Leaside Life Issue 118 March 2022

M A R C H 2022

Leaside Life No. 118

leasidelife.com

Catch up with our local heroes Pg. 3

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PP

ORTING LOCAL

BU S

ELISE MERAW

From the Hip to the Strip

E IN

Stanley Janacek of White House Meats Page 4

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Leaside Life • March 2022

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Editor’s Welcome

Heroes are all around us thank you!

Two years ago, at the start of the pandemic, Leaside Life columnist Susan Scandiffio interviewed local heroes on the Covid frontlines. Not just healthcare workers but also retailers and store staff.

Two years later, as we mark another grim anniversary of this pandemic, Susan wanted to gauge the mood of the people she interviewed in 2020.

How are they holding up? Are they feeling optimistic, or more worn down than upbeat? Not surprisingly, many are thankful for the support of colleagues and grateful that so many people are taking precautions.

“I am proud of my colleagues in healthcare as they have been so supportive and positive of each other.

Thank you to everyone for getting vaccinated, wearing masks and really being so supportive of front-

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

line workers!” said one.

But, as one doctor noted: “Two years into this pandemic we’ve seen multiple examples of compassion and generosity. Unfortunately, however, we’ve also seen misinformation, selfishness, and impatience.

That is not the way out.”

As I read his words, I’m acutely aware of his warning as trucks line highways and take over cities, all in the name of “freedom.”

Where will it all end, when will it end, will it ever end? These are the imponderables that our heroes are dealing with in their daily lives.

These people continue to put others’ interests ahead of their own, sometimes to the detriment to their own health and well-being. If you know such a hero, take the time to say thank you. It means a lot. n

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by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO In 2020, Leaside Life recognized a number of our residents who were on the frontlines battling, and keeping us safe from, Covid.

The physical, emotional, and economic strains in every corner of the globe persist and many, many heroes continue to fight for all of us.

While we could not have imagined that we would still be facing the upheaval of this pandemic two years on, these heroes continue to offer their unwavering support and dedication.

They have faced mental and physical exhaustion.

They have been challenged and frustrated by the spread of misinformation and its subsequent effects.

These heroes have been stretched almost beyond their limits, but their resiliency and their commitment to hope and to humanity are unwaver-

ing and inspirational.

We offer our sincerest thanks to those continuing to keep us all safe in these most trying times. Here they are, in their own words: Marisa Battistella Clinical Pharmacist, Hemodialysis Unit, Toronto General Hospital, UHN, Associate Professor, U of T Well, it sure has been a long and tiring two years! Everyone is tired of Covid. However, I am proud of my colleagues in healthcare as they have been so supportive and positive of each other. Thank you to everyone for getting vaccinated, wearing masks and really being so supportive of frontline workers! I find it very motivating and heart-warming that all my colleagues in healthcare, as well as friends and family, are so supportive and kind. I love seeing the lit-up hearts in windows. Thank you!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Dr. Joao B. Rezende Neto Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, General Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital Two years into this pandemic we’ve seen multiple examples of compassion and generosity. Unfortunately, however, we’ve also seen misinformation, selfishness, and impatience.

That is not the way out. If we want to enjoy the freedoms that we had before, we need to persevere. The good news is, we are closer to the end. Simply put, let’s get vaccinated and boosted so that the finish line doesn’t move farther away from where it is now.

Jim Aguanno Store Manager, Sobeys Leaside These past two years have been some of the most challenging in my career. It has been a tremendous

HEROES Page 16

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Leaside Life • March 2022

On the frontlines. We can do anything, we could be heroes

MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS: WHITE HOUSE MEATS 4

Stanley Janacek meets cute at White House Meats FROM THE COVER

Once upon a time, Eugene Whitehouse was a butcher in Windsor, Ont. Then, in the 1970s, he set himself up at the St. Lawrence Market where Stanley Janacek’s brother-in-law was one of Eugene’s butchers. In 1990, after Eugene died and his business was up for sale, Stanley’s mother mortgaged her house so her son-in-law could take over this established business. When he died in 1993, Stanley decided to step in to help “for six months or so on an interim basis,” in order to clear his mother’s mortgage.

Understand this: Stanley Janacek wasn’t a butcher by trade. Far from it. After high school, he held a number of video production jobs.

A buddy who worked for a staging company needed a helper for a few days. Stanley stepped in and gradually fell into being a technical producer in staging and lighting for a number of events like galas and balls in various venues, including Nathan

ELISE MERAW

Leaside Life • March 2022

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Phillips Square, notably when Prince Charles and Princess Diana came to town.

But Australia called, mainly because Stanley’s eldest sister lived there.

After a year, he came back home, and in the summer of 1993, worked on a cross-Canada Tragically Hip tour ...before starting his “interim basis” Whitehouse Meats job.

Stanley quickly had to learn butchering, even though “the learning curve was rather steep,” to get Whitehouse Meats back on its feet.

One day, a customer asked if he could get her a 3 lb. leg of venison roast. He said he’d try. The supplier said he could sell him 9 lbs. Stanley figured “if I can sell two, 3 lb. roasts, then I’ve covered my costs, and I can eat the last one.” The second weekend, both sold, and the third weekend, people were asking if he could get more. Then came boneless duck breasts, ostrich and other sustainably-farmed red meats.

Stanley is good at remembering names. He knows the name of the Leaside woman who regularly told him he should open a store on Bayview. The opportunity for that arose in 2001 in the location that is now COBS. His immediate neigh-

WHITE HOUSE Page 29

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Leaside Life • March 2022

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MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS: INCLUSIVE AGING 6

Do you have an “aging navigation” plan?

The Scottish poet Robbie Burns in 1785 wrote, possibly from personal experience, that even the best laid plans can go awry. His exact wording was “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley.”

Perhaps inferring the wise have contingency plans.

We all make plans. What we’ll have for dinner, vacation plans, fitness plans, financial plans, yet as Margot McWhirter, owner of Inclusive Aging (www.inclusiveaging.com), says, “often forgotten is an aging navigation plan. My business supports clients and their families to ensure plans are in place to age confidently at home.”

Margot is well qualified and experienced in this field. She has 20-plus years of work experience and numerous degrees and certificates, including her 2020 Executive Certificate in Home Modification from the Leonard Davis School of

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Leaside Life • March 2022

by SUZANNE PARK

Gerontology at the University of South California, Patient Navigation from York University, in 2019, and her Masters in Gerontology from Simon Fraser University, in 2002,

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“How easily and quickly our living circumstances can change,” she says.

