LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:08 PM Page 1
No. 43 • November 2015
Leaside Life
Athlete of the Year, Page 3
DANIEL GIRARD
leasidelifenews.com
ICE CHIPS OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Karen Dewey-Decker’s three daughters, from left, Jaclyn, 10, Jordan, 14, and Megan, 12, play in a much larger Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association than their mom did some 25 years ago.
The biggest home for girls hockey in Ontario By DANIEL GIRARD Karen Dewey-Decker began her minor hockey career in the late 1980s wearing borrowed equipment. Few of her female high school friends played the game. She was familiar with the ice from weekly public skating with their family, but that was always in figure skates. “It wasn’t that we were deprived or that anyone was keeping it from us,” says Dewey-Decker, 45, who played two seasons of house league with the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association (TLGHA) before she graduated from high school. “It’s just that at that time girls weren’t really part of the conversation about playing the game.” A quarter-century later, girl talk is hockey talk around Dewey-Decker’s house. With three daughters – Jaclyn, 10, Megan, 12, and Jordan, 14, – playing HOCKEY, Page 4
How we voted Leaside voters mirrored the shift to the Liberals that saw Rob Oliphant elected in Don Valley West on Oct. 19 as part of a Liberal majority government. Liberal support was highest in South Leaside with 57 percent, 54.6 percent in North Leaside and 50.7 percent in Bennington Heights. For the respective areas Conservative percentages were 36.4, 38.7 and 43.8. The overall vote for Leaside plus Bennington Heights was 55.8 percent Liberal and 37.6 Conservative. The NDP got 4.2 percent in that area. In the overall Don Valley West riding the percentages were Liberal 53.8, Conservative 37.6 and NDP 6. In Bennington Heights almost 87 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot, while just under 81 percent did in South Leaside and just under 77 percent in North Leaside. Voter turnout in Leaside was again higher than in surrounding neighbourhoods. Leaside has consistently had among the highest voter turnouts in Ontario, in all municipal, provincial and federal elections over the past decade. ■
LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:08 PM Page 2
Leaside Life, November 2015
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A summer’s worth of litter Here is what I’ve been up to this summer: I’ve been holding park litterers accountable for cleaning up after themselves and holding non-residential property owners accountable for cleaning up the litter on their property. Trace Manes has never looked better! I hounded Leaside Atom Baseball about the deplorable state of the dugouts and bleachers after baseball games and they now leave the sports field spotless or will come by when notified to clean up. Leaside Tennis Club has taken responsibility for its area and has garbage cans on the courts and a daily de-litter. PedalHeads Bicycle Camp was the biggest offender and they too saw the mess they had been leaving and changed their ways. This fall I contacted Leaside United Church about the litter that builds up in their hedge fence and SmartCentres about the property along Wicksteed. They have all responded kindly and put litter abatement programs in place with their maintenance staff.
Cheryl Vanderburg
Leaside Litterati The only one that seems unsolvable is Talbot Park because there is no one to hold accountable: random teens, and the city, which is the property owner, does not have an effective year-round litter abatement program. I’ve sent a letter to Councillor Jon Burnside but don’t have much faith that anything will change. Thank goodness for people like Jeff Walker. I'd be happy to tackle other litter issues in the neighbourhood if anyone has any “ litter bugs”. Still waiting for garbage cans outside the entrances at Leaside Gardens. The grounds are looking much better. And I continue to pick up random litter when out walking with my husband, much to his chagrin. ■
LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 3
LEASIDE 2015 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 3
Sixteen-year-old Reid Humphrey, named Leaside’s Athlete of the Year for 2015, is described by his coach, Ray White: “In my GTHL coaching career spanning 20 years I have never witnessed a player with a better hockey IQ than Reid.” Reid was the leading scorer in the Leaside Hockey Association for each of the past two seasons. He garnered 75 points in 36 games and was also named team MVP this past season. It was an exceptional end to a 10-year career as a Leaside Flame in the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League) AA Division. Capping off his season, Reid was named to the varsity team at Upper Canada College. Reid doesn’t just play hockey. “I’ve played soccer since I was six for the Leaside Tigers, and I played baseball at Trace Manes Park [for the Leaside Atom Baseball League], and I like basketball too,” he says. And he’s attended Camp Olympia,
RAY WHITE
By ALLAN WILLIAMS
a sports and leadership training camp in Huntsville, where he’s had the opportunity to train for and compete in a triathlon, among other activities. Reid’s parents, Mark Humphrey and Stephanie Rallis of Annesley Ave. in North Leaside, recall the first time
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Reid was on the ice at Leaside Arena. “He was falling down a lot and I wondered if he’d be frustrated,” says Rallis, “but afterwards I asked him how it was and he said, ‘I loved it!’” “I knew then that he’d do just fine,” says Humphrey. They registered him in the LHA shortly afterwards. “Not only did he develop as a player but he’s had great coaching. He got to play with great boys – they’ve bonded and some of his best friends are his teammates,” Humphrey notes, “and Stephanie and I have also made life-long friends from among the parents of his teammates.” All three emphasise the high quality of the coaching Reid has received. Rob Regan was the head coach of Reid’s team for six years, and Ray White for the last two seasons. “Rob’s son Trevor [Regan] was assistant coach to his dad and, even REID, Page 10
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LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 4
Hockey From Page 1
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Leaside Life, November 2015
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for TLGHA Leaside Wildcats rep teams and Dewey-Decker and her husband, Tim Decker, sharing coaching and trainer duties on two of those squads, the rink is a second home. Not unusual in Leaside. The TLGHA, established in 1974 with two house league teams – the Lancerettes and Blazerettes – has become the largest female hockey association in Ontario with nearly 1,500 players this season. “We’re probably the largest in Canada too,” says Jennifer Smith, president of the TLGHA, “though I can’t be certain of that.” Although based in Leaside the TLGHA draws girls from across Toronto. Its long history, solid reputation and convenient location in affluent, central Toronto help explain the big numbers. The programs range from Learnto-Play for girls three and four, launched in 2012, to an adult women’s league. There are 23 Wildcats rep teams
