J U LY 2019
Leaside Life
The Roller Derby comes to Leaside!
MIHA MATAVZ/FIS
Story on page 17.
REFLECTIONS UPON RETIREMENT • PG. 8
SNOWBOARD CHAMP FROM LEASIDE • PG. 6
IAN SHAW SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNER • PG. 11
SUE BARRETT ON REMEMBERING BOB CREIGHTON PG. 4 GLENN ASANO: OUR SENIORS ARE A RAPIDLY GROWING ASSET PG. 18 THE LEASIDE GARDENER: HEDGE POWER! PG. 22 GEOFF KETTEL: THE PROVINCE OVERRIDES THE PLAN FOR LEASIDE PG. 24
VISIT US AT LEASIDELIFE.COM: COMMUNITY DIRECTORY • UP TO DATE EVENTS • ARCHIVED STORIES
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leasidelife.com
No. 86
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Leaside churches show their community spirit The blessing of the bikes!
Lorna Krawchuk
TOM WONG
Leaside Life • July 2019
Publisher Leaside Life
Local schools and churches have played an important role as community centres for the town of Leaside practically since Day 1. Our community is blessed with excellent choices for local activities, such as Leaside Memorial Community Gardens (for skating and swimming) and Trace Manes (hosting the Leaside Tennis Club and offering some small meeting rooms). But, in recent years, the reduction in funding for schools
has meant they need to charge significant rental fees to outside organizations wishing to use their space. Now local organizations need to go elsewhere for all-important space. Enter churches! Leaside’s local churches have their regular Sunday worship schedules and at least some church-related meetings or services during the week. But all are looking at how to be more relevant at a time when many of us have no current church connections. (Full disclosure: I attend St. Cuthbert’s.) As well, they are under the financial gun, so these spaces are not usually free, but more affordable than similar commercial space. Looking for a nursery school? Montessori at Northlea United, Mrs. Parks at Leaside United, Children’s Garden School at Leaside Presbyterian and Children’s Garden
Nursery School at St. Augustine are all available. Scouting and Guiding are in our churches too – Guides at St. Augustine, Girl Guides and all levels of Scouting at St. Cuthbert’s, Sparks for girls, and all levels of Scouting at Leaside Presbyterian. There is a Parkinson’s Support Group meeting regularly at Leaside Presbyterian, and Alcoholics Anonymous meets weekly on Thursday evenings at St. Cuthbert’s. Exercise classes of various types – pilates, tai-chi, gentle yoga, etc. for adults/seniors run regularly at all of our churches. Similarly, dance and music classes for toddlers and children are on offer. Specific programming for girls only is offered at Leaside United and St. Cuthbert’s. At St. Augustine, there is the monthly Friday night “The Groove House” coffee house, with entertainment and refreshments – open to all. Northlea United held a monthly weeknight Taizé service over the winter, quiet but musical and meditative. Also at Northlea United, there is Karen’s Cupboard, which offers loans of various assistive devices. Want to learn to quilt? Every
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Tuesday morning from September to June, there are people working together at St. Cuthbert’s on a large quilt, but you can bring an individual project too, or your own knitting or crocheting, and join in. Many of you have heard of Blessing of the Animals services, usually held in the fall, related to St. Francis of Assisi. This past spring, both at Leaside United and at St. Augustine, there was a blessing service for bikes and other locomotion devices. Well, bless me! Unless you attended the first meeting of the PROBUS Club at St. Cuthbert’s a year or so ago, you missed the boat on joining, because the demand for it was so great, their membership was filled at that first meeting. Stay tuned to see if they open another club locally. Leaside Presbyterian, Leaside United, Northlea United, St. Anselm, St. Augustine and St. Cuthbert’s – all worth having a look, with a caveat – there is a major renovation project starting later this summer at Leaside United which may affect their specific programs in the short term. Leaside’s churches – true community champions! ■
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Leaside Life • July 2019
CHURCHES, continued
4
LEASIDE PEOPLE • MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS
Remembering Bob Creighton, “Mr. Leaside” Bob Creighton, known to many as “Mr. Leaside,” passed away peacefully at his home in Leaside on May 7th, surrounded by his family. Bob was in his 99th year. Bob was born in Toronto on November 2, 1920 and was a lifetime Torontonian, aside from his time with the Air Force when he was stationed in Newfoundland. I met Bob when our family moved in across the street from him in 2002. Bob was the first person to welcome us to the neighbourhood. He gave me the scoop about Leaside and all those who lived on our block of Hanna Rd. With his warm, caring manner and quick wit Bob quickly became like a member of our family, and we his. In the nicer months Bob held court every afternoon and evening on his front porch. Many neighbours or passersby would stop by and fill the second lawn chair that was always waiting. Bob always had a story
CREIGHTON FAMILY
Leaside Life • July 2019
by SUE BARRETT
or idea he wanted to share, and he always wanted to know what was going on with you and your family. Mr. Leaside seemed to know and be known by everyone. He was a walker – understatement – he loved to walk! He went for morning and afternoon walks daily when his mobility allowed. These were not short walks either but all over
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Leaside. He knew all the merchants on Bayview and frequently stopped to chat with them. A daily stop on his walk was his son’s home on Parkhurst, also known as “The Corporate Office.” Bob’s son John owned and ran Leader Petroleum at the time, a family business in the Leaside Business Park. Bob would drop in daily to pick up the company mail and visit with John and daughter Marilyn, who ran the office. In his retirement Bob was the company treasurer. As he liked to say, he did “the books.” I can still picture him sitting at his desk in his upstairs office, glasses on, numbers neatly written in pencil in a journal. My sons and I spent countless hours in that office chatting about life, sports, school. Actually, we talked about pretty much everything. Kids just seemed naturally drawn to him. Over the years many neighbourhood kids became friends with Bob, and he embraced those friendships to the point that young people wanted to come back and visit years after growing up and moving away. Bob joined the Air Force during World War 2 and was very proud to have stood up for his country. After the war he married Helen, whom he had met when they were teenagers involved at St. David’s United Church, and they were married for 38 years. In 1954, they bought their home on Hanna Rd. and together raised their four children, David, Liz, Marilyn and John. Bob had a long and successful career at Sun Oil, a career he enjoyed very much as it involved travel and meeting people. He also loved to stay busy and was forever fixing or building something. You could always find him working on something around his house or in his garage, but when 5:07 p.m. hit, all tools were downed to make way for sherry time. Bob was a long-time member of the congregation at Leaside United Church and took strength from his faith especially with the passing of his first wife, Helen, second wife, Margaret, in 2002 and sons John in 2011 and Dave in 2015. His own passing has left a hole in many hearts. Rest in peace, Bob: you are missed, but remembered. ■
fashion. W h e n E t h e F LEASID O S T E E THE STR Canadian /MCRAE Northern RANDOLP1 5H0 Railway built a line around t h e top of the city of Toronto for industrial and residential development more than a century ago, the residential area was laid out and planned for the workers and executives with the Canadian Northern Ontario Company, like William Mackenzie and Donald Mann, knighted for their work in designing and developing the Town of Leaside. The two had laid out land north and south of Eglinton Avenue Frederick Gage Todd between Bayview Avenue and the Don River and had chosen what was then farmland because it was flat farmland. Most of the streets, by JEANNE HOPKINS laid out in 1912, were named for Randolph and McRae – two wonworkers and executives in what derful and important streets in would become the Village, then Leaside. And likely named in honour Town of Leaside. of a railway executive in true Leaside They hired town and landscape
