LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:27 PM Page 1
No. 18 • June 2013
Leaside Life leasidelifenews.com
Leaside100 1913-2013
ANDREA VILLIERS
Talbot tenants told to get out by August 31 NO RUSH SAYS PARKER By ANDREA VILLIERS ANN BOYD SKINNER outside her Talbot apartment complex, where there have been empty apartments for two years and a sign that says no vacancies.
BRED IN LEASIDE One in a series of occasional articles about famous people raised in Leaside who now live elsewhere. Stephen Harper: I grew up in a small town in Toronto…one of the great wrongs of human history was the loss of Leaside’s status as a separate incorporated municipality in the amalgamation of 1967. Page 12
Ann Boyd Skinner, a 20-year tenant in the Talbot apartments on Bayview Ave., hadn’t expected an eviction notice, although she had suspected “there was something strange going on with so many empty apartments”. None had been rented over the past two years and until recently there was a No Vacancy sign in front of the buildings. There are 97 apartments and 19 coach houses in the three-building complex. Then on Friday, April 26, Skinner and all other tenants received their rental increase forms, Skinner’s going up 2.5 percent as of August 31. She felt more at ease. But the following Monday, April 29, the superintendent knocked on her door bearing an eviction notice from HPI Realty Management Inc., agents for Kelvingrove Investment Corporation. She and all other tenants, except those living in the coach houses, have been told to be out by August 31 so the complex can be renovated. TALBOT, Page 4
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Leaside Life, June 2013
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Great food sparks idea for fundraiser Peter Bennett and his Leaside Rotary club were trying to think of some way to help the merchants of Bayview Ave. who are finding tough competition from new Laird developments. What’s great about Bayview? Bennett asked himself. The obvious answer was the great variety of restaurants and food stores. Out popped an idea, which he called Bits and Bites on Bayview. You can be part of it Friday, June 21 (the first day of summer) and June 22. The club will be selling a pass and 10 to 20 coupons worth $15 in $20 packs. Participating restaurants and food stores will have items for sale from under $2 and will be reimbursed when they return the coupons to Rotary. The remaining $5 will go to a club fund to help Leasiders with emergency needs. Merchants who are not selling
Peter Bennett food are organizing streets sales and becoming sponsors, helping to get a sign across the street and with providing entertainment that will “reinforce Bayview as a Toronto destination�. Bennett, owner of Hearthstone Property Management on Bayview at Belsize, expects to have more than half the merchants on the street involved. And as well as helping merchants and the community, he hopes to attract more Rotary members. n
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LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:27 PM Page 3
LRT goes back underground in Leaside Metrolinx has gone back to square one for how to build the Eglinton Light Rail Transit through Leaside: The train will not traverse all of Leaside underground but will emerge above ground at Brentcliffe, not Don Mills Rd. There will be an underground station at Laird and a surface stop at Leslie. The trains will reenter the tunnel at Don Mills Rd. In her Leaside Property Owners’ Association column intended for this issue of Leaside Life, Vice-President Carol Burtin Fripp had written, before the Metrolinx reversal: “…in December 2012, Metrolinx… held a public meeting at which they promoted a new route design which extended the tunnel all the way to Don Mills, digging deep below the Don River, and eliminated any station at Leslie… “Without a Leslie station, all Leslie buses would be required to turn west onto Eglinton, then turn south at Laird to drop their passen-
gers on the sidewalk. Passengers would then descend into the station. The Laird/Eglinton intersection becomes a ‘surface transportation hub,’ making it a very busy and congested corner. “Because of negative public reaction to this second proposal, Metrolinx came up with a third idea in April, which incorporates the worst features of the second plan, and more. “The newest feature? The elimination of the LRT station at Laird. This third proposal retains underground tunnelling all the way to Don Mills, as in version number two, with no station at Leslie. “A ‘Leaside’ station at Brentcliffe, replacing the Laird station, is an unacceptably long walking distance from Bayview, the closest station to the west. Brentcliffe is much too far from most of Leaside’s residents, as well as the commercial Laird strip, to be convenient for anyone. “Remember, we have no guaran-
tee from the TTC that there will be adequate bus service along Eglinton to compensate, once the LRT is completed… “Another important consideration is connectivity. We are spending billions of transit dollars on the Eglinton LRT, so it should be built for the future, with both a potential relief line and commuter rail expansion in mind. “To build the Crosstown without a station at Leslie is beyond shortsighted.” Neighbouring Ward 25 (Don Valley West) Councillor Jaye Robinson, wrote in a letter to Burtin Fripp: “Resident engagement - from attending public consultations to sending petitions and emails - clearly made the difference!” In an interview she said Carol Burtin Fripp and Geoff Kettel, both members of Leaside Property Owners’ Association and fighters for the original plan, “have shaped the future of transit for decades”. n
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Talbot From Page 1
Leaside Life, June 2013
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Skinner estimates there are about 40 empty apartments in the complex. She says two people have already moved and she knows of an elderly housebound renter so distressed she cried for days after getting her eviction notice. Skinner has joined with other tenants, some who have been there for decades, to see if there is anything they do. Councillor John Parker says, "The tenants can accept, reject or sit on the landlord's offer" of a cash payment because it must first prove its case before the tenant tribunal. He is planning a meeting with the tenants. “This is bad news,” he says. “It is disappointing, the insensitivity to the tenants. This is a very stable community. We are talking about people’s homes. These tenants have formed a tight community.” A recent letter from Kelvingrove says, “The scope of the work on the complex and the rental units within the various buildings that form part of the complex include but are not limited to, interior demolitions, new interior finishes and materials, new kitchens, new washrooms, new windows, new electrical systems including the removal of all knob and tube wiring, new heating system and utility metering.” Luc Corneli, president of HPI, says “We don’t have a choice any more, we have to deal with the knob and tube, windows and heating.” The apartments will be gutted and “everything will be replaced”. That will take about a year to 18 months. “Recently, extensive exterior repairs and upgrades valued at over $500,000 were completed at the Kelvingrove apartments,” Corneli added. The repairs included “sidewalks, retaining walls, brickwork and landscaping”. Greg Fera, principal and cofounder of HPI, says, “We cannot keep up with the ongoing work.” In a May 13 letter Corneli said that rents for returning tenants “will initially be the same but may subsequently be subject to a rental increase significantly higher than the provinical guideline by way of an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board”. Tenants have been told, “We have made arrangements with Mr. Andrew Coppola and his team from Royal LePage to survey surrounding TALBOT, Page 7
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Leaside Unite is not dead By GRAHAM SHIRLEY Leaside Unite It was reported last month by a newspaper magazine that Leaside Unite had disbanded. The report of our demise is greatly exaggerated. Over the next year we will be working with the Leaside Property Owners’ Association (LPOA), SmartCentres, the merchants on Bayview and residents to follow through on the goals of our settlement. We recently met and have planned further meetings with SmartCentres to ensure the safety and design aspects of the site are in agreement with our settlement. Secondly, with the assistance of the LPOA, we are in consultation with traffic planners that are able to lead a neighbourhood-led traffic study. Lastly, we will meet and discuss with Bayview merchants and the local councillor’s office to see how we can assist in the creation of a Bayview BIA (Business Improvement Area). n
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A future for the Layers of Leaside Leaside Life, June 2013
