Issuu

S E P T E M B E R 2021

Leaside Life leasidelife.com

No. 112

Meet your candidates Page 20. FEDERAL ELECTION SEPTEMBER 20th

Trauma, truths, and action:

Kevin Berube

CHRISTINE BAUNEMANN

Three Indigenous Leasiders share their reflections.

ORTING LOCAL

BU S

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO In late May this year, a survey of the grounds at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School uncovered the remains of 215 children buried at the site. For many non-Indigenous people in Canada, the news was met with shock, anger, and grief. S ES For many Indigenous IN people, the discovery was sadly not unex-

pected or surprising. But the discovery, understandably, still provoked feelings of devastation, anguish, and anger. An estimated 150,000 children attended residential schools over 120 years and approximately 6,000 Indigenous children died while in residence. With the number of destroyed, missing, or incomplete records, though, the true number of deaths will likely never be fully determined.

This is only one of many injustices Indigenous people have endured. With the aim of analyzing the means by which non-Indigenous people can address the history of injustices, as well as celebrate the culture and achievements of Indigenous people, we spoke with three who call Leaside home. Kevin Berube Kevin Berube was born and raised in Nipigon and is a proud band TRAUMA, TRUTHS... Page 14

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Editor’s Welcome 2

Leaside Life • September 2021

Home truths, close to home

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Earlier this year Canadians were rocked by the news that a survey of the grounds at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School had uncovered the remains of 215 children buried at the site. And this was just the start, as hundreds more such revelations made the news over the spring and summer. The journey to the light will be a long one, and the wounds will once again be raw every time more news is shared. At our last Leaside Life editorial meeting we debated how we could acknowledge the shocking discoveries, honour and pay tribute to Indigenous experiences, and be part of a larger ongoing conversation. We asked columnist Susan Scandiffio, recent winner of a Pandemic Hero Award, presented by Don Valley West MP Rob Oliphant, to speak with three

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

Indigenous people who call Leaside home: Tobie Loukes, Kevin Berube, and Tabatha Bull. All were candid with her. As Tobie Loukes said, we must learn about the past, learn about the present, and act upon the findings for the future. The interviews are informative, as is a resource guide at the close of the story. I hope our feature will only be the start of many more, important conversations in the community, and beyond. Read also in this issue an important update from TDSB Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin on how Leaside schools are addressing Indigenous issues. Do you have a story to share? If so, we want to hear from you. Contact Leaside Life at: leasidelife@gmail. com. n

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Reimagine Overlea creates a vision for a safer bridge

which often splashes on pedestrians. The bridge also has very little lighting. There are high guard rails on the traffic-facing side of the bridge, but significantly lower railings on the ravine side, leaving many pedes-

trians anxious, especially in heavy foot traffic. Bike lanes are unprotected, and high-speed vehicular traffic has left many cyclists fearful and resorting to using the walkway. According to student Hafeez Alavi, “The bridge is only working for people who drive, and that’s absurd as most residents in Thorncliffe and Flemingdon don’t drive. We need a bridge that can work for everyone.” This past school year, the students, staff, and families of the two schools came together in a campaign named “Reimagine Overlea,” designed to bring much wider attention to these issues. What began as a study in Environmental Research and Technological Design Classes soon became a school and community-wide project. With the vision of a safe and accessible bridge for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists of all ages and abilities, students spent countless hours researching, analyzing, designing, organizing, and lobby-

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For over a decade, the communities of Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park have expressed concerns over the safety of the Charles H. Hiscott Bridge, more commonly known as the Overlea Bridge. Some 2,000 students from Thorncliffe Park cross the bridge daily going to and from Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute and Valley Park Middle School in Flemingdon Park. Another 1,000 pedestrians use the bridge every day to access places of work, stores, appointments, friends and families. The high volume of pedestrians makes Overlea Bridge the second highest used bridge in the city. But with a walkway of only 1.5 metres wide, this volume creates congestion, most especially during student rush hour. In addition to congestion, the bridge has poor drainage, resulting in icing and slippery surfaces on the walkway, as well as a buildup of rain and slush on the roadway

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by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO

Leaside Life • September 2021

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO When 10-year-old Bani Arora heard from a classmate that she had to wait until she went home to change her feminine hygiene product, it got Bani wondering. How many students were too embarrassed to ask to go to the washroom to change their products? How many were too shy to go to the school office to ask for a pad or tampon if they didn’t have one? Did students even know that products were available to them at school? So, the Bessborough student put these, and other questions into a survey – “Menstruation Accessibility at Bessborough” – and had it distributed online to all girls in Grade 4 and above via their teachers. With 59 responses, Bani’s survey revealed the following: • 89% of the respondents indicated that they are concerned about access to menstrual products while at school. • 67% of the respondents thought it would be helpful not to have

Bani Arora

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Indomitable student Bani Arora raises important questions

to ask for a pad/tampon in an emergency. With these responses in hand, Bani met with the administration to discuss the findings. She would like to spread the word to students that feminine hygiene products are available at the school.

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As many girls might be embarrassed to ask for a pad or tampon, she would also like products to be accessible in a discreet spot. These could include drawers or cupboards in both the school office and classrooms. She would like to see education about menstruation delivered to both boys and girls. With two brothers, Bani notes that “it would be easier if boys knew.” According to Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF’s former Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, “Meeting the hygiene needs of all adolescent girls is a fundamental issue of human rights, dignity, and public health.” Bani agrees, pointing out that if schools are required to provide essential hygiene items such as soap and toilet paper for students, they should also acknowledge that feminine hygiene products are essential too. Recognizing there are many girls and women in the city who might not have access to feminine hygiene products, Bani would like to organize drives to collect menstrual supplies for other schools, food banks, and women’s shelters. And as a reminder, Bani is TEN years old. Says her mom, Ruby Singh, “I’m blown away by this little girl, but she’s always had a big heart.” When a 10-year-old casually rhymes off names such as Viola Desmond, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Malala Yousafzai and points out that she’s inspired by “anyone who fights for equal rights,” there’s a good chance this is a girl who will do great things. n

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Leaside Life • September 2021

AJS Auto Sales is truly a family affair by TALBOT BOGGS Anthony Picilaidis’s used-car sales company, AJS Auto Sales, is truly a Leaside family affair. Picilaidis started AJS about four years after the software company where he worked as chief customer officer was sold and he found himself out of a job. He and his family have lived in Leaside and been active in local sports and school affairs for more than 30 years. A self-professed car buff, he always had a dream of owning a business in the car industry. At the time, his eldest son was working part-time at Lexus on the Park on Leslie Street and Picilaidis came up with the idea of starting an auto sales company focused specifically on older, pre-owned vehicles. “The timing was right and it just sort of happened,” he said. “I always felt there was a large, underserved market for people who would prefer to buy older, less expensive used cars rather than pay $30,000 or $40,000 for a newer car that is coming off its lease. It also was advantageous because it required a lot less capital to get the business going.”

