Leaside Life Issue 28 May 2014

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:47 PM Page 1

No. 28 • May 2014

Leaside Life leasidelifenews.com

ROB HUOT

Knowing the real dirt in Leaside Page 34

BIA moving ahead The legendary Alex Ping (among store owners that is) will be at the second meeting about forming a Bayview Business Improvement Area (BIA) on May 21 at Leaside Library.

Ping organized the first BIA in Toronto, at Bloor West Village. The number has grown to 77.

At the first public meeting in this latest attempt to form a BIA here, about 30 people were at the Leaside library to hear John Kiru, president of the Toronto association of BIAs. ■

A SUPER SEASON, with 22 wins and no losses for the Leaside Flames, was fun, says head coach Matt Angus, at right, “which is more important than achieving a result”.

Hope they do better next year (THEY DID TIE 4 GAMES)

By PATRICIA PHENIX On April 12 the Leaside Flames Tier 1 hockey team capped a spectacular season winning 22 games, losing 0 and tying 4.

They won the NYHL Atom championship 5-1 beating George Bell Navy that day at the Pavillion Ice Arena in Thornhill.

The trophies were distributed at the League All Star game April 27 at Downsview Arena.

HOPE, Page 2

PAGE 26-27

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:47 PM Page 2

Hope

For Your Local Birding Questions....

Leaside Life, May 2014

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ASK THE BIRD EXPERTS

CORRECTIONS

From Page 1

Just as important as the victories, say the coaches, is enhancing the sense of team spirit and friendship.

The players’ sense of spirit and solidarity, says David Thomson, the team manager, extends to the change room and beyond. “We want respectful competitors,� he says, and attributes that success to the parents who support the team financially and by ferrying the kids from game to game.

Head coach Matt Angus agrees. “We have fun and enjoy the game of hockey, which is more important than achieving a result. The more kids care about each other, the more fun they have,� he says.

Each year, over 40 kids between 10 and 11, from all schools in Leaside, try out for the team.

Asked if he intends to sign up to coach next year, Angus says, “When you sign up you wonder if it is the right thing to do, but when you have years like this it’s really rewarding.â€?â–

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On Feb. 19 New Brunswick native Florence Carter, who lost her sight at the age of 16, received the Governor-General’s Caring Canadian Award for over 60 years teaching the blind. Ms. Carter would like to clarify that her comment to Lieutenant-Governor David Onley: “Isn’t your term up now?� was made in jest at an informal conversation after the award presentations. The book that Leaside resident Ms. Carter co-authored, entitled Celebrating Braille: A Canadian Approach, reflects the changes that have been made to the Braille code to incorporate new symbols. _____ Our story last month about the club meetings in Trace Manes Centennial Building got a couple of dates mixed up.

The bridge club meets Tuesdays, the euchre club Wednesdays, not the other way around as we said. â–

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:47 PM Page 3

Leaside store manager helps set world record

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CYNDA FLEMING

At noon on March 21, a group of shoppers watched as seven staff members from the Loblaws store at Moore and Bayview plunged their knives into 90-pound wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

At the same moment staff at 359 other Loblaws stores across the country were doing the same.

Sponsored by the Guinness Book of World Records, the ultimate goal of the event was for 360 Loblaws stores across Canada to crack simultaneously more than 1,000 wheels of cheese.

Instead they cracked 1008, beating the previous record of 450 by Whole Foods Market in 2013.

For Loblaws (at Moore) store manager Gina Creta slicing cheese was like second nature since she had been doing it for decades, but it was different for her protégés at the store.

Despite wearing gloves “my hands were slipping and sliding” because oil kept leaking through the cheese skin, said grocery manager Lee McGann.

He estimates the job took him six minutes. Creta got it done in half the time.

Asked if he’d ever do it again, McGann said, “You betcha.”

All left-over cheese was sold at half price to customers.

Meanwhile participants received certificates from the Guinness Book of World Records. ■

Leaside Life, May 2014

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:47 PM Page 4

Karen Fraser Memories of Old Leaside

Leaside Life, May 2014

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Brooks, my charming, bright neighbour Brooks was my neighbour. He was well known on Bayview for his Saturday visits to his favourite haunts while his owner, Susan, was busy shopping.

His many friends were used to the dog with the huge IQ and charming personality, but strangers were startled when he wandered into the bank to sit quietly and contemplate his beloved paintings. Legend has it that when the manager was asked to select new art for her branch she asked for his favourites to stay.

Next stop for Brooks: the video store where he cruised the aisles in search of photos of babies of any species. These would be studied at length.

His day job was acting. Susan said he earned more than she did.

He could take complex direction in human language and then do the scene in one take. He did blow one audition when the dogs were asked to speak on command. Brooks just sat there while the fools barked. Play the part of a dog? What was his motivation?

Susan was often away and I had the joy of babysitting. 

Leaside Life Published once a month in Leaside,Toronto ON,

by Ruth G. Publishing Inc., 66 Donegall Drive, Toronto ON, M4G 3G5 Circulation 8,500 to every door in M4G PUBLISHER: Lorna Krawchuk EDITORIAL: Harry Goldhar, Patricia Phenix ADVERTISING: Ruth Goldhar GRAPHIC DESIGN: L. Choy

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Leaside Life, May 2014

I used to clip a bow tie to his collar and we travelled by TTC to my Yorkville office. This destination could be reached from St. Clair station by subway (turn left from the bus and follow the hall to the platform stairs) or by streetcar (around the corner to the right and up the escalator).

One morning I forgot to tell him my choice for the day as he got off the bus and trotted toward the subway. I called his name and said we are going by streetcar today.

He stopped, turned around and headed to the escalator. Several people on the bench had mild breakdowns.

He attended all office meetings.

When my biggest client, Mr. Pinstripes, pulled out the power seat at the head of the table, Brooks jumped into it and sat. The first time he saw this, Pinstripes was rattled.

When it happened again, though, he just looked bemused and took another seat. Soon he was asking Brooks for his perspective on the discussions.

Brooks had a passion for technology. Keyboards had to be out of paw reach. On one expensive afternoon he called Australia and I found him with his nose on the speaker as a tiny, confused Mel Gibson voice was speaking into his nostrils.

Heading home in rush hour he would be on my lap, bowtie askew, yawning. People nodded at him empathetically. He would fall asleep after dinner in front of the TV. One night Susan was stopped by the police on Moore Ave. They saw a woman in dark glasses talking to an empty passenger seat. The officer accepted that she was sober and had lost her regular glasses at a dinner party, but he wanted to know whom she had been talking to.

To him, Susan said, pointing.

The officer aimed his flashlight on the dark seat, where Brooks sat, wearing dark sunglasses. In her panic, she forgot he was wearing eyewear, and blurted, “He likes to dress,� and the officer lost all professional demeanor.

In an effort to breed another Brooks he was flown to North Carolina each winter to visit his main squeeze, Ms. Chantilly Lace. Many beautiful puppies came along but without his charm and IQ. There was only one Brooks.

In 1990 Susan was Canada’s oldest person with Cystic Fibrosis. As her health failed she gave Brooks to a family with two little girls who loved him. I last saw him relaxed in the backseat of a convertible driving away to his new life. â–

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 6

30 years ago he was the voice of sports here Leaside Life, May 2014

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By BETH PARKER Larry Hurd can tell he’s back in his hometown of Leaside. “People actually say hello to me on the street,� he says. “I’m just really glad to be back.�

People know him because of his history here. “I wrote the hockey and baseball column in the old Leaside Advertiser in the early ‘70s and was the scorer and announcer in the booth at Talbot Park and the gondola at Leaside Gardens. Played goal for Leaside Kings as well. “When I was in high school I became interested in film, eventually attending Seneca College to study film and radio,�

He is now owner of Manic Media.

Hurd returned last year with his daughter Morgan. After an almost 30year absence, he finds Leaside much as he left it, friendly, pretty safe, dynamic and still like a small town even though in name it doesn’t officially exist. “I remember the big fight around amalgamation in 1967 when Leaside

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was absorbed into the City of Toronto,� he recalls. “ But Leaside didn’t disappear. It just kept on going as one of Toronto’s many communities within a larger community.�

His Leaside roots go back several generations. Both sets of grandparents as well as his mom, dad, sister and brother all come from Leaside.

Larry's parents both attended Leaside High School just as he did in

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the 1970s. His grandfather Joe Hurd had a butcher shop on Eglinton Ave. near Laird.