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LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 5
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Leaside Life, November 2015
this season, including in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League that last year saw two players earn scholarships to play south of the border in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and another five head to Ontario university programs. “It’s just so much fun,” says Dewey-Decker, who in addition to her involvement with the Wildcats also founded and is the director of the Withrow Park Ball Hockey League’s Girls Division. “Guys have always known the fun they can have on the rink, so it’s not surprising girls feel exactly the same.” The Decker girls are part of a national trend. According to Hockey Canada, the game’s national governing body, the number of females registered in the sport across the country has increased more than tenfold from about 8,100 in 1990-91 – the season after Dewey-Decker stopped playing at Leaside – to nearly 87,000 in 2013-14. More than six times that number of boys and men play organized hockey across the country, says Hockey Canada. But while male participation levels have fluctuated somewhat according to demographics, costs, increased injury concerns and other factors, participation among females has gone continually upwards with double digit growth annually throughout the 1990s and pretty solid increases most years since. The inaugural International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship in 1990 – played in Ottawa and won by Canada over the United States – is credited by many with launching that upward trend. And the debut of the women’s sport at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan solidified it. “The trajectory of growth for girls and women’s hockey over that period was straight up, it was explosive,” says Smith. “It really changed everything.” “We welcome all comers,” Smith, 47, says of the TLGHA. “If you can stand up on your skates and move around a little bit, you’re welcome here. Our goal is to grow players’ love of the game.” Jordan Decker, who at age 14 is in her seventh year of hockey and has dreams of playing in the NHL, perhaps after earning a scholarship to an NCAA school, says “it just seems normal” that she will continue playing the game throughout her life. ■
LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 6
It’s time for another church miracle
Leaside Life, November 2015
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Leaside churches are once again banding together, with a few others outside Leaside, to produce the Little Miracle in Your Neighbourhood. In one day last year volunteers collected 16,000 items in a canned food drive. The churches are Leaside Presbyterian, Leaside United, Northlea United, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rosedale Presbyterian, Rosedale United, St. Anselm’s, St. Augustine and St. Cuthbert’s. They are looking for about 300 volunteers to deliver flyers on Saturday, Nov. 21 and then collect the food the next Saturday, Nov. 28. The food goes to Evangel Hall Mission, Toronto Christian Resource Centre, Flemingdon Park Food Bank and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. If you live in Bennington Heights you can get organized at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at St. Clair East and Clifton Rd. In Leaside the church to use is St. Cuthbert’s, at 1399 Bayview. â–
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LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 7
Trying to reconnect with Thorncliffe Park
Leaside Life Published once a month in Leaside,Toronto ON, by Ruth G. Publishing Inc., 66 Donegall Drive, Toronto ON, M4G 3G5 Circulation 9,000 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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Probably the largest company operating out of Leaside, he says, DH Corporation, at Brentcliffe and Eglinton, is a major sponsor. Members of Leaside United Church and the Leaside Rotary (which helped send 360 kids to a summer camp) are getting involved with efforts to help the 50,000 people who live in the two communities. More than 45 percent of those families live below the poverty line and have the largest percentage of children under 14 in any Toronto neighbourhood. Thorncliffe Park, he points out, has the only school in North America for kindergarten only with over 700 pupils. Their latest effort to get Leasiders involved is a gala dinner catered by celebrity chef Mark McEwan on Nov. 19, with Premier Kathleen Wynne in attendance, to celebrate TNO’s 30th anniversary at the new Ismaili Cultural Centre on Wynford Dr. ■www. thorncliffe.org ahussein@thorncliffe.org
Leaside Life, November 2015
Bill Pashby has been trying for years to reestablish the connection between Leaside and Thorncliffe Park, which was part of Leaside from the 1950s for many years. For seven year the Leaside resident has been chair of the board of the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, and before that was vicechair. His efforts to reconnect include Flemingdon Park. “It’s a gradual thing,� he says, and he’s started seeing good results in the last couple of years.
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LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 8
Leaside Home Sales Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015*
Leaside Life, November 2015
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Averages
Average Price % Change # Homes Sold $520,496 259 $606,151 232 14.13% $656,293 242 7.64% $694,794 267 5.54% $921,056 180 24.57% $774,045 246 -18.99% $902,476 210 14.23% $1,069,255 210 15.60% $1,219,063 184 12.29% $1,250,638 207 2.52% $1,343,591 235 6.92% $1,395,218 128 3.70% 8.01% 217
Source: Toronto MLS Sales data
From $520K to $1.4M in 10 years By JETHRO SEYMOUR
LEASIDE CUSTOM HOME BUILDER
It’s been mostly a long and happy ride for prices of homes in Leaside and Bennington Heights the last 10 years, with the average $520,496 in 2004 zooming up to $1,395,218 this year to date. That comes with an overall 10year average growth of 8.01 percent. The last three years have seen a slowing down of increases, with the 2013, 2014 and 2015 (to date) averages at 2.52, 6.92 and 3.72 respectively. There was only one bad year during the decade, with 2009 showing a decrease of 18.99 percent, but it came after a year with a 24.57 increase, and 2010 bounced back with 14.23 percent. The number of home sales has been generally decreasing. The last 12 months have shown a substantial drop from 229 to 171 (or -25.3 percent) homes, with prices up only slightly, by 1.6 percent. That would suggest that demand isn’t driving crazy prices. As of the middle of October there were 14 properties available, less than half at the same time last year. See the most recent street sales at leasidelifenews.com. __ Jethro Seymour is a broker at Johnston & Daniel. All figures are from the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service. ■
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To advertise in Leaside Life: 416-486-7387 | www.leasidelifenews.com We deliver to all homes, apartments and businesses in the M4G postal area.
LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 9
How would you solve North Leaside traffic?
