Issuu

N O V E M B E R 2020

Leaside Life

No. 102

LEST WE FORGET

leasidelife.com

The Leaside Gardener looks at this year’s local harvest. Story on page 16.

KATHI DAVIES

Meet Tim Davies: avid harvester!

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Celebrating the past and keeping it present Leaside is about to discover its heritage in a big way. Wait! Maybe you’re thinking that Leaside has always celebrated its unique place in Toronto, with a local history linked inextricably to the development of the railroads and later incorporated as the Town of Leaside on April 23, 1913, with 43 residents. But there is so much more to know about this place that some 14,000 people now call home. The newly formed Leaside Heritage Project aims to preserve, celebrate and communicate Leaside’s legacy. We can thank tireless Leasider, business owner and community activist Ann Brown for launching this project. “Leaside has such an amazing story to tell,” says Ann in the introductory feature in this issue. “Over the decades, the area has been a railway town, an automotive hub, a munitions producer during the First World War and home to one of Canada’s earliest airfields. We also played a huge role in providing electricity to Toronto and Ontario

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

through the Leaside Transformer Station – one of the largest power projects of its kind when completed in 1928.” Oh, and did we mention that former Prime Minister Stephen Harper spent his childhood here, and award-winning authors Margaret Atwood and Terry Fallis attended Leaside High? So, Leaside’s heritage isn’t only preserved in stone but living and growing. The birth of the Leaside Heritage Project comes at the same time as we are bidding farewell to a Bayview institution in itself – Pagnello’s – closing after more than a half century of introducing Leasiders and others to the antiques and wonders of bygone eras. These stories in our November issue strike a special chord in me. I grew up in a house filled with EDITOR Page 7

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Heritage project aims to preserve and celebrate Leaside’s rich past

A welcome home for WWI vets at St. Cuthbert’s Church, 1918. decades, the area has been a railway town, an automotive hub, a munitions producer during the First World War and home to one of Canada’s earliest airfields. We also played a huge role in providing electricity to Toronto and Ontario through the Leaside Transformer Station – one of the largest power projects of its kind when completed in 1928.” Leaside has also had its share of

famous people. Stephen Harper lived here as a boy. Margaret Atwood attended Leaside High. Historian Michael Bliss made North Leaside his home, and local writer/humourist and Stephen Leacock Medal Winner (and Leaside Life columnist) Terry Fallis grew up at the corner of Parkhurst and Donegall. HERITAGE Page 19

Leaside Life • November 2020

CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES

by TED DEWELLES AND JENNIFER HANLEY One of the things that makes Leaside so attractive to residents and visitors alike is its remarkable and varied 100-year-plus history. Whether it’s in business and commerce, industrial or residential development, sports and leisure, the arts, education, local politics or the everyday lives of individual Leasiders and their families – this area boasts an impressive legacy and has a great story to tell. Preserving, celebrating and communicating that legacy is the role of the newly created Leaside Heritage Project. The initiative is the brainchild of long-time Leaside resident, business-owner and community activist Ann Brown, who launched the project because she was concerned much of Leaside’s history might be lost or forgotten as the area is transformed over time. “Leaside has such an amazing story to tell,” says Ann. “Over the

The art of Gail Fularski’s four-decade staying power Leaside Life • November 2020

by JANIS FERTUCK It’s rare for a teacher to remain at one school for 40 years, yet Leaside High School’s dedicated art teacher, Gail Fularski, has done just that, possibly setting a record. What’s more, she has no immediate plans to retire. When Gail saw an ad in the paper in January 1980 for a library and typing position at Leaside, she applied, since her second “teachable” is library, and she’s a good typist. She got the job. The next year, her real area of expertise – art – was added to her timetable. Over the years, Gail has taught every grade in the art program as well as library classes and, this year, Grade 10 Careers. She especially enjoys teaching art across the grades as she has the opportunity to see “the developmental growth in the students’ skills and maturity.” As the only art teacher, she knows her students’ strengths and can help them develop from Grade 9 where their skills “change massively” to Grade 12 where their culminating work is a thematic and stylistic series of pieces. Gail explains that it is the excitement

Gail surrounded by some of her favourite student works.

of seeing the students learn and grow that has enabled her to avoid burnout over four decades. “I get to teach creativity and innovation, hopefully igniting the spark.” She is also thrilled when her students get into the post-secondary programs of their choice. In fact, many of them have chosen careers in art, becoming animators, artists,

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art teachers and professors, fashion designers, interior designers, architects, landscape architects and medical illustrators. Leaside resident Brandon Steen, a professional, gallery-represented artist (featured in Leaside Life, April 2018), praises Gail for providing not only instruction and support, but a refuge for her students. “I’m not sure I would have become the artist I am today had I not had the great fortune of being placed in Gail Fularski’s art room, which gave me the confidence through her teaching to pursue art,” he says. While Brandon says Leaside has been spoiled in having Gail’s talents available, she appreciates the community as well, finding the parents supportive and the students respectful and passionate about art and learning. This passion is also evident in the many art trips Gail has organized during March Break. She has taken groups to Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland and New York where they have visited galleries as well as famous landmarks. She always enjoys seeing their “sense of awakening” on these tours. Gail likes to recharge her batteries with her own summer trips, mostly to European cities such as Lisbon, Vienna, Amsterdam and Istanbul, and has even taken some art courses in Florence. As for the future, Gail says she will keep on working as long as she still feels passion for her “incredibly rewarding” job. “Art has been a great discipline to work in,” she says, “encouraging students to take risks to achieve their full potential, while creating many memories of the Art Room.” ■

