Leaside Life Issue 165 February 2026

See our local Valentine’s Day guide. Pages 20-21.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DOUG LECLERC & KATHI ADACHI IN TOKYO. PG. 4

Looking through the lens of Leasiders

Leaside Life turns 15!

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An invitation to attend the New Year’s Levee, co-hosted by Don Valley West MP Rob Oliphant and MPP Stephanie Bowman, and receive an award for Leaside Life’s 15 years of contributions to the community came as a jolt to me. I realized at the same time that I am now marking a decade as editor of Leaside Life. As the old saying goes, how time flies when you’re having fun. And make no mistake: we are having fun while working hard.

On stage sharing the honours with me were three of the other “ladies of Leaside Life” – designer Robin Dickie, webmaster Erin Sorhaug, and advertising coordinator extraordinaire Karli Vezina, part of the wonderful team I am privileged to work with for 12 issues a year.

As part of the ceremony, I was asked two questions for a video interview with MP Oliphant: 1. What accomplishments are you

most proud of?

2. What is your vision for your organization for the future?

Leaside Life’s raison d’être has always been “local, local, local,” to hold up a mirror and try to be a voice for our growing, evolving community. It’s a big accomplishment, and one we take very seriously and work hard to support.

As for our vision for the future? Leaside Life is not sitting still. We want to expand our reach by appealing to more young people, to tell their stories and invite them to join us as we hold up a mirror to our ever-changing community. n

See page 28 for the Leaside Life pics from the New Year’s Levee!

Leaside hockey players named to U18 All Stars

Looking through the lens of Leasiders Kathi Adachi and Doug LeClerc

A chance encounter at a funeral introduced me to two Leasiders with a deep photographic talent. One of them, Kathi Adachi, turned to me and said she remembered me from the time I had taught her Grade 9 math at Winston Churchill Collegiate in Scarborough, and that my husband, Ted, had taught her biology in Grade 11 at Wexford Collegiate! When we chatted further at the reception, I learned where she and her husband, Doug LeClerc, live, and how their photography has evolved.

Kathi has resided on Eglinton in Leaside for the last 50 years, and she and Doug have been partners for the past 30. And while they have

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occasional shows of their work, it’s entirely possible only their close friends and immediate neighbours recognize the photographic talent in their midst. With this article in Leaside Life, that may change. Wandering around the One of a Kind Show in 2011, Kathi and Doug happened upon a flyer for a one-week street photography course in Cuba led by Juris Kornets. Doug had always been a keen nature photographer. Kathi, a graphic designer, also had a good eye, but was less interested in photography because her photos “weren’t what I wanted to see.” So, “interested, but a bit hesitant,” they signed up. Kathi figured, “I’ll go shopping and hang out on the beach,” since she had been to 1970s-era Soviet Cuba and had always wanted to return. It was fascinating to them, in their group of about 10, being assigned to walk down a street, take photos where they chose, and meet in about an hour at the end of the street to compare notes on their very different impressions. Every evening the group would gather to critique their work. Juris’s

LENS Page 34

Tiny Tiny Homes brings dignity to the homeless

by SUZANNE PARK

Homelessness is a growing issue, invisible to many of us, and its solutions seem elusive.

Like so many Leasiders who step up when there is a community need, dedicated volunteer Mary Chong decided to get involved.

“I heeded the call when I saw Ryan Donais (founder of Tiny Tiny Homes), a carpenter, on local news. He’d built tiny shelters in St. James Park to help the homeless. I donated and wrote to him saying I’d love to volunteer. I can build. I use power saws. Shortly thereafter, the City, citing safety concerns, made Donais remove the tiny homes from the park.”

Mary soon got a call from Kate Blais, Tiny Tiny Homes’ executive director. Mary’s been volunteering with the organization ever since.

“I was so happy that somebody was coming up with an innovative solution that really allowed people the dignity of having a roof over their head. I knew there was so

Kate and Mary

much more to be done,” Mary said. Kate has been working with the unhoused in Toronto for eight years and, like all volunteers working directly with clients, she is certified with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Certification involves entering a minimum 30-hour hospice volunteer training program and passing police background checks before being matched with clients.

According to Kate Blais, “Ryan’s tiny houses were moved to the backyard of a private property in Leslieville owned by Lazarus House, which provides short-term housing and support towards independence. The tiny homes are operated by Seeds of Hope Foundation.”

Asked how she met Ryan, Kate answered, “We met serving a common client and had many conversations. The commonalities and the shared network that you have working with this community never fails to astound me. There’s always so many people, either community partners or end users of resources that connect you.”

She added, “He was wishing he was more organized. I mentioned I’d spent two decades as an executive assistant in London, UK, so I said, why don’t you let me help you realize this incredible vision you have? And I’m still trying to do that. It’s easier said than done.”

Kate mentioned that donations are essential as anyone operating at a clinical level, like social workers, doctors, nurses, and PSWs, are all paid, yet these organizations also have a strong, organized body of volunteers who train with them and then work alongside the staff. For example, if someone wanted to pursue a reception role with an organization like Kensington Health, every single person working on the reception at the hospice would be a volunteer.

“It is essential to ensure when moving someone into a transitional unit that it be near the support networks they access regularly,” Kate added. “That’s why populations tend to congregate in areas that are downtown.”

On an optimistic note, the City of Toronto is inviting expressions of interest by Feb 5th seeking proposals from non-profit organizations interested in participating in a twoyear pilot to operate a micro-shelter site to address this critical homeless issue.

