News Flash! Michelle Dubé is a Leasider. Page 4
A fair catch in Leaside
ROB DESPINS AND HIS WIFE GENEVIEVE LEMAIRE, OWNERS OF FAIR CATCH FISHMONGERS ON BAYVIEW. PG. 8
SUZANNE
The saddest month?
Are you a winter person?
Me, not so much, though you’d think that living in Canada would make me more accepting of these shorter, colder days with their bursts of snow and Polar Vortex temps. Plus, I do enjoy February’s holidays and seasonal events. But I know I am not alone in periodically suffering from the winter blues.
Imagine my delight, then, in reading this month’s “Leaside Cooks” column by Mitch Bubulj featuring (beloved) former Leaside
High teacher and principal John Franklin and his equally famous Sad Cake. When Mitch first told me about his subject for the column – a sad cake – I wondered, why “sad,” and what ingredients constitute a “sad” cake?
As it happens, happily, the name of the cake is ironic, and the cake
itself is anything but sad. It’s light and tasty, making for a very happy eating experience. John encountered the dessert nearly 70 years ago on a trip to Oregon, and he’s been making it ever since, to rave reviews. As Mitch says in his column, “It has a familiar taste, which is wholesome, unassuming, sweet but not too sweet and unforgettable, much like John himself.”
And it’s uplifting at a time when many of us could use relief from the winter blues.
If you or someone you know is suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), you can find support from the Canadian Mental Health Association. For those in crisis and possibly considering suicide, call 9-8-8 or visit 988.ca. n
Talented Leaside performer Stephanie Taylor touched many lives
Many performing artists have lived or attended school in Leaside over the years. They include the 1950s “Happy Gang” radio organist Kay Stokes; the novelty musical act The Videottes; saxophonist Warren Hill; Arrested Development actor Will Arnett – and jazz vocalist/Juno award winner Laila Biali and her percussionist husband, Ben Wittman. I’d like to add another name to this list. She may not be as widely known as some Leaside celebrities. But she had a long and impressive career as a Canadian entertainer, and her story is worth telling.
Actor
Stephanie Taylor moved (from Walmer Rd.) to Leaside with her mother, Edith, in 1954. Stephanie lived at 107 Divadale Dr. and attended Leaside High School. From an early age, she loved to perform. In May 1955, when she was 12, she won four gold medals in the dance category at the Peel Music Festival. This was quickly followed by several
Album cover, 1970
acting roles, including a major part in the CBC televised drama Guest Appearance, broadcast in November 1957. While still in her teens, she was awarded a scholarship by the Medhurst Theatre School in Toronto, which advertised her in the Toronto Star as “an exciting new TV personality.” When she graduated in 1960, her high school yearbook, The Clansman, dubbed her a “CBC star.”
Singer
By then, however, Stephanie had moved beyond acting to pursue a singing career. At 16, she auditioned for a role in CBC TV’s Country Hoedown and became one of the show’s regular singers and dancers, who also included none other than Gordon Lightfoot.
TAYLOR Page 32
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Here’s some news – Michelle Dubé’s a Leasider
If you’re into news at all, you should recognize the name and voice of Michelle Dubé – the co-anchor of both CTV News at Noon and CTV News at 6 for CTV News Toronto. You might also know she won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor in 2019. But what you may not know is that she and her family – husband Mark Ferguson, daughters Paisley, Shae, and son Mack – are Leasiders. Michelle was born in Anaheim, Ca., but moved to Ancaster, Ont., with her Canadian parents when she was young. She knew from an early age that she “always wanted to do news.” She loved writing and presenting and would get so excited when these opportunities came up that she couldn’t sleep. When the time came for post-secondary education, she faced a conundrum. She was completing her OAC year in high school the same year that universities and colleges were also accepting students completing Grade 12. She was on several admittance waiting lists and took
a chance on a new program at the then University of Western Ontario that was accepting 10 students and offering a diploma from Fanshawe College at the same time. She worked at local station CHCH
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Dubé with husband Mark Ferguson and kids Shae, Mack and Paisley.
in Hamilton for a few years before being hired by CTV in Toronto in 2009 as a television journalist before becoming a co-anchor in 2012.
It took a while after she met Mark Ferguson on New Year’s Eve in Montreal for the two of them to navigate their way towards marriage and a family. They started out living downtown, but when they realized “their late-night party days were over” and they wanted “a house and kids,” it took a very patient real estate agent over two years to find them their first house, on Whitewood, just west of Bayview off Davisville.
The location worked well, both for Mark to get to work in finance downtown and for Michelle to get to CTV in Scarborough. Their daughters were born at Sunnybrook while they were living on Whitewood. But by now, they knew two things – their current house wasn’t big enough, and the neighbourhood they wanted to live in was Leaside. They were fortunate that their real estate agent, Kate Young of Bosley Real Estate’s
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Tel. (416)-488-6555 Web. www.evidentalsmiles.ca Email. info@evidentalsmiles.ca
Farm Boy chooses Leaside
Farm Boy has landed in Leaside!
The chain, known for its fresh local produce, prepared foods and more, opened on December 5th in the old Sobeys location at Laird and Wicksteed after taking less than six months to transi tion the store.
Josh Darche, vice-president private label and product development, said, “Leaside is a great neighbourhood and we are excited to open a location here.” Farm Boy appeals to a broad demo graphic – reflecting Leaside.
This store marks the 51st for the company and is Farm Boy’s largest in the GTA.
The Farm Boy story
In 1981, Jean-Louis and Collette Bellemare opened a small produce store in Cornwall, Ont., with a goal of selling the freshest products at the best prices. The business was a success and by 1996 had expanded into the Ottawa area where Farm Boy continued to grow. In 2012 the Bellemares opened a store in Kingston and by 2015 Farm Boy locations were opening in the GTA. Farm Boy was purchased by The Empire Company Limited, parent company of Sobeys, in 2018. The expansion continues and 25+ locations have been added since then. The founders are still involved in the business, and Jean-Louis was at the Leaside store grand opening on December 5th.
New kid in Leaside
I had the pleasure of touring the store on opening day. The new store is large with a wide variety of product offerings and helpful staff. Many employees have been with the company for years. Farm Boy numbers 5,500 total staff; the Leaside location employs some 125 people, many of whom previously worked at the old Sobeys, and several are locals or have ties to our community.
There is a lot on offer for custom-
ers including local produce, meats and fish, prepared foods and meals, specialty dinners, many unique and private label items. The first private label item, lemon garlic dressing, was launched in 1998. Since then, Farm Boy has introduced many private label products. They also have pop-ups in their stores, allowing local proprietors to offer their foods, such as donuts and pizza. Farm Boy also offers products from businesses they have acquired, for instance the Rideau Bakery rye bread. When the 90-year-old bakery closed in 2019, Farm Boy struck a deal to purchase it so the legacy would continue.
Local focus
Farm Boy uses local seasonal produce and has dedicated suppliers. They feature squash grown by a farmer in Southwestern Ontario for their popular butternut squash soup. According to Darche, “when we are told that the squash is done for the season, we are done making squash soup.” Many items are made in-store while a large range of prepared items come from one of Farm Boy’s two commissaries, in Ottawa and Mississauga. When asked about unique items made in the commissary, Darche replied, “The edamame dip – it is very popular, delicious and unique, not something you can get anywhere else.”
Specialty dinners for special occasions and holidays are also on offer.
