Issuu

D E C E M B E R 2020

Leaside Life

Leaside places of worship go virtual. Listings: Page 20-22

leasidelife.com

No. 103

Leaside family goes to the (guide) dogs L. CARTE

Story on page 6. Ed Wong, Karen Schmidt, their children Julian and Manny and their guide dog in training, Ralph.

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Leaside Life • December 2020

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Editor’s Welcome Feeling festive? Not really, and not yet? Maybe never? In the era of COVID-19, it’s understandable if your spirits are feeling a little bit dampened this year. But never fear. We’ll soon have you lighting candles, dancing on the table, and reaching for the eggnog. Well, maybe not that last one. Welcome to the holiday edition of Leaside Life, the issue that’s bound to leave you feeling just that much brighter and less burdened by the issues of the day. Looking for gift-buying leads right in Leaside? Check! How about quaffing some drinks, both alcoholic and non-, conceived and made right here? Check! And what about meeting some people (virtually) who embody the holiday spirit? Check! For starters, we sent writer Susan Scandiffio on a mission to scout some of the sparkliest and most

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

interesting must-have holiday offerings from the many, many wonderful Leaside retailers. She went window-shopping up and down Bayview and on Millwood to find treasures for the holiday season. The list is by no means exhaustive, but should whet your appetite to get out there and shop local, since there are so many options right around the corner, in your hood. So, don’t let pandemic fatigue take over your life. There are still so many ways your holiday season can be bright. Happy holidays from all of us at Leaside Life! ■

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! There is no better time of year to pause and celebrate the spirit of giving back. Laugh Out Loud #11 raised over $40,000 for Community Food Centres and that donation could not have come at a better time. As this unprecedented year comes to an end, I am more grateful than ever to be part of our kind-hearted community and would like to express my appreciation for your ongoing support. From my family to yours, warmest wishes for a joyful season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

* Chairman’s Award for Top Level Sales Performance www.AtHomeInLeaside.com charlene@charlenekalia.com

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Brentcliffe retaining wall: Neighbours’ grief turns to panic

broke r

finalized. Q. Did Metrolinx ever consider shifting the alignment of the portal/ ROW farther south (and therefore aligned away from the north ravine slope) as there is flat space on the south side? A. This was not feasible (but no explanation as to why not). In summary, nothing new was really learned. ■

Leaside Life • December 2020

As everyone knows, the top of the ravine slope on Eglinton Avenue East, east of Brentcliffe Road and above the East Portal where the LRT emerges from the tunnel to the west, gave way on October 20, sending a large pile of earth material to the bottom of the slope, deepening the neighbours’ ongoing concern from one of grief about the loss of landscape trees to one of panic (were their homes at risk?). Metrolinx’s contractor, Crosslinx, had engineers on site within an hour and Metrolinx has tried to assuage the neighbours’ concerns. They say their homes are not at risk, although residents are still advised not to venture into their backyards. The bi-monthly meeting of the Community Liaison Committee on November 9 was an opportunity for this scribbler to hear more from neighbours about their concerns. Herewith, questions from neighbours (and Metrolinx’s responses):

Q. Tarps have been installed on the (bottom) backfilled area of the slope (where it is flat) but not on the part that collapsed. Why not? A. The tarp covers the infill material at the bottom (to protect from erosion), not to protect the top of slope. (So it appears the top of the slope remains unprotected.) Q. Is there a target date when Metrolinx will be sharing their plans on how they plan to proceed? A. No date yet. Q. Metrolinx continues to mention that trees will be planted “where possible” during restoration. Is Metrolinx working trees into their design and plan, or is this just left up to a last-minute decision? A. The restoration plans are not

GEOFF KETTEL

by GEOFF KETTEL

COVID taught Nancy Howson that she is a survivor

Leaside Life • December 2020

LEASIDE PEOPLE • MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS

Before it was even Halloween, Nancy Howson announced she had already made all her Christmas presents! Yes, “made.” That certainly grabbed my attention. Most of Nancy’s presents this year are hand-knitted creations. Nancy wasn’t always a knitting wiz. Four years ago, her mother decided to give one more try to teach her daughter how to knit. Fine motor skills are not her strong suit, but she was willing to give knitting a try – again. Success! As testament to her devotion to knitting, she now has a whole bureau in her small Bayview apartment filled with wool and awaiting the next projects. Her mother has since died, but she would be proud of her daughter. Knitting is just one of the ways Nancy is surviving COVID-19 on her own. As she says, “COVID taught me that I’m more of a survivor than I thought. COVID sucks, but I’m choosing to make the best