architect Frederick Todd to create a model of a “new Rosedale” with curving streets and tall trees, keeping as many as possible for their workers and executives. Randolph Road and McRae Drive are two of these new streets, named for the company’s executives – or just one executive – who worked for the Canadian National Railway company. Jane Pitfield’s authoritative book Leaside, suggests that McRae may have been named for Prairies tycoon Alexander D. McRae. But more likely both Randolph and McRae were named for Randolph McRae, a former official in the CNR land department who became Leaside’s first mayor. Jeanne Hopkins spent most of her life in the historic Henry Farm community of North York. She realized her passion for local history in the Canadiana department of the North York Public Library, where she worked for 27 years. She is the author of many articles and five books of local history. ■
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Leaside Life • July 2019
Randolph and McRae – Two more Leaside streets bear CNR names
Chairman of the (snow)board
Leaside Life • July 2019
by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO
including his coach Cam Farrell at Beaver Valley, his summer BioSteel trainer, Mike Carneiro, and coach Thedo Remmelink. After graduating from Leaside High in June, 2018, Behan decided to take a gap year to pursue his snowboarding career. As he explains, “my parents say there’s no rush to get old.” In pursuit of his racing goals, Behan has spent 135 days on snow in the last year, either in training or in competition. The bulk of his training this past year has taken place at Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club in Colorado under the tutelage of former Olympian Remmelink. Here Behan has honed his skills in speed and momentum. Snowboard racing is incredibly fast and demanding. It takes guts, mental focus, practice, and athleticism. As his coach Cam Farrell points out, everyone who qualifies for the international championships has all of these qualities. So, what sets Behan apart? “What pushes Jamie that little bit extra is his
Jamie Behan is, as one of his coaches calls him, “a man of few words who speaks with his actions.” And in the world of snowboard racing, Behan has used his actions to become a national and an international champion. 18-year-old Behan, a Leaside native who attended Northlea and Leaside High School, grew up skiing at Beaver Valley along with his brothers Cameron and Andrew, and his parents Juliet and Don. At nine years old, Jamie picked up snowboarding and has since raced his way to great success. In March of this year, Behan placed first in the National Junior Championships in Giant Parallel Slalom, and in April, finished third in Parallel Slalom at the World Junior Championships in Slovenia. Jamie is an incredibly hard worker but has also benefited from the support not just of his family, but also of a team of extraordinarily talented coaches along his journey,
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LEASIDE PEOPLE • MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS
LEASIDE SPORTS ability to focus, and make the right decisions instinctively in the moment. When he is at his best, you can see from the look in his eyes he is focused: he knows what has to be done, has a plan, is prepared, and ready. He does not need a pep talk to be pumped up, he’s got it taken care of. On the course he makes the right decisions: when to push it, take chances, ride a straighter line with less margin for error; and, when to ride under control, aiming for consistency.” What excites Behan’s coaches the most is that the athelte is still developing and refining his technique. He still, in other words, has what it takes to maintain, and improve upon, his competitive level on the world stage. As for Behan himself, he is staunchly focused on his training and his future. But his approach is quite simple: “My goal in racing is to have fun. If you have fun, you do well. If you do well, you have fun. Often racers come in with overcomplicated plans and overthink a race.” As a bonus, he’s become not just a world champion, but also a world traveller, having snowboarded in nine countries including Chile, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand. For Behan there are no superstitions or rituals. There’s no looking to become “Instafamous” or the next (snowboarding) Kardashian. BEHAN page 28
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LEASIDE PEOPLE • MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS
Retiring agent Stephen Frazee reflects on three decades of change
Leaside Life • July 2019
by KEN MALLETT When Stephen Frazee began selling real estate in 1988, the price of a single-family home in Leaside was about $350,000 to $400,000. CBC TV reported at the time that the average price in Toronto overall was approximately $220,000. Today, 31 years later, that figure for Leaside is approaching $2 million, according to Frazee. And the Toronto Real Estate Board reported that last year the average selling price of a detached home in the 416-area code was $1,283,981. The reason for the difference? “Leaside is a unique community in Toronto, with quiet tree-lined streets, good schools, excellent restaurants, shopping and local amenities. Prices should continue to appreciate as the demand for homes here will always remain strong,” said Frazee, who is retiring from ReMax on Bayview at the end of the year.
But he sees problems ahead for the community. “I am not an expert on traffic, but I definitely believe that the Eglinton LRT will result in more intensive residential development along Eglinton Ave., Bayview Ave. and Laird Drive.”
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He added that “this will produce more traffic as new residents use their vehicles for errands and shopping. This situation will be further aggravated by the introduction of additional retail/commercial development in the industrial zoned part of Leaside west of Brentcliffe Rd. “More retail big box type stores will attract more shoppers who won’t be using public transit. “I predict that the current congestion associated with the LRT construction will simply be replaced by even worse gridlock resulting from thousands more Leaside residents in the future!” Frazee, a long-time resident of Leaside, has seen a lot of changes in the industry in the past 30 years. “When I began in 1988 there was a lot more emphasis on personalized service,” he said. “Offers were usually made in person whereas today most offers are emailed. Moreover, offers used to be completed on one sheet of paper. Now there are at least 15 sheets required for each transaction. Most agents work from home now, whereas in 1988 we all worked together in a large office. It was a much more interesting workplace back then.” Frazee became a realtor after a 15-year career with a large Canadian bank. “I had a good network of potential clients and wanted to continue to work in a service industry. Real estate seemed like a good match for me.” FRAZEE page 28
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MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS
MakerKids pioneers local STEM movement
Leaside Life • July 2019
by JANIS FERTUCK A new educational facility specializing in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning for children opened recently in Leaside. MakerKids, located at 1661 Bayview Ave., is the first franchise location of the popular, award-winning original in Bloor West Village. The first “maker space” for children in North America was founded in 2011 by CEO Jennifer Turliuk, who was featured in a magazine for coding her own website at the age of 12, and went on to study education and technology at Singularity University at NASA. She stated in a The MakerKids recent press release that their “inno- team. vative curriculum and teaching philosophy” focuses on “empowering children to develop real life skills ogy-inspired ‘do it yourselfers’ who and a positive relationship with tinker with technology to create technology.” something.” MakerKids helps chilAccording to Aimée Savard, the dren to “develop the skills needed to owner of the new Leaside franchise, navigate the world of tomorrow and the term “maker” refers to “technolchange it for the better.”