Where did you grow up? “On Fleming Cres. I remember cutting through the neighbours' yards to get to school at Leaside High.�

How do you spend your time now? “With Manic Media I now help families preserve memories in the digital world as well as do full video/film production.�

Anything we’d recognize? “I produced LHS The First 50 Years, a 60-minute documentary on DVD as well as the Entertainment Night at LHS’s 50th anniversary in 1995. My most recent project is a video for the Leaside Wildcats.�

What would you like see in the neighbourhood? ‘It would be great if the drainage problem at Talbot Park could be solved, but it has always been that way. One of our former neighbours, Sidney Radford, remembered the park before the high school was even built. He claimed there was quicksand there at one time! “I also would love to revive the LHS alumni website, with more stories and content. There are so many interesting graduates that have gone there. It would be a good project for high school kids and some eager volunteers.�

Anyone interested email him at lhurd@manicmedia.ca/. â–

Sports Hall seeks new inductees The Leaside Sports Hall of Fame is looking for nominations of potential inductees for 2014.

This year’s crop of entrants, along with the Leaside Athlete of the Year, will be honoured at the second annual induction ceremony and reception Friday, Nov. 21 in the William Lea Room at Leaside Gardens. “We hope that this event will evolve into a celebration of sport in Leaside,� said Allan Williams, chair of the organizing committee. “We’re looking to sports groups and to the wider Leaside community to put forward names of deserving athletes and builders for consideration by the selection committee.�

Nominations can be submitted until June 1 through the Hall of Fame website, where nomination criteria and other details may also be found: www.leasidesports.com. â–

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 7

Will Ashworth The business of Leaside

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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

In both the March and April issues I discussed what’s wrong with the Bayview strip, providing solutions on how it can pull itself out of its funk. I’ve had comments that suggest I hit a sore spot with some in the community.

Apparently, tearing down 1560 Bayview to make way for an open-air square that would serve as a community gathering place is an impossibility.

I disagree.

The Town Crier reported in 2004 that the City of Toronto already tried to expropriate the property in question, but the owner rebuffed the

idea. There’s no reason why a second attempt can’t be made. Because it has had several empty storefronts in recent years, one has to believe the owner would accept a good offer to move along.

There are, however, positive developments to point to — the changing face of Bayview most noticeably. Once comprised almost exclusively of independently operated stores, it is slowly undergoing a regeneration that includes large corporate entities like Dollarama, as well as successful franchise concepts such as Sports Clips and Hero Burger. They’ve quickly (both opened last summer) become favourites on the street.

Sports Clips has 10 locations in Ontario. It plans to have 22 open across the country by the end of 2014. In the U.S., where it got its start, there are a total of 1,103 locations, putting it in the top 100 of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500.

But don’t take my word for it. If you go to Sport Clip’s Leaside website (http://bit.ly/1n0aLfP) you’ll see a large number of testimonials from satisfied customers in the neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, Hero Burger has 55 locations across the GTA, with more on the way. Founded 10 years ago by John Lettieri, it’s become a player in the gourmet hamburger business.

My wife and I frequent the Bayview location and many others around town. In my opinion, the mere presence of these types of businesses on the street can only enhance the family vibe Leasiders care so much about.

Coming soon is The Ten Spot Beauty Bar, moving into the space left vacant by Essence du Papier at 1657 Bayview. Providing manicures, pedicures, facials and waxing services to both men and women, the 13store chain will open here in June. 

Leaside Life, May 2014

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Will your child be

Leaside Life, May 2014

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 8

ready to succeed?

Concerning your pre kindergarten and kindergarten child(ren).

Mrs. Park's school Invites you to a panel discussion Thursday, May 8th. - 7:00 p.m.

Leaside United Church 822 Millwood Road - Hearth Room Please RSVP if you require child care www.mrs-parksschool.com mrs-parksschool@sympatico.ca

(416) 424-2135

Interestingly, both Jesse Eleftheriadis, franchisee for the beauty bar, and business partner Rachel Loizos support the creation of a Bayview BIA, citing the highly successful ones on Danforth, Bloor West, and Beaches. Most importantly, they live in East York, dine at its wide variety of restaurants, and regularly shop at independent boutique stores that Geoff Kettel wrote so fondly about in the March edition of this paper.

Haphazard leasing practices by landlords, as appears to be occurring, hurts everyone because it reduces foot traffic, the key to all successful shopping districts. As I’ve said several times in recent months, a BIA can help alleviate this issue by getting landlords and tenants on the same page, which is half the battle.

Customers today don’t care whether shops are independently operated, run by a franchisee, or part of a corporate behemoth. All they want are good products and/or services offered at reasonable prices in comfortable and clean surroundings. These new businesses do that.

It’s not much to ask.

When all 120 of the stores on the strip can make this claim, Bayview becomes a retail success story. ■

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In brief

******* Were you a student at Rolph Road school? Its 75 anniversary will be held this year Oct.24-25.

To get involved: rolphroadschool.com/ social-events/75years.

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Leaside Life, May 2014

A motorcycle-auto collision at Eglinton and Brentcliffe early last month has led the city to study changes in traffic control there.

Councillor John Parker says there will be “a great deal of scrutiny”. Construction of the LRT at that corner provides an opportunity to make changes. ******* It was originally going to be more parking spaces for valu-mart at Bayview and Davisville, but the space has now been leased by Davenport Garden Centre. There will be flowers at the corner again. ******* Back bowl? Backhand draw? You can learn what they mean, plus many other terms, playing the game at the Leaside Lawn Bowling Open House May 9-10, with no obligation to join.

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 10

LEASIDE STOCK INDEX

The U. S. stocks here might as well surrender

Leaside Life, May 2014

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By WILL ASHWORTH If the first quarter is any indication of what we can expect in the future, the Americans might as well send up a white flag of surrender because without the currency exchange, it’s a relative slaughter.

By the time you are reading this we’ll be well into the second quarter of the year. Given Canadian stocks in general outperformed their U.S. counterparts in the first quarter of 2014 — S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index Fund (XIC) up 5.5 percent versus 1.3 percent (excluding currency exchange) for the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) — it’s not surprising that the 10 Canadian stocks in the LSI easily outperformed their 10 American counterparts.

In the first three months of the year only three of 10 American stocks produced positive returns with the best performance a 5.4 per-

cent gain from Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B-N), a stock considered a has-been by many business media types. Warren Buffett might be in his 80s but he’s still got something left in the tank when it comes to investing.

With the ongoing crisis at Best Buy (BBY-N), which is down 33.8 percent through the end of the first quarter, it’s not hard to understand why the American stocks are off a combined 6.5 percent including currency and 10.0 percent without. The only other stock showing any kind of life is Dunkin’ Brands (DNKN-Q), the owners of the Baskin Robbins franchise, which is up 4.1 percent yearto-date. Otherwise it’s been a brutal year.

On the Canadian side of the LSI tally a total of five stocks finished the end of March in positive territory including Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD.B-T) up a sizzling 11.9 percent.

While the three American stocks averaged a gain of 3.5 percent, the five Canadian stocks gaining ground in the first quarter averaged 7.9 percent, more than double the Americans. If only this were hockey and not money, we’d all be much happier.

LEASIDE STOCK INDEX 2014 YTD Performance through March 31, 2014 Total % Return YTD Leaside Stock Index American Stocks (including currency) Canadian Stocks ETF Benchmarks SPDR S&P 500 ETF - including currency - excluding currency S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index Fund

-2.69 -6.53 2.35 5.33 5.26 1.26 5.50



LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 11

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Leaside Life, May 2014

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 12

Leaside Life, May 2014

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T There here is is no n ow way ay w we e can c an thank thank our Mother o ur M other enough. e nough.

H Happy appy Mother’s Mother ’s Day! Day! M May ay 111, 1, 2014 2014

So, where to from here?

I expect Canadian stocks to continue to outperform their American counterparts for the reminder of the year. While the U.S. economy looks to be growing faster than the economy here in Canada the simple fact remains that Canadian stocks currently provide better value having trailed those in the U.S. by quite a margin (7 percent annually) over the last five years.

Individually, when it comes to Canadian stocks, I see good things happening at Canadian Tire, Alimentation Couche-Tard and TD Bank over the next three quarters.

South of the border I expect Starbucks to move into positive territory as we move through the year and it starts rolling out its beer and wine evenings concept across the U.S. However, don’t expect this to come to Ontario anytime soon because the red tape here when it comes to serving liquor is legendary.