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Leaside Life • September 2021

Anthony Picilaidis (right), sons John and Stephen (back) & Anthony’s mother, Katarina (front).

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Picilaidis settled on a location in Scarborough. His two sons John and Stephen – hence the company name AJS (Anthony/ John/Stephen) – are involved in sales, minor repairs, car jockeying and detailing, and his mother Katarina, who lives in East York, helps out as well. Anthony normally has an inventory of between 30 and 50 cars on hand at any one time, which may include something as old as a 1996 Honda Accord LX with 208,200 km for $2,700, a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan with 164,853 km for $7,150, or a 2016 Ford Explorer AWD police interceptor with 200,353 km for $12,900. “Ex police service vehicles are sort of a specialty with us,” he says. “They seem to be very popular among our younger and older customers alike.” If you don’t like the car-purchasing experience, AJS provides a brokerage service and will find a suitable pre-owned vehicle for you, and if you have a vehicle you want to sell but don’t want the hassle of doing it yourself, the company offers a consignment service and will sell it for you through a formal process governed by Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) rules. The company also offers five detailing and car-care packages ranging in price from $42 to $384 and a headlight restoration program to restore a car’s lights back to factory condition. Picilaidis is also opening up his own mechanics’ shop in a nearby location to offer repair services directly to his customers. Only about 25 per cent of customers buy their vehicles, so AJS helps customers find a financing plan that works for them and also offers warranty programs and products from nationally-recognized and insured warranty companies. “It’s all about providing service to the customers,” he says. “It’s our main focus and what we strive to do.”n

Last September I optimistically wrote the headline “Leaside Gardens: Welcome to the New Normal” because, in addition to gearing up for a return to the classroom, there was added excitement as the 5,000 visitors Leaside Garden’s normally welcomes in a typical week were anticipating a return to play. Fast forward 12 months and I can honestly say there has not been much “play” at all. Now, I am pleased to report that for the first time since Nov. 23, 2020, Leaside Gardens welcomed its first skaters back on the ice at the end of July. For those new to the community, Leaside Memorial Community Gardens (LMCG) opened its doors in 1951. A Leaside community-led expansion rallied in support of LMCG to raise nearly $3 million, since fundraising was the only way a desperately needed second rink could come to fruition. The effort paved the way and The Dr. Tom Pashby Play Safely Rink opened in 2013 – the first new rink built by the City in over 30 years. The

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agement, the LMCG board worked during the shutdown to identify ways to operate more efficiently by making improvements to facility operations, updating its procedural bylaws, and optimizing its organizational structure – one that had remained largely unchanged since 1951 – to reflect the skills required

LMCG

Leaside Life • September 2021

Welcome back to Leaside Memorial Community Gardens!

In June, the LMCG, together with volunteers from its user groups (Leaside Hockey Association, Leaside Skating Club, Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association, Hockey Extreme) and the community, hosted a food drive in honour of the “King of Leaside” – George Turrell. As a result, 47 boxes of food were delivered to Thorncliffe Park’s TNO Food Bank. Conspiracy Pizza provided lunch for the volunteers.

National Post ran a story at the time reporting that “under the proposal, the city will front the arena management board $7.5-million (called “recoverable debt”) and contribute $1-million; Ontario will loan the project $1.5-million…the board plans to pay back the loans over 25 years. [Thus] Toronto gets a new public rink at minimal cost to taxpayers.” New organizational structure to support innovation and growth Loan repayment remains a top priority for the LMCG board, as being shuttered for such an extended period without sources of income has been a major challenge to overcome. To date and with the City’s support, LMCG has not requested or received outside funding or financial assistance and the board of management continued to pay its staff. During this period, the board worked closely with City finance representatives to address outstanding issues and confirmed with the Capital Works department their commitment to investing approximately $6 million towards upgrading and renewing older parts of the facility between 2023 and 2025. In addition to vigilant cash man-

to meet the needs of the post-expansion facility. Moving forward, the role of general manager has been replaced by two new positions: director of business and finance, and director of operations. To this end, the LMCG board was pleased to announce that Catherine Shaw has assumed the role of director of business and finance as of August 5, and the role of director of operations is currently posted. Leaside Gardens welcomes two new board members Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Arena is one of eight City of Toronto indoor ice arenas operated by a board of management. These City boards were established as a means of engaging the local community in the decision-making for managing these facilities. On May 22, the City appointed two new members to the LMCG board of management: Jennifer (Jenni) Purves and Craig Uyeno. Jenni is an accomplished financial expert with considerable experience in regulatory compliance and corporate governance. Craig is an equity analyst who learned to skate at the Gardens, came up through the Leaside Flames

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I’m suffering Olympics withdrawal Leaside Life • September 2021

I knew it was coming. It happens every four years — or in this pandemic-delayed case — five years, which made it all the worse. On the big television screen, the flame is literally extinguished, and then I curl up into the fetal position on the floor and moan for a bit. It’s over, again. Thus begins my quadrennial bout of Olympics withdrawal. I’ve loved the Olympics for as long as I can remember, and my memory of the Games stretches back quite a distance, at least 50 years. I don’t think I’m alone. I remember the national euphoria when Nancy Greene won the Giant Slalom Gold Medal at the 1968 Winter Games in Grenoble, or when Greg Joy won the High Jump Silver Medal in the 1976 Montreal Summer Games. Canadians take their Olympics seriously. Back in 1984, I was a 24-year-old political staffer on Parliament Hill working for the Minister of State for Fitness and Amateur Sport. My timing was good in ’84 as it was an Olympic year with the Summer Games in Los Angeles. I remember organizing welcome home events for the Canadian ath-

Terry Fallis Columnist

letes and being lucky enough to pen remarks used by my minister and Prime Minister Turner, too, (yes, it was during that very short summer reign of John Turner before Brian Mulroney swept to a massive majority on Sept. 4, 1984). In high school, my twin brother and I fancied ourselves as at least somewhat proficient high jumpers. It helped that we weighed about 90 lbs. at the time and kind of fluttered over the bar like a leaf on the wind. We set up our own Olympic training facility in our backyard employing a limp bamboo pole held up by two garbage cans and stacks of bricks, and three quite disgusting used mattresses we’d salvaged from a dumpster. Many Olympic visions were conjured in the backyard as we prac-

