moved to Canada from Korea in 2006 after visiting family in Toronto and falling in love with the people and nature here. While she was a skincare specialist in Korea, here she encountered some difficulty in adapting her skincare routine to the challenges of a different climate. After taking an aesthetician program and a course in entre-
preneurship and working for several years in the beauty industry, Kate decided to open her own studio.
The resident of the Yonge and Eglinton area settled on Leaside because of its “warm community vibe and the neighbourhood support for small businesses.” With her “knowledge of the industry and the challenges to beauty entrepreneurs,” she also wanted to create a health and beauty co-working space and set out to attract some other beauty service providers interested in setting up their own businesses as well as being part of a professional network.
Each member of the collective runs a separate business in its respective space, while the members support each other with business strategies and client referrals. Kate herself operates NAKEDFACE Skincare, creating skincare products with the help of local suppliers in the GTA and using only naturally-derived ingredients in her products “with a focus on effective formulations for hydration and nourishment to slow the aging process and without additives like dyes and fragrances.”
Kate’s team includes Thy Vu, who oversees product development, and Catherine Arias, who is in charge of marketing and social media. Their popular, handcrafted products include cleansing oil, gentle face wash, hydrating gel, nourishing cream, rejuvenating exfoliant and
The team at NAKEDFACE: l to r: Catherine Arias, Katarina Papageorge, Elaine Visentin, Kate Kim and Thy Vu.
JANIS FERTUCK
Enjoy an ‘elevated’ shopping experience
by LISA PARKER
Relevé, the beautiful boutique that opened at 1727 Bayview Ave. in March of 2021, derives its name from the classical ballet term and move meaning to elevate or rise up.
Owner Gillian Medina, a former dancer, “wanted to open a store with elevated active wear and leisure wear,” so the name fits well with that concept.
The local mom and entrepreneur was inspired by the Leaside and North Toronto vibe of on-the-go people with active lifestyles. She had always dreamed of opening a clothing store and saw a niche opportunity to fill a bit of a gap. Relevé was created as a shop for people who could benefit from multifunctional clothing that gets you through your day, from workout to work to social outings. The store carries a variety of local and international brands that provide this type of flexibility. Gillian was also
JARED LECKIE
aware that some brands, such as Varley from the UK, On (sneakers) and Vuori, were hard to find in Canada so she wanted to make them more readily available. This combination has been well received, as evidenced by Relevé’s growing client base.
The store offers a very tranquil and zen vibe. “I wanted a calm, airy spa-like place for people to shop in a relaxed manner,” says Gillian. Relevé definitely took on the owner’s dream concept and created a storefront that provides customers with exactly that feeling. She also loves colour, and it shows, as shoppers both in the store and online are treated to a rainbow of colour choices.
Gillian originally planned to open the store in early 2020, but the pandemic got in the way of that opening. In the fall of 2020, she signed a lease for the Bayview Avenue premises, hoping that the worst of the pandemic was behind us. It was definitely a leap of faith given the state of our world at the time. The store opened in March of 2021 amid the continuing difficulties of pandemic restrictions.
As an entrepreneur, Gillian knew she had to be nimble and flexible. Happily, for Leasiders and shoppers beyond, Relevé was able to adjust, using strategies like curbside pickups and an online store. Despite these challenges, Relevé was able to grow and thrive. In addition, this type of elevated active and leisure wear has become more popular in recent years so there is additional interest in the shop and its brands. Today the store’s customers come to shop from all over the city, plus Relevé has a thriving online business that ships across Canada and into the United States. With its central location in Leaside, Relevé has become a destination for many Torontonians in search of unique products in a spa-like store setting.
Gillian and her helpful and friendly staff enjoy welcoming shoppers to the physical store on Bayview Avenue for a tranquil shopping experience. For online shoppers, Relevé’s website ( releveclothing.com) also offers a great online experience. n
Gillian Medina of Relevé
These Leasiders are knitting pretty
by LORNA KRAWCHUK
The knitters at the Leaside Library are a faithful bunch. (Full disclosure: I’m one of the faithful.) We even managed to stay together, thanks to Zoom, during the various Covid lockdowns.
There have long been book groups based in libraries, but about nine years ago, the Leaside Library set about to see what other types of groups might enjoy meeting in the community room, under the supervision of a library staffer. Knitting turned out to be a winner. Zoe, our current staffer, is the latest to learn to knit on her Thursday morning shift with us. Floro, one of her predecessors, after learning to knit, was making cushion covers with a variety of fancy stitches, and then branched out into crocheting hats for his wife and friends. He’d show up each week with another marvellous creation for all to ooh and aah.
Meet the knitters
Ida, one of the originals in the group, can be counted on to have
a pair of socks on the go. Not just any socks, mind you, but ones with a hard-wearing double sole in a technique she’s perfected. But on a break from socks, she’s tackled projects as diverse as a Christmas stocking with a zillion (no exaggeration) little pieces to embroider, a knit cowl with a seven-page pattern and a quite-large tea cozy in the form
of a tennis player, complete with wobbly racquet.
Raila is also a sock-knitter, using a pattern in her head so she can chat at the same time, and knitting like wild fire in the continental (left-handed) style. Mila is another quick continental knitter, who is determined to show the rest of us how easy it is – but that’s only the case if it’s the way you were originally taught.