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6 So the Layers of Leaside tableau display, which describes and illustrates the community’s rich cultural history and built heritage through maps, images and text, was on display at the Leaside Library for an alltoo-brief six days during the last week of April. Over 400 signatures in the guest book, many positive comments, and visitors that must have numbered several times that, attest to an extremely well received exhibit. The library must be pleased. They were hopping all week. So what now? We hope to have the panels exhibited at other venues in Toronto over the next year but in the meantime Hal Spradling of All Canadian Self-Storage has kindly provided a “home base” for the panels. We will also look into whether a permanent home for the exhibit can be provided at the new enlarged Leaside arena when it reopens in the fall. Also the content of the panels will be uploaded to the Leaside100 web site. But there was more on display than the Layers of Leaside panels. Community members contributed many creations, artifacts, and pic-
Geoff Kettel
Saving old Leaside tures. A special hit with visitors were the three special maps of Leaside by local historian John Naulls: a map showing the historical development of Leaside from 1913 to 1934, a map compiling all of Frederick Todd’s plans of subdivision from 1913, and a drainage map showing the socalled ”lost rivers” of Leaside. In addition, John Naulls also contributed interesting artifacts such as a World War 1 shell, a switch used by the railways to signal the safe changing of tracks, and a scale model he had made of Brian Peck’s two-seater biplane – a Curtiss JN4. As the week went on, the displays grew as community members brought in additional items. For example, the daughter of R.V. Burgess, clerk of the former Town of Leaside, for whom the park in the centre of Thorncliffe Park is named, brought
in pictures of her father and the town councils he served. One of the learnings from the archival exhibit is the importance of archival images to describing and understanding the evolution of Leaside as a “place”. Many of the images utilized were digital pictures and photographs from the Special Collections Department of Toronto Reference Library. Barbara Myrvold, Service Specialist, Local History with the Toronto Public Library, has noted that a majority of the images were created in the 1940s and 1950s by James Victor Salmon (1911-1958), a gifted amateur photographer who lived in Leaside for part of that time. His images of buildings, streetscapes and events are an invaluable record of the town’s mature phase of development after the World War II (Layer IV). Going forward, a worthwhile project would be to document the buildings and streetscapes of Leaside today. Our grandchildren may thank us when in 2063 they celebrate 150 years since the incorporation of the town of Leaside! n
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By GEOFF KETTEL Last month we were surprised to find out that an application had been made to convert the Garden Court Apartments, 1477 Bayview Ave., to a condominium (and the tenants were not informed). This month we were equally surprised to hear that on April 29 the tenants of the Talbot apartments, Kelvingrove, Glenleven and Strathavon (1325, 1351 and 1365 Bayview) were served with a Notice to Terminate a Tenancy at the End of Term For Conversion, Demolition or Repairs, effective August 31. The landlord wants all tenants out in order to upgrade the interiors. Could this be stage one in a multi-part process, attempting to turn these modest rental units into high end condos? The red brick, green roof apartments were built by Henry Howard Talbot, the developer-mayor of Leaside, in Georgian Revival style and have been designated as heritage buildings by the city. From 2006 to 2010 the owner tried to demolish the three properties and build condominium townhouses and a new apartment building to replace the rental units. The tenants, with the support of the Leaside Property Owners’ Association and the City of Toronto won a rare victory at the Ontario Municipal Board. The owner then appealed to the Superior Court. However the ten-
Talbot From Page 4
neighbourhoods and provide you with alternatives that may be helpful in your search for new accommodations whether for rent or purchase.” Only the apartment tenants are being asked to move. Renovations were made to the coach houses about 15 years ago, but some of the tenants there are worried that they’ll be living in a construction zone, laundry and storage facilities will be unusable and once electricity is shut off from the apartments there will be no outdoor lighting. Parker says he wonders why the renovations can’t be done in stages to avoid disruption. In February 2012 Margaret Ran-
ants, the Leaside Property Owners’ Association and the City of Toronto, ultimately prevailed. Now this! The Talbot apartment properties are significant not only because they are heritage designated (along with Garden Court they are still the only protected buildings representative of Layer IV- Late Industrial and Tract Development in Leaside) but because they provide relatively affordable accommodation. There are several reasons to be concerned if the buildings are emptied of tenants. In particular, empty buildings which are not protected by adequate security are subject to break-ins and possible vandalism. Requiring tenants to vacate can amount to a permanent eviction - many, particularly the elderly, are unable to bear the stress of relocating, moving out, and moving back. Henry Howard Talbot recognized the need for a range of housing types and affordability when he built apartments, quadraplexes and single family houses in Leaside. It is important to maintain Leaside as a community with a diversity of housing types and affordability. One positive reflection at least from a heritage perspective is that the interest in upgrading the interiors on the part of the owners reminds us that heritage designation generally increases land values, not the reverse as claimed by some interests. n dall helped her 80-year-old mother move into the Talbot apartments, around the corner from her home. Her mother’s apartment features the original kitchen and a newly renovated bathroom and fresh paint. Randall says they were told by Victor Jakupi, the building manager at that time, that the apartments were going to be renovated but that the tenants would be moved into vacant apartments until the renovations were completed and then moved back into their original units, at no expense to the tenants. Randall says, “This is so wrong, it is cold and callous. My husband and I are so enraged.” Gail, a 25-year-tenant, says when the property was owned by ManuLife everything was well maintained and everybody had their own garden. Now she says, “They are letting the buildings go to seed.” n
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Leaside Life, June 2013
Owners had already tried to demolish Talbot homes
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Deadline for July, June 10 leasidelife@gmail.com Bennington Heights Public School Annual Fun Fair, Fri., June 14, 3:30-7 p.m. BBQ, jumpy castles, games for all ages, popcorn, cotton candy…. All proceeds toward purchasing technology for the school. Volunteers are needed; opportunity for student volunteer hours. rebecca_delic@yahoo.ca. Leaside Garden Society’s annual Magical Gardens of Leaside Tour (rain or shine), Sat., June 22, 11-4, self-guided, includes eight urban gardens and outdoor living spaces. Passports, which include garden addresses and a tour map, $10 each (adults and children), available from the Society and several local merchants. leasidegardensociety.org or 416-481-8919. – June meeting and Summer Flower Show, Thurs., June 13, 7:30 p.m., refreshments 7 p.m.,Trace Manes Community Centre. Whistling Gardens: New and Rare Plants, speaker Darren Heimbecker. Visitors and new members welcome. St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church, 1399 Bayview: Summer Sizzle on the Green fundraiser, Southern food, entertainment, cash beer tent, Sun., June 16, 5 p.m. Adults $30 (includes food and fun), age 6-14 $10, under 6 free. 416-485-0329. Leaside Library,165 McRae, 416-396-3835, 416396-3835. – Art Exhibit: Quilt Matters by Joanne Lynes, Sat., June 1-30, Community Room. – Chess in the Library, Sat., June 1- 29, 12-1:30. For children, teens and adults. Drop in. – Monday Afternoon Book Club, Mon., June 3, 2 p.m. That Summer in Franklin by Linda Hutsell Manning. Event coincides with author talk June 10. No registration required. – Teen Summer Sizzle, Wed., June 5, 5 p.m. Share summer display and summer intentions. Drop in. – Time to Talk About the End of Life, Wed., June 5, 7 p.m. Earl Campbell, Consent and Capacity Board, Government of Ontario. Drop in. – Living and Learning with Baby, Thurs., June 627, 1:30 p.m. Continuation of Toronto Public Health programming. 416-338-7600 to register. – National Film Board: Paula, and Who Cares. Fri., Jun 7, 2 p.m. Both 90 minutes. Paula paints a portrait of interactions between young families and prostitutes in a mixed-use working-class neighbourhood. Who Cares director Rosie Dransfeld enters the gritty and dangerous world of Edmonton's sex-trade workers. Drop in. – Author Talk: Mon., June 10, 2 p.m.,Linda Hutsell-Manning reads from her first novel for adults: That Summer in Franklin explores the trauma and heartbreak of dealing with parents affected by dementia and alcoholism. Drop in. – Study at the Library. Mon., Wed., Thurs., June 10-20, 6 p.m., join other high school students in the Community Room for quiet evening study. Drop in. – Pajama Time (5 yrs. and under): Ready for Reading! Tue., June 11 – 25, 7 p.m. Bedtimes stories, songs, fingerplays and movies for children. Bring their favourite cuddly toy. Drop in. – Introduction to Reiki Healing, Fri., June 14, 2 p.m. Stephanie Norwich, reiki master instructor from The Healing Team. Drop in. – Youth Advisory Group meeting, Wed., June 26, 4- 6. Summer reading and program planning! n