FARM BOY Page 28
Lisa Parker Columnist
Nick Papageorgiou, one of the Leaside store managers STAN FLEMMING
Fair Catch’s fishy business swims to Bayview
by SUZANNE PARK
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the ‘Fair Catch’ name of a new fishmonger business in Leaside refers strictly to fish.
Fact is that co-owners Rob Despins and his wife Genevieve Lemaire chose the name for its double meaning. Indeed, they are the new dedicated fishmongers at 1543 Bayview Ave., yet they’re also devoted NFL football fans. For anyone unfamiliar with the football fair-catch rule, in a nutshell, it is intended to protect the receiver or catcher of the ball.
Before opening their first fish shop, Rob spent two years studying and researching the responsible and sustainable fishing industry. He travelled from Vancouver to the east coast meeting with suppliers and talking with fishers, fish vendors, and customers.
This energetic couple both spent their youth around water. Genevieve enjoyed seafood from the shores of
the St. Lawrence, while Rob fished and fileted rainbow trout from Northern Ontario streams. So, it’s no surprise that they met on a canoe
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trip Rob was leading on the Big East River in Arrowhead Park. They became fast friends, married, started their business, with sons Vincent, 12, and Benjamin, 15, getting to know the business and occasionally assisting in the shop.
Rob and Genevieve acted on a shared dream when they left their corporate jobs and took their entrepreneurial leap in risky times. Despite the warnings of family and friends, they opened their first fishmongers near Yonge and Lawrence during the pandemic, in April 2020. As Rob described the experience, “We expected the worst yet were prepared to weather difficult times for a few years. What surprised us was the community of shopkeepers and their loyal fans who regularly frequented the bakery, greengrocer, butcher and us, the new fishmongers. Everyone was working at home, had a little more time, and social media fueled imaginations with bread-making and
The duo hadn’t planned on expanding, but loyal customers kept asking them to come to Leaside. When a commercial space became available, they knew it was a perfect second community for them. They opened in summer 2024 offering just enough product to serve a growing customer base, including fish smoked in-house. Smoked trout, salmon or finnan
SUZANNE PARK
InsideOut – working the core for two decades
by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO
How does a business in the highly competitive field of fitness, health and wellness survive – and thrive – and continue to innovate for 20 years and counting?
Now entering its third decade, InsideOut Health, Fitness + Wellness is that rare business, focused on staying true to its mission of empowering individuals to meet their personal goals. As an award-winning leader in its field, the studio is the longest-standing fitness organization in Leaside and from day one has offered not just a place to work out but an opportunity for clients to become, and keep, well from the inside out.
Founded by Barry Samuel in 2005, the gym was originally located on Millwood before moving in 2010 to its current location at 210 Laird Dr. InsideOut provides onsite and in-home personal or virtual training in classes including boxing, Pilates,
yoga, dance, mindfulness, HIIT, cardio, self-defense and more. They also offer wellness and nutrition programs to assist their clients with both physical and mental wellbeing. Twice awarded Toronto’s Best Personal Training Studio by the Toronto Star , InsideOut has sports-specific dryland training for
Stanley’s White House Meats
golf, skiing, hockey, racquet sports and many more.
For the past 18 years, the studio has hosted an annual Spring Into Action Youth Mental Health Day (SIA), which raises funds and awareness for youth mental health in Canada. This year’s event will take place on June 7th.
With the support of many local individuals and businesses, the day’s activities include a walk/run/bike or dance event, family fun activities, speakers, swag bags, raffles, performances, food and so much more.
(Check out past SIA days, info about this year’s event and excellent mental health resources at @ sia4mentalhealth on Instagram.)
How does such a longstanding brand stay relevant? To celebrate its third decade, the studio is offering three new initiatives:
• Women-Only Private Times: Ladies Mid-Life Program and Moms (including Mom + Baby Class)
• The InsideOut 14-Day Nutrition Reset Guide and 10-Day Home Fitness Guide
• The 30-Day Transform Habits Challenge
Samuel, who was awarded a Lifetime Contribution Award by the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame, notes, “The journey so far has been remarkable, but the future holds even greater promise. Together, we’ll uncover new opportunities, build stronger connections, and keep transforming lives –one step at a time.”
Check out InsideOut’s website to learn more:
www.insideoutstudio.ca n
I was a fashion statement – or is that fail?
Well, here we are – where to begin? How did I end up in front of my computer, trying to write my first humour column for the ever-popular Leaside Life, a respected publication with such a large and loyal following? (Nothing like ramping up the pressure on myself in the first paragraph – rookie mistake!).
Tim Fallis Columnist
NEW COLUMNIST! TWIN BROTHER!
While there was no formal interview before taking over from my more famous identical twin (you know, Terry?), I shudder to think how it would have played out. I imagine it going like this. …
LL: Are you a beloved, award-winning author with nine bestselling novels to your credit?
TF: Uhhh…. no, I just look like one. LL: So, you’re our outgoing columnist’s identical twin brother. The resemblance is uncanny – how do you feel about him?
TF: Well, I’ve always found him to be incredibly good-looking.
LL: After your brother wrote 90+ columns about life in Leaside, with most of his stories involving you,
aren’t you a little worried about coming up with new content for your submissions?
TF: Worried? No – I’m terrified!
LL: Great – you’re hired!
Needless to say, I’m honoured and more than a little nervous, and yet, this remarkable community of Leaside is so ingrained in my life, that I just know there are more memories to mine and more stories to share despite all that Terry has churned out over the years. And as the older twin, I like to think I can offer eight more minutes of life experience, wisdom, and maturity than he ever could. (I’ll take any leg up I can get.)
So, how will I approach this? Well, I suppose I could dispute and correct all the family stories of my predecessor, but I’ve only been allotted
600 words. Instead, in my quarterly column, I thought I might focus on Leaside tales you have yet to read. After all, we’re identical twins, not conjoined twins. While we’ve always been very close and did so much together growing up in Leaside, there were moments – hours even – when we did our own things, gained different perspectives, made our own memories and got into our own predicaments.
In fact, I recall one particularly embarrassing moment in 1975. I was on my way to my after-school shift at Vanguard Pharmacy on Eglinton near Bayview. Those were the days of platform shoes, bell bottoms and insecure teenagers like me trying to look cool in them (in my case, an impossible task). On this day, I shoehorned myself into my favourite tiedyed bell bottoms. Below the knee, it looked like I was wearing a couple of lampshades. But above the knee, they were so tight, you could read the date on the nickel in my back pocket. And that was the problem. You see, back then, you were only cool in your tight tie-dyed pants if you walked confidently with your hands in your front pockets.
So, there I was, the very definition of cool, sauntering up Parkhurst, when, in mid-step, my left foot caught the “bell” of my right pant leg, and I involuntarily pitched forward. I was going down and it wasn’t going to be pretty. You see, my hands were trapped in my front pockets. Yes, my pants were so tight that there was no way I could wrench them free. Luckily, I was able to break my fall, with my face. The considerable height of my platform shoes only added to my free fall hang time – ahhh, life in the ’70s. One chipped tooth and one bloodied lip later, I quickly bounced back to my feet desperately hoping no one had seen my sidewalk spectacle, almost as if to convey “I obviously meant to do that.” The pavement seemed to have survived unscathed.
This episode has been family Leaside lore ever since, and our kids, between guffaws, have spread the word to their generation at every opportunity. Suffice to say, I’ll never live it down. And to coin a phrase pioneered by my esteemed predecessor, it happened in Leaside.
