Leaside Life Issue 95 April 2020

A P R I L 2020

Leaside Life leasidelife.com

No. 95

Find out who has a butterfly garden on page 19.

A lens on nature Meet wildlife photographer Cindy Conlin, our Leaside High School alumni profile Story on page 16.

The

CINDY CONLIN

Green Issue

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Leaside Life • April 2020

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EDITOR’S WELCOME What a difference a month makes! No, wait, make that an hour! A month ago, we were planning the April issue, and our long-contemplated theme was GREEN: green heroes, green practices, green businesses, even green condos and rental buildings under construction. We wanted our stories to uplift and inspire, and get readers to think differently about our world – and our community. Then, seemingly overnight, a new term entered our consciousness and has been burrowing ever-deeper with each passing day. COVID19 is changing every aspect of the way we live. Businesses, both big and small, as well as individuals are already feeling the impact. Leaside restaurants are either suspending operations entirely or switching to a takeout/delivery model. Suddenly, local grocers are seeing their shelves stripped of toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as shoppers hunker down in self-imposed exile. “Social distancing” has been become the new norm, along with working from home, online education, and many more tectonic shifts in the way we normally live our lives.

Jane Auster Editor Leaside Life

So, what to do with our originally planned April issue of Leaside Life? I carefully reread our stories about green heroes – those doing so much more than their bit – whom we are honouring as winners of the first annual Green Heart awards. I looked at some of the breathtaking wildlife photographs of Cindy Conlin, this month’s featured LHS grad. I marvelled at the ingenuity of a local sap tapper, who looks forward to this time of year to create his delicious maple syrup. And for a few brief moments I felt better. The COVID-19 crisis will not go away any time soon, but in the meantime, people are rising to the occasion. Acts of humanity are on the rise. So-called “caremongers” are reaching out to their neighbours with offers of assistance. We can make a difference by helping one another! If you hear of Leasiders going the extra kilometre, we want to hear about them. Write to us at leasidelifeeditor@gmail.com. ■

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Northlea’s blood donor clinic a priceless gift Would you give a priceless gift to a complete stranger? Over the last 17 years thousands in our community have done just that. Since its inception, in February 2003, Leasiders have donated thousands of units of blood to the Canadian Blood Services during the twice annual Northlea Blood Donor Clinic. The first clinic was organized by a group of 10 Leaside parents and neighbours led by Anne Murray, whose current day job is Ontario master trainer with The Psychology Foundation of Canada. In November, 2002, Anne’s neighbour, Northlea student Emmy Duff (who died in 2012), was diagnosed with leukemia. Within days a second student, now a thriving adult, was also diagnosed with the disease. Anne visited her young neighbour, Emmy, in the hospital where this wise young girl said to her, “I can’t donate blood, but adults can.” Anne was moved to act fast. She soon rallied an efficient team of 10

Leasiders committed to organizing a local blood donor clinic at Northlea public school. It was a formidable task as the Canadian Blood Services has very strict requirements that must be met before approval is given to host a community clinic. Yet this mighty team prevailed. They met all the requirements in record time. They secured and organized everything. The gym, donated by the school, was converted to accommodate reception and check-in, a waiting area, a safe comfortable blood donation space, and a lounge to relax afterwards. Plus, the space had to be able to accommodate the needs of the professional staff and their equipment as well as the volunteers welcoming donors, staffing food stations and a daycare. The team and many volunteers and community businesses also provided the clinic with food and beverages. Students made signs advertising the clinic, welcoming and thanking the donors. The wider marketing effort had the cooperation of local schools, churches and businesses that sent letters, posted signs

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and highlighted the clinic in their advertisements and newsletters. A few days after that first clinic, Anne commented, “This was truly a community event with wide reach, and it was so important to involve the children as two of their classmates are suddenly not in school.” Continued success Both the clinic and Anne’s involvement have built on that early success, and in 2004 the Canadian Blood Services honoured the Northlea clinic team for organizing and hosting the most successful community clinic in Canadian blood system history. Renee Naiman, the regional director at the time, said, “This first clinic was an overwhelming success as they collected 172 units of blood more than double the 60-70-unit average per clinic.” BLOOD DONOR Page 23

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Leaside Life • April 2020

by SUZANNE PARK

MEET A GREEN BUSINESS 4

Tremco focuses on being a good neighbour It is fortuitous that Tremco, in the Leaside Business Park, is the company we wanted to tell you more about for this April issue, when we are emphasizing environmental responsibility. Tremco, from the time they first set up shop on Wicksteed Avenue more than 60 years ago, knew they were in an environmentally sensitive location, abutting the Don River. Since their business is to produce commercial and industrial roofing products, sealants, caulking and waterproofing, there are a lot of chemicals involved. The company puts great effort into environmental health, safety and sustainability. They measure their footprint and try to improve year by year. Containment of any spill is vitally important. They work hard to reuse, recycle, and produce less waste. At the end of the cycle, absolutely nothing goes to landfill. Instead, material is shipped to Energy for Waste to be

LORNA KRAWCHUK

Leaside Life • April 2020

by LORNA KRAWCHUK

repurposed. In addition, any contractor hired has to meet Tremco’s standards for their treatment of waste as well. Even though the company has been in the neighbourhood longer than many of us, most people only know the name from driving the back road to Thorncliffe via Wicksteed, or

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seeing the Tremco name on the side of a tractor trailer. I learned more about the company from Paul Vergunst, plant manager for the past decade. A lot of product leaves the plant. In prime season, for instance, there can be 10 tractor trailers a day on their way across Canada, Paul Vergunst, the US and even plant manager. headed overseas. Tremco tries to be a good neighbour, by adjusting the timing of their arrivals and departures to very early morning, and then early afternoon, to avoid jockeying into position off Wicksteed when there is other heavy traffic. In total, there are 190 employees on Wicksteed, some of whom have been with the plant for their whole career. And there are jobs to be had at Tremco – either on the plant floor, in the warehouse, or in sales, marketing, accounting or IT support. Dealing with chemicals means employees need to work safely all the time. Vergunst and his staff encourage a safety culture by being coaches rather than managers, training staff to have “the right protective equipment for the right job, every time.” Because equipment and processes are updated as technology changes, employees need to be nimble in assessing risks, and ensuring all workers know and use the current protocols. The company is very aware of their close residential neighbours. Tremco staff engage with the Leaside Business Park Association and the City of Toronto to understand neighbourhood issues, and then do their best to find the right solutions. As you can see by reading the testimonial plaques in the front entrance to the main building, Tremco boasts strong connections to the neighbourhood – supporting the Go Green Cricket Field, having student placements from Marc Garneau Collegiate, and being part of the Leaside 100 sponsorship group, among others. An old neighbour, and a green one. ■