MOBILE 4 416 16 27 275 5 5224 5224 MOBILE FFICE 416 416 4 443 43 03 0300 00 OOFFICE OM S ShereeCerqua hereeCerqua.C.COM
Jon Burnside Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West
that the inevitable development and intensification along Eglinton Ave. (due to the LRT) adds greater urgency in addressing it. Bluntly stated, we anticipate that new condominium owners on the periphery of the neighbourhood will not share the same concerns as residents in the interior. In fact, new residents on Eglinton Ave. will most likely use the side streets as a “cut through” themselves. One of the greatest challenges with any traffic calming initiative is that everyone feels the impact of excessive traffic differently. Each individual’s willingness and tolerance for measures that can affect their personal convenience or travel will vary. For instance, a resident on a
SHEREE SHE EREE CERQUA C CER CERQ ERQUA
busier street such as Broadway Ave. would probably be more inclined to support stronger traffic calming measures than someone on a less busy street. While there are many community consultations and feasibility studies to come, the committee and I have committed to two main principles: 1. We will not consider any solution which simply pushes traffic from one North Leaside street to another. 2. Any changes in North Leaside must be decided by a majority vote. If you haven’t received the survey yet and live in North Leaside please either call my office (416 392 0215) or fill out the survey online at http://tinyurl.com/northleasidesurvey before Nov. 30. I am excited by the enthusiasm of my committee members and thank them for all their time and effort. We all look forward to working with the community to find meaningful solutions. ■
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Leaside Life, November 2015
By now, most North Leaside residents should have received a traffic survey in their mailboxes. The purpose of the survey is to start the engagement process as well as to identify residents’ greatest concerns and their enthusiasm for changing the status quo. After studying past efforts in North Leaside and in other areas of the city, we concluded that the difference between success and failure was often directly related to the success or failure of the prior consultation process with the various affected groups who held differing opinions of the problem and the potential solutions. So this survey is the culmination of 10 months of work by my North Leaside traffic committee and is what I hope will be the beginning of meaningful measures to reduce the high volume of traffic in our neighbourhood. While the increasing amount of traffic in North Leaside has been an issue for more than 10 years, we feel
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LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 10
November will be a busy month at the OMB Leaside Life, November 2015
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By GEOFF KETTEL, LPOA Co-chair November has been re-named Movember by prostate cancer fighters, but for Leaside this November is OMBovember. Here are the scheduled hearings that involve Leaside properties. The second pre-hearing for 146150 Laird (the retirement home plus seniors’ condo on the site of the former Durant Motors office building) will be held Nov. 13. The applicant, VIVA Retirement Homes, appealed to the OMB before getting the city’s decision on their zoning application. The Leaside Property Owners’ Association will be making a decision on its status at the hearing, depending on whether the city includes LPOA and residents’ issues and concerns in its Issues List. There are several pre-hearings Nov. 23-24 related to appeals of Official Plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment changes brought forward by city planning (and approved by council in 2014) following completion of Eglinton Connects, the city’s land use plan for the Eglin-
ton corridor: 1.Appeal of an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) for a Special Policy Area for the Bayvew/Eglinton Focus Area/660 Eglinton East, on the north-east corner. This appeal by the property owner, RioCan, will likely get deferred to join up with its zoning by-law application for this property. 2. Appeal of an Official Plan Amendment for a Special Policy Area for the south side of Eglinton west of Hanna to the high school to allow for town houses. The LPOA has proposed changes to the city’s OPA to reduce the impact of townhouse development. 3. Appeal of a Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA) for (both sides of) Eglinton east from Sutherland to Laird to allow for mid-rise development as of right. Again the LPOA has proposed changes to the City’s ZBA to reduce the impact of mid-rise development, and to make a new zoning by-law application more likely, with its built-in requirement for public consultation. These pre-hearings are important to establish the issues, who has
Reid
legal status (“party”) and who’s a “participant”, and the procedures for the actual hearings to be held in early 2016. There are a couple of hearings in November of Committee of Adjustment decisions to refuse applications for minor variances. 317 Laird – the OMB hearing is on Nov. 3, and 228 Rumsey – the OMB hearing is on Nov. 24. Who can go to these hearings? Actually anyone can observe, but be warned, you may find it less exciting than a playoff game, and about as long. Nevertheless showing the board that there are interested residents is important to the proceedings. To be a participant you need to show that you have an interest in the issue by virtue of living nearby and being affected by the development. The hearings are generally held at 655 Bay St., 16th floor, but the two Committee of Adjustment appeals (317 Laird and 228 Rumsey) are being held at 425 Adelaide West. They always start at 10 a.m. ■
From Page 3
when Rob left, Trevor still coached with Ray,” says Reid. “He’d play road hockey with us too; he really taught me a lot!” After a two-year break, Rob Regan is again coaching Leaside’s AA 10-year-olds, and Reid is volunteering with him. “It is really nice to see Reid behind the bench coaching alongside Rob,” says his mother. “Things have come full circle.” Ray White has high praise for the young player. “I watched him countless times unselfishly pass the puck to a teammate so he could score when a goal on the play for Reid was also certain. “He’s developed poise and confidence to be utilized in any game situation, his play-making is a huge
asset on the power-play and his speed and hockey sense are invaluable on the penalty kill.” Reid attended Northlea Public School until grade six and since grade seven has been at Upper Canada College where he’s on the ice six days a week. “It’s tougher competition than Leaside was,” says Reid. As for what’s next, he says he wants to work hard to do well at UCC and then get into a good university to study business. “I’d like to play varsity but, even if I don’t make the team, I’ll keep playing hockey.” Reid will be recognised as Leaside’s Athlete of the Year at the third annual Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Leaside Arena on Friday, Nov. 20. ■
Brian McFarlane will be guest speaker Former Hockey Night in Canada host and Peter Puck creator Brian McFarlane will be the guest speaker at the third annual Leaside Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Leaside Arena Friday, Nov. 20. “I commend you for honouring people in your community who have contributed so much and have earned the recognition you now provide,” said SPEAKER, Page 11
LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 11
By MICHAEL PIERI Parents don’t typically take advice from kids. But 10 years ago this fall, that’s exactly what six parents did – and it has paid off handsomely ever since for all Leasiders. The once-quishy, muddy Bessborough school playing field – an essential part of childhood for many Leaside youngsters – is today a manicured field of artificial turf that gives children thousands of hours of healthful exercise and fun every year, regardless of weather. “It still brings a smile to my face when I see the field packed with kids playing sports or simply hanging out,” says Daryn Everett, a founding member of the parents’ committee. “Just last week I was driving with my daughter, and she said, ‘Hey dad, look at all those little ballers on the field’. I looked up and there had to be over 60 baseball players on the turf having fun!" The plan to rejuvenate the field began in late 2005. “For some 30 years the field had been a dust bowl when it was not raining, and a mud pit when it was raining,” recalled Jeff Hohner, another key committee member. When parents went into classrooms to get children’s wish-lists, they heard a torrent of ideas. “Too much mud. Not enough grass,” complained many children . Kindergarten boys and girls also
Speaker From Page 10
McFarlane of the upcoming event. “And I’m a huge fan of George Armstrong.” Armstrong is one of five who will be inducted into the hall that night (profiles were published in last month’s edition of Leaside Life). The evening will also include recognition of Leaside’s Athlete of the Year Reid Humphrey and a tribute to founding Sports Hall of Fame committee member David Stickney who died earlier this year. Tickets to the event may be purchased from any of Leaside’s sports organisations, or at the arena office or pro shop, or online at www.leasidesports.com. ■
asked for “monkey bars, a spider web, climbers, ropes, a tree-house, swings and more slides .” Grade 4/5 children wanted “a big field with lots of space” and a soccer field. Grade 7 youngsters asked for an open space for “field sports (and) hanging out.” Other parents were consulted, too. Their requests included “a baseball diamond, soccer, football posts (and) an even field with no holes or mud.” And better lighting near the school “to discourage teenagers drinking at night”. After raising $400,000 to finance the project – driven by the Bessborough Home and School Council – priorities were set, and work began. “It took five hard years of fund-raising in the community to raise $225,000, with the rest coming from the Toronto District School Board,” said Hohner. By 2010, drainage was fixed, artificial turf had been laid over the entire yard and a Toronto Urban Forestry design consultant had offered landscaping ideas to separate play areas for “big kids and little kids”, an idea that Grade 6 students had promoted. The artificial turf is still a great success today, and shows little signs of wear. It needs no mowing, watering, feeding or weed killers. The soft, springy surface protects boys and girls when they tumble. Sports boundary lines are indelible. Mud isn’t tracked into homes and children’s clothes are free of grass stains. Hay fever is a thing of the past for many and, remarkably, the almost-as-good-as-grass field is now usable all-year round, even after a heavy rain. “Usage of the field may have increased an amazing ten-fold,” said Hohner. All Leasiders are welcome to enjoy the artificial turf, with the exception of dogs, which can damage the grass-like material with natural “functions,” or by trying to dig holes. (Signs forbid dogs on the property). “It was a wonderful experience to be able to provide what is really a yearround field for the neighbourhood to enjoy,” said Hohner, adding, “We could not have picked a better group of individual for our committee. – which included Gail Castillo, Laurel Neal, Mike Sales and Dennis Warenycia. “The Bessborough field has changed the character of the neighbourhood. The schoolyard is now a meeting place for kids and families,” said Everett. ■
On Remembrance Day, let us hono honour the memory of our brave veterans.
