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Gearing up for a busy fall season
It’s hot out there! No, not the weather, though its unpredictability has become, well, predictable.
I’m talking about the local political climate. As of the date of this writing, Don Valley West is looking at an upcoming by-election with 16 declared candidates. I don’t know if this is a record, but it does seem to mirror a recent trend of by-elections (such as the mayoralty run and the federal MP race for Toronto-St. Paul’s) attracting myriad candidates. And as with the campaign for MP, not all the candidates for office actually live in the area they hope to serve.
How problematic is it when a candidate parachutes into a riding or ward hoping to represent the needs of that specific community? That’s just one of the big questions that will be on the minds of participants in an upcoming candidates’ session
(not really a debate but more of an information-sharing) being organized by the LRA, along with a number of other area residents’ associations.
Top of mind for Leasiders will undoubtedly be chronic issues like traffic safety, transportation options and concerns, encouraging but also managing growth, dealing with local crime, balancing innovation and heritage preservation, increasing green space, and so many more areas that contribute to Leaside’s vibrancy.
That’s why it’s so important to learn as much as you can about the candidates before the advanced polls open. Come out (virtually) to the candidates’ meeting organized by local RAs, engage with candidates as they come to your door, and most importantly…do vote! n
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Writer Beresford-Howe was a 20-year Leasider
Constance Beresford-Howe (19222016) may not be a household name today, but she should be. A professor, creative writing teacher and pioneering feminist novelist, she wrote 10 trail-blazing novels during her career – all of which dealt with women seeking identity and independence. Her most famous and successful novel, The Book of Eve –along with two others – was written right here in Leaside.
The Montreal years
Beresford-Howe came to Leaside from Montreal, where she was born in 1922. She attended McGill University and later Brown University in Rhode Island, where she earned her Ph.D. in literature. While still at McGill, she published her first novel The Unreasoning Heart in 1946. Three more novels followed – all of which focused on the emotional lives of young female characters. In a review of her third work, The Invisible Gate, Globe & Mail literary critic (and Leasider) William Arthur Deacon praised her as “the equal of
any Canadian now writing” (Globe, Dec. 3, 1949). It was during this period (1949-1970) that Constance also joined the English faculty at McGill (a colleague was Canadian writer Hugh MacLennan); married her husband, French language teacher Christopher Pressnell; and adopted a son, Jeremy.
The Leaside years
Alarmed by the growing separatist violence in Montreal, Constance and her family moved to Toronto in August 1970 – purchasing a house at 16 Cameron Cresc. As she later told the Leaside Advertiser (March 28, 1983), they chose Leaside because one of her husband’s former students had grown up in Leaside and convinced them “to give the town a try.” They did and liked what they saw: “It’s just the nicest part of Toronto.” At her house in Leaside Constance drafted her fifth novel – The Book of Eve (1973). Considered her masterpiece, it tells the story of Eva Carroll,
WRITER Page 32
Constance Beresford-Howe, 1977.
Peter Love channels his energy
by LORNA KRAWCHUK
Peter Love is not a Leasider, but he certainly has Leaside connections! The co-founder of Summerhill Group, one of Canada’s leaders in delivering energy efficiency programs, has worked for a number of years in the Leaside Business Park where he’s a well-known presence. Growing up, his kids played hockey at Leaside Gardens, and a granddaughter now enjoys synchro swimming at Leaside. For many years, he’s been a passionate advocate for building a “culture of conservation.”
It isn’t every 70-year-old, especially one who already has more than a few university degrees, who heads off to a first-year university course in psychology, but that was what Peter Love did a few years ago at the University of Toronto. His wife even took a “first day of school” photo of him. His aim was to learn more about how best to get people and governments to pay attention to energy conservation.
He thoroughly enjoyed that first-year
course, enough to continue for a few more courses! He learned new teaching methods from the young profs, including using Kahoot! as a learning assessment tool. He now uses Kahoot! regularly in his own teaching as an adjunct professor at York University’s
Faculty of Environmental Studies, a professor at Yorkville University and a volunteer cleantech advisor at MaRS Discovery District.
Peter started his career at Pollution Probe, in the early 1970s, when “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” first became a mantra. He says, “We’ve done a great job on recycling, but haven’t done as well in the ‘reduce, reuse’ portions, and that’s what I’m working on encouraging now.”
Two important numbers he wants us all to think about:
82% – the proportion of manmade greenhouse gas emissions coming from the production and use of energy. Most of us believe that climate change is happening, and therefore, we need to decrease these greenhouse gas emissions.
60% – over 60% of our energy in Canada is wasted. For instance, an internal combustion car engine is 20% efficient, while the other 80% is waste. We need to think seriously about electric vehicles and using heat pumps.
His focus is working on energy policy and programs with a view to using less energy. This is where it comes back to his return to school to study psychology – to find ways for us to pay attention and take action, since he asserts “the most important barrier to energy efficiency is awareness.”
A personal frustration is that conservation and energy efficiency policies have become more politicized than he thinks they should be. Doing a better job on energy conservation should be something all municipal, provincial and federal representatives and parties agree is important. … and by individuals asking questions of these representatives, and then voting accordingly.
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Peter has worked for not-for-profits, private companies, in advocacy (“telling governments what they should do”), for government agencies and in universities. As he says, “I just can’t keep a job.” This gives him a unique and useful perspective when conversations need to cross boundaries. Just in this past year, he’s given more than 20 guest lectures across Canada, and also participated in “lunch and learn” sessions on energy conservation.
With an emphasis on conservation of a different type, he is also the treasurer of the Muskoka Conservancy, which to date has protected 51 properties, covering 4,000 acres.
Peter Love’s energy is boundless. n
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Leaside teacher receives prestigious award
Leaside resident and middle school teacher Cory Cattell was recently honoured with the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in STEM.
Cory, whose career began three decades ago, has been teaching science and health and physical education at Zion Heights Middle School in North York since 1999. She was nominated for this prestigious award by a former student, Caroline Chan, who is now in Grade 10. Caroline wrote a lengthy nomination letter of support. Cory received the award at a presentation at her school last June and was interviewed on CP24.
As a science and technology teacher, Cory was eager to embrace STEM when it was added to the curriculum. For her, STEM brings together all the different sciences and allows her classes to move forward with trends around the globe and to recognize interconnections. She gets her assignment ideas from current events, encouraging her students to understand why they should care
films about environmental issues. She also set up a science fair at the school and sent eight teams to the Toronto Science Fair where seven teams won medals. All these assignments develop marketing, writing, presentation and collaborative skills.
about vital issues such as the environment, sustainability, food insecurity and poverty.
As the media release for the award states, Cory “inspires a love for science and technology in students by exposing them to new ideas and inviting them to view science concepts through diverse lenses.” For example, she teaches how cells work by asking students to compare them to a solar system, an orchestra or a radio. Or she might ask them to create a water filtration system for an Indigenous community without access to clean water and will encourage them to explain why this is a pressing issue. By using the inquiry method, she “instills a sense of scientific curiosity that extends beyond the classroom” and encourages them to use STEM to solve a variety of problems by building apps and websites.