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LEASIDE PEOPLE • MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS

mindset CYCLING rolls into Industrial Street What's YOUR mindset? Peter Oyler hopes you'll want to answer that question at the new incarnation of his business, mindset CYCLING, on Industrial Street in Leaside. Recognize the name Oyler? Yes, this Peter Oyler is the son of Peter Oyler, who was an alderman in the Borough of East York and on Metro Council in pre-amalgamation days. Full disclosure: I have known Peter since he was in pre-school, more than a few years ago now. He grew up in Leaside and attended Rolph Road, Northlea and Leaside High. He then went to Lakehead for his BA and obtained teaching qualifications at Western, but realized that his real passion was sports, both as a competitor and a trainer/coach. Evidence of his athletic prowess? Peter completed 13 Ironman triathlon competitions, then switched to ultra-distance cycling just for a

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change of pace. He participated three times in the Race Across America, an ultra-distance road cycling race held across the United States, but says he has finished with that too. These are all gruel-

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Leaside Life • November 2020

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ling physical and mental challenges that get even more difficult as the body ages. “Enough is enough,” says Peter. He has spent the last 12 years running on-site cycling premises. The end of his lease at his previous location and the pandemic arrived at about the same time. So, now at the new location at 42 Industrial, there will be virtual cycling sessions, hands-on, one-onone strength training, and bicycle tuning and repair on offer. A number of Leasiders made the trek along construction-mad Eglinton and winding backstreets to reach Peter's previous location. The new mindset CYCLING is much more convenient. As the owner, coach and mechanic, Peter has welcomed cyclists of all levels to his studio, and is proud that people seeking elite training, or those just wanting to add a bit of structure to their cycling program, all feel welcome in the community he has created. As well, as one of the founding members of jack.org, which raises funds to help end the stigma surrounding youth mental health, Peter and his clients have participated and raised money in the annual “Jack Ride.” ■

Editor... From Page 2

antiques. My mother was an avid collector and lover of heritage. For her, each “new” antique was like a new child, cared for, caressed...and researched. Along with the antiques themselves, she boasted a formidable library of books and magazines devoted to objets d’art and heritage architecture. Why celebrate the past, some might ask? When it’s as rich as Leaside’s, it would be more fitting to ask: why not celebrate the past and keep it alive in the present? ■

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A disciplined athlete with a philanthropic heart by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO Alessandro Sproul jokes on his Instagram page that “cycling is not just about shaving your legs and getting up at ridiculous hours.” Anyone who has witnessed the 23-year-old Leasider in action knows there is so much more to his cycling pursuits. On Sept. 19th to the 20th this year, Sproul rode a one and half km circuit in North Leaside covering Rykert/Thursfield Crescent and Brentcliffe Rd over and over and over again for a continuous 24 hours. Riding a total of 581.1 km, Sproul raised more than $20,000 on- and offline for Eva’s Place, a Toronto organization which provides support to youth currently facing homelessness. While Sproul points out that the 24-hour ride was “very uncomfortable,” especially when dealing with overnight temperatures far lower than anticipated, he also points out that the youth supported by Eva’s Place are “uncomfortable a

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Leaside Life • November 2020

Sproul goes all out for Eva’s Place.

lot of the time.” Sproul has always been heavily involved in athletics, participating in hockey, soccer, squash, track and

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Leaside’s athletes – undaunted by the pandemic Leaside Life • November 2020

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO Finding a tee time this year was harder than locating a pack of toilet paper. Golf is awesome! But it’s also one of a dwindling number of activities not cancelled due to COVID-19. Many athletes have seen play in their sport of choice either modified or cancelled. We checked in with some of our formerly-profiled Leaside athletes to see how they, and their sports, have pivoted during the pandemic. Lucca Agate In the 2018 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) track and field championships, Agate took home gold in each of the 100m, 200m, 400m, and relay distances, and led her school to win the OFSAA championships for women’s teams in the Junior division. Agate was recruited to the Miami University Track and Field team this fall. While the team is currently

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not allowed to practise with their coaches and meets have been postponed until the spring, Agate is still staying focused by completing daily workouts with team members. Majoring in kinesiology, Agate is attending half of her classes in person and half online. Between working with the track team, which, she says, has been “super welcoming!”, and meeting schoolmates from across the globe, Agate is loving university life. COVID may have changed how she imagined her first year of university would look, but it has not dimmed her determination to be the most prepared athlete when competition resumes. Coulter Woodmansey In April of this year, Coulter Woodmansey was the first Canadian university football player to be selected in the 2020 Canadian Football League (CFL) draft. Going fifth overall to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the University of Guelph captain made his dream of a career in pro football a reality. Then came the pandemic. With the CFL having suspended all games this year, Woodmansey has had to focus on training while working full time. As he is trying to limit his bubble, Coulter is training in his home gym rather than in Ti-Cat facilities, with programs provided by the team, which, he says, “has been great with teaching and communication through the whole process.” While COVID definitely affected how he envisioned this fall, Coulter has become the full-time marketing manager and site supervisor for GPW Construction, applying the knowledge gained through his Bachelor of Commerce, Real Estate and Housing degree. And when the CFL returns, Leaside’s footballer will be as strong

and focused as ever to take on the offensive lineman position he earned. Molly Chadwick Molly Chadwick picked up squash at the age of 8 and by 11, was playing provincially. The following year she rose to the national level and has captured the national championship four times (including the past three years). In May of 2019, Squash Canada chose Chadwick to represent Canada in the World Junior Squash Championships in Malaysia. As the pandemic struck, Squash Ontario and Squash Canada cancelled all events for the remainder of 2020. To keep in top playing form, Molly has been training with pods of 10 players under the supervision of a coach. To maintain her regular number of training hours, she plays solo games on the court, and off-court does conditioning work with her trainer. As the 17-year-old is in her last year of high school, she is extremely thankful that “most of the recruitment for squash happens in Grade 11, so (college) coaches have an idea of skill level before deciding on recruits in Grade 12.” She has been talking with coaches at many of the top squash schools, including Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and Penn. Zach Edey After picking up the game of basketball at the age of 15 in the fall of 2017, Zach Edey was recruited to Team Canada only six months later. The 7'3" centre completed grades 11 and 12 at IMG Academy, the world’s largest multi-sport training high school, and after receiving offers from, among others, Santa Clara, Baylor, Minnesota, Tulane, Western Kentucky, and Seton Hall, Edey chose Purdue University to continue his basketball journey. The NCAA has pushed the season starter back to November 25th. In UNDAUNTED Page 31

Sproul with cyclist friends Roland and Sandra Fletcher.