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of it.” She is a regular on the Bayview strip and knows the shopkeepers and staff by name. On her excursions, as well as getting fresh air and some exercise, she also picks up the ingredients to make interesting and healthy meals. “I love the Leaside neighbourhood, and it is helping me to survive COVID to at least go to the small shops and see somebody.” Nancy is also spending her time learning to draw. She’s following her mother’s advice: “you need hobbies.” In fact, the drawings may make it into a self-published book. Eighteen years ago, laid off from a job in Toronto, she decided that the time was right to try and see more of the world. Pre-Google, as she was investigating, up popped a job listing for a kindergarten teacher in Harbour Island in the Bahamas. “I’m not going to get it, but I’ll try” was Nancy’s reaction. But she did get it, and thoroughly enjoyed her year there. She and those students are still in touch, all these years later. Once home again, Nancy held a variety of jobs, mainly working with children. By luck, at a time when she was working for a family with a child with Down Syndrome, a job at the Down Syndrome Association of Toronto became available. Nancy is now very happily the outreach coordinator for DSAT. The job is quite different in these pandemic times, but she, and they, are adapting. What’s next for Nancy’s COVIDcoping strategy this winter? She took some piano lessons as a young child, but didn’t get very far. Now, she is trying her hand again. She has a keyboard, a teacher, and is practising a half-an-hour a day – currently in Grade 2 of the Royal Conservatory syllabus. As she says, “You need things that make you happy and bolster your soul.” ■

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Leaside family has gone to the (guide) dogs by SUZANNE PARK A book Karen Schmidt read when she was a girl – Elizabeth Heppner’s Inky: Seeing Eye Dog – was such a powerful influence that a few decades later, writers take note, she decided to act on the author’s message. She and her family foster service dogs through the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides program. Karen’s youngest, Manny, also influenced the family’s decision to become service dog foster parents with his relentless, “Can we get a dog? When can we get a dog?” After extracting a doggie chores commitment from him, the family set off on their guide dog adventure. “First we researched extensively,” says Karen of her journey to join the Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dogs fostering program. “They weren’t easy to find. So, I phoned and they provided an application, which we completed. Within a few weeks a house visit was arranged and we were approved. It was a few months later that a new litter of puppies was available and we were assigned Hawk, our first Labrador puppy.

FROM THE COVER

L. CARTE

Leaside Life • December 2020

“The next few weeks were a whirlwind of adjusting to our puppy and coordinating new duties. The Lions provided extensive guidance and encouragement. To our surprise the boys stepped up to the plate in a big way. They walked, fed, played with,

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cleaned up messes and treated Hawk with tender, loving care. With Ralph, our second and current guide dog, Manny is doing the lion’s share of the chores as Julian, now a university student, is immersed in his studies.” Asked about the challenges of fostering a future guide dog, Karen reveals mainly joys. “Get ready to expand your local community everywhere you go. At movie theatres, hockey games, restaurants, transit even grocery stores, complete strangers will stop and chat. Many will mysteriously know your dog’s name. A few will learn yours. Additionally, Leaside has a number of guide dog fostering families, and we share tips and find approved dog-sitters on our group website.” Elegant attire for Karen now includes heading out the door with a well-worn treat pouch on her hip. Her new “alarm clock,” she adds, delivers a soggy toy every morning. “And take note, the dog can only be left alone for a maximum of three hours, so get ready to take them everywhere and keep your date nights short.” Once Karen was teaching Ralph to ride an escalator. “He was understandably nervous. I made many attempts: watching others ride, carrying him up, stepping forward, but he continually resisted. It took many tries, yet when he finally mastered it, patrons at a coffee shop, who had been watching, applauded. That made my day!” Karen is passionate about guide dog etiquette. A future guide dog wearing a green coat is in training. A red coat means the dog has graduated and is working. It’s always best to ask the dog handler’s permission for the best way to interact with the dog. This may also offer an opportunity to teach others about safe and respectful interaction with dogs. When asked about giving up their dog, Karen laments, “It is hard. We truly enjoy our dogs, but the disabled rely on their guide dog. We’re so pleased that Hawk graduated and is working as a hearing dog guide. Her new family provides regular updates on Hawk’s achievements and antics. If Ralph doesn’t succeed as a guide dog, he may be selected for the breeding program (temporarily on hold).” For more info: Lions Fdn. of Canada Dog Guides – https://www. dogguides.com/foster. Guide Dog Calendar Fundraiser: https://www. superpupcalendar.ca/thepursuers. ■

Leaside Life • December 2020

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Staying alive! InsideOut does a successful pivot Leaside Life • December 2020

by KEN MALLETT Everyone knows the coronavirus lockdown has been bad for business. And the businesses that suffer most are those offering face-to-face service, like restaurants…and fitness facilities. But one Leaside business in the most vulnerable business sector has managed not only to weather the storm, but to wring a profit from bad times. Given a lemon, they made – and sold – lemonade. The local business bucking the trend is InsideOut Health + Fitness, a gym at 210 Laird Drive, and they managed to prosper where others failed by adopting two related business strategies: expanding their range of services to match the special conditions imposed by the lockdown – offering online home-based virtual fitness coaching, for example – and moving some community fitness programs outdoors to the courtyard outside their facility. So far, it’s working. They have added staff, after facing some cutbacks earlier in the year, and have been named one of the top nine fitness

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facilities in Metro by the Toronto Star. Most important, at a time when staying alive is a triumph, they are still in business 15 years after first opening their doors, which makes them the longest-running gym in Leaside. InsideOut Founder Barry Samuel says he had already started to shift the focus of the business to online and outdoor programs before the pandemic struck – a move which helped him through the crisis.

