Issuu

M AY 2021

Leaside Life leasidelife.com

No. 108

Important vaccine info for Leasiders Pg. 18

ORTING LOCAL

BU S

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO This is a woman who doesn’t let anyone, or anything, shake her determination. Even in the face of a debilitating disease which has turned her life upside down, Karen Jacoby has chosen to embrace her diagnosis, SS E IN not let it define her, and to use each day as an opportunity to raise

awareness of the disease. In January, 2020, the now 34-year-old Jacoby was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a chronic disease which affects the central nervous system and can cause symptoms including extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, vision problems, and cognitive impairment. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world with more than 90,000 people living with the disease.

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I dare you to try to stand in Karen Jacoby’s way. It’s unpredictable, episodic, and without cure. A lifelong Leasider who was living an active, healthy lifestyle, with a successful career in the retail sector, Jacoby found herself dealing with exhaustion, partial leg paralysis, and numbness. “There are some days,” Jacoby notes, “I can walk without a cane, and others when I have trouble standing in the shower.” JACOBY Page 13

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Leaside Life • May 2021

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Editor’s Welcome

Are we there yet, part 2? Last year I asked this question, perhaps a little prematurely. At that time the province was cautiously reopening parks and patios, businesses big and small, and all sorts of services. Well, we know how that story ended. This spring, as vaccinations roll out, we can be forgiven for asking again if we’re there yet. We now know that we’re not, but there is a glimmer of hope. And there continue to be local heroes who aren’t letting COVID-19 stand in their way. Despite continuing to live under these extraordinary circumstances, there are those who refuse to give in to doom and gloom. Susan Scandiffio interviewed one such Leasider, who is overcoming personal, medical odds to achieve her dreams. Karen Jacoby is a 34-year-old who was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis right before the pandemic hit, in January, 2020.

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

As Susan writes: “This is a woman who doesn’t let anyone, or anything, shake her determination. Even in the face of a debilitating disease which has turned her life upside down, Jacoby has chosen to embrace her diagnosis, not let it define her, and to use each day as an opportunity to raise awareness of the disease.” Karen has become a tireless, topnotch fundraiser for MS, who was instrumental in having the federal government recognize World MS Day – May 30 – on their promotional health days calendar. She shows no signs of easing up on her personal goals. As she did last year, this year on May 15th and 16th from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jacoby will have a table outside Boutique La Muse to raise awareness and funds for the MS Society of Canada. When I first read Susan’s profile, I felt a little lighter in the face of the pandemic. I still do. n

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Leaside’s brush with union unrest Leaside has a well-earned reputation as a tranquil community. But in 1948, it was the scene of a bitter labour conflict involving unions, police and Leasiders themselves. It started in late January, when management at the 700-employee RogersMajestic radio manufacturing plant at Brentcliffe and Eglinton failed to renew a labour contract with the United Electrical Workers Union (UE). The issue was money. The union sought a pay increase. Management said their demand was too high. A strike ensued in early February and picket lines formed. When the picketers barred company engineers from entering the plant, Rogers-Majestic responded by urging Leaside’s Municipal Council to call in the Ontario Provincial

Police to protect its staff. The province complied by dispatching 75 policemen to the scene. This was viewed by the union as a provocation, and tensions rose. Things came to a head on February 26 when two office workers trying

to enter the plant were met by strikers handing out pamphlets. Interpreting this as an attempt to deny them entrance, provincial police charged the union picket line. A free-for-all erupted in which the picketers were forcibly

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dispersed. Police arrested eight strikers (including a young woman and a disabled man) and dragged them into waiting patrol cars. Onlookers witnessing the melee booed loudly. In a show of solidarity, other unions joined the strikers – increasing their number. Fearing more violence, the Ontario government arranged a temporary truce between the company and the UE. The strikers returned to work as wage negotiations resumed. The talks soon broke down, however, and by early May the picket lines were back up. But the worst was yet to come. A rival union led by the American Federation of Labour (AFL) began encouraging employees to break the strike. This led to a direct confrontation with the UE. On May 2, the situation exploded as armed fights broke out between the two unions – one trying UNREST Page 15

Leaside Life • May 2021

by T ED DEWELLES, Leaside Heritage Preservation Society

Leaside Life • May 2021

by SUZANNE PARK Judy Hardy is hardy in body and soul! She recently gave the gift of life to a Leaside neighbour. Judy is a Living Organ Donor whose journey began a few years ago. “I joined a local church where I met and got to know Cathie. Shortly after I joined, Cathie notified the church’s congregation that her adult son was in need of a kidney. He’d been suffering from declining kidney function for several years and after being on home dialysis for over two years he had just been notified by his doctor that he needed to look for a living donor,” she said. Judy took notice of Cathie’s request. “I’m retired now, yet early in my nursing career I oversaw patients coming into the hospital for their overnight dialysis treatment. So, after considerable reflection, I decided to approach the Organ Donor Registry (necessary in addition to signing my donor card) to see if I might be a match even though I’m a senior. They said indeed I was eligible and moved me onto the extensive testing phase.”

