J A N UA R Y 2019
Leaside Life leasidelife.com
No. 80
OUR FIRST READER SURVEY! Page 18
Meet the new face of Leaside education, Rachel Chernos Lin Story on page 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
FLAMES’ SAM KING PLAYER OF THE MONTH • PG. 8
FRESHII COMING TO LEASIDE’S SMART CENTRE • PG. 12
SCOTT HAYDEN’S CAREER JOURNEY • PG. 6
TERRY FALLIS ON NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS PG. 14 BAYVIEW AVENUE’S GRAND HISTORY PG. 21 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF LEASIDE’S LITTERATI PG. 22 TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS PG. 30 AND MUCH MORE!!
VISIT US AT LEASIDELIFE.COM: COMMUNITY DIRECTORY • UP TO DATE EVENTS • ARCHIVED STORIES
Leaside Life • January 2019
2
A playground project at Northlea Elementary and Middle School launched Ward 15’s new TDSB trustee on a journey in education advocacy.
Janis Fertuck Columnist
FROM THE COVER Rachel with her family at the TDSB swearing-in ceremony.
Rachel Chernos Lin, the new TDSB trustee for Don Valley West, Ward 15, is passionate about public education. As a child, she was actually sad in June when school ended for the year and she looked forward to September when the new term began. Today, schools still make her feel “excited and inspired,” a feeling she wants all the children in her ward to share.
Rachel’s love for education developed during her years at Brown Public School, Lawrence Park Collegiate and the University of Toronto, following which she earned master’s degrees at Queen’s and Brown University. She and her husband Ken, an anaesthesiologist, returned to Toronto in 2003 with their first daughter after pursuing their studies in the Boston area. Then
in 2006 Rachel was encouraged by her sister-in-law to get involved in a playground project at Northlea Elementary and Middle School. Rachel embraced the opportunity as a way to meet other parents, further her interest in schools and follow in her mother’s footsteps as a volunteer. Over the next 12 years she balanced her work with raising the couple’s three daughters: Chloe, now 16 and in Grade 11 at Leaside High School; Greta, 13 in Grade 8; and Pippa, 10 in Grade 5, both at Northlea. Some of the highlights of those years include her roles as communications chair and co-chair of the Northlea School Council and Home and School Association. She also sat on the Safe and Caring Schools and Full Day Kindergarten committees and organized staff appreciation and
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fundraising events. Rachel is particularly enthusiastic about working with community partners such as Green Communities Canada, Toronto Police Services, the City of Toronto and TDSB staff to create a safe travel plan for Northlea. She is also committed to lobbying local and provincial governments for reforms to legislation on Economic Development Charges to obtain more equitable funding for TDSB schools. Rachel credits all of these experiences with exposing her to the concerns of parents, teachers and administrators, and showing her the value of working with community and government partners. As she says, “The best ideas come from group discussions. There is a need to work creatively and collaboratively in order to effect change.” The decision to run for trustee despite having no previous experience in politics came from realizing over the years “how different the TDSB is from other boards in terms of size, and yet it is treated exactly the same way in terms of funding.” Some of the issues on her radar are overcrowding in growth areas, the
backlog of repairs in aging schools, and the need for more resources for equipment, programs and professional development. The new trustee believes that we have “a great public education system with caring staff,” but worries that the current provincial government will fail to make the appropriate investment in education. It is obvious that Rachel’s philosophy, energy and dedication struck a chord throughout the ward from the number of glowing endorsements on her website and her decisive victory. As Robin Dickie, former chair of School Council at Rolph Road, said, “Rachel was a powerhouse of parental volunteerism, but when she hit the campaign trail, she really impressed me…. Her positive energy and tireless enthusiasm are exactly what we need in our ward and across the city.” Now that she is a trustee, Rachel sees herself as again being part of a team, this time a team of 22 trustees who will bring different views and strengths to the table to work for the good of public education. In Don Valley West, she will continue her efforts begun during the
Patrick Rocca bro ke r
CHERNOS LIN, Page 23
Leaside Life Published once a month in Leaside, Toronto ON, by FH Publishing Inc., 1444 Dupont St., Unit 11A, M6P 4H3 • 416-504-8047 Circulation 10,000 to every door in M4G PUBLISHER: Lorna Krawchuk EDITOR: Jane W. Auster GRAPHIC DESIGN: Robin Dickie ADVERTISING: Karli Vezina leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com ph. 647-978-4487 or 416-504-8047
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www.leasidelife.com 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.
