Issuu

J U N E 2021

Leaside Life

Meet Sushi by K on Eglinton Pg. 12

leasidelife.com

No. 109

DUNCAN COUTTS

Leaside twins are on the move – literally. Chloe & Sophie Coutts

ORTING LOCAL

BU S

by JANIS FERTUCK Even with the pandemic restricting their training and racing, Leaside twins Chloe and Sophie Coutts, nationally ranked middle-distance runners graduating from Leaside High School, have received athletic scholarships to the University of Western Ontario. S ES Their interest in the IN sport dates back to Grade 2 at Rolph

Road School where, as Chloe says, “cross-country was a popular sport and the parent community was very supportive.” Their father, Duncan, who ran in high school himself, volunteered as their relay coach and they won several city championships. They then took their talents to Bessborough and joined Central Toronto Athletic Club (CTAC) in Grade 6. But that was just the start. In high school, the girls achieved faster

times and won individual and team medals in both cross-country and track for LHS and CTAC. Sophie won two silver and bronze medals in cross-country and four in track at Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championship events. In 2019, the most recent year for national races and rankings, she finished sixth in the U18 cross-country race and is ranked third in the U17 1500m. TWINS Page 30

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Leaside Life • June 2021

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Editor’s Welcome

Calling all (would-be) writers! Do you have a story to tell? Interested in what’s going on in Leaside? Want to give voice to what’s important to you in your community? Then we want to hear from you. Leaside Life’s mantra has always been “local, local, local.” There may not be eight million stories in the naked city (as an old TV series from the 50s and 60s asserted), but there certainly are thousands (tens of thousands?) right here in Leaside. Leaside Life depends on readers, like you, to bring these stories to our attention. Leaside is changing. As new developments spring up – especially on

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

Laird, Bayview, Brentcliffe and elsewhere in the neighbourhood – thousands more people are moving into the area. In fact, Leaside may very well be one of the fastest growing communities in the country. Inevitably, the face of the community is changing, too. We want to hold up a mirror to these changes. That means attracting more writers (and observers), from different sections of Leaside, diverse cultures, Leasiders living in single family homes, mid-rises and high rises, with unique perspectives on life in Leaside. Is that you? Let us know by writing to us at leasidelife@gmail.com with your ideas. The best stories come from our engaged readers. n

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Important updates from the Bayview Leaside BIA may need to access some of those offers of assistance to help with disI admit to a degree of unease tribution, public health guidelines in writing this article during the permitting, of course. immense challenges of the Covid For the first time, the BIA has third wave. How best to apprise undertaken a spring planting initiaLeaside Life readers of Bayview tive to help brighten the street and Leaside BIA initiatives without maintain a positive streetscape seeming routine in a time presence between our that is anything but? winter displays and With that acknowlmuch-admired edged, I apprecisummer plantate the opporing program. tunity to Despite these connect with difficult you and times, we are want to thank determined to you on behalf of B AY V I E W L E A S I D E maintain our repthe BIA Board of utation as a clean Management and member busiand attractive main street. nesses for your continued support. Further on the subject of streetsOur recent social media campaigns cape, the City is planning to repave (“Buy Local or Goodbye Local”), our section of Bayview Avenue in contests and promotions have been 2023. Originally, the project was set very well received. We are heartened for 2022, but the BIA requested, and by the many compliments, ideas and received, a one-year delay to allow offers of assistance received, and our businesses more time to recover soon hope to introduce, as a “thank from Covid restrictions without the you” to our loyal neighbours, a BIAburden and disruption of a signifbranded tote bag. Stay tuned…we icant civil maintenance project. In

Patrick Rocca bro ke r

addition, the BIA has requested the City consider, as part of the repaving project, reconstruction of the sidewalk on the west side of Bayview from Millwood to Hillsdale in order to introduce in-ground street trees – just like the east side – and remove the existing tree boxes, which are impediments to pedestrian movement, street maintenance and snow clearing. We await the City’s decision on this matter. The BIA continues to work with new developments, both proposed and under construction, particularly with respect to the design of the commercial platforms and adjacent streetscape. Integrating new developments into traditional main street environments is challenging. We consistently stress the importance of vibrant commercial façades that build upon the BIA’s reputation as an engaging place to explore, and have offered to contribute BIA benches as part of the streetscape designs. I wish I could close by announcing the date of our fall Apple Fest event, but that is just not in the BIA Page 7

Leaside Life • June 2021

by HENRY BYRES

Wendy Mandelbaum weaves a design for living by VONNY SWEETLAND Growing up in midtown Toronto, Wendy Mandelbaum spent her days commuting from the family home on Bayview Ave. to her father’s downtown clothing store where she was employed as a buyer. Working for the family business can be common and ordinary, but for Wendy it was anything but. Wendy’s father was Canadian fashion legend Alan Cherry. Cherry was one of the first to bring European fashion to Toronto. He dressed the Canadian elite and supplied the Saudi royal family with furs. Alan Cherry was one of a kind. Under his tutelage, Wendy discovered her own creative spirit, which has led to a triumphant textile business. Cherry Textiles brings exclusive designs and impeccable craftsmanship to a range of different products, from home décor, furniture, and art, to of course clothing. The brand has been featured in many shows and events including the Miso Miami Symphony Orchestra & Einstein Foundation

JONATHAN AIN

Leaside Life • June 2021

Les, Lucas, Wendy and Jake Mandelbaum. Tapestry Exhibit. They are currently focused on a project for the Holy Blossom Synagogue where Wendy’s textile designs will bring new life to the benches and seating in the building. When asked how she got started she is candid. “I met a woman on a treadmill one morning who happened to be a textile designer. We talked for the longest time and I became so intrigued.”

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She also speaks of the influence her parents had on her craft. “For years my mom did knitting machines, my dad also owned a knitwear company that she designed for.” Despite having moved on, her mother Rosalyn lives on Bayview Ave. to this day. Community has always mattered to Wendy. It’s been the glue that kept her family and business together for so long. From clients to relatives and friends, Leaside and the Bayview corridor have given her so much. Even once purchasing her own home, she couldn’t be too far away and opted to be close by in the Mount Pleasant area. Her two sons also went to school in the community. Family has become even more important to the textile designer since battling an unusually difficult year. The pandemic, business, and life in general have thrown her many curve balls throughout 2020. Of her two sons, she says, “I can’t wait for my oldest to visit. He may come in for a couple of days and spend time with me at the farm. My youngest is a creative visionary too; he has the eye.” Wendy’s husband is none other than Umbra design company CEO Les Mandelbaum. The design duo divides their time between their Toronto home and a farm in Caledon. Even their farm has become an outlet for creativity. Wendy has plans to redesign a barn that can be used for selling her textile goods and plants. Her textile studio in Toronto boasts more than four state-of-the-art looms that are responsible for weaving her one-ofa-kind fabrics. When asked what’s next, she pauses, “There’s so much I plan to do, but right now I’m enjoying family.” n

