Elevating the Bayview dining scene
ANOSHA THAMESH, OWNER TIARRÉ’S BRUNCH ’N CAKES
Editor’s Welcome
Remembering our fallen heroes
This year, for my Remembrance Day editor’s welcome, I decided to channel my inner Ted De Welles. In going down one of my many rabbit hole online searches, I discovered a veteran from Millwood Road who died earlier this year at nearly 100. Philip Daniel was interviewed, at Sunnybrook’s Veterans’ Centre, as part of the Cresswood Oral History Project. Both his parents had seen action in the Great War, so it seemed only natural that Philip would also dedicate himself to war-time service.
According to the Cresswood oral history, he joined the army at age 17 “under a program that allowed for early entry, and when he reached the age of maturity he automatically transitioned to the regular forces. …Philip was stationed at Aldershot, and more training took place, along with visits to London and the local pubs. He also happened to meet with Princess Elizabeth at this time,
when she was serving with the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service).”
Even after WWII had ended, Philip chose to make the army his career and remained in service for 34 years. He saw action in the Korean War and was sent to Germany as part of Canada’s NATO contingent. Following this service, he was deployed on a peacekeeping mission in the Sinai.
Ted De Welles shared with me a feature from the Toronto Star relating the story of how Philip Daniel met a neighbour from Millwood, Bill Herbert, when they came face to face at a transit camp in Nijmegen, Holland…having never met one another back home but recognizing by sight a fellow Millwooder. “Hiya, Millwood!” Philip Daniel shouted when they crossed paths. “Hi, yourself!” Bill Herbert replied. They managed to run into each other
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again during their service, also quite by accident.
These are the stories that bring to life the rich and interesting histories of our local heroes.
You can learn more about some of them by participating in the annual Leaside Remembrance Day Walk, to be held on Nov. 11, starting at 2 p.m. at the entrance to Trace Manes Park. Much thanks to organizers Leaside Heritage Preservation Society, whose walk stops at houses where fallen soldiers from the area lived before their service.
“Lest we forget.” n
Left: the article from the Toronto Star, July 24, 1945, and right, Philip Anthony Daniel in 1976.
“‘Hiya, Millwood!’ a trooper of the 1st Hussars greeted a signaller as they came face to face at a transit camp in Nijmegen, Holland... After a moment’s hesitation came the smiling reply, ‘Hello, yourself!’ The first speaker was Tpr. Philip Daniel, 19 and the second William (Bill) Herbert, 20...Their families live directly across the road from each other on Millwood Rd., but before going overseas the lads knew each other only by sight...”
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“The kids are alright” in Leaside
by MITCH BUBULJ
The Who’s 1965 song The Kids are Alright focuses on those adventurous spirits –teens – and offers positive reassurance that, despite what one might hear, youth are doing very well indeed and we shouldn’t worry about them.
Anyone remember the song, or maybe even the rockumentary film from 1979?
Natalie Burkett, 15, most likely doesn’t but she does live and breathe the musical sentiment.
A proficient athlete and team leader, and community volunteer, Natalie comes by her skills honestly. Her paternal grandparents, Sally and Kevin, met at Talbot Park in the mid-’50s while watching their brothers play baseball. LHS sweethearts, they married and settled in Leaside to raise their family. Kevin coached junior hockey and
LEASIDE PEOPLE
gave back to his community in myriad ways.
For the past decade Chris, Natalie’s dad, has worked closely with young athletes coaching both hockey and soccer. He also co-chaired the St. Anselm Playground Revitalization Committee in 2018, which turned a parking lot into a vibrant and well used outdoor oasis for kids. (See “The Rebirth of St. Anselm’s Playground,” Leaside Life, April 2018).
Natalie’s own list of accomplishments –keeping up the family tradition – is impressive. She has played hockey since she was 7. She is presently on the under 18A Leaside Wildcats team. She also plays soccer. As captain of the under 15 East York elite girls’ soccer team, she helped lead them to (indoor) victory last winter/spring. She also volunteers with a sports program at a summer camp on Georgian Bay.
But her commitment to giving back is exemplified with her working with seniors with dementia and volunteering with an endangered sea turtle program.
Every Thursday after school Natalie heads to the Ewart Angus SPRINT Home on Merton Street, a residential facility for seniors with dementia. “All students need 40 hours of volunteer service in order to graduate high school,” Natalie explains. “My school had a list of opportunities; I applied and got accepted last year. I have my 40 hours but want to keep it up till I graduate.”
Book your appointments online:
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She is a good fit for the role. “I am a social person, so I enjoy talking to people; I spend a lot of time with my grandparents and learn a lot from older people,” she says.
“Each visit lasts an hour and a half; we play word games and do puzzles. One resident, Christiana, from Argentina originally, likes to teach me how to tango! Time there brings me joy.”
Her passion for environmental sustainability took her overseas this past
KIDS Page 43
Niloo Saiy PharmD, CDE, RPh Associate-Owner
CHRIS BURKETT
Natalie Burkett
Knock on wood! Meet Leaside’s master of cabinetry
by JANIS FERTUCK
While he was earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and English at Queen’s University, Matthew Tormey, a local expert in design and woodworking, realized that he was not cut out for a desk job. He had an inkling of this during his teen years and when renovating homes in the East York area with his family and developing his carpentry skills.
After completing his degree, Matt pursued an apprenticeship with the local carpenter’s union and started his own business here in 2004, working out of a shed in his parents’ backyard and making small pieces of furniture and cabinets. He says that he has been honing his craft ever since through “hard-earned realworld experience, endless reading and research,” and has acquired new skills through different workshops.
Matt specializes in small-to-medium-sized custom built-in cabinetry work for spaces outside of the kitchen, including home offices,
bedroom armoires, fireplaces, mudrooms and bathroom vanities. He works mostly in Toronto in older neighbourhoods where people want to make the most of their space. These clients, who tend to be very design-oriented, are looking for something unique. They find Matt through HomeStars, Google, wordof-mouth and our own Leaside Life
Once someone makes an inquiry, he asks them for photos and dimensions of the space where they want cabinets and some ideas about what they are looking for so he can send an estimate. If they want to proceed, he visits the home, takes measurements, discusses the plan and draws up a design on his computer. With more discussion, the design is refined to suit the client’s needs. Then Matt provides a firm cost and timing for the work.
