LeasideLife Issue 38 draft 2_LeasideLifev1 15-04-20 11:03 PM Page 1
No. 38 • May 2015
Leaside Life leasidelifenews.com
Where Oh Where has Bondy gone? Page 5
IN THE MOOD Swing it! ( 1
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to play again for Glenn Miller Orchestra By BRUCE PHILP
BRUCE PHILP, left, with Nick Hilscher, today's leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, at Roy Thomson Hall March 13.
A long-time resident of Leaside, I have been in the Toronto music industry as a drummer/percussionist since 1960, beginning with the dance bands of the day (Frank Evans, Benny Louis, Chicho Valle). My interest in the music of Glenn Miller began with the movie, The Glenn Miller Story (James Stewart), and I later saw that orchestra at Dunn’s Pavilion in Bala, Ontario in 1962 In 1966 I joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra, touring throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan, and came back to Toronto in 1967. Sometime in 2014 it occurred to me that it would be nice to play with the Miller orchestra one more time, so I contacted them, and they agreed. On March 13 of this year, I met them at Roy Thomson Hall, did a short rehearsal, and then watched the show from the wings. The leader, singer Nick Hilscher, was very welcoming, as were the band members. The show ended with Moonlight Serenade, by which time the audience was standing and applauding. GLENN, Page 8
Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LPOA
Big plans for the old Durant site on Laird Dr. PAGE 16
Finding the site of the first brick house in Leaside PAGE 18
The thinking behind RioCan’s plans for Sunnybrook Plaza PAGE 26
Growing help for refugees from Leaside churches PAGE 30
Here comes Shane Baghai You may have noticed that right next to the driveway into the Leaside Gardens is a sign saying Coming soon – Shane Baghai. Developer Baghai has acquired the first two properties on Southvale Dr. (the former auction house and the former caterer), west of the Gardens. He proposes to build a condominium on that site. He and his team approached the LPOA with some design details, and we’ve had the opportunity to raise a BAGHAI, Page 27
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Bayview Leaside BIA soon ready to spend $190,000
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Leaside Life, May 2015
By ALLAN WILLIAMS
The Hummers Are Back! 939 Eglinton Ave E. (Brentcliffe and Eglinton)
416- 646-2439 w w w. U r b a n N a t u r e S t o r e. c a
The Business Improvement Area (BIA) for Bayview, to be called Bayview Leaside, is one step closer after a meeting April 8 presided over by the city’s economic development department. BIA members approved the $190,000 annual budget that had been developed by the steering committee and nominated the seven board members, who will be joined by the two city councillors in the two wards involved. The term will extend to the end of 2018, coinciding with the current term of city council. Elected were Trae Zammit, owner of The Smokin’ Cigar, who spearheaded the effort to set up an area BIA, Grant Allardyce of The Source Menswear, Stephen Betts of TD Canada Trust, Simon Hanlon of McSorley’s, David IlliatovichOwen of De La Mer, Stanley Janecek of White House Meats, Debora Kuchme of Pagnello’s Antiques plus
councillors Josh Matlow and Jon Burnside. “Our three top priorities,” says Zammit, “are branding and advertising the area, street beautification, and addressing the parking issues – including working with the city to try to make the ticketing authorities less aggressive. Our focus in year one will be on branding and advertising the area.” Councillor Jon Burnside says the city may be able to help with funding above the BIA’s budget. “The city has so many little pockets of money, I need to dig a bit to find out what’s available. And I’ve found that, if you don’t ask, you won’t find out. On signage, for example, there are apparently some funds available by ward.” The Leaside Property Owners’ Association has committed $25,000 to be transferred as soon as city council confirms the BIA later this month. Then the board will choose executive officers and get down to work. ■
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In 1944, when Shirley Giles became a teller for the Bank of Nova Scotia (now known as Scotiabank), an assistant accountant said, “That’s as high as you’ll ever go.” “Why do you say that?” Shirley asked. “Well, that’s all girls ever do,” he replied. In 1961, when Giles had climbed the ladder and was an assistant accountant, she got a call from her husband who was also working at Scotiabank, telling her she was wanted at the head office. A mystified Shirley was ushered into the assistant general manager 's office. “We’re thinking of appointing a woman branch manager,” he told her. “Isn’t that nice: He’s asking my opinion,” she thought. “That’s a wonderful idea!” she said. “I’m glad you think so,” he said. “Would you like the job?”
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“Yes,” Shirley said. “I’ll take it.” One other woman was asked the same question later, which makes Giles the first female bank manager in Canada. Giles, now a Leaside resident, did not get the discrimination inside and out that one might have expected in those years. In fact, it was remarkably little, she recalls. She believes she earned her male colleagues’ respect with her work ethic. "A few wives thought I was taking over their husband's jobs," says Giles. "Generally speaking, though, I didn't suffer any major backlash." “I knew I could do it,” she says. “I never made a bad loan and I was a darn good lender.” She was also aware of herself as a trailblazer. “I really felt I had to make good. All eyes were on me.” Giles and her husband have lived on Broadway Ave. since 1980. “We’ve had many offers to sell but why should we? We love our neighbours and our neighbourhood.” ■
By KEN RAMSTEAD
Leaside Life, May 2015
First woman bank manager in Canada
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Leaside first, the world next By PATRICIA PHENIX For an engineering and high-technology company that was started in the basement of their Donegall Dr. home in Leaside in 1998, Miriam and John Tuerk's Clear Blue Technologies has come a long way – and maybe right around the world. The National Research Council has announced a $92,000 investment in the company that produces offgrid power – like wifi telephones that need only one pole at the corner of each street or street lights without cabling. "Eventually, we can get rid of cabling altogether and use LED lights; we can also have solar panels in each home powered by a single pole on each street. This is reliable energy without having to connect it to a grid," says Miriam Tuerk, the company spokesperson. “Best of all, the systems can be monitored through the internet.” The grant was announced this spring by John Carmichael, Don Valley West MP, and Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology). Says Carmichael, "I'm personally inspired by the energy of the Tuerks and their vision for the future. By supporting them, the government is not only creating jobs but ensuring that it is on the cutting edge of solar and wind-based technologies." The funds will enable the company to install such off-the-grid projects like street lights, security cameras and mobile power systems for Tridel's Aqualina and Aquavista condominiums on Toronto's waterfront. "We live in a world where we cannot afford the more expensive sources of energy, but instead we need clean, green energy technologies," says Tuerk, citing Tridel as one of the first companies to put green roofs on their buildings. ■
Leaside Life Published once a month in Leaside,Toronto ON, by Ruth G. Publishing Inc., 66 Donegall Drive, Toronto ON, M4G 3G5 Circulation 8,500 to every door in M4G PUBLISHER: Lorna Krawchuk EDITORIAL: Harry Goldhar ADVERTISING: Ruth Goldhar GRAPHIC DESIGN: L. Choy
416‐486‐7387 leasidelife@gmail.com www.leasidelifenews.com
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From Leaside Life, July 2014
Where Oh Where has Bondy gone?