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To date, MakerKids has won several awards at industry events like Maker Faire and has been featured in many lists of best workshops and camps in Toronto. Savard enrolled her twin sons in MakerKids when she was looking for extracurricular options in STEM learning. She was impressed by the boys’ enthusiastic response to the course and by the quality of the program. With her background in public relations and marketing communications for children’s, technology and educational brands, she was successful in her bid to become the first franchisee. Leaside seemed like a natural choice for the franchise because many Leaside families were already taking their children to the Bloor West location, and Savard was familiar with the area from visiting her cousins. She calls Leaside an “impressive family-focused community” and says from “excellent schools, parks, arenas and a plethora of local businesses, Leaside has it all, and we want to add the best in kids’ tech education into the mix.” At MakerKids, students follow a project-based curriculum at their own pace. They choose their own projects and earn badges for mastering certain skills before advancing the next level. The program is organized into three age categories: Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3 to 5, and Grades 5 to 8. Classes and summer camps are available in coding, robotics, Minecraft and the MiniMaker (for Grades 1 and 2) and Idea Incubator programs, which provide a taste of all three subjects. In addition to these technological skills, the courses also promote creativity, social skills, team work, resilience, communication and “netizen” skills. Some memorable projects include underwater robots, starting new businesses, and an autonomous rover, which won a NASA award. The instructors are “highly trained makers” themselves with various STEM backgrounds. The summer sessions run from July 2 to August 30, with registration for the fall opening in July. Aimée Savard is excited to see what the students will come up with and hopes to develop MakerKids as an “active community partner. MAKERKIDS page 28
MARIA-PAULA BONILLA-HERNÁNDEZ
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Congratulations to Ian Shaw Memorial Scholarship winner Emily Seal!
Leaside Life • July 2019
Susan Scandiffio Columnist
on into my future.” In terms of her on-ice experience, Seal’s coach, Matthew Brandt, indicates that, “Emily set the pace in terms of work ethic and perseverance, and hustled like no other player I have ever coached.” Seal is humbled to be receiving this award, which is especially meaningful for her as she is probably the last person obtaining the scholarship who will ever have worked with Ian Shaw, a man she remembers with much fondness. Western University has gained a confident, mature, and intelligent leader who is more than deserving of the scholarship with which she has been bestowed. ■
LEASIDE SPORTS
SUSAN SCANDIFFIO
When 17-year-old Emily Seal told me that she had been an aggressive hockey player, I truly wanted to say "hogwash" (not the actual word I wanted to use, but this is a family publication). Seal is an utterly sweet and intelligent young woman with an infectious laugh and a huge smile. But once I dug a little deeper, I came to the realization that Seal is no shrinking violet. She has worked hard throughout her high school career and her résumé is beyond impressive. Seal is this year’s recipient of the Ian Shaw Memorial scholarship. The scholarship is named in memory of Shaw, who, in his 25+ years volunteering with the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association (TLGHA), served as head coach, assistant coach, trainer, and manager for several teams, as well as tournament director and referee-in-chief. The award recognizes a graduating member of the TLGHA who has distinguished herself through her commitment as a player, an official, and a member of her community. For over a decade, Ian trained and mentored hundreds of Wildcats who wished to be a part of the game as members of the officiating crew. Seal has played every level as a Leaside Wildcat for the past 11 years, refereed for the past three years, worked as a timekeeper for the league, and volunteered in practice sessions with her younger sister Laura’s Wildcat team. In other words, she's been busy! At Northern Secondary, Seal has worked diligently and will be attending Western University in the fall to study political science and international relations. Seal’s extra-curricular activities have included her work as the president of the Champions of Change club, an executive member of the Social Justice Committee and the Girls’ Athletic Association, a senator on the student council, and captain of the school hockey team. She also plays house league softball with friends she made through hockey. “Hockey,” notes Seal, “has been where I have found my confidence, my resilience, and my personal strength, and these traits, learned on the ice as a player and an official, will be what I rely on to be successful off the ice both at university and
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MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS
Bayview business helps Leasiders lead barrier-free lives Fact: Aging is not an option. Everybody gets old. But given the choice, most seniors would prefer to grow old in their own homes, where everything is familiar and they can enjoy independence and privacy. The problem for many seniors is a lack of mobility, along with barriers that prevent them from doing their everyday activities. Packages on a top shelf are now just out of reach. Climbing a flight of stairs becomes a challenge. Going to the bathroom without help is more difficult. Even walking is dangerous: a slip and fall are enough to put some seniors in the hospital. Fortunately, there are now ways to make everyday life easier and safer for seniors. And a new store on the Bayview strip in Leaside can show you how to do it. Mobility for Life at 1727 Bayview
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Leaside Life • July 2019
by KEN MALLETT
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owner and principal managing director of the company. “We chose Leaside because it has an increasing number of seniors who may require our products and services. “Leaside is a high-density residential area and is close to Sunnybrook Hospital as well as the Mt. Pleasant Therapy Centre,” he added. “Our showroom location makes it easy and convenient for potential customers to see and try out our equipment. We also offer at-home consulting including an environmental home assessment at no charge and with no obligation.” Mobility for Life focuses on personalized customer service to assess client needs. “What separates us from our competition is our dedication to customer satisfaction and going the extra mile in satisfying the needs of our customers,” he said. “For example, a customer was told on a Saturday that he would be released from a rehabilitation facility the next day – a Sunday – even though he required a number of home care devices and equipment at his home. Within four hours of receiving the order, we delivered and installed everything he needed at his home on the same day.” As the population ages, solutions like those offered by Mobility for Life will help Leasiders “age in place” gracefully and with fewer barriers. ■
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Leaside Life • July 2019
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It’s a crime – in Leaside! by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO People often harken past to the innocence of the old days in their neighbourhood when everything was pure and ne’er a law was broken. Yet while Leaside has definitely seen its recent share of traffic violations, theft, harassment, and mischief, its past hasn’t been completely devoid of criminal activity. In fact, quite the contrary. Following on Geoff Kettel’s May article about the infamous Boyd Gang’s bank robbery in Leaside in 1951, this month’s true crime story looks back at the great prohibition years and the felonies committed during that era in our very own neighbourhood. In 1916, the Ontario government passed the Temperance Act, which prohibited the manufacture, importation, and transportation of alcohol into Ontario. Leaside, along with the rest of the province, saw “dry days” until the repeal of the act in 1927. But, though a ban was in place, many people found creative, and sometimes nefarious means, of opposing, or even circumventing, the law.