The design process can take a week or so. Most projects require about two weeks for fabrication at his shop at Midland and Ellesmere and then two to three days for installation. He does most of the work himself, but
often brings in electrical, plumbing and upholstery specialists as needed. Matt enjoys all his assignments, but a recent favourite was a mudroom that included a walnut bench, walnut chevron panelling and navy-blue cabinetry. He says that challenging jobs are his “bread and butter” and cites an example where he created a set of display shelves for a collection of antique boxes mounted in the peaked wall of a cathedral ceiling. While other companies declined the project, Matt created an “enormous wall of shelves in the triangular section of the wall, which wrapped around a window, incorporated lights and included a rolling library ladder for access to the shelves.” It was “a super cool project,” he said.
Matt takes great pride in his work and has received many glowing reviews on HomeStars and elsewhere. Some Leaside clients have praised his “expertise and design sense,” “thoughtful suggestions,” professionalism, “outstanding attention
GLEN WOODLEY
Tiarré’s Brunch ’N Cakes elevates the Bayview dining scene
by LORNA KRAWCHUK
When the owners of Sophie’s Kitchen at 1614 Bayview decided it was time to sell, Anosha Thamesh, with her husband in the background, was ready to buy, in July 2023. Sophie’s got a new look including foldback glass doors to the patio for warm weather and a new name to reflect the new ownership – Tiarré’s Brunch ‘N Cakes – Tiarré’s in honour of their daughter and with a nod to the beautiful Polynesian flower, the tiare, for whom their daughter was named. Armed with a business management degree from the Schulich School of Business at York University, Anosha worked in a corporate engineering environment for over 18 years in product management. This proved to be good training for the now entrepreneur when she decided the time was right to do something “close to my heart – to open a little café with an atmosphere similar to, when growing up, going out for high tea with my grandparents.” But true to her corporate background, she did study the
COVER
neighbourhood demographics before making the leap. After a relatively short time in the neighbourhood, the business is thriving. Midmorning on a Tuesday, there are 14 people enjoying a leisurely breakfast. During the week, there are three to four people working a shift; on weekends, six to seven, many of them former Sophie’s staff.
Anosha is a talented cook who enjoys developing recipes, which are then tweaked by her trained chefs. As much as possible is purchased locally, and all the sauces are made from scratch. But you’ll also see Anosha’s love of travel reflected in recipes inspired by visits to places like New Orleans and Jamaica. The service is also expanding. Brunch is served every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner Thursday to Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and high tea Friday to Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kids eat free every Thursday night, as long as they bring an adult who orders an entrée. There are also gluten free, lactose free, vegan and vegetarian options. I was pleased and surprised to learn that they can, with notice, make the whole high tea gluten free – a real boon for a celiac like me. But Anosha did mention that while they’ve been trying, they still haven’t managed to perfect a gluten-free version of their chicken parm – at least, not yet. After making a reservation, the restaurant calls to confirm the day before and also ensures you have mentioned any dietary restrictions. And yes, there is Uber Eats, but you’d miss the relaxed atmosphere of being pampered in the restaurant.
If you and your dog are out for a walk along Bayview, it’s good to know there’s a pink bowl filled with water just outside the restaurant. You might also have noticed that a relative opened last year – Tiarré’s Brunch & Bistro at 1980 Queen St. East. Some menu details differ, but you can tell it’s all in the Tiarré’s family.
And for something almost completely different, Anosha and her husband also own Set the Table Kitchen & Co. based in Ancaster, specializing in meal delivery. Busy people, delicious options. n
Remembering Ernest A. Wilson: Leaside’s World War I overseas fatality
When World War I began in 1914, Leaside was sparsely populated and almost totally rural, so the number of young men who enlisted from the area was relatively small. For example: of the some 45,000 Torontonians who served in the Great War, the names of only 141 are inscribed on the WWI honour roll at Leaside’s only church at the time – St. Cuthbert’s. And many of those names belong to individuals who lived in the Toronto part of the parish.
The number of Leasiders killed in the Great War is even smaller. Aside from a few airmen who tragically lost their lives in training accidents at the Leaside
Aerodrome, I know of only one confirmed and documented case of a Leaside resident who was killed in action during WWI. His name was Ernest Alex Wilson, and his story, like that of so many other young men who fought in that senseless and avoidable conflict, was a sad and tragic one.
Birth of a fallen hero
Ernest was born in 1896 in Goole, Yorkshire (UK) and immigrated to Canada in 1910. By 1911, he was living with his widowed mother and two older brothers in Leaside – or “Leaside Junction” as it was also called back then. They were all boarders at the home of Thomas Mummery – a baker and labourer who came from the same Yorkshire village as Ernest and his family.1 Ernest was a lad of medium height, with reddish hair and hazel eyes. He was also an active member of St. Cuthbert’s Church and sang in its choir. A self-described “labourer,” when war broke out in early August 1914, he was among the first to enlist, joining the Governor General’s Body Guard in Toronto during the first week of hostilities. From there he was transferred to Valcartier, QC where in September he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD), C Squadron. The following month, he was sent overseas as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and by June 1915 was in France. 2 Soon after, he was serving in the trenches near Messines, Belgium –the site of fierce fighting the previous year between German and British forces.
Early action
The trenches near Messines were still dangerous places in 1915. The Germans occupied the high ground and regularly bombarded the British and Canadian positions with artillery and sniper fire. Late on the morning of Oct. 1, according to the RCD’s official war diary, the Germans fired five high explosive shells into the regiment’s trench. Ironically, the diary records that “no damage” was done, but there were “two casualties – 1 killed, 1 wounded.” 3 The WILSON Page 44
Ernest Wilson’s grave in Belgium
And the Leaside Life scavenger hunt winners are…
Leaside Life columnist Susan Scandiffio really started something when she suggested creating a Leaside-specific scavenger hunt exploring the nooks and crannies of all corners of the M4G neighbourhood. We encouraged locals to take the time to discover Leaside in an entirely new way. And you did – in droves! People got in their 10,000-plus steps, some with dogs in hand. Others biked or ran to the many clued locations. In the end, at least 100 eager participants laced up and looked out. And now the winners. Drum roll. The envelope please….
SCAVENGER HUNT
And here are the randomly selected winners from the rest of the entries:
• Linda Prue
• Natalie Freeman
• Darryl Bunt
• Shari Vall
• Candice Macaulay
Super Grand Prize Winner:
Catherine Liang (left) was the first to submit a fully completed and correct scavenger hunt on August 30 at 3:04 pm.
Here’s what some of you had to say:
“Thanks for a consistent delivery of quality local news and profiles. Your efforts are much appreciated. And another thank you for the scavenger hunt – a fun adventure to learn more about our neighbourhood. Our family enjoyed tracking down the info.”
“Thank you for this, it was really fun!”