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tised our Fosbury Flop. So perhaps I come by my Olympic allegiance honestly, though we threatened no high jump titles even in our own Phys. Ed. class. But I do get wrapped up in the drama of the Games. It seems to be the only time I have the chance to watch those sports that still haven’t quite yet broken into the mainstream. When else can you watch fencing, handball, canoe-racing, water polo, archery, weightlifting, and air pistol shooting, featuring competitors from a couple hundred nations? You may think I’m kidding about watching those sports from Tokyo, but I am not. I was glued to them all. I was totally caught up in it. I always am. Swimming may not be the most exciting spectator sport, but there I was cheering on Penny Oleksiak, Maggie Mac Neil, Kylie Masse and the others, and leaping to my feet as they approached the wall. I’m quite sure that standing up for the final length and shouting at the screen made them swim faster. And I suffered on the edge of my seat for every soccer game played by our Canadian women. I’m sure the penalty kicks required in the games against Brazil and then Sweden in the Gold Medal match took years off my life. But I wouldn’t have missed any of it. I know that strong supporters of the Olympics are often considered a bit nutty and naive. After all, the world is going to hell in a handbasket, yet every four years nations still gather to play games and hand out medals. Sure, around the globe we have social strife, looming environmental catastrophe, wars, fires and famine. But I can’t help believing that when nations assemble in the spirit of friendship and competition, we are better for it; the world is better for it. When athletes from over 200 nations assemble to captivate and inspire citizens of the world, they bring us all a little closer together. And yes, I’m the guy with the lump in my throat when the Olympic flame is doused again. But the flame will soon burn again, and I’ll be right there next year for the cross-country skiing, the luge, the snowboard half-pipe and all the rest. 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, all published by McClelland & Stewart. His most recent, Operation Angus, is now in bookstores. n

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Leaside Life • September 2021

Pat’s Barbershop: goodbye to a Leaside tradition by GREIG HENDERSON Located on the north side of Millwood just east of Bayview, Pat’s Barbershop (formerly Joe’s) has served our community for more than 30 years. I have been going there for more than 20 years and entered into the picture just as Pat was about to retire. I never met Joe though his name lives on. Pat’s nephews, Tony and Rocco (aka Rocky), have run the shop for the last 20 years or so. Thinking they would like the free publicity, I once approached them with the idea of doing a piece on their local barbershop. “What’s the point?” they replied. “Everybody knows us.” Touché. Pat’s was a traditional Italian barbershop. I have frequented others over the years – Gus the Other Barber, Camillo’s, and the like – but Pat’s was uniquely minimalist: inexpensive chairs and tables, nondescript floor, old equipment, ancient cash register, and a neck massager that looked as if it was purchased decades ago from a huckster at a carnival. But like everything else in the shop, it was clean and functional.

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Leaside Life • September 2021

Tony and Rocky are brothers. Both of them call you “boss,” incessantly. When I said to Tony that there was no need to call me boss, that Greig would suffice, his response was “Of course, boss.” So “boss” it was. A haircut there takes little more than five minutes. Tony is a clippers guy and, like Rocky, a master of the straight razor. Those razors disappeared some years ago for health and safety reasons. Nothing, alas, feels as

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good on your neck and face as a straight razor. Rocky is a scissors guy as well as a clippers guy. He has credentials for hairdressing as well as for barbering and performs his craft with a certain flair and sprezzatura. Tony performs his with competence and precision. In the end, no matter who does it, your haircut looks pretty much the same. I have been forced to go to hair stylists as part of a wedding ritual, and I can say without prejudice that Tony and Rocky are as good as the stylists at a quarter of the price, not to mention a tenth of the time. When I was a young boy in the mid to late 50s, barbershops were hangouts where men talked, drank coffee, and smoked cigarettes. In the back of the shop where you weren’t allowed to go, there were Playboy magazines. In the 60s and 70s, when long hair was fashionable, guys of my generation avoided the traditional barbershop. In the days of Covid, we were given the freedom to go back to our former selves – “Gimme a head with hair/Long beautiful hair” – and it was with some reluctance that I went to Tony for a cut last fall. I didn’t know it would be the final time I would see him. Fearing the fate of Samson, I asked Tony to leave my hair a little longer than usual. He said “Sure, boss,” and then proceeded to give me the cut he always gave me. And he was right. Longer hair doesn’t really cover up the bald spots. And radical comb-overs look pathetic. As a rule, real barbers always cut your hair, not as you want it to be, but as they think it should be. And for baby boomers like me, who, consciously or unconsciously, associate hair with virility, they always cut it too short. John Tory notwithstanding, we are not Samson nor were meant to be. Like many small-business operators, Tony and Rocky are part of Covid’s collateral damage. The government has failed them just as it has sustained corporations who would have survived without subsidies. Many of their customers didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Tony and Rocky. So let us thank Tony, Rocky, Pat, and Joe for their decades of service to our community. I’m sure Lilac Hair Studio will be a welcome addition to Leaside business, but nothing can replace Pat’s Barbershop. n

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Trauma, truths, and action:

Leaside Life • September 2021

member of the Flying Post First Nation. With degrees in Social Work and Addictions Counselling, Berube has worked with Indigenous people as a leader in multiple organizations. Currently the Senior Advisor of Community and Indigenous Engagement with Enbridge, Berube was the Director of Treatment Services and the Director of the Mental Health and Addictions Program with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, which works with 31 Indigenous communities in northern Ontario. He has held senior management positions with Tikinagan Child and Family Services, Teach For Canada, and he was the Director of Treatment Services with Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. Berube’s mother was one of 13 siblings whose father moved the family into a remote cabin to keep the children out of residential schools. While Indian agents still made occasional visits to ensure the children were being “properly” homeschooled, the family was able to remain intact. Says Berube, “the cabin is still in the family and I had the good fortune as a child to learn to hunt and fish there.” Berube is very proud of the use of natural medicines, storytelling, ceremonies, crafts, ideologies, and dances, which are all a part of his culture. He is also a fierce advocate for the promotion of whole truths. Berube explains that “we together as a people start to restore trust (by) rejecting half-truths and assumptions. There are assumptions, for example, that we are lazy and can’t get our act together. But people in remote communities work harder than anyone I know. “It is important for me as an Indigenous person that the truth be told and only then can we look at what reconciliation looks like.” These truths, notes Berube, include the fact that colonialism forced Indigenous peoples onto reserves on so-called postage stamp areas. “There has to be more attention given to issues such as unclean water on reserves, education, child welfare, and mental health.” Berube notes that there is a tremendous amount of intergenerational trauma due to forced adoptions “under the guise of protection,” and from residential schools which had