Learn more:

https://tinytinyhomes.ca/ https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/community-partners/ emergency-shelter-operators/expressions-of-interest/expression-of-interest-micro-shelter-pilot-project/ https://www.hpco.ca/volunteer/ https://www.seedsofhope.ca/ n

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Remembering Robert Woodhams, clothier

Sunnybrook Plaza was a community landmark for more than 70 years. Scores of retailers operated there – many of them familiar to Leasiders – Power Food Market, Scott Hardware, Ira Berg, Northway, Hunts Bakery, Town Shoes, Morton’s Smoke Shop, Consumers Distributing, Reitman’s, Boots, Radio Shack, Home Hardware, and many others.

One Sunnybrook retailer whose name people also haven’t forgotten is Woodhams Clothiers. A recent post about the store on the Leaside Heritage Facebook page prompted dozens of responses from viewers with warm memories of Bob and his clothing shop – 30 years after it closed its doors.

“Super nice man.” “Had a contagious laugh that put customers at ease” “Bought my first suit there.” “Such a nice gentleman, kind, knowledgeable.” “Great retailer, always enthusiastic.” “He knew the trends [and] loved his work.”

Who was Bob Woodhams?

Bob was born in 1932 and grew

up in North Toronto – the son of a securities broker and underwriter. As a young man, he enjoyed doing card tricks and was pho tographed engaged in this activity by the Toronto Star in 1949.

Stanley’s White House Meats

By the early 1950s, however, he had found his true calling – selling men’s apparel. He began as a clerk at Sears and later was a salesman for The Slack Shops, a Toronto clothing chain. In 1954, using $1,500 from the sale of his car, he opened his own store – Bob Woodhams Men’s Wear, at 3281 Yonge St., north of Lawrence Ave. Five years later he relocated to Sunnybrook Plaza in Leaside, where he would remain for the next three-plus decades. Initially, he kept the store’s name the same but soon changed it to the more distinguished sounding Woodhams Clothiers. Through clever marketing, quality service and hard work he built a thriving business and a loyal clientele.

Customer focus

A key to Bob’s success was the unique and valuable shopping experience he created. His store carried quality brands such as Cambridge Suits and Daks menswear, Hathaway shirts and Gant sportswear. Customers could also enjoy coffee, lemonade, cider and cookies, baked by Bob’s wife Jean. The shop featured its own tailoring department, a rental section

Safer sidewalks, please!

At the town halls I held in Leaside and Thorncliffe Park last fall, I heard from many residents who were worried about the unsafe operation of electric micromobility vehicles –e-bikes and e-scooters – on our roads and sidewalks. Many of us have

experienced an e-scooter or e-bike whizzing by on a crowded sidewalk without warning, creating significant safety concerns for our most vulnerable pedestrians.

The safety risks for e-bike and e-scooter users are well-documented and growing, particularly for children. In 2024, SickKids reported an alarming increase in the number of children injured from riding micromobility vehicles, with nearly half of all e-scooter-related injuries involving children aged 10 to 13. The Canadian Institute for Health Information found that e-scooter injuries are rising sharply across Canada and hospitalizations for children aged 5-17 increased by 61% from 2023 to 2024. Similarly, a preliminary review of St. Michael’s Hospital data found a 600% increase in e-scooter injuries from 2020-2024.

While e-scooters remain banned for use on public property in Toronto, we are continuing to see greater numbers of them on our sidewalks. I have also seen many children riding micromobility vehicles, even though it is illegal for anyone under 16 to operate an e-bike or e-scooter under provincial law. The continued illegal use of micromobility vehicles is creating a growing enforcement challenge and leading to significant safety issues across Toronto.

In December, I worked with Councillor Burnside on a motion asking staff to review legislative options to seize e-bikes and e-scooters

operating illegally on sidewalks. City staff were directed to explore enforcement and regulatory measures, including potential licensing options and the ability to seize vehicles, and report back to City Council in the second quarter of 2026. This report will also include recommendations from the Micromobility Safety Working Group to improve public awareness of micromobility regulations and improve the safe operation of these vehicles.

In addition to this, after Toronto Police Services (TPS) issued hundreds of tickets to e-bike and e-scooter riders during their Back to School campaign last fall, I moved a motion requesting that the City consider continuing working with the police on coordinated public information campaigns and enforcement blitzes for micromobility vehicles. My motion also asked staff to work with school boards to disseminate information about the existing regulations and dangers of electric micromobility vehicles for children. I’m pleased to report that my motion was adopted unanimously by City Council. While work continues at City Hall to strengthen our regulatory framework for micromobility devices, we also need intergovernmental support to establish consistent safety standards across the province and country. Looking ahead, I will be continuing to advocate for and support initiatives that improve safety for all road and sidewalk users in Don Valley West and across Toronto. n

It pays to be Disagreeable for these Leasiders

by JAKE ROSS

With statements ranging from, “It’s OK to take your shoes off on an airplane” to, “I could survive a zombie apocalypse,” Disagreeable A Party Game for The Opinionated is sure to arouse heated debates and loud laughter.

Leaside native Mike Barrett, who along with his wife Katie Porter designed the game, said that was the goal all along.

Both lifelong lovers of party games, the idea came to them during a family vacation three years ago.

Barrett said it started with a simple question: “Wouldn’t it be fun if there was a game that was almost like making a bet on who would feel a certain way about things before it’s actually revealed?”

The rules are simple. A statement card is read aloud. Players then secretly vote “agree” or “disagree” and predict how many others will agree. Points are then scored for correctly guessing the number of players who agree.

They drew inspiration from Wizard,

a game, like their own, that involves predicting the outcome of each round.

Barrett said coming up with the statements was the fun part. He said

the best ones were those that sparked impromptu debates “that were not necessarily part of the rules of the game but would simply happen when people reveal their results.”

Barrett works in tech sales and Porter is in marketing and e-commerce. Some of the skills were definitely transferable to this venture.

