Issuu

O C TO B E R 2026

Leaside’s war on comic books Page 12 No. 173

Aging in place: a century of love in Leaside

TING OR PP

LINDA CARTE

LOCAL B

US IN E

THE EDMONDS FAMILY PG. 8

Leaside Life • October 2026

Gifts for Nature Lovers

Editor’s Welcome If it’s October, can elections be far behind?

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

Voters will be going to the polls to just sit this one out. With some of in Toronto on Oct. 26 to elect or our coverage in the October Leaside re-elect mayor and councillors. Do Life we are highlighting issues of we all have a case of election fever… interest to voters in the increasingly or election ennui? diverse neighbourhoods of Leaside Here in Ward 15 (Don Valley West), and Bennington, Thorncliffe, and incumbent Rachel Chernos Lin Davisville Village. faces a challenge for councilAs the election nears, I have lor from perennial candidate MUNICIPAL a few questions of my own: Sheena Sharp and relative Why did so few people ELECTION newcomer Denis Tsang. throw their hat in the ring You’d be forgiven for to run for DVW councillor feeling that it was only yeswhile other wards are seeing terday that Chernos Lin fought fierce competition? What an at-times nasty race for office. makes Sheena run…and run? While Chernos Lin has only been What encouraged Denis Tsang to councillor a scant two years, since raise his profile as a long-shot canthe Nov. 4, 2024, byelection, she didate? Is this the start of a burhas already established herself as geoning political career? And most an active voice on Council. importantly, what are the hot issues Despite her short time in office, she in Don Valley West? is running as the clear frontrunner. If there’s one message I hope all But that doesn’t mean the election in will embrace, it’s…vote! Your voice Don Valley West is an opportunity counts, but only if you speak up. n

2026

900 Don Mills Road (at Barber Greene Blvd )

416-646-2439

www.UrbanNatureStore.ca

Our team specializes in delivering a tailored, seamless real estate experience that ensures our client’s success in every home buying and selling journey. Connect with us today to explore the advantage - where commitment meets excellence and your goals become our mission!

D: 416.953.1226 CHARLENE@CHARLENEKALIA.COM CHARLENEKALIA.COM

Chestnut Park® Real Estate Limited, Brokerage

*Sales Representative

Two Decades Of Local Expertise And Record-Breaking Results

Site unseen: discovering Leaside Gardens indoor pool by AUDREY BALOGH

A proud history Leaside Memorial Community Gardens has proudly occupied the site at the bottom of Southvale since 1952 and was named to honour Leaside’s WWII veterans. William Lea, son of settler John Lea, built his octagonal house there in 1852. The complex boasts a wealth of amenities, including a twin-pad ice

rink, hockey shop, curling rink and the aptly named William Lea Room. They play a key role in promoting community connection and good health; apparently, they’ve also done a terrific job of keeping that pool off my radar – until now. Before we paddle into the pool’s present-day offerings, let’s first dive into its history. I was surprised to learn that upon

its opening in 1958, our unsung 110,000-gallon hero was the first all-aluminum pool in North America. Equally sturdy – and perhaps even more impressive – was the business sense behind its construction. Kenneth M. Smith, then chairman of the LMCG, had a mission: to finance the facility’s $130,000 construction debt-free. With some strategic

POOL Page 44

LEASIDE/DAVISVILLE'S REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST I LIVE HERE, WORK HERE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY. ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT SELLING THIS FALL? CALL OR EMAIL ME AND LET'S TALK! DEAR COMMUNITY FRIENDS, THIS YEAR FOR HALLOWEEN I CHALLENGE YOU TO A PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST. PLEASE SEND ME A PICTURE OF YOUR CARVED PUMPKIN BEFORE OCTOBER 31ST TO MAIL@PATRICKROCCA.COM. 3 WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN AND EACH WILL RECEIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS.

HAPPY CARVING!

When you hire me you get me... not a team. That's Personal Service!

Patrick Rocca Broker

416-322-8000

mail@patrickrocca.com | leasidehomes.com

BOSLEY REAL ESTATE LTD., BROKERAGE RESPECTS THE CONTRACTS OF ITS COMPETITORS

Leaside Life • October 2026

The Aquafit class having a lark.

MADDY/OSCAR HOOGSTRATEN

Just when I thought I knew my own community, I recently received a shock and Leaside Life was the catalyst. After 20 years, I learned Leaside has an indoor public pool. Let me explain. As part of my job, I was making a delivery of this very publication to the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens arena when I happened upon the pool. Leaside has a pool? Twenty years a community resident and I hadn’t the faintest inkling of its existence. Rather than continue to wade in nescience, I decided to plunge headfirst into the history, offerings and social importance of this obscure oasis.

Making a new life, from Iran to Leaside

LEASIDE PEOPLE

Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life

Chance encounters can open doors and change lives. That’s how I felt after hearing Negar Moin’s story one Wednesday in the summer at Lemonade on the Green at St. Cuthbert’s. Negar’s story begins in her home country of Iran. When her friend Shirin was in Tehran to sell her house, she strongly recommended that Negar and her husband Amin allow their daughter, Nahal Barzogar, to finish high school and further her education in Canada, with Shirin and her husband as Nahal’s guardians. Both families agreed that for a young Iranian woman, Canada was a much safer place to be. Little did they realize how life-chang-

LORNA KRAWCHUK

Leaside Life • October 2026

Negar Moin, Nahal Barzogar and dog Luna.

All your Healthcare needs in one place

ing this decision would be. Nahal completed Grade 12 at Victoria Park Collegiate, then was accepted as an international student at Seneca Polytechnic, where she’s studying social media management and is set to graduate in April. Negar was pleased to show me that Nahal’s GPA is 4.0 and she has been on the President’s Honour List for the past two semesters “in recognition of your outstanding academic achievement.”

Niloo Saiy PharmD, CDE, RPh Associate-Owner

Book your appointments online: Bayview and Fleming: https://shoppersdrugmart.medmeapp.com/0982/schedule or Scan 1601 Bayview Ave | T:416-489-1873 Bayview and Broadway: https://shoppersdrugmart.medmeapp.com/1313/schedule or Scan 1860 Bayview Ave | T:416-482-9841

@Shoppers_BayviewBroadway

Nahal makes her way After high school, Nahal’s first job in Canada was as a tour guide and then salesperson for a double-decker bus company in the summer. Not wanting to continue in the cold weather, she took her résumé up and down Bayview hunting for a parttime job for the academic year, since she was now living in our neighbourhood. She was fortunate to be hired by sisters Azar and Negar, who own Bomou Artisanal Bakery. She’s been there for two years, first as a barista and now also doing some management and social media work. Once Nahal graduates from Seneca, she’d like to work with small and medium-sized businesses to help them grow their social media profiles, but she is, at heart, an

NEW LIFE continued

Mother Negar Moin comes to Canada Negar and her husband were very happy that their daughter was making her way in Canada but decided that Negar should be the first parent to spend some time in Canada with their young adult daughter. Negar, who arrived here in October 2023, graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy and earned her MBA at the Tehran University of Medical Science, and had worked in management in large hospitals. In Toronto, she was fortunate that Niloofar (Nilou) Saiy, associate owner of the two Bayview Avenue Shoppers Drug Marts, first took her on as a volunteer at the Bayview/Fleming store and later at Bayview/Broadway as paid staff, but not as a pharmacist, since she lacks Canadian qualifications. The plan was that with proof of employment, Negar’s husband would also be able to spend time in

SHEREE CERQUA

Canada with his family, but sadly, in March 2025, he died in Tehran. Negar and Nahal returned to their home country and were caught up in the Twelve-Day War between Iran and Israel that June. Nahal was on the first flight out of Iran after the war, and Negar followed once she had finished all the necessary paperwork after her husband’s death. Negar is very grateful to be in Canada but is worried that while she does have a visa, she does not yet have permanent residency. A good friend she’s made since coming to Canada is a former English teacher originally from Belgrade who helps with Negar’s fluency in English. Negar loves this neighbourhood, appreciates her neighbours, enjoys gardening and cooking – especially Iranian specialties with rosehip, saffron and sumac. She also enjoys meeting new people, like me, when she walks her nine-yearold Maltese Terrier rescue dog. There are many small white dogs in and around Leaside, but Luna could win prizes as the brightest, whitest one in the neighbourhood. n

Leaside Life • October 2026

entrepreneur, so is waiting for the right opportunity to work for herself.

FOR ALL YOUR WINDOW COVERING NEEDS CONTACT PAUL LUSSIER AT 416-481-7207 OR AT PAUL@PARALLELEINTERIORS.COM

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

broker

416 . 275 . 52 2 4

s h e r e e @ s h e r e e c e r q ua . c o m w w w. s h e r e e c e r q ua . c o m o :41 6 . 4 8 7. 51 3 1

I’M NOT NUMBER ONE…YOU ARE!!!

C a l l f o r a c o m p l i m e n ta ry h o m e e va l uat i o n! NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT BUYERS OR SELLERS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT WITH A BROKERAGE

The devil’s in the details at Leaside Auto Spa Leaside High School’s James Campbell launched a successful mobile auto detailing business.

Steve Hardy Columnist

grant,” she adds. “He took the initiative to go to the office of the grant coordinator to speak with him in person about what he would need to succeed in getting a grant before the applications window opened.”

The light-bulb moment came to James Campbell while he was cleaning the family car. Why not get paid for this? So last year, at age 16, the Leaside High School student bought some basic equipment from Canadian Tire and launched Leaside Auto Spa, a mobile car-detailing business. With help from an Ontario government youth entrepreneurship grant through the Summer Company Program, James is helping Leaside vehicles look their best, one detail at a time. He arrives at customers’ homes with everything required to clean their vehicles inside and out. All he needs is access to an electrical outlet and a faucet.

STEVE HARDY

Leaside Life • October 2026

Although James promotes his business through social media channels, he finds most customers the old-fashioned way – knocking on doors. Accompanied by a friend, he works his way from street to street introducing the service to his neighbours. Door-to-door marketing Approaching strangers was intimidating at first, he admits. After the first few doors, however, the anxiety began to dissolve into confidence. “You get used to it, and it’s not that complicated or a big deal.” His services range from interior and exterior detailing to paint correction, scratch removal and ceramic coatings. Prices generally begin around $190 and rise according to the vehicle’s size, condition and amount of work required. His most demanding assignment was a $500 job involving a van whose interior seemed to contain “more pet hair than carpet.” “He started with a wagon by himself last summer and has built a full-fledged and successful small business,” says his mother, Julia. “There were 60 grants available for Toronto and he was one of only 20 high school students to receive a

Leaside, an ideal location James says Leaside is an ideal place for a young entrepreneur. Many older residents want to encourage a local student, while younger families appreciate the convenience of having someone come directly to their driveway. There have been some valuable and eye-opening lessons along the road, too. “If there’s a car that needs a little extra service, such as tire shine, or I need to spend an extra 10 or 20 minutes on the rims, I’ll do it even though I’m not making the most money from it,” says James. “The client always appreciates it.” Not every encounter leads to work. Some prospective customers assume a teenager will clean a badly neglected vehicle for $50. James quickly learned lowering his prices too far can attract customers who undervalue his time and labour. To give the company a professional identity, he invested in branded shirts. He hires friends to help him with sales and detailing work. His business education has come partly through a University of British Columbia program in digital entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence, but mostly through trial and error. Earnings on the rise Revenue grew substantially this summer. James saves part of his earnings and reinvests the rest in equipment and supplies as he looks to next summer.

AUTOSPA Page 34

Every successful move begins with the right information. Call or text to request a complimentary home evaluation and receive expert insight into your property’s value, helping you plan your next chapter with clarity and confidence. Boutique Service. Exceptional Results.