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By MITCH BONDY After 32 years of teaching (30 of them at Northlea School), I am now living through a year of transition to a new phase of life. My life is still focused on music—but in a different way. I have always loved adjudicating, but it was a particular joy this year to be asked to adjudicate at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) NonCompetitive Choral Music Festival. I had the easy job. I didn’t have to worry about marks, which freed me to focus completely on watching children who were totally absorbed in the process of making music. I will always be fascinated to watch the way teachers communicate with their singers, who then communicate to the audience. And it was the children who gave the most perceptive and accurate feedback about the performances. Some of them are very discriminating listeners for such a young age. Meanwhile, since the fall, I have been trying out life as a supply teacher, teaching music, French immersion, lots of kindergarten and even phys ed. It’s been very rewarding to connect with children from so many different schools, including Northlea! In early June, I will also return to conduct the choir at Music by the Lake, a TDSB music camp for students in grades 6, 7 and 8. After being on the other side of the baton, one of my greatest musical joys has been to join a choir myself. I was nervous in January, when I went for my audition with the Amadeus Choir, but somehow the
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conductor, Lydia Adams, let me in. Three weeks later I found myself at Roy Thomson Hall, singing Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with the Toronto Symphony. The Amadeus Choir performs several concerts each year, so there is a lot of new repertoire to learn. This spring, we performed a newly commissioned work by Winnipeg composer, Sid Robinovitch, and we’ll be recording it in June. I have also been singing with the choir at Fairlawn Avenue United Church under the direction of Eleanor Daley. Over the years, our Northlea Junior Choir had performed many of Eleanor’s songs for children, and now I have a chance to sing her beautiful adult repertoire. I have learned so much from both Eleanor and Lydia—they’re not only gifted musicians, but also wonderful people. Being retired has reminded me that making music is a lifelong journey, and it’s been interesting to find new ways to grow as a musician. These days, I’m more than happy to soak up the incredible talent that’s all around me—from the teachers and choristers at the music festival, to the choral singers and conductors at choir. Maybe someday I’ll even go back to the piano. ■
Northlea results By LORNA KRAWCHUK As teacher Alice Malach summed it up: “A very successful Kiwanis season”. If you were wondering what happened with choral singing at Northlea after Mitch Bondy retired, here is what happened at this year’s Kiwanis Music Festival. – Grade 3 choir received a mark of 89, gold standard, and a first place. – Grade 4 choir received a mark of 92 percent, platinum standard. – Grade 5/6 choir received a mark of 90 percent, gold standard on one appearance, and a mark of 91, gold standard and a first place standing earlier. The grade 3 choir is co-directed by teachers Christina Loucks and Alice Malach. The other choirs are directed by Alice Malach. The week following the Kiwanis Festival, the grade 1 and grade 2 choirs were in the Toronto District School Board Non-Competitive Choral Festival, where they had the treat of being adjudicated by Mitch Bondy and participating in workshops he led as well. ■
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LETTERS leasidelife@gmail.com
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Property tax became easier After 45 years in the same house in North Leaside, we have decided to sell and move on. Like many Leaside Lifers, we raised our family, tended our garden, and enjoyed the benefits of our community. In the process of trying to throw out stuff that we no longer need, we’ve been going through old files and thought younger residents might enjoy seeing some financial comparisons. Probably the figures are fairly typical. Our property value soared by 37 times, for an annualized increase of 8.4 percent, while our property taxes increased 9.6 times, or 5.4 percent annually. Note that property taxes decreased from 1.8 percent of the value of our home to 0.5 percent. During the same period, our combined income increased 10.2 times (5.4
‘Mr. Tory, get out of here’ A FUN PICTURE that my sister Susan Dutton took in a Leaside garage recently. Quite a surprise seeing her in the pram stored in the roof of a senior's garage. Enjoy or share in your paper. Becky White, Glenvale Blvd. –– Go ahead and post if you like kinda cute. She's in the dolly pram. Susan percent yearly) while our combined income tax went up 5.3 times (4 percent yearly). In other words, we originally paid 25 percent of our income in tax; now we pay only 13 percent. Isn’t it about time we collectively realized that we get what we pay for? Marilyn and Peter Broughton, Killdeer Cres.
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Leaside Life, May 2015
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Letters may be edited.