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Doing the Duke of Edinburgh proud It feels appropriate at this time to be highlighting the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, after the recent death of Prince Philip. The award was inaugurated in 1956 and brought to Canada seven years later. It is designed to “motivate young Canadians to set goals and challenge themselves to take control of their lives and futures.” The award is designed for people between the ages of 14 and 24, with three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold. When Leasider Sydney Murray first learned about the award a year ago at school, she thought it might be interesting because she “likes to challenge herself.” She is fortunate in that she attends De La Salle College “Oaklands,” which is an award centre for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, so there are also friends participating and teachers supervising. The Bronze level, which she chose, requires improving in physical rec-

Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life

SHERRI GOLISKY

Leaside Life • June 2021

reation, widening interests in skill development, making a positive difference in voluntary service and undertaking an “Adventurous Journey.” Sydney chose swimming for physical recreation, requiring at least one hour per week of training over 26 weeks. She started serious swimming in Grade 6, and thinks she was inspired by her grandfa-

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ther, Michael Koscec, who “adores swimming.” Little did she realize that a lot of her swim time would turn out to be dry-land training with the Toronto Swim Club. She hasn’t dipped in a pool since November. For skill development, she chose photography with her phone. Her younger sister, Kate, was her subject for many photo sessions as Sydney was learning different perspectives on light, shadowing and highlighting. An art teacher at De La Salle evaluated her portfolio portraying her progress over the 13 weeks of active learning. Sydney and her family live near St. Cuthbert’s Church. In fact, their house is only doors away from where her mother, Michelle Koscec, grew up, on the same street. Sydney has volunteered at special events at St. Cuthbert’s Church since she was small. For the award, she needed to volunteer an hour a week over 13 weeks, minimum. Sydney worked in the church garden, prepared and delivered several church mailings, and continues as an IT volunteer for broadcasting services on Sundays. The Adventurous Journey is designed as a group activity, leading up to two days and one night away, usually involving hiking and camping, with lots of physical activity. COVID-19 restrictions certainly changed that! The Adventurous Journey is now called the Virtual Bronze Exploration, with three pages of minute instructions, including watching 26 videos on specific skills needed for the exploration. The most fun appears to be a “shared meal” – but each person is cooking it at home and then eating together via Zoom. Sydney’s group also worked together on a research project, focusing on a sustainable development goal set by the UN. They chose a goal for equality, and how women have been affected by COVID-19. Congratulations, Sydney. This fall, it’s on to Silver! n

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Leaside Life • June 2021

cards at present. While we wait for the time when we can come together on Bayview again, please continue to shop online or by phone for curbside pickup; order takeout and delivery; purchase a gift card for beauty products and personal services; and participate in online wellness and personal improvement classes. Keep our businesses in mind when buying for yourself and others. If we all pitch in now, our main street – so vital to our neighbourhoods – will bounce back strong when reopening occurs...and it will. Henry Byres is the Coordinator, Bayview Leaside Business Improvement Area. n

Leaside Life • June 2021

Fast times at Leaside High – the day Prince Philip came to town by T ED DEWELLES, Leaside Heritage Preservation Society Many Canadians were sad to learn in April that Prince Philip had died at the age of 99. Leasiders in particular may have felt a special loss – especially those old enough to remember when the Prince visited Leaside HS in late October, 1969. Philip had come to Leaside as part of a two-week tour of Canada to personally congratulate recipients of the Duke of Edinburgh awards. As many as 20 Leaside HS students – all young women – were among the award winners he planned to meet, including the winner of a coveted Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. (Read our story on Leaside’s Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award winner Sydney Murray on Page 6.) On October 22, the day of his arrival, Leaside was filled with excitement. In preparation, the high school had hung a large banner welcoming the Prince, set up exhib-

its in the gym for him to inspect, and organized a fashion show – replete with an improvised runway – for his entertainment. Students from nearby Northlea PS were dismissed early and lined the streets waving Canadian flags in the brisk fall air. Despite cold and snow, the prince arrived coatless, wearing just a suit. Before entering the school, he paused to smile and wave to the excited students and parents awaiting his arrival. Once inside, he was greeted by a throng of equally awe-struck high schoolers eager to meet a member of the royal family. Many students were impressed by how approachable and down-toearth Philip was. “I thought he’d be sort of stuffy, a wealthy aristo-

If you are working as support staff at Sunnybrook Hospital, you have more on your plate than you can handle. Filing your taxes is probably the last thing on your mind. I can help you. In appreciation for what you’re doing for all of us, I’d like to offer to do your taxes for FREE. I am able to take on returns for 2 months between the 2nd and 15th of each month until July. Our community at Sunnybrook Hospital needs our help and support. As a Leasider and a Torontonian, this is my way of expressing my thanks for the tremendous work you folks do. — Leonard Tam

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crat,” said one student, “[but] he’s great. I’d like to get to know him better.” Another confessed she thought she would “be scared,” when meeting him, but instead was so comfortable that “I just floated off the runway” during the fashion show. The Prince obviously had a knack for making people feel at ease. When he asked a young student athlete what she did in her spare time, she had no qualms boldly responding: “Well… I’ve thrown the eight-pound shotput 28 feet, 4 inches and I managed the best baseball team in our league.” Impressed, His Royal Highness exclaimed “My goodness!” In addition to these encounters, Philip viewed the various student displays featuring hobbies, outdoor life, food and crafts. He then proceeded to the school auditorium where he addressed students and faculty prior to handing out the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. In his remarks, he praised the winners for their tremendous commitment and effort in qualifying for the awards. He concluded by congratulating them on their achievement, observing that it was “the best example of student power I’ve come across yet.” Today, many still vividly remember Philip’s visit. One Leasider recalls that her mother provided flowers for the event. Others noted the discrepancy that Northlea students were let out of school to see the Prince, but those at Rolph Road and St Anselm’s had to stay at their desks. But no matter what they were doing, most people will admit – it was all quite exciting to be touched by royal pixie dust. n

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MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS 10

Leaside duo show where true crime meets food

Rebecca Harris Harris caught Muncaster’s attention. Mentioning her love for listening to true crime podcasts while walking her dog, Harris found her interests aligned exactly with Muncaster’s. Why not combine their love of the science of nutrition with their fascination with true crime? Thus, Dietetics After Dark was born. Harris has a BA in Criminology; Muncaster’s degree is in Biology. They both also have a BSc in Nutrition and Food. Drawing on each other’s strengths

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS DAY OF PRAYER June 20, 2021 at 10 am

St. Cuthbert’s Church Leaside 416-485-0329 www.stcuthbertsleaside.com To honour this day, St. Cuthberts virtual service features readings from The Doctrine of Discovery, Indigenous music, homily by one of the Anglican Church’s Indigenous bishops, and Prayers of the People, all to fulfill the Church’s pledge to participate in the Truth and Reconciliation process.

