LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:18 AM Page 1
No. 46 • February 2016
Leaside Life leasidelifenews.com
AKA Mrs. Park the Second Page 10
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We will ask all Leasiders their opinion “Development” has become a four-letter word in Leaside. All too often, the planning process proceeds in its official way without enough feedback from neighbourhood residents. A single city-held public consultation meeting is hardly sufficient to measure local opinion, or to identify and generate alternative suggestions. Fortunately the Ontario legislature passed The Smart Planning Act (Bill 73) in December 2015; it requires municipalities to explain how residents’ input has been incorporated in development decisions. The LPOA board believes that the time has come for a detailed neighbourhood-wide survey on residents’ attitudes toward development in Leaside, suggesting measures to improve, resolve, or oppose proposals.
Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LPOA
The LPOA has initiated a development task force to determine the survey’s questions and methods of distribution. It will be an active partnership among the LPOA, residents throughout Leaside, and Councillor Burnside. We face a number of major development proposals, mainly located along major streets convenient to the LRT Eglinton Crosstown. The largest development of all is proposed by developer Steve Diamond for 939 Eglinton East at Brentcliffe Rd., encompassing four high-
rises (residential and mixed use) ranging from 19 to 34 storeys, and almost 2,000 underground parking spaces. In size, scale and density, it really is a whole new city. Its traffic impact alone, aside from other considerations, would affect all of Leaside, especially the North and South Leaside residential areas closest to the site. Councillor Burnside has established a working group to meet with Diamond and see how much flexibility he is willing to incorporate into his plans. Because Steve Diamond is already legally in a position to go to the Ontario Municipal Board, the LPOA initial survey will focus on the 939 Eglinton East site. In the very near fuSURVEY, Page 27
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Wanna buy Second Cup? The Second Cup on Bayview, just south of Fleming, is for “sale”. The surprise announcement was made recently via a simple card propped on the counter that read: “Enjoy the experience? Own this café!” The printed offering promised: “Together with our franchisees, we will ignite our customers’ passion for the ultimate coffee experience.” One intrigued patron made several calls to a posted number for more details (1-800569-6318), but each time a recorded voice asked for name and phone number, and promised a reply “within 24 to 48 business hours.” Coffee shop staff had no further details. Don’t expect to order a brandy with your coffee at Leaside’s Starbucks on Bayview any time soon. Two baristas have quashed hopeful customers’ speculation that a liquor licence was being sought. Starbucks in the U.S. is seeking licences. Unlucky pedestrians were soaked by spray from traffic when a torrent of rainwater flooded down the north side of Millwood, between MacNaughton and Bayview, in early January. To the dismay of passersby, gushing water from the downpour was obstructed by mounds of asphalt used to seal re-
Curious Idler cently-dug holes. The pesky mounds need levelling, or more drenchings are ahead for the unwary. The new LRT crosstown station being built at Bayview and Eglinton will be called Leaside. (The working name on plans had been Bayview.) However, the Laird station will keep its name, reported Metrolinx. “Every class to me was an inspiration,” says Maija Nummi, 81, who has just retired after running ladies’ exercise and acquafit classes at Suomi Koti Centre on Eglinton Ave. for 27 years. Maija taught exercises as a hobby in a variety of places for 60 years. Discouragingly, after an overnight fall on Jan. 12, snow was still unshovelled in front of nine businesses on the east side of the avenue between Fleming and Millwood at 6 p.m. (Note to realtors: Three stores were empty, but law still requires frontages be cleaned.) Unsafe footing poses risks to passersby. And possible lawsuits, too. Kudos to owners of the former Sleep Country bedding store on Bayview for quickly removing unsightly graffiti from store windows the same day it appeared. ■
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LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:18 AM Page 3
LETTERS leasidelife@gmail.com
Subject: Life in Leaside 1932-1946. I recently found your newspaper on the internet. Leaside brings many fond memories from skating in the park at McRae and Millwood and early Sunday school at Leaside United. I remember one severe winter when I had to ski to the fire station near McRae and Millwood to get bread as all the streets were impassable. I can tell Ralph Cameron you a secret – during the war, roughly 1944, there were frequent alerts and scares about Japanese weather balloons drifting toward east-
Letters may be edited. ern Canada and starting fires by using timing devices designed to drop incendiary bombs over North America. My brother, who was a bit of an experimenter, assembled his version of a weather balloon by gluing Japanese rice paper into strips and hanging a box underneath and quite successfully launched a bogus balloon which drifted and landed somewhere about a mile north of our home. It caused quite a stir with Fire Chief Bell and the local police racing to the scene. I don't think they ever knew who pulled that off. We lived at 38 Cameron Cres. for a couple of years then suddenly had to vacate and find a new home at 198 Airdrie Rd. We lived there until I was 14 and then lived in other cities because
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Confessing to an old secret
my father worked for the railroad. I went to Bessborough school for the first four years and since we lived facing Lea Ave., the school boundary for attending Northlea or Rolph Rd., I went to Rolph Rd. for grade 5. Back to Bessborough for grades 6 and 7 and Northlea for grade 8. That was that school’s first year. I've contacted one former classmate who attended Bessborough with me and he gave me the history of several former schoolmates. I delivered the Toronto Star and Telegram to many war plants during the war, including Canada Wire and Cable, Bauer & Black, and Research Enterprises Ltd. (REL). There was a dirt road running east to the Don River on the north side of REL and we swam in the Don River and swung on the ropes hanging from trees right over the old swimming hole. At that time REL dumped their sewage into the Don and standing on the bottom of the swimming hole in a foot of sediment was not uncommon. Goodness only knows what was in that muck but some consisted of grinding
Leaside Life, February 2016
Two former Leasiders are reaching out
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compound as REL ground optics for the military during wartime. Since bathing suits used in such water generally lasted about three weeks we dispensed with them. Ralph Cameron, Ottawa, ON ramcam@magma.ca
Web site lit fires of nostalgia Subject: Good work, people! I was born at Women's College Hospital (I'm told) back in 1941 and raised on Bessborough Dr., where my mother occasionally taught primary classes. Over the years, I've lived in Waterloo, London, Thunder Bay and Saskatoon, and now in Point Pleasant, WV. When I bumped into your website today, it lit the fires of nosBill Hudgins talgia, particularly in relation to the piece by Ted Harding: I guess Leaside gets into your blood (July 2013). Well done, ladies and gentlemen. Few communities in my experience have a comparable instrument for community involvement. The David and Goliath battles reflected here are endless, but to Leasiders not hopeless. Carry on! May you all, and this instrument of common interest and communication, live long and prosper! Bill Hudgins, West Virginia, USA bhudgins@gmail.com
My dining room is now a cave I am a homeowner on Rykert Cres. of 50 years. On one side of my house is a redeveloped home with a two-storey garage which has cut off the light from a large window. The dining room is now a cave that requires a light on all day. On the other side of my house the prettiest home on the street is now the ugliest, and trees were cut down. Building codes are completely ignored. Why? It is a very disheartening situation. Doreen Rosmarin, Rykert Cres.
