No. 4 • March 2012
Leaside Life
Having new fun on the __ ice P-13
Watch out – they’re soon back on the streets By ANDREA VILLIERS Who meets friends at 5:40 a.m. to cycle 50 kilometres or more and the dash off to work? Leasiders do! Some days there are more than 80 avid cyclists, mostly from Leaside, gearing up at the crack of dawn to cycle as far as Brimley Rd. in Scarborough and back. On Saturdays and Sundays they gather at 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and travel as much as 100 kilometers in just three hours. This is the Morning Glory Club. Started in 2008 with two members,
the club now has over 430 with a solid active base of well over 200. Members range from the early 20s to 60s. Fraser Chapman, the founder, who lives on Millwood Rd., started cycling for fun and exercise in 2005. He cycled Tuesdays and Thursdays and realized there were lots of others on the road, even in the early mornings. He literally chased down cyclists to form the cycling group. Chapman says, “Every member is very passionate about cycling and every member was a new rider before.”
French immersion students to be bused By ALISON ROCKWELL Owing to over capacity at Northlea, senior kindergarten students from Bessborough entering the French immersion program in September will now be bused to Davisville, a JK to 6 school near Yonge and Davisville. Bessborough students will be joining others from Leaside and the surrounding area, from Rolph Rd., Bennington and Thorncliffe, who have been routed to Davisville. The Toronto District School Board, previously understood to be considering closing the school due to low enrolment, decided four years ago to
open the immersion program at Davisville, which proved to be propitious. Bessborough, due to its close proximity to Northlea, had continued to send its French stream students to the Rumsey Rd. facility, north of Eglinton. “We’ve definitely seen an increase in numbers to the French immersion program over the last few years,” says Alison Pearce, program co-ordinator, French As a Second Language, for the TDSB. “In particular over the last two years we’ve seen that level rise even more.” Provincial mandates cap class sizes in elementary schools at 20, with FRENCH, Page 10
Now the Morning Glory Club welcomes riders whether experienced or novice. The club has some accomplished cyclists. David Frake won a gold medal in 2010 and a silver medal in 2011 at the World Duathlon Championships. Andrew Imrie came 44th overall at the Kona Ironman World Championships last year and was the top Canadian. But don’t let those super stars put you off joining the club. Fraser BIKES, Page 16
COMMENT FRAN MACLURE, a resident of Leaside, has been an LPOA board member, is chair of the Green Committee at Kilgour Estates and a volunteer with Women's Healthy Environments Network.
We’ll now know about gas leaks On Jan. 31, 2007, an employee doing maintenance work using a blow torch ignited a 5-alarm fire, resulting in a burnt out shell warehouse that contained frozen foods. The company was called Coldstor, located on Wicksteed Ave. COMMENT, Page 15
Leaside Life, March 2012
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Top coach, top results By ALISON ROCKWELL Despite having just formed as a club three years ago, a trio of Leaside Volleyball’s female Lightning teams has won the right to advance to the Premier division, which will see each Lightning team face off against 12 other Ontario rivals for the provincial title. Perhaps that’s such a good showing because the club founder, John Child, is a three-time Olympian and bronze medalist in beach volleyball, and can attract top-level coaches. The Lightning’s 18U, 16U Red and 16U White teams play their matches in February and March. Six all-girl line-ups make up the Lightning division while the boys fall under the club’s Thunder division, which currently hosts one U14 squad. Child hopes to increase the number of male teams over the next few years. He also coaches members of the club at both the house league and rep level. Since Child had previously sold a successful family car rental business overseas he had spare time. “I started focusing on doing this full-time when my kids wanted to get
into it,” he says. His daughter Jenna, a grade 10 student, plays for the 16U White team. “What I love about the sport most is that it is a sport for life.” The Leaside club’s house league program runs on Sundays out of Havergal College, with over 200 athletes from grades 3 to grade 10 participating in skills, drills and games, learning to love the play while they learn the rules, thanks to Childs’ roster of experienced coaches, including a London 2012 Olympic hopeful and former Canadian Pro Tour players. Outside of running and coaching the Leaside Volleyball program, Child is currently coach of two beach volleyball teams hoping to represent Canada at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Liz Maloney and Heather Bansley, on the woman’s side, and Christian Redmann and Ben Saxton, on the men’s side, will head to China in April to compete in qualifying matches leading up to the London games. Travelling along with them will be Child, the former Olympian, providing coaching expertise and guidance. ■
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CREATING CITIZENS: Leaside residents Geoff Kettel, left, and Bill Pashby, right, helped Judge Patricia Phenix on Jan. 20 at Valley Park Middle School in Thorncliffe Park. judge who’d actually given the approval, she usually gets a big hug at the ceremony. Some of her most moving ceremonies involve a home visit with someone disabled or very sick. “Conducting a ceremony with someone who has only a few weeks to live really underlines how important Canadian citizenship is to so many,” she says.