3
Leaside Life • January 2019
CHERNOS LIN, continued
LEASIDE PEOPLE • MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS
4
Susan Scandiffio Columnist
Bright. From Hebrew, “the one who is loved.” From MerriamWebster: smart, brilliant, radiant, upbeat, cheerful, clever, shrewd, encouraging, distinguished, celebrated, wonderful, artistic. Never has a name been so fitting. After 17 years of committed service to the St. Anselm School as head secretary, Mrs. Bright will be retiring on January 31st, 2019. Colette Bright – the Duchess, Mary Poppins, a second mum. A woman of many names has been the loving guardian of thousands of children, the sounding board for parents and staff, the paramedic for recess injuries, and the cherished and beloved
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SUSAN SCANDIFFIO
Leaside Life • January 2019
8 Principals, 17 years and thousands of students core of the school. Originally from England, Bright trained and worked as a legal secretary in London before settling in Toronto and taking a job with a downtown law firm. After being an at-home mum, Bright brought her skills to St. Anselm School in 2002. This shining light has worked with eight principals and numerous staff, many of whom have moved on from the school but remained close friends. Bright notes that she has watched several of the staff on their own journeys from first-time educators, to married life, to parenthood, and beyond. Her primary role at the school has been as a diligent head secretary, but she has shared many other talents with the community. Bright has taught recorder lessons to the students for the past five years, played guitar at school masses, displayed her dance skills on multicultural nights, and brought joy to the students with her creatively-crafted Halloween costumes over the years. Always dressed professionally and impeccably, Bright is often seen with her Union Jack mug of tea. Seventeen years’ worth of students have had the privilege of receiving stickers when bringing attendance records to her office, boxes of Smarties on their birthdays, ice packs and Bandaids, words of encouragement, sympathy, and hugs from this petite mix of Mary Poppins and governess Maria. And the love goes both ways. As former student Aidan Ross comments, “When I think of Mrs. Bright, I think of her unwavering kindness and selflessness, I think of all the times she would drop everything she was doing to take care of a sick student, and I think of all the times she cheered me up after falling during recess. Every time I go back to St. Anselm to visit, Mrs. Bright is always the first and last stop I make.” Abby Love, also a St. A’s grad, notes that, “signing up for lunch ‘office duty’ in the older grades was a popular activity because it gave us the opportunity (even just for an hour) to attempt at Mrs. Bright’s definition of secretary: paramedic of ice-bags, ruler of late-slips and attendance, master of creativity, teacher of kindness – a role that had BRIGHT, Page 9
LEASIDE PEOPLE 5
Young “curators” advise Leaside Library
by SUZANNE PARK Early in December, Leaside Library’s community room was set up for a group scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. As the participants, aged 13 to 17, arrived and took their seats, they warmly greeted each other and were welcomed by Floro Rabadon, Leaside Library’s Youth Advisory Group (YAG) facilitator. Floro started his library career a few years ago as a library assistant in another Toronto Public Library branch and applied for a similar job at Leaside Library early this year. During his interview, he was
surprised by the question, “Have you ever considered facilitating a youth group?” Unaware that he’d be asked such a question and having no experience with youth programs yet really appreciating Leaside Library’s welcoming environment, he answered, “Yes!” and got the job. “I began promoting the program last summer for a fall start,” he says. “It was a slow start yet by early September, 26 youths had signed up and we have a dozen or so attending each meeting.” As he explains, “YAG members are library volunteers who earn commu-
nity service hours and gain skills by designing teen programs and providing input on teen collections at Leaside Library. It’s a way for teens to help out their community and make new friends. The group meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at the library, 165 McRae Drive, and new members are welcome year-round.” At the December 5th meeting, Floro reviewed the agenda and invited input and discussion on each item, including ideas for new book displays in the library, a recent LIBRARY, Page 7
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Leaside Life • January 2019
SUZANNE PARK
Some of our curators put forth their choices for teen books.
LEASIDE PEOPLE • MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS
Finding his way Scott Hayden discovers his passion by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO Thirty years ago, an oddity known as Grade 13 saw its final year in the province of Ontario. Instead of kids leaving high school as 18 or 19-yearolds as they did pre-1988, kids are now being thrust out into the world at 17 or 18. Rare is the young person whose life is mapped is out at 17. So, when many kids go off to school, they may take courses in subjects in which they truly have no interest. For kids who want to “get on with life,” and aren’t really finding their passion, post-secondary life can be stressful. This was certainly the case for Leaside native and resident Scott Hayden. Like many of his classmates at Leaside High, Scott finished Grade 12 and headed to Queen’s. After a year of study, he realized he really wasn’t finding any of his classes to be of much interest, so instead of
LEASIDE SPORTS
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wasting more time and money on school, Hayden made what he calls a “scary move,” and set off to discover what he was truly passionate about. Hayden notes that it was a period of “uncertainty and anxiety,” but after some time travelling, reflecting, and volunteering in his community, he knew exactly what it was he wanted to focus on. It was his life of sports involvement in Leaside that firmly shaped his decision. As a child, Hayden played a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, and badminton at both Northlea and Leaside High, and in leagues outside of school. But baseball became the focus of Hayden’s athletic life in his early years and beyond. With his father as a coach and supporter, Hayden played with the Leaside Baseball Association from the ages of 9 to 17 and he cites many who were strong and exemplary leaders in those years. Hayden’s dad, in fact, still coaches with the LBA and has been an outstanding example of giving back to one’s community while Hayden himself volunteered as a coach during high school. As Hayden reflected on what he wanted to pursue as a career, he kept returning to his days on the field. He continued to work with the LBA at summer camps and in their fall and
JULIE BOULDOYRE
Leaside Life • January 2019
6
!