Despite a few delays because of Covid protocols, Judy received her approval along with a beneficial and detailed health analysis explaining that she was a match for Cathie’s son. “I felt immense relief and joy along with some trepidation!” she said. “After all, who is a fan of surgery? Things moved quickly after that – the surgery was within three weeks, on Feb. 25, 2021. Innovative medical techniques being minimally invasive had me up and Judy with her woven gift. walking within two days and home by week’s end. My “I was so joyful making the call neighbourhood friends took care of to Cathie’s son,” she said. “He my cat and me.” was very surprised and grateThe recipient (whose privacy we ful. Although I’d mentioned that I are respecting) remained in hospital was applying as a Living Donor, I for 12 days and is now recuperating suppose recipients are hesitant to get at home with orders not to lift anytheir hopes up as the statistics are thing above 10lbs for three months. daunting.” According to Ontario numbers, there are some 1,600 citizens waiting five years or more for a life-saving organ. This is why Judy, the recipient and his parents, Cathie and George, wanted to speak up and encourage Leasiders to spread the word, sign their donor card, and register as a donor. The need is great and you may save a life. When asked how one thanks a Living Donor, Cathie said, “my husband George came up with the best idea. Judy is a passionate weaver, and coincidentally our family once owned pioneer pastor Duncan McNabb’s cabin in Lanark County, where a number of his weavings were left over the years with various owners. We wrapped a cherished throw-sized weaving with care and presented McNabb’s heirloom to Judy. Her humble response? ‘I can’t take that!’ To which we responded – you donated a kidney! We all smiled.” The five stars that aligned to create this match were a welcoming church setting, a big request by loving parents, dialysis nursing experience, a passion for weaving and the Leaside community at its best. https://www.beadonor.ca/. https:// beckwithbaptist.wixsite.com/beckwithbaptist/our-history. n

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Judy Hardy gives the gift of life to a neighbour

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Leaside Life • May 2021

THANKS LEASIDE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Bev Crandell is on a mission to change lives by ANDREA VILLIERS

years at Parkinson Canada as vice president integration and I have a confession: I volunteer for shared services. the Lions Foundation Dog Guides. It may seem an odd career That’s how I met Bev. move to go from Parkinson Bev Crandell is the CEO of the Canada to Dog Guides. But Lions Foundation Dog Guides. Since for Bev, it’s all about helping 2003, Bev, her husband, two children people. “I love dogs and I and their mini poodle Emma have want to serve people,” she lived in Leaside. They love Leaside told me. “This job is the best so much that when they wanted a of both worlds.” bigger house, they moved down the Bev joined Lions Foundation street. Dog Guides in December, Through her skillset, including gov2019, just before COVID-19 ernance, marketing, fundraising and changed everything for everya deep commitment to the organibody at Dog Guides. zation, Bev ensures roughly 185 Her goals are many and Labrador retrievers and poodles are varied for the organization. matched with disabled Canadians Foremost is enhancing client from across Canada every year. services by investing in infraThese dogs change peoples’ lives in structure, technology, and so many wonderful and remarkable raising the bar when it comes ways by providing independence and to breeding and matching dogs security. with those who need them Bev with Jones, the guide dog. Bev graduated from the University most: disabled Canadians. of Guelph with a BComm degree. Bev and her staff are making Her first job after university was in a massive investment in Dog Guides Since then, her career has been solely the hospitality industry. Then a job with a brand new 85,000 sq. ft. statein the not-for-profit sector, includopportunity changed the trajectory of of-the-art facility not far from the ing six years at Oxfam as manager, her career: The United Way in Barrie existing Oakville office. fundraising and marketing, and 13 hired Bev as campaign director. Under her stewardship Dog Guides made some tough decisions because of COVID-19 that affected staff, volunteers, foster families and clients. Breeding stopped. Foster families were asked to keep their puppies for much longer than usual. People waiting for service dogs were gravely disappointed. But there has been some good news, too! “We have been fortunate that we have not had to lay off any staff,” and slowly over the last few months some aspects of the program have restarted. The breeding program just celebrated two new litters of pups with more coming! Dogs have been recalled to begin formal training and people have been matched with service canines. Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is fundraising. Dog Guides, a charity, receives no government funding. The biggest annual fundraiser is the Pet Valu Virtual Walk for Dog Guides, with walks across Canada. Raising and training each service dog cost $25,000. The fundraising goal for this year? $1.3 million. Lions Foundation Dog Guides of Leaside Canada can certainly count on Bev Crandell to get the job done. 1523 Bayview Avenue The Pet Valu Virtual Walk for Dog 416-488-2004 Guides is Sunday, May 30. For info https://www.walkfordogguides.com n ALLYSON SCOTT

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’Tis the season for lawn-cutting