The first air mail delivery, Leaside Aerodrome
In 1918, the first air mail delivery in Canada arrived in Leaside on a plane piloted by Captain Brian Peck. While Captain Peck had convinced his superiors at the Leaside Aerodrome to allow him to fly to Montreal to attract potential trainees to the British Royal Flying Corps working at the airfield in Leaside, Peck had an additional mission in
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mind. Along with his passenger, Corporal E. W. Mathers, Peck was determined to make the upcoming marriage of a fellow officer extra celebratory. Unable to purchase alcohol in Ontario, Peck and Mathers loaded up their plane in Montreal with a very heavy case of Old Mull Whiskey. With the extra weight causing excessive fuel to burn, the plane was forced to add extra stops to its flight plan. But the alcohol did make its way in to Leaside and the bootlegging mission was successful. 1919 saw a far more nefarious incident in one man’s plan to smuggle alcohol out of Leaside. On Monday, November 3rd, 1919, a taxi driver by the name of John Rolland picked up a fare at Union Station. The next morning, Rolland’s taxi was discovered near McRae and Bayview and Rolland himself stumbled to a nearby home bleeding profusely. Within hours, Rolland had succumbed to his injuries. According to a report in The Globe on November 8th, 1919, police were convinced that Rolland had picked up a man who was headed to Leaside to collect liquor which had made its way from Montreal. When Rolland discovered the purpose of the man’s trip, police believed that, unwilling to be a part of the crime, he refused the man’s request and headed back out of Leaside. It was at that point that Rolland was attacked and the murderer fled. Lest you think Leaside has a history as a hotbed of criminal activity, our community has not been responsible for filling up the Don Jail over the years. In fact, it remains on the list of Toronto’s top 10 safest neighbourhoods. We’ll drink to that – with legal libations! ■
EGLINTON CROSSTOWN UPDATE
LESLIE STREET CLOSURE RESTRICTIONS Starting July 1, there will be a temporary eight week restriction on vehicles travelling between Leslie Street and Eglinton Avenue East, in order to build the LRT guideway in the middle of Eglinton Avenue and install railway track. Eglinton Avenue will remain open in both directions at all times and Leslie Street will otherwise function normally. Pedestrian access between Leslie Street and Eglinton Avenue will be maintained.
Leslie St Pedestrian Routes Crosswalk Sidewalk Closure
Access to all businesses on Leslie Street will be maintained. Crosstown construction will move out of adjacent north-south intersections before the Leslie Street closure happens. Traffic lanes will be opened and turn restrictions lifted at Bayview Avenue and Eglinton Avenue in June, and Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue in late June.
N
Sunnybrook Park Driveway
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TTC Bus Stop TTC Bus Loop
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Eglinton Ave E
Sign up at www.thecrosstown.ca/sign-up for more information. East Community Office 660 Eglinton Avenue E 416-482-7411
crosstown@metrolinx.com
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What would make you feel safe cycling in Leaside? Everyone who rides a bicycle has cautionary tales – the near misses at intersections, potholes not seen until it’s too late, lumbering trucks cutting the curb, and vehicles passing a little too close for comfort. Surprisingly, despite incidents like these, the number of people who bike in Toronto continues to increase. Yet research has shown that there is a large cohort – estimated at about 60% – of people who would cycle more if they felt safe. So, what would it take to make Leasiders feel safe riding a bike in our neighbourhood? That’s a question a group of Leaside residents have been asking. Some are members of Cycle Don Valley Midtown, the local chapter of Cycle Toronto. But others are people who live locally and know that when it comes to safe cycling, we could, and should, do better. With the goal of improving connectivity around Leaside, and complementing the Leaside Property Owners Association’s Traffic Plan, the group is examining a number of
HOLLY REID
Leaside Life • July 2019
by HOLLY REID
As shown on Hoskin Avenue, bike lanes like these preserve on-street parking and benefit local businesses.
options to improve, and encourage, travel by bike locally. Building on existing plans The plans for Eglinton Crosstown and Laird in Focus call for protected
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bike lanes, providing Leasiders with an east/west corridor traversing North and South Leaside, and a north/south route between Leaside and the industrial and residential areas to the east. The City’s 10-year Cycling Network plan has Millwood Road, McRae Drive, Sutherland Drive (north of Millwood), Southvale Drive and Broadway Avenue as local cycling routes. Among these, only McRae has the space to accommodate a separated or protected bike lane, while preserving on-street parking. Still, other measures can also calm traffic and encourage more cyclists locally, such as reduced speed limits and designated bicycle route markings. Closing the gaps and creating connections What’s missing is a north/south corridor and connector to the planned bike lanes on Eglinton. Instead of the partial route on Sutherland as proposed by the 10-year Cycling Network Plan, Hanna Road offers the potential to bring cyclists from Southvale to Broadway, connecting to three schools en route and bisecting the Millwood and McRae routes to create an intra-neighbourhood cycling network and a bypass to Bayview Avenue. But what about Bayview? Could it have bike lanes similar to those successfully installed on Bloor Street west of Avenue Road, preserving on-street parking, enhancing local business and making travel more comfortable for drivers and people who bike? More people on bikes means fewer cars Leasiders are already feeling inundated by vehicle traffic, and new developments will potentially add even more cars to our streets. The development of the Canadian Tire site, to name just one, could bring at least 1,200 new vehicles to our neighbourhood. Certainly, the Eglinton Crosstown will replace some of the travel by car. But getting more people to bike is also part of the solution and, as the research shows, providing safer ways to do so is how to make this happen. Holly Reid is a recreational road rider and cycling commuter. An advocate for safe cycling, she is a member of Cycle Don Valley Midtown, Cycle Toronto’s advocacy group for Wards15/16. ■
Get ready to watch some serious roller derby skirmishes
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Burritos. Bowls. Salads. Wraps. Soups. Smoothies. Juices. Froyo and more…
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FROM THE COVER
by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO I recently sat down with Shove, Frosty, Viris, and Cheeks. These are not your Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, or Peter. They're hard-core serious athletes who kick ass on the roller derby track. But while they are fast, tenacious, focused, balanced, and strong, they are also welcoming, friendly, and supportive of their teammates and their opponents. According to Roller Sports Canada, roller derby “helps the young to grow up, and older persons to regain their youth.” It’s a sport that can be played for both recreation and competition. The Toronto Roller Derby League (ToRD) is the largest flat-track derby league in Canada, with four house teams, an all-star travel team, and a developmental farm team. There is also a “Fresh Meat,” or learn-to-play program for those new to the sport. The four house teams, The Smoke City Bandits, Death Track Dolls, Chicks Ahoy!, and the Gore-Gore Roller Girls, come from all walks of life, have various athletic backgrounds and body types, and range in age from 19 to the mid-50s. The women’s careers range from baristas to students, from stay-at-home moms to brain surgeons, and everything in between. But as the athletes I met explained, “everyone is
equal on the rink.” The game (and this is the most basic explanation) involves two teams which each field five participants at a time on an oval track. Each team has a player called a jammer whose goal it is to skate a full lap. The jammer’s teammates defend against the opponents who are trying to stop her jammer from making her way around the track. At the same time the players are attempting to stop the opposing jammer from making their way around the track. A point is awarded for each lap the jammer manages to complete. Skaters are allowed to use their hips and arms to make room for their jammer or to obstruct opponents from blocking their jammer. While it may be a physical game, players are quite protective of their own teammates and those on the opposing teams. This is no longer the staged, theatrical game of the 1970s. This is real competition with no fake brawls or predetermined outcomes. On Saturday, July 20th, the Toronto Roller Derby League is coming to Leaside with their Summer Smasher Tournament, being held at the Leaside Gardens. Tickets are $12 for early bird tickets, $15 online or $20 at the door. Kids 9 and under are free with a paying adult (two kids per adult). Visit torontorollerderby.com for more info. ■
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Leaside Life • July 2019
FRESHII LEASIDE NOW OPEN!!