“I’m diligently attentive to potential risks in my clients’ surroundings that could result in an environmentally induced disability and yet a few days ago I almost slipped and fell – a fairly common incident especially during a snowy winter.

“My academic studies and work experience in the field of gerontology have instilled in me the importance of proactive health and aging plans. That’s why I’m so passionate about raising awareness regarding the importance of planning ahead.”

Like many Leasiders, Margot shops local, and that includes her partners.

“I have on speed dial resources as diverse as acute care and rehabilitation hospitals (Sunnybrook, North York General, Michael Garron, Providence, Bridgepoint, St. John’s); health and medical professionals offering clinic and/or in-home services including GPs, ophthalmologists, chiropodists, footcare nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists; home care agencies; palliative care and rehab (both government-funded and family-funded); retirement residences; memory care centres; fitness trainers; home designers, contractors and handypersons; home health and wellness suppliers of medical equipment and technical services; salons and in-home hair stylists; private transportation; even frozen and fresh prepared meals and more!”

How does Margot define inclusive aging? As she sees it, it’s families and communities coming together to help prolong healthy living and boost the resilience of aging adults.

“My process reflects those elements.

After initial contact, a conversation is scheduled which may include additional family members. Next, we conduct an assessment of goals and needs along with an evaluation of the interior and exterior elements of the living space. Additional steps may include preparation of a person-centred care plan and recommendations to make the home accessible, safe and functional. This navigation plan may also map out relationships with caregivers and healthcare providers to address the client’s unique requirements.”

AGING Page 29

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A Leaside beauty queen from a bygone era

by T ED DEWELLES, Leaside Heritage Society Beauty pageants may seem outdated now. But they were a big deal in the previous century, especially in the years immediately before and after World War II. In Ontario alone, dozens of contests took place annually in which young women competed for the honour of being crowned “Miss War Worker,” “Miss Brantford,” “Miss Danforth,” or even “Miss Motorcade” – not to mention vying for the more prestigious titles of “Miss Toronto” and “Miss Canada.”

Leaside was no exception. As part of its annual summer carnival, introduced in the late 1930s, the town held a “Miss Leaside” competition, which lasted until at least 1963.

This was the world 16-year-old Phyllis Webb inhabited when she and her family moved to Leaside in 1942 to live at 101 Laird Drive.

As a student at Toronto’s Northern Vocational School, Phyllis acted in school plays and later joined a touring company that entertained soldiers at military camps across Ontario. She did this for three years, honing her dancing, acting, singing and deportment skills in the process.

Her love of show business soon led her to enter some of the many regional beauty contests available, where she was an immediate and impressive success. Within the space of just a few years – from 1945 to 1948 – Phyllis participated in more than 20 beauty pageants – including Miss Toronto and Miss Canada. She either won or was a finalist in virtually all of them.

Her victories included being crowned Miss Parkdale (1945),

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Leaside Life • March 2022

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Phyllis Webb (far right) was 1st runner-up in the 1946 Miss Toronto competition at the Woodbine Race Track. Also in the photo (l to r) are 2nd runner-up, Rita Ryerse; Miss Toronto, Irene Ayers; and Toronto Mayor Robert H. Saunders.

Canada’s Sky Queen (1946), Miss Gerrard (1947), Miss Eastern Ontario (1947), and Miss Apple Blossom (1948). When the young Leasider won the Miss Gerrard event, she received a $600 fur coat as a prize. As Miss Sky Queen, she was flown to Montreal for a screen test.

She also competed in the Miss Toronto pageant three times and finished as first runner–up twice – in 1945 and again in 1946.

Acknowledging her status as a formidable competitor, the Globe & Mail observed in 1948 that “Phyllis Webb… keeps popping up in beauty contests all over the province, usually near the top.”

Throughout this period, Phyllis worked as a stenographer and switchboard operator in Toronto.

She also sang with the Leslie Bell Singers – one of the most popular choral groups in Canada at the time.

In 1949, Phyllis married Robert (Don) Richards at Leaside United Church and soon thereafter left the world of beauty pageants – and Leaside – to raise a family and pursue other interests, including being an active member of the Richmond Hill Curling Club and playing guitar in its band.

Over the years, she continued to work for various employers such as Canada’s Wonderland, Royal Trust and the McMichael Art Gallery. She and her husband were married for over 50 years when he died in 2001.

Phyllis herself passed away in 2015, in Barrie, Ont., at the age of 89 – a life well and successfully lived… fit even for a queen. n

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Leaside Life • March 2022

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Retirement? Not really, just switching jobs

Leaside Life • March 2022

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Thirty-nine years. That’s how long I’ve been getting up in the morning, working a full-time job, and coming home again. Thirty-nine years. I know what you’re thinking. When you gaze at my photo that usually accompanies this column you’re thinking, there’s no way you’ve worked for 39 years. No way. Did you start when you were seven?

Very kind of you. Truth be told, that photo was taken in 2014, but I still don’t think I look 62. Neither do my sons. They figure I’m 66.

Very funny. I am certain that I’m 62.

I just don’t feel like I’m 62. Anyway, I digress, and have buried the lede.

You see, by the time you read this missive in March, I will be officially retired from the communications consulting firm I cofounded nearly 27 years ago. Yes, retired from the traditional nine-to-five (if only it had ever been nine-to-five!) day job that has helped keep a roof over our heads and food on our table. But I don’t really think of it as retiring from full-time work. I’m just switching jobs and, starting March 1st, am now devoting all my days and all of

Terry Fallis Columnist

my energy to writing my novels.

I’ve been thinking of this seismic shift in my life for nearly 14 years.

The thought first occurred to me when my wife Nancy and I were driving home from Orillia on April 30th, 2008. In what remains the biggest shock of my life, my debut (and at the time, self-published) novel, The Best Laid Plans, had somehow just been announced as the winner of the 2008 Stephen

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Leacock Medal for Humour, one of Canada’s oldest literary awards. It changed my life as a writer almost immediately. (In short order, I finally landed a literary agent and quickly signed with McClelland & Stewart, where I’ve been ever since.) Nancy knew that I was still stunned on that drive back to Toronto so she left me to my thoughts. It was during that relative silence, driving south on Highway 11, when I first dreamed about becoming a full-time writer someday. Eventually, my wife broke the silence when we hit Barrie. Her first words since leaving the Leacock Medal luncheon? “You know, they’ll write about this in your obituary.” I slowed down immediately.