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:19 AM Page 5
Too many stop signs In response to “We are our own bad drivers” by Jon Burnside in the January issue of Leaside Life: Two thoughts: 1. The more stop/yield signs we post, the more we discourage defensive driving and road awareness. The more people are told what to do, the less they think for themselves and make better decisions. Compared to European countries, our driver training standards are lower.
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The residents of Leaside are truly blessed to have such a great local news publication. I look forward to each issue of Leaside Life. Will Ashworth always has an interesting and informative take on local issues and the January 2016 issue is no exception. His article on the Bayview Leaside Business Improvement Area (BIA) (Great start for the BIA) was descriptive in providing us with details on the improvements made to the street. I have one further improvement the BIA could implement, ensure their stores are OPEN. I along with thousands of other would be shoppers struck out on Boxing Day (Saturday, Dec. 26) to partake of the world of bargains on this the bargain shoppers Nirvana. However along Bayview I had difficulty finding more that 10 percent of the stores open on Boxing Day, this being about 11:30 a.m. I found a coffee shop, a drug store and a couple of clothing stores open, the rest were closed. I did find all the stores open in the big box arena on Laird.
If the Bayview Leaside BIA wants to persuade us to shop more at their local stores rather than at the big box stores, they need to be open when we want to shop. To close two consecutive days during the busiest shopping period of the year is akin to having a beach community ice cream parlour close during a long summer weekend. I am sure their families would understand their work requirement for Boxing Day, just as I respect their need to close during less busy times, such as in January when we are all shopped out. Jim Hartley, Glenvale Blvd.
Leaside Life, February 2016
What happened to Boxing Day?
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Independence makes all the difference Serving your loved ones with dignity and respect.
As a rough measure of driver competence, look at international road death rates per 100,000: Germany (the land of recommended speeds, not limits) is 4.3, the UK is 3.5. Canada: 6. In the UK and Germany yield is used more often than stop if signs at residential intersections are present at all. Not to mention the extensive use of traffic circles without traffic lights. One implication is that obedience does not improve road safety. 2. It is no surprise that some stop signs are ignored by residents in Leaside. Residents know the neighbourhood. Many of the signs exist to discourage through traffic and to control speed and are not required for efficient traffic movement. Especially on the quiet internal streets in Leaside, stop signs waste fuel, contribute to air pollution and waste time. Better to use speed bumps than stop signs to control flow, if control is needed at all. Many of the three/four-way stops have no convincing logic, for instance, Airdrie and Heath. The most egregious example is east on Leacrest at Hanna. Leacrest serves only the residents living on the street and is a shortcut/through street to nowhere. The stop sign at this intersection makes no sense to me. In an effort to manage through traffic going forward, I hope the driving experience for those of us who actually live here is not further degraded. The use of technology to enforce stops signs in Leaside can only be justified if there is a demonstrated safety risk at specific intersections. Otherwise, it’s just a revenue generator. Enforcement for its own sake is not sufficient reason. My favorite road sign (from www.wired.com/2004/12/traffic/):
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LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:19 AM Page 7
Where has the plaque gone? By GEOFF KETTEL The parkette at the west corner of Bessborough and Eglinton east occupies a fine vantage point with a view over the playing field at Leaside High School. In its centre sits a tree, girdled by an impressive wrought iron fence, which is the former site of a plaque, which mysteriously disappeared sometime in 2014. Divadale resident Geoff Clark noticed it missing while on a daily walk late that year. It’s still missing, and he would like to see it put back. But what did it commemorate? He thinks it had “something to do with Leaside as a community, maybe the Queen’s visit or East York amalgamationâ€?. And who placed it? The province or municipality? The town of Leaside or Borough of East York? Can you help solve the mystery? This is not the first time a North Leaside plaque has disappeared. Jane Pitfield in her book Leaside describes how the plaque commemorating the 40th anniversary of Canada’s first airmail flight in 1918 was placed in front of the apartment building at 970 Eglinton East, marking the site of the Leaside Airport where the plane touched down. It later disappeared and was replaced, but not in the same place. Now the Canada’s First Airmail plaque sits on an island where Broadway and Brentcliffe converge, which was thought to be a “less vulnerable locationâ€? than Eglinton Ave. â–
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LOL back by popular demand Three years ago Charlene Kalia, of North Leaside, decided she was going to stop presenting Laugh Out Loud (LOL) because it had served its purpose – raising over $130,000 to help rebuild the Leaside arena. But she was stopped, she said, by friends and customers who insisted she continue. They enjoyed it too much and appreciated helping worthy causes. The calls to continue came from Leaside and surrounding areas. So the fundraising show goes on, but with a special focus now on which charities to help. “I wanted to give the money to organizations small enough to feel the impact,â€? said Kalia. The first year after the arena it went to New Circles, a Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park charity that supplies clothing and also helps high school students there get dresses and suits for their proms. Last year the money went to Moreland Community Services to help children and youths in poverty. Laugh Out Loud has now raised more than $200,000. This year LOL will be held Feb. 26 at the William Lea Room in the arena, with proceeds going to Community Food Centres Canada and the Regent Park Community Food Centre. The show will feature Yuk Yuk comedians and music by the Indecision band, many of whose members are local and will play for free. There will also be the usual live and silent auctions and food and drink prepared by sponsors Grilltime, De La Mer, Neal Brothers Foods and Amsterdam Brewery. Lexus On The Park is a major sponsor. â–
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Leaside Life, February 2016
GEOFF KETTEL
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Larry Rose
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MOBILIZE!
Leaside Literati Leaside is full of authors we don’t hear much about, but would probably like to. If you have recently had a new book published, get in touch: leasidelife@gmail.com.