Sarah Muncaster and backgrounds, the two do extensive research using academic journals, government websites and documents, court proceedings, and organizational websites to produce fascinating, unbiased, and thought-provoking subject matter. As they pointed out in a recent podcast, “as long as there has been food there has been food fraud.” Dietetics After Dark includes evidence-based discussions about misleading food labelling, the truth behind terms like “non-GMO,” “all-natural,” “functional,” and “multigrain.” Side note: so much of our food has been genetically modified. Did you know that broccoli was created by mixing several cabbage types? I’m personally behind that genetically modified product! And then come the crime, scandals, and fraud. Harris and Muncaster will have you double-and triple-checking what’s in your child’s Halloween candy bag after listening to their account of a true story involving candy tampering and murder. Want to know the story behind the label on a popular McDonald’s item or what researchers have found when testing regular and veggie hot dogs? Did you know about the $18.7 million worth of maple syrup heist? Dietetics After Dark is the greatest source of scandals to come out of Leaside in, maybe, ever. Check out their website, dieteticsafterdark.com, for a link to the podcast. It definitely receives my stamp of approval for binge worthiness. n

GEOFF DEVINE

Avocados. They’ve taken off as a “must-have super food” in many Canadians’ diets. Our consumption of them, in fact, grew 240% between 2010 and 2019. The majority of the world’s avocados are grown in Mexico and as consumption has skyrocketed, so has the production of the fruit. But sadly, this growth has also attracted cartels. Farmers are facing constant violence, theft, and intimidation in their bid to grow successful businesses. There have even been murders related to the avocado industry. While a journalist rarely divulges her sources, I am more than happy to share my source for this information. Dietetics After Dark. As the podcast’s website points out, “if you like learning about crime, drama, poison, fraud, bias, nutrition, and food, this is the podcast for you.” The podcast is the brainchild of Leasider Becca Harris and her friend Sarah Muncaster, both Nutrition Master’s degree students at Ryerson. While they knew each other from afar from school, an online post by

ANDREA RENÉE PHOTOGRAPHY

Leaside Life • June 2021

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO

MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS 12

Serving up succulent sushi at Sushi by K Deciding to open a business on Eglinton between Laird and Sutherland is not for the faint of heart. Yes, there is high visibility from cars and buses whizzing by, but even pre-pandemic, it wouldn’t be considered a “let’s go for a shopping stroll” street, and a number of businesses have come and gone over the past years. Enter Beomsoo Kim, who arrived in Canada from Seoul seven years ago, armed with an economics degree, but also with a great desire to be a chef. After working in a number of Korean and Japanese restaurants, he set his sights on finding a location in Leaside for his own business. Why Leaside? He liked that the area felt safe, with people walking around the neighbourhood. So, since September, 2019, 874 Eglinton Ave. East has been home to Sushi by K – a Japanese restau-

Chef Beomsoo Kim front, centre and the Sushi by K team.

rant where the chef is Korean! Why? “I’m crazy about Japanese food,” he told me. It started as a dine-in restaurant, but with the usual takeout avail-

able. Now, with dining-in not allowed, takeout using UberEats, DoorDash, Skip the Dishes or curbside pickup are keeping the business alive. There is a staff of nine, and Sushi by K is open 7 days a week. Kim’s manager, Sein Yang, came to Canada three years ago from a small town in Korea, in order to learn more English and study for certification in Flight Services at Seneca College. When she finished, with no jobs in her field forthcoming, she ended up working in a midtown restaurant and met Beomsoo there. She still has the urge to work in travel, and to travel herself, but is happy to be where she is in the meantime. Running an independent restaurant where food quality is paramount requires knowing a lot of sources for ingredients, and a lot of running around to get them. Just a short list: avocado from the Toronto Food Terminal, salmon from the Centennial Food Group, shrimp from Ozawa Canada, beef from Costco, rice from Wismettac Asian Foods, kale from Whole Foods.... This is not an easy time for any restaurant business, and it is especially hard for one trying to remain viable. But from peeking in the window in the evening, and seeing the number of takeout bags all lined up ready to go, Sushi by K is definitely doing something right. n

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Leaside Life • June 2021

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A motorcycle gang in Leaside? 14

Leaside Life • June 2021

Terry Fallis Columnist

Here’s a strange one from the very early 1970s when my twin brother Tim and I were about 10 or 11. As you might imagine, Leaside is not exactly the kind of neighbourhood where you’d expect a motorcycle gang to set up shop. A gardening society? Sure. A community choral group? Why not? Perhaps a communal walking club. Makes sense. But a motorcycle gang in Leaside? Not so much. Leasiders with a penchant for shopping on Bayview will likely know that an alley runs north from Millwood almost up to Parkhurst, just behind the stores on the east side of Bayview. It was a great place to hang out as kids. We spent hours riding our bikes up and down the alley with a gang of friends. Sometimes we’d set up our makeshift ramps and jump our bikes. We often played hide & seek in that alley, too (oh the innocence of youth).

In those days, at the north end of the alley, there was a big garage. We assumed it was used by one of the store owners. But one summer’s day when Tim and I were heading for the alley, we heard the loud percussive popping of a motorcycle engine, perhaps more than one. As we rounded the corner into the alley, we stopped in our tracks. The big garage door was open, revealing about a dozen leather-clad bikers lounging on lawn furniture, their motorcycles parked haphazardly in the lane. Fancy choppers with long forks and psychedelic paint jobs. These guys looked rough. Jeans, leather chaps, leather vests, big tattoos, long hair and scraggly beards. There was heavy rock music playing in the background. It’s possible that beer was being consumed but I couldn’t swear to that. Needless to say, Tim and I were a little nervous as we stood there taking in this most unexpected sight. Finally, one of them said something like, “you can walk by, you know, we don’t bite.” So, we did. But we took the long way 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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home along Bayview. I don’t think the motorcycle gang’s new clubhouse lasted very long and we never heard why they just disappeared one day probably only a few months after they moved in. But I will never forget that scene in the alley that hot day when the motorcycle gang moved in to Leaside. It prompts another memory of walking with Tim and my mother along Bayview, heading to buy milk. I know that because our mother was carrying the two empty plastic jugs we were returning. I had just been telling Tim about a 1200 cc Harley Davidson motorcycle that I’d seen earlier that morning parked on the street. And then there it was, tooling along Bayview carrying a burly, bearded biker who wore what I can only describe as a leather skirt over top of his jeans. I suspect the biker didn’t refer to it as a leather skirt. I was so excited I shouted when I saw the bike. We’d never seen such a big motorcycle. As luck would have it, the biker, whose nickname could appropriately have been Sasquatch, actually heard my shout and looked right at me. I waved weakly and we continued our stroll up Bayview. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of it. A few minutes later, I looked behind us and here was this big guy, still in his helmet walking our way. He accosted us and demanded to know why I was yelling at him. There may have been a profanity involved, too. I politely explained that I’d just been so excited to see my first 1200 cc Harley that I’d shouted and pointed to show my brother. This seemed to placate him, even please him. I had the situation under control until my mother expressed some reservations about his aggressive attitude. He just patted the empty plastic jugs she was still carrying and said, “Drink your milk, lady.” That’s when Tim, in a spasm of either bravery or stupidity — and I’m certainly clear on which — stepped forward to defend our mother’s honour. The guy just laughed, turned on his heel and headed up the block. Yes, in Leaside. 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. His eighth novel, Operation Angus, hits bookstores August 31. n

No, I’m not living in an old folks’ home!