MONICA STANWAY

SARAH STANWAY

416-873-1053

647-822-6959

Sales Representative

www.stanwayrealestate.com

Broker

@stanwayrealestate

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract with a brokerage. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description.

Leaside Life • October 2026

The Fall Market Is Here — Let’s Get Your Home Ready

Aging in place: a century of love in Leaside by CLAIRE EDMONDS My father Peter emigrated from England in 1956 with a cardboard suitcase and a fortune of $200 in his pocket. London was still rationed and warpocked, jobs were scarce, and Canada looked much greener and full of hope. My mother joined him a year later. He worked his way up to a career at Ontario Hydro. After several years of living in a basement apartment, my parents bought a house in the small ‘village’ of Leaside in 1961. When signing the realty documents, the lawyer asked my father if he thought he should be spending so much on a home…a whopping $17,000! Like his move to Canada, he knew this was the right decision. Family matters My brother and I were raised in Leaside, schooled at Northlea Elementary and Middle School and Leaside High. When I married, my

LINDA CARTE

Leaside Life • October 2026

This Leaside family believes in intergenerational living.

Stanley’s

White House Meats

Order Your Turkey Today!

Leaside 1523 Bayview Avenue 416-488-2004

husband and I started our own family half a block from the home where I grew up. My parents had a good life, enjoying their home and garden, travelling extensively, and being deeply engaged with their two grandchildren. As they entered their 90s and Covid hit, they realized they did not want to live in a seniors’ setting, they wanted to age in place. With the help of another Leasider, Sevan Elbe, owner of Nomarc Design and Renovation, they drew up plans for an apartment suite in the basement of their semi-detached home. This included a fully accessible bathroom with a walk-in shower and small kitchen to meet their needs. There would be stairs to manage to go outside but climbing them would be their motivation to stay fit. A firm handrail was also installed. Single family houses are no longer within reach for most young families but perhaps it has been this way through much of history. Born in 1927, in London, England, my father was raised between two World Wars. He lived in a three-bedroom apartment over the family cobbler shop that expanded and contracted to meet the family’s needs. During WWII his cramped home housed 10 people, four children (his two siblings plus a cousin) and six adults: his parents, aunt, uncle, maiden aunt, and grandmother. The family adage was: Open the door, make do, share what you have, and work together. Growing, changing family Our daughter and her husband had just had their first baby, a little girl. They lived in an apartment getting smaller as the baby got bigger. What if they moved upstairs into the Leaside house? Our daughter and her husband renovated upstairs to better meet their needs. They understood they were there for my parents, but I would assume the lion’s share of caring for them. That was two years ago. My mother died in February, leaving my father on his own after 73 years of marriage. My father has mild dementia and now needs daily

AGING Page 38

“

I have 100% trust in Michael. He's very trustworthy – he’s an absolutely excellent investment advisor. – Barb O., neighbour and client for 15 years

It’s not what you make, it’s how much money you keep after tax. An original approach, with 27 years of wealth management experience combined with Michael’s unique training as a tax and estate planning lawyer. Contact us today for a free tax smart performance evaluation of your portfolio.

Michael Marcovitz, B.Comm, MBA, LL.B. Senior Investment Advisor TD Wealth Private Investment Advice T: 416-308-9084 E: Michael.Marcovitz@td.com

Scan to learn more themarcovitzgroup.com As of April 14, 2026. Unique experiences and past performances do not guarantee future results. Testimonials contained herein are solicited and may not be representative of the views of others. They have been reviewed and approved in writing for public use. The Marcovitz Group is a part of TD Wealth Private Investment Advice, a division of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. which is a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ® The TD logo and other TD trademarks are the property of The TorontoDominion Bank or its subsidiaries.

Andrew Adair’s ice dream comes true

LEASIDE SPORTS Susan Scandiffio Columnist

Often when we think of those making impactful changes in the world, our minds turn to adult figures such as political, religious or community leaders. So, when someone under 18 launches a program making a dramatic difference in the lives of other kids, we’re reminded not only of the power of youth but also the fact we can all “be the change” in the world. Andrew Adair is such an inspiration. In 2025, the 15-year-old student launched Open Ice Initiative, a nonprofit that provides kids with free hockey camps and a full set of free equipment and professional coaching, all to remove the financial barriers to hockey participation many families face.

DESIGN & BUILD SERVICES CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE FALL CLEAN UP

416-421-9019 leasidelandscaping.com info@leasidelandscaping.com

JAIME CHUA

Leaside Life • October 2026

Andrew Adair

You may have seen him in action this past summer at the Ted Reeve Community Arena and Leaside Memorial Arena. Adair’s long-time hockey love Adair has played high level hockey for several years and describes it as a “big part of (my) identity.” When studying the concept of wealth and balance in school, his research showed that the relationship between the number of families facing financial barriers and impact on kids’ hockey participation was much larger than he had previously realized. Guided by this knowledge, Adair, despite no experience in the nonprofit sector, procured donors and partners to cover the camps’ needs and saw his Open Ice Initiative take off. With a 17-member student-only executive, the program ran free camps for boys and girls during the December holiday break, over the March break, and in the summer. Participants received free full equipment to keep, on-ice and dryland coaching as well as daily lunch. At the conclusion of each camp, participants who wanted to continue playing were offered free spots in a Saturday morning session and were also assisted with registration in free or subsidized city programs. Donors, including HockeyStickMan, Pizza Pizza and Terroni kept the kids equipped and fed while volunteers coordinated the complex logistics before, during and after camp.

Adair arranged media coverage during Open Ice’s first ever week of camp and had, among others, CTV News and CP24 spotlight the organization. The media attention garnered both interest in Open Ice and the offer of free coaching from NHL alumnus Cameron Gaunce. Other volunteer coaches included players with whom Adair has competed as well as athletes from the Leaside Wildcats. Since the program launched, Open Ice has provided over $18,000 of permanent equipment and more than 1,600 participant-hours of free programming. And it has put lots of smiles on a whole lot of faces. The future of Open Ice The demand continues to significantly outweigh the capacity of the program at present, and, for Adair, turning away families with children who want to enrol is heartbreaking. As Adair says on his website of Open Ice’s plans: “Six camps a year, three at Leaside Arena and three at Ted Reeve Community Arena. Beyond that, a replication model so that the same program can run in another city.” His dream of expanding the program to see even more kids experience the joy of the game has only strengthened Adair’s efforts to secure more donors and partners, to open the ice to every child. To learn more about Open Ice or to donate to the organization, visit www.open-ice.org. n

Leaside Life • October 2026

No laughing matter: Leaside’s war on comic books Ted DeWelles

Leaside Heritage Preservation Society

You’ve probably heard of the war on drugs, the war on poverty, the war on climate change, even the war on cars. But a war on comic books? Seriously? You betcha! And it happened right here in Leaside in the late 1940s - early 1950s. The rise of crime comics By the end of World War II, North American sales of comic books featuring superheroes like Batman and Superman began to decline. In their place arose a popular new genre – crime comics. These publications contained graphic and lurid depictions of violence, criminality and horror overlaid with simplistic moral messages about how crime doesn’t pay. With titles like Crime Detective, True Crime, Thrilling

An elite after-school program for highperforming students Where exceptional minds reach their potential

2026-2027 Registration is Open

Apply Now Scan to book your assessment www.spiritofmath.com/ campus/leaside

Crime and The Vault of Horror, they were readily available in drugstores, newsstands and supermarkets across the U.S. and Canada – including Leaside. Alarmed by the danger and corruption these comics posed to young people, civic leaders, school groups, teachers and parents lobbied hard to have them regulated or banned outright.

Plastic Man comic cover, Canadian Edition, 1950.

Leaside reacts As early as July 1948, an unnamed Leaside priest (perhaps Father Caulfield, pastor of St. Anselm’s Parish) told the Toronto Star that “there used to be such things as funny comic books years ago, but now most of them are about shooting, atomic weapons, gangsterism and taking prisoners in China…. there is nothing funny about murder, a train wreck or torture.” Less than a year later, the home and school associations for Leaside and Rolph Road schools expressed similar sentiments. In March 1949, they petitioned Leaside Municipal Council to ban the sale of crime comics and other “obnoxious publications.” The council was divided on the issue. One councillor noted that “Dick Tracy with a shotgun and hatchet is not good for children.” While another – the owner of a local pharmacy – observed that Superman comics were not like that. Still others claimed that many comics were anti-crime. In the end, however, council agreed to draft a letter to Ontario’s Attorney General

What comics did Leaside kids read? When it comes to determining the kinds of comics kids were reading in postwar Leaside, the evidence is scarce. There is one possible source, however – Canadian author Margaret Atwood. In Cat’s Eye, her 1988 semi-autobiographical novel about growing up in Leaside and Bennington Heights in the late 1940s and 1950s, there are multiple references to comic books – including this passage about her brother’s and his friends’ (and her own) passion for them: “… they [the friends] crowd into my brother’s room lying on their stomachs on his bed or on the floor, reading his huge pile of comic books. I sometimes do this too, wallowing among the pages of coloured paper.…We keep the door closed because my mother doesn’t approve of comics. The reading of the comics is done in reverential silence….” Decades later, in a 2015 CBC interview, Atwood recalled her experience as a youth of “reading those creepy comics.” An earlier interview revealed that she used to “walk home from school with her head buried in horror comics.” And in her recently published memoir, Book of Lives (2025), she names some of the comics she and her brother liked to read: Superman and Batman as well as Sub-Mariner, The Human Torch and Margaret’s personal favourite – Plastic Man. “We were awfully stimulated by comic books,” she admitted in a May 1989 speech at Toronto’s Harbourfront, “probably over-stimulated.… But they were very frowned upon by grown-ups, of course.” While Atwood is recounting only her own experiences, it’s easy to imagine they also reflect those of many other Leaside and Bennington Heights kids. — Ted DeWelles n

COMICS continued

Leaside leads Unfortunately, the new legislation failed to halt the flow. Objectionable comics, mainly from the U.S., continued to flood the Canadian market. This prompted the reformers to renew their efforts at regulation and restriction. Once again, Leaside assumed a prominent role in the fight. This occurred at the annual convention of the Ontario Urban and Rural School Trustees Association (precursor of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association), which met in June 1954. There, the Leaside Board of Education presented a resolu-

tion condemning “so-called comic books,” which “are totally unfit for children and making a definite contribution to juvenile delinquency.” The resolution went on to recommend that vendors and distributors of such comics be prosecuted under Canada’s Criminal Code. The convention and its 600 delegates wholeheartedly adopted the Leaside resolution.

Leaside Life • October 2026

recommending that action be taken. The efforts of anti-comic activists like the Leaside school associations paid off. By the end of 1949, Canada had banned all crime comics, making it a criminal offence to print, publish, distribute or sell them.

Dick Tracy comic cover, Canadian Edition, 1949.