We had lots of fun getting out and finding everything. Thanks for putting it together for us to do!”
“It was fun and made me remember my youth in Ireland when we used to do this in cars called a car rally. We do it for the amusement; win or lose doesn’t matter.”
“This was a very creative scavenger hunt which I enjoyed immensely. There was a bit of driving, but also around 14,000 steps so it was a healthy endeavour. Lots to see and learn about Leaside.”
“Emailing to say that we had a great time completing the scavenger hunt! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn more about the community.”
“Thanks for organizing this fun activity! My family and I completed this over a number of outings, including as an activity on my birthday. We have been part of the Leaside community for 35 years but learned so many new fun facts.”
“What a fun scavenger hunt, thank you!”
“My fiancée and I had so much fun and it helped me to show her around the neighbourhood as she recently moved here from Halifax. (I grew up here).”
“My daughter has spent the majority of this week getting all these answers together.”
“Well, that was a fun walk! Thank you for laying out the challenge. We found the answers over a three-hour long walk.”
“I would just like to say that this was a wonderful activity. So much fun and I learned a lot about Leaside. Thanks for helping me achieve my 10,000 steps today.”
“I’m an avid walker of the neighbourhood and found this was great fun and helped me to notice things I didn’t know were there.”
“The contest was a lot of fun. I used my bike to get most of the answers. It took a little less than an hour and 12 kilometres.”
“My hubby and I had a great couple of days wandering round Leaside. Thanks for doing this; it was fun.”
“I completed the scavenger hunt ... It was a great way to explore Leaside.” n
Linda Prue
Nora
A special thanks to Canadian Tire Leaside for supplying the Super Grand Prize.
Catherine Liang
Let there be light – Sneha’s Diwali milk cake
Each month we cover a Leasider’s special dish with a hearty side order of narrative.
by MITCH BUBULJ
“I remember diyas (small oil lamps), new clothes and much delicious food during Diwali – and sweets, always sweets,” recalls Sneha Shekar. “And one of the tastiest and easiest to make is milk cake.”
Sneha explains that Diwali is an ancient Hindu celebration signifying the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is the spiritual victory of Dharma over Adharma. The date changes from year to year since it follows the Hindu lunar calendar. This year it fell on Oct. 20th; next year it will be on Nov. 8th. Though born in India, Sneha’s recollections of Diwali are all from Canada. She and her family came here when she was 7. Her most vivid memories of the celebrations are from Markham where she grew up. “My parents would light many diyas and place them on the front porch, giving off a beautiful light. My sister and I would wear new clothes at the big dinner attended by family and friends. At the end of the evening, we were allowed to light sparklers in the backyard – it
was magical,” she says. Since Diwali also signifies the start of a new year it is important to bring good energy into the house and leave bad energy behind. It is an opportunity to share prosperity and good fortune. There is an exchange of gifts and a whole day’s worth of visits to the homes of friends and family. “And it is customary to take sweet treats as gifts to the homes we visit. Sweets are considered symbols of prosperity,” explains Sneha. She recalls her mom preparing many elaborate dishes but remembers one of the most delicious desserts was one of the easiest recipes to make –milk cake, or Kalakand. There are just four ingredients. (Some recipes call for only three.) Sneha’s is not too sweet and has the
Find the recipes online by clicking the Leaside Cooks tab.
BUBULJ
Sneha Shekar
perfect hint of cardamom. While her mom is the baker in the family, Sneha decided this year to make a milk cake on her own. What I sampled was her first milk cake. “I FaceTimed my mom while putting it all together – it ended up being a very social experience,” Sneha says. And it tastes great.
She and her husband Ashton moved to South Leaside almost two years ago. She explains that he was raised in Brampton and she in Markham – Leaside was pretty much in the middle. “We wanted to be in Toronto for work and to be close to friends – Leaside is ideal in that regard and more importantly it is family-friendly.” She adds they have great neighbours and a playground, library, park and schools literally at their doorstep. Their son Ravi was born last year and turned one on Diwali.
With all the exciting changes over the past few years, life for Sneha has become pretty busy. She shared that “a hectic schedule makes it difficult to keep up with traditions, but simple recipes – like the one for milk cake – keep me connected.” n
A day in Leaside
The Bayview BIA’s Applefest
Leaside United Church’s Awesome Sale...
Will she, or won’t she?
by JAKE ROSS
Rumours are swirling that Don Valley West MPP Stephanie Bowman may be considering a run for leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.
In a statement, her office said that it was “still too early to tell whether MPP Bowman will consider running for leader.”
The race was sparked after current Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie received what was considered a weak 57 per cent support in a leadership review and, shortly after, announced her resignation.
No one has officially tossed their hat in the ring, but other leading names include Dr. Adil Shamji (MPP, Don Valley East), Karina Gould (MP, Burlington), and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (MP, Beaches-East York), who finished second to Crombie in the last leadership race.
A date for the selection of a new leader has yet to be announced, but you can be sure we’ll be keeping a close eye on whether MPP Bowman throws her hat in the ring. n
by GEORGE HURST
Leaside United Church just completed its ever-popular Awesome sale. Again, it broke all records. People came from all over Toronto to buy the many bargains on offer. Witness the long lineups before even opening on Friday at 3 p.m. This was our 30th year, and we’re proud to have raised over $250,000 for outreach programs in the community. The Awesome sale is truly an all-hands-on-deck initiative, which required more than 70 volunteers to manage the 12 different departments. Anything remaining unsold is donated to the Salvation Army store in Thorncliffe. n
RETAINING WALLS
REPAIR
Leaside Life’s gone to
the
dogs... and
cats, and gerbils, and guinea pigs!
by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO
From cats to dogs, and so many animals in between, Leaside is a neighbourhood full of beloved pets. And thankfully, it’s also a neighbourhood with plenty of pet services right at your fingertips.
Walkers, boarders, groomers, trainers, vets, pet-sitters and more call our area home. It’s so handy for you, our neighbours, to have all these services so close by!
Hannah McGroarty, a local professional who has worked in the pet care business for many years, has tips to keep in mind when searching for just the right carer for your cuddly companion.
According to McGroarty, it’s recommended that you use a dog walker with insurance in case of emergencies while your pup is in their care. It’s also a good idea to ask for post-walk reports to keep up to date with your pet’s socializing habits, any health issues the walker might have detected and their eating and bathroom break records for the day.
In terms of daycare, McGroarty advises asking daycare providers and boarders several questions upfront. For instance, it’s important to know where dogs “go to the bathroom” (inside or out –outside is far healthier) and how often they go outside for exercise. It’s also important to ask how many dogs per human are in the facility (a good ratio is eight to 10 dogs per person).