And then there’s Cathy and her beagles! She loves beagles. Understatement. Right now, she’s waiting for a time when she’s bored as well as motivated – as something went wrong with the beagle stuffed toy she was trying to make. So, she’s switched over to a pillow cover, with, of course, a beagle face. When you’re a knitter, you also inevitably acquire a “stash” – all the balls of yarn you thought were going to turn into something, but didn’t, or the leftovers from that item you actually did make. Jane had acquired a synthetic Phentex yarn, in a particularly drab grey, and was determined to use it up. Success after many weeks, but the finished product did cry out for the addition of a pink flower as decoration.
This past week, there was a crochet cellphone case, a shawl, three sweaters, four hats, a headband, and a sock in production, along with an intense discussion of how exactly to do “Judy’s magic cast-on,” with at least four participants.
Lately we’ve seen a spate of baby sweaters in different colours and designs. These, along with assorted
ANNA CARR
Get ready to move your way!
Get in the swim this summer at 24 Swim School
by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO
Whether your goal is that your kids be safe and confident around water or become the next Penny Oleksiak, great swimming lessons are a must. And when private lessons are offered right here in the neighbourhood by trusted instructors, from a home pool, why bring your kids anywhere else?
24 Swim School has been providing one-on-one lessons at a Leaside home pool for the past three summers. Working with kids from the ages of 6 months to 15 years, the school offers one- or two-week lessons.
The school’s four instructors –Olivia Holmes, Reese Holmes, Aly Francella and Ella Grayson – are all Leaside High School students and graduates who are fully certified, have extensive experience and, as Allie Lort, parent of two of the students, notes, “they make swimming lessons so fun!”
Mary Holmes, mother of instructors Olivia and Reese, explains that the family had a boat when the girls were younger, so “swimming lessons were always mandatory.”
FROM THE COVER
When the girls, who are 16 months apart, were in the later years of grade school, they decided to take the Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor course with the goal of establishing a swim school in their backyard. Their forward-thinking skills have ensured that both have annual summer jobs. Their swim school has also been so well received and popular that they were able to provide other Leaside students with employment.
While the Holmes’ sisters are entrepreneurial success stories, their main focus has always been on providing safe, encouraging, personalized and high-quality swim lessons to kids.
Whether students are beginners, those looking to enhance their skills, or children whose parents feel they would benefit from gaining more confidence around water, all of the instructors are professional, dependable and beloved.
Says Olivia, “Everyone at 24 Swim School is super excited to welcome back old and new students for another great season!”
Visit www.24swimschool.com to learn more or to enrol your kids for lessons. Leaside Life encourages you to do your due diligence whenever the personal safety of children is involved. n
CRAIG HOLMES
Olivia and Reese Holmes
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Our school field trip to see a limo
I remember many of my primary school field trips when my twin brother and I attended Bessborough School from 1965 to 1973. There were of course trips to the Ontario Science Centre and the Royal Ontario Museum. I seem to recall more than one visit to Black Creek Pioneer Village where we learned how to churn butter among other antiquated skills. I’m quite sure we even took that short walk to see the fire station on McRae, not to mention the Leaside Public Library just one short block down Crandall Road. I’m sure there was a fall trip to a pumpkin farm that undoubtedly included a hayride on a wagon pulled by a tractor. Oh, and who could forget hitting a local sugar bush to witness the miraculous journey from sap to syrup? But there’s one field trip that stands out from many of the others. It was Oct. 22, 1969. I was nine years old, and coincidently, so was my twin brother, Tim. We were in Grade 5. Two days earlier it had been a balmy 11ºC, about the seasonal norm for late October. And a few days after
Terry Fallis Columnist
it was 10ºC. But as luck would have it, on Oct. 22, 1969, the temperature plummeted to -4ºC. I should also mention that it actually snowed that day. And this particular field trip involved walking and waiting… outside. It was all very exciting, but man, were we cold by the end. I forget whether it was in the morning or afternoon – after all it was 55 years ago. But I do remember the walk from Bessborough along Hanna Road to Leaside High School. Given the frigid temperatures and snow, you might think that when we arrived, we’d be warmly welcomed inside for hot chocolate and Pop Tarts. Not so much. In fact, we had to stand outside in the cold, lining the driveway, waiting. Some were bopping up and down in eager antic-
ipation of the special guest soon to arrive. I was probably bopping up and down for the sole purpose of elevating my body temperature, which at the time was in steep decline. Not wanting to be late, we had arrived in very good time. I think we were an hour early and as such, had secured a prime spot on the driveway. Right across from us were arrayed the students of Northlea. There was a great rivalry between our two schools, so it was risky lining us up directly across from the road from them. I mean, we weren’t exactly the Sharks and the Jets, but there were some nervous teachers praying the special guest would arrive soon. But we behaved ourselves. It helped that we’d all been given little Canadian flags to distract us.
Finally, the motorcade turned off Hanna and into the Leaside High School driveway. There were police officers on motorcycles in front of a long black limousine, with two more motorcycles in behind. By that stage, I’d lost all feeling in my legs and I was clapping my hands – not so much for our celebrity visitor, but to try to restore blood circulation in my fingers. I waved my little flag with passion.
As the limo moved past us, the only part of our special guest I could see was his hand waving in the window. The limo pulled up to the top of the driveway and stopped. Then the rear door opened. Through the snow, I watched as none other than Prince Phillip emerged wearing a suit, but no coat, hat, or gloves. He smiled our way and waved before turning to dash up the steps to the open doors, no doubt anticipating the warmth that beckoned.