BARRY THOMAS

Leaside Life • June 2021

Barb (right) and her neighbour Ayesha Jones.

by BARB CARTER This is what I say to people about my apartment building. You see I moved to 1387 Bayview Ave. in July, 2015. My building is called SAHIL, which stands for Stay At Home in Leaside. It is for people over 60 years old. A few years ago, I said to my husband, “We need to think about giving up the house. It’s going to cost us money to stay here. You hate snow shovelling and lawn mowing. We could free up some cash and start doing some serious travelling. Maybe it’s time to consider moving to an apartment?" I heard that my favourite apartment was for sale at SAHIL. I was on the committee that developed the project from 1995 to completion in 1999. Other volunteers included Geoff Kettel and Edna Beange. I never really wanted to move to a multi-unit building. But SAHIL seemed perfect. It is only four storeys high and has 18 lovely well designed apartments. Our spacious apartment is 1250 sq. ft., much bigger than our tiny Leaside house. My husband has developed serious knee problems (all that Covid walking) and living on one floor has saved him. Even if I eventually need a walker or a wheelchair, I can still live here. And, we have an underground parking spot. Moving to an apartment means giving up control and I struggled with this. I have to rely on other people making decisions about how my money is spent to maintain and

operate my home. I solved that problem by becoming a volunteer on the finance committee. It took a bit of time, but I do trust the board to make good decisions that will keep SAHIL safe and fully operational for years to come. What I did not expect was the sense of community at SAHIL. We all know each others’ names. We have a phone list. We send out monthly newsletters. And we watch out for each other if there is an emergency. Cat sitting is also available from pet loving neighbours. An added and unexpected bonus was making new friends. Before Covid those who wanted to would gather in the common room – whether it was for tea, a celebratory dinner, Friday night BBQ or a birthday. Covid restrictions have presented some challenges and some of my neighbours are having a tougher time coping than others. Even though the back patio is available for open air conversations, some are still fearful of making any contact with others. We’ve had the occasional Trivial Pursuit game by Zoom. I don’t feel I’m living with “old folks” (look in the mirror, Barb). Most days everyone is able to shop, volunteer, tend our award-winning garden, work in the well-equipped workshop. A couple of us still work part time. Community living means respecting each other’s privacy and space and being prepared to compromise at times. I love Staying At Home in Leaside. n

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by HOLLY REID One of my earliest memories of Jenny Tomko is seeing her riding her bike around Leaside with a child on the front, another on the back, and two more pedaling on their own leading the way. But Jenny’s cycling life began much, much earlier, as a toddler on a tricycle. For more than 70 years, cycling has been a near constant in her life and she continues to bike at an age when some may wonder if they’re past pedaling. What keeps her going? “I continue to bike because bicycling to me is a way of life,” she says. “It helps me stay fit and healthy. I have always been inspired by Einstein’s quote, ‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you have to keep moving.’ Bicycling keeps me moving.”

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Cycling for transportation In her early years in Canada, a bike was simply an affordable way to get around. When Jenny worked at Queen’s University in the late 60s, that

worthwhile to overcome the barriers. Cycling is a low impact form of exercise, easy on the joints, and helpful with conditions such

JENNY TOMKO

Leaside Life • June 2021

This Leasider is still riding strong

Cycling through the ages (l-r): 1940s England, 1970s Canada Day at Trace Manes, 1990s Toronto Islands, 2020s in Leaside.

was what she and her friends did. Later in Toronto, she would cycle on Avenue Rd. to the University of Toronto, something she doubts she would attempt today. Until a few years ago, she regularly rode from Leaside to her job at the Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre on Wellesley. Now retired and without a daily commute, Jenny aims to ride every day when the weather is good. Keeping fit and healthy Today her cycling excursions tend to be for exercise and errands. Among her favourite places to cycle are the Toronto Islands, the Beltline Trail and the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In Leaside we are blessed with many amenities within a comfortable cycling distance. Long before we heard about cargo-biking moms, Jenny did her grocery shopping by bike and still does, although the loads are much lighter and the trips less frequent now that she doesn’t have four growing kids under her roof. Benefits outweigh the barriers Our capacity to cycle changes as we age – hills are not as hospitable, balance and flexibility may not be what they once were, and peripheral vision can be diminished. But the benefits from biking make it

as osteoarthritis, Type 2 diabetes, weight gain and cardiovascular disease. Changing to a stepthru frame or an e-bike is one way to help people bike later in life. Making sure our roadways are safe and can accommodate people of all ages on bikes is another. New group forming Whenever new cycling infrastructure is proposed in Toronto, a frequent objection is that only the young and the athletic will use it. But people like Jenny dispel the myth that older adults don’t bike. A new group is forming in midtown, specifically to encourage older people to rediscover life on a bike, through events, education and advocacy. To learn more, contact cycle55to@gmail.com. n

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The Wild Wing turnaround: science trumps art

Leaside Life • June 2021

18 The last face-to-face interview I conducted for Leaside Life was at the Wild Wing on Bayview at the end of February 2020. “The Art of the Turnaround” appeared in the April issue. On March 17, 2020, the government of Ontario declared its first state of emergency during the pandemic and Toronto followed six days later. We all know the rest of the story thus far… yet we still don’t know exactly how or when the pandemic will truly be behind us, nor the long-term toll. Restaurants Canada has reported that since March, 2020, more than 10,000 restaurants are currently shuttered across Canada, and it is expected that nearly half will close permanently. Statistics Canada reported a devastating 37% drop in Ontario food services and drinking place sales from $2.58 billion in February, 2020 to $1.61 billion for the same month in 2021. Understandably, I got concerned when I heard rumours that the Wild Wing business was for sale. So, I picked up the phone and called savvy restaurateurs Rajan and Ritu, the risk-taking couple who jumped in to lead the original turnaround late in 2019. The first point of note, the business is not for sale, “unless the number is right!” The second point of note, although the “science” of the virus has trumped the “art” in the turnaround effort, there is simply no replacement for experience when it comes to dealing with a crisis. During the period from April to October, 2020, Rajan reported sales from delivery and takeout remained strong. He attributes this to the financial support individuals received from the government at the time. He also pointed to the fact that many Leasiders limited their travel and remained in the ’hood last summer. Patio service was in full demand and really “saved the day, plus our burgers and flatbreads are every bit as good as our wings.” Unfortunately, the good times did not last. Since October, business has been much slower and patios have been shut down. Compounding their stress is the fact that the Bayview Wild Wing business did not qualify for any government financial assistance

