Leaside Life Issue 129 February 2023

Joseph Fleming, Leaside’s resident doctor Pg. 3

One of my greatest pleasures as editor of Leaside Life is learning something new every month about this wonderful community while reviewing the content for the issue.

But imagine my surprise – and delight – to see the home of friends of mine profiled in Ted DeWelles’ heritage column in the February Leaside Life...and discovering the history behind the house I’ve visited so many times over the years without knowing anything about its storied past.

49 McRae, a stately house at the corner of McRae and Bessborough, belonged to Dr. Joseph Pliny Fleming, Leaside’s Medical Officer of Health in the late 1930s and 1940s. I’d often wondered why there was a built-in medicine cabinet in the kitchen. Hmm – for those unforeseen kitchen disasters? Now I know.

Current owners Greig and Erica Henderson had the good sense to retain many of the features of the original home, including the tiles,

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

basement doctor’s office and Dr. Fleming’s surgery (though without the surgical implements). As Greig told Ted DeWelles, “As soon as we saw it, we knew this was the house for us.”

Writing every month for the Leaside Heritage Preservation Society, Ted unearths fascinating didyou-know stories that highlight Leaside’s rich heritage. This is certainly one of them. What will he write about next?

As we were going into production, we learned that LHPS is now registered as a charitable organization that can accept and issue tax receipts for donations, recruit sponsors and appraise Leaside artifacts. n

PHOTO OF JOSEPH PLINY FLEMING, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO’S VICTORIA COLLEGE YEARBOOK, 1930.

Let’s peak inside the house of Dr. Joseph Fleming

by TED DEWELLES, Leaside Heritage Preservation Society

Leaside has had more than its share of interesting and unique homes. Maybe you know some of them:

• The famous Octagon House of John Lea, after whom Leaside was named.

• “Divadale,” the long-gone mansion of James Flanagan in north Leaside.

• The Hydro Substation house on Malcolm Road.

• The old Leaside jailhouse on Markham (now Stickney) Avenue, and

• Several “lottery houses” given away in ticket-draws in the late 1930s and 1940s.

Lesser known are the residences of many practising physicians. These were “purpose-built” homes often with dedicated entrances, rooms and facilities for patients – in addition to featuring living quarters for the doctors and their families.

One example is the home of Dr. Joseph Pliny Fleming (1905-1976)

Dr. Fleming’s house as it appears today.

at 49 McRae Dr. at the southwest corner of McRae and Bessborough.

Dr. Fleming served as Leaside’s Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in the late 1930s and 1940s – in addition to having his own private practice in the community.

He received his medical degree

from the University of Toronto and was licensed to practise medicine in 1930. By 1936, he was living in Leaside at 3 Donegall Dr., and by 1940 he had purchased the house on McRae, which had just been built

DR. FLEMING Page 24

Bayview’s Indian Street Food Company sees stars

Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life

Leasiders have good reason to feel smug. One of our own – a Bayview restaurant – received a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand when the big Michelin announcements for Toronto were made in September. Hoshang Bakhshi, the co-owner of Indian Street Food Company, was certainly pleased, but equally surprised. In fact, a friend phoned him at home on the award evening and asked why he wasn’t at the ceremony. It turns out the email invitation and notification had landed in his spam folder. The Bib Gourmand, according to Michelin, “is most definitely not a consolation prize.” It recognizes “a simpler style of cooking, which is recognizable, easy-to-eat and offers

something you feel you could attempt to replicate at home,” “a three-course meal at a reasonable price.” In the

case of Indian Street Food, the commendation comments that it “has a tight menu of street food favourites and regional curries from various corners of India.” Indian Street Food was the only Leaside restaurant to be honoured, and also the only one noted in Toronto serving Indian food. While Indian Street Food has been on Bayview since 2012, Hoshang only appeared on the scene three and half years ago – just before the start of the pandemic.

He is originally from Kabul, Afghanistan where he was employed by construction companies associated with the United States Army. In 2015, as things were starting to change in the country, he and his wife decided that this would be a good time to leave. Applying to the US was an obvious possibility, but “the flag of Canada was a big draw,” he says. He had always loved our red and white flag, so Canada was where they applied. After arriving, he took a general construction course and a plumbing course, and then took on a variety of jobs. A friend who had made the investment to own Indian Street Food asked him if he’d like to join as a co-owner. Hoshang said yes – and now he spends nearly all of his evenings at Indian Street Food. Luckily, back in Kabul, he often travelled to India, and learned Hindi

LORNA KRAWCHUK

Hoshang Bakhshi

THANKS LEASIDE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Burritos. Bowls. Salads. Wraps. Soups. Smoothies. Juices and more…

LEA SIDE Community PHARMACY

795 Eglinton Ave. East Toronto, ON M4G 4E4

Tel: 416-422-0186

Fax: 416-422-0185

Limit

45 Wicksteed Ave. (SmartCentre Plaza) 647•417•1716

M-T 9-6, FRI 9-5, SAT 9-12

FREE Delivery all over GTA ALL Drug Plans Accepted

Blister Packs •

FOR ALL YOUR WINDOW COVERING NEEDS CONTACT PAUL LUSSIER AT 416-481-7207 OR AT PAUL@PARALLELEINTERIORS.COM

Remenyi House of Music hits the right notes on Vanderhoof

by KEN MALLETT

A family musical tradition that traces its history to a teen-aged Johannes Brahms playing the piano in a raucous dockside saloon during the 1850s is coming to Leaside. In fact, it’s here now.

Remenyi House of Music, a family-run business intimately connected with a world-renowned concert violinist in the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the 19th century, has opened a new store at 109 Vanderhoof Ave.

Leaside has long been known as a family-friendly neighbourhood, a place to raise children in character homes set on spacious streets with a leafy tree canopy overhead. That’s why the Remenyi House of Music chose to make their new home here.

“We love that it is a family neighbourhood as we mainly cater to families,” said Michael Remenyi Jr., the great grandson of founder

Zoltan Reményi.

“I am very familiar with the area and its demographics. I grew up at Yonge and Eglinton,” he said.