Leaside Life, March 2012
“I hope I’m looking at a future prime minister in the room today.” These are the words that Citizenship Judge Patricia Phenix likes to give to the children, smiling and waving Canadian flags, on the day they’re granted Canadian citizenship. It’s the part of the job that this Leaside resident likes best. “An applicant goes through various stages necessary to be considered for citizenship,” she says. “The ceremony is where they really mark the occasion after the judge says ‘You’re approved’.” Being approved can take from 18 months to several years, but for everyone present at the ceremony it is a very proud moment. Those receiving citizenship often refer to themselves during the ceremony by their waiting time: “At the ceremony they call out to me, I’m 8 years!” says Phenix. Phenix’s duties for the past six years as a citizenship judge mostly involved citizen resident hearings. But the time she spends presiding at the ceremony is “the most fun”. In fact, if she was the
The most recent ceremony, held 3 Jan. 20 at Valley Park Middle School, welcomed 40 new Canadians. This particular event was conducted in partnership with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship founded by former Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson and John Raulston Saul, to bring the ceremony and the celebration into local communities. The event involved about 20 Leaside residents, including Leaside Life Publisher Lorna Krawchuk. Hosts held conversations with the new Canadians, talking about what made this day special. Also in attendance were representatives from all levels of government: MP John Carmichael, MPP the Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Councillor John Parker and school trustee Gerri Gershon. Phenix points out that she was appointed as citizenship judge by the Prime Minister, who also was originally from Leaside. Phenix is also the author of three historical books, Olga Romanov: Russia’s Last GrandDuchess; Eatonians: The Story of the Family Behind the Family; and Private Demons: The Tragic Personal Life of John A. Macdonald. ■
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Leaside Life, March 2012
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Dozens of students at Bessborough school spent February practicing for their high energy talent show, Cabaret, to be held in the Leaside High School Auditorium March 2. A popular and successful annual event, which also raises funds for Bessborough’s Home and School, Cabaret 2012 is expected to welcome an audience of 500 or more. Auditions were held over a week in late January and the successful performers were notified Feb. 6. Included in the 50 acts, in which students are given just a minute and a half to perform original songs, dancing, magic, and comedy, will be the ensemble performance by Bessborough teachers, who are working feverishly to meet the high expectations set by their impressive performance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller last year. Tickets for the show can be purchased by emailing: bessboroughcabaret@gmail.com. ■
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The pub that raises money for others Leaside Life, March 2012
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By ALISON ROCKWELL Param Ratna knows a thing or two about sports. Just ask the 20-plus teams his Leaside pub, The Fox and The Fiddle, currently sponsors, ranging from rugby and hockey to darts. Ratna, and his two business partners, Jeff Hohner and Ed Barrett, both Leasiders, are well-regarded in the city’s sports circles for their support of organized sports teams, which involves several Leaside hockey leagues. But their local fame goes beyond sports: This summer the Fox launched a fundraising initiative to help raise capital for the new Leaside ice rink, contributing 10 percent of their food and beverage sales, to a maximum of $25,000, and Hohner says they are quickly closing SPORTS TO FUNDRAISING TO BEER: in on that goal. From left, owners Ed Barrett, Jeff The three may seem like an unHohner and Param Ratna have involved likely trio. Yet Ratna, the career the Fox and Fiddle in community affairs. restaurateur who started as a dishing the Laird and McRae spot one of washer, Barrett, a pediatric dentist, the more popular destinations for and Hohner, a successful start-up enpost game play by play, as well as attrepreneur, share common interests tracting families and neighbours for including supporting the local comdinners and drinks. Included in that munity and a love of sports. number is the 20 teams the Fox Approximately 50 teams consponsors financially, about 80 persider the Fox their “home pub,” mak-
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cent of which are local (and largely youth) Leaside teams. “We had other pubs and restaurants approach us,” says James Phillips, who plays rugby with the Toronto Buccaneers, a team that’s been around since 1976, “but Param and the group at the Fox are especially supportive when it comes to the clubs, and we love the welcoming atmosphere.” Bill St. Germaine, captain of Thrower’s D.C., one of the four dart teams sponsored by the Fox, credits Ratna with encouraging him to start a league at the Fox in 2007. “We got to know Param and one night he said to us, ‘Hey, do you want to play darts?’ We didn’t even have darts, so we got those, then there was one guy at the pub who knew the rules. It’s funny looking back, but from there the Fox’s dart league has grown and grown.” Ratna has certainly worked hard to cultivate the welcoming appeal of the pub, which opened in 1999. He joined as a part owner in 2004, and a shuffle of ownership meant the recent addition of Barrett and Hohner in July of 2011. Hohner and Barrett had discussed their potential investment in the change rooms after hockey games, and over post-game drinks at the Fox itself, and this past summer they decided to make it an official business partnership with Ratna. “Our families live in the area, our kids go to school and play on the sports teams in Leaside, and we would come here and see the whole neighbourhood, having dinner, watching a game over a beer, and it became so appealing to invest in an organization that had such a neat role in the community,” says Barrett. Despite the potential competition from nearby restaurants, including the future opening of Ancient Grains, a more upscale gastro pub, located further down on Laird, the partners are not worried about a negative impact on their business. Rather, they are encouraging of other restaurants in the area and hope they can all succeed. “We generally have completely different markets,” comments Barrett, who spends his working days at Sick Kids Hospital. “We hope everyone wins, because that benefits us all.” ■
