Leaside Life Issue 56 January 2017 by Leaside Life

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No. 56 • January 2017

Leaside Life

A remarkable life: Audrey Tobias (1924-2016) Pg 6

leasidelifenews.com

Leaside Life: The first five years 2

1. Frederick Gage Todd (1976 – 1948), Father of Canadian landscape architecture. Used the Garden City landscape principles to create the “model town” of Leaside. 2. Reid Humphrey, Leaside Athlete of the Year for 2015 (Nov. 2015). 3. Georgia Walsh. A tragic car accident took her life in July 2014. Georgia’s death has inspired the creation of the Trace Manes Playground Rejuvenation Project in her memory (Oct. 2015). 4. George Hart, Leaside poet (May 2016). 5. Pancheta Barnett, president of East York Historical Society (July 2016). 6. The inaugural inductees to the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame (Jan. 2014). 7. Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister of Canada (June 2013).

12 For our first issue of the New Year, it’s an honour to feature some of the faces of Leaside – people who have graced our pages over the past five years. We have been privileged to share the stories of some truly remarkable people. The photos you see here represent just a sample of those whose lives have touched Leaside in some way. We look forward to celebrating even more stories – and Leaside personalities – in the years to come.

8. David Stickney, Mr. Leaside (1943 – 2015) (June 2015). 9. Michael Bliss, Canadian historian, author, Member of the Order of Canada & ongoing contributor to Leaside Life (Sept. 2013). 10. Jon Burnside, City of Toronto Councillor, Ward 26 (Jan. 2015). 11. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, MPP Don Valley West. 12. Rev. Dr. Rob Oliphant, MP Don Valley West. 13. Grant Allardyce, Trae Zammit, Stephen Betts, and LPOA board members Carol Burtin Fripp, co-chair, Agnes Vermes, treasurer, and Geoff Kettel, co-chair (Nov. 2015). 14. Lorna Krawchuk, Publisher, Leaside Life. FIRST, Page 20

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Leaside Life, January 2017

Put your double-double in the trash-trash Out for my morning litter walk I came across several discarded Tim Hortons disposable coffee cups. Tim Hortons boasts a strong presence in Leaside, where there are five TH locations: three freestanding, one inside an Esso station, and one inside the Holland Bloorview Centre. We love having Tims in the community. The discarded coffee cups? Not so much! The only positive thing I can say is that the seasonal graphics made this litter look cheery. It got me thinking. What would the famous number 7 Toronto Maple Leaf, Tim Horton, who died in a tragic car accident in 1973, think about the mountains of litter the doughnut shops he founded create every year? My husband’s brother Bill Harris played with Tim. In his book “The Glory Years,” he tells the story of the last couple of years that he and Tim were teammates when they started dropping into some of the fast food outlets in Chicago and New York for a coffee after church. “Tim would make

Cheryl Vanderburg

Leaside Litterati

a sketch of the floor plan showing the kitchen, tables, serving area and cash register and he would estimate seating capacity. In 1964 he was thinking in terms of retirement, and he was thinking about opening a fast food place. After two unsuccessful attempts at operating an independent hamburger outlet in Scarborough, he decided to try doughnuts. The rest is history.” Today Tim Hortons is known not only for its doughnuts but also its cof-

fee – the famous double-double. Less appealing, though, is the disposable coffee cup, often dumped unceremoniously on the sidewalk. An article on bonappetit.com chronicles the history of the disposable coffee cup, which began at the beginning of the 20th century when Boston lawyer and inventor Lawrence Luellen invented a water cup that would be a healthier option than the communal cup popular at the time. “In 1907, he invented a paper cup — almost more of a paper bag at that point — that didn't have to be shared, and that could be thrown away after use. He called it the Health Kup, but changed the name five years later to that of a popular line of toys, Dixie Dolls. And in 1964 on Long Island, N.Y., convenience chain 7-Eleven became the first chain to offer fresh coffee in to-go cups.” Since then, as we all know, the paper cup, especially at coffee shops, has become ubiquitous…so ubiquitous it is now one of the biggest litter

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THE STREETS OF LEASIDE By JEANNE HOPKINS Many streets in Leaside were named for those involved with the building of the railways. When Frederick Todd laid out the model town of Leaside, he named streets for those working with the Canadian Northern Railway. One of these was Henry King Wicksteed, who worked for more than a decade as chief locality engineer for the Canadian Northern Railway Ontario, the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway companies. Henry Wicksteed was born (in 1855) and raised in Quebec before working as a locality engineer for many railway companies around the world – in South America and across Canada from 1904 to 1914. Henry's career began with preparing a route for the James Bay Railway, from Parry Sound to Sudbury in Northern On-

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tario. In Eastern Canada, he helped with the establishment of railways in Montreal and Quebec City. He was also the first to use airplanes for photographic surveys for lands. Henry Wicksteed was headquartered in Toronto until he died on July 23, 1927 at the age of 72, leaving a wife, Elfrida, and five daughters. After a funeral service in Holy Trinity Church, Henry Wicksteed was buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. ■ Jeanne Hopkins spent most of her life in the historic Henry Farm community of North York. She realized her passion for local history in the Canadiana department of the North York Public Library, where she worked for 27 years. She is the author of many articles and five books of local history.

WICKSTEED AVENUE

Leaside Life, January 2017

offenders on our streets. Good corporate citizens are not unaware of this situation. Here is what Tim Hortons says on its website. “At Tim Hortons, we are aware of the environmental impacts of our packaging and waste materials. We are attempting to deal with the litter issue in a variety of ways”: • We have anti-litter messages on all of our packaging items, including a ‘Do Not Litter’ message on all of our take-out cups. Sadly, many people do not pay attention to these messages, but we continue to work with other members of our industry to tackle the litter problem in a meaningful and effective way. • To ensure a clean community many Tim Hortons restaurants sponsor local cleanup events and activities in their communities. • All Tim Hortons restaurants sell reusable Tim Mugs. And while a Tim Mug may not be a practical solution for all guests it does provide a good alternative. So the next time you’re tempted to ditch your Tims cup on the sidewalk, look up, give thanks to the real Tim Horton for a great cup ofcoffee, chant ‘Go Leafs Go’, and honour his memory by not littering. Maybe he’ll smile down on Leaside and bring the Stanley Cup back home! ■

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leasidelife@gmail.com Letters may be edited.

Leaside Life, January 2017

LETTERS

Moonbows over Leaside Beautiful article. A lot of the moonbows seen in Google images are caused by water droplets typically found in tropical climates. The halo around the moon in colder climates has earned the name moondog (or moon dog), named after the more common sun dog. Unlike most astronomy events, this is definitely visible within the city lights! Steve Nastos via Facebook

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Leaf Pickup A question/comment for Cheryl Vanderburg – I recently read your article about 'Bag those Leaves!' Like you, for several reasons, I find it annoying to see leaves raked onto the road... driving hazard, drainage issues, and ultimately, more blowing leaves onto my property. You wrote that it was a bylaw offence that could result in charges being laid. I also believed this was the case, however, a few weeks ago, a city truck came by and scooped up all these leaves in Leaside. Your article indicated that this would not be the case. If the City keeps picking up the leaves on the road, no one is going to make the change to bag them. In the grand scheme of things, this is a small issue – but that said, an issue which should be easily rectified. If you have any additional information as to the City bylaw, I would be interested to know. Thank you. Julie Munro, Heather Rd. These Wildcats are roaring strong Glad to read this post. I was one of many girls who managed to get ice time at Leaside and formed a girls’ hockey league. George Armstrong's daughter Betty played and George would come out to coach us. Great memories!! Chris Harron via Facebook

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Leaside’s Regnard Raquedan invented a solution I saw the article posted online, thank you very much! Everything looks great, but there's one minor correction I'd like to make: the app store for Google is called "Google Play." In the article as it is published, it is written as "Google Face." Regnard Raquedan, MBA, MSc., CEO & Co-founder

Leaside Life, January 2017

Angela Leahey wins award Congrats Angela! Amazing. Karen Craig via Facebook Congratulations Angela! You're beautiful! Nancy Tzanetakis via Facebook

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Audrey Tobias, 1924-2016 By LORNA KRAWCHUK Your memory might be jogged into recalling the 2013 court case involving an 89-year-old peace activist who refused to complete the 2011 census because it was processed using software from the U.S. military contractor Lockheed Martin. That was Audrey Tobias. It is a good thing she was acquitted, as she vowed that if found guilty, she would not pay a fine or do community service hours, but would serve jail time to make her point. Her social justice credentials were on display throughout her adult life. In 2000, Audrey was the recipient of the Agnes Macphail Award, presented for her many years of social justice activities. And Audrey always insisted that the correct word was “recipient,” not “winner”. During WWII, she was a student at Trinity College at the University of Toronto, and interrupted her studies to join the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service. When she returned to Canada after the war, and while completing her degree, she was a member of the Student Christian

Movement, exploring the links between faith and justice. She put her money where her mouth was by taking a job as a factory worker at the Harvey Woods Textile Mill between 1949 and 1956. While there, she was part of a small group continuing to investigate relations between church and labour, and church and the middle classes. She became a delegate to the Toronto Lakeshore Labour Council and to the Union Conventions for the Textile Workers Union of America. Burnt out by 1956, she ended that phase of her life and first earned teaching qualifications, which led to teaching jobs around the province and at Leaside High School, where she was the assistant head of the Business Department. Later, she earned a Master of Science in Library Science and went to work for Reference Services at the Metro Toronto Library. While there, she became founding president of CUPE Local 1996 for the then 28 branches of the Toronto Public Libraries. The Local included librarians, library technicians and support staff. Audrey joined Veterans Against Nuclear Arms (VANA) in 1989. She believed that peace was at the heart of the Christian gospel, and that VANA’s goals were consistent with this understanding. During the 1990s, she was very involved with the Voisey’s Bay Innu Rights Coalition. She saw a threat to Innu life and culture in Labrador in the face of the impending mining mega project. She spoke out regularly, especially at Inco annual general meetings, to make her point. This extraordinary individual lived on Randolph Road for many years and was an active member of St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church. ■

Leaside Life Published once a month in Leaside,Toronto ON, by FH Publishing Inc., 1444 Dupont St., Unit 11A, M6P 4H3

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Calling all nominees!

The East York Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee seeks nominations for the 24th annual Agnes Macphail Award. Agnes Campbell Macphail (18901954) was the first woman elected to the House of Commons (1921) and the first seated in the Ontario Legislature (1943). During her years in office, Agnes Macphail focused on issues of equality rights and social justice. Each nominee must be a resident of the former Borough of East York and an outstanding volunteer leader

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Leaside Life, January 2017

in community life in areas including, but not limited to: women’s rights, fairness to seniors, criminal justice and penal reform, international peace and disarmament, and to adequate housing, health care and education. Nomination forms are available in public buildings in East York. The deadline for nominations is midnight, Thursday, January 26, 2017. Contributions to the award can be made through The East York Foundation, c/o G. Piercey, 55 Merritt Road, East York M4B 3K6. Donations go directly to a registered charity of the recipient’s choice. Charitable receipts are issued. The award will be presented on the anniversary of Agnes Macphail’s birth, March 24, 2017, at a public ceremony at the East York Civic Centre, starting at 7 p.m. Nomination forms are available in public buildings in East York, at branches of the Toronto Public Library in East York or at www.toronto.ca/macphail_award. For further information or a copy of the 2017 Nomination Package, contact Committee Chair Lorna Krawchuk, 416-425-4431. ■

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DANIEL GIRARD

Leaside Life, January 2017

The Raftis family — Brandon, Jordan, Shelly, Joe, Kylee and Scooby.