And that was it. As soon as the doors closed, our intrepid teachers and the parents who joined us on the field trip announced we were immediately starting the great arctic trek back along Hanna to Bessborough School. Looking back, I may remember more about his limo than I do about him, but by all accounts, Prince Phillip was lovely and gracious during his visit to present some impressive Leaside High School students with the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. That was the day royalty came to Leaside.
For Ted DeWelles’ Heritage take on this story see: https://leasidelife. com/fast-times-at-leaside-high-theday-prince-philip-came-to-town. n
It’s a jungle out there! A garden out of control
Around 15 years ago, my green buddy, Cheryl Vanderburg, decided to do a backyard makeover. She’s always been drawn to natural gardens, and if you’ve read any of her many Leaside Life ‘Litterati’ articles, you know she cares a lot about the environment.
Cheryl didn’t want to mow any longer and watering seemed wasteful. So, she had a friend draw up a plan which included a patio, arbor and large perennial garden. “I thought it would be pretty, natural, less maintenance and require fewer resources like water.” And the garden became all of that…at least, for a while.
But Cheryl soon learned that some plants quickly outgrow their given space, others require too much attention, and there are always unknown and uninvited invasive plants that show up out of nowhere.
Back in February (when most of us gardeners get the first hit of spring fever) Cheryl asked me for some garden advice.
“My garden has become a jungle!”
The Leaside Gardener
Debora Kuchme Columnist
she said. She went on to explain that she wanted more space, a garden that would look beautiful all year, and as much as she loves gardening, she didn’t want it to be a full-time job.
I was delighted to offer help and asked for some photos so I could see what the garden looked like during the winter.
Her photo gave me a perfect view, and though it was too early to see this garden burst into life, I could clearly see the many problems she was facing. With only one path to the back patio, there was no easy access for her to tend to the oversized garden bed. I saw the bare branches of too many scattered deciduous shrubs, and the dried stalks where hostas and ferns were beginning to take over. But what I noticed the most was the lack of evergreens, making this garden look completely dead in the winter. In the early spring I saw every -
thing I had imagined. Though looking lush and lovely, I knew it was a perennial garden on the verge of becoming a jungle.
I suggested cutting through the enormous garden bed and laying a new flagstone path to mirror the existing path. This would form a centre island bed and create a beautiful focal point, but more than that, it would provide Cheryl easy access to tend to her plants. I suggested she take out most of the ostrich ferns that I personally adore, but will soon take over the entire lot. She could pot some up in containers, where they could be controlled while adding visual interest along her patio. But most important, I suggested adding evergreens!
Evergreens are essential trees and shrubs that add a sense of weight and body to a garden. They support birds looking for shelter, a place for them to nest, and bring life to a winter garden. They can also block unsightly views, and once established, most evergreens are low maintenance. What’s not to love?
Cheryl took action immediately. She ordered some new planters, started giving away plants to neighbours, and even put some ferns out at the curb where they were scooped up in no time.
She enlisted two enthusiastic garden helpers from Leaside High and got them to dig in. Suddenly, a new path began to appear, and her lovely new planters were filled with beautiful ferns that will come back year after year.
There’s still a lot of work to make Cheryl’s new dream garden come true: the new flagstone path to lay down, transplanting of her favourite flowers to the new island bed, and the addition of some evergreens. But it sure is shaping up fast, and personally, I can hardly wait to see the final creation. n
PHOTOS:
Leaside Rotary’s 28th annual corn roast –a great family outing!
by CRAIG HUTCHISON
What event serves more than 1,000 cobs of corn and over 800 hot dogs?
It’s the annual Leaside Rotary Corn Roast, celebrating its 28th year on Sun., Sept. 15, 2024 at Trace Manes Park. This is Leaside’s largest – and most fun – family-friendly event.
Some history
The corn roast was originally set up to build a community event, generate funds for local charities and attract new members to Rotary. These principles remain today. The corn roast has a strong history of building popular activities. Some years it featured car shows, a petting zoo/pony rides (City bylaws stopped this popular event), stage set up with brass band, puppet shows and various other performers.
Recently the corn roast has showcased huge fun inflatables, face painting, a fishing pond, guessing jars and raffle, and a 50/50 draw.
Some amazing facts
The corn is sourced from a local GTA farmer who has been supplying the corn for the entire 28 years. The corn is picked the morning of the event so it’s as fresh as possible. There has never been a total rain-out. Last year there was beautiful sunshine throughout the entire day. Many of the sponsors have been with the event since Day 1. The food – fresh corn, hot dogs and ice cream – has remained the same since that first year.
The Leaside Rotary Corn Roast has raised over $75K in revenue over the past five years alone (excluding the two Covid years). This money has gone to support numerous local charities.
So, set aside SEPT. 15, 2024 as a fun-filled day to enjoy Leaside’s largest family-friendly event.
