LEASIDE’S MICHA POWELL IN THE STARTING BLOCK PG. 6.
Are we in a pickle?
Last month we reported on a new pickleball and padel court on the site of the old Mercedes Benz dealership on Eglinton East near Brentcliffe. This new facility, by Fairgrounds Public Racket Club, is expected to animate the site of a future development that might otherwise have remained derelict for years until construction commences.
But what happens when the increasingly popular pickleball phenomenon moves into a quiet neighbourhood of single-family homes?
this part of their plans.
That’s the key question facing some North Leasiders who learned recently that a pickleball court could be part of ambitious schoolyard revitalization plans at Northlea Elementary and Middle School. Not everyone, it seems, is enamoured of the steady sound of balls thwacking back and forth across a pickleball net. Some local residents are appealing to the school, trustee, councillor, and even the mayor to reconsider
One resident wrote to us: “Noise issues associated with pickleball are extremely well documented, as levels can be as high as 70 decibels. We believe that exceeds Toronto noise bylaws. There has been no noise study conducted, and no sound barrier or mitigation is proposed. The site in question is lit 24/7.”
Other communities share these concerns. A pickleball court, erected at De La Salle College in the Summerhill area, has neighbours up in arms and even hiring a lawyer to examine their options.
We asked publisher Lorna Krawchuk, who is not only a regular columnist for Leaside Life but also a former councillor well-versed in thorny political matters, to study Leaside’s own “l’affaire pickleball.” Read on! n *Sales Representative Our team specializes in
Remembering Canada’s Mr. Radar, Frank Pounsett of Leaside
Three years ago, I wrote how Leaside’s Research Enterprises Ltd. (REL) helped defeat Hitler and fascism by becoming one of the largest producers of radar equipment for the Allied war effort [“How Leaside helped win World War II,” Leaside Life, June 2022]. I omitted mentioning, however, the person most responsible for this achievement: Frank Pounsett was a Leaside resident for over 50 years and one of Canada’s most important and respected engineers.
Born in 1904 in London, England, Frank came to Toronto with his parents when he was still a boy. From the very beginning, he loved everything about radios – even operating his own amateur radio station as a teen. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in electrical engineering, he became an expert in radio receivers and car radios – serving companies such as Ford and Chrysler and design-
ing the first car radio for General Motors Canada. By the late 1930s, he was chief engineer at a major car-parts company in Belleville, Ont.
Given his extensive experience in radio technology, Frank was recruited by REL to run its top-secret radar department soon after World War II began. Moving back to Toronto, he bought a house at 23 Parkhurst Blvd. where he lived for the rest of his life. At REL, he oversaw the work of 450 engineers, most of whom were involved in designing and building radar units for Great Britain and the US.
Filling a need
At the time of his appointment, there were no radar models available in Canada on which REL could base its production design. Frank travelled to Washington, DC, and personally photographed and sketched pictures of a British radar unit there – the only
POUNSETT Page 28 Frank Pounsett, University of Toronto graduation photo, late 1920s.
COURTESY
AL POUNSETT
Mallory Dunlop wants you in her Hive
by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO
“Keep your eyes on the prize.”
It’s a motto Mallory Dunlop adopted at a young age and one that has guided her journey to great success as a dancer, choreographer and educator with her own studio, the Hive Dance Company, in Leaside.
As a child, Dunlop was quite shy but built confidence through gymnastics and, especially, dance. She began competitive dancing at the age of 10 and quickly, she notes, the “dance studio became (her) second home.”
By early high school Dunlop knew she wanted to pursue dance professionally and run her own dance studio.
The “how” of keeping her eyes on that prize became clearer in her Grade 10 Careers class at Leaside High School. Tasked with choosing a hypothetical business to run, Dunlop conceptualized her own dance studio. With the guidance of her teacher, she crafted a business plan and started mapping out the steps needed to make her dream a reality.
After graduating from George Brown College’s Commercial Dance
Studies program, she hit the ground running (dancing?). Only six weeks after graduation, she secured a sixweek dance contract in Dubai.
Maintaining her focus on her “prize,” Dunlop notes that she “started hustling and meeting as many people as (I) could.”
