Leaside Life Issue 167 April 2026

LEASIDE RESIDENTS SURVEY

HAVE YOUR SAY! Survey open April 1–30

PAGES 24-25

SCAN THE QR CODE TO TAKE THE LEASIDE RESIDENTS SURVEY 10-minute survey April 1-30

What does community mean to you?

I’ve been thinking about this question a lot lately. Maybe because the weather is finally warming up and more people are out on the street – lending an air of vibrancy to formerly ice- and snow-covered sidewalks in the shopping districts. Maybe because our parks and gardens are waking up and beginning to show off their spring beauty. These are important aspects when we consider community. But more importantly, community is people – our people – and what matters most to us. As times shift, so, too, do our priorities as a community. For instance, a recent rash of violent home break-ins in other parts of the city, not far from us, has many of us thinking about crime and neighbourhood safety. While the Eglinton Crosstown was under construction, traffic, transit and congestion loomed

large in our collective consciousness. Community is an overriding focus for Leaside Life as we explore the evolution of Leaside – and more recently Leaside-adjacent neighbourhoods. That’s why Leaside Life has undertaken research to learn what “community” means to you, with the support of the Leaside Residents Association and Leaside Memorial Community Gardens, and with the able hand of Business of Leaside columnist Glenn Asano guiding that research.

In Glenn’s words: “Beginning April 1, residents across Leaside are invited to take part in the Leaside Residents Survey, a community listening effort designed to better understand what people believe is working well in the neighbourhood and where we should be paying

Mark your calendars – April 18 is Leaside Earth Day

by JOHN SCOTT & PAUL BOLTÉ

Each year in April, people around the world celebrate Earth Day, supporting environmental protection through activities like planting trees, promoting sustainability, and cleaning up litter.

This April, Don’t Mess With Leaside (DMWL) is launching our very own Leaside Earth Day on Sat., April 18, with a community-wide effort focused on cleaning up litter in our neighbourhood streets, parks, schools, and business areas.

In support of our tagline, “Keep Leaside Beautiful and Litter Free,” DMWL is introducing two cleanup initiatives. To make Leaside Earth Day a great success, we are looking for environmental community leaders and volunteers to join us and demonstrate how much we care about keeping Leaside clean and beautiful.

1. Community litter cleanup

Bayview Avenue, parks, schools, and local businesses

Community members are invited to sign up and join the DMWL team

to clean up pre-selected areas of Leaside. Participants will be provided with eco-friendly supplies and safety guidelines to help collect litter.

If you are interested in participating on April 18, please email leasidelife@gmail.com and let us know whether you would like to volunteer or serve as a team leader to assist with organizing and supporting the event. In early April, we will send a follow-up email with full details about the Leaside event.

2. Family litter pick-up and contest

DMWL is also encouraging Leaside families to help clean up litter in their own neighbourhood on Leaside Earth Day. Participants can enter a contest draw to win a Bayview store gift certificate by submitting:

• A photo showing the litter you collected

• Your contact details

Email entries to leasidelife@gmail. com

If you can’t join on April 18, you can still take part by cleaning up litter between Sun., April 19, and Sat., April 25.

Photo entries must be submitted by Sun., April 26, and contest winners will be announced in the June issue of Leaside Life.

Let’s come together on April 18 to show how much we all care about keeping Leaside beautiful and litter free. This event is a great opportunity to connect with neighbours, take pride in our community, and have a positive impact on our environment. See ad on page 13. n

Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life

Will Vyse canoes for a cause

Will Vyse reckons he’s spent more than four per cent of his 24 years in a canoe, even though he was born and grew up, land-bound, on Hillsdale Ave. East, in South Eglinton-Davisville Village.

His paddling time will increase exponentially starting at the beginning of April, when he, along with fellow passionate adventurers Georges Kirijian and Nolan Aziz, start a 200-day canoe trip from Tadoussac, QC. They hope to complete the journey, averaging 40 km each day, by November, when they arrive in Prince Rupert, BC.

According to their website, “ Canada by Canoe is a recordbreaking 8,000+ km journey across Canada being undertaken to break the world record for the longest

single season canoe trip, and to raise $1 million for True North Aid.” True North Aid is a regisGeorges Kirijian, Nolan Aziz and Will Vyse.

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tered charity “serving northern and remote communities since 2009,” with a mission “to provide practical, humanitarian aid through community-led initiatives.”

During Covid in 2020, these three, along with three other canoeists, completed a 2,000+ km, 60-day trip across Ontario and raised $87,000 for Food Banks Canada.

After that trip, Will was in university earning a math degree. At that time, he said he “wasn’t interested in a further challenge,” but in 2021, he started thinking about “something different, with a different iteration,” that ultimately became Canada by Canoe (canadabycanoe.com). This route avoids large cities or walking along highways by doing a northern loop –as far north as Lake Athabasca in Saskatchewan.

Book your appointments online:

Bayview and Fleming: https://shoppersdrugmart.medmeapp.com/0982/schedule or Scan 1601 Bayview Ave | T:416-489-1873

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There are challenges all along the route – paddling up the Saguenay River when there might still be ice, a “brutal grunt,” traversing marshy territory around Chapleau, Ont., and needing to get through the Alberta/BC mountain ranges before freeze-up. All require good planning and a determined, cohesive and talented team. All three canoeists have a variety of wilderness safety qualifications.

They met originally at Taylor Statten Camps in Algonquin Park,

The Iceman (of Bennington Heights) cometh and makes winter fun

by SHIPRA VYAS

Every neighbourhood has its characters – those people who quietly do things that make a place feel like a community. In our corner of Bennington Heights, that person is Scott Reynolds. Around here, he has another name too: the Iceman.

For the past four winters, Scott has taken it upon himself to build and maintain a neighbourhood outdoor skating rink. Over time it has grown into something much bigger – a gathering place for kids, families and neighbours during Toronto’s long winter months (only recently ended).

Running a neighbourhood rink is not as simple as flooding some ice and hoping for the best. Each season Scott obtains the permit from the City, coordinates with the local tennis club so the lights can stay on after dark and works with Bennington Heights Elementary School so students can also use the rink in a more formalized way.

Scott Reynolds

First Skate, 2026

A real commitment

Then there is the real work: flooding, shovelling, smoothing and maintaining the ice through Toronto’s unpredictable winter. Scott also helps coordinate neighbours who come out to lend a hand.

After heavy snowfalls, neighbours often wake up to find the rink already cleared. On warmer days

Scott is out adjusting the ice. Other evenings he is flooding it again under the lights…which makes skating feel even more magical.

Much of the equipment comes from Scott himself. Anyone who knows Scott, or his wife, has likely heard about his ever-growing list of rink equipment purchases. Each year the collection grows. This year’s acquisition? A blowtorch.

The commitment is real. Maintaining a rink means watching the weather closely and staying one step ahead of it. Scott has even been known to rearrange his personal weekend plans to make sure the rink is in good shape for the neighbourhood.

But the real magic of the rink is what happens on top of the ice.

After school, kids show up with

hockey sticks and skates slung over their shoulders. Younger children wobble through their first attempts at skating. I know mine did.

Neighbours stop to chat along the edge of the rink while others circle the ice under the glow of the lights.

Over the years it has quietly become a small neighbourhood tradition – one which neighbours look forward to each winter.

Scott, true to form, never makes much of it.

What makes this story even more meaningful to me is the personal angle. I immigrated to Canada years ago and had never skated in my life. But watching the rink come alive each winter and seeing kids race across the ice and neighbours gather there eventually convinced me to buy my very first pair of skates.

That is the thing about great neighbours. They do not set out to consciously build traditions or community institutions. They simply show up, year after year, doing the work. Sometimes that is all it takes to build a community.

And sometimes, if you are very lucky, your neighbourhood gets an Iceman. n

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Divadale: what’s in a name?

Many Leasiders know that Divadale Drive takes its name from the magnificent Bayview estate once owned and occupied in the late 1930s-early 1940s by the millionaire American oil executive and soldier of fortune, Captain James Flanagan (18721950). Flanagan named his residence “Divadale” after his daughter Diva. While his fabulous mansion is long gone, the street itself, originally called Mitchell Avenue, has flourished and kept Diva’s name alive. Who was this mysterious woman after whom one of North Leaside’s best-known boulevards is named?

Poor little rich girl

Diva Flanagan was born in Denver, Colorado on June 6, 1921. Her parents were incredibly wealthy, and she lacked for nothing while

growing up. As a young girl, she attended elite boarding schools in California, Mississippi and Denver. When she was only seven, she accompanied her mother on a twoweek trip to Hawaii. As a 15-yearold student in Mississippi, her father arranged for her to meet President Franklin D. Roosevelt as he travelled through the state.

Despite her privileged position, Diva’s life was far from ideal. Her parents divorced in 1927, and she spent much of the time away from home at school. In a gesture that suggests resentment, she reportedly changed her name from Hazel (her mother’s name) to Diva soon after their separation. When she wasn’t attending school, she lived in Denver with her mother and saw her father only occasionally throughout the 1930s.