By GEOFF KETTEL A more than decade-long debate over whether to protect or merely recognize the former home of Agnes Macphail was resolved Feb. 7 when City Council approved the intent to designate it under the Ontario Heritage Act. That means that the heritage features of the house will more than likely be legally protected. The owners have the right of appeal to the Conservation Review Board (CRB), a provincial tribunal, but the CRB can only make a recommendation back to the municipality. This new designation affects major external elements, not internal. Agnes Macphail purchased the corner property at Donegall and Millwood in 1948 and lived there until her death in 1954. The house was recommended for designation for historical, architectural, and contextual reasons. Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons (1921). In Parliament, she championed labour and farm issues, the equality of women and prison reform. She was one of the first two women elected to the Ontario Legislature where she represented York East from 1943-1945 and from 19481951. She was responsible for Ontario’s first equal pay legislation (1951). For many years, individuals and organizations in East York have worked hard to sustain her legacy through a highly sought after award and a range of community events and educational activities. The Agnes Macphail House is designed in the Modern style. Tim Morawetz (author of Art Deco Architecture in Toronto: A guide to the city’s buildings from the Roaring Twenties and the Depression) wrote in support of the property’s designation: “It may be the only duplex in Leaside that incorporated the 1930s ‘Streamlined Moderne’ architectural design features that were quite prevalent in larger apartment buildings (namely buff brick walls, flat roof, ‘speed stripes’ at the building corners and marking the Donegall door, horizontal emphasis in the windows, the octagonal window and the multiple planes on the Millwood façade).” ■
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Eleni Palantzas was so involved in her community that shortly after moving to Bennington Heights she was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for over 30 years of active volunteer service, advocating for women’s issues and political activism. Today, apart from being involved in three neighbourhood schools as a parent, she is an active member of the Bennginton Residents Association, and sits on a federal tribunal and the Council of the College of Midwives of Ontario. Above all, she is a busy mother, with twin daughters and raising her niece and nephew. This makes her a Bessborough, Bennington and Leaside High “mom” (and she’s already been a Northlea mom). How long have you lived in Bennington Heights? 10 years, moved here from the Beaches. Why did you move here? Looking for a close community feel and a good school that offered French immersion. What do you like about Bennington? Bennington Heights is enclosed by green space on all three sides, plus has two additional parks, tennis
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courts and is a five-minute ride from downtown. If you could do one thing to improve Leaside? Would like one community event a year, like a barbeque, where everyone meets their neighbour. What are your favourite places to eat and shop? Satay on the Road, both delivered and attended! And Duffs for wings on a Friday night. Big fan of Loblaws, where my girls work as cashiers. Favourite activities? Walking Biji in the neighbourhood, meeting friends at Starbucks, bike riding through the cemetery, and proudly watching Mariah sing in the talent night at Leaside High. ■
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Leaside Life, March 2012
CONGRATULATIONS to the Leaside Hockey Association for their 22nd Annual Leaside Selected Invitational Tournament, held Feb. 10-13th. Leaside is known across the GTA and the province for putting on one of the best tournaments in the "old fashioned" way. Proud parents and players crowded into the arena from Friday morning to Sunday evening, cheering, enjoying the Flames Cafe and participating in a huge silent auction and raffle. Lots of local parties around the neighbourhood as fans celebrated (and cried) over wins and losses! Big thanks to many sponsors and donors, coaches and the hundreds of volunteers who put this on each year. NEW one-of-a-kind snacks for Leaside foodies. Those looking for something warmer than gelato this winter can enjoy hot “pizza conesâ€? – the only ones in Toronto – available at The Mad Italian on Bayview Ave. The idea was brought back from Italy by owner Eli Turkienicz. AND welcome to Yogurty, opened this January at Sunnybrook Plaza. It’s Toronto’s first self-serve yogurt bar— pick your flavour, add your topping and pay by the ounce. It’s all Ontarioproduced yogurt. WONDERING what happened to the veterinarian that used to be at Pet Smart? The Laird Eglinton Pet Hospital is now at 211 Laird near Vanderhoof with the same vets. AND talking about Bayview Ave., the first set of garbage cans have now been installed (with more to come). No excuse now for littering! LEASIDERS give generously. Leaside High’s annual fashion show on Feb. 23 supported the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation; St. Cuthebert’s Silent and Talent Auction on Feb. 11 raised over $ 5,700 with donations from local residents and merchants. On Feb. 4, over 200 people from toddlers to those in their 90s enjoyed a Celtic dance at Leaside United, featuring the music of Sandy Macintyre and Steeped in Tradition. The money raised directly supports the El Hogar Orphanage in Honduras. This March break a local team of volunteers, seven adults and seven youth, travel to the orphanage as volunteer workers. ONCE again, Northlea Public School is a big participant in the annual Kiwanis Festival, featuring choirs from grades 1 to 4 as well as Northlea Junior Choir, under Mitch Bondy. â–
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one in 10 classes allowed to increase up to a maximum of 23 (up to a maximum of 25 students for combined classes in grades 4 to 8.) Northlea’s two half-day senior kindergarten French immersion classes currently have 23 students each, and the addition of full day kindergarten, expected in 2014 or 2015, “will add further strain to the school’s capacity, says Kathy Ribeiro, principal at Northlea. “We weren’t surprised at the decision to move Bessborough students over to Davisville. It was a good decision by the board as we are over capacity.” Several Bessborough parents have expressed disappointment that their children won’t be heading to the more conveniently located Northlea, although siblings of existing students in the Northlea program will have priority placement and most likely will be “grandfathered” in, to keep families at the same school. For others, while specific school placements are not guaranteed, entry into the program is. “Everyone who applies on time and provides the correct information FRENCH, Page 11