Clearly, while driving home that afternoon in the spring of 2008, I had no real understanding of the economics of the publishing world and how rare it is for writers in Canada ever to sustain themselves through their words alone. But I quickly learned the financial realities of the Canadian novelist, even one whose books have somehow done quite well. So I buried the idea and over the past 14 years, I would think (wistfully) about writing full-time, I’d say probably every 20 minutes or so, and then get back to my consulting clients. While I had a very rewarding and interesting career that I enjoyed very much, nothing brought me more pleasure and satisfaction than writing my novels. And that realization grew with each new book. Now, eight novels and 14 years later, I’m finally able to focus all of my questionable cerebral powers on my novels rather than having to cram my writing side-hustle into the little spaces leftover after my consulting job had its say and its way.

And frankly, it’s only happening now because I had the very good fortune to marry well above my station.

So, as I write this column in mid-February, I have no real idea what it’s going to be like to get up every morning, climb to the library we built on the third floor of our home, and work only on my latest novel. No idea at all. But I can’t wait to find out.

A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis grew up in Leaside and is the award-winning writer of eight national bestsellers, all published

by McClelland & Stewart. His most recent, Operation Angus, is now in bookstores. n

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After more than five years navigating the challenges and red tape that has become the building approval process in the City of Toronto, the stunning architectural design of the Class A building proposed for 154 Wicksteed Ave. is nearing its final stage of approval by City Council.

If approved in May, Colliers and Lennard Commercial Real Estate will begin marketing and the new Leaside Innovation Centre should be the first mass timber flatiron building in Canada, opening its doors for business in 2024.

This would be welcome news for business partners Peter Shultz (Leaside Life, July 2020) and Charles Goldsmith, the team redeveloping the site, named the Leaside Innovation Centre (https://leasideinnovationcentre.com). Their plans for a six-storey flatiron office building will create one of the first structures in Toronto to take advantage of changes to the Ontario building code that permit heavy timber structures up to six storeys. The result is a design incorporating engineered wood elements throughout. Greg Latimer, principal of studioCANOO and a member of the design team, said, “In 2017 we proposed a mass timber structural system to the client. They were immediately intrigued by the possibility of recreating a contemporary version of the highly desirable 19th century warehouses that dot the downtown core.”

Mass timber: healthier built environment for workers Mass timber uses state-of-the-art technology to create thick, com-

Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside

As someone interested in the revitalization of Leaside’s employment zone, this project has been on my radar since I first wrote about it three years ago. At the time, I felt this project would serve as a catalyst for commercial rejuvenation, bringing, as I wrote, “400 new future-proof

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Leaside Life • March 2022

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Canada’s first mass timber flatiron building comes to Leaside

Toronto’s Leaside Innovation Centre will be the first mass timber flatiron building in Canada.

pressed layers of wood resulting in strong, structural load-bearing panels, posts, and beams. With similar strength to concrete and steel, mass timber is a lightweight, safe, environmentally friendly alternative to carbon-intensive materials and building systems supporting a physically and psychologically healthier built environment for workers. “Everyone loves a flatiron,” gushes Goldsmith, and “research shows that modern healthy buildings designed with wellness and wellbeing in mind improve productivity.”

higher paying jobs” to our community. In addition to jobs, the building would also: (1) serve as an attractive gateway into the business park, (2) help address the awkward and potentially dangerous traffic issues at that intersection, (3) add a 2,500-sq. ft. parkette that the City will not be required to maintain, and (4) encourage other property owners or potential investors to consider the synergy that could be created if Leaside evolved into a vibrant employment zone befitting the type of work associated with the fourth industrial revolution.

Approval of this project couldn’t come at a more opportune time.

In November, I wrote about “The future of employment lands in Leaside,” noting that the City was currently conducting its Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) and Growth Plan conformity exercise in order to accommodate a projected need to create homes for 700,000 new residents and 450,000 new jobs in Toronto. Further complicating the exercise is the fact that the City is currently addressing several conversion requests in Leaside that would see designated employment lands rezoned for non-employment uses such as residential.

The erosion of employment lands in Leaside remains a risk The Ontario government recently released its Housing Affordability Task Force Report (https://files. ontario.ca/mmah-housing-affordability-task-force-report-en-202202-07-v2.pdf). The report, which includes 50 recommendations, is part of the government’s consultations with municipalities, the public and industry to increase market housing supply. The driving force – a requirement for greater density – raises a concern that further erosion of employment lands in Leaside remains a legitimate risk.

A business case would need to be very strong to win City approval for conversion requests that further erode Leaside’s employment lands and threaten job growth. Dag Enhorning, president of Siltech Corporation here in Leaside, recently told City representatives that “once a conversion request is approved, we will never be able to go back,” and I agree. I feel these requests will not benefit the Leaside community if the City’s stated aim is to build “complete communities,” which requires jobs.

Perhaps the City should encourage conversion requests that target lands already zoned for residential rather than chip away at employment lands that economically benefit a few stakeholders at the expense of the many over the long run. Indeed, the topic of the “missing middle” – laneway homes and garden suites – is addressed in the report. In future, we as a community need to recognize the importance of the employment lands in the Leaside Business Park as a precious community asset. As a local economic

engine, our employment lands help support the vision for a “live-workplay” lifestyle or “15-minute city” in Leaside’s potential future. More housing at the expense of building a thriving business ecosystem that creates local jobs attractive to Leasiders makes for a poor trade.

My hat’s off to local business leaders like Peter Shultz. The owner of The Floor Shop at 154 Wicksteed Ave., a Leaside landmark for more than three decades, decided to pursue the redevelopment of the site directly instead of selling the property outright. Then, rather than leave the area, he doubled down and secured the location at 196 Wicksteed as the future home for his business. This level of commitment and willingness to invest in Leaside are admirable. The infrastructure he and Charles Goldsmith are building in the Leaside Business Park will benefit our collective community for years to come.