They used their marketing savvy to get the product in stores province-wide, while Porter leveraged her experience in e-commerce to get the product to online retailers.

Leaside’s flatiron proposal morphs to data centre

Arguably the most interesting (and certainly the most innovative) building proposal in the Leaside Business Park is at 154 Wicksteed Ave. Located at the point where Wicksteed does a jog, just east of Brentcliffe Road, it’s tailor-made for an interesting “flatiron design.” But innovative? That’s in the proposed uses. Proposals for the site, formerly a flooring sales emporium (now moved to Laird Drive) and currently home to a children’s dance studio, began in 2019, with plans for a new six-storey office building to be constructed of mass timber. This proposal received rave reviews for its climate friendly and energy saving features from The Treehugger. 1

This original plan was followed in 2022 by a seven-storey laboratory proposal to serve the hospital industry but built with regular steel and cement construction. Most recently, The Globe and Mail 2 revealed a revised proposal for the site as a data centre, though there is, as of now, no application posted on the City’s Application

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Geoff Kettel On Development

Laird and Esandar already set the precedent.

The power question

A longstanding concern in the Business Park has been power –will there be enough electricity,

Information Centre site.

This project appears to epitomize the opportunities (and challenges) for business in recent times – of intensifying to office uses, but then running into the pandemic downturn, exploring other uses and materials, and now perhaps making the most interesting move of all – jumping on the data centre boom – with a dense development in Leaside, close to the core, rather than a sprawling site in the distant suburbs. Of course, this tower will be full of computers, not so many people (hence no windows are necessary). But there’s nothing new in that setup – the Telus building at

with all the residential development in play? However, in early January, the provincial government announced a new underwater transmission line from Darlington to Toronto that will “support 285,000 new homes, power businesses, create thousands of jobs,” according to the press release. While the project has gone through three iterations to date, each of the three has presented an innovative, creative design that demonstrates a new “modern” opportunity for the Leaside Business Park, altogether in the spirit of John Godfrey’s “Leaside media village.”3

Go heart-smart with Todd’s turkey chili

by MITCH BUBULJ

“For Super Bowl 2025 it was wings, ribs and nachos topped with a hearty helping of ground beef; next week for Super Bowl 2026 it will be turkey chili!” declares South Leasider Todd Godin.

His about-face isn’t just culinary but also lifestyle based. And that is all on account of the massive heart attack he experienced just nine months ago. “I have learned a lot since last May, and one thing is that low sodium and low-fat dishes score high in taste and heart health.”

The chest pains he experienced that Friday night nine months ago changed his life but could just as easily have ended it. And while the pangs were intense, he didn’t even realize he was having a heart attack. After all, he was fit, didn’t smoke and never missed his annual physical. It was his partner Gieselle who recognized the signs and called 911.

“The paramedics calmly told me I was having a heart attack, to which I said, ‘No I’m not!’” “I expected them to administer some sort of

complex antidote but to my surprise they gave me two aspirins!” They swiftly got Todd to Sunnybrook where the medical team quickly prepped him for surgery. “It was 20 minutes from calling 911 to being on the operating table – a mild miracle,” says Todd. The two-hour surgery that placed a stent in one of his arteries was through his wrist using a technique called the transradial approach.

Todd was fortunate to live so close to Sunnybrook and to have been brought in when a cardiac surgeon was available in emergency, not to mention to have a partner who made the right call. The cause of the heart attack was unfortunate – a fluke even – and one that no doctor could foresee: the collapse of plaque that had built up in one of his arteries, which then clumped and blocked 90 per cent of the blood flow.

Todd’s recent retirement has been a big help. “It means I have time in the day to meal plan and prep as

well as work out; I can also research heart-smart recipes on websites such as www. heartandstroke.ca ,” Todd explains.

“Neighbours have been great and very supportive –they invite me to dinner and inevitably ask ‘can you eat this?’ to which I say yes!” Having had a heart attack doesn’t necessarily prevent me from eating what I like; it has, however, made me aware of what I should avoid and what I need to promote.”

Find the recipes online by clicking the Leaside Cooks tab.

town south of Peterborough, but you can find ground turkey in any supermarket.

The turkey chili is a case in point. He eliminates salt and ground beef. His use of chili powder, cumin, oregano and garlic gives it all the taste you’d expect from the dish and his substitution of ground turkey for beef means it is flavourful and loaded with “good” protein. The chili I sampled was made with fresh lean ground turkey bought from a farm in Keene, a small

The last nine months for Todd have been instructive, to say the least. Two takeaways? “It’s easy to substitute ingredients – turkey for beef, for example – in a favourite recipe, which totally changes what you put inside yourself, and another thing? Carry two aspirins with you at all times; I don’t leave home without them.”

This year’s Super Bowl promises to be super in more ways than one. n

Mary Lou savours the good Leaside memories

by MITCH BUBULJ

Working an after-school job, studying at the library, hanging out with friends, having that first date – these are some of young Leasiders’ coming-of-age experiences today. And also for 88-year-old former Leaside resident Mary Lou Arniel, born Mary Lou Doel.

Mary Lou’s parents bought 200 Sutherland Dr. in 1936. “Soon after they married, an uncle suggested they buy one of the brand new Leaside homes since they were built well,” explains Mary Lou. “He was a plumber and vouched that 200 Sutherland had good pipes!”

Her parents both worked – her dad at Kraft Foods and her mom at the Sangamo Company Ltd., a major employer at Laird and Eglinton. “One of my earliest memories is going to Eva Procunier’s nursery school across the street in the old Lea farmhouse (201 Sutherland). She had many sons who were friends with my older brother Bill. The classroom was the large living room, but I mostly remember playing in the sandbox

in the immense yard that surrounded the house,” says Mary Lou.