McGroarty also notes that she “would 100% ask for references, and if you’re leaving your dog overnight, I would highly recommend doing a trial night to make sure it’s a good fit for you, your dog and the boarder.”
With McGroarty’s advice in hand, we have compiled a list of pet services (including dog walkers, all of whom have insurance) right here in the neighbourhood.
Our list is by no means exhaustive; we’d love to hear about your favourite service.
VET CLINICS
Juno Veterinary
11 Industrial St.
Animals treated: dogs and cats junovet.com
Laird-Eglinton Pet Hospital 211 Laird Dr.
Animals treated: dogs, cats, “pocket pets” such as hamsters, rabbits, amphibians and reptiles lairdeglintonvet.com
Leaside Animal Clinic
1662 Bayview Ave.
Animals treated: dogs and cats leasideanimalclinic.com
Mt. Pleasant-Davisville
Animal Hospital
745 Mt. Pleasant Rd.
Animals treated: dogs and cats vcacanada.com/mtpleasant
Davisville Park Animal Hospital 518 Mt. Pleasant Rd.
Animals treated: dogs and cats davisvilleparkvets.com
My Animal Veterinary Clinic 703 Mt. Pleasant Rd.
Animals treated: dogs and cats myanimalvetclinic.com
DOG WALKERS
Leaside Dog Walkers leasidedogwalkers.com
Davisville Dogs davisvilledogs.com
Frankie’s Pet Care
Email: frankiesbestcare@gmail.com
CityPaws citypawstoronto.ca
Midtown Walks and Wags midtownwalksandwags.com
Pawz4Life
Email: pawzfourlife@gmail.com
Go Leash Go
Email: sarawickware1@hotmail.com
Happy Dog Care
Email: kathryn.wash30@gmail.com
Good Dogs Social Club www.gooddogs.ca
Lucky Penny Pet Care luckypennypetcare.com
IN-HOME PET SITTING
Happy Dog Care
Email: kathryn.wash30@gmail.com
BredinsBest bredinsbest.com
CoopsK9s coopsk9s.com for contact info (note: not coop’s k9s)
BOARDING
KYON Dog Daycare kyondogdaycare.com
CoopsK9s coopsk9s.com
Davisville Dogs davisvilledogs.com
Frankie’s Pet Care
Email: frankiesbestcare@gmail.com
Midtown Walks and Wags midtownwalksandwags.com
Happy Dog Care
Email: kathryn.wash30@gmail.com
Good Dogs Social Club www.gooddogs.ca
CityPaws citypawstoronto.ca
Walk This Way Dog Sitting Email: evefischer6@gmail.com
UberDog Athletic Club uberdog.ca
PetSmart petsmart.ca
K9 Academy k9academytraining.ca
PET VISITS
BredinsBest
Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, hamsters bredinsbest.com
Davisville Dogs
Cats and dogs davisvilledogs.com
Leaside Dog
Walkers
Cats and dogs leasidedogwalkers.com
Frankie’s Pet Care
Cats
Email: frankiesbestcare@gmail.com
CityPaws
Cats and dogs citypawstoronto.ca
Pawz4Life
Dogs
Email: pawzfourlife@gmail.com
CoopsK9s Dogs coopsk9s.com
Lucky Penny Pet Care Cats, rabbits, reptiles luckypennypetcare.com
Pawz4Life
TRAINERS
Email: pawzfourlife@gmail.com
Follow the Leader followtheleaderinc.com
K9 Academy Website: k9academytraining.ca
DAY CARE
Frankie’s Pet Care
Email: frankiesbestcare@gmail.com
KYON Dog Daycare kyondogdaycare.com
UberDog Athletic Club uberdog.ca
Lucky Penny Pet Care
Cats, rabbits, reptiles luckypennypetcare.com
GROOMERS
Tails Up Grooming 1662 Bayview Ave. Dogs and cats tailsup.ca
PetVille Spa 668 Mt. Pleasant Rd. Dogs and cats petvillespa.com
Uberdog Mt. Pleasant 571 Mt. Pleasant Rd. Dogs uberdog.ca
Dog & Groom 511 Mt. Pleasant Rd.
Dogs dogandgroom.com
Pampered Paws
317 Millwood Rd. Cats and dogs pamperedpaws.com
Mt. Pleasant Grooming 414 Moore Ave. Cats and dogs 416-483-5194
PET SHOPS
PetValu 95 Laird Dr. petvalu.ca
Leaside Pets 1542 Bayview Ave. leasidepets.com
Uberdog Mt. Pleasant 571 Mt. Pleasant Rd. uberdog.ca
PetSmart 25 Industrial St. petsmart.ca
Tails Up Grooming 1662 Bayview Ave. tailsup.ca
Global Pet Foods 45 Wicksteed Ave. globalpetfoods.com
Pawland 748 Mt. Pleasant Rd. (416) 546-3152
MULTI-SERVICE PROVIDER
Rover
On Rover.com you can find local boarders, in-home pet sitters, daycare, drop-in visit services, walkers and trainers. Recommended by some of our readers:
Chelsea Testa: rover.com/sit/chelst32854
Meryl D: rover.com/members/meryl-d-kindpatient-and-keen-on-details
YOU DON’T OWN A PET BUT MIGHT ENJOY SOME TIME WITH ANIMALS?
Pawsitively Pets
Day camps (summer, PA Days, March Break, etc.), parties/events, pet therapy and wellness programs, after-school programs, drop-in programs, and more. pawsitivelypetskidscamp.com
Puppy Yoga Club
Classes include 30 minutes of yoga and 30 minutes post-yoga to cuddle and play with the puppies. puppy-yogaclub.com. n
Welcome Mt. Pleasant Village!
Inhabit Books hosts a wide collection of books for all ages written by Indigenous authors from Northern Canada.
Piujut Gallery is an Inuit-owned art gallery showcasing authentic carvings from Nunavut artists. Visit us at 612 Mount Pleasant Road!
Doggone it – more clarifications on Sandy Bruce Park
We bring you the final word (promise!) on the Sandy Bruce off-leash dog park. A few clarifications are in order:
1. TORONTO’S FAMOUS ICE STORM
The ice storm occurred on Dec. 19, 2013. While there were two significant snowstorms in the winter of 2009, this is the only ice storm.