Kathleen Kathleen Wynne Wynne MPP Don Valley Valley West West C Constituency onstituency Offic Office e 7 795 95 E Eglinton glinton A Avenue venue Eas Eastt Unit 10 101, 1, T Toronto, oronto, ON M4G 4E4 4 416-425-6777 16-425-6777 w www.kathleenwynne.onmpp.ca ww.kathleenwynne.onmpp.ca
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Lest Lest We We Forget Forget
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Leaside Life, November 2015
When parents take advice from their kids
LeasideLife issue 43 opt 2_LeasideLifev1 15-10-22 3:09 PM Page 12
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Leaside Life, November 2015
Deadline for December, November 10
leasidelifenews.com
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: – 70th anniversary of the end of World War II: commemorative presentation by ALPHA Education Centre. Guest speakers discuss values of humanity and global citizenship. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 4-6 p.m. Drop in. – Genealogy on the web. Introduction to genealogy websites, software. Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m.-noon, Nov, 21. Drop in. – The Heart That Heals Itself. Author Dr. Tina Chadda will speak about her book and the role of meditation, relaxation, and prayer. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – Juicing 101: Kitchen Library, a hands-on juicing workshop. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – Leaside Needleworx Group (knitting and crocheting) Recurring Mondays, Nov. 2-30, 7-8:15 p.m. Recurring Fridays, Nov, 6-27. 1011:45 a.m. Everyone welcome. – Who Would Do That: Women Who Develop Love Relationships with Prisoners. Presentation by author Bette Logan. Wednesday, Nov, 11, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – Youth Advisory Group Meeting (13-19 years). Volunteer to receive community hours. Wednesdays, Nov. 11-25, 4-6 p.m. Members only. Ask staff for application. CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING: – Ready for Reading Baby Time (0 to 18 months). Bouncing and tickling rhymes, songs and stories for babies with their parents or caregivers. Thursdays, Nov, 5-26, 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in. – Ready for Reading Family Time (19 months-5 years). Stories, songs, and rhymes for children with parents or caregivers. Wednesdays, Nov. 4-25. 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11:00 a.m. Drop in. OUTSIDE GROUPS: – Discover Your Heritage - Explore Ontario of yesterday and today with Barry Penhale and special guests. Recurring Tuesdays, Nov. 3-24. 2-4 p.m. __ Don Valley Art Club Show & Sale, 67 Pottery Rd., with at least three Leaside artists: Maureen Morrison, Elizabeth Andrews and Murray Durante. Nov. 25 to Dec. 6. Weekdays 12-4 p.m., weekends to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Meet the artists reception, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 7-9 p.m. 416-3962819. www.donvalleyartclub.com
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Have a great FALL from the staff at McDowells OPEN 1500 Bayview Avenue 7 DAYS A WEEK
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Canadian Federation of University Women Leaside-East York monthly meetings, Thursday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. at Northlea United Church,125 Broadway. Christopher Hume, Architecture Critic: On Toronto. Visitors & new members welcome. http://www.cfuwleasideeastyork.ca. Pat Price 416 385-1055. St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Saturday, Nov. 21 Autumn Sale, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Bayview at Broadway. Luncheon available. Baking/treasures/books and CDs/Christmas table and more. 416 485- 2656 . St. Augustine's Church, 1847 Bayview, The Groove Room Coffee House, Friday, Nov. 13 and Friday, Dec. 11, 7-8:30 p.m. Live music by local artists. $5 includes coffee and dessert. All proceeds towards sponsoring a Syrian refugee family. augustine@bellnet.ca if you would like to play. Toronto Swedish Folkdancers and Singers present Scandinavian Christmas music Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. Reception to follow with traditional Swedish treats. $25 at the door. Leaside Presbyterian Church Kid’s Club, Friday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Bible stories, music, crafts, and baking. $30 each or $50 per family (includes snacks & lunch). Special assistance available. Registrations by Wednesday, Nov. 11, 3 p.m. for prep purposes. Call Rev. Angela in the church office. Youth and adult helpers are appreciated. St. Cuthbert's Christmas Fair, Saturday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 1399 Bayview. 416485-0329. Jewellery, sit-down luncheon, massive silent auction, toys, etc.
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WILL FRIPP
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From left, Grant Allardyce and Trae Zammit, BIA co-chairs, and treasurer Stephen Betts, and LPOA board members Carol Burtin Fripp, co-chair, Agnes Vermes, treasurer, and Geoff Kettel, co-chair.