Leaside Life • November 2020

Athlete... From Page 8

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As a kid, he and his dad would take their mountain bikes down into the Don Valley. While his dad would want them to ride to the lake, Sproul said he always felt like that was too far. Fast forward a number of years and a ride to the lake now seems like a walk to the front door. In 2016, Sproul got a road bike and, inspired by his dad, who has ridden almost the entire way across Canada, decided to attempt the full ride. Alessandro covered the stretch from Vancouver to halfway across the country in the summer of 2016, a ride which he describes as “physically and mentally gruelling.” He tackled enormous climbs such as the Coquihalla, rated as one of the most dangerous highways in Canada, with an incline of almost 5,000 feet. Sproul completed the second half of the 5,720 km the following summer. While he now takes part in long and challenging races across the world, he also participates in many fundraising initiatives. He has ridden in the Ride for Heart twice, and is a member of the Bike2Play team. The team, started by Sproul’s cousin, Alessandro Delzotto, over the last five years has donated more than $175,000 to various organizations, including Sick Kids Hospital and Eva’s Place. The team Sproul rides the most with, though, is one he formed with friends from the cycling community earlier this year. When speaking with

a fellow cyclist who pointed out how intimidating it is when he’s the only non-white rider in races, Sproul and his friends decided they wanted to push for diversity and inclusivity in cycling. The new race team, United Nations Cycling (UNC), has gained several sponsors and recently filmed a commercial with Destination Canada (formerly the Canadian Tourism Commission). Sproul is an incredibly disciplined athlete, heading to bed by 9 p.m. almost every night. He trains on his bike 20 to 25 hours per week in good weather, 10 to 15 hours per week on an indoor trainer in the winter, and multiple hours a week in the gym, where he works on programs set up by his coach, James Jacek-Cote, from Premiere Performance in Montreal. Needing to consume 4,000-5,000 calories per day, Sproul loads up on a lot of carbs, and spends a lot of time at one of his favourite spots, Mucho Burrito on Laird. He also stresses the importance of recovery days, often spent watching cycling videos or playing board games with his brother and dad. He’s incredibly grateful for his “super-supportive” parents, Michaele Delzotto and Robert Sproul, and his siblings, James and Shan. Now that he’s covered distances far greater than the ride through the Don Valley to the lake, it’s fair to say Sproul has come a long way. But he still has so many more distances he’d like to conquer. A disciplined athlete with a philanthropic heart, Sproul has the drive to race for many more years to come, and to support charities that will benefit immensely from his giving ways. ■

Where are we with back-to-school? Leaside Life • November 2020

During the summer, the Ministry of Education announced that publicly-funded school boards in Ontario would be required to begin the 2020-2021 school year by offering two teaching systems: in-person and virtual learning. For the TDSB, getting both systems up and running has proven to be an extraordinarily challenging task. Whereas initial polling from early August suggested approximately 20% of students would choose virtual learning, at the time I am writing this article, roughly 30% of our 240,000 students are enrolled in our five virtual schools (one secondary school and four elementary schools). This increase makes the TDSB’s virtual school system equivalent in size to the fifth largest board in Ontario – serving approximately 80,000 students and employing more than 3,000 teachers (and still short several dozen French Immersion/Extended French teachers). Preparing the TDSB’s five virtual schools to meet these unprecedented requirements has been “virtually” complex – due, not only to sheer size, but also to the organizational, technological, staffing, and pedagogical issues involved as well. In the case of Leaside, students did not follow this general pattern. In September, 85% of Leaside High students elected to return to in-person classes, and the percentage of elementary students elect-

Rachel Chernos Lin Trustee

ing to return to bricks and mortar was even higher, reaching into the high 80s at our three elementary schools. Many reasons may account for these trends: low neighbourhood case counts throughout the summer; parents needing to go back to work; dissatisfaction with online learning in the spring; a desire to return to normalcy and connection; and confidence that our local schools would be able to provide a safe return to school. That said, a number of neighbourhood families have chosen virtual, and although there have been bumps along the way in operationalizing this new system, many families are finding success and con-

nection through this new method of learning too. To be sure, the in-school experience is certainly different from before. Layers of risk mitigation are in place in all of our buildings: everyone is masked, cohorted, and divided into specific zones of the school; other requirements include pre-screening before arrival, with additional screening as kids and staff enter our schools; and there is regular hand washing and hand sanitizing, as well as enhanced cleaning of high-touch surfaces throughout the day. Parent volunteers, once such a strong presence in Leaside schools, are no longer permitted to help on a day-to-day basis because of strict no-visitor policies in our buildings, and our beloved tradition of the fall cross-country season, like all school sports teams and most co-curriculars, is on hold. The over-arching focus is on creating a safe and healthy learning environment for our students and staff. And yet, despite all these measures and changes, Leaside schools remain vibrant places of laughter and learning. Walk by Rolph, Bessborough or Northlea at any time of day and you are likely to see and hear classes playing outside or partaking in an outdoor learning experience. It was a long six months apart – some joke the longest March Break on record – and it is so good to be together again. ■

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Pining for Paris Leaside Life • November 2020

Now that we’re in the second wave of the pandemic, I’ve transitioned from just missing those many joys of our daily lives that we’ve given up for the last eight months, to abject, hardcore, unadulterated pining. I miss restaurants, particularly the part where someone else plans, cooks, and cleans up our dinner. I can barely remember the whole experience of being escorted to your glistening table, being introduced to the very talented wait staff who will serve you drinks, deliver your meals, and adroitly grind pepper from an impressive altitude, and eventually help you on with your coat when it’s all over. Ahhh, those were the days. I also miss travel, within and outside our fair borders. Absent COVID-19, by this date, I’d have travelled to various literary and family events for which I’d been booked, including in Banff, Quebec City, Grande Prairie, Florida, and many other hotspots. I still managed to participate in all of the literary events, though my talks, readings, and panel discussions were all achieved through the miracle of