Tim Fallis is a recently retired marketing agency owner and a 60-year Leaside resident. n
CTAC’s ‘Golden Girls’ own the podium
On a snowy and wind-swept golf course in London, Ont. on Nov. 30, 2024, a group of athletes belonging to Leaside’s local running club, Central Toronto Athletic Club (CTAC), won the team gold medal for girls under 18 at the Canadian Cross Country Championships.
The team of six comprises Kieva Birmingham, Isabel Pound, Rebecca Pribaz, Niamh Richards, Morgan Yeomans and Madeleine Zwolinski.
Founded in 2013, CTAC specializes exclusively in distance running, targeting athletes from Grade 3 to post-secondary. Members live in Leaside, Lawrence Park, North Toronto, the Beaches and North York.
Head coach Dave Christiani (full disclosure: he is also my husband)
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had an inkling of future medal success two years ago when an exceptional group of girls moved up to the high school group from the younger development group. In fact, Kieva, Rebecca and Morgan are now all highly ranked nationally and provincially over 800 to 3,000 metre distances because of their performances in several races. Dave points out that it is “not common to have so many highly ranked athletes in one group, so he and his team of coaches had hopes for a podium finish at the Nationals.
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When cross-country training started in Sunnybrook Park in August, all the girls agreed that the podium was a realistic and attainable goal they were determined to achieve. With that in mind, they did all their critical workouts together, eager to help each other to achieve success. The training was not easy, so having mutual support and a common purpose kept them going.
As Kieva comments, “while a podium finish seemed so far away at the start of the season, the continuous effort from all of my teammates made our dream come true.’’
The results of their training were evident at the high school championships (OFSAA) in early November when, despite coping with illnesses, three of the girls finished in the top 10 of their respective races including an individual silver medal.
Then at the start of the Nationals, Dave reminded the girls to run their best possible race and “to trust their talent and prepara -
tion.” Morgan says that it was an “amazing feeling” for them to all be together on the start line. As a senior and a team captain, she says it was rewarding to support the others through a “really gritty race” and concludes that “we couldn’t have accomplished such an amazing feat without each other or the help of our coaches all season long.” It is worth noting that Morgan will be attending the University of Missouri next year on an athletic scholarship. In the end, the CTAC team triumphed, and as Rebecca says, they were proud to have accomplished their goal, plus “it was exciting running alongside my amazing teammates and a great way to end the season.”
Isabel feels the same way about the race itself and sharing the moment of receiving their medals on the stage with her teammates, a feeling she says she will “carry with her forever.” She and her mother, Maria Wilson, also recognize the value of the CTAC experience in inspiring confidence, determination and resilience, adding that the “incredible achievement is a testament...to the valuable lessons learned along the way.”
The team, says Dave, is full of confidence from their accomplishment – a feeling they will carry with them into their indoor track season. For four of the members, the highlight of the season will be the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York at the historic Armory Track in midMarch. n
Coach Dave Christiani (centre) with his team: l-r: Isabel Pound, Niamh Richards, Madeleine Zwolinski, Kieva Birmingham, Rebecca Pribaz and Morgan Yeomans.
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Let’s go skating at Leaside Gardens
by LORNA KRAWCHUCK
We’re in Canada. It’s February. People are skating! How about you?
Many of us have fond memories of the many years when outdoor rinks were set up at Trace Manes, so it was easy to see who was out getting their winter exercise.
Did you know that twice a week there is free skating for adults at Leaside Memorial Community Gardens? Tuesdays from 11-12 and Thursdays from 11:30-12:30, and at no cost, thanks to the Leaside Gardens board. At least 90 people know this, and show up quite regularly. Ron Cannata has been the “keeper of the list” since 2015. It’s a bit of an open question as to when this skating program actually started, but at least a few years before. I got to sit on one of the players’ benches on one of their Tuesday skates, at the “old” rink, now known as Rink B, or the Bert F. Grant Rink, to chat with and watch maybe 30 skaters go counterclockwise round the oval. Feeling cold sitting there, I left the skate, but I have it on good authority that at half time, they
switch direction. If I’d come on a Thursday, I’d have been ice-side at the Dr. Tom Pashby Play Safely Rink (Rink A), aka the “new” rink. Skaters of various ability levels and ages, men and women, wearing helmets, or not, were all circling. South Leasider Tim Sellers showed up wearing the red corduroy Leaside Hockey Association jacket his dad bought him four decades ago.
Originally, he came to become strong enough to return to hockey after a ruptured Achilles tendon. Now he keeps coming for the enjoyment and camaraderie. One person he got reacquainted with was John Woolacott from the time they worked together many years ago. John, along with Stu Crawford, Ron Boudreau and Hugh Rising, have or have had hockey and shinny in their backgrounds.
North Leasider Janice Price took up skating again as a retirement project. She has a photo of her as a competitive figure skater at the same rink from the 1970s. She still skates in 1970s leather skates, because she finds the new ones seem to have more of a lift, and don’t feel quite right.
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I spoke with many other skaters. I re-met Sarah Bissinger, who grew up in Leaside and is now back in the neighbourhood. The only couple I met – Son Roberts and Nancy McGovern – really love skating outdoors and know a few secret places. Son told me that these skaters at the Gardens are “hip and cool people.”
And Dan Pascoe wanted me to give a shout-out to all the rink staff for their maintenance efforts.
Certainly, Jennifer Smith, director of business and finance at the Gardens, knows her way around rinks. Before taking on this job she was president of the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association for many years.
So, why not get those skates out of storage and lace up at Leaside Gardens sometime over the next little while? You need your own skates, or you can pick up a pair on a Facebook “buy and sell” page. And bring your earbuds if you like music to accompany your twirls. n
LORNA KRAWCHUK
Mr. Franklin’s Sad Cake will make you glad
Each month we will cover a Leasider’s special dish with a hearty side order of narrative. And you will find the recipes online by clicking the Leaside Cooks tab.
by MITCH BUBULJ
There’s a very good chance that either you, your parents or your grandparents once had John Franklin as a teacher or prin cipal. John was an integral part of the Leaside education system from 1952 till he retired in 1981. February’s recipe is courtesy of John, who, at 98, is still cooking. February is ambivalent; it is the peak of the winter blahs and the celebration of St. Valentine. His offering, the ironically named “Sad Cake,” might sound depressing, but is the opposite. John’s Sad Cake will make you glad.
Road School. He drove through a snowstorm in his 1938 Chrysler Coupe to reach the Leaside Board of Education office (at the time in what is now the main office at Leaside High School) for his
It has a familiar taste, which is wholesome, unassuming, sweet but not too sweet and unforgettable, much like John himself. The name of the dish alone is a conversation starter. I asked John “why so oddly named? He said, “I am not sure why it is called Sad Cake but all I know is the first time I tasted it I was hooked.” That was in 1958. With five kids and hopes for more, he and his wife Betty decided that summer to add a second storey to their bungalow. Their contractor told them he needed the house empty for six weeks to build the addition, so the family piled into the car and headed west for an extended vacation. It was a “very big station wagon,” John explains. When they got to Oregon, they stayed with one of Betty’s cousins, and for their last dinner together, her cousin’s wife, Mona, surprised them with the tasty dessert. Mona was kind enough to mail them the recipe; this hand-written, yellowed, well-worn index card is still in John’s kitchen. While never living in Leaside – he spent most of his married life in Scarborough – he knows Leaside well, and Leaside remembers him fondly. Born in Meaford, Ont. in 1926, John started teaching in 1946 in a one-room schoolhouse in Grey County. In January 1952 he spotted an ad in the Globe and Mail looking for a classroom teacher at Rolph
If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him...the people who give you their food give you their heart. – Cesar Chavez ”
interview. His charismatic personality and teaching experience (and the fact one of the interviewers was from Meaford!) clinched the job for him.