Writing a book can teach you many things By LARRY ROSE Leaside has been home for me for about 25 years and tucked down in the basement of our house is my little office. Like a scene out of a movie, it’s a mess. Books stacked all around, magazine articles in cardboard bank boxes on the floor and some pictures on the wall of my days as a television journalist. My desk—well, actually, I have not seen the top of it for months, maybe years. I used to be the producer of CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson but I retired five years ago and since then most days I work here writing. This is also where I
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LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:19 AM Page 9
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He was only 17 when he joined the army in 1939. He still speaks to schools and his message is a simple but touching one: freedom is not free. Although my book is serious military and political history there are some funny things I ran across that I put in it. One was that Vice-Admiral Percy Nelles, the chief of naval staff during the war, had one of those big bank safes in his office in Ottawa. No one in the headquarters quite knew what was in it except for one thing. He kept his tea caddy in there. I am writing a second book now but it won’t be ready for another year or so. In the winter when I am not writing, I enjoy curling at Leaside curling rink. I am also a member of Branch 165 of the Royal Canadian Legion. I thoroughly enjoy our neighbourhood even though with all the construction it is hard to get around. Leaside changes almost day by day. The retail price for my book is $28.95 but I have some copies for sale for $20. If you would like one, send a request to Leaside Life (leasidelife@gmail.com) or the publisher, Dundurn (info@dundurn.com) and messages can be forwarded to me. ■
Leaside Life, February 2016
wrote my book Mobilize! Why Canada Was Unprepared for the Second World War, which was published in 2013. It took me five years of research to finish the book and I had no idea if it would ever be published. The best thing about it was that I learned so much and I met such marvellous people. I interviewed more than 25 veterans, which may not sound like a great number but I wanted ones who had joined up before the Second World War began. There are not many of them around. One of the men I interviewed was my neighbour from a few blocks away, George MacDonnel, who is a survivor of a Japanese prisoner of war camp. I knew about him but I had no idea he lived nearby until I started the book. He is now about 92 and in great health, which is doubly marvellous considering what he went through.
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:19 AM Page 10
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR By LINDSAY BLAKELY On October 21, 1998 Mrs. Mary Dwan King became Mrs. Park. No first name. No matter. In Leaside most people never think of Mrs. Park’s first name, and haven’t since 1961. That’s when the first Mrs. Park started Bayview Nursery. That’s another name hardly anyone thought of. Everyone knew it as Mrs. Park’s School, a famous name then and now in Leaside. But Mrs. Park the First (first name Joan) decided to retire and Mrs. Park the Second bought Bayview Nursery in 1998 and changed its name to Mrs. Park’s School to honour its first owner. So though Mrs. Mary Dwan King has lived in Leaside since 1980 – that’s 35 years – we hardly know her. It’s time. She bought the school because she loved it when her two children went there and her husband Andy, a lawyer, told her he was never going to retire. How would she fill her days? After years as a child and youth worker, volunteering at Women’s College Hospital and running small businesses from home, she needed something to keep her busy. She thought about the “lovely, calm place. There was music, children were happy and they were challenged when they needed to challenged.” The process of buying the school took a few years, but when Park was ready, so was Dwan King. But Park didn’t leave right away. “She continued to do the music program for a few years,” said Dwan King, “so it was a nice transition for her. She lived across the road from the school. It was her life.” Ditto for the new owner, who lives around the corner and is there every day. The school is in Leaside United Church, at Millwood and McRae, where it moved years ago from St. Augustine at Bayview and Broadway. Proximity wasn’t the only draw. So was music. “Singing and music are something all children enjoy and we sing every day. During music the children perform playlets, which are children acting out nursery rhymes, etc. Joan Park actually wrote some of the songs
PAT WARREN
Leaside Life, February 2016
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Time to meet the new Mrs. Park
Mrs. Mary Dwan King, AKA Mrs. Park the Second more formalized from Joan’s start in 1961 I put in place the policies and procedures that were required. We began kindergarten programs and established a summer camp program, Mrs. Park’s Summer Fun Camp, which operated for 10 years. We also operated a second school at St. Cuthbert’s Church, Mrs. Park’s School Too Inc., for five years.
Mrs. Park the First we continue to use today.” Dwan King even made a CD for a special anniversary. “It was titled Mrs. Park’s School – Music for Families and produced to celebrate our 45th anniversary. All profits from the CD were directed to children’s charities and it included nursery school songs sung by graduates of Mrs. Park’s, storytelling, poetry and singer songwriter music.” Some questions: How did Mrs. Park run things? Joan was very hands on. So what has changed? The basic philosophy has not changed. We value the same things as Joan. To meet the licensing requirements that were becoming
Some memories? In my early years my mother started volunteering three times a week and became know as the school grandma. Neat bonus time with her. And one day a little boy was walking down the hallway holding his mother’s hand. I can see it. He held his mother’s hand up to his nose and took a big whiff and he said, “My mom’s hand smells like cookies.” He was infatuated with her. It was lovely. You can’t spend all your time at the school. What else do you do? I have lots of interests. I take a lot of photographs and really enjoy taking them of musicians during live shows. I’ve had shows and people have bought the photographs. I make and sell silver jewellery and that’s something I really enjoy. And will there be a Mrs. Park the Third? I’m getting older. I wouldn’t mind doing some other things, but then I think I have the best job in the world. Why would I want to leave when I still really enjoy what I do? ■
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:20 AM Page 11
Pool will close from mid-May to January
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Leaside Life, February 2016
When the current season wraps up in mid-May, the Leaside pool will close for major repairs and not open again until probably next year. “The work is expected to take about six months,” said Henry Stachelbeck, manager of Leaside arena. “If the work is completed on time, we’ll need a couple more weeks to fill the pool and get it ready again, so programming isn’t likely to resume until January.” The $800,000 project has three components: repairs to the lower roof over the offices and change rooms, mechanical upgrades to the drainage system, and grading improvements to the grounds behind the pool. Funding comes from the city’s Parks and Recreation budget. Councillor Jon Burnside said that “some of these items were identified in the city’s capital plan as long as 10 years ago. “The good news,” he adds, “is that city staff tell me the building is in good shape so the pool should be available to the community for many years to come.” ■
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By ALLAN WILLIAMS
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ADULT and TEEN PROGRAMMING: – Adult Colouring Party. Colouring sheets, crayons, markers and relaxing music supplied. Recurring Tuesdays, Feb. 2-23, 7-8:15 p.m. For all teens and adults. – Depression in Late Life. Geriatric Mental Health Services presenter discusses risk factors and current treatment. Wednesday, Feb. 3, 7- 8 p.m. Drop in. – Financial Independence for Special Needs Family Members. Madeline Sotoudeh discusses the Registered Disability Savings Plan and credits. Wednesday, Feb. 17, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – The Germ Files. Microbiologist Jason Tetro about germs. Monday, Feb. 29, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – Leaside Writers’ Group. Saturdays, Feb. 6, 20, 10-11:45 a.m. Everyone welcome. – Leaside Needleworx Group (knitting and crocheting). Bring your own projects or start something new. Recurring Fridays, Feb. 5-26, 10-11:45 a.m. Everyone welcome. – No Longer Strangers. Photography by Jeff Bowen. All month. – Play Reading Group. Reading a thoughtprovoking play each month, from comedy to award-winning drama. Saturday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-noon. Call to register. Limited space. – The Science of Personal Dress. Stylist and image consultant Sandra Quigley of ClothesCall.ca. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – Virtual TTC Academy. Bring your own laptop and learn to simulate virtual Toronto subway operations. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2-4 p.m. Call to register. Limited space. – Youth Advisory Group Meeting (13-19 years). Volunteer for community hours and get creative. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 4- 6 p.m. Members only. Ask for application. – Zero to Blog in Three Simple Steps. Helping entrepreneurs learn skills and best practices. Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING: – LEGO Club. After school. Thursdays, Feb. 4-25, 3:30-5 p.m. Drop in. – Ready for Reading Baby Time (up to 18 months). Bouncing and tickling rhymes, songs and stories for babies with parents or caregivers. Thursdays, Feb. 4-25, 9:30-10 a.m. & 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, Feb. 3-24, 9:30-10 a.m. & 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in. – Valentine’s Day Fun. Arts & crafts, story time, music and fun. Organized by the Youth Advisory Group. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 4-6 p.m. All kids and parents welcome.