Thanks to the efforts of the Leaside group and likem i n d e d organizations throughout Canada and the U.S., the comic-book industry instituted a strict self-censorship program in 1955 – the Comics Code Authority – which effectively ended the reign of extreme comic-book horror and violence. n

FALL PLANNING SEASON Thinking about renovating? Start planning this fall. The best builds start long before construction begins. Design, drawings, permits, and approvals all take time. Starting this fall gives you the time to plan properly and be ready when it’s time to build.With architecture, interior design, and construction under one roof, Norseman brings every stage of the process together. Basement renovations

Home additions

Custom homes

Garden suites

Full-home renovations

Environmental action group seeks views of Don Valley West candidates

Leaside Life • October 2026

by GEOFF KETTEL In case you haven’t heard…there’s a municipal election coming up! Hopefully, you will cast your vote for mayor and ward councillor at the ballot box on October 26 (or earlier at the advance poll). But before you cast your vote, do you know where the candidates stand on the issues of interest to you? Climate change impacts are already affecting neighbourhoods, making decisions at City Hall increasingly important to residents. This summer we have experienced extreme heat, smoke from distant forest fires, and most recently, 100-year floods that are, reportedly, now more than likely to be experienced as annual events! We can see and feel the impact of climate change where we live. What is less clear is what our ward councillor and City Council can actually do about it. Voters in Don Valley West will soon have a chance to find out. DVW4EA wants to know A group of residents, the Don Valley West for Environmental Action (DVW4EA), is working to “build a greener, more sustainable future

in our Don Valley West riding. Through community engagement and education, we want to inspire people to take action in their daily lives and to spur our local politicians to lead on issues important to Don Valley West.” The group

has previously been featured in Leaside Life by writers Debora Kuchme (sadly, departed) and Suzanne Park. In partnership with Climatefast’s

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

2026

Wa r d s P r o j e c t , DVW4EA are once again seeking information on the environmental views of the candidates running in Ward 15 in the upcoming municipal election. The initiative is intended to provide voters with information before they cast their ballots for mayor and city councillor. The Wards Project is interviewing candidates across Toronto about their positions on climate action and the environmental issues that matter to residents. In Ward 15, DVW4EA volunteers have interviewed the three candidates on a range of issues including transportation, housing and buildings, parks and green space, waste, energy and AI data centres. This is a non-partisan project, and Wards Project Teams will not be ranking or endorsing any candidate. DVW4EA will have collected the information by mid-September and will share the results before the election. Interview summaries for all candidates were to be available Sept. 25 on the Wards Project website. Learn more: https://climatefast.ca/project/2025-10/toronto-wards-project. n

Our fully Integrated Design-Build and Maintain Process will ensure success for your project from Concept to Completion.

• KITCHEN & BATHS • HOME ADDITIONS & RENOVATIONS • BASEMENTS • CONDO SUITES • ARCHITECTURAL & INTERIOR DESIGN • BUILDING PERMITS

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

170 WICKSTEED AVE, UNIT 1, TORONTO. 416 690 1919 www.WCMEEK.COM

Clients benefit from our Direct Control, Streamlined Communication and Collaboration, creating a seamless experience. BUILD IN THEORY, BEFORE YOU BUILD IN REALITY

Visit our website to learn more and call for an initial consultation.

Leaside Life • October 2026

Meet DVW’s candidates. Ready, set, vote! by JAKE ROSS Prospective councillors are hitting the pavement and voters are getting ready to head to the polls. Leaside Life reached out to all candidates running in Ward 15, Don Valley West. The questions sent to each candidate were different, except, each candidate was asked what their number one priority was, should they win. Below is an edited version of their answers: Rachel Chernos Lin Rachel Chernos Lin has served as Don Valley West’s councillor since 2024, when she won the byelection called after the death of former councillor Jaye Robinson. Before that, she served as a school trustee for the TDSB, a position to which she was first elected in 2018. Chernos Lin says re-election would allow her to build on what she has already done in the 21 months since being elected as coun-

Our products/services: 5” & 6” K STYLE SEAMLESS GUTTERS

GUTTER/LEAF GUARDS:

Excelsior Leafguard System

SOFFIT AND FASCIA SIDING:

vinyl, aluminum, wood, stone and composite veneers, Meibac™ and Hardie board™

647 924 1337

ktexteriorcanada@gmail.com

www.ktexterior.ca

cillor. “Coming into office midway through a term through a byelection meant learning the ropes at City Hall while immediately taking on committee responsibilities and participating in City Hall meetings,” she said. Despite that, though, she said she’s managed to accomplish a lot, pointing to work on antisemitism, data centres and the installation of multiple traffic calming measures in the ward. She said what sets her apart is the experience she’s gained over the past 21 months at City Hall, as well as the relationships she’s built in the ward and across the city. She added that she has a deep understanding of the ward “developed over decades of community work.” If you could accomplish one thing this term, what would it be? “I am a strong believer in the importance of complete communities and ensuring that we build the Toronto we want. “To me, that means safe, clean, vibrant and welcoming communities filled with green spaces and community assets – where people feel the services they rely on work well for them and allow them to thrive.” Learn more: https://www.voterachel.ca/ Sheena Sharp Sheena Sharp has called Don Valley West home for 30 years. An architect by profession, she has dedicated her 35-year career to decarbonizing buildings. She founded her own architecture firm in 2008 and was the architect of Toronto’s first net-

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

2026

zero carbon building, Mount Dennis Childcare. Sharp is a committed climate activist. Climate change is her top priority, and it’s an issue she feels City Hall isn’t taking seriously enough. “People on council are not bad people, they just don’t get it,” she said. She criticized Council’s decision last year to delay the implementation of the Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS). She has run for public office multiple times, including in the last provincial election as Don Valley West’s Green Party of Ontario candidate. She said this is because her interest is in climate action, and effective climate action has to happen at all levels of government. Sharp added that what sets her apart from the other candidates is her background running her own business, her knowledge of climate technology and her detailed knowledge of the development industry. What is the number one thing you are hoping to achieve as councillor for Don Valley West? “If I could help to bring hope: that we can address climate and homelessness and that we are part of a great city, and despite the turmoil in the world, we are going to have children and leave them an even better city.” Learn more: https://www.votesheenasharp.ca/ Denis Tsang Denis Tsang has lived in Leaside for a decade. He is a dietitian who works as a primary care provider and is the board chair of the College of Dietitians of Ontario. This is Tsang’s first time running for public office. He said he’s running now

ELECTION DAY IS MON. OCT. 26 . Advanced polls will be open from Oct. 6th to 11th. For a full list of details, visit the City of Toronto’s election website: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections.

Long-time residents want leadership at City Hall for a better future

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

2026

Thorncliffe Park Community Safety Town Hall hosted by MPP Stephanie Bowman.

by JASON ASH With election day on the horizon, I asked Thorncliffers how candidates for Ward 15 councillor can work with the community to improve Thorncliffe Park if elected. There was no shortage of opinions, including wanting the City’s help to stop fireworks from being set off in the neighbourhood, protecting pedestrians from e-scooters, improving bylaws to support tenants, supporting education initiatives to reduce littering and pigeon feeding, and adding more street benches to make Thorncliffe Park more walkable for all ages and abilities. There was also concern for the future. With many of Thorncliffe Park’s rental apartment buildings and shopping plazas included in a provincial Major Transit Station Area (MTSA), many Thorncliffers are worried about being displaced from their homes by demoviction, as well as increased density. In Thorncliffers’ own words* Najia Zewari, Women’s Cycling Network, and resident: This neighbourhood is worth celebrating. A place where people are vibrant, active, and visionary usually means there’s real energy in the streets, local initiatives, and neighbours who show up for each other. Equal opportunities and social benefits don’t happen by accident. They come from people speaking up, organizing, and holding space for everyone’s voice. When residents are

engaged like that, it creates a feedback loop: more participation leads to better decisions, which builds more trust. If our community representatives use these human resources, consult with them, the neighbourhood will be an ideal example for the rest of the city, province and country. Lisa Rodopoulos, resident and homeowner: Metrolinx and the City of Toronto both need to restore the thousands of trees destroyed in our community by the construction of the Ontario Line; in fact, there should be a growth to our green spaces. Furthermore, Metrolinx and our elected officials must do a better job of ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of residents most directly affected by Ontario Line construction, especially those who live along Overlea Boulevard and who are now facing the unbearable noise from overnight construction. Instead of adding to the size of Thorncliffe’s already overwhelming numbers, investment should prioritize essential infrastructure and quality of life – not further density through additional high-rise developments. Charles Zhu, Thorncliffe Park Parenting Group, and resident: Our local free centre, Jenner JeanMarie Community Centre (JJMCC), does an excellent job providing programs to the community, and we greatly appreciate the work of Fidelia Nelson and her team.

ELECTION Page 35

Leaside Life • October 2026

because “Don Valley West deserves a councillor who will show up consistently, listen widely, and turn community input into action at City Hall.” Tsang added that what sets him apart from his opponents is his experience in quality improvement, which makes him adept at focusing on issues that have measurable results. He said that he will prioritize communicating with residents and providing office hours for people to drop in with their concerns. He feels strongly about traffic congestion and lack of reliable transit options in the area. Prioritizing “gentle density” along transit routes and protecting tenants are important to him. If you could accomplish just one thing this term, what would it be? “Deliver measurably more reliable bus service and less stop-and-go traffic on DVW’s main corridors by coordinating transit-priority measures (better signal timing, queue jumps where feasible and streamlined stops) with practical traffic-flow improvements.”Learn more: https://votedenistsang.ca/. n

Thorncliffe Park matters:

JASON ASH

CANDIDATES continued

Leaside Life • October 2026

The Business Park is changing one property at a time “How long before Parkhurst, other industries are gone?” That was the existential question asked 13 years ago by the late Alan Redway, former Mayor of East York and MP for York East, in the October 2013 Leaside Life. Parkhurst Knitting, one of the few Canadian clothing manufacturers left, had a plant backing onto Vanderhoof. Redway was sounding an alarm about the future of Leaside’s employment lands. Vanderhoof was not always the edge. As Redway recounted, the Ontario Municipal Board (now the Ontario Land Tribunal, or OLT) moved the boundary south from Eglinton to Vanderhoof in 1998, east of Brentcliffe, approving residential and commercial uses on the north side. His concern was simple: if that boundary continued to creep south, what would become of the businesses and industries on the other side? Thirteen years after Redway’s warning, the question has renewed significance. Rockport Holdings is seeking to redesignate 105-109

Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside

Vanderhoof Ave. and 10 Brentcliffe Rd. from Core Employment Areas to Mixed Use Areas. The application does not propose a building. It asks to change what the land is permitted to become. Rockport contends the site is no longer an employment area as provincial policy now defines one, and that it sits inside the Laird Major Transit Station Area on the Eglinton Crosstown, where that policy directs growth. The City did not decide the application within the legislated timeline, which allowed Rockport to appeal. The City is opposing at the OLT, where the hearing is scheduled to begin May 10, 2027, with nine days reserved. The Leaside Residents Association has party status. The Leaside Business Park Association (LBPA) and Lincoln Electric are participants opposing; Hyde Park GP Inc. supports the application. For disclosure, I sit on the LBPA board. Everyone has a stake It would be easy to frame this as developers against businesses or residents. It isn’t that simple. Property owners have capital invested and need productive uses or buyers. Businesses need certainty before signing leases. Residents have a legitimate interest in where development occurs. Governments need housing, employment and a healthy tax base. Those interests do not always align. Reconciling them is what planning is for. The Vanderhoof property illustrates the challenge. In 2013, Rockport sought permission to lease its aging industrial buildings to tenants then available: retail, restaurants, personal services, wellness and educational uses. The City agreed and the provincial tribunal approved it in 2018. Those buildings now hold roughly 8,725 sq. m. of retail, office and service commer-

Planning speak: what does it mean? Employment Lands Land specifically designated by the City for businesses and jobs, including manufacturing, warehousing, research and development and related uses. Meant to protect a supply of land where employment-generating businesses can operate without being displaced by competing residential or commercial development. In this case, the Vanderhoof property is designated Core Employment Areas.

Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hears and adjudicates matters related to land use planning, environmental and natural features, heritage protection, land valuation, land compensation, municipal finance, and related matters. https://olt.gov.on.ca/the-ontario-land-tribunal/

Party Status A party has a formal and active role in an OLT case. Parties participate throughout the hearing, present evidence, call and question witnesses, make arguments and respond to other parties. In the Vanderhoof case, the Leaside Residents Association has party status.