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now 28 and 25. We did take them to Paris one August when they were about eight and five...arguably, neither the best ages to introduce them to Paris, nor the best time of Terry Fallis year to visit. It was about 40C every Columnist day, which made sightseeing difficult…no, make that excruciating. Live and learn (and sweat, a lot). Now just the two of us go in November. I can sense you asking, “Why November?” Well, beyond its not being August, there are fewer tourists clogging the Champs-Élysées and the Place de la Concorde (not that there’s anything wrong with tourists). And while November can be frigid in Canada, it’s reasonably fall-like in Paris. After several visits now, we’ve seen most of the sights and toured most of the museums and galleries. So, for the last few trips, we’ve simply lived in Paris for a week. We stay on the left bank, our favourite part of the city. We start each morning with chocolate croissant and stroll the streets for much of the day. I often write in the same cafés Hemingway and Writing in Les Deux Magots at Fitzgerald frequented in the Hemingway’s favourite table 2012. 1920s. We’ve enjoyed a few walking tours (I’ve done Zoom. It all worked quite well and the same Hemingway tour several was certainly better than canceltimes and will likely do it again), ling the events completely. I admit and multiple visits to the famous I’ve become quite adept at positionEnglish bookstore, Shakespeare ing my body in front of my laptop and Company, just across the Seine camera so it effectively blocks out from Notre-Dame. And we eat…frethe few messy (even chaotic) shelves quently and copiously. in our third-floor library that I wrote I fully accept that missing one’s about last month. biannual sojourn to Paris seems like But now that it's November, I’m the very epitome of a first-world really struggling with one bianproblem. In fact, it might well be the nual trip in particular that will not new standard by which we calibrate be happening this year. You see, first-world problems. But I miss it my wife and I made a pact about anyway. On a positive note, Paris a decade ago, that every two years, hasn’t changed much in the last 200 whether we felt the need or not (and years or so (since that little revolubelieve me, we always seemed to tion they had in the late 1700s). It’ll feel the need), we'd spend a week in still be there when the pandemic Paris. It is a luxury we feel blessed has passed, and when the first safe to indulge that helps mark the November rolls around, we’ll be passing of the years. And it’s really there, too. just for the two of us. It’s our time A two-time winner of the Stephen to recharge and reset after what has Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry almost always been a busy, hectic Fallis grew up in Leaside and is and tiring year, and we revel in every the award-winning writer of seven moment in that wonderful city. national bestsellers, including his It might seem a bit selfish not to most recent, Albatross, all published take our sons with us, but they’re by McClelland & Stewart. ■

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It’s suddenly November, when every Leaside gardener slows down, as nature does, preparing for a well-deserved rest. And it’s also the time when any gardeners worth their salt look over their garden journal to reflect and learn from the past growing season to hopefully make things better for the next. This month, in Part 2 of the Leaside harvest report, we will see how some of our backyard gardeners battled through the unprecedented growing season of 2020. With a pandemic, a lockdown, supply shortages, a polar vortex, extreme heat, drought, damaging winds and a variety of both familiar and unfamiliar pests. How did they manage?

Debora Kuchme Columnist

The Tim Davies harvest

The Holly Reid harvest

Back in February Holly Reid told me about her plan to install new raised garden beds to accommodate her love of vegetable growing (Leaside Life, May 2020). I followed her ambitious project from the very beginning when the wood was delivered in early March, Tim Davies with some of his 2020 harvest.

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ceeded with cucumbers before!” Like all good gardeners, Holly takes notes and is now making changes, including ordering seeds early in February, starting seeds indoors, and amending her soil now to be ready for next spring.

The Leaside Gardener

KATHI DAVIES

Leaside Life • November 2020

The Leaside harvest report 2020 Part 2: the backyard harvest

the soil in late March and through the first week of May when she planted the early crops with seeds saved from the previous year. When it finally warmed up in June, she added seedlings of pole beans, Swiss chard, zucchini tomatoes and peppers along with a variety of herbs, nasturtiums and morning glory. I was hopeful when I checked back in September, but naturally disappointed when she said, “I’d love to say that I had a massive harvest, but not so much. Lettuce and spinach were harvested early when the hot weather arrived. But during the summer heat and drought, many of my plants seemed to just stop – no growth but no flowering either.” I heard the same reports from so many of my planting buddies, including skinny carrots and tiny garlic, which Holly suspects is a fertility problem with her soil. Yet I was most fascinated by her success with cucumbers she had planted in a cast iron pot and placed in the shade. “I got four very nice cucumbers and have never suc-

Back in September, when I interviewed Kathi Davies (the lead gardener of St Cuthbert’s community garden), she told me all about her son Tim, who was a chef at a high-end hotel chain and recently found himself on hiatus due to the lockdown. Being a chef, he knew exactly what he wanted to grow for his culinary needs and turned his parents’ backyard into his own personal dream farm. Born with a green thumb, he planted only from seed and said, “Not everything survived from seed to garden, so I got what grew.” Which were tomatoes (both beefsteak and cherry), bush, pole and scarlet beans, four varieties of peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini, acorn squash, Swiss chard, pumpkin, watermelon, cucamelon, and easy growing lettuce and radishes. For Tim, the heat and drought were by far his biggest challenges, but he also faced the unknown animals eating his crops, insect destruction, along with nutrient deficiencies, and the infamous 2020 bounty of hard green tomatoes! What I found most inspiring was how Tim embraced the true meaning of Victory Gardens by preserving so much of his harvest. He canned, pickled and preserved everything he could – including those green tomatoes, which became salsa. Now that it’s November, take some time to reflect on the growing season that was, make some notes, plan on changes for next year and remember how 2020 was a growing season like no other, lest we forget. Visit leasidelife.com for the extended version of this article that includes my garden harvest report along with more photos from Holly and Tim. ■

