Leaside Life Issue 91 December 2019

D E C E M B E R 2019

Leaside Life

No. 91

leasidelife.com

Our very own Leaside beer... pg. 4

Celebrate the Season in Leaside

HAPPY

Holidays THE LEASIDE GREEN GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS: TIPS ON HOMEMADE DECORATIONS & GIFTS PG. 18 LEASIDE LIFE’S GIFT GUIDE FOR SHOPPING LOCALLY PG. 22 ACTIVITIES AT LOCAL CHURCHES PG. 17, 26

VISIT US AT LEASIDELIFE.COM: COMMUNITY DIRECTORY • UP TO DATE EVENTS • ARCHIVED STORIES

Leaside Life • December 2019

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EDITOR’S WELCOME

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SAVE THE DATE! “Laugh Out Loud” In Leaside #11 A Community Fundraiser March 6th, 2020

Does heritage preservation mean no growth or change? How do you define heritage – the kind worth preserving, celebrating and enshrining? Is it a specific building (think Agnes Macphail’s house) or architectural type (e.g. Leaside Tudor), and is there a Leaside “character” worth defining and protecting by designation as one of Toronto’s Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs)? Many parts of the old City of Toronto are already protected in this way – Cabbagetown, Harbord Village, the Distillery District spring to mind. In May 2014, former Councillor John Parker recommended to Council that Leaside be considered a Heritage Conservation District (HCD). So far, efforts to have south Leaside recognized in this way have not come to fruition. For some Leasiders, that’s just as well. In this issue we present the views on both sides: from Saving Old Leaside columnist and LPOA co-president Geoff Kettel and Business of Leaside columnist (and sometime contrarian) Glenn Asano.

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

At what point do heritage conservation and recognition of neighbourhood character put shackles on development and growth, and do they alienate younger people attracted to Leaside? Can neighbourhood character co-exist with new builds and a changing local environment? This is an exciting debate, with Leaside a petri dish for the opposing views. Also in this issue...we feature our Green Team applying their green brush to Christmas, a holiday that doesn’t always bring out the green consciousness in holiday makers. But maybe that’s changing. As you celebrate the holidays, we at Leaside Life want to thank you for continuing to read our publication and sharing your views with us. Happy holidays! ■

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! What better time of year to pause and celebrate the spirit of giving back. Over the last 10 years, together we have raised over $640,000 for local initiatives and charities that serve our greater community. I am excited to continue these efforts in the coming year through Laugh Out Loud in Leaside’s 11th annual fundraiser, benefitting Community Food Centres. I am grateful to be a part of our kind-hearted community, and I would like to express my appreciation for your ongoing support. From my family to yours, warmest wishes for a joyful season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

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Important Laird and Eglinton development update Proposed Laird in Focus Plan policies and RioCan’s development application for 815-845 Eglinton Ave. East both passed major milestones recently. North York Community Council adopted staff recommendations for policies, called Special Area and Site Policies (SASP) for the plan’s two areas: Area A – the section comprising large properties in the block south and east of Laird and Eglinton; and Area B – the commercial strip along the west side of Laird Drive. And the Committee adopted a Directions Report concerning the City’s opposition to RioCan’s appeal of the City’s refusal of RioCan’s application for its project, the appeal for which goes back to 2016. Why are these events important and how are they linked? At long last the City has a plan and a set of policies to serve as a basis to assess this longstanding application (and any others that may materialize). While it will be up to LPAT (the provincial tribunal that replaced the OMB) to decide on the RioCan application,

the three Parties (RioCan, the City and the LPOA) have each agreed to sit down and try and reach a settlement rather than engage in a contested hearing. (Full disclosure: I will be a representative for the LPOA.) Progress has been made As reported in Leaside Life’s October issue, progress has been made to create and begin to implement a cohesive vision for the RioCan site as part of the Laird in Focus Plan. The scale and level Proposal for 815-845 Eglinton E.

of intensification in this location demand that this intersection develop a civic space that works at both the community and city scales. The current submission demonstrates a big improvement from the earlier proposed plans (a series of similar blocks with little planning basis, other than open space links and roads), of how the parts might work together to form a cohesive and vibrant new community. The proposed density and the high proportion of residential uses compared with employment uses remain as issues. Resident comments at the September 17, 2019 open house and subsequent correspondence mention concerns regarding the application’s building height and massing, design and “fit” (architectural character) as well as impacts on mobility, physical infrastructure, social services, and schools. However, the LPOA acknowledges that the City Planning context has changed as a result of the revised Growth Plan, changes to the Planning Act and the LPAT. The LPOA now supports the City’s DEVELOPMENT Page 5

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Leaside Life • December 2019

by GEOFF KETTEL

LEASIDE PEOPLE • MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS

Leaside Life • December 2019

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Dave Martin adds suds to Leaside’s beer scene by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO A lot of us have been in the same situation. ’Tis the season to be jolly at holiday parties. But ’tis also the season of getting up the next morning for an early rising child, for work, or for a workout at the gym. Leasider Dave Martin has the solution for just these occasions. And it all has to do with balance. A Rolph Road and Leaside High alumnus, Martin graduated from the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School of Business, intending to work in marketing and/or advertising right out of school. But he quickly realized he would first need to cut his teeth in sales. Sales led him to suds. Reaching senior management positions in the beer industry and closely watching international brewing trends, Martin recognized there was a growing need in the Canadian market that he felt wasn’t being served.

Dave and his family.

Canadians love their beer. They love the full-bodied taste of a yearround drink. But when adulting comes along, high alcohol and carb levels often interfere with an active

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and healthy lifestyle. Light or low alcohol beers have attempted to address these issues, but, according to Martin, they have missed the mark in terms of taste. So, he struck out on his own and in 2018 launched New Standard Beer, a product that, he says, “provide(s) more taste and satisfaction than traditional light beers while being 40% fewer calories than a regular-strength lager.” It’s a 3.2% alcohol beer with all-natural ingredients, a beer people can enjoy DAVE MARTIN page 25

From Page 3 proposals regarding assigning specific density and heights, based on the Laird in Focus Planning Study recommendations. The current submission includes a proposed four-storey office building. The LPOA supports the creation of employment opportunities as an integral part of the development, especially those that would link to the evolving industrial economy of the Leaside Business Park, such as an incubator hub. The LPOA believes that detailed design of the development should be done in such a way that: • The public amenities (community space, LRT station entrance and public space at the corner of Eglinton and Laird) be a gateway/anchor/hub of Leaside and along the Eglinton corridor, and the architectural character of the above spaces (“Leaside Centre”) to be the most prominent of the complex. • The architecture of the future east (secondary) entrance of

the LRT be read as a public amenity and a distinct pavilion within the complex, and as such construction above it should be avoided. • The architectural design of tower buildings be visual icons representing the future of the community while complementing the distinct architectural shape/details of Leaside Centre and the TTC entrance, which should be celebrated as the main attractions at ground level. • The design of the public realm be inspired and developed from the traditions/style of the Leaside community and its legacy as a model garden city, while maintaining and encouraging the daily public interaction of the Leaside community and the public in general. The RioCan application represents the keystone of the Laird in Focus plan for major development around the Laird transit station and the major project affecting Leaside’s path forward, likely over the next 30 years. We need to get it right, for local residents, the City, and the developer. Overall, we are optimistic. ■

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Leaside Life • December 2019

Development...

MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS

Leaside Life • December 2019

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With Bayview’s Tutto Pronto, everything is ready for Leasiders by TALBOT BOGGS Anna Maria Graziano is one busy lady these days. Fifteen years ago, she opened an Italian restaurant and takeout pasta store at Fairlawn and Avenue Road aimed primarily at serving the local community. Recently, Graziano decided to expand her successful retail formula. With the help of a business partner she started up Tutto Pronto ("everything is ready" in Italian) in Leaside, a prepared foods and pasta store selling single- and family-of-four servings of pasta dishes and salads, which opened its doors at 1551 Bayview Ave. Oct. 1. “I’ve always been very fond of Leaside,” Graziano says. “It’s a great neighbourhood community that people really enjoy living in and use a lot. I felt Bayview would be a good location because it is a central street in the community and there is great walk-in traffic. It seemed to be

Tutto Pronto GM Natasha, owner Anna Maria and events manager Krisztina in front of the new store.

a really good fit.” Graziano spent about six months and some $250,000 to renovate and convert a 700 sq. ft. jewellery store into a modern-day pasta emporium. She purchased her pasta maker directly from Italy and has strategically placed it in the front window for people to see from the street. “The pasta machine in the window has really been great at catching people’s attention,” she says. “Customers can come into the store and choose the noodles, sauces and proteins they want. Everything is made fresh in the store each day. We only do small batches, so if something sells out, we make it again so everything is as fresh as possible.” Customers can choose to buy their pastas and ingredients and take them home to cook them, or have them cooked in the store. Singleserve pasta dishes sell for about $9 without protein to $14 with protein, while family-sized meals range from between $32.95 and $38.95 with or without protein. “The unique thing

about our Bayview location is the pasta bar where people can choose and try,” Graziano says. “There is a lot of value.” The first few weeks in the new store were a “whirlwind,” Graziano says. During the first weekend, which coincided with Leaside’s Apple Fest celebrations, Graziano spent a lot of time meeting customers, giving out free samples and reinforcing her brand, which she has carefully crafted over the last decade and a half. “We have already built up our brand through our Avenue Road location, so a lot of people already know who we are,” she says. “The two communities know and recognize each other. The early reaction to our Bayview store has been great. It’s all been very positive.” ■

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MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS

No kitchen? No problem. Manning Canning’s got you covered by KEN MALLETT Imagine you have this great idea for a business…a slew of great Italian recipes from your nonna. Jams. Jellies. Marmalade. Why not start selling preserves at farmers’ markets and little specialty shops? Maybe even a big grocery store. Once people taste them, customers will be lining up for more! Except…how do you get started? How do you find the professional kitchen facilities you need to produce good food in commercial quantities? Christine Manning has the answer. Because that’s what she does. She runs a company called Manning Canning – what else? – that makes it possible for budding entrepreneurs to crack big markets by renting them the facilities they need to get started…just the way she got started herself. Four years ago, Leaside Life visited Manning Canning, then a startup in the challenging retail food business.

Christine Manning.

and competition. When we opened, we really were the only privately funded purpose-built rental kitchen in the city. There are way more people doing it now, and so many more people trying to get into the food business in general on the client side. And all of this is good for the Toronto food scene, which is one of the best in the world.” Service provided “We’ve managed to provide a place for people to start and grow their own food business while we have grown our own consumer packaged goods business. We’ve been very fortunate to have, for the most part,

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Leaside Life • December 2019

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Today the company sells 11 different preserve products in 120 retail stores across Canada and provides a commercially certified rental kitchen on Vanderhoof Ave. for small food producers. In addition to the kitchens, the facility provides dried-goods storage space, freezer and fridge rentals, and is at the forefront of the changing face of business in Leaside. We asked founder Christine Manning about the changes she has seen over that time: Biggest highlight “There are a ton of highlights, but I think the biggest is surviving for five years!” she said. “When we opened up, we were pretty green and running a small business is a tough job. “I think the major change is the increased number of both clients

really excellent clients who have helped us grow. “It’s also been really great to see people come in to our facility with an idea and either build their businesses using our facility or leaving to go and get their own bricks and mortar after they have gotten up and running.” Award-winning preserves Manning’s own preserves business, which she runs with her husband, is more than up and running. She has received a bundle of awards for her preserves including the gold medal at the World’s Original Marmalade Awards as well as being honoured by the BMO Celebrating Women program in the category of Expansion & Growth in Small Business. CANNING page 27

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MEET A LEASIDE BUSINESS

Charmaine Sweets: a hidden treat on Vanderhoof by KEN MALLETT If you think the little white building standing alone at the corner of Vanderhoof and Brentcliffe looks a little like a cake box, you wouldn’t be far off. And inside you’ll find cakes. And cookies. And a world of delectable treats, fancy pastries, croissants and freshly baked breads. Temptation writ large in flour and sugar. The cakebox on Vanderhoof is the home of Charmaine Sweets, owned and operated by Teresa Ho and her family – daughter Charmaine, after whom the bakery is named, and her husband Dustin. Ho prepares cookies, Charmaine makes cakes and pastries, and Dustin is the bread chef. Both Charmaine and Dustin are highly skilled bakers who trained under noted Toronto chef Marc Thuet. The story of Charmaine Sweets began 20 years ago when Ho first enrolled at George Brown College’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts. She wanted to pursue her life-

Charmaine and her husband Dustin Kuruc.

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long dream of creating fancy cakes and cookies. The family opened their doors in Leaside in December 2015. The business started in the basement of Ho’s East York home, but later her husband Ken found the ideal location – the former Children’s Music Room at 115 Vanderhoof Ave. “My husband and I noticed this white, brick, freestanding building that looked like a cake box,” she says. “I always had a love for baking and teaching and the cake box-like building was a great spot to set up the business.”

Years before, she invited friends to her home, cooked for neighbours and for her church and loved hosting small groups with food as the centre. Little did she know that her eldest daughter would go on to become a pastry chef and marry a baker. Soon Ho was selling her cakes not just to friends and family but to local restaurants too. She also expanded her business to include wedding cakes. “We have customers who have supported us from the beginning and always comment on how far we have come,” Christine says. “When Mom first started, the building was to be just a studio with an online cookie ordering program. We have grown to much more since then.” Not just a fine bakery and sweets caterer, Charmaine now also offers education for budding bakers. Baking courses, held every Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m., are conducted right at the studio. “It can host up to eight students keeping the class intimate and more private,” says Charmaine. “Students are always impressed by the skills they learn and rave about what they get to take home. “The recipes that Mom chooses to teach are her personal favourites, either passed down from her mother – some have a Hong Kong flair – and most are classic French. She definitely tries to keep things

PHOTOS: RAYMOND CHUNG

Leaside Life • December 2019

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CHARMAINE continued

The new showroom of

Parallele Interiors

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is now open in FOC! at 196 Wicksteed Ave. You can visit Paul at his new showroom by appointment or in the comfort of your own home for a free consultation.

