Leaside Life Issue 136 September 2023

Some Leaside Life columnists’ articles seem to generate a lot of interest – and letters to the editor. We certainly always appreciate fan mail, but we also appreciate the odd brickbat when we haven’t gotten it quite right.

Geoff Kettel’s column on the Crestview Apts. was last month’s lightning rod. Not only did we receive letters, but Leaside Life, via Geoff, became a Facebook darling –for the wrong reasons.

Here’s what Geoff wrote in our August issue: “The Crestview Apartments property has, remarkably, remained in the same family-owned business since construction. However, pending (or actual) sale of the property is rumoured (but not confirmed). (Italics are mine.) Sale of the property could affect the status of the property, which may be seen as a potential site for redevelopment.”

People were not happy when they read this. We got mail. We also heard indirectly. In one response, from Facebook, a writer said:

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

“In order to put out the flames of recent rumours and inflammatory incorrect information in August’s Leaside Life....” The writer shared that Councillor Robinson agrees Crestview Apartments should receive heritage designation and she has submitted a letter of support to include the apartments in the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register. Plus, the owner of the property has no intention of selling the property.

Were we truly inflammatory? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. You can read Geoff’s mea culpa in this issue.

On a lighter note...did you know that Leaside used to be a hotbed of 10-pin bowling activity? You don’t have to be a fan of The Big Lebowski to enjoy reading Ted DeWelles’ engaging story on yet another fascinating chapter in Leaside’s history. Enjoy the issue! n

Remembering 10-pin’s heyday at Bayview Bowl

Bowling (the kind done on alleys, not lawns) was once a popular Leaside pastime. Following World War II, Leasiders hit the pins in significant numbers. The community had at least three bowling leagues (men’s, ladies’ and mixed), boasting teams with such colourful names as the Rykerts, Northleas, King Pins, Hopheads, and the In-N-Outers. They were served by three major bowling facilities:

• Thorncliffe Bowl in Thorncliffe Marketplace Plaza

• The Leaside Bowling Centre on Eglinton Ave. East, near Laird

• Bayview Bowl on the west (Toronto) side of Bayview Ave., between Davisville and Millwood. Bayview Bowl and the Leaside Bowling Centre opened for business in the late 1940s; Thorncliffe Bowl started operating in the early 1960s.

Bayview Bowl

Termed by the Globe and Mail as “Canada’s newest and most modern pin-palace,” Bayview Bowl offered customers both five- and 10-pin bowling on its 36 alleys. It later

PROUD SPONSOR

Ted DeWelles

Leaside Heritage Preservation Society

added a snack bar and pro shop. The facility opened to much fanfare on Nov. 5, 1948 – with the Toronto Star and the Globe each covering the story in detail. As part of the opening, U.S. champion Ned Day was flown in from Chicago specifically to conduct an exhibition match to familiarize customers with 10-pin bowling, which was still a novelty in Canada. Over the years, the bowling alley would regularly host exhibits and clinics in both types of bowling to help customers improve their games.

Heyday

Initially Bayview Bowl was managed and operated by Leaside resident Walter Fisher, who lived at 839 Bayview Ave. Then in 1956, 27-year-old Charlie Weeks Jr. of Etobicoke became the owner. Weeks was an innovative and effective manager as well as a committed corporate citizen.

Under his ownership, Bayview Bowl became one of Toronto’s leading 10-pin facilities, attracting

THE TORONTO STAR

Charlie Weeks

Leasider Sara Purves’s art with heart

by SUZANNE PARK

Being a full time artist can be a dream come true for passionate artists.

Leaside’s Sara Purves is well on her way to realizing that dream. Until then, Sara explained how she has crafted a creative balance between her fine art and her work as a graphic artist. “I’ve always been self-employed and working from home. Like many businesses, my clients can reach me Monday to Friday 9 to 5. That’s when I concentrate on my client design work. Most weekends are dedicated to painting.”

Her academic route certainly checks all the boxes. She attended OCAD (now OCADU), where she studied environmental design, and when she was young, she studied at the Claude Watson School for the Arts public school.

She began her entrepreneurial career a few decades ago and

decided early on that “I only wanted to work with clients who were making a positive difference in the world. So, I work predominantly with healthcare and non-profit organizations. I regularly work with clients’ public relations, communications and marketing departments and understand timelines, budget concerns and approval processes. My goal is to be my clients’ creative partner.”

Sara revealed a big challenge with the art side of her business. “A common dilemma for artists is which, if any, art shows to participate in. There is the cost of entry, often in the thousands, plus the transportation, set-up and takedown for each show. Then the important task of which pieces to display and often contending with the weather.”

Four years ago, Sara set up her first booth at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, held at Nathan Phillips Square. It was a memorable experience, she said, but somewhat difficult to set up, plus she had to contend with torrential rain on the Saturday. Still, the event was a big success for her. She sold a number of pieces and

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Flower power on Bayview

by LORNA KRAWCHUK

The Flower Patch at 1592 Bayview Ave. opened officially on April 17, 2019, but this elegant flower and plant store started, in fact, many years ago and many countries away.

Reza Shahali’s father moved from a small city in Iran to the capital, Tehran, as a teenager. He started working in gardens but moved up to opening one of the first flower shops in the city, while continuing to grow flowers as well. Reza started working for his father as a teen, but by 25, he was running the store.

As the years passed, Reza married Bita and had two children, for whom their dreams involved moving from Iran. Other relatives had already chosen Canada, so they decided to join them. Their first foray here, in 2011, lasted just a year. Then, in 2014, their son Remi returned to finish high school in Ontario and opted to pursue a degree in kinesiology and health sciences from York University. That degree wasn’t quite

the Michener Institute in medical radiation sciences with the goal of becoming a radiographer.

And what of the flower shop? Their Tehran business was called Orchid, but that name wasn’t available in Toronto, so they chose The Flower Patch. Reza scouted neighbourhoods throughout the GTA looking for just the right location. Bayview won out for its neighbourhood feel, numerous individually and family-owned businesses, and the sense of shared values in Leaside and Davisville Village. Reza says he made the right decision as the family managed to survive the pandemic years.

The shop makes a point of designing individual bouquets or arrangements, among them the vibrant floral colours enjoyed by their customers in Tehran, but also the softer hues that many Canadians choose. Many arrangements are a unique blend of the two.

Bita works in the shop a few days a week, but also enjoys visiting the other stores on the Bayview strip. Remi pitches in when his school schedule allows. Reza, or Ray, is in the store most days.

For the time being, this family business is thriving under the stewardship of the second generation. While it might not be an obvious fit for a budding radiographer, Remi is determined that he too will remain in the family business well

the future. n

into

the right fit for Remi, so he is now enrolled in a joint co-op program with the University of Toronto and

STAN FLEMMING

Reza, Bita, Remi, and the staff of The Flower Patch.

Staying on top

Going dotty on Bayview

by SUZANNE PARK

“Darling, you look marvelous!”

With apologies to Billy Crystal and his 1980s Saturday Night Live persona Fernando, fashion retailer Heather Bolt’s Dotty business is helping her clients look and feel marvelous in outfits ranging from frilly, short-sleeved eyelet tops and Von Furstenberg-inspired wrap dresses and comfy jackets, to pantsuits fit for the office.

The bulk of her business comes from four sources: sales to retailers, the One-of-a-Kind Show, loyal customers, and those who spot her clothes on others and ask, ‘Where did you get that?’ Heather elaborated, “One of my clients said she doesn’t wear her dotty.ca polka dot dress anymore for business as she doesn’t have time to stop and chat about where she bought it. Clients love wearing my dresses to the office. They comment on how great it is that most have sleeves versus spaghetti straps, so they don’t need to wear a jacket to cover their shoulders.”