Bottom line: Unless something happens to spur stocks south of the border it’s going to be really hard for the Leaside Stock Index to make any kind of concerted move in 2014. The only possibility is if Best Buy were to

go on a big run after a good earnings report and that’s looking less likely by the day. ■

The LSI Stocks ■

American Stocks

Dunkin Brands (Baskin Robbins) DNKN, Berkshire Hathaway (Benjamin Moore) BRK.B, Starbucks SBUX, Remax RMAX, Best Buy BBY, Home Depot HD, Vitamin Shoppe (Vitapath) VSI, Lincoln Electric LECO, PetSmart PETM, UPS UPS. ■

Canadian Stocks

Loblaws L.TO, TD Bank TD. TO, Dollarama DOL.TO, Scotiabank BNS.TO, RioCan REIUN. TO, Empire Company (Sobeys) EMP-A.TO, First Capital Realty FCR.TO, Canadian Tire CTC-A.TO, Tim Hortons THI.TO, Alimentation Couche-Tard (Mac’s) ATDB.TO.

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Don V Valley alle a y West Wes et 7 795 95 Eglinton Eglinton Ave Ave East, East, Unit 101 101 Toronto, T o oronto, ON M4G 4E4 416-425-6777 416-425-6777 www www.kathleenwynne.onmpp.ca .kathleenwynne.onmpp.ca

Let’s Let’s rrebuild ebuild our beautiful tree tree canopy canopy together. together.

* Charle ne K Ka a alia www.AtHomeInLeaside.com www w..A At tHomeInLeaside.com | charlene@charlenekalia.com charlene@charlenek ka alia.com

416.925.9191 Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage 1300 Yo onge Street, Suite 100, To oronto Ontario, M4T 1X3 *Sales Representative This is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract with a brokerage.

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 13

ANNOUNCEMENT A N N OUN CEMEN T

District A-711 Lions are pleased to announce formation of a new Lions Club in our community.

“Leaside “Lea side 100 Lions Lions Club” Respecting our rich history of Lions’ involvement in our Leaside community.

We are extending a warm invitation to an Information Meeting and Registration for prospective Lions who would like to join in our cause to ‘Serve” our Leaside community Details of Meeting: Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 7.30 p.m.

205-1387 Bayview Avenue Common Room Please contact the following: Lion Raija Rosenthal, Past District Governor Telephone: 416 932 3470 E:mail: raija.rosenthal@sympatico.ca Lion Rollie M. Dela Cruz, Past District Governor Telephone: 416 289 3768 Cell: 647 994 0816 E:mail: lion_rolando@yahoo.ca Thank You

Leaside Life, May 2014

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 14

Leaside Life, May 2014

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Slow growth for home sales here

Leaside sales by street 2013 vs. 2014 year to date (end March)

By JETHRO SEYMOUR As the slow-time for real estate sales this winter starts to end there are signs of revival in Leaside and Bennington Heights. This past March there were 21 homes sold through MLS, compared to 14 the previous year.

But the average price was down 5.1 percent, to $1,346,179 when compared to last March.

Two of those 21 homes were semidetached and had an average sale value of close to a million: $913,000.

Value of first quarter sales this year compared to last year was up 7.1 percent and the number of sales rose from 36 to 42.

Other good numbers come from the 12-month averages. All home sale values from April/13 to end of March/14 showed an average price increase of 3.6 percent ($1,272,017) compared to April/12 to end of March/14.

The number of sales rose 7.3 percent to 207.

Meanwhile, the highest value home sold through MLS so far this year was for $2.850 million in Bennington Heights, followed by $2.580 in North Leaside. Lowest valued house was $680,000 on Eglinton East. ■Jethro Seymour is a broker at Johnston & Daniel. All figures are from the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service.

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Leaside Life, May 2014

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Deadline for June, May 10

leasidelifenews@gmail.com

LEASIDE LAWN BOWLING CLUB OPEN HOUSE, Friday, May 9, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Try lawn bowling with no obligation to join. leasidebowls.ca LAYERS OF LEASIDE WALKING TOUR FOR HERITAGE TORONTO Doors Open, 11 a.m.-12.30 p.m. and 1.30-3 p.m.

Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25.

Start and finish, the Leaside Library.

OH N MAN N EH & L A URA SPRRACKLIN S A L E S R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S TTOO P 1 % I N TTOO R O N TTOO * 416-919-8895

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LEASIDE LIBRARY, 165 McRae Dr. Adult and teen programming – Film-maker/visual humorist Cameron Tingley presents his short films and shares his observations of modern society. Themes include environment, media awareness and social civility. No registration required.Tuesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m.

– Benefits of a vegetarian/vegan diet, by the Toronto Vegetarian Association.

Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m.

– Spring book sale. Funds raised to support Toronto Public Library’s literacy programs. Saturday, May 10, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

– Youth Advisory Group meeting: Volunteer at the library and receive community hours. Wednesday, May 28, 4-6 p.m.

– Leaside Book Club: a discussion of The Orenda, by Joseph Boyden. Thursday, May 29, 7–8 p.m.

– Art Exhibit: Words Worth Sharing, paintings by Marisol D'Andrea. Thursday, May 1–Saturday, May 31.

Children’s programming Ready for Reading Story Times: – Preschool 2-2:30 p.m. Wednesdays, May 7–28.

– Family Time 10:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays, May 7-28.

– Toddler Time 9:30-10 a.m. Wednesdays, May 7-28.

– Baby Time 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. Thursdays, May 1-22.

Other groups – Heritage Ontario. Explore yesterday and today with Barry Penhale and special guests. Tuesdays, May 6-27, 2-4 p.m. Information, Ms. Saunders, 416422-0450.

LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY – The Wonder of Insects in the Garden, with Malcolm Geast, and Spring MiniShow. Thursday, May 8, 6:30–10 p.m.

– Leaside Garden Society plant sale (perennials & annuals) Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. Trace Manes Community Centre.

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 17

Ultimate Realty Inc., Brokerage

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would lik o tha nk all of these LLeaside easide businesses A Accurate ccurra ate would like ke tto thank for their trust a nd cconfidence onfidence in our ser vice o veerr the yyears. ea e rs. and service over

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 18

Our book club is committed to help Bayview Leaside Life, May 2014

|

18 The March 2014 cover piece by Patricia Phenix and the debate by Kettel vs Ashworth on pages 20-21, which focused on Bayview’s bleak business outlook, couldn’t be more timely. A stroll down the street on our first warm day in March substantiated this for me.

Retail is ailing throughout the province due to cheap Big Box imports, online shopping and the restricted job market, but the loss of seven stores/restaurants on Bayview in the past year magnifies this in volumes.

Add to this: cocooning at home due to polar vortex conditions, lack of free car and bike parking, overzealous parking attendants, constant road/sidewalk/utility repairs, high rents and new retail centres on Laird....

And the prognosis is a real and present danger to our neighbourhood shopping street.

For some, the retail experience is mediocre with too many restaurants and shops offering the same products, and this will only be exacer-

LETTERS leasidelife@gmail.com Letters may be edited for length. bated by the arrival of Whole Foods and potentially a new COSTCO store in Thorncliffe.

It’s enough to make any retailer throw in the towel!

But there is something that we can do to help. As Nancy Penny (Absolute Beauty) says, “Unless Leasiders shop regularly on this street, it will be gone and soon.”

Bayview is a street-style promenade where relationships with store owners and community neighbours need to be preserved.

In keeping with this, one small North Leaside Book Club (of which I am a member) has made a commitment to support our struggling South Bayview merchants. Our goal is to purchase more from the mix of independent restaurants, boutiques

and commodity stores on Bayview.

This commitment has also been made by the 140-member strong Leaside Garden Society.

All it takes is one small step for the ripple effect to work.

Will your company, organization, church, neighbours, etc., rise to this commitment to shop locally too?

Perhaps this will give the merchants the impetus that they need to join together and form a Business Improvement Area. It may also refocus Bayview to a prestigious, vibrant business area and streetscape.

Carolynn Beange, Broadway Ave.

Two issues of bellyaching For the last two issues of Leaside Life, I’ve read the bellyaching about how badly Bayview is suffering.

www.EveryoneKnowsKaren.com

Karen for over We have known siness owner, 20 years, as a bu friend. So when neighbour and to sell our home the time came d every confiin Leaside, we ha g Karen as our dence in choosin t only has a vast agent, as she no e Leaside real knowledge of th t she is both estate market, bu a consummate personable and ren got us the professional. Ka anted in order to quick sale we w the home we move quickly on in cottage coun had purchased k ld like to than try and we wou job well done. you Karen, for a Jinny and Andy

If you are looking for information or to buy or sell, please feel free to give me a call!

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 19

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LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 20

Leaside Life, May 2014

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One would think the reasons were obvious. Then again it would require the ability to see beyond one’s borders.

20 Laird and Bayview serve two very different groups of people, one very diverse in ethnicity, nationality, social status, to name a few, the latter very narrow.