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“The epidemic made many people afraid to leave their homes, which meant we had to cut expenses and staff,” Samuel says. “But we also found we were attracting new clients, people who had been at larger gym facilities.” In general, Leaside businesses have suffered from the pandemic, but not as much as those in other parts of the city, according to Henry Byres, coordinator for the Bayview-Leaside Business Improvement Area. “This might be due primarily to the creativity and adaptability of our businesses,” he says, “and to the loyalty of our local residents. As we came out of lockdown this past spring it was obvious that our customers and clients were glad to be back on Bayview/Laird.” InsideOut founder Samuel was happy to show them the unique services his gym is providing. “What we offer is all about balance…what is internally important to you and set those priorities and plan out and make those changes,” he says. In 2005, InsideOut first opened its doors on Millwood before relocating to Laird, where Samuel and his team are able to take advantage of the large courtyard in front of the building. “We are a bit of a hidden secret yet quite visible from the street. We have refined our offerings but maintained our basic philosophy of helping support individuals through coaching and showing them tools like life skills to achieve their overall life and fitness goals. As a result of the pandemic, we have rededicated our focus to having people really think about preventing sickness and being resilient mentally and physically.” Find out more at insideoutstudio.ca. ■

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I’m dreaming of a winter harvest! Now that it’s December, our Leaside gardens are left to rest. The growing season is over and the harvesting has all been done – right? Well, maybe for some green thumbs but not for me, because this year, I intend to grow and harvest throughout the winter months ahead…and all of it indoors! Truth be told, I’ve been fascinated with hydroponic gardening ever since Cheryl Vanderberg and I wrote a feature article about a local urban farm called We the Roots. And how could I not be? Inside a local industrial unit, with no sun and no soil, We the Roots were growing a wide assortment of ultra-fresh culinary greens for high-end restaurants – all year round! Amin Jadavji (one of the owners) explained how their produce was non-GMO, pesticide free and even better than organic and how their hydroponic system uses less water and less land compared to traditional farms. But that’s still not all, their produce doesn’t travel thousands of miles in refrigerated trucks. This is local, this is fresh and this is better for the environment.

thyme, mint and two types of basil, along with a bottle of liquid plant food. There are other seed kits available including cherry tomatoes and strawberries, which I plan to try too. The setup was easy enough, and in Debora Kuchme just two days, I saw the basil begin Columnist to sprout, and one week later, the dill and thyme were sprouting too. Looks like my first indoor harvest could be That article was in our January issue just weeks away! and just before COVID-19 turned This speedy activity gave me some our world upside down. concerns. I remembered how We In November, we entered a second the Roots grew different plants wave and I couldn’t help in separate trays, each with wondering about essenSpace age their own customized tial food availabilhydroponics! nutrients, and how they ity throughout the were removed (roots winter ahead. So and all) to be shipped why not try to at their peak. grow some of my Wo u l d my own food indoors? fast-growing basil I did some start hogging space, research online and nutrients and availdecided to purchase able light? I wona $200 hydroponic dered how long these kit called AeroGarden plants could remain in from our local Canadian this hydroponic state before Tire. It’s a compact unit that I ran into trouble. Could I transcomes with a water chamber, grow plant them into soil? light, pump, plant tray, and includes I contacted Amin of We the Roots six seed pods consisting of parsley, to get some answers from an expert. I felt better immediately when he said, “The one size fits all approach for light, nutrient water will be just fine for small scale. Yes, mint does tend to take over in the garden, however, if contained to a pod, it shouldn’t go beyond its boundaries. These herbs typically regrow after removing leaves, so they will keep for a long time. Instead of transplanting to soil (which you could do), I would transfer them to a vase or cup of warm water and leave it on the window sill. Then you could start to grow something else.” Now I’m embracing this indoor garden even more. If you’re looking for a productive and enjoyable gardening project (what a great Christmas gift) to get you through the winter months, consider growing some fresh and essential food crops in the comfort of your home. And if this sounds like too much work, We the Roots will be launching a monthly subscription for home delivery of their fresh greens starting soon at www.elavateDirect.ca. The first rollout will just be to the residents of Leaside, Rosedale and Moore Park. Visit leasidelife.com for the extended version of this article along with more photos of my hydroponic garden! ■

The Leaside Gardener

DEBORA KUCHME

Leaside Life • December 2020

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Leaside Life • December 2020

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Leaside Gate

Leaside is a vast wildlife corridor Leaside Life • December 2020

by NICK DELANEY Here in Leaside, these are common occurrences: squirrels and chipmunks scurrying through the trees, birds chirping outside your window at dawn, an unpleasant smell after the neighbour’s dog spooked a skunk, and of course, the ever-present raccoons in your backyard. In this neighbourhood, we experience an abundance of wildlife interactions, and that is not a coincidence. After all, Leaside is situated right next to the Don River Valley, an important highway for wildlife to travel in and out of Toronto. This means that Leaside, like the Don, is a wildlife corridor! A wildlife corridor is a link between two natural habitats for animals to travel through safely. These corridors are helpful for maintaining our green spaces through the propagation of native plants and by allowing animals to manage their own populations through competition and access to a wider gene pool. Along the Don River, animals enter the corridor from the north end of the GTA and use the green spaces along the river and its tributaries to travel to the Lower Don, with its wetlands and other desirable habitats. They also spread out into the surrounding neighbourhoods, including Leaside, in search of additional food and shelter. Since wildlife corridors are so important, we need to be careful how we interact with our non-human neighbours, both for their benefit and ours. The green space we enjoy here in Leaside is a product of the wildlife we live with, and they