Participant Status Participants can provide the Tribunal with a written statement explaining their position, but generally do not participate fully in the hearing, call or cross-examine witnesses, or bring motions. In this case, the LBPA and Lincoln Electric are participants opposing the application.

Leaside Residents Association (LRA) In the Vanderhoof OLT proceeding, the LRA has party status, giving it a formal role in the hearing. https://leasideresidents.ca/

Leaside Business Park Association (LBPA) The LBPA advocates on issues affecting the Leaside Business Park, including planning, transportation, infrastructure and the protection and future viability of Leaside’s employment lands. https://leasidebusinesspark.com/. n

BUSINESS PARK continued

Why are we protecting it? Protecting the employment boundary matters. But after 13 years, surely we must also ask: what are we protecting it for? A planning designation can reserve land for employment. It cannot make an entrepreneur locate there, persuade a business to expand there, or convince an owner to invest in the building that business needs. The City has tried to answer this before. Following a 34% decline in Business Park employment between 1990 and 2001, the City, LBPA, property owners and community came together through the Leaside Economic Revitalization Initiative (LERI). Its 2002 action plan envisioned a “modern, competitive employment district” and proposed 29 actions covering infrastructure, investment attraction, workforce development, marketing and land-use policy. It even called for monitoring zoning to protect employment lands. Some of it happened. Four gateway signs and landscaping were implemented; later phases were deferred. Other initiatives have followed, but no formal evaluation of LERI or comparable area-wide strategy appears on the public record. Even Laird in Focus, the City’s 2017-18 study of the Laird corridor, drew its boundary at Vanderhoof and left

most of the Business Park outside it. Twenty-four years later, we still have the employment designation. What we still don’t have is a modern, viable economic vision for the place it purportedly protects. Without one, the Business Park will change anyway. Decisions simply get made another way: one property, one application and, increasingly, one tribunal hearing at a time.

That uncertainty has a cost. Businesses weighing an investment, and owners considering improvements, need to know what kind of district this will be in 20 years. Stability does not mean nothing changes. It means having enough confidence in the direction of change to make long-term decisions. That is the LBPA and Lincoln Electric position at the OLT, which summarized their objection as including “the need for a comprehensive area plan instead of site-specific changes.”

A boundary is not a business plan Protecting employment lands should not mean keeping the Business Park frozen in time. The businesses, technologies and buildings that belong here will change. The Park of 2050 will not look like the Park of 1950 – and shouldn’t. Protecting the boundary alone isn’t a strategy; neither is dismantling it one property at a time. Before redrawing the boundary further, we should understand what a successful 21st-century employment district looks like, what businesses it attracts, and what owners need to invest in it. That starts with an accurate picture of the Park today: who operates there, how employment and land use have changed, and what pressures are emerging. That work could be a first step toward a “LERI 2.0”: a contemporary economic strategy built by businesses, property owners, residents and government. Redway asked, 13 years ago, how long before Parkhurst and other industries were gone. Perhaps the questions we should be asking in 2026 need to be different? If Leaside’s employment lands are worth protecting, what will make property owners and entrepreneurs want to stay, invest and grow here? What role should the Leaside Business Park play in the future of our community and city? And if these employment lands are worth protecting, what are we prepared to do to secure their future? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. n

Leaside Life • October 2026

cial space, and those uses form part of the argument for changing the underlying employment designation. Nobody planned that outcome.

Welcome home, can I take your order?

Leaside Life • October 2026

by DAVID CRICHTON

dog or crazy dog owner to literally breathe some life into the place. As I get to the stairs with my bag, I think that it’s the little things that make a place feel like home. The familiar creak of a floorboard at the foot of the stairs. Flopping face-first on your own bed after a long day of travel. For others, it’s a spit-soaked plush squirrel with a missing tail.

I barely get my front door open when Jerry the Wonder Mutt pushes through my legs, making a beeline to the kitchen, then drifting around the corner like a tuned ’88 Nissan Silvia, straight to his toy box. I stumble, dropping my duffle bag as I half-fall onto my hall bench and begin taking my shoes off. Jerry comes racing back, his favourite fake dead squirrel in his mouth. “Little jerk…you almost killed me. Again.” Jerry responds by growling and shaking the life out of his polyester-stuffed prey. Satisfied it’s dead, he drops the toy and heads back for his next victim. I walk in, flicking on lights and noticing the room has a stillair scent to it. Not musty, or foul. Just still. Like each THE room hasn’t been mingling LEASIDE with the others for quite OBSERVER some time. Makes sense, as I have been away for a while and there was no crazy

Andrew A. Sudano Barrister & Solicitor www.sudanolaw.ca 647.880.5832

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. Family Law | Adoptions | Child Protection

Comfort ritual #1 For me, it’s my comfort rituals. Three go-tos that feel like a coming-home hug. The first is borne out of a bare fridge. I grab my phone and hit a number in my contacts. “Hello, Lemongrass on Bayview…” a familiar voice answers. “Danny? It’s David Crichton.…” “Hey, buddy…how are you?!” “I’m good, Danny…how are you?” “I’m good, good. What can I get you?” “The usual…green curry chicken, black bean shrimp and fresh mango roll.…” “Okay, buddy, 20 minutes.” I’ve been ordering from Danny and Lemongrass for almost as long as I’ve lived in Leaside. I started ordering on Friday nights. It was my reward for getting through the week and signaled the official start to the weekend. I slip Jerry’s leash on, and we head out along my route up Parkhurst, over to Fleming and onto Bayview. He gets his walk. I get my Thai takeout. Two happy birds with one stone.

Comfort ritual #2 Next morning, I walk into my second “homecoming ritual”: Sunset Grill. (After all, I still don’t have groceries in the fridge, so it’s a necessity, I tell myself.) Linda, the owner, greets me as she always does: happy and with far more energy than I have at that time. “Hi David!” “Hi Linda…how are you?” I sit down at my usual table and order a coffee. Linda and I talk about how she works too hard, is planning a vacation, but never ends up taking one. Then we compare notes on which of our kids is partying more than the other at university. Sunset Grill holds another special meaning for me, aside from Linda and their eggs Benedict. It’s the place where I, along with some partners, hatched our advertising agency many years ago, at the original location in the Beach. Comfort ritual #3 The rest of the day is typically spent running all the errands I never get to while away, which brings me to comfort ritual number three. “HELLO CHINA FOOD!” “Hello, Leah, it’s David Crichton…I wanted to order some food for…” “WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ORDER?!” No small talk for Leah. She’s all business and the loudest phonetalker I know. Every time she answers the phone, I chuckle. I would take her to task on it, but I know my jokes would land flat and I might even be scolded. Aside from the food and prices, the great thing about China Food is reading the years-old magazines while you wait. With Jerry again in tow, I head home along Rumsey with my bag of chop suey, mixed vegetables with shrimp and spring rolls. An approaching fellow dog walker spies the familiar bag. “Oh, I see you have my China Food order; just drop it on the step where the red car is. Thanks!” We laugh. Jerry grumbles at their dog. As we carry on, I’m reminded that it’s not just the place where you live that makes you feel at home. It’s also the Dannys, Lindas and Leahs. n

YOU WERE THERE. NOW YOU’LL REMEMBER. Saks Afridi: SpaceMosque A sci-ﬁ art experience

OPENING OCTOBER 24

Government Partners

Confirmed! The Phoenix above North Leaside to rise from the ashes Geoff Kettel Saving Old Leaside

It’s confirmed – the Phoenix above North Leaside will rise from the ashes and enjoy a new life. And the prospects look positive. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) property at 175 Brentcliffe Rd., north of Glenvale, has been compared to the phoenix, the immortal bird of Greek legend that cyclically regenerates, or is otherwise born again1. This Phoenix has been acquired by Schlegel Villages of Kitchener, Ont., to construct a Long-Term Care (LTC) home and assisted living continuum of care “village” for seniors. The villages are “intentionally designed around vibrant neighbourhoods, shared gathering places, meaningful relationships, and everyday life.” The plan is for LTC in the first phase, and later, a retirement

SCHLEGEL VILLAGES

Leaside Life • October 2026

An example of a Schlegel Villages long-term care property.

home offering a full continuum of care for seniors. The development thus maintains and expands the existing healthcare corridor along Kilgour Road.

Exceptional flavour and conversation meet at the table. - Chef Virender

The Leaside Life Dinner for Two Special

$58

Reg $68

Includes: Appetizer platter Three chef selected mains Herbed Basmati Rice Fresh naan Plus a complimentary dessert

Please present coupon. Offer ends October 31

R E S E RV E TO D I S C OV E R C H E F S O F PAU R I K H A L

1522 Bayview Ave. 416-489-4899

“A phoenix rises from the ashes,” https://leasidelife.com/a-phoenix-rises-from-the-ashes-inleaside/ Leaside Life, December 2016. “The end, or just another life phase for the phoenix above North Leaside?” https://leasidelife. com/the-end-or-just-another-life-phase-for-thephoenix-above-north-leaside/Leaside Life, August 2025. 1

Date Night • Family Dinners • Business Entertaining

Stay tuned to learn more Schlegel Villages intends to submit their rezoning application in November-December, 2026 and will be looking to engage with the public once they have established more details of the proposed project and can provide more specific information. Brad Schlegel, vice-president, design and construction, assured me they were willing to “share information beyond the required consultation, walk through plans – share more than less.” He also wanted to provide residents with a “heads-up” that they will be conducting site investigation work, including geotechnical borehole drilling, over the course of the next several weeks. As I wrote a year ago: “It seems to me that the best outcome for the community would be for continuation of a treatment facility, or failing that, a new long-term care or retirement residence would be a welcome addition to the area, and well-aligned with the needs of the community.” So far so good! We will stay engaged and hold Schlegel Villages to their noble commitment. To learn more about Schlegel Villages: https://schlegelvillages.com. n

B AY V I E W L E A S I D E B I A

APPLE FEST

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH FAMILY FUN & ENTERTAINMENT BETWEEN 10:30AM-3:30PM (RAIN OR SHINE) WHERE: BAYVIEW AVENUE FROM PARKHURST TO DAVISVILLE

Leaside Life • October 2026

Pulling 12-hour shifts on Bayview As twin brothers growing up in Leaside in the ’70s, one of our responsibilities was walking up Bayview to buy milk for the family. With four kids, we went through a lot of it, so our trips to the then Mac’s Milk at Bayview and Manor Road were frequent and, for us, complete torture. Mom gave us the money we needed but also demanded that, upon our return, we count out the change to her as if we were 12-year-old bank tellers. She felt that this kind of “money math” was an important life skill we should know. (It also meant there could be no clandestine spending of the change on chocolate bars or chips – there was always method in Mom’s madness.) Well, through our constant trips to Bayview, we got to know George at Mac’s Milk almost as well as we knew our parents. He was Lebanese, a great guy and a fixture in the area who, a few years later, offered me a part-time job (thank goodness I knew how to count change). By then his store had become Bayview Jug Milk and I thought I was pretty cool

Tim Fallis Columnist

watching over a shop full of candy, chips and chocolate milk. Gas jockeys I enjoyed my time at the convenience store, but my favourite Bayview job was a little farther south. Twin brother Terry had a part-time job after school at Don Verity’s Esso station at Bayview and Millwood. And we worked there together for 12 hours every Saturday during Grades 12 and 13. I remember those days vividly. I remember my blue polyester Esso pants that were more flammable than the gas we pumped. I remember my

Service is Our Specialty

SOLID • STRONG • SUCCESSFUL We Are Here For All Your Real Estate Needs!