Leaside Life • May 2021

CMY

Terry Fallis Columnist

I’ve always hated cutting the lawn. I understand there are very few people walking the streets of Leaside who actually enjoy cutting the lawn (unless of course they’re sitting luxuriously on a cushy riding mower), but still I dislike the job with a passion that has only grown in the intervening decades. I suspect my father detested the task as well given that he taught my twin brother and me how to use our big, ancient, loud and terrifying electric mower when we were about six years old. Okay, I exaggerate. We were probably eight. And that mower was a beast. It was quite the antique, so the wheels were worn down lowering the whole unit for a much closer shave. Whenever I finished the lawn, there were several completely bald spots where the blades had not just cut the grass down to the ground but tilled the first few centimetres of dirt SB Easter AD print with bleed.pdf for good measure. But I’m getting ahead of myself. We grew up on the corner of Parkhurst

and Donegall. Yes, the corner. You probably know what that means. Most Leaside homes have a modest patch of lawn out front that carries down to the sidewalk. But if you had the “good fortune” to be responsible for landscaping the grounds of the corner house, it’s a whole different ballgame. Our lawn went on...forever. I think you could have landed an air ambulance on our front lawn. It was enormous. It stretched along the entire property line south along Donegall, and then west along Parkhurst. It felt like acres of terrain. But there’s more. Three other factors added to my lawnmowing woes. First, there was a rather pronounced slope in the grass along the front of the house, which meant muscling the mower along on a steep angle, while not always avoiding the cement curb that bordered the grass. Second, there was a blue spruce 1 2021. 03. 12. 14:58 just slightly smaller than a Saturn V rocket on the Parkhurst side of the lawn. You might reasonably think that

the tree reduced the grass-cutting area – surely a benefit. Not so much. The grass actually grew under the lowest boughs of the giant spruce thus requiring me to push the mower underneath, thrusting my arms in among the branches. The spruce needles were more lethal than an attack of wild porcupines. Finally, we had grass on three different levels of elevation in front of our house, all bordered by flagstones. So, it meant hauling and hoisting that aforementioned behemoth of a lawnmower up to each different level, and then back down again. I can still feel my (modest) muscles protesting. And then there’s the cord. You’d need the National Research Council and perhaps the Canadian Space Agency to figure out how best to navigate the lawn to minimize the number of times you have to flip the cord over your head. Believe me, I’ve tried every possible path, including what I call the random Roomba run. It took a few electrifying cord-cuttings before I decided on a path that seemed to work. It soon became ingrained. It must be more than 40 years since I last cut the lawn, yet I still know that optimal route cold. And here’s the thing. When I finally figured out how best to tackle the job, I could cut that entire lawn in just over half an hour. It really didn’t take that long. Yet, I’d procrastinate with the creativity of the condemned. I’m sure I expended more mental energy and anguish avoiding the weekly job than I ever did actually cutting the grass. I once invoked the bird’s nest in the spruce tree filled with baby robins to forestall revving up the monster mower. I mean, what kind of person traumatizes robin chicks just so the lawn looked nice? On a more positive note, nowadays our two sons share the task of cutting our much smaller lawn, and I couldn’t be happier as I watch them push our high-tech cordless battery-powered mower. It takes them about 10 minutes flat. I frequently remind them how it was in the old days. 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. n

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MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS

Melt-in-your-mouth shortbread on Millwood Bev Churchill Morris worked for the Red Cross as a nurse in Guelph for many years. But she was also a talented home baker, especially of shortbread. “Everyone loved my shortbreads,” she says. Baking this buttery indulgence professionally would often arise as a topic during summer vacations, while sitting on a dock with family and enjoying a glass of wine, but that was where it ended. Until it didn’t. In 2005, driving through Leaside one day, an unfamiliar neighbourhood for her, Bev saw a sign for an apartment for rent. The penny dropped. “This has been a long time coming, but I should do it now, or forget it,” she thought. It “wasn’t time to retire, but time to rewire.” She rented the apartment, and then found a storefront for rent, at 882 Millwood. And so, Churchill’s Fine Gourmet Gifts was born. Bev had no business experience and had never needed to do marketing. That all changed. She knew that the shortbread had

Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life

to be made her way – not as an assembly line product, and not without generous quantities of butter. She also knew that shortbread, as a cookie, has the advantage of a long shelf life, so it can be shipped. It took a bit of experimentation to create the right size cookie to be packaged for shipping, and one that would not break. She found it, and then expanded to

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make a pecan bar, with chocolate on the top and a shortbread base. Bev also had the advantage that her sister, an investment manager at a bank, worked with her on the business side, so Bev could focus on being the creative genius. Armed with her two specialties, she worked to find quality packaging to match the products. Bev found a Toronto packaging company to make beautiful but sturdy boxes to her specifications. The added touch was turning the boxes into gifts with hand-placed ribbons and decorations. During the summer of 2005, Bev enlisted her family members, including her adult children, to walk up and down Bayview Avenue distributing flyers for the business. They haven’t needed to do that since, as word of the quality of her shortbreads and their packaging quickly spread. She also isn’t operating a retail store, so you need to make arrangements or be lucky before turning up on Millwood. A lot of the business is repeats or the result of “get a box, give a box”. Former Prime Minister Paul Martin is a great supporter. After being given a box, he became a customer himself. A few years ago, when he was in Toronto for a speaking engagement at the Royal York, Bev and her sister decided they really wanted to see him, so arranged to be at the event. They hadn’t met before, but when they introduced themselves as being from Churchill’s, he said, immediately, “my favourite cookie.” Bev also does custom baking for fine food shops like Pusateri’s. The business has grown sufficiently enough that last fall, when 50,000 cookies were produced, she hired several Syrian women as bakers, while she continued with decorating and packaging. Large weddings may not be her market for the time being, but people are looking for gifts for other occasions – bereavements, birthdays, special days, or even to say “I’m sorry.” n

