LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:12 AM Page 1
No. 48 • April 2016
Leaside Life
ALLAN WILLIAMS
leasidelifenews.com
New electric bike developed in Leaside, Page 30
Amsterdam Brewery owner Jeff Carefoote, left, and brewmaster Iain McOustra have tripled capacity at the Leaside site this March.
So how much beer do we drink?
Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LPOA
By ALLAN WILLIAMS
Not happy with change process In last month’s Leaside Life, I described a report commissioned by the city to redraw Toronto’s 44 municipal ward boundaries and make city wards more equal in size. The report proposed five alternative designs, four of which divide Lea-
“There’s something to be said for being the local guy,” says Jeff Carefoote, owner of Leaside’s Amsterdam Brewery, which tripled its brewing capacity this March. That’s its second expansion since moving here three and a half years ago. “In the past three years we’ve experienced a 40 percent growth in sales across all channels, the LCBO, the Beer Store, bars and restaurants, and at our Leaside store, and we can’t always keep up with demand.” So how much of that comes from Leaside beer drinkers? Carefoote says he can’t quantify, but there are lots of local Leaside residents among customers at the retail store, which is open seven days a week and especially busy on Saturdays. And, he says, local folks have responded to their seasonal releases. From my own experience, when they released the Double Tempest Russian
LPOA, Page 25
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:12 AM Page 2
Leaside Life, April 2016
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Imperial Stout which went on sale at noon on a Saturday in November and each person could only purchase six bottles, I lined up and other people I was chatting with were from Leaside. “We’re starting to see more people from the neighbourhood dropping in to the Tap Room (attached to the brewery, beside the retail store), now that they can get a pint here,” said Carefoote. For the first couple of years he wasn’t allowed to sell pints, only sample sizes, but former Councillor John Parker got the permits changed. “We’ve gone from 20,000 square feet in 2012, when we first came to Leaside, to 65,000 square feet today,” says Carefoote, “and from 39 employees to 92. We just hired six new members of the sales team this month.” Amsterdam has installed three kinds of new machinery as part of the current expansion. In late February a new “tank farm” with eight large fermenting tanks was finished and is already almost full of beer. New packaging equipment has enabled an increase in production from 24 cans per minute to 200-plus cans per minute. And the new and larger “brewhouse” – the kettles in which the water, malt,
hops and yeast are mixed to produce the beer – was to be fully operational by April 1. “We won’t be using all the available capacity right away,” notes brewmaster Iain McOustra, “so we’ve still got room to grow.” McOustra hopes that some of that growth will come not only from their existing product line but also from interest in some of the new brews that he is continually experimenting with. Three Speed Lager, for example, is a new offering for 2016. “It’s conditioned for 25 days so it’s very smooth,” he says. It’s already available in a few Leaside-area pubs and will be at the LCBO sometime in April. McOustra is most excited about Amsterdam’s new Farmhouse Series of seasonal ales. “We’ve been experimenting for several years in the Brew Pub and it’s great to see them get a wider release. The first one, called Home Grown, is available now.” As the name implies, the ingredients are local. The malt is made from Red Fife wheat (in the late 19 th century it was the most important grain crop grown in Ontario but is much rarer today) and spelt, and the Clear Valley Cascade hops come from the Collingwood area. ■
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:12 AM Page 3
“I eat Indian food quite a bit, as my wife is Indian, and so was not sure what to expect from Kamasutra,” said Nicolas Lemond. Not to worry. “I really enjoyed our meal and would go back again,” he said. Fortunately he was there (1522 Bayview) with his wife, Darlene, for an accurate second opinion. “I would highly recommend Kamasutra for authentic Indian food that has a touch of creativity to it,” she said. A final opinion: “I will definitely go back,” said their Bayview Ave. neighbour Karen Spencer. They were not only happy, they had special favourites, except Nicolas, who couldn’t seem to make up his mind about two things. “For dinner by far my favourite
Karen Spencer, left, Nicolas and Darlene Lemond. 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). was the Bombay bakra lamb. It was deliciously cooked in a sauce with onions and red peppers. The meat was very tender and the curry worked really well with the pulao
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rice,” he said. “It was a little spicier compared to the other dishes and the rice was able to neutralize the dish to let me really enjoy the flavour.