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Leaside Life, May 2015
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Nick said, “Would you like to hear one more?”, which brought more cheers, and then he said, “We are fortunate tonight to have with us a member of that 1966 orchestra, a native of Toronto, Bruce Philp.” So I came on stage, complete with follow spot, and the audience went nuts! We played the St. Louis Blues march, a drum feature. This was like right out of the movies, and I’ll never forget it. I've never had a response like that before. I don’t think anyone has ever rejoined an orchestra 49 years later! ____ Bruce Philp, of Bayview Ave., returned to Toronto after his Glenn Miller days, despite the gratification of being asked for his autograph and mobbed at performances, because he found life on the road, especially eating and sleeping on buses, taxing. "It's OK for young guys,” he says, “but the older you get the more you need a home base." He found lots of work here, including spending 12 years at the Royal York Hotel’s Imperial Room where he accompanied some of the world's greatest performers, including Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett. He sometimes had 300 gigs a year with the then-popular dance bands that travelled from hotel to hotel across the country. It was gratifying to be asked for his autograph and mobbed at performances, Philp says. "Those were thrilling days. I used to love the glamour of it all, particularly having to dress elegantly in a tie and suit. "I noticed, though, that as the years passed, dress codes became more and more relaxed and I couldn't help thinking that that took a lot of the magic out of the experience. Gradually ties were no longer required, nor jackets and pretty soon people showed up in just about anything.” Today, Philp, 75, looks back with fondness on his years as a drummer, "I miss the excitement, there's no question," he says. But not the travelling. And watching the Glenn Miller band pile into a bus bound for Mississauga at the end of their stint at Roy Thomson Hall, Philp felt happy that he merely needed to hop on the TTC to be home in minutes. – Patricia Phenix ■
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They went right back for more
J. D. Singh, Leeanne Koczka and Marian Misters. We give $100 to help pay for a meal for three at any restaurant in our area, the M4G postal code, which includes Leaside, Bennington Heights and the Leaside Business Park (known also as the industrial area). ■ how theirs turn out. Mt. Everest's naan bread was freshly made (we could actually hear it being prepared in the kitchen), sweet and fluffy. I could have snacked on that just on its own.” Singh also had another measure: “Two of the three of us are vegetarians and Northern Indian (Punjabi, my younger brother would correct
me) is my favourite cuisine. It was fun to learn of the differences between Punjabi and Nepalese approaches to similar dishes. “As the waiter told us, the Nepalese versions use less fat and butter than the Punjabi versions, but the Jhane Ko Dal (a lentil dish) tasted wonderfully rich and flavourful. I did not at all feel deprived.”
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Leaside Life, May 2015
How do you know if high praise of dining critics is for real? Well, would they go back, and if so how soon? No doubt about that with Mt. Everest Restaurant at 804 Eglinton, west of Laird. “To be honest, I returned a couple of nights later to try other dishes, so clearly the food was a success,” said Leeanne Koczka, Millwood Rd., J.D. Singh, co-owner of Sleuth of Baker Street on Millwood Rd., wrote, “As there are so many items on the menu that I wanted to try, two of us went back a few nights later… May they live long and prosper. I certainly plan on visiting regularly.” Marian Misters, also co-owner of Sleuth of Baker Street, discussing the Farsi Ko Tarkari zucchini main dish, wrote, “This is a dish I think will become one of my regulars here at Mt. Everest.” Koczka had another measure for success: “You cannot have Indian food and not have naan… and each Indian restaurant can be judged by
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It is, said Misters, “a mix of yellow lentils sautéed with cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, tomato and onions. It was bursting with flavour, light and soupy, perfect for pouring over the peas pulou rice (which was fluffy and lightly flavoured with saffron).” The diners started with three appetizers, mixed vegetable pakora, vegetable samosa and paneer tikka, which Misters described as homemade cottage cheese marinated with spices and roasted in a clay oven. “The pakora and samosa were sort of average but the paneer tikka, well, I could have eaten the whole plate (and it arrived on a sizzling platter). It was aromatic, full of flavour and delicious,” she said. Singh: “Where my initial reaction was to say that I prefer the Punjabi versions of all three, I wasn't quite so sure the next day when I was scarfing down the leftovers of these appetizers. The samosa tasted baked, not fried, and that’s probably to the good.” Koczka: “Paneer tikka and tandoori grilled veggies (ordered as a main dish) arrived sizzling and delicious. The portions were great for sharing. In fact, after all was said and done the food didn't leave me with the usual heavy feeling from a large meal. “Chicken tikka masala was smothered in a rich sauce that had a subtle hint of rose water, with large pieces of meat. The chicken was cooked in the tandoori oven so seemed a tad bit dry at first, but it was worth the added flavour to the dish. “I liked that you can control the level of spiciness to either heat things up or avoid tears during dinner. The menu is extensive and I was pleased to see at least 23 vegetarian options.” Misters: “The aloo gobhi (potatoes and cauliflower sautéed with Indian spices) was tasty, tender and not overcooked either. I loved it.” Not everything was perfect. Singh: “The only miss all evening, alas, was the aloo paratha. It should be light, crisp, delicate, not, chewy and stodgy as this was. Expecting anyone to make them as well as my mom does is asking for the impossible, but this also tasted like whole wheat flour had been used and that will certainly change the taste and texture. I'll give it another try the next time, just to be sure.” Koczka: “Fried appetizers were tasty but not a good choice if you're trying to cut grease from your diet. I found the veggie samosas to have a moderate pepper spice to it and of good size. “The veggie pakoras were shredded vegetables formed into roundish patties and reminded me of latkes.
Not a bad thing just not the individually battered vegetables I'm used to. Next time I'll just skip the apps and go straight to the mains.” But, she adds: “This eatery is a neighbourhood gem. I’m so glad to have found it. “Come summer I'd be curious to try the outdoor patio while enjoying some of the main dishes.”■
In brief Ten years of fundraising teaches you how to get better and better, as it has for Barry Samuel’s InsideOut’s Spring Into Action Walk & Run for diabetes. Since the Leaside event started it has raised a total of $60,000. This year, the 10th anniversary, with the promotional help of our local MPP, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, and Toronto Mayor John Tory, the goal is $75,000. The walk and run, plus activities for kids and adults, like music, a marketplace and photo booth, will be held Saturday, May 2, starting at 9 a.m., at Wilket Creek Park. http://www.insideoutstudio.ca/ events/spring-action-2015/ Fashionable used clothing in great condition will be available for sale at the annual charitable Boutique for Autism Speaks, at a new location in Bennington Heights, 6 Brendan Rd., May 1-3. The hats, purses, belts, clothes, shoes, boots, coats, jewellery and scarves will not have prices. All proceeds go to the Boutique and unsold items will be donated to Dress for Success, Red Door Women's Shelter and New Circles. lisaml@rogers.com or 647-6183341. About 60 angry neighbours of 27 Fleming Cres., the house that was partly built beyond permitted size, were adamant at an April meeting with the owner that it be torn down. There will be a committee of adjustment meeting soon where the owner is expected to try to prevent demolition. Leaside volunteers Anne Murray, Donlea Dr., involved with Northlea Community Child Care and Northlea School Blood Donor Clinic; Carol Burton Fripp, Southvale Dr., co-president of Leaside Property Owners’ Association; Joan Sparrey, Leacrest Rd., St. Anselm’s School, were honoured by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne March 31.