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She was soon hired as a backup dancer with bands including Hedley, Karl Wolf, Kardinal Offishall and Maestro. She appeared in music videos, films and TV shows including Rookie Blue , A Nutcracker Christmas and The Marilyn Denis Show . She was a member of the Toronto Argonauts cheerleading crew and was hired to perform at multiple public and private events. Gaining certifications in Acrobatic Arts, TADA Hand Balancing, and Alixa Flexibility, Dunlop began teaching dance and acrobatics in various studios in 2012 and developed even more confidence as an instructor. Six years ago, her longheld dream came true with the opening of the Hive Dance Company (hivedance.ca). But there’s been more to the dream than the actual physical building. Dunlop has always envisioned an environment where kids can gain the confidence she had as a child in dance class.
She strives to create a community where kids not only learn technique but also form strong friendships and develop the values of integrity, responsibility, and perseverance.
The Hive offers a wide range of both recreational and competitive dance and acrobatic classes for kids aged 3 to 14+ as well as active summer camps.
While Dunlop has achieved her prize of owning a dance studio, she is not taking her foot off the pedal. She vows to “always be learning and growing as a teacher, and to keep pushing students to be as good as they can be.” n
Niloo Saiy PharmD, CDE, RPh Associate-Owner
EUGENIA SZE
Sprinting around the world with Leaside’s Micha Powell
by JANIS FERTUCK
2013 Leaside High School graduate
Micha Powell recently returned from Guangzhou, China and in September, hopes to travel to Tokyo. Why is this young woman travelling to two such distant locations in one year?
Micha is a world-class 400-metre sprinter who has represented Canada at major track meets, such as the World Relays Championships in Guangzhou, and is looking to do so again at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Micha started high school in 2010 with a desire to play tennis, but a realization that she loved track and the power of family genetics made her switch focus to cross-country and track two years later. That’s not surprising, since her mother, Rosaline (Rosey) Edeh, the anchor of the CTV morning show in Ottawa, is a three-time Canadian Olympian and former 400-metre hurdle Canadian record holder. Her father, Mike Powell, still holds the world record in long jump. Micha says it might have taken her some
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FROM THE COVER
time to find her way to the track as her parents’ accomplishments are “a lot to live up to.”
But Micha flourished in running with the help of the team dynamic and encouragement of coach Helen Panayiotou (see Leaside Life, June 2025). She won several medals at school meets and as a result, was offered a scholarship at the University of Maryland, which she attended from 2013 to 2017. There she trimmed her 55-second 400-metre to 51 seconds and made the Olympic team in 2016. Micha credits her coach, Andrew Valmon, with helping her to grow in the sport. She was an all-American for indoor track in 2016 and 2017, and she still holds her school’s indoor and outdoor 400-metre records. She is happy that the university provided her with both a journalism degree and “bigger and better opportunities” in track and field.
Since the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2017 University Games, Micha has been on the 2018 NACAC team, coming third in the 4x400m relay, was the Commonwealth Games champion in the 4x400m in 2022, and seventh in the World Relays Championships in China this past May.
Micha decided to write about her experiences in her book, Sprinting Through Setbacks , co-written with sportswriter Molly Hurford, because she “wanted to share what
the journey to becoming a worldclass athlete really looks like behind the medals and highlight reels.” In it, she explores the highs and lows for young athletes, especially girls, to show that “the path to success is rarely linear.”
The book is structured around 11 pivotal races in her career to reflect on what she learned from each and how they helped to shape her as both a sprinter and an athlete. Chapters deal with topics like grit, mental health, self-doubt, imposter syndrome and unexpected obstacles. Each chapter includes a workbook section so that readers can “take the journey” alongside Micha.
Since the book was launched last fall at A Different Booklist, a Blackowned bookstore and cultural hub on Bathurst St. in Toronto, Micha says the response has been “incredibly heartwarming” as she has heard from athletes, coaches and others who report that the book helped them “reframe how they see failure, not as an end, but as part of the path.” The launch itself was “one of the most fulfilling moments” of her life, and she has gone on to share her message with school and corporate groups.
Currently, Micha is training both physically and mentally to prepare for Canadian Championships at the end of July and the World Championships in Tokyo in September. n
Micha with her book and at her book launch with LHS teachers and friends.
AML’s 65 years of keeping cars roadworthy
by SUZANNE PARK
In the early days of any business, “What’s the best name for us?” is an important consideration. But for Art French and his wife Rica, the decision was easy. As a young apprentice mechanic, Art worked in the auto repair business of his parents, Art Senior and Alice, an experienced bookkeeper. Thus was born in 1960 the well-known local car repair business on Laird, Artenal Motor Limited, for “ArtandAlice.”