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Leaside Life, April 2016
Wife agrees: YOU, our dining critics It’s real Indian food
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:12 AM Page 4
Leaside Life, April 2016
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“My other favourite was the garlic naan. There was enough for all of us and the naan was light and had a butter garlic flavour. By far my favourite part of the meal. I think I could have eaten the garlic bread as my main.� Darlene: “The chicken tikka masala was by far my favourite dish. It was cooked with chicken breast that was juicy and tender. The curry was creamy and had a great spice to it. At one point I found myself just eating the curry with naan, it was that heavenly.� Spencer: “Loved the chicken pakoras, and the vegetable samosas.� Darlene: “While we waited, we were served a free garlic bread to get our taste buds ready. We also had a serving of crispy papadums, a lentil wafer that is usually served with drinks, that were crisped to perfection. “We decided that the best option was the meat thali for three, which allowed us to try out a little bit of everything: a medley of Indian favourites, a juicy potato samosa that was perfectly seasoned with just a hint of garam masala, chicken and brie pakoras. Nicolas: “I really liked the brie pakora, which was not a traditional
Indian appetizer, but it worked. Dipped in the tamarind chutney it was delicious. I am generally not a fan of potato samosas, but found the samosas we had delicious. They had a great seasoning and were not oily. “I found the portions for appetizers were really good, given there were three of us sharing.â€? Darlene: “Dinner was served in bowls, and consisted of two vegetarian and two meat options. For vegetarian we opted for dal makhani, a creamy black lentil dish. “We had asked for it to be a bit spicier and found the flavour to be creamy and spicy at the same time. “The aloo gobi was a mix of potatoes and cauliflower mixed with spices like cumin. It was a good mix of flavours and a tasty way to eat your veggies. “For the meat selection we had a chicken tikka masala, an authentic alternative to everyone’s favourite butter chicken, and Bombay bakra which was a succulent lamb curry. The lamb had peppers and onions in it and was a tender melt-in-yourmouth dish.â€? Nicolas: “I am not a big fan of vegetables, but really liked the dal makhani and aloo gobi vegetable dishes. They were seasoned in cumin and garam masala and that made an ordinary cauliflower taste very good. “At the end of the meal we were all very full, but had a lot of leftover food, that we took to go. “We looked at the dessert menu which included a selection of both traditional Indian dessert like gulab jamun and Canadian favourites like cheesecake and ice cream. However we all agreed that if we ate anything else our pants would burst.â€? Darlene: “Kamasutra is a fine dining spot, so prices are in line with that. If folks were looking for a more affordable option, the website showcases a lunch menu at very affordable prices.â€? â–
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
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:12 AM Page 5
Taco book wins contest
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Leaside Life, April 2016
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This past year’s been a blur for 15year-old Leaside resident Christopher Smolej, who shared the first-place prize in the nation-wide 2014-15 Kids Write 4 Kids creative contest organized by Ripple Digital Publishing for public and private school students in grades 4 through 8. A grade 7 student at St. Anselm at the time, Smolej won for his 18-page book Escape From the Taco Shop, about a taco who helps his friends escape from Tony, the human who runs the shop. The idea came from a class assignment. The judging panel rated the books on creativity and originality, story structure and the quality of writing. Both winners’ books were sold on Amazon, Apple’s iBookstore and Kobo. Net proceeds went to the winners’ schools. St. Anselm is selling the book as a fundraiser for $5 each and has raised over $600. And for the first time Ripple has asked the winners to come back as judges, making them the youngest judges in the contest’s four-year history. https://youtu.be/n4sULiflNnc ■
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Leaside Life, April 2016
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What’s in Your Dry Cleaning? Deadline for May, April 10
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ADULT and TEEN PROGRAMMING: – Adult Colouring Party. Colouring sheets, crayons, markers and relaxing music supplied. Tuesdays, April 5-26, 7-8:15 p.m. – Author Terence Keenleyside. In A Spin is a different and distinctively Canadian novel, rich in drama and comedy. Wednesday, April 13, 7-8 p.m. Everyone welcome. – Elizabeth Muir: Canadian Women in the Sky. Author discusses her most recent book which details how women broke through the sky blue ceiling. Wednesday, April 6, 7-8 p.m. No registration required. – How To Use Your Tablet. One-on-one tutoring from Leaside teens. Learn to download books, magazines, and listen to music from the library’s site. Also, general guidance about operating your device. Saturday, April 9, 10-12 a.m. Space limited. Registration required. – Puzzles/ Games Night. Recurring Mondays, April 4-25. 7-8:15 p.m. Drop in. – Leaside Writers’ Group. Saturdays, April 2, 16, 30. 10-11.45 a.m. Everyone welcome. – Leaside Needleworx Group (knitting and crocheting). Bring your own projects or start something new. Fridays, April 1-29, 10-11:45 a.m. Everyone welcome.
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:12 AM Page 7
OUTSIDE GROUPS: – Leaside: Discover Your Heritage. Explore Ontario of yesterday and today with Barry Penhale and special guests. Tuesdays, April 5-29, 2-4 p.m. Contact Marjorie McLeod 416-425-1392. – Leaside Garden Society. Lorraine Flanagan speaking about New York City High Line. Thursday, April 14. 7:30-9:00 p.m. For more information 416-4220538 or e-mail leaside@gardenontario.org. ___ Dr. Stephen Scharper. Professor of religion and the environment at University of Toronto, and a Toronto Star columnist. Topic: Making a Difference in Climate Change? Pope Francis and the Quest for an Integral Ecology. Tuesday, April 19, 7 p.m. stanselmecology@gmail.com. ___ Northlea Public School. Annual blood drive. Tuesday, April 12, 2-7 p.m. 305 Rumsey Rd. Northlea United Church. Spring to New Life. Saturday, April 30. An evening of song and story. Featured guests Theresa Tova, David Warrack, Cara Matthew and friends. Hosted by David Sparrow. Special appearance by Leaside Singers, a collaboration of local choirs. Jazz Vespers favourites Rob
St. Anselm’s Church. Spring Fling craft and vendor show, St. Anselm’s Church Hall, 1 MacNaughton Rd., Sunday, May 1, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Baking and BBQ. Leaside United Church. Be Smart Online. Sunday, April 3, 7-9 p.m. Presentation for parents and youth about social media responsibility. St. Cuthbert’s 125th Annual Spring Fair. Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m-2 p.m. Baked goods, books, stamps, treasures, jewellery, knitted goods, toys, interesting art pieces, and all kinds of odds and ends. BBQ on the green, a snack kiosk, and cotton candy. Children’s entertainment. Free admission. Canadian Federation of University Women Leaside-East York. Thursday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. Northlea United Church, 125 Broadway. Speaker Vrenia Ivonoffski, Artistic Director, Theatre for All. Visitors and new members welcome. A university degree not a prerequisite for membership. www.cfuwleasideeastyork.ca or Pat Price, 416385-1055. North Toronto Historical Society. Wednesday, March 30, 7:30 p.m. Northern District Library, 40 Orchard View Blvd., second-floor meeting room. Speaker Robert Galway examines early Toronto airfields including Leaside. St. Augustine's Church. 1847 Bayview Ave. The Groove Room Coffee House, Friday, April 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Monthly event featuring live music by local artists. Performances by Thomas Rapson and Les Garant. $5 includes coffee and dessert. All proceeds towards a Syrian refugee family, augustine@bellnet.ca.