“When the former St. John’s Music site became available during the pandemic, it was a perfect fit. It was the right size, had ample parking, and was close to two major highways as well as the new LRT line on Eglinton.”

The family for many years had a store on Bloor St. in the Yorkville district near Avenue Road where it was highly visible to passersby drawn to the sight of magnificent grand pianos. The Yorkville store was sold in 2018 to Tribute Communities to be replaced by a new condominium that will house over 40 residential units and a ground-floor retail space.

“When the condo construction is complete on Bloor, we have rights to retain the retail space,” Remenyi said.

“However, it will be much smaller and would operate as a boutique showroom only. So, we are planting roots here in Leaside for the foreseeable future, regardless of how Bloor progresses,” he added.

The story of Remenyi Music began in July of 1890, when Mihály Reményi, a newly appointed “master violin maker,” opened a tiny violin shop in his native city of Budapest, Hungary.

That particular Reményi was heir to a distinguished musical legacy through a predecessor, Edouard Reményi, an illustrious musical figure

PHOTOS COURTESY OF REMENYI

Mi Casetta, Su Casetta in Leaside’s little corner of Italy

There is a welcome new addition to Leaside’s dining scene at the corner of Millwood and Randolph roads. La Casetta, Italian for a “small home or cottage,” is indeed a cozy and charming Italian restaurant which opened this past October after Green Canoe, a popular breakfast and lunch spot, closed its doors in May.

The owners, Cristina and Mathan Rajaratnam, have three other restaurants in Toronto: Café Oro di Napoli in downtown Toronto, and Pizzeria Oro and Via Napoli in the west end. All four restaurants

specialize in Neapolitan-style pizzas and homemade pastas. Café Oro di Napoli was, in fact, featured in the 2022 list of “The Seven Best Italian Restaurants in Toronto” by Best in Toronto.

Cristina and Mathan have lived in Leaside for many years and say that because they love the area and community, they “always hoped to open a restaurant here one day.” So, when they saw the opportunity at this location, they acted to purchase it in two days and spent about five months renovating and “making the space as we envisioned it,” explains Mathan. The décor includes wood panelling, exposed brick and a variety of photographs, all of which create a warm, homey and relaxed atmosphere, befitting its name. They also installed a special stone pizza oven for their Neapolitan pizzas, which are crafted with handmade 72-hour fermented dough and are available in two styles, Pizze Rosse with San Marzano tomato sauce from Italy and Pizze Bianche without the sauce.

When chefs Giovanni and Mathan himself opened their first restaurant, they spent months developing and finalizing a successful menu by preparing and perfect -

PHOTOS JANIS FERTUCK

Chefs Teja and Surren with the pizza oven.

Janis Fertuck Columnist

LA CASETTA continued

ing their original recipes. Some of their most popular dishes are the appetizers Tagliere di Salumi e Formaggi, Calamari alla Griglia, Burrata Salad, Spaghetti all’Amatriciana, Rigatoni ai Fungi and Oro, Diavolo and Tartufo pizzas. The desserts, made in-house, include tiramisu, panna cotta and cannoli. Cristina reports that the restaurant is doing “amazingly well” even after only a few months. She says, “It has exceeded our expectations in terms of how fast a regular clientele was established. And the feedback from our customers has been phenomenal. We are very thankful.” The restaurant is certainly popular with the locals (including my husband and me). One couple, Barb and Bill Kinnear, call it a “hidden gem” that provides “excellent Italian food and wine at reasonable prices and is just a seven-minute walk from our home.”

Another accolade for La Casetta came when it was recently named as one of “Toronto’s Six Best New Pizza Places of 2022” by Marcus Mitropoulos on the website Streets

of Toronto . For all of these reasons, it is not surprising that on any given night there is a steady stream of customers collecting their takeout orders and Uber Eats drivers picking up their deliveries, in addition to those seated at the dining tables.

The manager, Sal, feels that the restaurant is a good fit for a “very friendly neighbourhood where everyone seems to know each other. It is a welcoming space with a staff that feels like a family in a place that feels like a home rather than a job.”

Before joining the family, though, be sure to reserve a table in advance, especially on the weekends since this Casetta fills up fast. n

Owner and chef Mathan Rajaratnam.

Leaside Gardens turns 70!

I know I’ve written about my less than stellar minor hockey career before in this space, not to mention stories about Saturday afternoons spent swimming at the pool and Friday nights skating with my friends. But I could not let the 70th anniversary of Leaside Memorial Gardens pass unnoticed. Yes, Leaside Gardens opened in 1952, and has been serving the community in so many ways in the 70 years since. As a kid growing up in Leaside, certain places loom large in my memory. These were usually the locations where we played and had our happiest times and adventures. Talbot Park, Trace Manes Park, the Bayview shopping strip, Bessborough’s schoolyard, etc. But no Leaside locale holds more mem

Terry Fallis Columnist

weeks passed and we grew more confident in the water, we started to enjoy it. Eventually, we were strong enough swimmers to venture into the deep end and start exploring the excitement of what we called “the low” diving board and “the high” diving board. That was a game changer.

There we were, springing as high as we could off the low board and executing the perfect can-opener (you know, one leg extended, the other leg crooked as we pulled our knee up and then leaning back as we hit the water almost in sitting position). Nothing gave us more satisfaction at that age than a can-opener and its attendant “boom” and splash that sometimes seemed to climb almost to the ceiling. It was how you got

I were six years old at the time and were of course enrolled in swimming lessons. I confess, we didn’t love swimming lessons, so our early relationship with the Gardens was initially an uneasy one. But as the

FALLIS continued

against liability claims. We went on to spend a good number of Saturday afternoons at the pool, riding our bikes from home. Great memories. But in the fall, our allegiance shifted to the arena when house league hockey started. I still remember my very first hockey practice. It was Saturday, Oct. 12, 1968 (odd that I can remember the date, but I can). We were eight years old. I was on a team called Darryl Products – I never did discover what “products” our team sponsor supplied. Our coach didn’t hand out the team jerseys and socks until the first game. So, for my first three hockey practices, I wore the Leafs jersey I’d received the previous Christmas and a purple pair of my mother’s leotards with white hockey tape standing in for the stripes. Yes, I know, I was very cool. Our team won the championship that very first year. Tim and I played hockey at Leaside until we finished high school and headed off to university. Along the way we collected several hockey injuries, including torn knee ligaments and a broken leg for Tim

and a concussion for me (helmets then weren’t what they are today!). We also managed to earn spots on what they called back then, the AllStar team, and played tournaments in various communities, including a memorable tourney in Scituate, Massachusetts.