Art ‘the younger’ described those early days. “Leaside in the ’60s and ’70s had a glut of service stations. Somehow my parents bought a second station that had fallen on hard times. I obtained my mechanic licence in 1978, and by 1980 Rica and I began running the second station. Dad focused on trucks and auto body work while I specialized in servicing cars. A few years later Rica and I took over the new business, calling it AML Auto Service, as a nod to Artenal Motor Limited.”
Current auto service businesses are very different from those of the ’80s.
Service offerings then were dominated by tune-ups. Warranties required oil changes every six months. At the same time, spark plugs, brakes and tires were routinely inspected and often required repairs or replacement. Today’s smart cars demand stateof-the-art tools and electronic equipment that proactively analyzes the health and identifies the cause of
Stanley’s White House Meats
problems. Staying current and having adequate floor space for car-assist technologies that calibrate alignment and safety systems like cameras are essential for today’s vehicle shops.
AML’s shop is tidy and spacious with multiple bays and hoists. Although their policy is to keep customers safely in the reception area, a trip out back is like being a kid in a candy store with tools, parts, oil, sophisticated equipment, tires and cars all easily accessible and stored in their rightful place – even the thousands of small parts.
Asked how he grew a successful business, Art explained, “In the ’90s AML was one of two Ontario businesses licensed to offer and beta test the DriveClean program that required older vehicles to be tested for road safety. The program brought in many new customers.”
As an inadvertent marketing initiative, Art followed up with thank you and reminder notices, which boosted AML’s profile in the community.
AML’s now located at 10 Industrial St. with an expanded shop, larger parking area, and easy accessibility to the shops of the Leaside Village mall. Art is as thoughtful and attentive to staff as customers. His guiding principles include: “Be honest even if it hurts. Be fair to everyone. As a mechanic, do your job properly and completely.” While walking about with me, Art stopped to provide some gentle guidance to a young staff member on how to keep a long heavy hose clean, safely wound, and hoisted to avoid an accident or big cleanup job later in the technician’s shift. All in a day’s work at this venerable business. n
SUZANNE PARK
Leaside in the frame
MITCH BUBULJ
The old Trace Manes wading pool with the library in the background. It was the first day of the pool’s opening, July 1966. Notice the teenager talking to one of the bathers hired by the Town of Leaside to supervise activities.
Picture this. You’re strolling down memory lane, flipping through old family albums or scrolling and swiping through pics that bring back those special Leaside life moments. Welcome to the latest feature of Leaside Life
Consider it a showcase of Leaside in photos with you or your family in the spotlight. Maybe it’s prom night at LHS? Stepping out on Bayview? Laughing away on the slide at the Batman park? Tennis at Trace Manes? Your photo can be from 1925, 2025 or any time in between. For our first in the new series, Leaside Life columnist Mitch Bubulj rummaged through his family collection and also sourced images from neighbours and other Leaside Life writers. n
Board of Education headquarters at Scarborough Town Centre for a folk dance festival.
Interested in sharing some memoriesphotographic with us? Email leasidelife@gmail.com with your pictures (high resolution, if possible, taken in Leaside) and a brief explanation of who is “in the frame,” the year, locale and special significance to you.
MEG KRAWCHUK
Lorna Krawchuk’s younger daughter Meg (with pigtails) at the Leaside Fire Hall in 1976 on an excursion with Mrs. Park’s Nursery School. Mrs. Webb in foreground. Beloved Mrs. Park in the background.
MADDIE DEWELLES Maddie DeWelles in her brightly coloured skirt on Bayview, Easter 2006.
The play’s the thing for Vinetta Strombergs
by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO
If you happen to find yourself at the Blyth Festival this summer, in Blyth, Ont., you might want to check out a play directed by Leaside High School alum Vinetta Strombergs. It’s a powerful production of Drew Hayden Taylor’s Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion , and it comes at a time when Canadians are reassessing our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. (Note: a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald has recently been unboxed at Queen’s Park after several protests and incidents of defacement.)
Vinetta Strombergs has been immersed in the theatre world for years since her graduation from LHS, as an actor, choreographer, dramaturge, teacher, costume designer and, primarily, as a director.
Reviewing her long list of achievements in the arts, one might assume that Strombergs had been born to the craft.
In fact, she was. But not in the way one might imagine. Strombergs
wasn’t a formal student of dance, music or acting, but with a mother who was a classical dancer and choreographer and a father who was a music professor, vocal coach, and conductor of the Stratford Festival Theatre Orchestra for 11 years, she was definitely surrounded by the arts. Moving to Leaside from Stratford, Strombergs discovered what she describes as a high school which was very “sports heavy.” With friends who were active in sports, she joined right along and participated in multiple teams.