Leaside’s senior community is a rapidly growing asset In April, I wrote about Leaside’s city-calculated “neighbourhood equity” score. I posed the question: what do you think we should measure in order to make a general assessment of Leaside’s condition? In response, retired teacher Bertha Knox said that “connecting with people [is] an excellent way to add great benefit to my life…and can be done through organizations or by personal initiative.” She noted that a ‘PROBUS Club’ started in 2017 at St. Cuthbert’s Church. She joined immediately and couldn’t be happier. In fact, the East York Probus Club (EYPC) was so popular it signed 172 members at its inaugural meeting, far surpassing its maximum, and has had a waiting list from Day 1. A strong and proactive senior community is an incredibly valuable asset for a neighbourhood. Unaware of the club, I set up a meeting with the EYPC’s president, retired accountant Dina Papadopoulos, and the club’s head of activities, retired engineer Paul Magowan.
Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside
PROBUS is an acronym for PROfessional and BUSiness. It is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political, non-commercial club designed specifically for active retirees. Originally formed in England in 1966, it aims to provide retired professionals with a way to get together for fellowship, friendship
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Leaside Life • July 2019
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and fun. Worldwide there are now more than 4,000 clubs with over 400,000 members and growing rapidly. The first PROBUS club for seniors in North America was established in Cambridge, Ont. in 1987. The club has since grown to 244 clubs across Canada with 36,000+ members. Members enjoy a wealth of new experiences and the fruits of a greatly expanded social network, all for a modest $45 annual membership fee. According to Dina, the EYPC is a “younger club” with an average age of about 70, with an average turnout of 130 for the monthly meetings, and approximately 75% of the members are from East York, many from Leaside. Recently, the EYPC’s membership increased to 230 with 135 still on the waiting list. Despite not specifically being a service organization, members are often active volunteers in many of our community organizations, events and initiatives. The number of people over 60 is growing faster than any other age group From their website, “…clubs are organizations for men and women who have retired and want to maintain a social network with others who have similar interests.” Paul listed a dizzying 23 active groups at the EYPC including chef’s tables, investing, Probus pacers, technology at home, theatre, wine tasting, and euchre. Measured by sheer numbers, the walking group is the largest group in the club, while the dining group takes the cake (pun intended) for the highest participation. There is a currently a two-year waiting list for guest speakers. Paul remains vigilant about who gets the privilege of becoming a member, reminding me several times about the non-commercial nature of the club. There are always other challenges to contend with, too. For example, finding a convenor for the tech-at-home group, which focuses on timely and practical topics such as how to prevent “phishing” (as opposed to the relatively enjoyable task of taking your grandkids fishing). Last July I wrote about the demographic shift taking place in the workplace, where Millennials have overtaken the number of Baby boomers and will soon do the same
to Gen-xers like me. At the opposite end of the distribution curve, it is no secret that the world’s population is aging. Indeed, with life expectancy continuing to rise, the 2017 World Population Prospects report suggests that the number of individuals aged 60 years or over is expected to more than double by 2050 and is growing faster than all younger age groups. According to the 2016 Preliminary Neighbourhood Census Profile, there were 1,090 individuals older than 71 years, and 3,795 between the ages of 53 and 71 residing in Leaside-Bennington. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? An inspiring question posed by Satchel Paige. So, how can Leaside ensure that our growing number of seniors remain a strong and proactive community asset that will continue to contribute to the success of our ‘hood in a way that belies the calendar? It’s simple: we must recognize this valuable group as just that, an asset. As such, we need to invest our time and attention to assist, enable and include this growing segment of our population so they remain welcomed by us and actively engaged. We must make the effort to reach out and establish meaningful connections. I like to think of it as a two-way street because there is a tremendous wealth of skills, experience and wisdom that can benefit us all if we just take the moment to include this group in the thinking that goes into our community building, policies and programs. One final thought, building on Paul’s comment, “the strong membership surge at the inaugural and the immediate waitlist is an undeniably strong indication of need” – seems like it’s time for someone to take the initiative of chartering a Leaside (or nearby) PROBUS Club to complement the East York Club. The demand is certainly there and growing. Do you have ideas or resources that could benefit our senior community? Would you like to join a local PROBUS Club? Would you like to start a new PROBUS Club in Leaside? Let us know at leasidelife@ gmail.com. Leasider Glenn Asano is a partner and principal consultant for the strategy and business development practice at Centred Performance. He is also an Instructor with the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. ■
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Leaside Life • July 2019
SENIORS continued
Terry Fallis shares a deep, dark secret I fear I am about to violate some sacred Leaside seasonal covenant and prompt immediate excommunication from my community. What I’m about to admit may well constitute heresy, or at least blasphemy. I’ve sat on this for many years, keeping it buried under protective layers of shame. But I am lately seized by an urgent honesty, though I’m hoping my wife does not stumble upon this column. So, brace yourselves. Here goes. I do not like gardening. There, I said it. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy wandering the streets of Leaside, admiring and occasionally exalting in the floral nirvana splayed out before me, block by block, house by house. The explosion of coordinated colour, complemented by well-tended and trimmed lawns is truly stunning in its almost relentless beauty. I get that. I too am moved by it. I just don’t enjoy the extraordinary effort that underlies it all. Go ahead. I’m ready for the “no pain, no gain” mantras and I’m well aware that perfect gardens don’t just appear out of nowhere. They are the products of careful planning, several
Terry Fallis Columnist
expensive trips to the local nursery for shrubs, flowers, bulbs, plants, and the latest gardening gizmo that will change our lives, inestimable patience (or impatiens, if that’s what you’re planting), and endless hours with your knees ground into the, um, ground. I love the destination. I just don’t love the journey. I figure there are two kinds of people in the world – those who love every aspect of gardening and
All Don Valley West residents are invited to a…
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look forward to immersing themselves in the soil, hand-spreading sheep manure, battling squirrels to save their tulip bulbs, and scouring the Internet for the plants and flowers that are in vogue this year... and then there are those who are depressed and defeated merely by the attempt to coil a very balky and virtually uncoilable garden hose. You can probably discern in which category I reside. At our home, we have a lovely but mercifully small front garden and a much larger and more demanding back garden. For the most justifiable of reasons, my role in the garden has evolved (or shall we say diminished) over the years and is now limited to planting bulbs (and no, I can’t actually remember what time of year that happens), and ridding our front lawn of enough dandelions so that at least a few blades of grass are visible to a neighbour out for an evening constitutional. I really don’t mind the bulb planting, and the results (and no, I can’t actually remember what time of year that happens, either) are certainly impressive, provided our anti-squirrel security measures are adequate. I can handle kneeling on a gardening pad for short periods of time, digging holes and stuffing in bulbs. I’m actually quite good at it. It’s the annual dandelion offensive (and believe me, I do find it offensive) that is the tough part. I am getting better at exterminating them, but there are still many other ways I’d rather spend my time, and visiting the dentist may soon be in the running. Back in the bad old days, we could use various chemical “exterminants” (it’s possible I just made up that word, but you know what I mean) to do the job swiftly and easily. I would simply wander happily across the lawn aiming quick blasts of dandelion-kryptonite never even having to bend down. But, for all the right reasons, those days are thankfully gone. Now, I employ what looks like a medieval instrument of torture to rip the unsuspecting dandelion, root and all, from the ground. It works quite well if you insert it in the proper location, but often, I merely tear up a section of the lawn, the sneering dandelion completely eluding me. I even tried a new gadget this year that shoots a high-pressure stream of water down under the root, apparently loosening it and making it “easy and fun” FALLIS page 28
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Leaside Life • July 2019
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Leaside Life • July 2019
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Hedge power to the rescue! The hedge is a landscape classic used for its streamlined elegance. But for thousands of years, it served other, more functional purposes. From its humble hedgerow beginnings as a handy source of nuts, berries and firewood, the hedge quickly became a way to create a fence-like barrier to separate livestock, shield crops from strong winds, prevent soil erosion and reduce flooding. Eventually, the hedge found its way to garden artistry and stretched the imagination of gardeners to create intricate knot gardens and topiary masterpieces. Today, the hedge has another important contribution to make, because apparently the hedge can actually clean our dirty air! Recently, researchers from the University of Surrey published a study showing how roadsides with hedges can reduce carbon by as much as 63 per cent. That’s more than street trees can do, and they have a lot of evidence to back that up. As quoted in Sustainability Times, Professor Prashant Kumar, the study’s senior author, said: “This
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The Leaside Gardener: Debora Kuchme Columnist
study provides new evidence to show the important role strategically placed roadside hedges can play in reducing pollution exposure for pedestrians, cyclists and people who live close to roads. Urban planners should consider planting denser hedges, and a combination of trees with hedges, in open road environments.” What does this have to do with Leaside, you ask? The Pixies chose globe cedars and ferns to create a hedge on Bayview.