Visits Toronto

By then, Captain Flanagan had moved to Toronto where he served as president of the Andian National Corporation, Limited and was busy developing oil production operations in South America. It was during this time that Diva would visit him –often with her mother, despite the

I left my heart at Dante’s Pizza

Everything changed when my twin brother, Terry, and I entered Grade 7 at Bessborough. Suddenly, we had hit the big time! Our ranks swelled with the addition of the graduating Grade 6ers from Rolph Road – new boys and, even better, new girls.

After six years at Bessborough, we had finally reached senior school status; exciting times to be sure. We’d experience several milestones during the next two years – pivotal rites of passage – like our first school dance, our first “mixed” party (and I don’t mean the kind with presents and loot bags), our first unsupervised Friday night at Leaside Gardens, skating with, you know… girls! Could life get any better? We didn’t think so.

Suddenly, we were big shots and, as our confidence grew, we decided we could push the envelope a little and explore other new experiences that were typically off-limits,

Tim Fallis Columnist

even for two Grade 7 kids suddenly riding high and ready for anything! Terry and I suddenly decided our home meal plan was somewhat lacking and we should take matters into our own hands. Our thought was to clandestinely hit a restaurant on Bayview after school one day, without telling our folks, eat like kings (or at least like adults) and scurry home before we were missed. We had been saving our allowance for a good six years (at 15¢ per week, it took that long) and were ready to spend it. Our first trip to a restaurant, by ourselves, spending our own

money, without our parents even knowing, was almost as compelling as slow-dancing in the gym on Valentine’s Day! Our plans quickly took shape.

We hadn’t saved enough to eat at The Yeoman Steak House, a fixture on Bayview for years. That was probably just as well given that making a credible phone reservation with our pre-pubescent Mickey Mouse voices might have been a challenge. We realized that a more casual spot would be cheaper, faster and safer. And then it struck us like a lightning bolt – Dante’s Pizza!

Our choice

Dante’s was a small, dark, unassuming pizza joint on the west side of Bayview, just south of Manor Road. It was open in the afternoon with no reservation required – perfect! We told our mom that we wanted to stay after school to play baseball and wouldn’t be home until after 5:00. Check. We mapped out a circuitous route up to Dante’s, even sneaking through the sketchy laneway behind the stores, lest our mom or a neighbour caught sight of us while out running errands (the Leaside neighbourhood watch network in the ’70s was a sophisticated machine). Double-check. In our pockets, we had just over $5 in change that was so heavy we had to hold up our pants throughout our trek to Bayview. Check, check, check.

We arrived undetected and quickly entered Dante’s. Once our eyes adjusted to the dark, we sat down at a table not really sure what to do next. A waiter named Gary approached (clearly Dante was busy), and took our order, but only after confirming that we had enough money to proceed. Our small pizza cost $3.95 so we were good to go. It was the best pizza we had ever eaten. We thought we had it made, and our excitement meter was leaping into the red. With overflowing confidence, I grabbed a quarter from our remaining funds and swaggered over to the juke box. I messed up the push button programming to the point that, instead of hearing America belt out Horse With No Name, we were serenaded by Tony Bennett singing I Left My Heart in San Francisco –truly embarrassing. The other patrons just shook their heads.

Leaside boasts its very own doctor of peace

by MITCH BUBULJ

Leasider Alka Kumar is our resident doctor of peace – literally. With a Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies, she is a senior research fellow and project coordinator at the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in migration at Toronto Metropolitan University. She leads roundtable discussions, mentors, consults, blogs regularly and volunteers, all in the name of social justice. Alka promotes positive peace, an environment which, she says, “fosters community wellbeing, mutual respect, social justice and equality.”

Born and raised in Delhi, she says her family valued education. This may account for her own scholarly curiosity and achievements. Alka’s first doctoral degree involved investigating the major fiction of Doris Lessing. She explains that she initially studied Lessing’s writings when doing her Master of Philosophy in Literary Studies at Delhi University. “In class we read The Golden Notebook , which had a profound effect on me what with its anti-war and pro-femi-

nist themes.” Lessing won the Nobel prize for literature in 2007, only the 11th woman to have done so at the time. Alka was fortunate enough to visit Lessing at her home in England

“where we had a cup of tea together and an unforgettable chat.” Alka has a fire and energy that is uniquely her own. She has taught at a high school in Delhi, at a girls’ secondary school in London, UK while her husband did a twoyear stint in hematology at Guy’s Hospital, and for many years at Delhi University, her alma mater. Not to mention raising her family – a daughter and son – during these early busy years.

Canadian connection

Around 2000 Alka first became aware of academic opportunities in Canada. She explains that “colleagues at Delhi University were talking about the Shastri IndoCanadian Institute, which provides fellowships to gain firsthand research experience in Canada in a field of expertise.” Having a healthy curiosity in “learning how things are happening” in other countries, she applied for and won a millennial fellowship to the University of Toronto. She found the experience so rewarding that she ended up returning for short academic stays within a matter of years – to McGill and again to the U of T. As fate would have it, her husband accepted a position as a hematologist at the University of Manitoba in 2008. There Alka completed her second Ph.D., focusing on migration,

Dr. Ben Chan is Leaside’s physician musician

Steve Hardy Columnist

As a physician, musician and teacher, Dr. Ben Chan – Dr. Ben – has spent his life listening to people, their stories and the songs he has long kept tucked quietly in the background while life moved swiftly around him.

“The core of what we do in medicine is listening,” says the 61year-old primary care physician and experienced emergency room doctor. “We try to understand where people are coming from, to show empathy and to recognize the emotional side of what they’re experiencing.”

A physician and healthcare leader, Dr. Ben has spent decades caring for patients in 97 communities across Canada and around the world. Alongside a career in med-

“Songwriters write songs, but they really belong to the listener.” — Jimmy Buffett.

icine, teaching, public service and global health, he has been quietly building another life shaped by a lifelong love of music.

“I took vocal lessons from Melody School of Music in Leaside,” he says. “In the two years of intensive online coaching during Covid, my vocal coach Aksana transformed my voice.”

A Leaside resident since 2001 (along with wife Julia Schindeler and sons Adin and Ethan), he has stepped more fully into his musical passion over the past five years, sharing songs that were years –sometimes decades – in the making.

Mastering a fifth career

He jokingly calls music his fifth career, but there is nothing casual about the way he approaches it. Music has been part of his world since childhood. He grew up in a musical family and picked up the guitar while at university.

“When I was a graduate student, I started writing my own music,” he says. Life, however, had other plans. He went on to study at some of the world’s leading institutions, completing a Master of Public Affairs at Princeton and a Master

Holy April! Savour these meals with meaning

by MITCH BUBULJ

For the first time Leaside Cooks is featuring not one but two “chefs,” each with strong local connections. It’s not a culinary smackdown, however, but a coming together and a celebration, which is fitting considering the time of year.

Find the recipes online by clicking the Leaside Cooks tab.

For many Leasiders, April is a month with religious significance. This year Passover and Easter overlap. So, with that in mind, on the menu are Gieselle Baerveldt’s roast leg of lamb, South African style and courtesy of her Ouma (grandmother in Afrikaans), and Stacey Cline’s almond cake with cardamom and pistachios, still warm from her “kosher for Passover” kitchen.

Good friends Gieselle and Stacey have chosen recipes that have been in their families for generations and are full of fond memories.

Passionate for Pesach baking

“It’s all about eggs!” Stacey jokes when talking about Passover baking.

Gieselle Baerveldt

and

Stacey Cline

“They always remind me of the similarity with Easter; eggs, after all, are powerful symbols of new life, rebirth and spring.”

A great baker, Stacey is also a public servant with a rich history, much of it connected with Leaside. After graduating from Queen’s, Stacey’s first job was constituency assistant for John Godfrey, who served as our MP from 1993 until his retirement from politics in 2008. She taught in the Jane and Finch area for a decade and last March was elected our TDSB trustee, just months before the provincial government shut out the trustees. (See Leaside Life: Elected, Silenced, August 2025.) She is now Councillor Mike Colle’s director of policy and stakeholder engagement.

The Passover story, Stacey explains, “is about freedom, justice and taking a stand against oppression.” Dietarily it is a time of restrictions. “As with other religions, in Judaism we sacrifice in order to remember,” she says. In this case it means no flour or similar grains. It makes baking a challenge. Being observant, Stacey cleans and clears her fridge and pantry to create a “kosher for Passover” kitchen just as her mom did before her. Her recipe for almond cake with cardamom and pistachios is easy to make. “It is moist, aromatic and heavy on the eggs!” she enthuses. “The cardamom adds an exotic Persian infusion to this coffee cake that is great for Passover or any time of the year.”

Easter South African style

Orange Free State. “The lamb was always part of the big Easter meal served after church; I recall multiple generations around the table and Eurika’s saying grace before we ate.”

The fragrant meal includes onions that caramelize in the slow cooker, creating a tasty gravy.