Describing her career path in fashion and how she ended up on Bayview Avenue above Hollywood Gelato, Heather said, “My passion for fashion started early, at 10-years-old, when I started sketching dresses. My mom corrected me, saying, ‘It started when you were three and refused to wear pants that were too short and out of fashion for nursery school.’ On my 10th birthday, a prized gift from my dad, the September issue of Vogue magazine, had me enthralled for weeks noting all the intricate details of every garment.”

But Heather didn’t start out in fashion. She started university, with

a plan to become a lawyer, but in second year, had an epiphany when a friend asked, “What are you doing here? You’re always sewing. Your room is crammed with sewing paraphernalia. Why aren’t you at design school?” She switched to studying fashion design.

“After graduating, I was hired in the wholesale division of New York designer Ellen Tracy, which was a steep but valuable learning curve. I traveled to New York four times a year and made a great friend at the company. A few years later she and I started our own wholesale company, which morphed over the years. I ended up with my own wholesale showroom, where I employed three staff and managed nine different collections. I was selling to stores like

the Bay and Eaton’s.”

Heather’s career path reminds us that many obstacles have an upside. “As a commissioned wholesale sales agent, I soon learned that regardless of how much you’ve sold you only get paid on what gets manufactured and shipped to the customer. This knowledge soon propelled me to go out on my own. I started this new chapter by hiring a factory on Lansdowne Avenue. They produce our clothing line; having it made right here in Toronto has many advantages. We employ locally, reduce our environmental footprint,

DOTTY Page 34

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My Labour Day family tradition

The family home I grew up in was on the northwest corner of Parkhurst and Donegall. For the nearly 40 years my parents lived there, they hosted a sacrosanct, annual, allhands-on-deck, holiday Monday family tradition. In fact, “tradition” seems too loose and mild a term. “Command performance” is perhaps a more apt way to put it. The entire family, spouses and kids in tow, were expected to report for duty by mid-morning at the latest. Yes, it was the annual making of the chili sauce jamboree. In other words, each year our whole family put the “labour” in Labour Day. For some reason, we did most of the work outside in our backyard on our deck and picnic table in September’s searing heat and enervating humidity, and amid swarming wasps and the occasional small woodland creature. I’ve never been able to determine why we didn’t set up the chili sauce production line in the air-conditioned comfort of the kitchen, but I’m sure there was a good reason – okay, you

Terry Fallis Columnist

got me, I’m really not sure about the good reason part.

There was a carefully evolved and perfected process for making our family chili sauce, but it certainly would not have been obvious to the human eye had a stranger stumbled upon the scene. They would be forgiven for thinking the climactic scene in a horror movie had just been shot. There were stations set up in several backyard locations, all duly staffed for specific tasks including peeling pails of boiled tomatoes, chopping celery, onions and peppers, measuring out the required portions of vinegar and pickling spices, and monitoring the vital signs of family members for heat stroke and exhaustion.

Eventually, all of the boiled, peeled, chopped and measured ingredients came together in a huge vat about the size of a small hot tub. Then the whole shebang moved into the kitchen for boiling and then the sterilized bottling protocol. You might think that moving into the air-conditioned kitchen would offer some relief. Um, not exactly. Every large pot we could gather was filled with boiling water and jars on the stove for hours on end. Eventually, we’d be forced to take cooling breaks in the 35ºC heat of the backyard, but only one or two of us at a time.

At some point in the early evening, arrayed on our kitchen and dining room tables were dozens of jars of cooling, fresh chili sauce, their metal lids making their welcome

popping sounds, one-by-one, as they loudly declared a solid seal had been achieved. Various family members would be passed out on the living room floor, some taking fluids intravenously. Others would be conscious but immobile in chairs waiting for their turn to pass out. Here’s the double irony for me. The family recipe for chili sauce is actually entitled “15-minute chili sauce.” Hah! I’m not kidding. The 15-minute part of the recipe name refers only to the length of time the nearly finished mixture must be boiled before moving on to the bottling nightmare – sorry, I mean bottling process. It’s the most misleading misnomer of the millennium – forgive my weakness for alliteration. On the other hand, were the recipe renamed “12-hour chili sauce,” I suspect some might find it a deterrent and just head to the grocery store for a bottle of Heinz Chili Sauce. And the second irony is… I don’t even like chili sauce. Most in our family do, but I don’t. Year after year, my hands and wrists were stained tomato red for several weeks after Labour Day, yet I never once even tasted it, let alone slathered it on roast beef the way it is most often employed around the family dinner table. I guess I’m a purist and prefer my beef unadorned. Nevertheless, no special dispensation for me. I was there every year, elbow-deep.

Don’t misunderstand me. I actually miss those Labour Day chili sauce marathons. They ended when my mother passed away many years ago now. Despite the long and tiring exercise, hanging out and cracking wise with my family for an entire day was no hardship. We laughed pretty well the entire time. Yes, our streaming eyes were not just from chopping onions. If I could turn back the clock, I wouldn’t change a thing. Oh, and it’s possible that I may have slightly exaggerated some of the more physically taxing aspects of those Labour Days. To be fair, only a few of us were ever administered fluids via IV. But we always ended the day with enough chili sauce to last for the coming year. And it all happened in Leaside.

Stephen Leacock winner Terry Fallis’s ninth novel, A New Season, is now in bookstores. n

W.A. Deacon – literary giant, Leaside local

by MITCH BUBULJ

He was known as the man who could make or break a literary career. His years as literary editor, first at Saturday Night magazine and then the Globe and Mail, from 1922 until his retirement in 1960, brought him in close contact with Canadian cultural heavyweights like Hugh MacLennan, Stephen Leacock, Mazo de la Roche and Lawren Harris. His name was William Arthur Deacon, and he was a jumble of contradictions, but unwavering in his belief in his own destiny, his support for Canadian literature and his love for Leaside.

Born in Pembroke in 1890, he trained in and briefly practised law in Manitoba but left the legal profession, finding it a bore and proclaiming that the decade in Dauphin represented “the 10 lost years of his life.” Raised a Methodist, at the age of 26 he discovered a new “religion”: theosophy. It was a “muscular mysticism” with elements of Hinduism and Buddhism to it which promoted the idea of everyone’s

Canadian Literary Life , we learn that “he held as axiomatic the belief that Canadians were a vital and dynamic people who would require, demand, and produce a correspondingly dynamic literature.”

Deacon was a promoter of FrenchCanadian literature, and a fan of writers like Gabrielle Roy, author of the Tin Flute. He wrote to her that he was “a literary parasite, who depends for a living on knowing people like you.” Heaven help the writer who found herself on the wrong side of Deacon, however. Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of the Anne of Green Gables books, was one such novelist. Some say there was a tinge of jealousy (his books sold in the hundreds; hers were international bestsellers) which caused him to write: “As for the girls’ sugary stories begun with Anne of Green Gables... Canadian fiction was to go no lower.”

For 33 years he called Leaside home. In 1936 he moved his young family into the newly built having a destiny, with his being a writer and helper of Canadian talent. In the book Deacon: A DEACON Page 30

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Preparing for a safe and vibrant hub of economic activity in Leaside

In last month’s Leaside Life , Councillor Robinson provided an update on the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Plan (LNTP), a comprehensive blueprint designed to address traffic and road safety concerns within our community. Spearheaded by Toronto’s Transportation Services team, the LNTP aims to identify, recommend, and prioritize changes that enhance safety for all road users, with special attention to vulnerable individuals such as pedestrians and cyclists, including children and seniors. An essential element of this process involves ongoing collection of updated traffic data, which will provide critical insights to shape actionable outcomes. Her call to action was straightforward – to ensure your voice is heard, you should participate in the city’s online survey at www.toronto.ca/ LeasideNTP before the September 3rd deadline.