In addition to regular assignments, Cory also organizes special projects to challenge the students. For example, she runs monthly contests in the goIT (go innovate together) club where students design digital innovation projects or apps that aim to achieve one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Another assignment, “Planet in Focus,” requires students to make
Cory reports that her students love creating technology while advocating for change, and in doing so find their own causes and identities and learn what other young people around the world have accomplished. She says, “I am inspired by their enthusiasm in the same way I have been inspired throughout my life by my immigrant parents, who taught me to tackle challenges and appreciate the power of the possible.”
On top of her teaching duties, Cory is a tireless contributor to the life of the school through coaching various sports such a volleyball, track and field, and soccer, setting up house league teams and the Terry Fox School Run and acting as the staff advisor for the student council as they organize school spirit events, dances, fundraisers and tournaments.
As she nears retirement, Cory is enjoying mentoring students and fellow teachers, passing on her experiences and helping to develop the community and legacy of the school. It is obvious that she loves her job of “working with our future.” As nominating student Caroline Chan concluded, Cory is a “once-in-a-lifetime teacher” who has a “lifelong impact” on her students. n
Cory with her husband Roger and children Reilly and Colin.
Hidden gems sparkle around us
by Dr. ANDY SMITH
I consider myself fortunate to live and work in a city blessed with beautiful ravines and an abundance of natural spaces. As the CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, walking has become more than just a personal practice; it’s a deliberate act that connects me to the world around me, offering clarity, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the community we serve. It’s easy to overlook the hidden gems right in our neighbourhoods, but taking the time to explore the ravines and streets surrounding Sunnybrook and the Leaside community fills me with gratitude.
Growing up in a small town, in a house on the edge of Ontario’s cornfields, I spent my childhood outdoors, surrounded by nature. My brothers and I would lose ourselves in the open fields, our imaginations running wild. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong love of running, biology, and, ultimately, medicine. There were many steps, and many walks, along the way that
guided me toward a fulfilling career as a cancer surgeon and now as a hospital CEO. While running was my passion in
my youth, after an injury, I turned to walking. It’s a practice I’ve maintained for decades, transitioning from journaling runs in a paper log in the ’80s to tracking my walks on Strava today.
These days, I make it a point to appreciate the moments that matter, not just for myself but for those who join me on my walks. Whether it’s connecting with family and friends, brainstorming with colleagues or mentoring a future leader, walking through the Toronto ravines fills me with energy and creativity.
The recruitment of Sunnybrook’s Foundation president, Kelly Cole, and our Odette Cancer Centre Chief, Dr. Monika Krzyzanowska, both started with a walk in the Don Valley ravine by Sunnybrook. My walks serve as a space for connecting, brainstorming, mentoring, and asking the right questions.
In addition, I frequently walk along the streets around Sunnybrook, where I’ve come to better understand the challenges our community faces. It’s also allowed me to build connections with community partners. I’ve walked alongside leaders from community groups, like SPRINT Senior Care and LOFT Community Services, visiting the communities where their teams provide vital in-home supports to our neighbours. These walks offer a unique opportunity to engage with community leaders, understand the needs of the people we serve, and identify where more is needed.
Toronto’s ravines hold a special place in my heart. Unlike the towering, visible mountains in Vancouver, our ravines are hidden treasures, tucked below the city’s grade, waiting to be discovered. My favourites include the Don Valley and Cedarvale ravines. Jason RamsayBrown’s book Toronto’s Ravines and Urban Forests is an excellent guide for anyone looking to explore these spaces. I often walk a 10-km route from Sunnybrook to the Evergreen Brick Works on weekend mornings, where we indulge in a blueberry scone and kombucha at the end of the trail.
One winter weekend in the Don Valley Ravine stands out vividly. The sky was a crystalline blue, and the air was bitterly cold as I made the first tracks in the freshly fallen snow. As I
ANCIL LONDON
Match point! Rita Lee’s outstanding service to tennis
If you’ve been on the tennis scene in the neighbourhood over the past 30 years, chances are you know Rita Lee.
This hyper-energetic volunteer has been the face of both the Leaside and Thorncliffe Park tennis clubs as well as a presence in the tennis world beyond our local borders.
Her foray into the tennis world began as a player in her adult years in the late 1980s. But being a player became only a part of her life in the sport. She has been tireless in her efforts, with volunteer positions almost too many to count.
Lee was president of the Thorncliffe Park Tennis Club from 1989 to 2009 and has sat on their board each of those years and every year since. She began volunteering with the Leaside Tennis Club in 2008 and was club president from 2010 to 2020. She was the director of the Junior League for Tennis Toronto from 2004 to 2012.
Lee has also volunteered with the
Rita Lee
Ontario Tennis Association for almost 30 years. Among her many volunteer positions is a key presence at the Canadian Open Tennis Tournament for over 20 years.
She sat on a tennis policy committee with the City of Toronto and was a founding member of the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame, serving on their board for five years.
At one point, in fact, she sat on five boards concurrently! But wait. There’s more to this tireless volunteer.
Lee finds immense joy in working with and for children. She ran the Tennis Pathways program for two years. Thanks to her efforts, more than 700 kids at Thorncliffe Park School received free rackets and lessons at the Thorncliffe Club.
She has also volunteered with Philpott Children’s Tennis, which, for the past 30 years, has provided free tennis programming to over 4,000 kids and families across 16 priority neighbourhoods in Toronto.
“To me,” notes Lee, “that’s why I volunteer. I see the smile on kids’ faces and the happiness of people working for a cause.”
No surprise, Lee has been recognized with multiple awards, including Volunteer of the Year twice by the Ontario Tennis Association (OTA), the OTA’s Bruce Childs Award recognizing volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to their community tennis clubs, the Leaside Tennis Club Honorary Lifetime Membership Award and the OTA’s highest honour, the Distinguished Tennis Award. The OTA praised Lee, noting that “her positive attitude encourages others to work with her to promote the sport of tennis in Toronto.”
Since 2020, she has been the general manager of the Leaside Tennis Club. She’s truly done it all, but her game’s not done! n
Singing in the shower to shining on stage
by JOHN HODGSON
As every September approaches, I start singing in the shower more often, getting ready for the start of a new choir season. And I’m probably not the only one – a 2017 study found that there were 28,000 choirs in Canada, with about 3.5 million singers. Maybe you’re one of them –if so, read on!
I’ve lived in Leaside since 1983, but choristers all over the world are benefiting from my hobby, thanks to the internet. Sopranos, altos, tenors and basses (SATB) can come to my website – Abracadenza.ca – and learn the music that their choir will be performing in their next concert. For instance, many Nigerian visitors to my site seek out the SATB rehearsal tracks for Handel’s Messiah. In a recent six-month period Abracadenza hosted hundreds of visitors from across Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. Why am I doing this? I started years ago because I couldn’t sight sing, i.e. just look at the notes on a score and
sing the right pitches – I needed to practise at home between rehearsals. Many of the pieces can be quite complicated, and until I was confident in my part I got thrown off by nearby sopranos, altos and basses singing theirs. My early practising was just plunking out my tenor part on a piano, but you need to play a lot better than I do for this to work very well. Then in 1995 I found software that accurately captures all the lyrics, notes and the accompaniment, and I can sing along and learn my part much faster. Getting the notes right early means I enjoy the rehears-
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als and feel like I’m contributing to a solid concert performance.