Leaside Life • November 2020

Youth leadership: in search of character and grit Leaside Life • November 2020

If I said “Leaside has character,” would you agree? I often use and hear this phrase when people describe our ’hood. Most people would have no problem accepting the fact that ‘character’ plays a decisive role in the life of places and individuals alike. As a Leaside parent with a 12- and a 15-year old, I was curious to learn more about the ways youth in Leaside are exercising their ‘character muscle’ given the role it plays in life. So, this month I set out to update myself on what’s available for our youth aged 13-18. The task has taken on a new significance now that I have witnessed the changes affecting co-curricular programming at schools as a result of the pandemic. Is it possible consistently to turn people of promise into people of character? Maybe, and at least one local school aspires to that mission. What I do feel is this: no individual parents, schools, teachers, programs, or part-time jobs can truly say they have the blueprint for character-building because it is a lifelong process. It really does take a village, plus every one of our promising youth is unique, requiring unique approaches. Young people are taught in most aspects of their lives except character-building I feel somewhat qualified to start the conversation about this topic, having spent the past five years teaching in a business school at the university level (closer to youth), and being certified as a registered facilitator 12 years ago for the global Virtues Project initiative that started here in Canada. “The Virtues Project began with an idea – that all children are born with the virtues in potential, and that when parents and educators awaken these gifts of character, we can change the world.” The project identified 52 virtues (traits) referred to as “gifts of character.” Our work as facilitators is to locate and “shine” these “gems” (positive character traits) within individuals, in order to boost their confidence and strengthen their resilience by embracing the “language of virtues.” There is no secret to identifying positive character traits; the real challenge is getting individuals to recognize and acquire these traits,

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strengthen them, and act upon them. These three actions will help our youth become leaders of tomorrow.

THE FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF GRIT 1. Courage 2. Conscientiousness: achievement-oriented 3. Long-term goals and endurance: follow-through 4. Resilience: optimism, confidence, creativity 5. Pursuit of excellence Source: Margaret Perlis, Forbes

It is only with the repeated practice of meeting life’s challenges courageously through these ‘lived experiences’ (i.e. especially by enduring hardship and failure) that our young individuals will test and strengthen their positive character traits, thus developing their leadership capabilities and future potential. These particularly challenging aspects of ‘character building’ have been referred to as ‘grit’ – courage in the face of hardship, danger or challenge. Passion and perseverance are key character traits of grit, and ‘getting experience’ has proven to be a good way to acquire it. A quick scan reveals that there are youth development programs rooted in athletics (e.g. the YMCA, Royal Lifesaving, school and local sports programming), other school programming (e.g. debate, DECA), the government-supported Cadet and Junior Canadian Ranger programs, the not-for-profit programs like Scouts, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the leadership path available at summer camp, or by volunteering. There are also a growing number of commercial

businesses offering online and live courses of all stripes (e.g. Explorer Hop, Young Skillz, Outschool). There seems to be no shortage of purported youth leadership development options (and costs). What about Leaside? One approach actively promoted at all levels of government, but absent in Leaside, is an organization focusing on building the youth entrepreneurship skillset (innovation, strategic thinking, problem-solving, analytics, communication, creativity, people skills). Is there room for an entrepreneurship program dedicated to helping youth develop their management skills and business acumen by actually starting small ventures? Or hey, how about small ventures focused on the betterment of Leaside itself? It’s a win-win! Optimistically, there are government and non-government organizations we can partner with (e.g. Junior Achievement, Futurpreneur Canada, BDC) in addition to several provincial and federal funding schemes to support the launch of just such programs across the city (e.g. provincial funding for “strategic community entrepreneurship projects,” a youth business accelerator fund, and summer business startup funding). In a nutshell, I have concluded that to get the type of local character-building youth development program(s) I am seeking for my kids, I may have to do the legwork to build something suitable myself. I am also counting on the fact there may be other parents in Leaside with similar ideas. The most important aspect of any plan we are interested in supporting will be the level of volunteers we can attract to support such a vision. I often comment on the quality of ‘talent’ in Leaside; now is the time to step forward and help make something happen. There are organizations willing to help us – we just need a bit of elbow grease to connect the dots. At minimum, it would be a good character-building exercise. Who’s with me? What Leaside youth experiences help build character? What can we do to support the leadership development of Leaside youth? Would you be willing to volunteer time to help develop entrepreneurship skills for youth in Leaside? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. ■

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Leaside Life • November 2020

What’s more, Leaside boasts some of Toronto’s most impressive architecture – including the old CIBC branch on Laird Drive (now The Local restaurant), the Durant Motors office building (also on Laird), and the Art Deco Garden Courts apartment complex on Bayview Ave. According to Ann, the ultimate goal is to create a local “museum” where people can share, loan or donate material relevant to Leaside’s history. This could include items such as old photographs, home movies, historical documents, family artifacts and heirlooms, tape recorded stories and reminiscences, and more. “Leaside needs a home for its history – a place where people can go to experience our community’s amazing past,” she says. “I grew up here, and so did thousands of others. It was a wonderful place for many of us. I want to make sure that experience is preserved and perpetuated.” To help achieve this, Leaside Heritage has launched a website, leasideheritage.ca, Facebook page, Leaside Heritage and an Instagram account. Most important, there is now a Leaside Heritage committee, comprising nine area residents who share Ann Brown’s passion and commitment. The committee will identify additional ways of preserving Leaside’s history – including exploring plans for the development of the Leaside Heritage Museum. If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in contributing in any way to the Leaside Heritage Project and its goals, contact Leasideheritage@gmail.com. Does your house have an original stained-glass window? The Leaside Heritage committee would love to hear from you. ■