John taught at Rolph and Bessborough before being promoted to vice principal at Rolph and eventually principal of Northlea School during the ’70s. With a name like John Franklin (think 19th century leader of several Canadian Arctic expeditions), he was especially fond of teaching his Grade 5s about famous explorers. John recalls discussing with his students the adventures of the Manitoba-born explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who had just published his autobiography. The whole class ended up composing a letter of congratulations to Stefansson, mailing it and then waiting excitedly for a response. After weeks of checking daily with the school secretary, the students were finally rewarded with a letter postmarked Hanover, New
Hampshire. It was Stefansson writing from Dartmouth College thanking them for their kind words and gifting them a signed copy of his book. But John’s best memories revolve around singing. Raised in the Church of Christ where musical instruments were not used, he learned to appreciate the power of a choir. For Canada’s Centennial he led a committee to celebrate the country’s diverse cultures and naturally he decided to do it in song. It was a huge undertaking that included donated props from the old downtown CBC building, a well-written script and lots of singing to celebrate distinct Canadian regions like the Maritimes, the Prairies and the Arctic. The show involved 500 students and was performed in the Leaside High School auditorium; it was even recorded on vinyl. Many of John’s students worked behind the scenes. It was his idea to have every kid – and not just the performers – appear on stage in front of the audience at least once. He wanted everyone involved to share a sense of pride – to share the spotlight. Former student Nicole Purvis says, “I only remember kindness and gentleness from Mr. Franklin.” Another of his former Northlea pupils, Sandra Mascarenhas (née Macintosh), remembers “Mr. Franklin helping me in his office with my speech for a big competition.”
Do you have a favourite Mr. Franklin memory? Let us know. And while you’re at it, bake a Sad Cake. You’ll be glad you did. n
John and his wife Betty, late ’50s
Young Poet’s Corner
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Welcome to the Young Poet’s Corner!
Here, we share poems from students at Leaside High School, either members of the school’s Young Writers Club or students in the school’s Writers Craft classes. These poems offer insights into some of the issues that occupy young people and showcase their evolving creativity. We thank Lauren Elizabeth Simmons, Assistant Curriculum Leader for Anti-Oppressive Education, Student Voice, Leadership and Engagement at Leaside High, for inspiring and helping to showcase young talent.
“Love You, Say It Back”
Love you. Words, I offer, soft and sure. Waiting here, just me and you.
A gentle plea, I send out to see what your response will be and if you will return this part of me. I hope you will feel and agree.
Love you, please say it back to me. Is it even meant to be?
Can you promise, can you see?
A small reply, but it is enough, a simple line to build our trust.
It’s sometimes whispered, sometimes bold, but always there for hearts to hold.
Soft like skin, strong as a vow, a feeling shared between us now.
Love you, say it back.
— Charlotte Hammill
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Charlotte Hammill is a Grade 12 Writer’s Craft student at Leaside High School.
2025 Agnes Macphail Award recipient Jason Ash!
by LORNA KRAWCHUK
The recipient of the 2025 Agnes Macphail Award, Jason Ash, is very invested in his Thorncliffe Park community, but he is also a bit of an anomaly, as he attended Bessborough from JK on, and then graduated from Leaside High School.
It might well be that he became interested in public transportation issues from years racing for the bus to Thorncliffe at the corner of Rumsey and McRae. Early on, the bus didn’t loop through Thorncliffe. Once it did, it made that “last mile” much easier for students and other commuters. More recently, he advocated through the late Councillor Jaye Robinson to have the 81 and 88 bus routes extended to meet the Eglinton Crosstown so there is “one seat” access from Thorncliffe to Flemingdon and the ongoing connections to Etobicoke or Scarborough. He also became involved early in the various committees dealing with how the Metrolinx Ontario Line is to cut through Thorncliffe, working to see where there were possible
Our Specialty Service is Our Specialty
Jason might well have become a journalist. He particularly enjoyed English class at Leaside High with “Ms. Fertuck,” whom you will recognize as Leaside Life writer Janis Fertuck. Jason spearheaded a group to both write and produce a new version of the student newspaper The Chronicle – including going up and down Bayview soliciting ads to pay for it. “His” version of The Chronicle continues to this day. Maybe it was the financial aspects of producing the paper that led to his taking the B. Comm program at U of T after leaving Leaside in 1999, followed by a U of T Rotman School MBA and his subsequent work in retail finance planning.
In 2018, Jason was elected to the board of The Neighbourhood Organization and served there until 2023. He describes being on the board as “a wonderful experience, to see the way people can become involved in their neighbourhood, to work with elected officials, and have a greater appreciation of the work that not-for-profits can accomplish.” His heart really is in more grassroots initiatives, working directly with neighbours. In 2019, he and several others started Friends of Thorncliffe Park . If you look towards Thorncliffe as you cross the Leaside Bridge, you’ll see the result of one of their projects – four giant Muskoka chairs on the top of the rise. The chairs are even labelled on Google Maps. Another is the painting of control boxes along Overlea Boulevard, which they arranged through StreetART Toronto.
Closer to his own home, he is now co-chair of the Leaside Towers Tenants’ Association – for residents of the 85 and 95 Thorncliffe Park Dr. towers – who hold regular information meetings with invited guests ranging from City of Toronto officials to police and various agencies. The group’s aim is to make residents proud to live in their building and know how to bring issues to the attention of management.
When the announcement was made by the Premier of Ontario in the spring of 2023 that the Ontario Science Centre was to be closed immediately, there was “a limited level of attention initially, especially with mainstream media,” says Jason. In July 2023, his Agnes Macphail nominator, Floyd Ruskin, and Jason
RACHEL HILLIER
L-r: Councillors James Pasternak and Rachel Chernos Lin, Jason Ash and Councillor Lily Cheng.
Our neighbour – Evergreen Brickworks, expanding, thriving, evolving
by SUSAN POAPS
The absolute gem that is Evergreen Brickworks has continued to thrive offering meaningful and innovative programs as well as quiet contemplation amid challenging times.
I had the privilege recently of volunteering in the outdoor garden market selling Christmas trees, and no, it is not possible to get enough of that divine coniferous aroma!
Climate champs
With an ever-important focus on sustainable cities, Evergreen Brickworks continues to embrace innovative solutions to the ongoing climate crisis. As a self-confessed green nerd myself, I was excited to learn about Evergreen’s Community Solutions Network, which works to prepare communities with
climate friendly technology tools through in-person and virtual innovation workshops.
Canada’s first Climate Ready school, Irma Coulson Public School, opened in 2022 in Milton,
utilizing Evergreen’s Climate Ready Schools program in partnership with the Halton District School Board. Modeled on a Berlin Sponge School Project, this pilot school was transformed into a vibrant and diverse green space for outdoor learning with student ideas incorporated into the design, fostering a sense of inclusion. This summer I was able to catch The Goats in the City initiative to combat invasive plant species at Evergreen Brickworks. In collaboration with the City of Toronto, this pilot project involved releasing a large herd of goats to a portion of the green space for ‘prescribed grazing’ over a three-day period. It was quite a sight watching these animals busily munching away, oblivious to the virtuous aspect of their visit.