At first, I did this just for myself, but as I improved, I began sharing with other members of the choirs I’ve sung with, including VOCA, Pax Christi Chorale, Toronto Classical Singers, Toronto Beach Chorale, and now Jubilate Singers. Many like the files, and some have said that singing in a choir without them is much harder. In 2015 I decided to put the files on the internet to make sharing them easier.
So, what do you get from Abracadenza? You can find your file fast by filtering for keywords, composers, vocal part, or major works like the Messiah. Either play the song on the site or download it for later. You’ll hear a virtual voice singing your part loudest with the other parts in the background. My program is robust, with 29 languages including Latin, Finnish, Russian, Japanese, standard and southern French, U.K. and U.S. English, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Greek, and even Esperanto.
This is a hobby, not a business –there’s no fee and no advertising. There’s a Donate button, and I’m very grateful for those who do, but I’m just happy if they use the site. I look for ways to get the word out because I think the files are very helpful – sometimes I google other choirs to see if they’re planning to perform a piece that I have tracks for and email them about my site.
In January 2024, for example, I wrote to the Eugene Concert Choir in Oregon, and the choir director told her choir to use my rehearsal tracks to help them learn Carmina Burana, which they performed with great success in May.
So, if you’re in a choir, try Abracadenza – I think you’ll make quick progress from singing in the shower to shining on the stage! n
The Jubilate Singers. The author is fifth from the right at the back.
Remembering Leonard’s Hobby Centre
Over the years in this space, I’ve reminisced about some of my favourite Bayview haunts, including Claire’s Cigar Store, Danté’s Pizza, Mac’s Milk, Badali’s Fruit Market and Rawley’s Meats. But there was another store on Bayview’s east side that really held my attention as a kid, and unlike my love of pizza, food was never part of the attraction. I don’t know when Leonard’s Hobby Centre opened on Bayview or when it closed, but thankfully, its heyday coincided with my childhood. It was quite a large store, and it was packed to the gunwales with items I coveted. During my love affair with all manner of flying machines – an affliction that continues to this day – I would spend hours stationed in the aircraft model aisles at Leonard’s drooling over the beautiful and sleek fighter jet models and the classic bombers of World War II. I don’t remember how many I built, but I do recall that I wasn’t sufficiently patient to be a very accomplished model assembler. I’d start out very carefully and methodically, and then start to build faster and faster as the model began to take shape. By the
time the last piece was in place and the decals were applied, both the model and I were covered in model glue.
When I was really into stock car racing, long before I’d graduated to the more sophisticated world of Formula 1 racing, I would loiter for hours at Leonard’s Hobby Centre in search of the perfect stock car model to build. And I assembled many of those, too. But perhaps my greatest foray into model building started with the most extravagant purchase I ever made at Leonard’s. I’d saved my babysitting money for months and eventually amassed the princely sum of $28. Coincidently, that was exactly what I needed to buy the huge box containing what seemed like several
hundred thousand pieces that would end up becoming a fully functioning, see-through, V8 engine.
The pistons went up and down, the valves opened and closed, the spark plugs lit up, there was even a working dipstick protruding from the oil sump. It took me a very long time to assemble it, and I confess there were moments when I thought I might not ever cross the finish line. But eventually, I got it up and running and felt a sense of satisfaction that I’ll never forget. But there were more treasures to discover at Leonard’s. They always had a solid supply of balsawood gliders at great prices. My twin brother and I would often head up to Leonard’s when, between us, we could cobble together $1.99 to buy a new glider. The first challenge was to put it together without snapping a wing. When fully assembled, those gliders pushed back the frontiers of fragility. But we’d wind up the propeller powered by an elastic band, step out onto our quiet launch area on Donegall Drive, and let it go. Often the maiden flight would involve soaring high into the air before then stalling and nosediving at Mach 1 into the asphalt, scattering debris for a half block or so.
Finally, I vividly remember standing towards the back of the shop one Saturday morning when I heard the whine of motors coming from behind a black wooden panel. The friendly man behind the counter saw me and opened the makeshift black wooden door to reveal a metal ladder that descended into the basement. I stuck my head down and saw a gigantic eight-lane slot car track with kids standing along the straightaway racing their cars. I nearly passed out from excitement. I had no idea there was a basement, let alone one featuring daily slot car races. From that moment on, Tim and I would spend hours underground at Leonard’s Hobby Centre watching sleek slot cars zip around the track at what seemed like supersonic speeds. I miss Leonard’s Hobby Centre. Those were heady days for Leaside kids like us.
A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis grew up in Leaside and is the award-winning writer of nine national bestsellers. He’s busy working on his 10th novel, The Marionette n
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Everything old is old again
by DAVID CRICHTON
“Your account has accumulated one hundred and twenty-four dollars and ninety cents.”
“Woohoo! I’m rich!” I joked to the lady behind the counter at Extoggery at 10 Brentcliffe Rd. She threw me a bone – an unimpressed half-smile. No doubt she’s been subjected to that line a thousand times. Still, almost a hundred and twenty-five bucks wasn’t a bad haul for some old pants and shirts I had all but forgotten about.
My rags to riches story began a few months earlier when my mother gave me a book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning . As the name implies, the idea is to get rid of all the stuff you’ve accumulated that you don’t need anymore — so no one else has to do it after you kick the bucket. They had me at “Death Cleaning.” It sounds so morbidly soul cleansing. With my mother’s not-so-subtle hint heeded, I started with my closet, which had some suits that looked like they belonged in a Huey Lewis music video. Then some “dress” shirts that smelled like my grandparents’ Encyclopedia Brittanica collection. Off to the consignment store I ran, to “make” my hundreds and hundreds of dollars. A few sobering comments into the transaction, I knew I would need to adjust my windfall expectations.
“These shirts all have yellow rings. We can’t take them.”
“Oh…it’s not mine…er it’s.…” I responded, unconvincingly.
“And there’s blood on this one.”
“There’s deodorant on this.”
“This is oil…or something.”
Apparently, my clothes would
be better served as props in a CSI episode. My apparel attrition rate was alarming, with only a handful of items making it past the human blue-light scanners.
Flash-forward and my projected lottery winnings are nowhere near what I thought they would be.
“So, do you want your money now?” asks the Extoggery lady.
“No, I think I’ll look around, first.”
Two and a half hours later I’m still in the change room. Draped on me is a pink polo shirt. It’s a strange feeling wearing someone else’s clothes. If I look hard enough, they tell a story. My mind wanders.…Why is it here? Did they die in it?
The waist seems to flare out like a small dress. Did he have a belly? Is this a mustard stain? From a burger? Did he die of a heart attack? Maybe he ate in the car. Was he eating a hamburger in the car, when a squirrel ran in front of him, then he swerved to avoid it, lost control, flipped the car and had a heart attack? Yeah, that’s probably what happened. It would explain the mustard, for sure.
I made my way to the cash desk with my pink polo shirt in hand, along with a lime green one, a baby blue one, and a couple others in colours that I have never worn and will likely never wear. Ever.
And as I stand in line, arms full of new old replacements for what I had already cleared out, it occurred to me that my death cleansing idea was dead before it even started.