LORNA KRAWCHUK

Leaside Life • May 2021

MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS 12

Gyro Mazda drives business to the east side of Laird When Joey Kovac was a kid, he and his buddy Paul Kmet messed around in a car dealership lot on Laird Dr. in Leaside – a playground that most of their pals could only dream of. They were able to pull this off because their fathers owned the Gyro Mazda dealership and were also close friends. Not only did they have a wonderful time, they also learned the car business literally from the ground up. Now they have followed in their fathers’ footsteps and are the only second-generation Mazda dealership in Canada. And they are about to become much larger. After 45 years operating on the west side of Laird, they are scheduled to move to new, ultramodern premises across the street in the spring. The new site will house not only the Mazda brand but also a new franchise for Hyundai as well. The story began in 1971 when Gyro Motors was incorporated; in

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1975, Gyro Motors became a Mazda dealer. Joe Kmet (Paul’s father) and Joe Kovac (JP’s father) were business partners and close friends. That

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friendship led to their families spending time together outside work. “I would say that Paul and I are even closer than our fathers were; he is like a brother to me,” says JP. In 2000, the second-generation Paul and JP became the principals, along with a third partner, Jim Krigos. Gyro is Mazda’s oldest dealer in Toronto and is a multiple winner of the company’s prestigious President Club and Dealer of Distinction Awards. In 2013, Paul and JP acquired the Hyundai franchise as well. “At Mazda, we see ourselves as much more than a place for transactions, more than branded buildings to sell and service cars. Our retail partners are the frontline of the Mazda brand experience providing a clubhouse-like experience,” says JP. “We have purchased all new furniture and equipment for our new facility. Although Mazda is not a luxury brand, we are making a move to a premium experience. This means the level of finishing inside the facility will be equivalent or perhaps even exceed that level of quality one would see in luxury branded dealerships.” Gyro has also invested in the latest Hunter Alignment and Tread Depth Checkers. That means every vehicle that comes in for service will be photographed, alignment checked, and tread depth checked. This information will remain on file and be available to customers electronically. “We also have invested in robotic

have. Vehicles will be maintained and repaired at a much higher standard than any Mazda customer has experienced before.”

ROBIN DICKIE

Leaside Life • May 2021

by KEN MALLETT

COVID-19 fallout As with many businesses in Leaside, the pandemic has affected operations. “We have seen an overall decline in business throughout this challenging period,” says JP. “It has been quite difficult to maintain good relationships with our clients with all the obstacles that exist in this current reality. Safety is our number one priority so we need to continually be vigilant.” That means letting customers go as far into the purchase process as possible before even entering the premises. “For preowned, this means providing more information in the form of images and data. We have moved to a market value pricing process. We have specific software that looks at every vehicle for sale in the marketplace so we are pricing vehicles at transaction prices, eliminating the need for negotiation.” For new vehicles, Gyro features price tools, videos, pictures and links to various third-party articles and reviews. Service and parts departments are operating on a no-contact basis, but customers can wait while their vehicles are being serviced. For Joey and Paul, Gyro has gone from playground to workplace. To date, they have sold more than 25,000 new Mazdas...and counting. n

JACOBY From cover

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As a star athlete, she ran track and played basketball with Leaside H.S., and played and coached with Leaside Softball. She spent over 10 years in retail management, climbed the CN Tower for charity, and participated in the planting of Canadian flags outside the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre for many years. Despite her illness, her drive to accomplish much in many areas continues. Jacoby says that she is “choosing to embrace (her) diagnosis not as a sentence but as an opportunity.” For her, the opportunity is primarily to raise awareness of MS, but also to raise funds for the MS Society of Canada. A few months after her diagnosis, Jacoby participated in the Virtual MS walk. Choosing to walk at the Leaside track, Jacoby notes that while crossing the finish line was significantly different from in her high school track days, she found the success in crossing with her cane even sweeter. And with the support of 42 friends and family members, Jacoby’s group captured the distinction of Top Fundraising Team. Jacoby’s personal fundraising earned her a spot in the MS International Walk of Champions as a member of Team Canada. Not stopping there, in the fall of 2020, she was selected as an Ambassador to the MS Society. Last month, Jacoby lobbied, and succeeded, in having the federal government include World MS Day, May 30th, on their promotional health days calendar. Jacoby has also partnered with various companies to raise awareness and funds. She designed a mask which includes the MS symbol of a red carnation, sold by the wellness company Noush (https:// noush.ca). She has a coin jar set up at Drink Juice Co. on Manor Road, and last year, set up a fundraising table outside Boutique La Muse. On May 15th and 16th from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jacoby will once again have a table outside the boutique to raise awareness and funds. For Jacoby, Leaside has always been a community which emphasizes the importance of supporting each other. Members of Leaside United Church, where she was christened, for example, helped with accessibility renovations in her new home. Boutique La Muse also moved Jacoby’s role from in-store to being their social media manager. Jacoby’s days aren’t always easy. But each day, she wakes up determined to find a way to help others. No one and nothing stands in her way. n