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LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:27 PM Page 9
Welcome to Leaf Shack: Big shout out to Doug and Elizabeth Radford on Hanna Rd. for their playoff Leaf parties. The couple set up a big screen in their backyard, hosting 30 plus neighbours each game at what they affectionately called “Leaf Shackâ€?. Even in the rain and cold of game six, Leafs faithful gathered under a tarp awning. “We’re amazed at how many show up,â€? commented Doug, a paramedic. “We’ve meet different neighbours every game!â€? Leaf mania elsewhere in the neighbourhood: A quick survey of local bars confirmed that having the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs was a win for everyone (well, maybe not always for the Leafs). “There’s been a lot of Leaf mania here for sure – or Leaf sobbing - during the games,â€? reported Originals Bar on Bayview. “The bars and restaurants in the area have benefited from the increased business‌. it’s been a real boom.â€? Param, manager at the Fox and Fiddle, agrees. In fact, he’s been one of the cheering fans. And just
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By BETH
Allied drive from Holland into Germany. Bouquets to Northlea school Junior Choir, selected to perform at the Toronto school board’s 127th Annual 9 Spring Festival Concert at Massey Hall in May, and then a few days later at Roy Thompson Hall. Great job, kids and conductors, Mitch Bondi and Sanela Konjhodzic, both teachers at the school. Former Leaside High grad and musician, Sarah Parker, was named artistic director of a new children's choir in the city this spring. Affiliated with Toronto Choral Society, the TCC Children’s Chorus presented its first concert this May as a musical tribute to Riverdale Farms. Speaking of music, seven choirs from all the churches in Leaside joined together in a Heritage Hymn Festival to celebrate Leaside100. Can you count up all seven? [Note: most people forget Leaside Bible Chapel in addition to Leaside United, Leaside Presbyterian, St. Cuthbert’s, St. Augustine of Canterbury, St. Anselm’s, and Northlea United). Congratulations to long time Leaside resident Dr. Geordie Fallis, whose audio book has now been
Leaside Life, June 2013
In our Hood
opened a month, Against the Grain Urban Tavern in Leaside Village says that on Leaf nights they were “super busy,� with TVs inside as well as one large projector on the upstairs patio. Avery at McSorley’s noted that during away games in Boston, the bar was packed, “with folks lining up and kids dressed in full Leaf regalia who hadn’t even been born when the team was last in the play-offs�. But home games showed a different pattern. Although still very busy, local residents were close enough to downtown that many headed to Maple Leaf Square to watch. Now that’s community service! At a recent East York Kiwanis 70th Charter night, two men were honoured for a total of 104 years of service. One was former Leaside resident of more than 50 years, Colin McMechan, who joined his local Kiwanis Club in 1949. Colin lived on Fleming and at one time in his career was a school board member and a local councillor. Today he’s regarded as one of the club’s most esteemed members. Before embarking on his career in the dairy industry, Colin served in World War II, first in Great Britain, and following the D-Day invasion as a member of the Kangaroos, soldiers in tanks that supported the
IN OUR HOOD, Page 10
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In our Hood From Page 9
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Leaside Life, June 2013
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published in print, with additional stories, illustrations and a foreword by Don Harron (aka Charlie Farquarson). From Testicles to Timbuktu chronicles the good doctor’s adventures—with humour— from early years in med school through his long-time association with Flemingdon Health Centre and Toronto East General Hospital. 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the Leaside Lawn Bowling Club. The season was officially launched in May, with over 50 members and guests gathering for opening day. Premier Kathleen Wynne, local MP John Carmichael and Councillor John Parker were all on hand to bring greetings and even try out a few bowls. We’re now heavily into the season of garage sales, including Leaside United spring’s Awesome sale. Now in its 20th year, this spring’s sale broke a record once again, raising over $28,000. Co-organizer Bob Lister says, “People were lined up around the block, even though it was pouring rain.” n
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LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:27 PM Page 11
All Canadian would appreciation All C anadian SSelf-Storage elf-Storage w ould like tto o eexpress xpress their appr eciation ffor or all the people who All All C Canadian anadian SSelf-Storage elf-S w would ould like ttoopossible eexpress xpress their appr appreciation tion ffor orattended. the people who made thetor great Gala grage eat LLeaside easide G ala and tto o all ecia those who aall ttended . made the great grea t LLeaside easide G Gala ala possible andted ttoo in allthis those who attended. aful ttended . y. All All C Canadian anadian SSelf-Storage elf-S tor age is pleased tto o be loca located w wonderful onder ccommunity. ommunit All All C Canadian anadian SSelf-Storage elf-Ststated orage isepleased oysbe located tedtto in this w wonderful onder ful events. ccommunity. ommunit As previously we are always charitable As pr eviously sta ted w ar e alw atto aavailable vloca ailable o host char itable ev ents. y.
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Leaside Life, June 2013
100 Leaside Leaside 100
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‘There are places I remember all my life’ Prime Minister Stephen Harper “came home” to Leaside for the Leaside 100 Gala on April 27 at All Canadian Self-Storage on Laird. Here is his speech, after the thank you remarks. Now, friends, a couple of months ago, a couple of months back, my staff sent me the text of a proposed video that I’d been asked to make for tonight’s event. It began by quoting a song. The quote is “There are places I remember all my life.” Many of you will recognize it as a Beatles song. In it, John Lennon reminisces about the neighbourhood of his youth, how some things have changed, how some things are the same, that some of the people he once knew there are now gone, and that some remain. The song includes a baroque style piano solo, and it seems at times to hover almost between a
Prime Minister Harper, Leaside Life publisher Lorna Krawchuk and Councillor John Parker (in his old clothes).
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major and a minor key, between fondness and sadness, as reminiscing tends to do. It was not one of the Beatles big hits, but it is one of their most subtle and most beautiful songs, and it is one of their first truly great artistic achievements. The song was written mid-1965, and that, of course, is the Leaside I remember. The great cultural changes of that period were only happening around the edges. All the parents still listened to very stodgy old CFRB. And the teenagers were tuning into CHUM. And at Northlea Elementary School, we had completely segregated schoolyards, boys and girls, and you’re never supposed to go between them. A few of the older boys were starting to wear their hair a little bit over the ears, and a few of the older girls were wearing tighter clothes and shorter skirts, and most shocking of all for the Parent Teacher Association, there were stories about some of them actually kissing. You might expect that some of my early memories of that time were political. The truth of the matter is
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not so much. But I can think of a couple of early political memories. In fact, my first real vivid political memory in Leaside around about that time is the debate over whether Canada should have a new flag. Those of you who were alive then will remember that emotions ran very high. Neighbours, many neighbours stopped speaking to one another, so intense were the differences. As a five-year-old boy, I decided to plough right into this, insisting on asking everyone in the street what their position was on the flag, and why. I was just curious. I remember that about half the people wanted the old flag, but they actually fell into two camps. For most of them, the old flag was the Canadian Red Ensign, but for a smaller and very passionate group, it meant the Union Jack. For the other half of the people on our street, which, by the way, included my parents, they wanted the new flag, but there was also a bit of division there, because some of you may remember, there were two principal designs for the new flag.