It wasn’t until she enrolled at New College at the University of Toronto that she first joined a drama society. From there her career took off.
Strombergs was involved in TV and film until 1986 when she directed her first play, an all-female production of Julius Caesar
Since then, she has directed everything from one-person shows to dramas, comedies, large cast musicals, and Shakespeare. She has worked in almost all the major centres in Canada, including Toronto, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Fredericton, Whitehorse, and points in between.
JAMES SMITH
In pursuit of trivia in Leaside
by MITCH BUBULJ
How many yards in a furlong? What is the medical term for the bones that make up the finger? In what year did the Toronto Maple Leafs change their jersey logo to match that used from 1938 until 1967?
Still with me? If so, you may be one of the scores of Leasiders who enjoy pursuing a good game of trivia. There are a few places in the neighbourhood to indulge this passion, such as McSorley’s on a Monday evening. But one of the most popular venues is LOCAL Public Eatery in the transformed former CIBC heritage building at 180 Laird Dr. Tuesday Night Trivia, hosted by quizmaster Jess and her team, draws at least 15 regular teams of six each who compete for prizes and a little bit of (trivial) fame. It is a diverse crowd, but all say camaraderie and community keep them coming back for more.
I stumbled upon the event. A neighbour who plays on the team called Trivial Pursuiters asked if I could
pinch-hit back in March since one of their members was sick. The three rounds of 12 questions were challenging – good mental exercise for sure – but I was quickly drawn to the social aspect. The leader, Lori Patyk, explains that “we’ve been playing regularly since last autumn;
it’s hard to find a fun and social activity, especially in the dead of winter, that comes close.”
She and her family went to the upstairs dining area at LOCAL to celebrate her 60th and realized trivia night was going on downstairs. “It caught our eye and so we vouched to gave it a go one Tuesday; we did and got hooked.” On her team are her husband Greg Uhrynuk and son Adam, Ted DeWelles, and John Bech Hansen and his wife Angela Burley. They have come in first five times, bagging the coveted $100 gift voucher for LOCAL each time. Lori asks, “Remember Cheers? Where everyone knows your name? It’s a bit like that; our regular server Mia is like family.”
Another team is Sky-ence Department, all science teachers at Leaside High. Says leader Iris Law, “I did trivia in the west end and would come to school sharing stories; colleagues wanted to join in, and last year when I researched trivia close to school the Tuesday event popped up. It has been a science department ritual ever since.” The Ball Chickens often place first or second. “How else can you get five or six good friends together on a weekly basis for laughs, conversation and community, not to mention prizes,” says their leader, Lindsay.
Another stalwart group is Mom’s Out Late, three women who come out only on someone’s birthday. Team leader Trina – whose birthday was on June 10th – explains, “we’re regular
MITCH
BUBULJ
Team Trivial Pursuiters at the LOCAL.
Bar none – the Nanaimo bar is Canada’s sweet treat
Each month we cover a Leasider’s special dish with a hearty side order of narrative.
by MITCH BUBULJ
“For the longest time I only ever knew them as Mrs. Assad’s Chocolate Slices,” says Lorna Krawchuk, long-time Leasider, publisher of Leaside Life , and former East York Councillor for what was then called Ward 4, encompassing Leaside and Thorncliffe Park.
Find the recipes online by clicking the Leaside Cooks tab.
Once she moved to Toronto in the ’60s, Lorna soon discovered they were much better known as Nanaimo bars, the chocolate, coconut wafer, and custard confection that requires no baking.
Krawchuk explains that she was born and raised in a gold mining company locale called Virginiatown, population 2,167. Her dad worked as a geologist for Kerr-Addison, one of the most successful gold mining companies in Canada. When it came time for her to attend high school, she had to travel by school
bus to Kirkland Lake Collegiate and Vocational Institute (KLCVI), the closest secondary school.
Her mom decided that for her daughter to have the best school experience, the family would need to relocate to the bigger town. “It meant I could participate in afterschool events and join clubs. It also meant for my mom that she could enjoy the social life of a town 10 times more populous than Virginiatown, something that she appreciated since she was a city girl at heart,” adds Krawchuk.