Pagnello’s Antiques takes a last walk down memory lane Ever heard of a salt cellar, a telephone table or a breadbox? If not, your chance to find out about these common items from the past may be slipping away. Pagnello’s Antiques, a mainstay on Bayview since 1966, will vanish someday soon. Brothers Michael and Frank Pagnello are wrapping up the business they have nurtured for over half a century. As Frank recalls, “During the great Depression our father operated a second-hand store combined with antiques. In 1964, a couple of years after closing his store, Pagnello’s Antiques opened in a tiny store in Willowdale. After a year in that location, my brother Michael and I moved to Bayview in 1966.” When asked what inspired them to open an antiques shop, Frank recalled, “Our inspiration came from our home growing up. Our parents filled it with interesting objects, curios and art. Opportunity to start the business was there

SUZANNE PARK

Leaside Life • November 2020

by SUZANNE PARK

The Pagnello Brothers Michael (left) and Frank (right) outside their location on Bayview since 1966. only because we kept some of the antiques our father left us.” He added that “Leaside at that time was charming and we bravely made the big decision to lease the store at 1635 Bayview. Rents were affordable then. Oh, how times have changed!” Pagnello’s didn’t specialize. “We dealt with an endless array of antiques, as evidenced by two memorable yet very different sales,” said Frank. “A very large finely detailed sculpture of two moose carved from a single log with only a chisel and mallet by artist Abe Patterson was purchased and donated to Pembroke’s museum. Another eye-opening sale was a painting we purchased from another antique dealer for $100. We then sold it for $300. That purchaser resold it for $40,000.” The brothers’ complementary skills contributed to the success of their business. They’re both hands-on, do a variety of repairs, and alternate days on the retail floor. Said Michael, “Frank does the bulk of the clock and watch repairs while I look after the books and accounting. Recently, Frank’s wife Astrid

and my wife Debora have joined us and been logging long hours as we work on wrapping up the business.” Asked about their fond and frustrating memories, Michael mentioned that “...in the early years we were very fortunate to have many celebrities visit our shop including Elke Sommer and Bernadette Peters.” Frank added, “It’s been great meeting people from all over the world and from different cultures. The more recent years have been frustrating with rising taxes, insurance, licences and now the pandemic.” Michael urged Leasiders to consider what is being lost with the closure of this beloved shop. “Much like a museum, an antiques shop displays a valuable source of information about the past and is truly a green business at a time when the younger generation, motivated by environmental concerns, are embracing recycling and upcycling products both current and antique.” As for what a salt cellar is? You still have time to find out. Head over to Pagnello’s and ask Frank and Michael. You're sure to learn about this object – and so much more. ■

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by HOLLY REID Call it the “little Bike Match program that could.” Modelled after U.S. programs created to get bicycles into the hands of essential workers, #BikeMatchWCN has exceeded all expectations thanks to the generosity of people in Leaside and elsewhere in the city who donated bikes they didn’t need. Today more than 75 women who were in need of a bike now have one. To put this achievement in perspective, the Bike Match Network in the U.S., which encompasses 12 cities including San Francisco, New Orleans, Boston and Pittsburgh, collectively managed just 163 bike matches. Collaborative effort The Women’s Cycling Network (WCN) is a grassroots group of women, mostly from Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and nearby communities, who bike for health benefits, transportation, freedom, and empowerment. This spring brought a spike in interest in cycling as well as a shortage of available

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Paying it forward. After receiving a commuter bike from Elspeth, Najia (left) donated her mountain bike to Jordynn (right). bikes. With assistance from the Gateway Bike Hub and volunteers from Cycle Don Valley Midtown, #BikeMatchWCN launched in June to provide bikes for their growing membership. Kris Langille from Cycle Don Valley Midtown led the promotion, placing calls for bikes in local publications, councillor e-blasts and on social media channels. Although bikes mostly came from individuals who had a bike they no longer used, the program kickstarted with 20 used bikes donated from Gears Bike Shop. Connecting donor and recipient One of the charms of bike match programs is the exchange – when the donor hands the bike over to the person receiving the bike. Najia Zewari, co-founder of the Women’s Cycling Network, notes, “The bike match has been a great experience for the Women’s Cycling Network, helping us to promote cycling for women in our communities as transportation and recreation. We are so grateful for all the support. The smiles on the faces of our bike recipients has given us tons of joy and the motivation to expand our work throughout the GTA.” Security and safety first Because recipients are women, bike exchanges were always conducted in a public space under the

supervision of a Women’s Cycling Network volunteer who would also adjust the seat and make sure the bike was ready to ride. Many recipients were new to riding so the right fit was crucial. For those who needed training, basic learnto-ride sessions were organized by Women’s Cycling Network volunteer Sediqa Nawrozian with help from the Gateway Bike Hub, Flemingdon Health Centre and CultureLink. In addition, the program’s administration is getting a makeover. Ana Rodrigues from Cycle Don Valley Midtown has been working on an app to make registering and matching bikes much easier. An eye on expansion All of this has encouraged the group to think big for 2021. As Najia Zewari explains, “Three years ago we started out with 15 women who wanted to ride. Now we have more than 100 and many are able to bike because of the bike match program. This need goes beyond our community and we plan to explore expanding the program to other neighbourhoods next year.” 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. ■

Leaside Life • November 2020

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Leaside’s other midrise march – down Laird Not to be outdone by Bayview, midrise is also coming to Laird’s west side. True, midrises already inhabit Laird’s junction with Millwood (25 Malcolm – the former post office site at 2 Laird) and Millwood’s junction with Southvale (3-5 Southvale). But Laird has approved plans and submitted plans for a total of four contiguous 7-8-storey midrises stretching almost 300 metres from just south of McRae to well south of Stickney. And yes, Laird’s is contiguous development – that is a difference from Bayview, where, at least so far, the projects are mid-block and not contiguous. Meet the proposed developments! The properties at 146 Laird Drive, site of the former Metropolitan Separate School Board administrative offices, and 150 Laird Drive, the former headquarters of the Durant Motor Car Company, were approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in October 2016, for a 7-storey condominium building and an 8-storey seniors’ rental building, respectively. In the latest site plan submission, the condominium uses

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Leaside Life • November 2020

TTC buses outside Durant Motors on Laird Dr. circa 1930.