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The Harpers liked the one with the blue borders and three maple leaves, and of course, our present flag that I wear today with the red borders and the one maple leaf also had many advocates. I remember very well going outside Mrs. Fortier’s kindergarten class one day and watching the new flag go up the pole at the school, and very quickly, peace returned to the neighbourhood. But if Leasiders were divided on that issue, there was one on which we were all united. In fact, it defined us. And that was that Leaside should be an independent municipality. I have long told people who asked me – because I do get asked this question in different parts of the country – “So where exactly do you come from?” And I say to them that I grew up in a small town in Toronto. Leasiders then – and I think, to this day – know what I mean. But back then, in the 1960s, we meant it literally. It also meant growing up
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here back then that you fully understood, as I have been taught, that one of the great wrongs of human history was the loss of Leaside’s status as a separate incorporated municipality in the amalgamation of 1967. I’ve heard some people tell the story, tell a story that somehow when I was a boy, I met John Diefenbaker, and that’s what set me on my current path, my political journey. Actually, I never met John Diefenbaker. I never met him then; I never met him later. I did, however, as a boy, one day, when I was out going around the town with my father, I did meet Mayor True Davidson. Does anybody remember True Davidson? She was quite a character, and I remember, I was a very young boy. She spoke to me very nicely, and I remember my father thought that she was OK, she was all right. However, she was never going to be, to us or to anyone who knew her, or to anyone who I knew in this area, our mayor. She was the mayor of East York. How could anyone think that Leaside could be properly or fairly ruled by
someone from as far away as East York? You know? This is how I grew up! As a boy, I knew I could walk down to Sunnybrook Plaza, I could buy some snacks, help get groceries for my mother. I could go another way. I could walk to my doctor’s office, maybe all the way to Sunnybrook Hospital to have Dr. Ross give me my allergy shots. I could go another way to the wilds of Serena Gundy Park. I could walk to Howard Talbot or Trace Manes to play sports. Beyond that, we could walk down to the arena, to the railway station, which we regularly did, my dad, my brothers and I, where we would watch the trains come in from out of town. I could walk beyond those places to other parks. We could walk to the businesses along Eglinton and Bayview, and we could come here to Leaside’s industrial area, where back then many of my friends’ parents actually worked. But I was told I could walk for days and days and still, I would never
reach as far away as East York. I know it all seems, now, a bit small and a bit surreal, but it went to a truth about Leaside. In Leaside, you were and I was part of a community in the most intimate and the very best sense of the term. My mother, Margaret Harper, who, by the way, is living in Calgary now, is in great health… wants to say hello to anyone from her Leaside days. My mother, when we recently talked about this over breakfast in Calgary as I was preparing this speech, (talked about) what she remembers about Leaside. What a community it truly was. And she told me a bunch of stories as an example. She remembers that once she scalded herself in the kitchen severely with hot water. With my father at work, and there were three small children running around, apparently making noise, and she was in some significant discomfort, she phoned the Leaside Pharmacy for advice. The pharmacist not only answered the phone personally, he insisted on driving up to
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see are now gone. My father, my grandparents who would visit, aunts and uncles, family friends, our older neighbours. As the song says, in my life, I loved them all. But all their love, and so much love, that I still carry with me. That day I walked through Leaside a few years back, that’s what it brought back. In fact, I tell people I went to my old house at 324 Bessborough Dr., and I even saw a boy in front of that house. He was about six years old. And as he turned and looked at me, I could have sworn it was me. And then when I looked again, he was gone. That was a lifetime ago. In my life, it was several lifetimes ago. That lifetime in Leaside I can never go back to, but I never can entirely leave it either, which is why I thought that on this, the centennial of this very special community, I should come here and convey these memories to you in person, and to thank you for the opportunity to do so, and to wish you another century of creating good memories for many more. Thank you, merci. n
At Tremblett’s valu-mart we are all about our community and giving back to it. If it weren’t for the great support of Leaside, Davisville and Bennington Heights there would be no Tremblett’s. We want to say thank you for supporting us, which enables us to support your great and worthy events and charities. Some of the organizations and events we have sponsored Leaside Wildcats 1998 Hillcrest Hockey AA Dirt to turf fundraiser at Maurice Cody School Sick Kids Hospital Leaside Girls Hockey League – End of the year banquet Leaside Girls Hockey Silent Auction Leaside Skating Club Leaside Boys Hockey Team Leaside Boys Baseball Team Leaside Girls Baseball Team Toronto Penguins Minor Atom A Team Boy Scouts Girl Guides Maurice Cody fsa Ride to Conquer Cancer CIBC Run for the Cure Leaside Girls Softball Royal LePage BBQ Leaside High School
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Tour for Kids Eglinton St.Georgeʼs United Church The East York Foundation – Leaside Memorial Community Gardens – Arena Expansion Project St. Michaelʼs Creative Works Studio Manor Church Leaside United Church Donated dessert platters to Laugh Out Loud banquet PC Childrenʼs Charity Proud sponsor of St. Anslemʼs School OLPH School Stoneybrook School Morning Glory Club Inside Out Rotary Club Geneva Centre for Autism Sunnybrook Breast Cancer Ward Northlea BBQ Provide food and donations for Funfair at: St.Anslem, Maurice Cody, Bessborough, Northlea, Rolph Road and Whitney Centre Child Care
1500 Bayview Avenue
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when my parents sold the house I grew up in for $39,500. Probably not the wisest financial transaction they ever made. Still, Leaside remains very, very recognizable. A few years back, this was a time when I was out of politics and I was here on business. I got off the bus one day, just got off the bus at the corner of Bayview and Eglinton, and I decided to walk around, to go through all the places I frequented for the first 12 years of my life. And I have to tell you, things were remarkably familiar, maybe a bit smaller, a bit closer together, of course, than they seemed when I was a small child, but most of it that I was seeing for the first time in a quarter of a century, was strangely, almost hauntingly, identical. And it made me realize how hardwired Leaside really is in my consciousness: every street, every yard, every alley, every crack in the pavement, I can close my eyes and I can see these places as they were, and as, in fact, in many cases, they largely still are. Except that many of the people I
Leaside Life, June 2013
the house himself to deliver the treatment. That’s my mother’s Leaside, and that’s the Leaside I remember, too. When I was a boy here, you felt safe, you knew people were looking out for you. You felt you could knock, and did in fact knock on any door at any time if you were in trouble or you needed something. Of course, if you were doing something bad, you could be pretty certain your parents were going to find out about it. People were personally responsible and civically minded. I can’t comment so much on what Leaside is like today. I know everything in our society is so different than it was five decades ago. But from what I hear from those I know who still live in or around here, it still is a pretty special place. And I have to tell you, it has aged pretty well. Leaside was never a poor area, but its strength, its services and its location have brought changes and prices that have made it an affluent neighbourhood in a way unimaginable in 1971
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1982: Lena, Dom, Cheryl, Leo and Sal outside their landmark store on Bayview
The ‘First Family’ of Bayview for 75 years Not too long ago, you could buy a gun on the street How many Leasiders know that less than 30 years ago there was a store on Bayview where you could buy a gun or a rifle? The Badali brothers, Dom and Sal, remember that sporting goods store well, plus many others now that they’re thinking back to the past as Badali’s Fruit Market celebrates its 75th anniversary. That’s longer than any other merchant on the street, even though Bell Credit Jewellers has been there as long (Photis Philos is not the original owner).The original Badali owners, Leo and Sam, bought the new store in 1938, the same year the Roman Catholic parish of St. Anselm’s was founded. But they had no church, so Father Francis Caulfield held mass in the Badali store. This June 15, a Saturday, instead of a mass, there will be a party with everyone invited by Dom and Sal and their mother Lena, now 90. Today’s Badali brothers, who were born in their father Leo’s home on MacNaughton, recall the old Bayview with the movie theatre where their mother sent them on Saturdays to watch two shows for the price of one, a dollar store, a fish and chip restaurant and earlier versions of a fish market and garage sale store. There were also three other fruit markets, says Dom, Millwood Produce, Sam Hing and Bayview Fruit Market. Today the third generation, Steve, son of Sal, is also in the store. If he remains is up in the air, he says. It depends on how the economic situation unfolds. n
RECALLING AN OLD INCIDENT By HARRY GOLDHAR In its story about the Badali Fruit Market celebrating its 75th anniversary this summer, the South Bayview Bulldog blog revived an interesting memory for me about the sort-of-old days in Leaside. Leo, one of the Badali family who opened what is now the longest surviving store on Bayview, bought a house to live in here, but in an underhanded way, although a justified one. The owner of the home he wanted on MacNaughton wouldn’t sell to an Italian, so Badali had an acceptable friend buy it and then resell to him. It may be difficult for young RECALLING
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Recalling From Page 18
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ANNA-LOUISE RICHARDSON, TREE OF LIFE VIDEO
people now to get their minds around what many Canadians thought then about people who were often called Wops. The incident that story brought back happened to my family 30 years ago this September, when we moved our home and business office on the same day. At the end of a long day at work my wife, our two daughters, the bookkeeper and her husband went to dinner at what was to become one of our favourites restaurants on Bayview, Romantino’s (now long gone), just south of Manor Rd. I was to join them later. Necessary facts: My wife, Ruth, and the kids are white, our bookkeeper was white, her husband, Conrad, was black, a dark black. My wife recounts the story: They ordered dinner from a young waiter. Conrad said they would like some wine. ‘They’ were one very goodlooking black guy and a bunch of white females. She could almost see the waiter’s brain whirring. He asked, “Red or black?” Ruth looked at Conrad. Conrad looked at Ruth. Both burst out laughing. So did the other customers in the small room. The waiter spun around three times and fled into the kitchen. I can’t imagine that happening here today. n
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HISTORICAL NOTES OLD SCHOOL BUDDIES David Godbold, author of The Parkhurst Gang, and Alan Redway, former federal cabinet minister, recall their days at Bessborough school during an East York Historical Society meeting about Leaside 100. --LEASIDE 100 ORGANIZERS discovered just before the big celebrations that Leaside was not founded on April 23, 1913. Right year, but that was the date of the third reading of the bill that created the Town of Leaside. Official birthday is May 7.