“The Dec. 19, 2013, ice storm was a ‘remember where you were’ event. The storm was a result of a low-pressure system that formed over Texas and made its way to Ontario. The warm front from Texas mixed with the cold air mass in Eastern Canada. The storm officially began on Dec. 19 and dissipated by Dec. 23, but there were prolonged impacts. The storm reached Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, Maine, New England, New York, Michigan and Arkansas. The affected areas were faced with varying conditions, including
extreme snow, an ice storm, and a tornado outbreak.” ( Source: The Weather Network)
For Leasiders in particular, this storm was one to remember. Power was out on many South Leaside streets for more than a week as neighbours rediscovered starlight.
2. FINE FOR LETTING DOGS OFF LEASH
A fine of up to $615 can be issued for allowing a dog to run off leash except in a designated dogs off-
leash area. The charge is $500, plus a $110 so-called victim’s surcharge, and a $5 administration fee.
(Source: Toronto.ca)
3. OFF LEASH OR NOT, FOR EVERYONE?
“Welcome to Sandy Bruce Park, located at 426 Moore Ave, East York, ON. This official dog park is perfect for letting your furry friend roam and play in a fully fenced, off-leash area. The park features ample open fields where dogs can run freely as well as shaded seating areas for you to relax while keeping an eye on your pup.” (Sources: DogPack and Wheree https://sandy-bruce-park. wheree.com)
And yes, professional dog walkers, as well as “regular” dog walkers, are indeed permitted to use Sandy Bruce Dog Park.
Leaside Life hopes, if you have a dog, that you’ll make a point of visiting and enjoying Sandy Bruce Park with all it has to offer. n
FREEPIX
Retail within neighbourhoods – encroachment or evolution?
Last month I wrote that the signals from Queen’s Park and City Hall suggest that “encroachment (of tall buildings) into existing neighbourhoods will not only proceed but will also expand.”
Encroachment into neighbour-
EHON in Leaside
struction at Eglinton and Rumsey. This development continues to push the limits of neighbourhood acceptability, with a further application for “minor variances,” this time to construct a garden suite in the rear yard, heard by the Committee of Adjustment on Oct. 23rd. While the Committee of Adjustment hearing dealt with the seven variances applied for (including the “soft landscaping” being less than half the zoning requirement), it was silent with respect to the context and history of the application.
The availability of space to enable a garden suite at the rear of the property is a direct result of the culling of the honey locust tree at the rear of the property on June 26th. After moving the building forward (to protect the tree), voilà! there is space for a garden suite. But now if a garden suite goes forward there will be no growing space for a tree, parking space for a vehicle, or even room for garbage bins for the occupants of the five units on the site. Maybe the combination of multiplex and garden suite in neighbourhoods needs to be reconsidered?
The Neighbourhood Retail and Services Study
This is another EHON initiative, which has been cruising around City Hall for a couple of years – brought forward, sent back for more work, and now it’s going to Planning and Housing Committee again on October 30, 2025. The City is proposing three Zoning Bylaw Amendments to Zoning Bylaw 569-2013: to permit certain small-scale retail, service and
hoods is not a new issue, and other forms of residential intensification termed “gentle” are underway in neighbourhoods under the mantra of City Planning’s Expanding Housing Opportunities in Neighbourhoods (EHON) initiative. NEIGHBOURHOODS Page 30
Four-unit multiplexes in neighbourhoods were approved City-wide (but not six-unit multiplexes in Ward 15 and other wards in North York), and we see the first single unit multiplex (four units high) under con-
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MANOR ROAD UNITED CHURCH
Celebrating 100 Years of Spiritual Guidance and Charitable Good Works, May 2025
Join us for Sunday worship 10:30am In-person or live on YouTube
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS:
Save the date: Sat. Dec. 7th 9am to noon: SANTA PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND CHRISTMAS MARKET
POTLUCK SUNDAY BRUNCH
Sunday November 2nd 11:30am
MINDFULNESS IN MOTION Wed. Nov. 5th 2pm
Come walk the labyrinth with Rev. Dr. JJ
REMEMBRANCE DAY Sun. Nov. 9th 10:30am
The 78th Fraser Highlanders, bagpiper and trumpeter
MOVIE NIGHT - THE LION KING Fri. Nov. 21st 6pm Free popcorn
ONLINE YOGA WITH LINDA NICHOLSON Every Thursday 4:30pm Zoom Link email: ministermruc@gmail.com
240 Manor Road East, Toronto, ON manorroadunitedchurch.com
office uses on residentially-zoned properties within neighbourhoods on major streets; to permit small-scale retail stores and ancillary eating establishments on select sites within neighbourhood interiors; and to update home occupation permissions. However, there is growing dissatisfaction with the City’s consultation efforts, which generally consist of virtual presentation sessions and a survey, both of which read like performative exercises lacking a real commitment to making changes based on the comments received. The difference this time around is the involvement of the Coalition of Toronto Residents’ Associations (COTRA), a newly formed resident-led grassroots movement, which created a City-wide survey to learn the views of residents on the Neighbourhood Retail and Services Study (NRS).
Survey results
In just two weeks (Sept. 2-15) more than 3,400 residents from across Toronto responded to the survey. Top-line survey results show that: •90% of residents oppose allowing businesses in residential neighbour-
The tree in question.
hoods, with somewhat less opposition at 77% to allowing business on major streets that are residential.
•96% of the comments expressed opposition to some aspect of the proposal.
•90% want applications to rezone residential properties to commercial to go through the current
Committee of Adjustment process.
•57% are open to community consultation to identify sections of major streets to rezone from residential to commercial where there is a neighbourhood need.
•Key concerns with the proposal include loss of affordable residential housing, parking, noise, traffic, lack of guardrails (e.g. no alcohol, cannabis) and low City enforcement of bylaws. In short, the overwhelming message is that residents do not support the proposal as it stands.
The top issue
A major concern is that the proposal is treating the matter as simply a residential zoning issue instead of considering it as part of a muchneeded retail strategy. Retail uses face many challenges, including the growth of deliveries and the loss of strip malls to residential redevelopment. Does it make sense to encourage the spread of retail beyond the retail cores, which are themselves in need of supportive policies?
On Oct. 3rd, the COTRA leadership team presented the data to the City’s NRS planning staff and asked that this feedback be included in the staff report, and, more importantly, that these findings influence changes to the proposal. At present, it appears City Planning is ready to proceed based on its own information. The staff report was set to be released on Oct. 23 in advance of the Planning and Housing Committee meeting on Oct. 30th. Watch for further communication on this from the Leaside Residents Association. n
Take the time to remember their sacrifice
by RICHARD GRACE
I am sure Remembrance Day has special resonance for so many Leaside residents. At 11 a.m. on the 11th we dash out into the cul de sac on Cardiff Road, young and old alike, to look up and see the old WWII Spitfires fly over. If it is cloudy, we still can hear them “growling” above the clouds like angry ghosts.