Kelly Lazar, CGA, CPA • Sales Representative Office: 416.488.2875 - Toll Free: 1.800.466.2218 - Direct: 416.930.0787 kellyjlazar@gmail.com David Wagman • Sales Representative | Managing Partner Office: 416.488.2875 - Toll Free: 1.800.466.2218 - Direct: 416.414.0007 IG: wagman.lazar

Esso winter coat that was so big I might as well have worn a tent. I remember those odd but crucial leather work gloves with three slots for our fingers and thumbs. I remember my windshield washing training by the 70-year-old veteran – spoiler alert: there is a right way to clean a windshield. And I remember circling several cars multiple times on my first day, looking for the gas tank door. Things improved once it was pointed out that most American cars of the day hid the gas cap behind the hinged rear licensed plate – who knew? Pumping gas in the Canadian winter is not for the faint of heart. Frostbitten fingers and toes were occupational hazards. And when two brothers shared the duties, the words “your turn…” became the constant refrain in the warmth of the reception area where we huddled between customers. Famous customers Sub-zero weather or not, one particular customer pulling into the station always had us both sprinting out the door determined to offer our best service. That customer was longtime Leaside resident, and former Toronto Maple Leaf captain, George Armstrong. Even though we went to school with his kids, it was still a thrill when the man himself arrived for his weekly fill-up. He was an absolute gentleman who always patiently endured our starstruck mumbling while checking his oil for the umpteenth time. In May of 1978 our Grade 13 formal was held at the RCYC and featured the then very popular Ian Thomas Band (his hit, “Painted Ladies,” never sounded so good!). After an all-night “Breakfast Party” in the neighbourhood, Terry and I dropped off our dates and made it home ourselves with just enough time to change our clothes and head up to the gas station for what became the longest full-day shift of our lives. It’s hard to add a quart of motor oil to a customer’s engine while sound asleep under the hood, but we managed to make it through the day (just not the night!). Even though the typical gas stations of the ’70s have been replaced by the impersonal self-serve, payat-the-pump experiences of today, I wouldn’t trade my time at Don Verity’s Esso for anything. Fill ’er up, anyone? n

When the car was king, Part 1: wheelers and dealers 25

Honk if you remember when the car was king in Leaside. Would you be surprised to learn it wasn’t that long ago? From the 1950s till the 2010s Leaside had car dealerships, at one point no fewer than six. Not only were cars – everything from Studebakers to Chevrolets, Fords to Austins – sold in Leaside but they were also manufactured here, especially in the ’20s and ’30s. Of the six dealerships, Rumble Pontiac at the northwest corner of Bayview and Broadway, was the most enduring. Built in 1950 on the farm that was once known as “the Old McGinn place,” it would begin selling Pontiacs and Buicks in the ’60s, become Brennan Pontiac Buick in the ’90s and be sold to RioCan in 2013 to make way for retail. Those of us over

Fill ’er up! Remember when gas cost 8¢ a litre? In the 1950s, when Leaside was home to numerous dealerships and neighbourhood service stations, gasoline typically cost about 35 to 45 cents an Imperial gallon – the equivalent of roughly 8 to 10¢ a litre. By 1970, gasoline cost around 11¢ a litre — although nobody would have said “per litre.” Gas was still sold by the gallon, making the price about 50¢ a gallon. Canada began converting gasoline pumps to metric measurements in 1979, and litres became the official standard at the pump on Jan. 1, 1981. By 1978, when Tim Fallis and his twin brother Terry were pumping gas at Don Verity’s Esso at Bayview and Millwood, the equivalent price was around 20¢ a litre, or roughly 90¢ per gallon. Today, you’d have to pay almost 10 times that. Plus, back then, the boys would pump your gas, wash your windshield, and even check your oil. Whatever happened to that personal touch? n

Leaside Life • October 2026

by MITCH BUBULJ

Top: the antique Durant at Gyro Motors. Below: The grille from Leasider John Naulls’ 1965 Pontiac Parisienne. Right: advertising from Clarke-Moffatt Motors.

60 will remember their jingle – a true earworm – from AM radio: “Ramble into Rumble, you’ll see.” Remembering the dealers Leasider John Naulls reminisces about buying his first car there soon after graduating from Leaside High. “I spotted the blue Pontiac Parisienne convertible on the lot on a cold autumn day in 1967; no one was in the market for a convertible due to the weather, so I test drove it, took it to a local mechanic for an inspection and ended up buying it on the same day.” John still has the ’65 Parisienne in his driveway in South Leaside. Clarke-Moffatt Motors at 895 Millwood Rd. (think the location of Fix It Again Sam and Bravo Pizza) sold Fords; Glenvale Motors at 186 Laird Dr. sold British-made Austins; Marwood Motors at the southeast corner of Bayview and Eglinton sold DeSotos (later becoming a Fiat dealership – I remember the large neon “FIAT” sign at night, blue and white, and visible for kms around). At 928 Millwood Rd., opposite Leaside Gate, Leaside Motor Service sold Hudsons. If you were in the market for a Mercury or a Meteor, then DeFoe Motors at 134-140 Laird Dr. was the place to go. Leaside also manufactured automobiles. From 1922 to 1933 Durant

Motors made 75,000 vehicles at their plant on Laird, now replaced by Leaside Smart Centre. Their main office was across the street; its heritage façade is now incorporated into the Viva Leaside Retirement complex. If you are curious to see a real Durant, there is a 1923 Durant “Star” in the window of Gyro Motors, just metres away from where it was made over 100 years ago. Marketing was king Not only makers of a fine automobile, Durant also knew how to market. On opening day of the CNE back in 1925, they ran a newspaper ad inviting attendees to tour the Leaside plant. Anyone interested was encouraged to meet at the Automotive Building and board a “conveyance” that would take them to Leaside to see “that we really manufacture in Canada, employ Canadian labour and get our material from Canadian sources of supply.” According to Bill Sherk in the Dec. 5, 2022, issue of the newspaper Old Autos, Leaside’s Durant plant “is the only example I have ever found of a car company inviting members of the general public to its factory to see how its cars are built.” Nothing is left of the dealerships or the manufacturing plant; all that remain are a vintage Durant, John’s beloved convertible and that enduring earworm. Next month read about Leaside when it was “the land of gas and service stations.” n

From comfort food to soul food on Millwood

Janis Fertuck Columnist

Millwood Melt was a fixture at the corner of Millwood and Randolph from 2012 to 2022 providing comfort food to fuel the bodies of Leasiders. But since 2025, the space has taken on a new life as Urban Ashram Toronto, a spiritual centre offering a different kind of nourishment, this time food for the soul. Stephen D’Amico and Aniko Szocs served delicious grilled cheese sandwiches popular with the locals and others from across the city. But, more than that, Stephen explains, there was a “distinct vibe” in the restaurant that was the true “soul food” the customers came for as they “cultivated heart-to-heart connections and formed meaningful friendships.”

DANIELE SCAPATI

Leaside Life • October 2026

Spiritual development on the menu Even when busy with the restaurant, Stephen also ran a program for spiritual development one weekend a month featuring group meditation and reflection. The restaurant was quiet for a couple of years while

Stephanie Bowman

Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley West

Happy Thanksgiving As we gather to celebrate the bounty of Ontario and Canada, may your homes be filled with good (local!) food, cherished family, and wonderful friends. Wishing you a joyful celebration filled with gratitude and togetherness! Constituency Office 795 Eglinton Avenue East Unit 101, Toronto, ON M4G 4E4 416-425-6777 Stay Connected Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates sbowman.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Stephen dealt with some health challenges. What kept him inspired during those years was his dream of creating a space dedicated to spiritual exploration. Then in 2025, he decided to make that dream a reality. Stephen’s spiritual journey began with some unusual experiences in childhood, followed by a shift in consciousness in his early 20s. Then, in early 2002, he started sharing his understanding with others. He says his past work as a teacher, mediator and facilitator in conflict resolution and restorative justice helps shape his approach and bring a grounded perspective to spirituality. He has also written three books exploring spirituality and is working on a fourth, which he describes as a “metaphysical choose-your-own-adventure.” Establishing an ashram An ashram is a sanctuary dedicated to personal and spiritual growth. Stephen says he chose the name Urban Ashram Toronto to create a peaceful sanctuary for Leaside – and the city. The sign features sacred symbols, which stand for concepts like ancient hieroglyphs and present a puzzle for passersby to ponder. Stephen adds that the goal of the ashram is to help people deepen their awareness and “to live with greater clarity, authenticity, inner peace and wisdom.” His work combines spiritual guidance, meditation, conscious dialogue and energetic transmission, and appeals to people of any faith, background and tradition.

SOUL FOOD Page 47

FREE SENIORS SYMPOSIUM!

Information • Inspiration • Resources for Living Well

KEYNOTE SPEAKER PATTIE LOVETT-REID Renowned Canadian financial commentator, author and speaker. Join us for a FREE morning of practical information and expert advice to help older adults, empty-nesters and their families make informed decisions about retirement and the years ahead. ALSO FEATURING SUE PIMENTO, Founder & CEO, Retire With Equity and Author of Your Retirement Reset. PLUS other experts specializing in the needs of older adults. Explore topics including financial security, housing and home equity, health and wellness, aging well and planning for your next chapter. Meet local senior-serving professionals and organizations at our information marketplace.

INFO:

FREE ADMISSION • FREE PARKING Refreshments • Giveaways • Valuable Community Resources

Address:

1528

Eglinton Ave E

Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON

Phone: 647.532.6988

Millwood Rd

Bayview Ave

SPACE IS LIMITED: Reserve your FREE ticket today https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1998159963239?aff=oddtdtcreator

Instagram: @Jyugoya.ca Website: Jyugoya.ca

A minimum purchase of $18.00 (before tax) is required. Limit of one redemption per table for dine-in, or one redemption per transaction for takeout. Terms & conditions applies.

Leaside Life • October 2026

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 | 10 AM–1 PM William Lea Room, Leaside

Ooh baby baby – go gaga over baby Bolognese

MITCH BUBULJ

Leaside Life • October 2026

Find the recipes online by clicking the Leaside Cooks tab.

Mitch Bubulj Columnist

Oliver Simmonds eats up his fave dish.

ANTIQUES WANTED

Cash Paid For: Silver plate • sterling • coins • gold • jewellery • watches, etc. Teak • furniture • paintings • Doultons • fancy cups and saucers • medals • military • bronze • jade • Chinese • Japanese • fine art and quality smalls.

30 Years Experience Professional & Courteous WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS CALL DAVID

416-231-9948

Is it my imagination or is there a mini baby boom happening here in Leaside? There seems to be a toddler or two on every block, witnessed by increased stroller traffic on the sidewalks and a packed-out Trace Manes Park. It might just be that I am more attentive after becoming a first-time grandpa in August. One thing is for sure: happy eight-monthold Oliver Simmonds smiles at the sight and smell of mom Courtney’s baby Bolognese. Your infant, or grandchild will too. And maybe even you! Home-cooked and nutritious When Oliver turned six months and was ready to eat solid foods, Courtney decided she would create fresh and nutritious meals for him. She knew that his store of iron, saved up during the final months of pregnancy, would be pretty much depleted by then so her focus was on legumes such as chickpeas and lentils, eggs, oats and barley and especially meat – all rich in iron. “The common approach is to introduce different foods one at a time and look for any allergic reactions; we decided Oliver was destined to be a hearty eater so went right for the deep end!” Courtney says.