But our Leaside hockey connection did not end there. No, Tim and I went on to coach our sons in their house league careers for another seven or eight years. Nope, not done yet. Now, at 63(!), we still play some of our ball hockey league games at Leaside when we’re rained out at Withrow Park. It is quite surreal to play at Leaside now while still carrying such vivid childhood hockey memories spanning 55 years.

So, let’s raise a glass to Leaside Memorial Gardens and its 70 years of service to our community. Here’s to the next 70!

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. His most recent, Operation Angus , is in bookstores. You can also subscribe to his newsletter: https://terryfallis. substack.com. n

The Good. The Bad. And the Comet

by DAVID CRICHTON

“Rare green comet passing by earth.” That was the headline ticker playing on the television above my head, during my teeth cleaning at Laird Dental. The ticker continued, “Last seen 50,000 years ago.” Last seen…by whom?, I wonder. By my distant relative as he lay there under the stars, having his thick hairy leg chomped by a sabre-toothed tiger? And the image on the screen looked more like the cover of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon than a comet. It occurred to me that I was 50,000 years old, having known that reference.

bother? Why are you cleaning them? None of this matters. The politics we talked about earlier, the weather…my teeth. We’re just a blink in this whole thing. And it will just keep going on without us.”

THE LEASIDE OBSERVER

My hygienist just looked at me. The kind of look that lasts a few beats too long and makes you realize you need to say something before you’re the afternoon’s office gossip fodder. “I sound crazy, don’t I?” One beat…Two beats…Three beats.

“You have some tooth polish on your lip.”

“All done,” announced my hygienist.

“Did you see that green comet? None of this matters,” I said, with the polisher barely out of my mouth. “What’s that?” she replied.

“That green comet. It won’t be back for 50,000 years. All THAT is going on out THERE. And here I am getting my teeth cleaned. Why

I was back in my car, driving along Laird, worrying about the green comet. It reminded me that I needed to pick up some groceries. Namely, avocados, asparagus, spinach, and a few other items that are not green. I swung onto Esandar Drive and pulled into the Longo’s plaza. Within 15 minutes, I had what I needed. I headed to the 12-item express checkout. With 18 items. Ugh. 18 items…Am I going to get grief? Screw it. It doesn’t matter.

None of it matters. There won’t even be express checkouts in 50,000 years. I put the items on the conveyor belt. The cashier looked at the items. Then he looked at me. He’d seen this before. I gave a weak, squinty smile – the kind you make when you ask your server for “Just one more thing” – for the fourth time. I looked at his name tag so I could apologize and use his name. You know, to get that human connection. The tag read, M-A-something-something-Y. Marky? Macky? Mashy? Dammit. My 50,000-year-old eyes didn’t have their glasses on.

“Sorreeee, I thought I only had… does it matter?” I didn’t really sell it. And he was definitely not buying. The items were already in my bag.

“That’ll be $68.27; how would you like to pay?”

Holding my phone up, “Apple Pay?”

“Go ahead.” Beeeep.

And then it happened. The thing that happens every time I check out at any large grocery store in the neighbourhood. The thing that makes me wonder if there isn’t some weird Groceteria Law that states: All receipts must be handed directly to the customer, rather than dropped in the bag, unless otherwise asked!

It’s a thing. Trust me. You won’t be able to un-notice it now. Sometimes I just wait, silent, not saying a word. Seeing who will crack first. And so it was, this time. My bag was open. One hand on each handle. Tight-lipped and resolute. I’m Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Minus the wet stub of a cigar. Or the cool factor. And yet still, the receipt passed right over the bag, to be handed directly to me. I didn’t flinch. The customer behind me was waiting. The whole store was watching, I just knew it. I’m pretty sure there were faces outside pressed up against the glass, too. The pressure mounted. One beat… Two beats…

My squinty smile reappeared, “Is it okay to put it in the bag?”

“Does it really matter?”he asked. Damn. He was good. M-Asomething-something-Y, for the win. Along with being co-founder of advertising agency Grip Limited, and partner in ManleyUnderwear. com, David Crichton has won numerous awards for his writing, including a Kitchener-Waterloo Kiwanis Club Silver Trophy, in Grade 7. n

Show Your Heart Shop Local

GTHL Top Prospects Game boasts three talented Leasiders

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO

On January 24th, the top 40 GTHL Under-16 ‘AAA’ players competed in the prestigious 2023 GTHL Top Prospects Game.

And three of those players were from right here in M4G.

Kieran Witkowski, Matheas Stark and Adam Smeeton were all selected to play based on their outstanding hockey careers.

This was the 13th annual year of the Top Prospects Game, which has seen current NHL stars such as Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner and Darnell Nurse chosen to play.

Kieran Witkowski

Witkowski began skating at the age of three and after watching his dad and uncles play hockey in a men’s league, jumped into the game.

The St. Mike’s student started his hockey career with the Leaside Flames and played with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens before joining the

AAA Toronto Marlboros two seasons ago.

A left-handed shooter, Witkowski plays and trains year-round with a number of coaches and trainers, including Dan Noble at GRIT ath-

FROM THE COVER

letics on Laird. He also plays on his school’s volleyball team and golfs.

The player is “very honoured and excited to be selected to the GTHL Top Prospects Game” and is “so grateful for (his parents) and all they do for (him).”

Matheas Stark

Stark, who has been with the Toronto Marlies for five years, started his hockey journey at the age of four with Leaside Hockey.

Early on, he was inspired by Sidney Crosby and like Sid, works hard year-round, noting that he works with the “best trainer in the world,” Dan Noble.