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is guaranteed a place in the French immersion program,” says Pearce, “but, and we stress this, not in a particular school. However, transportation where applicable will be provided, at no cost to the parent.” Davisville parents are pleased with the program, still relatively in its infancy. Renata Vaccaro says her son, Teos, in senior kindergarten, is thriving. “I've found the principal and teachers to be friendly and helpful. There is a real community atmosphere at the school. I have parents offering me help [with volunteer requests] all the time. It is a great school with a big heart.” The school will have challenges to accommodate their projected influx of students over the next five years. The school board is considering moving its property management arm, the Toronto Lands Corporation currently housed at Davisville, to make way for more classrooms. Other considerations, including new development on the property, have been discussed. Projections are that by 2016 the school will have 14 French immersion classes, ranging from senior kindergarten to grade 6. ■
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Leaside Life, March 2012
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Leaside’s second highest demographic category, according to the 2006 census study by Environics Analytics, is Urbane Villagers, with 1,379 households (excluding Bennington). Last month we looked at the top category, Young Digerati, with 2,608 households. Here’s what Environics says about this second group, as it applies across the country. Located in Canada's largest metros, Urbane Villagers is a prosperous world of stately homes and high-end cars, charity auctions and health club memberships. The nation's second wealthiest cluster, it's characterized by married couples with university degrees and university-aged children, and includes a significant percentage of European, Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants. With their hefty salaries the aver-
HOW THEY LIVE Here how Environics Analytics says Urbane Villagers live. Do you see yourself here? Leisure • Theatres • Garden shows • Basketball • Health clubs • Travel to France Shopping • Personal video recorders • Hardback books • Formal dine-in restaurants • Costco • Best Buy Food/Drink • Turkey • Frozen vegetables • Soft cheese • Olive oil • Australian wine
Automotive • Sedans • Compact premium cars • $20,000-$30,000 on latest vehicle • BMW • Honda Media • Sports newspaper sections • News and current affairs magazines • Bravo! • News/talk radio • Online radio
Financial • $250,000-$500,000 in securities and savings • Mutual funds • Online stock trading • RESPS • Donations to cultural groups Attitudes “I think that young people should be taught to question authority” "When I buy a product, the brand is very important lo me" ”I am willing to pay a little extra to save time shopping" "I feel the need to be in tune with nature" ”I am careful of what I eat in order to keep my weight under control"
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how we’ve changed! age household income is nearly $240,000. Urbane Villagers members enjoy the trappings of wealth: vacation cottages and boats, trips abroad and tickets to professional sporting events. But these Canadians also tend to be involved in their communities as progressive and philanthropic members of cultural, political and environmental groups; one of their highest-rated values is an interest in diversity. Slightly younger and less affluent than Canada's top-ranked citizens, Urbane Villagers residents are among the leading contributors to RRSPs
and retirement income funds. They like to spend their leisure time skiing, playing racquet sports and doing yoga or Pilates. These sophisticates are also a bit more style-conscious and less formal in their consumption patterns. Inclined to shop at stores like Banana Republic and Club Monaco, the men are likely to wear cologne and the women less expensive jewellery. Although they're able to afford flying business and first class, members of this group are not above flying economy as part of a vacation package to Disney World, the Caribbean, Europe or the United Kingdom. They score near the top for buying books and newspapers, MP3 players and Austalian wine, and they're also heavily involved in the arts, as both benefactors and patrons of museums, art galleries, orchestras and the theatre. ■
The classes are booming “They like to spend their spare time skiing, playing raquet sports and doing yoga or Pilates,” the Environics study says about Urbane Villagers. Last month story said, Young Digerati take aerobics and classes. These days you can add much more, like Zumba, the newest Physique, stretch classes, rehab, boxing…. These classes have been sprouting up in Leaside in what is becoming an increasingly popular form of exercise. The first such studio was started in Leaside by Gayle Boxer (photo), of Gayle Force Fitness, who moved to Leaside in 1980. She decided to open her own studio in 1983, in St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church, to be closer to home after renting space at Glendon College. She now offers weight training, stretch classes, Pilates and the new Zumba dancing and Physique. And it isn’t only young woman who twist and turn. For example, Kelly Dolson of Core Body Science, on Millwood Rd., who opened her studio only a year and a half ago, attracts seniors and public school students, some for rehab and personal training, and preand post-natal classes. Barry Samuel was attracted to Leaside in 2005 because of the large number of families and sports teams and offers, as well as the usual personal training and lifestyle consultations, boxing and bootcamp in his Insideout studio on Laird. And there are lots of others – Curves at Bayview and Eglinton, Pure Fitness on Eglinton and Brentcliffe, Women’s Fitness on Bayview north of Eglinton.... ■
Leaside Life, March 2012
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LEASIDE SKATING CLUB instructor Raisa Baila with, from left, Farwah Salman, Muaaz Zahid, Menaal Chaudhry, Wania Gondal and Farah Khan, all aged 7, who are among the more than 300 grade 2 students from Thorncliffe Park Public School in the Learn-to-Skate program at Leaside Gardens.