Tobie Loukes

the goal of “do(ing) away with a group of people” under the pretense of providing a “good” education. He insists that “it is imperative that the government be transparent,” and points out that “it is the wishes of the public en masse that will change policy.” We also need to have conversations to inform our messages. “Conversations will be how we get to the other side of understanding,” he notes, explaining that “it is when we do something collectively and unforced that we start to become partners and agents of change. (While the) “answers are nebulous, at least the conversations are starting.” Tobie Loukes Tobie Loukes has taught Art and Fashion with the TDSB for the last 17 years, as well as Indigenous Studies for the past five years. She also writes units, and provides resources for those teaching Indigenous Studies across the school board. Loukes’ father is Anishinaabe from the Alderville First Nation Reserve, and following the horrific discovery in Kamloops, she has been more determined than ever to share her knowledge and resources. Her action points for non-Indigenous people are the following: learn about the past, learn about the present, and act upon your findings. Before we educate ourselves about the past, notes Loukes, it’s “important that we unlearn Canadian history.” While curriculums are now being rewritten, many Canadians’ schooling involved either no, or a false version of, Indigenous history.

Tabatha Bull

Loukes urges people to teach themselves about issues such as the Toronto Purchase, the Indian Act, residential schools, and the 94 Calls to Action. She also advises that people avoid stereotypes and to “not paint all Indigenous people with the same brush.” Loukes points out that “there are so many ways to learn.” But she encourages people to “not just learn about, but hear from, Indigenous voices.” She forages for food in the Don Valley, has learned the art of beading, and, “since one of the aims of the residential school system was to obliterate Indigenous languages, it is a personal goal of mine to learn how to speak Anishinaabemowin.” For non-Indigenous people, Loukes recommends the following actions: a) Approach your children’s school to ask about their Indigenous curriculum. b) Have your children look at nature “in a non-colonial way” and consider downloading one of the many apps available to identify the various species. c) Purchase from Indigenous companies. d) Engage with Indigenous artists, musicians, comedians, photographers, designers, and chefs. Tabatha Bull Tabatha Bull is Anishinaabe and a member of Nipissing First Nation. An electrical engineering graduate, she worked in the Ontario energy sector for more than 15 years, forging relationships with Indigenous communities. Bull sits on the boards of

DAVID CHANG

From cover

continued

Wigwamen Housing Inc., the Young People’s Theatre, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and the Catalyst Advisory Board. Bull is currently the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), an organization that advances business relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses. As news broke from the Kamloops residential school site, Bull was angry and overwhelmed by an avalanche of other emotions. “These were not discoveries,” she says, “these were confirmations.” Noting that Indigenous people not only knew about the victims of the residential schools, but had been speaking about them publicly for years, Bull was frustrated and disappointed that so many non-Indigenous people were surprised. She was also heartbroken reading racist and insensitive comments on mainstream media.

The grief, Bull says, was “very heavy.” While she has never been a person of inaction, she does feel, though, that “it is not the responsibility of the Indigenous people to lead all the conversations.” She does, however, offer examples of actions that can be taken. “As a consumer you have a lot of power; make sure that you’re buying from, or investing in, Indigenous companies. We also have the power of our vote. Examine policies, and ask politicians if they are committed to clean water, truth and reconciliation. “We need to acknowledge that this is not just ancient history,” Bull adds. Having visited multiple communities in desperate need of clean water and access to the most basic human necessities, she knows firsthand the current inequities faced by Indigenous people across the country. Yet, she says, “we are more than trauma.” There have been, and continue to be, wonderful achievements by Indigenous people, and a culture to

Recommended Resources Website: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca. Podcasts: •CBC – Finding Cleo •Red Man Laughing •Coffee With My Ma •Unreserved •The Secret Life of Canada •Storykeepers

be greatly celebrated. “I couldn’t do my work if I didn’t have optimism.” There are many reasons she is feeling optimistic. Commitments from companies to partner with, and support, Indigenous companies have doubled in the last two years. Bull and her co-workers at the CCAB also recently celebrated the announcement of new measures to increase federal procurement opportunities for Indigenous businesses across Canada. “It is also wonderful to see a powerful matriarchal movement,” notes Bull, citing the recent appointment of Mary Simon as the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada, and the election of RoseAnne Archibald as the first woman to become National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. There is also pride among Indigenous youth who are celebrating their language and culture. Bull is ecstatic that there is an Indigenous Club at Leaside High School. She is very hopeful that new conversations will gain momentum and produce great and lasting results. September 30th is Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters, www. orangeshirtday.org. n

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Our local gardeners reach for the sky Leaside Life • September 2021

Balcony and rooftop gardens can play a major role in helping to restore our lack of natural biodiversity, support our pollinators and increase our tree canopy. So why are there so many empty balconies in Leaside? Back in June, I made a callout to Leaside’s balcony gardeners hoping to get some photos and information about gardening in the sky. Here are just a few of the many sky gardeners who replied: A time and place for everything from Pat Morin

Filled with colourful blooms, evergreens and herbs, Pat’s balcony is a place to relax, dine or enjoy a cocktail. “There’s so much about our balcony garden that we enjoy, but

The Leaside Gardener Debora Kuchme Columnist

right now, I love how the bees are attracted to my lavender plants. We have a southeast corner exposure which lends itself to breezes that sway the lavender stems. The perfume is incredibly calming!” – Pat Morin A petite rooftop garden from Jennifer Peattie

Jennifer proves that with some creativity, even a tiny space can be transformed into a place of beauty that supports life. “I love my patio garden because I can easily grow herbs such as sage, basil and parsley as well as tomatoes, green peppers and strawberries for homemade cooking.

