Mark your calendar for Leaside’s 110th anniversary in May

by GEOFF KETTEL

Leaside will be 110 years old in May! Yes, on May 7, 1913, the Town of Leaside was incorporated by act of the Ontario Legislature.

To mark the occasion, we have created a special logo (designed by Leasider Kim Auchinachie), which picks up on Leaside’s distinctive street grid, displaying its origins as the Model Garden City.

Back in July 2022, we asked: “Leaside 110 – how do we celebrate?” We invited Leaside organizations to hold a special event in May 2023 or later. They responded! Here are some of the highlights:

May 4-6 – the Archival Exhibit at Leaside Library, with maps, photos and artifacts displaying the history of the Town, including its railway origins, working in Leaside, living in Leaside, etc. We thank John Naulls for recreating this exhibit, which was a centrepiece of Leaside One Hundred in 2013.

May 10 – the anniversary celebration will be hosted at Amsterdam Brewery on Esandar. Theme: Leaside Model Garden City. More details to come (sponsorship opportunities are available). Other events include:

May 5-7 – Jane’s Walks in Leaside (from Leaside Library)

May 19 – Bridges to Thorncliffe Park: Community Bazaar (Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee) at R.V. Burgess Park, 46-48 Thorncliffe Park Dr. Enjoy tasty treats from North America’s first park-based Tandoor oven.

May 30 – East York Historical Society: Stories of Leaside: 1913 to Today with speakers John Lea, John Naulls, moderated by Leaside Life publisher Lorna Krawchuk (at J. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave.)

October 12 – Leaside Garden Society

– Leaside: A Garden City? with speaker Joanna Blanchard, master gardener and co-president, Leaside Garden Society. n perspective of being the son of immigrants, as my mom’s from Jamaica and my dad’s from Ghana.”

What does it take to become a good standup? “Being an English grad I’m confident I am a good writer, which is essential,” Fredsen says. “Embrace failure as the best teacher. My early shows are the most memorable. I learned so much from my mistakes and failures. Measure yourself against how you did yesterday versus how others are doing. Plan and prepare. Comedians prepare and rehearse. They’re rarely spontaneous. Get public speaking experience so you can hold a crowd. On student council at school, I had many opportunities to speak to a crowd and I enjoyed it. Finally, family and friends always say I’m funny. Here’s hoping they’re not just being polite as I’m throwing a lot of eggs in this basket.”

Want to check out Freddy-Jan live? Catch him at: https://www. instagram.com/freddyjan17, https:// www.yukyuks.com/toronto and https://comedybar.ca. n can arrange a gluten-free Peking Duck.

Unlike at a food-court Chinese restaurant, menu items like fried rice are individually prepared once they’re ordered. It does take a little more time to do this, but the taste is worth the wait. Similarly, the dim sum are freshly steamed to their individual timing needs.

Some advice from Jackie: if you’re going to enjoy your meal at home, as many are still doing, order directly from Tao if you’re not able to pick up. They have a dedicated driver. Tao also sells some of their menu items freshly prepared and then frozen for you to enjoy later – with precise instructions on how to heat and serve. And if you’re invited to a pot luck meal? Tao can do that too. n

Plants that can actually make some dough

Bessborough School has partnered with Plantables.ca , hoping to promote growing organic herbs and veggies, while raising a bit of money to support the school. What a great idea! And it’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1) Visit Plantables.ca

2) Pick your plants and use the code: BESSBOROUGH

3) Choose your delivery week for May or June and the plants will be delivered to your door

Leaside mother Rachel Gordon is the point person for this exciting new fundraiser. She explained how 10 per cent of all plants purchased through Plantables.ca (using the BESSBOROUGH code) will go directly to the school and help fund some of their green initiatives as well as other projects.

Last year, the kindergarten teachers ran a fairly extensive garden with the students and the kids loved it. The team plans to do it again this year and I must say, I love it too!

How will my garden grow this year?

Along with that native rose, I will add some of the new succulents to the hot and dry areas of my garden. I’m going to add a few more pollinator plants and experiment with a serviceberry tree in a large container. And since I plant organic veggies and herbs every year anyway, I may as well buy them through Plantables and help Bessborough School at the same time. Another win/win. Visit leasidelife.com for the extended version of this article along with more photos! n

Holy Week & Easter

with LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH

822 Millwood Road

Palm Sunday

April 2 at 10:30 am – In Person & Online

Palms, a donkey – maybe we will even see Jesus! Join us for our Palm Parade as we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem.

Maundy Thursday

April 6 at 10:30 am – In Person

We will share in prayer, music, and hand washing with leadership by Rev. Emily, Matt Boutda, and Jean Marie, Pastoral Care Minister.

Good Friday – In Person & Online

Sign up for church emails to get our Easter worship and event information.

416-425-1253 www.leasideunited.org

April 7 at 10:30 am

A service of scripture, music, and reflection, as our Chancel Choir presents The Reproaches by Tomas Luis de Victoria.

Easter Sunday

April 9 at 10:30 am – In Person & Online https://www.youtube.com/LeasideUnitedChurchToronto

A joyful celebration with Easter flowers, trumpets, and Easter music! We will hear anthems by our Junior Choir and Chancel Choir, and end with the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.