“That’ll be one hundred and twenty-five dollars and ninety cents,” says the cashier.
“Woohoo…I’m not rich. I’m a hoarder!” n
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“I have represented our community on the Toronto District School Board for six years, including two years as Chair of the Board. My pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach has made great strides for our community and our city.”
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Building walkable communities with parks, recreation facilities, and community centres.
Managing traffic and fighting gridlock.
Ensuring development reflects our community’s values and concerns.
Tackling crime to ensure our neighbourhoods are safe and secure.
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Liz remembers historic days at LHS
by MITCH BUBULJ
Liz Fletcher remembers the Ides of October 1954 for a myriad of reasons, most of them to do with sports and socializing.
Fletcher, then Liz Brown, was in Grade 11 at Leaside High School. “It was a Friday; it rained all afternoon and night. The playing field was a sea of mud, so the big football game was forced to end early, and the dance was cancelled because the gym flooded.” What she – and all Leasiders that 15th of October – thought was just a very rainy autumn day turned out to be Hurricane Hazel, Canada’s worst hurricane and Toronto’s worst natural disaster. The big storm and other memories of her time at LHS more than 70 years ago are still fresh in her mind.
“I remember that Friday there was an early dismissal on account of the football game. It was Leaside versus York Memorial. I was at the sidelines with my friend Barb Blizzard in the pouring rain with the wind roaring at us, cheering on the
junior team – I remember we won; funny I don’t remember if I had an umbrella with me.”
According to the ’54 Clan Call (the LHS yearbook), Leaside won 21 to 0 with the York Memorial coach conceding the game with six minutes remaining. The heavy rains flooded the main gym; with a foot of water seeping up the wood paneled walls, the dance had to be cancelled. It was a double blow for the outgoing and sporty 15-yearold Liz, who enjoyed dancing to the sounds of live bands like the Sateen bandbox and who spent hours every week in the gymnasium for basketball and volleyball practice. Despite meteorology office warnings Toronto had little experience with hurricanes so was unprepared. In the end Hazel dumped 300 million tons of water on the city and its environs, lashing Toronto with 110 km/h winds, killing 81 people and causing $1 billion in damages (2024 dollars).
Remembering Atwood
Liz was a sports and math and science enthusiast – she had the rare honour of winning her athletic letter in her Grade 12 year – unlike her peer Peggy (Margaret) Atwood. “Peggy and I were in something called Leaders’ Class together, but otherwise I took math and sciences whereas she studied English and drama. My Clan Call writeup mentioned something about my wanting to be an algebra teacher; Peggy’s predicted her writing THE Canadian novel. They both sort of came true.”
Liz recalls that Atwood would write and announce information over the PA system about upcoming events such as the Christmas dance. “One time she even sang it – very creative, very entertaining.”
Liz keeps in touch with many of her school friends. In 2017, 20 members of the Class of ’57 attended their 60th reunion ( Leaside Life, July 2017). She and her good pals Barb Blizzard, Marjorie Brown and Aileen Shugg travelled together to Curacao to celebrate their 80th birthdays together.
Remembering Initiation Day
Another memory that stands out for Liz is Initiation Day.
Liz dressed for her Initiation Day at LHS in Grade nine.
Rally for Rehab wrap-up
The walk raised $240,000 for rehabilitation research at UHN! Thanks to all the sponsors, donors and walkers.
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At PURPOSE PT we want to help improve your cognitive capabilities by combining physical with cognitive tasks. It takes seven/eight weeks to form a habit (good or bad), so let’s start and together we will build your good habits today!
“Mom is moving much better now and actually likes her trainer! :) She also enjoys the cognitive challenges thrown at her twice a week.” – Lucy (North York)
“My overall strength and stability improved noticeably after just a couple of months. Excellent trainers.”
– Danny (Toronto) purposePT.ca • contact@purposePT.ca • 647-701-2093
Leaside Gardens – a hub of activity this fall
As the crisp air of autumn settles in, Leaside Memorial Community Gardens (LMCG or Leaside Gardens) is gearing up for another exciting season filled with activities and events that bring the community together. Many of LMCG’s user groups, such as the Leaside Skating Club, Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association, and Leaside Hockey Association, continue to lead the way, offering residents of all ages opportunities for sports, recreation, and fun.
For over 70 years, LMCG has been a cornerstone of Leaside, where friendships are forged, memories made, and local heroes honoured. Whether you’re cheering on a team, attending an event, or enjoying a casual skate, Leaside Gardens remains the perfect place to connect with family, friends, and neighbours. As a proud board member, I’m excited to share the latest updates, reflect on recent events, and invite you to three upcoming fall happenings you won’t want to miss.
A year of unique and memorable events
Leaside Gardens has always been a venue for diverse and exciting events, and this past year was no exception. Before the start of summer Leaside Gardens was privileged to host Montreal’s world-renowned artistic skating group, Le Patin Libre, for five shows the week of April 22nd. Jointly presented by FallForDance North and TO Live, fans of modern dance and figure skating experienced Murmuration, a show featuring figure skaters and dancers performing exquisite choreography set to contemporary electronic music. The National Arts Centre described the performance as “dancers transforming into flocks of birds in this dizzying ballet on ice that will take your breath away.”
Following that, with the ice out on the Bert Grant Rink, Leaside Gardens was able to welcome different groups to the arena for ball hockey and roller derby throughout June and July. We were delighted to welcome back Toronto Roller Derby for weekly practices and, for the first time since Covid, brought competitions back to Leaside. On June 15th, the Toronto Toxins took on Durham Region Roller Derby, and on July 13th the excitement continued with a double header seeing Toronto take on Kingston and Grey Bruce. It’s been fantastic seeing our commu-
ciate professors at the University of Toronto, with Dr. Hutchison also holding positions at the Keenan Research Centre and NHLPA. Their expertise will provide valuable insights into concussion management and prevention.
nity come together for these thrilling events – as widely different as they may have been.
Fall at Leaside Gardens
This fall, LMCG is thrilled to be hosting three major events at Leaside Gardens, each offering something special for the community.
2024 Concussion Seminar
The Concussion Seminar at LMCG highlights the importance of concussion awareness and prevention in sports. Organized by the LMCG board of management’s safety committee and community relations and operations committee, this annual event is vital for parents, coaches, athletes, and community members. It covers the latest research, treatment, and prevention strategies, with a focus on young athletes, providing the community a chance to stay informed on concussion safety and hear from leading experts.
The 2024 Concussion Seminar will take place on Thurs., Oct. 17th, at 7 p.m. at the Gardens in the William Lea Room (1073 Millwood Rd.), with a virtual option available. (Virtual information to be updated). For more info, contact 416-4214944 or visit leasidegardens.com.
This year’s seminar will feature Dr. Shannon Scratch, a clinical neuropsychologist at Holland Bloorview specializing in youth post-concussion symptoms, and Dr. Michael Hutchison, director of the Centre for Sport-Related Concussion at St. Michael’s Hospital. Both are asso-
Leaside Sports Hall of Fame
2024 induction ceremony and community reception
The Leaside Sports Hall of Fame is a cornerstone event celebrating the athletic achievements of Leaside’s residents and sports teams. Since its inception, it has honoured athletes, coaches, and teams who have shaped Leaside’s sports history. The annual induction ceremony recognizes both past contributors and rising stars, offering an evening of celebration, pride, and community for athletes, families, and sports enthusiasts.