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The Leaside Sports Hall of Fame gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support in 2014 from:
Royal LePage, Bayview Branch
Lexus on the Park
and from the following community partners: Amsterdam Brewing Company Michael and Elizabeth Bliss GrillTime Hand and Stone
Leaside Tennis Club Longo’s Leaside McDowell’s Valu-Mart David Stickney Stanley Manufacturing
Telegramme Prints G.M. Thornton & Sons Van Nes Flowers Wisey’s Pies
! u o Y k n a h T
The 2015 Induction Ceremony and Community Reception will be held on Friday, November 20th To nominate an individual for induction into the Hall, or for recognition as Leaside’s Athlete of the Year visit:
www.LeasideSports.com for eligibility criteria and other details THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION FOR 2015 IS : FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH, 2015
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Prices still rising Leaside Life, May 2015
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By JETHRO SEYMOUR North Leaside bungalows are still setting records as we head into spring. A recent bungalow sale was for $1,328,000. It was situated on a 37.4-foot (frontage) lot and sold for 11.69 percent over asking. So far this year homes have been selling at an average 6 percent above asking. The highest in a multiple-offer situation was 31 percent above and the lowest was 5 percent below. With the historically low interest rates we are sure to see more multiple offer situations and strong demand for our Leaside properties, especially with a significant lack of inventory. In March only 12 homes changed hands in Leaside Bennington Heights, which was much fewer than the 21 homes that sold last March. See a 12-month look at the rolling averages at leasidelifenews.com. __ Jethro Seymour is a broker at Johnston & Daniel. All figures are from the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service. ■
FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING “The art of learning and loving it!” JUNIOR AND SENIOR KINDERGARTEN AT MRS. PARKʼS SCHOOL At our school you will find: ■ Small class size (max 12) taught by B. Ed, Reading Recovery teacher plus an Early Childhood educator ■ Half day program – extended day available ■ Focus on communication, language, literacy - phonological awareness and phonics, letter recognition, social skills, writing and knowledge of print Our school provides a comprehensive program following the Early Learning for Every Child pedagogy with individual attention to each child’s learning style. Call to arrange a meeting with our teacher to discuss your child’s education 416-424-2135 or email mrs-parksschool@sympatico.ca PRE-SCHOOL AND TODDLER PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
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LEASIDE STOCK INDEX Leaside Life, May 2015
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Happy
Mother’s Mo ther’s D Day! ay!
Kathleen Wynne, MPP Don Valley West
795 Eglinton Ave East, Unit 101 TToronto, ooronto, ON M4G 4E4 416.425.6777 kathleenwynne.onmpp.ca
We’re in good shape, up 6.9% By WILL ASHWORTH A lot’s happened since the last Leaside Stock Index report in the March issue of the paper so let’s get you up to speed on all the developments. The LSI finished the first quarter of 2015 in pretty good shape, up 6.9 percent year-to-date including currency, up 2.4 percent without it. Year-to-date currency’s been a big part of the LSI’s performance. Generally, stocks were fairly sluggish in the first part of the year but since then have shaken off some of the rust with the index’s two benchmark ETFs — SPDR S&P 500 ETF and S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index Fund — up 3.5 percent (excluding currency) and 1.6 percent respectively in the two-month period of February and March. On the news front the biggest happening affecting the LSI is that PetSmart is no longer part of the portfolio. Its sale to BC Partners, a European private equity firm, was completed on March 11 at a price of $83 per share, providing the LSI with a total annualized return of 19.7 percent. The proceeds from the PetSmart sale must now be reinvested in another U.S.-listed stock that benefits from the Leaside community. One possibility is Whole Foods, who are scheduled to open a store at Bayview and Broadway later in 2015. For now the cash will remain on the sidelines. Feel free to email the editor with any suggestions. leasidelifenews@gmail.com Three stocks have delivered double-digit returns so far in 2015: Dollarama up 19.4 percent; Starbucks up 15.4 percent and Dunkin’ Brands (Baskin Robbins) up 11 percent. It seems you can’t go wrong with coffee and discount merchandise. Speaking of Starbucks, it announced in March that it was splitting its stock two-for-one on April 8, meaning the LSI will now own twice as many shares in the coffee chain. The fourth-best performing stock year-to-date is a rather controversial one. In January RioCan announced it was redeveloping
Sunnybrook Plaza. Despite some local opposition the news seems to have helped its stock, which is up almost 10 percent year-to-date. Other than Dollarama no Canadian stock has done better in 2015. What’s weighing down the LSI? When it comes to Canadian stocks nothing stands out as a real dog with the two worst performers being banks. TD and Bank of Nova Scotia down 2.4 percent and 4.3 percent respectively year-to-date. Unless things change with the Canadian economy you can expect these two stocks to remain in the doldrums. Otherwise things are looking good on the Canadian side of the equation. The biggest disappointment from American stocks is Vitamin Shoppe (owners of Vitapath in Leaside Village), down 15.2 percent year-to-date and 28 percent since the LSI’s inception in February 2014. Recent reports say the company might sell some weight-loss products that contain a substance similar to amphetamines. Continue to expect a bumpy ride on its stock. Down one stock with the loss of PetSmart, the U.S. portion of the portfolio isn’t going to be nearly as productive in the second quarter as it’s been in the past year. ■ Funds graph at leasidelifenews.com
FREE BEER for a year Beer, music, smoked meats, and an auction for free beer for a year – sound like fun? It’s the Leaside Smokedown at Amsterdam Brewery on Escandar Dr. on Thursday, May 28. It’s a fundraiser for Lake Scugog camp, designed to help children affected by poverty and other barriers. Grilltime owner Andy Elder will be using a smoker trailer owned by Councillor Jon Burnside. The auction for the free beer by Amsterdam includes one day as a brewmaster. $75 per person. ■
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Big plans for the old Durant site The Durant Motors office building on Laird Dr., a listed heritage building, is proposed to be partially demolished and redeveloped as a seven-storey condominium with 109 units, linked to an eight-storey rental retirement home with 175 units next door. The two-storey brick and stone building, which was originally constructed as the administration building for Durant Motor Company in 1928, represents the one remaining vestige of the manufacture of Durant motor cars in Canada. The factory, established in 1921 in a redundant munitions factory, was located across the street on a site now redeveloped as the SmartCentre shopping centre. By 1929 Durant had become Canada’s third largest domestic producer of automobiles. The developer’s proposal is to retain only the front facade of the building and part of the north and south sides. The additional storeys would be set back but, as indicated in the image above, would dwarf and over-power the heritage building. As well, the distinctiveness of the Durant Motors building in its setting is radically diminished by the blending of the two buildings. The unacceptably low level of heritage conservation is part of the reason why the local residents and the Leaside Property Owners’ Association are vigorously opposed to the proposed development. There are also several others: the development represents massive over-development of the site, and poor urban design; the proposed buildings are monolithic in the context of the existing mixed format commercial on Laird; and there is single detached housing elsewhere on the block. The
Geoff Kettel
Saving old Leaside
ROGER STEER
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Old Durant at All Canadian Self-Storage. massing height and length of the project would create unacceptable shadowing and loss of privacy for the neighbouring residents. Unlike the building’s new “storeys,” the Durant Motors “story” is distinct. Durant Motors of Canada was founded in 1921 as the Canadian
The old Durant factory.