Laird also has a larger selection of retail stores and restaurants to choose from. Can Laird improve with more speciality stores? Most definitely. Bayview has limited choices in comparison.

From my experience and those of my friends, Laird’s hospitality is better for regular and prospecting customers. Bayview’s hospitality is less welcoming to the non-five minute radius pedestrian regulars.

As a resident within East York, if/when the chance arises, I will choose Laird over Bayview to shop around, dine, etc.

Anyone can throw suggestions around. However, only Bayview storefront owners and the immediate surrounding community can clearly define what they want for their future.

If everyone is comfortable with the current status quo, then stop the complaining. If Bayview wants to re-

vive itself, then they better open their eyes and start looking at other districts for ideas on how to revitalize into a positive, diverse welcoming area.

Marie Jackson, Eglinton Ave. East

Concerned about school safety at Rolph I'm very concerned about student safety in the mornings going to Rolph Road school on days that the dumpster is emptied. Why is this done at around 8 a.m. when children are walking or being dropped off at school?

The garbage trucks are very large and have to back up in the school parking lot into the street. The street in front of Rolph Road is lined with parked cars and the buses are picking up students in front of the school.

There is no room for error and it is a very dangerous situation.

Also, the drivers of the garbage trucks are speeding and often wearing sunglasses and don't look like they are mindful of the students or cars around the parking lot or in the street. This morning the garbage

truck was trying to fit between parked cars and my son's bus with parents and students crossing the road.

I called the Waste Management company about six months ago complaining about the trucks speeding and received a very nice phone call, but nothing was done about it. They still speed and drive dangerously in the morning.

Why not empty the garbage at an earlier time, like 6 a.m. or after school is out in the evenings?

I'm really worried that someone will be hit and only then will the city think about changing the pick-up time.

I think there are many parents concerned about this and I think it should be addressed.

Russsell Schaeffler, Rolph Rd.

How many seniors can we house?

The presentation that Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s chief planner, gave to Leasiders April 9 could aptly be titled Ideology in Motion.

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Leaside Life, May 2014

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Leaside Life, May 2014

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She displayed a slide of Eglinton with condos, only two cars on a narrow street, an LRT, while a girl in a flowing dress happily rode her bicy22 cle. I had to look closer to see if the girl had Toto in her carrier.

Keesmaat said we’re building condos so seniors can live in their own neighourhoods. Just how many seniors are you planning to house?

She said we’re building condos so young people can walk to work because they don’t want to drive. Really? What happens when all these young people couple up and want a little backyard with a place for a kiddie splash pool?

It’s back to the suburbs and another generation of gridlock because you failed to anticipate what our future needs will really be.

Are you enabling our needs for the future or just enabling what developers want now?

You boasted about putting a few flower pots on a few rooftops, and that now we have fewer smog days. It is a fact that our smog comes from West Virginia-Pennsylvania and that with the economic downturn less coal has been burned to produce electricity and that is why we have fewer smog days.

You boast that emissions will be reduced by 180,000 tonnes without

adding a calculation of the emissions to be added because of LRT construction.

Oh, and you fudged the question about the future of Eglinton between Bayview and Laird by saying it would be put in abeyance (until after the Eglinton Connects plan is safely approved?), but that there would be a pilot zoning for up to four floors at Eglinton and Hanna Rd. Beware Leaside, beware Toronto of what might happen if you let a sidewalk designer decide the future of a great city.

Meanwhile, Leaside’s claim to a major “main” street could be established by a Leaside Festival modelled after the Yonge-Eglinton site of the Toronto Street Festival.

Bayview would close, Saturday and Sunday, starting Friday night after rush hour, from Parkhurst and Millwood, to accommodate kiddie rides (it drew huge crowds to the Toronto Street Festival). Many local businesses or services would want to rent a table. You also could have a stage with a roster of musicians.

On Saturday night they had a kiddie movie night at the YongeLawrence site. Or line up a headliner musical attraction.

Bob Murphy, Eglinton Ave. East

A threat to family and friends ED. Note: This letter to Leaside Life was written about the city’s transportation committee plan, requested

by Councillor John Parker for improvements to parking on Glenvale Blvd. Parker called a meeting for March 27 at Northlea United Church to discuss the proposals. Jim Krafchik and Tor Williams, both Glenvale residents, distributed letters to neighbours to fight them. The plan was rejected by Parker before the meeting convened.

I think what upset me most about what happened was that I perceived it as a threat to family, friends and the freedom to enjoy both.

It began innocuously enough with a yellow, two-paged, doublesided flier with Councillor John Parker’s picture on the front. The catch line did its job: “Let’s improve street parking on Glenvale.”

For those not in the know, Glenvale Blvd. is on the north end of Leaside. It parallels Eglinton Ave. East from Brentcliffe Rd. on the east to Bayview Ave. on the west. 

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:48 PM Page 23

Check

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AY COMPOST D11th

Sunday, May Gardens ial Leaside Memor Councillor

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councillor_parker@toronto.ca Toronto City Hall 100 Queen Street West, Suite A13 Toronto ON M5H 2N2 www.johnparker.ca

23

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some mail boxes along my street.

Truthfully, I was terrified. With my thoughts exposed on paper, and my name, address and phone number there too, I expected a lot of opposition to my complaints.

There was an awful lot of anger and frustration; however, I did not experience it until the actual meeting with Mr. Parker. My neighbours were having trouble controlling themselves as they charged John Parker and transportation committee’s Jay Malone with ignoring residents’ concerns for years and then coming up with a half-baked idea to solve all problems with this not-so-popular proposal.

Mr. Parker has shelved this plan to “improve” parking on my street by “restricting” parking.

I’m filled with gratefulness that my neighbours were able to help me, and I am filled with understanding at their frustrations for not having been able to see their concerns addressed.

Many of them suffer from speeding traffic and extreme difficulty exiting their own driveways. Many more fear the LRT construction will make matters for us worse.

Maybe it’s time for more letters to neighbours.

Jim Krafchik, Glenvale Blvd.

Leaside Life, May 2014

The flier proposed the standardization of parking the entire 10-block length of the street. What became apparent very quickly was, if the measures being proposed were to become law, my own children would have but one hour to park legally were they to come for dinner before 8 p.m. and they would not be allowed to park on our street at all during rush hours (810 a.m., 4-6 p.m.).

It was the “rush hour” restriction that caught my attention. Glenvale?

Rush hour? It didn’t make sense!

Turns onto Bayview Ave. northbound are not allowed from Glenvale during either “rush hour”. Why would John Parker want to clear our street for traffic during rush hours?

I felt helpless. How does one deal with a steamroller coming your way?

The only thing that I could think to do was to communicate with as many neighbours as possible on Glenvale and ask them to voice their opinion on the proposals. The yellow flier spoke of a meeting with Mr. Parker to take place in about six days, and I wondered how many of my Glenvale neighbours had read and understood the flier. So I turned to the computer to put together a letter to Mr. Parker, with the intention of emailing it to Mr. Parker and printing about 50 copies of it to deliver to

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:49 PM Page 24

In our Hood 24

|

Senior Chair Exercise Program

Leaside Life, May 2014

By BETH

at Leaside United Church (Tuesday and Thursday at 12:15).

Program is focused on improving Balance, Coordination, Posture, Flexibility and Strength.

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416-450-0892 to register

Day of Pink was recognized at Leaside High School when students organized the school’s participation in the International Day against Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia and Transphobia. It was held April 9 in schools and communities across Canada. Our Leaside students created their own video presentations and set up various events for the day.

The highlight was a school-wide assembly featuring guest speaker former health minister George Smitherman, who spoke about his own personal experiences.

Bessborough Public School’s annual Mayfair fundraiser has undergone many changes over the years, from the “electric eel” game (which some of us remember) to what’s in store at this year’s event May 24, 113 p.m. (if it pours rain, May 25).

Check out the Rock Climbing Wall, a new Skateboard Park where kids can try out the Quarter Pipes, Fun Boxes, Rails, Kickers, Poll Jams, Banks… or a demonstrate by professional skateboarders. A silent auction has gath-

ered great prizes again this year, including a harbour sail, golf, a week at skateboarding camp and dinner for eight at Against the Grain. As usual, many Leaside families, friends and merchants are generous supporters.

Chairing the hard-working volunteer committee is Jennifer O’Donnell, whose son started kindergarten at Bessborough last fall. “We really want everyone in the community to come out and support the event and not feel like this is a Bessborough thing,” says O’Donnell. “Mayfair remains a Leaside tradition enjoyed by over 2,500 people from the community and beyond.”