The Leaside Sports Hall of Fame 2024 induction ceremony and
NORA HOUGUENADE
DARREN STEHR
Le Patin Libre in Murmuration.
Roller derby All-Stars.
community reception will take place on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at the William Lea Room in Leaside Memorial Community Gardens. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at www.Leasidesports.com. For more information, contact 416-988-2937 or email kmacke@sympatico.ca.
This year’s guest speaker will be Leaside’s own Terry Fallis, twotime winner of the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. Known for his wit and insight, Terry promises to deliver an entertaining and thought-provoking talk at 7:30 p.m. Following his address, the inductees will be celebrated, along with the presentation of the Athlete of the Year and Team of the Year awards.
Remembrance observation –November 11, 2024
The Town of Leaside wished to commemorate and honour those servicemen from Leaside who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of freedom during World War II. As a registered war memorial, LMCG
holds a special place in honouring our veterans.
Opened in 1952, following the war, the local arena was chosen to be memorialized in their honour. Leaside Gardens was dedicated on the golden anniversary of the Town of Leaside, on Sept. 13, 1962. A memorial plaque depicting the names of the fallen service men is located on the easterly corner of the facility’s entrance.
In Sept. 2018, Leaside Memorial Community Gardens was admitted to the national inventory of Canadian Military Memorials, a repository of memorials and monuments located in communities across the country. Currently, more than 7,500 memorials are posted on the website.
This year LMCG will hold an Act of Remembrance that will include the recitation of the Names of the Fallen, a reading of In Flanders Field , commentary by Leaside historian Ted de Welles, and the Last Post, Lament and Reveille on trumpet and bagpipe. All are encouraged to attend.
See you at the Gardens! n
TORONTO
Leaside Life monthly contest winners
is the winner of the September Back to School contest!
Leasider Karen Jacoby was the lucky winner of the online contest for a Zach Edey Grizzlies jersey!
Stella Flowerday
Do you sneeze and freeze? Do your giggles turn to dribbles?
Is there anything more annoying than a bladder leak when you laugh, cough, sneeze or exercise? What about the constant urge to use the bathroom
and the worry that you won’t find one in time?
Here’s the truth. These are common problems faced by 2/3 of all women, but that does not make them normal. Our bodies should not leak urine. If they do, it can be a sign of disfunction in the pelvic floor muscles. Once these problems start, they tend to get worse and sadly too many women simply suffer in silence.
UROSPOT is a private urology clinic that is disrupting this condition. Combining innovative health care technology and education, UROSPOT is quite simply changing people’s lives.
The luxurious environment at UROSPOT is filled with a caring team focused on changing your life. At UROSPOT you sit fully clothed on a Health Canada approved “chair” lovingly referred to as the Kegel Throne. This chair uses high intensity electromagnetic energy to contract your pelvic floor muscles 11,000 times in 28 minutes. That’s right. 11,000 kegels in 28 minutes. The stimulation of the muscles happens with no pain, no person touching you and nothing going inside your body. You simply sit while the chair restores the strength of your pelvic floor. It is the most dignified treatment. Not only do you receive 11,000 kegels, but the energy also acts as a “reboot” of the neuromuscular connection between your brain, bladder and pelvic floor.
“Finding this program was the best thing to have happened to me. I had become pretty recluse, and now I feel free and liberated from my circumstances. I have learned so much about my body that I didn’t know before - it’s a wonderful blessing.”
Essentially getting these three areas to be friends again and work together in a coordinated fashion. Leaks go away, urgency subsides, and you feel in control of your bladder instead of your bladder controlling you. 95% of those who complete treatment report a
significant quality of life improvement and nearly 80% eliminate pads or significantly reduce the use of pads.
The first thing you see at UROSPOT is a wall with dozens of testimonials from women and men eager to share their outcomes with others. One happy client wrote “I sleep through the night, I can drive for hours with no leaks, I can jump on a trampoline with my kids, my life is changed!” Another shared “I am so happy with my treatment! I am so glad I decided to take this opportunity. My results have been life changing. From sneezing, coughing, walking distances, I am so impressed at how much treatment has helped! I haven’t had to use a pad or bladder support since.”
Everything starts with a complimentary consultation at UROSPOT. During this appointment you will receive so much valuable education and you will get to try the chair. If you have benefits for physiotherapy, they can be used towards the cost of treatment as well. Imagine using your benefits for something so life changing. What are you waiting for? Visit us at www.urospot.com to learn more.
Shout-out to the St. Cuthbert’s Gard’n Angels!
Back in June, the gardens of St. Cuthbert’s were among those featured in the Leaside Garden Society’s Magical Garden Tour. On that sunny Saturday afternoon, more than 200 visitors enjoyed sipping lemonade and meandering through the many pollinator gardens and the Community Vegetable Garden.
Kathi Davies is lead gardener of the vegetable garden, and this year, Linda Prue took over as lead of the flower gardens. Together, along with the Gard’n Angels, they managed to cultivate and produce what, I think, is their best gardening year to date.
People power
To continue their outreach operation for the Flemingdon Food Bank, the decaying lumber beds in the vegetable garden needed to be replaced. The team received a generous donation of two large, corrugated steel beds and purchased an additional four. But the labour to dig, move, build, and refill the new beds was intensive, and it wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of help.
“A huge thanks goes to the many
hands, and this year, they got them. “Our Gard’n Angels happily welcomed a few more community folk who aren’t afraid to get dirt under their nails. Our ‘come as you can’ invite allows flexibility for those interested in contributing to this important food bank project.”
volunteers, their regular crew plus the 69th Scouts, high school volunteers, and numerous community families and friends,” Kathi told me. She also mentioned how a garden of this size always requires many
A healthy harvest
Our mild spring was favourable for early planting, and with no surprise storms or sudden frosts, the vegetable garden was off to a promising start.
THE SALE
Leaside United Church - 822 Millwood Road
Friday, Oct 18 (3 pm – 7 pm)
Saturday, Oct 19 (10 am – 1 pm)
(Please bring your own bags)
Donation DROP OFF Ends Wed, Oct. 9 (Noon)
Drop off donations Weekdays (9 am – Noon)
Drop off on circular driveway on Millwood Road
(Place on wagons or dolly behind metal posts) (Staff will take donations into the church)
Books; Clothing; Home Decor (Knick Knacks); Jewelry; Kitchenware:(glassware, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, etc.); Purses and Handbags; Toys; Records/Tapes/DVDs/CDs; Small Appliances; Treasures: (china, silverware, crystalware, etc.)
(No Sporting Goods please)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Proceeds go to local charities and our many Outreach programs.
The new raised beds were refreshed with worm casting soil and enriched with organic fertilizer, and then topped with a layer of straw mulch. With this winning combination, they reaped bumper crops of organic cucumbers (15-40/week), tomatoes (up to 20kg/week) along with bags of green beans, kale, lettuce and peppers delivered to the food bank every Wednesday. But it wasn’t easy.
Kathi told me how the recurring rains and record heat this summer were both a blessing and a curse.