ActiveTO is coming to midtown on Yonge! by HOLLY REID Last July, writing in Leaside Life about the lack of ActiveTO installations in midtown, I asked, “If active transportation makes sense on Bloor and Danforth, why not in midtown on Yonge Street, the busiest transit route in the city?” By this July, we’ll have a chance to try out a pilot complete street transformation of Yonge between Bloor Street and Davisville Avenue, incorporating curbside patios, protected bike lanes, street safety improvements and beautification as well as parking, loading and accessibility measures. Building on Danforth’s success ActiveTO was introduced last May as a pandemic response to give people more space to move around safely. It included quiet streets, major road openings on weekends and an acceleration of the City’s Cycling Network Plan. A major success was Destination Danforth, the remaking of the Danforth as a complete street that works for all users. Anyone who visited Danforth found thriving patios, abundant parking and a steady stream of people of all ages out biking and

NICOLAS JONES/HOLLY REID

Leaside Life • May 2021

Left: Patio installation on Yonge Street last summer. Right: Complete street implementation on Danforth Avenue.

walking in the revitalized space. The lessons learned from the Danforth experience have informed the approach to Yonge in midtown. Yonge makes the most sense Transportation Services evaluated three streets in midtown: Mount Pleasant Blvd., Yonge St. and Avenue Rd., from Bloor St. to Lawrence Ave. Besides being the main street for so many midtown neighbourhoods, Yonge proved to be the best choice overall. Ninety per cent of Yonge is mixed-use with more retail and restaurants to

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visit. There is lower vehicle traffic on Yonge, yet it also had more collisions resulting in serious injury or death. As an active transportation alternative to the subway, Yonge has the lowest elevation gain. Where Yonge lagged was on surface transit, specifically accommodation of TTC shuttle buses during subway closures. However, the TTC is satisfied that measures proposed by Transportation Services will ensure priority movement of transit vehicles. Consultations well underway Residents were key to bringing a complete street to Yonge, with about a dozen residents’ associations expressing ongoing support for the project. While there is disappointment the project is not currently extending to Lawrence as was widely requested, the focus is on making sure the installation works for everyone. Transportation Services began consulting stakeholder groups in March, with more than 30,000 residents invited to a virtual consultation on April 27th. In addition, block-by-block walk-throughs with Business Improvement Areas are addressing curbside patios, parking, deliveries and accessibility as well as ways to enhance each BIA’s unique identity. A big benefit of the ActiveTO pilot approach is the flexibility to adjust design as experience dictates, more quickly and less costly than with a permanent installation. Good for residents, good for business Complete street transformations support local residents and see local business thrive. There’s no doubt Yonge will be successful, just as Danforth was. We in Leaside should ask to see the Yonge pilot extended north to Lawrence, and also seek to transform our main streets of Mount Pleasant and Bayview to complete streets as soon as the opportunity allows. n

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Leaside Life • May 2021

to prevent workers from entering the plant, the other trying to get workers in. One week later, a second, more violent clash occurred. This time 500 pickets and 70 provincial and Leaside police fought each other in a pitched battle involving pushing, kicking, punching and billy clubs. Eight people were arrested. Two days later, on May 14, another outbreak occurred, where eggs, rocks and other objects were hurled at the plant and police. Disturbances were reported at various bus stops throughout Leaside. Strikers also blocked the Eglinton/Laird intersection. When the strike finally ended later that year, 34 people had been arrested and many injured – thankfully, none seriously. Several strikers went to jail. Several others were fined. Workers at the Rogers-Majestic plant later voted to determine which of the two opposing unions should represent them. The outcome was undecided. As a result, the Ontario Labour Review Board authorized the AFL to represent the workers, replacing the UE and ending this violent episode in Leaside history. n

New renovations for Leaside United and community Even though Leaside United Church (LUC) is still officially closed due to pandemic restrictions, the freshly renovated building is on display in a print brochure recently mailed to the congregation, and in an online brochure and two videos available on the church’s website (leasideunited.org). The renovations focused on specific areas to improve the functionality and welcoming appearance of the building for both the congregation and the community. First, for accessibility, a ramp and railing were installed in the chancel and there are also new accessible washrooms, improved parking and entrance areas. Energy-efficient boilers, lighting systems and appliances provide environmentally friendly changes. Modernizing upgrades include new lighting and audio-visual systems in the sanctuary, two new kitchens, a new floor and ceiling in the gym and more contemporary décor. In addition, the church’s appearance is now more inviting thanks to the