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Larry Allcorn taps the sap in spring by JANIS FERTUCK For a few weeks this past February, one stately Leaside maple tree was sporting a shiny bucket. A local resident with an interest in urban farming thought it would be a “fun experiment” to tap the tree for sap collection. She had some luck, harvesting enough sap to make small servings of maple syrup for her family to enjoy with their French toast. But recently, she learned there is a bylaw prohibiting tapping city trees and had to shut down her experiment. She could have continued tapping, however, if the tree had been in her backyard. Luckily, another local, Larry Allcorn, a seasoned veteran in the maple syrup field, faces no such restrictions on his wife Emily Mosher’s family farm in Algoma, east of Sault Ste. Marie. When Larry first visited the farm in the late 1970s, he fell in love both with it and maple sugar production. He was happy to take over the operation himself in 2012 after retiring from the software business and when his father-in-law, Cameron, turned 86. Emily says her

Larry with his maple syrup and a painting of the Sugar Shack by Graham Lute.

JANIS FERTUCK

Leaside Life • April 2020

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parents were “thrilled by his interest” and “impressed by his modernization” of the operation. Anyone who has attended a Pancake Supper at Leaside United has tasted Larry’s maple syrup, which he donates to the church, where he is the chair of the stewardship committee. In general, the sugar season lasts about four to six weeks in March and April, from the time the temperature falls below freezing at night and rises to above freezing the next day, so that the sap starts rising in

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the thawing trees until the buds appear. When Larry took over the operation, he expanded from 100 buckets to 500 taps connected by a plastic pipeline which runs from tree to tree and delivers the sap to a central collection tank. Once the sap is collected, it’s pumped to the evaporator in the sugar shack where it’s boiled down into maple syrup at a temperature of 219.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the sap is filtered and bottled. It takes 40 gallons of the stuff to produce one gallon of syrup. Larry compares himself to a small craft brewer with his “Mosher Maple” operation producing 200 to 250 litres per year. While he does most of the work himself, his fatherin-law still provides advice, and his relatives and a Leaside friend, Graham Lute, help out during the busy season. Graham says it is “complicated and hard work, but the reward is wonderful home-crafted maple syrup.” Larry sells the syrup by word of mouth at their cottage, at Leaside United, and at Michael Garron Hospital where Emily is an anaesthesiologist. The syrup has an unlimited shelf life if it is stored properly, and both the 500ml and litre containers feature Graham’s painting of the sugar shack. All of his stock sold out last year. It is worth noting that Mosher Maple is a natural product which contains many nutrients and antioxidants such as zinc, potassium, magnesium and calcium, and it can be used as a replacement for other sweeteners in baking and cooking. Larry comments that the learning process is one of his favourite parts of running the operation. In their regular discussions, Cameron, now 94, shares wisdom gathered from his years of experience and Larry shares new practices gleaned from his reading, networking and seminars. He also enjoys being outdoors and doing manual labour, including building the sugar shack and working on the land in the fall to prepare for the spring. His passion for the sugar season is obvious: “I spend eight to 10 hours a day inside my sugar shack watching the snow melt and the arrival of spring, while producing something that tastes ‘pretty damn good’.” ■

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Leaside’s Jan Cawardine is a force on the ice

Leaside Life • April 2020

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by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO On first meeting, Jan Cawardine comes across as gentle, unassuming, friendly and affable. She is all of these things. But don’t let the sweet face fool you. On the ice, Cawardine is a force. A curler based out of the Leaside Curling Club, she has dominated curling matches across the city, the province, and the country. While some curlers come to the sport as early as 7 years old, Cawardine didn’t take up curling until she was 36. Born in Kingston to two competitive curling parents, she was a strong athlete in track and field, basketball, volleyball, swimming, water polo, and the sport she credits for giving her the skill of balance for curling – gymnastics. Working busy hours as a stockbroker, Cawardine started a financial consulting business when her two girls were born. But as any mother can relate, time away from kids often gives a much-needed break. So, when she discovered her local, the Royal Canadian Curling Club, was offering free babysitting, Cawardine

LEASIDE SPORTS Jan, far left, and her Ontario team. jumped at the opportunity. She fell in love with the game immediately. “I got bitten right away. It was the strategy that got me,” she says. Cawardine would, and still does, analyze the intricacies and tactics of other successful curlers, and then plan and project multiple shots ahead. But being strategically minded is

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only one element of Cawardine’s game. In order to succeed, a good curler must be dedicated, competitive, dedicated to improving, hardworking, able to withstand the pressure of the game, and in good shape. Cawardine is all that. She is focused, taking no prisoners, and works hard on her physical conditioning with a combination of cardio and weights training. The results of all of her work are astounding. Around the city, Cawardine’s name appears on a myriad of bonspiel trophies (too many to remember). She won the Toronto Curling Association (TCA) Day Women’s Championship in 2009 and 2019, the TCA’s Business Women’s Championship in 2013, the Ontario Seniors Championships in 2007, the Ontario mixed Seniors Championships in 2011, and the Masters Women Provincial Championship in both 2018 and 2019. Her team was a finalist last year in Saskatoon at the 2019 Canadian Masters Women Championship. Cawardine’s success earned her an induction into the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, a recognition for which she is so pleased and grateful. Judy MacLellan, Wilma Morrison, and Sandra Thain are all members of Cawardine’s team heading to Saint John. MacLellan describes Cawardine as “a skillful strategist. She is very analytical, knows the game of curling really well and is able to get the best out of every member of her team. Jan is passionate about curling and has a terrific perspective on sport. When she is CAWARDINE Page 24

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Terry’s 30th anniversary golf pilgrimage

Leaside Life • April 2020

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I’ve written in this space before about my now nearly half-century love-hate relationship with golf. If you’ve ever played the game, you’ll know what I mean. You love the game until the moment you shank a ball into the pond, forest, canyon, swamp, clubhouse, parking lot, snack bar, farmer’s field, or some other location that definitely isn’t the fairway. Sometimes your ball can visit more than one of these venues on the same horrific shot. Then you hate the game… at least until you hit a beautiful shot and all of sudden you feel destined for the PGA tour again. This happens to me about a dozen times in each round of golf. The pendulum swings back and forth so often and fast that by the end of the round, I’m exhausted and more than a little dizzy. But through it all, never once have I ever seriously contemplated giving up the game. Not once. Yes, I know how ludicrous that sounds, but it’s true. If I complained to a doctor that it hurts when I hit myself with a hammer, she’d say, stop hitting yourself with a hammer. But I’ll still play golf. For me, my good shots are always