I have had much success growing nasturtiums which I received as seeds mailed to me from my youngest brother in B.C. Every year we have this common bond for the love of gardening that was taught to us, as small children, by our parents.” – Jennifer Peattie Woodsy charm from John Richards

John loves to spend time at his cottage and decided to bring that same aesthetic to his large condo terrace. His patio includes four trees with a variety of shrubs and evergreens. “Being at Bayview and Eglinton, I’m able to see the whole city from my patio. My trees visually connect to the trees beyond, and along with a few flowers, it’s nice to sit out there. Some years I have put in tomato plants too. It’s amazing what can be done on a patio!” – John Richards A pollinator paradise from Jean Sugarbroad Keele

Jean’s balcony garden is registered with the 1,000 Gardens Project. This is a Cambridge eco project from the rare Charitable Research Reserve hoping to map pollinator gardens from the Waterloo region to Toronto. “The balcony is my place of peace, pleasure and propagation. After years of growing for mostly decorative colour, I now plant exclusively for bees and butterflies (yes, they do come up here on the 7th floor too) and a few organic edibles. I would not have survived this past pandemic winter without knowing, come spring, I’d be enjoying gardening in the sky again. Give it a try. ...you won’t regret it! Use that space!” – Jean Sugarbroad Keele. Here’s to the sky gardeners of Leaside. I hope they inspire more people to reach for the sky! Visit leasidelife.com to read the extended version of this article along with more inspiring sky gardener photos! n

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A Leaside church by any other name? Welcome Trinity Grace How observant are you? Have you noticed that the Leaside Bible Chapel is no longer at its place on Eglinton Avenue between Sutherland and Laird? Now you see signage for Trinity Grace Church. Are they related? Well, sort of. About six years ago, the leadership of the Leaside Bible Chapel realized they needed to make a decision. Numbers were dwindling, so they either needed to revitalize or figure out how to grow. Around the same time, Albert Chung and his family, who were attending a Korean ethnic church, realized they needed to find a new spiritual home – one where they could invite non-Korean friends. Albert is a second-generation believer, his parents having converted in Korea as teenagers. In Canada, he and Ins Choi, playwright and actor (Kim’s Convenience, etc.), grew up together in the church led by Ins’ father. While Albert’s original academic focus was molecu-

RUSSELL SUTHERLAND

Leaside Life • September 2021

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lar genetics and biology, followed by philosophy at the University of Toronto, as a young adult, he realized ordained ministry was his true calling. He now has a M.Div. From the University of Chicago – Trinity Evangelical Divinity

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School, and a M. Theology in Outreach, Evangelism and Mission from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church In America – Eastern Canada Presbytery. When Albert got the opportunity to meet with officials from Leaside Bible Chapel, including Russell Sutherland (profiled in the July, 2021 issue of Leaside Life), they realized they shared many values and common interests. There was the potential for a church planting – where Albert would gather 50 or so people, and join to “replant” with about 25 people from Leaside Bible Chapel. Hence, Trinity Grace Church. Sunday services are a mix of spontaneity and orderliness, including quiet time during worship. Covid has, as it has for all places of worship, moved many gatherings onto virtual platforms, but they do try to meet in person when safe. They are working to re-establish a gospel presence and be relevant in this community by being missional. They are making connections with young families in the immediate and surrounding neighbourhoods, association with the Jesus Network in Thorncliffe Park. During the week, there are geographically-organized small group gatherings, with the intent of working through the previous week’s sermon, praying and being social. The church is looking forward to a time when there can again be pot luck luncheons once a month after the services – an opportunity for Lunch. To Laugh. To Learn. n

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And we’re off to the polls! Leaside Life • September 2021

by LUCAS FLEMMING “Canadians need their say, and that’s what we’re going to give them,” said Prime Minister Trudeau on August 15, announcing that Canada was heading to the polls on September 20th. As a first-time voter, I was not expecting to hit the polls two years earlier than anticipated, and frankly, I was surprised that such a large resolution was signed, sealed, and delivered within a matter of days. For the first time, I will have a say in who leads our country and want my vote to be an informed one. To prepare myself, I sat down with two of the frontrunner candidates for the riding of Don Valley West, Rob Oliphant and Yvonne Robertson. The Liberal incumbent, Rob Oliphant, is currently in his third term as Don Valley West MP. An ordained minister in the United Church of Canada, he also sits as vice chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association and CanadaPakistan Friendship Group. In December, 2019, Prime Minister Trudeau appointed Oliphant as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. As was the case in the 2019 election, Conservative candidate Yvonne Robertson is challenging Oliphant. Ms. Robertson is a business owner and 25-year resident of North Leaside. From the Liberal “Choose Forward” to the Conservative “Secure the Future” slogans, it’s clear both candidates are committed to creating a better future. Here are some highlights of my conversations:

Rob Oliphant

Yvonne Robertson

Election timing “Minority governments usually last anywhere between 18 months and two years and we are at the two-year level...Parliament has been a toxic environment and many of the non-Covid related bills and legislation have not gone through. ...When we were elected two years ago, Covid didn’t exist and so we’re looking for a new mandate; it’s time for that discussion...it’s a good time to judge us. If people think we have failed on Covid it’s okay, they can throw us out, and it’s absolutely fair if they think we’ve done a good job they should tell us.”

Election timing “The Delta variant is going to be running through Toronto rampantly and it may be vicious. ...the Liberals are solely focused on garnering more power. ...I think it is opportunistic, it is simply performative politics. …that said, they called the election and I am ready to get out there and meet with the residents of Don Valley West. “The answer that voters gave in Nova Scotia will be the same answer that we’re going to give Liberals on September 20th: how dare you leave Canadians behind.”

Covid spending and the economy “It’s going to be a slow and steady recovery. One thing we know is if we had not spent that money and the economy had gone into a tailspin we’d never dig out. Yes, we have deficit; yes, the debt has grown but it is still manageable. ...it was still the right thing to do to spend that money to ensure the economy does not fall apart.” WE charity “I’m not going to try to defend the government. ...I think Morneau should have recused himself and I think the Prime Minister should have recused himself. ...I think what it was, we were trying to get money out of the door to help young people and it was us moving too quickly.” Afghanistan “The Prime Minister has announced that 20,000 refugees will be welcomed from Afghanistan, but I want more. I am going to be pushing the government for more. ...I recently wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. ...I sent him a letter last week asking for a special program for human rights defenders and women [in Afghanistan]. ...Canada is a better country when we welcome more refugees.” Points of pride Minister Oliphant spoke of his team’s and his helping thousands of individuals and more than 400 local businesses deal with the pandemic in our riding. In his role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he assisted in the repatriation of more than 75,000 Canadians who had been stranded around the world due to Covid shutdowns. “I am proud of the work I have done to help Canadians.”

The economy “We need to focus on increasing exports, increasing our international trade, and by virtue of that our manufacturing sectors will grow. I want to rekindle the spirit of entrepreneurship in our country.” Mental health “We have to focus on bringing a lot more money to support mental health, in particular we need to support Sunnybrook Hospital; Sunnybrook needs a significant investment to support their infrastructure. ...healthcare workers are working way beyond capacity.” Reason for running “I have a full-time job and I’m raising my kids in North Leaside. ...I have a civic duty to step up and help improve what I believe is the best country in the world.”