The forward currently ranks in the top 10 list of potential picks for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft and has been described by one OHL analyst as “dangerous off the rush, (with) very good vision with the puck, and possesses a great shot with a lightning-fast release.”

This left-handed shooter thanks those closest to him who have backed him in his hockey journey. “My dad because he introduced me to hockey and he’s super supportive. He also pays for everything! My mom too because she’s very supportive.”

Adam Smeeton

Wanting to emulate his older brothers, Smeeton began playing hockey at the age of four. He has moved continuously up the ranks and has played his past five years

Adam Smeeton on the ice for the Don Mills Flyers.

with the AAA Don Mills Flyers.

Citing the effective leadership and strong two-way game of Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins as inspirational, Smeeton keeps his own game strong with training beyond that with his team. He works out throughout the year at Pure Fitness and in the off season does conditioning and strength training at GRIT with Dan Noble.

The Leaside student is a multisport athlete who played competitive baseball with the North York Blues AAA club from 2016 to 2022 and also loves to golf.

On being selected for the Top Prospects Game, Smeeton notes that “it’s an honour to be selected. There are so many good players in the GTHL AAA loop and to be chosen is very exciting. It’s an opportunity to showcase our abilities and hopefully gain attention to get to the next level in hockey.”

With their outstanding skills recognized through their selection into the GTHL Top Prospects Game, all the players’ futures are definitely bright. n

Leasider Ava Gilbart putts above her weight

tournaments.

Susan Scandiffio Columnist

In 2021 when Leasider Ava Gilbert was in Grade 5, she qualified to play on her school’s high school golf team.

That’s right. High school. The then 10-year-old competed against players as old as 17.

Because Ava Gilbart is just that good.

Gilbart’s dad Mike describes her as “curious, creative, intelligent, very loving, caring and gentle,” but also as “very determined in her endeavours.”

It’s clear her determination and positivity are fueling her success.

Gilbart cites Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson as her favourite golfer, remarking that Henderson always has a smile on her face and is confident and positive during her

With this confidence and a massive amount of skill, Gilbart has had an astounding history of success as a golfer since she began playing tournaments as an 8-year-old. She has qualified and played in the U.S. Kids World Golf Championships in Pinehurst, North Carolina three times, played in the Golf Ontario U13 Championship as an 11-year-old and finished first in the 2021 Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour at the Turnberry Golf Club. This past summer, Gilbart qualified to play in the prestigious Drive, Chip & Putt (DCP) National Finals at the Augusta National Golf Club, to be played on April 2nd this year.

In order to qualify, players must advance

through three rounds of play, winning the final event to make it to the Augusta National.

This year there were thousands of kids competing in the event from all over the US and Canada. Out of those thousands, Gilbart is one of only 10 who qualified in her age group.

Her coach, Sean Burke, comments that “one of (Gilbart’s) biggest strengths is how athletic she is and that translates to her golf swing. She has one of the most natural and athletic swings I’ve seen for a junior golfer.”

She is indeed very athletic. Away from the golf course, Gilbart plays tennis, soccer, and basketball, swims and runs cross-country for her school.

In the spring of 2022, Gilbart might have faced a setback when she broke her wrist. The cast was removed in June. Her ability to rebound from that injury speaks to her confidence, positive attitude and overall fitness level.

Not only did Gilbart return to play, she competed in the first of the three rounds of qualifying tournaments for the DCP finals that very month. She advanced through that round

MIKE GILBART

LEASIDE SPORTS

High-rise development at Bayview and Eglinton demands framework plan

Interest in tall development in the Bayview and Eglinton area went sky-high in 2022. New applications came on the heels of the one for 1837-1845 Bayview at Broadway (25 storeys, November 2021). Development applications for

Geoff Kettel Saving old Leaside

towers have spread east from Yonge to Mount Pleasant along Eglinton and have now reached Bayview. Seven high-rise applications have been received (not counting the Sunnybrook Plaza at 660 Eglinton Ave. East application, in 2017, for buildings a little taller than mid-rise – 11 and 16 storeys). The second application on the east side of Bayview, submitted in November, 2022, is for 1787 Bayview (the overbuild of the LRT station) including the two quads at 1783-85 and 1779-81 Bayview at 35 storeys.

As Leasiders it’s easy to focus only on the east side of Bayview. But that would be a mistake. Because the west side of Bayview, and both sides of Eglinton Avenue, west of Bayview, have received several tall applications recently:

• 1840 Bayview (ESSO station), at Broadway (34 storeys)

• 2-20 Glazebrook– part of the row of semi-detached homes built in the 1990s (34 storeys)

• 537 Eglinton, at Hoyle (25 storeys)

• 586 Eglinton, the medical building (32 storeys)

• 589-595 Eglinton, at Mann Avenue (35 storeys)

The above applications represent a total of over 2,400 units, in addition to the 400 units approved at 660 Eglinton Ave. East.

A pattern is emerging of dense and tall development in the Bayview Focus Area (500 metres around the Bayview intersection). The applications appear to have taken a signal from the 1837-45 Eglinton (Broadway) application and have come in with corresponding or even higher heights. This is a different scenario from what was envisaged in the City’s Midtown in Focus study of high-rise at the core (Bayview and Eglinton intersection) and mid-rise away from the core. This increased intensification can be attributed to the provincial government’s overriding of the City of Toronto approved Midtown in Focus plan with substantially increased heights (25 to 35 storeys) in areas away from the core in their OPA 405.

The

need for a framework plan

This shift means we need to look at the cumulative impacts of the applications as a whole, as well

as individually. With this realization in mind the Leaside Residents Association (LRA) has submitted a request to City Planning to develop a “Leaside Bayview/Eglinton Gateway Framework Plan” with a vision that complements the existing community, and a cohesive design approach for the public realm encompassing the various developments at Bayview and Eglinton.