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Library closed Monday, Feb. 15. Canadian Federation of University Women Leaside-East York monthly meeting, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 18, Northlea United Church, 125 Broadway. Speaker, Heather Darling Pigat, U of T Art Centre, on Art at the University. Visitors and new members welcome. A university degree is not a prerequisite for membership. www.cfuwleasideeastyork.ca or Pat Price, 416-385-1055. St. Augustine's Church, 1847 Bayview. The Groove Room Coffee House, Friday, Feb. 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Live music by local artists., featuring Kevin Mccloskey. $5 includes coffee and dessert. All proceeds towards a Syrian refugee family. Augustine@bellnet.ca. William Lea Room, Leaside arena. Laugh Out Loud fundraiser for Community Food Centres Canada, Friday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m., with Yuk Yuk comedians and the Indecision band. $90 dinner. Charlene@charlenekalia.com. St. Cuthbert's Church, Fellowship Room, 1399 Bayview. Refugee Sponsorship Information Fair, Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-noon. 416 485- 0329. Drop in anytime. Get information on how to help.
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Leaside Life, February 2016
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Ha Happy appy F amily Family D ay! Day! Monday, February 15th is Family Day. Ontarians work hard and deserve more time to enjoy with their loved ones.
Fewest home sales in 10 years By JETHRO SEYMOUR The number of home sales in Leaside and Bennington Heights last year was the lowest in 10 years. Only 162 homes traded hands in 2015 compared to the 10-year average of 220 homes per year. December was very slow: five homes sold, only one a semi-detached. But it was a good market for sellers: Those 162 homes last year sold on average 5 percent higher than the asking price and in 13 days. Over the last decade there’s been an average price increase of 10.14 percent per year. Some figures. Last year’s sales compared to 2014: All Homes Sales – down 31.1%, to 162 Detached Home Sales – down 37.4%, to 119 Semi-Detached Home Sales – down 2.6%, to 37
DOLLAR VALUE CHANGES All Home Values – up 5.3%, to $1,414,431 Detached Home Values – up 7.9%, to $1,566,577 Semi-Detached Home Values – up 16.6%, to $964,493 The highest 2015 MLS Leaside sale was $3.080 million in North Leaside on Glenvale Blvd. The lowest valued sale was $725,000 for a two- bedroom, one bathroom semi-detached home in North Leaside. __ 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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Leaside Life, February 2016
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Leaside Life, February 2016
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SAHIL: At one point it looked dead At the end of last month’s Part 1, banks had refused to provide loans to the planners of SAHIL, at Bayview and McRae, because they were unfamiliar with the life lease program. Money was eventually found, and so were more problems. But the end was a happy success. By FRANK JONES Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) eventually approved a $45,000 seed loan, and ultimately got back every penny. That loan allowed the SAHIL activists to order up planning drawings from Seppo Kanerva. Money, however, remained the stumbling block. Deirdre Gibson, Barbara Carter, Geoff Kettel and others were hunting for financing. One loan fell through when the broker imposed a requirement that only union labour be used on the project. That would have destroyed the construction budget, according to George Knott. Backing out of the deal resulted in a $25,000 contract penalty, a bitter pill for the activists to swallow. Under the unit sales agreements, purchasers were offered incentives to put more money in the pot: if they put up $25,000 they would receive a 15 per cent discount on the price of their unit; for a $50,000 down payment they could discount the price by 20 per cent. Knott admits that at one point he was so discouraged that he told Carter he felt the project might not fly. Edna Beange pointed out that at least with the site now purchased, those early investors felt confident that if things went wrong they would get their money back, especially since land values were likely to rise. Then former East York Mayor Alan Redway, SAHIL’s lawyer, found a group of Florida investors willing to loan the money for a generous return. With every mortgage payment, the investors demanded extra fees, Knott recalls . When all but $200,000 of the loan had been repaid, the committee asked the lenders to allow them time to make one last payment. Former Toronto Star columnist Frank Jones is a resident of SAHIL.
No. 45 • January 2016
Leaside Life leasidelifenews.com
Bob Hart
George Knott
Edna Beange
Deirdre Gibson
The struggle for seniors to stay in Leaside
Happy New Year
Ian Ellingham
Seppo Kanerva
Barbara Carter
Geoff Kettel
"They refused," says Knott.