Leaside Rotary – Passionately supporting Leaside since 1940. n SUN., SEPT. 15, 2024, TRACE MANES PARK
Jaye loved Leaside (and Leaside loved Jaye)
We knew she was struggling with a resurgence of her cancer, but the news of her passing on May 16 hit hard and deep. Jaye was a City Councillor for 14 years, and OUR Councillor for six of those years, having been elected in Ward 25 (Leaside was in neighbouring Ward 26) in 2010, re-elected in 2014, in 2018 elected in the realigned, and much larger, Ward 15 Don Valley West, and re-elected in 2022. Being a responsive and effective Councillor in Ward 15 is a significant challenge when you consider Don Valley West’s location, size and character – from Highway 401 in the north to Bennington Heights in the south, its population of over 100,000 people, and its diversity, encompassing neighbourhoods as different as The Bridle Path and Thorncliffe Park. Jaye loved Leaside and the feeling was mutual. What endeared her to the community, I think, was the sense that she could be relied upon to ably represent the community –she understood the issues and needs, and she was on OUR side.
Jaye was a supporter of preserving
Geoff Kettel Saving old Leaside
neighbourhood scale and character, and if asked, was willing to write to the Committee of Adjustment in support of residents with concerns about monster house development on a neighbouring property. She would activate appeals by the City to ensure the community was properly represented at the tribunal when a decision was appealed. And she acted at Council to initiate a study of “iceberg basements,” which extend deep down in the water table and beyond the building footprint, but are presently not regulated. She was also an environmentalist, moving several
motions at Council for tree canopy preservation and ravine protection. Councillor Robinson was active in the rash of tall tower developments on north Bayview that have followed the provincial overriding (2019) of the City-adopted OPA 405 (2018). While recognizing the diminished City role in what now tends to be a provincially controlled tribunal playground, she made motions at Council to ameliorate local concerns with development, and the need for offsetting community benefits. A recent example is 1779-1787 Bayview – the overbuild of the Leaside Station – where she moved to make funds available for baseball field netting and lighting systems for Talbot Park, and for heritage protection of the remaining Talbot quads on Bayview. As well, for the Leaside Business Park she was a vigilant guardian of the employment lands designation.
While her “small c” values endeared her to the community, sometimes she received criticism for her stands. Alex Bozikovic, The Globe and Mail’s architecture critic, described Jaye Robinson as “furiously anti-development.”
But her support for community was not limited to leafy neighbourhoods like Leaside. Following her passing, I attended a condolence meeting in honour of Councillor Jaye Robinson held in Thorncliffe Park, where her responsiveness to the community and her creativity were widely recognized. For example:
• her timely support for Covid response – she organized skids of face masks for distribution in Thorncliffe Park.
• her concern for community safety – making adjustments to the bike lanes and implementing two new crosswalks on Thorncliffe Park Drive.
• expediting the reporting to North York Community Council on the North section of the Ontario Line (i.e. the Stations, the Guideway, the MSF [Metrolinx] and TOD Infrastructure Ontario).
Jaye’s obituary said (in part) that “she spent her life serving the public, representing her community with fierce determination and unbending principle.” She is missed. n
I remember City Councillor Jaye Robinson
by RACHEL VAN FRAASSEN, Chief of Staff
Over the last month, I’ve spent many hours reflecting on the life and legacy of Councillor Jaye Robinson. I had the honour of working with Jaye for close to seven years and I feel immense gratitude for the many lessons I learned under her leadership. To me, she was much more than a boss – she was a mentor, friend, role model, and unwavering supporter.
First elected in 2010, Jaye proudly represented Don Valley West at City Hall for almost 14 years. On City Council, Jaye championed environmental sustainability, responsible budgeting, investment in arts and culture, and protections for Toronto’s tree canopy. The many local parks she created and revitalized are an enduring part of her legacy that will continue to be enjoyed by residents for years to come.
tation, transparent governance, and evidence-based decision-making. She was never afraid to stand up for her constituents and what she believed in, even under intense pressure. If you have attended a public meeting with Jaye, you will know that she was adept at commanding a room. In the most contentious meetings, she would find a way to channel fervent debate into productive solutions.
A highly-respected voice on City Council, Jaye held important leadership roles over her time at City Hall. As chair of Public Works and Infrastructure, she introduced Toronto’s first-ever Road Safety Plan in 2016. From 2018-2022, she served as chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). During this time, she led the TTC through the COVID-19 pandemic – one of the most challenging periods in Toronto’s history – while continu ing to advance fleet electrification, fast-track critical infrastructure projects, and secure record-setting investment in public transit.
Before entering municipal politics, Jaye was the Director of Special Events for the City of Toronto and spent more than 20 years of her career in the public service. She was responsible for founding and producing many of our city’s most iconic events, including Summerlicious , Winterlicious , Moose in the City , the Celebrate Toronto Street Festival , and Nuit Blanche .
Throughout my time in the Ward 15 office, Jaye always emphasized the importance of service excellence. She encouraged our team to be responsive to constituent feedback and work collaboratively across the various City Hall departments to find creative solutions. Jaye was passionate about her work and the neighbourhoods she represented in Don Valley West. Late into the evenings and on weekends, she was known to read and respond to constituent emails – in some cases surprising the author with an unprompted phone call.
Jaye was an inspirational and compassionate leader, who cultivated a sense of shared purpose in her office. With her strong work ethic and meticulous attention to detail, Jaye motivated us to produce our best work and achieve results for the residents of Ward 15. No accomplishment was too small to go unacknowledged, often with a “gold star!” email.
While Jaye had high expectations of her team, she was also a lot of fun to work with. She had a great sense of humour and a knack for finding moments of levity in stressful situations. Never one to take herself too seriously, she was always quick to crack a joke – even while leading lengthy staff and committee meetings.