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CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING: – LEGO Club. Thursdays, April 7-28, 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, April 7-28, 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, April 627, 9:30-10 a.m. & 10:30-11 a.m.
Rowe & Kelly Arrey as well. Silent Auction offering array of time & talent and gift items from local businesses and Northlea community members. Doors open 6:30 p.m. to view auction items. Performance starts at 7:30 p.m.
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– Play Reading Group. A thought-provoking play from comedy to award-winning drama. Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Call to register.
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 8
REAL ESTATE 8
Leaside Life, April 2016
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Tear-down sells for $1.6 million Made Daily with Love! GLUTEN FREE AVAILABLE
WHAT’S AHEAD AS THE SPRING MARKET BEGINS? By JETHRO SEYMOUR
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Is this the harbinger of what’s to come when the spring real estate market starts in Leaside and Bessborough? Heads turned in February when a North Leaside tear-down home, on a lot 35 feet by 135 feet, sold for over $1.6 million. There were also several two-storey homes, among the 14 detached homes sold, that were in need of renovations but were not tear-downs. They sold for $1.3 to 1.6 million, which seems to be the new normal. Bungalows did well too. The six that sold ranged in frontage from 25.5 feet to 42 feet and averaged $1,121,500, or 12 percent above asking price. Most of the bungalows had multiple offers. Thus far in 2016, the first 24 homes sold went 11 percent higher on average than the asking price, and in just 11 days. The highest valued Leaside sale on TREB MLS so far in 2016 is $2.465 million for a beautiful newly constructed home on Airdrie in South Leaside. The current 12-month changes ending Feb. 29 show all home sales down by 22.1 percent, while dollar values went up 8.1 percent to an average $1,432,216. __
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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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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 9
‘Never witnessed such blatant disregard’
I live in Leaside. There is a billboard on the southwest corner of Laird and Eglinton that is potentially libellous and what I believe to be deeply offensive to my community. Sponsored by The Rebel Media; they have a website, www.FireWynne.ca. This is clearly political communication paid from an undeclared funding source with no transparency and no accountability. I do believe that this sort of negative public discourse has no role in Canadian politics. I would like this poster taken down. Desre Kramer, 84 Thursfield Cres.
leasidelife@gmail.com Letters may be edited. In the March Leaside Life, Carol Burtin Fripp asked rhetorically if bigger wards and fewer politicians actually provide better government. If there wasn't a great outcry to the consultants report, perhaps we have just become too trusting in our council to outright reject what is clearly a bad idea. Reducing the number of wards and councillors would mean it would cost far more to run a credible election campaign. We wouldn't get smaller government, we’d get bigger big shots. Using Ward 26 as a case study we have at least two distinct communities within one ward. One is Leaside, which was an independent town within the Metro Federation until 1967; how could these "expert" consultants have missed that Leaside should be a ward by itself.
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LETTERS
Since amalgamation, the people living in Thorncliffe-Flemingdon have been represented by Leasiders. Not to take anything away from Jane Pitfield, John Parker or Jon Burnside, shouldn't that community be represented by someone who is more representative of them? Now consider a ward system with more councillors, not fewer. A Leasider would run to represent Leaside and would be able to run an oldfashioned door-to-door campaign. The vote of every Leasider would carry much more weight than it does in the current Ward 26. Under a system with more councillors the person elected to represent Leaside could be one of up to 70 sitting on council. With more councillors representing small, distinct communities, the power of the councillor position would be diluted, thus attracting people genuinely devoted to public service and not just there for the money. In this system, there would be less grandstanding, less chicanery, and greater responsibility. Bob Murphy, Eglinton Ave. East
Leaside Life, April 2016
We are relatively new to Leaside. In our short time here, I have noticed that the great majority of drivers in our area either roll through stop signs or ignore them altogether. I have lived in several different parts of Toronto and have never witnessed such blatant disregard for our traffic laws. Broadway Ave. seems to be particularly afflicted based on anecdotal evidence. I'm wondering what can be done to curb this behaviour before someone is injured or worse. Jamie Coulter, Broadway Ave.
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 10
The largest sports tournament ever in Leaside Leaside Life, April 2016
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10 By ALLAN WILLIAMS On the weekend of March 11-13 Leaside Arena hosted what was likely the largest sports tournament ever held in Leaside. The Toronto Leaside Wildcats girls’ hockey league’s 37th annual March Madness tournament was bigger than ever with 146 teams participating. That means about 400 coaches and trainers and over 2,400 female hockey players ranging from the seven- and eight-year-old Novices to the over 21 Senior A women. Teams came from as far afield as Cornwall and Ottawa in the east, Strathroy in the southwest and Sault Ste. Marie in the north. TLGHA president Jennifer Smith said the tournament included 331 games over the three days in 24 separate divisions. While Leaside Arena was the hub, with both rinks dedicated to the tournament, the league had to rent ice at 16 other Toronto arenas to find the nearly 400 hours of ice time needed. “An event like this only happens with the generous support from the Leaside business community and
Premier Kathleen Wynne drops the first puck for the March Madness hockey tournament. the hard work of over 100 volunteers,” said Smith. While the weekend went off without a hitch, Smith says there was a sad note because two days before the tournament opened she and her
colleagues learned of the death of Ian Shaw, who had been TLGHA’s first president after it incorporated, from 1993-2000, and who was at the time of his death the house league refereein-chief. ■
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 11
wwishing iissshhhiiinnngg you y ou a p py a hhappy Unveiling the painting in 1986
Old photo raises interest in World War II history By KEN MALLETT The rediscovery of an old photograph of 432 (Leaside) Bomber Squadron tucked away in a boardroom in Leaside Memorial Gardens has sparked renewed interest in this important part of Leaside’s history in World War II. Although the photo and other related memorabilia were once on prominent display in the mid 1980s in the Bessborough School library, the collection is currently locked away in the Sprucegrove Room in the Gardens. It was rediscovered when Alan Redway, former mayor of East York and prominent community activist, came upon an exact copy of the photograph among his own papers. He believed the photograph had disappeared from the community until he heard from Ray White, a member of the board of the Memorial Gardens Centre, who told him about the collection’s location in the Sprucegrove Room. Redway is hopeful that the collection can be seen by all Leasiders: “I do hope that the board will consider displaying them in a prominent, publicly accessible place such as the William Lea Room where present and future generations of Leasiders and their visitors can understand and appreciate Leaside's role in World War II.”