Leaside Life • December 2019

fresh and will include cupcake decoration with fondant, and her latest is the unicorn cake class.” They are also planning to add corporate team-building events as well as host parties. Ho says, “That’s my dream – to have women come in, bond and share a hands-on experience.” It’s bound to be a sweet one. charmainesweetsstudio.com. ■

Contact Paul at 416.481.7207 or by email at paul@paralleleinteriors.com. Paul looks forward to seeing you at his place or yours!

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Leaside Life • December 2019

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Leaside real estate ends year on a high note detached homes rise by 9.5% Welcome to our second real estate column, where different Leaside real estate agents and experts offer their unique take on housing in the community. This month, Charlene Kalia, a sales representative with Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage talks about promising sales trends for our neighbourhoods. by CHARLENE KALIA

market is lack of availability. Active listings in the Toronto As we near the end of area are down almost 20% 2019, the resale market compared to last year. looks extremely bright and LEASIDE LIVES Conditions are even tighter promising for Leaside. The in Toronto central, and market appears to have Leaside is no exception. absorbed the shock of mortLow inventory puts tremengage stress testing, which was dous pressure on prices. The introduced in 2018. Since March long-term concern then becomes of this year, there has been steady and sustainable growth. Leaside and Bennington real estate statistics Leaside is composed of bungalows, semi-detached and of C11 MLS DISTRICT SOLDS DAYS ON THE MARKET detached homes. The average price LEASIDE/BENNINGTON (DETACHED) for detached homes in Toronto has risen by almost 10% this year 2018 103 18 and now stands at approximately 2019 112 18 $1,325,000. Barring some unforeLEASIDE/BENNINGTON (SEMI-DETACHED) seen economic catastrophe, there is no indication that this trend will 2018 28 11 change in 2020. In fact, prices might 2019 38 9 rise even faster. *2019 data up to November 11, 2019 As 2019 comes to an end, the major concern for the residential resale

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one of sustainability. Dramatically rising prices often lead to a release of large amounts of inventory, with sellers capitalizing on the growth in the value of their properties. We hope that is the case in 2020. Leaside ranks among the top 10 neighbourhoods in Toronto and continues to be desirable, offering buyers all the amenities they are seeking: quiet, safe, public and private schools, transportation, and attractive single-family housing. Given the prevailing market conditions and the nature of its community, Leaside will continue to be a prime choice for buyers. What is an astute seller and buyer to do in this extraordinary real estate environment? I believe the answer is simple: secure a local experienced professional with in-depth market knowledge and a global brokerage with a proven track record of success! www.charlenekalia.com â–

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’Tis the season to be grumpy ’Tis the season of giving. But when it comes to winter driving, “giving” can be interpreted rather broadly. After several months of spring, summer and fall driving, when our snow tires are safely stacked in the garage, the first morning of snow-dusted streets seems to unhinge us all. As I write this in early November, outside my window the couple of centimetres of snow have fallen. I’m not going to rant about how much earlier the snow has come than in past years. I don’t want to aggravate the meteorology gods any further. Global warming has put them in a foul mood already. (Not that I’m making light of global warming. It’s real and already upon us.) But back to the blessed season of giving. This morning, I watched a driver “giving” another driver the old mono-digital salute for the very minor offence of moving very slowly in the falling snow. Have we really forgotten how to drive with a bit of the white stuff on the road? Perhaps we have. Snow seems to make the most cautious

Terry Fallis Columnist

SHUTTERSTOCK

Leaside Life • December 2019

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and tentative driver even more cautious and tentative, while the leadfooted, aggressive, and impatient driver becomes even more so when the flakes have fallen. I think we

all just need to remember to drive with more prudence and care in the snow. That’s all. And of course, get your snow tires on! (By the time the service appointment I just made for mine comes around in a couple of weeks, the snow may well be gone.) Perhaps we’re all just a little stressed as we approach the holiday shopping frenzy. When I noticed the first inklings of Christmas in the retail world, Halloween candy was still on the shelves. The early bird gets the tinsel-festooned worm, I suppose. But it would be nice to have a little breather in the stores between the disappearance of pumpkin-spiced coffee, cake, ice cream, chicken pot pie, and far too many other seasonal culinary abominations, and the arrival of candy-cane spiced coffee, ice cream, chicken pot pie.... You get the idea. By the time you read this, we’ll already have endured the mall mayhem of Black Friday and will be well and truly immersed in the holiday shopping insanity. For much of December, our slippery streets are not nearly as treach-

Leaside United Church Welcomes You

Christmas Celebrations Sunday, Dec 8 7:00 pm

Carols by Candlelight Service

Sunday, Dec 15 10:30 am Christmas Pageant

Sunday, Dec 22 4:00 pm Longest Night Service

Tuesday, Dec 24 4:00 pm All Ages Christmas Eve Service

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Carols, Candlelight, and Communion You are welcome to join us every Sunday at 10:30 am

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Leaside Life • December 2019

Carols with Friends

Monday, December 16 at 7 pm Christmas Memorial Service

Saturday, December 21 at 4 pm Christmas service with COMMUNION

particularly for families with children Tuesday, December 24 at 4 pm Candlelight Communion services

Tuesday, December 24 at 8 pm and at 10:30 pm Christmas Communion Service with Carols

Wednesday, December 25 at 9 am

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SC

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ST. CUTHBERT’S, LEASIDE 1399 Bayview Avenue, South of Davisville For info call 416-485-0329 stcuthbertsleaside.com • stcuthberts@bellnet.ca

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and waved him on. After he walked the entire length of the lot, he then kept going and headed across the grass to the sidewalk, plunking himself down in the glass shelter to wait for his bus. Serves me right, I guess. I, and the other four cars jockeying for the guy’s apparently nonexistent parking spot, scattered and resumed our cruising. I think I found a spot by just after lunch. In the end, for most of us, the chaos of the holiday season is all worth it. If we’re lucky, we’ll be together with family. If all goes well, we’ll have just enough shovelling to do to ensure a white Christmas. We’ll stuff a turkey and then ourselves. We might even sing a carol or two, even though we’ve been hearing them in stores and on the radio since early November. Perhaps we’ll even attempt tobogganing down the hill in Talbot Park or walk through the streets of Leaside to marvel at the lights. And, filled with good cheer, we’ll drive safely on icy roads (and parking lots!) and do our best to keep our cool when others are losing theirs. And before we know it, the year will turn and we’ll look back at December wistfully and fondly. Then we’ll don our new scarves and gloves and get back to shovelling. And to all a good night. A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis grew up in Leaside and is the award-winning writer of seven national bestsellers, including his most recent, Albatross, all published by McClelland & Stewart. ■

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ome celebrate Advent & Christmas at St. Cuthbert’s, Leaside!

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“...the first morning of snow-dusted streets seems to unhinge us all.”

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erous for driving as the shopping mall parking lots are. Cars circle endlessly looking for overburdened shoppers emerging from the stores and heading for their cars. One morning I followed a man bearing what had to have been about a dozen heavy bags as he exited the mall and walked across the parking lot. I didn’t follow him too closely, but there were other cars ready to pounce on his vacated parking spot, so I had to stay somewhat tight on his tail without invading his personal space with my car. He looked nervously over his shoulder a few times and I just smiled

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FALLIS continued

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S T. CUTHBE RT’ S , LE AS IDE

Northlea United - 125 Brentcliffe Road

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Caroling in the Pines Featuring The Metropolitan Band Hot Chocolate & a visit from Santa!