other venues are closed.” They were also extremely focused on keeping the facility clean and implementGlenn Asano ing the COVID-19 protocols. “If I The Business unfortunately have a sick employee who comes to work and spreads it, of Leaside it’s a disaster because people will never forget that,” said Rajan. “I mean, the amount of sanitizer and so many chemicals and disinfectants that we’ve invested in to make sure that people feel safe is crazy but necessary.” One challenge I feel is worth noting is food delivery services. “We know we can’t beat Uber Eats and we can’t beat Skip the Dishes because they have the scale and top-of-mind awareRitu and Rajan ness. But what we can do and did is to launch our new online ordering platform this month because revenue in 2019 was so there is no need to speak with minimal before the couple bought anyone at the store. Pickup is safe, the business. In this case, the sucreliable and efficient.” Should you cessful makings of the turnaround absolutely need delivery, Uber Eats were evident and a decent Q1-2020 and Skip the Dishes take 20-25% was cause for celebration before the from his bottom line. If we order lockdown. That celebration was directly from the Wild Wing website, short-lived, though, since the reality their business can significantly reduce of the situation meant their busiits delivery costs. In addition, you ness did not qualify for any finanavoid the ‘markup’ applied by these cial support as 2020 revenues were delivery services. It’s a small thing stronger than those booked by the for us to change our behaviour, but previous ownership group. it truly does make a difference for the local business we choose to support. To lose patience Local Leaside businesses are doing all is to lose the battle they can to survive. — Mahatma Gandhi Rajan still feels there’s good reason to remain optimistic because vaccinations are in full swing and a How has the business managed to new patio season is just around the survive? Without hesitation, Rajan corner. A frosty beverage, on a sunpoints to having “amazing support filled patio, together with friends. from the community, equally One can dream. amazing staff (shout out to Priyanka, Have a favourite patio in Leaside? Ash, Charisma, Gail, Christiana Do you think the 15% cap on and Victoria), an extremely underfood delivery service charges in standing landlord, and the ability the recently approved “Supporting to remain calm and be patient.” Local Restaurants Act” will make Rajan explained that “the restaua difference? Is the Uber Eats Pass rant business is not rocket science subscription worth paying $9.99 but it’s also not an easy business. per month to eliminate delivery We’re not really discovering somefees and receive a discount at select thing new. It’s pretty standard to get restaurants? good food out as quick as you can Let us know at leasidelife@gmail. with a smile on your face, provide com. good service, and maintain a high Leasider Glenn Asano is a partner level of cleanliness.” and principal consultant for the Their years of experience gave them strategy and business development the confidence to be patient. They practice at Centred Performance. He realized that “if you can stay open is also an Instructor with the Ted while others are closing up, then Rogers School of Management at there is a good chance you will pick Ryerson University. n up that additional business because

LETTERS

leasidelife@gmail.com

Let's make our sidewalks safe for everyone I am a senior living in Leaside and, like many people during the pandemic, I’ve been walking more for fresh air and exercise. I’m encouraged to see so many in Leaside outside enjoying our neighbourhood. The increase in people riding bikes, particularly children cycling, is a positive development for overall health and the environment. Sadly, I had to give up my own bicycle as recently as 2 years ago. I was born in northern Europe and ever since coming to Toronto, I am compelled to compare the biking culture differences between my birth country and Canada. People of all ages could comfortably get around by bike and unlike Toronto, bike lanes were everywhere. The dilemma here in Leaside is how to ride and where. Everybody used to ride on

ITED

the streets, myself included, but now for more and more people, sidewalks are considered the way to go and that poses problems for pedestrians, especially for seniors. I understand that children up to the age of 14 are allowed to ride on the sidewalk, and many do so perceiving it to be a safer place to ride. Our sidewalks are narrow with barely enough room for two people to pass, never mind someone on a bike. The slopes for driveway exits are difficult to navigate if you are unsteady on your feet or your bike. Bobbling off the curb unintentionally could send a child on a bike into traffic or turn an ankle for a pedestrian. So that we can all enjoy our outdoor spaces, I ask that if you can safely do so, please ride on the road.

But if you find you must ride on the sidewalk, please help people like me stay safe on the sidewalk with these four simple practices: • Approach pedestrians slowly older people don’t react as fast as you think and need time to move to one side • Ring your bell early and often keep in mind that many seniors don’t hear that well and need to know you are coming • Always pass on the left side - this way people know where to move when they hear your bell • If the sidewalk is crowded, walk your bike until it is clear to ride again These are small changes that I’m sure even children can do with some encouragement from their parents and teachers. I am speaking for my elderly friends as well as myself when I say that we would feel so much safer coming out and walking in the fresh air if people would adopt these practices. Let’s all work together for a safe summer! Ulla Nystrom

Kathleen Wynne, MPP

Don Valley West

Once again this year, COVID 19 is prohibiting us from engaging with each other in our community. To be safe we have to stay separate from each other as much as we possibly can. That means that celebrating Canada Day as we have in the past, together in a large crowd, is impossible.We have to continue to listen to public health professionals and stay home to keep the people we love safe and healthy. This year there is hope because many of us have been able to receive a vaccination but until the vast majority of us have had both our shots, we have to continue to be very careful. Thank you to all of the key workers who make sure we have food, who pick up our waste, who look after us when we are sick, who ensure we still have trains and buses and safe roads to get around. We will get through this together and on July 1st, we celebrate Canada Day apart from each other.

Happy Canada Day everyone!

Constituency Office

795 Eglinton Avenue East, Unit 101, Toronto, ON M4G 4E4 416-425-6777 www.kathleenwynne.onmpp.ca

Leaside Life • June 2021

ERS M TT A LE

MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS

The pandemic landed Jennifer Commins in hot water (in a good way) by SUZANNE PARK Have you ever wondered why people are like tea? We discover our strengths when we’re steeped in hot water. That’s exactly where Jennifer Commins found herself as the pandemic threatened to crush her flourishing tea business. The local entrepreneur and founder of Pluck Tea revealed that “despite the overuse of the word ‘pivot,’ that is exactly what my team and I were forced to do in 2020. Just prior to the lockdown, we were on a winning streak with over 600 restaurants and offices taking weekly deliveries of our upscale teas. Within days we lost 85 per cent of our sales and closed up our offices and moved the business to a commercial space on Research Road. Ready or not, we quickly made the shift to online, direct-to-consumer sales much

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Leaside Life • June 2021

sooner than I had planned.” With a heavy steeping of time and experimentation to build up her online presence, Jennifer’s business is now back to 90 per cent of her pre-pandemic sales. Thanks to Leaside connections, Jennifer was able to leverage Neal Brothers Foods’ distributor expertise to build Pluck Tea’s retail presence in upscale grocers. What sparked her to launch a tea business? “When dining out, I envied the coffee drinkers being offered elaborate and elegant coffees while tea lovers like me were stuck with a dingy teapot and humdrum teabag sticking out of the lid,” she revealed. “I decided someone had to lift tea’s game and it might as well be me.” That was in 2012. As a new entrepreneur Jennifer had a steep learning curve ahead. “With my passion for tea and commitment to changing tea drinkers’ experience, I sped up my part-time George Brown College Culinary program and enrolled and became a certified Tea Sommelier. My husband and I agreed that with three children and my income at zero, we’d sell our house so I could focus on building the business.” The pandemic has certainly changed that business, especially its staffing. “Our tea business tends to attract women and everyone pulls their weight and then some,” she

said. “Paid sick days and stringent protocols have ensured staff and product safety from the outset. We have an amazing team of A players, including one brave man. They make coming to work a pleasure.” Community service is a big part of Pluck Tea’s mandate. The company works directly with a growing network of Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, and organic certified tea farms to source high quality teas. Teas are infused with local ingredients such as lavender from Prince Edward County, cranberries from Nova Scotia, and grape skins from Niagara. This past February Pluck Tea launched the socially minded Canadian Breakfast tea blend. “We are thrilled to support Breakfast Club of Canada with a $2 donation from every package of The Canadian Breakfast tea sold,” says Jennifer. “This incredible charity provides students across Canada with a healthy meal to start their day, in a warm and supportive environment – which perfectly aligns with our Tea for Good mission.” n