Reuse advocates
I found out firsthand about Evergreen’s Reuse program while attending the farmers’ market last summer. Ordering a coffee, I had the option to purchase a reusable stainless-steel cup and return the cup immediately for a refund, thereby costing nothing and producing no waste! I was so taken with the simple design I ended up keeping the cup. Plates and cutlery are also part of the reuse program, with containers for discarding used items. This important initiative saved 147,794 disposable items or 3,883.3 lbs. of single-use trash. The idea began with the notion of treating the farmers’ market like a restaurant, offering reusable plates, cups, and cutlery instead of disposables, and has led to supporting sustainable practices across everything from markets to festivals at Evergreen Brick Works.
Community outreach
As a community outreach measure, Space for Grief, an internationally recognized public art installation that explores community bonding and healing through grief, was featured for a second year at Evergreen Brickworks in November. With multiple interactive areas, this carefully designed exhibit led visitors on a personal and contemplative journey to a deeper exploration of their grief. Full disclosure, as an addiction counsellor, I was able to refer my clients to
SUSAN POAPS
Postpartum Recovery: Pelvic Floor Strengthening is Key
Are you eagerly awaiting the arrival of your little one or have you recently embraced the joys of motherhood? As you navigate this incredible journey, there’s one aspect of your health that deserves special attention: your pelvic floor. Often overlooked, the pelvic floor plays a crucial role in supporting your body during pregnancy and aiding in postpartum recovery.
The pelvic floor muscles act as a hammock or shelf, supporting the bladder, uterus, and bowel. By keeping your pelvic floor strong before pregnancy, you can help prevent common issues such as urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and even minimize the risk of tearing during childbirth.
During pregnancy, the pelvic floor undergoes significant changes due to the growing weight of the baby and hormonal shifts. This makes the postpartum period a time of immense change and adjustment for the body. Surprisingly, pelvic floor disorders occur in about 40% of women after delivery. This statistic is notable, especially given the lack of widespread information and solutions that are non-invasive and dignifying for women.
Fortunately, there is a solution, and it is located right here in your neighbourhood.
UROSPOT, the largest private pelvic health provider in Canada, offers innovative solutions for restoring and strengthening pelvic floor muscles affected by pregnancy and childbirth. Setting itself apart, UROSPOT uses FDA and Health Canada-approved technology that delivers 11,000 kegels in just 28 minutes, simply by sitting on a chair fully clothed. Complementing this advanced technology, the team of pelvic floor experts at UROSPOT will customize a care plan for you, incorporating education and health coaching to empower you and foster a sense of freedom as you progress.
11,000 Kegels | 28 minutes | Fully-clothed 6 sessions | Partial benefits coverage
UROSPOT helps both women and men build muscle and restore the neuromuscular control of the pelvic floor in a non-invasive way; nothing touching your body or being placed inside your body. If you’d like to learn more, consultations are complimentary –plus you can try the chair!
Book your complimentary consultation today. Partially covered by physiotherapy benefits.
Urospot.com/Uptown-Toronto
3080 Yonge Street, Suite 5033 (416) 874-6268
uptowntoronto@urospot.com
by MITCH BUBULJ
Mr. Thomson goes to Ottawa
“The climate crisis is a human rights crisis.”
So says Fraser Thomson, a lawyer with Ecojustice. And Thomson is in a position to do something about it. As the lead lawyer in the Mathur case – one involving seven Ontario youth who are using the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to fight the Ontario government’s emission reduction targets – he is hopeful of success. They argue that the Ford government’s policies meant to address air and water pollution are inadequate and therefore violate their rights under two sections of the Charter. This constitutional challenge to government climate policy is set to be heard at the Supreme Court in Ottawa by the end of the year and, as Thomson says, “will answer the question ‘can governments be held accountable for their environmental acts and conduct?’”
The born-and-raised Leasider shares how his formative years on the ice at Trace Manes Park and in the environmental club at Leaside High contributed to his fight for justice for the planet.
With both parents being teachers, Fraser grew up spending summers canoeing and camping, often off-grid, in Northern Ontario where he developed an appreciation for its rugged beauty. And at high school it was his older sister Alex who encouraged him to join the Leaside Environmental Student Society, which she started. He became an active member of the TDSB-wide student environmental network and has memories of working on a climate task force with NDP leader Jack Layton at City Hall. But what really brought the devastating impact of climate change home to him happened on the outdoor skating rink at Trace Manes. Fraser explains that his love of skating and ice hockey grew “just down the street at Rumsey and Millwood.” He noticed, however, that from one winter to the next the rink was operational for fewer and fewer weeks mostly because of rising temperatures. He explains the phenomenon with data: Canada’s winters are already on average 3.4 degrees warmer than they were 75 years ago. Here in Toronto, warming has
lawyer.
To Fraser, healing the planet is not just his job; it is something he lives and breathes. Combating climate change often seems daunting to the point of our feeling helpless. But Fraser explains that in the past 40 years acid rain and the hole in the ozone layer have largely been fixed thanks to government action creating policy that heeded scientific warnings. But he says, it is not helpful that today some industries and policy makers play down and even deny the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. “We all care about our community and family; fixing the climate crisis is the way to ensure we can keep
greatly reduced backyard and natural community rinks.
And so, it made good sense that at the University of Guelph Fraser studied environmental science. He was a leader in the school’s Students for Environmental Change and a founding member of a retrofit program, which was successful in causing a major renovation of the crop sciences building, making it more energy efficient. It’s clear he could have been an environmental scientist but instead opted for a career in law. He realized that scientific knowledge and evidence of climate change were up-to-date, but governmental policy lagged behind. He felt he could best help shrink the gap by becoming a
on enjoying life as we know it.” Effective policies are needed before the damage “gets worse.”
Fraser has been with Ecojustice for the past 12 years. It is Canada’s largest law charity and it is entirely donor-funded. Their objectives are to go to court, push for better laws and engage the public. Other than taking the lead in the Mathur case, the first case of its kind, Fraser has worked hard at opposing the mining, transportation and export of coal, especially in Alberta, and has been successful in stopping a thermal coal export facility in Surrey, BC.
Find out more at ecojustice.ca to see how you can also be part of the solution. n
Fraser (back row centre) with some of the youth involved in the Mathur case.
Fraser and his sister Alex on the ice at Trace Manes Park 1988.
Sunnybrook Plaza goes B.I.G.
A new application to replace the two-tower (11, 16 storeys) proposal approved in 2016 for Sunnybrook Plaza (660 Eglinton Ave. E.) with a three-tower proposal (32, 37 and 43 storeys) was submitted by Concert Properties to the City in December. The 43-storey tower, if approved, would be the tallest in Leaside. But the changes are about more than height. The new application features:
• Four times the number of storeys (112 up from 27).
• Three times the number of units (1,201 up from 412).
• A larger proportion of smaller units (bachelor and one-bedroom) – 66% compared with larger units (two- and three-bedroom) – 62%.
• Smaller average size of units in the categories (bachelor, one-, two-, and three- bedroom).
• Reduction in the non-residential retail and office space by 64%.