Terry Fallis Columnist

Terry, as usual NOT in the fairway. the result of a perfectly executed swing combined with the right club selection, sound course management, a calm demeanour, positive attitude, and fashionable golf attire. When I hit a shot that’s bad, disas-

trous, pitiful, embarrassing, or downright dangerous, the culprit is always faulty equipment. I’m kidding. That would be ridiculous. Sometimes, the weather is to blame. Fortunately, my love for the game is shared by my twin brother, Tim, and our brother-in-law Tony. About 30 years ago we decided that an annual April golf pilgrimage south of the border would be a great idea. It continues. Normally, we’d be there now. Tony would be hitting his ball from the middle of the fairway while Tim and I would be looking for ours in the sand, rough, pond, or trees that flank the fairway. It’s a much-anticipated annual tradition. For the first 25 years or so, we’d load up the car, leave Toronto at 3:30 in the morning, drive about 10 hours due south to the little town of Luray, Virginia, where we’d play our first round of golf that same afternoon. Over the course of the next four days we’d play another eight rounds of golf and then drive home. Yes, it was a little extreme, but we loved every minute of it. Okay, to be honest, we sometimes didn’t love teeing off on the first hole with its miniscule fairway, multiple bunkers, forest on one side, and the Shenandoah River on the other. Occasionally, we’d finish that first hole with only one lost ball. But after that we loved it. Now that we’re older, though perhaps not wiser, we fly down to Florida where Tony’s family has a vacation home, and play only one game each day, before hanging out for the rest of the day in pool and hot tub. Last year, in a brilliant stroke of genius, we timed our six-day golf trip to coincide with the Masters, arguably professional golf’s Super Bowl, minus J. Lo and Shakira. So, we’d get up in the morning, play our round of golf, dart back to the house to watch eight hours of continuous Masters coverage on a television about the size of a drive-in movie screen. Then we’d watch the Leafs in the playoffs. The turn of the calendar from March to April doesn’t just mean there might be only a couple more snowfalls before spring, it also means that playing and watching golf for days on end is just around the corner. 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. ■

Social Distancing:

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What does it mean?

Leaside Life • April 2020

It means reducing close contact between people to slow the spread of infectious disease...

AVOID

Playdates, playgrounds, gyms, parties, bars, sleepovers, churches, public spaces, travel, concerts, museums...

USE CAUTION

Grocery stores, drug stores pick up medications, take out food, assisting those in need (wash hands and keep distance from others)

SAFE TO DO

Take a walk with household members, yard activities, virtual tours, video chats, online classes, paint, cook, watch movies, D0217-1903_HYDROWORX_AD_3_6.88_X_5.pdf 2019-04-02 PM hike 1or have a game4:18 night! leasidelife.com

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Spring market = multiple offers

Leaside Life • April 2020

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by SHEREE CERQUA The spring market is here, and in Leaside that means multiple offers. There are a number of factors that see homes here selling well over the asking price, such as historically low interest rates and an extreme lack of supply. Many people want to move up or downsize, but will not sell their homes for fear of not being able to find a new place, so the market is effectively locked. I do not see this changing anytime soon! What’s the best time to buy and sell? Typically, buying and selling in the same market are the most balanced approach when making a move. The spring market is the best time, offering more inventory to buyers while sellers enjoy premium results. There are very specific rules a realtor overseeing multiple offers must adhere to, ensuring the process is fair and legal during what can be a very competitive and emotional process for both sellers and the buyers. I often hear that a lot of buyers feel that dealing directly with the listing agent will give them a competitive edge in a multiple offer, but in my

opinion, this is not true. Having your own representation with an agent you have chosen is always the best approach, ensuring you are in the strongest position when negotiating. There are different types of representation to cover all types of relationships, but selecting the right professional to represent you when buying is the way to go. Many years ago, there was media coverage about “phantom offers,” which prompted regulatory changes that introduced a Form “801” to track each offer as it is officially registered. This form creates a paper trail of all

LEASIDE LIVES

registered offers on a property signed by the buyers who are making offers, and it also documents timelines of registration, counter offers and irrevocable times. A great listing agent is very transparent about the process when presenting offers, ensuring all agents are operating with the same info in advance so everyone is as comfortable as possible. When listing a home, I am often asked, “will there be an opportunity to improve my offer?” I always encourage agents and their buyers to put in their best

LEASIDE AND BENNINGTON REAL ESTATE STATISTICS ending February 29, 2020 DETACHED 2019 2020 SEMI-DETACHED 2019 2020 CONDOMINIUM 2019 2020

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offer, even if they don’t get an opportunity to increase. An experienced listing agent will advise the buyer reps in writing what the seller’s wish list is, such as ideal closing date, a preference to firm offers, and details regarding deposits. With multiple offers, making sure that financing is solid is so important! This applies to both buyers and sellers. When a property sells for a huge premium, the bank appraisals do not necessarily line up, so ensuring the buyer has a significant down payment or the cash to make up the difference may become important for a successful completion. Another interesting topic is the pre-emptive or “bully” offer. When an offer date is set for presentation there may also be a note on the listing that says “Seller reserves the right to entertain a pre-emptive offer” or “Seller’s direction, no pre-emptive offers.” There is a process that must be adhered to if there is a bully in play. How do you generate enough interest to get multiple offers? Some fundamentals: do not overprice and make sure your home shows in its best possible light to generate traffic. Sheree Cerqua is a sales representative with RE/MAX Ultimate Realty Inc, Brokerage. Visit her at www. shereecerqua.com. ■

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The Leaside – UK connection by JANIS FERTUCK Since 2012, 21 Leaside High School graduates have attended university in the United Kingdom. According to Denise Wilson, curriculum leader for guidance, there are several reasons for this recent trend: First, students can enter professional programs such as medicine and law directly from Grade 12 rather than getting an undergraduate degree first, as is the case in Canada. In addition, a bachelor’s degree can be earned in three years in England, some places offer an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years, and in many cases, tuition is lower than at “equally ranked” American schools. Ms. Wilson adds that these students are looking for a “global experience in an English-speaking environment with a similar culture and institutions.” She herself is an expert on the UK from her many visits and connections there starting in her years at private schools. She has been invited to many schools such as Oxford, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Durham

Ms. Wilson (centre) and the students applying to UK universities: Jorja, Maeve, Danielle and Delaney. and York, and their representatives regularly make presentations to Leaside students. In fact, LHS is a registered centre to support UK applications, so Ms. Wilson oversees and monitors the progress of the applications, providing valuable information and advice. Meet this year’s four applicants:

Delaney Brookes A childhood fascination with animals, a film about Jane Goodall and Grade 11 biology sparked Delaney Brookes’ “excitement about studying animals.” When she attended Ms. Wilson’s information session on UK universities, she was happy to learn she could specialize in biology right away in her first year. The UK holds a special attraction for Delaney, who has visited many times with her parents to visit her two uncles in London. She appreciates its cultural diversity and proximity to Europe and Africa, where she hopes to study animals, and its many opportunities for graduate studies. Delaney is excited about going overseas, and her parents have encouraged her to pursue her passion. She is leaning towards Durham University and its beautiful campus, which she toured last year, and is looking forward to a career in biological research. Danielle McBean Danielle McBean is also drawn to the UK because she can go into a chiropractic or physiotherapy program, and follow in her parents’ footsteps, directly from Grade 12. She has also lived in France, spent time in Wales and London visiting relatives, and values the opportunity for convenient travel to Europe. Danielle has some experience of being on her own from summer camp, but her confidence was boosted by her father’s observations when they visited the University of South Wales last summer, saying that LHS IN THE UK Page 24

JANIS FERTUCK

Leaside Life • April 2020

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Leaside Life • April 2020

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Photographer Cindy Conlin trains her lens on nature

With Leaside High School’s 75th anniversary being celebrated this year, Leaside Life will be profiling a number of notable members of the school in various positions, as students, teachers, and more, to mark the milestone. In the 1970s, play didn’t involve play “dates.” Kids and their friends roamed freely, played in parks, rode their bikes around the neighbourhood and beyond, and came home when the street lights came on. They wore bell bottoms, and peasant tops, probably had shag carpet in their homes, and watched Mary Tyler Moore, and M.A.S.H. Such was the life of Leaside High 1979 graduate Cindy Conlin (née Smylie). Throughout her years at Bessborough School and Leaside High, Conlin was a shy schooler, but had a tight group of adventurous girlfriends with whom she made memories and friendships that have lasted her whole life. Conlin, along with Linda Lesem (née Maser), Gillian McCallum, and Rosemary O’Connell, spent hours roaming Serena Gundy park, attending Leaside football games, tobogganing, going to dances, and skating at Leaside Arena on Friday nights. The girls also skied on the weekend, and Conlin took figure skating lessons at Leaside Arena and horseback riding at Sunnybrook. All the while, she was passionate about the arts. She won the art award in Grade 8 at Bessborough School and was an extremely accomplished pianist who, according to Lesem, “could play the piano like no one else her age or even much older.” Conlin also fell in love with photography, and at the age of 16,

bought her first camera, a Pentax ME, which she used to capture memories on a school trip to Washington with history teacher Mr. Christopher. McCallum remembers Conlin’s enthusiasm for photography and says that even if they were “bike riding downtown to the har-

She took courses, retaught herself the basics, joined a local photo club and practised. A lot. She spent hours at the Toronto Zoo working on lighting, exposure, and focus. She went fully digital and researched, and invested in, more and more lenses. Living in Presqu’île is a dream for Conlin with Lake Ontario in her front yard and Presqu’île Provincial Park in the back. Her photography takes her well beyond her backyard. She journeys around Ontario and Quebec, often with a tip from social media to locate a unique creature. She has left her house in the middle of the night in the hopes of catching the perfect shot. She is constantly “trying to challenge myself.” Her passion shines in her stunning works, such as photos of 11 species of owls, foxes, butterflies, birds, deer, as well as landscape photographs. Conlin’s work has won several awards and has been published in multiple magazines and several calendars. She sells her photographs at galleries and shows, and has a contract with Northwood Collections, which sells reproductions of her images to design stores. She dreams of species she would love to photograph in the future, including a spirit bear in British Columbia, puffins in Newfoundland, burrowing owls in Cape Coral, Florida, and the many animals of Iceland. Cindy returns to Leaside biweekly to visit her mother, whom she refers to lovingly as her “agent.” If you’d like to see Conlin’s work online, visit cindyconlinphotography.zenfolio.com. ■

the

1970s

DANIEL VAUGHAN

Leaside Life • April 2020

by SUSAN SCANDIFFIO

Conlin at work. Left: Cindy in the 1979 Clan Call. bourfront, she came prepared with a camera in tow.” After graduation, she and friends travelled to Banff. Taking an entire roll of beautiful scenery, she later discovered that the film hadn’t loaded properly and that she had lost every photo. This was a tough lesson. Conlin graduated with a degree in fashion merchandising. While she spent the next 20 years in sales, photography was never far from her mind. After an early retirement six years ago, she and husband Mike moved to Brighton and then Presqu’île. Conlin’s dreams of being a full-time photographer were now in motion.

Attention Alumni LHS 75TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS! October 2020 Go to www.LeasideHighSchool.com for info and tickets.

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Meet Leaside’s Green Heart heroes by CHERYL VANDERBURG and DEBORA KUCHME

Cycle Don Valley Midtown

Cycle Don Valley Midtown helps residents transition to bike travel by promoting cycling as a safe and sustainable mode of transportation. In Toronto, transportation accounts for 38% of greenhouse gas emissions with 80% of those coming from vehicles. Switching to a bike can eliminate about 200g/km of CO2 emitted. Specific to Leaside, the group has promoted safe cycling

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at local events, launched a Cycling Commuter Coach program, and advocated for safe and connected local bike routes. To divert waste, members support the Gateway Bike Hub to repair and reuse bicycles for residents in the Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park communities. Eco Anselm

EcoAnselm is a faith-inspired, community-minded ministry of ecology at St. Anselm’s Catholic Church. EcoAnselm reaches out to other community and faith-based groups to learn and work collaboratively for responsible stewardship. Through mindfulness, prayer, education, communication and action, EcoAnselm strives to raise ecological awareness and inspire respect and gratitude for all creation. Letters were recently enthusiastically received by up to 30 Bayview-Leaside stores welcoming dialogue on safeguarding our environment. EcoAnselm has organized parish-wide opportunities for dialogue on “Caring for Creation,” created eco-displays, participated in ecology-related petitions, engaged in community clean-ups, and hosted several eco-film and speaker events. St. Cuthbert’s Church

St. Cuthbert’s strives to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the earth. The church has launched a number of environmental improveSt. Anselm’s Eco-wall.

ments: adding high efficiency boilers, upgrading lighting, rerouting downspouts, replacing toilets, introducing a recycling/composting program, and protecting and insulating the historic stained-glass windows. In addition, the congregation participates in Earth Day initiatives, offers an Environment Study Group, has planted a vegetable garden providing fresh produce to the Flemingdon Food Bank, added a pollinator garden, installed two 175-gallon cisterns to provide rainwater, earned a “Greening Sacred Spaces” Award and a “Recognized Heritage Tree” Award for their 200-year-old great white oak. St. Cuthbert’s gardeners.