have since been removed from the plan for 150 Laird, replaced with additional rental retirement uses, bringing the development’s total retirement rental unit count up to 248, divided between 74 assisted and 174 independent units. The two-storey building at 146 Laird has already been demolished, and

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the two-storey building at 150 Laird will be partially demolished, to be replaced with two “complementary” midrise buildings. The properties at 126, 132 Laird, south of Stickney Avenue, and 134 Laird, north of Stickney to the property line with 146 Laird Drive, have applications under review by City Planning for two “complementary” 8-storey midrise buildings, both condominiums, with a unit count of 106 and 143, respectively. The properties at 126, 132 and 134 Laird Drive

Cross-section of Laird Drive proposal showing setbacks and angular planes. are currently occupied by low-rise auto-related buildings – Gyro car dealership and automobile service centre on the north and south sides of Stickney, and another automobile service centre next door. Gyro is expected to move across the road to the new premises under construction on the east side of Laird. So, what to say about midrises on Laird and in particular the new applications? On the one hand, it appears that what the Laird in Focus Planning Study ordered is being delivered! However, the developments have to meet the Official Plan Amendment (Site and Area Specific Policy – SASP 568) and Urban Design Guidelines, which include such measures as angular planes, setbacks and stepbacks at front and rear (see the cross-section). And the densities of the proposed 126, 132 and 134 developments (4.21, 4.13 FSI) exceed those approved in the earlier development (3.48). On the other hand, the “midrise march” and developers “building to the guidelines” may be at risk LAIRD MIDRISE Page 31

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ShowLoveTO: Staying connected to our community Leaside Life • November 2020

In the 10 months since the first positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Toronto, almost every facet of life has changed – from how we shop, eat, socialize, and work, to how we experience our city. During these times of immense and unprecedented change, we are challenged to find new ways to continue supporting our local businesses and stay connected to our communities. In my June column, I wrote about the ‘Shop Local, Eat Local’ initiative my team launched this spring to help promote small businesses in Don Valley West. With the support of our Ward 15 BIAs – including Bayview-Leaside – we’ve promoted supporting local shops and restaurants through these uncertain times. In recent months, the City of Toronto introduced several new programs encouraging Torontonians to experience all that our local neighbourhoods have to offer. This fall, the City launched ShowLoveTO, an initiative that encourages us to show love to our city by safely connecting with neighbours from a distance, supporting Main Street businesses and local artists, and exploring our

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neighbourhoods. The programs and events included in ShowLoveTO are: • ActiveTO – quiet streets, major road closures near popular parks and trails to facilitate active transportation, and significant cycling

network expansion; • BigArtTO – a city-wide public art celebration featuring free access to over 200 hours of temporary public artworks projected onto local buildings and landmarks; • CafeTO – additional outdoor

dining areas to help restaurants and bars maintain physical distancing among patrons and extending patio season through the use of portable heaters; • DineOutTO – showcasing the wide array of businesses that make up Toronto’s diverse culinary scene; • HistoricTO – starting conversations about the city’s past and imagining a new future; and • StrollTO – encouraging Torontonians to “play tourist” in their city and discover unexplored shops, stops, places, and spaces on Toronto’s main streets. Locally, a BigArtTO installation will be running at our very own Leaside Memorial Gardens from November 11 to 14 – it will play on a 10-minute loop from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The installation, which was created by Toronto artists, will remain a surprise until it is unveiled. You can also check out the Ward 15 StrollTO exploration guide to uncover local hidden gems and explore historic buildings, green spaces, and attractions. To learn more, please visit www.toronto.ca/ strollTO. As COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, I would like to remind everyone to adhere to the most current Public Health advice. You can learn more about the City’s response to COVID-19 by visiting www.toronto.ca/covid-19. jayerobinson.ca ■

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Leaside’s rat pack is back Leaside Life • November 2020

by DEBRA MCGRATH To quote Charlie Brown – RATS! Theeeeyyyyy’re back! Even more of them than when I first had a problem, over a decade ago. Whatever the reason, the rat population has exploded in Leaside: the ravines, obviously, outdoor dining during COVID19, probably, the digging up for the Crosstown LRT, certainly, because progress means digging, and that means rats. My family has taken the cautionary measure of tearing down our deck and replacing part of the area with an open concept – nowhere to hide being the prevailing hope. We have spoken with many neighbours who are also dealing with the Rattus norvegicus, as Toronto’s version is technically known. They are finding rats in their BBQs, their decks, their pools, their gardens, and under hot tubs. Yech!

n w O e's d i s Lea

We found them burrowing in our garden with several entrance and exit holes. We immediately contacted a professional to help us. We seem to be free of them now, but we fear that it is not long before we, or our neighbours, see them again. Our neighbours behind us took up the fight as well, and together we seem to be rid of the North Leaside rat pack. I contacted the offices of both MPP Kathleen Wynne and Don Valley West Councillor Jaye Robinson for support and ideas and they contacted the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project on our behalf. Unfortunately, they said, there is nothing they can do. Failing other options, both offices directed me to the site: https://www.toronto.ca/news/ rat-control-in-the-city-of-toronto. The City of Toronto suggests using a professional for best results in

rat elimination and to that end, I asked Joe Morland of Standard Pest Control, who lives in Leaside and has dealt with the issue on his own property, to offer suggestions. He says that bird feeders are the number one culprit. It isn’t just squirrels and chipmunks eating the overflow from the feeders. It’s rats! Joe also cautions against leaving pet food and water out for grazing pets. To our surprise he said that water bowls attract rats too. We have since removed our pet water bowls. He said rats are looking for food sources, whether it’s bits of food left on the BBQ or dropped on the ground after dining al fresco. ■