subsidiary of the American company, Durant Motors Incorporated. Durant Motors acquired the former site of the Leaside Munitions Company on Laird where it expanded the property to include 20 acres of land with 11 buildings. An impressive office building was completed on the west side of Laird, opposite the plant, in 1928. Two years later, the American parent company faced financial failure and passed control of the venture to its Canadian branch. In 1931, the Durant Motor Company was taken over by Dominion Motors Limited, a new enterprise headed by Durant’s Canadian president, and based in Leaside. With the impact of the Great Depression, Dominion Motors closed in 1935. The Durant Motors Office Building was subsequently acquired by the Imperial Oil Company for its Ontario sales division. In the late 1960s, the Metropolitan Separate School DURANT, Page 18
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John Naulls finds site of first home According to Jane Pitfield's book, Leaside, the first settler, John Lea Senior, built the first brick house in York County here in 1829. John Naulls, a local historian, used his skills as a cartographer to locate the position of the Lea family farm building, for Pitfield's book back in 1999. By using old maps and aerial photos the site has recently been verified again as being at Rosedale Landscaping on Canvarco Rd. Five other barns and sheds were just to the north ending at a small CNR rail building on Esandar Dr. Could this be an archeological site? Pitfield's book states that the house burned down in 1912. The whole site has not been built on so the house basement might remain.■
SITE of Leaside’s first brick house
Horse’s head wins What do a horse’s head, ivy leaves and flowers have in common? They were all part of the Leaside Garden Society’s winning entry, Horsepower, at Canada Blooms this past March in the Open Design category. The entry had to be “suitable for a display beside a horse jump”. The project took a couple of months of planning by club members Rick Hutchins, Heather Grey, Margaret Rouseau and Karen Keay. One problem was where to put the horse’s head. “The exhibit was put together in one team member’s kitchen,” with a big problem being where to put the horse’s head, said one of the volunteers. ■
JON BURNSIDE COUNCILLOR ward26.ca 416.392.0215 councillor_burnside@toronto.ca
Durant
From Page 16
Board occupied the building with a long term lease, and in recent years it has housed a number of small business and politicians including former MP John Godfrey and former Councillor Jane Pitfield. So what can you the devoted readers of Leaside Life do about this? The planning process has not finished, in fact it may have just begun. At the community public meeting held in February to consider the public’s comments there was not one voice in support. City Planning invites comments on the plans and you can contact Guy Matthew at 416-395-7102 or gmatthe2@toronto.ca. The planning application, together with the applicant’s plans and reports submitted, can all be viewed at the city web site at http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=df52ebd6a5 b3b410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=490452cc66061410Vg nVCM10000071d60f89RCRD And a final point. There is still at least one Durant car in Leaside. All Canadian Self-Storage owner Hal Spradling has one sitting at his business at 1 Laird. ■
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Finding winter beer bottles FREE LISTING SERVICE HAVE A LOCAL EVENT TO PROMOTE? SEND US THE DATE, TIME, LOCATION AND EVENT NAME
LEASIDE LIBRARY, 165 McRae, 416-396-3835 ADULT and TEEN PROGRAMMING: – Leaside Needleworx Group, your own projects or start something new. Limited supplies/instruction available for beginners. No registration required. Recurring Mondays, 6:30-8:15 p.m., May 4-25. Recurring Fridays 10-11:45 a.m. May 1-29. – De-stress and Engage for Healthy Cognitive Aging, Dr. Alexandra J. Fiocco, assistant professor psychology, Ryerson University and the Stress and Health Aging Research Lab. No registration required. Wednesday, May 6, 7-8 p.m. – Spring Book Sale, funds support Toronto Public Library literacy programs. Saturday, May 9, 11 a.m.3 p.m. – Create your own card workshop to celebrate Mother's Day. Thursday, May 7, 4:30-6:30 p.m. – Getting To Know Your Galactic Neighbourhood, Paola Rodriguez Hidalgo, research associate York University, explores the local solar system to distant galaxies and how we know about our position in the universe. No registration required. Wednesday, May 20, 7-8 p.m. – Teen Movie Night, Perks of Being a Wall Flower,Everybody welcome. Thursday, May 21, 4:306:30 p.m. – Youth Advisory Group Meeting, volunteer for community hours. Ask staff for an application form. Wednesday, May 27, 4-6 p.m. CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING: – Ready for Reading Family Time (19 months-5 years). Stories, songs and rhymes for children with their parents or caregivers. No registration required. 9:30-10 a.m. & 10:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20. – Ready for Reading Baby Time (birth-18 months). Bouncing and tickling rhymes, songs and stories for babies with their parents or caregivers. Drop in. 9:3010 a.m. & 10:30-11 a.m. Thursdays, May 7, 14, 21. OUTSIDE GROUPS AT LEASIDE LIBRARY: – Leaside Garden Society, Taming Wildflowers with Miriam Goldberger, Thursday, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14. – Heritage Ontario, with Barry Penhale and special guests. 2 p.m.-4 p.m. recurring ____ Tuesdays, May 5-19. Plant Sale, Leaside Garden Society, mostly perennials and Mother’s Day baskets. Trace Manes Park, Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m.-noon. Spring plant sale, Women's Network, St.Anselm's Church, May 24. Mayfair, Bessborough Elementary School, Saturday, May 23, 11-3 p.m. Spring Awesome Sale, Leaside United Church, Friday, May 8, 3-7 p.m, and Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m.-noon, 822 Millwood Rd. Spring Fling, St. Anselm Parish, 1 MacNaughton Rd., Sunday, May 24, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Baking, plant sale, raffles and external craft vendors. Yard Sale, Northlea United Church. Books, baked goods, etc. Saturday, May 23, 9 a.m.-noon. 125 Brentcliffe Rd. www.northleaunted.ca Spring into Summer art show and sale, with paintings from several Leaside members, Don Valley Art Club, May 27-June 7, Todmorden Mills, Pottery Rd., weekends noon-5 p.m., weekdays noon-4 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Northlea on Broadway, the choir of Northlea United Church presents Broadway music, Saturday, May 10, 7 p.m. $10 per person at the door. Youth 16 and under free. 416-425-5252. www.northleaunited.ca