KATHI DAVIES

Nature offers us so many shades of green to enjoy: emerald, olive, lime and seafoam, to name a few. And Leaside offers us so many shades of green living to celebrate, including cycling, solar power, faith-based ecology, and green ways of life. When we began our Leaside Green column, we had no idea how Leasiders would respond. We’ve been overjoyed with the reaction. As part of this Green issue of Leaside Life, we are delighted to bring you these diverse, committed and inspiring green heart heroes. It’s a great time to be green in Leaside!

Family Cycling Day.

HOLLY REID

Leaside Life • April 2020

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Ben Chan

Ben Chan is committed to green, sustainable living. This “green” individual installed a geothermal heating/ cooling system which has saved 70% on his heating bill. He converted his front yard into a bee- and butterfly-friendly native species garden

A litter ditty

No matter the weather, Let’s all work together. Make your favourite space greener Leave our world a little cleaner.

Evening TAIZé services Mon-Wed, April 6-8, 7:30pm Maundy Thursday April 9th Good Friday Friday, April 10th, 10am The Great Easter Vigil of the Resurrection Saturday, April 11th, 8pm Easter Sunday April 12th, 8am and 10am

Phone us or check our website for how you can still be part of our services, even if we can’t be in church.

CO

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At times I despair, When I see litter everywhere!

Palm Sunday April 5th, 8am and 10am

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Tim Short

Tim Short is Leaside’s original solar energy guru and practitioner. In 2007, he installed a rooftop solar water heater; in 2009, he installed his first photovoltaic (PV) solar array to generate electricity; and in 2016, he installed a second PV array to offset his home’s utility electricity consumption. The systems now generate close to 30% of his household’s annual electrical needs, including his electric vehicle. Recently, Tim became a green energy entrepreneur, developing electric vehicle charging networks in multi-family buildings. Tim also promotes the sun’s value and energy savings to others by opening his home to Green Energy Open Doors events. As you can see, there is no shortage of green heroes in Leaside, and with tremendous pride, they embrace every shade of green. We salute them all for showing us how many different ways we can be part of the climate Tim Short change solution and that no matter how small, collectively these actions really do add up. We thank our readers who took the time to nominate these heroes so we could bring them to your attention. ■

Dog poop in the parks, Empty pop cans in planters. I ask myself and others, Where are Leasiders’ manners? And cigarette butts abound, On the sidewalks and ground. Do smokers not see How gross these soggy butts can be?

WE

which also produces vegetables and berries, and designed a drip-irrigation system using rain barrels. His latest experiment is indoor hydroponic vegetable gardening for winter. He drives an electric car, brings his own leftover containers and travel mugs when eating out, uses reusable shopping bags and hangs his clothes to dry. He has also added multi-pane windows, LED bulbs, extra insulation, low-flush toilets and a urinal to his house.

JULIA SCHINDELER

Ben Chan

at St. Cuthbert’s, Leaside

ER SH

A

S T. C UTHB ERT’S , LEAS IDE

1399 Bayview Avenue Toronto (South of Davisville Ave.)

For info call 416-485-0329 stcuthbertsleaside.com stcuthberts@bellnet.ca

Leaside Life • April 2020

HOLY WEEK

by Cheryl Vanderburg

I try not to be bitter, About litterbugs and litter. But sometime it’s hard, When I see blatant disregard And lack of pride, In our community of Leaside.

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The art of the turnaround

Leaside Life • April 2020

20

As I write, the S&P/TSX index closed at 12,508. That’s down 12.34 for just one day and over 25% off its 52-week high. In the fullness of time, we’ll know just how potentially devastating the fallout from the COVID19 outbreak will be. But sadly, today things appear bleak. Perhaps when you read this there will have been a positive breakthrough. … In the meantime, when the markets are dropping like a stone, we can’t even hug one another for reassurance, and the recommended fist bump for a greeting just doesn’t cut it. Making matters worse, no Leaside ‘March Madness’ girl’s’ ice hockey tournament, let alone NCAA brackets to argue about, no NBA, NHL MLB pre-season and no Toronto Collision Tech Conference. Truly, bleak is an understatement – after all, one can only watch Amazon Prime’s Fleabag or Netflix’s Vikings so many times. (Editor’s note: who sez?) So, with a deep breath, I’ve decided to highlight a positive local business story. There is a long list of noted successful turnarounds: Apple, Tesla, Chrysler, IBM, GM and RIM, to name a few. But the odds are often against such turnarounds. So, what would make two savvy international

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www.leasidepc.ca Leaside Presbyterian Church 670 Eglinton Ave. E. Toronto ON M4G 2K4 www.leasidepc.ca admin@leasidepc.ca 416-422-0510

Glenn Asano The Business of Leaside

Ritu and Rajan on Bayview. “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty…For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.” —Winston Churchill professionals with business acumen and a successful record of hospitality industry experience decide to take on a turnaround opportunity in Leaside? One with a long list of drawbacks: rent on Bayview, heavy competition, construction, a historically negative consumer image including a reputation of unreliable hours of operation, service quality fails, and an overall feeling of a dark cloud that just won’t go away, whether self-inflicted or not...I could go on. Enter Ritu and Rajan, two enthusiastic entrepreneurs willing to invest their time, cash and energy in a troubled Leaside business venture. Thankfully, this is not their first rodeo and it shows. They are seasoned professionals with plenty of operating experience gleaned from working around the world. Rajan is an experienced hotelier who’s managed luxury venues in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Ritu brings her A-game to Leaside as founder and owner-operator of a successful gourmet cake business. Working internationally does have

its perks, but eventually, you have to make that decision to decide where home is – especially when you’ve got kids. Believe me, I know the feeling. After a lifetime of international hospitality industry experience and now with a 13-year old son and a daughter who is currently studying science at UofT, Ritu and Rajan are tackling their latest challenge – to tame a ‘wild’ one. If you haven’t already guessed, the turnaround opportunity is Wild Wing at Bayview and Millwood. With so many stories of retailers picking up stakes and departing Canada, it’s nice to hear about the new talent revitalizing our country. Ritu and Rajan bring the heat. Not only in terms of their 101 creatively named sauces but a huge dose of PASSION for whatever they choose to do. … “If it’s worth doing, then it’s worth doing right!” says an animated Rajan. In a scant 2.5 years, they now own three individual Wild Wings including one in Scarborough and Markham after selling the fourth that was located in St. Catharines. What is their secret sauce? Jokingly, Ritu says they had to have at minimum the second location so the two would not have to be co-located 24 hours per day. The real answer is straightforward enough. Their primary business philosophy focuses on passion. I vote for “passion” to be their 102nd sauce Passion is notably distinct from reason. This X factor is the central force behind Rajan’s “tripod strategy.” If you are not passionate about the business opportunity, then your staff will not work with passion, and because you can’t be there all the time, customers begin to notice and will not be willing to passionately support your business. If any of these three legs is missing, a downward spiral begins that can lead to harmful short-term business decisions and ultimately failure. According to Rajan, the Bayview-Leaside location was described by Wild Wing’s head office (a 100% Canadian firm) as a “tough location in serious straits” that shuttered in June 2019 after the then owner had operated it for only one year, having damaged the brand and its relationships with the local community built up over the previous five years. Rajan and Ritu were offered the turnaround opportunity and jumped at the challenge, reopening late in October 2019 after a significant renovation.