December 8, 2019 at 7:00 pm

Candles & song sheets provided. Net Proceeds free will offering to Youth Without Shelter

ADVENT 2019

December 1—Advent I HOPE—10:30 am Communion

December 8—Advent II Peace — 10:30 am Pageant & White Gift

Donations to Youth Without Shelter

December 15—Advent III JOY—10:30 am Carols By Candlelight—7:00 pm December 22—Advent IV LOVE—10:30 am December 24—CHRISTMAS EVE 7:00 pm — Family Service 11:00 pm — Communion

Ode to Overlea by JASON ASH On a rainy, late October day, Thorncliffe Park’s grand Overlea Boulevard was showing off its unique, four-season beauty compared to Toronto’s typically dreary and grey major arterial roads. It brightened up everyone’s commute with crisp, vibrant, and brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red. Ken Fralick, chairman of a local tenants’ association, sees the trees as the defining image of his community that also benefit the local environment by absorbing the pollution of the many cars that drive through it. “They serve a positive contribution to our neighbourhood,” he says. Overlea Boulevard, much like the densely-populated, midtown Toronto community that it serves, is relatively unknown to most passersby. Running two kilometres between Millwood Road and Don Mills Road, Overlea is a lynchpin of Toronto’s transportation system, connecting the inner suburbs of Thorncliffe Park, Leaside, East York, Flemingdon Park, and Don Mills.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Leaside Life • December 2019

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Overlea high rises. For Douglas Harwood, a Flemingdon Park resident, commuting along Overlea is a quick break of nature in an increasingly urban city. The busy street hosts five TTC bus routes, connecting to two subway lines, and is the only detour for motorists avoiding Eglinton Crosstown construction between Laird Drive and Don Mills Road. “Travel any downtown street and you are treated to endless mountains of stone and glass. What few trees we do have here strive to remind

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local residents that nature exists all around them and reinforces the ‘city in a park’ moniker that Toronto once gave itself,” says Harwood. Overlea’s canopy is the green ribbon connecting neighbours to recreational trails at the Thorncliffe Park Drive entrance to E.T. Seton Park, Leaside Park’s sports facilities, and the Burgess Playground, scheduled for renovation in 2020. Safeera Mulla, who grew up in Thorncliffe Park and is raising her family here, recognizes that the trees make her neighbourhood more welcoming and homey feeling, and can see that the city and private businesses recognize this too. “Trees were replanted on Overlea by Costco after they completed construction,” she says. More construction is on the way. Thorncliffe Park, also known as “Canada’s Arrival City,” will soon see Overlea’s trees replaced by the elevated trains of the Ontario Line. For Lynn McGregor, today’s street strikes a perfect balance with city living and nature. “When I purchased my home on Overlea, some of the most important features were the trees and the adjacent ravine, full of wildlife such as falcons, wild rabbits, and chipmunks. We are close to the financial core and to the Don Valley Parkway.” Overlea’s fall colours are now gone, but its dignity will persist as more garden city movement than Robert Moses throughway across the snowy, winter days that lie ahead, and beyond. “So often,” as Thorncliffe Park resident Judith Scolnik notes, “we take our trees for granted, but it’s always such a treat when they start to wake up and blossom in the spring months that I find myself easing up the pressure on the gas pedal on the way home from work.” ■

Let’s go a-caroling in Leaside

Christmas cookies and conversation. Freewill donations go to the Flemingdon Food Bank. 1399 Bayview Avenue. Caroling in the Pines at Northlea United Church Caroling in the Pines beside Northlea United Church at 125 Brentcliffe has been an annual

Leaside tradition since 2006. This year’s caroling takes place on Sun., Dec. 8, starting at 7 pm. Chief Elf Laura Jarvis will make sure there are song sheets if you don’t know all the words of the carols and popular Christmas songs, there will be musical accompaniment by the Metropolitan Silver Band, and hot chocolate. Candles too, but it may be easier to bring a flashlight to juggle. Dress for the weather, and have some money with you to donate to Youth Without Shelter, the designated charity for this year’s event. If you are bringing children – know that Santa Claus makes an appearance at the end of the hour-long sing-along. The event has never been cancelled, but did move inside one year when it was pouring rain. A year when gentle snow falls, and you are protected under the pines, is always special. Lee-Ann Ahlstrom, a Recognized Designated Lay Minister and part of the Leadership Team at Northlea, welcomes the whole community to this evening of seasonal joy. ■

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Leaside Life • December 2019

A long-standing tradition at St. Cuthbert’s, Leaside is Carols with Friends – this year on Mon., Dec. 16, starting at 7 p.m. in the church. For many, this evening is a special part of their Christmas celebration, gathering with friends and neighbours. The church choir is aided and abetted by a few extra “ringers” for the evening, and Music Director Gary Forbes leads the singing. The choice of which Christmas carol or popular Christmas song from the song sheet appears in which order is up to those in attendance – with the emcee, Chris Vyse, deciding whose choice is next. There are stories told too, sometimes with the assistance of the children present and some “musical” instruments. It’s a night for wearing a favourite Christmas sweater or a Santa hat! But there is solemnity too during the hour. Wait for all the candles to be lit, the lights turned down, and join in singing Silent Night in the darkness. After the singing, everyone gathers in Lamb Hall for warm apple cider,

KATHI DAVIES

Carols with Friends at St. Cuthbert’s

Leaside Green: We’re dreaming of a green Christmas Leaside Life • December 2019

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by CHERYL VANDERBURG and DEBORA KUCHME Ah, the holidays, that magical time of year when we bring warmth and light to the cold darkness, love and joy to our family and friends along with hope and wishes for peace and goodwill to all. Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! But it’s also the most wasteful time of year that adds a tremendous burden to our planet. Is that joy to the world? Though we all dream of a white Christmas, the concerns about the environment have many now dreaming ‘green’ and making as many ecofriendly choices as possible in an effort to help. As Leaside Life’s new green team, we decided to send out a questionnaire to our Leaside Life colleagues and local politicians to see if they were also dreaming green. Here’s what we learned: Are you thinking “green” for the holiday season?

“Yes – I am always trying to think ‘greener’ and I would like to remind everyone to think consciously about the amount of waste that can be produced during the holidays.” – Jaye Robinson. “Yes, the climate crisis we are facing is affecting me in my daily life and on decisions that are occasional or seasonal.” – Rob Oliphant. Most of our respondents answered yes to that question, while a few had some questions of their own. Real or fake?

“We usually get a real tree but wonder if it makes sense?” – Stan Flemming.