THE STORY OF SAHIL PART 2 "They wanted us to take out a whole new mortgage with all the costs that entailed." Under life lease regulations, the building mortgage must be paid off when construction is completed. Knott, Beange and others would eventually put in their own money to pay off the loan. SAHIL's total cost came in at close to $4.5 million. Of that, the cost of financing was $313,000. To be financially viable, SAHIL – a small development – needed sufficient units and owners to cover its running costs without charging exorbitant maintenance fees. The official plan allowed for four storeys, but the committee discussed and then rejected a plan for five storeys. "It would have involved fighting with our neighbours (on McRae Dr.)," says Knott. Instead, the SAHIL group went to East York’s Committee of Adjustment with a proposal for a four-storey, 21unit building. Another challenge. The committee ruled that the plans did not provide enough parking spaces. This meant the number of units had to be reduced to 18 to accommodate cars rather than people, a decision that still rankles some, considering Toronto's modern-day efforts to limit car ownership in the city. Beange points out that reducing the apartment count actually resulted in a more attractive plan. Finally the team was ready to begin construction. Five companies tendered for the construction contract, and Trexcon Construction was selected. Yet the committee's work increased. From painting the construction hoarding to stuffing sales
flyers in mailboxes, the work never stopped. "We were always chasing the next cheque," says Knott. "In one case, I had to go to the office of one of our purchasers and show his secretary the receipts for the money we were spending." At the time, they also were unaware that the site had a stream running beneath it that would require the installation of caissons at considerable extra cost. Finally, the apartment suites began to take their final form. Kanerva, who studied architecture in Finland and at the University of Toronto, was still in for a surprise. He had previously designed at least 10 senior projects throughout Ontario, several in cooperation with Gibson and Ian Ellingham. The emphasis had always been on keeping costs down. So his initial idea for the SAHIL site was to have 30 units with a modest 500-600 square feet of space. Members of the SAHIL committee told him, "We are not that poor, you know." Some of them were getting up to $400,000 selling their Leaside homes (today that figure would be more than $1 million). "It was kind of shocking," says Kanerva, laughing. Instead, the architect proposed units that ranged in size from 700 to 1,400 square feet, and he was able to include SAHIL's unique wide and winding corridors and other improvements. The proposed prices for the units ranged from $149,000 for a one-bedroom unit to $273,000 for the largest two-bedroom corner unit. For Kanerva, working with the SAHIL group was a mainly positive collaborative experience. The committee members, unlike the developers he usually dealt with, would be living there for the most part. He recalls that the big question was not ‘Will it be saleable?’ but rather 'Will it be comfortable for me?' What did comfortable amount to? First, says Kanerva, it meant he didn't have to stick to straight hallways, and could incorporate handsome birch benches and handrails. Kanerva, 70, is especially proud of the two-bedroom layouts he developed while working on other senior projects. In most of the units, the two bedrooms are on opposite sides of the apartment. It means, he says, that, for instance, brother and sister occupants or senior and son or
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:20 AM Page 17
daughter (not an uncommon arrangement) can live together with reasonable separation. Wide doors accommodate wheelchairs, and the bathrooms have substantial grip bars – often derided by purchasers at first, but later seen as wonderful assets. Kanerva is also proud of the kitchens (which Carter says are nearly always larger than the kitchens their owners left behind in their Leaside homes). Large drawers, rather than deep cupboards, make it possible for seniors to reach pots and pans without going down on their knees. Deep, traditional sinks make the use of water-saving plastic washbowls easy. Keyhole-shaped counters give residents a comfortable vantage point to eat and view their domains. Low-level windows make seeing out easy, while elevated electric outlets make it easier to plug in machinery. As the building took shape, Kanerva revelled in it. Driving past it on his way to work, "I could drop in every morning, say hello, and get a pretty good feeling of how things were going," he says. On May 15, 1999, though the roof was not yet finished, 45 people attended a joyful Scandinavian-style
ments she was making in urging seniors to buy into the life lease idea applied equally to her. She has lived in her favourite fourth floor apartment ever since and, at 95, is still SAHIL president. Original architectural drawings called for a clock on SAHIL, which would have made it a landmark at the corner of Bayview and McRae. It was dropped for cost reasons -- a cutback that architect Seppo Kanerva still regrets. Visionary Bob Hart, whose idea it was to build SAHIL, was the first to put down a $1,000 deposit for a
"roof-topping". A fir tree was hoisted to the roof, and later planted at the rear of the building. Unfortunately, it did not survive. Sales, however, were slow coming. By June, 1999, the building was 60 per cent complete, with four units unsold. Phone calls from prospects dried up. A survey of callers showed the main concern was that the units were too expensive. In desperation, the board offered a $3,500 bonus to any real estate agent bringing in a buyer. There were no takers. Carter organized a move-in schedule to begin August 9, but on July 15, Kanerva reported delays due to the window supplier's non-performance. Buyers who had already sold their homes were moving their furniture into incomplete units while volunteers had to be on the site every day to let workers in. "Some families are handling the disruption better than others," a note in the board minutes recounts. The building was supposed to be ready June 1, but Toronto Hydro didn’t approve SAHIL for occupation until Sept. 3. Then the big move began. New owners wore hardhats as
unit. Once moved in, he was always ready to waylay visitors and sell them on the idea of buying. Bob died three years later, just after his 90th birthday. His wife Margaret, died before taking up residence. A bench out front of SAHIL bears her name. Barbara Carter (author of Where Will They Live, a book on senior housing choices) was one of the key influences in getting SAHIL built. "I never passed that building without a smile on my face," she recalls. Last year she and her husband, Barry, moved into the suite she had always hankered after and now she is the SAHIL treasurer. When it comes to moving to a seniors project like SAHIL, men are always the hardest to persuade, says Barbara Carter, who sold many of the original units. "Single women, no problem, they got it. But I had to get to the guys." Her secret: persuade men they were doing it for their wives. If their wives were left alone, she explained to them, they would be among friends and within walking distance of stores and services. ■ they moved around the building, trying to keep out of the way of workers. At one point workers downed tools temporarily because they couldn't get on with their work. At last, the building was complete. The SAHIL group could hardly believe their ordeal was over. A year after construction began, Knott looked back in amazement at what had been achieved. "On January 1, 1999, we were on the hook for a mortgage loan of up to $2.3 million," he told the committee. "Our contract with Trexcon Construction was for a building worth $2.9 million. We had $181,000 in personal loans with six purchasers and three outsiders. And we had sold only 14 units." At that point, foundation walls had been poured, but construction was four weeks behind schedule due to weather and groundwater problems. A year later, the building was completed, the mortgage, contractor and architects had been paid in full, 17 of 18 units had been sold, and the building had come in under budget and with a small profit. "Pretty good for a small group of amateurs," Knott said with quiet satisfaction. ■