• Increase in lot coverage by 50% and density increased 245% (FSI 8.89 from 3.62). These changes are all going in the wrong direction – and there is more:
• While the earlier plan called for
a fully rental building – a much lauded aspect at City Hall – the new application increases the rental component just a little (to 460 units) while most of the additional units are condo (741 units).
Storeys, a trade magazine, explains the rationale for the changes this way: “by 2023 construction costs had escalated, office demand had faltered, the complex design became uneconomical, and the planning context for the Bayview Focus Area had notably changed, calling for transit-supportive intensification”1. Yes indeed, but as we have mentioned (broken record!) – in this case the “change in the planning context” is directly attributable to the Ontario government’s overruling of the City’s Yonge Eglinton Secondary Plan in 2019 with 20-35 storeys in the
Bayview Eglinton Focus Area. And the development feeding frenzy has only accelerated. In other words, the original application reflected a reasonable and thoughtful intensification that considered the City’s proposed plans for the area in expectation of the Eglinton Crosstown. And it also resulted from significant consultation, engagement, and negotiation with the community.
Why not buildings over 35 storeys, compared with mid-rise (up to 14 storeys) and more modest tall towers? Here are some recent insights from a retired VP for a major developer who is a board member of a Toronto residents’ association.
Wind
A major issue is wind – all development applications include a developer-financed wind study generally concluding their building will not create unpleasant wind conditions for pedestrians. But even 20 storeys can create unpleasant conditions. Winds captured at 35 or 40 storeys and channelled down to the sidewalk are much more intense than those at 20 storeys. Only the combined effect of buildings already constructed are considered in wind studies, not other proposed buildings (i.e on the other side of Eglinton and Bayview). The winds above 40 storeys are also many times higher than on the ground floor. This causes wind buffeting and whistling noises in the suites on the upper floors and makes them drafty.
Loss of light
Another issue is loss of sunlight. Tall buildings cast long shadows in the cooler months when sunlight is important for pedestrian comfort.
Prolonged building
Long construction duration creates considerable disruption to the community and local traffic. The high lot coverage means that towers take up most of the property so construction staging areas are tight.
Above about 30 storeys, more and more construction days are lost to dangerous winds that at the top represent 50% lost days in the winter. Tall buildings take four to five years to complete, depending on how many levels of underground are required.
Elevators
Elevator shafts take up potential valuable saleable or rentable floor
THE 33RD ANNUAL VARIETY SHOW
Leaside United Church, 822 Millwood Road 416 425 1253 www.leasideunited.com
Fri., April 4 at 7 pm. Rehearsals: Sun. Mar 23/Thurs. Mar 27 6:30-8:30 p.m. Performers of all ages are welcome. To participate, fill out an application and drop in to one of the rehearsals. There is still time to get your Act together! Applications available in the office or from Jane Hawkins. janehawkins71@ hotmail.com
CFUW LEASIDE-EAST YORK
Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m. – by Zoom. Paul Gellatly, Master Gardener
Paul’s Top 5 Plants by Category: Must-have plants for any garden. For Zoom link email: joincfuwley@gmail.com
ST. AUGUSTINE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH
1847 Bayview Ave.
Valentine’s Day Groove Room Coffee House. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a loved one and support the Flemingdon Food Bank at the same time. Listen to live music with coffee and dessert included. The next Groove Room Coffee House is Fri. Feb 14th 7:00-8:30 p.m. “Pay what you can” with 100% of the money
PLAZA
continued
space on every floor. For this reason, and the high cost elevators, most developers do not provide enough elevators to ensure satisfactory service times in realistic conditions, including furniture deliveries, trade use, routine service, or breakdowns. Each week one of these conditions occurs five out of seven days in a building with 400 to 500 suites, so residents experience painfully slow elevator response times.
Energy
Tall buildings are energy hogs. A tall building will use two to three times more energy per square foot for heating, cooling, water delivery, fresh air supply and elevators than a three-storey walk-up apartment or a townhouse. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to power the fresh air and exhaust fans, numerous water and circulating pumps, chillers and boilers. Usually, half of the building heating and cooling energy will be used just in delivering fresh air to the corridors.
Before we accept the mantra that bigger (and taller) is better, let’s examine the whole picture. Who really benefits? n
EventsFebruary
going to the food bank. We are looking for performers. Contact info@saintaugustine.ca
LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY
The Society invites you to our Speaker Series, Thurs. Feb. 13th, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Guest speaker: “Sherry Dodson talking about: Edible Flowers. The Society welcomes guests and new members to join our meetings. Visit www. leasidegardensociety.org or email: leaside@ gardenontario.org for more info.
NORTHLEA UNITED CHURCH
125 Brentcliffe Road, 416 425 5252
For the Love of Singing Community Choir. 10 weeks starting Wed. Feb. 19 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Ends April 30 (no choir Mar 5). Everyone welcome whether you can sing or just sing in the shower! For the fun of it. (No concert, no performance). Old
hits, your favourite Broadway tunes and more! Bring a friend - only $75/person. For info office@northleaunited.ca or 416 425 5252
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. Video and live instruction. Suggested donation $4.
LEASIDE LIBRARY
165 McRae Drive • 416 396 3835
For a full list of programs at Leaside branch, please visit www.tpl.ca/leaside. n
Take two jokes and call me in the morning
by DAVID CRICHTON
I sit in LifeLabs below Whole Foods, waiting for my bloodletting and feeling rather uncomfortable. Not because of the needle that was soon to be pushed into my arm, but because I had just come here, straight from my yearly physical and having my doctor push his finger into another part of me that wasn’t my arm.
It’s like she’s trying to kill me. Even her toast has bones in it.”
I laugh, as he hands me my bloodwork requisition and I squish-walk my way out of his office to the street.
“Mr. Crichlow, we’re ready for you,” the lady at Life Labs announces to the room.
“David CRY-TON, yes, that’s me….”
“Room 2, David.”
I know the drill. I sit down, roll up my left sleeve. Lay it on the blue foam arm-rester thingy. The nurse technician sits down and asks the usual security questions to make sure I’m not some oddball masquerading as me to have their blood taken under my name.
“You’re painless, right? Because I hate needles, please say you’re magical at this and it feels like tickles and sugar sprinkles,” I whine.
“Oh, I can’t say that. But I’ll try. I would hate to be you. Needles freak me out,” she tells me.
Hey, there’s another
election!
MARCH 3, 2025
by GEOFF KETTEL
Toronto District School Board is holding a byelection to fill the vacancy in the office of trustee, TDSB Ward 11, resulting from Rachel Chernos Lin’s election as City Councillor, Don Valley West. Election day is Mon., March 3, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and advance voting is Sat., Feb. 22 and Sun., Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Candidate registration closed Jan. 17 and as of the date of writing there were eight candidates registered (see https://www.toronto.ca/ city-government/elections/2025-toronto-district-school-board-by-election/2025-toronto-district-schoolboard-by-election-candidate-list.)
“Knees up…aaaand smooth, no bumps, normal size for your age and.…”
Through gritted teeth, I interrupt, “Okay, Doc, do we need the colour commentary? …Wait, normal for my age? What does that mean?”
The snap of a surgical glove signals an end to my humbling, “You’re fine. Next time bring me flowers.”
I can only shake my head as I awkwardly put myself together, ignoring the gel residue down south that will be a reminder of this romantic date for the rest of the day.
“Are you married?” he asks. “No, but I started seeing someone.”
“Why the hell would you do that?” he whips back. “Your life is ruined now!”