Do you feel the best use of Leaside’s employment lands is allowing the conversion requests to residential to proceed? Do you think garden suites and laneway housing should be permitted in Leaside? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. n

13

Lynda Gorges Broker

Passionate about helping my Clients 416-486-5588 Lynda.Gorges@gmail.com www.lyndagorges.com

Mary Myfanwy Wynne-Roberts (nee McCaul) Snetsinger Jan 28/1930 - Jan 01/2022

A resident of North Leaside for more than forty-five years, Mary’s adventuresome life included being a devoted wife and mother, a marathon runner, gardener, solo long distance canoeist and a meticulous and creative quilter.

A vegetarian for most of her life, Mary would wake up early every morning to have warm brown bread ready for her family. Mary was a humanitarian, political activist, hiker, Girl Guide Tawny Owl, environmentalist, hospital clown and a costumed historian at Todmorden Mills. She was an advocate for young people everywhere, giving words to those who could not speak through her teaching of Blissymbolics.

Mary lived by “you regret the things you don’t do, not the things that you do do” and instilled that enthusiasm into her children.

She will be sorely missed by her extended family and loving friends. She leaves us all with the great spirit of adventure that abundantly filled her own life.

No flowers please but donations to the Parkinsons Foundation in her honour gratefully appreciated. https://www.parkinson.ca/getinvolved/waystogive/#memory

Leaside Life • March 2022

FLATIRON continued

Leaside kids learn their ABCs at ABC Academy

by JANIS FERTUCK With its many playgrounds, parks and recreational facilities, the Leaside area is popular with young families and the early childhood education centres that serve them.

One such centre is ABC Academy Davisville Village, located at the corner of Balliol and Bayview. It opened in 2011 as part of a small ABC Academy group, which aims to provide both active lifestyle and academic focus, and offers other locations in Wanless Park, the Beaches and Leaside on McRae. All were acquired by BrightPath Kids childcare centres in 2018 when the company expanded into Toronto.

Centre director Brianne Leitch has worked at all four of the ABC Academy locations in various roles from centre support and educator to management. She says that this location was a natural choice, given the thriving family-oriented community, proximity to the Bayview strip and large space for outdoor learning.

ABC Davisville offers infant (3

JANIS FERTUCK

Leaside Life • March 2022

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to 18 months), toddler (18 to 30 months) and preschool (2.5 to 4 years) programs. And the academy, despite its name, is not just about learning the ABCs. The centre features an inqui-

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ry-based curriculum with specific learning goals in the four areas of Play, Skill, Language and Expression, and Academics. Infants “learn to play” while participating in activities that engage their senses, encourage communication and the use of objects. Toddlers “play to learn” while playing with peers, developing gross motor and self-help skills, increasing communication skills and learning to problem-solve.

Preschoolers are introduced to learning through a combination of play and academics. They focus on math and science in the morning and language and literacy in the afternoon. They also practise social skills like collaborating to prepare for kindergarten.

Because of Covid restrictions, their extracurricular programming has moved to a virtual platform to reduce the number of visitors in the building. The activities include dance, music and yoga classes, pre-recorded by instructors at BrightPath Kids, and a weekly interactive French program.

Another feature of the centre is a “badge program that highlights naturally occurring milestones in each child’s development,” explains Brianne. The badges are given for achievements like taking a first step, counting to 10 or singing O Canada. There are also special badges for other events and activities. The children receive pennants with all of their badges as mementos on their last day.

Part of the ABC Academy mission is valuing the importance of local community involvement and helping the less fortunate in activities such as the Terry Fox Walk, food and toy drives and school fairs. The centre plans to renew these roles when it becomes possible to do so.

In the meantime, ABC Davisville continues to flourish in the community with parents referring their families and friends to the centre and enrolling younger siblings. As Brianne says, the parents appreciate the centre’s “blend of child-directed and skill-building learning, the nurturing staff and their JK preparation program where the graduates learn specific skills for the transition to kindergarten.”

The staff look forward to serving the community by sparking curiosity and inspiring a love of learning in children for years to come. n

ary markets, and working remotely supercharged the exodus. Even Every new year begins with anticbefore the pandemic, supply was a ipation and anxiety for the real serious problem. It is now critical. estate markets. In the last two years, Toronto’s population has been the average price for homes sold growing for years and has put preshas increased by more than 50 per sure on supply. Canada is expectcent. This is unprecedented, ing more than 400,000 immiand has propelled house grants in 2022 and an even prices to record levels. In higher number in 2023.

Toronto, the average sale Canada’s immigration price is approximately policies favour educated, REAL ESTATE $1.2 million, including skilled immigrants who condominium apartbring wealth into the ments. Detached homes, country. As a result, they on average, are selling for very quickly become house almost $2 million across hunters, competing with the the city. already large group of existing The burning question is – are these potential buyers. For this reason prices pandemic driven and about to (supply versus demand) we see mulcorrect now that the worst appears tiple buyers competing for the few to be behind us? The answer is NO! properties that make it to market.

Although the pandemic accelerRecent listings in my brokerage have ated various forces at play by the seen more than 20 buyers competing beginning of 2020, the real estate for the same property on offer night. landscape was already beginning to Given that the Toronto and area change. Rising prices were driving population will continue to grow, people to the suburbs and secondthere will be continued pressure on

by CHARLENE KALIA

house prices in 2022. The prevailing belief, especially among first-time buyers, is that if you don’t buy now, you might never be able to, and as a corollary, never acquire wealth. The disparity between rising house prices and household incomes is, justifiably, responsible for this belief.

The Leaside and Bennington Heights housing situation is no different from the broader markets. In 2021, there were 34 semi-detached listings with an average sale price of $1,496,569 and 131 detached home listings with an average sold price of $2,563,038. Our incredible community continues to be a highly desirable neighbourhood with top-rated schools, shops, restaurants, parks, and close proximity to the city core. We anticipate 2022 will see the tightest demand/supply housing conditions ever recorded.

Charlene Kalia is a sales representative for Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd. and a recent recipient of the Chairman’s Award. Contact: charlene@charlenekalia.com. n

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Leaside Life • March 2022

What’s in store for the 2022 Leaside real estate market?

HEROES From page 3

Leaside Life • March 2022

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responsibility to be able to serve our community during this pandemic while constantly trying to keep my employees and customers safe.

We strive every day to provide our customers with the best service and experience they have come to expect from us.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us.