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The very first residents of SAHIL, former Toronto Telegram editor Art Cole and his wife, Elva, were excitedly exploring their new home in September, 1999. And there, sleeping in the bathroom, was a large raccoon. A workman removed it. George Hart, 101, is the resident poet of SAHIL. His 100th birthday last year was marked with a reading of one of his poems titled To SAHIL Friends. It begins: Eighteen homes in this mansion, This Leaside haven we enjoy... This laughing, twingeful, helping place. Long time SAHIL treasurer George Knott, was a T. Eaton Co. store manager before he retired. His last job of the day was always to check the store. Habits die hard: George is still making the rounds last thing at night to make sure SAHIL folk sleep easy. Even though she helped get it built, former East York councillor Edna Beange never expected to live there. When she was 78 she thought she was "too young". Then, one day, she realized that the argu-
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Leaside Life, February 2016
First SAHIL resident found raccoon in bathroom
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SAHIL 3 took a short walk
YOU, our dining critics
By BARRY THOMAS We chose Vero Trattoria, an Italian restaurant that has been a feature on Bayview for the past seven years. My wife and I have enjoyed eating there several times over the years. Under new ownership for the past two, Vero’s quality has been maintained. Our other critics were Nick Basaliga, who made the move to Leaside a couple of years ago and Barbara Carter, my wife. Barbara and I have been Leasiders since 1979. In July, 2015 we sold our house and moved into SAHIL on Bayview. Nick and his wife, Barbara, are our neighbours and new friends. Being a cold January night, something well back from the door was selected. Vera’s warm wood décor has been in place since its inception. Ambiance is always impor-
From left, Nick Basaliga, Barbara Carter and Barry Thomas. We give $100 to help pay for a meal for three Leasiders 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). tant to me and Vero’s doesn’t disappoint. Each night Vero has a special, so being Tuesday it was 50 percent off selected Ontario wines. Since I was on antibiotics and not drinking, the
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others selected Bricklayers Merlot. Strange name, but generally approved of. Other nightly specials are Mondays for pizza and Wednesdays when kids 10 and under eat free. We selected three appetizers,
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grilled calamari, bruschetta and the Vero Signature salad. We shared and the opinions were all very positive, including Nick’s: “The calamari is not at all rubbery”. The bruschetta was fresh, and unlike in some places it was nicely portioned, so it didn’t fill you up before the main course. Barbara’s Signature salad was a mixed bag of “field greens, grapes, tomato, bacon, candied nuts, toasted goat cheese and aged balsamic.” It was very good. The night’s special was halibut. This is a great fish, but have you tried buying it? Wretchedly expensive, but this special was fairly priced, so Barbara ordered it. Nick went with the tiger shrimp and scallop capellini. I’m originally from the Maritimes, so I chose the jumbo diver scallops. Like the appetizers, we tried to share, but it’s tough when you have something you really like. The halibut was raved about, moist and tasty, with the cream sauce adding to it, as opposed to being overpowering. Barbara is not a fish fan, but she really liked it. A little bit of sharing gave us all a taste. Nick’s tiger shrimp and scallop capellini fared a little less well. Although he enjoyed the dish, he felt the capellini might have been a bit
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:20 AM Page 20
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dry and possibly could have used a little more garlic. Barbara was very happy with her taste and didn’t share Nick’s comments. Me? I was busily finishing off my main, the diver scallops, so that I hopefully wouldn’t have to share it. What is a diver scallop? It is one that has been harvested by divers, as opposed to a machine. They are generally bigger and less gritty. The scallops were very good, but the accompaniments were outstanding. There was crispy corn mash (a first for me), farm-gate vegetables, roasted pepper sauce and maple syrup. For a meat lover like me to say the whole plate could have been only the accompaniments is high praise. Room for dessert? Of course, we had room. Walking from our new apartment at SAHIL, we felt a little less guilty about this extra indulgence. There are four desserts on the menu, so we ordered three. Nick had the lemon tart, Barbara, the tiramisu and I the “decadent” chocolate duo. All were shared, but since I have an aversion to lemon desserts, I passed on the tart (more for the other two). Barbara very much liked her tiramisu and commented that it was not boozy. My chocolate duo was chocolatey in the extreme and nicely accented with a dollop of sweet cream. Nick liked the lemon tart, but he did find the crust to be a bit hard to cut. Seeing as we had ordered three of the four desserts, our waiter brought us a complimentary fourth, the salted caramel cheesecake. Even though this was a baked cheesecake, it was very light and all of us made quick work of this delightful “gift”. The meal was finished off with very good cappuccino, decaf, of course, as everyone wanted a good night’s sleep. To sum up our evening was a winner. Although Barbara and I have enjoyed Vero Trattoria on several other occasions, we felt that this was the best experience we have had there and it cements itself as our “go to” Italian restaurant. The fact that it is a short walking distance from our SAHIL home, makes it doubly attractive. ■
To advertise in Leaside Life: 416-486-7387 www.leasidelifenews.com We deliver to all homes, apartments and businesses in the M4G postal area.
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LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 22
33 Laird plan has a serious problem Leaside Life, February 2016
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22 The drive to re-vamp the east side of Laird Dr. for retail continues unabated. The latest is an official plan and zoning by-law amendment application for 33 Laird, at the corner with Canvarco, for which a community consultation was held Jan. 5. In my view the major finding of the community meeting was the revelation of issues with the location that are sufficiently serious to necessitate a re-thinking of the proposal. The testimony of businesses on Canvarco about the effect of the development, jeopardising their viability, is an extremely significant concern. Canvarco being a cul de sac and there being no alternative way out to Laird, may represent a fatal flaw for the development. On the one hand, if an outlet were to be put through from Canvarco to Esandar (which the city at the meeting denied was under consideration), at least one existing business on Canvarco would be be gone, and likely others would follow as the area gentrified. It’s a unique area now with a quaint mix of automotive-related businesses,
Geoff Kettel
Saving old Leaside chimney repair, watercraft rental, and antiques. The LPOA recommended that the development not proceed pending the city conducting an evaluation and making an informed decision as to whether or not to create that outlet. The LPOA also recommended that a day nursery not be allowed as a permitted use given the strictures of the location. At the meeting, 33 Laird’s developer took pains to explain that its footprint was a sliver of the Leaside Village development, at 0.9 hectares with only 47,000 square feet of commercial floor area. However the proposed uses of retail, restaurant, recreation, day nursery, service shop and financial institution are similar. And it does clearly represent an erosion of the Employment Areas designation in the Official Plan in
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that it proposes retail as the major use, not just as an ancillary use. The LPOA said in its comments to City Planning following the community meeting: “We recognise that there are market forces at work that militate against this particular development bucking the trend. However we feel that at some point the city, province and federal government need to work together in an effort to provide more sustainable and creative job opportunities in the Leaside Business Park.” A key aspect of the application, and the focus of the architect’s presentation at the meeting, is the need to address the presence of a heritagelisted building, built in 1945-46, which housed the original Sheridan Equipment Company, a distributor of construction equipment. Jane Pitfield says in her book, Leaside, that “Sheridan operated a very large shop which claimed to have one of the heaviest cranes in Leaside, needed to ease the handling of the heavy tractors and machine parts.” In other words it fit right into the gritty industrial and related service