The Bessborough School connection is an important one for the association which decided in 1985, with the help of one of their art teachers whose father had been a pilot with 432 Squadron, to commission a painting of the squadron. John Leonard, noted Canadian artist, accepted the commission. The photograph is of his large painting of four Halifax bombers with a Spitfire escort returning from a mission over Europe. There was an official unveiling of the painting on Nov. 18, 1986, attended by the students, three veterans representing the squadron, parents, school trustees, local councilors and press. Veterans presented the squadron crest and history to the school. They also established a history prize (a plaque representative of the squadron) to be given annually for the next 20 years to the top history student of the graduating class. No. 432 (Leaside) Squadron was the 12th RCAF bomber squadron formed overseas at Skipton-onSwale, Yorkshire, on May 1, 1943 with No. 6 (RCAF) Group of Bomber Command. Originally flying Wellingtons, later converting to Lancasters and Halifaxes, the squadron's first operation was the night of the May 23/24, 1943, and by the end of the war in Europe it had flown 3,100 sorties with the loss of 71 aircraft. ■
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| Leaside Life, April 2016
Friday, April 22 is Earth Day
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 12
Raising funds for refugees can be made fun for all too
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Leaside Life, April 2016
By LORNA KRAWCHUK
Satinder Sahota, Owner
When Northlea United Church decided to raise money to sponsor a refugee family, members also decided they would like to have some fun, and broad participation from the congregation and the neighbourhood. We all know about April showers – well, this one is after church on Sunday, April 3 and is the gift-version, rather than the rain version. For those who like to plan ahead, there is a gift registry at www.northleaunited.ca. Those attending will enjoy finger food and games. There’s another special event on Saturday, April 30, Spring to New Life, a musical evening with special guests including Theresa Toba and David Warrack. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a chance to bid on silent auctions. Other musical guests include a massed choir of neighbourhood choristers. $25. For May, Pawsitively Pets is organizing a neighbourhood fair and street party for Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., using the street in front of the church, as well as the church lawns.
$10 per child, with that price including one adult. There will be face painting, pony rides, a bouncy castle, animal interactions and other kid activities. There will be food for sale, organized by the church. ■
A babysitter twist Leaside is the launch neighbourhood of an innovative, student-run business with a new twist on an old challenge – finding a good babysitter. The service is called Sitto, a smartphone web application scheduled to begin in April for all Toronto. Why Leaside? “Almost half of our team comes from the Leaside and North York area and they all have families, grandparents, aunts and uncles all residing in the Leaside neighbourhood,” says Alex McKinney, vice-president of human resources. “And Leaside is a perfect launch neighbourhood because of closeness to subway and bus stations making it accessible from all of Toronto,” she added. ■
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 13
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Leaside Life, April 2016
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 14
It’s time again for Spring Into Action
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Sunnybrook Park plays host once more to Spring Into Action! Walk or Run for Diabetes, an annual event raising money and awareness for diabetes research. Held on Sunday, April 24, organizers hope to raise $40,000 at this year's day-long event. Now in its 11th year and fourth at Sunnybrook, registration opens at 9 a.m. with the run or walk scheduled to begin at 9:50 a.m. The post-race celebration gets going at 11 a.m. and includes entertainment, activities for the kids, and a burger, drink, and snack. Register online at the Running Room’s events site (https://www. events.runningroom.com/site/?race Id=12924) or the day of the race. Regular admission is $25 for the Individual 5k and 10k, $25 for the 2k Run for Youth, $100 for the 5k and 10k Team run and $60 for the 5k and 10k Family run. Tickets for the post-race celebration are $10 for adults and seniors and $5 for children under 14. Since its inception in 2006, “Spring into Action!” has raised close to $100,000 for Diabetes research. ■
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 15
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 16
GEOFF KETTEL
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Catherina Maughan at her new ‘old’ house on Bessborough.
This old house has stopped the moaning This column sometimes spends time bemoaning that perfectly good Leaside houses are being torn down to build homes often much higher and larger, that don’t fit the street. But there are lots of people in Leaside who are renovating and not destroying their original homes, and are very happy to do so. Along with Connor Turnbull of Leaside Matters, I was recently invited to visit the “new home” of Catherina Maughan at 171 Bessborough, where such a renovation is underway. She explained, “We think you will be pleasantly surprised.... We are going to great pains to restore the original house.” Indeed, we were pleased – not just surprised.