Debbie Snatenchuk Emergency Room Nurse, St. Michael’s Hospital Everyone is emotional and physically tired, worn down – this includes doctors, clerical, etc.

Covid brought forward how weakened and broken our healthcare system really was and we are all concerned about the future of healthcare – one day each of us will need it.

Nurses don’t want to be heroes.

We still do not understand the unvaccinated, that they would choose death or a life of suffering over a needle.

Dr. John F. Flannery Physical Medicine & Rehab, Associate Professor, U of T Medical Director, Musculoskeletal & Multisystem Rehab Program, Toronto In the past 18 months since my comments in May of 2020, it appears like so much has changed and yet it feels we are still stuck in a time warp. Rehab hospitals and outpatient care have remained relatively active and vibrant, supporting acute care in its role of managing those directly affected by Covid. The inpatient care has expanded to managing all levels of Covid and the non-Covid patients with rehab needs, such as post cancer, trauma, strokes, ICU stays … you name it. We have broadened our role to accommodate these challenging times with a goal of maximizing func-

tion and limiting disability back in our communities.

The level of resilience demonstrated by healthcare workers across the continuum has been incredible. This resilience has also been very stretched and tested, especially when small and vocal groups remain uninformed/ ill-informed to the reality of health and safety and then require our care as the recent data have sadly demonstrated. Our society requires a real, honest and informed conversation over “rights and safety.”

Carla Findlater Clinical Pharmacist, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Over the past two years I’ve been increasingly proud of and grateful to our resilient community that continues to show support for each other. Whether seeing our community step up to get their vaccines at the local vaccine clinics (and sharing news of open clinics), observing kindness between neighbours while running, or watching as our community supports each other on Facebook, we truly are fortunate to be in this community where every individual is helping to do their part to get us through these crazy times.

Tammy Nivet Store Manager, Valu-Mart – Bayview I really want to shout out to my staff for all their hard work that they put in over 100% everyday, still going strong in this stressful time and trying our best to keep going for our community. Another big shoutout to all the frontline workers out there. We keep saying “hang in there, we are going to get through this, it’s still tough and a big high five to all that are still going day in and day out.” Keep strong, stay safe and be kind to everyone and we will make it through this.

Dr. Leslie Beyers Family Physician Wow, what a couple of years! As a local primary care physician, I have had the privilege of working with

HEROES continued

Orla Smith Senior Clinical Program Director, ED and Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital The past year has been hard for everyone. So many people have suffered, in so many different ways. Healthcare

workers are exhausted. The nursing shortage is real, and immediate investments in nursing are critical to the sustainability of our healthcare system. In my work at St. Michael’s, I have seen the devastating impact of the pandemic on those who experience homelessness and addictions. We need to do more to provide people with stable housing and to increase services for those living with addiction. Covid can happen to anyone.

It happened to my son and me over Christmas. I’m thankful that I had the protection of three vaccinations and only experienced mild symptoms. I’m thankful to the Covid outreach service and the nurses at Michael Garron Hospital for monitoring my son’s symptoms, which were worse than mine and took longer to resolve.

My advice to everyone is to wear a mask and get vaccinated. Be kind to each other. Respect science. n

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Leaside Life • March 2022

my amazing Bayview family practice team, Sunnybrook Hospital and other North Toronto Ontario Health Team partners to deliver care to our community during these challenging times. From drive-thru flu shot clinics to being part of Team Vaccine delivering Covid vaccines to our most vulnerable, this has been a year of many firsts and I am proud of the amazing people I have met along the way. As we all continue to pivot and face new challenges in this upcoming year, please remember, it’s been a difficult time for everyone, and a smile or simple act of kindness can change a person’s day.

Leaside Life • March 2022

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Expanding housing options in neighbourhoods: EHON is coming!

Big changes proposed for “Neighbourhoods” are coming from the City, but ultimately from the province. Neighbourhoods – with a capital N – are lands designated for low density residential use. That’s 35 per cent of Toronto and even more of Leaside. Leaside has some Mixed Use lands along Bayview, Eglinton and Laird, and there have been some planned conversions from Employment Lands to Mixed Use (e.g. the area east of Laird and north of Vanderhoof), which permitted the recent condo tower development in that area. While Neighbourhooddesignated lands in the Official Plan allow for heights no higher than four storeys, Leaside mainly has one- or two-storey single family homes and two-storey walk-up apartments.

This may change if Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) – Multiplexes is approved.

Laneway housing and garden suites were recently approved by City Council – “as of right” across Toronto. City Planning is moving rapidly on multiplexes and the policy may well be approved by the time City Council holds its last regular meeting in July.

This initiative promotes so-called “missing middle housing,” i.e. semis, duplexes, fourplexes, townhouses and apartments up to four storeys. Leaside has many of these, but other than semis, the fourplexes and apartments are on main streets like Bayview and Eglinton. EHON would allow such development anywhere in the Neighbourhood-designated lands.

This variety of housing is completely absent in many suburban areas of the City where bungalows often juxtapose with more recent towers.

I support this strategy in principle based on the idea of encouraging development across the City, rather

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside

than allowing overdevelopment in certain parts of the City, such as the Yonge-Eglinton Centre. However, this strategy must be planned, not just allowing residential growth willy-nilly. This initiative should not be about “adding multiplexes” but doing it within the context of building complete communities based on good transit access, community services, employment, cultural opportunities and shopping. The best opportunities for this type of intensification are in the low density suburbs.

But the province has recently released the Housing Affordability Task Force, which ups the ante on these and many more initiatives. The report endorses several initiatives the City is currently working on: • Expanding EHON, permitting as-of-right low-rise multi-unit housing, secondary suites, and so on in residential areas throughout the province and getting rid of existing restrictions to single-family housing.

• Allowing as-of-right zoning for midrise (6-11 storeys) commercial-residential developments on all streets served by public transit.

• Reducing or eliminating minimum parking requirements.

It goes far beyond these to make a number of recommendations that frankly amount to a developer’s wish list:

• Repeal municipal policies/zoning that prioritize neighbourhood “character.”

• “Modernize” the building code to eliminate safety rules (e.g. second exit stairs) for low-rise apartments.

• Replace existing municipal zoning standards (setbacks, building depths, etc.) with province-wide uniform standards.

• Eliminate neighbourhood public meetings for developments (other than the statutory Council meeting required by the Planning Act).

• Legislate required response times at each stage of development review, and deem an application approved if any of those response times are exceeded.