Councillor Jaye

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The new reception area

bright glass entrance on Millwood, new signage and more open landscaping. At this time, LUC is also launching its New Beginnings Legacy Campaign. Graham Lute, co-chair of the Building Fundraising Committee, explains that this is “a capital campaign to allow for the proper completion of the renovation” to supplement the $3.3 million spent over the past 15 months. The additional funds will be used for furnishings and finishing touches such as landscaping and outdoor furniture. Right now, you can see the extensive changes in the two videos on the website. The videos were produced by Anthony Regan, a Leaside videographer, broadcaster and musician, who has produced many videos including those for the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame and 100th anniversary celebrations. The shorter video shows a series of scenes with captions, while the longer one walks viewers through the building with voiceover commentary about the changes and their benefits. Anthony says it was “an honour to help out with such an impressive and historical community project.” He was also struck by the thoughtful blending of heritage and modern features. One such example is in the new reception area featuring wainscotting from one of the old pulpits topped by a rainbow oil painting by

The Jean Bruce Gallery

ANTHONY REGAN

Leaside Life • May 2021

Graham Lute, which sums up the church’s mission with the message “Love for All.” The video highlights many of the renovated and newly created spaces designed to be used by both the congregation and community. For example, with its new lighting, audio-visual system and flexible seating in the chancel, the sanctuary will serve as an enhanced venue for services as well as concerts, recitals and lectures. Downstairs, the gym’s upgrades are aimed at clubs, sports and children’s groups. Since this area is adjacent to the new kitchen, it can also accommodate dinners and other events. The Jean Bruce Gallery nearby was designed as a space for exhibits by local artists, receptions and meetings. Food and wine may be enjoyed in any of these areas. Community groups are already taking notice. Rev. Emily Gordon says she cannot wait “to explore together all the ways the building will better allow us to care for one another and our wider communities.” n

Could gardeners build back a better Leaside? The Leaside Gardener Debora Kuchme Columnist

think these colourful blooms attract bees and butterflies (and they can) but they are all non-natives that provide little or no nourishment at all for our essential pollinators. Worse, many are still treated with neonics! • Buy less but buy better. That means choosing native plants, perennials that are neonic-free and organic plants and seeds, especially if you grow food. This will send a clear message to growers and retailers to become more environmentally responsible too. • Think seriously about waste. From countless plastic flower pots (most are not recycled) to

abusing our essential resources (water and peat moss), gardeners are often unaware of the amount of waste that comes from unsustainable gardening. When it comes to gardening, our personal preferences are not always good ecological choices so we need to change our perception of beauty to garden in a more restorative way. That doesn’t mean turning every garden into a meadow. By adding just one small drift of native plants to every garden, we can collectively help to restore our once rich and biodiverse ecosystem. Then we can watch it grow. We’re already off to a good start because many Leaside gardeners have embraced natural gardening for some time now. We just need a lot more of them. For more information and inspiration, check out In the Zone – Gardens (inthezonegardens.ca) where you can learn how to build back better in your garden! Visit leasidelife.com for the extended version of this article. n

Leaside Life • May 2021

We’ve learned some important lessons through this pandemic. A big one for Leasiders was realizing how essential our green spaces are to us. Whether from our own gardens, a local park or a nearby forest, connecting to nature has proven to be vital to our well-being. But how about the well-being of our environment? By now we’ve all heard the catchphrase ‘Building Back Better’ (BBB) – a good strategy for risk reduction and sustainable development. But this got me thinking about the sudden and extreme developments going on in Leaside and how these changes will ultimately affect the health of our environment. What home additions, parking pads and new condo developments have in common is the removal of natural growing space. This produces more heat, more air pollution and a greater risk of flooding. It also means whatever vegetation is left (including our trees) needs to work even harder to compensate for the loss. Could Leaside gardeners help to build back better? Now, more than ever, every garden, every balcony and every planter have an important role to play in helping Leaside become more environmentally healthy and more resilient too. But it’s not just the fact that we garden, it’s HOW we garden that will make the biggest difference. I think Leaside gardeners are up to the challenge. Victoria Day Weekend is still weeks away, and though we use this as our unofficial frost-free planting date for summer crops, this early spring has many of us already starting. Our local garden centres, grocery stores and fruit markets are overflowing with racks upon racks of colourful blooms to motivate us to plant. But if you want to help Leaside build back better with your garden, consider these points: • Instead of trying to alter your soil to accommodate unsuitable plants, choose plants that work with your soil and conditions. Whether sand, loam or clay, sun or shade, there is a good perennial plant that will thrive in almost any site. Look to natives first. • Resist exotic annuals that require too much water, fertilizers and a peat-based soil, such as impatiens, petunias, geraniums and begonias. We might

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Leaside Life • May 2021

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As Toronto’s immunization campaign continues to expand, there have been many questions about where, when, and how eligible residents can book a vaccine appointment. On behalf of our Ward 15 communities, I have been advocating to enhance and accelerate Toronto’s immunization campaign. This spring, I worked closely with senior City officials and executive leadership at Michael Garron Hospital to establish a mass immunization clinic in the East York Town Centre, located in close proximity to Leaside. I’ve also been advocating for the province to modify its registration system so that all City-run vaccine clinics can operate standby lists to fill missed appointment slots. With the rapidly changing nature of the situation, this article will not contain any information on which populations are currently eligible, but will instead contain information on how to book a vaccine appointment and where to determine your eligibility. For more information on the Government of Ontario’s prioritization framework – which determines who can receive a vaccine and when – visit www.ontario.ca/ covid19.