Geoff Kettel
Saving old Leaside Maughan’s project involves preserving the building shell, internal walls, and adding an addition (“all brick”) on the back. But there are lots of “improvements,” such as the lowered basement, replacing floors with full board hardwood flooring (“no squeaky floors”), and building a new fireplace in cut stone. The project has a long way to go, but the work is of noticeable high quality. Not surprising, as her husband is managing director of Tradi-
tional Cut Stone Limited, the foremost stone restoration company in Canada. Beyond the desire to keep the house’s fit to the street. and the character of the neighbourhood, are there any other advantages of renovation, rather than demolition and re-build? Certainly there are in terms of energy. Preservation saves energy by taking advantage of the energy embodied in an existing building and extending the use of it. Leaside homes were well built, usually with double brick construction, and at 70 to 80 years old are hardly at the end of their life. All those bricks going to landfill is a huge and growing waste. And un-
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:13 AM Page 17
fortunately society does not exact a toll on such waste. It’s often cheaper to demolish and reconstruct, but the new homes may not last as long. And because demolition involves energy use, it creates greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming. We should be concerned with extending the lives of existing buildings “because it is 2016,â€? and that is 10 years since American architect Carl Elefante coined the phrase, The Greenest Building is‌The One Already Built. More on this renovation later when the house is finished, later this spring. ___
| Leaside Life, April 2016
So what’s happening with Eglinton Connects? Recall that the city passed a number of planning and zoning measures – two official plan amendments, and one re-zoning – to implement the planning study in Leaside. The LPOA appealed the special policy area permitting stacked townhouses on the south side of Eglinton west of Hanna, and the rezoning to allow for “as of right� midrise development of seven and eight storeys on the south and north sides of Eglinton, respectively between Sutherland and Laird. These appeals are at the OMB, along with many others, mainly from private developers, involving various properties along the Eglinton corridor from Mt. Dennis to Brentcliffe. An owner in the block west of Hanna affected by the townhouse special policy area has joined the appeal on the side of the city. The LPOA has indicated to the city its interest in mediating both of our OMB appeals rather than going to a full (and very expensive) hearing. Mediation is set to begin May 16. At Bayview and Eglinton the city passed a special policy area to allow for “predominantly mid-rise� development at the four corners as recommended by the Bayview Focus Area Study. RioCan has appealed the special policy area and the LPOA has indicated its intent to be a Participant, and may need to request to be a Party in this case. RioCan had submitted a rezoning application for the Sunnybrook Plaza site to permit 19and 13-storey towers joined by an 8storey podium. Subsequently RioCan appealed that application to the OMB, and has indicated that it is changing the plans. At a presentation of the revised plans arranged by Councillor Burnside in February to the LPOA and some community members, the
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changes were described as focussing on an improved design, now with free-standing towers rather than joined by a podium. However, the revised plans showed only a minimal reduction in height (the second tower is reduced from 13-storeys to 12-storeys). More on this when details are available later. At a meeting on January 22, the hearing dates for the multiple cases involving numerous Parties and Participants across the Eglinton Crosstown corridor were deferred till the late fall to allow time for sorting out the issues, and for mediation to occur. This meeting was interesting as it was the first OMB meeting that I have attended that was attended by a number of regular folks in addition to the suits that tend to congregate at these meetings. You may have seen an advertisement for the meeting and if you live within a few blocks of Eglinton you may have received an invitation. This followed a complaint to the OMB from the Confederation of Residents and Ratepayers Associations, that the city had not properly informed the public of these meetings, and therefore they were not given an opportunity to participate. ___ Residents on Eglinton who thought they had finished with the noise and vibration as the tunnel boring machines chewed their way past their homes, are now concerned about a new noise problem, causing sleepless nights for several residents. One resident (who does not want to be named) says it “is a loud rumbling noise with a shake that feels like an earthquake”. Metrolinx spokesman Jamie Robinson says it is the locomotive supply train travelling between the boring machines and the Brentcliffe portal making the noise and vibration. Residents now face similar noise and vibration periodically during the day, but also weeknights when people need to sleep. One resident has a proposal to solve the problem. The crews are working 24/5 (120 hours per week Monday - Friday). Instead crews could work 17/7 (still 120 hours per week but Monday to Sunday), and work Saturday and Sunday during the day. As the resident says, “This would allow similar progress, but affected residents would get to sleep seven hours per night!” To see progress of the tunnelling, go to: bit.ly/1WMgDL0 ■
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:14 AM Page 19
Cheryl Vanderburg 19
Local sparks campaign against butts It started with a sign on the wall of the Local Pub Eatery that said, “Please discard your butts responsibly.” There was a disposal bucket underneath it and no butts to be found on the ground. I was delighted and intrigued. Cigarette butt disposal on streets, parks and outside of buildings is becoming a big problem in our neighbourhood. I wrote to the manager, Jeff, who answered: “Thanks for reaching out. I can tell you the sign is working at LOCAL. It is important to us that we are mindful and respectful of our neighbours and thus we worked with the community to understand their needs. We quickly created this sign to ensure guests knew to dispose of their cigarettes properly and remind our customers to do so if necessary.” Lately the lawn and walkway entrance to Trace Manes park and the ground along the back wall of the Leaside Library have become littered with discarded butts. Not only are they nasty to look at, they are catching on people’s shoes and being tracked into the buildings. Leaside Litterati to the rescue, I hoped. I contacted Councillor Jon Burnside’s office about the library and the park. The library result was encouraging. The councillor's office emailed me to say, ‘We have placed a request for an Astral bin,which has a cigarette disposal, near the entrance of the library. A feasibility study will be conducted this summer and if feasible, the bin will be installed as part of the 2017 rollout.” Library staff replied. “As always, we have a staff member who walks around the library perimeter on a regular basis to pick up trash/cigarette butts.”