Bennington’s Joe Raftis – 12 marathons, 5 peaks, what’s next? On their second date, Shelly was determined to see if Joe Raftis had any athletic ability, so she booked an outside court at her tennis club, far away from anyone she knew, and they whacked around the ball. Joe “did okay” on the court that day in the summer of 1995, she says. They were married in 1998. “I was determined that I wasn’t going to date someone who wasn’t athletic,” Shelly Raftis recalls with a laugh. “In hindsight, that really bit me in the butt.” While Joe Raftis’s inner athlete may have taken a little time to emerge thanks to the long hours required to establish a successful retail business – Europe Bound Travel Outfitters in downtown Toronto and Oakville – it’s been on full display for nearly a decade now. Joe was in his late 40s and feeling out of shape and overweight when he decided it was time to start exercising and watching what he ate. Soon, he was running and not long after that, he completed his first marathon, crossing the line of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront race in 3:11 on his 49th birthday. Today, he’s a veteran of 12 com-

pleted marathons – all run within three years of each other – with a personal best of 2:53 over the grueling 42.2-kilometre distance. He says more may be in his future. In the meantime, though, Raftis has other mountains to climb – quite literally. On the same day he finished his first marathon, he flew to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak. Since that initial ascent, Raftis has climbed the tallest peaks on four other continents – Alaska’s Mount Denali (North America), Mount Elbrus in Russia (Europe), Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia (Australia/ Oceania) and Mount Vinson (Antarctica). In mid-January, he’s set to travel to Argentina to climb Mount Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak. A successful summiting of that mountain, which is the world’s tallest outside Asia, would be the sixth in Raftis’s quest to join mountaineering’s super elite by reaching the top of the Seven Summits. The only one outstanding would be Mount Everest, which he’s considering attempting for a third time in 2018. “I guess you could say I’ve got ants in my pants,” Raftis laughs. Given the huge financial costs

and the inherent risks that come with the quest to conquer the Seven Summits, Raftis admits that more than one person has told him he also has rocks in his head. In his two previous attempts at

COURTESY OF RAFTIS FAMILY

By DANIEL GIRARD

Joe Raftis during an acclimatization trek before reaching Mt. Everest basecamp in April 2015.

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month to run in the NCAA for Boston College next year. Brandon, an elite runner himself, plays for the Minor Midget North York Knights AA, while Jordan also skates in the GTHL for the Minor Bantam AA Leaside Flames. Brandon Raftis says his dad â€œinspires my hard workâ€? at school and in sports. â€œI have always encountered my dad working his hardest at everything he does,â€? he says. Shelly Raftis, 52, who plays competitive tennis and is a key member of the neighbourhood group that builds and operates an outdoor ice rink in Bennington Heights each winter, is convinced that rubs off. â€œI donâ€™t know that theyâ€™ll ever climb a mountain,â€? she says. â€œBut watching him has certainly given them a lesson in what itâ€™s like to set goals and then work to achieve them.â€? For his part, Joe Raftis says he certainly didnâ€™t set out in his 50s to climb the Seven Summits, just like he didnâ€™t have a goal of being a subthree-hour marathoner the day he first laced on running shoes. They were things that just naturally evolved out of a desire to improve his fitness and get the most out of a love of travel. â€œI may get another bucket list going one day,â€? he says. â€œIâ€™ll have to make my way on to something else.â€?â–

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Leaside Life, January 2017

Everest, he narrowly cheated death. In 2015, he was at base camp when a massive earthquake hit Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people, including 21 in an avalanche on what was the deadliest ever day on Everest. He remembers â€œa massive wall of snowâ€? coming at him from about 10 feet away, running, and being buried up to his calves. In 2014, on his first trip to Everest, an avalanche killed 16 guides. The climbing season was cancelled. A year before that, in another narrow escape, Raftis completed the 2013 Boston Marathon, crossing the finish line about an hour before the bombing, which left three people dead and more than 250 injured. While Raftis canâ€™t believe his luck to have been surrounded by all that calamity over successive years, he says the key to his approach in mountain climbing is preparation. â€œI know the risks of it all,â€? he says. â€œYou canâ€™t outrun an earthquake or an avalanche, but you can take all the precautions, try to limit your risks as much as you can.â€? Though Joe and Shellyâ€™s three children â€“ Kylee, 17, Brandon, 15 and Jordan, 13 â€“ say they have no desire to climb a mountain, they are scaling great heights on their own. Kylee, a cross-country and track star, signed a letter of intent last

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Leaside Life, January 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR! LOL 2016 Committee : Mary Holmes, Selby Copeland, Charlene Kalia and Lara Neal

New Year’s Levee •

Laugh Out Loud fundraiser to support the Maddie Project By KARLI VEZINA

Join me to celebrate the new year with refreshments & live entertainment! Kathleen Wynne, MPP

Eight years ago Charlene Kalia started the Laugh Out Loud in Leaside fundraiser to help bring awareness to the Leaside Gardens board of management's initiative to build a second ice pad. After four years of arena fundraising and continued community encouragement, Kalia decided to keep the annual event going to raise money and awareness for different charities each year. This year’s LOL in Leaside event, on Friday, February 24, 2017, 7-11 p.m., at the Leaside Memorial Gardens William Lea Room, will aid the Maddie Project, which supports child and adolescent mental health services at North York General Hospital’s Phillips House, home of Maddie’s Healing Garden. LOL will feature comedic talent courtesy of Yuk Yuks, live music, drinks and a silent and live auction. Support for the Maddie Project couldn’t come at a better time. Winter months are known to be difficult for those suffering from mental health issues, and the holidays are not always a happy time for many. Several young adults have taken their lives in Leaside over the last few years. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, “mental illness is increasingly threatening the lives of our children, with Canada’s youth suicide rate the third highest in the industrialized world.” Coupled

with the fact that nation-wide, four out of five children who need mental health services don’t receive it, it seems clear that this is a major issue nationwide. Event organizer Kalia said the entire fundraising committee – Lara Neal, Selby Copeland, Alison Rockwell, Christina Snelson and Charlene – felt an emotional connection with the cause of youth and adolescent mental health. The project’s namesake, 14 year-old Madeline Grace German Coulter, who lived in Leaside, suffered from depression and took her own life in 2015. Once Copeland brought the Maddie Project to the group’s attention, they all felt they had found the right charity to get behind this year. At press time, sponsors already included Grill Time gourmet meats, Lexus on the Park, De Le Mer, Neal Brothers Foods, Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, and RBC. Tickets are available at www.universe.com/lolleaside8. For those who want to learn more about the Maddie Project, Kalia encourages readers to visit http://www.themaddieproject.ca/ to find out how to help with youth depression and mental health awareness. If you or anyone you know is suffering from depression, there is help. Visit www.mentalhealthcanada.com/ or the Canadian Mental Health Association at www.cmha.ca/ for more information. ■

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I’LL TRY ANYTHING ONCE!

Card games have never been my strong suit. Outside of Uno, I’m most comfortable around basic games like Go Fish or better yet, board games. In my mind, playing bridge was equivalent to the ancient Chinese art of Mahjong – a game of skill passed down through generations, a true battle of superior mental strength. That intimidation aside, I’d always been curious about the game of bridge, and thanks to the Leaside Bridge Club, I had my chance to watch the pros in action… and maybe try my hand. There are several types of bridge, but Contract Bridge has remained the dominant form since the 1920s. Duplicate Contract Bridge is a variation where the same cards are played at more than one table, used for competition and tournament style games. It was Duplicate Contract Bridge that I was to learn about on this newest adventure in Leaside. I arrived early to the Seniors Room of the Trace Manes Community Centre in search of Lauriette D'Souza, president of the Leaside Bridge Club. D’Souza had graciously agreed to be my mentor for the evening, at the risk of losing points because of distractions by yours truly. I had studied the rules of bridge, but learning on your own can only take you so far. Eventually you need to sit in on a game to see how the rules apply. Players started filing in. Jackets were hung, knuckles were cracked and the game was most definitely afoot. I met a gentleman named Fred Tibbet, who has played bridge for about 40 years. Fred allowed me to run over my notes with him and clarify some terms. Joan Dollact, who has been in the game for 30 years, said many at the club have been playing since their university days. For them, bridge is a part of life. After a pep talk with my pregame coaches Fred and Joan, this is what I could confirm: There are four players, two teams of two and 13 cards for each. The objective is to score the most points by winning rounds or “making tricks.” A “trump” is the decided suit worth more than others. “No

KARLI VEZINA

By KARLI VEZINA

trump”(or NT) means no suit is worth more than the other. The cards you want to see in your hand are the “high cards,” which consist of aces (4 pts), kings (3 pts), queens (2 pts) and jacks (1 pt). The more high cards, the better chance of scoring top points. My neck now craned over Lauriette’s arm, I watched as the game began. Teams “bid” first, which is a silent speculation of how many tricks or rounds each team thinks they can win. Then each team attempts to “make contracts.” Bridge player Martha MacNeil told me, “You bid a contract, then you either

make it or you don’t.” Sounds easy enough, I think. If you make your contract, your team wins points. If you don’t, you lose points. Understanding bridge is like trying to remember a dream. For a moment you think you have it, then something grabs your eye and you realize you don’t know much after all. After a few rounds the game did start to make sense though, and if I had lessons, I could see myself playing bridge in the future. The Leaside Bridge Club, now 56 years old, always welcomes new members. They meet every Wednesday from 7-10 p.m. at the Trace Manes Community Centre on Rumsey Rd. The LBC is technically for seniors, but I’ve been told that if a younger person wanted to play, they would be welcome to join. If $4 for a few hours of snacks, cards and good company sounds good to you, consider a game! If you have any questions about joining the LBC, call Beth at (416) 444-0020. If you’d like to learn about bridge before joining this or any other bridge club, check out www.acbl.org/learn_page/ to see the rules. There are also options to download bridge how-to software to your phone or computer. To learn more about bridge terminology, visit www.acbl.org/learn_page/bridgeterminology/ My apologies to all bridge players if I explained anything wrong; I’m definitely still learning. Until next time...for science! ■

Karli Vezina learning from Lauriette D’Souza at the Leaside Bridge Club.

| Leaside Life, January 2017

Coming up trumps at Leaside’s Bridge Club

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Leasiders, resolve to hit the path to health & wellness 12

Leaside Life, January 2017

By VICKI HALL Last New Year I made two resolutions: One was to perfect my forward bend in pilates, and the other was to drink more water. It’s now 12 months later, and while my forward bend isn’t perfect, it’s come a very long way and I definitely drink more water daily. I set two realistic goals for myself and I feel good that I was able to work at them all year, and that’s what I think the definition of a healthy resolution is: something achievable. We have a wealth of resources here in Leaside to put you on your own path to health & wellness for 2017. So it’s time to put down the shortbread and hit the gym, the mat, or just get outside for a stroll along our gorgeous tree-lined streets. Pilates & yoga Pilates is full body exercise that builds full body strength, flexibility, and coordination through mat work or on equipment called a reformer. Karlye Butler, who owns and operates a home studio in Leaside called Studio 22 Pilates, shares how pilates can benefit you. Her top tips? Incorporate 15-60 minutes on a mat or reformer to challenge you to be stronger each day. Move your spine in ALL directions, forward, side extension and rotation because a flexible spine is a happy spine. Take what you learn on the mat with you every day by breathing deeply, engaging your core and moving with purpose. You will quickly feel the benefits in your daily life. www.studio22pilates.com Also consider: Gayle Force Fitness – with 32 years at St. Cuthbert’s Church, Gayle offers classes Monday-Friday. Her oldest client is 84! www.gayleforce.ca New to Leaside is Nucleo Fitness, the first studio of its kind combining mat pilates and indoor rowing. Owner Marlene Kadin is a certified Power Pilates and Indo-Row Fitness Expert. Check them out at www.nucleofitness.ca. Stretching it out for 17 years on Bayview is Big Stretch Yoga Centre. Big Stretch offers Hatha yoga for all ages. Seniors and Students receive a 10% discount. www.bigstretchyoga.com Core Body Science has a fully renovated space on Millwood providing a range of reformer classes. www.corebodyscience.com Gyms If a more traditional workout is your speed, check out the following gyms.