There should be appropriate transition in height and density within the Bayview Focus Area. While significant policy conflicts exist within OPA 405, it appears the Bayview Focus Area is to be developed primarily as a mid-rise area with tall buildings considered in closer proximity to the LRT station. A framework plan is needed for the area around the station to ensure that development reasonably transitions to surrounding lower density areas and results in a “densified” but liveable community that meets the needs of both existing and future residents.

High-rise development on Bayview Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East through Leaside will be transformative. It is a huge departure from Leaside’s early beginnings as streets flanked by single-detached houses and small stores. Even though Eglinton Avenue was extended eastward across the west branch of the Don River in 1957 and widened into an arterial road, the low-density architectural form along the street remains. The high-rises will alter the Leaside plan significantly, separat ing the low-density streets north of Eglinton Avenue from the low-den sity streets south of it.

Leaside is not opposed to highrise development at the nodes (Bayview, Laird, and Brentcliffe) along Eglinton Avenue East. This was accepted with the development of the Bayview in Focus Plan and in consideration of the Eglinton LRT, and in recognition of the large size of the former industrial lots east of Laird. But this acceptance does not extend to high-rise in the area beyond the core around transit stations, and where transition to low density homes is absent. The results of the Ontario Land Tribunal for 1837-45 Bayview (with the intervention of Bayview Broadway Good Planning) will be precedent-setting for the other applications in the Bayview/Leaside area. Regardless, we need the framework plan to

Leaside Bayview/Eglinton Development Applications Summary As of Jan. 1, 2023

some design continuity among the new towers, a lessening of their impact on the surroundings, and the incorporation (instead of demolition) of existing historic buildings.

LRA’s heritage advisor Paul Dilse suggests collecting examples worldwide of innovative high-rise developments that attempt to complement and respect the existing and historical context. The idea of garden apartments – a feature of Leaside – scaled up massively, such as Moshe Safdie’s projects, could be explored, or this project in Amsterdam: https://www.archdaily. com/989217/valley-towers-mvrdv.

Finally, we need a coordinated approach by residents on all sides of the Bayview/Eglinton intersection. This cooperative approach among residents’ associations has worked well with respect to the mid-rise developments on the west side of Bayview, south of Eglinton, where the South Eglinton Davisville Residents’ Association (SEDRA) has provided the lead, assisted by LRA.

But on the west side of Bayview, north of Eglinton, in the area known as Sherwood Park, there is no functioning residents’ association. LRA and SEDRA badly need a partner there and are cooperating to encourage the organization of a revitalized Sherwood Park Residents Association. An organizational meeting took place on January 11th.

Clearly 2022 brought new challenges to Leaside – 2023 is the year

to take steps to address them. By the way, it’s not too late to support Bayview-Broadway Good Planning with a donation https:// www.bbgpi.com. n

Long-time LHS teacher, Elizabeth “Silver Bullet” Birnie, dies

Elizabeth Gail Birnie, a well-loved teacher at Leaside High School in the ’60s and ’70s died this past December. Born in Peterborough, Ont. in 1934, Gail graduated from the University of Toronto and after teaching at several schools, landed at LHS, where she spent most of her career teaching French, English, German and Latin. She was affectionately dubbed the “Silver Bullet” because of her striking long hair and sharp wit. LHS colleague and friend Nick Mitchell commented: “I started my teaching career at Leaside High School in September 1973. I remember the warm welcomes I received from my new colleagues, and especially from Gail Madlener [as she was then], a fellow member of the English department. Evidently, she was somewhat of an anglophile, and we shared many enthusiastic staff room conversations on mutual inter-

THE Idler Curious

ests. I was struck by her energy and commitment to teaching, and it became clear that she was admired by her students. You have enriched countless lives.”

Crazy Forts – almost 20 years and still going strong!

In the early 2000s Leasider Jim Whitney, a long-time advertising creative executive, was looking for a creative play outlet for his then young children. “I wanted something that could be a cave today, a pirate ship tomorrow and a castle the next day.” When he couldn’t find it, armed with an idea and a sketch drawing, Whitney started to explore how he could bring his idea to market. His “aha” moment – Crazy

Cooper’s Hawk living the life in South Leaside

A medium-sized woodland hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk, seems to have nested in Leaside. This bird of prey was identified in the early 1800s by naturalist William Cooper, one of the founders of the New York Lyceum of Natural History. Leaside, with its abundant tree canopy, is a perfect place to call home, not only for its two-legged but also its winged creatures. For the past few years, the

Forts – comes with plastic connector balls and reinforced sticks to build play structures in any configuration a child can imagine. Whitney stated that the path to market was not easy, there were multiple challenges and a lot of folks initially said no. Perseverance let to partnering with a colleague who had a background in the plastics industry and overseas manufacturing, and Crazy Forts began selling in 2006. When the initial run of 350 kits sold out in just three weeks, Whitney knew he was onto something. In 2010, Crazy Forts moved its expanded production back to Canada, where it has continued to be manufactured ever since. Crazy Forts is sold in major retailers across Canada, the US, the UK and Spain, retailing locally for between $49 and $59, at Toys R Us and Indigo.

unnamed, striking raptor has been nesting and feeding happily on its staple diet of other smaller birds and mammals. This stealth hunter will eat jays, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, and bats. As with other birds of prey, the female Cooper’s Hawk is larger than its male counterpart, with a wingspan that can range from 2-3 metres. Their preferred nest site is a deciduous or coniferous tree, usually 7-15 metres above ground.

What does ChatGTP think of us?

OpenAI recently announced that their chatbot called ChatGPT was now open to anyone who wanted to give it a try. The Idler was interested and asked a few questions of the wildly popular artificial intelligence platform. Here is what it said about our community – what do you think?

Tell me about the community of Leaside.

ChatGPT said: “Leaside is a neighborhood in Toronto, Canada known for its affluent population, excellent schools, and attractive residential properties. It is a primarily residential area with a mix of single-family homes and low-rise apartments. The community is known for its strong sense of community spirit and active participation in local events and organizations. Leaside is also home to several parks and green spaces, including Serena Gundy Park and Trace Manes Park. Overall, Leaside

BARBARA ALLAN

No Valentine’s goodies for Leaside

It’s only a couple of weeks until Valentine’s Day, but Toronto shouldn’t expect any roses or chocolates from the province to mark the occasion. Like many Ontario cities, Toronto comprises communities like Leaside with individual histories and characteristics. But the province’s recent “More Homes Built Faster” (Bill 23) legislation removes many of the safeguards and zoning controls of previous municipal Official Plans, and we find Leaside in the centre of a storm of massive development applications and construction. And costs.