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Leaside Life, February 2016
U! O Accurate would uld lik like kee ttoo tha thank nk all of these LLeaside easide businesses KY N A for their trust st aand nd confidence confidence in our service service oover ver e the yyears. eears. TH Please ase rremember emember to to SHOP LLOCAL. OC CAL. A
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 24
GEOFF KETTEL
Leaside Life, February 2016
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33 Laird ecosystem of the southern part of the Leaside Business Park. Later it became the Leaside Business Centre, with office uses. 33 Laird was placed on the city’s inventory of Heritage Properties by City Council in July 2015. Former councillor John Parker deserves credit for recognising the heritage values and for bringing forward a request for heritage listing in 2014. So what are the heritage values of this one- and two-storey red brick building? According to the heritage staff report “the design values are evident in the building’s representation
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of the Streamlined Modern style which was prominent in the 1930s and 1940s….and for its association with the engineering firm of Margison and Babcock… its distinctive long and low form with its mix of red brick and cast-stone elements make it a longstanding local landmark and an important contributor to the historic character of this Leaside neighbourhood”. The developer is faced with the significant challenge of adding new while maintaining the integrity of the old. How did they do? In its comments on the heritage aspects the LPOA stated that “the proponent has made significant efforts to address the challenges of integrating the addition, and new building developments with the heritage building. We recognise the designer’s efforts to produce a complementary but different design. However we feel that the designs of the new structures (random shapes on the north side, and angled poles on the south side) are simply too radical a departure. We suggest that the design needs to be re-considered.” The LPOA recommended that the development proposal be considered by the Toronto Design Review Panel. ■
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Leaside is growing, and Leaside Life with it. We’re now at a distribution of 9,000 copies. We deliver to all houses in the M4G area through the local firm Accurate Distributing, Laird Dr., and to all condos, apartments and businesses by the Post Office to all of M4G, including the Leaside Business Park, and to a small part of it that’s in the M4H postal area. No other local news publication does that.
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 25
Jon Burnside
paid advertisement
Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West
We need more crossing guards The appallingly dangerous driving practices of many travelling on Leaside roads and the corresponding concern for pedestrian safety has generated many requests to increase the number of crossing guards at busier intersections. Staff Sgt. Moyer of 53 Division has been very supportive and once the police receive my formal request, they will conduct a "real time" investigation, counting vehicles and pedestrians to verify that a crossing guard is warranted. Last spring the police carried out their site inspection at Bessborough and McRae and deemed that the traffic to pedestrian ratio was not high enough. However, local resident Jennifer Avveduto wasn’t convinced so she asked me to put in another request in the fall. Jennifer's determination is appreciated; after their second investigation the police agreed that a crossing guard was warranted. Unfortunately, we still don’t have one. The problem? The police can’t find enough crossing guards. On a recent drive through the community, I noticed that two of the existing crossing duties were being performed by uniformed police officers. It would seem that a major issue is the poor pay. Currently, crossing guards are paid just a pittance more than minimum wage and while they work before school, at lunch and after school – in reality the entire day – they are only compensated for three hours work. This needs to change. While the city has serious budget issues, a lack of funds can’t be an excuse when we are trying to ensure pedestrian safety, especially where children cross every day to go to school. At the very least we need to provide TTC Metropasses so those who need to travel to their post don’t incur the $6.50 daily cost of doing so. I’ve been advised that this is a citywide issue and it’s definitely one that I will be pursuing. In the meantime, if you know anyone who might be interested in crossing guard duties please contact my office (416 392-0215) or Staff Sgt. Moyer of 53 Division (416 808-5354). ■
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Leaside Life, February 2016
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LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 26
Will Ashworth
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Leaside Life, February 2016
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The business of Leaside
This letter writer has a good point The Eaton Centre is open 78.5 hours a week, 52 weeks of the year. Closed only on Christmas Day, every store is open the other 364 days of the year, rain or shine. If I want to buy my wife a nice blouse from Aritzia or J. Crew I know that Monday through Friday I'll be able to do so between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. without fail Can you say the same about Bayview? Not a chance. In this issue's Letters to the Editor section a Leaside resident had some harsh words for the stores on the strip as well as for the Bayview Leaside BIA that's tasked with improving the shopping experience there. "I have one further improvement the BIA could implement, ensure their stores are OPEN," wrote the Leaside resident. Now in this instance the Leasider was referring to the number of stores on Bayview that were closed on Boxing Day, suggesting no more than 10 percent of them opened on one of the three busiest retail shopping days of the year -- the two others being Black Friday and Dec. 23. Meanwhile, all of the big box stores on Laird were gleefully welcoming shoppers to their establishments and raking in the dough as a result. On many occasions prior to the formation of the BIA this past year business owners on the strip have been known to gripe both publicly and privately about the many things holding them back from greater success. Headwinds include the proliferation of corporate stores on Laird who've got the financial firepower to carry out lengthy price wars, offer extended operating hours, greater product selection and a significantly better parking situation. All of these might have some basis in fact but the truth is if you want to compete with the big box stores you've got to be open when
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 27
“Down Under Tucker” a delicious dinner of Southern Hemisphere foods Saturday January 30th, 5:30 pm $10 at the door (Kids eat free if the top of their head is lower than the table!)
St Augustine's Bayview at Broadway www.saintaugustine.ca Sundays at 8:30 & 10:30 am
Survey From Page 1
ture you will be approached for your comments. Stay tuned for further information! –––– Here’s another development issue, on a much smaller scale, but with big traffic implications. 33 Laird Dr. is the heritage-designated Levitt building, immediately north of All Canadian Self-Storage, and diagonally across the street from two busy intersections: by the Husky gas station at Laird Dr./Malcolm Rd. and outside Leaside Memorial Gardens at Southvale Dr./Millwood Rd. My LPOA co-president Geoff Kettel is writing elsewhere in Leaside Life about the planning and heritage issues involved in rezoning the property. A redesigned site incorporating a new two-storey building with such proposed uses as retail, day nursery and/or restaurants, its entry/exit would be via Canvarco Rd., a short dead-end street off Laird.