At the end of March, with the much dreaded winter litter peeking out from melting snow banks, I donned rubber boots and gloves for my first spring clean-up of Trace Manes Park. I filled three grocery bags with soggy stuff while dodging numerous mounds of doggy doo. Feeling frustrated and disgusted with the state of the park, I contacted library and park staff, and Councillor Jon Burnside’s office. Lynda Buch, branch head of our Leaside Library, promised to continue the three times a week litter abatement program on their grounds that started in 2014. “I want to assure you that this has continued during the winter and will be done throughout 2015,” she writes. Asked about the beer bottles found on weekends at the south side door, she said, “We will check the library stairwell for evidence of weekend partying on Saturdays after opening. However, as the library is not open on Sunday, we are unable to do so at that time. Doug Jones, the city supervisor for Trace Manes Park, is also pitching in. Asked if wading pool attendants could extend their responsibility to the whole of the children’s park area, he promised to “ask the recreation and facility supervisors if the pool staff would do a quick walk about of the area and litter pick.” To make sure the sports groups that use the park continue to clean up after themselves, he wrote, “I will be meeting with the sports groups and permit holders for the upcoming season and will remind them of their responsibilities regarding litter. Speaking with Councillor Burn-
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Cheryl Vanderburg
Leaside Litterati side, a dog owner himself, he suggested that he visit the park and hand out letters to dog owners, in addition to investigating the installation of pet waste stations. The Leaside Litterati is making strides, so why not join and reap the rewards? High school students can earn up to 40 hours of community service. Personal fitness levels can be improved, including increased lung capacity, bone density, flexibility and range of motion in knees, hips, wrists and fingers. You may meet new neighbours or find a quarter or two. Best of all you will feel proud of a clean neighbourhood. Many thanks to city staff, our new councillor and the other kindred spirits who work tirelessly in their own neighbourhoods to keep Leaside litter free. ___ I found my first discarded e-cigarette in Trace Manes Park recently. I applaud the city for making smoking illegal within 10 meters of a city building. However this has caused the removal of the butt disposal containers, which in turn has caused a plethora of butts littered outside the 10-meter perimeter of the entrance to the Trace Manes Community Centre. Could a new receptacle with a butt disposal be placed there? ■
Free tour of our landscape architecture The Cultural Landscape Foundation, a Washington, D.C. based not-forprofit organization that raises public visibility of landscape architecture, has chosen Leaside for a walking tour on Sunday, May 24 as part of its Second Wave of Modernism III: Leading with Landscape conference. Leaside was chosen because it was recognized as having a “notable designed landscape,” from the Colonial survey grid and the “orphan” houses of early settlers (John Lea Jr., James Lea, Thomas Elgie), now misplaced in relation to today’s street pattern. Leaside is believed to be the first new town in Ontario designed on garden city principles with gently curving and diagonal streets with a rhythmic consistency of uniform setbacks and Modern Classicism style of architecture. The free walking tour starts at 4 p.m. from EPI Bakery at Millwood and Bayview. ■
Leaside Life, May 2015
Deadline for June, May 10
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Going to bed with North Toronto Post Leaside Life, May 2015
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20 Welcome home Leaside Life. We hope you enjoyed your March break, somewhere in the south. We missed you. Leaside has survived without you, though not without difficulty. In the month you did not publish no one knew what was really happening around here. It may be that businesses on Bayview disappeared without a peep, developers snuck hideous new projects through the OMB, traffic got even worse, and church attendance continued to fall. Now that you're back to keep an eye on things, all will be reversed. You left Leaside for your holiday, by the way, just as the weather was beginning to improve. After the cold of January and February we had a fairly pleasant March, and April isn't cruel at all. In any case, did you really have to go? The Canadian tradition of migrating south in the winter dates from olden days of ice in the chamber pots before someone lit the wood
Michael Bliss
Living in Leaside stove on frosty mornings. I'll bet you have central heating in your million dollar bungalows, and despite all your complaints you didn't feel cold at all this winter. It was just some primordial instinct that nagged you to fly away. And I'll bet you're already planning to flee north from the sweltering heat of summer. Only a few weeks, isn't it, until you open up the cottage; and what will we do for community reading on steamy nights in July and August? It just isn't the same here when there's only the North Toronto Post to go to bed with. We've invented air conditioning, you know, and Leaside is actually just as pleasant a place in the summer as it is in winter. There's really no need
to get out of town any more in either season. So how about reconsidering this restless, atavistic wandering, and planning to stay home for a year or two? What does it say about Leaside (and all the rest of north Toronto) when everyone goes away for as long as they can afford to twice every year? Of course the neighbourhood is always very peaceful when all of you are gone trying to have a good time somewhere else. Some say that's when Leaside is at its very best when it has the least number of Leasiders. At least there's lots of parking when the children and grandchildren migrate the other way round, when they come home to renew their roots in this lovely, quiet community. Full disclosure: the Bliss house has occasionally been empty during winter and summer breaks, but we were probably away on business (I was once asked to write about skiing at Whistler), and no one missed us. â–
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Alan Redway Former East York mayor and federal cabinet minister
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Did you know that during the Great Depression of the 1930s the Town of Leaside was bankrupt? I didn’t know that until I wrote my book, Governing Toronto: Bringing back the city that worked. What I did know, however, was that during and after World War II Leaside residents enjoyed the lowest property taxes in Metropolitan Toronto because at that time over 50 percent of Leaside’s total property assessment was industrial. In his letter to residents accompanying their 1962 tax bill, then Leaside Mayor Lloyd Dickenson wrote: “I hope you will be pleased with the exceptionally low 1962 tax rate… For local requirements the rate is almost exactly the same as last year. The increase is about 25 cents for the average homeowner. “This local levy covers all local services such as fire protection, parks, road and sidewalk maintenance, recreation facilities, library, refuse collection, sewer and water distribution and general administration, including the salaries of all town officers and employees.” Referring to the Metropolitan Toronto tax levy which together with a Board of Education levy made up the two other parts of the three-part Leaside tax bill, he went on to write: “Although this metropolitan system of cost-sharing is particularly costly to Leaside, it does have the advantage that we retain our autonomy. We are able to keep down the expense of local government, yet provide the best possible local services.” In 1954 the provincial government of Premier Leslie Frost had created a federation of 13 Toronto and area municipalities including the Town of Leaside , called The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto. In 1966, however, the Goldenberg Royal Commission appointed by the provincial government of Premier John Robarts recommended that the 13 Metro separate municipalities be merged into only four. Before a final decision was made,