HAYDEN, continued winter development programs. He also volunteered as a coach with an LBA rep team, a position that he says, was “incredibly rewarding.” With the aim of doing something he loved, Hayden did his research and decided to combine his love of sports with an interest in business. After reading about the Humber College program in Sport Management, Hayden knew he had found his niche. Now 26, Hayden will be graduating this spring. He acknowledges that he has been extremely lucky in the opportunities he has received through the program and has earned the chance to work with the Special Olympics, among other organizations. He is now interning with the Canadian Olympic Committee and hopes to continue his position with the COC (or another illustrious organization) as a full-time employee after his graduation. Hayden urges teens (and others) to pursue what they truly want to do even if finding what that is takes a little time. He is truly grateful for the opportunities that the LBA provided him as a player and as a volunteer. It is through giving back to his community that he found his calling and he is forever grateful. ■
eetings)
should be different
Library... From Page 5
6.875 X 5"
library survey youth were invited to complete, and their year-end party. After a lively discussion of the agenda items, he announced, “I’ve brought supplies and instructions for a Christmas craft,” which had the students working together feverishly and sharing success tips as they crafted their jumbo paper snowflakes, which are now gracing the library. The young curators offered enthusiastic comments on why they value attending the Leaside Youth Advisory Group: “the group is very diverse, inclusive and kind”; everyone is welcomed and encouraged to comment”; “it’s a fun, fast way to get community service hours”; “we do interesting activities like 3D designing on a computer”; “we help the library by making book suggestions and getting people to appreciate that books are important”; “it’s a great place to meet others who are as passionate about reading as I am”; “I read a lot and I really like the good recommendations and discussions we have about different books”; “I go to school in Leaside
Leaside Life • January 2019
7
and enjoy coming to this library a few times a month” and “it’s fun planning and creating themed book displays in the Teen Zone of the library.” As the meeting drew to a close, Floro surprised them when he announced, “you each get to choose a book from the titles on the book cart as a gift.” The participants rushed to the book cart and enthusiastically discussed the relative merits of the books and their selections, then said their goodbyes and headed out the door at 6 p.m. sharp. Youth Advisory Group application forms are available at the library. For more information, call 416-3963835 or visit https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/support-us/volunteering/yags/. ■
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HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Sam King – humble AND plays solid hockey
Leaside Life • January 2019
by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO “Kids these days!” It’s a classic phrase used by every generation often forgetting their own adolescent shenanigans. But if you have the chance to sit down with teens as I do, “kids these days” followed by a head shake may just become (as it has for me), “kids these days give me great hope for the future.” In this month’s profile of a local hockey player, meet Sam King, a Leaside teen who is both a solid hockey player and an all-round great kid. A graduate of Northlea and currently in Grade 10 at Leaside High School, King plays left wing with the Minor Midget A Leaside Flames. King is a confident but humble 15-year-old who sits on his school’s student council and is involved in multiple extracurriculars, including DECA, a business and marketing program which, King knows, will provide him with fundamental leadership, communication, and time managements skills. He is currently contemplating a possible career in
LEASIDE SPORTS
le: Player Profi g Sam Kin physical therapy or as an athletic trainer and has already looked into the various university programs available. While hockey is King’s favourite sport, he also participates in sports
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both in and out of school, including tennis, volleyball, soccer, badminton, and basketball. King began playing hockey at 8 and has since moved among the Select, AA, and A levels. Looking to the future, he says he would like to play hockey all the way through Grade 12, but will have to see what his workload will be in the year leading up to university. A young man with impeccable manners and a positive attitude, King met me at his front door with a firm handshake and a welcoming smile, attributes, his coach mentions, that King also displays at the rink. “Sam,” says John MacBain, “shows up to every game and practice with a smile on his face, ready to do the best he can. At the end of every game and practice Sam leaves the rink, tired and sweaty, always offering a handshake and a simple, “Thanks, Coach!” Sam’s confidence and manners are beyond his years.” King’s parents, Sandra and Peter, along with 12-year-old brother Spencer and 11-year-old sister Gracie, are all busy with their own activities, but are clearly a tight-knit, supportive group who are equally affable and gracious. In terms of his hockey skills, King humbly insists that while he does work hard and is a skilled skater, any success on the ice comes from playing with great teammates. MacBain, meanwhile, points to King’s strong hockey IQ and very high compete level as well as his leadership skills on the bench. While Sam King is a young man with a good head on his shoulders and a personality which is both respectful and respected, he is also a 15-year-old who loves to play the game of hockey and hang out with his friends. One of his favourite hockey rituals? Shooting the pucks off the puck pyramid his coach sets up before games. Because who doesn’t like to get that last puck like Sidney Crosby always does! ■
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From Page 4 little to do with an office hour, and everything to do with the woman who ran the office.” Known for her vast and impressive festive displays of singing snowmen and other characters at Christmas, and her ability to distract students while removing splinters, Bright says that “every child has something to offer,” and that working with them daily is something she will definitely miss. She also notes that she has enjoyed working with school parents and that St. A’s is a “truly special place.” What’s next for Mrs. Bright? She has plans to cycle in Europe and Australia in the next year with her husband, and to take in her beloved game of tennis at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. She also plans to golf and meet other fitness targets. Current principal Donato Di Paolo comments that “we will all miss her tremendously, however there will always be a place for Mrs. Bright at St. Anselm School.” And thankfully, Bright won’t be gone for good. She intends to return as a frequent volunteer to help out in the office, in classrooms, and with the recorder club. But perhaps after her plans to spend the first day of retirement in her pyjamas on the couch with a book. A well-deserved day, fit for a queen. ■
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Leaside Life • January 2019
Bright...
10
LEASIDE BUSINESSES
Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life
Green Canoe restaurant paddled onto Millwood between Randolph and Sutherland on June 18 last year. But even before its official opening, there was great interest among the locals. Green Canoe – what’s that? There really is a green canoe – or at least, half a green canoe, which sits high on a wall and houses some artificial plants. As owners Ryan Horwood and Dave Pereira explain – they would really like to have real plants in it, but they thought it was more important to get the food part right first and worry about the intricacies of décor later. But it’s clear they do worry about the décor. The front of the bar is beautiful lumber from a sawmill Ryan worked at years ago.