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“The man who created the Leaside look” – honoured at last At the close of the 100th anniversary year of the founding of the Town of Leaside in 1913, former Councillor John Parker wrote an article in Leaside Life (January, 2014) about Frederick Gage Todd, called “The man who created the Leaside look.” It’s a very appropriate title, I must say, for the town planner and landscape architect who designed the frame that gives rise to much of Leaside’s distinctive character, such as the curvilinear streets and connecting diagonals (McRae, Millwood), the separation of residential and industrial lands, and the provision of “pocket parks” for his “model city.” Leaside was laid out in 1912, only eight years after Ebenezer Howard’s Letchworth Garden City in England. The Town of Leaside was also the first town in Ontario planned in complete detail before a single building was erected, and which grew to fulfill its plan pretty well as designed (so much for the sign claiming Don Mills to be the first planned community!). Todd’s client for his work at Leaside, as at Mount Royal (Montreal) and Port Mann (Vancouver) was the Canadian Northern Railway. Canadian Northern Railwaymen are well recognized in Leaside street names, such as Laird, Wicksteed, Fleming, MacNaughton, and Markham (now Stickney). But not Todd, or at least, not until recently. At its April 20, 2021 meeting, North York Community Council adopted a motion, made by Councillor Jaye Robinson, to name a proposed public street on the west side of 939 Eglinton Ave. East (adjacent to and separating the highrise development from Mercedes Benz at 849 Eglinton Ave. East) as “Frederick Todd Way.” In fact, the Leaside street naming is not the only recent honour given to Frederick Todd, one of Canada’s first town planners. In October, 2020, Frederick Gage Todd was officially designated as a National Historic Person by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada. The release says: “Frederick Gage Todd was Canada’s first professional landscape architect and pop-

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside

ularized the idea of naturalistic open space in Canadian cities. To honour Frederick Todd, 2023 will mark the 110th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Leaside. We should start now to make plans to celebrate, and perhaps give full honours to Frederick Gage Todd, the creative town planner. n

Frederick Gage Todd’s original plan for Leaside.

Is the Leaside LRT Station site in a holding pattern? by GEOFF KETTEL In the March issue of Leaside Life, we asked: will Leaside be getting an MZO? The provincial government has sparked a firestorm with its frequent use of Ministerial Zoning Orders to force through favoured developments, including one on a provincially significant wetland in Pickering, and – closer to Leaside – The Foundry in the West Donlands, where strong residents’ opposition has, at least for the moment, forced the bulldozers to vacate the site. But did you know that the City, with its Housing Now program, has authorized several modular housing projects (the nearest to Leaside at the Stan Wadlow Arena in East York) pre-approved to proceed

with MZOs? The City argues they need to create modular (supportive) housing units in rapid fire time to meet federal funding deadlines. There will be prior community consultation...not on “whether” but “how.” What’s happening with the Leaside Station site? We wrote to City of Toronto Chief Planner Gregg Lintern in February. Here’s what we learned from him and other senior staff: • “There is a public record from Metrolinx (MX) that the corner site at Eglinton and Bayview has been contemplated for some form of development given the station was designed to position strucLRT STATION Page 28

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Let’s hear it for Leaside’s balcony gardeners! Balconies have proven to be essential spaces for condo and apartment dwellers, especially during the pandemic. Whether big or small, these outdoor extensions provide a safe space to connect to the outside world, a place to relax and get some fresh air. But a balcony can be and do so much more. Add just a few of the right plants to a balcony and suddenly there’s a mini garden in the sky helping to restore our lack of natural biodiversity and improving our urban canopy too! By simply growing some fruit and veg, a few herbs along with some native florals, a balcony garden like this is helping to support our essential pollinators. And by growing a single dwarf tree, a couple of evergreens or even a few ferns, a balcony garden is helping both to cool and clean our air. Just imagine if every balcony had a garden like one of these. This kind of ecological connectivity is happening more at ground level with pollinator projects such

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The Leaside Gardener Debora Kuchme Columnist

balcony at its best. Include a list of your plant selections and in a few words, tell us a bit about your balcony garden. In September, we’ll present these photos in the online version of Leaside Life for all of us to appreciate and learn from.

After

JEAN SUGARBROAD-KEELE

Leaside Life • June 2021

Before

as the David Suzuki Butterflyway project and most recently Project Swallowtail (hope to see a Block Ambassador start a group here in Leaside) showing us how each and every pollinator garden joins together to create a corridor. And it looks like some of our local sky gardeners have risen to the challenge (pun intended) to participate too. Jean Sugarbroad-Keele is a passionate and dedicated balcony gardener whose Leaside condo terrace is a true pollinator paradise. She wrote to me to suggest the possibility of the first ever Leaside Life balcony contest and I must say, I simply love this idea! But rather than choosing one winner (every balcony garden is a winner in my eyes) wouldn’t it be great to see how our local balcony gardeners are greening up our neighbourhood and helping our pollinators? Wouldn’t it be inspiring to see how many different kinds of gardens are possible high above the ground, right here in Leaside? Calling all Balcony Gardeners

If you’re a balcony gardener who wants to inspire others, send a photo of your Leaside balcony garden to leasidelife@gmail.com by August 5. That should allow more than enough time to showcase your

Meanwhile, if you’re a condo or apartment dweller with an empty balcony, there’s still lots of time to green it up. Check out Toronto Balconies Bloom at Toronto Urban Growers (torontourbangrowers.org) where you’ll find everything you need to know on getting started, and more. To make your plant sourcing easier, Davenport Garden Centre on Bayview has a wide assortment of native, organic and neonic-free plants with a knowledgeable staff to guide you. Perhaps you have some issues with your balcony garden and need some advice. Toronto Master Gardeners have a great site (www.torontomastergardeners.ca) with gardening guides and resources with up-todate information. Go to their Ask a Master Gardener page and you’ll most likely find your question has already been addressed in detail. If not, simply send in your question and a Toronto Master Gardener will reply. I’ve learned a lot from reading other gardeners’ questions. Or feel free to email me at leasidelife@ gmail.com with your balcony garden problem and I will dig in to find you the answer or at least point you in the right direction. Here’s to our mighty and essential balcony gardeners who are building back a better Leaside in the sky! n

A happy ending for Leaside family For Leaside grad Katherine Leyton, Mother’s Day 2021 was an especially joyous one. On Sun., March 27th, Leyton’s 3-year-old, Jude, wandered away from the family’s fishing resort about 65 kilometres north of Kingston. For three and a half agonizing days, Leyton, her husband Clay Fisher, little brother Elton, and family and friends, waited torturous minute after minute for news about Jude. The wooded, rocky, Jude recovering rough terrain with Late afternoon, March swamps and lakes 31st, a team of four OPP where Jude ventured members discovered Jude sleepwas an area he had traing near a beaver pond. While versed often with his grandfaexhausted and startled, the boy was ther and uncle. But once he wandered warm and “just laying down peacefrom their usual trail, Jude quickly fully,” according to the officer who became disoriented. spotted him. Emergency response unit members Officers and doctors attribute the from all over eastern Ontario, boy’s ability to withstand the wet members of the OPP search and and cold weather to his warm wool recovery marine unit, a canine unit, sweater, coat, and rain boots.