Pure Fitness has been keeping Leasiders healthy since 2007. A fullrange gym that offers fitness testing, nutrition, group classes and wellness options including chiropractic and registered massage therapy. Childcare available. http://www.purefitnesscanada.com/ Inside Out offers a personalized gym experience with a full range of health and wellness options, including: personal training, wellness programs and nutritional counselling. www.insideoutstudio.ca

The Ultimate Cleanse is tailored to you and your specific needs. Don’t worry, by day three you can include healthy foods as well. Cleanses range from $50 to $72. Drink Juice has also recently started offering nutritious smoothie bowls. www.drinkjuiceco.com Also consider: Refuel Juicery offers a full range of cold pressed juice cleanses, smoothies, protein shakes and nut milks. www.refueljuicery.com

Tennis and racquet sports We’re extremely lucky in Leaside to have one of the top tennis and racquet sports retailers in Toronto right here in our own neighbourhood. Leaside residents Pam and Rob Horwood have proudly owned The Merchant of Tennis for 25 years, so they know a lot about keeping fit. Pam offers her wisdom for anyone interested in racquet sports. “A great way to stay fit is to participate in a racquet sport. Racquet sports come in different shapes and sizes from badminton and squash to tennis and pickleball. These sports provide the body with aerobic activity while working various muscles in your body. Racquet sports have health benefits and can be a great a social activity. Racquet sports are played with either two or four players at fitness clubs or local facilities. Use this as an opportunity to get your whole family involved and do something fun. Ace the commitment to your resolution! www.merchantoftennis.com Juice bars & health food stores Taking care of your body should begin from the inside. At Drink Juice Co. on Manor Rd. East, owner Nadia Kotso believes that juice cleanses can “motivate you, reset and kickstart you into a healthy lifestyle. They remind you how simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your health, physically and mentally.” Juice cleanses generally run between two and seven days.

Peaches and Green is a treasure trove of health and wellness. With over 25 years in business on Bayview, it’s a destination for many looking for the best healthy options in the city, featuring excellent health food lines, body care and a wide range of nutritional supplements, botanical remedies and homeopathics. www.peachesandgreen.com For the Kids Kids need to keep active too. In some cases the cold winter months can turn everyone into couch potatoes. Beside the big toboggan hill at Talbot Park, Leaside has some good options to keep your little ones in shape this winter. GymKats offers gymnastic classes for kids from 8 months to 10 years old. In the adult and child classes, babies and toddlers will develop coordination and motor skills with their parent or caregiver. Kids will learn gymnastic and social skills on GymKats “Jungle Circuits.” GymKats also offers private lessons, birthday parties and Friday night gym parties, so parents can enjoy a night out to themselves. www.gymkats.ca Jumping on a trampoline is great physical activity. Did you know you can burn up to a thousand calories with just an hour of jumping? Skyzone indoor trampoline park is a popular Leaside spot for fun and fitness and a great way to escape the cold and keep active. www.skyzone.com ■

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By VICKI HALL It’s January, the decorations are back in the closet for another year, and we’ve consumed all the shortbread and egg nog we possibly can. Now it’s time to get serious about those New Year’s resolutions. You know, the ones where you are going to (fill in the blank): quit smoking, lose weight, drink more water, train for a marathon, find the perfect job, join the local ashram and trek to Nepal…. Leaside Life is very pleased to take you along for the journey of two of our neighbours as they follow their resolution to seek improved health and wellness and lasting changes in their lives long into the New Year and beyond.

grown daughters. He hopes to keep working another 10 to 12 years and then enjoy retirement with a healthy body and mind. David has had Type 2 diabetes for 15 years and feels that improved physical and mental fitness would prevent further disease and, of course, injury.

consultation that will include goal setting, baseline measurements, nutrition, lifestyle management and a physical fitness plan with a trainer. Barry feels that to achieve success with any plan, you must start from the “inside out.” Improved physical health is a journey of self-discovery, and he wants Carol and Dave to feel as though a “best friend” supports them.

Meet David & Carol

Dr. Carol Townley

Dave Sparrow David, who has lived in Leaside since 2002, is a 55-year-old actor, writer and filmmaker who is currently head of ACTRA. As a former paramedic, David has seen his fair share of men and women rushed to the hospital with health emergencies. We never think it could happen to us, but it can if we don’t pay close attention to our health. When I asked David about his objectives at the start of this program, he responded with a resounding “staying alive.” And David has a lot to live for. He’s been married 31 years and has two

Carol is a 45-year-old mother of two boys aged 13 and 10. When she’s not busy with her family, Carol is a physician specialist in post-cancer care. Wondering why a doctor, attuned to the need for a healthy lifestyle, would need to make a resolution to enhance her own health and well-being? As many women know, it’s a constant struggle to maintain weight after having children. This becomes even more challenging when you hit your 40s. A resident of Leaside for the past three years, Carol has had some success with gym memberships in the past, but is really looking for one program that will encompass all areas: physical, mental and emotional. She’s also looking for a lifestyle change that’s local and will work well with her schedule. Meet their coach Barry Samuel, owner and personal coach at Inside Out Health & Fitness on Laird Dr., will be working closely with Carol and Dave so they have the best chance to reach their goals. He will begin with an initial

Barry Samuel As the saying goes, “Life’s a marathon, not a sprint,” so we will bring you Carol and Dave’s journey over the next several months. We hope this series will inspire you to think about your own health and wellness goals for the year. And by all means, drop us a line to share your experiences. I’m sure we could all use the inspiration. Here’s to resolutions! ■

Interested in advertising in Leaside Life? Contact Robyn Israel at leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com 416-276-0937 or 416-504-8047 We deliver 10,000 copies each month to every door in Leaside & Bennington

Leaside Life, January 2017

Carol & Dave’s excellent New Year adventure

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YOU, our dining critics

Leaside Life, January 2017

Melissa Starkey, with her friend, tried Satay on the Road to see how it measured up to the food she ate in Bangkok.

We give $100 to help pay for a meal for up to three Leasiders at any restaurant in our area, the M4G postal code, which includes Leaside, Bennington Heights and the Leaside Business Park.

Beating the cold winter blues at Satay on the Road By MELISSA STARKEY The weather has turned cold, and snow is already piling up on the roads and the sidewalks. It’s hard for me to remember that just a few weeks ago I was roaming the bustling streets of Bangkok, watching the lanterns drift into the night sky in Chiang Mai, and then swimming in the Andaman Sea in an attempt to beat the stifling heat. Good food with a good friend on a Monday night seemed like the perfect opportunity to sit back and take a moment to relax and enjoy. To help remind me of my recent travels, we chose a Thai restaurant in the neighbourhood – Satay on the Road. With the snow crunching beneath our feet, we made our way up Bayview Avenue. The air was chilly, the street was quiet, and the bright blue sign of Satay on the Road led us to a warm and welcoming restaurant. As we walked in, we were taken by how tasty-looking – and smelling – the food one couple was eating seemed to be. It looked so delicious that we asked the server what they were having and made a mental note to order it on our next visit. Having just spent a month in Thailand existing on Pad Thai, Thom Kha Soup, and assorted curries I feel I am now something of an expert on Thai cuisine. I insisted we order the meals that I had (almost) perfected in my cooking class in Bangkok. We made our selections on the menu and ordered. First up, we had to have spring rolls! How more traditionally Thai can you get? Pho Pia Phak: Vegetable Rolls

Glass noodles with vegetables wrapped in Thai pastry with Thai house sauce - $3.95 They were like any other spring roll I’ve tried except maybe double the size! I didn’t think they were amazing, but there was nothing to find fault with. Next up, my favourite: Tom Kha Gai: Coconut Chicken Soup Chicken with coconut milk, lemon grass, mushroom, lemon juice, galingale & chilli served piping hot - $6.95 I tried this soup many years ago at Satay on The Road’s other location on Avenue Road. It’s been my favourite for years and was actually the dish that converted me to a mushroom lover. The way the mushrooms bob at the top of the soup when it comes out, and with the scent of ginger and lemongrass wafting from the bowl, just makes me happy. At $6.95 you wouldn’t expect it to be too large a serving, but it can easily be split between two or three for an appetizer. The big surprise is that even my Thai cooking teacher’s version or the ones I tried at all the restaurants I visited in Thailand don’t surpass the flavour of Satay on the Road’s. Sadly, I wasn’t thrilled with the Pad Thai. Thai rice noodle with tiger shrimps, tender chicken, tofu, eggs, tamarind sauce, sprinkled with roasted peanuts served with fresh beansprouts & lime. Vegetarian version available - $10.95 I’ve had better Pad Thai elsewhere in Toronto, so I probably wouldn’t order this one here next time. Again, there’s nothing to find fault with other

than it didn’t leave me thinking “wow, that was great,” even though our server was happy to bring me extra peanuts when I asked, which definitely gave it a bit more flavour. I didn’t know curry was a Thai staple until recently. I had always associated curries with Indian food, but my world has now changed. We ordered Panang Gai: Chicken Curry Chicken in thick red curry sauce, coconut milk & long beans - $12.45 A friend of mine is a regular here and recommended I order this dish but substitute the long beans for pineapple. The server was happy to make the substitution, and boy was that the right call. Delicious! I am not a big lover of spice, so I noticed the kick immediately, but the taste was better than the spice was hot. I am a baby when it comes to heat. This dish was nowhere in the realm of Indian food spicy and anyone who orders chicken wings with higher than mild spice probably won’t have any issue with it. Even though we had more than enough food (and leftovers for days!), we also ordered Nuer Yang: Thai Beef Steak Grilled beef marinated with special Thai spices, garlic & pepper served with Thai chilli garlic sauce - $14.95 It was smoky, cooked to a delicious medium/medium rare, with the sauce on the side to add as much or as little as you like. I can’t rave about this dish enough. I really wanted to end the meal with a sticky rice and mango, but I ate so much great food I just couldn’t find room. I’ll be back for dessert! ■

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Pay attention, Leaside! New traffic signs mean YOU New traffic rules went into effect in early December at the intersection of Bayview Ave. and Parkhurst Blvd./Soudan Ave. Motorists head-

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ing east or west are now prohibited from crossing Bayview between the hours of 7 and 9 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m., Monday to Friday. During those same hours, motorists are also prohibited from turning left onto Bayview; right turns are still allowed at any time, seven days a week. The intersection and crosswalk is a neighbourhood hot spot for fender benders and pedestrian accidents. In 2013, according to police data, there were two collisions, four in 2014, and eight in 2015. As a result of the increasing frequency of these accidents, Councillor Burnside asked the city's Transportation Services department to conduct a safety review of the intersection. Although Transportation Services considered the idea of traffic lights, it decided signs were a less restrictive approach to reducing collisions. The cost: $2,000. According to an employee of Parkers Cleaners, Toronto Police wrote as many as 30 tickets in a single day for violators of the new traffic restrictions. Leaside Life columnist Will Ashworth lives adjacent to the intersection and has personally seen more than a dozen cars breaking the new rules since their introduction. Pay attention Leaside. The rules have changed at Parkhurst and Bayview. ■