• Remove/reduce residents’ right to appeal projects to the Ontario Land Tribunal component, but restore developers’ rights to appeal areawide Official Plan changes.

• Allow the Ontario Land Tribunal to award full costs against residents or municipalities on a successful appeal against a council decision that over-

HOUSING Page 29

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The Year of the Garden! How will you celebrate?

Leaside Life • March 2022

20

If you haven’t heard of the Year of the Garden yet, let me tell you now, this celebration is a big deal and the first event of its kind in the world!

It all started last March when the Canadian Garden Council proclaimed 2022 as the Year of the Garden to commemorate Canada’s rich horticulture and garden heritage and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association. At least that’s how it started, but it went on to honour the First Nations’ history of living in harmony with plants and nature. The council also included how sustainable gardening can help to fight climate change and added the important role that gardening and nature have on our mental and physical wellbeing.

Last June, that proclamation became a declaration in the House of Commons when the federal government declared 2022 as the Year of the Garden.

Here at home, our councillor, Jaye Robinson, seconded the motion to proclaim 2022 as the Year of the Garden at City Council, which was adopted unanimously. Toronto was

The Leaside Gardener Debora Kuchme Columnist

the very first city to commit to honouring the Year of the Garden!

Now, we are all invited to commemorate the past, celebrate the present and create a legacy for a more sustainable future. Are you ready?

The Year of the Garden 2022 will launch on March 20, 2022, the first day of spring, but here’s a

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sneak peek at some plans in play for Leaside.

As this is a national celebration, Communities in Bloom has been encouraging everyone to get involved and paint the town red by planting red flowers. With this in mind, the Leaside Garden Society will make an effort to paint our own neighbourhood red with primarily red plantings in all the community gardens they maintain.

But that’s not all. The LGS is planning on bringing back their popular Magical Gardens of Leaside Tour, scheduled to take place on National Garden Day, Sat., June 18. And this year, they hope to coordinate efforts with Garden Ontario and the City of Toronto to make it an especially memorable experience. Green thumbs crossed they will be able to offer the tour in-person this year.

The Milne House Garden Club has been busy making plans, too, though most of their plans are still in the works. Dale Gardiner, a member of the club, wrote me to say, “We have many ideas including how to incorporate the colour red in plantings or designs for both projects and club events. Our hope is that we will be through this pandemic by spring to a point where we could have a garden party in celebration of the Year of the Garden.”

Dale also mentioned an ambitious plan to make the children’s program at the Botanical Gardens a part of the Year of the Garden celebration.

Check out their new website www. milnehousegardenclub.ca for more information and updates.

As for me, I intend to celebrate the Year of the Garden by thinking as small as I possibly can. And that doesn’t mean I won’t be doing a lot.

It simply means I’ll be looking at the ‘little things’ in my garden to help me connect with nature in a much bigger way.

Starting from the ground up, I will pay greater attention to the health of my garden soil and every microbe that exists within it. I want to observe and understand the insects and local wildlife that call my garden home. And I hope to acknowledge and celebrate every bird, bee and butterfly that enters my garden, because ultimately, they are the best judges of how a ‘Canadian’ garden should be.

How will you celebrate the Year of the Garden? n

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THE

Curious Idler Doggie doo not!

There’s nothing prettier than a fresh snowfall…until a few days have passed and the snow is all brown…and yellow. Recently, the Idler noticed a social media kerfuffle regarding the Rolph Road school playground. Apparently, after the recent deluge of snow, the children had built snowmen and forts only to find them covered in dog pee after the weekend. Evidence that owners had not scooped the poop was also documented.

Dog owners maintain they always pick up after their dogs, but of course pee can’t be cleaned up and snow provides the visual proof of what’s really there all year. The TDSB is clear, with the signage to prove it…no dogs are allowed on school property at any time…We need to remember it’s not a park, it’s a playground. And it’s not a public area, it’s private property. Technically, unless

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you’re a student, parent or staff you shouldn’t be there…although as a community space we should all be able to enjoy it – within reason. However, we’ve witnessed this standoff between the school and pet owners for years…with, we might add, most pet owners behaving responsibly. Let’s try and be better neighbours and keep dogs out of the school playgrounds. We do have an off-leash park at Sandy Bruce just around the corner!

many of her neighbours enthusiastically helped others shovel their walks and driveways and dig out their cars. Walks were shoveled and salted and snow blowers were used up and down the street. Social media also featured thanks and kudos for Leasiders helping stranded vehicles and isolated seniors. Huzzah!

Olde Yorke Fish & Chips celebrates 25 years!

On March 16, our famous and ever popular local fish and chips restaurant celebrates 25 years in Leaside.

Owner Rachael Feather says, “We are so blessed by our community to have survived through COVID with the support of the people of Leaside.” See our extended story on Olde Yorke in the March 2017 issue on leasidelife.com.

Container gardening for spring speaker series

Local business partners with Team Canada As we watched the Olympics last month, it was gratifying to see the success of so many Canadians. A long time advertising supporter of Leaside Life, Access Storage with their local outlet on Wicksteed has become an important partner to our athletes on Team Canada.

Their partnership with Team Canada allows them to “connect and support athletes from coast to coast, share their positive stories and assist them through all of life’s transitions. We are grateful to have the opportunity to support athletes and communities across our diverse country” says Celeste Blackmore, StorageVault’s national director of corporate partnerships. “It is with great pride and patriotism that we include Team Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee in our Partnership Family.”

Good neighbours Speaking of good neighbours, after our note last month about Leasiders helping others, the Idler received word about the amazing support neighbours showed after the blizzard of January 2022. One Rumsey resident was impressed with how

Is it spring yet? The Leaside Garden Society continues its virtual speaker series with guest Anna Leggatt on Container Gardening. Anna has been a Master Gardener for over 30 years. She has an extensive gardening background as a writer, board member with various garden societies and has received several awards. She is a former high school teacher of botany and chemistry and worked for 30 years at the Kortright Centre for Conservation. April 14, 7 p.m. New members and guests are welcome to join the Zoom meeting.

Visit www.leasidegardensociety.org.

Plus…Gardening Society student scholarship Calling all students with green, eco thumbs! The Leaside Garden Society Founders’ Scholarship will award $1,000 to a student in a horticulture-related program. Must be a Canadian resident enrolled full-time in an eligible program at a post-secondary institution.