The Leaside Residents Association (LRA) examines each major local construction application in detail and deputes at each stage of the planning process. We are frequently involved in mediation with developers, seeking ways to protect Leaside from excessive height and density. We have often, at the very least, won major concessions, thanks to required development charges paid by the developers. These pay for improved infrastructure to protect our water supply, road repairs,

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

Faster” Act reduces or eliminates these charges. The provincial government says it will make up (part of) the difference, but only after an audit proves to them that the City isn’t “mishandling” the revenue we’ve been receiving from past development charges.

reliable sources of power, and the capacity of the local sewage system. They contribute to such community benefits as parks, libraries, community centres, recreational facilities and other neighbourhood amenities. They are an important source of revenue for the city. This has been the case...until now. The province’s “More Homes Built

Some of this you may already know. However, are you aware how difficult it is for the public, and residents’ groups such as the LRA, to actually find out what the current capacity and condition of our infrastructure is, and how much growth Leaside can safely tolerate? I think Leasiders would be interested to know what all of the applied-for local higher density projects will end up costing us. You would think this is open knowledge. But it isn’t. It should be.

Leaside-Laird Construction Liaison Committee update My LRA co-president Geoff Kettel and I are members of the Leaside-Laird Construction Liaison Committee where we raise neighbourhood concerns and find out details about the current state of the two local LRT stations and environs. Representatives from both Metrolinx and Crosslinx attend these meetings. At the January meeting I asked when the TTC bus stops around the Bayview Avenue/ Eglinton Avenue intersection will return from their very inconvenient current locations to their previous spots, which were much easier for transit users to use, especially if transferring from east/west to north/south buses. I will report back to you as soon as I have more information.

In-person or hybrid?

As mentioned in my January Leaside Life column, the LRA has been discussing holding our monthly board meetings in person, or in a hybrid format, so attendees could participate either on-site at Trace Manes or by Zoom. What do YOU think? We need to hear from more of you!

In the meantime, our next board meeting will take place on Wed., Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m., on Zoom. If you’d like to join us, please let us know by that date and we’ll be glad to send you the current Zoom access details. You can find us at www.leasideresidents.ca. n

JOHN ROBB Sales Representative Vice President Commercial Division

We

Info@leasidechildrenshouse.com Instagram @leaside_childrens_house

THESE TYPE OF UNITS NEVER LAST

• 36 EMPLOYMENT ZONED CONDO UNITS

• EVERY UNIT HAS A LOADING DOOR

• 1,300 SQ.FT. AND UP, FROM $410/SQ.FT.

• 2023 Q4 OCCUPANCY

• WALK TO LEASIDE RETAIL AMENITIES AND LAIRD/EGLINTON LRT STOP

• POSSIBLE USES: WAREHOUSING, OFFICE, CONTRACTORS, CAR STORAGE, LIGHT MANUFACTURING, SERVICES.

• HIGH CEILINGS

• LARGE WINDOWS

• 2 PIECE ROUGHED-IN

• ALL UNITS HAVE SHIPPING DOOR ACCESS

• 60 AMP 120/208 VOLTS ELECTRICAL SERVICE

• COMMON GARBAGE AREA, PRIVATE PICK-UP

• LOW COST CONDOMINIUM MANAGEMENT

DR.

and where he would live for the next three decades.

As MOH for Leaside, Fleming engaged in a variety of key public health activities, including supervision of school immunization programs, reporting on community health issues, serving on the Leaside Board of Health, participating in the Leaside Blood Bank during WW II and launching a chest X-ray clinic after the war.

He also had an active private practice. Former East York Mayor Alan Redway, who grew up three houses away, recalls going as a boy to Dr. Fleming’s basement office to be vaccinated. While there, he noticed how Dr. Fleming, an avid smoker, “always had a cigarette dangling from his lip with a long ash perched precariously on its end.” ( Leaside Life, December 1, 2013.)

Fleming also performed emergency procedures. Once, in 1944, he had to amputate the fingertips of a Leaside refuse collector who injured himself when a “flash-bomb” used to simulate bomb explosions during

air-raid drills detonated in his hands. Another time in 1936 he treated a 10-year-old boy who was fatally hurt in a car accident at McRae and Millwood.

The current owners of Dr. Fleming’s house are Greig and Erica Henderson, who moved in with their three children in 1998. “As soon as we saw it, we knew this was the house for us,” says Greig. Under their care, it has retained many of its original features – excluding an addition done by a previous owner. The patients’ entrance on Bessborough Drive is still there. So are the basement office and surgery. There’s even a medicine cabinet built into the kitchen wall. On the McRae side of the house, the shingle where Dr Fleming’s name may have appeared is clearly visible.

His name also appears on a plaque in Mt. Pleasant cemetery, where he and his wife are interred. On it are these words: “A life of service to others.” That’s probably not a bad description of both the man himself – and the house he once lived in. n

The patient entrance and built-in kitchen medicine cabinet.

REMENYI From Page 6

of the 19th century.

Edouard Reményi held posts as court violinist to Queen Victoria and Louis Napoleon, was a lifelong friend of Franz Liszt – whose reputation in the elegant world of classical music was akin to that of Mick Jagger in the world of rock ‘n’ roll – and is the person credited with highlighting the talents of Johannes Brahms. He mentored the impoverished, barely 18-year-old genius after he encountered him playing in a sailor’s saloon on the Hamburg waterfront. And in a curious premonition of what was to happen half a century later, as part of a world tour, Edouard Reményi gave a concert in Toronto on November 3, 1892, just in time to be featured in the first music review in the first edition of a newspaper called the Evening Star (precursor of the Toronto Star)

The Reményi family instrument manufacturing business flourished in the brilliant cultural world of fin-de-siècle Budapest and during the decades that followed, but the upheavals of two world wars and a dictatorial communist regime finally

Serving the GTA for 30 years, Carpet Mill is the premier choice for residents, contractors, designers and real estate agents.