One of his first meals, and now his favourite, is pasta Bolognese, which is made with a variety of ingredients including carrots, celery, tomatoes and ground beef. Courtney’s approach can be hard work but “also a lot of fun.” Courtney explains that she is used to meal prepping. “I developed the habit in high school; at work I am known for my containers of lunches prepared beforehand,” she quips. She and husband Patrick grew up just east of Toronto and even went to the same high school, although they didn’t start dating till university. Patrick studied engineering in Toronto, and both got to know the city well; they decided they would make TO their home. “We stumbled upon Leaside,” Patrick explains, “soon realizing that it was an attractive, friendly and safe place to raise a family.” They bought their house in South Leaside during the pandemic, reminiscing about “wearing masks, sanitizing hands and avoiding touching high-contact surfaces” during viewings. Busy lives but time for cooking Patrick works in wireless engineering and Courtney at a busy downtown law office. Both have full days but manage a very efficient household. Courtney’s cooking for Oliver is down to a fine art. Patrick jokes that their Leaside home “is now a meal prepping machine.” Courtney finds many ideas on Instagram and TikTok. To balance Oliver’s three meals a day she also prepares dishes like banana, oat and spinach pancakes – a breakfast favourite – and meatballs for lunch or dinner. “Oliver’s not a fussy eater and so it is easy to try new recipes; the focus is including ingredients rich in iron.” She has a routine now so

LEASIDE COOKS continued

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

MITCH BUBULJ

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

that “when he naps, I cook.” If the proof is in the pudding, or Italian meat sauce, then Oliver’s enthusiasm is a sign of Courtney’s success. During my visit, he ate “con gusto,” enjoying every fistful.

Courtney says it takes time but making batches of Bolognese and freezing them in the end makes a lot of sense. And when Oliver is happy, so are his parents. “Buon appetito!” n

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.

Leaside Life • October 2026

Leaside’s own manor house and the three millionaires who made her: Part III

Leaside Life • October 2026

by MITCH BUBULJ This is the final instalment of our three-part series on the three millionaires – Joseph Kilgour, David Dunkelman and James Flanagan – who all left their mark on one of Leaside’s most storied and magnificent residences. Captain Flanagan’s “Divadale” The last private owner of York Lodge was East Texas oilman “Captain” James Flanagan (1872-1950), who found his way to North Leaside in 1936. A man of mystery and intrigue, he is referred to as the “secret agent” – combining the skills of an entrepreneur and a lobbyist – who was able to get a 360-mile-long Colombian oil pipeline built in the early ’20s. He did this using stealth and a keen business sense, making powerful friends among Latin American politicians and sometimes even posing as a railway contractor. He became president of the Canadianregistered oil and pipeline company,

the Andian National Corporation, bringing him to Toronto and his original home on Russell Hill Road. The larger-than-life “Captain” (so-called while fighting in the Spanish American War) was even knighted by Pope Pius XI in 1926 “in recognition of exceptional religious and charitable activities.” No stranger to controversy, he was sued for $100,000 in New York City in 1916 by Miss Anna Sullivan for breach of promise to marry after he wed a rival, Miss Hazel Bird Brown. A big collector LAYERS OF Not surprisingly, LEASIDE Flanagan had a taste for the rare, exotic and expensive. A Canadian Homes and Gardens article from 1939 describes him as “Canada’s outstanding collector (whose) name is a familiar one in the internationally known

auction rooms.” And it was to Joseph Kilgour’s 1913-built mansion – bought from David Dunkelman – that Flanagan brought his treasures. The large two-storey oak-panelled music room featured 1,000-year-old Italian tapestries and ecclesiastical robes draped over the balcony rail as well as Old Master paintings and even “an exquisite piano in gold and rosewood, 800 years old, that had belonged to Marie Antoinette.” (Globe and Mail, Dec. 18, 1939.) Capt. James W. Flanagan

He had an arms collection that included one of Napoleon’s monogrammed sabres, William of Orange’s gun and a full set of Turkish armour from 11th century Constantinople – the only other full set in North America was in the Metropolitan Museum. In the library he displayed his stamp and autograph collections – including autographs of every president of the United States – laid out next to the green marble mantel from a palace used by King Louis XIV. His dining room featured original Chippendale furniture. When asked, he claimed his coin collection was his favourite acquisition, containing ancient Roman denarii and Spanish doubloons. Flanagan added to the estate, adding greenhouses full of rare orchids from Brazil, an aviary and a basement marble-clad swimming pool with mosaics reminiscent of Pompeii, and a curved window bay opening to a terrace with a view of Sunnybrook Farm. What’s in a name? He also added to Leaside’s street nomenclature. He renamed his 62-room mansion “Divadale” after his teenaged daughter Hazel, who had decided to use her preferred moniker “Diva.” Mitchell Avenue was renamed Divadale soon afterwards. (See Ted De Welles’ “Divadale: What’s in a Name” Leaside Life, April 2026.) Flanagan was called to Washington

MANOR HOUSE continued

Leaside Life • October 2026

Above: The inside of the Lodge in its heyday. Below: the mansion boarded up before demolition.

in 1942 to advise President Franklin Roosevelt on Latin-American affairs. He donated some of his collections to the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario and auctioned off the rest at the Ward-Price Galleries on College Street. “Divadale” was sold to the government and repurposed as a military hospital and RCAF convalescent home. When I explored “Divadale,”

the home was boarded up with one living room board loose. That window frame became my entrée into a lost world of splendour and grandeur, albeit dusty and abandoned. I can still see and smell the dead raccoon at the dry bottom of the Pompeiian pool. “York Lodge”/”Divadale” was demolished on a cold and snowy day in late November 1978, but her stories and legacy remain. n

Leaside Life • October 2026

Cozy up to Sunnybrook: One Year in the Park by GREIG HENDERSON I’ve never liked the designation “coffee table book.” It has a pejorative tinge and conjures up images of something visually lush but verbally barren, an artifact for display rather than use, something you flip through rather than read. Sunnybrook: One Year in the Park is not a coffee table book in that sense. True, the pictures featured in it are lush, but the discussions of history, ecology, architecture, geography, plants, birds, and animals are informative and insightful. This is a book you read. It records four seasons of activity in Sunnybrook Park, which, in Bob Strupat’s expansive definition, includes Edwards Garden, Wilket Creek Park, Serena Gundy Park, E.T. Seton Park, and Glendon Forest. From journalism to photography In his former life, Bob was an editorial and feature writer for the Toronto Star as well as a freelance journalist, college writing

LITERARY LEASIDE

The cover of Bob’s book. Bob in a recent picture.

FAR INFRARED CLASSES Detoxify while you workout Increase your calorie burn Improve relaxation & stretch Purify your skin over 15 different classes!

Days 22 12

for only

*new members only!

202 Laird Drive Toronto, ON, M4G 3W2 416-964-5446 leaside@oxygenyogafitness.com @oyfleaside

FITNESS YOGA FUSION BARRE

instructor, and communications consultant. He served as chief of staff for North York Mayor Mel Lastman and headed the development of an exclusive golf community in Florida for industrialist Galen Weston. Bob put his former life behind him and took up photography in 2004 after being diagnosed with advanced colon cancer and undergoing a series of grueling operations. His prolonged process of recovery led not only to his visual and natural history projects, among them Lynde Shores Conservation Area and Bob’s Big Book of Birds, but also to forays into detective fiction (The Paanenburg Mysteries) and style guides (40 Rules: Practical Advice for Canadian Writers). Bob lives with his wife in North Leaside. The early 20th-century Sunnybrook Farm and the Leaside Manor Home of Joseph and Alice Kilgour were donated to the city for a public park in 1928. One of the conditions imposed on the city was that no road be built to connect Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street. The park is accessible by car only from Leslie Street, but walkers, hikers, joggers, and cyclists can enter it at multiple places and enjoy kilometres of paved and unpaved trails. Naturalists and birders can explore a rich biodiversity of plant and animal species – among them coyotes, squirrels, foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, beavers, and deer – along with over 300 species of birds. The variegated species of plants at Edwards

SUNNYBROOK continued

Sharing a path in the Everglades.

that many of the old structures that remain are in a state of decrepitude. A case in point is the Sports Pavilion, a sprawling white building opposite the soccer pitches, a building that is empty, unused, and abandoned. These are city buildings, Mitch notes, and they and other structures should not only be maintained and restored but also furnished with plaques and

KAREN STRUPAT

New insights This book is a revelation. For example, I never knew the history of the park. In earlier years, it was, among other things, a venue for fox hunts. Nor did I know of the existence of hidden gems such as Glendon Forest. Generally organized from west to east, this book will expertly guide you to known and unknown areas of this bountiful green space and inspire you to further explore it. Although, quite properly, this book is largely a celebration of the history and ecology of one of Toronto’s most beautiful parks, Bob is well aware of the dangers that beset it: population growth, increased recreational use, invasive species, habitat degradation, urban development, and architectural decay. Author of a recent Leaside Life article on the Kilgours’ manor house, Mitch Bubulj told me

signs that explain their history. Much more than a coffee table book, Sunnybrook is a visually splendid and verbally lucid account not only of a year in the life of the park but also of its origin and development. You can purchase this book and learn more about Bob’s other works at www.bobstrupat.smugmug.com. n

Leaside Life • October 2026

Gardens attract viewers all year long, and Glendon Forest contains more than 35 species of rare plants. To boot, athletes can play cricket, soccer, frisbee, and rugby on the park’s multiple fields. There is even a free archery range and a free disc golf course.

AUTOSPA From Page 6 “I’m also proud of his willingness to dream big and fearlessly pursue his goals,” says Julia. The business has taught James the value of exceeding customer expectations. Spending extra time on rims or adding tire shine may not bring immediate profit, but it builds trust, referrals and repeat business. James plans to study business after graduating and sees Leaside Auto Spa as a stepping stone toward something bigger. More than the money, he is proud of taking a risk and building a business that continues to flourish. After wrapping up the season in September, James said he will ramp up next season. For more information, contact James at 647-4905844, by email at leasideautospa@gmail.com or leasideautospa.ca. “It’s about betting on myself,” James says. “Whatever effort I put in now is going to pay off in the future.” n

Thank You Leaside!

A heartfelt thank you from Isaac and Nyle for the incredible generosity of the Leaside community in supporting their 11th annual lemonade stand for the Terry Fox Foundation. Thanks to your kindness and support, $1,934.45 was raised on Sunday, September 20th for this inspiring cause.

STEVE HARDY

Leaside Life • October 2026

With heartfelt appreciation, Isaac, Nyle and Family. Thank you for helping Terry’s dream of a world without cancer live on!

LEMONADE FOR TERRY FOX!

“Professional HOME Maintenance by a Builder who understands how Homes are Designed, Built and meant to Last.”

DIVISION OF Well-established Design Build Firm

W. C. MEEK DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION LTD.

170 WICKSTEED AVE, UNIT 1, TORONTO 416 690 1919 www.WCMEEK.COM

Maintenance & Management Services Oﬀered: Professional In-House Trades Performing: • DRYWALL, CARPENTRY, GENERAL REPAIRS • PAINTING - INTERIOR & EXTERIOR WCM vetted Professional Trades: • HVAC, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, SMART HOME FEATURES AND MANY OTHERS. Water Damage Assessment, Repairs & Prevention TRUSTWORTHY, FULLY LICENSED AND INSURED

SCAN to visit website

ELECTION From Page 17

Like Leasiders, Thorncliffe Park residents have big ideas, and big concerns, for the future of their Don Valley West neighbourhood. Whoever wins Ward 15 on election night, Thorncliffers expect a councillor who will listen, learn, and lead the fight for the future of their community at Toronto City Hall. * Some quotes have been edited for length. n

Let’s keep Leaside beautiful! Saturday, October 17th 9am - 11:30am NW corner of Bayview & Millwood

Join your neighbours for another community clean-up and help keep our streets and parks litter free.

Fun for the whole family! Collect 50+ bags of litter! DMWL T-Shirts for Sale!