At the time there were no houses between #201 and Millwood. There was even an old barn on the property. “After school my brother and I would sneak in and slide down a chute into a haystack. That usually got us in trouble.”

Mrs. Procunier was also an accomplished musician and taught Bill piano, something he enjoyed playing into adulthood.

During the war Mary Lou’s father decided the family needed more space so he bought 677 Eglinton Ave. East from the builder. Mary Lou was one of the first students to attend Northlea School. “Eglinton then was a quiet street since it didn’t go any farther than Brentcliffe,” she recalls. “There were no houses on the west side of Hanna – just a copse of trees and a stream where a neighbour called Skippy Bartholomew and I would catch pollywogs. It was beside a beautiful old, abandoned home (the Lawson house) we used to call the ‘haunted house,’ which got demolished to make way for Leaside High School.”

She also remembers spending time with her good friend Anne Hiltz, who lived across the street at 674 Eglinton. “Her dad was an ophthalmologist whose practice was in the basement with a special entrance at the side of the house – it’s where my mom got her eyes checked.”

Mary Lou remembers studying at the library, which was in a shophouse at 1645 Bayview. She graduated from Leaside High in 1955 and says, “At lunch in the wide hall outside the cafeteria a few musical boys would play the latest hits like Rock Around the Clock for an impromptu sock hop.”

She enjoyed skating at either Talbot or Millwood (now Trace Manes) Park and tobogganing at the hill by the high school. In June she and her friends would enjoy the parade that passed her house and ended at Millwood Park where the annual carnival began.

A regular Saturday afternoon treat was seeing cartoons and a movie at the Bayview Theatre for “not much more than a dime.” Afterwards, on the way home “Barbara Fry and I would stop

Mary Lou in front of her childhood home at 200 Sutherland Dr. with the original Lea farmhouse in the background. Opposite page: Mary Lou today.

in at Frey’s Drug Store at the corner of Bayview and Fleming for a Mel-ORol that came in three flavours: chocolate, vanilla or strawberry.”

Life centred around Bayview. “It’s where the whole town met on V-E Day to celebrate the end of World War II. Bill and I took pots and ladles to the corner of Bayview and Millwood to make as much noise as possible,” she remembers with a smile.

On weekends Mary Lou worked at the Loblaws at Laird and Eglinton. It’s where she met her boyfriend Mel, whom she married a month after graduation. Her first full-time job was in the offices of George Crothers, where heavy equipment was manufactured. Ironically, it is now the site of the Loblaws at Redway Road.

Even though Mary Lou moved from Leaside in 1959, “the good memories stay strong – like old friends.” n

“Maintain

swing, climb, tumble & clown around with us!

Leaside loversrejoice!

Ahhh, February. The month of groundhogs and love is upon us.

But while Groundhog Day is restricted to rodents (and their lovers?), Valentine’s Day is a time for everyone to celebrate and appreciate all the people they love in their life.

Leaside offers various ways to celebrate with your friends, family, partner or by yourself!

From activities and places to eat to presents to give, there’s no need to leave your neighbourhood to make your Valentine’s Day special and fun. By Susan Scandiffio.

GET A MASSAGE

Leaside Massage Therapy

206 Laird Dr.

Healthwinds Spa

650 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Glow Spa 1675 Bayview Avenue

Hand & Stone Massage

85 Laird Dr., Unit 202

Growth & Wellness

1670 Bayview Ave., Suite 502

Palm Health & Wellness

423 Sutherland Dr.

TAKE A WALK

Crothers Woods

Lower Don Parklands

Serena Gundy Park 58 Rykert Cresc.

Sunnybrook Park 1132 Leslie St.

LACE YOUR SKATES

Enjoy the free skate on Valentine’s Day at Leaside Memorial Arena from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m.

(Helmets are necessary for kids under 12.) 1073 Millwood Rd.

GET YOUR GAME ON

Pick up a new board game for the whole family (or just for adults who like to play together):

Xplore Games

858 Millwood Rd.

Mastermind Toys

639 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Mabel’s Fables

540 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

DINE OUT FOR ROMANCE

When someone else cooks for you, life is just that much more enjoyable! Our neighbourhood has SO many great restaurants for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Whether formal, romantic or casual, there are options for the whole crew. While we’re noting just a few, take a walk through the neighbourhood and you’ll find a plethora of options – for Valentine’s and many other occasions! Let us know which is your romantic favourite.

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH

Tiarrés Brunch & Cakes 1614 Bayview Ave.

Hermie’s 1595 Bayview Ave.

Sunset Grill 45 Wicksteed Ave.

Ramona’s Kitchen 1608 Bayview Ave.

Eggtastic 1568 Bayview Ave.

Eggsmart 20 Brentcliffe Rd.

Starving Artist

505 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

LUNCH

Charmaine Sweets 939 Eglinton Avenue East

Kintako Sushi 214 Laird Dr.

Bread & Butter

507 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Bayview Shawarma Turkish Cuisine 1549 Bayview Ave.

Jyugoya Japanese Restaurant 1528 Bayview Ave.

Satay on the Road 1572 Bayview Ave.

GIFT YOUR VALENTINE

You can’t go wrong with the classic Valentine’s gifts of cards, chocolates and flowers.

DINNER

La Casetta

900 Millwood Rd.

Buono Ristorante 1566 Bayview Ave.

Mirage Mediterranean 1620 Bayview Ave.

Chon Modern Thai Cuisine 1677 Bayview Ave.

Old Yorke Fish & Chips 96 Laird Dr.

Indian Street Food 1701 Bayview Ave.

Positano

633 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Florentia

579 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

CARDS AND MORE

Write Impressions

1515 Bayview Ave.

Jacaranda Tree & Co.