Finally, BIA has SmartCentre’s $25,000 A $25,000 cheque has been handed over to Bayview Business Improvement Area (BIA) in partial settlement from SmartCentres Corporation. The largesse was initially given to Leaside Property Owners’ Association, which fought for some money on behalf of local merchants, and held until Bayview BIA was officially formed. The money was part of the LPOA’s settlement with SmartCentres North, ending the fight against the shopping mall being built between Vanderhoof and Wicksteed. Christmas lights are now being considered for Bayview Ave. This plan comes after a group of hardly souls swept and weeded the busy shopping area on Saturday, Oct. 3 “We had 25-plus very happy people getting down on their hands and knees, and (they) collected about 30 bags of garbage,” said Trae Zammit of Smokin’ Cigar, and chairman of Bayview Leaside BIA. “It was a great little kickstart for greater plans.” These will include a marketing plan, a website, and a BIA presence
Curious Idler on Twitter and Facebook. Do Leasiders like wine? A cashier at Bayview’s LCBO store diplomatically wouldn’t give figures, but added with a laugh, “Leasiders like to entertain a lot – let’s leave it at that.” Six “distracted drivers” were recently spotted among 100 cars travelling south on Bayview in an informal survey. Texting, or using a cellphone or smartphone (one female driver applied makeup), even at a traffic light, can cost a driver a fine of between $490 and $1,000 if convicted, plus three demerit points. An agitated man yelling profanities was stopped recently by police on Hanna, near Parkhurst. “I’ll soak this car in blood,” he shouted when restrained
and put in one of four police cruisers on the scene. The irate man said he was upset, in part, because an officer “took my car keys”. More than $670,000 was pledged by St. Anselm’s parishioners in the Family of Faith campaign. That’s $90,000 over the goal. Money is still coming in. Raymond and Carmel Gork have hit a milestone: their Leaside Paint Centre has been in business on Bayview for 10 years. But that’s not the full story. By other calculations, they’ve sold paints for 36 years, ever since they took over Allens Home Hardware in 1979, and the store can calculate eight decades. The Gorks decided to concentrate on Benjamin Moore products in 2005, a line of premier paint that Gord Davies, a previous hardware merchant at the location, began to sell nearly 80 years ago. “In those days a quart cost about $1.50,” said Jake Duursma, a paint specialist, who has worked in the store for nearly 30 years. ■
Leaside CIBC to help test no-teller banking CIBC on Bayview at Millwood is one of five test sites across Canada where customers will soon be greeted in an open reception area by “digital specialists,” helped to use automated money machines for deposits and withdrawals, and assisted (or taught) to perform other banking functions, such as money transfers. The traditional counter will be removed. A sign in the window gave few details but told customers: “We are building a new exciting banking experience for you.” (The num-
ber 1-800-465-2422 was posted for further information.) Branch manager Laura Soria elaborated: “We want to make banking easier. We’ll have highly qualified advisors to give all the technical expertise you will need,” and added that staff will be on hand to help customers “one-on-one”. The branch will close temporarily from Nov. 3 to Nov. 9 for alterations. When the branch reopens, “counter services will still be available for a period of time, meaning clients that need to perform an over-the-counter transaction will continue to have access to these services
if needed – that won’t change,” said Geoff Dillon, a CIBC communications VP. “For most clients, the transactions they perform in person can be performed through digital channels, such as online banking or our ATMs. As we re-open our enhanced banking centre, our team will be offering personalized service to clients to introduce them to these options if they don’t already use them, to help them benefit from the added convenience of banking when, where, and how they want.” CIBC promises to listen to clients’ opinions on the new approach to banking. ■
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Leaside could use more homeless ruse creativity
| Leaside Life, November 2015
Raising the Roof, a national charity dedicated to finding long-term solutions to homelessness, recently raised the ire of Leaside residents by executing arguably one of the most creative marketing campaigns by a GTA nonprofit in many years. It was designed to put the spotlight on homelessness. Businesses in Leaside might want to duplicate the efforts of Raising the Roof and Leo Burnett, their pro bono advertising partner. "In the week leading up to people making their decision [federal election], we wanted to make sure homelessness and housing is top of mind," said Caitlin Boros, marketing and communications coordinator for Raising the Roof. "It was very immediate [the reaction]. People were stopped by it right away." In today's era of increasingly short attention spans the charity was able to cut through the noise of 24/7 media. Virtually every media outlet in Toronto, whether we're talking TV, radio or print including Marketing magazine, covered the hoax which started with the charity putting up a sign in front of the old Sleep Country location on Bayview announcing the Jefferson Homeless Shelter was opening Nov. 30. Of course we now know it was all a big ruse. Raising the Roof filmed the interaction with local residents turning the footage into a You Tube video (https://youtube/WmY1K5QwE8A) that was released on Thanksgiving Day. Appropriate. Representatives from the charity claim that Leaside wasn't chosen because it was an affluent neighbourhood but rather because it has vacant storefronts (not a good quality for any retail business area) and
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Will Ashworth The business of Leaside
doesn't have the same homelessness situation as exists downtown. The Toronto Star ran an article about the homeless shelter that contained hundreds of comments, most making it pretty clear that a significant portion of Torontonians don’t feel sorry for the plight of Leasiders, many of whom were distressed by the initiative. Our community has gained a bit of a reputation for Nimbyism. And as anyone knows a reputation is gained far easier than it is lost. Those residents who felt either violated or deceived or were concerned about falling real estate prices in the area as a result of a homeless shelter might want to reconsider their priorities. Homeless people have to live somewhere. Why not Leaside? Raising the Roof did what any good organization would do to garner new support for its business or cause. I think it should be commended, not vilified. It was a call to action, one Bill Veeck, the master baseball promoter, would have wholeheartedly endorsed. Leaside businesses take note. The kind of outside-the-box thinking exemplified by Raising the Roof’s Jefferson Homeless Shelter initiative, while controversial, is exactly what struggling retailers in the area need to do to compete in a bigbox era. Do what Raising the Roof did: Get noticed. â–
Stickney party raises $15,000 The fundraising event at The Leaside Pub the end of September raised $15,000 in memory of Dave Stickney. Daryn Everett, one of the organizers, said, “Our committee is thrilled. With these funds we will be able to accomplish all of the elements that we had identified, including a scholarship fund, a park bench and memorial plaque, and possibly renaming one of our streets to Stickney Way. “We are humbled by the generosity of the Leaside community and we look forward to sharing more details regarding our David Stickney Memorial initiatives in the coming weeks.â€? â–
Satinder Sahota, Owner
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YOU, our dining critics
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A complaint, but great food Take a scale, weigh the complaints against the praise, and Lemongrass, on Bayview south of Manor Rd., which specializes in Asian fusion, is a big winner. The only major fault, according to Cynda Fleming, Hanna Rd., and Ellen Dimitropoulos, of Rumsey Rd., was the amount of salt in their main dishes. During their mid-day visit Fleming chose the lunch special of Thai lemongrass soup and a spicy eggplant tofu stirfry ($11.99). The last, she said, had a “lovely texture with lots of cashews that work well with the nuttiness of the tricolour rice. Sometimes those aren’t very plentiful in stirfries.” But the stirfry sauce was the guilty salty fault. Her soup: “It has a lovely aroma of tamarind and coriander, with a fantastic balance of sweet and sour. Full of fresh corn, mushrooms, celery and chunks of tomatoes.” Dimitropoulos’ also had a lunch special combo ($11.99), crispy Thai lemongrass sweet and sour halibut stirfry with a Vietnamese chicken wonton soup.