For a Gift - Leaside Book! contact Jane at jane.pitfield@hotmail.com or
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The oldest Leaside store The oldest remaining business in Leaside could be Stanley Cleaners, started in 1929 by R.D. Stanley, a relative of the Stanley Cup provider, says Fortunato Fusco, known as Lucky. “When I bought the business in 1976 I traced back the ownership,” said Fusco. “This was the first cleaners in Leaside and the oldest business still in the same building. “The only change we made was to add another door,” he said. “When the business opened this was the end of the road”. n
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EVENTS FOR LEASIDE 100
The Millwood and Sutherland stop on the Layers of Leaside Historical Walking Tour on Sunday, April 28: The crowd was so large that the walk was split into two, one section with Jane Pitfield and the other with Geoff Kettel (here). At this stop Kettel pointed out the James Lea home at 201 Sutherland, built circa 1909, affectionately known as The Wendy House after Wendy in the story of Peter Pan.
Premier Kathleen Wynne opens the library display
City archivist Carol Radford-Grant and Geoff Kettel
Bessborough school pupils help celebrate VOLUNTEERS FOR LEASIDE 100 Leaside 100 Archival Committee Elaine Fujiwara (curator) Geoff Kettel (chair) John Naulls Jennifer Peattie Jane Pitfield Roger Steer Exhibit Docents who looked after and explained the exhibits to visitors Julia Schindeler
Raja Rosenthal Pam Shakil John Naulls Roger and Marie Steer Edith and Geoff Geduld Elaine Fujiwara Jennifer Peattie Virginia Evoy Councillor John Parker Rebecca Michaels Anne Michaels Chloe Oriotis Eleanore Wynn Renee Jacoby Ryerson University
PHOTOS BY ANNA-LOUISE RICHARDSON, TREE OF LIFE VIDEO
Professor Masha Etkind Sarah Gertler Ashley Vajda With Appreciation Lorna Krawchuk Brian MacLean Ivan Martinovic Linda McCarthy Councillor John Parker Eleanore Wynn East York Foundation Heritage Toronto Leaside Public Library Todmorden Mills Heritage Site,
City of Toronto Toronto Archives Toronto District School Board Toronto Public Library Exhibit Sponsors APCO Industrial Products City of Toronto Special Heritage Community Event Fund RBC Royal Bank of Canada Exhibit Brochure Dragon Snap Design G.M. Thornton & Son Limited Lorna Krawchuk
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:29 PM Page 21
‘Lettuce heeah the wud of Gud’ Karen Fraser Memories of Old Leaside
fore the bell rang he asked if anyone in our group was responsible for the explosion. We probably all shook our heads in unison. He said class dismissed and we left. Our French teacher was Ms. Mitchell. She spent each summer in the France she adored and she really wanted us to appreciate French culture. She worked all one weekend preparing escargots with garlic sauce, enough for all her classes. She injured herself doing so and had to wear a sling for two weeks. Leaside High had a chaplain. He had an imposing British accent that made pronouncements above heavily padded shoulders of beautiful Saville Row suits. Five days a week for five years, after the morning announcements, we heard, “Lettuce heeah the wud of Gud,” followed by
the Lord’s Prayer. One magical morning he got to the third line and there was silence. He had forgotten the words! In our class there were squeaks of laughter extinguished by a scowl from our teacher, but then the sound of laughter could be heard all down the hall. Our biology teacher was Mr. Threapleton -- three without the e, apple without the p, ton. I know I have spelled it correctly because if we made a mistake he deducted marks. He taught from a wheeled chair behind a long lab desk on a raised platform. He sat with his head propped up by his arm. He often fell asleep. If he needed to point something out on the blackboard he would pull himself along in the chair with quick sudden movements. I regret that it was in his other class that he miscalculated a quick sudden movement and shot off the platform in the chair. He went down like a three without TEACHER, Page 28
Leaside Life, June 2013
In a blur of classes, exams and metal locker doors slamming, certain teacher moments stand out in my mind’s eye. Mr. Patterson was our math teacher. He was the toughest man any of us had ever met. It was rumoured that he was the first person to hit the beach on D-Day. We liked him but all the usual whispering, note passing and smart remarks stopped at his classroom door. One morning a few minutes into the period a large cherry bomb detonated at the back of the room. I know you think you can picture the scene: students jumping to their feet, some crying out in surprise or terror, a teacher checking to see if anyone is hurt as he evacuates the classroom. Not what happened. As the acrid smoke drifted forward no one moved, screamed or turned around. We were much more afraid of Mr. Patterson than we were of a mere explosion! After a nano pause, Mr. Patterson continued with the lesson. Just be-
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LETTERS
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leasidelife@gmail.com
An enclave for the rich I find the destruction of perfectly good homes in this area to be so immoral, but I can't seem to convince anybody, especially not Councillor John Parker. Out with the old and in with the new seems to be the prevailing attitude. Such a waste, such an environmental disaster. The perfectly good home in the photo at right (the one behind the fenced tree) was turned into rubble a few days later. What they will build in its place will sell for between $1 and $2 million, and may well turn out to be one of the "Queen Ann front, Mary Ann behind" stucco boxes that now blight Leaside. Leaside used to offer a mix of upscale homes along with more affordable housing, but the area is rapidly being transformed into an enclave for the very rich. Taxes go up accordingly, forcing out many longtime residents with lower incomes.