Dave Pereira (left) and Ryan Horwood of Green Canoe. So, how did this restaurant come to be? It’s a bit of a long story. Dave Pereira was born in Lisbon and moved to Canada with his family as a child. He and his wife
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still live only four blocks from the family’s first house. Dave’s dad was a small business owner. As Dave says, “Once school wasn’t chosen for me” after he left De La Salle, he originally worked on the 45th floor of a bank. Realizing that banking wasn’t what he wanted to do, he attended Liaison College for one year to study cooking – something he had always enjoyed. Afterward, he worked in several fine dining restaurants, but realized while he enjoyed the cooking, he really didn’t like the late hours. One of the family businesses for many years had been Happy Bakery at Dufferin and Dupont. Five years ago, Dave became the sole proprietor, and he still owns and runs it. Meet fellow Green Canoe owner Ryan Horwood. Ryan grew up in South River, Ont., population 800 – a bit south of North Bay. His mom kicked him out when he finished high school and sent him off to Toronto with a bit of money, because she didn’t want him to end up working in the local sawmill. One of his first jobs in Toronto at age 18 was DJing in a strip club. What he really enjoys is doing stand-up and acting and has had some success – doing national tours for Yuk Yuk’s, for example. About 15 years ago, while working in security, he would drop in to Happy Bakery for a coffee and a treat...which is where he met Dave. The two became friends over the years, so when Dave was thinking GREEN CANOE, Page 20
LORNA KRAWCHUK
Leaside Life • January 2019
The story behind Millwood’s Green Canoe
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LEASIDE BUSINESSES
Neil McMahon makes a Freshii start in Leaside It is no small achievement for a man to trade his desk in the secure world of corporate finance for the risky territory of a fast food franchise. But that is exactly what 36-year-old North Leaside resident Neil McMahon will accomplish with the opening of a new Freshii outlet this month in the Leaside SmartCentre. Freshii specializes in customizable salads, wraps, frozen yoghurt and smoothies and is most popular among consumers between the ages of 18 to 34 who want quick, healthy, custom-food options at a reasonable price. McMahon says of his transition: “My previous job was to ensure there were proper policies and procedures in place to mitigate conflicts of interests in various business lines such as investment banking, corporate banking, equity research and equity trading. “I had often heard the phrase
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRESHII
Leaside Life • January 2019
by KEN MALLETT
Happy New Year! Please join me and MP Rob Oliphant for our 16th Annual
New Year ’s Levee Saturday, January 19, 2019 • 1–3 pm Toronto Botanical Gardens, Floral Hall 777 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto
Join us to celebrate the New Year with refreshments and live entertainment! Kathleen Wynne, MPP
Don Valley West
416-425-6777 kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
‘sitting is the new smoking’ and I couldn’t envision sitting at a desk for the next 25-30 years so I knew I had to make a change. “Luckily, a friend of ours had purchased a Freshii outlet several years prior and we really liked the concept and felt it was in line with long-term trends in eating healthier. “People are really starting to question where their food comes from and what is in it, and we felt Freshii was the right fit. Also, Freshii is a great Canadian success story, having started in Toronto and now growing globally.” The company was founded by Matthew Corrin and opened its first location in Toronto in 2005. FRESHII, Page 26
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Leaside Life • January 2019
14
it’s because of the utterly unsustainable methods by which seafood in general, and, um, shellfish in particular, are harvested from our fragile oceans. Yeah. Right. That’s why. It’s an affront to humanity and the earth we inhabit.” Bravo! If you say it with enough conviction you can kill the conversation cold. No one needs to know
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that I’ve always been committed to the landlubber side of the menu. I don’t like seafood or shellfish, never have, never will. So my hastily concocted resolution has no impact on my life, but it does give me something to say when pushed to reveal what changes I’m making in my life just because our calendar now says 2019. Which brings up another challenge I confront every new year. I don’t write cheques often, but when I do in January, I usually write two cheques. The first inevitably is staledated by a year because I’m not yet programmed to write 2019 instead of 2018. Having just made it through one of the more stressful, hectic, and harried seasons of the year with our sanity hanging by a tired tinsel thread, let’s take the pressure off ourselves in January. We can and should make modest incremental progress on our self-improvement goals throughout the year, and not just in January when we’re pretty well spent (physically and financially) and seem least able to tackle new challenges. How about we take a break in January to recover from the holiday season and regroup for the months stretching out before us? Now, this idea will be greeted by stiff opposition from the big chain gyms and fitness operations. They capitalize on the annual swelling of human guilt driven by holiday overindulgence, and the short-lived resolve to get in shape that comes with it. That resolve often hangs around just long enough to sign up for the discounted super-elite, 12-year deluxe membership deal that is only available while your judgment is impaired by the lingering after-effects of a serious turkey coma. I don’t want this to sound like a holiday hangover rant (though that ship may have sailed). I actually love this time of year. I just think we all deserve to enjoy the season without feeling so compelled to start a new life, a new job, a new health regimen, and a new relationship just because a new year has commenced. So, by all means go to the gym if you want to, or lie down and bingestream Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Just don’t succumb to January’s pressure to make a big change in your life for the wrong reason. Don’t get me wrong, change is often good. But it’s best when it’s on your own terms and timetable. Happy New Year! ■
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Mega’s secret touch turns lead into gold Before the Japanese celebrate the new year, an important end of year ritual is osoji (a.k.a. the major cleanup), which provides the opportunity to welcome the incoming year with a clean slate. Never too early to get a head start, I literally armed myself with a closetful of clothing and headed across the street to Mega Cleaners at Laird and Canvarco. Fresh off the three-day Toronto Global Forum conference at the Royal York (theme: navigating a world in disruption – technology and geopolitics), I was keen to learn more about what changes might be affecting the reliably traditional dry-cleaning business. Certainly, it’s no secret to analysts that revenue and profits in this sector have been declining steadily for the past 20 years. According to Statistics Canada, in 2016 there were 2,491 dry cleaning and laundry services operating in Ontario, which means there was one for every 5,700 residents. In Leaside, we’re blessed with 11 dry cleaners, or one for every 1,500 residents. Do Leasiders have more clothes that require that special touch?!? With 10 employees, Mega Cleaners
where items for cleaning are collected and brought to the 3,000-sq. ft. primary facility here in Leaside for cleaning. John’s father came up with the name when the city amalgamated the six boroughs into the “mega” city of Toronto. It didn’t hurt that mega is a Greek root word meaning large, great and mighty.
Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside
GLENN ASANO
Leaside Life • January 2019
16
is a family-run business with 60-plus years of dry cleaning and service expertise across two generations. After graduating with a degree in chemistry from U of T (1995), John Gatsis (now the general manager) assumed the role he was groomed for, working alongside his brother Chris and parents Angelo and Roula. The Gatsis family also operates a “depot” at Danforth and Jones,
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Times have changed… The heyday was in the 1980s “Thirty years ago it was much cheaper to clean clothes…now the costs are much higher and new regulations are so strict it is a much more challenging environment to operate successfully,” John explained. In addition to the cost and regulatory matters, there are several consumer shifts that have also taken their toll. More advanced washers and dryers in the home, technological changes in fabrics that do not require dry cleaning or pressing, a more casual approach to business dressing, and an overall “demonizing” of the industry by environmental agencies, are all factors that the family must contend with. Putting on his chemist hat, John offered to explain to me the chemical intricacies and minutiae of the environmentally-related arguments of water-based dry-cleaning solvents versus traditional (pros and cons), but I politely declined – I’m sure the offer is open for any readers so inclined. To make matters worse, there is the allure, for consumers at least, of services such as exclusivedrycleaners.ca, the perky start-up that offers to pick up and drop off your dry cleaning for no cost. Sadly, as a “depot” only, they outsource the actual cleaning to facilities’ operators such as Mega (squeezing out all profit in the value chain), and there is just no margin in that model for those who have made the capital investment in the actual equipment rather than just focusing on the “last mile” and marketing panache. Added to that is the risk associated with any lost or mixed-up items both for the contractor and the customer. “Death by a thousand cuts” is how John sums up the general outlook for the industry. Mega’s alchemy – the secret that turns lead into gold So how does a local, family-run business navigate the disruptions of our modern age? Well, quite simply they play to their strengths. As one of the last remaining walk-in laundry plants of size and scale in
the surrounding neighbourhood, they are uniquely positioned to offer same day service – “in before 11 a.m., ready by 3 p.m.” and “Leaside’s clothes stay in Leaside.” When asked about the effects of local development issues, John shrugged off the street closures on Laird and the disruption of new condo construction, replying, “We can’t stop the City’s effort to intensify Leaside so we have to roll with the punches. Eventually all this construction will subside and we’ll get back to a more normal way of living and just maybe…our business will benefit if we outlive the storm.” Obviously, he’s aware of the incoming 33 Laird development (Organic Garage, pre-school, shops, 127 parking spaces, etc.), which is located just across the street from Mega on Canvarco, and is wondering just what may be in store for the rest of Canvarco (stay tuned…). Another weapon in the Gatsis family toolkit is their attention to personalized service. As a local family-operated business, the personal accountability is undeniable and there is considerable dependency on word-of-mouth referrals, which doesn’t come without consistently meeting expectations: from Roula’s expertise overseeing alterations and John’s listening to customers when they have unique problems, to gladly putting your cleaned items in an Uber or Lyft for delivery. Whether or not U of T’s chemistry program taught John the hidden secrets that purportedly turned lead into gold, I believe the real alchemy here in keeping the local business afloat is less to do with the technologies of the day and more to do with the fact that being “local” and “family-run” do not necessarily mean you can’t compete. In my humble opinion, the secret formula here just might be the very fact that the business is local and family-run. Especially when operating in a great community that has a history of delivering customer loyalty. The fact that they know my name when I walk in the door means something to me. Cheers! Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy new year. Now let the cleaning begin! Have you used exclusivedrycleaners.ca? How important is it for you to support local owner-operated businesses so they remain in Leaside? Have you asked your dry cleaner about the changes they have made to help protect the environment? Let us know at leasidelife@ gmail.com. ■
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We value diversity in the workplace, are committed to Employment Equity and will provide reasonable workplace accommodation to applicants with disabilities. RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ®Registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ©RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. 16_90451_003
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Leaside Life • January 2019
SECRET TOUCH, continued
2019 Leaside Life Reader Survey
Leaside Life • January 2019
18 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
I read Leaside Life: ❒ Sometimes ❒ Cover to Cover ❒ Rarely/ Never How long do you spend, on average, reading an issue of Leaside Life? ❒ 10 minutes ❒ 30 minutes ❒ 1 hour ❒ More than one hour How many people in your household read each issue of Leaside Life? Do you share copies with others? ❒ Yes ❒ No Other than delivery to your house, where else do you see copies of Leaside Life?
1 lucky en try will receive a gift certifi cate for $200.0 0 to a Leaside a rea restau rant of their ch oice!!
6. I read Leaside Life online at leasidelife.com or on Issuu ❒ Yes ❒ No ❒ Didn’t know you had a website 7. Do you consistently receive your free monthly issue of Leaside ❒ Yes ❒ No 8. The Information I read in Leaside Life… Keeps me up to date on our community news ❒ Yes ❒ No Makes me aware of the events in our community ❒ Yes ❒ No Helps create a sense of community connectivity ❒ Yes ❒ No Is not relevant or informative ❒ Yes ❒ No Is useful and informative ❒ Yes ❒ No Is well written & well edited ❒ Yes ❒ No 9. Do you receive and read any other community-based newspapers? ❒ Yes ❒ No If yes, which ones? 10. Do you follow us on any of our social media platforms ❒ Yes ❒ No If yes, which ones?
Features:
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11 Do you have a favourite columnist? ❒ Yes ❒ No If yes, who? 12. Do you try to support the business and services who choose to advertise in Leaside Life? If yes, which ones? 13. What can we do to better serve you? 14. Any other comments you would like to share?
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HAPPY New Year! i
Wishing you good health, happiness & prosperity in 2019! The Real Estate Tradition
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Green Canoe... From Page 10 of starting a restaurant, Ryan was a natural to be a partner and to work out front and leave Dave in the kitchen. They were looking for somewhere that “feels like a small town in the big city,” a “mom and pop feel,” and “not on a major thoroughfare.” The Millwood location ticked all the boxes. As it happens, Green Canoe is right next door to Millwood Melt. Dave makes an excellent Portuguese grilled cheese called “tosta mista,” but you won’t be able to order one at Green Canoe. Dave made a point of talking to Steve and Aniko at Millwood Melt to assure them there wouldn’t be grilled cheese on the Green Canoe menu. “It is the neighbourly thing to do,” says Dave. Now that they’ve been open for six months, Dave takes one day off a week, in addition to the Mondays when Green Canoe is closed, and Ryan has started doing stand-up again when he’s not at the restaurant. But they both insist that Green Canoe is their base, and they want to grow it as a community hub. ■
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Leaside Life • January 2019
BAYVIEW
COURTESY SUNNYBROOK ESTATES
150
“Bay View,” now called McLean House at Sunnybrook.