Getting Thorncliffe kids on ice By ALLAN WILLIAMS More than 300 grade 2 students from Thorncliffe Park Public School are learning to skate at Leaside Arena this winter thanks to a new co-operative venture between the arena, the school and the Leaside Skating Club. Local business donors and community volunteers are also supporting it. Arena board chair Brooke Biscoe and Thorncliffe Principal Kevin Battaglia first discussed the idea just this past summer and the program started in October. Biscoe says the speed and enthusiasm with which all the partners came on board shows that the appetite for something like this had been building. The arena and its user groups have long looked for ways to make their programs more accessible to kids from Thorncliffe Park. And the interest from those kids and their families is evidently strong. “New Canadians need to learn to love and appreciate the sports and activities that Canadians enjoy,” says Nawal Ateeq, of the Alliance for Cultural Equity, a group with roots in Thorncliffe Park. Ateeq’s first involvement with the arena came last June when ACE helped raise money for the new rink, “to show newcomers not always to expect something but that it’s important to lend a hand too”.
Despite already having the highest ice usage rate of any city rink, the arena made time available on Tuesdays during the school day. Through its JumpStart program, Canadian Tire provided funding, as did local businesses Iqbal Foods and City Buick, to pay for the skates and helmets and the large storage bins at the arena where they are kept. The Leaside Skating Club arranges for coaching. Principal Battaglia, now in his second full year at Canada’s largest public school, where 97 percent of his students speak a language other than English at home, is excited about the program in part because he believes it is sustainable. “You have to institutionalise the logistics for a program like this. We want it to last for years not just months.” Every Tuesday morning Battaglia is at the rink calling out skate sizes and making sure helmets are properly fastened on the 45 kids about to step onto the ice. He is helped by half a dozen teachers, parents and other volunteers. Students skate for four consecutive weeks and then a new group starts. Over the course of the winter all 300-plus grade 2 students will have participated. It’s just an introduction but the kids are clearly enjoying it. “I fell down at first but now I’m already getting better after three
times,” said 7-year-old Farwah Salman. “I want to learn to skate so I can play hockey.” Her friend Wania Gondal, also 7, agreed: “It was the first time I’d ever had skates on. I was nervous at first because I didn’t know how to skate but I’ve learned a lot. They taught us how to skate backwards! I would like to play hockey next year.” Teacher Louise Ball is also enthusiastic. “These kids are all new Canadians – some arrived here as recently as this past year. They came out, they fell down, they were covered with snow, but they bounced back up – they were so determined! It’s wonderful to watch.” Many of these students are practising their new skills during Sunday afternoon public skating where they can access the same skates on a rotating basis and where, thanks to sponsor City Buick, the first 225 skaters each week skate for free. Mike Carmichael of City Buick said he was moved by seeing so many children who just need a bit of help having doors opened to new opportunities like skating. Principal Battaglia, looking down the road, says, “By the time the new rink is open and these kids are in grade 4 or 5 we’ll also have a hockey program.” ■
Leaside Life, March 2012
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Leaside United Church March 2, 2 p.m. World Day of Prayer service, written by women in Malaysia, with representatives from 10 local churches. Guest speaker Raheel Raza on Let Justice Prevail. Refreshments afterwards and a DVD about Malaysia. All welcome. Leaside Library, 165 McRae Dr., March Break for children of all ages: Mon. March 12 and Thur. March 15, 2-2:30 p.m., drop in movie matinees to tickle your funny bone. No registration required. Tue., March 13, 2-2:30 p.m., drop in afternoon storytime and a movie. No registration required. Wed. March 14, 10- 10:45 a.m., magician Owen Anderson presents The Magic of Sherlock Holmes, free tickets 30 minutes before show. Space limited. No daycares, daycamps, etc. Strollers not permitted in the Community Room. – Wed. March 28, 7-8 p.m., What women need to know when starting a business, by Karen Fraser, president of Women Like Me and an entrepreneur educator. – Thur. March 29, 7-8 p,m., book discussion group, book to be announced. Everyone welcome. Leaside Presbyterian Church, 670 Eglinton East, March Break Kids’ Club, March 13-15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fun activities, snacks and lunch included. $30 a day or $50 for three days per child, $50 a day or $120 for three days per family. Register at 416-422-0510. – Sat. March 24, 9 a.m-1 p.m., book sale, used books, DVDs, videos, CDs. Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital March Break (March 12-16), volunteers 16+ needed. Complete 40 hours of volunteering in one week with 5 full days 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. www.hollandbloorview.ca/volunteer. Leaside Garden Society, March 8, 7:30 p.m. at Leaside Library, 165 McRae Dr., Jane Hayes, of Garden Jane, has 15 years experience developing and leading education programs. She established the Toronto Children’s Garden Program and High Park Children’s Garden. Refreshments and a social time 7 p.m. Toronto-Finlandia Lions, Toronto Finnish Seniors Centre, 795 Eglinton East, B2 level, Sat. March 3, 2 p.m., membership information afternoon . Those interested confirm with Lion Martti (416) 244 5973 or Lion Raija (416) 932 3470. St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, 1847 Bayview, two workshops conducted by Anne Johnston Health Station. March 8, 1:30 p.m., Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease provides an introduction, including signs, symptoms and risk factors, in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. March 29, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Heads Up for a Healthier Brain looks at the changes you can make to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Light refreshments. suzanneparsons5@gmail.com or 416-627-6680. St. Cuthbert's Anglican Church, 1399 Bayview, Earth Hour Celebration, Sat. March 31, 8:30 p.m., join with people all over the world turning off lights in support of action on climate change. An evening of candlelight, music and reflection. 416-485-0329. Canadian Federation of University Women LeasideEast York, monthly meeting March 15, 7:30 p.m., Northlea United Church, 125 Brentcliffe Rd. Guest speaker Rev. David McMaster on St Patrick and Celtic Spirituality. Visitors and new members welcome. www.leaside.org/cfuw/.