And it was in Kirkland Lake, at St. Peter’s on-the-Rock Anglican Church, where Lorna first encountered Mrs. Assad’s Chocolate Slices. “Mrs. Assad was a regular church goer just as we were, and was famous for her sweet chocolatey treat. My mom enjoyed baking cookies and squares and so got the ‘chocolate slice,’ recipe, which has been in the family ever since,” explains Krawchuk. “The Assads were originally from the Middle East; one of the sons, Norm, was in my grade and lived down the road and on my route to school. I remember his being tall and always happy to help carry my books to class at KLCVI. And Mrs. Assad would always show up at a social event in town with her chocolate slices.”
It is rumoured that the Nanaimo bar originated in that town on the east coast of Vancouver Island in the 1930s, but the first written record is from a tome called The Women’s Auxiliary to the Nanaimo Hospital Cookbook , published in 1952. Alongside butter tarts (featured in Leaside Life’s May 2025 issue), it is known as THE Canadian dessert. Its popularity is such that in 2019 Canada Post featured the bar in a series of stamps dedicated to Canadian desserts and sweets.
Lorna’s – or more correctly Mrs. Assad’s – treats are easy to make and precisely the right sweetness and consistency. And just in time for July 1.
Happy sweet Canada Day to all! n
MITCH BUBULJ
Lea family home on the market – will it be protected?
201 Sutherland Dr. is one of the two Lea family settler homes still gracing Leaside (the other is 35 Heather Rd.). The James Lea house, built around 1909 – the “first brick house built in York County” – was listed for sale in early June. Though this seems to be a big event in real estate circles, my main interest is the home’s heritage significance, not to mention the magnificent trees on the property, where the big maple surely must be over a century old.
From the street, the red brick Georgian style house located on the outer curve of Sutherland just north of Millwood is notable for its odd placement on the lot. As Jane Pitfield explains: “It does not front onto Sutherland, but rather was constructed to face James Lea Lane, which came in from Bayview at the time.”
Jody Overend
This all precedes Frederick Todd’s plan for Leaside (1911) and Leaside’s incorporation as a town in 1913 with its Garden City plan layout overlaid on the former farm lots. The property is also notable for the large size of the lot – 65 x 135 ft. – which allows for an expansive back yard. Despite the disorientation to Sutherland Drive, the James Lea House’s exterior remains remarkably unchanged, except for the addition of a porch and entranceway.
Who was James Lea?
Born in 1877, James was the son of John Lea Jr. and grandson of John Lea Sr., the settler and successful farmer. His son, Edgar Lea (1919-1993) was the last member of the family to live in the house, which became a nursery school, “The Wendy House,” run by Mrs. Eve Procunier from 1939 to the late 1950s. Until recently, the house was the home of the Rutherford family. David Rutherford’s obituary in 2023 mentions his passion for “restoration and renovation of his beloved century home.”
What is the heritage status of 201 Sutherland Dr.?
12th,
August 7th, 11am - 2pm
It has been included on the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties since 2009. While this does not by itself convey legal protection, in the event of an owner’s application for a demolition permit it does provide for a 60-day delay during which the City can consider designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. But the Province has enacted legislation that eliminates listed properties from the inventory that are not otherwise designated by January 1, 2027.
In the face of thousands of listed but undesignated properties, and a looming deadline, the City has responded by developing a priority list of listed properties for designation. Unfortunately, 201 Sutherland Dr. is not currently on the priority list. For that reason, we need to nominate the James Lea house for designation, so we have some assurance that the heritage attributes can be protected. n
Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion is not her first experience in Indigenous-themed theatre. She has worked closely with Indigenous playwrights and actors, and her production of Sixty Below for Native Earth Performing Arts in 1997 earned her a Dora nomination for outstanding direction.
Strombergs also has a special connection with Mirvish Productions, having directed two shows in their theatres and presented multiple preplay talks.
As a true theatre enthusiast, she has worked to ensure theatre’s future by teaching and workshopping with new and emerging actors.
She also works hard to ensure that current audiences connect with shows, noting that “you want to entertain, educate, surprise and be relevant, always finding a new way to tell a story.”
After almost 40 years as a director, Strombergs’ passion for directing has never waned. “It’s the only thing I want to do!”
Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion runs until August 3rd at the Blyth Festival. n
Interior Exterior Painting
Let there be lights!
Since my election in November, I have heard from Leaside residents about traffic and transportation more than any other issue. My team and I have been working to advance new road safety measures and congestion management solutions to address the significant traffic infil -
Rachel Chernos Lin Councillor, Don Valley West
tration and safety issues impacting our neighbourhood.