by JEANNE HOPKINS Until 1930, what we now call Bayview Avenue was known as the first concession road east of Yonge Street. The road – once proposed to be called Kilgour Avenue – was also known as Government Road and the Junction Road until it was officially called Bayview Avenue for the estate of meat packer and philanthropist James Stanley McLean. The concession roads were surveyed and laid out in 1796 by Governor John Graves Simcoe and his Queen’s Rangers, who cleared the forest land. Bayview Avenue remained impassable for many years, so Col. The Honourable Herbert Bruce M.D. used Lawrence Avenue to reach his estate, Annandale, a 20-room property on the first concession road built in 1920 at the end of Lawrence Avenue. After the 1929 Depression, many wealthy Toronto businessmen were building their large expensive houses overlooking the Don Valley. One of the first was Bay View, the 55-acre east on the east side of Bayview Avenue. James Stanley McLean’s mansion was built around 1928 and remained in the McLean family until 1967 when Edith Flavelle McLean died, leaving Bay View to the Sunnybrook Medical Centre, which used the home and coach house for special events and medical research. In October 1930, Dr. Bruce was
subdividing his hundred acres and leaving parts to others who wanted to build their dream homes and gardens on the Don River Valley. Alfred Rogers bought the house and used the coach house, which he called Uplands. He lived in the coach house (still standing on Bayview Avenue) whose gardens were lavishly landscaped in 1936 by noted English landscape architect Howard Dunington-Grubb. Then, John James Vaughan – vice president of the T. Eaton Company – built his estate, Donningvale, in 1931, and farther north on Bayview Avenue Captain Harry Lynne Plummer built the lavish Stonedene for his family in 1930. Sunnybrook Medical Centre later bought these three properties. And James Stanley’s Bay View and its coach house and John James Vaughan’s Donningvale serve as conference centres, meeting rooms, venues for dinners, wedding receptions and other parties, while Harry Lynne Plummer’s Stonedene home is now part of the Bob Rumball Centre for the deaf, with proceeds used for medical research in the Sunnybrook Medical Centre. Jeanne Hopkins spent most of her life in the historic Henry Farm community of North York. She realized her passion for local history in the Canadiana department of the North York Public Library, where she worked for 27 years. She is the author of numerous articles and five books of local history. ■
Do you see what I see? What do you see as you walk, bike or drive through the neighbourhood? I think most people would say streets, cars, people, parks, churches, schools, houses, gardens, dogs, squirrels, stores, eateries, and so on. When I’m out walking, looking straight ahead, I see these things too. But when I look up or down, I see litter – lots of different kinds of litter. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. So, I am sharing a photo gallery of what I see on my litter-picking walks around Trace Manes Park. I think it tells the story of the litter situation in our community far better than my words ever can. The next time you’re out, look up or down and tell me what you see. ■
Cheryl Vanderburg Leaside Litterati
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Leaside Life • January 2019
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Leaside Life • January 2019
election to reach out to the various communities within the ward, communicate with all 24 principals, and hold regular meetings and forums. Some issues Rachel hopes to investigate and address are traffic safety, special education, destreaming, bullying and wellness and mental health initiatives. Rachel is looking forward to her first year of learning on the job and facing the challenge of balancing individual community needs with those of the TDSB as a whole. She feels that the learning curve in her new position is a bit “daunting,” but feels ready and excited to tackle a role that feels like a “logical progression” from her earlier work. Most of all, she says, “I feel lucky to be able to do something that I feel so passionate about and hope to still be able to spend time with my family. I don’t want to miss out on time with my own children while taking care of others.” There will be busy times ahead indeed for this passionate volunteer-turned trustee. ■
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Leaside Life • January 2019
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Celebrating Leaside Matters: The two-fold secret knock The LPOA AGM is always a good place to catch up on what is happening with planning and development in Leaside. This year’s AGM on December 10th was no different. But this year the presentation on the planning challenges facing Leaside and where we are going was a reflective analysis from the perspective of a young American architect – Connor Turnbull – who has been in our midst for the last eight years, but is now (unfortunately for us) leaving shortly to return to the States. (Her presentation was given by me in her absence.) Leaside has benefited tremendously from the efforts of Connor Turnbull, co-chair Kim Auchinachie, and the team at Leaside Matters, a local volunteer advocacy group started by Connor when she and her husband and two small children moved to Canada. She soon realized what an incredibly interesting place Leaside was – its history and heritage. Leaside Matters was born in 2015 with a mission “to foster the Leaside identity as a distinct and special community and neighbourhood, and to identify and raise
Geoff Kettel
Saving old Leaside
Connor Turnbull with our writer in 2016.