At the time of writing, neither the New Democratic nor the Green Party had put forward a candidate for Don Valley West. Toronto native Michael Minas has stepped up to represent The Peoples Party of Canada. You can read abbreviated transcripts of the full conversations at leasidelife.com. n

OVERLEA From Page 3 21

Leaside Life • September 2021

ing to raise awareness. Surveys and polls gathered info on experiences and insights. Partnerships were forged with local politicians, cycling groups, residents’ associations, school boards, architects, community groups, and environmental organizations. Training took place with a communications firm to learn the most efficient strategies to present their objectives. And their effort has paid off. Their advocacy captured the attention of the media, with pieces appearing on CBC and in the Toronto Star. The group was also invited to present their designs to the politicians and school board representatives in their school wards. And on March 23rd, staff, students and parents deputed to the City of Toronto’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee. The message was simple. Overlea Bridge must be a link that everyone can use safely, and that the option to choose, and encourage, active transportation should be a city priority. As parent Nazerah Shaikh noted in the deputation, “the students’ vision to ‘Reimagine Overlea’ is completely in line with the city’s Vision Zero road safety program.” While the current City plan is to rebuild the bridge in 2026, the student group is advocating for temporary changes including speed enforcement and the construction of higher barriers. The project has not only brought attention to the issues of safety on the bridge, but has taught and inspired students to advocate on behalf of themselves and their communities. They have learned the ins and outs of effectively navigating the political landscape as leaders. To keep up to date on the group’s campaign, follow them on Twitter @BridgeOverlea and Instagram @ OverleaBridge. n

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First Tour de Thorncliffe hits the mark by HOLLY REID At the beginning of June, it seemed like a tall order. Could a grassroots group, a local not-for-profit and a community agency pull off a bike-athon and community celebration in less than six weeks? The answer is a resounding yes. The inaugural Tour de Thorncliffe wrapped up a twoweek cycling fundraiser with plenty to celebrate on July 25th. The event was conceived by Shakhlo Sharipova of the Thorncliffe Park Autism Network (TPASN) and Najia Zewari of the Women’s Cycling Network to celebrate the safety upgrades to the Thorncliffe Park bike lanes and raise funds for summer camps for local kids with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, and organized in partnership with Gateway Bike Hub. “We had a great success, with more than 50 participants registered to ride, including eight teams, and the majority of participants from Thorncliffe Park. Together we cycled just over 1,900 km, mainly using the Thorncliffe Park bike lanes, giving people a chance to experience the

TPASN

Leaside Life • September 2021

Celebrating the success of the first Tour de Thorncliffe. To see more great photos, visit leasidelife.com.

new protections,” says Najia. One rider, Ghotai Shirzad, who has a child who will benefit from TPASN

summer programming, cycled 150 laps around Thorncliffe Park Drive for a total of 412 km and was rec-

TOUR continued 23

Leaside Life • September 2021

ognized as the Tour’s outstanding participant. Several Leasiders rode for Cycle Don Valley Midtown’s team, which was the top team for fundraising. Between the dollars raised and in-kind donations of camp supplies, TPASN was able open the camp on August 9th with 32 children registered, providing much-needed programming through to September 1st. Shakhlo, who runs the camp, shares her enthusiasm for what was achieved. “Our first bike-a-thon was a huge step for us and we are proud to have done it so successfully, and grateful to our all our donors, participants and supporters who helped us along the way.” Capping off the organizers’ success was a celebration day for the community that featured a victory-lap around Thorncliffe Park Drive led by police officers from 55 Division and marshals from Gateway Bike Hub. Wrap-up festivities took place in the parking lot between East York Town Centre and Fraser Mustard Early Learning Centre, with organizations from inside and outside the neigbourhood on hand, including Gateway Bike Hub for bike repairs, Cycle Toronto for safety checks, SewTO to show off their wares, TPASN demonstrating camp activities, The Biking Lawyer for cycling and the law, and The Bike Brigade for food share deliveries. Every participant left with a gift bag filled with donations from participating organizations and community members, including bike lights and Tour de Thorncliffe branded hand sanitizer and lip balms. And no celebration would be complete without refreshments, generously provided by community members and Toronto Hifz Academy. Don Valley West MP Rob Oliphant’s remarks to attendees on the day captured perfectly what the Tour de Thorncliffe was all about: sharing our resources to support the families of kids with autism; sharing space on our roads fairly and safely so everyone can get around; and sharing as a community in a wellearned celebration. n

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Leaside LRT station site update (part 2) Earlier this year (Leaside Life, March, 2021), we asked: “Will Leaside be getting an MZO?” for the tower proposal expected at the Leaside (Bayview) LRT station site. A Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) is not due process! At the time of writing (mid-August) we are still no nearer to answering the question but it’s time for an update. To summarize the issues We believe Metrolinx wants to develop the station site and one of the “quads” south of the station site as a high-rise tower development. Metrolinx has admitted that Leaside Station is being built with additional structural elements to accommodate future development. These additional structural supports are visible on site: the concrete columns, beams and slabs are sized to support a significant future structure and are typical for the base of a high-rise tower. The roof slab in the photo transitions from about 18 inches’ thickness to 4 feet or greater. So, what’s the issue? Simply, the southeast quadrant, including both station site and the quads south of

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside

G. KETTEL

Leaside Life • September 2021

the site, is unsuitable for high-rise development. Although the Bayview Focus Area Plan (2015) and OPA 405 both indicate that the area (i.e. the four quadrants) will include high-rise development, the southeast quadrant is unsuitable because of its location adjacent to Talbot

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Park, which itself lies two storeys below grade. High-rise development on the site would negatively affect the adjacent public recreational space (two baseball diamonds) and Leaside High School grounds and running track. It was always understood that the northwest corner (the Metro site), and to a lesser extent the northeast quadrant (Sunnybrook Plaza), were the most feasible and suitable locations for development in the Bayview Focus Area. When we questioned the City in April we were told: “Metrolinx has made it clear to the potential developer that they will need to submit all the necessary development information and make a formal application to the City of Toronto and follow the regular development process with City Planning for the site.” The second issue is the status of the two Bayview quadraplexes (“quads”) south of the station site, which we believe a developer needs as part of a development. The 10 Bayview quads were each nominated for heritage listing in 2011.The northernmost property – 1783-85 Bayview – is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act (2018) and is also a “Provincial Heritage Property.” Metrolinx called a meeting with the Leaside Residents Association, which was held on July 12, to consider the “Heritage Impact Assessment for 1783-85 Bayview.” However, the meeting was substantially different from what we had been led to believe and turned out to be about how the heritage building should be commemorated once demolished! The LRA did not agree to this change in focus, and instead submitted questions to Metrolinx regarding its process and whether the group is following the province’s own heritage policies, given the quad’s status as a “Provincial Heritage Property.” At the time of writing, we had not received responses to those questions. By now you may see our strategy – it continues to be to hold Metrolinx and the province to account for their planning and heritage practices, and partnering with the City to make sure we are aligned in ensuring that city planning and heritage planning processes are followed. Councillor Jaye Robinson is currently arranging a meeting with all the departments involved. We need a united front. And we think we have one. n