I'd love to see a lot more regulations placed on such "development." John Tomlinson, 6 MacNaughton Rd. Leaside Life: Thanks for the letter and the photo. But we’re a bit puzzled about what you'd like Parker to do. The city would have to change the bylaws to stop this from happening. Do you have any suggestions for what should happen?
h y home throug "I purchased m o. ag ar almost a ye Karen Brinkhof edible cr in ly e was not on The experienc e. fre s es str ooth and but also very sm usly lo cu ira erseas and...m e. I was living ov m r fo e us e perfect ho al Karen found th rm no e th e went abov n re Ka ve lie I be this particuhen it came to w ty du of ll ca erty is fun but Buying a prop . se ha rc pu r la truly was t with Karen it also stressful, bu I highly e. nc free experie a great worry nsiderco e ar ren if you Ka d en m m co re me, she truly selling your ho or ng yi bu g in t what you en and you ge pp ha it es ak m e!!" want plus mor Gillian V.
JT: Well, at the very least, I'd like Councillor Parker to initiate some kind of "green" disposal plan for demolished homes. As far as I can see, all the debris goes into bins destined for landfill -- no sorting done at all. Parker will say only that he supports the "right of a person to build a better house". But these days surely that "right" must be influenced by other factors.
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Leaside Life, June 2013
Or, perhaps Councillor Parker could take a note from Jane Pitfield who regularly, and successfully, challenged developers over the use of tacky materials (stucco) and designs that do not coordinate with the traditional character of Leaside. Many of the new homes are cheaply made, mediocre beyond belief. Leaside also badly needs to preserve some of its existing affordable housing, particularly the bungalows which have become an endangered species. Frankly, I am beginning to feel embarrassed about living in Leaside – home to the rich and the environmentally careless. But in view of the now lengthy history of demolition and redevelopment, I don't know how change is to be effected while maintaining fairness to owners wishing to sell and reap the same cash rewards as others. Perhaps one step would be to make it much more difficult for developers to buy and rebuild. This could be done in a number of ways: 1. Establish new rules regarding complete demolition. Many of the homes that go under the hydraulic shovel are perfectly sound in design and structure, requiring only some renovation. Carting good homes off to landfill is a crime on a number of levels. 2. Reestablish meaningful opposition to builders who do not meet traditional Leaside standards for building materials (i.e. no stucco for starters). 3. Redevelopment significantly reduces the quality of life for immediate neighbours, in most cases for a year or more, and hugely increases wear and tear on the street. Also, most mature city-owned trees, even though fence protected, do not survive a rebuild for more than a few years – too much root damage, and builders generally do not respect the canopy, damaging branches or sawing them off when they get in the way of machinery. The owner of a property to be redeveloped should have to compensate both the immediate neighbours and the city for disruption and damage. I suggest that a developer should be required to pay a percentage of the immediate neighbours' taxes during the period of construction. 4. Devise a tax reduction scheme geared to the amount of a property that is green – i.e. not covered by building, patio, structure, or pavement of any kind. The more green space, the greater the percentage of tax reduction. Some front yards are almost completely paved for parking, and the amount of after-deck back-
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yard space is, in many cases, the proverbial postage stamp. Maybe readers have other suggestions, especially those who have experienced a next door knockdown.
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The recent display at the local library called Layers of Leaside did a good job of illustrating that Leaside has undergone several periods of significant transformation as it grew from a pioneer settlement to a thriving neighbourhood of mid-city professionals. As a Leaside homeowner, I am proud of our rich history, but also keenly interested in what lies ahead. As a community we are currently facing MORE than our fair share of complex development issues. Off the top of my head I can name 10 large projects happening right here in our backyards: 1. SmartCentre development at Laird and Wicksteed 2. Office tower and condo proposal for Eglinton and Brentcliffe 3. Condo proposal for 2 Laird Dr. (the old post office) 4. Whole Foods plaza at Bayview north of Eglinton 5. Development around 262 Bessborough Dr. 6. Garden Court apartments proposal to convert to condos 7. Talbot apartment evictions 8. Donwoods property development 9. LRT extension across Eglinton 10. The systematic tear-down and re-build of our neighbourhood, one house at a time. With so much going on, I was completely perplexed to find myself the only attendee at the May meeting of the Leaside Property Owners’ Association (LPOA), save and except for the people who came representing the Garden Court and the Talbot apartments (who left promptly after discussing their issue). Having lived in the Guildwood area for many years, where a meeting about a proposal for the Guild Inn could attract 200+ people, I was expecting Leaside to have robust attendance at these important meetings. At the very least I didn’t expect to be the only person there. I was also expecting our government representative, John Parker, to be there; however, I gathered from commentary that it’s been several months since he’s graced us with his presence. What will it take for Leasiders to get involved with -- and excited about -- the development of our fuď ľ
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:29 PM Page 25
We are urbanites, get with the program. The May issue of Leaside Life saw a rather heavy handed smack down for Mr. Ashworth and his opinion on the LPOA. I don’t know Mr. Ashworth nor am I familiar with the members of the LPOA but it seems to me by the tone of the letters that Leasiders are having a problem accepting the fact that we live in the 21st century in an urban community that needs to grow as an urban community. One does not get to live by the standards of 1940s’ urban development when the roads were mud, an airport was located in Leaside and the community was primarily housed by blue collar workers from the factories along Laird. I would venture to guess that our community has very few blue collar workers looking for factory jobs. But we have many two-income households with at least two high end cars in the driveway looking for services and the action in the SmartCentre parking lot any given day tells me Leasiders are supporting the services coming into our community. So get over yourselves. We can’t go back, we can only go forward. And don’t get me started on the
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ture community? Moreover, what will it take for us to get our councillor to pay attention to our concerns? We are a large community, divided into North Leaside, South Leaside, the Laird – Brentcliffe area, the Bayview strip, etc. It’s easy to develop a not-on-my.backyard mindset, and just worry about our apartment building, our street, our schoolyard. But the 10 issues listed above, and many more, affect all of us. Each of these projects will impact us in some way, either through traffic, schools, infrastructure, and most importantly, through changing the character of our cherished area. It’s all in our backyard. The 12 people who make up the LPOA seem to do a very capable job, but it must be discouraging for them to keep on “fighting the good fight” in an atmosphere of apparent apathy. Having led those types of groups before, I know that it sometimes seems like the challenges are endless and the support is intermittent. I’d encourage all of you to try to make at least a couple of these meetings per year. It’s only a few hours a month and the effort goes a long way to support these people who are the voice of our community’s future. B. Smith, Southvale Dr.
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:29 PM Page 26
condo development for Brentcliffe and Eglinton. We are getting LRT folks. Urban planning does not put in high density rapid transit services unless there is an opportunity for residential density along the line. This Leasider is quite happy that the south-west corner will get the condo towers and not the north stretch of Eglinton between Brentcliffe and Don Avon, which would have them looming over the backyards of my neighbours. We have to accept the growth. We can’t expect to fight every change that comes along, and reap the benefits of urban development without any change in our little world. So get with the program people. Let’s look at these changes as positive improvements to our lives. Our property values will increase, we will find solutions for our schools and roads, and I’m pretty sure we will shop in the new stores and use the new restaurants and other services. It’s growth and it’s good. Patti Knight, Donlea Dr.