The recently announced Ontario Volunteer Service Awards for 2014 include two Leasiders, one from Donegall Dr., Shelia Whitely, and Joanna Blanchard, of Broadway Ave. The awards recognize individual volunteers for continuous years of commitment and dedicated service to an organization. Both will be honoured at a ceremony this June for 20 years of volunteer service to the Leaside Garden Society.

Speaking of gardeners, our Leaside Garden Society won a first, second and judges’ choice award at Canada Blooms this spring. The 

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To enter simply visit any of the above merchants or email charlene@charlenekalia.com with CONTEST in the subject line. DRAWS WILL TAKE PLACE THE FRIDAY BEFORE MOTHER’S DAY & FATHER’S DAY. Good

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:49 PM Page 25

large, winning design, Untamed, was assembled in Leaside, taken apart and transported in pieces, and then put together again for the show. Now that’s green thumb dedication.

Bayview window shoppers may wonder what Ten Spot means, a new business coming soon to the strip.

Ten Spot (10 fingers and 10 toes) is the brainchild of a young Canadian female entrepreneur who created her idea for an “anti-spa” when she was 24. “We’re the ultimate anti-spa experience,” boasts Kristen Wood, who has been so successful that she’s

Leaside 215 Laird Dr. (beside TD Bank) (647) 629-0190

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Leaside Life, May 2014

assembled an-all woman team to lead her expanding franchise (which started on Queen St. West).

Leaside residents will start soon seeing activity at 2 Laird Dr. (site of the old post office). A visitors’ showroom will showcase drawings by the architecture firm of Kearns Macinic of what has been approved as plans for the units. No date has been set for construction.

Wondering about the giant piles of dirt in the lot off Wicksteed? The area is undergoing environmental remediation because the land was formerly an industrial site. Heavy equipment will be digging and hauling for several months.

For those who missed those great pancake breakfasts at the beginning of Lent, you can still have your hot cakes at a Pancake Breakfast Saturday, May 24 at Leaside Presbyterian Church, 9-11 a.m. Proceeds support two children, Mesheck and Tarikwa, two overseas orphans, through the Christian Children’s Fund.

Local business Insideout Health & Fitness presents its 9th annual Spring Into Action! Walk or Run for Diabetes at Sunnybrook Park in support of Sunnybrook Foundation, I Challenge Diabetes, and York University Diabetes Sports Camp. This year’s goal is to raise $15,000. ■

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:49 PM Page 26

se the se who cho o o th g n o m a draw from We’ll have a i ates to Fuku store pets. ic r if la u rt p e o c p t if st g o 25 five m prizes: two $ ertificate to There are five , a $15 an d a $20 gift c anicure ayview facial an d m a d n a , st Sushi, 1612 B a E 804 Eglinton yview.

Mt. Everest, rize, ty, 1517A Ba u a e B choice of a p te lu t rs so fi e th for Ab ve er w ill ha The top w inn One r next, etc. n of May 10. o o n y b m secon d w inne o c delifenews. ily of Vote at leasi loyees or fam p m e o n , n o rs . entry per pe ores involve d st e th r o e if Leaside L

Chloe Owner, Peter Skalenda of Millwood Chiropractic & Massage Therapy Centre.

The mailman may not be her favourite visitor, but when it comes to patients Chloe is a “cuddler,” even if it includes sitting on their laps during treatments. “They just love her,” says Skalenda of the Havanese who turns 4 in May.

Sir Percival, “Percy”

A MATIC PHOTO: DIJAN

Mr. T-D He’s at the TD Bank at Millwood and Bayview. “He cheers people up,” says employee Dijana Matic of the budgie who arrived on the premises the end of February. “Kids love it when he dances to music.”

If things go well she may add a female budgie. “We’ll call her Mrs. Visa,” she says.

➤

Owners Marian Misters and J.D. Singh, Sleuth of Baker Street. According to Misters, this Standard Poodle, 3, was named after the only knight on King Arthur’s Round Table to see the Holy Grail. His nobility is reflected in his proud stance. Best of all, as a security guard, he’s second to none.

Lucky Owner, Nancy Penny of Absolute Beauty. Lucky lived up to her name on two occasions when she “saved” her owner from a nighttime intruder and a purse snatcher.

Born with a jaw deformity, this 11-year old not only survived, but proved it’s good to be a big dog in a small dog’s body.

NY SSICA PEN PHOTO: JE

PHOTO: LEAN NE KOCZKA

ENDA TER SKAL PHOTO: PE

➤

| Leaside Life, May 2014

Choose the best store greeters in Leaside and win a prize

➤

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:49 PM Page 27

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➤

Owner Rhonda Fruitm ever Lola Wants “He’s all an, Whateven if he bumps into fur about love, Fruitman of the blind niture,” says pug, twelve years old, who races to the to greet every new cu front door added benefit? He can sinstomer. An g.

PHOTO: RHONDA FRUITMAN

Mars

➤

Owner Grace Corrado of Stainton Murray & Lam. Named after the Roman god of war, this three-legged dynamo, 10, still gives super highfives to whoever greets him. “He loves people and hates being alone,” says Corrado, who adds he knows he’s quite a chick magnet.

Mojo

➤

Owner Sue Byford, Bonnie Byford Real Es tate. Originally fromthe Ottawa area, Mojo, 6, is a Tibetan Terrier who excels at “nap ping, looking cute an boosting morale.” d graduate of puppA school, he defuses of-y fice stress by lying on his back and inviting belly rubs.

PHOTO: GRACE CO RRADO

PHOTO: SUE BYFOR D

Cookie

➤

Owner Lynn Henry, Vizio Eyewear. “She makes me laugh every day,” says Henry of her teacup Chihuahua, 1, who serves clients from the comfy confines of her owner’s over-theshoulder purse.

PHOTO: LYNN HENRY

Olive

➤

Owner Rhonda Fruitman of Whatever Lola Wants. Although she has a fondness for men, Olive doesn’t discriminate when it comes to games of tug-of-war. “She has a toy box and whenever someone comes in she rummages through it to find just the right object to pull the stuffing out of,” say Fruitman of the 1 1/2-yearold English Bulldog.

UITMAN ONDA FR PHOTO: RH

Leaside Life, May 2014

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:49 PM Page 28

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Leaside Life, May 2014

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A landmark loses out to healthy Two year’s ago the HGTV show Restaurant Makeover gutted the interior of the long-time Leaside landmark Sunnybrook Restaurant, replacing its old booths and saggy seat cushions with stainless steel tables, and an open concept dining area, complete with a wall-sized chalkboard menu.

Everything about the new establishment, renamed The Uptown, shouted urban, chic and cool.

But not enough people dined there. The number of breakfasters remained brisk, and the lunch crowd was reasonably loyal, but evenings were a wasteland.

As of April 19, the restaurant re-opened under the name Rollian.

Upon entering, customers are greeted by chefs preparing food at what must be the widest sushi bar in the country. The chalkboard is still there, but now it features only healthy foods such as petite sashimi (assorted raw fish), salmon teriyaki, lobster butter yaki, and tofu cake, in keeping with the restaurant’s mandate, which is to steer diners away from junk food. â–

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:49 PM Page 29

I got passionate mail – re 262 Bessborough Some history about the Elgie house

John Parker Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West

provincial heritage legislation. This culminated in the identification of certain specific “heritage attributes,” all relating to the 1883 structure.

City Council formally confirmed its intention to designate the 1883 structure late last year, coincidentally the year of Leaside’s 100th anniversary.

City heritage staff enumerated various " “heritage attributes” of the building and included them in their report in support of designation. One of them is its “specific location, setback and orientation”.

The significance of this particular attribute may turn out to be pivotal in the fate of the property. Concurrent with the designation process, the current owner (having acquired the property in 2013) brought forward a

The existing home is comprised of essentially three components, each built at different times. All credible evidence indicates that the original dwelling was built in 1883 for owner Thomas G. Elgie. The portion at the north end was built in 1934 for then owner Margaret Bell.

Mary Linholm acquired the property in 1970, and her husband Sven built the south addition the following year. The Linholms made significant alterations to the north wing in 1990. The 1883 home still lives inside the modern additions, with some – but not all – features visible from the outside.

A mistaken understanding that the original home dates from several decades before 1883 has been given some circulation. This likely stems from the fact that the land was acquired in that era by Thomas G. Elgie’s father, whose name was

HOPE, Page 30

HISTORY, Page 30

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Leaside Life, May 2014

The flow of passionate email messages into my office concerning the dwelling at 262 Bessborough Dr. – situated immediately to the south of the Leaside High School yard – is testament to the strong interest that many Leaside residents have in the outcome of the development proposal put forward by the current owner of the property.