Taken immediately to Kingston General Hospital for assessment, Jude responded well to treatment but is still, according to grandparents, Leasiders Barb and Paul Leyton, dealing with lingering, but improving, symptoms of his muscles having broken down to provide his body with fuel over the three and half days. “Jude,” says grandmother Barb, “is a thoughtful boy,” who explained after being found, that he had climbed up high to see if he could spot his way home. He also, when asked by his father if he had drunk any water (fearing he might have consumed contaminated water), said there were “no cups of water in the forest.” Jude’s grandparents are thankful the family were so well supported by friends, neighbours, and people they had never met who sent food, gifts, and letters during, and after, the ordeal. A member of the OPP told the family that Jude “should teach a survivor’s course.” The principal of a nearby school sent Jude a letter: “Our kindergarteners have been learning about superheroes and have decided that you are one.” n

Leaside Life • June 2021

and two OPP helicopters came in, searching day and night for signs of the young boy.

KATHERINE/PAUL LEYTON

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO

Important update on the Committee of Adjustment

Leaside Life • June 2021

Across the city, Committee of Adjustment (CoA) application volume has increased by 96 per cent over the past eight years. With almost 200 applications considered in 2020, Don Valley West is among the busiest wards in Toronto for minor variance applications. Throughout my time at City Hall, reforming and improving the CoA to give our communities a real voice in the process has remained one of my key priorities. The CoA has the power to make important decisions that can alter the prevailing character of our neighbourhoods and have significant impacts on adjacent properties. I regularly hear from Leaside residents who are concerned that new applications – which can deviate substantially from the bylaw – may affect their access to sunlight, privacy, drainage, and tree protection. In past Leaside Life articles, I’ve written about the work I’ve done in the Council Chambers to advocate for our communities and improve

Jaye Robinson

Councillor, Ward 15, Don Valley West

Toronto’s local planning processes. My motions have resulted in a number of important changes to the CoA, such as process improvements to encourage dialogue with neighbours earlier in the review process, redesigned public notice signs and improved communication tools for residents, and livestreamed hearings.

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In June, 2020, the Committee of Adjustment began conducting virtual meetings in response to the COVID19 pandemic. Unfortunately, many neighbours have reported that the shift to a virtual format has exacerbated existing participation issues and created new ones. In response to ongoing concerns, I tabled a series of motions in December, 2020 calling for a review of the newly implemented comment submission deadline, a strategy to ensure neighbours receive public notices well in advance of this deadline, and a realtime protocol for dealing with technical issues during hearings. I was admittedly disappointed that City Planning’s staff report in response to my motions did not recommend any meaningful steps to address these serious public participation issues. Fortunately, a group of engaged neighbours from Divadale Drive appeared before the Planning and Housing Committee on April 22 and made impressive deputations on their outstanding concerns with the process. As a result of our community’s advocacy, the Planning and Housing Committee made a recommendation for an independent public review – including substantial consultation – to address these issues. At the ensuing City Council meeting, I also directed City Planning staff to explore the feasibility of accepting written submissions and requests to speak at virtual CoA hearings after the respective deadlines in cases where residents do not receive their public notices in time, as well as interim strategies to improve accessibility and transparency that can be implemented in the short term. However, I was disappointed that City Council amended the Planning and Housing Committee’s recommendation and narrowed the focus of the consultant’s assessment to the findings of the End-to-End Review of the Development Review Process undertaken by KPMG in 2019. While I would have much preferred an independent public review as requested by the neighbourhood, I look forward to the consultant’s findings and will continue collaborating with our Ward 15 communities to make the Committee of Adjustment work better for everyone. n

We’re fortunate to live in Leaside, one of Toronto’s most desirable neighbourhoods. On the other hand, Leaside’s desirability attracts a lot of home renovation, demolition and rebuilding. If your house is next to the construction site, you are likely experiencing not only months of noise but also disruption to your own property. The Leaside Residents Association frequently receives reports (and cries for help) from homeowners who report blockage of, and damage to, their driveways, plumbing, and neighbouring walls, and debris stored on their property. Aside from the aggravation, the contractor’s work next door can cause real costs to you. Before construction begins, as a precaution, it’s a good idea to take photos or video to record the “before” for future comparison. If a problem occurs, what can you do? Take photos or video to document the problem. You can call 311, or the Councillor’s office, but by the time an inspector has been assigned to take a look, hours, days or even weeks may have passed. It will probably be too late to catch the builder in the act and prevent greater harm. A fine, long after the event, may be levied. Calling the police won’t help: the police don’t get involved in civil property disputes. Another issue: is your problem with the contractor? Or with the owner of the property? At our May LRA board meeting, we heard from one Leasider who has experienced all of the above frustrations plus repair costs. It occurred to us there could actually be effective action. Just as a “tree deposit” has to be paid to protect the health of on-site trees before construction is permitted, how about the City requiring an up-front deposit for any potential damage to adjacent properties? This deposit could provide prompt payment to cover the cost of the damage. It would also fund an instant helpline for the affected homeowner to contact, and – not least – be a meaningful incentive for builders to dig and build with greater care. A construction damage deposit would likely have to be implemented City-wide; Leaside is not the only neighbourhood affected by construction damage. Is it worth proposing to our civic government? What are your thoughts?

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

Traffic update The LRA is working closely with Lawrence Park’s ratepayer group. We are together requesting an in-person (outdoor, safely distanced) meeting with top City officials to discuss the timely completion of both neighbourhoods’ community-wide road-safety traffic management plans (TMPs), which have been in the planning stage since 2019, but slowed by the pandemic. We are seeking interim safety measures, and permanent traffic calming, road/intersection redesigns. We are optimistic this meeting will take place by early summer. Next board meeting You are welcome to attend any of the LRA’s monthly board meetings, which normally take place on the first Wednesday of each month. Our June Zoom meeting has been rescheduled to WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9th, owing to a time conflict with a City public consultation event. To watch or participate, let us know by June 9th so we can send you the access details. n

Leaside Life • June 2021

Are you living through construction hell?

THE

LRT STATION From Page 22

Curious Idler

The almost $7 million contract awarded to GFL Infrastructure Group as part of the City’s Basement Flooding Protection program continues to wind its way through Leaside. Expected to be completed this summer, upgrades have been made to the storm sewers, combined sewers, and watermains to reduce surface basement flooding. The City is also reminding Leasiders that if you have a house built pre-1950s, and you have not had your water service upgraded, your service may be made of lead and you may want to change this service. Check your sump pump to ensure it is functioning properly and that any battery backup system is also working properly. The cost for a properly maintained sump pump will be far less than the cost and inconvenience of a flooded basement. A failed $300 sump pump resulted in the Idler having to negotiate a $30,000 insurance claim.