“I don’t know which creates the larger footprint: freshly cut boughs and a real Christmas tree or the artificial ones that are often created from petroleum products. I think we will lean to natural as I have been doing my whole life.” – Rob O. When it comes to Christmas trees, real versus fake continues to be on the minds of many and that’s because there are pros and cons to both. Though artificial trees last for years (a good thing), their environmental footprint is enormous! Made mostly in China using unfriendly (PVC) materials along with the added transportation and packaging, it TIP: If you own an artificial tree (or other non-recyclable decorations), reuse them for as long as possible to keep them out of landfill.

would take 20 years for this product to match the footprint of real. The greener choice is definitely real and that goes for wreaths, garlands and any other winter greens used for décor because these products are all biodegradable. When you buy fresh cut from a sustainable grower, you’re also supporting our local economy. It’s easy to find “real” choices in Leaside. We have Davenport Garden Centre, Passion Fruits and Valu-Mart (all on Bayview) as well as our local Loblaws, Canadian Tire, Home Depot and Longos. And don’t forget

the Scouts at Leaside Presbyterian Church and Trace Manes Park. Are there ‘green holiday’ tips you and your family would like to share?

“Lower the impact of holiday lighting by using LED Christmas lights and/or ensuring they are on timers. Make homemade cards and gifts for loved ones. Use alternatives to wrapping paper like those made of recycled content or repurpose your local newspaper or magazine.” – Jaye R. “Generally, our family tries to cut down on everything over the holidays. Less is more and simple is better – both in helping reduce the stress of the holiday and in our environmental footprint.” – Rob O. “We reuse decorations (some decades old and many handmade, even a cherished rag wreath that a friend made years ago), and decorate our tree with strings of beads purchased at bargain prices at past church bazaars.” – Suzanne Park Our survey revealed an abundance of creativity by reusing what already exists, that quality is better than quantity and that items of sentimental value become our most loved treasures and will last the longest. Are you ‘green gifting’ and are these gifts sourced in Leaside?

“I do almost all my Christmas and holiday shopping at local churches and other markets in Leaside, Mount Pleasant Village and Lawrence Park. The profits help local organizations as well as artisans and small businesses. Plus, it is more fun to shop (locally) than in a mall.” – Rob O. All of our respondents held the same regard for shopping locally and

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with the same responsible gifting in mind. Here are just a few more of their great ideas. • “I’m gifting more ‘experiences’ than objects (i.e. restaurant certificates, concert, sports and theatre tickets) or making donations in peoples’ names to their favourite charities.” – Susan Scandiffio • “I try to buy gifts that serve a purpose and are not junk that will become landfill. Last year I gave each of my nieces an animal adoption package from the World Wildlife Foundation. One adopted a panda and one adopted a narwhal.” – Karli Vezina. • “I’m gifting homemade fudge on recycled china plates and gifting clients with snail mail cards and a charitable donation.” – Suzanne P. Are you making any “green’ resolutions this year?

Everyone responded “yes!” including plans to keep doing more of the eco-friendly things they are already doing and paying more attention to recycling, waste reduction and energy consumption. “I hope to make my office ‘greener’ by using less paper in 2020.” – Jaye R. Even though our survey may seem small, it was big on answers and left us both with a positive feeling that our Leaside community is indeed dreaming of a green Christmas. And in case you’re wondering, here are a few things WE do for the holidays: “I use only beeswax candles and

they’re so easy to find on Bayview. They are environmentally friendly and help with indoor air quality too. For decorations, I use the evergreens from my garden, and this year, I plan on using more edibles for my indoor décor. Oranges, apples, nuts and cinnamon sticks with a few potted organic rosemary plants. They look great, smell wonderful and we will ultimately eat them all!” – Debora “I donate my old decorations to the Salvation Army Thrift Store and purchase new ones there as well as decorating our mantel with house plants and garden greens. My husband makes turkey soup using the leftover carcass and water from the cooked vegetables. And I repurpose used Christmas cards by cutting them up as gift tags or Christmas postcards.” – Cheryl As Maya Angelou wisely said: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Wishing everyone a merry “green” holiday season and an even “greener” new year. Visit leasidelife.com for the extended version of this article along with more tips and photos! ■

19 CHRISTMAS AT

LEASIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday, December 15th at 10:30 a.m. Service of Lessons and Carols Tuesday, December 24th 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service Leaside Presbyterian Church 670 Eglinton Ave. E. Toronto ON M4G 2K4 www.leasidepresbyterianchurch.ca 416-422-0510

COME AND CELEBRATE

Christmas

ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY ANGLICAN CHURCH

Christmas Eve December 24

4:00pm Children's Service 7:00pm Candlelight Service

Christmas Day December 25

10:30am Holy Communion

Epiphany January 5

10:30am Holy Communion

Leaside Life • December 2019

GREEN continued

Two songs are competing for space in my head. Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi (“They paved paradise…”) and Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall (“We don’t need no thought control…”). What’s racking my brain? Well, in May 2014, then Councillor Parker recommended that Leaside be considered a Heritage Conservation District (HCD). An HCD is a geographically defined area noted for its distinct heritage character. Geoff Kettel notes we were prioritized “below the line” at that time. Phew. In my mind, that was a close call, and if it had proceeded, we would have needed to strap on our thinking caps and come to a collective agreement on how best to proceed. Is a Cultural Heritage Resource Assessment study (CHRA) in the cards for Leaside in 2020? If so, we will be venturing further down the path to south Leaside (“nominated area”) being designated an HCD. As a property owner, I naturally wondered what this would mean for me. As I understand, if a property is part of a registered HCD, it is protected by the Ontario Heritage Act. A property owner will require a heritage permit (approved by council) to conduct any major exterior alterations or demolitions and must have regard for the existing built form and character of the neighbourhood with respect to its form, materials, height and massing in design proposals as well as avoid removal of original building details, mature trees and other character-defining elements of the property per the district plan and legislation. Since 2005, properties in new HCDs must have HCD bylaws registered on title at the local Land Registry Office. Is this something we really need? To unpack this, I first took an economic view by examining the impact of a cultural heritage designation on residential home prices. The research is inconclusive. A 2017 study in the Economic Journal found “no significant short-run effects of designation and some evidence of positive capitalisation effects in the long run. There is some evidence of positive spillovers onto properties just outside.” A 2019

Glenn Asano

architectural style). What could a Leaside HCD add to the list that would be worth ceding greater government oversight in exchange for limited social and economic gain?

study in the Journal of Economic Geography found “conservation areas lead to higher house prices for given land values and building costs (lower housing productivity) and higher house prices for given wages (higher quality of life). The overall welfare impact [collective view vs. individual owner view] is found to be negative.” The term “welfare effects” refers to the point that some neighbourhoods in the US have been accused of using heritage designations as a way to limit the prevalence of more affordable housing thus negatively affecting the overall social good of a district within the context of a larger economic good for a city. Bottom line? There was no definitive empirically supported answer and outcomes are situational. I then considered the idea of relinquishing more control to the legislative government. My perspective may cloud judgment as I am loath to do so unless the matter is supported by considerable evidence. That same 2019 study also suggests that “more recent designations are typically of a less distinctive heritage character, and perhaps only of local significance…[of which] designation status is largely determined by local homeowners who stand to gain from the localised benefits of the policy.” Gains which I feel are somewhat questionable. There are already 21 HCDs in Toronto preserving buildings of significance (e.g. Gooderham Building, Enoch Turner Schoolhouse) and neighbourhoods (e.g. Rosedale, Annex, Yorkville, St. Lawrence) that are representative of Toronto’s cultural heritage (early character and