Leaside Life, January 2017

And from our correspondent Will Ashworth…

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OUTSTANDING LEASIDERS

A tale of two sisters – their jewellery and their charity By JANIS FERTUCK During Leaside High School’s recent Parent-Teacher Interview Sessions in November, sisters Gemma and Anna Postill set up a booth to sell their handcrafted jewellery line called Be The Vibe Jewellery. But it wasn’t all about selling bling. The siblings raised more than $500 for their charity Compassion Canada. These enterprising and creative young women first became familiar with Compassion Canada when Gemma, now 17, attended a conference two and a half years ago and decided to sponsor a child through that organization. They were also inspired by their volunteer work during their summer holidays. Last year, Anna, now 16, travelled to Ecuador and the Amazon rainforest where she helped to build a school. This trip was organized by a “Me to We” club in the school they used to attend in Halifax. While she was there, Anna was struck by the fact that the volunteers were given bottled water, but the residents used the local supply, and questioned the discrepancy in the quality of water for the volunteers and residents. She believed that if the volunteers could not drink the water, neither should the residents. Anna also took part in the Yale Global Scholars Conference where she worked on a group project to develop a solution to global problems such as sustaining a supply of safe drinking water in developing countries. Gemma’s volunteer trip was to Argentina in 2015 where she was the youngest participant working in a variety of health-care settings, gaining medical experience toward her goal of becoming a doctor. This past summer, she was chosen to attend the National Student Leadership Conference in Health and Medicine in Washington, where she helped to develop the “Gravity Lights Project,” with the purpose of finding a method to create and sustain a safe drinking water system in South Sudan. Gemma also took part in Oxford Scholastica, studying law, public policy and medicine, and was chosen as the valedictorian for her session. So it came as no surprise that the sisters should decide, while walking in Serena Gundy Park this past Sep-

JANIS FERTUCK

Leaside Life, January 2017

Gemma and Anna Postill tember, they wanted to do something to make a difference in the world. The very next day, Gemma received a mailing from Compassion Canada, and the sisters decided to partner with that organization to raise money through a jewellery business. The organization told them that help was needed to raise money to build a sustainable rain harvesting system to provide safe drinking water for families in Rwandan communities. Such a system that will serve 468 people costs some $3,000. All their lives, Anna and Gemma have been motivated and inspired by their parents, ”huge role models” who immersed them in a culture of leadership and community service at

an early age. Their father, David Postill, is the vice-president of marketing at the Toronto Symphony. Their mother, Shannon MacDonald, a chartered accountant and vice-chair at Deloitte, has been named one of Canada’s Women’s Executive Network Top 100 Most Powerful Women three times. As Anna said, the sisters find it “very rewarding to work together, and it helps that we have different strengths.” Gemma is in charge of the internal aspects of Be the Vibe, such as making the jewellery, creating the website and handling financial matters. Anna, on the other hand, deals with the external aspects of the company such as publicity, marketing and social media, including a Facebook page and an Instagram account. While they might disagree at times, on the whole, they enjoy an “awesome” collaborative working environment, always knowing what each other is going to say. Even with their studies in Grade 11 and 12 and their business, the sisters somehow find time for a variety of extracurricular activities. Gemma is the co-chair of Leaside’s Mental

Health and Wellness Committee and part of the Ecoteam, she plays tennis, and she also has a part-time job. She hopes to become a doctor and is applying to life science programs at university. Anna is also part of the Mental Health and Wellness Committee and the community action team at school, and she plays squash. Her goal is to pursue a career in engineering and entrepreneurship. In the meantime, they find their charitable business venture very fulfilling. As Gemma said, “Despite it taking up a lot of time, it’s not draining, but motivating.” Anna added, “We want to share our energy and skills with our community, both at home and in developing countries.”■

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Leaside Life, January 2017

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OUTSTANDING LEASIDERS

Leaside Life, January 2017

In the swim with Leaside’s Olympian Martha McCabe By JANIS FERTUCK Leaside’s own Martha McCabe is a true Olympian. Not only has she competed in swimming at two Olympic Games, London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016, but she is also a veteran of many other international swimming competitions and was recognized as Leaside's first Athlete of the Year in 2013. After Rio, she retired from breaststroke competition and, leaving her coach and years of training in Vancouver behind, launched into a cross-Canada tour from which she returned in mid-November. Martha conducted clinics and gave motivational speeches across the country, ending with one at the annual awards banquet for Central Toronto Athletic Club on Friday, Nov. 18. Martha’s road to the Olympics began when she and her three older siblings played “McCabe Family Olympics” at their cottage while watching the real Olympics on television. After the opening ceremonies, with Martha as the torch-bearer, the siblings participated in sandcastle-building, running and swimming events in pursuit of awards. Another early accomplishment was a race with just one other girl when she was five and attending Bennington Heights Elementary School. After that success, Martha took up several sports, including soccer, hockey, softball and basketball, all of which played a role in fueling her desire to go to the Olympics. As she says, “Who I am comes from my sports experiences growing up in Leaside.” While at Leaside High School, Martha divided her time between running and swimming, coming fourth in her Grade 9 year at OFSAA Track in the 1500-metre race with an excellent time of 4:39.80. She credits her brother Jeff with giving her the extra motivation during the race when he told to “stick with those girls” just ahead of her. From then on, she says, “I was no longer afraid and was determined to go to the next level.” When Martha’s swimming prowess seemed to be overtaking her running, she met her sister Carolyn’s friend, Liz Warden, by happy coinci-

dence an Olympic swimmer. That experience, “coupled with a passion for sports and a talent for the breaststroke,” clinched Martha’s decision to pursue the goal of competing in the Olympics. The young Olympian-in-training attended the University of British Columbia to work with legendary breaststroke coach Jozsef Nagy, and to train with other outstanding swimmers like Annamay Pierse. There she set small goals for each workout, focused on the moment, and kept a diary of her accomplishments and reflections. Martha failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, but, undaunted, devoted the next four years to her goal, winning a bronze medal at the FINA World Championships in 2011 and finishing fifth in the 200-metre breaststroke at the London Olympics in 2012, her fastest race ever. After recovering from a stress fracture in her clavicle in 2014, Martha was able to earn spots on the teams for the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships and made it to both finals, despite not being able to lift her arms over her head for three months of training! She then won the silver medal at the Pan Am Games in Toronto in 2015. Though Martha did not make it to the final this past summer in Rio, she says, “Despite a disappointing

swim, it was one of the most positive experiences of my career since I got to serve as the team captain for the most successful swim team in Canada’s history.” All of Martha’s experiences over the years encouraged her to organize a speaking tour as part of her drive from B.C. back to Toronto after the Olympics. She was sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Swimming Canada and BMW Canada, which provided her with a car emblazoned with the words “Martha’s Canadian Drive.” Once in Toronto, she took a short break, then went back on the road to Eastern Canada, leading 45 different sessions and visiting 55 cities and towns in total. “The experience,” she says, “was amazing. My enjoyment of public speaking stems from the adrenaline rush I got from taking part in French public-speaking contests in school. I feel as if a whole new door has opened for me since the Olympics.” Today Martha is working as an RBC Olympian in brand marketing and sponsorship. “Retirement is more fulfilling than I thought it would be, and now I do whatever I want to do in terms of physical activity, especially running – my first love – spinning and cycling.” This young Olympian certainly helped to put Leaside on the map of international competition. ■

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:53 PM Page 19

Leaside Life, January 2017

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Leaside Life, January 2017

First From Page 1

15. Colin Mochrie, Comedian & Actor (Jan. 2012) 16. Bert F. Grant (1921 â€“ 2008), Former

President & Chairman of Crestview Group Co. (Feb. 2013) 17. Jane Pitfeld, Author & Former City Councillor, Ward 26 18. Brian Athey, Former LPOA Chair, community advocate. (May 2013) 19. Geoff Kettel, LPOA co-chair & Will Ashworth, Business writer (cover March 2014)

28 20. Petra Grantham, Leaside Matters (Feb. 2015) 21. Korban Ali Jorder, Store Manager at Macâ€™s convenience (March 2016) 22. Connor Turnbull, Co-chair Leaside Matters (Nov. 2016) 23. Edward Wong, Ahmed Hussein, Bill Pashby, Daryn Everett, Mayor John Tory, Jeff Hohner, Councillor Jon

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Is the new Laird battering Bayview?

30 Burnside and Michael Zivot (Jan. 2017) 24. Shirley Giles, First women bank manager in Canada (May 2015) 25. Leaside Lion 1970, includes a young Stephen Harper (May 2013) 26. Randall James Hamilton Zwinge The Amazing Randi, (Jan. 2012) 27. Dave Christiani & Emily Cohen,

(March 2016) 28. Cheryl Vanderburg, Leaside Litterati, ongoing contributor 29. Howard Birnie, Mr. Leaside Baseball, President of Leaside Baseball Association (July 2012) 30. Badali Family, The first family of Bayview, owners of Badaliâ€™s Fruit Market

31. Agnes Macphail, First woman elected to Canadian parliament (May 2016) 32. John Naulls, local historian & cartographer 33. Eleanor Wyne, active member Leaside United Church (June 2014) 34. Patricia Phenix, Author, Judge, Editor (Sept. 2012)

Leaside Life, January 2017

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THE CHURCHES OF LEASIDE

Leaside Life, January 2017

Northlea United Church – Discerning what church looks like in 2017 and beyond

The Rev. Lee-Ann Ahlstrom and Marnie Phoenix at Northlea United Church – helping to discern what the church will look like in the future. By ALLAN WILLIAMS The post-war period of the late 1940s and ’50s was a time of great optimism and rapid expansion in many areas of Canadian life. Churches were no exception. North Leaside, which had been developed more recently than the older neighbourhood south of Eglinton Ave., was poised and ready to participate in the boom. As we said in our November issue, St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church began a “mission” in Northlea School in 1949 that soon became the separate parish of St. Augustine. The United Church of Canada followed a parallel course at almost exactly the same time. According to Jane Pitfield's book, "Leaside," a preliminary meeting was held in a private home in December 1948 and services began at Northlea School in September 1949. The numbers are almost unbelievable today: within a year the Sunday school included 350 children and young people, and the church’s membership roll numbered 517 members. The new congregation purchased the home at 647 Broadway as a manse in 1950 and began fundraising to build the church in 1951. Construction of the sanctuary began in 1953 and completed in 1954. A Christian education wing was added in 1959. Of course, those heady days for Canadian churches are gone and not

expected to return anytime soon. These days Northlea United has some 245 members on the roll, and about 60 in attendance on an average Sunday. “There are about 120 families who consider Northlea to be their church home,” says member Marnie Phoenix, who remembers the packed church and Sunday school of the ’50s and ’60s. “Today there are eight or 10 kids in the Sunday school, and they’re not all there every week. Many families are away at cottages on the weekends in the summer and skiing in the winter.” Churches face much more competition for things to do on Sunday mornings and families that may have attended services three or four Sundays a month only a generation or two ago now might attend only once a month. “And people are less willing to make a long-term commitment to serve on boards or committees,” says Phoenix, “We’ve had to adapt.” One thing that’s had to change is the church’s governance. “We’ve done away with the board of directors in favour of a church council with only a one-year commitment. And we have “circles” or “task groups” for specific purposes that allow for more input and quicker decision-making.” Another change relates to what the Rev. Lee-Ann Ahlstrom calls “discernment”. Ahlstrom has been in ministry for two decades, mostly working with children and youth, but just became the minister at Northlea

this past summer. This is her first experience leading a church on her own. “Churches in the past always tried to maintain a permanence in their ministry and programs,” says Ahlstrom. “The goal now is more discernment: discerning what the core mission and values of the church community are; discerning the resources – physical, human and financial – and trying to align these with the mission and values. But the goal isn’t necessarily permanence.” Northlea’s mission statement, for the record, is “Love God, connect with others, nurture the spirit, serve the world.” “At Northlea, we’re very open to becoming something new and more relevant,” Ahlstrom continues, “and we’ve let go of things that aren’t relevant, such as traditional governance.” She adds that the United Church of Canada centrally is going through the same process. “It’s a very top-heavy organization, and responsible stewardship of our resources means some downsizing will be needed.” Ahlstrom and Phoenix agree that ‘giving back’ is an important theme at Northlea. “People here feel that life has been very generous to them – they want to give back to their community, and Northlea is a vehicle for them to do that,” says Ahlstrom. The two outline an impressive list of outreach programs the congregation has supported just in recent weeks. They have sponsored and set-

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For artist Gaël Patino Leaside is his muse By TALBOT BOGGS