In June, the Infrastructure and Environment Committee approved the installation of two new Intersection Pedestrian Signals (IPS) in Leaside at the following locations: • Bayview Avenue and Parkhurst Boulevard/Soudan Avenue; and • Bayview Avenue and Sutherland Drive (at the entrance to Mount Pleasant Cemetery).
According to experts, the most common pedestrian collisions resulting in death or serious injury occur at uncontrolled crossings. As part of the City of Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, installing pedestrian protections is one of the most important measures we can take to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions.
Intersection Pedestrian Signals are a new addition to the City’s road safety toolkit. Also known as “HalfSignals,” IPS intersections are pedestrian-initiated, and only have a traffic signal on the main street — in this case, Bayview Avenue – while the
side street remains controlled by stop signs. This is not a traffic light in the traditional sense as cars cannot trigger it to engage. As a result, the new IPS will provide a safer crossing protection for pedestrians without encouraging traffic movements onto small, residential streets.
There are a lot of people to thank for these new signals coming to Leaside! Back in 2023, in response to community feedback, Councillor Robinson moved a motion asking staff to review installing IPS at Bayview and Sutherland. As a result of our neighbourhood’s advocacy, the IPS locations on Bayview will be among the first to be installed in the entire city. As part of this rollout, Ward 15 will also get a third IPS signal on York Mills Road at Birchwood Avenue. Our office will be closely monitoring the effects of these new installations to see if they might be the right tool for a few other key spots in Don Valley West on our radar! councillor_chernoslin@toronto.ca n
Leaside families are moving into new rhythms as school winds down and summer vacation is within reach: camp routines, trip planning, or just surfacing for breath after another busy school year. This season of change is a reminder to me why I ran for election as your Trustee. I am committed to advocating for a school system that will work at all levels for all students, from the first day of kindergarten to graduation and beyond. Prior to becoming your Trustee, I was a teacher. I welcomed students on the first day of school, reassured anxious parents, adjusted and delivered lesson plans, and celebrated student learning. I know what it’s like to build up a struggling reader’s confidence or teach division three different ways until it finally makes sense. Fun fact: using real cookies in place of blocks to gain students’ attention really works! If Lilah has 12 cookies and wants to share with three friends…. Treats are a great motivator.
My experience as a teacher in the TDSB guides how I serve our community as Trustee. As we close out the 2024-25 school year, I’m looking forward to the work ahead. The start of summer is not just a break, but also a chance for students to get refreshed. It’s also an opportune time for the Board to reflect. What went well? Where do we need to devote additional time, energy, or resources? How can we do better?
Academic achievement took centre stage last year. I know that literacy and numeracy skills are the basis for all other areas of learning and longterm academic success. But I also know that every child needs to feel seen and empowered. That’s why I continue to believe in targeted supports, differentiated instruction, and a commitment to inclusion that is more than words on a page.
This summer, when I sit down with parents, educators, and community members across the ward, I’ll have your voices with me as we prepare for next year. Whether your passion is expanding special education services, completing infrastructure gaps, or making sure our students are ready to thrive in the evolving world, I want to hear from you.
Our students will return on Tues., Sept. 2, taller, wiser, perhaps a bit sleepier, but also prepared for whatever lies ahead. As your Trustee, I’ll be here ensuring the system is equally prepared to receive them.
Have a wonderful and safe summer. And thank you, once more, for the trust you have shown in me by electing me your TDSB Trustee. stacey. cline@tdsb.on.ca n
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Let’s not forget that Canada owns trivia. After all, Trivial Pursuit was created in 1979 by two Canadians, with the support of a number of other Canadian friends. Trivial Pursuit went on to sell some 100 million copies worldwide and became a cultural phenomenon along the way. Lucky for us, we have trivia night right here in Leaside. As G.M. Jackson Wentz explains, “since teaming up with quizmaster Jess last year, Tuesdays have become one of our busiest nights of the week.” It’s good to play trivia there and even better to see a local business booming. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the answers to the brain twisters above are 220, phalanges and 2017, in that order. n
Looking for a volunteer opportunity?
Volunteers play a vital role during the school year, in creating a world of possibility for kids and youth with disabilities. You can make a difference by providing support in program areas such as:
• Music and Arts
• Aquatics
• Bloorview School and Nursery Schools
• Therapeutic Recreation, Robotics and so much more!
To learn more about Holland Bloorview’s volunteer opportunities please visit: www.hollandbloorview.ca/volunteer
Janis Fertuck’s article about the upgrading project for the schoolyard at Northlea Elementary and Middle School was quite the surprise for schoolyard/school parking lot neighbours on Sutherland Drive, since they hadn’t heard a word about what was in the wind.