What in Leaside would be worth preserving? To designate only and all of south Leaside as a heritage district misses the mark and paints with too broad a brush. Perhaps rather than nominating the entirety of south Leaside, we could focus on specific structures from the “agricultural settlement landscape” and possibly worthwhile ones from the “developed residential landscape.” If we were to start with a blank page, the things that need to be protected and nurtured are not related to the aesthetic design of a structure’s façade, but (1) the very empowering idea of Frederick Todd’s original garden city concept that showcased the powerfully successful synergy that is generated when residential and industrial space are interconnected at birth by clever design, and (2) the real connectedness residents have with the original natural “pre-settlement landscape” (i.e. our relationship to the natural land and Don Valley tributaries). Nominating a heritage district that encompasses a combination of both the industrial and residential space which was at the heart of the garden city design is unique to Ontario and one of only three in Canada – this is our most compelling story. It’s a cultural heritage worth preserving because it also informs the way forward for Millennial and Gen-Z Leasiders beginning to reimagine how they will live, work, learn and play. We should somehow be able to honour the past without being shackled by it, and more importantly, we must embrace the future. Should Leaside be designated a cultural heritage district? What more can Leaside add to Toronto’s cultural heritage story? Is becoming an HCD a self-indulgence unworthy of relinquishing more control to the government? 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. ■

The Business of Leaside

ILLUSTRATIONS: SHUTTERSTOCK

Leaside Life • December 2019

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How do we honour Leaside’s past without being shackled to it?

When will we move to protect Leaside’s character?

Heritage Leaside was identified as a potential Heritage Conservation District (HCD) in Official Plan Amendment No. 38. In 2014, the LPOA hired heritage planner Paul Dilse to undertake an assessment of a potential HCD for the Leaside residential area. That year, part of Leaside was nominated as a potential HCD and authorized by City Council the next year, but as part of a group of 16 candidates, Leaside was prioritized “below the line,” and did not proceed. In 2018, Leaside was recommended for a Cultural Heritage Resource Assessment (CHRA) study. This has not commenced to date, although heritage studies in two related and adjacent areas (Midtown in Focus and Laird in Focus) have proceeded. Design Guidelines In 2003, the City in consultation with the Leaside Character Preservation Advisory Committee published the “Residential Character Preservation Guidelines for House Renovations, Additions and In-Fill Development in the Community of Leaside” (see lpoa.ca/guidelines). These guidelines “provide design principles that are meant to assist members of the community – architects, designers and contractors, as well as City officials and staff, in gaining an understanding of what makes Leaside’s natural and architec-

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside

tural attributes valuable and how to extend these attributes to new development.” In 2016, City Planning initiated two pilot studies to create a City-wide template for Neighbourhood Design Guidelines. While the Long Branch guidelines were developed, approved by Council and implemented, those for Willowdale have not been completed. The status of the template is unknown. Preservation of the standards expressed in the Leaside Guidelines is a key issue of importance to Leaside

and other established neighbourhoods facing incremental change resulting from the Committee of Adjustment (COA) and TLAB decision-making regarding so-called “minor variances.” The LPOA has attempted to use the guidelines to assess applications before the COA and upon appeal to the OMB/TLAB, so far to no avail. Once at the forefront of town planning in Canada, ironically, Leaside now lacks effective planning regulation. The creation of a Leaside Heritage Conservation District would appear to hold the most promise of allowing the cultural heritage landscapes of Leaside to evolve in a planned and consistent manner, rather than be destroyed by incremental and random changes. Unless the City expeditiously updates the guidelines and provides a mechanism to enforce them, the ongoing erosion of the community’s built form will soon reach a point of no return. ■

21

Leaside Life • December 2019

It seems the pace of threats to Leaside’s residential character is quickening. The LPOA recently asked our councillor to arrange a meeting with City Planning to consider the status of the various efforts proposed over the years to protect Leaside’s character. John Van Nostrand said in 2015 when Leaside was authorized for a Heritage Conservation District study: “Leaside is probably the best example we have in Toronto – or perhaps Canada – of a fully-planned ‘garden’ or ‘railway suburb’ that was built in the 1930s/40s in accordance with a single overall plan. As such it may well qualify as a potential Heritage Neighbourhood – one that comprises a set of clearly identified planning and design features that are repeated right across the community.” Leaside was designed, governed, and partially functioned as a single entity for much of its history, including its formative years more than a century ago. So, what’s the status of efforts to protect Leaside’s character?

LEASIDE LIFE’S

22

Holiday Gift Guide Mystery books for all ages. Price varies. Sleuth of Baker Street, 904 Millwood Rd.

Festive Necklace $179 Tzatz, 1609 Bayview Ave.

Antelope Sculpture $189 BooBoo & Lefty, 1588 Bayview Ave.

Bodum Kettle $55 Academy of Culinary Arts 1703 Bayview Ave.

Holiday Baby Bib $17 West Coast Kids 1646 Bayview Ave.

Leaside Flames winter scarf $10 Leaside Hockey Shop, Leaside Arena, 1073 Millwood Ave.

Wilson Tennis Bag $130 Merchant of Tennis 1621 Bayview Ave.

Pet chew toys. Price varies. Paws & Claws, 1721 Bayview Ave.

Chocolate Christmas Tree $14 The Chocolate Messenger 1645 Bayview Ave.

Specialized E-Bike For price, inquire. Gears Bike Shop 109 Vanderhoof Ave.

Woodlot Candle $26 Boutique La muse 1610 Bayview Ave.

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Leaside Life • December 2019

LETTERS

Lynda Gorges Broker

416-486-5588 Lynda.Gorges@gmail.com www.lyndagorges.com

Warmest Holiday Wishes

EDI

TED

leasidelife@gmail.com

Re: Traffic and speed limits in Leaside While admirable, the battle to reduce speed limits in Leaside makes NO sense in 2019 with the construction of the Eglinton LRT line – traffic is already at a crawl. Drivers are forced to use Leaside side-streets as shortcuts on roads not designed to handle THAT increased amount of traffic. For 17 years I served the area as school crossing guard (14 years at Rumsey Rd. and McRae Dr.; 2½ years at Davisville Ave. and Cleveland). Odd that safety is of such concern now...school crossing guards (now privatized, formerly attached to the Toronto Police Service) were to be cut entirely in 2011 by (now deceased) Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Cuts to ALL services prompted the large community protest that lasted over 30 hours.

We would like to wish you all a

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Festive Celebrations!