Cynda Fleming, Linda Lord and Ellen Dimitropoulos 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). The fish: “Lightly breaded but the sauce was way too salty. I loved the tricolour rice.” The stirfries came with simple salad greens with mango. She was surprised at how big the soup bowl was. Linda Lord, of Fleming Cres., had the tiniest complaint, if you can call it that: “Too much rice.” She ordered the green Thai chicken curry with a spring roll as a combo ($9.99) after being warned that the red curry, which she had asked for first, was the spiciest item on the menu. She was happy with
what she got “but can’t imagine what the red curry would be like”. And it was “delicious, not salty at all”. She was surprised by the spring roll: “It had more breading and wasn’t as flaky and oily/greasy as spring rolls usually are.” She was also surprised by finding eggplant in the curry. Their meal started with a pot of honey ginger tea. Fleming: “Wow, very strong ginger taste. It hits you in the back of the throat, but it’s nice that it’s not overly sweet.”
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By the time dessert time came, they said, they had had ample food so chose two for the three of them. The prices seemed high to them compared to the mains, but theychanged their minds. Fleming: “They’re very large and a lot of attention has been paid to make them look special.” Coconut sorbet, $7.95, served in a frozen coconut on a bed of ice underneath a banana leaf. Deep-fried bananas, $9.50, which they called sublime. It comes with a vanilla ice cream. Dimitropoulos: “I did not think I would like the deep-fried bananas that much.” But let’s get in a tiny complaint: They thought it would have been better with the coconut sorbet than the ice cream. Final results: Dimitropoulos: “Overall it was a great luncheon experience. The food was good, the service was attentive and it was great value.” ($25 each including tax and tip for a starter, main and shared dessert for lunch.) Lord: “For a restaurant in a neighbourhood with a lot of delicious Asian offerings, Lemongrass stood out as serving up real value for money.” Fleming: “This restaurant definitely gets do-again status. I appreciated the friendly staff and the attention to detail in the dishes. You don’t always see that at this price point.” ■
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LETTERS leasidelife@gmail.com Letters may be edited. with Metrolinx is the requirement of an accounting to Metrolinx for a share of the return thus generated. Bottom line: It is city policy to promote suitable intensification in the vicinity of transit lines. The advent of the Crosstown LRT will naturally increase the attractiveness of the Bayview/Eglinton corner as a potential development site, and thus its value. It only makes sense from the public perspective that part of this increased value accrue to Metrolinx - whose investment in the Crosstown is creating the increased value - and not just to a private developer. Capturing that value is in no way inconsistent with the overriding priority of Metrolinx to build and operate a transit system, while the developer takes the lead in advancing its construction project on the site of the new LRT station and whatever other lands it is able to assemble. There is no development application currently on record. If and when there is one, all the usual city planning rules and procedures would apply, including overall size and height restrictions and heritage considerations, regardless of any status Metrolinx might have in the matter. The process would include consultation with the local community.
As for the OMB, it is not a provincial “agency”. It is a tribunal. A court. It does not throw a wink at parties that actually happen to be government agencies. Metrolinx, if it were to find itself somehow interested in a proceeding at the OMB, would stand on the same footing as any anyone who appears there, provincial agency or not. John Parker, Cameron Cres. During the first 10 days of October, just by way of taking breaks from working in my home-office, I wound up delittering Donegall’s three blocks, the Donegall laneway’s two blocks, the three short blocks between Donegall and Bayview (Millwood, Fleming and Parkhurst), Fleming, and the whole non-Leaside High School (LHS) half of Talbot Park. This was a heck of a lot more work than a dozen people sweeping up the sidewalks of Bayview on one particular morning. It’s in the shopkeepers’ self-interest to do this regularly, not just once in a blue moon. Moreover, the city guys with their little golf carts with the funnel that sucks up litter can be seen on Bayview from time to time. I’ve never seen one of these on any residential street of Leaside, though I did spot one once in the Donegall laneway, doing more harm than good by inadvertently scattering gravel onto the pavement. If any Leasiders walking in the above areas noticed that they looked spiffier than usual, for a while at least, I would hate them to conclude that the city was responsible. In your dreams. I’d like them to know that a volun-
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Recent issues of Leaside Life have included columns that sound an alarm bell over word that Metrolinx is acquiring land at the south-east corner of Bayview and Eglinton in connection with the proposed LRT station to be built there. The comments drip with speculation as to a hidden agenda driven by Metrolinx in its – heretofore well concealed – alter ego as rapacious developer. They go so far as to suggest that Metrolinx and the OMB, both being provincial “agencies”, may eventually enter into cahoots to foist on the community a development of up to 20 storeys in violation of the city’s policies. The speculation stems largely from the further news that Metrolinx will benefit financially from development activity at the enlarged site. Metrolinx has been called “duplicitous” under the circumstances. There is another way to understand the situation. It is no secret that Metrolinx needs the McDonald’s site for its new LRT station. It can be expected that a negotiated purchase transaction would have had to give the vendor terms similar to what would have been provided in an expropriation. In this case, it means compensation for the parking spots that the vendor will give up at the McDonald’s site. Take into account all the variables, and the need to involve extra land in the total transaction becomes evident. With that, things start to get complicated. The former owner of the McDonalds site intends to build on top of the new LRT station and on other nearby lands. Included in its agreement
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Leaside Life, November 2015
Metrolinx is getting a bad rap
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teer was responsible, in this case a member of the Leaside Litterati (aka Cheryl’s Brigade). I’ve also completely delittered Talbot Park behind the backstop five times since the spring, a formidable undertaking given that it’s chronically trashed by LHS students and baseball fans. I believe from speaking to Sandra Creighton at the park that she does some delittering regularly in that area as well. I’d like to disabuse habitual litterers of the notion that they’re merely providing lucrative work for city parks employees. No such luck. It is US, saddled with the unenviable job because the city appears to not be up to it. Aside from what gets swept by rain down sewer gratings, every thoughtlessly or maliciously discarded bit of detritus gets picked up eventually by unpaid volunteers unwilling to experience Leaside as one enormous ashtray filled ankle-deep not just with smokers’ debris, but with wrappers, filled doggydoo bags, plastic bottles, shattered beer and liquor bottles, plastic newspaper binding loops, popsicle sticks, coffee and soft drink paper cups, receipts, bus transfers, plastic bags, wads of gum, bottle caps… and other items too numerous or disgusting to inventory. Jeff Walker, Donegall Dr.