Notably absent from recent Leasidefocused transportation studies,

Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside

construction metrolinx city

goods people

jobs safety

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travel time study

cycling industrial business data LRA

LBPA development stakeholders density

The Bible as Literature

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including the LNTP and Laird in Focus initiatives, is consideration for Leaside’s employment lands –the ‘business park’ – home to more than 400 businesses that collectively provide over 10,000 jobs. Informed Leasiders will be well aware that Frederick Todd’s visionary neighbourhood design for Leaside predates contemporary ideas like the ‘15-minute city’ or the ‘live-work’ lifestyle by more than a century! However, given the two sides of Leaside are inextricably intertwined, the obvious question arises: Just how effective can the recommendations made by these transportation studies truly be if they address only half of Leaside’s comprehensive transportation landscape?

LBPA secures $50,000 for transit study

I am pleased to share that this concern has been addressed. Earlier this year the Leaside Business Park Association (LBPA) successfully secured a $50,000 grant from the City of Toronto to fund a transportation study focused on the Leaside business park. This study, a part of the Metrolinx Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Project, is scheduled for completion by May 2024. The study will provide actionable recommendations aimed at improving the safe and efficient movement of goods and people within the business park, given the escalating demand for all modes of travel in this valuable industrial-zoned employment area in the heart of the city.

The highly anticipated opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, coupled with the eventual introduction of the Ontario Line’s Maintenance Service Facility and Thorncliffe Park station to Leaside, has ignited a surge in development activity within the business park. These transit expansion-related endeavours have sparked concerns among local businesses, particularly those reliant on large transport trucks such as Tremco, Siltech, Lincoln Electric, and St. Mary’s Cement, about the viability of their operations in the future.

As an example, during the Eglinton Crosstown construction, exiting from Brentcliffe onto Eglinton added an additional 30 to 45 minutes to

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Yes they can at Go Green Youth Centre!

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO

Inequity in access to quality sports facilities and enrichment programs for youth in low-income communities can lead to poorer academic performance and lack of exposure to important life and career pathways.

In 2010, a group of parents, teachers, students and community leaders conceptualized the Go Green Cricket and Sports Field Schoolyard Revitalization Project, to rejuvenate

the land behind Valley Park Middle School in Thorncliffe Park to address such needs.

As fundraising efforts began, the group began offering free youth-led programming in 2012, and in 2015, the Go Green Youth Centre (GGYC) opened its new facilities.

The yard at Valley Park now houses a multi-sport cricket field, a multisport court, cricket batting cages, an amphitheatre, butterfly meadow, urban forest and demonstration

wetland. With the addition of LED sports lights in 2017, the GGYC became Canada’s first illuminated cricket field.

With ongoing fundraising and the support of a strong board of directors, the GGYC now offers free yearround programming to children aged 7 and up throughout the school year and, as accredited Camps Ontario Association members, March Break and summer camps.

Free programming includes sports, academic tutoring, media arts, native plant and vegetable gardening, music, dance, cooking and nutrition, computer programming and robotics, financial literacy, visual arts, résumé writing and career planning.

The programs are designed and led by local youth aged 15 to 30. Nearly 400 youth, in fact, have secured paid employment in the past decade with a majority of those having previously been volunteers and campers at GGYC. Tens of thousands of kids have gone through the various programs and continue to do so.

This year alone, 400 kids from 7 to 13 attended summer camp with enthusiastic and skilled volunteers and staff leading them in their daily activities. Leaders in Training (LIT) programs are also offered for 14- and 15-year-olds, many of whom go on to become staff in the program.

The computer coding section of camp this past summer, for example, was led by local postsecondary students who are studying software engineering and electrical engineering. Kids were taught multiple coding languages to create their own games.

During the school year, GGYC has been able to hire more than 80 senior students from neighbouring Marc Garneau High School as GO GREEN Page 35

LOUKAS THEODOROPOULOS

Noted musical duo Brett Polegato and Robert Kortgaard to grace St. Cuthbert’s

Lorna Krawchuk Publisher

You are in for a rare treat when you get a ticket for a musical afternoon at St. Cuthbert’s – on Sun., Oct.1 at 2 p.m. – featuring renowned baritone Brett Polegato and noted pianist Robert Kortgaard. Their program, “And So It Goes...A Cabaret,” will feature Broadway music ranging from Sigmund Romberg to Stephen Sondheim, with a light reception following.

Why, you might wonder, is this performance taking place at St. Cuthbert’s? During Brett’s undergrad years, he was a paid choir lead at the church. He appreciated the musical training he received, and welcomes an opportunity to

return and give back to the church. Proceeds from the concert will aid the music ministry of the church.

Brett graduated at the top of his class in performance in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto in 1991. He has since travelled the world, appearing to wide acclaim in works by Puccini, Mahler, Beethoven, Bernstein, and many more.

Robert Kortgaard recently stepped down after more than two decades as the artistic director of the Under the Spire Music Festival in Kataganek/Kensington, PEI. He is a favourite collaborator of many of Canada’s finest soloists, including Brett Polegato.

Tickets will be available via Eventbrite at a cost of $30 + $1.97 processing fee. Contact St. Cuthbert’s at stcuthbertleaside@ toronto.anglican.ca or call 416 485 0329. And get ready to hear this duo make beautiful music in a church with outstanding acoustics. n

For more upcoming events, see page 36

SHAYNE GRAY

Leaside Life

Brett Polegato

Rick Hutchings beautifies our world one garden at a time

If you’re a regular reader of Leaside Life, you already know a thing or two about Rick Hutchings. His gardening adventures have graced these pages for the past decade. And I’ve shone a light on his work with the Leaside Garden Society more than a few times.

For those who don’t know, he’s been a member of the LGS for eight years (serving on the board), director of the junior gardeners’ program and creator of the gardens in and around the library...including the ever-popular butterfly canoe.

But there’s so much more to know about this busy green lover.

Not only does Rick have his own landscape company, but he also creates landscapes for Sheridan Nurseries’ clients through their company. And that’s not all: he’s been working with Parks and Recreation East York for eight years, six of them as lead gardener. Believe me when I say I’m only scratching the surface!

A long-time Leasider, Rick and

The Leaside Gardener

Debora Kuchme Columnist

his wife purchased their Bayview/ Broadway home in 1996 and have always been deeply connected to the neighbourhood. They raised two girls in the Leaside school system who are now both in university.

LEASIDE LANDSCAPER

Over the years, Rick has been helping home owners with their landscaping needs, mostly right here in Leaside. He says, “It’s kind of neat when I walk my dog and see the changes to a garden, and knowing I did that.”

In the last three years, Rick has done three backyard designs and one front yard landscape creation as wedding gifts from parents. “Times have changed,” he says. “It used to be a Mothers’ Day gift for Mom. And you know you’re getting old when you start getting the sons and daughters of your clients requesting your skills.”

When I ask what keeps him motivated, he jokes and says “the fear of retirement,” then laughs. Rick laughs a lot. Yet there’s a serious side to this happy gardener, and I can’t help noticing how often he uses the word ‘love’ whenever he talks about his work.

“I just love meeting new people and fixing their gardening problems. I love it when I get it right and the client is happy. Working with the City, I love the physical gardening side of the job, creating something new and meaningful, updating tired parks and stretching my creative talents.”

This year, a lot of that love found its way to the Riverdale Farm when the City decided to breathe some fresh air into the grounds and chose Rick to be the lead gardener.