864 Millwood Rd. Toronto, Ont. M4G 1W6 416-485-2807

Three school crossing guards – Mrs. Mona Piper (deceased, S.C.G.A. President 30+ years), Mr. Christopher Salmond, guard 20+ years, and I (guard 17 years and S.C.G.A. Secretary 10 years) sat for 11 hours to do an eight-minute deputation in order to (successfully) save the school guards. Parents then were oddly silent and absent from that protest, however. Some media (the Toronto Star, for example) went to great lengths to support school crossing guards, printing our letter regarding cuts. The wonderful political cartoonists drew great cartoons of Mayor Ford sitting in crumpled van, cellphone in hand. In one, surrounded by four City councillors, facing him at that protest were the three school crossing guards – one whispers to other guard, “He’s not listening to us, is he?” It is time Leaside shook off its small-town mentality and realized that the community is part of something much larger: the City of Toronto. And drivers MUST take responsibility for traffic safety (put away that blasted cellphone while driving) – their kids and ALL pedestrian/traffic safety depend on it! Ida Fedor-Baan, retired school crossing guard and secretary, School Crossing Guard Association Another great issue Thanks for another great issue. With updates on the traffic problems, I’m starting to understand how it was that our new councillor, Ms. Robinson, edged out the very capable Mr. Burnside in the past election. But, I was most interested in the note on the new MRI installation at Holland-Bloorview. Even today a new installation within Canada is news of a sort, but I’d argue that the pendulum should be swinging from the hardware to the people who use it. I’d been aware for some time of the researcher at Bloorview, Dr. Anagnostou, who has been making waves in autism research. At the same time, I would never have thought such a small institution as the Bloorview could ever fund such a hardware investment. However, top research talent will get surprising things done, and this is just telling me, again, that there is an unusual talent there. Perhaps a future article could highlight Dr. Anagnostou rather than just a bunch of hardware. Jonathan Bishop■

From Page 4

knowing they can still function effectively the next day, he adds. New Standard Beer addresses that need for balance between fun and responsibility. Not surprisingly, the product has been well received both inside and outside Leaside. New Standard can be found at LCBOs across the province, at Sobeys, the Leaside Pub, and on a rotational basis at The Local.

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For Martin, the move to launching his own product offered the opportunity of a true work-life balance. After the birth of his, and his wife Lesley’s second daughter, Martin decided that he wanted to be around for his children’s special moments. He loves being able to walk his 2½-year-old to ABC Academy and his 5½-year-old to Rolph Road where he can be found distributing lunch on pizza days. Leaside is a very special place for the Martin family. Both Dave and his two siblings returned to the neighbourhood after launching their careers. Martin was heavily involved in the community as a child. He played hockey with the Kings and the Flames, baseball at Rolph and Trace Manes, soccer, and hockey at Leaside High where his team silvered at OFSSA. He also spent time as a Beaver Scout, and refereed and umpired. The community is now playing a big role in his career. Leaside’s entrepreneurs have provided encouragement and connections, and Martin, in turn, has given back to the community in many ways, including supporting the annual Leaside Toy Drive and Guys Night Out. True Leaside pride. ■

From e Stanway Family To You,

Hay Holidays! Monica Stanway & Sarah Stanway Sales Representatives Direct: 416.873.1053 | 647.822.6959 Office: 416.487.5131 info@stanwayrealestate.com stanwayrealestate.com

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Leaside Life • December 2019

Dave Martin...

Leaside Life • December 2019

26

3RD ANNUAL

BAYVIEW HOLIDAY WINDOW DECORATING CONTEST

L E A S I D E L I F E is thrilled to be partnering once again with the Bayview Leaside BIA to sponsor the 3rd Annual Bayview Holiday Window Display Contest. We are encouraging as many local merchants and businesses as possible to create fun and creative holiday windows for Leasiders to enjoy while shopping on Bayview. Prizes will be awarded to the top entries. On December 14th and 21st, the Bayview Leaside BIA have also planned a couple of fun-filled event days on Bayview. Come out and meet Santa; listen to strolling carolers; participate in or watch the Holiday Pooch parade, and of course, enjoy the amazing holiday windows.

Leasiders are so fortunate to have such a plethora of wonderful local retailers and businesses. We are encouraging our readers to shop local and to support your neighbourhood retail community. So—rather than automatically jumping in the car and trekking to a mall—how about slipping on your boots and taking a walk in the neighbourhood to support the amazing retailers who have chosen Leaside to operate in?

Now it’s time to go shopping – at home, right here in Leaside!

Stanley’s

White House Meats

EVENTS ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH 1399 Bayview Ave. 416-485-0329 stcuthbertsleaside.com Carols with Friends, Mon., Dec. 16th for an hour, starting at 7 p.m. Join with your friends and neighbours in singing Christmas carols and popular Christmas songs, interspersed with Christmas stories. Hot cider and cookies in Lamb Hall afterwards. See ad on page 15 for a complete list of Christmas events and activities!

ST. ANSELM’S CHURCH 1 McNaughton Rd. 416-485-1792

Annual Christmas Bazaar. Sunday, December 1st from 9:30 a.m.1:00 p.m. Crafts, baking, café and local artisan vendors. Please join us to Christmas shop!

ST. AUGUSTINE’S CHURCH 1847 Bayview Ave. 416-485-2656

Groove Room Coffee House Fri. Dec. 13th, 7:00-8:30 p.m. featuring Les Garant. Come and listen to great live music by local artists and have a coffee and dessert with friends. Cost is $5 with proceeds to the Flemingdon Park Food Bank. We are looking for performers. Contact office@saintaugustine.ca. See ad on page 19 for Christmas services.

NORTHLEA UNITED

125 Brentcliffe Road www.northleaunited.ca 416-425-5252 Caroling in the Pines, December 8 at 7 p.m. Advent Services: See ad on page 15. Christmas Eve: 7p.m. and 11p.m. services.

LEASIDE PRESBYTERIAN

Now Accepting Holiday Orders!

670 Eglinton Ave. E. leasidepresbyterianchurch.ca 416-422-0510

See ad on page 19 for Christmas services.

LEASIDE UNITED

822 Millwood Rd. leasideunited.org 416-425-1256 See ad on page 14 for Christmas services.

LEASIDE LIBRARY 165 McRae Drive, 416-396-3835.

Leaside 1523 Bayview Avenue 416-488-2004

For full Library listings see https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ programs-and-classes/ Send us your free listing for January by December 10th leasidelife@gmail.com ■

From Page 8 Lessons learned “When we started our preserves business we were pretty green, and we made some mistakes along the way. So, we’ve just tried to pass that experience on, for what it’s worth, to the likeminded food entrepreneurs who use our facility. A rising tide lifts all boats and we want to see the food scene in Toronto continue to grow; we are interested in the success of all of our clients. “To be honest, we started this kitchen rental side of the business because at the time there really weren’t any places where you could book shifts at a reasonable rate, get the time guaranteed, and show up to a clean station. We’re not set up to take a part of your business or a percentage of sales.” Expansion of the product line The company has recently expanded its product line to include a health beverage called Shrub, a new version of a 17th-century brew known as “drinking vinegar,” for which cold-pressed fruit juice is infused with organic apple cider vinegar. “We’re seeing a tremendous growth of Shrub,” says Manning, adding that healthy beverages comprise the fastest-growing consumer category in the U.S. “We are excited to be rolling out our products at Metros across the GTA and most recently Sobeys. We are hoping you will be able to find all of them at the Sobeys in Leaside soon! ■

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27

Leaside Life • December 2019

Canning...