It also reflects some understandable confusion over some of the facts relating to the home and to the matters currently at issue. Accordingly, I thought it might be worth taking a bit of space in this month’s Leaside Life to touch on some points of interest in the matter.

When I first heard that the property was up for sale in late 2012 I asked to see the city’s heritage preservation file on it. I was surprised to find that there wasn’t one, apart from an entry on a list that had been put together in the late days of the Borough of East York.

I immediately requested that work be commenced with a view to having the home “designated” under

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:49 PM Page 30

Hope Leaside Life, May 2014

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From Page 29

proposal to sever the property into three lots, remove the 20th century additions to the 1883 dwelling, reposition the dwelling on the middle lot, and build a new house on each of the other two lots to be created.

The proposal required a trip to the Committee of Adjustment for various approvals relating to lot severance and bylaw variances.

Here’s where the plot thickens.

Heritage preservation staff submitted a formal report this year to the Jan. 8 Committee of Adjustment meeting that considered the application. The report placed particular emphasis on the matter of the location of the dwelling.

Without expressing itself on the requested lot severance or variances in the abstract, the committee rejected the owner's applications lock, stock, and barrel. The owner soon thereafter entered a predictable appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

The owner also took a step that was somewhat less predictable.

He submitted an application to “demolish” the existing home. Para-

doxically, his stated goal remained not to demolish the entire structure; only the parts added in the 20th century.

As for the original dwelling, his proposal remained – and continues to be – to retain it but reposition it on the lot and restore features of the original structure that have been hidden from view since at least 1971.

The proposal to demolish is currently going through the steps at City Hall.

In early April it came before North York Community Council where, on my motion, it was rejected by unanimous vote. Next stop is the full City Council, where I expect it to encounter the same fate.

The question of demolition would thus appear to be on its way to the OMB. Which is where the question of redevelopment is already on file.

Bottom line: The matter of redevelopment of the property at 262 Bessborough Dr., and the matter of the treatment of at least one of the heritage attributes of the designated 1883 Thomas Elgie home, are likely to be bundled together and determined in a proceeding that will play out at the OMB, possibly later this year. ■

History

From Page 29

also Thomas. Thomas Elgie (the father) built a home that predates the existing home, but it is long gone.

A modern record created by the Borough of East York refers to the original owner of the existing home as Robert Elgie – a brother of Thomas G. Elgie. Careful research, however, indicates that Robert actually lived on the adjacent property to the north – probably the site of the original Elgie home.

Having been built in the 19th century, the Thomas G. Elgie home predates the Town of Leaside and of course predates the existence of Bessborough Dr., which came into being as Edith Ave. with the creation of the town in 1913.

And whereas the current front door faces east and the property has for most of its existence carried a Bessborough address, the front door of the original home faced south and the property had an address on, believe it or not, Soudan Ave. (Maps from the time indicate Soudan as a significant roadway stretching from Yonge St. well to the east; Eglinton did not make it this far over from Yonge until much later.) ■

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:49 PM Page 31

By GEOFF KETTEL At the April 8 meeting of the North York Community Council, Nancy Elgie, widow of the respected former Ontario cabinet minister Dr. Robert Elgie, enumerated the reasons why the Thomas G. Elgie House at 262 Bessborough Dr. should be preserved and not be demolished (as applied for by the owner).

She noted that York East, the area represented by her husband, had included the property. The house was the last remaining example of what farm life was like 120 years ago in this part of Toronto.

“This unique part of our heritage is irreplaceable. Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” she said, adding, “The property remains such an asset for the community, the lot size, and the graciousness. It is an example of something that can be seen and experienced, not just a picture in a book of lost landmarks.”

She told the developer that she wished for the whole property to be

n sale All blinds o th of n o m e for th 25% off. the add at



I spoke to Matt Garnet, of Renaissance Fine Homes: 1. The request to demolish is a technical application that must be worded as such. His plan is and always was to demolish the 20th century additions and move the original heritage house to the front of the property. Under Section 34 of the Heritage Act, any movement constitutes demolition.

2. He says it's not a Renaissance Fine Homes project, but that of 262 Bessborough Inc. and should be referred to as that.

3. The OMB hearing is not May 12. A specific date has yet to be determined although late June or early July is the likely timeframe.

4. Garnet is getting a heritage award in May for his work on 7 Austin Terrace. He's very much in support of heritage properties. ■

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declared a cultural heritage site.

“You bought it as it was zoned and now you want to change the designation. You speculated, but that isn’t a guarantee that you should win.

At Casino Rama the odds are rarely in your favour.”

After the meeting, some of us went for lunch with Nancy and discovered there was more to this passionate and sparky lady than just being the spouse of a former politician. She is a long-time school trustee in Keswick (on Lake Simcoe) and (at the age of 80) has already registered for another term. We were reminded that Dr. Robert Elgie was both a lawyer and a surgeon before becoming a politician. And we all felt Nancy must have been an admirable companion to Robert.

Nancy was not the only Elgie family member speaking in favour of having the property declared a cultural heritage site. The public record reveals the presence of nine letters

C ORTINA CURTAINS & SHADES

Owner: Tear down only 20th century part

Leaside Life, May 2014

Elgie’s widow pleads for saving the whole site

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:50 PM Page 32

Leaside Life, May 2014

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written by Elgie family members from places such as California, Vancouver, Arizona, Waterloo, and Hanna Rd. in Leaside. They stress that seeing a historic house is preferable to reading about it.

North York Community Council recommended to City Council that the demolition permit be denied.

And that City Council approve legal and planning support from the city at the Ontario Municipal Board.

Neighbours of 262 Bessborough at the meeting were listening intently and taking notes. Several wondered why the owner sought an application for a demolition permit rather than for an alteration permit.

If a demolition permit under the Ontario Heritage Act were appealed, it would be to the OMB and the decision, effectively final. By contrast, if an alteration permit under the Conservation Review Board were appealed, there would be a recommendation to Council.

City staff said that they had advised the owner to apply for an alteration permit but instead he insisted on a demolition permit. One can only suppose that the owner prefers to take his chances at the OMB rather than on a recommendation back to council. â–

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:50 PM Page 33

Carol Burtin Fripp Vice-president, LPOA

The parking improvements that weren’t Skill-testing question: How do you guarantee that 100 or more Leasiders will show up at a meeting?

Answer: You offer to “improve” on-street parking all along their street by eliminating it.

This is more or less what happened in late March, when Councillor John Parker invited Glenvale Blvd. residents to a meeting to present proposed parking changes along the street.

The proposals would have banned all on-street parking on the south side of Glenvale, for the full length of the street, and placed varying time-based parking restrictions along the north side.

Even in normal times, proposals that affect traffic and parking are sure to draw a crowd. But these are not normal times, given that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction process is likely to divert some of the traffic from Eglinton Ave. onto Leaside streets. All of Leaside will be affected, but North Leaside will be particularly so.

Generally speaking, people are not keen on measures that, even unintentionally, encourage throughflow traffic onto residential streets as bypasses for arterial roads.

The LPOA has been involved in designing several traffic plans since the 1970s, and we know that the safety of our streets is a primary concern.

Speed is a major factor, and streets with parking on only one side, or no parking on either side, generate faster-flowing traffic.

Traffic studies internationally demonstrate that parking on both sides of a street actually discourages speeding.

The proposals were withdrawn at the start of the meeting, as Councillor Parker had already received many negative comments in advance, but he has invited people to contact his office if they have other proposals. 

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Leaside Life, May 2014

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:50 PM Page 34

The meeting, however, continued, since many attendees wanted to comment further.

From all accounts of the Glenvale meeting, quite a few suspected that parking restrictions like those proposed would turn Glenvale into an inviting diversion for traffic trying to avoid the LRT-related congestion along Eglinton.

They expressed concerns that these or similar measures would lead to all of North Leaside being overrun by commuter and other through traffic.

There is no doubt that protective measures will have to be devised, monitored, and likely altered as circumstances change during the years of LRT construction.

LPOA has arranged to meet with Metrolinx and City Traffic on a monthly basis to identify particular locations and situations that need help. We intend to consult with the affected residents, with as much lead time as possible.

Our stated goals have always been to protect all of Leaside’s residential streets, and to prevent shifting speed and volume problems onto adjacent streets. It’s far from easy, but it’s sure worth a try.

It’s more likely to be successful if we work together as a neighbourhood.

---

Leaside Life, May 2014

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On another North Leaside-related matter, the city’s Disabilities Issues Committee has asked the TTC to improve accessible transit to the medical and disabilities-specific institutions along Kilgour Rd., which is north of and parallel to Glenvale.