Re: Carol Burtin Fripp While I enjoyed her article around federal issues for Leasiders, there is an error I wanted to point out. CPP is still payable at any age between 55 and 70 (with 65 being considered normal). It is OAS that is moving to a retirement age of 67. June Smyth, Randolph Rd. After 10 years the local neighbourhood Second Cup in the Laird/Eglinton plaza closed for good on Oct. 6, to be supplanted by an LRT station. It was a sad day. It was hard to say good-bye. Ming and his staff were so friendly and welcoming and would call you by your name; music to one’s ears. The place was sort of a hangout for the regular customers. Comfortable, cozy, with sofa chairs to sink into; there was a fireplace, a quiet refuge from the hurly-burly of the busy intersection. Lots of chitchat, social interaction with familiar folks and strangers: a people place. It’s hard to let go with what you had. This is a small loss in the town of Leaside. But hey, Peter. Keep up with the times, progress is progress. But is it always for the better? Peter McMurtry, Airdrie Rd.
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CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES
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The 1936 Stauntons Ltd. building.
THE LARGEST DEVELOPMENT SO FAR
Interesting history, but is it enough to be heritage? By GEOFF KETTEL There’s nothing remarkable about it. Just a typical industrial commercial block with some retail on the ground floor and a large parking lot in front. But the site has been proposed for the largest development project in Leaside to date. Its address (939 Eglinton East) belies its large size, extending the whole block from Eglinton to Vanderhoof, on the west side of Brentcliffe, south of Eglinton. You know it for Nando’s Chicken, Pure Fitness, Tim Hortons, Motion Specialties and Walking on a Cloud (shoes). There was to be a community consultation meeting to discuss the developer’s proposals on Oct. 27, after our deadline. At the North York Community Council on Sept. 8 Councillor Jon Burnside had made a motion to extend the notification area to the whole of Leaside. The LPOA has many concerns about the use of the lands, the massing and scale, and we will return to those topics in the next issue. A well-known developer, Diamondcorp, has proposed a mixeduse development comprising 1,500 residential units among four towers (19, 24, 31 and 34 storeys), 2,950 square metres of retail space, 9,690 square metres of office space mainly in a six-storey office building, 1,639 parking spaces in four levels of underground parking, a 0.22-hectare public park and a new 16.5-metre-
Geoff Kettel
Saving old Leaside wide public road. All on the former site of the Leaside Aerodrome. It has interesting history. Today the site houses the head office of a very successful Canadian company, DH Corporation (formerly Davis + Henderson Corporation), which while historically specializing in printing cheques, has expanded to provide technology solutions and business services for banks and other financial services corporations. According to Wikipedia, today only 40 percent of revenues come from cheque manufacturing. DH recently announced that it will be moving out of the property and out of the area. Initially, Eglinton and Brentcliffe/Vanderhoof was north of the industrial area designated in Frederick Todd’s town plan of 1912. However in 1917 there was a need for an airfield to train pilots for the Royal Flying Corps and the area north of Wicksteed Ave. was chosen. After World War I the airfield closed and Eglinton replaced Wicksteed as the northern boundary of the industrial area. In the 1920s and 1930s a host of industries settled in Leaside, attracted by cheap land, low taxes, access to the Toronto market
and access to two railways. In 1931 Leaside’s industrial zone was home to 29 companies, and by 1939 this had risen to 52. In 1936, Stauntons Ltd., a Toronto wallpaper manufacturer, built a factory in Leaside, which was designed by well-known Toronto architects Mathers and Haldenby. In the 1950s Stauntons was bought out by the Canadian Wallpaper Company, and Regal Greetings and Gifts Inc. occupied the property from 1953 through to 2006. It was the head office, manufacturing plant and store outlet for a business with annual sales exceeding $100 million in 1999. In 2005 Regal moved to Mississauga and DH Corporation has been at 939 ever since. What about the building? It appears to be pretty much the original one. At least its bones are original. However a modernization project in 1986 that “re-skinned” the building with mirrored glass and stucco transformed the outside of the building and gave it an art deco look. At the same time an underground parking lot east of the building was added. There is no question that the building was well-built and has not only survived its almost 80 years, but has been re-purposed for new uses several times. However, whether it should be considered as “heritage”, given its utilitarian function and uses, and its extensive but largely cosmetic changes, deserves further study. ■
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Michael Bliss
Living in Leaside
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Our household has a harmless affection for pink flamingoes. Some years ago our teenage son threatened to leave home if we didn’t remove from our garden the pink flamingo ornament we had brought back from Florida. In his maturity he is more tolerant, so there was no objection to the several dozen pink flamingoes that visited our lawn to share Liz Bliss’s most recent milestone birthday. And it seemed like a neat idea to give half a dozen pink flamingoes to our youngest grandson to mark his sixth birthday. Where to buy pink flamingoes in Leaside in the summertime? As a strong supporter of local business, I started at Home Hardware in Sunnybrook Plaza. No flamingoes. At Canadian Tire the staff in the main store told me to try the showroom. In the showroom they told me to try the store. Generously, the Canadian Tire people also suggested trying Home Depot. A friendly senior clerk at Home Depot told me that in all his years he had only seen one flock of pink flamingoes in the store, a special promotion. He urged me to try Canadian Tire. Perhaps the Bayview stores would be more flamingo-friendly than the Laird big boxes. I struck out at the garden centre at Bayview and Davisville, the valumart, the always friendly Chinese flower shop, and what I thought was my last, best resort, the Dollar Store. The Dollar Store came closest, offering several other almost satisfactory lawn ornaments, mostly butterflies. The garden centre would have sold me ornamental owls. I came home discouraged and somewhat tired.
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Then I did what my wife would have done first. I went shopping for pink flamingoes on the internet. Of course cyberspace is full of flamingoes. Two days later Canada Post’s midwife service delivered six baby plastic pink flamingoes to our home. I think they had hatched in the USA. What lessons should we learn from the apparent extinction of the pink flamingo in Leaside retail outlets? Take your pick of these possibilities: (a) There is no more demand for pink flamingoes in Leaside because of super-gentrification; (b) Geoff Kettel and the LPOA ought to have been more vigilant in protecting our flamingo traditions; (c) The main store and the showroom at Canadian Tire should be amalgamated; (d) When it comes to shopping (and perhaps other things), Professor Bliss hasn't a clue. You will be pleased to know that our little family of pink flamingoes are growing nicely in their comfortable little home in the North Beach. It’s a neighbourhood a lot like Leaside once was. I suppose the new Whole Foods store at Broadway and Bayview will feature flash-frozen Florida flamingo filets. ■
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Why it’s hard to protect Leaside Is our city working? More to the point, is it working in the public interest? Using Leaside as the test area, it’s a fair question to ask. Toronto’s Official Plan is targeted by developers who read mid-rise and propose high-rise. Arterial streets like Bayview, Eglinton and Laird attract the most attention, with applications for giant condominiums, retirement homes and big box stores. Rules are treated like guidelines. The Official Plan has become a mere starting point. On Leaside’s inner residential streets, speculators buy homes and either demolish or alter them, all too often building higher or wider than regulations permit. The Committee of Adjustment has too many applications to review in too short a time; the result is that traditional Leaside streetscapes are changing, and not for the better. It takes forever to get a city inspector to note infractions, or to get a cease work order to stop illegal construction. Developers’ consultants provide traffic analyses which never seem to indicate what their real traffic impact will be. By the time their forecasts have been proven wrong, the cause of the damage (i.e. the development) is already in business. The most recent example: the proposal for a Costco store on Overlea Blvd. isn’t accompanied by any analysis of traffic impact on residential Leaside. Meanwhile, the LPOA’s consultant estimates that that it will create a through-traffic increase on Leaside’s streets of between 4 percent and 44.5 percent, depending on the intersection. As you read this, you may ask, what’s the point of trying to protect Leaside? And what are our chances of success? The point is that Leaside is worth protecting. We are often successful. But there are still too many occasions when, instead of achieving the best solution, we have to settle for the least bad compromise.