“Do you want the Cape Malay recipe or the slow roast herb method? My Ouma was famous for both lamb dishes at Easter,” says Gieselle. We opt for the slow roast leg of lamb with herbs. Gieselle moved to Canada from South Africa when she was a child but still remembers Easter dinners and her energetic Ouma, named Eurika, who was born on a farm in the

“Professional

“Towards the end you add potatoes; most South Africans don’t see potatoes as a starch but more as a vegetable, so they are served at most meals,” Gieselle explains. The herbs give the recipe its taste as well as its aroma; Gieselle’s calls for rosemary, thyme, garlic, chili peppers and coriander seeds. South Leaside is where she is raising her family and where she keeps her Ouma’s traditions alive. Like Stacey and Gieselle, the almond cake with cardamom and pistachio and the slow roast leg of lamp with herbs pair well. They have much in common and like a good, warm friendship, refresh the soul. n

Susan Scandiffio Columnist

Bring on summer at NorthLine Sports

As we inch closer to warmer temperatures, thoughts inevitably turn to all things sunny! While we might have a little while before we take up summer activities and hit the water, it’s never too early to be prepared.

For everyone from newbie to pro, and youth to adult, NorthLine Sports in Leaside offers everything you need for water sports equipment as well as biking and skateboarding.

Into water skiing, wake boarding, paddle boarding, kite surfing, kayaking, windsurfing and other water sports? NorthLine can be your onestop destination.

The store also has you covered for PFDs (personal floatation devices), sunscreen, sandals, biking needs, tuneups and repairs. And while we’re still hovering in slightly colder

conditions, NorthLine also offers all things ski and snowboard along with clothing, backpacks and more.

Located at 109 Vanderhoof Ave., NorthLine is actually a merger between two longtime and trusted

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companies, Boardsports and Sport Swap. With a massive 9,000 sq. ft. of retail, the store has both new and used gear for all ages, from kids to adults.

To keep the equipment costs for your growing youth in check, NorthLine offers a two-year Junior Half Back Program. Any new or used junior bike, ski, board or boot can be returned in the two years from date of purchase and qualifies for a credit of half the original pur-

The store also has swap events for all age groups taking place multiple times a year and offers a great opportunity to sell your items or pick up used equipment for a good price. Upcoming swaps will take place on May 23, June 20 and August 29.

According to NorthLine’s general manager, Eric (“Mac”) McKinnon, “the key to Northline is that our staff are all riders. We take part and love the sports that we offer, and take pride in helping our customers get the right gear so that they can have as much fun as we do, and

Staff offer customers expert advice, help them choose gear tailored to their needs, ensure correct fitting and provide instruction on how to set up and maintain equipment to

And if you’re wondering about including all your family members in your summer fun, NorthLine also offers PFDs for your dogs.

Dhillon’s Karahi warms the soul with dishes from the Punjab

by MICHELLE ILLIATOVITCH

Tucked between the TD bank and White Pia Cleaners at the corner of Moore and Bayview, at 1213 Bayview Ave., is Dhillon’s Karahi, a delightful and delicious Indian restaurant boasting “Ancient Indian Flavors for your cravings” that opened three years ago. (Karahi is a cooking pot made of cast iron that’s similar to a wok.)

When I lost the use of my kitchen during renovations, I frequented Dhillon’s to help me through that stretch. Recently, over a chai masala, I had the opportunity to learn more about the two men behind the food I’ve grown to love.

Dhillon and Jagan Singh are the brothers behind Dhillon’s. They grew up in the Punjab region in northern India where their father owned two restaurants, specializing in traditional Indian cuisine. As boys they spent time at the restaurants, and when they became older their father started teaching them about cooking

and making Indian food properly. When it came time to decide about career paths, both boys went far afield in their choices. Dhillon chose to become a pharmacist, while Jagan, three years younger, went into business and management. At some point Dhillon began thinking about immigrating. He decided on Canada and moved here in 2016 because he wanted to live in a multicultural society and felt that life here would be calmer than where he grew up. Once here he continued his studies but also worked in the restaurant sector, going from fast food places to other more sophisticated ones. After two years he convinced his brother to join him in Canada.

Jagan also gravitated to the food sector and moved from Thai and Indo-Chinese to Middle Eastern cuisines. He worked with some fine chefs and built on the skills and knowledge he learned from his father. It became apparent to both brothers that although they had other training, which would likely provide a higher income, their passion was working with food with a goal of opening their own restaurant. As they told me, “It makes us happy.” Once they decided to open a

Join Leaside’s opposition to fourplex’s garden suite

The stretch of Eglinton between Bayview and Laird is punctuated by the presence of a four-storey “Tower of Babel” at the corner of Rumsey Road. This project is associated with the culling of a honey locust tree in the rear yard last June – an action that is under investigation by the City. This occurred just after an application for minor variances was approved at the Committee of Adjustment, to facilitate moving the building forward on the lot, specifically to protect the tree.

In July 2025, an application was submitted for variances to permit a garden suite, a second building in the rear yard in the clear space newly freed up by the removal of the tree. The North York Committee of Adjustment approved the application on Oct. 23, 2025, with some amendments, despite several letters of objection and deputations from residents, and a letter of strong opposition from Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin.

At the Nov. 12, 2025 meeting, City Council adopted a Member’s Motion

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Good Friday April 3 at 10:30am

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April 24 at 6pm

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Geoff Kettel Saving Old Leaside

Management Conference was scheduled to be held on March 27, 2026.

We need your help

The Leaside Residents Association has agreed to be a Party in opposition to the appeal and has hired a lawyer and a planner. This is where you come in. Hiring a lawyer and planner costs money. Please consider making a special donation to the LRA for this cause. The LRA board believes the community needs to be actively represented in fighting against the application.

by Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin to appeal the Committee of Adjustment decision to the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB). The City will be a Party at the hearing. The Case

The garden suite does not fit the lot – with four family-size units there needs to be open space, as well as space for waste management and storage needs. But in addition, there are special circumstances in this case – the culling of the tree and construction safety issues under investigation, which are not consistent with the values most Leasiders hold and respect. n

Millwood Mystery: Who’s behind the flyer?

by GEOFF KETTEL

As noted in my December 2025 column in Leaside Life1, the application at 922 Millwood Rd. for an eight-storey mid-rise development has sat…and sat…and sat, until the City’s community consultation meeting on the application in December 2025.

could use the personal information provided for nefarious reasons.

ON DEVELOPMENT

In early March this year, several residents in the immediate area received a flyer in their mailboxes, headlined “Important Notice for Neighbours” and asking for neighbours to “get involved” in the development by clicking on a QR code to sign a “community statement” and “join a WhatsApp group.”

However, what puzzled several people was that nowhere was there a contact name or address for “the undersigned residents of Millwood community.” The lack of transparency about the authors of this flyer raises a public safety concern: the possibility that an anonymous group

Speaking as co-president of the Leaside Residents Association, we share those concerns. Encouragement to participate – sure – but the author(s) of the flyer must identify themselves. We recommend not clicking on the QR codes on the flyer. Meanwhile, as noted, the application continues to sit…and sit. …But, be assured that, if and when it does start to move, either forward for consideration by Community Council, or appealed by the applicant to the Ontario Land Tribunal, the LRA will be actively encouraging involvement in the process, as well as directly representing the community as necessary. n

1 Issue #164 December 2025

Big, bigger, better at vacant Millwood site? https://leasidelife.com/ big-bigger-better-at-vacant-millwood-site/.

Public Registration Opens: April 20, 2026

From time to time, the word “NIMBY” gets thrown around when people talk about Leaside. You know the term: “Not In My Backyard.”

The implication, of course, is that residents here care a wee bit too much about what happens in their neighbourhood. But maybe there’s another way to look at it. Maybe the real meaning of NIMBY in Leaside isn’t “Not In My Backyard.” Maybe it’s simply this: “This is MY backyard. And I care what happens here.”

LEASIDE RESIDENTS SURVEY

When we speak together, people start to listen

Let’s be honest. Most people don’t wake up in the morning excited to fill out a survey. Yes, the survey takes about 10-12 minutes (eight if you’re

What makes Leaside special?

Because when people pay attention to their neighbourhood, when they speak up about traffic congestion, development pressures, parks, schools, and the character of the community, what they are really trying to do is help to shape the place they care about and choose to live in.

Strong neighbourhoods usually grow from exactly that kind of caring and involvement. Which brings us to a small request.

Beginning April 1, residents across Leaside are invited to take part in the Leaside Residents Survey, a community listening effort designed to better understand what people believe is working well in the neighbourhood and where we should be paying more attention as Leaside continues to grow and evolve.

What could improve?

The results will be shared publicly with the community at Leaside Day on May 23 at Leaside Memorial Community Gardens, where residents will be able to see what neighbours have said about the future of the neighbourhood.

Is traffic getting worse?

Do you feel safe in Leaside?

quick!), but we think it’s worth your time. All responses are private and confidential and will only be reported in aggregate. The aim is to create a clearer picture of what residents believe matters most in our own backyard –from mobility and safety to parks, development, recreation, and community life as we look ahead.