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Leaside Life • September 2021

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With the confirmation of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at residential school sites across Canada, the trauma inflicted by the residential school system upon Indigenous communities must remain at the forefront of our societal conscience. For those of us in education, these discoveries cement our responsibility to the families we have been entrusted to serve as well as our absolute duty to ensure that our schools serve as places, not only of safety, but also of joy, growth, warmth and inclusivity. At the TDSB, Indigenous education is steeped in a commitment to fulfill the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s “Calls to Action.” Guided by a Council of Elders and our Urban Indigenous Community Advisory Committee (UICAC), the TDSB has been working with York University to support the devel- Elder Dr. opment of Indigenous Duke Redbird educators, who are crucial to the provision of authentic and appropriate Indigenous education and curriculum. Since assuming office as trustee for Ward 11, I have noted a growing commitment to Indigenous education in our local schools. Educators have been moving away from individual classes, one-off events, and history lessons, and are now developing a school-wide, holistic approach to Indigenous education. For example, Northlea has added Indigenous education as a fourth pillar to their School Improvement Plan. To provide a foundation for this work, Northlea has been consulting with TDSB’s Urban Indigenous Education Centre (otherwise known as UIEC) and the Good Minds bookstore. School staff have been evaluating their practices and resources, and reflecting upon which pedagogical options will best move Truth and Reconciliation forward. Based on recommendations from the UIEC, Northlea is inviting Indigenous community leaders to develop a year-long program to support rich learning opportunities for Northlea students in the 2021-2022 school year. In addition, Northlea has a number of staff participating in professional develop-

Rachel Chernos Lin

Trustee, Ward 11

ment with Natural Curiosity, an organization focused on education through an outdoor, land-based framework, and a leader across Canada in environmental education for all ages informed by Indigenous Ways of Knowing. Northlea is also collaborating with its secondary school partner, Leaside High School. The two schools have pooled funds to purchase the Giant Indigenous Peoples’ Land Map for the schools to share. As Northlea Principal Barbara Sandler told me, “Leaside is a fabulous partner, doing excellent work. We look forward to co-learning using this resource.” This budding partnership is significant, especially since LHS is quickly developing as a leader in Indigenous education. Last September, Michael Griesz was appointed principal of LHS. Before his appointment, Griesz was a centrally-assigned vice-principal at UIEC Kâpapâmahchakwêw Wandering Spirit School, a position that enriched his understanding of the importance of Indigenous education. In just this past (not to mention, pandemic) year at LHS, Griesz and his staff, in partnership with the UIEC, have made important inroads. They have revised the school’s Land Acknowledgement to be locale-specific, arranged for the Land Acknowledgement to be posted in the school’s main hall, and are having it designed by a local Indigenous artist. They have also spearheaded an Indigenous Education Committee, with over one-quarter of LHS staff as members; encouraged staff to obtain an FNMI AQ (certification), with 10 staff achieving this goal by Aug. 2021; coordinated one-half PD days for staff to inspire exploration of various entry points to further their teaching

youth program, and went on to play NCAA Division 3 hockey at Tufts University. In addition to the new members, the City also renewed the terms for Chair Kathleen Mackenzie, Chair, Operations & Community Relations Committee Chair Janice Ivory-Smith, and former Vice Chair Glenn Asano. Navin Katyal was elected vice chair and Chris Forbell continues his term as treasurer. This unprecedented past year has also brought staff and board departures. The LMCG board wishes to thank former general manager David Hamilton for maintaining the facilities to a high standard. The board would also like to thank former treasurer John Masterson for his years of unwavering commitment to Leaside Gardens, and former board member Donna Howard for her contributions. The board would also like to acknowledge the outstanding work of Anna Donadio for her 26 years of service to Leaside Gardens and wish her all the best for a healthy and happy retirement. Anna served as acting general manager from 2018 to 2020, which is the first time a woman has held the GM role at a City of Toronto

board-run arena. Whether a fourth wave is on our horizon or not, the planning and changes made this past year bode well for the continued success of Leaside Gardens and its ability to successfully support its user groups and the community. Finally, I am happy to write, Leaside Memorial Community Gardens is open, and on behalf of the board and staff, we look forward to welcoming you back! Did you know that LMCG together with its user groups donated 47 boxes of food to Thorncliffe Park’s TNO Food Bank this summer? Did you know in Ontario, concussion-related rates for children have quadrupled between 2003 to 2013, and the last Wednesday of each September has been designated as Rowan’s Law Day to help raise awareness about concussion safety? Let us know at leasidelife@gmail.com. Leasider Glenn Asano is a partner and principal consultant for the strategy and business development practice at Centred Performance. He is also an Instructor with the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. n

EDUCATION continued on Indigenous ways of knowing; worked with LHS School Council to host keynote speaker Elder Dr. Duke Redbird, with more than 400 students, staff, and parents/caregivers attending; and partnered with local feeder schools and interested secondary schools to further their learning for 2021-2022. While there is still much to be done to fulfill the Calls to Action, our local educators are taking this commitment seriously. As Principal Sandler reflected after inviting families to place shoes on the steps of Northlea in June in memory of the lives lost to the residential school system, “We hope that our dayto-day work represents our commitment to honour the memory of those impacted by the residential school system and empowers our students to actualize truth and reconciliation.” All of us in the TDSB community will need to do more with respect to Indigenous education in our schools, always keeping in mind the paramount importance of centering indigenous voice and perspective in this work, and embodied in the tenet, “nothing about us, without us.” n

Kathleen Wynne, MPP Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley West

Welcome Back to School! Best wishes to all students for the 2021/22 school year.