Leaside Life, June 2013
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ENJOYED
I hoped our Prime Minister would do his ubiquitous thing somewhere else. But instead he popped up at our only-once-in-a-century gala dinner. Seems he was invited. I think this was a mistake; a bad call. The event was not a reunion but Leaside’s centennial celebration. His attendance was inappropriate. Mr. Harper’s presence politicized the event by adding a partisan and divisive element. With his photo ops and glad-handing, our gala shindig became reminiscent of a Conservative fundraiser. This is not how the event was promoted. All our local political representatives were already present, including Ontario Premier Wynne. The PM was just an unneeded and distracting fifth wheel. Harper is anathema to the many Leasiders who are alarmed and disturbed by his excesses, including his suppression of public information. Our media freedom is now rated by Reporters without Borders as behind Jamaica - and Namibia. Given his chequered and controversial record - typified by his consistent use of bullying “gutter messaging” - I like to think that his values are now at odds with those of the quintessentially decent middleclass Leaside residents. He is also unpopular outside Leaside. His approval rating is now just 28 percent across the country (EKOS, Globe, April 27). There was simply no good reason to showcase him and allow him to strut his stuff
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:29 PM Page 27
The Eglinton Ave. East and Laird Dr. intersection is a disaster waiting to happen because of the inconsiderate drivers going north on Laird who then turn east on Eglinton. One of the most common instances is when both the driver and pedestrian are waiting and instead of letting the pedestrian(s) walk, the driver immediately turns. On one occasion, three pedestrians were waiting to cross and proceeded to walk when it was their turn, but a SUV driver actually drove around the pedestrians instead of waiting. On another occasion, a lady and her dog were walking when a driver turned and slammed the brakes. The lady gave the driver a look, but it is unclear if the driver acknowledged the resentment that the bystander had. Please be more careful of pedestrians. Andrew Moran, Eglinton Ave. East
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Leaside Life, June 2013
at our very special event. On the positive side: The Ford brothers did not attend our gala. I can’t imagine a less palatable dinner event than one featuring Harper and Rob/Doug Ford as the star attractions. I am relieved that I stayed home to enjoy a glass of rose with my pizza, after sipping a latte. I watched the CBC’s National news with some nostalgia, knowing that the omnibus budget bill threatens CBC’s continued editorial independence. (Breaking News: The new Bank of Canada governor is an outsider hand-picked by Mr. Flaherty, putting the bank’s continued independence also into question). Control and suppress. An ominous pattern is emerging. Oh, and those re-routed jets roaring overhead? That’s federal noise. With “friends” like Mr. Harper in high places we don’t lack for enemies. If Margaret Atwood (a class act with Leaside creds rivaling Harper’s) had been present, my wife would have attended anyway. They used to double date! Apart from the Harper boobytrap, the Leaside 100 organizing committee did an outstanding job of arranging a diverse schedule of appealing events. A tour de force. As local residents for almost half of Leaside’s 100 years, we applaud and thank them for their selfless efforts on behalf of Leaside residents. Tim McDonald Cameron Cres.
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:29 PM Page 28
Teacher From Page 21
Leaside Life, June 2013
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the e, apple without the p ton of bricks. For those of us who needed Latin to replace math, Miss Pallet was our teacher. Before each exam she made us recite in Latin the Gladiator's Oath: We who are about to die salute you. Then she would give a throaty giggle. When she taught us about the Roman cruelties in the Coliseum she giggled. On the last day of Grade 13 we gave her a piece of Wedgewood featuring classical figures. She loved it and started to talk to us about past students. We learned that each tree along the walk at the Eglinton entrance to the school was planted in memory of a student killed in World War II. No one had ever told us that. I came in that door every day. Four of the boys killed had been in her class. We watched in alarm as this seemingly indestructible teacher cried in front of us. It gave us a sense of being a part of something substantial as we left the school for the last time. n
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No transition to PO plan One major development application currently under consideration in our community is the proposal to redevelop the former post office site at 2 Laird Dr. The new owners have submitted a proposal to demolish the existing building and replace it with an eightstorey residential condominium. I have joined with local residents to oppose this proposal. The property comprises the southern end of a line of properties stretching along the west side of Laird designated for “mixed use” under the city’s official plan. As such, the development site is expected to provide a “transition” to the neighbouring uses. But what neighbouring uses should serve as the transition reference? The single family dwellings on Malcolm Rd.? The townhouses on Millwood? The fourstorey buildings in the surrounding area? The proposed design addresses many of the tests ordinarily brought
Proposed new building for 2 Laird
John Parker Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West
to bear for a development application. It is hard, however, to see any basis on which it provides a transition to anything in the vicinity. It should come as no surprise that the owners, sensing probable defeat at community council, have
already entered an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. … The owners of the Garden Court apartments (1477 Bayview) caused a stir throughout our community when signage was posted indicating their intention to carry out “demolition” of the residential rental units and convert the development to condominium ownership. Except that the “demolition” in question applies to the “demolition”
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LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:29 PM Page 31
Alan Redway Former East York mayor and federal cabinet minister
Leaside â?¤ Bennington Our former premier Mike Harris now lives in Bennington Heights. When I met him recently Mike said, “Nobody cares about Bennington ď ľ
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Leaside Life, June 2013
of the rental ownership regime, to be replaced by condominium ownership, not the demolition of the actual structures themselves. Being a proposal to reduce the availability of rental accommodation in the community, the proposed conversion requires municipal approval. Such approval requires proof either (a) that the community has a lot of rental accommodation already (we don’t) or (b) that the rental units under consideration are “high rentâ€? (they aren’t). It also requires that the owner file a complete application. As of the deadline for this column, city staff indicated to me that the application remained incomplete. There are a host of reasons why ownership conversion might not be in the interest of tenants. I will be working with city staff to resist this application vigorously. ‌ Leaside residents will recall the battle to save the Talbot apartments on Bayview from demolition a few years ago. Talbot residents now face another challenge: notices to vacate slipped through their mail slots, this time on the basis that the landlord intends to carry out major renovations. Although the commitment to improve the buildings is a welcome sign, the landlord’s efforts to empty the units to do so is heavy handed and unsettling to the tenants, many of whom have made their home there for years. I have explained to Talbot residents that they need not bend to the landlord’s demands or time lines. The landlord must first prove its case for vacant possession before the tenant tribunal. Again, I am working with staff to protect the tenants’ interests. n
BRIAN MOK
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:29 PM Page 32
Leaside Life, June 2013
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Heights.� Well Mike, that’s hard to believe, but I can tell you, we sure looked after it before amalgamation. Most people assume that Bennington was always part of the former Town of Leaside, but it wasn’t. Both the Bennington and the Governor’s Bridge communities were actually part of the former Township of East York prior to its merger with Leaside in 1967, when we all became the Borough of East York. Both before and after East York was incorporated Bennington, known originally as Rosemount, was composed of orchards and market gardens. In 1925 a young lawyer, Thomas Weatherhead, built a home in the area for himself and his new bride Evelyn Bennington. Thomas went on to become an East York school trustee and later the school board’s solicitor. It was Thomas Weatherhead who persuaded East York township council to change the name of his street to Bennington Heights Dr. in honour of his wife. During the 1950s Evelyn Bennington Weatherhead served as the national president of the Home and School Association of Canada. It was also Thomas Weatherhead who chose the site for Bennington Heights School at the end of Bennington Heights Dr. For a time the area was known as the Moore Park Annex, but since both the school and the longest street were named Bennington Heights, the local real estate agents began to refer to the whole area as Bennington Heights. Before Bennington Heights school was opened the growing numbers of children living in the area had to be bussed to Whitney school in Toronto because Leaside refused to have them. Thomas and Evelyn’s three boys, David, Peter and Gerald went to high school at North Toronto Collegiate while their sister Barbara went to Oakwood Collegiate. Before Leaside High was built many Leaside students attended Jarvis Collegiate. David and Peter later practised law with their father. When I was a kid, Pogue’s Riding Stable was located in Bennington Heights on the south-west corner of Bayview and Moore. I still can visualize a horse and cutter from Pogue’s making its way along Bessborough Dr. in the winter on the snow-covered road before the days of snow plows and salt. Many well- known people have lived in Bennington Heights over the years, including the author Margaret Atwood, who grew up there and has