City-run clinics As of April 12, the City is operating nine mass immunization clinics at the following locations: • Thorncliffe Park Community Hub Clinic, 45 Overlea Blvd. • North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Ave. W • Mitchell Field Arena, 89 Church Ave. • Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W. • Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd. • Scarborough Town Centre, 300 Borough Dr. • Malvern Community Recreation Centre, 30 Sewells Rd. • Cloverdale Mall, 250 The East Mall • The Carmine Stefano Community Centre, 3100 Weston Rd.

Jaye Robinson

Councillor, Ward 15, Don Valley West

Residents can determine their eligibility or book an appointment at a City-run clinic by visiting www. ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by calling 1-888-999-6488. Hospital and health partner clinics Our hospitals and health partners are also operating vaccine clinics across Toronto. At the time of writing, the hospital and health partner vaccine clinics closest to Leaside are located at: • Sunnybrook Hospital Vaccination Clinic, 2075 Bayview Ave. • Englemount-Lawrence Vaccination Clinic, 160 Neptune Dr. • Michael Garron Hospital, 825 Coxwell Ave.

To determine your eligibility at a hospital or health partner-run clinic and to book an appointment, visit www.vaccineto.ca or call 1-888385-1910. Eligibility criteria vary at different hospitals, so residents are encouraged to visit an individual hospital’s website or call the number above for more specific information. Pharmacies AstraZeneca vaccines continue to be distributed through the province’s pharmacy pilot program. Eligible residents can book a vaccine appointment by contacting a participating pharmacy directly – more information on eligibility criteria and participating locations can be found at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/ vaccine-locations. As more vaccine supply becomes available, I will continue pushing to accelerate Toronto’s immunization campaign – we must be flexible, dynamic, and responsive. To register for my eNewsletter and receive updates about vaccine eligibility in Ward 15, please visit my website at www.jayerobinson.ca. The information included in this article is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 situation in Toronto, including public health measures and vaccine eligibility, please visit www.toronto.ca/covid19. n

Garden suites for Leaside?

Co-president, LRA

Now that spring has arrived, our thoughts turn to our gardens, especially here in leafy Leaside. Not coincidentally, the City of Toronto has released an online survey to find out how Torontonians feel about allowing garden suites to be built in their, or their neighbours’, back yards. Garden suites, small houses built in the back yards of homes, may be permitted city-wide, as part of the City’s response to the provincial policy promoting increased housing options in residential neighbourhoods. On one hand, making them legal may lead to more affordable rentals. On the other hand, I think we will all agree that a number of criteria should be considered. For instance, how large should a garden suite be? How much impact might a one- or two-storey suite have on your or your neighbours’ gardens, sunlight, or privacy? What about environmental issues (green space, water drainage, tree cover)? How would parking and emergency

access be handled? Would garden suites affect your or your next-door neighbour’s property taxes or value? These are only a few of the questions which could arise. As always, the devil is in the details. The City’s Garden Suites survey is intended to collect your opinions and suggestions. April 30th is the date by which the city has requested replies, although your comments, whenever you send them in, will be of interest and influence. There are many aspects to contemplate, and too many details to get right (or wrong), for the City to deal with the matter too briefly. For the survey, write Toronto Garden Suites Survey in your browser. The LRA has also included a link to the survey in a recent e-blast to members (and you can find it on the LRA site, www.leasideresidents.ca). Councillor Jaye Robinson (Councillor_Robinson@ toronto.ca) also is interested in Leasiders’ input, so have your say. Mt. Pleasant Cemetery crossing Now that the weather is so much better, lots of people are out and about, enjoying walks and bicycle

rides through Leaside and in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery’s botanical garden. It’s a wonderful way to escape the pandemic-provoked sense of house arrest….But those who wish to cross Bayview Avenue, to or from the cemetery’s gate across from Sutherland Drive, are taking their lives into their hands. Recently, in a four-hour period, more than 200 people were counted dashing across Bayview through four lanes of traffic. There is no crosswalk or traffic signal of any kind at this location to make crossing safer. The LRA and Cycle Don Valley Midtown have contacted Councillor Robinson and asked for a meeting with her and the City Traffic Department. We have suggested some possible remedial action to both increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and discourage car traffic turning into Leaside from Bayview. Stay tuned! Next board meeting Our next monthly (Zoom) meeting is on Wed., May 5th, at 7:30 p.m. If you’d like to come and watch, or participate, please let us know by that date so we can send you the access details. n

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Leaside Life • May 2021

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The St. Anselm’s kids are all right! by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO As a mom of four kids under the age of 11 and co-chair of her children’s school parent council, Sonya Walker is a woman on the go. As a fitness enthusiast, she’s also a firm believer in the importance of physical activity for kids. Walker notes that “we know that movement is paramount to the mental and physical wellbeing and development of kids and that academic performance improves when kids are moving.” While her kids have always been active, she noticed that pandemic living was translating into far more sedentary time for them. This was especially true when the kids were learning exclusively online. Without the walks or bike rides to and from school, phys ed classes, recesses, and playtime in the yard after school, the kids were far less active. And when students returned to in-person learning, Walker, along with other parents, recognized the sedentary habits seemed to carry on. So, Walker proposed that the kids of St. Anselm Catholic School partic-

ipate in the Cross Canada Challenge, with the goal of seeing if students could walk, run, bike or move the distance of Canada (4,800 km) in one month. With overwhelming support from the parent council and administration, the project kicked off on March 1st. To increase the kids’ daily movement, Walker partnered with five All Stay new li info sting s rme d – have V Get i on t rtual T he w ours . aiti ng l ist!