On the 6 o’clock news, Leaside residents were asked to stay indoors and listen for further news of a possible evacuation due to the presence of ammonia on the site. Councillor John Parker downplayed the incident, saying there was no need for concern. However, what could have happened is anybody’s guess, since there were no public emergency evacuation plans. On June 19, 2006, the city’s Board of Health had adopted the staff recommendations from the Medical Officer of Health to instigate a Community Right To Know (CRTK) pilot project to be undertaken at a city facility as well as to consult with stakeholders in the business community, labour groups, environmental and health organizations and community groups. Over the next 2 ½ years these discussions took place city-wide, resulting on Dec. 3, 2008, in a vote at City Hall where councillors voted 33-3 in favour of adopting the CRTK initiative, now called The Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Bylaw No. 1293-2008. Councillor Parker made a motion to defer the vote for one year because he believed that the new bylaw would duplicate what was being reported already at the provincial level, under the Toxics Reduction Strategy. However, the reports showed that the provincial Toxics Reduction Strategy did not include small and medium-sized facilities, but rather just certain large facilities with high chemical usage. The new city bylaw was meant to fill the reporting data gap and engage 5,000 to 7,000 facilities using or releasing the priority substances. Parker was among nine councillors that voted neither "yes" nor "no," which is recorded as being absent. The ChemTRAK program initiated by the city was installed on-line to assist businesses in reporting emissions. The bylaw came into effect on Jan. 1, 2010 with three key elements: • About 7,000 small and medium-sized businesses will be required to report annually to the city if they use or release any of the specified 25 polluting substances, above specific thresholds; • The city will provide educational programs to help facilities calculate data, report and identify ways to reduce chemicals, thereby preventing pollution; COMMENT, Page 21
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From Page 1
Leaside Life, March 2012
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also says, “No one is turned away. Our goal is to take new riders and turn them into great riders.� Ride options vary by the day in line with the club’s philosophy of providing cycling levels for everybody. Wednesdays started out as women only and has evolved to include new riders looking for a “less competitive ride�. Some rides are more gruelling than others. The Tuesday Morning Glory Regular Ride is challenging. Five hill repeats — cycling up and down the same hill five times — and cycling over 40 km with an average cycling speed of 33 to 35 km/hour guarantee a solid workout. As always the club’s motto of “Nobody gets left behind� ensures everyone arrives back safely. On Sundays The Croissant Ride, although long in distance, is more social and ideal for beginners. The group rides at a more relaxed pace and when it’s over cyclists
gather for a croissant to chat and recuperate. The Morning Glory Club is also involved in “active philanthropyâ€?. Last year, in conjunction with Gears, 166 bikes, locks and helmets were donated to the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood office. Sears Canada serviced all the bikes at no charge. The bikes were distributed to children by the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office. Currently there are 100 children in Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park on the waiting list for bikes. There will be another rally for bikes in 2012. As part of its active philanthropy, the club last year held a fundraiser to send a promising member athlete, Leaside resident Derrek Ivey, to Australia for over two months this winter to practise for national team trials. In 2010 he won the Professional Road Championship and the Hill Climb Championship of Canada, without being a pro. He hopes to attract a sponsor and become professional. The Morning Glory Club starts their weekly rides mid-March. Formore information check their website, http://www.mgridetoronto.com. â–
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Leaside Life, March 2012
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the broader issues of government. 416-425-6777 Kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org. Although it continues to be my honour to represent your interests at Queen’s Park, it's also nice to have some fun. I invite you to join me on March 14 from 2-4 p.m., for my Annual March Break Skating Party at the Angela James Arena, 165 Grenoble Dr. Thank you to all who attended my New Year’s Levee at the Toronto Botanical Gardens on Jan. 7. It was a pleasure and honour to be a part of and contributing to the success of the Laugh Out Loud arena fundraiser. I want to thank everyone who has contributed. During the month of February, I held a series of meetings starting with my Community Council at the Leaside Library. I want to thank all who have attended these meetings and the town halls that I’ve hosted. Check my website for the meetings and events coming up http:// www.kathleenwynne.onmpp.ca/. ■
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More concerns about SmartCentre plan |
Carol Fripp
does Leaside become less a commu- 19 nity, and more a traffic route to shopping? As well, our Bayview shopping area, one of the jewels in the crown of Leaside, is more and more threatened by the big box stores with their ample parking along Laird. So it’s important that you attend the meeting to ensure that neighbourhood concerns are heard loud and clear. I hope I will see you there! ■