ASANO continued One immediate challenge they faced was the construction that began at the intersection just two weeks after opening and did not finish until January of this year. But the fruits of their labour are beginning to show, and they are now proactively reengaging with Leaside. A quick check on the Leaside Community Facebook page indicates that some of us are starting to take notice. Ritu and Rajan point out that it will take at least one full year to reverse the damage and rebuild community trust. “If you don’t give the first time, you may not get another chance.” When I checked in with Rajan to see how Wild Wing is coping under COVID-19, here’s what he said: “No restaurants are allowed to cater to dine in so we are on takeout and delivery only.” Let’s keep supporting our local businesses as best we can during this tough time. 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. ■

Leaside Life • April 2020

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Leaside Life • April 2020

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In 2019, in response to rising global temperatures due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, the City of Toronto declared a climate change emergency. Toronto set its new greenhouse gas emission target to restrict global average temperature change to 1.5 °C, in accordance with the 2015 Paris agreement, which means achieving net zero carbon emissions before 2050, and by some calculations, as early as 2040. Buildings account for 52% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Toronto. Toronto must start building net zero carbon emission buildings now! The Toronto Green Standards (TGS) set out that all new construction buildings be near zero by 2030. And it stands to reason that it is much more cost-effective to implement net-zero design at the beginning of a project, rather than retrofit it later. So, while this is an issue for all types of buildings, Leaside is about to see major new building construction – 13 towers (12 over 10 storeys) on three sites at 660, 815-845 and 939 Eglinton Ave. East. That would suggest the potential for a lot of emissions over several decades. My idea behind this month’s column (in line with April’s green theme) was to see how we are doing with net zero construction in Leaside’s new tall towers. I have to say, it quickly gets technical – and very complex to calculate GHG emissions. In reality we are still talking about such things as heat pumps and electrification, along with lots of abbreviations for technical terms. A bit of (technical) background about the Toronto Green Standards. TGS is a set of environmental per-

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside

formance measures implemented through development approvals before the City grants a building permit. It’s a two-tier system – Tier 1 is a mandatory requirement through the Site Plan Application (SPA), and Tier 2 is voluntary with a partial refund of development charges. TGS has been in effect since 2010, with revisions in 2014 (V2) and 2018 (V3). Site plan applications received before May 2018 were assessed under TGS V2, and those received on or after May 2018 are assessed under TGS V3. Tier 2 targets are generally more onerous than Tier 1 targets. TGS V3 Tier 1 and 2 targets are also more demanding than the corresponding targets under TGS V1 and 2.

The Leaside projects are either currently completing planning approvals (660 and 815-845) or in building permit stage (939). So, these issues are top of mind for the three developments right now. While there are five categories of environmental improvement – air quality; energy, GHG and resilience; water quality, quantity and efficiency; ecology, and solid waste, we only looked at greenhouse gas emissions and green roofs sections of their TGS submissions (see chart online at leasidelife.com). Here’s the situation for greenhouse gas emissions: • 660 Eglinton East (Concert Properties and RioCan) satisfies TGS V3 Tier 1 but is targeting TGS V3 Tier 2 • 815-845 (RioCan) is aiming for TGS V3 Tier 2 • 939 (Camrost Felcorp) satisfies TGS V2 Tier 1 And all three exceed the green roof requirements. Should we demand greener, healthier communities? Absolutely. Are our new developments at the green cutting edge, or are they climate laggards? Are we carbon net zero or positive? At the end of the day, I am not sure. To really answer this question would require a few more columns and I would lose most of you. (I may already have done so). However, there are lots of good intentions out there. Visit leasidelife.com for more details from two development directors. Many thanks to Kuda Saburi (Concert Properties), Daniel Fama (RioCan) and Joseph Feldman (Camrost Felcorp) for their assistance with this piece. ■

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SHUTTERSTOCK

How green are Leaside’s new towers on Eglinton?

Houses built in the 1950s and earlier, including most Leaside homes, were not required to address energy performance (as are the condo towers being erected today!). The City of Toronto is trying to get a handle on greenhouse gas emissions for residential houses and has devised a survey of energy use (hydro and natural gas) to be completed on a household basis. The Leaside Residents Association (LRA) is promoting the survey with an e-blast and through its website. If enough Leasiders sign up (and agree to be contacted about possible follow-up), we may get selected as the site of a pilot neighbourhood-scale project to reduce emissions and their carbon footprint. Please consider completing the survey through the recent post on our website (www.lpoa. ca) or the direct link: https:// tinyurl.com/t3op3jn. It’s quick to complete (10-15 minutes), and the most time-intensive part, adding energy data, is optional. If you have online Toronto Hydro and Enbridge accounts, it only takes another 5-10 minutes. Plus, the online instructions are quite clear. The survey will be online until early April so please act soon. ■

Blood Donor... From Page 3 As spring approaches, in Emmy’s memory may her words shared in a 2004 note to donors inspire us to donate this precious gift to a stranger. “When I receive blood, I take for granted it will always be there for me. The reality is that someday it may not be. Thank you for helping to make sure that everyone who needs blood will receive it. Your donation is greatly appreciated and will help many of us who are in need. Thank you. Emmy.” Date & Time: Tues., May 5, from 2-7 p.m. Northlea Public School, 305 Rumsey Rd. Walk-ins are encouraged. Register/Book a time: Call 1-888-236-6283, www.blood.ca. Subject to change. Visit the website for the latest updates. ■

Northlea United Church 125 Brentcliffe Road northleaunited.ca 416 425 5252

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Leaside Life • April 2020

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Leaside Life • April 2020

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LHS in the UK... From Page 14 he was “comfortable with the atmosphere and level of safety there.” She plans to return to Canada after getting her degree and some travel or work experience. Maeve O’Halloran Maeve O’Halloran’s strong interest in medieval and British history led her to apply to three English universities to study history, English literature and languages. That has been her dream since travelling there with her parents to visit family friends. Maeve is also motivated by her desire to have a unique educational experience and by the easy access to Europe. Her parents support her goal and the choice of the UK because of their friends’ proximity and the UK’s safe environment. She feels she is “pretty independent” and is looking forward to her time there before returning home for teacher training. Jorja White Jorja White was born in Surrey, England, but when she was in Grade 9, her family moved to Toronto because of her father’s new job. So, it is natural for her to attend university there as she would be considered a “foreign student” in Canada. She has applied to three schools for programs in criminology and hopes to pursue a career in the police force or government. Her leading choice is the University of Loughborough in Leicestershire because it is highly ranked for both criminology and sports. Since Jorja’s other passion is rugby, she and her parents agree it provides a “happy marriage” of her two loves. ■