NO LONGER JUST CHICKENS, COWS AND PIGS

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In a short amount of time, Rick (along with his amazing crew) transformed the farm through an extensive gardening cleanse and makeover, using the best horticultural practices. From rejuvenating beds, creating beds, and even discovering old beds, they added more native plants, pollinator plants and herbs along with decorative planters and hanging baskets throughout the

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Dave’s having a bad hair day

by DAVID CRICHTON

It’s Sunday. I’ve decided to make it a lazy day. The weeds in the driveway will have to get pulled next week. The hedge can keep reminding my neighbours how I’m not holding up my end. And those damned never-ending maple keys can go rake themselves for all I care. Instead, I’m standing in the Sunset Grill, ordering a toasted western on dark rye, for takeout. My old standard work-from-home Covid lunch go-to. In fact, it might as well still be the middle of Covid, as I haven’t shaved in three days or showered in two. Except I’m not wearing food-stained pajamas. Linda asks how I am and says, “Stay. Sit down. Relax.”

She tells me I look good. She’s just being nice, of course, but it has its effect and I decide to grab a table. Why not, it’s my lazy day. I’m going to sit down. Treat myself to doing nothing but ponder the big questions and mysteries of life. I take my seat and catch my reflection in the mirror on the far

wall. As luck would have it, I’m seated directly under a spotlight. It’s penetrating my “hair.” Ugh. I can see scalp. Hovering above it is a Gaussian blur that can only be described as a thin atmosphere. A fragile ozone layer trying its best to guard against the overhead halogen. The glow of my pate reminds me of garden lights under a thin blanket of snow. But not nearly as pretty. No warm fuzzy feelings are evoked looking at this despair. Just a twinge of panic. And hopelessness. It must be the lighting, I think. Yes, the lighting, I’m sure of it.

I look for others unlucky enough to sit under these lights. There’s the guy who has a mini-barbell pierced through his septum and what looks like mini ram horns filling two large holes in his ear lobes. But he’s got a ball cap on. A shroud of shame for his shiny secret, no doubt. Chicken. There’s the guy directly across from me, eating with his girlfriend.

FALL IS FOR FITNESS!

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He uses some kind of thick cream. Brylcreem? “Putta dabba Brylcreem on your hair. Brow-wow.” (Great, now that jingle is going to be stuck in my head all day.) He has lots of scalp, this one. But the cream sticks the hairs together in clumps and actually shows more skin than necessary. And the guy one table over looks like his hair product of choice is barbecue sauce. He sips his coffee, looking a little hungover, and exhorts, “Oh yeah, that’s the business, right there.”

I wonder what “the business” is. Is it the same as “the ticket”? Regardless, he’s as follicly challenged as the others. I’m pretty sure I’m winning against these guys. I start to feel better.

I order my usual eat-in mainstay: Eggs Benedict. As I eat, I contemplate how it seems only winos and rock stars have good hair. Why is that? Maybe I need to punish my body more. Drink more. Do illicit drugs. Get into a garage band.

Soon, I pay my bill, and tip Linda extra for the earlier compliment. I make my way along the Smart Centre path to the liquor store. I grumble internally about how this plaza looks like a transplant from a New Mexico suburb. Inside the refrigerated room of the LCBO, I spot a guy who looks like an aging rock star. Neon green leather jacket. White sneakers. Incredible hair. So long and thick. So luxurious. He’s like Trooper and Led Zeppelin’s love child. Around 70 years of age. He might just be the world’s most interesting man. What’s he picking up? Guinness. Of course. Makes perfect sense. He leaves, and I put down my low-sugar cider and grab some Guinness. If it works for him….

I’m home now, sitting on my front step, hedge clippers beside me, a cracked Guinness in hand, deciding how much I’m going to scalp my hedge. Ironic. I take a sip and contemplate the big questions. Why can’t hair be like hedges? Why can’t I have been a rock star? Why the hell did I buy this Guinness? I hate Guinness. n

THE LEASIDE OBSERVER

“No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everyone on the

hundreds of bowlers from around the city – including numerous Leasiders such as Canadian football great Joe “King” Krol and Arthur Donahue, editor of the Leaside Advertiser.

In addition, Weeks made Leaside Bowl a leading contributor to the Toronto Star’s annual Sportsmen’s Corner/Santa Claus fund. Soon after taking ownership in 1956, he rented out for one day all 36 alleys at $20 each, raising over $800 for the charity. Bayview Bowl continued as a major contributor to the fund for many years thereafter.

In 1959, Bayview Bowl invested $150,000 to become one of Toronto’s first establishments to install automatic pin-setting machines for 10-pin bowling. This was a huge step forward for the sport, and Weeks made the most if it – offering door prizes, exhibition matches, free bowling lessons and free refreshments to attract customers. Previously, pin boys had set pins for bowlers – at 2.5 cents per game. Now, they were a thing of the past. Attendance – and business – swelled as bowlers welcomed the increased speed and efficiency that automation provided.

Decline and fall

The late 1950s marked the highpoint of bowling’s popularity in Toronto, with over 100 alleys in operation, according to the Toronto Star (Sept. 10, 1966). But as the 1960s progressed, oversupply, inflation and declining demand took their toll – reducing that number by 40 per cent. This included Bayview Bowl. In the summer of 1966, Charlie Weeks announced he was closing the facility. By fall, half its alleys had been removed.

Then, early on New Year’s Day morning 1967, disaster struck when a fire gutted the Bayview Ave. building where the bowling alley was located. According to the Globe and Mail, the flames were visible for 10 blocks and did nearly $40,000 worth of damage.

Eventually, a new building was constructed on the old bowling site. It housed a Dominion grocery store, then a Mr. Grocer, and currently Valu-mart.

Bayview Bowl may be gone, but it’s left its mark. In 2020, someone posting on the Leaside Heritage Facebook page asked if anyone remembered the facility. The post generated more than 50 responses. Charlie Weeks would be bowled over. n

City protects Leaside Business Park. End of story?

Today we hear a lot about the need for housing, but what about jobs?

Leaside was designed by Frederick Gage Todd, Montreal town planner and landscape architect, with jobs and housing in close proximity: lands designated residential west of Laird, and industrial east of Laird. The juxtaposition of business park and residential communities has been of great public benefit. Even today, skilled jobs that are close to home reduce the need to commute and use private vehicles pumping out CO2.

True, that over time, “industrial” has been watered down to “commercial and industrial,” and the area south of Eglinton from Laird over to the Don Valley has emerged as a mixed residential and commercial area (“Leaside East”) whose residential conversion began with townhouses (Hyde Park), and mid-rise (Scenic apartments) and is planned to fill in with high-rise developments from Laird to Aerodrome, east of Brentcliffe. However, the southern boundary of residential development is estab-

Geoff Kettel Saving old Leaside

cent to the Leaside Business Park:

• 60 Overlea Blvd. (Salvation Army Thrift Store)

• 85 and 115 Laird Dr. (Leaside Village Shopping Centre)

• 20 Brentcliffe Rd. (the southern (rear) portion of 939 Eglinton

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lished as Vanderhoof Avenue: “thus saith the Ontario Municipal Board” in a landmark 2001 decision.

The pressure to convert industrial lands to residential is unrelenting, representing a potential financial bonanza for the speculating land owner, but equally a loss of jobs and economic activity in the Employment Area. Paul Scrivener of the Toronto Industrial Network wrote in his submission to City Council that “approval of land conversion represents death of a thousand cuts to an Employment Area.”

The City of Toronto has a formal process, called Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR), to consider requests for Employment Area conversions (mostly to Mixed Use, which permits residential) that are reviewed by staff, and approved or denied by City Council. The most recent MCR wound up at City Council in July of this year, with 45 Employment Area conversion requests Citywide, of which five of the 45 involved lands are within or adja -

Employment Area Conversion Requests

Ave. East

• 106, 109 Vanderhoof Avenue, and 10 Brentcliffe Rd.