The original Leaside Station design with no high-rise.

Post office woes As our world continues the march towards digital, a reader has expressed concern about the limited traditional postal services available within Leaside. Currently, the only postal outlet is located on the second floor of the Shoppers Drug Mart at 1601 Bayview Ave, which has elevator service for those who have difficulty with the stairs. In 2017, Leaside Life’s Lorna Krawchuk wrote about the strange phenomenon of moonlight disappearance of our neighbourhood red mailboxes. In April 2021, the Canadian Press reported that the Crown Corporation lost $779 million in 2020, a fivefold increase from the $153 million loss in 2019.

Scammers (revisited) In our February 2021 issue, the Idler included a note from a reader who suggested that the folks who have been “working” Bayview Ave. were probably scammers and people should stop giving them money to make them “go away.” This elicited a strong response from a few of our regular Leaside Life readers who contacted us to object to the assumption that these women sitting in front of Dollarama and other locations were scammers. One reader stated: “I feel the piece titled “Scammers” is mean-spirited,” while another called for more compassion and kindness.

King of Leaside, George Turrell dies On April 21, 2021, George Turrell, a wellknown fixture at the Leaside Arena for over 50 years, died. For generations of Leaside families, George was affectionately known as the “King of Leaside.” In April 2017, then Premier Kathleen Wynne presented George with a special certificate of appreciation in front of a crowd of several hundred supporters. You can read Dan Girard’s account of how special George was to Leaside in the May 2017 issue of Leaside Life. More recently the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame established The George Turrell Lifetime Contribution Award to recognize individuals like George who have demonstrated a high degree of devotion and commitment to local sports organizations over decades of service in the community. George was the first recipient of the award.

Shop local! The Ontario government declaration of emergency and province-wide Stay-at-Home order is expected to be lifted on or about June 2. With more than half of Canadians, and an even higher percentage of Leasiders having received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, we are all hoping for a more normal summer. As our Leaside retailers and restaurants plan to reopen, their world will be far from normal. With increased safety measures and limits on capacity, businesses will be facing continued challenges. The Idler encourages everyone to shop local. The hallmark of Leaside businesses has been the outstanding support they give to our community. It's time for us to give back! n

DAN GIRARD

Leaside Life • June 2021

Drains, mains and sump pumps

tural supports and other requirements to allow for future unspecified overbuild.” • “We have enquired with MX regarding a potential development on the proposed site. While there have been high level discussions between MX and a potential developer, there has been no formal development proposal shared with MX at this time. We are not aware of any current commercial discussions between Metrolinx and a developer.” • “A developer would need to make a formal application to the City of Toronto and follow the regular development process for the site and any related lands.” No mention of the MZO issue – will the consultation be like the City’s supportive housing project? Remember neither the Bayview in Focus plan nor Midtown in Focus changed the zoning status of the Leaside station site (Mixed Use) or “the quads” (Neighbourhood). What about the quads south of the station site, and their tenants? Recall the tenants in 1783-85 Bayview were threatened with eviction. We did not get any response from the Housing Secretariat, and arranged for some help from the Don Valley Community Legal Services. The tenants have reluctantly agreed to move, effective June, 2021. This would allow Metrolinx to transfer the building to the owner of 1779-81 Bayview. We’ve had no response to our request to list and designate the second quad (1779-81 Bayview). We’ll continue to demand action from Heritage Planning. (Councillor Robinson has asked about this as well.) Right now, we’ll continue to monitor this closely. Stay tuned. n

Leaside Life • June 2021

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Has the pandemic made you greener?

Leaside Life • June 2021

by LILY DOWNING-SALIANI Over a year has passed since the pandemic altered our world. Daily lives have changed. Working from home is now the norm, many vacations are on hold, and connectivity online has become more crucial than ever. What are the implications for our environment? Leasiders have likely become greener because of the pandemic. And whether the result of conscious changes or not, our environment is benefiting from many of the differences in our daily lives now. Fewer of us are travelling every day for work, groceries can be delivered, and many takeout food services are thriving. We have adapted to staying relatively close to home, ultimately reducing the emissions from our vehicles. My mom, Janet Downing, has altered her daily routine by working from home and rarely using her car. She has adapted to teaching and

Lily Downing-Saliani

tutoring through online services to ensure her students’ education continues to be a primary focus. Remaining connected while we are apart is beneficial to our well-being, but it’s also beneficial to our climate. Staying in touch with others in our community, city, and world, allows for discussions about the climate crisis to continue. Through interactions online, more people are aware of the global effects of climate change. Our community’s actions matter in the grand scheme of things; a greener Leaside positively promotes a greener Earth. My friend, fellow Leasider Sophia Gazzola, told me how her lifestyle has shifted to being more environmentally friendly through the pandemic. “I have been going on more walks, I don’t drive [now] as much as I walk.” Sophia also recently started a butterfly garden featuring a bee bath and many native flowers. Tending to a garden makes for a great, green pastime. Gardens also have positive environmental benefits: they take in carbon dioxide, promote sustainable agriculture, increase oxygen, and provide resources for other wildlife. Even if you don’t think you have a green thumb, you’d be surprised at how many low maintenance plant options there are. All of our individual efforts in the community positively affect the environment we share. Together we may have unintentionally created a greener Leaside; collectively we should continue to strive for sustainability. n

TWINS From cover Chloe was part of OFSAA gold and silver medal teams in cross-country and won a bronze in 3000m. She is ranked sixth in the U17 3000m and eighth in the U17 1500m. She was also chosen senior athlete of 2020 at LHS. All of these accomplishments require hours of training and dedication. The sisters’ routine includes running six days a week with three workout days, three easy runs and strength training, all guided by their CTAC coaches. Chloe says they love being part of the CTAC community where everyone is very encouraging and passionate about running. Their coaches are very impressed with the girls as well. Dave Christiani appreciates the fact they are highly motivated with “ambitious performance goals,” and Amanda Lampard notes their “dedication to achieving excellence,” calling Sophie a “fierce competitor” on the track and highlighting Chloe’s “quiet determination” over longer distances. While the twins have found it challenging to stay positive and enthusiastic these days, they feel lucky to have each other as running partners. Their mother, Susanne, says, “As identical twins, they push each other in everything they do from school to sports. They know that if one of them can accomplish a goal, then the other one can, too. They keep setting the bar higher.” This year, Chloe also served as a co-captain of her CTAC team, planning several activities such as individual and team challenges and the virtual banquet. She especially enjoyed organizing a Christmas food drive for the Thorncliffe Food Bank, and Sophie also helped with this rewarding project. With their excellent running records and marks in the high 90s, the twins were approached by some American universities, but have chosen to attend Western for a five-year program that offers a dual degree in medical science and business at Ivey. Sophie says they are “excited to be in this program and to be part of the Western Mustangs with their excellent athletes, coaches and facilities.” Their ultimate goals are to be on national teams – maybe even the Olympics – and pursue careers combining medical science with business. n

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