569 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Caribou Gifts

590 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

PUBS

Leaside Pub

190 Laird Dr.

Local Public Eatery 180 Laird Dr.

The Belsize Public House

535 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Amsterdam Barrel House

87 Laird Dr.

McSorley’s Saloon & Grill 1544 Bayview Ave.

CHOCOLATE Avoca

850 Millwood Rd.

The Chocolate Messenger 1645 Bayview Ave.

FLOWERS

From a single rose to exquisite floral arrangements, the neighbourhood is home to multiple talented florists. Among them:

The Flower Patch 1592 Bayview Avenue

Leaside Flowers & Gifts

830 Eglinton Ave. East

The Flower Nook 1729 Bayview Ave.

Fete Boutique Flowers

209 McRae Dr.

Periwinkle Flowers

661 Mt. Pleasant Rd.

Apricot Flowers

621A Mt. Pleasant Rd. n

MLC is still rockin’ in Leaside after 25 years

After more than 20 years, local band MLC is still tuned in.

Once upon a time, MLC stood for Midlife Crisis Band – a name that made perfect sense when everyone was, well, mid-ride. But as guitarist and vocalist Dave McCauley, 67, cheerfully admits, “about 80 per cent of us are now well beyond mid-life.”

These days, the band sticks with the acronym, which may now stand for Make Life Count . And honestly, if you’re still rocking after two decades, you’ve earned the right to call yourself whatever you want.

MLC features Dave, Ann Higgins (vocals), Harold Bratten (bass, guitar, vocals), Kelly Arrey (drums), and Dave’s son Connor (guitar, mandolin, ukulele, harmonica, vocals). Connor, 32, joined about a decade ago, officially turning MLC into a multi-generational musical adventure.

“It’s fantastic having Connor in the band,” says Dave. “Being able to perform and play music with my son is very special. Connor and I

by DAVID CRICHTON

Big Mother is watching you

My mother used to say, “Behave in public as though I’m looking over your shoulder.”

For this eight-year-old boy, that landed harder than “Be good” or “Do the right thing.” Maybe it was the mental image. I wonder how much better off the world would be if adults subscribed to this standard. Like, if my mother, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, were standing over Donald Trump saying, “And just what do you think you’re doing, mister?”

Her warning ranked up there with other equally effective disciplinary statements disguised as cautionary tales. Take these: “Always wear clean underwear in case you get into an accident and end up in the hospital,” or “Don’t eat snow or you’ll get worms.” (Never mind if it’s yellow or not.)

These thoughts were going through my head as I sat at the red light at Bayview and Millwood, on my way to the GoodLife gym at Davisville. That’s because I was

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witnessing the driver next to me picking his nose. Actually, this isn’t the anomaly you might think it is. Maybe it’s because drivers figure they’re alone, lost in thought, or maybe they just don’t care. Or maybe they believe

head into the washroom as part of my pre-workout routine. A fellow member crosses paths with me, bypassing the sinks entirely, on his way from the urinal to the gym floor. Again, I think: why? I don’t know a single mother who doesn’t drill “Wash your hands” into their kids. But if no mom’s around to witness it, I suppose the argument becomes existential: did a tree really fall in the forest?

Note to self: wipe down the equipment BEFORE using it.

their windows are made of one-way glass. Maybe they just didn’t have a mother like mine.

I soon pull into the underground parking lot entrance off Mt. Pleasant. With its gloomy lighting, flaking concrete ceilings, and water leaching from numerous cracks, the place has all the ambiance of post-explosion Chernobyl. I walk past a rusting tangle of pipes that looks like a mini oil refinery from the 1950s and enter the dank stairwell.

I’m a couple of steps into psyching myself up for my workout when I’m treated, two staircases above me, to a loud burp, a sneeze, and a staccato burst of flatulence that would make a bubble wrap factory blush. Impressive, I think: a bodily-function trifecta.

Instinctively, I want to quicken my pace in hopes of casting some shame-inducing looks at the perpetrator. At the same time, I realize I’m about to pass through their blast radius, with a decent chance of either catching a cold, smelling what they ate an hour ago… or being olfactorily slammed with a human-composted version of what they ate last night.

By the time I reach the front desk, however, there are too many people for me to decipher who the multi-orifice offender might be. Damn. No satisfying shameful eyedarts today.

In the change room, I gear up and

After enduring the usual teenage boys from nearby schools who exclusively train arms, pose in mirrors, loud-talk over earbuds, and spend long “rest” periods checking their social feeds, I head to the change room, more than a little relieved the workout’s over for another day.

On my way down the stairwell back to Chernobyl, I take a final swig of my water bottle. Inadvertently, I inhale the last of it. That’s not a metaphor. I actually inhale it. My mis-swallow sends me into an immediate coughing fit. I sputter and hack, sounding like my first car, an old 1972 Ford Cortina that would run on, long after I’d turned off the key and walked away. My eyes bulge, my tongue hangs out, I pound my chest, trying to clear my airways. In the process, I swallow so much air that I involuntarily let out a belch that echoes up and down the stairwell, just as another member rounds the corner and stops at the bottom. They look up at me with derision.

I guess I got my shameful eye-dart after all.

They sidle past me, careful to keep their distance. I try to explain. No words emerge. My hand clutches my shirt, my face frozen in a red wince. A tiny gasp escapes. I stagger through the door into the garage. All I can manage is a wheezy, “Sorry, Mom.” n

THE Idler Curious

Bin there, done that!

Jim Hartley of Glenvale Blvd. contacted us recently with a nostalgic farewell to the Cityoperated blue bin pickup. At the close of 2025 he put out a sign in front of his recycling bin: “Toronto Civic Employees Union 416. I appreciate your years of service managing my recycling bin.” Jim, the Idler could not agree more!