should be tampered with as little as possible. Something as innocuous as feeding birds might seem harmless enough, but how people go about it can have unintended consequences. For example, bird feeders are a great way to attract a variety of birds to your backyard, but squirrels, chipmunks, and other rodents also love bird seed and are quite adept at accessing feeders. And they don’t just eat from the feeder. To get to your backyard they likely have to pass through others, and neighbouring gardens are also a source of food. With a consistent source of easy food, they won’t move on but will look for convenient places to live nearby. If there aren’t enough vacant trees, those places will be garages, sheds or attics. No

wonder we have so many squirrels and raccoons! One other unintended consequence: the many small animals now gathered around the bird feeder are easy prey for larger animals, including coyotes, foxes and hawks. Foxes and coyotes will rarely enter a backyard, but neighbouring cats will. House cats have been a major issue for wildlife in cities for a long time, decimating bird and rodent populations in cities for decades, taking food out of the mouths of other animals. There are many ways to safely interact with the nature around us, while respecting the natural environment, among them: • Let your cat out during the day, when it’s less likely to hunt or encounter other predators. Add a bell to its collar to let birds know they’re being hunted. • If a squirrel or other small animal is in your shed, try using safe (and legal) methods of removal like bright light, sounds or strong smells repeatedly until they leave. • Instead of a feeder, plant native shrubs and trees that act both as food and shelter, increasing the number of places to live, in addition to the available food. • If you still want to feed birds or squirrels directly, do so sparingly and at random times. Don’t let them become dependent on you, because they don’t need to be. After all, Leaside is a wildlife corridor. Nick Delaney is a Leaside resident and a 3rd year student in the Ecosystem Management program at Fleming College ■

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Merry Corona Christmas! Leaside Life • December 2020

Even though we’re well into November as I write these words, I’m still working through all the Halloween candy we did not distribute this year courtesy of pandemic restrictions on trick or treating. I just didn’t think so much nutritious food should go to waste. Yes, I know, a noble sacrifice, but hey, I try to do my part. My motto for the last couple of weeks has been “No Oh Henry left behind!” You’ll also know that about 20 minutes after Halloween ends, the Christmas season launches in all of its holly jolly glory. In the stores, it’s out with the orange and black and in with the red and green. On the radio, The Monster Mash and Ghostbusters are overtaken by Jingle Bell Rock and Springsteen’s rendition of Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The speed of the seasonal transition is breathtaking, and if you’re unprepared, can cause whiplash in supermarket aisles. But as it was for Halloween, the holiday season will be different this year. Let’s face it, everything is different this year. With the possible exceptions of Thanksgiving

Terry Fallis Columnist

and Easter, nothing gathers families together like those special December holidays, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or others. In fact, some families who don’t all live in the same area are only able to get together once or twice a year. From that perspective, our Corona Christmas throws a wrench into our traditional seasonal customs. There likely won’t be, and shouldn’t be, our typical annual family gatherings this year. If there are, we’ll probably be spreading more than goodwill, comfort and joy. And we don’t need that right now. So, in the spirit of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” let’s not be brought down by all the negatives associated with our upcoming Corona Christmas. Let’s try to look on the bright side, even if it won’t take long. For most families, that stretch from November to New Year’s is often an exhausting sprint that taxes our physical, emotional, and financial resources to the limit, all accompanied by Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You on an endless loop. There are parties to attend and organize, gifts to research, buy, and wrap, Christmas cookies to bake, burn, and bake again, trees to erect and decorate, stockings to hang by the chimney with care, snow tires to install, turkeys to purchase, carols to sing, eggnog to drink (and sometimes to spike and then drink)….and the endless list goes on and on, as endless lists do. For some, while of course it’s fun and all, Christmas can become something to survive rather than enjoy. For our family, we usually have an annual Open House attended by upwards of one hundred friends and colleagues. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a blast, but it doesn’t organize itself. Then on Christmas Eve, almost every member of our Toronto-based family rehearses for and then participates in the three o’clock and 5 o’clock performances of the Christmas Pageant at Timothy Eaton Church. We’ve been doing it, and loving it, for nearly 30 years. But not this year. No, this year will be different. So, let’s accept it and to the extent possible, embrace the change of pace the pandemic imposes. Perhaps it’ll allow us the luxury of recharging our batteries and actually reflecting on what the season really means regardless of which holiday you’re

observing. Our new goal should be to make it to the new year, refreshed, rested, healthy, and having spent as much time as we safely can with our families. Yes, it won’t be the same, but it’s how it must be for this year. Don’t worry. I’m hoping next year I’ll be reprising my traditional role as a Lead Centurion in the Christmas Pageant when it’s safe to don my tunic, sandals, and sword again. Until then, happy holidays, all, and stay safe. (I bet you thought I was going to write about Donald Trump, didn’t you?) A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis grew up in Leaside and is the award-winning writer of seven national bestsellers, including his most recent, Albatross, all published by McClelland & Stewart. ■

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Leaside Life • December 2020

FALLIS continued

The Little Dollhouse Company 862 Millwood Rd.