Cawardine... From Page 8 on the ice she is highly competitive and always wants to win. Off the ice, win or lose, she appreciates the game most for what it brings to all of us; the friendships and social connections are at the forefront.” Like their mother, Cawardine’s two daughters were not interested in curling as kids. Recently, though, the two have taken up the sport at the same rink where their mother started her curling career, the Royal Canadian Curling Club. ■

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Reduce, reuse and repurpose at the Gateway Bike Hub by HOLLY REID Getting around by bike is good for the environment, right? After all, it’s powered by you and that means it’s an emissions-free, sustainable mode of travel. But what about the bike? Since resources were consumed to produce it, extending the use of a bike also makes good green sense. Now, thanks to an innovative program from Toronto Solid Waste, bikes are being saved from the landfill and given a new life at the Gateway Bike Hub. Diverting scrap metal Located at 10 Gateway Blvd. in Flemingdon Park, the Gateway Bike Hub is one of three Community Reduce Reuse Programs funded by Toronto Solid Waste, and is operated jointly by longstanding community organizations – Evergreen, Flemingdon Health Centre, and The Neighbourhood Organization. Eliminating bikes and bike parts from ending up as garbage is a key goal. According to Manager Ed Mark, “in the first nine months of operation, we’ve diverted 5,510 lbs of scrap metal from the landfill.”

Earn-a-Bike graduates are ready to ride.

JONAH CHEVRIER

Leaside Life • April 2020

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Repair and refurbish The Bike Hub is a fully functioning bike-repair shop where unclaimed stolen bikes as well as discarded, abandoned and donated bikes and bike parts can be repurposed. The hub offers DIY hours for people to drop in and work on their bike, plus Earn-a-Bike and Build-a-Bike participants learn bike mechanics by refurbishing

Kathleen Wynne, MPP

Don Valley West

Wishing you a

Happy Earth Day! Constituency Office

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

a bike for themselves or a child. These skills not only help people keep their bikes in good working order but also can lead to employment opportunities. Lead programmer/mechanic André Harris notes that “since opening in May, we’ve trained 710 residents in bike mechanics and repaired 749 bikes while restoring 190 others for riding.” Beyond bike repairs As community connector for Gateway Bike Hub, Abrah McKeen works to ensure the hub’s programming focuses on the community’s needs. “Many of the people who want a bike haven’t cycled for years, if at all, so we’ve expanded to include Learn-toRide classes as well,” she explains. Today, more than 70 volunteers assist with hub activities that also include group rides and park repair clinics in the summer. Aptly named, the Gateway Bike Hub truly is a gateway. As Michael Skaljin, the city’s manager of solid waste planning and policy, says, “Other jurisdictions are following Toronto’s lead to set up similar programs. We’ve shown that repairing bicycles is a means to a greater end, delivering skills development, access to employment opportunities and, especially for newcomers, integration into the community.” ■

The Bike Hub has temporarily suspended programs until further notice. Visit gatewaybikehub.org for up-to-date information.

LETTERS

GREETING CARDS • STAMPS

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leasidelife@gmail.com

Re: “Eyes on speeders as photo radar comes to Leaside” Speed limits on Leaside’s local roads are in the process of being reduced from 40 km/h to 30 km/h. This is a good thing. It is well established that, in comparison to even slightly higher speeds, vehicle speeds of 30 km/h produce significantly fewer collisions and also substantially reduce the severity of collisions that do occur. There is no need for traffic on our local roads to go any faster than the new posted minimum and every reason why it shouldn’t. Thanks to Councillor Jaye Robinson for implementing this change and congratulations to the backers of the recent local petition. Introducing the change comprehensively throughout the community is an important element of this initiative. Inconsistency in speed limits within a neighbourhood is prone to lead to confusion and driver distraction, themselves unsafe driving conditions. As for the new photo radar on Bessborough Drive, this stands as a rebuke to all of us. It is a sad day when drivers in a community need the threat of enforcement to ensure that they obey the speed limit in front of one of their own local elementary schools. John Parker Re: Spring Forward Once again, a choice anecdote in this edition in the Spring forward article brought back some fond memories. I too quit using the TTC following the great strike of ’91. I’d literally not heard one other person describe such a thing in all the years since so it was cool to see that at last re Mr. Brown. I was living out on St. Clair West at the time and commuting downtown, and so I duly discovered the Poplar Plains route down the hill with its generous bike lane. Now Ms. Reid may be aware of this, but it was only just last year that I learned this was the first ever bike lane in Toronto, and, at the time it was laid down in paint it was somewhat controversial as local residents believed it would affect traffic! Some things never change, but I was blissfully unaware of it all at the time. Jonathan Bishop

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Leaside Life • April 2020

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An important notice from our Councillor

Leaside Life • April 2020

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Dear Friends and Neighbours, After the barrage of news over the past week, I am writing to provide some clarity on the most recent updates regarding the measures enacted in Toronto to contain the spread of COVID-19. This morning, the Government of Ontario declared a State of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. As a result of this declaration and its associated orders, the following establishments are legally required to close immediately in the Province of Ontario: • All facilities providing indoor recreational programs and public libraries; • All private schools and licensed child care centres; • All bars and restaurants – note that the option to take-away food remains available; • All theatres, cinemas, and concert venues. These measures follow last week’s announcement that all public schools in Ontario will be closed until April 5, 2020. Gatherings of over 50 people are also prohibited at this time. Today, Mayor John Tory announced that City Hall, Metro Hall, and all

Jaye Robinson Councillor

civic centres will be closed to the public as of Wednesday, March 18, 2020. All non-essential staff have been asked to work from home. At this time, many non-essential services have been suspended, facilities closed, and most City-operated programs cancelled. For a full list of affected services, please visit: https:// www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/ affected-city-services. Essential and emergency services, as well as garbage collection, water treatment, TTC, and road maintenance operations remain unaffected and will continue to operate uninterrupted. Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen De Villa, recommends that Torontonians stay at home as much as possible and continue to practice social distancing.