As a City Councillor, Jaye believed deeply in public consul-
Over the last few weeks, I’ve spoken with many of Jaye’s former staff about the profound impact she had on our personal and professional development. She will be deeply missed by all, like me, who knew her. She leaves a lasting legacy in Toronto, the city she loved. n
Spoiler alert! Ken Ogilvie’s third book is a crime
Ken Ogilvie’s passion for fiction writing took flight at 30,000 feet.
The 71-year-old Leaside resident recently put the finishing touches on his third in a trilogy of crime novels.
“I was reading a book one day on an airplane,” says Ken. “It was a mystery book and I said, ‘I could do a better job.’ That was 30 years ago.”
That desire to write eventually manifested itself as the adventures of Rebecca Bradley, an Ontario Provincial Police officer whose mother is the victim of an unsolved murder when Rebecca was a young girl.
The most recent book and final installment of the series, The Three Caves , follows his initial offering Her Dark Path and his second book Hound . The title of the second book is a literary nod to the character of Hound, a giant of a man at 6 ft. 10 inches and weighing around 350 lbs. who plays a large role in Rebecca’s life and quest for answers.
“She became an OPP officer, wanting to be a detective in order to learn how to solve murders,” says Ken. “Rebecca’s mission in life
Steve Hardy Columnist
is to catch her mother’s murderer and have justice or revenge. She has to get over this issue of her mother’s murder and that will find its thread through the books.”
LITERARY LEASIDE
Through his work at all three levels of government in the area of environmental protection (including being executive director of Pollution Probe), Ken was certainly no stranger to the keyboard. But the bulk of his work had a much more structured and technical feel. He was eager to test his creative mettle. “With a technical piece you’re not writing for emotional impact,” he explains. “So, the challenge of switching from one side of my brain to another – that’s really, really quite fascinating.”
After an initial attempt at writing a science fiction tale fizzled, Ken was inspired by his wife, Elizabeth.
“My wife is a big fan of murder mystery books and murder mystery movies and so I started watching them with her.”
Ken says although the three books are intertwined, each stands as a separate story. And without offering a spoiler as to the third book’s finish, he hints there may be more books to come.
“I really opened up some interesting stuff,” Ken says. “At the same time, I wouldn’t mind trying to write another standalone book.”
A veteran of the Crime Writers of Canada association, Ken joined many of his fellow authors at the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival at Toronto Harbourfront Centre in early June. “I’m learning every day when I’m writing,” he says. “The third book is more me than the first book. I’m not so sure that the book’s any better because the first book is simpler. The third book is much more complex. I enjoy the challenge of doing something that I don’t think I was naturally set out to do.”
All of Ken’s books are available at www.amazon.ca by searching his name.
Visit www.kenogilvie.com for more information. n
by MITCH BUBULJ
“The Factories” circa 1966: the good, the bad and the toxic
Nostalgia is a funny thing. At best it evokes warm-hearted memories of a bygone era. At worst it clouds our judgment, glossing over harsh histories. The story of the Leaside industrial area is like that: the factories were innovative and productive but also loud and smelly. Long-time Leasider and former factory area lithographer, Ron Barsotti, is happy to remember.
For over 20 years, Ron worked for E.S. & A. Robinson, makers of flexible packaging materials. The large plant on Laird Drive has now disappeared, with the Leaside Village shopping area and the Telus building taking its place. Founded by Elisha Smith Robinson and his brother Alfred in Bristol, UK, in the 1840s, it quickly became a leader in the manufacture of grocery store paper bags. The Leaside location opened in 1936 and for the next 60 years produced catalogues, cookie bags, calendars, beer labels and
food packaging in cellophane and foil. The company employed thousands of people, of whom Ron was number 1,165.
Born and raised in Bedford Park, Ron studied printing and lithography at Northern Secondary School. He got the job in Leaside in 1965, the same year he graduated. Reflecting on his first days at work,
Bowman
Ron says that “as a kid right out of high school I remember thinking that the plant was noisy and smelled strongly of a whole cocktail of inks and solvents.” The presses were loaded with two-tonne rolls of paper, many of which were stored in the old railway locomotive shop (now Longo’s). At first Ron travelled every day from his parents’ home, taking the trolley bus down Yonge Street to Eglinton and then the Leaside bus to the factory’s front door at 85 Laird. He soon married and eventually bought a house on Divadale where he still lives today. One memory that sticks was the heat. “The plant was always hot, especially in the summer. On some nights to cool down we would soak our feet in the vats of isopropyl alcohol, one of the many chemicals we used in production. It offered instant cooling relief.” Health and safety regulations were in their infancy and so Ron and his colleagues worked with other highly flammable and toxic liquids such as acetone, toluol and acetate with little to no protection. He reflects that “looking back, the prevailing mood was ‘what you don’t know won’t hurt you.’” Ron also remembers fondly friendships that were made. He was an enthusiastic member of the company’s team that competed in the Industrial Bowling League. He also remembers being trained well by his managers, who were like mentors to him: Leaside legend Howard Birnie and Ken Martin, who lived on Rumsey Road. In its heyday the industrial area included scores of factories producing a wide variety of items. Today
The E.S. & A. Robinson Canada Ltd. plant on Laird Drive.