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Leaside Life, April 2016
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Leaside Litterati
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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
The park presented some problems. The caretaker explained that because of the new smoking bylaw of 2015, “It is now against the law to smoke within nine metres of an entrance or exit of any building that is used by the public”, so the cigarette butt receptacle on the entrance wall was removed. The bylaw also states that building owners are to “place any ashtrays beyond the prohibited area”. Burnside’s office inquired about having an Astral bin placed outside of the nine-meter perimeter range. The response from facilities management was, “Cigarette butt containers cannot be placed adjacent to playgrounds as it is illegal to smoke on and around children's playgrounds and publicly owned sport fields and surfaces… that are owned by a municipality, the province or a postsecondary education institution.” I asked if a litter abatement program could be put in place to clean up the butts on a regular basis as required by the bylaw: “The owner of land on which refuse has been thrown, placed, dumped or deposited shall immediately clean and clear the refuse from the land.” I am waiting for their response. ■
Will Ashworth The business of Leaside
Personal trainer hopping mad about bylaw Anyone who has ever operated a small business knows how difficult it can be to survive when you’re competing against the big box multi-nationals — it’s a grind — but what gets Leaside Business Park fitness and personal training guru Kevin Charles hopping mad is when City Hall makes it even more difficult by putting in place zoning bylaws and restrictions that make it impossible to gain ground against bigger and financially stronger competition. I originally profiled Charles, the owner of My Personal Trainer, in my October 2014 Business of Leaside column (http://leasidelifenews.com/the-
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:14 AM Page 21
Leaside Life, April 2016
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changing-inside-face-of-the-industrial-park/) highlighting the great mix of tenants operating small businesses out of 28 Industrial St., a narrow twostorey warehouse east of Laird wedged between Kreitmaker, a concrete supplier to the north, and Apco Industries to the south. It’s not the first place you’d think a personal trainer would set up shop but the space came with lots of free parking for his growing customer base and so it became a popular spot for Leasiders and those living in adjacent neighbourhoods in North Toronto. Charles is making it work despite the site’s obvious limitations. Since I wrote about his business 17 months ago, it’s flourished, so much so that he recently started looking for a bigger space. He found a spot at 89 Research Rd. that seemed promising — the old Mom’s to Be… and More satellite store — but when the owner recommended he go to City Hall to find out whether a fitness facility could be operated there, what he found was less than encouraging. The City of Toronto’s zoning rules are found under By-Law 569-2013. Charles’ business comes under Chapter 60, subsection 20, which is designated under the rules as an Employment Industrial Zone, or E-Zone for short. Permitted uses in this zone include a children’s dance studio, software development, kennel, financial institution along with many others. Recreational uses, such as a fitness studio, are permitted with certain conditions, the condition, in this case, being the fitness studio must be on a lot that fronts a major street on the Policy Areas Overlay Map. Faced with having to locate on a major street, Charles undertook a search on Laird and other major streets in the area including Vanderhoof Ave., Wicksteed Ave. and Brentcliffe Rd. One option presented to him by the Behar Group was 202 Laird Ave., a single-storey building formerly inhabited by Kaboom, the fireworks people. On the west side of Laird and south side of Parkhurst, the building is 2,000 square feet, comes with 10 parking spaces and an additional 550 square feet in the basement. A perfect spot, right? Wrong. Including taxes, maintenance and insurance, the annual rent would set him back $144,000 or $72 per square foot. That’s $12,000 per month or $395 per day. Whether he has 10 customers or no customers, each day he’s forking out almost $400 just to keep the doors open and the lights on. TRAINER, Page 24
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:14 AM Page 23
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:15 AM Page 24
Problems involved in solving our traffic woes Leaside Life, April 2016
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Last month I attended home and school meetings at both Northlea and Bessborough schools. At the top of both agendas was student safety as it relates to traffic. Of course, the volume of traffic was and is always an issue but most of the discussion centred on driver behaviour of Leasiders themselves. I was asked by parents to make it a topic of discussion in my article.
TRAINER
From Page 22
So, here’s a small business person just trying to climb the next rung of success facing the city’s zoning rules, which allow for the operation of all sorts of consumer-based businesses in the E-Zone — just not a fitness facility. “[It] Makes no sense that you can have a kids dance class in an industrial area but not have a kids karate class,” Charles told me, holding back the frustration. “If it is to protect users because of the heavy machinery, I just don't get it.” It’s especially nonsensical given First Capital Realty’s 2015 application
Jon Burnside Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West
Writing articles of this nature are always difficult as no one likes a pontificating politician or being lectured. However, the reality is that we all care with the North York Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance in order to build a two-storey LA Fitness at 1125 Industrial St. and not too far from Charles’ studio. The Committee of Adjustment granted the variance and although the city considered appealing the decision to the OMB, it negotiated an agreement with First Capital that precludes the company in the future from changing the use of the property from recreation to something else without obtaining a change to the city’s Official Plan. The last time I looked that piece of land where First Capital is planning to build is not on a major street yet the Committee of Adjustment chose to
about the safety of our children and sometimes a gentle reminder can be helpful. While we often like to blame nonLeasiders, to truly address those drivers we either have to (a) take measures to cut down on traffic infiltration or (b) step up enforcement. (a) Last month I suggested possible TRAFFIC, Page 26
ignore the report from city staff on the matter: “Policy 4.6.2 of the Official Plan states that recreational uses such as the proposed fitness centre are only permitted in Employment Areas when located on a major street as identified on Map 3. Industrial Street is not identified as a major street on Map 3.” The agreement with the city makes this a moot point. But that’s not why Charles is hopping mad. He’s upset because the zoning rules in the industrial area seem to have no rhyme or reason as to how they’re applied and as a result, it’s costing him money. But, hey, who cares about the little guy? ■