“Our cisterns were always full, but our volunteers were often wilting.”
The leafy vegetables didn’t like the extreme heat either and required protection with shade cloth.
Plant diseases and insect pests were minimal this year, but the squirrels, bunnies and raccoons loved the squash and melons.
The Angels will continue their maintenance and harvesting through October and will offer (for a small donation) their own organic seeds available in the St. Cuthbert’s lobby.
It’s been a long and demanding growing season for these mighty Angels, but as Kathi told me, the winter allows for reflection, planning, seed sorting and most importantly, a good rest before they begin all over again in April.
We’ll be happy when they do. n
HEDY SELLERS/ KATHI DAVIES
Get ready! Ward 15 residents’ associations to hold by-election candidates meeting
The Ward 15 by-election set for Nov. 4, 2024, will decide on a candidate to succeed Councillor Jaye Robinson as our Ward 15-Don Valley West representative on City Council. That person will also be appointed as a member of North York Community Council and other Council committees. Covering a large and diverse area, Ward 15 extends to Highway 401 in the north; the Don River (including Thorncliffe Park and Bennington Heights) in the south; (parts of) Mt. Pleasant and Yonge Street in the west; and Leslie Street and Don Mills Road in the east. It includes more than 100,000 people.
Over a dozen active residents’ associations in Ward 15 have established a By-Election Planning Committee (BEPC) (full disclosure: Carol Burtin Fripp and I are members), in order to encourage and support informed discussion regarding the issues relevant to residents of Ward 15. The BEPC is politically neutral and will not be taking a position in favour of
NOV. 4, 2024
a particular candidate.
The BEPC recognizes that with the number of registered candidates (16 as of this writing, with nominations closed as of September 19), holding an All-Candidates Meeting (ACM) would represent a significant challenge, so we plan to hold a candidates’ meeting with a smaller number of registered candidates, to be held virtually on Oct. 16th. To help refine a select list of candidates we have devised a short questionnaire to be completed by all registered candidates:
1) Do you live in Ward 15?
2) Have you previously run and/or been elected for municipal office (school board trustee or city councillor)?
3) Have you engaged in community and/or city building activities?
4) Do you have any relationships with developers or labour unions which may represent potential conflicts of interest with the City?
5) Why do you want to be the City Councillor for Don Valley West?
6) What experience and accomplishments do you bring that you think will make you a good representative for Ward 15?
7) What are the key three to five issues you see facing Ward 15 and the City?
8) What is the first thing you will work on if elected?
LRA co-president Carol Burtin Fripp in her column this issue lists even more questions to consider. At the time of writing, responses from the candidates are trickling in. A summary of candidate responses from the completed questionnaire received by the September 23 deadline will be available via the Leaside Residents Association’s website ( https://leasideresidents.ca ) and those of other cooperating Ward 15 residents’ associations. The LRA will post registration information for the candidates’ meeting on the website and send out information to the mailing list. Also, you may submit questions to be addressed at the virtual candidates’ meeting to: ask.ward15.candidates@gmail.com.
Note that it is possible that some residents’ associations may hold in-person meetings in addition to participating in the ward-wide virtual meeting.
Here are the key events and dates:
• City’s election information brochure dropped at households across Ward 15 on Wed., Sept. 18.
• Candidates’ meeting (virtual, select candidates) on Wed., Oct. 16.
• Advance voting available on Sat., Oct. 26 and Sun., Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Election Day will be on Mon., Nov. 4, with voting locations open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
VISIT toronto.ca/MyVote TO:
• Check out the candidates running for councillor.
• Find out if you are on the voters’ list.
• Add, change or update your voters’ list info (until Oct. 10 at 4:30 p.m.).
• Apply for mail-in voting (until Oct. 10 at 4:30 pm)
• Find out where and when to vote.
• Find accessibility info about your voting place.
• View a sample of the ballot
• View, download or print your voter information card. n
ENTER TO WIN 4 TICKETS TO THE LEASIDE SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY!
CONTEST DETAILS:
Entries emailing the correct response to this question will be entered:
Who is the guest speaker at the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, to be held on Oct. 25?
Email: leasidelife@gmail.com.
One entry person. Winner will be randomly selected from all correct entries received by Oct. 15, 2024. For full contest rules and eligibility visit leasidelife.com/contests.
Wishing residents and families in Leaside and across Don Valley West a happy and restful Thanksgiving with loved ones, friends and family!
Office 795 Eglinton Avenue East Unit 101, Toronto, ON M4G 4E4
sbowman.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Thank
you for rallying with us for Toronto Rehab!
Sponsors & special thanks
Presented by
Together, at UHN’s Rally for Rehab, presented by BMO, we raised more than $240,000 in support of rehabilitation research at UHN’s Toronto Rehab, all while moving our way!
Bringing together patients, families, health care workers, our sponsors and you – our community! – it was an unforgettable day, and wouldn’t have been possible without you. Thank you.
Community Champions
Toronto Leaside Rotary
Toyota on the Park
Epi Breads Bayview Diamond
Patrick Rocca Power Soccer SportChek
Friends of UHN Foundation
Toronto Athletic Club Eurocan
Gratitude Sponsor
Mr. Donald K. Johnson, O.C.
Wellness Sponsors
Robert W. Blakely
Local Media Sponsor
Special thanks to our committee
Andy MacPherson
Anthony Palma
Barbara Muir
Lara Kaufman
Paul Bolte
Dr. Paul Oh
Ryan Brandham
From Page 3
a 65-year-old woman who decides one day, after 40 years of marriage, to leave her ailing, demanding and insensitive husband and start a new life. Reviewers highly praised the book, and it stayed on Canada’s bestseller list for at least 14 weeks – winning the Canadian Booksellers Award in 1974. It was later dramatized at Stratford, Ont. with Jessica Tandy as Eva, and released as a movie in 2003 starring Claire Bloom. Soon after the novel was published, Constance was hired to teach English literature and creative writing at Ryerson Polytechnic Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University) where she remained for the next 15 years. She also found herself in demand for interviews and lectures. This included a reading at the Leaside Public Library, which received a Canada Council grant to pay for her appearance there (Canada Council Award Report, 1973-74).
While some feminists have criticized her work for not being vigorous enough in its questioning of patriarchal values, Beresford-Howe was nevertheless ahead of her time in exploring complex and often conflicting women’s issues both before and during the rise of feminism. She remains a respected writer and stylist with a loyal – if small – following. Ideally, that number will grow as more readers become familiar with the work of this significant Canadian novelist who called Leaside her home for over 20 years. n
GEMS From Page 8
Constance wrote five more novels after Eve – as well as one screenplay for CBC-TV. Two novels –Night Studies (1985) and Prospero’s Daughter (1988) – were written in Leaside (see: Greg Gatenby, Toronto: A Literary Guide, p, 542). Two others – A Population of One (1976) and A Marriage Bed (1981) –were televised by the CBC. Her final novel, A Serious Widow (1991), was nominated for Ontario’s Trillium Award in 1992 but lost to Margaret Atwood’s Wilderness Tips
Later years and legacy
Constance Beresford-Howe retired from teaching in 1988. Three years later, she and her husband left Leaside for the UK where they lived for the next 25 years. She died on Jan. 20, 2016, at the age of 93. Two weeks later, her husband Christopher died following complications from surgery. They were married for 55 years.