Apparently, the life expectancy of an RAF pilot in the Battle of Britain was rarely over four weeks and they were outnumbered four to one by the Luftwaffe! But they came from all over the world to join the fight. One Czech pilot was shot down and burned so badly he had 28 operations over the next two years. After his last operation, the Brits made him an honorary member of the “Guinea Pig Club.” Alas, British humour! Such irrepressible insolence is perhaps why they won – who knows? – but the first thing this chap did after his last and 28th op was hop back in his Spit and head off to fight in the Malta theatre.
“A man can be destroyed but not defeated,” as Ernest Hemingway wrote. For all of them, a few lines (at right):
We are children of cruel peace
And long dread
Who cut the edges of our fathers’ swords
With syllables and threads, Walking sad looks and shapeless reaches of our prayers
To that edge
Where we would not look
Small voices of our statues
Rise
To carve the silence In courage of our dead
On this small patch of ground
Once grew the wings of light
And quiet, the blossom of the root
Beyond the knife … But now on this small hill
Strangely stands the November grass
Tall and still, And long now sleeps the windy grief
That one fine morning took
Our dreams in purple blood
To spill
Such glory on our seed
Where once our laughing stallions …stood.
– Richard Grace n
Remembrance Day Walk – Nov. 11 at 2:00 p.m.
On Tues., Nov. 11, please join the Leaside Heritage Preservation Society (LHPS) for its fourth annual Remembrance Day Walk as we visit the residences and review the lives of the young men of Leaside who died serving their country during World War II.
To further recognize these individuals, the LHPS will again post special commemorative signs outside the places
where they lived.
The Remembrance Day Walk begins at 2 p.m. at the entrance to Trace Manes Park (Millwood and Rumsey Rds.) and is open to the public free of charge.
We hope to see you on Nov. 11 as we honour the memory and sacrifice of these brave young men.
For details, visit: https://www.leasideheritage.ca/. n
Investing in community recreation –Leaside Memorial Community Gardens improvements
As your City Councillor, I have the honour of sitting on the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens (LMCG) Board of Management. I’m excited to share that the City is delivering a major capital improvements project at our beloved rink to better serve the residents of Leaside and surrounding neighbourhoods.
As of the writing of this article, significant progress has already been made:
• The existing concrete slab of Ice Rink B has been removed, with preparations for a new refrigeration system and refrigerant lines well underway.
• The roof replacement is nearly complete, with structural reinforcements finalized and only finishing touches remaining. The scope of work includes:
• Upgraded dasher boards with enhanced safety features, such as soft caps on edges of boards and safety acrylic glass.
• Modernized change rooms and washrooms, with improved acces-
sibility features.
• Renovation of the William Lea Room (banquet hall) and snack bar.
tion system will allow the arena to have ice on both pads for 12 months a year – expanding the availability of public skating times and rink access. These enhancements will significantly improve the user experience for over 3,000 youth athletes who call the arena home – including the Leaside Skating Club, Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association, and the Leaside Hockey Association.
In addition, improvements to the William Lea Room will serve community members and organizations that use the space for events year-round – including my office! On Nov. 25, I will be hosting a community Town Hall at the LMCG from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Visit RachelChernosLin.ca/event s for more details or to register.
HOLIDAY MARKET
• Enhanced lighting and emergency lighting throughout the entire facility, including in the William Lea Room and change rooms. Once complete, the new refrigeraCelebrate the season at Leaside Retirement Community Presentation Gallery with local vendors, unique gifts, food ... and more. Sat, Nov 15 • 10 am – 3 pm
The project is expected to be complete in January 2026, but the snack bar is anticipated to reopen in October and the William Lea Room by November. For more information, visit toronto.ca/leaside-memorial-gardens-arena-improvements. n
Gallery 815 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, ON ( SE corner of Eglinton and Laird)
THE
Idler Curious
On the move
Don Valley West MP Rob Oliphant has moved offices. With the recent electoral riding redis tribution, the west side of Bayview, where our MP had his office for the past decade, is now part of Toronto-St. Paul’s. So, to be (back) in Don Valley West, Oliphant moved his constituency office to 895 Don Mills Rd. Temporary suite is 202, until the new office suite, 112, is available. Why not swing by the new digs and say hi?
We were there
The Marionette is out
A big shout-out to our very own Leacock Medal Award winner and Leaside Life columnist Terry Fallis, whose 10th novel, The Marionette, is already on a number of bestseller lists. According to Fallis’s publisher Penguin Random House, “Bestselling and beloved author Terry Fallis’ 10th novel, The Marionette, introduces readers to a new hero, James Norval: a world-famous thriller writer whose life takes an unexpected turn from the pages of his novels into the perilous world of espionage.”
Leaside Life was out in full force for the recent Bayview-Leaside BIA’s popular Apple Fest. The sun was shining brightly and warmly for this year’s event. This is the first time Leaside Life took it to the street to share some of our stories with passersby of all ages. In turn, we asked visitors for their story ideas. We’re always looking for new writers and new slices of local life.
And the walls came crashing
down
We were surprised (disturbed? dismayed?) to see a house on Laird bite the dust, literally. What’s going on here? And what will emerge in its place? Something a wee bit bigger? Taller? Denser? Let us know if you have insights into this seemingly random act of destruction on Laird.
Looking for a healthcare provider?
The North Toronto Ontario Health Team can help. As part of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, the provincial government wants to make sure everyone in Ontario has access
to a primary care provider by 2029. The North Toronto Ontario Health Team is working with its members to help residents in North Toronto, including those in M4G and M4S postal code areas, find a family doctor or nurse practitioner. The North Toronto Ontario Health Team is a newish healthcare hub working with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to link residents with the professionals they need at a time when far too many people lack adequate care. Want to learn more? Sign up: northtorontooht.ca/ primarycare.
Ted De Welles giving talk
Leaside Life’s own Ted De Welles is giving a talk at the East York Historical Society AGM on Nov. 25th. Ted will speak on Affordable Housing in Early Leaside: Planning and Building the Canada Wire and Cable Factory Homes, 1913-1923. Ted is our resident columnist on all things involving Leaside history. The talk will focus on the 10-year period, from 1913-1923, when the Canada Wire and Cable Company of Leaside sponsored and financed the building of at least 50 homes on Sutherland Dr., Airdrie Rd. and Rumsey Rd. These homes are among Leaside’s earliest residences and were expressly designed as affordable homes for employees of the Canada Wire and Cable Company. Drawing upon important new information and rarely seen photographs, the presentation will discuss the planning and progress of the housing project, the people responsible for its success and its historical significance to Leaside and Toronto.