With so many supply chains interrupted, you can rely on Carpet Mill with over 10,000 sq. ft. allocated to stock, including carpets, remnants, vinyl and area rugs.

This, together with our in-house master installation teams, ensures that we can accommodate a timely, and professional installation in a fraction of the time of our competitors.

We specialize in staircases, custom binding, commercial and residential carpet installation as well as hard surface installation.

led to the firm’s confiscation in 1951. Zoltán Reményi re-established the business after emigrating to Canada in 1959 with his wife and son. Growing from a tiny 13-ft.-wide store on Toronto’s Queen Street, they moved to Bloor Street in 1979, adjacent to the campus of the University of Toronto and across from The Royal Conservatory of Music. (And in the interim, the store lost the accent over its name.)

And now to Leaside. The Vanderhoof store covers a large single storey filled with instruments

from pianos to guitars, plus books and instrument repairs.

“Our reputation rests upon the endorsement and trust of our thousands of satisfied customers – not only countless families, but also distinguished artists, teachers, arts organizations, churches and schools,” said Remenyi Jr.

The journey has taken the family from the sailors’ saloons of Hamburg to the glittering salons of Budapest, and now to Leaside. Think of that the next time you find yourself humming a Brahms lullabye. n

Located in the Riverdale Plaza beside no frills with plenty of free parking.

COURTESY REMENYI MUSIC

STREET FOOD From Page 4

from watching Bollywood movies. His first language is Farsi, English second, followed by Hindi. He is proud to point out that the chefs at Indian Street Food are trained chefs, not simply cooks, most with over 20 years’ experience. The majority of his staff are from India, with a few from Nepal.

Hoshang may have started in the restaurant business as an investor, but he quickly realized that it was important to understand presentation, and how to give “not just good quality, but the best quality.” He’s always looking for feedback – from customers and staff – and “wants to make sure customers are happy.” He wants his staff to be happy too, so they “don’t bring down that level of hospitality.”

Before Covid, the restaurant also had a number of regular catering events, both corporate and private, as well as the usual dining in and takeout. In the early days of the pandemic, the restaurant closed for a month – but when they reopened on Mother’s Day, 2020, the lineup for a table snaked down to the corner of Fleming/Manor. Catering is coming back strong too, including a recent wedding for 250 people and more events on the roster.

Hoshang is a man who “doesn’t want to regret not trying something.” He has all sorts of ideas for the restaurant’s future, and not just for this business. He is certainly one to watch!

If you are reading this early enough in February, you might want to drop in for lunch or dinner during Winterlicious – January 27 to February 9. See if you can spot the new menu items Hoshang is trying out! n

and went on to compete in August and September, winning the final round of competition in Scioto, Ohio to secure her place in the finals.

Gilbart is thrilled to have qualified to play in Augusta. “I am most excited to compete with the other girls from all over the USA. I am excited to chip and putt on the Augusta greens, and I want to try the Georgia peach ice cream sandwich, as I hear it is amazing.”

Coach Burke notes that “Ava is very much a carefree and relaxed player when you see her, but once she’s put into a competitive environment, her intensity and fierce nature definitely comes out.”

Watch for this fierce competitor in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 2nd on the Golf Channel. n

is considered a highly desirable place to live in Toronto due to its sense of community, high-quality housing, and proximity to amenities.”

What is Leaside Life?

ChatGPT said: “Leaside Life is a community newspaper that covers the events and happenings in the Leaside neighborhood of Toronto, Canada. It provides local news, sports, arts and culture, business, and community events information to the residents of Leaside. This newspaper is distributed free of charge to the households and businesses in the area. It is intended to bring the community together and help residents stay informed about what’s happening in their neighborhood.”

What do you think of ChatGPT’s answers? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. 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.

Attention Leaside High Graduates!

Scholarship to be awarded for writing students

by ROBIN DICKIE

Leaside Life is interested in promoting and supporting the art of journalism and creative writing, and to that end, we are proud to announce the second annual Ruth & Harry Goldhar Journalism Award . In honour of the Goldhars, founders of Leaside Life , current owners Stan Flemming and Jeff Hohner are offering an award of $1,000 to a graduating student of Leaside High School who intends to pursue creative writing or journalism in a post-secondary institution. This is the second year for the award which will be awarded in

June of 2023 at the LHS graduation ceremonies. It will be awarded every year thereafter to a deserving student.

If you know a potential candidate, applications will be available February to April of 2023 through the guidance department. A brief application and a writing sample will meet the requirements for eligibility.

At Leaside Life we are always looking for new writers with new ideas and are open to mentoring students. Please reach out to us if you are interested in writing for our publication. Contact us at leasidelife@ gmail.com. n

Moving ahead with the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan

Last term, I initiated a comprehensive plan to address traffic and road safety issues in the Leaside neighbourhood, led by Transportation Services. Consultation for the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan began in early 2022 with a virtual public meeting, followed by an opportunity for residents to submit feedback using an online mapping tool, which received nearly 500 responses. Thank you to all those who have participated so far.

During consultation, I heard from many of you that the plan as presented lacked a clear timeline for design and implementation. For that reason, I asked Transportation Services to provide a status report to North York Community Council (NYCC) at the first meeting of the 2022-2026 term.

Jaye Robinson Councillor, Ward 15,

Valley West

AN UPDATE ON PHASE ONE

In their report to NYCC, Transportation Services outlined the work undertaken to date and included a consultation timeline for Phase One. In Q1 2023, City staff will present a near-term proposal for community feedback, with a report

due back to NYCC the following quarter on the recommended Phase One measures. Please keep an eye on your mailbox for a Public Notice with more information on Phase One of the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan, including a public meeting date. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, I would highly encourage you to attend the public meeting or contact the project team at LeasideNTP@ toronto.ca . For more information on the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation plan, visit www. toronto.ca/LeasideNTP.