Immediate neighbours on Sutherland at Divadale, John Berriault and Denise Robertson, were immediately concerned about the inclusion of a pickleball-friendly court because of noise, and proceeded to try to get information and answers from school officials. When they felt they weren’t getting answers, they got in touch with Leaside Life. We asked a number of questions and heard from TDSB Trustee Stacey Cline:
Denise Robertson and John Berriault.
Is the pickleball court still included?
“The plans have not changed. There will be lines on the asphalt for volleyball, badminton and pickleball. To play a pickleball game, people would have to bring their own nets and will have to share the same space with people who want to play other sports.”
School principal Suzy Papadopoulos had earlier answered Berriault/ Robertson that “it is not a dedicated pickleball court and will not include permanent nets.” Needless to say, the Sutherland neighbours are not happy with this information.
Is a City of Toronto permit needed for this project?
“No,” said the trustee. Do the possible noise levels contravene City of Toronto bylaws?
Trustee Cline did not answer this question; however, the Sutherland neighbours believe this to be the case. “Noise issues associated with pickleball are extremely well documented, as levels can be as high as 70 decibels,” wrote Berriault in an email. He and Robertson also noted that no other TDSB school, as far as they know, is planning outdoor pickleball facilities.
Will all the worker/construction vehicles/equipment be contained on school property?
“Yes. The contractor will comply fully with TDSB health and safety requirements and all applicable
LEASIDE SCHOOLS
Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations.”
When there is excavation or other aspects that involve “dirt,” is there a way of shielding the neighbouring houses from it?
“The contractor will take appropriate measures to minimize dust impact.” At this point, there is shielding along the sides of the project to the west closest to the school, and the walkway side, but so far, nothing to the east, facing these neighbours. As the neighbours have noted, the winds are usually blowing from the west, in their direction.
Will the project follow City of Toronto noise bylaws as to timing of work?
“Yes.” Visit the City’s site for details on Toronto’s noise bylaws. Has the start date been established?
“Yes. The contractor began site setup this past week (early June).”
How long is the project anticipated to last?
“They are aiming for substantial completion by the end of August 2025, weather permitting.”
Will there be a general contractor in charge who can be contacted if there are issues, especially during the summer?
“The facility team leader ( FSL@ tdsb.on.ca ) will liaise with the project supervisor, who will address any issues in a timely manner.”
Definitely a project that will have a lot of eyes on it as it progresses.
Stay tuned! n
LORNA KRAWCHUK
Indoor pickleball option
If you are a pickleball enthusiast, you might want to keep an eye out for the Leaside Pickleball Club, operating with two courts, four times a week during the day in the gymnasium of Leaside United Church. With 67 members, this location is closed at this time for new members, but the club is partnering with the new flagship Fairgrounds Leaside, (featured in the June issue of Leaside Life), so opportunities to join and play will increase. Leasider Tanya Pimenoff, the club’s treasurer, was originally a tennis player, but wanted to give pickleball a try. She is now firmly hooked. n
by GEOFF KETTEL
Leaside’s demolition derby redux
“Leaside has a growing collection of empty sites waiting for development.” That was the introduction to my May 2024 article about the demolition of Sunnybrook Plaza, as well as reflecting on other demolitions on Laird Drive north and south of Stickney (126-132, 134 Laird Drive), and on Millwood Road at Randolph (922 Millwood). Since then, attempts by developers to demolish buildings on the sites of approved projects have continued.
Bayview and Broadway is seeing lots of activity
The five single family houses at Bayview and Broadway (1837-1845 Bayview), the site approved for a 25-storey condo, were demolished, following first a refusal, then an approval at North York Community Council. But the application to demolish the five semi-detached homes at 2-20 Glazebrook was refused, and that decision has stuck.
Now the developer of the 35-storey tower overbuild at the Leaside LRT
Station (1779-1787 Bayview) is requesting permission from the City to demolish the two “quads” south of the station, while confirming their commitment to preserve the heritage façade of 1783-1785 Bayview
(which would be removed and stored off site) as required by the mediated agreement involving the applicant, the City, and the Leaside Residents Association.
A future development site still in the application stage (the former Mercedes Benz showroom at 849 Eglinton Ave. East) is bucking the trend to demolition. As reported in Leaside Life’s June issue, Fairgrounds, a trendy sports and social club, has converted the building and grounds to pickleball and padel courts as an interim use in the heart of the new Leaside East neighbourhood.