MacFAB

1685 Bayview Ave.

La Muse

1610 Bayview Ave.

Holiday

Gift Guide

The Chocolate Messenger

1645 Bayview Ave.

by Susan Scandiffio

Sport Swap

COVID-19 Holiday Season 2020 does not mean that I don’t want presents. I mean, it doesn’t mean that your friends and family don’t want presents. And what better place to shop for those presents than right in your own neighbourhood. You don’t need to use your car to go shopping (environment✔), you don’t need to battle crowds in a mall (removal of stress ✔), and you do get to support your local retailers (✔). Leaside has a myriad of amazing shopping options. Here is a small selection of the possibilities, and don’t forget to check out more throughout the neighbourhood.

1541 Bayview Ave.

The Sleuth of Baker Street 907 Millwood Rd.

Peaches & Green

1561 Bayview Ave.

Ron White

1553 Bayview Ave.

Write Impressions

1515 Bayview Ave.

The Merchant of Tennis 1621 Bayview Ave.

Dolce & Gourmando

Must Boutique 1575 Bayview Ave.

Tzatz

1493 Bayview Ave.

1609 Bayview Ave.

Cornflower Blue

1606 Bayview Ave.

Butter Studio

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Leaside dry cleaners 10, self-storage facilities 9 Leaside Life • December 2020

Finally, we’ve made it to December and could all use a good dose of holiday cheer. Different as it might be this year, our immediate family intends to celebrate – and there will be gifts, lots and lots of gifts. After all, I feel somewhat sheepish about banging the commercial drum of optimism back in January to usher in the “Roaring 20s.” Back to those gifts – the bigger the better. No need to worry about storage. We live in Leaside and there’s seemingly no shortage of self-storage space for sale here. Reader Barry Schneider recently wrote, “I saw a sign on the… northeast corner of Laird and Wicksteed….I would be interested in [your] thoughts on the building of a storage facility on…what could become a thriving retail and commercial district.” And with that message, our editor gave me the green light to write an article about self-storage in Leaside. A good way to earn a solid ROI From an investor’s standpoint, the self-storage business opportunity in Leaside presents an attractive business model. Many companies are

Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside

promoting their expertise to help anyone with suitable land to set up a “turnkey” business, considerable campaigns targeting landowners looking for options, notable real estate organizations such as CBRE with self-storage advisory practices, and the REITs which have joined the party, too. This level of activity indicates there is interest in this type of investment, for good reason. Although the pandemic has greatly affected demand for smaller living spaces (a market segment of self-storage), rapidly increasing business demand is expected to pick up the slack for years to come. For the record, the sign Mr. Schneider mentions refers to the new Access Storage facility farther along Wicksteed and not the prime street corner of concern, which remains vacant.

Happy Holidays I know this has been a challenging year for us all and I sincerely hope that things turn around soon. I wish you all the best for the holiday season. Please take care and stay safe. Kathleen Wynne, MPP

Don Valley West 416-425-6777

kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Self-storage also offers land and business owners a strong rate of return for a moderate amount of risk subject to the degree of leverage deployed, relatively minimal HR hassles, and a simple built form. Having a Leaside location can ‘up the ante’ because we are close to the DVP, 401 and the downtown core, we have underutilized land that is zoned industrial, and the adjacent residential community is a decent market. When at capacity and selling at $34 per square foot per month for a 300 sq. ft. unit, the income generated from self-storage is far superior to anything you can get from leasing space in a modern office building, and crushes the financial return on a similar-sized industrial built form. Here’s the thing: I am an advocate for building a thriving business ecosystem in Leaside that generates income and benefits for all stakeholders. The self-storage business is appealing to a specific set of stakeholders, and if I were presented with the business cases that effectively launched all of these storage facilities I probably would have jumped in too. Some are even quite attractive (e.g. Bluebird near Longo’s). But, if the City, as a key stakeholder, wants to truly add 16,000 jobs or new residents to Leaside, then we’re going to need significantly more ‘gunpowder’ than nine storage facilities in the business park to make good on that target. Why storage in Leaside? As reported by Leaside Life in 2014, the City passed a new zoning bylaw to consolidate land use. At the time, the prevailing 1963 zoning bylaw for portions of the Leaside business park was “general industrial,” which allowed for warehousing and self-storage but not for business or professional office use. Fast forward to today and the City’s official plan is far better positioned to accommodate modern business and the building of new office space to meet future requirements. Sadly, remnants of the old bylaw still exist, making it much easier to apply for and get approval to build a self-storage facility rather than a new office building in the business park. As an example, the proposed Leaside Innovation Centre at 154 Wicksteed Ave., a new high-tech building that will provide space for upwards of 400 new workers, is still inching its way through the approvals process. STORAGE Page 24

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What did you do in 2020? We went to the TLAB Leaside Life • December 2020