Deadline: June 30. For application, full details, eligibility and deadlines, visit: leasidegardensociety.org.

And speaking of scholarships...

Leaside High graduating students should be reminded that Leaside Life is offering a yearly $1,000 scholarship to a student intending to pursue journalism or creative writing in a post-secondary environment. Deadline is April. Visit the guidance office for more info! n

Leaside Life • March 2022

24

An important letter re: proposed Bayview tower In his January article on the 25-storey residential tower proposed for the southeast corner of Bayview and Broadview, my friend Geoff Kettel is uncharacteristically understated in expressing the degree of concern that should be brought to bear on the matter.

To put it bluntly, this application is an insult to the neighbouring community and to the principles of good planning that should govern the introduction of new built forms to an established neighbourhood.

We all know that the City’s population will increase dramatically in the years ahead. We also know that much of this growth will be directed to areas in the immediate vicinity of the new Eglinton LRT transit stops (“transit nodes,” in planning lingo.) The City’s planning department has adopted a well-considered plan to accommodate the need for change while protecting the integrity of existing stable neighbourhoods. The essence of the plan is to limit extremes and to provide suitable transitioning between new larger scale/higher density development and existing smaller scale/lower density communities.

There are various ways to measure density. One of the most common is floor space index (FSI – the ratio of floor space to land area). The Bayview/Broadway application proposes an FSI greater than 8.5. To help to understand the significance to attach to this number, note that the FSI of the approved new development at Sunnybrook Plaza – right at the Bayview transit node – is less than four. Note further that Broadway is at the edge of the planning area that the City has defined for the Bayview zone.

That is exactly where the densities are expected to taper out to provide a smooth transition to the established neighbouring community. This proposal, however, ignores that principle and turns good planning on its head: It seeks to place a particularly high density building right at the edge of the zone.

Another way to measure density is people per hectare. City planners accept 600 residents and jobs/hectare as reasonable for Yonge/Eglinton. The corresponding figure for Bayview/ Eglinton is 200. A hectare is almost two and a half acres; this application proposes to put 288 residential units,

LETTER continued 25

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on top of ground floor commercial uses, all in a single building. Enough said.

Then there is the matter of height. At 25 storeys, the proposed height is in the same league as heights anticipated for Yonge/Eglinton. It is instructive to note that the heights approved for new construction at Sunnybrook Plaza – right at the transit node – are 12 and 16 storeys.

As if the 25-storey height in and of itself is not enough to cause alarm, consider the topography of the area.

Bayview Avenue slopes dramatically upwards as it extends north from Eglinton (and the residential lands of North Leaside to the east slope away from Bayview.) The corner of Bayview at Broadway – the proposed building site – is close to the high point of land for the area. At 25 storeys, the proposed development would not only be the tallest building in the vicinity, it would be the highest thing for miles in all directions.

Far from providing a smooth transition to the established community next door, this proposal represents a raised middle finger aimed at its neighbours.

My comments above don’t begin to address issues of inevitable visitor parking overflow, the need for outdoor recreational space, and the pressures that massively increased residential use will impose on school facilities in the area. These are matters that will be analyzed in detail by City planners if the application proceeds, but even without formal review and analysis we know that we can anticipate serious problems in regard to those matters if anything like this proposal goes ahead.

The waters have been somewhat muddied by a plan that the province has introduced for the area, but that does not alter the existing nature of the development site or the principles of good planning that should be brought to bear in this case.

Toronto’s population is going to increase dramatically in the years ahead and it makes sense to direct that growth to high-order transit corridors.

The Bayview/Eglinton area is going to change. The new buildings will be bigger and taller than the ones we are used to. We are already seeing this begin to happen. So far, the changes we see fit generally within defensible planning principles suitable for the area. This proposal doesn’t even try to.

John Parker.

John Parker is the former councillor, Toronto Ward 26 (now Don Valley West) n

26

Broadway tower not North Leaside’s first community protest

Leaside Life • March 2022

by GEOFF KETTEL The application for a 25-storey tower at Bayview and Broadway I wrote about in last month’s Leaside Life is not in fact the first development proposal on the block between Craig and Broadway to meet solid community opposition. We have a local resident, the daughter of a couple of 1960s activists, who lives near the site today, to thank for offering archival photos of the earlier community efforts.

The photos, placards and all, reflect many differences from today – and not just the dresses, suits and hairstyles! It was a public demonstration of opposition by residents who could walk over to the Leaside Town Hall (at McRae and Randolph) and directly confront the decision-makers. Today, unfortunately, the decision-makers in matters like this are less at City Hall than at Queen’s Park. I say that with no disrespect to our hard-working and dedicated City Councillor Jaye Robinson.

(Note that the placard messages like “Apartment Builders go to Thorncliffe!, “Keep Leaside’s Air Pure,” “Their ($) Gain is Our Loss” reflect the sentiments of 60 years ago, and are mostly not acceptable today.)

What caused such ire at 1833-

1835 Bayview 60 years ago? The notes from Town Council for Sept.

3, 1963 in Jane Pitfield’s Leaside report that “Council chambers are overflowing as Leaside residents confront Council. A 14-storey apartment (building) is proposed for Bayview and Craig Crescent.

Five hundred people have signed a petition against it.” And it worked!

They were successful in reducing the height of the building. Today the pleasant four-five-storey apartment building sits immediately south of the site of the proposed 25-storey condo at Bayview/Broadway. n

Leaside Life 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. n

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Leaside Life • March 2022

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Did the Leaside traffic management town hall deliver?

The much-anticipated virtual Town Hall meeting focusing on Leaside’s traffic issues took place on February 9th. Sponsored by Councillor Jaye Robinson, well chaired by the manager of the City’s Public Consultation Unit, it had been described by Eric Chan, manager of the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan, as “a facilitated quick win discussion.” It was an interesting event, and well attended. According to event organizers, there were 180 registrants.

Questions from attendees included such topics as photo radar, effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of signage versus enforcement, planning for Leaside’s future, as development pressures from both condo and retail pressures increase, and, of course, speeding.

Unfortunately, the virtual format of the meeting did not permit follow-up comments or corrections.

While this allowed a larger number of participants to question, it also meant that the answers were not always complete. For instance, back-

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

ground on the controversial past proposal regarding Redway Road, and more information about speed humps (as opposed to speed pads, which are different traffic calming tools) would have been very helpful.