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Hollis Beckett, the Progressive Conservative MPP for our riding of York East, told a packed meeting at Leaside High School that he opposed total amalgamation as well as Goldenberg’s four-city plan but recommended a six borough plan in which Leaside would amalgamate with the Township of East York. He pointed out that under the Goldenberg plan Leaside would become part of the city of Toronto and thus no longer have any direct representation on Metro Council. The 500 Leasiders at that meeting almost ran Mr. Beckett out of the auditorium for even suggesting such a thing. Later in a letter to Leaside council, Mr. Beckett promised to do everything in his power to oppose any kind of amalgamation. But notwithstanding that letter the provincial government reduced the 13 municipalities to six rather than the four recommended by Goldenberg. The Liberal opposition at the time blamed Mr. Beckett for that decision and former Toronto mayor David Crombie agreed, saying that in order not to show a preference for East York and Leaside the province created six rather than only five boroughs by also amalgamating the Town of Weston with the Township of York. Thus from 1967 to total amalgamation in 1998 the Town of Leaside and the Township of East York were amalgamated to form the Borough of East York. Before this 1967 amalgamation Leasiders were directly represented by a mayor and six councillors. After this amalgamation, as Hollis Beckett’s plan provided, Leaside continued to have exclusive direct representation from two councillors on a borough council composed of a mayor and eight councillors. Today after total amalgamation, Leasiders no longer have exclusive direct representation on Toronto city council since our councillor, one of the 44 Toronto councillors, is there to represent the interests of Flemingdon Park and Wynford Heights as well as those of Leaside. If you are interested in learning more of the story of how we have come to be governed as we are today, and how that can be improved, please read my book, Governing Toronto: Bringing back the city that worked. But please don’t jump to any conclusions until you have read it. I shall be signing copies of my book, at the Leaside Library, on Wednesday, May 13 from 6 to 8 pm. Hope to see you there. ■
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Jon Burnside Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West
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Thinking behind RioCan’s plans On April 28 (past Leaside Life’s deadline), the city planning department was to hold the mandatory community consultation for the proposed development at 660 Eglinton East (Sunnybrook Plaza). The objective of this consultation is for the community to view the proposal and provide feedback to the developer (RioCan), city planning and, of course, to me. In early February I held a meeting between RioCan and the residents of Craig Cres. and the immediate neighbours on Bessborough Dr., since they will be most impacted by this development. In March, RioCan presented their proposal at the Leaside Property Owners’ Association (LPOA) monthly meeting. It is important to reiterate that I have already expressed to RioCan that I am firmly against their current proposal. As background, Toronto’s Official Plan has identified Eglinton for "intensification," particularly the stretch containing the LRT line. I have always maintained that while the LRT is much needed and will be beneficial to the city as a whole, it brings with it consequences for Leaside, namely further development. The Eglinton Connects study identifies most of the Leaside stretch of Eglinton as an area for “mid-rise development,� which means building heights of six to nine storeys. However, the intersection of Bayview and Eglinton was subject to a specific “focus study� which envisioned the area as “predominantly mid-rise�. The unfortunate use of the singular word “predominantly� has added an unknown element into the mix. RioCan is using the vague terminology as justification to propose “tall� buildings on their site. Their main argument is that development on the surrounding corners would be mid-rise in form. Thus this intersection would remain “predominately mid-rise�. However, it is my understanding that the city’s intent was for potentially taller buildings on the north-west corner of the intersection (Metro grocery store) which is a much larger site with fewer residential neighbours. It appears that RioCan is trying to use this
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Baghai From Page 1
number of questions, but await a formal proposal and application. Check our web site lpoa.ca for (pardon the expression) developments. ___ Roughly 200 Leaside residents attended a recent public consultation meeting at the Leaside Memorial Gardens by the city’s planning department. Costco has made an application to rezone a strip of what is now city-owned green space, within the Hydro corridor on Thorncliffe Park Dr., on the north side of Overlea Blvd. This land would provide overflow parking for its proposed giant store, gas bar and parking lot at 42-46 Overlea. The Costco store itself has not yet been recommended by city staff, nor
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Leaside Life, May 2015
vague “predominantly mid-rise” guideline to their advantage by proposing an eight-storey midrise building with two tall buildings on top. While most of us focus on building heights, shadowing on neighbouring properties and increased traffic, an issue that is not currently a criterion, but I believe should be, is the impact these forms of development have on local schools. What makes Leaside such a strong and desirable community is the people and the strong ties amongst us. Many of these relationships are centred around our kids and through our local schools. Schools in Leaside are all at capacity and the current Toronto District School Board policy is to bus new students to schools outside the area. My concern if this is done on a large scale (which we can surely expect with all the proposed condo developments), is that the “close knit” community we know and cherish is at risk as more and more residents may not have the same connection to the rest of the community. I have been told by our planning department that without the ability to direct how school boards manage their enrolment and school boundaries, the city cannot use capacity as a criterion to assess development proposals. While this is disappointing, I will keep pushing both entities to work more closely in this regard. I was hoping for a large community turnout on April 28. I want RioCan to get the message loud and clear: their proposal is too large, too high, and needs to respect the essence of the community of which they want to be a part. ■