“We’re off to the TLAB.” You and your neighbours might have heard that term if you were involved in a Committee of Adjustment decision that was appealed. What is the TLAB? The Toronto Local Appeal Board is the tribunal which hears appeals from the Committee of Adjustment (CofA) on severances and minor variances (some not so minor!). The TLAB replaced the Ontario Municipal Board for City of Toronto appeals starting in 2017. The idea was to swap one provincially appointed, unaccountable appeal tribunal with a City-appointed, more accountable appeals tribunal, with adjudicators residing in Toronto, and therefore perhaps more acquainted with Toronto neighbourhoods. The process is similar to the old OMB, though in fact we find that while the rules are similar, there is way more paper work...and similar, if not more, focus on “legal status,” expert witnesses, and lengthy hearings, which tend to discourage and work against residents. Now that the TLAB has been in place for over three years, it’s time

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside to ask how we, that is Leaside, are doing? To answer that question, I analyzed the 22 Leaside residential appeals dealt with by the TLAB from 2017 to 2020. Here is what I found (get ready for some technical info): Severances Of the 22 cases, four involved severances (i.e. splitting a lot into two or more lots), and 18 involved minor variances (to the zoning bylaw relative to its requirements for density, massing, etc. With the severances, three cases were appeals by applicants of refusals by CofA, and one was an appeal by LRA/residents of approval by the CofA. Of the three applicant appeals, none were allowed, one was refused (79 Brentcliffe), one was settled (1755-1757 Bayview),

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and the hearing in one appeal was delayed due to COVID but has now been scheduled for the new year (21 Killdeer). In one CofA decision to approve, which was appealed by LRA/residents, the TLAB decision awaits (16 Kenrae). Minor variances Of the minor variances, eight cases were appeals by applicants of refusals by CofA; 10 were appeals by LRA/residents of approvals by CofA. Of the eight applicant appeals, four were allowed (195 Glenvale, 248 Sutherland, 476 Broadway and 85 Rykert), two were settled (158 McRae and 82 Hanna), and in two cases the applicant withdrew (75 Randolph and 146 Randolph). Of the 10 LRA/resident appeals of CofA approval decisions, three were allowed (8 Parklea, 184 McRae, 38 Rykert), one was settled (123 Rumsey), in three cases, LRA/residents withdrew (34 Cameron, 327 Sutherland and 8 Rykert), and in three the TLAB hearing was deferred due to COVID and is now scheduled for the New Year (83 Glenvale, 67 Sutherland and 120 Randolph). What do these results mean for Leaside residents? Though the numbers are small, it appears we’re doing better with severances than minor variances. My sense is this is largely due to the wide community support in opposition to severance applications compared with that generally experienced with minor variance applications. There have been very few lot severances from Leaside’s legacy lot plan, and severances if allowed would be precedent-setting and transformational to the character of Leaside’s neighbourhoods. LRA/residents’ efforts on appeals of minor variances have variable success and have failed to stem the infiltration of designs that do not “fit” Leaside, such as the “jumped up” two-storey over a garage design. So, should we pack it in and focus our efforts elsewhere? I argue no – there are often improvements even to approved projects, such as by placing conditions on the approval, and more generally there is a need to hold the CoA process to account through the appeal process. Our appeals are not frivolous, and residents’ involvement is ultimately good for the community. However, one thing is clear, if we are TLAB Page 24

CHRISTMAS AT

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Leaside Life â€˘ December 2020

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Sunday, December 13th at 10:30 a.m. Service of Lessons and Carols Thursday, December 24th 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service Both services will be held virtually. Please visit our website for more details:

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Leaside libations to whet your holiday thirst by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO While your circle of party-goers may be a whole lot smaller this year, COVID cannot (nay, will not!) take away from celebrating this holiday season. Leaside has a lot of local options for the drink-side of your merriment. Sidle up to your home bar or get cozy in front of a fire while enjoying tastes from your neck of the woods. Little Buddha Cocktails In April 2019, longtime Leasider AnneMarie Kypreos and friend Kimberley Taylor discussed the fact there was no product on the market that fit their idea of a perfect beverage. What started as a casual conversation soon turned into a challenge. Envisioning drinks which incorporated locally sourced organic ingredients and keto-friendly flavours, and was low in calories and alcohol content, the pair set to work (in a predominantly male-driven industry).

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Within an astonishingly short time, the Little Buddha Cocktail Company of vodka-based beverages was born, and is on the shelves. The company’s name reflects the Buddhist principle of mindfulness, which they’ve incorporated in their rendering of what consumers want in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Peach Tea cocktail is currently available at select restaurants and bars, the Grilled Pineapple and Rosemary cocktail is available at the LCBO, and several new flavours are in the works. The beverages, Kypreos notes, are perfect for the holidays as “they can be paired with a lot of different foods and have a strong enough taste without being overly sweet.” They are also cocktails which consumers can enjoy knowing they’re not compromising their lifestyle choices. Neal Brothers Non-Alcoholic Beer Neal Brothers Foods has been in

erry Christmas

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business since 1988, with products ranging from chips to salsa, pasta sauce to mayonnaise. With many friends reducing their alcohol intake, and hearing from them that available non-alcoholic beers on the market weren’t to their liking, Leaside brothers Chris and