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Bennington belongs with Leaside Once a decade, following the census, electoral districts are adjusted to reflect population shifts and growth. The Electoral Boundaries Commission must try to keep all ridings approximately the same size while attempting to respect municipal boundaries, historical ties, and communities of interest – not an easy job. In the consultation following the release of the preliminary maps a year ago many community groups spoke of the importance of keeping neighbourhoods united within a single riding wherever possible. Now the commissioners have released a revised proposal – still not final – and they’ve put both parts of Don Mills back together in Don Valley East and reunited all of Thorncliffe Park in Don Valley West. They’ve also proposed two new changes of interest to Leaside. First, they’ve joined Leaside with the area to the west of Bayview Ave., from the cemetery north to Broadway Ave. and as far west as Mt. Pleasant Rd. I am happy with this idea since “Davisville” shares many characteristics with Leaside and it makes
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Leaside Life, June 2013
written books about her neighbours; Norman McLeod, the first and longtime principal of Leaside High School; Manley MacDonald, the Ontario landscape artist who painted many Bennington scenes in the 1930s; Lotta Dempsey, a Toronto Star columnist; Frank Tumpane, a Toronto Telegram columnist; Bruce Brown, the architect for many Leaside churches; and David Weatherhead, who served as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Scarborough West. In 1966 the residents of Bennington Heights and Leaside banded together to successfully defeat a proposed high rise development on Mallory Cres. We’ve been together ever since and we care. n
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:30 PM Page 34
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Leaside Life, June 2013
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sense to unite the communities on both sides of the vibrant business district along Bayview Ave.. I’m not happy with their second new proposal – to sever off Bennington Heights and attach it to a new riding to the south and west to be called University–Rosedale. In my May 7 submission to the House of Commons committee considering this I objected to this change and pointed out that Bennington Heights has always been more closely associated with Leaside than with Moore Park or with Rosedale. Bennington Heights was joined with Leaside in the Borough of East York 1967-97 and before that with the Township of East York, not with the areas to the west, from which it is physically cut off by the ravine. Bennington residents have no choice but to drive east when they leave their driveways. They shop and do business in Leaside, their children feed into the Leaside schools for higher grades and play minor sports in Leaside, and for over 40 years Bennington has been part of the M4G postal code that describes Leaside. For all these reasons I told the commission that Bennington Heights should remain with Leaside in Don Valley West. I made a similar case for the adjacent community of Governor’s Bridge, though admittedly that area has connections with Rosedale that Bennington does not. We will learn the final boundaries later this year. n
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Bennington Rolph Road Soccer, a community-based, volunteer-run house league for girls and boys, 5 – 17 years, has started registration. The season runs six weeks in the fall, starting the first week of school. A tournament is held for all but the youngest age group at the end of the regular season. Games are played on school fields at Rolph Road, Bennington Heights and Leaside High. Parents volunteer as coaches and managers. Fees are $75 per player or $165 per family of three or more. For more information: benningtonrolphsoccer@yahoo.ca/. n
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:30 PM Page 35
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Dollarama is settling right in I recently visited Dollarama's not-so-new location at 1531-33 Bayview Ave. It was my first time stepping into the discount store since it opened Jan. 2. Not being a Dollarama regular, I found out the hard way that it only accepts cash and debit -- no credit cards. With only a Visa in hand, I was forced to wander home and pick up some cash. Embarrassment aside, I returned shortly thereafter to complete my $4 transaction. Thankfully, the employee who had served me previously kindly put aside my items so I didn't have to retrieve them from the shelves. Open for more than five months now, it seems Canada's dollar-store champions have settled into the Bayview shopping strip. Writing about investments as I do, I thought it would be a useful exercise to find out what I could about Dollarama's experience so far. Has its Bayview store met expectations, financially, and otherwise? I reached out to both Jennifer, the store manager, and then to company representative Lyla Radmanovich to find out. The Bayview location is similar in size to the average Dollarama, which is 9,820 square feet, generating $2.5 million in revenue by the end of year two. On average it spends $700,000 opening a new store with $500,000 for construction costs and $200,000 in opening inventory. With a twoyear payback on its investment, a Dollarama store generates approximately 16 cents in operating profit for each dollar of revenue. Fifty-five percent of Dollarama's revenue are products that retail for more than $1. Almost half its sales are general merchandise, like the staples and two notepads I bought on my visit; another 37 percent is candy and other consumables, with the remaining 14 percent from seasonal products like Halloween ones.
Leaside Life, June 2013
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LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:30 PM Page 36
Leaside Life, June 2013
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By utilizing a small part-time staff of 20, it's able to keep its labour costs reasonably low. When combined with a gross margin that's higher than many U.S. discount chains, it delivers industry-high profitability. Given the low-cost nature of its products, I felt obligated to ask Radmanovich about Dollarama's suppliers. Specifically, I wanted to know if any of its products were made in Bangladesh where the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed April 24 killing more than 1,100 people. With Joe Fresh among the retailers producing product in the factory, it's important that Canadian shoppers (including myself) understand where the product is made. Dollarama sources 52 percent of its goods from overseas, mostly China, with 48 percent from North American vendors. It's possible that some of the North American vendors source from Bangladesh and other low-wage countries, but I didn't get that impression. Since going public in October 2009, its stock has achieved a total return of 326 percent through May 7 compared to 8 percent for the S&P/TSX Composite Index. I'm sure there's a Dollarama shareholder or two living in Leaside. If so, you've done very well on your investment. While Dollarama company policy prohibits it from providing specific financial information regarding individual stores, Radmanovich stated that "… Customers have responded very positively to the compelling value of our product selection and the consistent shopping experience we offer – and yes, the store is quite busy, which is great! … It is performing very well, exceeding our expectations, and we are very pleased with this." With the typical Dollarama lease lasting 10 years with one or more five-year options, it's safe to say that it will be a part of the Bayview shopping scene for many years to come. n
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Leaside Life, June 2013
Leaside Life
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:30 PM Page 38
Lea family members are moving back Leaside Life, June 2013
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38 Without the benefit of a family tree, it is difficult to go back the generations required to the original John Lea Sr., who first farmed land in what we now call Leaside. One progression is John Lea Sr., to John Lea Jr., to James, to Edgar and to Tony. Tony Lea now lives in Leaside, since 2002, after he and his wife, Joanne, looking for a house in central Toronto, found one on Sutherland Dr. that turned out to be almost across the street from where his father was born. Edgar was born at 201 Sutherland Dr. in 1919. His parents, James and Anna Lea, built the house around 1909 and subsequently moved to Forest Hill. Tony doesn’t make a big thing about belonging to the Lea family, but he is pleased that his own son and family, including a grandson born in 2011, will also soon be living in their family’s original neighbourhood. But where he is living now is not really the most interesting part of
Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life
Tony’s story. He is a man of many interests and talents. At 16, he was part of a group of Canadian Scouts at a Jamboree in Marathon, Greece. He then ran Scout camps in Haliburton. As a young man, he was the camp director of Bayview Glen Day Camp, supervising 1,380 children and 400 staff. He acquired his BA, MA and PhD all at the University of Toronto, in geography. He started off as a traditional academic, first at the University of Minnesota and then back at U of T for several years. His specialty is statistical mathematical models and he is now both an adjunct professor at U of T and Ryerson, but also chief methodologist and senior vicepresident at Environics Analytics, and known as “the father of geodemographic research”.
As he says, in a privacy-friendly environment, you can’t sell lists of who lives where, but you can do models that show retailers, banks and other businesses how to optimize their location. One piece of Leaside history in Tony’s possession is the very heavy, 13-foot long sign that says “Leaside” he obtained when the CP rail station on Village Station Rd. was no longer in use. And what of Tony’s brothers and sisters? There were five in the family. Edgar (Ted), the oldest, lives in Hoggs Hollow. Younger brother Don lives in Alberta, younger sister Patricia lives in North Bay and his youngest sister, Frances, has died. Sometimes when you read through lists, something catches your eye. In my case, the name A.M. Laverty jumped out at me. It turns out that Tony’s aunt Frances, who is now 101 years old, married “Padre” Laverty, well-known at Queen’s University as The Padre for many years. n
LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:30 PM Page 39
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LeasideLife issue 18 final_LeasideLifev1 13-05-21 1:30 PM Page 40
Leaside Life, June 2013
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