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approved by North York Community Council, and there are a lot of good reasons why it should not be. Many Leasiders asked why the rezoning-for-parking-space should even be considered, in the absence of an official decision on the Costco store. This was “putting the cart before the horse”. Wouldn’t rezoning that strip of land actually aid and encourage Costco, and other subsequent big box developers, to build a wall of big box retail all along Overlea? A terminal case of “retail contagion” would be the result, radically affecting the Thorncliffe neighbourhood, and Leaside too, creating huge increases in retail-driven flow-through traffic which would dwarf the traffic problems we already have. There was also considerable criticism about paving over already scarce green space in Thorncliffe, and about converting public land into private use. The LPOA believes that the city should hold another official public meeting to examine the entire Costco application in more detail, before the matter goes to council for a decision, and before wrong – and irreversible – decisions are made. ___ The RioCan redevelopment proposal for Sunnybrook Plaza, about which I wrote in my previous column, is ongoing. The RioCan team made a presentation at the March LPOA board meeting, which was also attended by a number of Leasiders who live next to the site. They, and board members, raised many questions. The proposed height of the two condo towers (19 and 13 storeys) came in for a lot of criticism. Chief among them was the sheer massiveness of the design. This is an intersection which should be mid-rise, not high rise, according to the Eglinton Connects plans, which we believe should be respected. Other concerns include the impact of shadowing on, and loss of privacy for, adjacent homes to the north and east; the lack of outdoor public amenity space on the site; the insufficient assessment of the traffic volumes and directions of flow generated by such a development; and a complete lack of room in neighbourhood schools, which are already at or over capacity. The city is required to hold an official public meeting in the community on this application, and Councillor Burnside has already met with a number of nearby residents. When there is any news about meetings, or changes to the proposal, LPOA will put the information onto our web site.■
LeasideLife Issue 38 draft 2_LeasideLifev1 15-04-20 11:06 PM Page 29
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LeasideLife Issue 38 draft 2_LeasideLifev1 15-04-20 11:06 PM Page 30
Growing help for refugees from Leaside churches Leaside Life, May 2015
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30 In 1979 our family was part of a small group sponsoring a 20-yearold Vietnamese man, one of the thousands of Boat People fleeing Vietnam. All these years later, our young man is still employed at the same bank where we first found work for him. He is married, owns a house and has two adult sons, one of whom has graduated from Laurier University in commerce and is now a CPA, the younger one in third year bioscience at Western University. Their success story is what led me to this story. The federal government has a Group of Five Sponsorship, where a small group can take on the same responsibilities to sponsor an individual or a group, without the need for formal incorporation. www.cic.gc.ca/ english/refugees/sponsor/groups.asp The ongoing champion of a local sponsoring group has to be Leaside United Church at Millwood and McRae. Starting in 1979, with a family of five from Vietnam, their latest is a family of four from Iraq, with another 11 families in between, in addition to three families who were not
paperwork in order for a SIN number and an OHIP card, but also to explore the city, go on bicycle rides, host him for regular dinners as well as special occasions like Thanksgiving. They found him housing and helped with his job-search. In all, more than 80 members of the parish were providing practical help. The pastor of St. Anselm’s Church at MacNaughton and Millwood, Msgr. Marco Laurencic, intends that his parish will be involved in refugee sponsorship a bit later this year. They have already held a meeting with the Roman Catholic Office of Refugees, Archdiocese of Toronto (ORAT) to get information and advice on how to proceed. At that meeting there were representatives from the Mandaean and Yezidi communities already in Toronto telling of the plight of their fellows still in the Middle East, waiting for sponsorship. St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church on Bayview is near the beginning of the process, investigating whether to proceed with the help of the Anglican United Refugee Alliance (AURA). ■
Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life
sponsored refugees but received a lot of help from the LUC congregation. Renee MacCarthy, of Bayview Ave., a parishioner at St. Monica’s Church on Broadway Ave., went to a parish information meeting about refugee sponsorship two summers ago, firmly intending to listen, but not get involved. That changed when she was at the meeting, especially when she recalled that her father, who had recently died, had been involved with the sponsorship of Vietnamese refugees in the late 1970s. She ended up being the person who stands up at the end of a church service to ask for donations towards the sponsorship. The first time she made her plea, the collection was $3,500! They needed a total of $12,000. It took nearly a year to raise the money, and get others involved. When their young man arrived in Canada, they were ready to get his
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Insurance products are offered through RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc., a subsidiary of RBC Dominion Securities Inc. RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc. is licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec. ®Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. RBC Wealth Management is a registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ©Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. 15_90415_KQD_001
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6.1% INTEREST EQUIVALENT INCOME
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Leaside Life, May 2015
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