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Perhaps they were just ahead of their time. Because of the dense leaf structure, a hedge can absorb more carbon and other airborne fine particle matter from city streets by grabbing it at a lower level where we breathe it in. Think of the pedestrians walking along Bayview, Laird or Eglinton, and consider children playing in school yards near busy roads as countless cars pass by. This is where hedges can really come to the rescue. Now hedges may be able to play an even bigger role in our neighbourhood. Face it, Leaside is getting dirtier because of the many large-scale developments creating construction dust, soot mixed with exhaust fumes, and a host of other noxious by-products swirling around our streets like never before. These tiny poisonous particles may cause heart and lung disease, cancer, asthma, bronchitis, depression, and a decline in brain function. And while all of this destruction/ construction is taking place, our city street sweeping trucks are unable to keep up. So, what can we do? Start by planting more hedges and encourage the city, schools and our local BIA to do same. If you’re thinking about a landscape change to your front garden, consider adding a hedge near the road to grab the toxic fumes and polluted dust from the street. This will help your indoor air quality, reduce storm water runoff, and give the birds and other pollinators a safe shelter. The hedge works for condo and apartment dwellers too because it can be a buffer zone almost anywhere. On a large balcony, use evergreens such as cedars, yews and Alberta spruce to catch and block the polluted air from entering the interior of your balcony. You’ll enjoy both inside and out a lot more. For small balconies or window sill gardens, try a mini hedge of lavender, winter savoury or lemon thyme (this can keep mosquitoes away too), but don’t eat any of them, just use their dense foliage to help filter the air before it enters your space. We could all use a little hedge power, the sooner, the better. Here’s to hedge power and cleaner air! Visit leasidelife.com to read the extended version of this article and see photos of some amazing Leaside hedges. ■
Junior Gardeners did it again! Those dirty little hands were out in early June helping to make some of our Leaside parks more beautiful and it’s all thanks to the Leaside Garden Society, the City of Toronto Parks Dept., the TDSB and naturally, the incredible Junior Gardeners! Barbara Robson’s Grade 5 class from Northlea Elementry and Middle School planted the corner green space at Eglinton and Bessborough. Angela Napoli’s Grade 3 class from St. Anselm Catholic School planted Father Caulfield Park, and Jason Chong’s Grade 3 class from Bessborough Elementary planted Trace Manes and Library entrance. They all look amazing! Planting close to 2,000 annuals in three days with approx. 70 young students is no simple task. But Rick Hutchings, the LGS director of the Junior Gardeners Program, sure makes it look easy. He’s been doing this for the last eight years, so it’s always well organized and beautifully coordinated. But he gives all the credit to the dedicated LGS volunteers who help and teach the kids as they plant (which Rick also does), to the supportive teachers who understand why this is so important (the teachers credit Rick for making this so easy for them), and to the City crew for bringing the plants and watering them. As for the students, he says, “Three days of planting with these enthusiastic future gardeners gets me so energized. You get such a high from their energy and playfulness. But that’s why we do it.” When the wise and the innocent, the old and the wise, the expert and the novice, the haves and the have nots come together and join hands... the circle is complete. This is our Leaside community at its best! ■
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Leaside Life • July 2019
by DEBORA KUCHME
Leaside Life • July 2019
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Province overrides city plan for Leaside Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, has a different vision for Leaside from the City’s. In announcing his changes (all 194 of them) to the Midtown in Focus secondary plan approved by the city in July, 2018 and to the TOCore Plan (over 200 changes) he focused on Leaside (despite Bayview’s being only a small part of the study area). He said his revised plan would allow towers 20 to 35 storeys tall at the corner of Bayview Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East, whereas the City’s plan called for buildings no higher than eight storeys. In fact, Minister Clark’s assertion is only half right. The City’s plan does allow for 20-storey towers at Bayview and Eglinton. But maybe not where he would like them! As usual, it’s all in the details. The City’s plan called for: • 16 storeys and11 storeys in the northeast corner – Sunnybrook Plaza – which reflects the OMB mediated settlement between RioCan and the LPOA); construction is set to begin soon. • 20-23 storeys in the northwest corner – Metro – no sign of anything currently. • 6 storeys in the southwest corner, which reflects the existing mid-rise condo. • 8 storeys in the southeast corner, former McDonalds’s and now the Leaside Station site. Aha! Methinks that development of the Leaside Station site is behind the Minister’s issue with Leaside. Seems to me the province wants a tall building there to maximize its real estate value. Coincidentally, the Minister’s announcement was made on the same day that the legislation to upload the subway/Light Rail Transit system from the City was passed by the Legislature. I recall persistent rumours a couple of years ago that Metrolinx’s plans incorporated infrastructure below the station sufficient to allow a 22-storey building to be built there. A recent (May, 2019) Metrolinx News article, “As Toronto looks to future growth, Leaside Station holds design secrets to grow with,” confirmed the presence of underpins, and boasted “We’re building a time machine in Leaside.” So, why did the Midtown in Focus plan show eight storeys? There are reasons for restraint. For one, the station site is right next to Talbot Park with its baseball diamond and
Geoff Kettel
Saving old Leaside
also plans to require “inclusionary zoning” near transit stations, which would reserve some of these units for affordable housing. The predominant characteristic of the changes in the plan is the removal of certainty in the direction of City policy, providLeaside Station
Leaside High School playing fields, which are located well below grade due to the ravine of the Walmsley Brook. The City’s plan maintained midrise in order to minimize shadowing. The plan as a whole put a premium on preserving sunlight, requiring that no net new shadow be cast by a building, while the province’s changes say that only “adequate” sunlight is required. For another, the station site is adjacent to the historic Talbot quadraplexes. To date, only two, including the one at the north end owned by Metrolinx, have been preserved. (See column in Leaside Life August, 2018.) The provincial changes to the Midtown in Focus Plan clearly reflect the government’s recent policy changes on housing, which are driven by the idea that the City needs to allow even more new housing units than previously planned near public transit stations. In Leaside the minimum density target for the Leaside Transit Station Area is increased from 160 residents and jobs per hectare to 200 residents and jobs per hectare, an increase of 25%. The province