LAYERS OF LEASIDE
perhaps only two of the original factories are in operation. But interest in our industrial past has not diminished. Proof is the fact that in May for the Leaside Jane’s Walk , on a drizzly Friday evening, more than 60 people showed up, wanting to know about those “glory days.” However, memories of the folks who lived those golden years help keep them in perspective. Mike Batsch, 94, owner of the vintage radio shop on Bayview in the ’70s and ’80s lived in one of the Canada Wire and Cable houses on Sutherland and remembers the noise, especially the loud and regular factory whistles, plus the smell, “worst when the wind was from the East.” He moved in the ’70s to Hanna Road, seeking quieter and fresher surroundings.
The hard-working Robinson plant has been usurped by retail, yet traces linger. Esandar Drive is an acronym for the old company name, a street which bisects their old north and south plants. Ron remembers the tunnel that joined the two buildings, running under the road just east of the traffic lights at the Laird intersection, not visible but most likely still intact. One mystery for him is what happened to the two large solid brass company plaques that flanked the entrance to the offices.
“They were polished daily by the same fellow who did an assortment of jobs at the company, including chauffeur to the executives. “Do you have your own memory of the factories? Drop us a line at leasidelife@ gmail.com to keep the story alive. n
Ron Barsotti (right) at work in the 1980s.
The asphalt is not an ashtray
by CHERYL VANDERBURG
Cigarette butts. You see them everywhere. On the curbside in front of your house. In local shopping parking lots and bus stops. In front of coffee shops and restaurants on Bayview. It is so irksome. Cigarette butts are litter too.
Living across from Trace Manes Park, I see the City maintenance workers finishing a butt in their truck before cutting the lawns and then tossing it out the window. I see library staff smoking at break time and then tossing their butts on the street. I see people smoking as they are walking and then tossing their butts. I actually picked one up once and brought it back to the person who tossed it. Thankfully, she reacted kindly and thanked me for bringing it to her attention. Then there are the drivers who toss their butts out the window while stopped at Rumsey and McRae.
At one point “the bridge players” at the community centre were littering butts on the front sidewalk. I spoke with the caretaker, who had called the bylaw officer about it, and he told me that there used to be a butt receptacle at the front
door of the building but it had to be removed when the “no smoking within nine metres of the building” notice went up. Seems a bit ludicrous.
The City of Toronto bylaw states: “Every proprietor of a public building needs to: Ensure people do not smoke within nine metres radius of any entrance or exit. Ensure no ashtrays are placed within restricted areas. Post No Smoking signs.”
So, what is a smoker to do? I have a friend who extinguishes her butt and places it in her cigarette package if she can’t find a butt receptacle. The City litter bins all have butt receptacles. My mother carried a personal portable ashtray. These mini-ashtrays can be purchased at Dollarama. Or why not use your car ashtray and empty it into a trash bin?
Maybe the City or the BIA would consider offering and/or placing TerraCycle aluminum Cigarette Waste Receptacles in community locations. All cigarettes collected could then be sent to TerraCycle for recycling.
Here is some inspiration. The Downtown Campbell River BIA in British Columbia promotes the area as a vibrant, safe and business-friendly place. Members of the community pick up cigarette butts every day and drop them off to the Downtown BIA receptacle for shipping.
TerraCycle receptacles have also been installed in front of buildings like the library, town theatre, art gallery, and shopping plaza. In addition, they have a Get the Point Team which helps to pick up garbage all around the community and have joined in the Downtown BIA’s Cigarette Waste Recycling Campaign. They not only pick up cigarette butts but empty the receptacles as well.
Could this happen in Leaside?
A girl can dream. Meanwhile, for any smokers reading this article who are in the habit of tossing their butts, changing your behaviour would be appreciated! Keep Leaside litter free one butt at a time. n
2024 Gardens of Distinction kicked off in bloom!
by LILY PETICK, Chair, Gardens of Distinction Awards
Several front gardens in Leaside are the recipients of the Leaside Garden Society 2024 “Gardens of Distinction” awards. These awards are a tribute to the loving care that Leasiders provide to create interesting, beautiful, and welcoming gardens that all can enjoy viewing. This year’s theme centred around capturing the Spring Bloom in all its glory. Our dedicated committee members scouted the streets of Leaside in early May to discover which Leaside gardens were the best. The beauty of this spring bloom was that many people had yet to touch their gardens. This focus captured gardens coming back to life from their winter slumber without much manicuring, like waking up beautifully without makeup!
The committee of dedicated volunteers spent a week assessing gardens in North and South Leaside, Bennington Heights and Kilgour Estates.
Members were divided into teams to cover each of the areas, and each team put forward their picks. The teams looked for use of texture and design, variety of plant material, the illusive ‘wow factor’ and whether it is a pollinator garden. This year, we had 12 amazing gardens to celebrate!
Thanks to the fabulous committee members for their time: Nancy Durocher, Bev Vanstone, Keri Alletson, Bernice Holman, Sandy Koster, Gail Marriott, Patricia Stowe, Catherine Sim and, of course, our co-presidents Joanna Blanchard and Nora Campbell. n
LILY PETICK
recognized as “persons” under the British North America Act . One reviewer called it “the best piece of biographical writing to come out of Canada in a long time.” The following year, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of her wartime service, and in 1948 was named “Woman of the Year” by the Quota Club of Toronto. The war over, Byrne left Ottawa to resume her role as Chatelaine’s editor. Soon after, she and her
husband with their two children moved into their newly built home on 364 Bessborough Dr. During her first years in Leaside, she continued working at the magazine, until 1951, when she left to try something new. Over her long tenure as editor, she turned Chatelaine into one of Canada’s leading and most popular women’s publications – with a readership of over 1.5 million.