For more information: dontmesswithleaside@gmail.com Lead Sponsor:

Leaside Life • October 2026

However, the facility simply cannot keep pace with the needs of Thorncliffe Park’s rapidly growing population. The building also has to accommodate a library and a daycare, further limiting the space available for community recreation. Looking ahead, we would like municipal leaders to think bigger about Thorncliffe Park’s recreation infrastructure. A community of this size and density deserves its own indoor swimming pool, hockey rink, and a much larger community centre. These are not luxuries; they are important investments in children’s health, inclusion and quality of life. For us, the key question in the municipal election is: How will the City ensure that children and families in Thorncliffe Park have fair and meaningful access to recreation opportunities in their own community? Michelle Delaney, Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers, and resident: We have watched mature trees disappear with the development of Costco, Iqbal, Metrolinx and as buildings have renovations. The redevelopment proposed at 2 and 4 Milepost Place will result in the loss of another 47 trees. Ultimately, I would like to see municipal leaders think beyond development and growth alone. The question should be: What kind of community are we building, and will it be a place where people –and nature – can thrive? We need leaders who will protect and expand our urban tree canopy, invest in accessible public spaces, support meaningful environmental education, respond to the everyday concerns of residents and take meaningful action on climate change.

How Pilates in Leaside turned me from a comma to an exclamation point

Leaside Life • October 2026

by HARVIN PITCH This year, a miracle happened to me in Leaside. As a litigation lawyer, practising for 55 years, I worked day and night hunched over my desk. I recently retired at 82. My posture was terrible; I was so bent over that my wife often remarked that I looked like a comma! During a trip to Japan to visit family in 2024, I complained to my wife about my back pain, and she reminded me that everyone I had consulted about my back from my physiotherapist to an orthopedic surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital recommended I try Pilates. I never did. In my ignorance I had no idea what Pilates even was. Perhaps a city in Greece?

That same year we moved to a condo on Bayview Avenue across from the CNIB. Tired of my constant complaints, my wife took the bull by the horns and decided I should sign up for a Pilates session at Circle Pilates (1675 Bayview Ave.) run by Shareen Woodford. Because of my procrastination and to ensure that I showed up and didn’t cancel the appointment, my wife decided to come with me and booked a semi-private session for both of us. For the sake of matrimonial peace, I agreed. (As an aside, I later learned that some of the men who came to the Pilates classes were also encouraged by their wives to attend and participate in the classes together.) Harvin Pitch, a Pilates convert, showing off his improved posture.

I’m now a believer I would never have gone but for my wife’s persistence in booking the appointment. It turned out to be a great idea. Just by luck, we walked into a studio specializing in classical Pilates taught exactly as intended by its creator. Shareen is a rare second-generation Pilates teacher who learned the method in its entirety from Jay Grimes, who studied with Mr. Pilates himself, Joseph Pilates, in New York in the ’60s. On the first visit, I was intimidated by all the apparatus that would be used to help me stretch my muscles and limbs. Indeed, during that first session, I was so awkward and stiff that my wife and I thought I would break apart. Once I attended sessions for about a year, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my flexibility. I was hooked! I increased my classes to twice a week and at Shareen’s recommendation I also attended a stretching clinic at 573 Mt. Pleasant Rd. called FLXME where I received stretch therapy from registered kinesiologist Emily Hamilton. Stretch therapy has also helped me greatly and is easy to take because you simply lie on your back on a mat and the therapist does all the work. The results of all these treatments are truly miraculous. I now stand much straighter. n

Leaside Life • October 2026

AGING IN PLACE From Page 8

Leaside Life • October 2026

support. We felt overwhelmed, but my brother and I rallied all the support we could. We were fortunate to be referred to the Peter Cipriano Centre for Seniors at Sunnybrook Hospital where my father was given physical therapy and cognitive stimulation, and we were introduced to the resources necessary for aging in place. He now has a PSW, Cherry, who comes to the house four days a week and is a welcome addition to the family. Mary comes every other week to help keep the home clean and tidy. I order meals from Heart to Home, and our wonderful neighbour, Vera, makes a meal for dad each week. My husband and my brother’s wife

are a constant, caring support. His great granddaughter, now three, entertains him daily. He also has a young grandson who visits every other week. The laundry facilities are in dad’s apartment, and now washing clothes is family time. The day-to-day realities of aging in place are challenging but also deeply gratifying. When we gather for a meal, perhaps we can hear the echoes of my father’s family gathered around the kitchen table in that small upstairs apartment. This October my father turns 99, the same week our daughter will give birth to his third great grandchild. Imagine! Almost a century of love under the same roof. n

NOW!

LEASIDE LIFE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Now accepting fall registrations for the

2026/2027 Dance Year! Classes in jazz, acro, ballet, musical theatre and more! 6 studios— 9,500 square feet! Conveniently located at 3300 Yonge St. (Yonge and Fairlawn)

REGIST ER TODAY !

Aging in place: getting help close to home A few resources can help make staying at home safer and more manageable. TNO – Seniors Support Services Offers personal support, respite, wellness checks, meal help and assistance navigating community services. https://tno-toronto.org/programs/ seniors-services Peter Cipriano Centre for Seniors Health – Sunnybrook Provides geriatric assessment, rehabilitation, falls prevention and connections to community supports. https://sunnybrook.ca/departments/ peter-cipriano-centre-for-seniorshealth/ Heart to Home Meals Delivers prepared frozen meals designed with seniors in mind, including options for smaller appetites and dietary needs. https://www.hearttohomemeals.ca/ Nomarc Design and Renovation A local renovation resource for adapting homes for aging in place, including accessible bathrooms, safer entrances and other practical modifications. https://www.nomarc.ca/ Ontario Health atHome Connects eligible residents with publicly funded home-care services such as nursing, personal support and rehabilitation. https://ontariohealthathome.ca/ Toronto Seniors Helpline / 211 A good starting point for finding transportation, caregiver support, meal programs, friendly visiting and other seniors’ services. https://torontoseniorshelpline.ca/ SPRINT Senior Care SPRINT is an accredited, not-for-profit community support service agency in Toronto offering a wide range of practical and low-cost services to seniors and their caregivers. https://www.sprintseniorcare.org/ Services and eligibility may vary. Contact providers directly for current information. n

Leaside Life • October 2026

Something exciting is coming to Leaside! V!VA LEASIDE IS OPENING SOON!

A vibrant new Retirement Community for living well and meaningful connections. Private appointments available upon request. Please contact us to book. 416-696-5050 or leaside@vivalife.ca Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care

vivaleaside.ca

In Leaside for over 45 years Built on customer trust and company tradition SPECIALIZING IN RESIDENTIAL MASONRY AND MASONRY RESTORATION IN TORONTO, ETOBICOKE AND GTA • 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

Fully licensed and insured Over 45 years of experience

BOOK NOW!

• WATERPROOFING

CALL: 416-467-1717 • EMAIL: INFO@OTTOSMASONRY.CA • WEBSITE: OTTOSMASONRY.CA

Mahjong mania hits Leaside Presbyterian Church Suzanne Park Columnist

Legend has it the game of mahjong was originally called ‘maque,’ meaning ‘sparrow’ in a regional Chinese dialect as the clacking of the tiles during setup and play sounds like chirping sparrows. Mahjong is certainly enjoying a renaissance as it appeals to a wide audience, and especially younger players (and celebrities like Meghan Markle). According to data shared with CTVNews.ca, the online platform Eventbrite said the number of mahjong-related listings in Canada saw a one-year increase of five per cent in 2025, while attendance grew by more than 70 per cent.

SUZANNE PARK

Leaside Life • October 2026

Left to right: Mahjong enthusiasts Brenda Woods, Alison Moore, coach Caroline Cassin, Sally Burkett, and Jennifer Walker.

Mahjong comes to Leaside Presbyterian Nowhere is this trend more on display than right in Leaside. Rev. Paul Kang, minister at Leaside Presbyterian Church, and his mighty band of volunteers hosted two free, learn-to-play, mahjong evenings June 26th and Sept 11th where there were a lot of clacking tiles. Along with a warm welcome at the check-in table by volunteer Caroline Cassin and Rev. Kang, experienced players and newbies enjoyed generous treats, colourful guide sheets, and lessons. On Sept 11th the church hall was packed with 32 registered to play and a few drop-ins encouraged to pull up a chair at a full table to watch and learn or coach if they were experienced players. With so many versions of mahjong, some experienced players were unfamiliar with the version being taught and played at the church. Within minutes the room was buzzing with chatter as participants got acquainted. Some reconnected with neighbours they hadn’t seen in years and several reminisced about when their children attended school together. A newbie was overheard commenting, “I’m nervous. It’s been years since I’ve even played cards.” A tablemate replied, “Same for me. I came for the company and recently

heard from a friend that mahjong is fun.” Lead instructor for the evening was Jenny Tou, Ph.D. in neuroscience and artificial intelligence from the University of Toronto, currently conducting post-doctoral studies at Stanford. Jenny’s lessons were supported by Caroline Cassin, Nancy Weir, and Rev. Kang as mahjong coaches and Keith Ballinger, who wrangled the video and AV slides. Beginners welcome For beginners, the church’s version is a four-person tile matching game requiring the winner to build a 14-tile winning hand comprising four sets of three and one pair of matching tiles. Participants experience the precise, some might say reverent way of setting up the 144-tile wall and collecting their 13 initial tiles. They also learn the tile suits’ language of sticks for bamboo, dots for coins, winds or dragons for honour tiles and special moves called ‘chow,’ ‘pung’ and ‘kong.’ If you missed the first two evenings and want to work your brain and forge community connections, why not register for the church’s next sessions on Oct 16th and Nov 20th? Sign up at: https://www.leasidepresbyterianchurch.ca/ To learn more about how to play: https://www.themahjongproject. com/how-to-play/basics. n

THRIVE at LY P P A W NO

Preschool - Grade 4 Our curriculum has consistently included age-appropriate academics with a focus on social-emotional development and character education in the primary years. For over 40 years, a balanced education has been the foundation of our program.

Accepting Applications for 2027-28 cgs school.com

| 4 1 6 . 4 2 3 . 5 0 1 7 | 6 7 0 E g l i n t o n Av e . E

October Events East End Adventure, Sat., Oct. 17 at Monarch Park. This special event aims to tackle a problem plaguing our communities. Beyond the usual music, refreshment and games, East End Adventure features a scavenger hunt designed to send participants out into their neighbourhoods to connect face-to-face with their fellow citizens and form human connection. With this approach, we hope to both support the hospital’s most pressing needs while also decreasing isolation and loneliness in our catchment area. Leasider Scott Rands is team captain and leading fundraiser. Info: https://mghf.akaraisin. com/ui/eastendadventure2026

BAYVIEW/LEASIDE BIA APPLEFEST Sat. Oct. 17, 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Rain or shine. Family fun and entertainment! See ad on page 23.

ST. CUTHBERT’S, LEASIDE ANGLICAN CHURCH 1399 Bayview Ave. 416-485-0329 stcuthbertleaside@toronto.anglican.ca www.stcuthbertsleaside.com Tai Chi Tuesdays 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. in Lamb Hall. Suggested donation $5/class. Join us! Men’s Monthly Saturday Morning Breakfast resumes in the fall. Email the office for details. Blessing of the Animals Sun., Oct. 4 at 4:00 p.m. You and your pet are invited!

LEASIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 670 Eglinton Ave. E. admin@leasidepc.ca 416-422-0510 Learn and play Mahjong Oct. 16, 7:00 9:00 p.m.