ing instead simply “guidance.” For example, prescriptive words such as “will,” “preserve,” and “ensure” are replaced with more permissive wording such as “may,” “generally” and “encourage.” This clearly makes it easy for lawyers to argue the need for flexibility in the plan’s application. And that’s not all. Another recent change, the Growth Plan’s increase from 500 to 800 metres around major transit station areas could have a major impact on spreading intensive development formats into the neighbourhood. Footnote: The Minister’s changes seem to have been applied to the plan presented but not the one approved by City Council. City Council approved some further height reductions. I wrote in August, 2018 that City Council maintained a Neighbourhoods designation for the set of 10 quadraplexes on the east side of Bayview, instead of re-designating them to Mixed Use as proposed by the plan. So, that would not have allowed eight storeys but maintained a four-storey height limit! ■
Laneway named to honour Edna Beange
Leaside Life • July 2019
by LORNA KRAWCHUK
Lynda Gorges Broker
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and Airdrie, to honour Leasider Edna Beange, who died in January, The City of Toronto has offi2019, at the age of 98. The locacially named the lane mostly partion is particularly relevant, as the allel to Bayview between McRae lane ends at SAHIL (Stay at Home in Leaside), the building Pancheta Barnett where Edna had lived since on Bayview. its establishment. The inspiration to name this lane after Edna, and the necessary permissions required by the City of Toronto, were done by another Leasider, Pancheta Barnett. Pancheta has some background in lane naming – as she sits on the Toronto and East York Community Preservation Panel, a volunteer committee appointed by the City of Toronto as the Vice-Chair, East, and Chair, Committee for Honorific and Ceremonial Street and Lane-Naming. Pancheta was pleased to be able to let Edna know before she died that this honour was coming her way. There will be a longer profile of Edna in our August issue. ■
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by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO For the first time in 20 years, a Leaside Wildcats team has brought home gold from the provincial finals. The Bantam BB team was coached by Steve Gross, Robyn Wheeldon, Jason Delgado, Emma Ritchie, Karen McKee, Brandon Parent, Cagla Baktiroglu, and Franky Palazzese.
The team, made up of Grade 8 and 9 girls, had an incredible year, winning two golds, two silvers, and a bronze in the five tournaments they played this year, as well as gold in the provincials. The team included a player from China and one from Turkey, and was, as head coach Steve Gross noted, “determined, resilient, hard-working, and had grit.” It was this grit that saw them perse-
vere in the provincials with a triple overtime win in the eliminations and a double overtime win in the final game. Player Amelia Campbell called this team a “close-bonded group,” noting that it was the team’s cohesiveness that made them a strong unit. She also pointed to the effectiveness and kindness of their head coach. Congratulations, Bantam BB girls! ■
Leaside Life • July 2019
Studies show a direct correlation between the wellbeing of our city and the strength of our urban forest. When our tree canopy thrives, Toronto is a healthier, more livable and resilient city. Trees improve the livability of a city in countless ways. Aesthetically, they beautify our neighbourhoods, making communities like Leaside an even more attractive place to live. Trees are also the lungs of our city, providing benefits like enhanced air quality and smog reduction. Toronto’s trees store 1.1 million metric tonnes of carbon, which is equivalent to the yearly carbon emissions from over 700,000 automobiles. They also improve stormwater management. It’s estimated that every 5% of tree cover in a community reduces stormwater runoff by 2%. During a hot Toronto summer, our tree canopy provides a muchneeded cooling effect by offering shade and transpiring water. Many metropolitan areas are at risk of experiencing the urban heat island
Jaye Robinson Councillor
effect, which happens when the densely packed buildings and paved surfaces that make up our down-
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town core trap heat and cause the city to warm. Trees have proven to be an efficient and cost-effective method of alleviating the urban heat island effect. Ward 15 is home to one of the densest tree canopies in all of Toronto. As our city continues to grow, I will maintain my support of policies that protect our urban forest and greenspaces for future generations. In all of Toronto, we’re fortunate to have one of the densest urban tree canopies in the world. A recent study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) estimated that 19.5% of our land is part of the urban forest. The City’s own inventory estimates that there are 10.2 million trees in Toronto – 4.1 million of which are located in parks and ravines or along streets. As your city councillor, protecting our urban tree canopy remains one of my top priorities. One of my first motions as a newly-elected councillor directed staff to prioritize tree preservation while conducting environmental assessments. I spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive tree protection framework that requires City crews to use cutting-edge technologies and hand-dig while working in proximity to trees. Additionally, I asked staff to develop a strategy to minimize the number of trees impacted by major construction projects. I’ve also launched new initiatives to better integrate tree-related considerations in the planning and development process, standardize the criteria used to evaluate the health of a tree, and strengthen enforcement of the tree bylaws by increasing fines and issuing stop-work orders to developers who are not in compliance. In 2013, you’ll recall that Toronto was hit by an ice storm that decimated our tree canopy. City staff estimate that roughly 20% of the urban forest was lost to the storm. In the months following, I successfully introduced motions at City Council requesting an updated pruning and maintenance strategy that would reduce the vulnerability of city trees to future ice storms and repair the damage sustained. I will continue to work to protect the city’s – and Leaside’s – extensive tree canopy. ■
SHUTTERSTOCK
Protecting Leaside’s urban tree canopy
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Leaside Life • July 2019
1847 Bayview Ave Groove Room Coffee House Listen to great live music by local artists and have a coffee and dessert with friends. The next Groove Room Coffee House is on Friday, July 12th 7-8:30 pm. Cost is $5 with all proceeds to the Flemingdon Park Food Bank. We are looking for performers. Contact Augustine@bellnet.ca
CYCLING NEWS Want to make cycling better where you live? Come out and join fellow cyclists from Wards 15 /16 to advocate for safe and connected cycling routes in our neighbourhoods. Next meeting: Wed., July 31st @ 7pm. Trinity Grace Church, 826 Eglinton Avenue E. For more information or to RSVP contact: cycledonvalleymidtown@cycleto.ca
SUMMER CHURCH northleaunited.ca; leasidepresbyterianchurch.ca Northlea United & Leaside Presbyterian Sundays at 10:30 am. All are welcome... June 30 - July 28: we will worship together at Leaside Presbyterian, 670 Eglinton Avenue E. August 4 - September 1: we will worship together at Northlea United, 125 Brentcliffe Road.