And the quick wins, or quick fixes, as described, are not very quick.

As Leaside Life readers know, the Leaside Residents Association has been arguing for visible interim or experimental traffic calming measures to provide relief and greater safety to Leaside streets, soon, while the longer-term Leaside-wide traffic plan is being designed. I’ve had a lengthy conversation with Eric about this, but his reply continues to be that this would be premature.

Phased improvements (in the next year) include advisory, not enforce-

able, measures such as “Slow Down” lawn signs, “Watch-YourSpeed” signs, and flex posts. Shortterm improvements, requiring North York Community Council approval, would have an approximate one-to five-year timeline and could include turn prohibitions, traffic calming and pavement marking. Longer-term improvements could take five to 10 years to implement.

A key reason for these timelines is, Eric’s team state, they require more traffic data. One cannot disagree with the desirability of collecting more current data, but I have to say that, after decades of conducting traffic studies to protect Leaside’s character, I take issue with the claim that “existing data from traffic studies conducted in previous years is outdated.”

We already know that future directional traffic flow will be the same, as now, along with entry/exit points for flow-through traffic, because of major residential and retail pressures. The specific figures may alter, but the patterns will likely continue.

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WHITE HOUSE From page 4

We should not have to start from the beginning, especially since our traffic problems remain a major source of concern to Leasiders, and data that have been collected show clear trends consistent with past studies.

There will be other opportunities for public consultation, and we must continue to advocate for real results.

The LRA looks forward to working with the City, and for you, as the planning process moves forward.

Our next LRA monthly board meeting is on Wed., March 2nd, at 7:30 p.m., on Zoom. If you’d like to watch or participate, please let us know by that date and we’ll send you the Zoom access details. Visit: www.leasideresidents.ca. n

bours then were Alex Farm Cheese and Passion Fruits, so they formed a sort of mini market. In 2005, when Ray Gork of Allen’s Hardware decided to downsize to be just a paint supply store, the second half of the building became available.

For Thanksgiving that year, customers ordered their turkeys at the old location, but were told to pick them up at the new one. Stanley and his employees moved everything down the street on dollies, and were only closed for one business day.

Nowadays, Stanley enjoys employing students for after-school and weekend work. “(They’re) nice to have around,” he says, and “keep the place young.” Many who start working in their early high-school years still come back to help out when they can.

Even though there are no retail meat-cutting courses offered at com-

AGING From page 6 Her passion is seeing clients thrive and families confident that their loved ones are well supported and with plans in place for unexpected situations.” And like Robbie Burns, who wrote of “bitter-biting wind and thy sweet neighbour” in his 1786 poem, To a Mountain, Margot asserts that her mantra is “Life is bitter and sweet. I support people through the bitter to find the sweet.” n

HOUSING From page 18 rides a staff recommendation.

• Penalize municipalities that fail to meet provincial housing growth targets and approval timeline requirements by reducing provincial funding.

The task force fails to recognize the role of land speculation and the increase of investment properties compared with homeowner properties. Leaside experienced a 30 per cent increase in average house price in the last year alone. Toronto and much of Ontario is experiencing “out of control, hyper escalation of home prices” as stated in Councillors Colle and Filion’s Member Motion (which passed) to request the Government of Ontario introduce a Home Speculation and Home Flipping Tax to help stop the extreme increases in home prices driven by land speculators and home flippers in the City of Toronto.

What do you think about EHON and the other initiatives? We need to hear from you. n

Quick facts: 1. The original Whitehouse Meats at the St. Lawrence Market is now owned and run separately

by Stanley’s sister.

2. The Bayview Store is called White House Meats to differentiate it from the St. Lawrence Market business.

3. Stanley opened another location on the Kingsway in 2004.

4. Stanley doesn’t use social media. He prefers to “concentrate on the physical and be in the here and now.”

munity colleges, learning to butcher can be done as an entry level position. Stanley observes that “there are a lot more full-service butchers out there.” He’s not worried. “I want a bigger pie, not a bigger piece of the pie.”

More recently, he’s stocking more marinated and prepared meats.

“People like that it takes away the prep work,” he observes. There are also meat and deli-related items for sale. If he finds them “interesting,” he’ll put a few on his shelves. One recent addition is Heavy Hitter Hot Sauces. The manufacturer’s day job is in construction, but he loves hot sauces, which he makes on the side.

Side note: earlier on, he worked for Stanley at the St. Lawrence location.

You can also find Stanley on the Bayview Leaside Business Improvement Area executive, finishing up his second term. n

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Leaside Life • March 2022

TRAFFIC continued

Road safety and the City’s snow storm response

Leaside Life • March 2022

30

On January 17, Toronto received a record-setting 55cm of snowfall in just 15 hours. While I understand that responding to a snowfall of this magnitude is a complex undertaking, it is clear that the City needs to be better prepared for future major snow events. Three weeks after the initial storm, my office continued receiving emails and phone calls from Ward 15 residents – including many in Leaside – regarding inadequately cleared streets and sidewalks, impassable school routes, and roads that were reduced to a single lane.

At the February City Council meeting, I voted to direct the General Manager of Transportation Services to undertake a post-operational review of the City’s response to January’s major snow event. This report will investigate the quality of service delivery on sidewalks and roads, timeliness of snow removal activities, and mechanisms to improve the PlowTO Map website.

While this was one of the most significant storms in recent history, it certainly will not be the last. It is vital that the City have a plan to

make our streets safe quickly and effectively.

Jaye Robinson

Councillor, Ward 15, Don Valley West

Celebrate

Leaside NTP meeting wrap-up On February 9, Transportation Services hosted the first public consultation meeting for the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan (NTP). My sincere thanks to all the neighbours who took time out of their evening to join us.

Using a combination of traffic data and community feedback, City staff will develop a multi-phased plan to address road safety issues in Leaside that reflects the neighbourhood’s concerns, ideas, and priorities. We heard from many neighbours about problem streets and intersections, potential solutions, and the desire for the NTP to consider long-term community needs.

If you weren’t able to attend, you can learn more about the plan and watch a recorded video of the meeting at www.toronto. ca/LeasideNTP. As I said in my opening remarks, the best traffic safety plans are developed in consultation with the people who know the local issues best – you. n

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