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:15 AM Page 25
From Page 1
will only be in the hands of councillors. Council can accept or reject whatever Executive Committee has recommended, or propose amendments. Finally, any changes in municipal boundaries would require provincial approval. I have to say that I am not filled with confidence (or optimism) by this process, which seems to preclude active public participation. The city’s original public meetings on this subject were poorly attended, held before many Torontonians had any sense of the process, or the threat that altering ward boundaries could have on their communities, in Leaside and across the city. The report received little attention by the media, which concentrated on the goal to equalize numbers, rather than ensuring that the process maintained or improved effective representation in Toronto. LPOA will be collecting data and signatures, and mounting a campaign to press city councillors and the mayor to open the process to more transparency. We all need to make the point that redrawing ward boundaries is not just a numbers game. Boundaries should respect commu-
nities and neighbourhoods, with their 25 historic identities, traditions and priorities. Boundaries should be drawn in a way which respects local democracy for all Torontonians. They should not be revised to make our access to councillors harder. Imagine if we had to deal, on every issue, with not one but two councillors, and potentially two different community councils. ___
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side in half, and a fifth which keeps Leaside in one piece but moves us into a much larger ward while severing Bennington Heights. The Leaside Property Owners’ Association has heard from residents who are very concerned about the implications and impacts of the proposed changes, especially as they would affect our major current and future development and traffic issues I’ve asked Councillor Jon Burnside what the likely timelines are. What impact can neighbourhood groups and individuals, who want to have further input into decision-making on this important matter, have? As of press time, it appears that in late May, just after the Victoria Day holiday, the city’s Executive Committee will be presented with a single option to consider. We do not know whether it will be one of the five original designs, completely new, or an amended proposal. We also do not know if deputations will be permitted. Executive Committee will vote on the proposal it receives and send it on to City Council, for its June agenda. Deputations are not permitted at City Council. At that point the decision
Next, an update on the LPOA’s Leaside traffic study. Regular readers of this column will recall that we are concentrating on long-term solutions to our traffic woes, permanent measures implemented with the post-LRT construction period in mind. Our consultant has met with city staff, who support the concept of community-led traffic calming proposals, especially those that do not benefit one area of the neighbourhood at the expense of another. Staff will participate in our study process and will provide information related to existing traffic volumes and flow, and traffic control measures upon request. The LPOA traffic committee will meet in early April, to plan public
Leaside Life, April 2016
LPOA
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meetings within Leaside, and get your input. While the LRT is still under construction, we need to meet with the TTC to find out just how much surface public transit will remain along Eglinton Ave. once the LRT is operating. At this point we have no information as to how many – or, more likely, how few – bus routes may be available. We need answers, not only because of its impact on Leasiders who want or need to use transit, but also because it will affect automobile use on both arterial and local streets, especially given the number of large developments being proposed around our area. ___ 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, April 6. And you can reach us at lpoa.ca. ■
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measures to address traffic infiltration in the central part of the community and have received numerous emails from residents concerned about the “inconvenience factor”. Unfortunately, if we are going to reduce cut-through traffic (and not simply push it onto another street) there is no way around added inconvenience to local residents. (b) Until the province (which appears to be dragging its feet) approves the use of technology-based enforcement, it is doubtful that we will receive the level of enforcement needed to make a meaningful impact. In respect to local drivers, one of the home and school’s biggest concerns is parents either dropping kids off in no-stopping zones or parking in prohibited and often dangerous spots. It is crucial that sight lines – especially around schools – are maximized, so please either use the kiss-n-ride services or take the extra couple of minutes to park in a safe spot even if it is a short distance away. While many people were angered by 53 Division’s assertion that approximately 50 percent of drivers ticketed were local residents, irrespective of the number, let’s help to improve the safety of our community by being extra careful. ■
LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:15 AM Page 27
By LINDSAY BLAKELY Most Leaside residents fume when they see lots of vehicles in our hood. But Barry Thomas lights up just thinking about cars. As long as they are miniature in size - and parked inside his home. Cars are his passion, and for the last 23 years also his business. “It’s a perfect vocation to supplement a pretty darn good pastime,” he says. By day the 67-year-old resident of SAHIL, on Bayview at McRae, works with the Toronto-based HavA-Kar Auto Group, selling or leasing any make of car, van or truck available in Canada. By night, he makes model cars, building his impressive collection one model at a time. “It’s mental mouthwash,” Thomas says of his hobby. “It’s like going to the gym. Takes your mind off everything else that’s going on. You’re working on your stuff and it just clears everything out of your mind.” Thomas and his wife Barbara Carter moved to Leaside in 1979 and all he wanted was a place for his cars. With Barbara’s approval, the basement of their home was transformed into a car room. “I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t gamble. So, I can put my money into this,” he jokes. When they downsized into a condo last year, he was forced to downsize his collection by a third. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a painful process. Thomas says he had reached an overflow and wanted to focus. Just like getting rid of old clothes to make room for new purchases. As of now, about 350 model cars along with 50 to 60 still in boxes now sit on custom-made shelves in the middle of his Bayview apartment. That way he can always get a glimpse.