In October 2019, the Writers Chapel Trust posthumously honoured Constance by unveiling a bronze plaque in her name at St. Jax Church in Montreal. She is one of several writers commemorated there, including Mavis Gallant, A.M. Klein and her old colleague from McGill, Hugh MacLennan.
turned a bend in Sunnybrook Park, I caught the unmistakable scent of barbecue. A Turkish-Canadian family was grilling quail and invited me to join them. We chatted briefly before I continued on my way, but the warmth of that seemingly random encounter has stayed with me.
Walking is a practice with deep roots, from Saint Augustine’s belief that “it is solved by walking” to the Gemba Walks implemented as part of Toyota’s Lean Management practices. Acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul, in her book The Extended Mind , shares the science to support the idea that our minds extend beyond our brains, that nature enhances our mental processes, and that walking expands our thinking. When I walk with others, our interactions are more energized, our minds sharper, and our creativity heightened. Together, we create moments that matter.
Team Sunnybrook is blessed to work and serve in a beautiful, parklike setting. Our groundskeeping team is driven by a deep sense of purpose. Their care for our gardens reflects the restorative environment we strive to create for our staff and patients alike.
In the hustle and bustle of the world, I encourage everyone to take the time to step into nature, walk, run or roll with others, and connect with the beauty that surrounds us.
Dr. Andy Smith is the President & CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. n
Initiation Day was a Grade 9 rite of passage. The “initiee” would dress strangely with girls wearing men’s gear (plaid shirts, sports socks and pyjamas) and boys in “baby bonnets, nylon blouses over halter tops and a fancy garter holding up one of his stockings,” according to the ’54 Clan Call . They all passed through an archway made by brooms held by staff and the principal Mr. McLeod just before the morning bell. Liz recalls having a hard time finding appropriate attire. “I had a sister, no brothers, so I had to borrow and beg off friends with older male siblings.”
Fletcher started teaching in 1958 at Rolph Road School. “I wasn’t assigned a specific class so was itinerant, sometimes teaching at Bessborough and Northlea. When at Northlea I would often eat lunch at the Sunnybrook Restaurant with colleagues. One of them was Jack Fletcher, whom I married in the summer of ’60. The Leaside Board of Education promoted him to vice principal at Rolph that September and I had to leave – at the time married couples were not allowed to teach at the same school!” Liz lived in the newly built Thorncliffe Park for the first years of her marriage – “in 36 Thorncliffe Park Drive, the same building as good friends Alan and Louise Redway.” Liz fondly remembers LHS, and talking about her high school days lights her up: “I look forward to our 70th reunion, which is just around the corner.” n
Liz (right) with school chums celebrating their 80th birthdays in Curacao.
House Montessori School
Toddler, Preschool & Kindergarten
We offer early learning experiences for young children to build the skills they need for life.
Info@leasidechildrenshouse.com Instagram @leaside_childrens_house
Fall Food Drive
In Support of Thorncliffe Food Collaborative
Saturday, October 19 9:00 am—1:00 pm Sunday, October 20 10:00 am—12:00 noon 2 Outdoor Drop off Locations: Northlea United, 125 Brentcliffe Rd.
St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican, 1847 Bayview Ave.
“Thank you for your consistency in always supporting our community. [All] the canned foods including tomatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans, sardines, coffee and tea would be great options.” N. Khan, Food Security Coordinator, August 2024
Visit one of these locations with your food donations or donate financially online at: Donate.tno-toronto.org/tno-food -collaborative
Beware the dog strangling vine
I was pleased to see this article as this vine is one that troubles me as I walk through the valleys and parks in Leaside.
As a member of the Lakeside gardening society, I asked one of the more knowledgeable volunteers how to deal with it.
She reaffirmed the comment made in your article that cutting it at the base weakens the plant. She added that pulling it out doesn’t help because the roots will send more.
I’d like to suggest that dog walkers and others walking through the parks and the valleys from time to time break the vines that we see off at the base. I carry a little trimmer to use when the spirit moves me. If we all did this as a little habit as we walk through without pressure, I think it would make a big difference in stopping the vines’ advance.
Andree Shore
Bayview Art Tour
I am writing to express my sincere thanks for the recent article on the Bayview Art Tour featured in Leaside Life. I was delighted to see the coverage, as my late mother-in-law, Frances Craig, was the founder of
the tour.
Reading the article brought me immense joy, particularly in how it acknowledged her contributions and the origins of the event. Although Frances passed away several years ago, it is heartwarming to know that her legacy continues to thrive. Thank you for keeping her memory alive through your thoughtful coverage.
Karen Steadman-Craig
I am so delighted to read this as well! I remember my mother starting to do her shows out of our house (on Belsize) with a makeshift sign and balloons attached to invite passersby into our home. She would work hard to frame her pieces and get the lighting set up, make flyers, etc.
Then a few years later a neighbour asked if she could join her because she made paper and cards, so there
were two. Then another neighbour who was also an artist asked if she could join but show her work in her own house. And so on.
Out came all the artistic folks in the neighbourhood who had a passion, and it grew from there.
Thank you for publishing this piece! Andre Craig Canadian Film Centre
I was a Leasider for 15 years and now live close enough (Balliol/Mt. Pleasant) to keep an interest, plus two of my kids live in Leaside with their families.
Please do take care how you refer to the Canadian Film Centre in Leaside Life. In the September issue you refer to what was once E.P. Taylor’s “palatial estate, Windfield’s Park” as now being the Canadian Film Centre. And if we mean the property is leased to CFC for a peppercorn rent, and that is all, that’s fine.
However, to refer to the facility as the Canadian Film Centre is misleading because they have no title to the place, though they have long sought control of that property (corner Bayview/Country Lane) and they try to create the impression they own it.
My interest in the matter was piqued when I saw them install a much-trumpeted “green fence” along Country Lane, Like most people I was expecting to see something eco friendly and it turned out to be a high chainlink fence painted green. Then all access to the grounds was shut off from Country Lane.
I brought in the local councillor (the late Jaye Robinson) who confirmed that the whole area is part of Winfield’s Park (thank you, Mr. Taylor) and therefore subject to strict control. We managed to get one passageway opened up (after a beautiful west-facing garden had been destroyed).
I suggested at a meeting of local residents that a sign be placed at the corner clearly designating it as Winfield’s Park but was shouted down because of apparent fear of invasion by outsiders! That said I might even have succeeded had not some person who doesn’t even live in the area called out, “We don’t want that!” and the rest (maybe 60 people) took it up as a rallying cry.
So, that area definitely needs to be kept any eye on, because it’s a sure bet the CFC will continue its efforts to annex grounds that belong to the public at large. Since it is park land, there should be a posted sign!
Rebecca Rix n
MANOR ROAD UNITED CHURCH
Celebrating 100 Years of Spiritual Guidance and Charitable Good Works, May 2025
Join us in person or on YouTube for a welcoming, contemporary and spiritual Sunday service at 10:30 am. Everyone is invited!