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generous businesses, which, despite facing massive hits during Covid, offered classes free of charge. Power Soccer, Defy Functional Fitness, Synergy Martial Arts, Move Fitness, and Shining Stars Performing Arts ran Zoom classes with kids after school and in the evenings. The kids were hooked. For every 15 kms completed, students received a St. A’s Cross Canada Challenge t-shirt, and for every kilometre completed, they earned a ballot entry into a raffle for three grand prizes. To compute distance covered, every 15 minutes of purposeful movement, such as walking, biking, running, dancing, etc. equates to 1 km. The Zoom classes were 45 mins long, equal to 3 km in distance. Parents kept track of their kids’ distances and logged them in the challenge system. The challenge was “the perfect blend of community building (friendly competition amongst students) and incentive (prizes to be won) to get our kids moving and having fun,” says St. Anselm’s Principal Donato Di Paolo. The program did run into one snag: Within the first two weeks, the students completed the entire distance they were aiming to finish in the whole month. So, a greater challenge was launched. Could the kids travel back across Canada, equaling a total of 9,600 km, in one month? Not only did the kids move both ways across the country, they smashed their goal and covered an amazing 13,308 km. So much for being sedentary during Covid! n

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Leaside Life • May 2021

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Leaside Life • May 2021

The letters “MSF,” placed at the bottom end of the Leaside Business Park, appeared without notice on a map of the proposed Ontario Line on the Metrolinx website last summer. If you asked Metrolinx what that meant you received the standard reply – “we’re looking at several possible locations for a Maintenance and Storage Facility to serve the Ontario Line.” Fast forward to April 7 to an email: “the location will be announced tomorrow.” To the small businesses lining the plaza on Thorncliffe Park Drive north of Overlea Boulevard, it was more than a surprise since the proposed location is in the heart of Thorncliffe Park. The Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) is the central location for the inspection, cleaning and maintenance of the Ontario Line trains when they are not in service. It requires a lot of land, 17.5 hectares or 43 acres – the equivalent of 24 soccer fields. The chosen location straddles the Walmsley Brook ravine, taking in the Thorncliffe Park Drive plaza and the lands currently occupied by a storage facility on the west side of Beth Nealson Drive. Metrolinx claims to have evaluated

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside Proposed Maintenance & Storage Facility

nine sites along the Ontario Line’s length, finally choosing this location. Apparently, they considered a site farther north on Beth Nealson that would have taken in Silcorp and Lincoln Electric. Perhaps the potential loss of engineering jobs by their parent companies’ repatriation to the US was considered by Metrolinx

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to be a greater loss than the impact on small businesses in Thorncliffe Park, which likely could relocate? In reality, there are no easy choices when locating a large industrial facility in a built-up city. In the case of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, the decision was a little easier – the former Kodak industrial lands in Mount Dennis were looking for another use. Who is affected in Thorncliffe Park? The list includes Iqbal’s Halal Food Market, and Kebab and Sweets – cultural icons, as well as an essential food source to Thorncliffe’s large South Asian population – Trupti, a well-known spice dealer, Belyea Brothers Heating and Cooling, Greenbird Electrical Solutions, and the Masjid Darus Salaam Mosque. The total of almost 50 businesses also includes a pharmacy, doctors’ offices, travel agents, lawyers, a gym, a small religious school, a shipping business, Potters Studio Inc., and East York Meals on Wheels. I spoke to Ali Baig, owner of Greenbird Electrical Solutions, about what this would mean for his business, established, and expanded with the help of his two sons, over the last two decades. He showed me his warehouse, laid out and carefully fitted to meet his business needs. Heartbreaking to now consider having to move, and upset that his lifework developing his business in this location is threatened. But more than anything, angry that Metrolinx announced this out of the blue, without consulting him or his fellow commercial tenants in the plaza. (He doesn’t know if they consulted with the plaza’s owner.). Metrolinx promises to “work with property owners and tenants to support their relocation.” Ali and other tenants in the plaza need to come together for their common interests, get independent business evaluations, and hire a lawyer. They need the resources to fight for fair compensation. Maybe the Leaside Park Business Association can help them find suitable accommodation in the Park. Interestingly, Greenbird is already a LBPA member. Ultimately, there is the economic, religious and cultural loss to the Thorncliffe Park community Let’s hope Thorncliffe can emerge stronger, but they’ll need determination and a lot of support from the wider community. Read Geoff Kettel’s column on the Committee of Adjustment in leasidelife.com. n

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