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awareness of the elements that preserve and enhance that identity.” Leaside Matters organized and inspired many creative activities such as talks, exhibits, merchandise (t-shirts), walks and booklets over the last few years. The most recent activity was the exhibition of architectural portraits of Leaside’s Canada Wire and Cable Company homes at the ArteMbassy last May. Their work has been recognized with awards by organizations like Heritage Toronto and the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. Connor gave a presentation – “Opportunity Knocks, But What’s the Secret Knock? Thoughtful Evolution and Retaining Place in Leaside, Toronto” – to the National Trust of Canada’s annual conference in Fredericton, NB in October. This presentation (posted on the Leaside Matters website) is valuable for its thoughtful analysis and observations and for confirming the assets, challenges and directions for our community from the perspective of an informed and creative newcomer. And it authenticates what those of us who love Leaside know already – that this is a unique community that deserves to be cared for and allowed to evolve in a manner sympathetic to its roots. As Connor states: “Change is afoot and there is fear that Leaside will change in drastic ways. But we think that there is a thoughtful path available rooted in the DNA of Leaside’s design. And we have spent three years working to raise awareness so that Leasiders/the City of Toronto and developers can make educated thoughtful choices.” But this “complete community” is challenged through a “swiss cheese effect” as the vernacular fabric is being eroded. With the new light rail system that bisects the original town of Leaside, there are areas of highrise development that will bring a tsunami of change. And even more subtly, the development marketing that goes along with the high-rises is attempting urban semantics through the renaming of Leaside as the Upper East, lower case “l” for leaside. Thank you for all that community building, we will take it from here. Connor believes that there is an opportunity and that the secret CELEBRATING, Page 27
Development updates 815-845 Eglinton Avenue East – RioCan Laird Centre (Canadian Tire) LPOA has been involved with RioCan on this project for a couple of years. In the spring of 2018 LPOA had objected to the density and requested improvements to the urban design – lack of a public plaza. However, in July 2018 RioCan submitted a revised development application to the City which increased density by 15% compared with the original 2016 application. The plans also failed to create a new civic plaza for Leaside as requested by residents. LPOA swung into action – 1. We sought and received full Party status at the LPAT (former OMB) 2. We informed residents throughout Leaside through a flyer drop in connection with the LPOA Municipal All Candidates Meeting. Since then RioCan has been in
touch and advised us that they are reworking their proposal. And they have asked us to meet with them in the New Year. So we are hopeful that positive changes are coming. 660 Eglinton Ave East – Sunnybrook Plaza This RioCan project proposed demolition of Sunnybrook plaza and replacement with a mixed use development of two towers. At the OMB, the LPOA, working with the North Leaside neighbours, negotiated a settlement in 2016 that resulted in reduced tower height (16 and 11 storeys) and density. In 2017, Concert Properties, which develops purpose-built rental housing, bought into the project and took over development. Concert recently approached the LPOA with a proposal to slightly increase the project’s FSI (density) in order to enhance the buildings’ efficiency, sustainability and livability, while staying within the massing, height and design parameters agreed to in the OMB settlement. The LPOA board has carefully
considered the changes and has agreed not to object, subject to four undertakings that Concert has agreed to: 1. Improvements to the parkette to the east of 660 Eglinton Avenue East 2. Appropriate recognition and interpretation of the Sunnybrook Plaza, Toronto’s, and Ontario’s first “Modern” shopping centre and suburban strip plaza 3. Establishment of a Community Construction Liaison Committee for the project with participation from Concert Properties, the City, and the community, and; 4. Compliance by Concert Properties with the undertakings under the executed Memorandum of Settlement between RioCan and the LPOA from 2016. We were pleased with the outreach from Concert and feel this augurs well for a positive relationship as we move ahead. ■
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25
Leaside Life • January 2019
by GEOFF KETTEL
Freshii...
26
Leaside Life • January 2019
From Page 12
CALL US TO BOOK YOUR
HOLIDAY PARTY!
There are now more than 430 locations across 17 countries. “The reality is that you need to be picking better-for-you ingredients — more often than not, more days than not, more meals than not — you need to be choosing healthier foods to keep you energized and not put you in a food coma,” says Corrin. “I think one of the reasons why people have historically picked unhealthy fast food is that it’s the path of least resistance, and it’s the most affordable option out there.” According to retail consultancy NPD Group, Canadians spent $50 billion eating out at restaurants in 2016, with $322 million of that at fast-casual restaurants. McMahon adds: “Leaside was an easy choice for us. Since we live here, we know there aren’t really any quick-serve healthy options to eat. We have a lot of great food options, but nothing quite like Freshii. “We had to drive to the Rosedale location when we wanted to eat Freshii. We felt there was a void and an opportunity to fill it. Being a smaller quick-serve restaurant, however, the only viable location for us in terms of square footage happened to be occupied by Menchie’s in the SmartCentre. As it happened, Menchie’s closed their doors and we thought that it was the right place to be for us!” McMahon and his wife Celine also own a Freshii restaurant on the Danforth. ■
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From Page 24 knock is to look to Frederick Todd’s plan as a way to evolve thoughtfully. Leasiders have disconnected from, or were never aware of, the roots of their placeness. In particular the interconnectedness to the industrial area. Longo’s – the adaptive reuse of a former train shed, a connection back to Leaside’s origin as a CNR development – has created a community hub. It has also reconnected the residential area with the industrial. Considering the scale of the new high-rise neighbourhood to be built at the north end of the industrial area, Connor believes that a potential and important project would be the adaptive reuse of the last Research Enterprises Limited building (20 Research Rd.). This is an opportunity to bring the history of Leaside forward. The building has significance for its architecture, but it is also built to withstand bombing, and with large flexible areas could become a hub for the thousands of new residents, as well as existing residents and businesses.
The secret knock is two-fold. One part belongs to the municipality and the other part to community and civil society: Protection (municipal) and Community and civil society (motivating, education and advocacy). In closing, Connor suggests to look once more to Frederick Todd for vision: “We have only to study the history of older cities and note at what enormous cost they have overcome the lack of provision for growth, to realize that the future prosperity and beauty of the city depends in a great measure on the ability to look ahead, and the power to grasp the needs and requirements of the great population it is destined to have.” (Frederick Todd, 1903) So where does the LPOA stand with regard to Connor’s two-fold knock about what Leaside needs from government – heritage protection and neighbourhood design guidelines? These are consonant with LPOA directions and recommendations. We look forward to working with Councillor Robinson and City staff to move forward. Leaside Matters welcomes new volunteers. ■
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Connect with your neighbours and learn about local resources available to you in your area
Date: January 17 & 31, 2019 Cost: FREE Where: 140 Merton Street Time: 11:30am-1:30pm To Register: Call: 416-630-7000 Email: tca@pathcom.com
ASID
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- Alistair Baxter, General Manager & Partner
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“Giving back to the community has always been a priority for myself and the Lexus on the Park team - especially to areas in our backyard. Working with the Leaside Baseball Association has been a privilege and a pleasure. We hope this action will inspire, impact and further motivate other companies and organizations to participate more in their communities.”
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Leaside Life • January 2019
Celebrating...