Drawing on her extensive experience with Chatelaine and the WPTB in identifying and tracking issues
of public concern, Byrne joined her brother Wilfred in 1951 as an equal partner in owning and operating the Gallup Poll of Canada (aka Canadian Institute of Public Opinion). Specializing in both political and general opinion polling, the Gallup Poll – which Byrne operated out of an office in her home – grew to become Canada’s most prominent public opinion firm, whose research was carried in 30 newspapers across the country. Byrne became its sole owner in 1958 and ran it until 1973, when she retired. During that time, she wrote and published two more books and saw her biography of Emily Murphy adapted for television by the CBC.
Byrne died in her sleep at her Bessborough Drive home on June 24, 1981 – a Leaside resident for more than 30 years. Two years later, she was inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame by the Toronto Press Club in recognition of her significant contribution to Canada and the communications business. Byrne Hope Sanders – truly an extraordinary woman. n
Byrne Hope Sanders (centre, holding artboard) with Chatelaine staff, 1949.
Chat-GPT-Lea, here we come
by DAVID CRICHTON
“A gentle reminder” is what the subject line read. It was an email from our editor, Jane Auster. A dulcified reminder that my story deadline was fast-approaching and I’d better hop to it. So, I did what any self-respecting writer and Leaside High School student (my son, included) do at some point: I punched “ChatGPT” into my browser window. A few sentence-prompts later, I sat back on the bench and enjoyed my ice cream as my story began writing itself. Literally… (The italics, dear readers, are to distinguish my writing from my AI buddy’s.)
So there I was, sitting on a bench at the corner of Bayview Avenue and Millwood in Leaside, trying to come up with a story for a humour column in Leaside Life. I had an ice cream cone from Hollywood Gelato in one hand and my phone in the other, desperately typing away on ChatGPT, hoping for some inspiration. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the only thing
more colourful than my gelato was the parade of characters passing by. It’s like a live-action soap opera, only with more dogs and fewer commercial breaks.
As I licked my gelato (a delightful mix of pistachio and chocolate),
she was sporting. Her baby, who looked less than impressed, was probably wondering if they were going for a jog or participating in a high-visibility safety drill.
Further down the street, an elderly couple ambled along, arm in arm. They paused at the window of Epi Breads, pointing at the pastries like they were priceless works of art. I imagined them debating the merits of croissants versus danishes. In Leaside, these are the big decisions.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Here I was, trying to write a humorous observational story, while living a humorous observational story. The irony was as thick as the scoop of gelato I was devouring.
I watched a woman jog by with a stroller. She was wearing more athletic gear than the average Olympian, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer volume of neon
A cyclist whizzed by, narrowly avoiding a collision with a man on a scooter. They exchanged glares that could curdle milk. In another part of the city, such an encounter might escalate into a shouting match, but here, it was all about the dirty looks. In Leaside, passive-aggression is practically an art form.
Just then, a group of teenagers strolled by, each glued to their phones. They were probably texting each other, despite being within arm’s reach. I wondered if they were using ChatGPT too, perhaps to come up with witty responses or decide which emoji best captured their teenage angst.
As I finished my gelato and my story, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Leaside had provided all the material I needed, and then some. This little corner of Toronto was a goldmine of humour and humanity. I closed my laptop, took one last look around, and headed back to Hollywood Gelato for another scoop. After all, in Leaside, there’s always another story waiting to be told, and another flavour waiting to be tasted.
Hmm. A little one-dimensional? The meta angle is interesting. The “Leaside passive aggressiveness” is a bit below the belt, perhaps. I give it a C-plus. My job is safe, amirite? I think. For now. I just hope Jane likes it. By the way, did I mention you look nice today, Jane?
Readers, let us know if you think ChatGPT does a better job than a “real” writer.
Email us at leasidelife@gmail.com with your critique. n
Fax (416) 481-5275
Phone (416) 481-1146
July
Events
LEASIDE LIBRARY
165 McRae Drive 416 396 3835
Needlework (Knitting & Crocheting at the Library)
Thursdays, July 4, 11, 18 & 25 - 10:00-11:30am. Bring your own knitting or crocheting project, or start something new while learning about different library programs, services and resources! All are welcome!
Video Editing with Da Vinci Resolve
Thursday, July 11 - 6:00-8:00pm. An introduction to using Da Vinci Resolve, a professional level non-linear video editing software. Computers provided for the class. Registration will open 2 weeks prior to the date at 9:00 am. To register, please find this program on www.tpl.ca and select the Eventbrite link.
LEGO Mindstorms Camp
July 16, 17, 18 & 19 - 2:00-3:30pm.
Over four days, build and program your own LEGO Mindstorms robots! Kids ages 9-12 will work in teams, pick a model, learn coding to program the bots and solve challenges. In-person program. Registration opens July 2 in person at the Leaside branch or by calling 416-393-3835.
Introduction to 3D Printing Friday, July 26 - 2:00-3:30pm. Learn how 3D printers work and how you can print at the TPL’s Digital Innovation Hubs. This class includes hands-on instruction with slicing software used to prepare your 3D object for printing on a Prusa 3D Printer. Computers provided for this class. Registration will open 2 weeks prior to the date of the program at 9:00 am. To register, please find this program on www.tpl.ca and select the Eventbrite link.
ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH, LEASIDE
1399 Bayview Avenue, 416 485 0329 stcuthbertleaside@ toronto.anglican.ca • www.stcuthbertsleaside.com
Gard’n Angels gather every Wednesday & Saturday from 10 am – 12 noon. Come garden with us! For more information, please email gardnangels@gmail.com
Lemonade on the Green Wednesdays from 10am – 12 noon. Enjoy a cool drink with friends and neighbours! Treats for dogs too.
Tai Chi is on summer break. Recommencing Tues. September 10th.
Please join us!
Sunday, July 21st and Sunday, July 28th at 8:00 am or 10:00 am as we welcome The Most Reverend Fred Hiltz as our Preacher and Presider. n
SENIOR FITNESS
Toronto Finnish-Canadian Seniors Centre 795 Eglinton Avenue East
FALL / WINTER / SPRING & SUMMER SESSIONS AQUA FITNESS * GROUP FITNESS * OSTEO FITNESS
Office Hours: Mon. to Fri. 9 am–5 pm For more info contact: 416-425-4134 x 225 Email: emas@suomikoti.ca
Where’s the enforcement?!
As you might expect, most Leasiders, when they contact the LRA, do so to ask for information or advice on local planning or traffic issues.
The runner-up topic? You guessed it. Not enough enforcement! Residents complain about a growing lack of enforcement of our bylaws and signage, which only encourages further problems and repeat offences. They are frustrated by the police generally ignoring traffic speed limits on residential streets. They have noticed that where there is construction or renovation, Leaside’s sidewalks are often blocked by building materials. How about so-called tree protection fencing on construction sites which clearly does not protect the trees from piles of bricks or other debris? What about noise bylaws? And signs left behind at roadwork projects finished months ago? What about drivers who ignore “one way” signs?
Rules and bylaws only have value if they are enforced. So, keep reporting them. Leasiders are noticing!
Leaside Life
leasidelife.com
Editor: Jane W. Auster
Publisher: Lorna Krawchuk
Webmaster: Erin Sorhaug
Graphic Design: Robin Dickie Advertising: Karli Vezina
FH Publishing Inc. 30 Commercial Rd., Toronto, Ontario M4G 1Z7
Comments, Letters to the Editor, Advertising Enquiries: Contact: 416-504-8047 Ext. 120 leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com leasidelife@gmail.com
Published monthly in Leaside, Toronto, ON.
Circulation 10,000 to every home and business in Leaside & Bennington.
Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA
Where’s the update?
I have no update (yet) about the electrical/roadway construction project soon to be underway in Leaside, apparently needed to supply our electrical system for the Metrolinx Ontario Line. The LRA has been trying since February to clarify the route to be affected, and its duration, but it is supposedly still in the design and planning stages.
The project area shown on Toronto Hydro’s construction notice indicates these boundaries: Wicksteed Avenue (NORTH); Southvale Drive (WEST); Village Station Road (EAST); and Millwood Road (SOUTH). But the illustration on the notice is far from clear. We have requested more information, hoping to get advance warning of the details in time to minimize traffic conges-
NAKEDFACE From Page 8
body scrub and moisturizer. Her philosophy is that “skincare is selfcare.” Her belief that taking care of ourselves through skincare can help improve our mental and physical health has resulted in a high degree of customer satisfaction.
One client, Rachel Craig, says she loved the experience of trying the different products and seeing the results. Others are similarly impressed by the light, yet luxurious feel of the products and their impact on facial lines, and plan to try more products. Another positive comment comes from Parminder Thukral of Lit Espresso Bar. He and Kate collaborated on a coffee body scrub that has been very popular. He has high praise for the “quality products and top-notch service.”
The two other businesses sharing Kate’s space are Beauty by Kat and Clean Skin Esthetics. Kate is grateful to have collaborative, open and passionate colleagues who enjoy working together and developing the best possible products and services for the community. She says they love taking care of their clients and are looking forward to many more years of doing so. n
tion as well as other potential side effects and disruptions.
Remembering Councillor Jaye Robinson
As this issue of Leaside Life goes to print, it is no longer news, but the death of Ward 15 Councillor Jaye Robinson is still devastating, and was shocking in its suddenness. Jaye was a tireless advocate for Leaside, always accessible, always consultative, and open to new ideas. She was also unafraid to send reports back to City staff to return to the drawing board, and get answers they had avoided.
Jaye initiated, promoted, and secured funding for the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan , and developed many other important and innovative city-wide programs. She listened to her constituents and understood our concerns and priorities. We were fortunate to have had her as our Councillor.
I would also like to recognize the excellent work done by Jaye’s City Hall staff, both before and during Jaye’s illness. They are approachable, responsive, knowledgeable, and quick to grasp complex issues, thorough and professional in every 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 July 3rd. For more details and updates between now and then, or to become an LRA member, visit leasideresidents.ca and press the Contact Us button, or see leasideresidents.ca/contact-us n
KNITTING From Page 12
hats, scarves and mitts, will be donated to charity before the end of the year. Sometimes, the joy of knitting is enough – and you don’t need to know who the recipient will be. All are welcome – whether for a few weeks, like Agnes from France, on a gap year and working here as an urban gardener, so she has no time for daytime knitting – or as an occasional knitter. You can find us on Thursday mornings, all year long, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Leaside Library where we’ll be knitting pretty. n