Gaël Patino fell in love with Leaside the moment he discovered it. “I arrived from Montreal two years ago to find a new adventure and get inspired,” the 27-year-old artist says. “I went around to a lot of areas in Toronto looking for an apartment, but as soon as I found Leaside I was charmed immediately. I just got good vibes and this peaceful feeling about the area. Maybe it’s all the trees and green spaces like the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.” Patino settled on an apartment on Bayview Ave. He works at a bank to support himself and his art. The artist loves to walk in the cemetery where he relaxes, enjoys the natural surroundings and gets inspiration for his creations. Through a combination of painting, digital sculptures and photography his works are intended to portray the emotions and spiritual forces that exist in the offices and workplaces of modern society. In December he had a showing of nine of his creations, a series of large-format mixed-media artworks all produced in his Leaside apartment and entitled “We Will Return Your Call,” at Gallery 50 on Gladstone Ave. “This body of my work has been

inspired by my travels in the world of call centres and offices, a world which has the reputation of being spiritually empty,” Patino says. “In fact, it is not empty at all. It is filled with emotions,

spiritual forces and sublime moments.” Patino finds a lot of cultural differences between his hometown of Montreal and his adopted home of Toronto. Montreal is more compact and Toronto more spread out, he says. He enjoys the shops and restaurants on Bayview and likes to go with his girlfriend to various ethnic areas of the city such as the Danforth to enjoy their special ambience and culinary delights. He says he feels very safe in Leaside, and his most favourite place is perhaps the safest of all places – the cemetery. “That may sound a bit strange, but I think most Leasiders know how beautiful it is,” he says. “There is a particularly beautiful spot with a fountain in the Garden of Remembrance and there are all kinds of different trees. All these things make it the perfect place to think and meditate. My art is about the archetypal forces of the world. For an artist like me the environment where I live is very important to the creative process. Leaside provides the calmness, peace and security I need to create.” For more information visit: www.gaelpatino.com ■

NORTHLEA UNITED CHURCH tled a refugee family and are now assisting other recent arrivals through Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office. They’ve collected clothing for the Christian Resource Centre, donated new pyjamas to four different agencies, winter hats and mittens to the Massey Centre, and food to TNO’s foodbank. And the congregation’s youth are joining with kids from Pawsitively Pets’ after-school program to form a youth choir that will perform in area seniors’ homes in the new year. One thing that hasn’t changed much over the years is the sense of Northlea as a community hub for a wide range of activities beyond the church. For example, a Montessori School has operated in the church continuously since 1975. Currently there are 125 students from age 18 months to 12 years. “This church

is very family-centred and so is Montessori,” says Principal Jim Brand. “It’s a perfect combination for us.” And beginning in 1971, Northlea served as home for the communitybased continuing therapy programs of the Donwood Institute. “We needed more room, so we leased space from Northlea,” says Linda Bell, who was administrator at Donwood at the time. “We used the top floor of the Sunday school wing; by that time the community was very supportive, and many were members at Northlea as well.” These programs continued long after the Bells left Donwood in the mid-’80s, and were run by Dr. George Birtch, who was not only a childhood friend of Dr. Gordon Bell, but was also a United Church minister. The Rev. Bob Thompson, minister at Northlea in

the ’80s and ’90s, recalls that “Birtch was able to talk about spirituality in such a way that was non-threatening to the recovering addicts – these were people who had seen a lot of pain, often having been ostracized by the community, including the church, for their drinking.” He adds that many of the volunteers trained by Birtch were Northlea members and became the church’s pastoral care team in the 1990s and beyond. Today, Ahlstrom says, “There’s lots of spirit for the church to continue, but we have to be a church in a different way. We’re working through that.” And there are opportunities ahead, not just challenges. “We’ve had another church open the conversation about whether they may want to merge with us,” she confides. “We’ll work through that too.”■

Leaside Life, January 2017

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Leaside Life, January 2017

The Curious Idler Listen up! AM640’s latest on-air talent is Leasider Matt Gurney A former columnist and editor for the National Post, Matt Gurney is part of AM640’s new lineup of hosts. He is cohosting the morning show with Supriya Dwivedi and Jeff McArthur. Tune in to hear Gurney offer his always-interesting opinions and analysis beyond the headlines. There’s a good dog owner And while we're on the subject of breaking the rules, a concerned citizen who prefers to remain anonymous contacted us recently to complain about Leasiders walking their dogs off-leash on Bayview and many of the side streets – one man doing so while riding on a speeding bike. The rules for dogs in the city are straightforward. They’re allowed offleash on an owner's property and in the 57 leash-free parks across the city. At all other times, dogs must be on a leash. The fine for failing to comply is $360. The city encourages residents to contact 311 to submit a service request if you have a complaint about a dog at large or dogs off-leash outside a designated off-leash area. Woof. Woof.

New rink at Leaside Gardens to be named for Doc Pashby “Rink A” at Leaside Gardens will be renamed the “Dr. Tom Pashby Play Safely Rink,” arena board chair Ray White has announced. An agreement between the arena board, the East York Foundation and the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund was signed on December 21st. A special event will be held early in the new year. “We are grateful to the Pashby Board of Directors and Bill, Bob and Jane Pashby for making this extraordinary gift possible,” said White in an email; “it will be a lasting legacy to Doc Pashby, his community spirit and important work in sports safety.” Dr. Pashby (1915 – 2005) was a lifelong Leaside resident and an advocate for mandatory helmets and face guards for minor hockey players; and for penalties for cross-checking. For his pioneering efforts he was awarded the Order of Canada, inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and was an inaugural inductee into the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

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Leaside Select Invitational Tournament, Feb 2-5, 2017 This is one great weekend of hockey! The entire Leaside community is invited to come out to the Leaside Memorial Gardens Arena to celebrate the opening ceremonies for the 27th Annual Leaside Select Invitational hockey tournament. The tournament kicks off with four games hosted by the Novice division teams (5:45 -7:45 p.m. on Friday). Games continue all weekend with the Championship games taking place on Sunday afternoon. The Opening Puck Drop Ceremony dignitary will be confirmed. The tournament is organized primarily by the Novice team parents and volunteers, and features 116 teams from Ontario, more than 2,000 athletes participating, ages 6-17. There’s a terrific silent auction, as well as food by Grill Time in the William Lea Room all weekend and coffee by Kicking Horse (brewed on site). Organizing committee cochairs are Jennifer Peel & Tavia McLachlan, Amy Joliat.

Annual Leaside Town Hall with City Councillor Jon Burnside Date: Wednesday, January 25th Time: 7:30pm Location: 1073 Millwood Rd (William Lea Room)

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Leaside Life, January 2017

Elsewhere in Leaside sports… The Leaside Junior Wildcats have been making a push for the playoffs going 6-2-1 in their last nine games. The Wildcats sit in a tie for seventh in their 20-team league as of now, but with 16 games remaining they are heating up at the perfect time. Led by reigning coach of the year Kim McCullough, the team has steadily improved week after week against the best minor hockey teams in the province. The team has no shortage of talent on its roster. With four NCAA D1 commits, a further six players committed to CIS programs and sending three representatives to the U-18 nationals in Regina during November, it is no surprise they have surged up the standings. McCullough noted that the team is getting contributions from each of its members and credits that as one of the reasons they have been able to improve week after week against their elite competition. Leaside plays five home games in January, so come out to Leaside Gardens to watch some top notch girls hockey. By AJ McLean Howard

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LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 26

Leaside Life, January 2017

Dr. R. Gordon Bell, pioneer in alcohol addiction treatment By ALLAN WILLIAMS The return of Bellwood Health Services to the site of the former Donwood Institute (see the December issue of Leaside Life) opens a new chapter in an important Leaside story that deserves to be better known. The name Bellwood recognizes Dr. R. Gordon Bell, a trail-blazing pioneer in addiction treatment. When he opened the Donwood on the ravine-edge setting atop Brentcliffe Rd in March 1967, it was the first public hospital for the treatment of alcohol addiction in Canada, and one of the first in North America. Bell was born in 1911 on a farm near St. Mary’s, Ont. and enrolled in medical studies at the University of Toronto in 1930. Although he failed his third year, spent nearly five of the Depression years working to pay his way, and got married, he eventually returned to his studies in 1939. The Canadian military urgently needed more doctors during the war, so medical training was accelerated. Bell graduated just as authorities were becoming alarmed about the number of soldiers suffering from anxiety or depression, or breaking down emotionally and needing to be discharged. He was assigned to create a treatment facility for soldiers with what we today call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). With no official budget for staff or equipment, and no guidelines on what kind of programming to offer, “the situation led to some ingenious adlib planning,” according to A Special Calling: My Life in Addiction Treatment and Care, by R. Gordon Bell with Stan Solomon (Stoddart Publishing Co. Limited, 1989). Post-war, Bell decided to set up a clinic to treat people with emotional disorders. He was advised to start small by taking advantage of an obscure regulation allowing doctors to take up to four patients into their own home. “I had no idea at the time that our only patients would be alcoholics,” he wrote. As he had with his PTSD patients, Bell improvised. “Lacking any other plan, we restricted treatment to cutting off alcoholic intake, and giving [patients] lots of attention and plenty of good food – a basic formula for initiating treatment that we really haven’t had to change much over the years.”

When Dr. R. Gordon Bell founded the Donwood Institute in North Leaside in 1967, it was the first public hospital for addiction treatment in Canada. The stigma attached to alcoholics in those days also applied to the doctors treating them; it was an unpopular field that attracted very few physicians. With little in the medical literature of the day to guide him, Bell felt very much on his own. But he persisted. Treating patients, listening, learning and experimenting through the 1950s, Bell gradually developed greater insight into the social causes of addiction. Building social supports for patients increasingly became a focus of treatment. Bell moved the clinic out of his home but maintained the residential care model in a series of increasingly larger clinic sites around Toronto. In 1964, he heard about property in North Leaside and began plans to move there. But how would Leasiders react to the prospect of a hospital for alcoholics in their midst? During a public meeting a man stood up and yelled, “Do you realise that these people plan to build an asylum at our very doorstep?” “It’s obvious to me,” Bell responded immediately, “that you have serious misconceptions about the kind of patients who would come to Donwood. They are the same kind of people who live on your street, work with you, and are members of your family. You can be very sure of one thing: there will be less drinking at the Donwood address

than at most other addresses in Leaside!” It’s a measure of how Leasiders’ attitudes have evolved in 50 years that, at the public meeting in October 2015 about the return of Bellwood to North Leaside, the only issue raised was the potential impact on traffic. Construction of the Leaside clinic was completed in January 1967, the furnishings and decorating in February, and the first patients arrived in March – a half ago century this winter. From the beginning, building a network of community volunteers around the recovering patients was a priority. Dr. Bell’s daughter, Linda, who worked closely with her father throughout the Donwood years, recalls, “Many families, women from North Leaside in particular, participated. Volunteers were trained to understand addiction, to be a friend to the patient and became part of the support care groups. They would keep in touch to see how former patients were doing; sometimes these relationships continued for many years afterwards.” Dr. Bell left the Donwood in 1983, along with his daughter Linda, to establish Bellwood Health Services Inc., an independent operation. In 1998, the Donwood became part of a new entity, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and in 2007 moved to the CAMH Queen St. campus. Bellwood has operated continuously in Toronto since 1985, most recently as part of the Edgewood Health Network, now returning to the site of the Donwood founded by its namesake – a homecoming 50 years in the making. Dr. R. Gordon Bell died in 2005 at the age of 93, but his legacy lives on. ■

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 27

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LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 28

COURTESY OF GERRI GERSHON

Leaside Life, January 2017

Leaside’s school facilities – coping with change over time

Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca, Mayor John Tory and Director of Education Dr. John Malloy visited Northlea to announce that soon photo radar will be used in an attempt to slow cars down in school zones. By GERRI GERSHON Our Schools in Leaside are old – Bessborough is the oldest, built in 1923. Rolph Rd was constructed in 1939 and Northlea and Leaside High School in 1943. The newest school in our neighbourhood is Bennington Heights, constructed in 1950. The physical spaces that our schools occupy – the buildings and the grounds – have been adapted to meet our societal changes with limited renovations and with much ingenuity along with the ability ‘to make do’. When these buildings were designed, children walked leafy streets to school on their own and went home for lunch prepared by stay-athome moms. There were no childcare programs in our schools – or almost anywhere in Toronto. Teachers opened a window to catch a breeze as summer arrived. At school children played on playground structures that would be deemed quite unsafe by today’s standards. Metal slides were so hot they frequently burnt a child’s skin. Teeter totters slammed hard into the ground and caught legs beneath them. Kids hovered 10 feet above the ground on jungle gyms with hard concrete below. The fields surrounding the play structures were green and weedy but thriving. Inside electrical outlets accommodated the office equipment – electric typewriters, mimeograph machines – perhaps a radio or television brought into class for the Queen’s coronation or a projector to show a reel from the National Film Board. Now let’s fast forward to 2016.