ST. AUGUSTINE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH 1847 Bayview Ave. info@saintaugustine.ca Blessing of the Animals Sun., Oct. 4 at 2:00 p.m. Bring your pets to the west lawn for an individual blessing, stay for refreshments, take a pic in our photo booth. Groove Room Coffee House Listen to great live music by local artists and have a coffee and dessert with friends. Fri. Oct 9, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Pay what you can with 100% of the money going to the Flemingdon Food Bank. We are looking for performers of all skill levels. Food Collection Sat., Oct. 24. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please consider bringing items for the food drive organized with Leaside churches in support of TNO. Halloween Trick or Treat Sat., Oct. 31. Stop by between 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for a special treat from the church.

➪

Carolynn Beange presenting the 2026 Leaside Garden Society Scholarship Award to James Marcucci.

Congratulations to the Leaside Garden Society (LGS)’s 2026 winner of its Founders’ Scholarship. James Marcucci is in his third year of a Ph.D. program at the University of Toronto, studying urban forestry at the Institute of Forestry and Conservation, Daniels Faculty. James’s Ph.D. work is designed to address modern environmental challenges to help community-based organizations and private citizens to preserve mature neighbourhood tree canopies and existing character and increase greening opportunities through community engagement and education. James is a leading data collector who has worked with the federal government providing urban forestry leadership. He has done innovative work with tree cover simulations and stewardship. He has also worked on a joint proposal in Atlantic Canada hosted by First Nations and local NGOs.—Carolynn Beange, LGS Scholarship Chair.

NORA CAMPBELL

Leaside Life • October 2026

MICHAEL GARRON HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Women’s Dinner Fri., Oct. 23 in Lamb Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for dinner served at 7:15 p.m. Tickets $35. Christmas Fair Mark your calendars! Sat., Nov. 14, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Donations gratefully accepted now. No furniture or clothing. Gard’n Angels every Wed. and Sat. from 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon. Come garden with us! For info, email gardnangels@gmail.com. Weekly services of Evening Prayer every Friday @ 7:00 p.m. on the Green.

Leaside Garden Society Founders’ Scholarship Winner

LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH 822 Millwood Rd. 416-425-1253 robert@leasideuc.ca Awesome Sale Oct. 16 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Oct. 17 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. See ad on page 37.

NORTHLEA UNITED 125 Brentcliffe Rd. office@northleaunited.ca. Community Food Drive with area Churches: Northlea United, Leaside United and St Augustine of Canterbury are collecting food for the TNO Collaborative. Sat. Oct. 24, 9:30 - 12:00 noon and Sun. Oct. 25, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon. Drop off your donations today. See ad on page 33.

LEASIDE GARDEN SOCIETY Speaker Series: Mark Graves on Tree Care and the Value of Trees in the Urban Forest. Thurs. Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m. refreshments, meeting 7:00 p.m. At the Leaside Library – 165 McRae Dr. For info, contact leaside@ gardenontario.org or 416-422-0538.

CFUW LEASIDE-EAST YORK Realizing potential. For all women. Next General Meeting, Thurs. Oct. 15, at Northlea United Church, 125 Brentcliffe Rd., at 7:00 p.m. Speaker: Rahul Singh, Founder and CEO of GlobalMedic, on Thirty Years of Global Emergency Response. All women and guests are welcome. For info: cfuwleasideeastyork.ca or email: joincfuwley@gmail.com.

LEASIDE LIBRARY 165 McRae Dr. 416-396-3855 For a full list of programs at the Leaside branch, please visit www.tpl.ca/leaside.

WILLIAM LEA ROOM EVENTS: Sports Card Shows Sun., Oct. 11, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Sun., Oct. 25, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wednesdays: Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28. Duplicate Bridge Games and Lessons Thursdays: Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. Duplicate Bridge Games and Lessons For more info, visit www.Torontobridge.ca Public Skating Tuesdays: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27. Adult (18+) Public Skating 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Thursdays: Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. Adult (18+) Public Skating 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays: Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. All Ages Public Skating 5:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

2027 AGNES MACPHAIL AWARD Nominations now being accepted until Nov. 27, 2026. See background info and nomination form at Agnes Macphail Award – City of Toronto. This award recognizes a resident of the former Borough of East York (Leaside, Thorncliffe Park, East York) with an outstanding, longstanding, volunteer leadership role in social justice issues. n

Leaside Life • October 2026

Where luxury meets lifestyle, and every day feels like a resort getaway. Enjoy upscale condo-style living with premium amenities, exceptional services, and the freedom to live life on your terms. Now’s the time to make your move. Call 416-481-8524 or scan our QR code to book a tour and see what sets us apart. info@thedunfield.com TheDunfield.com

POOL From Page 3

Leaside Life • October 2026

planning and financial acumen, he and his board of directors were able to do just that. The surplus profits from the hockey arena would fund the project – no debentures or fundraising campaigns needed. What resulted was a resource the community had longed for – a 25-yard, single tank facility with six lanes, three diving boards, heated flooring and underwater lighting. Flanking the pool is perhaps its most striking feature – a 100-ft.-long and 124-ft.-high set of windows offering patrons serene parkland views. The pool today Time to swim back to the surface and explore all that’s on offer at the pool today. In the span of a single week, the facility boasts approximately 200 programs, with roughly 30 running each day. Drop-in leisure swim is popular among younger guests, while lane swim tends to attract an older crowd. Learn-to-swim draws in patrons of all ages. Another program that’s made waves in the neighbourhood is Aquafit. Those registered quickly

find themselves immersed in invigorating stretching, cardio and strength training exercises, all set to music. “It’s a great form of low-impact exercise,” adds Aydin Sarrafzadeh, director of community recreation for the City of Toronto. The class proves especially beneficial for those with mobility issues who might struggle in traditional fitness settings. Maddy Hoogstraten and Oscar Newton, avid aquafitters since 2018, praise its boost to their energy and mood as well as their sense of place and belonging. To them, the class isn’t just an athletic ritual, but also a communal one. “When someone new comes in, we get to know their name; everybody’s welcome,” says Maddy. Community spaces One surprising aspect of Aquafit is its demographic diversity, demographic diversity ranging in ages from 30 to 96. Whether at afterclass coffee on Tuesdays, the Sunset Grill on Wednesdays, or their annual staff appreciation holiday bash, the multigenerational bunch keeps the

Outdoor signage of a woman diving in a period bathing cap (now covered in aluminum cladding), circa 1958. Photo courtesy Leaside by Jane Pitfield.

party going. And their experience underscores the importance of third places: communal spaces that are neither domestic nor professional, and effective at curbing urban loneliness. Sarrafzadeh highlights the importance of public infrastructure like the LMCG swimming pool in combating this issue: “The benefit of recreation is more than just physical, it is psychological and social.” With its 70-year legacy as a community fixture, midcentury charm and community health benefits, this site unseen has opened my eyes. Leasiders are lucky to have the swimming pool just down the street. Personally, I am excited to test the waters. n

leasidelife.com Editor: Jane W. Auster Publisher: Lorna Krawchuk 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.

Leaside Life • October 2026

What is an intersection pedestrian signal (IPS)? As I write this column, an intersection pedestrian signal (IPS) is being installed at the northeast corner of Bayview Ave. and Sutherland Dr. (and soon, another at Bayview and Parkhurst Blvd). Its purpose is to allow safer street crossing for pedestrians and cyclists wanting to traverse busy, high-speed arterials like Bayview from side streets or mid-block locations. Fitted with traffic control signals and timers, IPS are also controllable by TTC bus drivers. Both the Sutherland and Parkhurst intersections have been the scene of numerous accidents over the years, some of them very serious, and the Leaside Residents Association (LRA) has continually supported the search for safer crossing alternatives. Pedestrian crossovers and full traffic lights, we felt, were definitely not the answer! For more details regarding how IPS work, and what they look like, I invite you to do an internet search or visit the City’s

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president LRA

website for more details. The LRA thanks Councillor Chernos Lin and her staff for their persistent attention to this file, and the Leasiders whose participation and emails were key to reaching a solution. Dangerous driving Speaking of accidents…Many of you may have already seen recent videos showing traffic accidents, recorded in action, distributed on various social media outlets. They show examples of extremely careless driving: drivers ignoring signage, other traffic, and pedestrians as they speed. For instance, a recent video showed an accident as a car skidded across Millwood Rd. into another car at Hanna Rd. Has driving become even more

dangerous on our residential roads than on the traditionally travelled streets? How guilty are local drivers? How can we effectively address this? The LRA has received more complaints about dangerous driving from residents in the past year than in preceding years, and particularly after the Labour Day weekend, when the streets are most congested. Car GPS systems are routing drivers away from arterials, turning Leaside into a bypass. Has speeding become more acceptable in Leaside? Your comments and suggestions, please. LRA AGM coming up As you are reading this column at the end of September, I still have time to remind you that the LRA’s Annual General Meeting is on Tues., Oct. 13th, and you are invited. The venue is the William Lea Room at Leaside Memorial Gardens, at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). I hope to see you there. n

ANXIOUS ABOUT SCHOOL? We help build

academic confidence so they believe in themselves. To learn more or enroll your child today,

Call (647) 694-8370 Located near Bayview and Eglinton with free parking

SOUL FOOD From Page 26

Real Estate • Wills • Estates • Trusts

@ Fax (416) 481-5275 Phone (416) 481-1146

1552 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON M4G 3B6

Leyli Goodale REALTOR ®

Living in Leaside, Working Across Toronto BOSLEY REAL ESTATE LTD., BROKERAGE RESPECTS THE CONTRACTS OF ITS COMPETITORS

LGOODALE@BOSLEYREALESTATE.COM C: 647-986-5482 | O: 416-322-8000

Spiritual guidance Stephen reports that his programs are very successful and he has received many accolades about his work. Participants praise his approach as being “grounded, wise and compassionate.” They see him as a spiritual guide who understands “the issues that cause suffering” and who can make “complex spiritual concepts accessible.” One client offers this summary: Stephen is “a professional guide for the kind of grounded soul work that has become so urgent in our increasingly polarized world.” His guidance work and monthly gatherings keep him busy, while longtime copy editor Aniko helps behind the scenes with writing and editing promotional materials. He invites the community to stay connected through his Substack mailing list and Facebook page, where he shares his teachings and upcoming events. Visit stephendamico.com to learn more about his work and get a taste of a different kind of soul food right here in Leaside. n

SENIOR FITNESS Toronto Finnish-Canadian Seniors Centre 795 Eglinton Avenue East FALL / WINTER / SPRING & SUMMER SESSIONS AQUA FITNESS * GROUP FITNESS * OSTEO FITNESS Office Hours: Mon. to Fri. 9 am–5 pm For more info contact: 416-425-4134 x 225 Email: emas@suomikoti.ca

Your Old Home Movies On DVD Let us digitize your �lm and video to DVD or File.

416-623-9479 www.manicmedia.ca

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FOR OVER 35 YEARS 410 MOORE AVENUE (AT BAYVIEW) TORONTO, ONTARIO M4G 1C9

416-480-9856 WWW.AIREONTV.COM

VHS Betamax 8mm MiniDV Film

Local Leaside Business

Leaside Life • October 2026

JANIS FERTUCK

To accomplish this, he offers three different paths. First is “Spiritual Direction,” one-on-one guidance in person or online that uses conversation, gentle inquiry and practices tailored to the individual to gain greater meaning and self-understanding. “Oneness Gatherings” are small group get-togethers with meditation followed by a short talk and open dialogue about deeper questions. Finally, there is “Meditation School,” a month-long program offered once or twice a year to teach the basics of meditation and help build a lifelong habit of conscious living.

Don

o rd

y Pk

ve E

Eglinton A

W y nf

Valle

Mills

Ave

Don

Laird

Wicksteed

Don

ve E

Eglinton A