LPOA has written to the TTC to strongly request that this be done by adding a loop from Bayview Ave. into Kilgour by the Number 11 Bayview/Sunnybrook bus, rather than by adding a new bus route through North Leaside.

We have said that many North Leaside residential streets are narrow and with congested sections. We also noted that the coming construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT through the Leaside area will increase traffic delays and reduce traffic flow along Eglinton, increasing flow-through traffic diversions into North Leaside.

To introduce a new bus route into this situation would be disruptive to the community, and an ineffective and expensive way of providing accessible transit.

We will put any news about this matter onto the LPOA website, and you can count on Leaside Life to cover the story as well. ■

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:50 PM Page 35

The real dirt in Leaside

Leaside Life, May 2014

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What grows well in Leaside is likely to keep growing in Leaside.

But like all neighbourhoods, Leaside has its own micro-climate -particular conditions that make growing some plants easier than others. Even the muck packed about the roots of a plant contains “Leaside” micro-organisms that help a plant become established more quickly.

That’s the wisdom behind what has become an annual tradition in the neighbourhood, the exchange of plants in the spring over the fence or at an annual plant sale, held every May for 20 years.

“If a Leaside neighbour donated it, you’re pretty certain that it’s going to grow in your garden as well,” says Shawn Sheppard, coordinator of this year’s annual Leaside Garden Society plant sale at Trace Manes.

Savvy gardeners know what’s in Leaside ground.

“Our soil in this area, like most of Toronto, is clay,” explains Joanna Blanchard, one of the Garden Soci

SHAWN SHEPPARD, INSET MARY CAMPBELL

By BETH PARKER

LEASIDE’S DEFINITIVE PLANT: The hosta, say many local gardeners. Insert: Shawn Sheppard, co-ordinator of this year’s Leaside Garden Society’s annual plant sale at Trace Manes May 10.

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:50 PM Page 36

Leaside Life, May 2014

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ety’s resident experts. “But there are underground rivers through Leaside, which create pockets of sandy soil sometimes 15 to 20 feet in area. This 36 can mean that what I can grow in my garden may need a bit of help in yours.”

Blanchard says that in general, day lilies do well in Leaside because these summer beauties love clay soil.

But if your soil has sandy pockets, be careful. Plants that can’t tolerate drought won’t survive come mid summer.

Leaside soil also tends to be neutral, not acidic, the same as in the Beaches. This means that if you like rhododendrons or heather, you’re in for a planting challenge.

Does Leaside have a definitive plant? When several local gardeners were asked the question, hosta won every time.

“We get in at least 20 varieties of hostas each year at the sale, “ says Sheppard, “because the community has mostly shade gardens, although since the ice storm, many are suddenly facing new conditions.

“In recent years grasses have gained in popularity as well as any kind of plant that is low maintenance. People want to be able to be away for a couple of weeks and not

have their garden die.”

Leaside also sees a lot of what are considered Canadian favourites: asters, rudbeckia and columbines.

But once again, look to a garden expert to pass on secrets to success.

“Many don’t realize that columbines have a life cycle of three years,” advises Cathy Park, another resident garden expert.

“You have to divide columbines at the end of three years to keep them in your garden.”

Sheppard, a Southvale resident and self-described amateur gardener, says the annual Leaside Garden Society event features mostly perennials from neighbourhood gardens and a local grower.

“It’s now a multi-generational affair,” says Sheppard, “Children who’ve grown up in Leaside now come with their parents, their cousins and friends. It’s one of the Leaside Garden Society’s longestrunning events.

“Members, who are local gardeners, dig perennials up from their gardens, which are then identified, labelled, and sorted according to where they’ll thrive (shade to sun.)

With many expert gardeners in the society, including four Master Gardeners, no plant goes unnamed and

customers know for sure what they are buying.

“We even have experts on hand the day of the sale to advise on what to plant, depending on your own garden conditions,” he adds.

There’s an honesty among gardeners who won’t let you believe that a plant will keep blooming if they know differently. “If we know it’s not the right choice for someone,“ says Sheppard, “we tell them. And we don’t sell plants that are problems or could become invasive,” a danger when accepting something green and thriving from a well-meaning neighbour.

The plant sale takes place at Trace Manes Saturday, May 10 (a line up starts before the door opens at 9 a.m.). In addition to members’ perennials, a broad selection of perennials, native plants, and herbs are brought in from Chalk Lake Nurseries. Sheppard promises some “extras,” such as ready made Mother’s Day planters.

“And typical of a garden group, there is absolutely no waste,” he adds.

“Unsold plants are taken away by volunteer Betty Muir, who plants them in the gardens at Sunnyview School.” ■

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:51 PM Page 37

Baseball is saving our old way of life Living in Leaside after the kids while mom and dad work to pay the mortgage?

So we have street life in Leaside today: The walkers are vastly outnumbered by the joggers, grim-faced and oblivious as they put in their miles before or after a hard day downtown.

Dogs are increasingly walked in teams by professional dog-walkers (to their credit, almost all dog-walkers are more thoughtful than they used to be); babies are walked by their nannies, also sometimes in teams.

Lawns and gardens are tended by Kutting Krew and Leaside Landscaping. We own too many cars to wash any of them by hand. There's at least one construction site on every block; tradesmen building the new Leaside vastly outnumber oldsters out enjoying the sunshine.

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Michael Bliss

on public outdoor living. Leaside land is too valuable to be left in grass, Leasiders' time too fleeting to waste in meandering and socializing.

Work, work out, coccoon, disappear into the i-world.

There are glimmers of a better way. Whatever the problems of doing business on Bayview, it's still a great street for strollers, and its people-watching has never been more varied and interesting. Too bad the same will never be said of the madeover Laird Dr. area.

And then there are the basketball nets.

There's at least one of the new, portable, adjustable standards on every block nowadays, and the kids use them almost as much as they use their street hockey gear, their scooters, their skateboards. The kids in Leaside are our outdoors people even as their parents dash around in their SUVs and disappear into their monster houses.

A few of us even cherish yards still big enough for baseball or soccer. How else do you get to know your neighbours than when the balls go onto their property? ■

Leaside Life, May 2014

Last winter was so bad that warm weather this spring actually caused some Leasiders to go casually strolling around the neighbourhood.

It was a throwback to an earlier era when people out walking in Leaside were as common as bungalows.

Twenty-five or so years ago our sidewalks were busy with pedestrians, many with their dogs, who only occasionally had to give way to apologetic joggers or moms with baby buggies.

Neighbours would chat with each other as they washed cars, mowed their lawns, puttered in their front gardens.

Even then our up-market future was taking shape.

Old Leaside never was a front porch community - the switch to back decks and patios had already occurred. Affluent Leasiders were sprucing up and building additions to their houses. They also bought second cars, an anomaly in their onecar driveways and garages, and a trend confounding our trafficphobes.

When you can afford two or three cars, then maybe you need a bigger house. And maybe someone to look

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:51 PM Page 38

Leaside Life 38

(But the map isn’t accurate. Are you surprised? For example, Kilgour Rd. and the streets north of Glenvale Blvd, all in M4G, are not marked. No matter, we’ll all be delivering our own mail soon.)

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Canada Post’s latest map of its M4G area, where we deliver Leaside Life to all homes and businesses free each month

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Leaside Life News www.leasidelifenews.com

If you're not in the M4G postal zone and therefore don't get Leaside Life delivered, you can find us at leasidelifenews.com

Leaside Life, May 2014

We have another life – on the web

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Engaged audience for chief planner A standing room only crowd of 200 neighbours packed the William Lea room in the Leaside arena to learn how Toronto’s planners intend to face the future, straight from the official entrusted to lead the way.

Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s chief city planner, took an excited and engaged audience through a tour of the workings of city planning, including planning for Leaside.

It was the “reset" this year of the planning process for neighbourhoods, under the name ResetTO, that struck a cord with Hugh Grant, president of Bennington Heights Property Owners Association.

“ResetTO is designed to establish rules that developers must live by, rules that will reflect local character and distinctiveness.

“As it has long been my concern that developers frequently hijack neighbourhoods in their search for the dollar, and that the system (Committee of Adjustment and the On-

tario Municipal Board) has historically enabled this abuse rather than prevented it, this message was both valuable and very welcome.”

ResetTO was one of what Keesmaat identified as Five Priorities for the next Five Years: great streets, the role of transit, diverse communities, ResetTO (subtitled Towards Neighbourhood Planning), and Own Your City.

“Keesmat outlined the limitations of what I expect to be a very complex portfolio in developing plans to meet the diverse needs and wants from the constituents of Leaside and the surrounding neighbourhoods of Ward 26,” said Phillip Francis, president of Leaside’s Lawn Bowling Association.