Garbage in, garbage out?

Speaking of recycling pickup…am I the only one whose blue bin sat forlornly on the sidewalk waiting for the new kids on the block – GFL, under contract to Circular Materials – to pick up the blue bin contents, overflowing from the holidays? The north side of the street felt the love, while we on the south side had to wait days to say goodbye to the blue bin overflow. Grrrr!

Congrats to Eleanor Voykin

Wilmar Kortleever, constituency assistant to Don Valley West Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin, wrote to us with a very uplifting piece of news for the new year: “17-year-old Leasider Eleanor

Voykin finished 30th today (January 10) in the World Cross Country Championships – U20 category. It’s an amazing result (firstly, she’s young, with two more years in this age group; second of the six Canadians; the team finished sixth). Also, it was a strong field with 13 out of the first 14 all from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.” Wilmar added, “She might have only one year left in U20. Also, in November, she won the junior girls OFSAA title as well, second in Ontario championships, and third in Canada Championships.” Eleanor has committed to attend Northern Arizona for college. Go, Eleanor, go!

Leasider indie artist lands Grammy nod

Vancouver born and current Leaside resident Laila Biali has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Pop category alongside notables such as Barbra Streisand, Elton John and Lady Gaga! The Host of Saturday Night Jazz on CBC and Juno winner was featured on the cover of Leaside Life eight years ago in February of 2018. Her 10th studio album Winter Songs was co-produced by her husband Ben Whitman. Good luck Laila!

Sweet!

Avoca Chocolates has chosen to keep its 850 Millwood Rd. (at Rumsey) storefront location open to serve the loyal Leaside (and beyond) community. The chocolatier recently closed its longstanding Danforth store because of rising rent. Thank goodness they’re still in Leaside since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Say it with chocolate!

Hair today, gone tomorrow

After more than a decade serving the neighbourhood, Lena’s Barber Shop at 909 Millwood Rd. will be closing permanently as Lena prepares for retirement. A typewritten note on the door thanks the community for years of trust, friendship, and support, and shares

that the shop officially closed on Jan. 1, 2026.

Lena’s has long been a familiar stop for many local residents, and her message makes clear how much those relationships have meant to her over the years.

Wishing Lena all the best in her next chapter.

We stand corrected

We’re trying to follow up on a very interesting email that came our way, from Steve Patterson of Bear River,

NS. Commenting on a sports personalities story we ran at the close of 2025, he wrote: “You have a list of sports personalities born or raised in Leaside. You forgot one. Namely, Tom Edur. Tom lived around the corner from me (our family home was on Fleming Crescent, and he lived on Donegall Drive). I hung out with him for a bit. Tom played in the WHA and the NHL but became a Jehovah’s Witness and could not tolerate the violence in the game. After only two years, because of his religious beliefs, Tom retired from the NHL at the age of 24 years.” Who knew? And…just as interesting, it turns out that our correspondent, Mr. Patterson, is Margaret Atwood’s cousin. For those who don’t know, Ms. Atwood grew up in Bennington Heights and graced the halls of Leaside High. n

Leaside Life production team honoured

The game has taken off in popularity and has been featured by pages on TikTok and Instagram. Barrett said it had exceeded their wildest expectations. “The goal line kind of moved over time,” he said.

At first their aim was to make a product they could encourage their friends and family to play, then a stranger, then get it into a store, then have a store reorder – all of which they’ve achieved.

Barrett said the most rewarding part for the pair, though, was seeing pictures of people playing the game with friends and family.

More games are coming down the chute, but Barrett has asked fans to be patient. “It takes a surprisingly long time” to come up with a new game, he said. Top of the list are other variations of Disagreeable, including an “after dark” version and a trivia-oriented one.

Barrett says the inspiration all started on the streets of Leaside. He and his friends would “invent different games and contests in our basements, or outside on the deadend streets of Fleming Crescent and Cameron Crescent, or all around Bessborough Public School.”

Disagreeable is a family friendly game, which can be found on Amazon, at various local stores and on their website, goodonegames. com. Game on! n

• CONCRETE REPAIRS: STEPS/WALKWAYS/PADS

• STONE MASONRY: BACK DECKS/FRONT PORCHES/STEPS

• INTERLOCK PAVERS: BACK PATIOS/WALKWAYS/STEPS

• RETAINING WALLS

• TUCKPOINTING

• BRICK REPAIR

• CHIMNEY REPAIR

• WATERPROOFING

have also been doing shows as a duo, which has been amazing.”

The pair have played several shows at the Free Times Café on College Street – a venue that carries extra meaning for Dave.

“Fun fact: I played at the Free Times in the ’70s and ’80s,” he says. “It’s very special to go back there now with Connor.”

Dave, Harold, Kelly, and Connor all call Leaside home, while Ann lives near Hamilton.

“The best part is when people are singing along or dancing,” says Kelly. “We don’t do it for the money.

We do it together – and it’s fun doing it with friends.”

Formed in 2005, MLC started when Dave and Ann – then performing as a duo – booked a show at The Fox & Fiddle (now The Leaside Pub) and wanted to build a band. Dave spotted Harold and Kelly playing Jazz Sunday at Northlea United Church and approached them after the service. The rest is local music history.

Dave says the camaraderie is what really makes the band sing. “When you play a song, it all just clicks.”

Kelly, 70, and now retired, says being on stage clears his head completely. The band has played for audiences as large as 200 people and feeds off the energy of the crowd.

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“When you’re roaring along at 160 beats per minute and 100 decibels, it’s pretty hard to think about your problems at work,” he com -

ments. “It’s an important source of energy that carries me through.”