These old buildings are still there – though they may have accumulated additions, new windows, a new door added here, or a stairway modified there. Two parent working families are now the norm for our community. Very few students go home for lunch. All our children – some as young as 3, are at school all day. As a result our schools, built without lunchroom facilities or serveries, are accommodating hundreds of kids at lunch – hungry and full of energy in gymnasiums, classrooms and all-purpose rooms. Caretakers assemble huge tables and clean them and collapse them within an hour. We have vibrant childcare programs in all our elementary schools to accommodate both pre-school children and school-aged kids who arrive early or stay late. As June arrives and when students return to school in September, temperatures in buildings, which are not air-conditioned, can become unbearable. Do you remember the heat last September? Climate experts tell us we will face increasingly warmer weather. Traffic around the school has greatly increased and become a serious safety concern. Parents are hesitant about their children walking the streets and now drive them to and from school. The issue has become so difficult that recently there have been concerted efforts to encourage kids to walk to school. Rolph Road, Northlea and now Leaside have undergone intensive safety travel audits through an organization called Green Communities Canada. Teams of teachers, students and parents walk the neighbourhood and docu-

ment suggestions for safer travel. In late November, Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca, Mayor John Tory and Director of Education Dr. John Malloy visited Northlea to announce that soon photo radar will be used in an attempt to slow cars down in school zones. The school fields now seem resistant to grass. They often become mud baths. Both Northlea and Bessborough were able to raise the large amount of money needed to put in artificial turf so that that the fields are usable earlier and later in the season. Plastic climbing structures sit on foam or soft mulch. Our schools are now wired for computers and smartboards. We have Wi-Fi so that our classrooms are connected to the world. Tougher security measures have also transformed schools (buzzers and locked doors) as has environmental awareness (insulation and solar panels). These schools, built over 50 years ago, have served us well. Countless young people have walked their halls, learned, thrown balls in their fields and thrived. However, it is necessary for our facilities to change with the times, despite our many financial and space constraints. The TDSB will continue to work with communities to meet the needs of today’s Centennials (now aged 0-18) and their children so they are assured of having the schools they deserve for their particular time in history. ■ Gerri Gershon is the Trustee, Don Valley West, for the Toronto District School Board

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MEET YOUR RETAIL NEIGHBOUR

Lorna Krawchuk

S. FLEMMING

Publisher Leaside Life

Fix It Again Sam…or should that be Bill? Fix It Again Sam is a catchy name for this repair store fixture at 911 Millwood Rd. in the end unit of the plaza between Randolph and Sutherland. The two Bills who started the store thought it might be a name people would remember. And we do. The two Bills had worked at a car radio shop in Richmond Hill but decided to see if a general fix-it business would work. Their original plan was to deliver flyers to homes, pick up the broken items, and return them to the owners – doing the necessary work in their (Bill’s) homes. That worked so well that in 1980, the two Bills took a chance on setting up a bricks and mortar business. Initially, all they had in the empty store was their two toolboxes. A lot of the early business was in after-market car radio installation. No more! At this time of year, the shop is filled with snow blowers, as well as humidifiers and heaters. In the summer lawnmowers and dehumidifiers take up the space. And there are always lamps, vacuums and anything else electrical that people bring in. There was the young man who rushed into the store carrying a lamp, with the urgent request that the shop fix it immediately. His parents were coming home that night, and the working lamp had to be in place. Bill

got it done. More recently, there was the request to fix a music box with strong sentimental value. There hadn’t been much call for music box repairs before, but knowing the story behind it, Bill got to work and had it in melodious working order before too long. Small electric appliances of a more recent vintage are often not worth fixing, he notes, because many of the parts are plastic, and a replacement for the whole item is often cheaper than the repair. But there are still the appliances that are worth repairing. And occasionally there is the odd lamp that’s just in need of a new bulb. Since the mid-’90s there has been only one Bill, Bill Ashley, who has been plying his trade for decades, so long in fact, that he’s now seeing his

third generation of customers. “People come in with small children in tow, and I remember when they were the children being brought by their parents,” he says. “And many of the items being brought in to be fixed are repeats, too – a lawnmower or snow blower reappearing every three or four years for an overhaul.” Fit It Again Sam is certainly a thriving business. Bill works 50-plus hour weeks, so he needs help, and has worked with a steady stream of assistants over the years. Sarah, whom he recruited from a Kijiji ad despite her having a background in marketing, has been with Bill three years now. Felicia has been learning the repair trade for six months. Bill is 67 now, but still loves to work and shows no signs of wanting to give up the tools of the trade. “I’ll do this as long as I am healthy,” he says. And there now really is a Sam – a female tabby who lives in the store. A friend brought her in to Bill as a kitten nine years ago. ■

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Leaside Life, January 2017

Fix It Again Sam-No appliance too big or too small

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 30

Event

LEASIDE REAL ESTATE

To stage or not to stage: is that the question? By JILL RAWSON Full disclosure! I am a home stager and interior designer. I’ve worked with top agents across the GTA but with a special focus on Leaside, where I live and have loved for almost 20 years, because of its charm and character, glorious brick homes, beautiful architecture and green spaces, and so much more. You might wonder, with housing at such a premium in Leaside, why does anyone need to stage? As local agent Patrick Rocca says, “Staging definitely increases the value of a home. A staged home looks better, which means it sells faster and that means more money for my sellers.” In fact, the real estate industry estimates staging a home can add between six and 15 per cent to the asking price. Some estimates go as high as 20 per cent. Let me tell you about a few properties I staged in Leaside. One was a detached home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms that was listed at $1,349,000 and sold for over $1,750,000. This home had not been renovated in more than two decades but was lovingly cared for and we emphasized this with the staging design. Staging clearly helped surpass the client’s financial goals. The next home was a three bedroom, three bathroom detached home with a renovated kitchen that had been completed within the last five years. It was a lovely home where I fully replaced all of the furnishings throughout the home. The list price was $1,080,000 and it sold over asking for $1,451,000. The kitchen was nice, not outstanding – a simple kitchen the clients had updated on a tight budget. I was able to connect with buyers and showcase the home’s unique beauty. The last property was a four bedroom, three bathroom townhouse that had not been renovated in many years. I had the townhouse painted a beautiful light colour that opened the entire home and helped to make the high ceilings and natural light a focal point. After staging and by updating the main living space furniture and updating the lighting throughout the home, this townhouse sold for $100,000 over asking. I’m often asked, does that mean ALL my belongings and furniture must go? It’s a hot market and the buyer is just going to renovate, so can’t I leave it as is? Do I have to fix every-

COURTESY OF JILL RAWSON

Leaside Life, January 2017

thing/replace a lot of things in my home? A buyer never expects a home, especially an older home, not to have a few imperfections. That is the allure of Leaside and older homes. It’s always important to fix that leaking tap, but you don’t have to update the bathroom tile unless it’s in seriously bad condition. If a space is clean and decluttered, you will be surprised that buyers will overlook that cracked tile because they love the fresh paint colour in the room or they are still discussing the main living space and the amount of natural light in the home. Not all staging techniques are the same. I have three different types of staging. Each style is different, and I always discuss with the agent and client exactly what I am going to do and recommend. #1. Completely reinventing the main living spaces. This involves removing current furniture, art work, accessories and bringing in new, more modern and lighter pieces that rejuvenate the space. I will often add a fresh coat of paint to update the feel of the home. This type of staging works very well when I am emphasizing an updated home. Buyers walk in and fall in love with a home where they can see themselves living in each and every

room. It is what agents call move-in ready. #2. Working with the client’s pieces. This involves combining a client’s pieces with new pieces such as coffee tables, dining chairs, accessories and pictures. A nice mix of current pieces and new pieces provides unique rooms. This is a quick cost-effective solution to give buyers a feel for the potential of the spaces. #3. Decluttering. This is commonly used with an original owner home, estate sale or where the agent knows that the property lends itself to a teardown or a complete renovation. In this staging I work with the owner or family, we declutter the house and ensure it’s clean, open and inviting to showcase the original charm of the home. Staging helps to showcase a listing in the best possible light and get as many potential buyers into the home as possible. We are visual creators, and when we see a space that is pleasing to the eye then we become emotionally invested. Good staging for me is as unique as the family that has called it home. ■ Contact: jill.rawson@rogers.com tel: 416 427 1298

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Leaside Garden Society January Meeting: Marion Jarvie speaks about Hellebores, Thursday January 12th at 7:30 pm at the Leaside Library, St. Cuthbertâ€™s Anglican Church 1399 Bayview Ave. Tel. 416-485-0329 Environmental Film Festival Movie - Do The Math, Sunday, January 29, 2017. Noon - 2:00 p.m. Light lunch, Film, Discussion. No Charge. Canadian Federation of University Women Leaside-East York Monthly meeting Northlea United Church, 125 Brentcliffe Ave, Thurs. Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. Speaker Bruce Bell, 'Ten Influential People Who Changed Toronto's History". Visitors and new members welcome. cfuwleasideeastyork.ca or cfuw@gmail.com Leaside Presbyterian Church 670 Eglinton Ave. E. New Yearâ€™s Kidâ€™s Club, Jan 3-5, 2017 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Join us for fun, faith and fellowship! Lots of fun activities! Snacks and lunch included! Open to children in JKGrade 6. Cost: $30/1 day or $75/3 days per child OR $50/1 day or $125/3 days per family. Register by Sunday, Jan.1 at 6 p.m. 416-422-0510 Ext 25 LEASIDE LIBRARY EVENTS 165 McRae Drive 416-396-3835 - Adult Colouring Party, Tuesdays: 7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m., Jan. 03, 10, 17, 24, 31 - Artist on Site: Norman Irwin Bring your own canvas and acrylic painting supplies and work alongside him, Mondays: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Jan. 09, 16, 23, 30 - Art Exhibit in the Community Room by phArtists. ONGOING EVENT: - Keeping Your Home Safe & Falls Prevention Marlene White of Here to Care for Seniors. Friday, Jan. 13, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Leaside Needleworx Group, Fridays: Jan. 06, 13, 20, 27, 10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Leaside Writerâ€™s Group, Saturdays: Jan. 07, 21 10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Organ Kijiji: The Immunology and Challenges of Organ Transplantation. A presentation by SciChat of the University of Toronto., Wed: Jan. 18, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Play Reading Group, Saturday: Jan. 28, 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Call to Register. Limited Space. - Puzzles/ Games Night! Mons: Jan. 09, 16, 23, 30, 7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. - The Science of Shakespeare, Author Dan Falk will explore Shakespeare's interest in the scientific discoveries of his time. Wed. Jan 11, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Walking for Fitness, Presentation by C.K. Lung. Wednesday: Jan. 25, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CHILDRENâ€™S PROGRAMMING: - TD Shakespeare for Kids Library Club * Limited Space. Ages 7-12 ONLY *, Sat: Jan 28, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Register in person starting Jan. 07. - LEGO Club; Thurs: Jan. 12, 19, 26, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Ready for Reading Baby Time; (Ages: 0-18 months) Thursdays: Jan. 05, 12, 19, 26, 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (Ages: 19 months-5 years) Wednesdays: Jan. 04, 11, 18, 25; 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. OUTSIDE GROUPS: Leaside: Discover Your Heritage, Barry Penhale and some special guests. Marjorie McLeod at 416-425-1392. Tuesday: Jan 17, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Ba Bayview yview & Fleming F le m in g 1601 Bayview Bayview Ave Ave Toronto Toronto ON ON M4G M4G 3B5 3B 5 416-489-1873 416 489 1873

St. Augustine's Anglican Church 1847 Bayview Ave. The Groove Room Coffee House, Fri. Jan 13th, 7:00-8:30 pm. Cost is $5 with proceeds to the Flemingdon Park Food Bank. We are looking for performers. Augustine@bellnet.ca

Leaside Life, January 2017

Events

BRIAN MOK

COME IN FOR YOUR FREE FLU SHOT.