“It is clear that the visions expressed through Eglinton Connects will require goodwill and compromise by all in order to enhance the livability of our communities to be 

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:51 PM Page 41

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Time to man the barricades Change is in the works, drastic change to the way in which Leasiders have been dealing with redevelopment proposals. That change is known as the Development Permit System (DPS).

DPS is authorized by the Ontario Planning Act. In 2007 Toronto City Council gave its planning department permission to initiate a process which would put DPS in place in the city’s communities and neighbourhoods, including Leaside.

Historically the Ontario Planning Act has given residents the right to object to any and every development or redevelopment proposal that doesn’t comply with the local zoning by-law. Currently that can be done before the application receives approval either at the Community Council or at the Committee of Adjustments, or if it is approved by ap

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Leaside Life, May 2014

implemented effectively.”

Lorna Krawchuk, Leaside Life publisher, said the vision for Eglinton Ave. across Leaside where the LRT is underground is for most of the single-family homes to be safe.

She said pilot projects for Reset TO, with a Development Permit System (DPS), “that allows an areabased approach to the assessment of development applications,” are to be considered soon, “but we don’t appear to be in line for a pilot”.

“In an ideal world,” she said, “the DPS, after community consultation, would put all the various municipal approvals into one document, ‘creating efficiencies and more clarity for both residents and developers alike’.

Needs to be seen to be believed, I think. Lots of questions still needing answers.”

Keesmaat fielded questions from the audience, which, according to Grant, would have gone on another hour if she hadn’t had to leave. ■

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:51 PM Page 42

Leaside Life, May 2014

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pealing to the Ontario Municipal Board.

DPS will eliminate the rights to consultation, objection and appeal.

In return for surrendering these rights the city planners will give Leasiders the opportunity to attend one or more local meetings to agree on development criteria which we feel will fit our community. Of course those criteria will be constrained by the fact that they must also implement the Toronto Official Plan (OP) and achieve the goals set out in the OP. Once in place the criteria will be cast in stone. So provided a redevelopment application meets those criteria it will be approved by the city planners. Developers will have a right to appeal the planners’ decision but affected residents will have no right of appeal.

Presumably the criteria for the Leaside neighbourhoods will be presented to us by the city planners, discussed and agreed upon at local consultation meetings of property owners, tenants and business owners.

The planners admit that very few tenants and business owners are likely to attend. What the planners don’t say is that very few property owners ever turn up either for general planning meetings such as these.

If there is a meeting to discuss a specific proposal affecting your own property you’ll be there for sure but not so likely if it’s just to discuss general planning principles.

Four general public meetings have been held to inform residents about the DPS, one each in Etobicoke, Scarborough, Toronto and North York. How many Leasiders attended any one of those meetings? I counted only one other one at the Toronto meeting.

On April 9 a meeting was held here in Leaside with Toronto’s chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat as the speaker. She gave a general overview of her role and that of the city planning staff but during her two-hour presentation she talked only briefly, for approximately 10 minutes, on the subject of DPS. At the prior Toronto meeting which lasted some four hours DPS was the only subject discussed. While Leaside has a population in the thousands fewer than 150 attended the April 9 meeting. Have most Leasiders even heard of DPS? Let alone understand it and know how it will affect them.

Fortunately, none of these meetings held so far were to set the development criteria for our community. 

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:51 PM Page 43

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Leaside Life, May 2014

Those meetings will be crucial because once the criteria is set residents will have no further input or right to object to an individual redevelopment application.

When those meetings are held the Leasiders who do attend will be establishing the physical character of our community not only for themselves but for those who don’t attend and for future residents as well.

DPS is the inevitable result of the total amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto into the Megacity. Toronto councillors faced with massive agendas have delegated as many of their responsibilities as possible either to their personal assistants or to the bureaucrats.

Quite understandably the city planners feel that numerous public meeting on development applications seldom resolve the issues and are a waste of their time which they could better spend on what in their opinion are much more important matters.

The final decision to implement DPS rests with our councillor and his colleagues on Toronto city council.

The last line of the French version of O Canada applies here: “Protegera nos foyers et nos droits,â€? which translated reads: Guard our homes and our rights. In the past, Leasiders have always done just that. â–

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This has led concerned shop owners to speculate that a recession could follow.

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When I was first elected, I visited favourite restaurants in Leaside, just because they were wonderful places to touch base with neighbours and talk politics.

Continuing in that tradition, in March I held my second annual Leaside Business Breakfast at Corks Restaurant in Longo’s with the Hon. Tony Clement, president of the Treasury Board, where we discussed our government’s support for tax cuts and the reduction of bureaucratic red tape for small business owners.

While the weather outside may have been cool and rainy, inside one of the hot topics was whether small businesses in Leaside have a place in the land of Laird’s big box retailers.

My answer was an unwavering yes; however, as a former small-tomedium sized business owner, I know that you’ve got to attract customers. They don’t come on their own.

A great method is to invest in promotional events, such as street fairs featuring music, food, and flyers.

Yonge St. recently had a very successful one where the pride of retailers was on display, from burger shops to candy stores.

Last year, the Rotary Club organized Bits and Bites on Bayview.

Due in part to poor weather and limited manpower, it failed to meet expectations, however I hope it has paved the way for similar events in the future.

Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are another effective way to attract customers, so long as owners work together to drive enough excitement to form them.

As a former car dealer, I couldn’t team up with another dealership, but I would have given my right arm for a BIA. These create an environment where businesses can come together to discuss issues of concern and create a greater retail environment, as well as to support one another.

That being said, a BIA won’t keep a business that’s struggling alive, and the cost may be prohibitive.

The challenges facing small businesses are great and the solutions far from easy. It is vital to remember, though, that the contribution these businesses make in job creation and community enrichment cannot be overstated. ■

To advertise in Leaside Life: 416-486-7387 www.leasidelifenews.com

LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:52 PM Page 45

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Leaside Life, May 2014

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LeasideLife issue 28 48 pgs_LeasideLifev1 14-04-22 11:52 PM Page 46

The Little Paddle that just grew and grew Leaside Life, May 2014

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In 1993, Leaside’s Adele Freeman was on staff at what is now the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and really didn’t know what she was getting into when she was urged by Metro Councillor Joan King to organize a paddling event on the Don. I was also a member of the Don Watershed Task Force with Adele and Joan, and certainly didn’t anticipate that this event would still be going strong 21 years later.

In fact, if you were intending to participate in the Manulife Paddle the Don event on Sunday, May 4, you’ve probably missed the boat. It was 75 percent sold out its first day and there are now 600 paddlers registered.

This unique wilderness experience in the heart of the city is also basically a Leasider’s experience, as the Don River, including tributary Burke Brooke, borders the neighbourhood on three sides.

You may wonder how there is enough water in the Don to make paddling possible, unless, of course, Mother Nature provides an epic rainfall. The solution? Open the gates at the G. Ross Lord Dam further up the river at 4:30 a.m., and the additional

Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life

water arrives at the launch site in Ernest Thompson Seton Park on Leaside’s eastern boundary at around 7:30 a.m. You might want to go down the Broadway hill to actually see the water rise. It’s quite the sight. Later in the day the river goes back to its normal depth.

From 8:30 to noon, a continuous parade of boats depart the launch site. Assistants dressed in hip-waders steady them so that paddlers and passengers don’t fall out. The water is high enough for paddling, but the stern paddler needs to steer around the rocks. I remember when former East York Mayor Michael Prue had as his bow paddler someone who didn’t recognize the signs of rocks. After his group’s first thudding crash, and a near swim, they got their act together.

There are also three portages on the route. At each one there are Toronto and Region Conservation Authority staff members, Wilderness Canoe Association members, Search

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and Rescue staff and officers from the Toronto Police Marine Unit available to make sure the paddlers don’t go over the weir.

If you want to watch, it’s probably not a good idea to be at the congested launch site. Staff at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority suggest the Pottery Rd. bridge or Riverdale Park as two ideal spots.

At 10 a.m., the corresponding hour-long Manulife Walk the Don Event starts at Evergreen Brick Works at 550 Bayview, just south of Governor’s Bridge, and ends where the river makes its right turn into the Keating Channel at Lake Ontario.

Why are these events happening?

Because they’re fun, and raise awareness of the vital importance of the Don River.

The first few years, the paddle was just that – a fun experience. Then, seeing its popularity, it also became a fundraiser for TRCA projects. The goal for this year is to raise $100,000.

That money is earmarked for a Stormwater Management Program and a Tree Canopy Program in the Don watershed, especially needed after the devastation caused by December’s ice storm. ■

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