I laugh, and ask him, “Are you married?”
“Yes, and she’s destroyed my life.
“Oh no, don’t say that! Why?” as I willingly take his bait.
“She’s awful and she can’t cook.
“You’re kidding, right? Needles freak you out and this is what you do for a living? Dear God, please pretend I’m you and go easy.”
“Oh, I see who your doctor is. I know him! He was in here last week. He thought he was having a stroke.”
“Seriously? That’s awful,” I say. “He never mentioned that when I saw him today.”
“He was in the middle of talking and said he suddenly forgot what he was saying and couldn’t speak. He wasn’t having a stroke. He’s funny.”
“No kidding, that happens to me all the time. …He also told me his wife is trying to kill him with her cooking, even her toast has bones in it.”
“That’s how I’m trying to kill MY husband.”
“You sure you two aren’t married? You could be a comedy act.”
The snap of surgical tubing on my arm signals an end to my misplaced anxiety, “You’re all done.”
“I didn’t feel anything. I love you!”
“Buy me flowers.…” n
There are 24 public schools in Don Valley West, four of which are in Leaside. The trustee is the representative of all residents, not just parents with children in school. The election is important. A possible all-candidates’ meeting will allow residents to meet and assess candidates’ suitability for the trustee role. n
FARM
BOY From Page 6
For anyone who wants to host a special dinner at home but does not have the time or energy for all of the work involved, these specialty dinners are a great solution.
Farm Boy supports food banks and food rescue initiatives. Aaron Wade, manager of public relations and community investment at Farm Boy, indicated that as part of the grand opening of the Leaside location, “Farm Boy made a $5,000 donation to a local food bank and partners with local food rescue entities to ensure that food is not wasted.”
If you have not already had a chance to do so, check out the new Farm Boy in Leaside, a great addition to our community. n
Children’s House Montessori School
Toddler, Preschool & Kindergarten
We offer early learning experiences for young children to build the skills they need for life.
Presentation Gallery Opening in February
Info@leasidechildrenshouse.com Instagram @leaside_childrens_house
We believe that an active lifestyle promotes overall health and well-being. Enjoy our saltwater swimming pool, fully equipped gym, V!VAfit senior fitness classes and a variety of programs and activities. There’s so much to do each and every day.
Reserve your suite today! Contact Petra at petra.kozel@vivalife.ca or call 416-696-5050. Presentation Gallery 815 Eglinton Ave. E. Toronto, ON M4G 4G9
From Page 22
this unique therapeutic experience.
Green maintenance
With its large expanse of green space, the former brick quarry now equipped with trails, Evergreen Brickworks is doggie heaven, but off leash pooches have proven destructive, I’ve heard. Staff person Chantal told me that she has seen dogs in the ponds close to nesting turtles. “These are rare turtles that are completely vulnerable to this type of needless destruction.”
The trails and green space at Evergreen are owned and managed by the City of Toronto, which does have a bylaw mandating that dogs must be leashed, but it is often ignored.
Outdoor farmers’ market
The glorious outdoor farmers’ market at Evergreen Brickworks is truly a feast for the senses. Years ago, on an accompanied Evergreen Brickworks fall market tour with local chef Bonnie Stern, I learned of the notable not-to-be-missed stalls including St John’s Bakery and Cookstown Greens. Yes, this market can seem pricy but there
are clear benefits to frequenting farmers’ markets including reducing food kilometres, producing less waste, and employing vendors with sustainable farming practices. I was happy to see in the indoor farmers’ market (November to March), busy and vibrant as ever!
Winter also brings the outdoor skating rink with pay what you can rentals and Saturday night DJ Skates through January and February.
Unfortunately, Evergreen continues to feel the effects of last July’s devastating and destructive floods. Before and after photo collages are exhibited around Evergreen asking for donations to assist with the recovery efforts. In one photo, City workers are pictured paddling a dinghy in the flooded waters, assessing the damage. I was also astonished to see a waist high water marker outside the café post-storm.
With its enterprising and energizing plans, Evergreen Brickworks provides a much-needed injection of hope for a more sustainable world for all.
A full list of events and info can be found at www.evergreen.ca. n
JASON ASH From Page 20
decided that more had to be done, and founded “Save Ontario’s Science Centre,” which has since held many rallies, brought motions to the City of Toronto, delivered an astounding 93,000 letters from all across Ontario to both the province and the city, all to put the issue on the political radar. On many of these efforts, Jason has been the spokesperson. The committee’s aim is “to reopen, renew and reinvest.”
Jason has chosen another grassroots organization, Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers (TPUF), as the beneficiary for donations made through The East York Foundation towards the 2025 award. “TPUF is an amazing local group doing impactful work in our neighbourhood with food security, pollinator habitats, arts and more, all of which build community.”
Please mark your calendar – Sun., March 23 at 2 p.m., at the East York Civic Centre, 650 Coxwell Ave., where Jason Ash will officially be named as the recipient of the 2025 Agnes Macphail Award. All are welcome to attend. Congratulations, Jason! n
leasidelife.com
Editor: Jane W. Auster
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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, ON. Circulation 10,000 to every home and business in Leaside & Bennington.
TAYLOR From Page 3
Leveraging her experience on Country Hoedown, she soon joined another CBC show – Music Hop – hosted by a young Alex Trebek. There, she became part of a popular female singing trio known as The Girlfriends, who performed back-up vocals for Music Hop’s musical guests. By the mid-1960s, The Girlfriends had changed their name to The Willows and had recorded a hit single called My Kinda Guy, which rose to #15 on Canada’s pop music charts, gaining the group wide recognition.
Meanwhile, Stephanie was also pursuing her education, earning a B.A. and later an M.A. in psychology at the University of Toronto. After receiving her degrees, she took a few months off to work with troubled children but soon returned to singing.
For the next three decades and more – from the late 1960s to the early 2000s – Stephanie worked steadily as a solo artist, back-up singer, group singer and TV personality. She toured with Hagood Hardy, was a regular on the Tommy Hunter Show and the Bobby Vinton Show, hosted the CBC’s Canadian Express in 1978, and sang with such well-known vocal groups as Hampton Avenue, The Canadian Singers and The Laurie Bower Singers. She also did extensive studio work and commercials – including singing the familiar Saturday, Saturday TV jingle for Bell Canada’s long-distance service.
In 1970, Stephanie recorded her first and only solo album, I Don’t Know Where I Stand, in which she covered songs by artists such as Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon. Music commentator Robert Williston called it a “magnificent example of soft pop rock,” while another reviewer praised it as “a classic album of sunshine pop with incredible jazz-infused vocals.”
Helping others
In later years, Stephanie devoted much of her time to helping others both within and outside the music industry. She assisted many young musicians who sought to break into the music business. She was also very involved with the Canadian Institute of the Blind (CNIB), making use of her significant musical talent and experience to transcribe music scores into Braille for the visually impaired.
Stephanie Taylor died of cancer in September 2009 at the age of 66. Following her death, a total of 46 online tributes were posted by people she had known, helped or worked with – praising her “kindness,” “glorious voice,” “brilliance and musicianship,” “gentle and unpretentious nature,” “zest for life,” “personal beauty and grace,” and “heart of gold.”
She was survived by her former husband, musician and composer Eric Robertson, and their son, James Robertson. Her mother, Edith Taylor, had died 11 years earlier while still living in her Leaside house on Divadale Dr. Both are buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. n
DUBÉ From Page 4
Vanderhoof office, was also a friend and neighbour. She found them their North Leaside home. Son Mack came home to this house when he was born at Sunnybrook on the first day of the Covid lockdown.