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 32

THE BUSINESS OF LEASIDE

Bayview-obsessed

Leaside Life, January 2017

Here at the “Business of Leaside,” we’re obsessed with the shops on Bayview. We’re continually asking ourselves the vexing questions that must be addressed for the street to be thriving as a retail destination in a city that's full of them. • How can they be more successful? • How can they compete against the big stores over on Laird? • How can they bring back the good old days when retailers were booming? The list goes on. I lobbied for a stronger, more united retail community in this very column on several occasions before the adoption of the Bayview Leaside Business Improvement Area in 2015. Seeing Santa arrive on a horse-drawn carriage December 11 tells me the BIA understands there's more to local retail than just opening the doors. Still early days, I'm guardedly optimistic. In the December issue of Leaside Life, Bosley Commercial Real Estate expert John Robb put the blame for Bayview's demise squarely at the feet of the City of Toronto planning department, suggesting the department's done very little to live up to its name. Essentially, Robb argued that because the planning department won't allow for retail stores anywhere other than on the main streets in the area such as Laird Dr., Eglinton Ave., and Bayview Ave., only the biggest and fanciest retailers can afford the rents charged by big-box landlords. Earlier this year I wrote about the plight of personal trainer Kevin Charles, who runs My Personal Trainer from a first-floor warehouse studio at 28 Industrial St. Business thriving, Charles looked at renting the space at Parkhurst Blvd. and Laird currently occupied by Kaboom. Unfortunately, they were asking $12,000 per month or $72 per square foot. He ended his search in frustration. Robb’s not wrong about the City's failure to update zoning in employment areas to reflect a modern world where manufacturing and industrialtype jobs are simply not being created in the middle of a sprawling Toronto while service jobs in retail, hospitality, and leisure could be if only zoning rules entered the 21st century. It’s one thing to suggest the City’s not meeting the needs of businesses in Toronto and quite another to blame the planning department for poor retailing practices.

Will Ashworth The business of Leaside

But forget about that for a moment and consider a couple of problems on Bayview that contribute to the street's demise: Vacant storefronts Although I haven’t done a count recently, there are easily a dozen storefronts sitting empty on Bayview between Davisville Rd. and Parkhurst Blvd. Once Cumbrae’s opens on the east side of the street, only that particular stretch from Millwood Rd. north to Fleming Cres. will be fully occupied. The location that once housed a Brick Furniture store on the east side of Bayview Ave., north of Fleming Cres., has been empty for three years. Same deal for the below-grade retail spaces at the northwest corner of Bayview Ave. and Belsize Dr. Why does a commercial real estate owner let this happen? You would think some rent is better than no rent. Yet these owners feel perfectly content to let their units stay vacant. The City is guilty of contributing to this problem because in 2001, in an effort to help commercial property owners muddle through tough economic times, it implemented the Property Tax Rebate Program for Vacant Commercial and Industrial Buildings. Under the program building owners can apply for a 30% rebate on property taxes paid on vacant space that’s remained empty for at least a year despite best efforts to rent out the premises. Mayor Tory has wisely called for an end to this silly tax break that’s denied the City approximately $28 million in property taxes annually since 2001. A quick chat with Councillor Burnside indicates it’s likely to happen in 2017. “The negatives of this program are about more than just the lost cash. It also incentivizes bad behaviour,” wrote Metro News columnist Matt Elliott in the December 5 edition. “If you’re lucky enough to own a building in a growing neighbourhood, the tax break makes it more appealing to avoid the hassle of tenants and sit on your property for a few years, letting the value appreciate.” Bayview’s got enough difficulties without property owners making it

worse. Empty stores equals a poor shopping experience. It’s that simple. Excessive rents Rumour has it the owners of 1588 Bayview Ave., where the Elegant Garage was located until closing at the end of September after almost 40 years in business, have decreased the asking price for renting the space in a nod to actually filling It. If that’s true, it’s a move in the right direction. Rents on Bayview are obscene. Vero Trattoria closed in September owing $51,000, or $5,000 per month, in unpaid rent. In my April 2014 “Business of Leaside” column, I recommended that owners get realistic about rent, citing two below-grade units in the building mentioned above that were charging $57 per square foot for retail space that shoppers have historically ignored, including when it was a 7-Eleven. Below-grade retail spaces generally only work for small restaurants or bars. The owner of the building needs to cut that in half until someone can prove the space isn’t haunted. Once upon a time when Laird didn’t exist as a shopping node and ecommerce had yet to be invented, $5,000 in monthly rent might have been acceptable. Yes, the city has grown and with it, rents must too, but you also have to be able to prove that foot traffic on Bayview is sufficient to generate the $1,560 in daily revenue I estimate is necessary to be able to pay those rents and make a reasonable profit after deducting all business expenses. If you’re a Bayview property owner I challenge you to show me numbers that justify the rents asked on the street. Bottom line There are a lot of reasons Bayview’s not the retail strip it once was – too many to cover in a year’s worth of columns, let alone one or two. Yes, the City has a part to play in the street’s demise, but ultimately it all comes down to a willingness by merchants and restaurateurs to be better than their peers in other parts of the city and for property owners to be actual partners with their tenants, not just rent collectors. Until that happens I just don’t see how Bayview can be a first-class shopping and dining destination. ■

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 33

EAST MEETS WEST

By CECELIA PYE The Bayview Leaside Business Improvement Area (BIA) is embarking on an ambitious streetscape masterplan to unify the east and west businesses of Bayview Avenue. Established in 2015, the Bayview Leaside BIA is a collection of businesses on Bayview Ave. from Davisville Ave. to Soudan Avenue, including some of Toronto’s best restaurants, clothing stores, salons, and specialty shops in Leaside. This newly formed BIA has retained The Planning Partnership and Steer Davies Gleave to develop a streetscape vision for Bayview Ave. The goal of the streetscape masterplan is to provide long-term design solutions to improve walkability, strengthen community ties, increase environmental solutions, and unify the sidewalk space on the east and west side of Bayview Avenue. The goal is to develop the masterplan by spring 2017. A streetscape masterplan is a document that provides guidance for re-

designing the street right-of-way. Bayview Leaside BIA’s masterplan will pay attention to parking strategies, traffic flow, and pedestrian realm improvements. The Planning Partnership and Steer Davies Gleave boast extensive experience developing and implementing streetscape masterplans in the Greater Toronto Area and elsewhere in Canada. They have worked with Bloor-Yorkville BIA, Liberty Village BIA, Entertainment District BIA, and the Distillery District. Once farmland, Bayview Ave. has seen its share of change and growth. The street is split between two wards and two councillors, and a divided design. The streetscape on the east side of Bayview Avenue differs from the west side in its raised cement planter boxes, as well as the placement of street furniture. The result is a lack of cohesion and unification on the Bayview strip. The masterplan will improve this major street’s functionality by making it more pedestrian friendly and enhancing its beauty while also respecting its deep history.

So far, The Planning Partnership and Steer Davies Gleave have finished an inventory and analysis of existing conditions along the street. To help develop a draft vision, they have also completed several one-on-one stakeholder interviews with members of the Bayview Leaside Business Improvement Area, including a Bayview Pixie, members of the Leaside Garden Society, a representative of the Leaside Property Owners Association, and a local realtor. This spring, the BIA will host an open house for the public to provide feedback on the masterplan draft. Check for the date of the open house on the BIA’s website (bayviewleasidebia.com) as well as in Leaside Life. The BIA encourages everyone to provide insights, to create a beautiful and bustling streetscape that reflects the wonderful people who live, work, shop, and play in Bayview Leaside. To stay in touch with Bayview happenings, visit: bayviewleasidebia.com ■

LPOA settles for an improved development at Sunnybrook Plaza By GEOFF KETTEL The LPOA was successful in reaching a mediated settlement with RioCan over their development application for 660 Eglinton Ave. East (Sunnybrook Plaza), forestalling an adversarial hearing scheduled to start on December 5th. Representatives of RioCan, and the LPOA, on behalf of the Leaside community signed minutes of settlement at the OMB on November 28. Board-assisted mediation involving RioCan, City staff, and the LPOA was extremely helpful in winning important concessions. Compared to RioCan’s original application, the settlement calls for significant improvements, among them: Height, massing, density, design The final height reduces the proposed 19 and 13 storeys to 16 and 11 storeys, with a less massive appearance. Setbacks were introduced at the fifth storey instead of the eighth. The visual impact is considerably improved.

Hydrogeology Underground water and flooding have long been a concern at the Bayview/Eglinton location. RioCan agreed to pay for the professional fees of a hydrogeologist chosen by the LPOA to assess RioCan’s hydrogeology study and investigate impacts of the construction on both the site and adjoining properties. RioCan confirmed to our hydrogeologist’s satisfaction there will be no offsite deleterious impacts to neighbouring properties. Natural heritage and tree protection The viability of several trees on homeowners’ properties was threatened. The LPOA hired an arborist (at RioCan’s expense) to identify concerns with RioCan’s natural heritage and arborist reports. The settlement allows for our arborist (again, fees to be covered by RioCan) to be present during construction of the retaining wall to monitor and evaluate tree protection issues, subject to neighbours’ agreement to access their properties for arborist survey pur-

poses. The settlement provides for fence replacement, covered by RioCan. Outdoor amenities, landscaping and parking Details to be handled in the site plan application process; RioCan will supply the LPOA and City with their site plan application at the same time, and a working committee will be established. Section 37 Funds The settlement provides $2.7M for community purposes. Councillor Burnside has expressed an interest in applying these funds toward the cost of a community centre to serve North Leaside. The LPOA believes this settlement offers significant improvements over the original proposal. As Linda Martin, Bessborough resident, said at a December 10 meeting arranged by the LPOA, “I am satisfied that this was the best deal we could get under the circumstances.” ■

| Leaside Life, January 2017

Bayview Leaside BIA aims to unite Bayview with ambitious streetscape masterplan

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 34

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LPOA

Leaside Life, January 2017

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It used to be that Leasiders living on quiet streets felt relatively unscathed by traffic speed or volume, and were unsympathetic to those of us who lived on the neighbourhood’s busier streets. If we complained – “you knew when you moved there that it was a busy street,” they’d say. Fast forward to now. Residents of Leaside complain about speeding drivers and increased traffic volumes on every street. Commuters and retail traffic cut through Leaside seeking ever more creative ways of avoiding the LRT construction along Eglinton, or the crowded Laird retail strip, by turning even the most inner residential streets into bypasses and through routes. The situation has reached the point where all of us recognize the need to deal with this problem. We must acknowledge that unless we can reach a consensus on neighbourhood traffic control for the entire community – full area-wide protection – the quality of life, and our safety, will be eroded by ever greater car (and, increasingly, truck) traffic on all of our streets. Comments made at the LPOA’s November 22nd AGM reinforce this need for action. Councillor Burnside’s two traffic committees have been studying measures to provide relief during the lengthy LRT construction period for both North and South Leaside. The LPOA’s traffic committee, in contrast, is concentrating on neighbourhood traffic control measures which will be long term, continuing past the LRT construction. It is time to develop a plan, choose options, and identify locations for effective use of high tech measures such as speed cameras. Should all of Leaside be designated a Community Safety Zone, with low-

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 35

In my previous two columns I mentioned the process currently underway, initiated by the province, to reform the Ontario Municipal Board. Town halls have been held across Ontario, seeking suggestions from the public. Iâ€™ve participated in two of these town halls. One of them had almost 300 attendees. Clearly, thereâ€™s an awful lot to reform! You might say that we all spoke with one voice: the OMB is too costly,

I could go onâ€Śâ€Ś Itâ€™s good to know that the City of Toronto has recently moved in the direction of creating Local Appeal

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Boards to replace some of the functions of the OMB, but we await more information on how these two bodies would co-exist in real life. The province has promised new OMB 35 legislation sometime in the spring of 2017. Weâ€™ll see what emerges from these consultations, and hope for at least some improvements. __

too rigid in its approach, too likely to ignore policies of democratically elected city councils; its decisions are all too often in favour of developers. The OMBâ€™s rules prevent local residents who are planners, lawyers, architects, etc., from giving expert or opinion evidence in hearings (as local residents theyâ€™re not considered neutral), while paid consultants for the developer are considered unbiased. Minutes are not taken at hearings, with the adjudicatorâ€™s decisions based purely on his/her notes.