• 11 Redway Rd. (Loblaws Store)

Of the five Leaside requests, following staff advice, City Council refused four, and one (20 Brentcliffe Rd.) was approved. In so doing, City Council maintained its support for two benchmark principles of Leaside planning:

• In refusing conversion requests for 106, 109 Vanderhoof Ave. and 10 Brentcliffe Rd. (which are south of Vanderhoof) but approving 20 Brentcliffe Rd. (north of Vanderhoof), City Council confirmed Vanderhoof Avenue as the southern boundary of residential development on formerly industrial lands south of Eglinton Avenue and east of Laird Drive.

• In refusing conversion requests for 85 and 115 Laird Dr., Council confirmed Laird Drive as the historic boundary between the Residential (west) and Industrial areas (east) as defined in the

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School streets – could these work in Leaside?

by HOLLY REID

The upcoming school year will soon be upon us and with it come the perennial concerns about traffic and road safety around schools. School streets, a road safety intervention embraced in the UK and Europe (Paris has over 180, London counts more than 500), have yet to take off in North America. But Leaside, with four neighbourhood schools serving primary, junior and middle school students, holds great potential to be an early adopter.

What are “school streets”?

A school street is a street adjacent to a school that is closed to vehicular traffic for a designated period around arrival and dismissal times. Think of it like a street party closure for 30 minutes in the morning and afternoon on school days. Barricades and signs go up. Residents are notified in advance and have car access to driveways if needed but there is no through traffic. Emergency vehicle access is preserved as is the case for any street event closure. While a school street is in effect,

families can walk, wheel and roll to school along the roadway, congregate to play and socialize, without worrying about cars.

More safety, less pollution

Where school streets have been piloted in Canada, including Toronto, the benefits are notable. Perception of safety increased as did the number of children and caregivers walking, biking or rolling to school. With a decrease in traffic, air quality around schools improved. And school streets dovetail nicely

with other programs that encourage active modes of travel, such as a walking school buses and bike trains organized by parent volunteers. School streets can also help Toronto meet its climate action goal of 75% of trips of 5 km or less being walked, cycled or via transit by 2030. Data for Leaside show that 75% of motor vehicle trips start and end within 2 km of the neighbourhood and the majority of a.m. peak car travel is an average of 1.6 km. Imagine the improvements to road safety and our health by eliminating three-quarters of those trips!

Another spin-off benefit is the increase in children’s confidence and autonomy when they can get to/ from school on their own. Parents are right to be concerned about safety, and school streets help with that. At the pilot on Mountview Avenue in Toronto, all children said they preferred the street car-free, and 97% of people surveyed felt safe during the pilot compared to only 23% before.

Bringing school streets to Leaside

How do we get school streets to Leaside? Parents, caregivers, teachers and students need to work together to get the ball rolling. If your school has an “eco-team,” this is a great project for them. Research shows that having your school principal’s support is key and you’ll need to work with the community, parent council, school trustee and councillor as well as city staff to come up with a viable proposal and implementation plan. Best practices say to start small, with a pop-up or pilot, then evaluate, adjust and expand.

Interested in learning more? Guidelines and case studies are available online through 880 Cities and Ontario Active School Travel, which also offers an online webinar. n

GREEN COMMUNITIES CANADA

HUB From Page 14

commercial travel times, resulting in escalated transportation costs and reduced productivity. Furthermore, restricted truck turning radii have raised apprehensions about pedestrian safety at intersections. The impacts vary, but businesses in the park contend with congestion, extended travel times, and compromised access due to lane reductions. This scenario is compounded by the increased mingling of pedestrian and cycling traffic along truck routes, prompting discussions about a desire to facilitate the successful coexistence of diverse transportation users and modes within the park and the potential safety risks the mix poses for all stakeholders.

Extended travel times and compromised access

The study’s overarching objective is to ensure sustained functionality and access for businesses during transit construction, while also proposing mitigation measures to accommodate existing and future transportation demands. Specifically, the study aims to: (1) clarify construction impacts across diverse transporta-

tion modes, (2) develop safety-focused mitigation strategies conducive to business growth, (3) preserve the LBP’s vibrancy by leveraging its M1/ M2 zoning to attract new enterprises while safeguarding existing ones, and (4) foster improved communication and engagement among stakeholders, including park businesses, the City of Toronto, Metrolinx, Leaside Residents Association, and the Cycle Don Valley Midtown group.

The anticipated benefits resulting from the Leaside Business Park Transportation Study and implementation of the recommended mitigation strategies by the City of Toronto are impactful and wide-ranging. They include: enhanced safety for all road users within the park; sustained business operations during transit expansion construction; improved access and mobility to and from the business park; optimized truck access; readiness for increased active and multimodal transportation; fortified collaboration and communication; and an elevated quality of experience for all users of the business park. By involving stakeholders, harness-

ing data, and presenting innovative mitigation strategies, this muchneeded LBPA transportation study is a key initiative. It will help ensure that the future of the business park is one where public safety, business growth, sustainable employment, and efficient mobility for people and goods coexist harmoniously. As the LBPA navigates these transformative times, the city’s financial support is enthusiastically received. With the LBPA’s proactive efforts and commitment to meaningful collaboration, the employment lands in the Leaside business park will be poised to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the future.

How does the economic activity in the Leaside business park affect transportation in Leaside? Do you feel the arrival of the Eglinton Crosstown and the Ontario Line transit options will increase or decrease traffic congestion and safety for road users in Leaside? How satisfied are you with the progress being made on the Leaside Neighbourhood Transportation Study and the Laird in Focus initiative? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. n

The wacky world of Leaside (Toronto) real estate

by PATRICK ROCCA

Housing in Leaside continues to thrive in the summer months and will, in my opinion, continue to do so throughout the fall season even though we have seen increasing interest rates from the Bank of Canada. The consensus is that households have adjusted to higher borrowing costs. The issue, as we all know, is lack of supply. But there’s still lots of demand. Yes, good homes priced right are still flying off the shelves so it’s a great time to sell! July sales, listings and home prices were up over July 2022, but were down compared to June 2023. Don’t read too much into this, as last year prices/sales started dropping in late spring because of rate increases and summer was quiet as people started to travel post-pandemic. This year we have seen a return to a more seasonal market. A busier spring, a somewhat slower summer and I suspect a busier fall.

MORE REAL ESTATE-RELATED TOPICS OF INTEREST

Tax exemption for seniors and persons with a disability

Did you know that if you own a property that was altered to accommodate someone 65+ or a person with a disability, you may be eligible for a tax exemption for that portion of your property?

For more info: https:// www.mpac.ca/en/ MakingChangesUpdates/ xemptionSeniorsandPersonsDisability.

My two cents on the impact of new condo developments in Leaside

I admit it, I hate change! I see these eight new development projects in Leaside (anywhere from 25 to 45 storeys high, approved or proposed) and I think of the increase in vehicular traffic, school district capacity and infrastructure issues

and I shake my head. But the need for maximizing density isn’t going away and at least properties are being developed on the busier intersections. Will these developers and the taxes paid by these new Leaside residents go towards growing our local schools? Will they be used to increase much needed services like more local daycare? Will there be some larger units built targeting local residents who want to sell their homes and stay in our neighbourhood? Will some of these projects be mixed use condo and rental units? For now, we must live with the inconvenience of construction so I’m trying to be positive. Let me know what you think next time you see me around the neighbourhood and let’s chat regarding the effects, positive or negative, on your home’s value.

Energy-efficient incentives/ upgrades for home owners

We all love the character and heritage of our Leaside homes but some homes are not quite as energy efficient as they could be. Did you know there are grants available to possibly make your home more energy efficient? Visit https://www. toronto.ca for more info.

What’s the difference? Garden suite or laneway house?

The City of Toronto allows the construction of garden suites in the rear yards of residential properties that are not next to a public laneway. A single garden suite, containing a single unit, is permitted on a property provided it meets all the applicable rules and regulations. The term “garden suite” is defined as a self-contained living accommodation for a person or persons living together as a separate single housekeeping unit, in which both food preparation and sanitary facilities are provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of the suite, and is in an ancillary building not abutting a lane.