LEASIDE LIBRARY 165 McRae Drive, 416-396-3835. Applefun Puppetry All children. Join in for a fun puppet show. Meet the puppets and learn how to make a puppet of your own! Space limited. Free tickets handed out 30 min. before the show starts. *Daycares, camps, and large groups must register in advance, beginning June 3rd, by calling 416-396-3835. Monday, July 8, 2-2:45 pm. Art exhibit: Ethereal Flowers Part 2 Water lilies are deeply connected to the earth and to the water that is the medium of their growth. The murky depths are hidden beneath the reflective water, graced by the simple expression of peace and beauty that is the blossom. This tension between light and dark is the theme I am exploring in these works—Robert Burns July 2 - 31. Artist Alley Ages 6-12. Let your artistic abilities flow free in this relaxing program. Each week, we will use a different art medium (e.g. markers, pencil crayons, plasticine). All children and caregivers are welcome to participate in this
intergenerational program. Mondays: July 15, 22, 29, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Creative Circle Ages 6-12. Complete weekly creativity challenges. Prepare to design, make, and create! All children and caregivers are welcome to participate in this intergenerational program. *Daycares, camps, and large groups must register in advance, beginning June 3rd, by calling 416-396-3835. Tuesdays: July 9, 16, 23, 30, 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Kids’ Lit Party: Harry Potter Ages 6-12. Celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday on July 31. Join us for some Harry Potter themed games, activities, and wand-making! All children and caregivers are welcome. *Daycares, camps, and large groups must register in advance, beginning June 3rd, by calling 416-396-3835. Wednesday, July 31, 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Leaside Needleworx Group Adults and Seniors. Knitting and crocheting at the library. Bring your own projects or start something new. Drop in. Everyone welcome. Fridays: July 5, 12, 19, 26, 10 am - 11:45 am. Movie Matinée Drop by the library every Thursday afternoon for a family-friendly movie. All children and caregivers are welcome. *Daycares, camps, and large groups must register in advance, beginning June 3rd, by calling 416-396-3835. July 4, 11, 18, 25, 2 pm - 4 pm. Show and Tell Ages 8-12. Not sure what to read next? Come to this program to learn about great books and pick up your next read! Share your favourite books with other kids. For children 8 to 12 years old. Drop in. Saturday, July 6, 3 - 4 pm. Summer Storytime Ages 0-5. Listen to stories and sing songs from 10 to 10:30. Afterwards, join us for some colouring and a simple craft from 10:30 to 11. *Daycares, camps, and large groups must register in advance, beginning June 3rd, by calling 416-396-3835. Wednesdays: July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 10 am - 11:00 am. For full library listings see www.torontopubliclibrary.ca Send us your free listing for August by July 10th leasidelife@gmail.com Correction: In the June 2019 issue of Leaside Life, Lorna Krawchuk’s article on Jeff Walker’s Beatles book incorrectly said it was available on amazon.ca. It is available through amazon.com. ■
Frazee... From Page 8 Over the years, he has come across some interesting situations. “In the late 1980s, a lot of Asian investors were buying properties in Toronto. One day, a well-to-do gentleman from Hong Kong asked me to choose a dozen homes to see in Toronto,” he said. “He made it clear to me that since his time was very limited, he just wanted me to drive by all of the properties. At the end of our time together, he told me which two homes he liked the most. I asked him if I should book appointments to see the interior of each home. His interpreter answered that he had no time for that. I was told to just draw up offers at the asking price for both homes, which I did, and by nightfall he had purchased both properties.” As he begins his retirement at the end of the year, Frazee is looking forward to exchanging his realtor’s licence for an instructor’s designation in his favourite passion – duplicate bridge. No doubt he’ll also keep his eye on the changing real estate landscape in Leaside. ■ The staff at Leaside Life would like to thank Stephen Frazee for being a long time advertiser and supporter of the magazine.
Behan... From Page 6 There is simply work and focus. And in a world consumed with “likes” and “retweets,” Behan is a unique, humble, and extremely successful breath of fresh air. ■
MakerKids... From Page 10 Together with Toronto becoming a global tech hub, and Leaside’s new innovation centre, we’re pioneering the STEM movement right here on Bayview.” ■
Fallis... From Page 20 to simply pull out the entire weed in one enjoyable motion. Yeah, right. By the time I gave up, I was utterly drenched, and our front lawn looked like Woodstock after the rains. Anyway, I love gardens, I really do. It’s just the gardening that gets to me. ■
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Traffic (yes!), Bill 108, and more concern the LPOA What better way can there be to spend a warm and sunny spring evening than to attend a meeting about Leaside’s traffic issues? In early June, Ward 15 Councillor Jaye Robinson invited residents who have been contacting her office on that subject to an informal town hall meeting. Both Geoff Kettel and I attended on behalf of the LPOA. While several comments were specific to individual streets, I was encouraged to note that there was a very strong consensus for seeking traffic solutions on a Leaside-wide basis, rather than piecemeal. There was also a substantial agreement that it takes much too long to get action from the City for traffic-calming measures which could make Leaside a safer place. In December, the LPOA Traffic Committee presented a neighbourhood-wide plan to calm traffic, not just to divert it; to phase in improvements when road works and street repairs take place. It is dispiriting to note that most of the attendees at Councillor Robinson’s June town hall had not gone to the LPOA’s website (lpoa.ca) to check it out. I urge you
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as well. Next month’s Leaside Life will feature a more detailed article on this subject. Where are we with Bill 108? We are now in the summer break, and still no wiser as to exactly how
SHUTTERSTOCK
Leaside Life • July 2019
30
to do so: look at the overall plan, and at your street, on the maps provided. There are measures available to really make a difference, many of them not expensive. Leaside’s traffic problems predate the LRT construction nightmare. Many commuters and retailbased drivers will continue to drive through Leaside even when the LRT is completed. Increasing development pressures will continue to exacerbate these problems. Clearly, the sooner we apply effective traffic control measures, the more improvement we can make. One important local initiative is a petition circulating in Leaside to support lowering the current speed limit on non-arterial streets. At the moment speed signage varies from street to street, frequently 40 km per hour. The petition calls for a reduction to 30 km per hour throughout. Other cities like Seattle, Boston and New York have implemented such lower limits with great success. Not only are there fewer (and less serious) accidents, but the speed limit is easier to enforce when an entire area has a constant limit. The attendees at Councillor Robinson’s meeting unanimously supported a 30 km per hour limit, and at the subsequent LPOA board meeting the LPOA signed on
the province’s Bill 108 (More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019) will affect Leaside (or Toronto as a whole). We do know that many of our important sources of revenue, like development charges, the parks levy, and Section 37 benefits, will be significantly reduced or removed. Leaside has benefited from these in the past, as they have paid for neighbourhood amenities and needed infrastructure. We know what the legislation says, but still have no idea how the legislation will be applied, nor what it will cost. We need to see the actual regulations in order to grasp their real impact. Leaside is a desirable part of the city. A recent Globe and Mail article singled out the Bayview Avenue/Eglinton Avenue intersection for intensification. We can be certain we will continue to be challenged by increasing pressures from development. See page 24 Saving Old Leaside for further info on the Bayview/Eglinton situation.
ab
The next monthly LPOA board meeting is on WEDNESDAY, July 10th, at 7:30 p.m., in the Trace Manes building on Rumsey Rd. Board meetings, which are always open to the public, take place on the first Wednesday of each month. ■
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