The new Ward 15 – a year in review I would like to extend my warmest wishes to you and your families this holiday season. I hope you are able to relax and spend time with loved ones during this busy time of year! Over the last few months, my family and I have received an outpouring of kind words from across Leaside and I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for the well wishes. Your support means the world to me as I begin my journey to recovery. One year ago, I was officially sworn in as your City Councillor in the new, amalgamated Ward 15 – Don Valley West. As 2019 draws to a close, I want to reflect on how much we’ve accomplished together in such a short time. At a community traffic meeting in June, local residents indicated their clear support for a holistic traffic and speed management strategy for the entire Leaside neighbourhood. Armed with a petition signed by more than 1,700 residents and with the support of the Leaside Property Owners’ Association (LPOA), we successfully implemented a neigh-

Jaye Robinson Councillor

bourhood-wide 30 km/h speed limit and initiated a Traffic Management Plan for Leaside. These initiatives will complement the School Safety Zones we installed at three Leaside schools over the course of 2019. This fall, I worked closely with the community and the LPOA to refine Laird in Focus, the planning policy framework for the intersection of

“...the City will hold developers accountable to approved construction timelines and ensure compliance with our property standards bylaw.”

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Laird Drive and Eglinton Avenue. While the plan – including building heights – was adopted by North York Community Council last term, a new implementation report from City Planning presented an opportunity to strengthen the policies to protect and enhance our neighbourhood. With feedback from the community, I developed a series of motions to enhance greenspace buffer zones, limit density, require construction management plans, and ensure that there is sufficient school capacity to meet growing demand. In October, I wrote about our successful efforts to drain Lake Leaside. My team and I used this local issue as a catalyst to tighten up our City-wide bylaws regulating unfinished or dormant development sites. These properties are an eyesore and nuisance, but even more importantly, they can pose a safety risk for the surrounding neighbourhood. Through the use of fines, permit revocation, and other enforceable regulations, the City will hold developers accountable to approved construction timelines and ensure compliance with our property standards bylaw.

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My staff and I are proud to serve our community!

Along with the many park enhancement projects that are currently underway in Leaside – including Trace Manes, Southvale Drive, and the Bayview-Millwood Parkette – I worked closely with the parent community at St. Anselm School to secure funding for the Playground Revitalization Project. I was pleased to see this important project completed over the summer – just in time for the new school year. From playground improvements to major planning studies, it’s been a busy year in Leaside. I look forward to continuing our work together on new community initiatives in 2020. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me. My team can be reached by email at councillor_robinson@toronto.ca, or by phone at (416) 395-6408. ■

SHUTTERSTOCK

Leaside Life • December 2019

28

Rachel Chernos Lin Trustee

SHUTTERSTOCK

The Laird in Focus Site and Area Specific Policy (SASP) is a development plan currently working its way through city government and described on the City’s website as “a vision and plan to guide growth and future development” in the Laird/ Eglinton area. As your TDSB trustee, I am concerned about this plan’s implications for our local schools. In recent years, TDSB and its real estate subsidiary, Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC), have consulted with city planners regarding language in development studies, and their collaboration on Midtown in Focus succeeded in enshrining language emphasizing the importance of local school capacity as essential in creating complete communities. This landmark achievement would not have happened without that collaboration. Unfortunately, the province’s omnibus Bill 108 eliminated all language related to school infrastructure in the Midtown in Focus plan, and has essentially stripped the City of most of its power to regulate development. Despite these setbacks, TDSB continues to advocate for inclusion of language and policies in Laird in Focus that speak directly to local school capacity as part of creating complete communities. TLC has been in regular communication on this issue with Dianne Silver, city planner for Laird in Focus, and has written numerous letters outlining our concerns. Our three chief priorities are: 1) not to allow development to outpace the provision of community services and facilities; 2) to ensure that residential development will be phased in order to provide adequate provision and distribution of educational facilities as an integral element of the local community; 3) to enact a holding bylaw ensuring adequate local community services and facilities will be met before residential development is approved. When the most recent draft of Laird in Focus was released and ready to come before North York Community Council for consideration in early November, the language we had hoped to see included was absent. TDSB followed up with certain steps: TLC made written

submissions; I was in contact with Councillor Robinson’s office to raise our concerns; and I appeared before the North York Community Council and also provided written submissions to the committee. When I deputed before the Council, councillors peppered me with questions. What ensued was a productive discussion regarding schools as essential infrastructure. In addition, Councillor Robinson, currently on medical leave, had a colleague introduce a motion on her behalf which included school capacity as one of the important considerations in planning matters. To ensure the smooth, successful development of complete and full communities, it is important that various levels of government, along with community members and representatives, combine their efforts and expertise. Despite the changes brought by Bill 108, I am hopeful that by advocating and collaborating wherever possible, we can make local school capacity a key consideration in planning for the future. ■

Happy Holidays Please join me and MP Rob Oliphant for our 17th Annual

New Year ’s Levee Sunday, January 19, 2020 • 1–3 pm Toronto Botanical Gardens, Floral Hall 777 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto

Join us to celebrate the New Year with refreshments and live entertainment! Kathleen Wynne, MPP

Don Valley West 416-425-6777

kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

29

Leaside Life • December 2019

Advocating for school capacity in planning decisions

Early in November the Leaside Property Owners’ Association held our 2019 Annual General Meeting. It was well-attended. We reported about many of the usual subjects of interest and/or concern to Leasiders, such as development pressures (too many of them), traffic safety (not enough of it), and the LPOA’s continuing actions to protect and improve our community. But the big news from the AGM was the proposal by our board to change the criteria for full membership in the LPOA. For almost 75 years, our bylaws have stated that only owners of property are eligible for membership, or to be elected to the board. While most Leasiders are indeed property owners, there are numerous Leasiders who are not owners of the properties in which they live, who

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LPOA

are currently excluded. Our bylaws have prevented people who live in a Leaside property as tenants, even very long-term rentals, to be more

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involved in a more official sense. They may include adult children living with parents whose names are on the title, people who live in a property which is in a spouse’s name for tax or liability reasons, or seniors’ home residents. There are enthusiastic non-owner residents in our community with expertise whom we do not want to exclude from becoming LPOA directors. Increasingly escalating Toronto property values bring with them a rise in the numbers of renters as well. Most ratepayer organizations in Toronto include both owners and tenants as members. They say they are stronger for it: they can honestly say they represent a larger number of people (always useful when one is at a tribunal or lobbying at City Council). We heard concerns that the character of the neighbourhood, demographics and politics could change as a result of the developments taking shape on our periphery. This has indeed been considered and debated by the LPOA board. However, the experience of other areas facing similar pressures (such as Yonge/Eglinton) has shown that tenants’ interests have been in line with those of traditional property owners (e.g. densification and infrastructure concerns). The proposal to change membership criteria was approved by a vote of members. It was also agreed that the LPOA’s official name would have to change to reflect this. There’s still work ahead, but we are confident that removing the division between Leaside residents who own real property and Leaside residents who do not own real property will prove to have been the right way to go forward.

ab

The next regular monthly LPOA board meeting is on WED., DEC. 4, at 7:30 p.m., in the Trace Manes building on Rumsey Road. We invite you to attend and learn what is happening in our community. Our board meetings are always open to the public. ■

SHUTTERSTOCK

Leaside Life • December 2019

30

LPOA AGM highlights – broader focus, new name to come!

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