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Co-president, LPOA
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Carol Burtin Fripp
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Public expressions of support are key to our success. While the LPOA continues to depute, write letters, organize public gatherings, and lobby, we can’t do it alone. We need you to support us, for example by your attendance at meetings as issues arise. We have to impress on city council that Toronto actually has an Official Plan, and that Leasiders expect the city to enforce it. __ If you’ve been reading Councillor Burnside’s Leaside Life’s columns about the involvement of Metrolinx in the development of the now-former McDonald’s site, you will know that Metrolinx has acquired more property than it requires for the Bayview/Eglinton LRT station (1783-85 and 1787 Bayview are the properties). We have learned that in fact Metrolinx is involved in a deal which would profit them for supporting increased density on that corner. We have written to Premier Kathleen Wynne, our MPP, to let her know that Leasiders are concerned and serious about preventing this corner becoming a high-rise canyon. __ On Oct. 3, the LPOA presented the new Bayview Leaside BIA with a cheque for $25,000, part of the financial settlement we reached over a year ago with the SmartCentre North. (The rest of the settlement is earmarked for a traffic plan and for heritage protection). The BIA is finally officially registered with the city. We wish them well and encourage you to support local merchants and our renowned Bayview shopping district. __ Please mark Wednesday, Nov. 25 on your calendars. LPOA will hold its 2016 Annual General Meeting in the William Lea Room, Leaside Gardens. Among the invited speakers will be Rob Oliphant, the winning federal candidate for Don Valley West. More details will be made public closer to the date. __ The LPOA holds board meetings on the first Wednesday of each month in the Trace Manes building at 7:30 p.m. You are welcome to attend, whether as a deputant or just to observe. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, Nov. 4. â–
To advertise in Leaside Life and leasidelifenews.com: 416-486-7387 www.leasidelifenews.com We deliver to all homes, apartments and businesses in the M4G postal area.
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Some Leaside connections with refugees
In my column in Leaside Life’s May issue, the topic was local support for bringing refugees into Canada. Since the photo of the body of Alan Kurdi on a beach in Turkey highlighted the plight of the Syrian refugees, it seemed a good idea to check in with this topic again. Leaside’s churches are all actively engaged in determining how to respond to the Syrian refugee crisis. St. Augustine’s Anglican in North Leaside is the furthest along in their plans. They’re working with St. Matthew’s Anglican in Riverdale which had started a refugee support committee earlier in the year, so was already well
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Our churches move quickly to help refugees
One valuable community asset, which St. Augustine’s has already tapped into, is the Boyadjian family, Vatche and Sonia, who own Vaso Dry Cleaning and Alterations on McRae Dr. beside the fire hall. Vatche has been in Canada since 1979 when he arrived from Lebanon via Greece and was fortunate enough to be sponsored by the son of a man who was friends with his father. Vatche and Sonia Boyadjian His grandfather had moved to Lebanon from Syria. Over the years, Vatche has sponsored his whole family, including his mother, father, brother and two sisters and their families, as well as an aunt and uncle. Sonia Boyadjian emigrated from Syria to Canada. The family background of both Vatche and Sonia is Armenian. She was in Syria this past summer and had an opportunity to meet the latest family they are sponsoring who are not related to them. With luck, this family will arrive by Christmas. Both Vatche and Sonia are Canadian citizens. Vatche speaks Armenian, Arabic, Turkish and English and would be happy to assist any local sponsors looking for language help (most Syrians speak Arabic). ■ Rouhlat Ali had a busy first week of October. On Oct. 2 she and other members of her family opened Artistic Hair Lounge at 1519 Bayview. On Oct. 6 she passed her citizenship test with flying colours, and on Oct. 7 her parents arrived in Canada from Syria via Turkey. Five family members have been involved in getting the business opened. Rouhlat Ali, her sister Chirim and her brother’s wife are all hairstylists. Her brother Jimmy and two sisters did all the renovations to open up the space. The two sisters are studying, one at university in psychology and the youngest at the Ontario Police College. As a family of Kurds living in Syria they were a persecuted minority. ■
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Lorna Krawchuk
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into the process through AURA, the Anglican United Refugee Alliance. In fact, they have just learned who their family is: a mother, father and three30 year-old arriving in three to five months’ time. Gina Davidson, of Bessborough Dr., a parishioner at St. Augustine’s, is the outreach coordinator for the project. She now has a basement and garage full of items for the family, with more squirreled away at the church. And she didn’t have to go begging – useful items just arrived. One member of the parish has offered to build a custom dining room table for the family, once they know the size of the apartment. Extra furniture and items that are not needed will be passed on to others in need. Ongoing fundraising includes regular coffee house music nights,
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known as The Groove Room, with musicians from the community. The next one is at the church on Friday, Nov. 13 starting at 7 p.m. Cost is $5 for dessert and coffee. At Leaside United Church Bob and Lis Lister, the knowledgeable and energetic couple who co-chair the Refugee Resettlement Committee, arranged an evening workshop in October to provide information on process and supports to people and groups who might be considering sponsorship. The church will be making a decision soon about sponsoring a family through AURA. St. Anselm Catholic School is well-started on their refugee sponsorship project. They are planning to support one or more families from Syria who belong to persecuted minorities and are following the tem-
plate set up for refugee support by the Archdiocese of Toronto, and have committee chairs set up for the various facets of what is needed for support. Leaside Presbyterian, Northlea United and St. Cuthbert’s are still in the inquiry phase. All agree that assisting refugees is something they are compelled to do by dint of being Christians. For Leasiders who aren’t connected to these churches, it is also possible to get involved. Financial contributions to the overhead refugee organizations, or to the churches themselves, earmarked for refugee support, are eligible for income tax receipts for charitable donations. As well, any practical help you might be able to offer would be gratefully received. ■
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