Peter introduced a non-alcoholic beer to the company’s lineup of products this past July. The duo was introduced to a new technique which allowed a distiller to brew a full-strength beer and then remove the alcohol. “The result,” says Peter Neal, “is amazing!” The beer includes local ingredients, including non-GMO barley, and is under 40 calories. The non-alcoholic line also features two products similar to a shandy in a grapefruit and a lime flavour. The three drinks are available in many health-conscious stores including Whole Foods and Pusateri’s, and in Leaside at Grilltime and the Amsterdam Brewery. The full-taste, non-alcoholic brews provide a great option for those wishing to avoid alcohol while still celebrating the holidays. And for those watching their calorie intake, at under 40 calories, a Neal Brothers drink will give you less guilt while you’re indulging in their (not quite as low-calorie) kettle chips. Bangarang Hard seltzers are all the rage. Between 2019 and 2020, sales of the beverages in Ontario increased 42% with the millennial-aged population driving the demand for alternatives that align with their healthy lifestyles. LIBATIONS Page 24

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Leaside Life • December 2020

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Leaside Life • December 2020

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In the summer of 2020, Bangarang, a new malt-based seltzer, hit the market and immediately took off with its light and natural taste and only 105 calories and 1 gram of sugar per 355 ml can. Available in three flavours – mango, lemon-lime, and blue raspberry – the drink is a refreshing blend of craft seltzer and all natural flavours. Bangarang can be found in the Beer Store and in many bars and restaurants, including McSorley’s and the Leaside Pub. Leasider Dave Martin, head of sales and marketing for the Bangarang Beverage Company, notes that the drink “is great on its own, or can be used as the base for other drinks such as cocktails or punches.” Offering such great flexibility, taste, low sugar and calories, Bangarang is a great seltzer option for the holidays.

Moving forward, the City should prepare a secondary plan for the Leaside business park. There are just too many initiatives (some real, some rumoured) taking place to wing it, not to mention adding the new Ontario line station and possible service yard to the mix. Because the business park has several stakeholders with differing needs, determining best use of the land could get messy. A thoughtful reconciliation of benefits that will accrue in varying degrees to various stakeholders over time should be reflected in the plan. The plan should also specify what type of business and employment will be conducted here, what specific steps will be taken to bring the plan to fruition, and outline opportunities for public-private partnership as they relate to the business park. With an agreed blueprint in place, all stakeholders would feel more confident in their business planning. In the meantime, I want to see our self-storage business friends succeed. It is important we do all we can to support business in Leaside and I believe there are plenty of creative ways Leaside entrepreneurs could help monetize unused capacity. The Leaside business park mustn’t leave its evolution to chance; this is our opportunity to tell the world who we are and why it makes sense to invest here. Season’s greetings, Leaside. We still have nine more years to hear this decade really roar! What would you like to see at the corner of Laird and Wicksteed? Do you use self-storage facilities? Would you invest in a self-storage business? What role do you see our residential community playing in the evolution of the business park? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. ■

Amsterdam Brewery Since 1986, Amsterdam Brewery has been brewing a variety of fresh ales, lagers, and stouts. In 2012, it moved its brewing location to Esandar Dr. where it has continued to grow its product line. The brewery currently produces a large number of products ranging from Downtown Brown, a British-style ale brewed with a unique blend of malts, to the unfiltered and naturally carbonated Boneshaker IPA, a beverage which has won multiple Canadian brewing awards. The company also releases a new batch in their Adventure Series once a year in mid-November. Director of Marketing and Consumer Direct, Larisa Martinez, notes that an “audience lines up to buy it every year.” Amsterdam beers are available for pickup at the brewery on Esandar, for delivery when ordered on the brewery’s website (amsterdambeer. com), and at the Beer Store and the LCBO. They also can be ordered at the local Amsterdam Barrel House. With a taste for every palate and the ease of accessing the product, Amsterdam Brewery beers are a great local, local, local option for your holidays. Leaside Life reminds you to drink responsibly, and to never drink and drive. ■

TLAB... From Page 20 going to “save old Leaside,” we need to use other tools like heritage conservation and changes to the zoning bylaw (such as outlawing integral garages on narrow lots as was done in Davisville). Finally, a shout-out to Councillor Jaye Robinson to thank her for her support in moving to have City staff assigned for LRA/resident-sponsored appeals. ■

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Happy Holidays Leaside!

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Jaye Robinson

Happy holidays! The holiday season is upon us, and I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a year unlike any other. Filled with immense challenges and change, COVID-19 has had a profound effect on all of us. The pandemic and the efforts to slow the spread of the virus have prompted seismic changes in Canadian society that have touched nearly every aspect of our lives. Through it all, we have found new ways to remain active and connected as a neighbourhood. At City Hall, my team and I have been working with the Leaside community and City staff to ensure local initiatives remain on track. From the upcoming completion of the improvements to Trace Manes Park to the Leaside Traffic Management Plan, projects are continuing to move forward. Together, we’ve also advocated for enhancements to the Committee of Adjustment virtual hearing process that will improve transparency and accessibility for residents. I’d also like to acknowledge the unparalleled community engagement I’ve witnessed in Leaside since the onset of the COVID-19 pan-