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published in the September issue may lead to misinterpretation. In order to allay any perception of prejudice that may arise as a result of his response, we need to revisit my commentary. Mr. Bishop’s presentation highlighted four prevalent areas, as follows: renewed discussions on cycling; changing times to recognize cycling; interaction among sidewalk cyclists and pedestrians; and a perception that I abhor cycling to the extent that I appear to have been deemed an ogre capable of using my car as a weapon. Both Carol Burtin Fripp and Councillor Jaye Robinson were afforded the opportunity to encourage meaningful discussions after receipt of my letter of October 8, 2019, addressed to Councillor Robinson and copied to Carol Burtin Fripp. Almost one year later, discussions did not ensue. I documented numerous instances of unlawful and dangerous behaviour by cyclists where in some cases my safety was threatened as a pedestrian. I have never derided cycling. Cyclists “must follow all regular traffic laws in the Highway Traffic Act, as well as some laws that are specific to bikes,” as noted in The Toronto Cyclists Handbook. I will be pleased to forward a copy of my letter of Oct 8/19 to Mr. Bishop, which includes suggestions for improved cycling behaviour. He will note that I distinguish between “cycling” and “irresponsible cyclists.” Mr. Bishop referred to me as Mr. Cartney. His critique should have been accompanied by my correct name, namely, Allan McCartney. Allan McCartney ■

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Congratulations Celebrating the 100th issue! I regularly look forward to reading current news from the Leaside community. I had the honour of serving for 16½ years as School Crossing Guard, 53 Division Toronto Police Service. Once again, congratulations! Ida Fedor-Baan Wonderful to hear of your 100th issue! I have reason to know what an achievement that is being in our 40th year and have the grey hair to prove it! I remember Harry and Ruth Goldhar from when they published a newsletter in Crescent Town which eventually became the Town Crier publishing company. And, of course, I first met Lorna [Krawchuk] when she was a city councillor. Were they still calling them aldermen then? My city councillor was Marie Labatte and that is what she was initially called. Anyhow, good wishes for another 100 issues. Valerie Dunn, Editor-Publisher, Hi-Rise Newspaper. Cycling in Leaside (again) Mr. Jonathan Bishop’s response presented in the October 2020 issue of Leaside Life to my commentary

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What’s next for the TTC and Leaside? Leaside Life • November 2020

Leaside Life readers may recall that last year at this time I attended the TTC’s 2019 Service Plan Stakeholder Meeting (SPSM), part of a roundtable city-wide consultation process to create a blueprint for setting transit priorities in the next five years. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure, economic and otherwise, on all of our institutions, the TTC among them. I attended this year’s SPSM, which focused on transit strategies for our so-called ‘new normal’ (or perhaps new ‘abnormal’) circumstances. Many of the earlier goals remain, but their timing and costs are affected. A number of improvements are being made: there will be more elevators, bike stands and BikeShare availability at subway stations. It was suggested that the two-hour transfer period should be increased to three hours, to permit greater transit use, and make it easier for passengers from Scarborough, Etobicoke and areas farther afield to qualify, especially recognizing the impact of winter weather delays on surface routes. Adding more buses to busy routes would also help to reduce crowding, a major health concern which directly affects ridership. TTC data can now automatically count passengers in transit, identifying where the greatest crowding pressures on the transit system are. Restructuring existing services is probably the most contentious subject. Whether it’s reducing the number of bus stops along Eglinton Avenue East and other arterials (making the routes speedier, but

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

making bus stops farther apart), or changing bus routes within neighbourhoods, there will have to be much more public consultation to ensure that these changes do not end up reducing access to (and use of) public transit. Reducing access to transit is an important issue for Leaside. Last year’s TTC proposals to eliminate the 88B bus route would reduce service significantly for much of South Leaside. The TTC has not yet given enough thought to the potential negative impacts. At this year’s SPSM, I asked for a commitment that no decisions regarding changes to Routes 88A or 88B would take place without extensive local consultation. Fortunately, the deferred opening of the Eglinton Crosstown to 2022 has also deferred local surface route changes, providing more time to influence decisions and protect our internal bus routes. But we must remain vigilant.

ij AGM planning: Ordinarily by this time of year the Leaside Residents Association would be announcing the date and

venue of our upcoming Annual General Meeting. But this year is different: much as we would prefer to have an in-person AGM, because of the pandemic, your LRA executive is working on plans to hold our AGM virtually, likely in January. We are taking our lead from other ratepayer groups which have held successful virtual AGMs. In my next column I expect to be able to give you full details and sign-in information so that all can participate. Our next online monthly LRA board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 4th. Want to be a deputant, express an opinion, or attend out of interest in Leaside issues? Please contact us (lpoa.ca) by that date, and we will supply you with the details to link to it. ■

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the meantime, Zach and his team have been on the court and lifting weights five days a week. He’s lost 20 pounds since the beginning of the semester and is a faster, and even more dominating, presence on the court. To keep players as COVID-safe as possible, the athletes have been housed in pods of only their teammates. For Edey, this has fostered a closer bond with the players and contributes to what he calls “the family atmosphere” of the team. Zach would eventually like to be a writer, but in his first year is taking a wide variety of courses, half of them online. ■

Laird Midrise... From Page 24 of producing something of a street wall comprising nondescript and repetitive developments, especially if there are multiple sets of “complementary” buildings. It may be helpful to encourage a degree of differentiation through use of different materials, ornamentation and accents. (And this from the guy who loves the uniformity of many of the Leaside streetscapes!) I note that while the Laird midrise developments are in the “Mixed Use” designation, unlike Bayview they have no retail at grade, being totally residential (or institutional in the case of 146-150 Laird). This is, however, understandable, given that the other side of Laird has now largely converted to retail/commercial uses, including the Smart Centre and Laird Village. Another question needs to be answered: What is the impact on the properties to the rear? There 10 properties to the rear of 126,132 and 134 Laird, and 23 to the rear of 146-150 Laird Drive, including the 10 townhouses at Randolph and McRae. What’s next? A Preliminary Report on the 126 and 132, and 134 Laird Drive applications is going to North York Community Council on November 4th. Following that, there will be a community meeting. You will shortly have a (virtual) opportunity to have your say. ■

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31 Leaside Life • November 2020

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