A laneway suite is a self-contained residential unit located on the same lot as a detached house, semi-detached house, townhouse, or other low-rise house. A laneway suite is typically located in the backyard next to a public laneway and is generally smaller in size, and completely detached from the main house on the lot.

Garden and laneway suites are regulated by two separate portions of the zoning bylaw. Either option is intended to function as rental housing and can also be a good solu tion to reach out to a family member or maybe an on-site caregiver who can live close while remaining independent. If you want to know more about either of these options, contact me and we can discuss which option applies to you and how it can add value to your home.

Patrick Rocca is a broker with Bosley Real Estate and a Leaside resident, offering his unique take on housing in the community. Visit him at www.patrickrocca.com.

PURVES From Page 4

received the seal of approval from Tiffany Pratt of HGTV. Then, she was interviewed live on CTV news. “I count myself lucky that I can rely on my family during show times,” she said. “My dad builds frames, assists with transportation, set-up and take-down. My sister photographs my art and works the booth with me making things much easier and enjoyable.”

She confided, “Covid was a chal lenging time for artists like myself. All the art shows were cancelled, and galleries closed. I took a leap and opened a pop-up at Shops at Don Mills. Wonderfully, many Leasiders visited and purchased art. The pop-up was meant to be just for a few months, but I stayed until the end of last December. Surprisingly, my online presence also flourished as new and loyal clients purchased my art to use as their background during Zoom calls. This boosted my Instagram following and art sales. Many new clients commented that my bright colours lifted their spirit and my story of becoming an artist inspired them.”

Sara dreams of working from her ideal studio – “a place with lots of windows and space where I can display and work on multiple paintings at the same time without worrying about getting paint on the floor, the deck, the fence and the dog and cat, who often wander through and get their paws covered. A hazard of living with a home-based artist.”

You can enjoy Sara’s art at: https:// sarapurves.com/ and https://rubinered.ca. n

LEA SIDE Community PHARMACY

BUSINESS PARK From Page 24

Leaside Model Garden Town Plan designed by Frederick Gage Todd in 1912.

And in refusing conversion of the Overlea Boulevard properties Council avoided pre-judging any future planning processes to be established to consider development impacts of the Ontario Line.

So, is the Leaside Business Park protected? Not necessarily. The province is making changes that put the City Council decisions at risk.

Up to now the Business Park has been protected through Official Plan policies and zoning bylaws, as well as Ontario Municipal Board decisions respecting the Employment Lands boundaries and policies therein. However, a recent provincial proposal released in April (formal public comment ended in August) to consolidate two major planning documents – A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Growth Plan), 2020, and the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 – appears to endanger this long-standing policy framework.

The proposed Provincial Planning Statement is intended to form the basis for the province to achieve its housing objectives. Unfortunately, the document fails to set a foundation to achieve the province’s vision of a complete community providing employment, community services, and all housing types to meet the current and future needs of Ontarians:

• Municipal Comprehensive Reviews would no longer be required, creating open season on employment conversions, creating uncertainty for employers, and reducing future opportunities for Ontario businesses to grow within their markets.

• Definitions of Employment Areas would be changed. The Provincial Planning Statement is recommending the removal of office, institutional and film production industries from Employment Areas. This appears short-sighted and may have negative consequences for those businesses and for Ontario as a business location.

What can we do? We can wait for the next election, but we can also write to Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to express our concerns. n

66 Parkhurst Blvd. True to his “faith,” he had the emblem of theosophy inscribed onto the basement floor. The handsome home still stands but is at risk of being demolished, although there is an application to have it listed on the City’s Heritage Register. In fact, this part of Parkhurst was nominated for Heritage Conservation District status in 2012, but that effort failed. Perhaps now is a good time for the community to try again? In 1954, Deacon moved to 48 Killdeer Cres. in North Leaside and remained there until 1969.

Clearly a proud Leasider, he would pepper his articles in the Globe and Mail with complimentary quips. In an article dated April 5, 1958, discussing the challenges of providing library services in a booming Toronto, he said: “Leaside is a town in which things get done, not just talked about.” In an interview with the Globe and Mail’s Ronald Haggart, Deacon said: “I have had the privilege of being a Leasider for more than 20 years, and I like it there. The town is not fashionable. Our boast is that we are decent, middle-class folk who hold their jobs and pay their debts.” Modest and understated, his ways seemed to jibe with the town’s no-nonsense moral code. Perhaps it is now our responsibility to brag about Deacon, a Canadian literary icon, and preserve his memory on Parkhurst Boulevard. Images from William Arthur Deacon: A Canadian Literary Life by Clara Thomas and John Lennox 1982. n

BACK TO SCHOOL!

It’s BACK TO SCHOOL time and we at Valu-mart want to wish all the kids a safe and healthy return this year!! We will have a variety of peanut-free options for snacks in the bakery and throughout the store. ��

In a rush and no time to cook?

Stop by the HOT FOOD COUNTER and pick up a great meal deal for $30.00. SAVE $2.00!

2 BBQ CHICKENS AND 1 LARGE SIDE! See deli staff for more details and assistance.

We offer delivery service Monday and Wednesday for a cost of $10.00. ALL ORDERS NEED TO BE IN BY 10AM. You can email ashwoo@loblaw.ca or call your order in 416-486-8294. Fax to 416-488-5425.

We offer curbside pick-up 7 days a week FREE OF CHARGE. Orders in by email or phone before 12 noon for same day pick-up.

Revisiting Crestview Apartments

by GEOFF KETTEL

This is both an update to and correction of last month’s Leaside Life article “Let’s protect a Leaside oasis” about the Crestview Apartments on Leacrest/Mallory. First, the correction. I said that “The Crestview Apartments property has, remarkably, remained in the same family-owned business since construction. However, pending (or actual) sale of the property is rumoured (but not confirmed).” Bert C. Grant, the current president and CEO, quickly contacted me to let me know that the Crestview Group of Companies has no plans to sell (a tenant had contacted me about the rumour but I failed to check my info).

In my opinion the fact that Crestview Apartments is not for sale (and potentially at risk of demolition) does not militate against submission of the heritage nomination, which is based on recognition of the complex’s outstanding cultural heritage values as outlined in the earlier article. However, it may reduce the urgency of processing the nomina-

tion at a time when the province has proposed to delist all listed properties that are not designated by Jan.1, 2025.

The article touched a chord among existing tenants, who view Crestview Apartments as a desirable home. Many tenants and local residents have signed a petition to support the heritage nomination. n

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Looking for a volunteer opportunity?

Volunteers play a vital role during the school year, in creating a world of possibility for kids and youth with disabilities. You can make a difference by providing support in program areas such as:

• Music and Arts

• Aquatics

• Bloorview School and Nursery Schools

• Therapeutic Recreation, Respite and so much more!

To learn more about Holland Bloorview’s volunteer opportunities please visit: www.hollandbloorview.ca/volunteer

Get ready to move your way!

Join us on September 10 at Rally for Rehab, presented by BMO, and support Leaside’s very own Toronto Rehab!

Rally for Rehab is a fun way to rally for those who have bene ted from rehabilitation at some point in their lives by participating in a family-friendly fundraising event and accessible walk. Together, we can make an impact for our local rehab hospital right here in Leaside.

Register today: rallyforrehab.ca

Bring your kids and enjoy activities such as face painting, balloon animals and kite decorating!

The hockey issue

For many young Leasiders, September marks the annual return to school. But, just as important, it also marks the start of the fall pilgrimage back to the hockey rink.

As the Leaside Hockey Association gears up for the start of its 71st season, the continued success of this volunteer-run association would not be possible without the countless hours donated by so many who give so freely of their time.