When a community speaks with a clearer collective voice, it also becomes easier to identify shared priorities and move ideas forward. In that sense, the survey is more than a set of questions. It’s an opportunity for the neighbourhood to express what matters most to the people who live here.

Taking part is easy. Residents will have several ways to complete the survey: by scanning the QR code on this issue, through Leaside Life online, through a delivered invitation to random select households across the neighbourhood, or in -person with our team at selected community locations over weekends in April. The survey will remain open until April 30.

So, if Leasiders really do care about what happens in their own backyard, this is an excellent time to show it.

After all, this is our backyard. What do we want it to look like five or even 10 years from now? What are the things about Leaside we should protect and nurture? What could stand to improve? And if we care enough to have opinions, shouldn’t we take 10 minutes to share them? Glenn Asano, Business of Leaside Columnist. n

20 questions. One possible answer.

by DAVID CRICHTON

As you may know, when I write these stories, they’re about events unfolding around me in the neighbourhood. More often, though, as is my luck, they are happening to me. But every now and then, there are little moments that are neither, really. They no doubt have a backstory – a reason for being – and are probably part of some larger story. Just not mine. Yet. Some of these moments leave me incredulous. Others make me scratch my head. Few, if any, seem to have answers. Likely, some of them are ones you’ve pondered, as well.…

1. Why do people walk two or three abreast on the sidewalk but expect me, by myself, or with Jerry the Wonder Mutt in tow, to walk on the street or a front lawn, as they pass?

2. Why are the tires on the food couriers’ e-bikes almost always nearly flat?

3. Why do people stop outside the Starbucks in the Smart Centre and block traffic rather than park just

20 feet away in a proper space?

4. Why do the teens at Leaside High drive 60 km/h, or more, down Vanderhoof, Rumsey, Hanna and Parklea with Mom and Dad’s car on their way to, or from, school?

5. Why is it most often Leasiders who are guilty of the “Leaside Roll” at the stop signs?

6. Why do Amazon drivers need to blast their music with their doors open as they chuck, toss and practically dropkick parcels onto our front stoops?

7. … All while on the phone, talking in their “Yelly-Voice”? (There is an upside to this, however: I cancelled my Duolingo subscription and can now say “Please don’t throw it!” in four languages.)

8. Why do the same drivers put packages and boxes up against the storm door, effectively creating

a doorstop that forces me to get down on all fours and reach my hand through a crack in the door, to push it away?

9. Why do so many stores, shops and bank branches with double doors insist on keeping one of these doors locked – usually the righthand exit – causing me to pancake my face against the glass?

10. Why is the new sidewalk snowplow’s shovel, now retired for the season, wider than the sidewalk?

11. And why can’t the plow operator drive in a straight line…and stop chewing up front lawns, sheering off sprinkler heads, ripping out small fences and knocking bricks out of retaining walls?

12. Is it all an elaborate scheme on their part to drive up the stock price of the company they own that makes those yellow reflective guide sticks people have resorted to using?

13. Why are the speed bumps on Glenvale seen as speed JUMPS by some drivers?

14. Why does the northwest corner of Bessborough and Parkhurst have a faint whiff of manure from late spring to late fall?

15. Why does the crossing guard at Hanna and Parkhurst blow her whistle even when she is the only one crossing the road and no cars are present?

16. Why are there so many miniature signs on lawns, at dog height, that read “No Dogs,” when dogs can’t read?

17. Why does the garbage truck keep driving with my bin in his side claw, thereby dropping it in front of my neighbour’s house? (Usually on its side.)

18. In the name of fuel efficiency and time, why aren’t North Leaside’s garbage days the same as South Leaside’s?

19. Why do I need a garbage tag for excess bags of garbage, but not for excess recycling?

20. And finally, why is there a “dead” zone at Parkhurst and Rumsey on Google Streetview?

Maybe this last question is the only one that has an answer, one that actually explains the other 19; Perhaps it’s a portal to another dimension – a parallel Leaside universe with no rolling stops, where the sidewalk snowplow is the proper width. And where, Jerry believes, dogs can read. n

Helping you enhance the beauty and function of your natural space.

It’s time for us to stand side by side

On March 2nd, 19 gunshots were fired at Temple Emanu-El. The attack came days after shootings at several Jewish businesses in North York and was soon followed by gunfire at two more Toronto-area synagogues, and then an attack on the U.S. consulate.

The attack on Temple Emanu-El took place on Purim, a joyful holiday when families gather. Taken together with the other incidents, it is difficult not to see this as a targeted act of antisemitism. I keep thinking about how different the outcome could have been had this happened only a few hours earlier, while families were still celebrating. The thought is chilling.

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Sadly, this is not the first time a Jewish institution in Don Valley West has been attacked. Kehillat Shaarei Torah – just a few blocks from Temple Emanu-El – has been vandalized 10 times since Oct. 7, 2023. And this rise in antisemitism is not limited to our ward. Toronto Police Service data show incidents of antisemitic hate have surged over the last two to three years and remain the most common form of religious hate reported in our city.

The spread of hate carries emotional, physical and economic costs. Since 2023, the City of Toronto has spent $30 million per year on protest-related policing and protections for religious spaces. These measures are essential – recent events make that painfully clear – but they also mean resources are pulled from other critical areas. City council has passed bubble-zone legislation to ensure access to religious spaces and recently voted unanimously to establish an intergovernmental task force on antisemitism to improve reporting, accountability and coordination.

After the third synagogue shooting, all levels of government came together in solidarity at a press conference. The federal government announced a $10 million commitment to enhance security at synagogues across Canada. Bill C-9 is also on the table, proposing clearer guidance for law enforcement as to when and how to proceed when free speech devolves into incitement of violence, hate or terrorism. All parties must support measures that help protect Canadians and uphold a safe, inclusive society.

But there is more to do. Misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly online, particularly when amplified by unverified

external sources. Combating these factors requires not only education and media literacy, but also strong communities and neighbours who speak up to support one another.

Last fall, after the 10th attack on Kehillat Shaarei Torah, I formed a Ward 15 interfaith group to build bridges between local faith communities. What began as quiet relationship-building has now grown into Interfaith Action, where we work shoulder to shoulder to strengthen our community.

Over the past few months, and especially after the shooting at Temple Emanu-El, many residents reached out, concerned about what they’re seeing and eager to help. At my March coffee morning at the Leaside Longo’s, we spoke openly about the rise in antisemitism and the importance of standing together. As a result, we are expanding our efforts to include residents of all backgrounds. Some will join from a place of faith; others simply want to meet their neighbours and contribute to a stronger, kinder community. If you’d like to be included in upcoming gatherings, please email my office and we will add you to our list.

Changing the trajectory we are on will not be easy. It will take an all “hands on deck” effort – a commitment from every level of government, political party, and neighbourhood. When one community is repeatedly targeted, it threatens the very fabric of the free and democratic society that protects us all. Aside from our Indigenous Peoples, nearly all of us or our ancestors came to this city, this province, and this country to build a better life. We must work together to ensure that remains possible for all, including our Jewish residents.

It’s time for us to stand side by side – deliberately and visibly – to build the Toronto we want. And we can start that work right here in Ward 15 - Don Valley West.

To help Temple Emanu-El rebuild, please consider donating at https:// www.templeemanuel.ca/give. n

Contest time! Calling all nature and photography lovers

One freezing winter day, with plumes of smoke escaping chimneys, three environmental advocates gathered to chat about volunteering with Ward 15’s Don Valley West for Environmental Action (DVW4EA). This congenial band of DVW4EA activists – Janet Young, Jonathan Dostrovsk, and Karen Mergler –along with other volunteers are dreaming of warmer days and anticipating dozens of green space photos that will arrive in DVW4EA’s inbox to be entered in their annual photo contest. Opened March 21st, you have until June 21st to submit your entry with a maximum of five photos of ravines and wild spaces in Ward 15 taken in spring 2026. Full contest rules and guidelines are on DVW4EA’s site.

Andrew A. Sudano

The contest was created to highlight what’s beautiful and unique in our ward’s parks and ravines, the places we know and the ones we may not yet have discovered. Head out into Ward 15’s and surrounding ravines like the Don Valley system, Toronto Botanical Gardens to E.T. Seton Park, Moore Park ravine to Don Valley Brickworks, and Lawrence Park ravine where the green space was officially unveiled as Jaye Robinson Park last year. Create your masterpieces and see your photos posted on their website’s map.

With over 10 years experience, we are in a strong position to help. The first step to putting your problems in the rearview mirror is a phone call away.

In conversation, the DVW4EA activists lamented the environmental and housing costs of heating poorly insulated homes and buildings in Leaside and beyond. They all agreed, “We’re thrilled that, along with the many other Green Neighbours Network organizations, we’ve influenced Toronto’s decision-makers resulting in the City committing to a number of environmental actions.”

Among them is this initiative, described on the City’s site: “The TransformTO Net Zero Strategy: Action Plan (2026-2030) was approved by Council on December 17, 2025. Informed by the public consultation, the report focuses on

JUNE 21!

opportunities with greater impact on greenhouse gas emissions reductions and advances critical steps to net zero.” (View the staff report at IE26.3: https://secure.toronto.ca/ council/agenda-item.do?item=2025. IE26.3.)