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR
And what a sight it is. Everything on the models is put on by hand, the wheels are painted on, some even have an Ontario licence plate complete with validation sticker. “I don’t care about the engines, I don’t even put those in. I want it to sit there and look like the real thing. I don’t want to make believe. I’m going to do my research, go online or get my books and say OK, this is how they are.” And then his creativity kicks into high gear. It was during an acupuncture appointment when Thomas realized he could use different sizes of acupuncture needles to replicate the three antennas at the back of a West Virginia state police car. So in they went. It usually takes a month to six weeks to finish each creation. And when a model is complete, it doesn’t just go straight to the shelf. It gets shown off via his blog. Wheel to Wheel was initially started to create credibility for his business. But, now he updates it religiously twice a week to share his love of cars… and at just over 1.3 million page views, it draws other enthusiasts from all over the world,
giving Thomas a big boost. The car craze began early on. He started building model cars when he was 12, but from the time he was 6 years old, he was driven to collect. He remembers saving up money and every couple of months counting his change so he could buy a new dinky toy. He came by his interest honestly. His dad was a model boat builder. Thomas keeps some of his dad’s work on display as a tribute to him. But, he was never really interested in boats, he just loved cars, so he steered away from the water and onto the road. “The only way I could get the cars I enjoyed was to build them.” How many people can say they have every car they’ve ever wanted? Some questions. Is there anything missing from your collection? What I am missing they have never made as a model. You always hope. Cross my fingers and hoping they’ll come out with a ‘69 Grand Prix or something like that. Do you like driving cars too? Yes, cars are very important to me. Whenever I get a car (which is every three years or less) things that are important to me are looks, power and handling. Your ideal drive? It would be country driving but on back roads with a few corners. Favourite car to drive? If I had the money and didn’t have arthritis in my knees, I’d love to get another Camaro, high-powered Corvette, something like that. I tend towards sportier models. Switching gears, what are your other passions? I’m a voracious reader. I go through about a book a week. Typically non-fiction. I work out four times a week, golf, watching car racing, baking, I love eating ■
Leaside Life, April 2016
Big cars by day, tiny cars at night
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A little piece about big history
Leaside Life, April 2016
By WILL ASHWORTH
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The next time you drive east of Laird through the Leaside Business Park take a moment to notice a little piece of history at the intersection of Vanderhoof and Brentcliffe. The tiny building, on the southeast corner at 115 Vanderhoof, is home to Charmaine Sweets, a bakery opened last December by owner Teresa Ho, who made her goodies and treats in the basement of her house before opening the retail storefront. 115 Vanderhoof played an important part of Leaside’s contribution to World War II. The building is thought to be one of the many (and one of the few surviving) that were part of the 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space used by Research Enterprises Limited (REL) to produce $220 million worth of radar equipment and precision optical instruments between 1940 and 1946. Spread over 55 acres, REL, a crown corporation created by the National Research Council (NRC) to further Canada’s development of radar equipment, managed to supply 8,300 radar sets to Canadian, British, and U.S. forces over those six years. According to Jane Pitfield’s book, Leaside, REL was the largest single employer up to its closure in the history of Leaside, a record that likely stands to this day. It employed 7,500 people at the height of its production. At one point REL was operating two shifts of 60 hours per week just to keep up with the government’s supply requirements. As the war came closer to an end the need for radar waned. In December 1944, 600 Leaside residents were given their pink slips. Between 1943 and 1946, Leaside employment declined by 60 percent. In September 1946, REL operations were shuttered and the facilities sold off to a number of businesses, including Lincoln Electric, still a big part of the Leaside Business Park today. As for Teresa Ho, her business is a labour of love launched at a time when most people are settling into retirement. Fortunately, she’s got a bunch of talented family members helping out. Prior to Ho opening her bakery, the building was occupied by the Children’s Music Room, which has since moved downtown. â–
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The Leaside Painter
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LeasideLife issue 48_LeasideLifev1 16-03-22 12:16 AM Page 30
New electric bike created in Leaside Leaside Life, April 2016
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30 I can tell you how many times my husband, Ted, has come with me when I was getting information for a Leaside Life column: zero, until this one. I showed him the web page for Revelo Electric and he asked to go with me when I went to meet with Henry Chong, his sister Mary and Steve Evagelou, at the Revelo office at 42 Industrial St. in the Leaside Business Area. Within 15 minutes Henry and Ted had on helmets and were out on the street each going for a ride on a new FLEX e-bike! And now Ted has one on order. So much for the unbiased story! Everyone knows the story of Steve Jobs and friends starting Apple in a garage in California. Someday, Henry Chong and his sister Mary may be telling that same story about the garage behind Mary’s house on Millwood as the startup of Revelo. Both Henry and Mary graduated from the University of Waterloo and worked in the IT field for years, but Henry had the tinkerer’s urge, and 20 years after graduation went to OCAD University for a degree in industrial design. His thesis project in 2011 was a new form of electric bicycle, using a lithium-ion battery. The bike parts he used were in Mary’s garage, from her kids’ bikes. He designed the bike from the users’ perspective, with a large front wheel for good travel over uneven pavement, a lower seating position
Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life
to make getting on and off easy, a lockable, detachable, lightweight battery pack for easy charging and a total weight of 15 kilos. It has a range of 32 km and a top speed of 28 km/hr. It’s the world’s only chainless, front pedaling ebike. (Yes, you can pedal if you wish.) It even folds quickly into something you could walk through a busy plaza, or even pack in a suitcase. Both Henry and Mary left their earlier IT careers to start up Revelo in 2012. Last October, the business moved out of the garage and over to Industrial St., in the same building where the famous bicycle company, Cervelo, was a tenant when it started up. Henry and Mary are hoping for the same karma for Revelo. The name combines the “re” as in “revolutionary” with the “velo” of “velocipede/bicycle”. They’ve named this first production e-bike the FLEX – folding, lightweight electric transport. On a new CBC-TV series, Disrupting Design, hosted by Matt Galloway, the lead-in to a segment on Henry and the e-bike said: “The commute is changing. Streetcars are being redesigned. Cars are evolving, but what about the bicycle? Let’s meet somebody who’s dis-
rupted the design of the bike to better suit the commuter.” Steve Evagelou, who has been a friend of Henry’s for many years, is now in charge of customer experience at Revelo. He uses the analogy of all the companies making smaller and smaller computers, and then along came Apple with the iPad – smaller but very different, and very successful. He’s betting that Henry’s e-bike is the iPad equivalent in the electric bike field, smaller but very different, and hoping to be very successful. “We’re re-thinking the category.” This month, the first production shipment of 200 e-bikes, made in China, will arrive. Some have been sold, pre-arrival, including the neon green one Ted ordered. ■
WE’VE GOT ALL OF LEASIDE COVERED 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.
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Leaside Life, April 2016
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