This past June at the LHA annual general meeting, the association took time to recognize several outstanding individuals.

The 2022-2023 George Turrell Spirit Award was presented to Eleanor Colledge. Eleanor acted at the team trainer for the 2005 Red Select team and the 2005 A team, and was “on the bench” from U8 to the end of U18 – a truly incredible commitment. The George Turrell Spirit Award honours the late George Turrell, a familiar face to many around the rink for over 50 years.

In support of Leaside Life

As an architectural historian and tenant in the Garden Court Apartments, I am responding to Wayne Rosenman’s letter in August’s Leaside Life . He feels that Geoff Kettel’s June column was too hard on our landlord.

First, Mr. Kettel’s column was written after he toured our site and spoke with several tenants – including me and the co-chair of our Tenants Association. We appreciated his support and effort to draw attention to our difficulties.

The Jeff Munn Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Brian Dooley. As the non-parent volunteer head coach with the Leaside 2009 AA team, Brian coached the team from their first year as Tykes to the end of their U14 season. The award is named in honour of Jeff Munn, who was instrumental in moving the LHA forward during the six years he spent on the board of directors.

The GTHL’s Rob Silc Memorial Community Coaching Award this year went to long-time coach Tobin Davis. Given at a ceremony held at the Hockey Hall of Fame in June, this award annually recognizes a coach who exemplifies a long-term commitment to grassroots hockey, player involvement and community spirit. Tobin has coached at both the Select and GTHL levels for Leaside.

As the coming season starts up, there are several opportunities to join a learn-to-skate program, hockey school, house league, select or GTHL team. For additional information and contacts: leasidehockey.com.

Wildcats celebrate 50!

The Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association (TLGHA) is also looking forward the launch of the coming season – its 50th! A special kick-off celebration weekend is planned for September 30th to October 1st. From the early days as the Leaside Lancerettes and Blazerettes to the current-day Leaside Wildcats, the girls are ready to hit the ice. The TLGHA continues to be one of largest hockey associations for girls and women with over 1,600 members across all its programs from Learn to Play to Senior Competitive teams. For more info www.torontoleasidewildcats.ca n

Mr. Rosenman has admired our complex, as many of us did before living here. Being a tenant is a very different experience. Construction has gone on for years, subjecting tenants to noise, smells, and dirt, as well as depriving us of many parts of the property (even our mail delivery at times). We are paying for these changes – some of which are the result of poorly executed work and neglect under the same owners. Several elements contributing to the Art Moderne architecture have been, and are continuing to be, replaced, and major landscaping elements have been removed.

All this has gone on while many tenants’ requests for repairs or maintenance in their units have been ignored and rents have increased every year. It’s naive to expect that the law is always followed with respect to landlord-tenant relations, and the time and expense of pursuing justice for tenants is substantial.

We love the uniqueness of Garden Court and hope that we can all continue to for many years.

Marta O’Brien n

DOTTY From Page 8

increase quality control, and speed to market as we’re not hindered by lockdowns or global supply and shipping issues.”

How did she end up on Bayview, at 469 Manor Rd., near Hollywood Gelato, after years of operating a home-based business? Her success meant she needed more space, and she found it, right on Bayview, a short walk from her home.

“It’s perfect for my showroom and office,” she said. “The compact bright space reminds me of a charming Paris atelier.” n

Brian Dooley

Eleanor Colledge

Tobin Davis

GREEN From Page 16

tutors. Tutoring is offered in multiple subject areas for students in Grades 2 to 10 from Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park.

GGYC’s Executive Director Talha Malik, a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Commerce program, is a former camper who arrived from Pakistan with his family at the age 9. Malik, along with senior manager Michael Ma, is dedicated to, as Malik says, “what works the best for our community needs and how we can do it with our limited resources.” The two note the emphasis on safety and “making long-term relationships and memories” through the GGYC programs.

Safi Ur Rehman, one of the cricket coaches, who started as a camper, describes GGYC as a place which gives him “a sense of home.”

Not only is GGYC a much-needed inclusive community hub for outstanding multi-sport, tutoring and a myriad of other programming, it’s a space where kids feel welcome, have fun, learn and are empowered to become confident, strong leaders in society. n

Join the munch bunch at the Community Corn Roast

September 17, 12-5pm

by LORNA KRAWCHUK

Between noon and 5 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 17, you’ll want to tuck in at Trace Manes Park (McRae and Millwood) for the 27th annual Community Corn Roast, put on by the Toronto-Leaside Rotary Club. Of course, there is corn – freshly shucked, then boiled for you. In fact, 80 dozen cobs have been specially ordered to satisfy corn cravings. As well, there will be hot dogs, drinks, ice cream and especially for kids, four inflatables. Face painting, a gift basket raffle, guessing jars, a 50/50 draw, games, local craft vendors, and a DJ will also be featured. Admission is free. Pay for food and games with tickets, which you can purchase either with cash or via a cashless terminal.

Toronto-Leaside Rotary president

Paige Fernandes as well as club members will be on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly. If you can volunteer for a few hours, your help would be appreciated. Contact Karen at moorekaren2022@gmail.com. As well as coming to have a good time, you can go home with the good feeling that the profits generated at the event are a major part of the Rotary Club’s annual fundraising. Recent monies have gone to Kennedy House Youth Shelter, Anishnawbe Health Services, Abiona Centre (formerly Massey Centre for Women), the Leaside Toy Drive, and along with other Rotary clubs, to provide clean water and sanitation in Laos. Sponsorships from Lexus on the Park and Access Storage also help. Get ready to munch on some fine corn! n

EVENTS

LEASIDE BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY

165 McRae Drive, 416-396-3835

BABY TIME AND STAY-AND-PLAY

Tuesdays, Sept. 19 and 26 - 10:30-11:30 a.m. Bouncing and tickling rhymes, songs and stories for babies up to 18 months with their parents/caregivers. Thirty minutes of story time followed by Stay-and-Play, a fun opportunity for children and parents to socialize and play. Drop-in.

TODDLER TIME AND STAY-AND-PLAY

Fridays, Sept. 15, 22 and 29 - 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stories, songs and rhymes for children ages 19 months to 3 years with their parents or caregivers. Story time followed by Stay-and-Play, a fun opportunity to socialize and play. This is a drop-in program.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB: LEGO CHALLENGE

Mondays, Sept. 11, 18 and 25 - 3:30-4:30 p.m. Join us for afternoons of fun with games, projects and activities. Get creative, build new skills, and explore new themes. Recommended age: 6 to 12 years. Drop-in. Space is limited. There will be no program on Mon., Sept. 4.

ADULT BOARD GAMES NIGHT

Tuesdays, Sept. 5, 12, 19 and 26 - 6:00-7:30 p.m. Come and join us for a night of fun at the Leaside Branch. Bring your friends or come make some new ones as you battle it out over board games. No registration required.

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.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR TEEN COUNCIL

Join the library community and engage with fellow teens to come up with creative programming and display ideas for our branch. Attendance counts towards volunteer hours. Begins in September. Attendance is bi-monthly, the second and fourth Wednesday of every month.

SUSHI MAKING WORKSHOP WITH CHEF SANG KIM

Wed., Sept. 27 - 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Celebrity chef Sang Kim teaches the basics of sushi-making. Participants make sushi rolls using ingredients prepared by the chef and eat their own creations. A brief history of sushi, its origins and eating etiquette will also be shared. For teens 13- to 19-years-old. Registration is required. Register in person or by phone at 416-396-3835.

REPAIR CAFE

Sat., Sept. 2 - 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Bring in your broken household items and Repair Café will fix them for free and teach you how to repair them yourself. Drop in anytime from 12:00-3:00 p.m..

LEASIDE PROGRAMMING

To see all Leaside branch programming and activities: www.tpl.ca/leaside.