Karen, Janet and Jonathan praised our local eco-conscious politicians for their enthusiastic and continued support of environmental initiatives: MP Rob Oliphant, MPP Stephanie Bowman and Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin, who was singled out for her tireless environmental committee work with Toronto’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee and new tree protection initiative.

The DVW4EA trio invite more Leasiders to consider joining them as volunteers and to keep an eye out for a repair café soon to be announced on their website. n

Links: Don Valley West for Environmental Action: https://dvw4ea.ca/ Green Neighbours Network: https://gnntoronto.ca/ City of Toronto: https://www. toronto.ca/services-payments/waterenvironment/net-zero-homes-buildings/ key-city-strategies-for-net-zero-buildings/.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Meet your community clubs and organizations

• Leaside anniversary cake

• Kids activities and contests

• Art and photo exhibit

• Leaside historical display

• Music, treats and special guests

• Leaside Residents Survey results

by MITCH BUBULJ

Patience with pollinators pays off

Anna Monaldi knows well what we have suspected all along: the gardens of our parents’ generation –tidy flower beds full of roses, lavender, lupins and foxglove, known as horticultural plantings, surrounded by manicured lawns – are not sustainable. And she is doing something about it.

“There is movement away from controlled beds full of foreign species to native or pollinator gardens (habitat gardens) bursting with indigenous varieties of flowers and ornamental grasses; this new attitude reflects a paradigm shift,” says Anna. “On the ground, though, and in practical terms it’s an incremental shift, a slow process which starts with committing to the change at home and choosing plants wisely.” She points out that societally we value healthy ecosystems and so “logically we should embrace a garden with a wild aesthetic – one created with intention.”

Since 2020 when Anna started her own landscape design busi -

LEASIDE GARDENING

ness, Anna Monaldi Designs, she’s been transforming Leaside, one garden at a time. Born and raised in South Leaside, Anna studied physics at Dalhousie University.

“My summer jobs during university were with landscape and gardening companies that serviced Leaside.” Those hands-on jobs were part of the reason she decided to swerve from the applied sciences and an engineering career to horticulture. After Dalhousie, she enrolled at Ryerson (now TMU) in their landscape design program.

An epiphany

At 21 she had an epiphany. It wasn’t just her summer jobs that nudged her in the right direction.

“Growing up, I camped at Algonquin Park with my family and spent many summers in a rural village in the mountains of central Italy with grandparents; from a young age I learned to love nature,” she says.

Anna is encouraged by the native plantings she now sees during her Leaside walks. She is also emboldened by the number of clients asking her to convert their gardens, filling them with rudbeckia, echinacea, Canada goldenrod and bottlebrush grass. “I have noticed that people have good intentions and start their habitat gardens only to give up because they find the design and maintenance to be hard work,” she confides. For this reason, she offers DIY garden guides on her website, many of which cost under $20. She is also happy to work with clients who would rather leave the digging to her.

She has recently teamed up with another young Leaside entrepreneur, Jason Hopkins, who specializes in landscape construction. His company, Resilient Earthscapes, complements well with Anna Monaldi Designs.

Anna’s career about-face even found international recognition. She explains that “during

Covid lockdown I listened to the Wall Street Journal podcasts; one episode asked listeners to write in about their changing jobs during Covid, so I did.” Her story made the front page under the heading “Burned Out and Restless From the Pandemic, Women Redefine Their Career Ambitions.”

Using clear-eyed logic, Anna makes a strong case for creating native or pollinator gardens. “The benefits of habitat gardens are numerous,” she says. “They provide food and shelter for keystone species, helping to support healthy ecosystems. In simple terms, much of the food we eat depends on insects that pollinate plants – and those insects rely on native and pollinator plants to survive. Beyond their ecological function, these gardens are also beautiful and can create a sense of calm and connection to nature.”

Change is never easy; no one knows better than Anna. But she encourages all of us to be patient with our pollinators. And she is always happy to share her expertise in creating beautiful habitat gardens n.

with several years of canoe tripping. A key component of the camp method of portaging is to have three in a canoe, so when they are on a portage, one person can carry the canoe, while the other two carry the canoe bags – all in one go, without having to double back. Other efficiencies include eating at least two of their five daily meals while still paddling. One eats, while the other two paddle, without shifting seats. The meals have all been pre-planned with 12,000 calories per day for the three of them.

Everything is nearly in place for the April start. The route is planned. Food has been purchased. The 20 drop places for food replenishment have been established. All the expenses for the trip have been covered, either by corporate donations or personal funds. They’ve already raised $30,000 towards their $1 million target for True North Aid.

Follow the adventure and help these canoeists meet their fundraising goal at canadabycanoe.com n

We forced ourselves to finish every single slice and rolled out of Dante’s feeling stuffed but thrilled that we had actually pulled off this covert adult adventure. However, any adult would have realized that a big dinner at home was just half an hour away and might have timed our pizza party more intelligently. Upon arriving home, we had no option but to suck it up and dine again – which we did and somehow survived. Dante’s is long gone now but, for Terry and me, that Leaside after-school memory lives on. And, whenever we hear Tony Bennett’s famous tune, it takes us right back. n

Looking to grow your business in 2026? Advertising in Leaside Life can help. Contact Karli Vezina at leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com

Public symbol of Thorncliffe Park is privately owned

by JASON ASH

Most readers will be familiar with the iconic Thorncliffe Park sign at Overlea Boulevard and Millwood Road that has been a local landmark and gateway to the neighbourhood for nearly 70 years. But why is it there?

Is it a cenotaph honouring Canada’s veterans, like the one at Sunnybrook Hospital? Or is it a community sign, like the Welcome to Prince Edward County placard on Highway 401?

The famous sign that Thorncliffers refer to simply as “The Monument” was, in fact, privately built to advertise the Thorncliffe Market Place shopping centre at 45 Overlea Blvd., now called East York Town Centre.

THE BRIDGE

many years.

Built soon after the Thorncliffe Park racetrack had been demolished, after the Town of Leaside had annexed the land, Thorncliffe Market Place was one of the first enclosed malls in Canada and a popular destination for

For whatever reason, the original owners built what is undeniably a handsome, permanent structure, instead of a standard pylon sign advertising all the retail stores in their mall. It likely wasn’t that successful as a marketing tool, but what they built is fantastic.

An important symbol Undeniably, the monument has become a symbol of coming home to Thorncliffe Park. It appeared in postcards of Toronto, when those were still a thing. In the 1990s, it served as inspiration for the Borough of East York to reimagine Overlea Boulevard with placemaking public realm improvements, since partly removed by Metrolinx. It is even part of the logo of a local grassroots group.

All these decades later, the monument is still privately owned. And that could be a problem for its future existence.

The Thorncliffe Park Monument has not gone unchanged over the decades. Significantly, the original post-war era lettering was removed in the early 1990s and replaced with East York Centre , in a move that shocked many Thorncliffers at the time. The fate of the original Thorncliffe Park lettering remains unknown to this day.

Thankfully, the name Thorncliffe Park was restored to its rightful, prominent place on the monument in the early 2010s. For the community, it was a long wait given that the birth of Megacity Toronto had put an end to the concept of East York Centre in 1998. As the late Alan Redway told me, the reverse was thanks to the leadership of Councillor John Parker.

Monument at risk?

More recently, the monument’s future was threatened when Metrolinx announced the Ontario Line would be built over top of it. Thorncliffers spoke up, and Metrolinx moved their train line.

Sadly, the monument’s owner appears not to have maintained it for many years. Flowers never bloom from its planters in the summer. Its three spotlights have been out since last December, leaving it in the dark every night, and the owner seems to have ignored calls to 311 for over a year to remove graffiti from two of its sides.

The Thorncliffe Park Monument is our heritage and should be under public ownership so it can be maintained and shown the respect it deserves. n

restaurant, the obvious challenge was finding a suitable location. After researching various areas in Toronto, the brothers settled on Leaside because they saw it as a community within a larger city, where the people are friendly and care for one another. They were able to buy a small business that already had the required kitchen space plus the equipment they needed to begin. Their joy in their restaurant is clear the moment you walk in. Dhillon greets you with a warm and friendly smile. There is no doubt that you are welcome. The food also reflects their commitment to freshness and quality. At times it may seem that certain dishes take a bit longer to prepare, but that is because everything is made fresh when ordered. Almost all the dishes are from the Punjab with a few reflective of the cuisine of southern India. Along with the delicious pakoras I highly recommend their truly exceptional tandoori chicken. I, for one, am delighted that Dhillon’s Karahi is here in Leaside and I look forward to many more delicious meals and welcoming smiles. n

Earth Day, Leaside style

Who hasn’t heard of Earth Day? Officially, since its launch in 1970, April 22 is the day we’re supposed to “honour” the earth, participate in cleanups, and raise awareness and promote action to protect the environment and combat climate change. But this year, how about Earth Day, Leaside style? Team Leaside Life will be grabbing our gloves and joining Don’t Mess With Leaside team leaders Paul Bolté and John Scott on April 18 as we scour Leaside in a massive cleanup effort. Want to join the fun? Write to us at leasidelife@ gmail.com.