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All travellers returning to Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days. At present, the Federal Government is recommending that Canadians abroad return home as soon as possible. Please note that updates provided by the City’s Emergency Operations Centre will be televised daily, at 3:45 p.m. For resources, information and advice related to COVID-19 in Toronto, please visit: https://www. toronto.ca/home/covid-19. For more information on the Government of Ontario’s response to COVID-19, please visit: https://www.ontario.ca/ page/2019-novel-coronavirus. For more information on the Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19, including travel advisories, national updates, and federal financial support, please visit: https:// www.canada.ca/en/public-health/ services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html. In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to follow the professional advice of our Toronto Public Health team and the guidance of our Federal and Provincial counterparts. Our team continues to be available to serve you by phone and email, in accordance with recommendations from our Medical Officer of Health. Please do not hesitate to contact our office at 416-395-6408 or councillor_robinson@toronto.ca. In these times of uncertainty, it is heartening to see the residents of our City supporting our most vulnerable community members. I know Torontonians will continue to rally together in the face of adversity to meet the challenges before us in the coming weeks. Warm regards, Jaye Robinson. [Contains relevant updates up to the evening of March 17, 2020] ■ If you, or someone you know, is experiencing symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus, please contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or your local public health unit. Before calling, it is recommended that you first use the Government of Ontario’s online self-assessment tool at https://www.ontario. ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-self-assessment. Public Health has asked Toronto residents to avoid visiting an assessment centre unless they have symptoms.

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Published once a month in Leaside, Toronto ON, by FH Publishing Inc., 1444 Dupont St., Unit 11A, M6P 4H3 • 416-504-8047 Circulation 10,000 to every door in M4G PUBLISHER: Lorna Krawchuk • EDITOR: Jane W. Auster GRAPHIC DESIGN: Robin Dickie • ADVERTISING: Karli Vezina leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com ph. 416-504-8047

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Our Traffic Management plan is underway! In last month’s column I promised to report on the LRA’s first meeting with Toronto’s recently appointed manager of area transportation planning, Eric Chan. We supplied him with copies of the LRA’s Leaside Traffic Calming Plan as well as past approaches to our traffic problems, and our terms of reference (creating safer streets; reducing flow-through traffic; no shifting of problems from one street to another; no sacrificing of streets). Cycling and pedestrian safety are also an important part of our mandate. In addition to assessing the planning aspects, Mr. Chan will be setting up focus groups within Leaside and at some point holding public gatherings. The LRA will be cooperating in the process, which is expected to take a year. We are encouraged by his positive attitude and thorough and structured approach. Sign of the times? Does your street still have 40kph traffic signs? All of Leaside’s residential streets are supposed to have had those signs replaced with new 30kph ones, but it’s taking a while to get the

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LRA

job done. Although many of the old signs have been replaced, others have not. Do not lose hope! Councillor Jaye Robinson’s staff are paying close attention and making regular inquiries of city staff. Many of us Leasiders are also keeping track of streets which still need the new 30kph signs. If the changeover on your street has not been completed by the end of May, please contact me at the LRA (info@ lpoa.ca) or c/o Leaside Life (leasidelife@gmail.com), so we can try to speed things up (no pun intended!). Calling all tenants! Are you a tenant? Now that the Leaside Property Owners’ Association has morphed into the Leaside Residents Association, I encourage you to contemplate joining our board of directors. Both

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Leaside Life • April 2020

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owners and tenants have an interest in keeping Leaside a good place to live, and we need to hear more tenants’ perspectives. Voting change in the works When the LPOA was first created, and until about 20 years ago, it cost only $5 to become a Life Member in perpetuity. Although annual membership now costs $30, we still recognize Life Members. Our bylaws are being updated, and at the 2020 Annual General Meeting we will be proposing that while Life Membership remains, only dues-paying members will be able to vote at AGMs. (This change would take effect in 2021). The rationale for this is both economic and political. We have to cover legal and planning consultant costs from time to time, and need to know that we can count on consistently raising sufficient funds. Politically, the LRA has more clout in deputations and hearings at City Hall when we can report a healthy number of annually paid-up memberships. Rest assured, everyone will continue to have access to our website and to the LRA’s advice or assistance regardless of dues status.

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Because of COVID-19 we will not be holding an in-person meeting, but are considering a conference call, with an update to be put onto the LRA website https://lpoa.ca. ■

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Leaside townhouse, mid-rise and high-rise development projects. The face of Leaside is changing rapidly. Within the next five years, the local landscape will be home to thousands of new residents living in both tall and mid-rise developments. Our map gives a snapshot of the changes coming soon.

939 Eglinton Ave E.

2 buildings: 16 storeys, 11 storeys, 412 units. Parking: 9 surface and 375 underground, 34,214 sq.m. total. Site Plan Application November 2019.

815-845 Eglinton Ave E. 7 (res) Buildings and 1 Office: 18, 21, 10, 10, 10, 34, 29, 5, 1 storeys. 1672 units Total 137,858 sq.m. Parking: 1,103. Parkland dedication 3,770.0 sq.m.

660 Eglinton Ave E.

3 storey townhouse block (8 units) (Under construction).

3 buildings: 20 storeys, 16 storeys, 28 storeys. 985 units. 74,140 sq.m. 1,104 parking spots. 1,718.5 sq.m. parkland. (Under construction).

220 McRae Drive 146-150 Laird Drive

1674-1684 Bayview Ave. Phase 1: 7 storey rental retirement building: 119 independent units and 30 assisted living units; Phase 2: 8 storey building containing 104 seniors’ condos. (Under construction).

7 storeys. Height limited to a maximum of 7 storeys and 25.1 m. plus a maximum 4 m. mechanical penthouse. 146 rental units (inclusive of 38 rental replacement units) and approx.18,000 feet of commercial on ground floor. (Under construction).

922 Millwood Road

7 storey residential condo. No retail. 78 units. Completed.

25 Malcolm Road 3-5 Southvale Drive 7 storey residential condo. No retail. 38 units (Under construction).

1408-1420 Bayview Ave. 8 storeys (27.85 m high) mixed-use building. 65 residential units (inclusive of 13 replacement rental dwelling units) and 143 sq. m. of non-residential gross floor area on the ground floor. Density of 4.03 x the lot area. Zoning bylaw amendment. Final report adopted by City Council in January 2020.

5 storey residential with a height of 21.5 m. 35 units with a gross floor area of approx. 3,261 sq. m. and a floor space index of 3.48 x the lot area. Initial application, preliminary report and public meeting held Fall 2019.

The development map reflects information from a variety of sources, such as the City’s Application Information Centre website, City Planning staff reports, and communications with developers. As such it reflects the latest information but may be subject to change. Compiled by Geoff Kettel and Douglas Obright. Map illustration: Robin Dickie. Map Source: City of Toronto.

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