CFUW LEASIDE-EAST YORK

Thurs., Sept. 21 - 7:00 p.m. Life in the Beehive Speakers: Aria Stoneham and Patrick Newman, Toronto Beekeepers Collective Northlea United Church, 125 Brentcliffe Rd.

34TH ANNUAL CABBAGETOWN ART & CRAFT SHOW

Sept. 8-10 (see ad on leasidelife.com for details)

TORONTO-LEASIDE ROTARY CLUB

27TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY CORN ROAST

Sun., Sept. 17 - 12:00-5 p.m. Fresh corn, hot dogs, inflatables, games for all. Trace Manes Park (Millwood/McRae). See article on Page 35 for more info.

ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY ANGLICAN CHURCH

1847 Bayview Ave., info@saintaugustine.ca

GROOVE ROOM COFFEE HOUSE

Fri., Sept.8, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Live music by local artists along with coffee and dessert. Cost: $5 towards Flemingdon Food Bank.

10TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY BBQ

Sun., Sept. 10 - noon. Hamburgers, hot dogs, a bouncy castle. All welcome. No charge.

RALLY FOR REHAB AND LEASIDE FOR REHAB.

Sun., Sept. 10 - 9 a.m. Beforehand, register to walk or donate. That morning, come to cheer at Toronto Rehab at the top of Rumsey Road. See ad on page 33 and article on opposite page for more info.

GARDENS OF DISTINCTION

Look for 12 white signs in these front gardens, awarded by the Leaside Garden Society: 24 Bennington Heights Cres., 20 Mallory Cres., 1 Rutherglen Rd., 156 Leacrest Rd., 207A Randolph Rd., 279/281 Bessborough Dr., 10 Glenbrae Ave., 219 Donlea Dr., 292 Airdrie Rd., 24 Sharron Dr., and 8 Vanderhoof Ave. Congratulations to all of the gardeners involved!

LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY SPEAKER SERIES

Tues., Sept. 14, 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Special guest is Jim Lounsbery: Dwarf & Unusual Evergreens in the Landscape

Leaside Garden Society always welcomes guests and new members to join the Society for our meetings. Visit: http://www.leasidegardensociety.org or email: leaside@gardenontario.org

Leaside rallies for rehab

Presented by BMO Sun. Sept. 10 starting at 9 a.m.

The event will start at the Toronto Rehab site at the top of Rumsey Road in Leaside. To walk or roll to support research, education and patient care at Toronto Rehab, register at rallyforrehab.ca for this family-friendly event.

One local team, Leaside For Rehab, led by Paul Bolté, would love to have you join them.

Go to the rally site, and look for Leaside For Rehab. Not available, or able, to join on the day? You can also donate to this worthy cause.

Two of the five Toronto rehab sites are in Leaside –the Rumsey Centre at the top of Rumsey Road and the Lyndhurst Centre at the top of Sutherland Drive.

NORTHLEA UNITED CHURCH

125 Brentcliffe Rd.

416-425-5252, office@northleaunited.ca

LIVE JAZZ

is back with Alex Pangman Sun., Sept. 10 - 5:00 p.m.

CLOTHING DRIVE DROP OFF

Sat., Sept. 23 - 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – on the front lawn. Clothes to go to families in Flemingdon Park.

LUNCH & LEARN: AGING IN PLACE

Tues., Sept. 26 - 11:30 a.m. – registration required.

GAUGING INTEREST!

It doesn’t matter if you can sing or think you can’t sing. If you love singing and want to join an all-ages just-for-fun community choir, contact the church office to leave your name and contact info. Once we have enough interest, singing will start in the fall.

NOTHING BUT TREBLE YOUTH CHOIR

Begins Wed., Oct. 4 - 4:00- 6:00 p.m.

To register your child, contact nbtyouthchoir@gmail.com for costs and other registration info.

ST. CUTHBERT’S, LEASIDE

1399 Bayview Ave., 416-485-0329 www.stcuthbertsleaside.com

GARD’N ANGELS

Volunteers welcome to work in our community vegetable garden providing fresh organic produce to Fleming don Food Bank. Main “work party” day: Wednesdays, 10 a.m.- noon.

TAI CHI RETURNS

Starting Sept. 19 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. Donation $4.

“AND SO IT GOES...A CABARET”

Sun., Oct. 1 - 2 p.m.

Baritone Brett Polegato and pianist Robert Kortgaard will perform, followed by a light reception. Tickets $30 plus Eventbrite processing fee. See article on page 18. n

leasidelife.com

Editor: Jane W. Auster

Publisher: Lorna Krawchuk

Webmaster: Erin Sorhaug

Graphic Design: Robin Dickie

Advertising: Karli Vezina

Comments, Letters to the Editor, Advertising Enquiries: Contact: 416-504-8047 leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com leasidelife@gmail.com

Redrawing our boundaries

I hope you have been enjoying the summer and are looking forward to autumn as it approaches. The Leaside Residents Association (LRA) was busy throughout July and August keeping track of ongoing development and traffic issues, and preparing for an in-person Annual General Meeting in the late fall. We are currently checking the availability of local venues and discussing potential guest speakers.

There has been a final report from the federal Boundaries Commission for Ontario. I can confirm that all of Leaside will remain together in a single riding, with only slight changes. It will be called Don Valley West after all, not Don Valley South, as had been planned earlier; and Governor’s Bridge will not be part of DVW but instead restored to the University-Rosedale riding, based on community of interest criteria.

The Commission did refuse several requests to reinstate Don Valley EAST, our current neighbour riding to the east, because to do so the Commission would have had to redraw the map of the entire Province

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

of Ontario. This will undoubtedly have local political repercussions (municipal, provincial, and federal) in the next elections three years from now, and for the next decade.

Remembering Pat Stephenson

Leasiders will recall that for several years beginning in 2006, the LRA (then called the Leaside Property Owners’ Association) organized a major effort to prevent the demolition of the historic Talbot Apartments on Bayview Avenue north of Sutherland Drive, and to protect the Talbot buildings with a heritage designation. It was a costly, lengthy, and uphill battle, fought at the Ontario Municipal Board and the Superior Court of Justice.

And we won! We did so by

working closely for over four years with the Talbot complex’s neighbouring homeowners, and with Talbot tenants led by then tenant Pat Stephenson. She made presentations, raised funds, and attended every day of OMB hearings, taking careful and detailed notes. Somehow Pat retained her sense of humour. She stubbornly refused to lose hope. I cannot overstate the importance of Pat’s role in saving this valuable historic part of Leaside. Her dedication inspired us all.

Pat died a month ago, having fought Stage 4 cancer for five years with the same determination and courage she demonstrated during the Talbot campaign. Her affection for Leaside, and interest in Leaside issues, continued long after the Talbot victory. Those of us who knew her will miss her. All Leasiders owe Pat Stephenson a great debt of thanks.

The LRA board of directors meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Trace Manes building on Rumsey, just south of Leaside Library. You are welcome to join us. Our next meeting is on September 6th. For more details and updates between now and then you can also find us at www.leasideresidents.ca. n

HUTCHINGS From Page 20

grounds. Today it’s spectacular, and one of the locations up for garden of the year under the community section. As usual, Rick gives full credit to his gardening team.

Though still a work in progress, the gardens have already become a resource for the summer camp children to increase their horticultural knowledge – something near and dear to Rick’s heart after leading the Junior Gardeners program for so many years.

With such a busy schedule, Rick needed to cut back on LGS work, yet still manages to maintain the canoe, the library gardens, the entrance planter, and helps out with the garden tour. He tells me this gives him a chance to keep up with the other members, of whom he speaks so highly.

While Rick makes a lot of jokes about retirement, with his energy and gardening acumen, I’m willing to bet retirement is far off in the distance. Thank goodness! n