New tool for traffic alerts

Our good friends at the Leaside Business Park shared the launch of a traffic alerts tool they developed. It’s designed to help businesses, employees, residents, and visitors better navigate ongoing construction and transit disruptions in and around the Leaside Business Park. The online tool provides real-time, hyper-local updates on traffic conditions, road closures, construction impacts, and transit changes, all in one centralized location. The initiative supports day-to-

day planning by helping users anticipate delays, adjust routes, and reduce disruption caused by sustained infrastructure projects. Traffic and transit data displayed are sourced from external feeds, including the City, Metrolinx,

THE Curious

Idler

Ontario 511, and the TTC. The tool is currently available in a beta phase and is accessible to the broader community. In the future, traffic alerts sent by email will be offered as a benefit to

LBPA members, while the map function will stay available to all. The tool is available at https://leasidebusinesspark.com/traffic/.

I’m dreaming of… flaky croissants

The Idler was thrilled to see the return of a revamped Rahier, a Bayview staple for an astonishing 30 years! Our ’hood is blessed with a number of flaky buttery croissant options. In addition to Rahier on Bayview there are Bomou, Pâtisserie La Cigogne, and Epi, all with mouthwatering croissants. And just a little farther afield, on Mt. Pleasant, are Jules and Thobors. How to decide? Oh, and did we mention the wealth of independent coffee shop options, too?

Favourite crossing guard?

School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week is from June 1 to 4 this year, but why wait till then to tell your favourite crossing guard how much you appreciate them? The City’s School Crossing Guard Program is the largest of its kind in Canada. As of February 2026, there were 948 dedicated, trained school crossing guards supporting road safety across Toronto. According to the City, the program is one of the many under the City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. My personal favourite is Mike, who always helps the Idler cross Soudan and Cleveland, near Maurice Cody School. Our neighbourhoods have been well served by our crossing guards over the years. Notable among them:

• Elizabeth Savary: A 13-year veteran at Maurice Cody PS who was named one of Canada’s favourite crossing guards in 2019.

• Boris Cherkassky: Served at Bessborough Drive and Millwood Road (St. Anselm Catholic School).

• Mona Piper: A celebrated longterm crossing guard who served for 43 years at Millwood Rd. and Cleveland St.

Next time a crossing guard helps you navigate our intersections, don’t forget to let them know how much you appreciate them. n

Three days of hockey fun at inaugural Leaside House League Festival

by LISA VILLENEUVE

The Leaside Hockey Association (LHA) made history with its firstever Leaside House League Festival, an exciting three-day celebration of hockey that ran from Friday, Feb. 27 through Sun., March 1 at Leaside Memorial Community Gardens. The event brought together house league players, families, and fans for a packed weekend of fun hockey and community spirit.

Designed to foster camaraderie and friendly competition, the festival featured 50 house league teams from Leaside and other nearby hockey organizations with players ranging from U10 to U18. Half of the teams represented Leaside, while the other half were from associations based at North Toronto, Ted Reeve, and Scarborough. The arena buzzed from morning to night as parents, supporters, and local vendors filled the concourse, and teams battled it out in 45 games over the weekend. For some fans, the festival offered a first, exciting glimpse of the recently renovated and reopened Bert F. Grant Rink.

The action kicked off Friday evening with the U16/18 Leaside White team facing off against the North Toronto Green team, setting the tone with fast-paced play. Three other games rounded out the Friday

night slate, and Saturday and Sunday delivered wall-to-wall hockey from early morning until late evening both days. One standout moment came during a U14/U15 matchup between the LHA’s Team White and Team Yellow on Saturday. A tight 4-4 game had fans on the edge of their seats until it moved into a dramatic, sudden-death shootout, where both goalies rose to the challenge. Team White ultimately

clinched the victory, capping off one of the festival’s more exhilarating games.

With packed stands, the inaugural Leaside House League Festival proved to be an unforgettable weekend and a great event the LHA hopes to build on in future years. n

Leaside Rotary boosts electronics recycling

by CRAIG HUTCHISON

Leaside Rotary folks touring the facilities of Quantum Lifecycle Partners.

On April 18, 2026, Leaside Rotary will host its 13th annual Electronics Recycling Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East York Town Centre. Last year 5,040 lbs. of electronics were collected for recycling, including computers, printers, monitors, stereos, TVs, VCRs, batteries and many other items. All the electronics are recycled by our partner, Quantum Lifecycle Partners. Quantum operates state-of-the-art reuse and recycling systems that safely, securely and transparently break down old equipment into its reusable components and recycled commodities. Protecting the environment is one of the seven main causes Rotary International focuses on. The Electronics Recycling Day is a local community initiative that Toronto Leaside Rotary is proud to sponsor. If you want to make a positive change in your Leaside community and around the world, contact Toronto – Leaside Rotary at info@ torontoleasiderotary.com. n

PALM SUNDAY March 29th, 8am and 10am

MAUNDY THURSDAY April 2nd, 7:30pm

GOOD FRIDAY April 3rd, 10am

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

EASTER SUNDAY April 5th, 8am and 10am

divorce. One visit took place in early 1933, another in October 1934 and another in October 1938. She visited him again in May 1939 with her grandmother, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth came to Toronto. Captain Flanagan, who had amazing connections, arranged for them to meet the royal couple. Soon after arriving at Divadale, however, Diva’s grandmother died of a heart attack and the meeting presumably never took place.

A disastrous marriage

After graduating from the University of Denver in 1944, Diva went to live with her father in Palm Beach. The captain had sold Divadale and now resided in Florida. It was there that she met Anthony John Bittson, who was almost 30 years her senior, was married previously and had a child. A successful engineer and “exporter,” he also claimed to be a Russian prince who had personally known Rasputin, Trotsky, Lenin and Stalin. Diva fell madly in love. She married Bittson in April 1945, less than four months after meeting

and despite strong opposition from her father.

The couple settled in affluent Great Neck, Long Island and by 1951 had two children – both boys. During that time, Captain Flanagan died, leaving 60 per cent of his vast fortune to Diva. She was now a very wealthy woman. Soon afterwards the marital problems started.

By September 1953, the couple had already separated following an argument during which Bittson assaulted Diva as she was trying to leave their house. Weeks later, despite a restraining order, he took their two boys and flew with them to Lisbon, Portugal. For the next several years, Diva pursued a protracted court battle for custody. She eventually moved to Lisbon in the mid-1950s to be closer to her children whom the Portuguese courts had placed under third-party protection. She died there in 1962 at age 41. The death certificate listed pneumonia as the cause, but there were rumours that foul play may have been a factor.

Thus ended the troubled, tumultu-

Flanagan, age 33, at

of her custody

ous life of Diva Flanagan Bittson –the poor little rich girl who gave her name to a Leaside street.2 n

1 See Jeanne Hopkins, “Divadale Drive,” Leaside Life January 2018.

2 Sources consulted for this article consisted of online primary and secondary material available through such outlets as the Toronto Public Library and ancestry.com . The author would also like to thank Mitch Bubulj for providing important observations contributing to this article.

by STAN FLEMMING

Under 25? – We want you!

This June, Leaside Life is handing the mic over to the next generation. Our June 2026 issue will be a special Youth edition – dedicated entirely to the voices, creativity, and perspectives of people under 25 in our community. From writing and photography to artwork, poetry, and editing, this issue will be created (largely) by youth, for the whole neighbourhood to enjoy.

Leaside Life has always been about sharing the stories of the people and businesses calling Leaside and Bennington Heights home. But too often, young contributors don’t get the chance to share their perspectives. This June, we’re changing that.

We’re inviting students and young adults to step forward and share what matters to them. Whether it’s a personal story, a take on local issues, a piece of creative writing or poetry, a local photo series, or original artwork – we want to see it. No prior publishing experience is necessary. If you’ve got something to say

or create, we’ll help you bring it to life – the more personally Leasideor Bennington-related, the better! This issue is about celebrating

youth in Leaside – highlighting your ideas, your experiences, and how you see the community and the world around you. We’re also opening the door for young contributors to be part of the editorial

Stephanie Bowman

Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley West

process, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how a community publication comes together.

So, if you’re 5 or 25 – or you know someone who is – consider this your call to action.

Submit your writing. Share your photos. Send us your artwork or poetry. Pitch an idea for a column or simply reach out and tell us how you’d like to be involved.

Teachers, parents, and community leaders – we encourage you to help spread the word and connect us with young voices who deserve to be heard.

We are asking for your help to make this June issue something truly special – an edition that reflects the creativity and spirit of Leaside & Bennington’s youth.

And yes – this is your chance to see your name in print and online.

Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you!

Need more information of have something to submit? Email us at leasidelife@gmail.com or call us at 416-504-8047 x 120 with your idea. n

As your MPP, I remain committed to safeguarding our environment and championing sustainable solutions for our community. I hope you and your families enjoy the beautiful spring here in Leaside.