Volunteer opportunities Are you looking to gain experience volunteering in a client-based program, helping kids with special needs participate in activities to the best of their ability? Then we are looking for you! To learn more about Holland Bloorview’s volunteer opportunities, please visit www.Hollandbloorview.ca/volunteer
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You’re invited to a
Leaside Life, February 2016
they are because convenience is everything to dual-income Leaside families with little free time, especially during the day, to make their daily purchases. "To close two consecutive days during the busiest shopping period of the year is akin to having a beach community's ice cream parlour close during a long summer weekend," commented the Leaside resident. For me it all comes down to bread. Often, my wife will call me at work and ask me to pick up baked goods from Cobs or Epi Bread on the way home on the Davisville bus. More often than not I end up going to valu-mart or Metro because both of the bakeries close at 6 during most of the work week. While it's not the end of the world it seems silly that hardworking families in Leaside can't enjoy their favourite bread simply because the bakeries have had their ovens going since 3 in the morning and don't want to remain open past 6, feeling the day's already been too long. I feel for them, I truly do. But, like any business, you have an alternative. If you don't want to meet the needs of your customers you can close your doors for the day(s). However, when your business goes under don't blame the big box stores on Laird because the fault will lie squarely on your shoulders. ■
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ArteMbassy
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LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 28
Art Courses and Resources
Leaside Life, February 2016
March Break 2016 @ ArteMbassy ART CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS ArteMbassy offers an inspiring series of courses for children and adults with the purpose of developing ability, confidence and nurturing a love for art and the creative process.
■ The Golden Teapot – Art, Stories, Music and Imagination | Ages 4-8 MON., Mar. 14 –18 | 9:30am- 12:00pm Cost: $225
■ Teen Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture | Ages 8-15 MON., Mar. 14 –18 | 1:30-4:00pm
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These enriched art experiences offers children and teens a multitude of activities to engage in and opportunities to create. For questions or to register call: Director: Julie McMeekin | 416-998-5045
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There was much criticism from residents at the city’s Jan. 5 public consultation meeting, and from industrial owners in the Leaside Business Park. We Leasiders are only too aware of horrendous traffic volumes and congestion along Laird and at these junctions, which will only get worse with the new Costco superstore recently approved for Overlea Blvd. (The LPOA has heard that the Costco approval is being appealed at the OMB, but in the meanwhile retail contagion is already spreading along Overlea.) There is one potentially positive aspect. LPOA’s traffic committee, since 2004, has presented designs to improve the safety, look, and traffic flow of the two traffic light intersections by Leaside Memorial Gardens. These have been approved at two separate LPOA annual general meetings, and shown to city staff. For years, nothing has happened. But the traffic consultant for the 33 Laird proposal was actually given the LPOA blueprints by city staff to consider. We’ll be pursuing these improvements whatever happens to the development itself. –––– Leasiders also await an amended design for 660 Eglinton East (Sunnybrook Plaza). And the LPOA will be at the Ontario Municipal Board in coming months, opposing a major condo/retirement proposal at 140146 Laird Dr. –––– Lastly, an update on the all-day, every-day TTC Bayview South bus, which is to begin service as of Sunday, June 19. That date was dictated by the availability of additional buses for the increased service. This new bus will, finally, close the service gap on Bayview between Sutherland and Davisville, making it much easier for South Leasiders to get to Sunnybrook Hospital or to shop locally, without having to use a circuitous public transit route, or pay for expensive taxis or parking fees. As we get closer to the date we will notify you of decisions regarding frequency of service, and bus stop locations. Councillor Burnside, who has been very supportive of this improvement, and I will be meeting to discuss such details with the TTC. –––– The LPOA board meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Trace Manes building on Rumsey Rd., by Leaside Library and the tennis courts. These meetings are open to the public. We encourage you to attend, with questions, or issues you’d like advice on, or just to listen in. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, Feb. 3. ■
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 29
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Leaside Life, February 2016
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416-486-7387 www.leasidelifenews.com 9,000 distribution to houses, apartments and businesses.
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 30
Syrian refugee family arrivals here have started Leaside Life, February 2016
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________________________
Lorna Krawchuk
DEADLINE NEWS The St. Augustine refugee family arrived January 15. The St. Anselm family was to arrive January 21. ________________________ The Church of St. Augustine, on Bayview, has partnered with St. Matthew’s Church, in Riverdale, and knew that a family of four, a mother, father and two girls, ages 3 and 6 months, were on their way. A successful fundraising campaign was chaired by Peter Shepard and myriad items stashed away in cupboards and garages. To help contact Gina Davidson at adriad@rogers.com, 416 484-1874. Organizers of the family sponsored by St. Anselm’s was reluctant to divulge information about the family before their arrival, but report that they have had a very generous response from parishioners in donations of money and all things needed to set up a home in Canada. They also have secured accommodation. To help: Tim Wood at gerrardwood@rogers.com. St. Cuthbert’s Church, to which I
Publisher Leaside Life
belong, has completed the paperwork with AURA, the Anglican United Refugee Alliance, and is waiting to hear that a family has been chosen. We are starting to collect kitchenware and small household items, but are reluctant to be storing furniture and clothing until we know the composition of the family and some idea of the time of arrival. Contact me: ltkrawchuk8@aol.com, 416 425-4431. Leaside Presbyterian is working with Presbyterian World Service and Development, and with two other churches, Rosedale Presbyterian Church and Morningside High Park Presbyterian Church, under a Coordinating Committee to make sure they have everything in place when they receive notice of their family. Rev. Nick Athanasiadis at nick@leasidepresbyterianchurch.ca. At Leaside United Church they are old hands at sponsoring refugees, having successfully done nine since
1979/80. They are partnering with several community groups and are looking to sponsor two groups of five to seven people each. They have been inviting all interested in sponsorship to information sessions to provide support and reassurance to inexperienced sponsors. Help is welcome. Bob and Lis Lister, aelister@sympatico.ca, 416 757-1491. Northlea United Church participants have been some of the beneficiaries of the Listers’ generosity with knowledge of the process. The church has been fundraising and organizing. There are plans for a fundraiser gala at Northlea on April 2. They think they will be ready to submit a formal application to sponsor in February. Roger Touw, rogertouw@gmail.com, 416 425 4677. To various degrees, each of the groups can use more money (and as churches, can give charitable donation receipts). $40,000 is the recommended total for a family. A lead on an affordable apartment, some willing drivers, furniture, bedding, kitchenware, some people to be friends….you name it, all are needed. ■
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LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:21 AM Page 31
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Leaside Life, February 2016
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for 2015
LeasideLife issue 46_LeasideLifev1 16-01-20 11:22 AM Page 32
Leaside Life, February 2016
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