Canadian artists play a big role in MLC’s sound. Their musical DNA includes Blue Rodeo, Sarah Harmer, Kathleen Edwards, City and Colour, The Tragically Hip, Bruce Cockburn, Neil Young, and Sarah McLachlan – basically the soundtrack to most Ontario cottage road trips. Their repertoire stretches well beyond that, as well.

Kelly says picking musical favourites, though, is a fool’s game.

“Music is art, and art isn’t a competition,” he says. “There’s a kind of addiction to superlatives.”

The band has also played several charity gigs, often jams informally with other local musicians, and with retirement freeing up schedules, they’re hoping to increase the number of shows they play.

Local fans are in luck. MLC will be performing at the Leaside Pub, 190 Laird Dr. – a venue Dave and Kelly both call their favourite – on Friday, April 17, at 8 p.m. There is no cover charge, and all are welcome. Rock on! n

WOODHAMS From Page 8

for formal events, and a lending library that provided fashion books and magazines – as well as games to entertain customers’ children. In addition, Bob kept a file listing the birthdays, anniversaries, and clothing preferences of his patrons to ensure they always received personalized and customized service.

Bob’s success did not come without challenges. In March 1968, thieves cut a hole in the store’s roof, lowered themselves inside, and stole $10,000 worth of men’s suits. But this proved only a minor setback. By 1987 Woodhams Clothiers had become so successful that it was the only men’s store in the area. Almost 30 years earlier, when Bob first came to Leaside, there had been seven other local men’s shops. He clearly had developed a winning retail strategy.

Closing shop

Around the mid-1990s, Woodhams Clothiers exited Sunnybrook Plaza. Four years later, Bob’s wife, Jean, died; he remarried soon afterwards. His second wife was Leaside born and raised, Heather Anderson –

ANTIQUES WANTED

Doultons

herself a successful fashion designer who had operated her own clothing store on Millwood Road. They enjoyed a happy life together until Bob’s death from heart disease in 2005.

Although Bob Woodhams didn’t live in Leaside (he resided in North York much of his adult life), he spent most of his working life here and left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of his customers, many of whom were Leasiders who still remember him fondly. n

Remembering Ted Krawchuk

Leaside Life was saddened to learn of the death on Jan. 14th of Ted Krawchuk, husband of our publisher, Lorna Krawchuk.

Ted was born on Oct. 10, 1938, in Kirkland Lake, Ont., to parents Gabrielle, née Durgensky, and Joseph Krawchuk, and grew up in nearby Larder Lake, working during his high school summers at Kerr-Addison Gold Mines Ltd. in Virginiatown.

After graduating from St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, he began his teaching career in Port Colborne and continued for the next 30 years with the Scarborough Board of Education, teaching science at Wexford, W.A. Porter and L’Amoreaux Collegiates, while also being involved with the Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario (STAO).

He married Lorna Hilder, from Virginiatown, in 1968. Two years later, they moved to Leaside a few months before daughter Carolyn was born. Daughter Margaret, known as Meg, arrived two years later. In 1981, they, along with their dog, Sib, moved to the small village of Cotignac in the south of France to live in a small house

backing onto a cliff, before returning to Canada.

Family camping in the summer with a tent was a way to explore Canada and enjoy nature. After Ted retired, he and Lorna went on many memorable land and cruise vacations.

LENS OF LEASIDE From Page 4

contacts in Cuba gave the group access to non-touristic Cuba. Gaining confidence and skills, Kathi abandoned her beach vacation and came to enjoy photography and take photos using her inner eye. That first street photography trip changed the way the two of them have travelled since. On a canoe trip, they’ll often pause just to look and try to capture what they see. They’ve also taken several more professionally led trips, including a memorable one to Romania, where at every stop they were greeted with a shot of palinka, a strong distilled fruit brandy, and became part of a village wedding celebration. Asked about a favourite camera, Doug answers, “the one I have with me.”

They’ve slowed down a bit recently since Kathi’s hip fracture in the fall of 2025, but that hasn’t stopped them from more local street photography outings, with plans in the works for a possible short return trip to Paris this spring and longer jaunts, including revisiting Japan. n

He always enjoyed being active. One retirement objective was to learn to swim better. To that end he spent hours over the years at the Leaside pool in early morning lane swims. He also walked, cycled and exercised regularly.

Ted was an active member of St. Cuthbert’s, Leaside Anglican Church. He was known as a super-salesman for whatever event was coming up. He was also notable for wearing an appropriately gaudy hat and for being willing to help wherever he could. He always had a smile on his face and welcoming words for all.

Ted enjoyed the years of being grandad for Graham Beurskens, Annabelle Krawchuk-Miller and Ben Krawchuk-Miller, and getting to know their fathers, Hans Beurskens and Mark Miller. He took pride in helping to raise Carolyn and Meg to be capable, independent women, and for 57-plus years of sharing adventures with Lorna.

A memorial service will be held at St. Cuthbert’s, Leaside Anglican Church, 1399 Bayview Ave. (just south of Davisville) on Sat., Feb. 14 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the church. The service will be livestreamed. n

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Events February

LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH 822 Millwood Rd. 416-425-1253

Pancakes and Plaid Supper

Tuesday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m.

A pay what you can event. See ad

LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY

You are invited to our 2026 Speaker Series: Thursday, February 12, at 7:00 p.m. Online via Zoom. Special guest speakers Claudia and Duncan Wood talking about

The Society welcomes guests and new members to join us for meetings. www.leasidegardensociety.org leaside@gardenontario.org

Groove Room Coffee House

Listen to great live music by local artists and have a coffee and dessert with friends. The next Groove Room Coffee House is Friday, February 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m. This event is “pay what you can” with 100% of the money going to the Flemingdon

We are looking for performers. info@saintaugustine.ca.