EDITOR

From Page 2

more attention as Leaside continues to grow and evolve.”

The 10-minute survey asks questions within five broad areas of interest: community life, mobility, neighbourhood and environment, development, and local economy. We know community is important to you, but how important, and in what ways? The pre-survey posted online has already garnered wide interest, so we’re anticipating a vigorous response to the survey.

Fittingly, we will be releasing the results of the Leaside Residents Survey on Leaside Day, May 23rd. I look forward to learning more about what community means to all of us.

Get involved, take the survey! Scan the code below. Remember, it’s only here for the month of April. n

Talkin’ ’bout my generation

by STEVEN DIMITROPOULOS

The perspective of mid-20s homebodies is something I rarely see addressed in community forums, but it is an increasingly important one. An article in the March issue of Leaside Life discussed shaping the neighbourhood over the next decade. If that conversation is truly about the future of Leaside, then the young adults who live here today deserve a seat at the table.

Leaside is often seen as a neighbourhood where people settle down and start a family. But the reality is that it’s becoming much more than that. With Toronto now one of the most expensive cities in North America, it’s increasingly difficult for people in their 20s to move out on their own. For those who grew up in Leaside, that often means staying put longer than expected. As a result, Leaside is no longer just a place to settle down, it’s becoming a place where young adults grow up and continue building their lives.

Economic changes today often happen faster than the time it takes

ANTIQUES WANTED

communities to adapt, and that is clearly the case here in Leaside. Not only are many people in their 20s unable to move downtown, but many are also choosing to stay local for recreation. A night out in the city can cost an arm and a leg, especially when you factor in transportation, like an Uber, both ways.

Because of this, many young Leasiders are spending their weekends in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, there isn’t much for us to do here. A lot of people my age end up at The Local’s happy hour or shooting pool at the Leaside Pub.

While Leaside thrives on community spirit, education, and athletics, I feel it lacks entertainment and recreational options for both young and established adults. The Local and McSorley’s run trivia nights once a week, the Leaside Pub hosts karaoke on Saturdays, and there are even a few golf simulators around the neighbourhood. They’re all a good start, but there’s room for so much more.

Leaside has plenty of space and potential for events like comedy shows, live music, art displays, and other gatherings. These are the kinds of activities that could bring people together across generations. Wouldn’t it be great to have some of the fun and energy of downtown right here in Leaside?

In fact, I know some guys around my age who have taken matters into their own hands, organizing clubstyle parties at The Local. Many of these events sell out, so that tells me there is real demand for local entertainment. Young adults clearly want more opportunities to socialize and have fun close to home. n

I asked. The Ombudsman investigated. The Ombudsman answered.

by GEOFF KETTEL

Back in my December 2024 column, I asked “will the Ombudsman investigate? I recently received a letter which explains that the Ombudsman Toronto (OT), an independent “accountability officer” in the City of Toronto, conducted an enquiry, an “independent and impartial look at the issues raised by the complaint through the lens of administrative fairness” into the City’s approvals of the 1837-1845 Bayview Ave. development application.

Background

Before we get into the OT’s findings, here is a quick summary of how we got to making our unusual request for an investigation:

• The Province, in approving the Yonge Eglinton Secondary Plan in 2019, increased the height limit for properties in the Bayview Focus Area to 20-35 storeys from the eight storeys proposed by the City, and the developer submitted

an application for a building of 25 storeys shortly afterwards.

• The neighbourhood organized a new entity, Bayview Broadway Good Planning , which partici -

pated in mediation with the City and the applicant, resulting in a settlement for 22 storeys, which was approved at City Council and affirmed by the Ontario Land Tribunal.

• Shortly thereafter, the developer applied to the Committee of Adjustment for “minor variances” for an additional five storeys. The Committee approved three storeys, as recommended by City Planning, bringing the building back to the height of the original submission, despite the mediated settlement among the three parties.

• The Ontario Government’s Bill 23 eliminated “third party” appeals in 2023, leaving the only avenue open to residents for appeal of the Committee of Adjustment decision as appeal by the City via a decision of City Council. However, at the time (2024) there was no sitting councillor because of Councillor Jaye Robinson’s death. Efforts to involve other councillors were unsuccessful.

• The Leaside Residents Association decided to submit a request for an enquiry to the Toronto Ombudsman to determine whether the City had followed due process.

The Ombudsman weighs in

The OT requires that the residents/ complainants must “allow the City a reasonable opportunity to resolve the complaint through its own complaint process” before their office would investigate. Hence a detailed list of complaints to City Planning was submitted to OT covering such matters as:

• The appropriateness of staff/ applicant negotiations on a submitted application resulting in a City-supported Committee of Adjustment application.

• The role, process and results of the Committee of Adjustment process.

• The appropriateness of the Committee of Adjustment’s consideration of the application in the first place.

The OT’s letter states that after considering the City’s responses to our letter, and the circumstances of our complaint, no further action from Ombudsman Toronto was required. They are satisfied that City Planning and development

review took reasonable steps to review the complaint and provided a reasonably detailed explanation to respond to the concerns. “In reviewing this response, we have not identified any fairness concerns that would require further review from our office.”

The letter notes also that the OT considered our concern about developers submitting applications to the Committee of Adjustment after already having obtained a size-specific zoning permission. “This is a policy question that was considered and dealt with through the political process. Ultimately, the Planning and Housing Committee chose not to take any further action on this question. We do not have jurisdiction over City Council or its committees, so we cannot review that decision.

The OT noted that they do not have the authority to make changes to provincial legislation and to direct any concerns about the powers of the Committee of Adjustment under the Planning Act to the provincial member of parliament. Finally, the OT noted that their enquiry into our complaint was concluded and determined that no further action was necessary.

Next steps?

So where does that leave us? We are forced to conclude that residents need to work together at all levels to assert our rights, and to oppose the loss of democratic rights over the last few years, such as the changes made by the Provincial government to eliminate residents’ appeals of Committee of Adjustment decisions regarding minor variances (and also of Official Plan amendments and Zoning Bylaw amendments to the Ontario Land Tribunal).

We need City Council to take a stand with Queen’s Park in pushing for reforms to the Planning Act, for example, to counter the abuse of process entailed in development applicants returning to the Committee of Adjustment to add the equivalent of a mid-rise building to a previously approved tall tower. In the end, it’s frustrating. These are serious issues that merit discussion in the upcoming municipal election. What do you think? Are you frustrated by the current process? We’d love to hear from you! n

Summer volunteer opportunities

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is now accepting applications for Summer 2026 volunteer opportunities. Work alongside our exceptional team as you make a meaningful contribution to aquatics, recreation, life skills, and rehabilitation programs for children and teens with disabilities. Full-time and part-time volunteer positions are available in July and August Applications are now open.

To learn more about our summer volunteer opportunities, please visit: www.hollandbloorview.ca/volunteer

PEACE From Page 12

while continuing to learn about community engagement and peace building. She worked with an agency that assisted skilled racialized immigrants to Winnipeg in navigating the labour market. “Their stories were very real to me since I had similar lived experiences. These realities became part of my Ph.D. studies.” She learned that skilled immigrants face barriers that are hard to overcome, including lack of Canadian work experience and regulatory bodies that fail to recognize foreign credentials. “I learned how important systems are to people’s everyday lives, to our success and failure; not till we have equitable structures in place can we truly have peace.”

Opportunities for peace

As COVID-19 opened doors to remote opportunities, Alka continued to work with a non-profit in Winnipeg as a project advisor for the Building Bridges Project. It brought together members of cultural communities in a roundtable format to explore traditional cultural systems for building peaceful communities. She has also been leading the national

Peace First, an organization bringing diverse communities together to explore what peace means to each of us, and why it matters. With special focus this year on youth from a variety of backgrounds joining roundtable conversations, she is excited about the safe space this can create – where young people can speak freely and listen closely to develop empathy and understanding. She sees her role as a facilitator, an elder, prompting conversations by asking “can there be peace without justice?”, “what does peace mean?” and “how can we ‘enact’ it in our daily lives?” The roundtables will be hosted in Regent Park, Jane and Finch, and Thorncliffe Park. And what to make of the conditions for peace in 2026? “It makes me angry,” she confides. “Too many world leaders act like bullies, which is retrograde to the promotion of peace.” It may make us want to become apathetic, but Alka’s solution reflects her strength, optimism and commitment to change: “it makes me more determined than ever to strive for peace because if I don’t, the bullies win!” n

EventsApril

DON’T MESS WITH LEASIDELEASIDE EARTH DAY

Join us to help keep Leaside beautiful! April 18...See article on page 3 and ad on page 13.

LEASIDE DAY - SAVE THE DATE!

Sat., May 23, 10:00 a.m.: Community Stakeholders/Leaders Conference: Networking, presentation of Leaside Residents Survey, special guest presentations.

1:00 p.m.: Leaside public celebration and mini-trade show: swag bags, special guests, activations, cake! Meet your community organizations, clubs, and associations at the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens/William Lea Room. See ad on page 31.

LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY

Speaker Series: Thu. Apr. 9, 7:00 p.m.

In-Person at the Leaside Library 165 McRae Dr. (Refreshments at 6:30 p.m.) Guest speaker: Jess Conley on Designing for Hummingbirds in the Urban Environment. The Society welcomes guests to join our meetings. Visit: http://www.leasidegardensociety. org or email: leaside@gardenontario. org for info.

LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH

822 Millwood Road 416 425 1253

Good Friday Concert Apr. 3 at 4:00 p.m. Fauré’s Requiem featuring chamber orchestra, choir and soloists.

Easter Sunday Apr. 5 at 10:30 a.m. Celebration with strings and trumpet. New Light, New Life: Jazz Vespers for Eastertide Apr. 26 at 4:00 p.m.

Awesome Sale Fri., May 8 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Sat. May 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Ad on pg. 35.

NORTHLEA UNITED CHURCH

125 Brentcliffe Road 416 425 5252 www.northleaunited.ca office@northleaunited.ca

Celebrate the Easter season: Palm Sunday Mar. 29 – 10:30 a.m. at Brentcliffe Road and online at Northleaunited.ca

Good Friday Apr. 3, 10:30 a.m. This year we spend Good Friday with our friends at Leaside Presbyterian at 670 Eglinton Ave E.

Easter Sunday Apr. 5, 10:30 a.m. back at 125 Brentcliffe Road!

Tiazé on Tues., Apr. 21 at 7:30 p.m. –some serenity in your busy week. Next date: May 19.

Wednesdays in April and more:

Chair Exercise – 6 sessions Apr. 8 - May 13 – 11:00 a.m. (no cost)

Line Dancing – 5 sessions Apr. 1 - 29 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. $50/person.

Community Choir – join any time and sing for fun – 7:30 -9:00 p.m. until May 6 (per person cost prorated).

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 pm in Lamb Hall. Suggested donation $5. Join us!

Spring Sale – Sat., Apr. 25, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Featuring: Art gallery, baking and preserves, BBQ on the Green, books and DVDs, jewellery, kitchenware, toys and games, treasures, you and home, and much more. See you at the Fair!

Collecting men’s and women’s clean and in good repair clothing for All Saints Church Community Centre (Dundas/ Sherbourne) – please, no underwear or socks. Put in a labelled bag please. See ad on page 38 for Easter services.

CFUW LEASIDE-EAST YORK

Thur. Apr. 16, 7:00 p.m. In person. Northlea United Church - 125 Brentcliffe Rd. Women in Politics & the Renewed Permission of Misogyny. Speaker: The Hon. Kathleen Wynne, 25th Premier of Ontario.

ST. AUGUSTINE'S ANGLICAN CHURCH

1847 Bayview Ave

Groove Room Coffee House Fri., Apr. 10, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Listen to great live music and have a coffee and dessert with friends. Pay what you can with 100% of the funds going to the Flemingdon Food Bank. We are looking for performers. Contact info@ saintaugustine.ca.

For Easter services, see ad on page 39.

LEASIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

670 Eglinton Ave. E. at Hanna Road

LPC Board Games Night

Fri. Apr. 24 in the gym. 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. (doors open 6:45 p.m.) Free admission. Snacks included. Bring your favourite game or play one of ours. For more info, email: LPC.gamesnight@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: April 12 10am-3pm Sports Card Show April 26 10am-3pm Sports Card Show

Wednesdays: April 8, 15, 22, 29

Duplicate Bridge Games and Lessons

Thursdays: April 9, 16, 23, 30

Duplicate Bridge Games and Lessons

For more information, please visit www.Torontobridge.ca

Free Adult Public Skating 11am – 12pm for adults (18+) only Tuesday, April 7, 21, 28 (cancelled April 14 for charity tournament) Thursday, April 2, 9, 16, 30 (cancelled April 23 for charity tournament)

Free Community Public Skating

Saturdays 5:15pm-7:15pm Saturday April 4, 11, 18 (cancelled April 25th) All ages welcome. Helmets mandatory for children 12 and under and recommended for all skaters. n

leasidelife.com

Editor: Jane W. Auster

Publisher: Lorna Krawchuk Webmaster: Erin Sorhaug

Graphic Design: Robin Dickie Advertising: Karli Vezina

FH Publishing Inc.

30 Commercial Rd., Toronto, Ontario M4G 1Z4

Comments, Letters to the Editor, Advertising Enquiries: Contact: 416-504-8047 Ext. 120

leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com leasidelife@gmail.com

Published monthly in Leaside, Toronto, ON. Circulation 10,000 to every home and business in Leaside & Bennington.

No part of the editorial content of this publication may be reprinted without the publisher’s written permission. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions. All advertising is subject to publisher’s approval. Such approval does not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised. Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising that does not meet the standards of the publication.

of Public Health at Harvard. He built a demanding professional life as a physician, academic and global health advo -

cate, working with organizations including the World Bank. Over the past 35 years, he has worked in many communities, often small or remote. Through all of it, his songs have stayed with him.

“There were bills to pay, family, career – all the responsibilities that come with adult life,” he says. “But I never forgot about my music. I never forgot about my dream.” His version of the classic I’ve Been Everywhere chronicles his travels.

In recent years, he began revisiting that dream in earnest, working with a producer and songwriting coach to refine older material and shape new songs. Some changes were subtle; others transformed the pieces completely. The result is a growing collection of releases now available on streaming platforms. Songs that are deeply personal, emotionally wide ranging and unequivocally Dr. Ben.

“I’ve found that moments of inspiration can be fleeting,” he says. “When they come, I have to drop everything and grab onto them. If I don’t, they disappear.”

His music often explores heartbreak, longing, and resilience –not because he lives in those emotions, he says, but because they reflect the full range of human experience.

His work as a physician has shaped his perspective. The emotional truths he encounters in healthcare often find their way into his music through metaphor and melody.

“There is a healing aspect to music,” he says. Sometimes he plays for patients in hospital settings; other times he performs on public stages, including a recent appearance at The Groove Room at St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church in Leaside.

For Dr. Ben, the journey has been gradual – karaoke, open mics, small gigs, and now larger opportunities. His advice to anyone considering a creative leap later in life is simple: go for it.

“It’s never too late to pursue a dream,” he says. “I’m planning on enjoying the trip as much as I can.” Visit drbenmusic.com for more information. n

Where luxury meets lifestyle, and every day feels like a resort getaway.

As we welcome the season of renewal and celebrate Easter, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what home truly means – comfort, community, and living well. At The Dunfield, residents enjoy upscale condo-style living with premium amenities, exceptional service, and the freedom to live life on their terms. Wishing you a joyful Easter.

Wishing you a joyful Easter. Scan our QR code or call 416-481-8524 to arrange a visit.

info@thedunfield.com | TheDunfield.com

Time for Toronto’s second official season – construction

As we spring into spring, somewhat battered by the winter we’ve just survived, we now confront Toronto’s “second official season”: construction! Everywhere in and around Leaside, high-rise buildings are under construction and roads are being torn up. Among the latter is Beth Nealson Drive, recently closed for up to two years (!) for construction of an underpass required by the Ontario Line. Directly affected by this are two through-Leaside bus routes, the 88A and 88B, both of which used Beth Nealson Drive. As well, there is a new temporary TTC route 156.

Notices have been sent out and publicized, complete with maps and diagrams. But if you read the announcements, you will notice that some essential information is missing: the actual service frequency of both newly amended 88 routes. This is information telling you how long you will need to wait for the next bus, if you’ve just missed one. I am hoping that, by the time my next month’s Leaside Life column for

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president LRA

Yes, it’s nearly election time – again

It is only a few short months before municipal Election Day! Surely not, you cry. But yes, there could even be a provincial and/or federal election not too far in the future, too.

I think we should regard this as an opportunity to identify the issues of particular importance to you, and for our community. How about more consistent bylaw enforcement? Better tree protection? More effective parking policies?

the Leaside Residents Association is due, the TTC will have released enough information to ensure that these routes aren’t accompanied by a reduction in service.

Service is Our Specialty Service is Our Specialty

Many provincial decisions have major effects on municipal matters. Consider these recent examples: traffic congestion and traffic control; zoning changes; building more (or fewer) roads for cars; recycling; Ontario Place and the Ontario Science Centre; affordable housing; public transit funding; and so on. Federal policies play a similarly vital role in how well our cities function. They underwrite many municipal social, environmental and business initiatives, among others. Everything is connected.

It’s not too early to start identifying your priorities and learning more about the priorities of candidates as they emerge. Ask questions. Be informed!

While you’re at it, become a member of your local residents’ association, the LRA. There’s a $30 annual fee to join or renew your membership (see the website address below) and show your support for Leaside.

The Leaside Residents Association invites you to attend our monthly LRA board meetings, which take place at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. Our April meeting is on Wed., April 1st (no fooling!) via Zoom. For contact information with more details and updates, visit leasideresidents.ca and press the Contact Us button, or leasideresidents.ca/contact-us. n