Ted is a retired public relations professional (CIBC and Ontario Power Generation) and college professor (Seneca Polytechnic). A Leaside resident for more than 25 years, Ted holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Toronto, is married and enjoys reading, cycling and researching and writing about the history of Leaside and East York.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Re Turco Persian Congrats, Ms. Krawchuk, on an outstanding story! I knew Greg Kasparian a little, but my brotherin-law, Bruce Christie, was one of Greg’s closest friends. ‘Twas he who forwarded your story to me. I was born in East York in the mid-1930s and my family moved to Hanna Road in Leaside in 1941. I attended Bessborough Public School for two or three years, then moved to Northlea Public School when it was built. And Leaside High School, of course. It was a wonderful community. I had many Leaside friends for much of my life, but alas, only one or two are still alive. Best wishes to Leaside Life and Lorna Krawchuk. Keep up the good work!
Barry Mitchell
Note: letters to the editor may be edited for space. n
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
In the Bayview Art Tour & Sale Spring 2026
The Bayview Outdoor Art Tour wants to include more community artists who wish to exhibit and sell their work next Spring.
If you are an artist living in the area bounded by Yonge St. on the west, Eglinton Ave. on the north, St. Clair Ave. on the south and Laird Dr. on the east, then your home, garden or public venue are invited to be part of our weekend event. Please contact us by December 15th, 2025 to express your interest in our event at bayviewarttour@gmail.com or artistsgarden@gmail.com
to detail,” excellent communication and exceptional craftsmanship. Many comments conclude with how happy they are with the “perfect” results that “look even better than imagined” because of the end result of the handcrafted cabinetry and millwork, according to Matt.
The woodworker finds “a deep satisfaction in making tangible objects come to life” and gets a great deal of enjoyment from the creative and problem-solving aspects of his work. It seems his clients share his enthusiasm. n
GLEN WOODLEY
Leaside in the frame
RAIJA KELAR
Taken at Trace Manes Park around 1976. Raija Kelar teaching her
LEAH RAGHUNATH
French Immersion teacher Leah sent this photo of her and another French teacher, Brian Blattberg, from Leaside High in 2023.
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 our latest In the Frame. 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. n
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.
I’m playing at Trace Manes Park with the library in the background somewhere around 1998-1999.
Left: my mom and me at the Rotary Corn Roast around the same time.
DAYNA CAMBALL
November
Events
REMEMBRANCE DAY WALK
Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 2:00 p.m.
Meet at Trace Manes Park entrance at Millwood and Rumsey. Organized by the Leaside Heritage Preservation Society (LHPS). See story on page 33 for details.
THE LEASIDE MARKETHOLIDAY EDITION
Sunday, Nov. 23rd, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. inside RCLUB at 25 Commercial Rd. Browse 28 vendors, many local independents!
CFUW LEASIDE-EAST YORK
Nov. 20 - 7:00 p.m. IN PERSON at Northlea United Church, 125 Brentcliffe Rd.
Top Canadian Reporters Tell Their Most Unforgettable Stories. Speaker: Mark Bulgutch, journalist.
ST. AUGUSTINE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH
1847 Bayview Ave.
Groove Room Coffee House
Listen to great live music by local artists and have a coffee and dessert with friends. The next Groove Room Coffee House is on Friday, Nov. 14th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
leasidelife.com
Editor: Jane W. Auster
Publisher: Lorna Krawchuk
Webmaster: Erin Sorhaug Graphic Design: Robin Dickie Advertising: Karli Vezina
FH Publishing Inc.
30 Commercial Rd., Toronto, Ontario M4G 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.
“Pay what you can” with 100% of funds going to the Flemingdon Food Bank. We are looking for performers. Contact info@saintaugustine.ca.
NORTHLEA UNITED CHURCH
125 Brentcliffe Rd. 416 425 5252 northleaunited.ca office@northleaunited.ca Lunch and Learn Tuesday, Nov. 25 12:00 p.m. Bomb Girls: Trading Aprons for Ammo. Discover the true story behind Scarborough’s top-secret munitions factory. Hear about the “Bomb Girls” who helped power Canada’s war effort. Don’t miss this fascinating talk with author Barbara Dickson as she brings history to life. Register at 416-425-5252 or office@northleaunited.ca.
YORK HERITAGE QUILTERS GUILD
Presentation: A Celebration of Quilts XV Friday, Nov. 14, 10:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 15, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Over 200 handcrafted quilts, vendor and guild artisan marketplace, café. Admission $15. At the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Sakura Way, Toronto.
LEASIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
670 Eglinton Ave. E. 416-875-0424
Join us for our Christmas wreath-making workshops. Sat., Nov. 8, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Bring a child or grandchild to add to the fun experience. All donations ($25.00) go towards our sponsored child in Ethiopia, Tarikwa. SPACE is LIMITED. For further info, please email betgor127@gmail.com.
ST. CUTHBERT’S, LEASIDE
ANGLICAN CHURCH
1399 Bayview Ave. 416 485 0329 www.stcuthbertsleaside.com stcuthbertleaside@toronto.anglican.ca Tai Chi
Tuesdays 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. in Lamb Hall. Suggested donation $5. Join us! Christmas Fair
Saturday, Nov. 8 from 11:00 a.m.2:00 p.m. Books, Christmas boutique, Christmas gift baskets, jewellery, toys and games etc. Special boxed lunch.
SHE SHOPS SWAP & RAIL SALE
On Nov. 11, head to the William Lea Room for an evening of swapping and shopping for second-hand items. The event starts at 7:15 p.m., with the swap beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. @sheshopsswap, www.sheshopsswap.com
1913-1923 by Leaside Life’s own
Ted De Welles. Nov. 25, 6:30pm. See The Curious Idler on page 37 for more info.
LEASIDE SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
The Leaside Sports Hall of Fame holds its induction on Friday, Nov. 14. For more info visit leasidesports.com or see ad on opposite page.
LOCAL SHOPPING AND WORKSHOPS
Plant Nite: Happy Holidays: Amsterdam Barrel House on Laird hosts a hands-on terrarium-building experience on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 7:00 p.m. All supplies are included.
LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY COMMUNITY AWARD 2025
The Leaside Garden Society Community Award recognizes a local business or organization which has in some way contributed to the beautification of Leaside. Two gardens tied for first place this year. Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers’ Community Garden can be found behind 53 Thorncliffe Park Dr. This garden is taken care of by Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers co-leaders and volunteers. All of the vegetables that are harvested are given back to the Thorncliffe community. A second vegetable garden has been added behind 71 Thorncliffe Dr.
The second garden is at the northeast corner of Millwood and Sutherland. A local couple generously maintain the city boulevard at this busy corner intersection with a view to cultivate a pollinator-friendly garden. Milkweed, rudbeckia, echinacea, datura, hostas and hydrangea are just a few of the plants that make up this beautiful garden. Homeowners Norah and Ted are grateful for the award and welcome folks to stop by to enjoy the garden.
LEASIDE LIBRARY
165 McRae Drive 416 396 3855
For a full list of programs at Leaside branch, please visit www.tpl.ca/leaside. n
EAST YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Annual General Meeting and free presentation on Affordable Housing in Early Leaside: Planning and Building the Canada Wire and Cable Factory Homes,
summer with the Hawaii Sea Turtle Conservation program. For 12 days she and the team travelled from Honolulu to Maui learning about how pollution and other destructive human activities are endangering sea turtles, some of which are 100 years old.
She swam with the turtles and learned in a classroom setting about how to educate the public about their plight, creating a public service poster campaign. “I thought all turtles were the same but discovered that there are over 300 species and seven types of sea turtles. Pollution, tangled fishing nets and loss of habitat are their biggest threats, and with education they can be eased,” she learned.
Leaside teens are working hard to make a difference. Kids like Natalie are definitely alright, and that bodes well for the future. n
The
11th
Annual Reception and Induction Ceremony
Friday, November 14, 2025
William Lea Room
Leaside Memorial Community Gardens
Tickets $60.00
from
Doors open at 6:30 pm • Reception and Cash Bar • Induction Ceremony and Presentations • 7: 15 pm Tickets will go on sale online on November 01, 2025.
Please visit our website at leasidesports.com for further information.
The following will be inducted into the LSHOF on November 14, 2025: Angela Rubini and James (Jim) Wilson
Recognition of athletes of the year 2025: Sarah Rollins and Sam Brown
Recognition of the team of the year 2025: Leaside Skating Club’s Novice Synchronized Skating Team - Meraki
Souvenirs
Natalie’s trip to Hawaii.
Toronto Telegram, Nov. 1914
1 1911 Canada Census, South York/East York.
2 Ernest Wilson’s complete WW1 service file is available online through the Library and Archives Canada website at: https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/help/pffww.
3 The Royal Canadian Dragoons WW1 diary can be accessed at: https://dragoons.ca/dragoons-history/ first-world-war-wwi/.
“1 killed” was Ernest Wilson. He was only 18 years old.
Back in Toronto, the news of Ernest’s death was carried by almost all the city’s major newspapers – including the Globe , the Star , the World and the Telegram The stories remarked on his young age, his early enlistment, and his association with St. Cuthbert’s. Ernest’s church involvement probably explains why St Cuthbert’s Canon Lamb was the one who informed Ernest’s mother of her son’s death. This must have been a hard task indeed, considering that Mrs. Wilson’s other two sons had also joined the Canadian army. Both would be wounded before the war ended, one seriously.
Ernest Wilson is buried close to where he fell – at the La Plus Douve Farm Military Cemetery, in Belgium. His gravestone records simply his service number, rank, name, regiment, date of death and age. An inscription at the base reads: “For God, Justice and Liberty.”
Here in Leaside, Ernest has not been forgotten. His name appears – along with the names of 20 other parishioners who gave their lives for Canada – at the bottom of the WWI Honour Roll at St. Cuthbert’s, the same church where he sang and worshipped over 110 years ago. n
acknowledges we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat.
We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and the Inuit peoples.
We also recognize our responsibility in respecting and protecting the land and water systems that surround us in the east end of Toronto, that being the Don River, or Wonscotonach in Anishinaabemowin, so that these resources can be enjoyed and flourish for all life and for generations to come.
Now accepting fall registrations for the 2025/2026
Conveniently located at 3300 Yonge St. (Yonge and Fairlawn) Register at www.tandemstudiostoronto.com or give us a call at 647-348-4953. Classes in jazz, acro, ballet, musical theatre and more! 6 studios— 9,500 square feet!
It may finally be here!
The Eglinton Crosstown must finally be getting closer to opening. Here’s a clue: although as of press time an LRT opening date hadn’t been officially released, we’ve begun to receive specific information about bus route changes across the city. These route changes are designed to redirect buses directly to the new LRT stations along Eglinton Avenue. Illustrated here is the new look South Leaside 88 route, effective since Oct. 12th. Added to its previous route is a link-up to the Laird station.
By the way, in the spring of 2026, when the Beth Nealson construction project begins, the TTC will be adding a new, though temporary, bus to the area (the Route 156 Millwood). It will provide improved access among Line 1, the Line 5 LRT, and the businesses in Thorncliffe
last year to the TTC by Thorncliffe’s Jason Ash and myself and mentioned in my previous Leaside Life columns. More details to come!
Vision Zero
Nine years ago, as part of the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, Toronto’s Transportation Services recommended a planning study be done to identify safety-enhancing measures for the full length of the Bayview Extension. Collisions, speeds, traffic volume, driver behaviour, and physical road involvement would be reviewed, safety issues identified, and cost-effective countermeasures proposed for all road users including cyclists and pedestrians. Nine years later, the study may soon see the light of day.
Several weeks ago, North York Community Council requested Transportation Services carry out a safety review of the Bayview Extension’s intersections with Bayview Heights Drive and Evergreen Gardens.
They also requested a safety review of “Pottery Road North,” the short northbound roadway on the east side of Loblaws connecting the Bayview Extension with the intersection of Moore Avenue. Now, nothing terribly ambitious is likely to be undertaken. No alterations have been proposed yet. And there is no doubt that speeding is a problem in the area. But over the years, debates regarding the future of that little piece of Pottery Road running through the Loblaws parking lot have been complicated and controversial, to say the least. We should not be surprised if, like the mythological phoenix, those issues rise again.
The LRA board of directors meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. and meetings generally take place in the Trace Manes building at Rumsey Road and Millwood. These are public meetings, and you are welcome to join us and join in. Our next board meeting is on Wed.,
Our December, January, February, March and April meetings will be on Zoom. For contact information and more details and updates, you can find us online at leasideresidents.ca. Press the Contact Us button, or visit leasideresidents.ca/contact-us. n