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS: BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
Sunday, Oct. 3 10:30 During Service
Bring your furry friends: dogs, cats and others
PUMPKIN CARVING & COSTUME PARADE
Sunday, Oct. 27 11:45 am Fun for kids of all ages, pumpkins provided FREE POTLUCK LUNCH
The first Sunday of the month, 11:30 am
240 Manor Road East, Toronto, ON manorroadunitedchurch.com
ANTIQUES WANTED
Events October
LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY
Leaside Garden Society invites you to our Speaker Series on: Thursday Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. - Leaside Library - 165 McRae Drive (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Special guest speaker: Stephen Smith. Subject: Climate Change and Trees. The Society welcomes guests and new members to join the Society for our meetings. Visit our website: www. leasidegardensociety.org or email: leaside@ gardenontario.org for more info.
CFUW LEASIDE-EAST YORK
Oct. 17 - 7:00 p.m. IN PERSON at Northlea United Church 125 Brentcliffe Rd.
No Small Legacy - The Story of Nellie McClung, one of Canada’s first feminists. Speaker: Carol Hancock, social activist and author.
NORTHLEA
UNITED CHURCH
125 Brentcliffe Road, 416 425 5252 or email office@northleaunited.ca
All roads still lead to Northlea United! Bach to Broadway – an afternoon of music and song. Sun, Oct 6 at 5 p.m.- Free will offering.
The Savvy Seniors Lecture Series with Margo Salnek of Move Seniors Lovingly $10/person/lecture or $25 for the series: Please pre-register. The first 3 Tuesdays in October at 1 p.m.
Oct 1 – Downsizing to uplift your life Oct 8 – The How To’s to move forward Oct 15 – Coach Houses of Toronto Taizé at Northlea
An evening of calm in your busy week Tues, Oct 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Leaside Food Drive Drop Off for TNO Sat Oct 19 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sun Oct 20 from 10 a.m. – to noon In the pines on the front lawn.
ST. AUGUSTINE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH 1847 Bayview Ave
The Groove Room Coffee House is back! Listen to great live music by local artists and have a coffee and dessert with friends. The next Groove Room Coffee House is on Fri. Oct 11 at 7:00-8:30 p.m. A fundraiser for the Flemingdon Food Bank. We are looking for performers. Contact info@ saintaugustine.ca
ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH, LEASIDE 1399 Bayview Avenue 416-485-0329 stcuthbertleaside@toronto.anglican.ca www.stcuthbertsleaside.com
Tai Chi Tuesdays 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. in Lamb Hall. Suggested donation $4. Join us! Blessing of the Animals – Sun., Oct. 6 at 4:00 p.m. on The Green. Pets (and people!) are invited to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi and give thanks for the gift of all God’s creatures.
Women’s Dinner Fri., Oct. 18 in Lamb Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for dinner served at 7:15 p.m. Tickets $35. Visit stcuthbertsleaside.com for more details.
LEASIDE LIBRARY
165 McRae Drive, 416 396 3835
After School Club, Mondays 3:30-4:30 p.m. Drop-in. Join us for afternoons of fun with various games, projects and activities. Get creative, build new skills and explore new themes! Snacks are offered for participants. Ages 6-12.
Adult Board Games Night Tuesdays, 6:007:30 p.m. Drop-in. Join us for a night of fun! Bring your friends or make new ones as you battle it out over board games.
Needlework (Knitting & Crocheting at the Library) Thursdays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Drop-in. Bring your own knitting or crocheting project, or start something new while learning about different library programs, services and resources! All are welcome!
Toddler Time and Stay-and-Play Fridays 10:30-11:30 a.m. Drop-in. A Ready for Reading program with stories, songs and rhymes for toddlers from 18 months - 3 years, with their parents or caregiver. For a full list of programs and events happening at Leaside branch, Toronto Public Library, please visit www.tpl.ca/ leaside.
TORONTO HISTORY MUSEUMS
Become a Toronto History Museums Youth Volunteer – youths age 14-18 –For details and to apply: search Toronto History Museums Youth Volunteer – City of Toronto
TODMORDEN MILLS HERITAGE SITE
67 Pottery Road 416 396 2819 todmorden@toronto.ca
After Dark Spirit Tours on Oct. 25 and 26 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Experience poignant performances that invite you to explore grief, honor, and remembrance across diverse cultures and treat yourself to Spirit-Tour-inspired mocktails and light refreshments. To learn more and reserve tickets: Festivals & Events Calendar – City of Toronto
For family-friendly fun, join us for our Spirited Weekends on Oct 19-20 and 26-27 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and enjoy a delightful spread of seasonal crafts, thrilling games and cozy up with warm drinks and freshly baked treats. To learn more: Festivals & Events Calendar – City of Toronto
Todmorden Mills – Papermill Gallery welcomes visitors. Starting in October, our winter hours will be Wed. through Sun., 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Enjoy drop-in interpretative tours of our historic houses. Tours at 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Free admission for all. n
…from Isaac and Nyle for the generosity of the Leaside Community in support of their 9th annual lemonade stand for the Terry Fox Foundation.
$2,180.15 was raised on Sunday, September 15th. Over the 9 years, $13,750 has been donated.
With heartfelt appreciation, Isaac, Nyle and family. See you next year for the 10th annual!
LEMONADE FOR TERRY FOX!
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
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 1Z4
Comments, Letters to the Editor, Advertising Enquiries: Contact: 416-504-8047 ext. 120 leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com • leasidelife@gmail.com Published monthly in Leaside, Toronto,
It’s (another) by-election season
With crisp autumnal weather come colourful autumn leaves, and, this year, election signs too, as we approach the Ward 15 City Council by-election to replace late Councillor Jaye Robinson. As I write, there are already 16 registered candidates – a veritable crowd and a real challenge to presenting an effective and informative candidates’ debate, as you can imagine.
The Leaside Residents Association is on the planning committee with other Ward 15 residents’ associations, working out a solution. We have decided to hold a meeting with a reduced number of candidates but have devised a questionnaire to be completed by all of them. All the completed questionnaires will be made public on the websites of our
Why are you running for office in Ward 15?
What are your positions on adding high density to local neighbourhoods, and what is the impact on green space and parks?
What do you know about how Committees of Adjustment reach development decisions and interpret the development process?
Do you have any ideas on solving the City’s budget shortfall?
What measures would you support (or oppose) to lessen traffic congestion?
What do you know about the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan?
Where do you stand on installing separated cycle lanes?
Do you use the TTC? On a regular basis?
Do you have any special interest or experience in specific municipal issues?
How would you vote on the police budget?
Do you support stronger architectural heritage protection?
What will you do to improve enforcement of the city’s bylaws and traffic speed?
And finally: Do you live in Ward 15? If not, do you think this matters?
partner residents’ associations. A virtual live candidates’ debate will likely take place on Oct. 16, before any advance polls. Election day is Nov. 4th.
In last month’s Leaside Life column I encouraged you to think up questions you’d like to put to the candidates, to learn who stands where on the subjects that matter to you. We have listed a few suggestions above.
The LRA wants you to know who is running to represent you on City Council, and whether their priorities reflect yours. How the candidates answer should give you a better sense of their platforms.
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 Oct. 2nd. For more details and updates, or to become an LRA member, visit leasideresidents.ca and press the Contact Us button, or leasideresidents.ca/contact-us n