EVENTS
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ST. AUGUSTINE’S CHURCH
Leaside Life • January 2019
1847 Bayview Ave. 416-485-2656
Lynda Gorges
Listen to great live music by local artists and have a coffee and dessert with friends. The next Groove Room Coffee House is on Friday, Jan 11th from 7:008:30 pm featuring Sean Tavares. Cost is $5 with all proceeds to the Flemingdon Park Food Bank. We are looking for performers. Contact Augustine@bellnet.ca
Broker
ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH
416-486-5588 Lynda.Gorges@gmail.com www.lyndagorges.com
1399 Bayview Ave. 416-485-0329 stcuthbertsleaside.com
Warmest Holiday Wishes
Community Potluck Dinner 2019 Everyone is invited to share in a potluck dinner at St. Cuthbert’s, Leaside, Parish Hall on Sat. Jan. 26 at 6:00 pm. Come alone or with the family or with a friend. For further information call the church office at 416-485-0329.
Church, 125 Brentcliffe Road. Our speaker will be Laura Jones, writer, community advocate, photographer, speaking on Canadian Women Photographers. Visitors and new members welcome. For more information please visit www. cfuwleasideeastyork.ca, email joincfuw@ gmail.com or phone Janice Mitchell at 416-930-8581.
LEASIDE LIBRARY 165 McRae Drive, 416-396-3835. Youth Advisory Group Volunteer members earn community service hours and gain valuable skills by designing teen programs, providing input about teen collections, helping out your community and making new friends! 4:30 - 6:00pm on recurring dates. See story on page 5. Leaside Writers Group If you are looking for a safe and creative place to meet with other like-minded individuals, please join us. Upcoming Dates: 10:00 am - 11:45 am on Sat. Jan 5th and Sat. Jan 19th.
CANADIAN FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN LEASIDEEAST YORK
For full Library listings see https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ programs-and-classes/
The Power of Women Working Together Monthly meeting at 7:30 pm on Thursday, January 17 at Northlea United
Send us your free listing for February by January 10th leasidelife@gmail.com ■
LETTERS Y
ERS M TT A LE
B
E
Dance Camps
at Tandem Studios! Register now for March Break and summer dance camps! Your child can explore various styles of dance such as jazz, ballet, musical theatre, hip-hop and more! Conveniently located at 3300 Yonge St. (Yonge and Fairlawn) Register at www.tandemstudiostoronto.com or give us a call at 647-348-4953.
ED
ITED
leasidelife@gmail.com
REGIST ER TODAY !
Re: Streets of Leaside – Bennington There were some errors in the article on Bennington. For one thing, there are four Weatherhead children (not two, as mentioned in the article). A daughter, Barbara Ann Bennington Weatherhead, who is smart and fit at 88, currently lives in Thorncliffe Park and wrote a self-published history of Bennington. Also, the name “Gylledge” was, in fact, the name of 40 Bennington – the home of architect Bruce Brown. Mr. Brown designed the stone houses at #27, #43, #45 and #56 Bennington Heights Drive. Mr. and Mrs. Brown brought back the sign now on #40 after a trip to the UK in the 1950s. Doug and Gwen Brown
HAPPY NE W Y E AR! 2019! AN
OU KY
TH
!
Accurate would like to thank all of these Leaside businesses for their trust and confidence in our service over the years. Please remember to SHOP LOCAL.
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SALES REPRESENTATIVES
1930
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49 Laird Drive, Toronto, Ont. M4G 3T4 • www.accuratedistributing.com • accurateltd@gmail.com • 416.429.9102
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Talking traffic solutions at the LPOA’s AGM
Leaside Life • January 2019
Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LPOA
I hope you have had a very happy Christmas, and that 2019 will be good to us all! In the weeks before Christmas the Leaside Property Owners’ Association was busy on many fronts. Here I shall report on the December 10th public meeting held by the LPOA, as part of our Annual General Meeting, to present our proposals for traffic calming throughout Leaside. About 100 attendees heard a detailed presentation by our traffic consultant Gene Chartier of Paradigm Transportation Solutions, who led us through the guiding principles of the study and potential measures to address matters such as safety (not enough of it) and commuter through-traffic (too much of it). As I wrote in last month’s Leaside Life, our approach is a phased one,
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not only because of cost, but also because of wanting to be flexible enough to adapt to changing developments and traffic patterns. The approach must be physical in nature, because we cannot depend on police enforcement. Both before and after installation, monitoring must take place to ensure that new calming measures are effective, and that they do not shift problems onto adjacent streets. We have prioritized implementation based on particular attention to safety near schools, parks and community facilities, as well as at traffic entry points into Leaside. We then move inward, installing measures from the boundaries of Leaside into the centres of North and South Leaside as funding becomes available and opportunities arise, such as the ability to coordinate with the City’s road repairs and other construction projects. Visit our website – lpoa.ca – to see the plan in detail, including individual costing of each type of traffic calming device as well as a full costing of a possible first phase arrangement. All of this makes for interesting reading! I kept a record of the points raised by attendees of our presentation. Among them: a lot of interest in lowering the speed limit across Leaside to 30 km per hour and installing speed cameras as measures which could be taken right away, as well as using on-street parking on one or both sides to effectively narrow some
Sample Traffic Calming
roadways; general approval of physical means such as speed cushions, and throat-narrowing at intersections to slow turns; support in principle for bicycle lanes (although there was some concern regarding their impact on on-street parking); and impatience with the lengthy process needed to get City approval (polling by street, for instance). And now we want your comments, please. This is your community, and we want your suggestions and opinions.
ab
Our next LPOA board meeting will be on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9th at 7:30 p.m., in the Trace Manes building. These meetings are always open to the public. PLEASE NOTE that the January meeting is on the SECOND Wednesday as schools do not reopen until that week, and people may be away until then. Contact us anytime via our website, lpoa.ca. ■
HEIDE HEEMSOTH REAL ESTATE SALES REPRESENTATIVE
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416-571-1901
3284 YONGE ST | STE 100 | TORONTO ON | M4N 3M7 | TEL. 416-864-3888
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Leaside Life • January 2019
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