Our next monthly LPOA board meeting is on Wednesday, January 4th at the Trace Manes building at 7:30 p.m. These meetings are always open to the public, and take place on the first Wednesday of each month. We invite you to attend, whether for help or advice on local matters, or just to listen.â–

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Leaside Life, January 2017

ered speed limits, especially on entry points and not just around schools? The faster the car is travelling, the more likely that serious injury and damage will be the result. There is pending legislation which we can apply to make Leasideâ€™s streets safer. North Leasideâ€™s street plan differs from that of South Leaside, so different approaches may be called for. Put these dates into your 2017 calendars: Wednesday, March 1, and Wednesday, March 8. On March 1st, the LPOA Traffic Committee will hold a meeting for NORTH LEASIDE residents. We will be identifying intersections where there are feasible options, discuss what the most effective measures and strategies might be, and ask for your comments and suggestions. On March 8th, we will hold a meeting for SOUTH Leaside residents. We will be asking you similar questions, and identifying measures tailored to the issues which you experience in the middle and southern part of Leaside. Both meetings will be held in the William Lea Room at the Leaside Gardens arena, starting at 7:30 p.m. Details will be posted on the LPOA website and publicized locally. And Iâ€™ll remind you in upcoming columns! At some point after that, we intend to hold a Leaside-wide meeting to present the results of both meetings. With your buy-in on approaches to try out on our streets, we will be in a stronger position to get City approval. With your involvement, we can build momentum. Hereâ€™s one idea to consider before those meetings: since so much of our flow-through traffic is a result of major developments being built or proposed on our periphery, should we be asking Councillor Burnside to support (and work to get the City to implement) a dedicated percentage of the Section 37 funds collected from these developments to fund local traffic measures and streetscaping? __

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 36

Leaside Life, January 2017

Transit – driving change in Leaside – but at what cost? By GEOFF KETTEL “Eglinton Connects is driving the changes proposed,” Brian Gallaugher, the City Planning expert witness, testified at the OMB on December 6th. He made it clear that the City’s intent under the Eglinton Connects Plan was for intensification all along Eglinton, not just at the major intersections like Bayview and Laird that were designated as “focus areas”. So while Leaside residents’ attention was focused on development applications at Bayview’s Sunnybrook Plaza (RioCan) and 939 Brentcliffe (Diamondcorp), the City passed a site-specific Official Plan Amendment (OPA) to allow fourstorey townhouses on the block west of Hanna (south side) and a zoning bylaw amendment (ZBA) to allow “as of right” 7-8 storey mid-rise buildings between Sutherland and Laird (both sides). The LPOA filed appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board on each measure in 2014. At the recent OMB hearing, the key issue raised by the LPOA was whether the small amount of additional density (relative to the massive development applications already in

Laird in Focus Laird in Focus – what’s that all about? It’s a project to develop a planning framework to guide future development for the Laird Focus Area (that’s the block encompassed by Laird, Eglinton, and Vanderhoof over to Aerodrome Crescent), but the study area also now includes the Mixed Use Areas along the west side of Laird Drive. According to City Planning, the intent of the study is “to refine and build upon the existing and recent planning initiatives undertaken in the area and develop a vision and planning framework for a complete community, which supports both the Mixed Use Areas and Employment Areas designations within the study area.” In addition, it includes a transportation planning study for the Leaside business park. “The planning framework, in conjunction with a public realm and open space framework, and built form plan,

How did we get here? The Eglinton Connects Planning Study has been ongoing since 2012, and the LPOA supported the principle of transit-related intensification along Eglinton. However, in 2014 when the Implementation Reports proposed townhouses west of Hanna, and mid-rise Sutherland to Laird, the LPOA wrote and deputed at Committee with concerns, and called for more community consultation. At that time Councillor John Parker moved a motion requiring the City to conduct public consultation specifically in Ward 26 (as the meetings had always been held elsewhere). This was passed by City

Council, but the local consultations never occurred, and subsequent attempts by the LPOA to negotiate changes to the OPA and ZBA with the City were met with unsatisfactory responses. After six (count em!) pre-hearing conferences over the past two years, the two Leaside appeals ultimately became the first Eglinton Connects appeals to go to a full OMB hearing (the RioCan’s Sunnybrook Plaza appeal was recently settled by the LPOA and the City without going to a full hearing). An important part of a hearing is the opportunity for residents to speak. Here, there were six residents who spoke on the townhouses amendment (five opposed, one in favour) and two who spoke on the mid-rise amendment (both opposed). Hanna Road residents spoke to a couple of major issues: the impact on the streetscape and concerns about the laneway required for access to the development, and its proximity to Eglinton, especially given the wide angular configuration of Hanna at Eglinton, which allows eastbound traffic to enter Hanna while hardly slowing down. The recent tragic death of a 62year-old woman at the Hanna and

will be integrated with a multi-modal transportation system, a servicing strategy, and policies and/or strategic initiatives to serve the area,” City Planning continues in describing the mandate. Maybe you’re thinking, but with all the planning applications in the area, hasn’t the horse already left the stable? Well, there’s no doubt there are lots of those pesky planning applications, with ones under review at 939 Eglinton (Brentcliffe), the Canadian Tire site at Laird, and applications approved on Laird at 146-150 (seniors’ retirement home and condo), and at Malcolm Rd. (Upper House condo). As well, the transportation planning study is limited to the business park and does not cover the Leaside residential area or Thorncliffe Park, especially important now with the Costco warehouse store going in. At the “Community Engagement” launch on Nov. 30th at Leaside United Church, there was some quite heated discussion about the merits of Laird in Focus – too little too late for some folks.

For observers of the Leaside Business Park, like me, the real issue is whether the Park has the will to revitalize itself. Can it transition to the new economy of a tech-based, green industry like other (now former) industrial areas in the city? West Toronto comes to mind. Leaside Business Park at this point is the remaining industrial area (still largely industrial) that is closest to downtown. Can it take advantage of its character buildings in the Business Park (like those of former Research Enterprises Ltd. on Research Rd./Vanderhoof), which were created for, and manufactured, radar machinery and optical equipment during World War 11, and repurpose them as co-working spaces for young entrepreneurs? Can Leaside Business Park become hip again? After all, wouldn’t the residents of those new condos welcome the opportunity to be able to walk to work and not just take the LRT to Yonge and wait for five trains to head downtown? Who will champion a new vision for the Business Park? It’s worth asking, and Laird in Focus may give us an opportunity to do so. ■

the planning pipeline at Sunnybrook Plaza, Laird, and Brentcliffe) represented by these changes was really “worth it” compared to the negative impacts likely to be wrought on the neighbourhoods affected by the measures. The other issue, whether the City properly consulted those affected, was raised several times by the residents who testified at the hearing, but was ruled as being outside the OMB’s jurisdiction....the LPOA would need to pursue this issue using “other avenues”.

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 37

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Eglinton intersection served to demonstrate that the safety concerns at that intersection are all too real. Hanna Rd. resident Thomas Gehring, who also happens to be cochair of Leaside High School Parents Council, was able to enter as an exhibit an email from Jeannette Plonka, principal of Leaside High School, showing the school’s absence of notice, not to mention input, into the townhouse amendment. John Lorimer, who lives in one of seven subject properties and who with his wife supported the OP amendment, spoke about the difficulty of getting out of his driveway onto Eglinton (and later a Hanna Rd. resident in his testimony confirmed that indeed, Lorimer frequently parked his car on Hanna Rd!). Similarly, two Donlea residents spoke about the shadowing impact of a 7- or 8-storey development on their properties, and the role of the existing lane in servicing the Donlea-facing houses (not just the Eglinton commercial properties). Donlea resident Phil Oliva explained that residents were not opposed to mid-rise development, but said it needed to be at a “kinder level”. He recalled an earlier proposal in 1994 for mid-rise development on the same block, when over 30 people attended East York Council to express their views. The difference was that the affected owners were individually notified by the Borough of East York (unlike this case where “at large” public meetings were held). The LPOA testimony focused on neighbourhood concerns. In the case of the townhouses, the issue is the change in the character of the area, which is designated “Neighbourhoods” and is integrally connected with similar housing north and south of Eglinton. It would act as a precedent for change on other sites and lead to “townhouse creep” along Eglinton. The unique character of this part of Eglinton, though recognized by Eglinton Connects studies, has, in effect, been dismissed by the planners in the drive for intensification at all costs. In the case of the Sutherland to Laird mid-rise, the concern is not about mid-rise per se, but more about the height and massing on the north side of Eglinton. On the south side, Suomi Koti, the Finnish Canadian Seniors Centre, has already introduced mid-rise development to that stretch of Eglinton. In the end the issue is that planning must take account of context and scale.....development where required, and appropriate, not just where possible. What happens next? The OMB chair reserved his decision, so we await his ruling with interest. ■

LeasideLife issue 56 Final_LeasideLifev1 16-12-23 3:54 PM Page 38

A special place – Leaside, take a bow! Leaside Life, January 2017

As your Councillor, I normally like to use this opportunity to update you on important issues along with my views and actions. However, this month, I wanted to share a different perspective. I am keenly aware – especially at this time of year – that what makes Leaside such a special place is the high level of volunteerism and the overwhelming generosity. While these don't necessarily go unnoticed, I often think they are underappreciated because of lack of awareness. The Leaside Guys Night Out & Toy Drive is a case in point. It was started by Daryn Everett 13 years ago as a modest affair to help others and also as a way for “Leaside Dads” to get to know each other and further build a sense of community. What began as a Christmas gettogether with 20 guys in 2004 has grown to well over 100. Each year,

Jon Burnside Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West

Daryn and his helpers, Edward Wong, Mike Zivot and Jeff Hohner, begin planning in mid-October for the one-night event in early December at the Leaside Pub. Guys being guys, most invitees fail to respond to the invitation and the organizers are left worrying about attendance. Fortunately, it's never a problem and each year is more successful than the last. This year I invited Mayor Tory to join me, and he was the hit of the night. His schedule normally allows for 30 minutes, but he ended up staying for almost two hours. Formally,

he spoke about the importance of neighbours helping neighbours; informally, road tolls seemed to be the hot topic of discussion. The real highlight though was the $15,000 raised – the most ever! The funds will be used to buy toys for children in three Flemingdon Park schools as well Thorncliffe kids (through the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office). Many thanks to the numerous donors, including Andy Elder of Grill Time. Andy's “Backyard BBQ for Ten” received the highest bid – a whopping $1,800! It’s people like Daryn, Edward, Mike, Jeff and all the generous attendees who make Leaside so special. See picture on page 20. Happy New Year councillor_burnside@toronto.ca

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