Why not demolish and construct?
What’s wrong with this approach? Nothing…if it actually happened that way, but in the current market the chances of a project moving forward with timely construction appear low. The developer of the Leaside station overbuild told me he thought that their project was different, its location making it especially attractive. Maybe, but in the meantime, he says they are concerned about site and building security and people breaking into the two former rental buildings.
Both at Bayview and Broadway, and at Glazebrook, the developer claimed they needed to have the buildings demolished in order to do borehole tests for suitability for geothermal energy systems. However, others told us that was false, that there was room on-site to do the tests without the need to demolish.
Why should developers demolish? One reason: reduced property taxes, which, if you figure it will take a while to move forward, could become significant. The opposing view says that security should not be an issue, that there is a cost, but the buildings can be kept secure.
For me the question that needs to be asked is: why can’t the buildings continue to be used for housing? Continued active use is always the best way of ensuring a building is preserved, and we certainly need the housing; even eight units in two quads, at least for a few years? Maybe the developer does not want to become a landlord.
I expect we will shortly see a request to demolish 1779-1781 and 1783-1785 Bayview on the agenda at North York Community Council.
Stay tuned! n
DEVELOPMENT
L. CARTE
Young Frank Pounsett at home with his ham radio set, c. 1920s and pictured in 1952.
one in North America. Returning to Toronto, he built a radar model so accurate that Canadian engineers used it to make the blueprints that enabled REL to begin production. By the end of the war, REL had produced more than 9,000 radar units and optical equipment valued at over
engineer and then vice president at Philips Electronics in Leaside (1952-67); and Dean of the Engineering, Technology Division, at Centennial College (1967-71). Throughout this period, he was also deeply engaged in the community life of Leaside. He was a founding member of Leaside Presbyterian Church and an active member of the Leaside Rotary Club. Both his sons attended Leaside High School, and his wife Margaret also participated in community life.
$200 million. In recognition of his wartime achievement, Frank was named a fellow of the Institute of Radio Engineers in 1947 at a ceremony in New York City.
Following the war, Frank served as chief engineer at Stromberg Carlson Co. Ltd. (1945-52); chief
In 1990, the University of Toronto Engineering Alumni Association inducted Frank into its Hall of Distinction. Passionate about radio electronics to the end, one of his last acts was to tap out a Morse code message to a friend. He died in 1997 and is buried with his wife at St. John’s Norway Cemetery in the Beaches area of Toronto.
Frank Pounsett – a man dedicated to his profession, his community, and his country. n
Are we there yet (revisited)?
Leasiders hoping for information about the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, finally, will have noticed, with all the public hoopla from the Premier, on down, that The Big Announcement, when it came, was long on publicity but short on facts. Specifically, dates.
Along with the media response (“Promises, promises”) many questions remain. How much testing of the light rapid system will take place before it is actually open for passengers? How many passengers will it be able to carry in peak periods? At what speed will it travel? And not least, I cannot resist adding, will the stations’ elevators and escalators be functioning? Will the public announcement system be both audible and ungarbled?
Once fully in service, how much data will consistently be collected and available to measure the impacts of the new line on communities like Leaside? What changes will we notice on the volume of flowthrough traffic still using both our residential and arterial streets? On parking pressures and patterns? On
the amount of surface (bus) transit still available (or not) all along the LRT route?
Knowing the answers city-wide will have local applications. They will provide critically valuable information to be factored into the design of the city’s Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan , also long awaited, as the LNTP team contemplates designing its Phase Two.
The Leaside Residents Association has been involved since the early days of both the LRT and the LNTP, and we look forward to finally moving forward.
Rerouting the 88 bus route
The Leaside Residents Association contacted Councillor Chernos Lin’s office in early June to see if they have heard further information on
a TTC decision about rerouting the 88 bus during the 18-to-24-month closure of Beth Nealson Drive for work related to the Ontario Line. One option, proposed by Thorncliffe Park’s Jason Ash and me, offered better area coverage and passenger convenience, and did not sever Leaside from Thorncliffe. The TTC chair agreed that it would be seriously considered. When I have any news, I will pass it on to you, I hope in my next column.
Come out to our board meetings
You are always welcome to attend our monthly LRA board meetings. Normally, they take place at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month in the Trace Manes building at Rumsey and Millwood. We have had to reschedule our July meeting, however, as Trace Manes is fully booked on Wednesdays during July for summer camp activities.
Please note that the July LRA board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thurs., JULY 3. n
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