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

Leaside Life • September 2021

ARENA From page 8

All quiet on the traffic front Leaside Life • September 2021

All has been quiet on the traffic front. Not on Leaside’s streets, where increased traffic mirrors pre-pandemic times, even though there’s usually a summertime traffic decrease when people are away at cottages. No, the quiet reflects our continued lack of information about the city’s Leaside Traffic Management Plan (LTMP). The Leaside Residents Association was due to meet with the LTMP’s planners to learn details, and receive a progress report about what they are working on, as well as information on priority actions. We are (shall we say) more than interested in discussing ways in which Leasiders can contribute to local solutions. Unfortunately, that meeting was postponed. It is now rescheduled for a date past Leaside Life’s publication deadline for this issue. All of the above will have to wait until the next edition, to be distributed to Leaside homes at the end of September. On a brighter note, I have hopes that there will be much more information for me to share with you by then.

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

owner or renter, wherever you live in Leaside and whatever your job or particular local interest, please consider joining us. The LRA has an all-volunteer board. We welcome new perspectives and experiences from around Leaside. We are involved in numerous types of issues and matters, both individual and area-wide. You do not need to be an expert, and you do not need to commit lots of time. Interested? I’m happy to answer any questions. You can reach me c/o Leaside Life to set up an opportunity to talk. Or attend one of our board meetings and see first-hand what we’re all about!

Calling on all would-be directors! In the meantime, as we approach the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year (whatever that may mean), the LRA board is hoping to add to our numbers by convincing some of you to join us as directors. Whether you are a home

The next meeting of the Leaside Residents Association is on Wed., Sept. 1, via Zoom. You are welcome to attend any of the LRA’s monthly board meetings, which take place on the first Wednesday of each month. If you’d like to come and watch, or participate, let us know by Sept. 1 so we can send you the Zoom access details. Learn more at www.leasideresidents.ca. n

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Leaside played a big role in colossal 1950s electricity project Few people today know of Ontario’s frequency standardization project. But in the 1950s, it was one of the largest, most expensive and ambitious energy projects ever undertaken. The 10-year, $400 million project was launched in the late 1940s by the province’s electricity provider, Ontario Hydro. Its goal was to convert or replace virtually every electrical appliance, machine, gadget, and power tool in southwest Ontario so that households and businesses no longer had to rely on the outmoded 25-cycle power system used by the region since the early 1900s. Since the rest of Canada and the U.S. operated on a 60-cycle electrical system, the economic benefits of the switchover would be substantial. To manage this gargantuan project, Ontario Hydro chose the Leasidebased engineering firm Canadian Comstock, whose headquarters were at 206 Laird Drive. With operations across Canada, Comstock had a well-established reputation as a successful and dependable electrical contractor. The task was formidable. Over five million pieces of equipment had to be converted or replaced – requiring hundreds of engineers and technicians, travelling hundreds of thousands of miles across Ontario. An average house was estimated to have at least six items requiring conversion, but some – like one household in East York – had as many as 39 electrical items. In response, Comstock established a separate division and plant in St. Catharines, Ont. with nearly 1,200 workers dedicated to the project. The company also acquired a fleet of more than 1,000 trucks, vans and other vehicles to transport its service people around the province. When the project completed in 1959, Ontario Hydro and Comstock personnel had visited over one million individual locations and converted nearly seven million pieces of equipment. The last home to be serviced was in Leaside – the residence of Arthur A. McMichael of 115 Hanna Rd. On the day of the switchover (July

9, 1959), dozens of onlookers and dignitaries – including the president of Canadian Comstock and the chairmen of Ontario Hydro

and Toronto Hydro – arrived at the McMichael home. In anticipation, the front porch had two light bulbs mounted on a board. One was a lit 25-cycle power bulb; the other was an unlit 60-cycle power bulb. As technicians converted the last of the home’s appliances, the first bulb flickered out and the second one lit up – signifying the massive project’s completion. Following the ceremony Mr. McMichael and his wife were given an electric clock to mark the occasion. Thus ended what many consider the greatest electrical initiative of its kind in the world. And Leaside played a major role in its execution. Correction: My article in the July, 2021 issue of Leaside Life mistakenly asserted that Bob Davidson, the Maple Leaf hockey-player and scout, was also Leaside’s Recreation Director. In truth, the position of Recreation Director at that time was held by another individual, coincidentally also named Bob Davidson. The author regrets the error. n

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Leaside Life • September 2021

by T ED DEWELLES, Leaside Heritage Preservation Society

Celebrating a century of service Leaside Life • September 2021

Lynda Gorges

On Sept. 1, 2021, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will celebrate its centennial, marking 100 years of moving Toronto. I am honoured to serve as Chair of the TTC as we recognize this important milestone in our city’s history. Toronto has grown exponentially since the TTC was founded in 1921, from a population of just over 500,000 to nearly 3 million. Through a century of immense change, the TTC has evolved and adapted along

Jaye Robinson

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role in Toronto’s growth over the last century and will undoubtedly continue to shape our city in the years

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with the city it serves. I am proud of the impressive steps we have taken in recent years to advance a number of key initiatives – expanding our eBus fleet, accelerating critical upgrades and system-wide maintenance work, and building on our commitments to provide an accessible and inclusive transit system for all Torontonians. The history of transit in Leaside dates back to 1915, when James Bristow bought a bus to carry passengers between the Grand Trunk Railway and Canada Wire & Cable Company. Bristow maintained operation of buses in Leaside until 1927, when the TTC started providing bus service between Yonge Street and Laird Drive – the beginning of the 56 Leaside bus route we know today. To commemorate 100 years of the TTC, photo exhibits have been installed in select subway stations throughout the city that showcase the legacy of our organization over the last century and invite our riders to take part in this landmark occasion in the TTC’s history. In addition to the in-station displays, these photos are also available to view on the City of Toronto Archives website at www.toronto.ca/archives. The TTC has played an important

to come. While there are many challenges ahead of us, I look forward to seeing what the next century holds for the TTC. Community Environment Days This year, the City of Toronto will be hosting 14 drive-thru Environment Days at Drop-Off Depots across Toronto in September and October. These drive-thru events will provide an opportunity for residents to properly dispose of a variety of household items, including clothing, small appliances, and electronics. You can also safely dispose of household hazardous waste, pick up free compost, and bring books, sports equipment, and clothing for donation. If you’re interested in attending one of these events, the two closest to Leaside are: • Sun., Sept. 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bermondsey Transfer Station (188 Bermondsey Rd.) • Sun., Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bermondsey Transfer Station (188 Bermondsey Rd.) You can find the full 2021 Environment Day event schedule and a list of items that will be accepted at www.toronto.ca/community-environment-days. n

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