Jaye Robinson Councillor

demic. Whether it be the Leaside Toy Drive stepping up to address food insecurity in Thorncliffe Park, the Ministry of Silly Walks bringing smiles to people’s faces on Hanna Road, or the countless acts of support shown for our frontline heroes, it has been amazing to see this neighbourhood come together at such a challenging time. During this time of year, we often find ourselves reflecting on the past and the things we are grateful for. On that note, I want to sincerely thank you for the kindness you have shown my family and me during my recovery – your support has meant the world to me. I hope you have a joyous (and safe) holiday season and all the best for a Happy New Year! Warmest wishes, Jaye. jayerobinson.ca ■

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Leaside Life â€˘ December 2020

Leaside Life • December 2020

by JANIS FERTUCK Despite these challenging times, the extensive renovations at Leaside United Church have been moving ahead, taking advantage of the opportunity to proceed without having to accommodate the needs of the congregation and renters, and are nearing completion. The guiding principles behind the renovation plan were to make the building more modern and accessible, present a more inviting appearance to encourage community engagement, and make better use of the space. These principles are in full view first in the new glass entranceway on the Millwood side of the building. Jim Miller, chair of the Property Committee, comments that it “serves as a focal point for the church in the community, a beacon to draw the eye as an inviting place to visit.” Inside these doors, there is

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a new reception area with a coffee bar. Behind that is a spacious washroom with disabled access. In addition, the office area for the administrative staff has been opened up with modular furniture and a glass front. The changes in the sanctuary include more contemporary lighting with a backup program, a new audio-visual system and stage lighting to facilitate both church presentations and those of rental groups. The chancel itself features a new ramp and railing for greater accessibility. As Reverend Emily Gordon says, these changes “address physical and other accessibility concerns, from the ramp into the chancel, so that anyone can preach, read scripture or join the choir, to improved lighting and sound systems, making it easier to be engaged with worship.” On the lower level, there are new welcome and meeting areas plus four washrooms. The “Gathering Space”

with its enhanced lighting will serve as an area for displaying art from the community. The gymnasium has a new ceiling and floor with court boundaries for two pickleball courts, two badminton courts and one basketball court. The remodelled kitchen has easy access to the gym and the “Gathering Space,” and separate areas for preparation and cleanup. Outside, the ramp to the new entranceway and the driveway are now more user-friendly, and there’s increased accessible parking. There are also new steps and lights facing onto McRae, and the hedge has been removed to open up the church property to the community. Graham Lute, co-chair of the Renovation and Missional Committee, explains that “virtually everything in the renovation has been done with community usage and appeal in mind: the kitchens, gym, and gathering areas, along with the audio-visual and lighting improvements.” Indeed, there has already been a great deal of interest in rental opportunities from sports and child-care groups hoping to use the upgraded facilities.

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Leaside Life • December 2020

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Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

This time of year, one tends to look back and take stock. Thanks to the continuing pandemic, we may be doing more things virtually, but life does indeed go on. Local issues continue to keep the Leaside Residents Association busy. Instead of in-person official meetings with City officials and staff to discuss development applications, we’ve adjusted to using online video connections, although Committee of Adjustment issues and the appeals process are more cumbersome when all parties feel more separated than connected by technology. We had hoped that the City’s Leaside Traffic Management study, still underway, would be closer to finalizing a Leaside-wide traffic calming plan by now, but its pace has slowed. The plan’s success depends on the kind of public buy-in that only large-scale public consultation can produce. But on the related subject of public transit, the TTC’s 2021 stakeholder consultations have been ongoing, shaping priorities and initiatives for the coming year. I have been attending these sessions for the LRA. My focus is on retaining or even (dare I say it) improving Leaside’s access to TTC service levels, and protecting local bus routes such as the 88A and 88B from being reduced once the Eglinton Crosstown is up and running. Leaside continues to be much sought after by developers. Currently, we are examining applications for residential buildings, mainly mid-rise (up to eight or nine storeys) along the west side of Laird Drive south of Eglinton Avenue. We are concerned

that they threaten the abutting back yards and homes along Randolph Road by creating deep shade and loss of privacy. The west side of Bayview is also attracting attention from developers, with applications for mid-rise projects. Although this side of Bayview is not Leaside per se, whatever happens there will have a direct impact on our community. The LRA is working closely with neighbouring residents’ associations to present a common strategy. Leaside has a long history of promoting and practising local democracy and citizen involvement. Looking ahead to 2021, we’ll be watchful for any potential impacts on our community from new provincial legislation and Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs), which increase Queen’s Park’s powers over local land use and development, and can override Toronto’s Official Plan. In last month’s column I announced that our 2020-21 Annual General Meeting will be held virtually in January since in-person meetings are currently impossible. We’ll be notifying you once we have worked out the details of speakers and a definite date. A number of other ratepayer groups have successfully held well-attended virtual AGMs, and we are looking forward to welcoming you to ours. In the meanwhile, the LRA wishes you and your family a peaceful, healthy, and merry Christmas and a happy new year. We are all fortunate to be living in such a friendly and supportive community.

ij Our next monthly board of directors meeting is on Wed., Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. If you’d like to join us to depute, or just to listen in, please contact us by that date at lpoa. ca and we will give you the information to link to it. ■

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

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