Vice-president, LPOA
of commuters, with peaks in the morning and afternoon rush hours, we are increasingly seeing higher traffic volumes during the day and into the evening, and on more residential streets. At what point
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In last month’s Leaside Life column, I wrote about the proposed new mega-shopping centre, SmartCentre North, at Laird and Vanderhoof/Wicksteed, and the reasons why the Leaside Property Owners’ Association thinks it would be bad for our community. We have subsequently heard from a number of local residents who are also very concerned about this proposal. An official meeting, required under city bylaws, and to be called by Councillor John Parker, is planned for the William Lea Room of the Leaside Community Gardens (Millwood at Southvale). No date set by our deadline. Here are reminders as to why this is important: The developer’s proposal calls for eight buildings at ground level, with a second level of 83,000 square feet. Total retail space would be 147,800 square feet. The proposed density (51 percent) is almost twice the average shopping centre density (25 to 30 percent). The developer is asking for parking for 479 cars, some of it underground. By strange (or not so strange) coincidence, the LPOA recently learned that a major issue in Mississauga right now is a proposed new Walmart-anchored retail development on Lakeshore Rd. That proposal calls for 147,800 square feel in total, with the Walmart elevated on the second floor at 90,000 square feet. Sound familiar? In the past decade, Laird Dr., formerly low-scale on the west side and industrial/employment on the east side, has become increasingly attractive to retail development. The original SmartCentre has been there for many years, and the large Leaside Village shopping centre, anchored by a Longo’s and including numerous other retail outlets, will be opening in the next year. While it is nice to know that the developer of the proposed SmartCentre North is engaging a noted architect, the sheer density and nature of this site are more important considerations. While it is nice to have amenities, there are big costs involved, and not just dollar costs. More and more, Leaside is becoming a traffic conduit to shopping centres and stores. Where once our major traffic was made up primarily
Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life
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Leaside Life, March 2012
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According to the 2006 census, approximately 11 percent of Leaside homes, or about 687 of them, have someone over 75 as the head of the household. The chances are certainly great that as we age there will be impediments to being independent, but we still need to eat. Which is why an unexpected decrease of 14 percent in the use of East York Meals on Wheels from the previous year, down to about 75 households, has been bothering the funders of the service. They don’t know why it’s happened. They think it may be that people in general don’t know that it isn’t charity, that it’s easy to sign on, or perhaps that it even exists. No doctor’s referral is required, just a simple phone call to 416-424-3322. Founded in 1969 by a group at Leaside United Church, this not-forprofit agency covers Leaside, Bennington, Thorncliffe and the western half of old East York. Sunday to Friday all year, volunteer drivers and deliverers are on routes between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. delivering hot food, for a cost of $5.25 a meal. The meal is designed to provide 40 percent of daily nutritional needs and follows the Canada Food Guide. The meals are on a 21-day rotation, and each day there is an alternate, so if you really hate liver, that won’t be delivered. Meals are prepared to accommodate special diets. Frozen meals are also offered, and are delivered once a week. Something else you might not know – EYMOW also has a program called Diner’s Club, which offers lunch outings for seniors. There’s a monthly calendar with 8-9 dates and locations of luncheons on offer. You phone, choose to attend as many as you wish, get picked up to enjoy a lunch for $7.50 to $8 each, and then returned home. You don’t need to be a client of the Meals on Wheels program to participate, and despite its name, there is no “club” to join! More information at info@eastyorkmealsonwheels.org. ■
Comment From Page 15
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Leaside Life, March 2012
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• The public will be able to access the data through a website. Failures to report will be met with stiff fines: $5,000 for the first offence, $25,000 for the second offence, and $100,000 for the third and subsequent offence. In Leaside, there are seven large facilities in the Leaside Industrial Park that report to the National Pollution Release Inventory (NPRI) program. There are dozens of small and medium-sized businesses in Leaside that currently release toxins into the air but are not required to report emissions, until now. The ChemTRAC program, which stands for Chem(icals) in Toronto Reduction Awareness in our Community, will make reporting toxic emissions into our air mandatory as opposed to voluntary and will be rolled out in Leaside this spring. The Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) will work with community residents in helping to initiate the program in our community. â–
Sign up for hardball The Leaside Atom Baseball league is starting registration for its 60th anniversary year. The hardball program for boys from 9 to 11 years old runs at Trace Manes Park from May to June and in September after Labour Day. Deadline is March 19. www.leasideatombaseball.com or call Pete Dudley at 416-425-6735.