I am looking forward to moving ahead with much needed road safety improvements in Leaside. n

Don

TO:

RE:

LAND TITLES ACT NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR ABSOLUTE TITLE

(Subsection 46(2) of the Act)

RE: PART OF PINS 10384-0304 (LT), 10384-0305 (LT) and 10384-0277 (LT)

9445200 Canada Inc., its successors and assigns

PART OF PIN 10384-0304 (LT)-126 Laird Drive, Toronto

Part of Lots 602, 603, 604 and 605, Plan 2120 designated as Parts 2 and 4 on the attached draft reference plan, prepared by Ophir Dzaldov, Ontario Land Surveyor, dated September 27, 2022; City of Toronto; Subject to a Right of Way over Part 4 on the attached draft reference plan, prepared by Ophir Dzaldov, Ontario Land Surveyor, dated September 27, 2022, as in EY218064; Together with a Right of Way over Part 5 on the attached draft reference plan, prepared by Ophir Dzaldov, Ontario Land Surveyor, dated September 27, 2022, as in EY218064

PART OF PIN 10384-0305 (LT)-132 Laird Drive, Toronto

Part of Lots 606, 607 & 608, Plan 2120 designated as Part 3 on the attached draft reference plan, prepared by Ophir Dzaldov, Ontario Land Surveyor, dated September 27, 2022; City of Toronto

PART OF PIN 10384-0277 (LT)-134 Laird Drive, Toronto

Part of Lots 609, 610, 611, 612 & 613, Plan 2120 designated as Part 1 on the attached draft reference plan, prepared by Ophir Dzaldov, Ontario Land Surveyor, dated September 27, 2022; City of Toronto

The said plan is available for inspection at:

Robins Appleby LLP, Suite 2600, 120 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1T1

TAKE NOTICE THAT LEASIDE RESIDENCES I INC., herein called the applicant intends to apply to be registered as the owner with an absolute title to the above-described land.

AND TAKE NOTICE THAT any person claiming to have any title to or interest in the said land or any part of it is required on or before March 4, 2023 to file a statement of objection, which sets out the nature and extent of the interest claimed in the objection, together with all evidence, documents or legal provisions and precedents relied upon in support of the objection, directed to the land registrar at the address of the solicitor at the following address:

Robins Appleby LLP

Barristers and Solicitors Suite 2600 120 Adelaide Street West Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1T1

Attention: Ladislav Kovac

If no such statement of objection is filed by March 4, 2023, I will proceed with the application and any interest you may claim in the subject property will be thereby extinguished and you will not be entitled to receive any further notice with respect to the proceedings.

DATED at Toronto this 17th day of January, 2023.

LEASIDE RESIDENCES I INC. by its solicitors

ROBINS APPLEBY LLP

FEBRUARY EVENTS

LEASIDE BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY

165 McRae Drive, 416-396-3835

LEASIDE WRITERS’ GROUP

1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 10-11:30 a.m. February 1 & 15.

Join a creative and safe environment for writers of all levels! Bring your written work with you and volunteer to share your work with your peers if so desired. Take part in exercises to keep your mind and pencil sharp. Please register at the Leaside branch or by call 416-396-3835.

NEEDLEWORK

(knitting & crocheting at the library)

Thursdays, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Bring your own knitting or crocheting project, or start something new while learning about different library programs, services and resources. All are welcome.

LEASIDE’S NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHIES AND MEMOIRS BOOK CLUB

Wed., February 22, 10-11 a.m.

Pick up February’s book at Leaside branch. We’ll be reading How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, by Clint Smith, in which he leads the reader on an unforgettable tour of monuments and landmarks that offer an intergenerational story of how slavery has been central in shaping our nation’s collective history, and ourselves. Call 416-396-3835 to sign up for email reminders.

ADULT BOARD GAMES

Tuesdays, February 7, 14, 21 & 28, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Come and join us for a night of fun at Leaside Branch. Bring your friends or make some new ones as you battle it out over board games. No registration required.

MONTHLY ART EXHIBITS

Leaside branch is pleased to feature free monthly art exhibits in our community room. Each exhibit is by a different artist and reflects the cultural diversity of Leaside and Toronto as a whole. Please visit www.tpl.ca/leaside and view “All Branch Programs and Events” to get more information on the current exhibit.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This year’s theme is Black Resistance exploring how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings.”

(History.com) For local events visit: https://www. toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/black-history-month and the Toronto Public Library at https://www. torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/featured/ black-history-month.jsp.

CFUW: LEASIDE – EAST YORK

Presents: A Prison Music Program That Offers Hope Speaker: Hugh Christopher Brown Canadian singersongwriter, multi-instrumentalist and musical activist. Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

To request the link, call 416-357-6193

ST. CUTHBERT’S, LEASIDE

1399 Bayview Ave. 416-485 0329 www.stcuthbertsleaside.com stcuthbertleaside@toronto.anglican.ca

TAI CHI

Tuesdays 1:30-2:30 p.m. Donation $4.

PANCAKE SUPPER

Tues., Feb. 21, 5:30-7:15 p.m. - tentative All welcome. Check website in case of a Covid closure.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Wed., Feb. 22. Services for the beginning of Lent - 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY

Leaside Garden Society will continue the Speaker Series with Zoom meetings on Feb. 9. Our special guest is Michael Erdman. The topic is Gardens of Bangkok. The meeting will commence at 7 p.m. The Leaside Garden Society always welcomes guests and new members to join our meetings. Visit: http://www. leasidegardensociety.org or email: leaside@gardenontario.org

Leaside Life

Leaside Life

leasidelife.com

leasidelife.com

Editor: Jane W. Auster

Webmaster: Erin Sorhaug

• Publisher: Lorna Krawchuk

• Graphic Design: Robin Dickie

Advertising: Karli Vezina

FH Publishing Inc.

1 Wiltshire Ave, unit 114, Toronto, Ontario M6N 2V7

Comments, Letters to the Editor, Advertising Enquiries: Contact: 416-504-8047

leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com • leasidelife@gmail.com