ST. CUTHBERT’S, LEASIDE

ANGLICAN CHURCH 1399 Bayview Ave. 416 485 0329 www.stcuthbertsleaside.com stcuthbertleaside@toronto.anglican.ca Tai Chi

Tuesdays 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. in Lamb Hall. Suggested donation $5. Join us! Shrove Tuesday pancake supper on Tuesday, February 17 from 5:30 p.m.7:15 p.m. By donation.

CFUW LEASIDE-EAST YORK

Meeting February 19, 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Inspiring Hope Through Action. Speaker: Bella Lam, CEO, The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada. For zoom link email: joincfuwley@gmail.com.

LEASIDE LIBRARY

165 McRae Drive 416 396 3855

For a full list of programs at Leaside branch, please visit www.tpl.ca/leaside. n

William Lea Room Events:

February 22 10am-3pm Sports Card Show

Duplicate Bridge Games & Lessons: Coffee, tea and cookies, Wednesdays & Thursdays. For more information, please visit www.Torontobridge.ca

Free Adult Public Skating

11am – 12pm for adults (18+) only Tuesday, February 3, 10, 17, 24 Thursday, February 5, 12, 19, 26

Free Community Public Skating

Saturdays 5:15pm-7:15pm

Saturday February 7, 14, 21 (cancelled February 28 for the LHA tournament)

All ages welcome. Helmets mandatory for children 12 and under and recommended for all skaters. n

acknowledges we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat.

We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and the Inuit peoples.

We also recognize our responsibility in respecting and protecting the land and water systems that surround us in the east end of Toronto, that being the Don River, or Wonscotonach in Anishinaabemowin, so that these resources can be enjoyed and flourish for all life and for generations to come.

How industrial?

Is this enough to stop the erosion of the “industrial” side of the Business Park? That’s unclear, but the Park faces continuing challenges from speculators anxious to change the uses allowed to permit residential – changes made more feasible because of the provincial government’s weakening of their land use policies and overreaching of the City powers.

The latest threat is the application for conversion of the lands at 105-109 Vanderhoof Ave. and 10 Brentcliffe Rd., for an Official Plan Amendment to redesignate the lands from Core Employment Areas to Mixed Use Areas. The redesignation would provide the opportunity for future residential/mixed-use development. If approved, it would

be precedent setting and represent a major loss to the Employment Lands, for several reasons:

• The lands are south of Vanderhoof, which was established as the southern limit of Mixed Use (i.e. permitting residential) by the landmark Ontario Municipal Board decision in 2001.

• The rest of the large block is Employment Lands and development is in accordance with that (e.g. Canadian Tire).

• A similar application for the same lands was refused by City Council in 2023 along with three other properties in the Leaside Business Park.

The City scheduled a community consultation meeting for the application on Jan. 27. n

1 This Toronto Building Is a Model for a Post-Pandemic Office It’s small, wood, local, efficient, and it has the best bike room in town. Lloyd Alter, Treehugger, Feb 11 2022 https://www.treehugger.com/ toronto-building-post-pandemic-office-5218744.

2 As market shifts, developer plans new data centre. Alexandra Petros, Special to The Globe and Mail, Jan 6 2026. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/industry-news/property-report/ article-as-market-shifts-developer-plans-new-data-centre/.

3 John Godfrey had a vision for the business park https://leasidelife.com/john-godfrey-had-a-visionfor-the-business-park/ #141 February 2024.

Last year, our Premier gave a whole new meaning to the term “speed control” when he labelled municipal automatic speed enforcement cameras a “cash grab.” You will recall the firestorm and confusion that this provoked. When is a fine for speeding an unfair cash grab, and when is it welcome enforcement of traffic laws?

That was last year. Since then, have we moved forward? Lately you may have noticed large “ ontario.ca/ ReducingSpeeding” advertisements in newspapers and other media. Instead of speed cameras, they promote increased police enforcement, enhanced road signage, and speed bumps. But what they don’t tell us is how much these measures would cost, how many would be

Speed kills!

needed, and which level of government would be responsible. They also omit the criteria which would determine the legitimacy of any installation requests. We need to know how to access effective traffic control. The Leaside

Residents Association (LRA) hears from residents on a regular basis about speeding cars and trucks on our residential streets. Yet here we are, early in 2026, still in need of traffic calming and speed reduction. Lack of enforcement is still today’s issue, and not just yesterday’s.

For true progress to take place, a record needs to be created proving that a problem exists. To do so, it’s important to report speeding problems when they occur. Let the police, MPP Stephanie Bowman, our City Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin, and the LRA know. Your vigilance does matter!

Let there be lights?

It’s now several months since North York Community Council approved installation of Integrated Pedestrian Signals (IPS) on Bayview Avenue at both Sutherland Drive and Parkhurst Boulevard, to improve safety at those intersections. Both locations have seen many accidents, quite frequently. The hope and expectation are that both IPS will create much greater safety for pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists. But until they are actually installed, accidents – often very serious ones –continue to happen, including one in December at Parkhurst.

For financial reasons, the City tends to delay installations until the work can be twinned with other nearby road construction, thus far unscheduled. But there is a stronger safety argument to be made in favour of installing these IPS more promptly, rather than delaying until an opportunity arises in the indefinite future.

Time to renew!

Now with the new year fully in swing, it’s a good time to renew your LRA annual membership or join if you aren’t yet a member. Membership fees of $30 a year support professional legal and planning fees.

You are always welcome to attend our monthly LRA board meetings, which take place at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. Our February board meeting, on Wed., Feb. 4th, will be on Zoom. For contact information and more details and updates, visit leasideresidents.ca and press the Contact Us button, or leasideresidents.ca/contact-us. n