Skaters win trophy The Leaside Novice Synchro skating team won the provincial championships last month in Kingston, the first time in many years. It was an exciting time for the whole team – the juniors won silver and the juveniles bronze. Many of the club members are from Leaside. National championships will be held in Windsor in a few weeks.
Leaside Life Published once a month in Leaside,Toronto ON, by Ruth G. Publishing Inc., 66 Donegall Drive, Toronto ON, M4G 3G5
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Why all subway is all wrong Beyond doubt the biggest issue to reach the floor of Council this session is the question of transit development plans for Eglinton, Sheppard, and the city of Toronto generally. Its impact will govern the nature of development that ensues in the areas involved. This mater came to a head at a special council session held on Feb. 8. The result is well known. I voted in the majority on the decisions made on that occasion. Although the drama was apparent to all, not all of the facts and underlying circumstances were well understood. Regarding Eglinton alone, I offer below a few words that I hope provide a bit of clarification: The fact is, a subway is not on offer in this case. The proposal arising from the celebrated March 2011 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was to spend $8.4 billion to buy LRT vehicles and to run them through a tunnel. No transit operator anywhere in the world endorses such an approach. LRT vehicles are specifically designed to operate on the surface. They cost more than subway cars. They are far more substantial than conventional street cars, but they have less capacity than subway cars. Subway cars are built specifically to permit level entry directly from the
John Parker Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West
platform. LRT vehicles require passengers to step up and step down. A tunnel built to accommodate LRT vehicles must be larger than a tunnel built to accommodate subway cars. It costs more than a subway tunnel. Yet the MoU did not propose to build a subway on Eglinton. It proposed to spend $8.4 billion to buy LRT vehicles and to run them through a tunnel and call it a subway. That said, why is surface rail a better choice than underground? An enormous premium is paid to build each station in an underground transit line. Accordingly, an underground line has relatively few of them. This helps move the trains faster, but does nothing for the travellers who have homes or destinations between stations. It does not serve neighbourhoods. From a transit viewpoint, this means more buses on the road – exactly what we are trying to reduce. From an urban planning standpoint, it means clusters of high density development in the immediate vicinity of each station, and relative neglect in the spaces between.
An LRT operating on the surface can stop wherever it chooses. No expensive stations are required. More stops can be designed into the system. More neighbourhoods are served more satisfactorily. Development is encouraged to adopt a midrise approach, stretched out over the full transit corridor, not clustered at nodes. A more pleasant, humane, pattern of neighbourhood development ensues, with greater and more desirable integration amongst all forms of dwellings and land uses. Surface transit costs much less to build than underground transit. The money that would be saved by choosing the lower cost option on Eglinton could build improved transit where it is needed elsewhere in the city. And it will. Even if it were returned to the taxpayer and not spent on transit in Toronto the taxpayer dollars applied towards transit in Toronto would be more efficiently spent than they would be if the proposal to buy LRT vehicles and run them through a tunnel had been adopted. For me the best choice for urban development, and the best choice for taxpayers, is surface rail on Eglinton east of Brentcliffe Rd., subject to underground sections where it crosses Don Mills Rd. and, possibly, Victoria Park. This is the approach recommended by council in February, and for which I cast my vote. ■
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Our br ead is baked daily in–store. in–store. bread Our pr produce oduce is delivered delivered fr fresh esh daily daily.. W We e also bring in specialty produce pr oduce each day dir direct ect from from local gr growers. owers.
Fresh Fr esh goods, gr great eat service and strong strong pricing. You Y ou will be glad you shopped at T Tremblett’s! remblett’s! Conveniently located at 1500 Bayview A Ave.,on ve.,on the cor corner ner of Bayview and Davisville. free prepared Lots of fr ee parking for a big shop or a quick stop for delicious pr prepar epared foods to go. Proudly Products Pr oudly selling President’s President’s Choice® Pr oducts (416) 486 - 8294 Tremblett’s T remblett’s may be a smaller stor store e but we have amazing selection including items that you just can’ can’tt get at other Leaside gr grocery ocery stor stores! es!
Try T ry this one - Only at T Tremblett’s! remblett’s! Grainstorm pr products oducts ar are e easy to use baking mixes made with Ancient Grains and other ingr ingredients edients you can feel gr great eat about! Try Try a muf muffin, fin, pancake or cookie mix today! Buy any Grainstorm product product for $6.99 and get a free fr ee 500g LIBER LIBERTÉ TÉ Yogurt Yogurt (approximate (approximate value $4.99). Coupon Valid Valid until Mar March ch 12/12.
ONLY ONL YA AT T TREMBLETT’ TREMBLETT’s s valu-mart! No re-productions re-productions please.
Leaside Life, March 2012
Tremblett’s T remblett’s valu-mart has built its business based on the highest quality fr fresh esh meat, pr produce oduce and seafood.
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Leaside Life, March 2012
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