Michelle and her family enjoy shopping and restaurants on Bayview and around Laird and the walkability of the neighbourhood. It “totally fits our needs,” she says. Michelle was pleased that she got all three kids signed up for Leaside Baseball for this coming summer. Paisley plays girls’ hockey in Leaside.
One day Michelle was coming home from walking the kids to school when she got a call that Queen Elizabeth II had died: could she fly to London right away and stay there for the next two weeks to cover the event? She said yes and was pleased “to do things I never thought I’d do and get the chance to tell stories.”
Telling stories is what she really enjoys about her twice a day, hourlong newscasts. Every day is different. She’s working collaboratively with the many people involved in putting the broadcasts together as they curate the show. She hopes it “enables you to navigate your day a bit better, because you know what is going on.” There is definitely some juggling to fit in family time, but Michelle also enjoys donating her time to host various not-forprofit or charity shows, where she gets to know people and sometimes hears “you should do a story on this”…which often ends up being the case. n
Bowman Stephanie
THE CRISIS IN FAMILY MEDICINE
29,000 residents of Don Valley West do not have a family doctor, nearly one in three.
Across Ontario 2.5 million people need a family doctor. Another 3 million Ontarians are at risk of losing their doctor due to retirement.
Family medicine is a critical pillar in our health care system. It helps us stay healthy and is a pathway to more complex care when we need it. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure that all Ontarians have access to family medicine.
I will continue to push the government to make this a priority.
Stephanie Bowman, MPP Don Valley West
The following winner was randomly selected as the winner of the December Leaside Life Contest for the Briiv Air Filter (a $600 value).
DORIS SIMION
Congrats!
FAIR CATCH From Page 8
Asked for tips, Rob suggested, “There are popular fish we don’t stock. We strive to provide customers with responsibly fished, sustainable fish. Buy fish in season and try grilling Ontario trout. Thanks to our customers and Leaside’s Business Improvement Association for promoting Fair Catch on social and by word-of-mouth, we’re building a sustainable fishmonger business.” These dedicated fishmongers are proud of their dedication to sustainability. They are also proud, as they say on their Facebook page, to “be part of the Seafood Program and the Plastic Reduction Program run by our awesome partner Ocean Wise!”
According to the Ocean Wise website, “We work with thousands of fishers, restaurateurs and fishmongers who want to make it easy for consumers to support a healthy ocean. We are a globally focused conservation organization on a mission to protect and restore the world’s oceans. Through research, education, direct-action conservation and field projects, we empower communities to take action for ocean health and focus on tackling three major ocean challenges: overfishing, ocean pollution and climate change.”
Learn more: https://www.faircatch. ca or https://ocean.org. n
PRESENTING
SPONSOR:
LEASIDE, JOIN FORCES WITH US!
FUNDRAISE FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is grateful to call Leaside home and we’re glad you’re our neighbour. Looking for a fun and meaningful way to give back to your community this winter? Become a Capes for Kids superhero.
Road safety in our area – Bayview Extension
Bayview Avenue is one of the busiest major arterial roadways in Toronto and a key northsouth travel route for residents of Leaside. In the short time since I was elected as the City Councillor for Ward 15 – Don Valley West, I have already been contacted by several constituents about road safety on Bayview Avenue, near the sharp curve in the roadway south of Moore Avenue, as well as the Pottery Road extension that divides two busy parking lots.
On Thurs., Jan. 2, a vehicle travelling northbound along this stretch of Bayview Avenue crashed into a concrete barrier in the parking lot of the nearby Loblaws. The driver sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive, in part due to the heroic actions of two bystanders who were able to put out the engine fire before first responders arrived on scene. My sincere thanks go out to Jaiden Brown and Cameron Whiddon for bravely stepping in to help save a life.
At our January 2025 meeting of North York Community Council,
Rachel Chernos Lin Councillor, Don Valley West
I moved a motion requesting an urgent road safety review of this location. Of particular concern are the sharp curvature of the road, high vehicle speeds, and the aforementioned Pottery Road extension. I also asked Transportation Services to prioritize reviewing the Toronto Police Service incident report from this collision. When a serious collision occurs, the City of Toronto uses police findings to inform both short and long-term safety improvements, in line with the City of Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan.
We are anticipating a report back to North York Community Council with recommendations to improve road safety at this location by the end of 2025.
2025 Agnes Macphail Award Recipient
I want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Jason Ash, the recipient of this year’s Agnes Macphail Award.
The Agnes Macphail Award was established by the Borough of East York to annually recognize an outstanding volunteer who upholds the values and causes of Agnes Macphail and who lives within the boundaries of the former borough.
Jason was selected by the Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee for his long-standing community leadership in Thorncliffe Park and involvement on local initiatives, including advocating for better local transit. Most recently, Jason co-founded the grassroots advocacy group Save Ontario’s Science Centre, which is dedicated to preserving and protecting this beloved local institution. I was pleased to present Jason with a certificate recognizing his hard work and dedication at North York Community Council last month. Congratulations, Jason! See page 20 for a full write-up on Jason. n
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Are you feeling congested?
Once upon a time, February was not a particularly high traffic volume month, either in Leaside or citywide. These days, travelling even short distances is slow going. The city is inundated with road closures for construction of transit projects, not to mention infrastructure repairs to provide support for both existing neighbourhood needs and projects still to be built.
Here in Leaside we experience congestion and parking problems daily thanks to the huge concentration of newly approved condominium towers, each taller than the previous, particularly along arterial streets like Bayview and Eglinton and Laird Drive.
Added to this is a lack of effective enforcement of legal but too-often ignored City bylaws regulating building site space usage and traffic laws. This lack of enforcement leads (encourages?) arterial traffic to cut through Leaside’s local streets, often at speed.
You already know all this. The question is, what can be done to
reduce the resultant congestion? What should be done?
In 2025, city-wide, we’ll probably be hearing more debates about road tolls and congestion charges, at least for drivers wanting to drive on certain streets and highways, and for suburban Toronto-bound traffic – measures which are politically unpopular but have proven effective elsewhere.
For communities like Leaside, I suspect there will be more demand for greater enforcement of the signage already in place. The Leaside Residents Association (LRA) hears frequent complaints about drivers, including police cars speeding along residential streets and ignoring stop signs. We residents are not blameless, either, as surveys repeatedly tell
us that something like 70 per cent of speeders live locally.
Really, the most effective way of reducing Leaside’s traffic volume, lowering drive-through speed, and ensuring a safe neighbourhood is to support implementing enforceable – and consistently enforced – local traffic control.
Let’s all work to make 2025 the year that makes it happen.
Please mark the evening of Mon., April 14, on your calendars! It’s the date of the LRA’s 2025 AGM, to be held in the William Lea Room at Leaside Memorial Gardens. The LRA board is working on the details, considering guest speakers and inviting elected officials. It’s your chance to ask questions and get up to date on all the important issues confronting Leaside. More information on the AGM in my upcoming columns!
The LRA board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. These are public meetings, and you are welcome to join us. Our next meeting is on Wed., Feb. 5th.
Please note:
Our February and March meetings will both be on Zoom. For contact information and more details and updates, visit: leasideresidents.ca and press the Contact Us button, or leasideresidents.ca/contact-us n
