Leaside Life Issue 55 December 2016 by Leaside Life

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:17 AM Page 1

No. 55 • December 2016

Leaside Life leasidelifenews.com

Leaside nurse, Angela Leahey, wins award –––

Page 4

Carol Burtin Fripp Co-president, LPOA

Let’s set the record straight – we’re on your side!

INDUCTEES, Page 30

LPOA, Page 7

JEREMY LEWIS

win the Stanley Cup.” It was only in grade 12, Bradwell says, “around the age when people get drafted, that I began to think ‘this might not happen for me,’ and so I thought about trying something different.” Since he was tall and fast, Mike’s friends suggested he try out for receiver on the Leaside High football team. He did and made the team, playing the 2003 season under head coach Jim Georgiadis and assistants Csaba Vegh and Mark Chambers. Georgiadis and Vegh were both in the William Lea Room at the Arena on November 18th to see their former player inducted into the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame. Even when he went to McMaster University in Hamilton a year later,

Occasionally the LPOA hears from Leasiders who either disagree with a position the board has taken or who have been led to believe that we are about to take a position which could harm the community. At November’s monthly LPOA board meeting, a number of residents deputed in support of the amended design for 939 Eglinton Avenue East, agreed to by developer Steve Diamond and the working group initiated by Councillor Jon Burnside. Their fear was that the LPOA, unless it voted to approve the recently amended development proposal, would cause the developer to drop all of the improvements the working group had worked toward and ‘force’ him to go to the Ontario Municipal Board with his original, much more massive, proposal. And it would all be the LPOA’s fault. We replied that the LPOA had not yet taken a position on the new development design; that negotiations with the developer were still ongoing between the Councillor and Mr. Diamond; and that the city planners had yet to finish their reports and analyses. In short, it made more sense to see if there were more concessions before the LPOA took a position. We also tried to make it clear that we were not criticizing the efforts or the motives of individuals on the working group, and, moreover, that the LPOA had no desire to take the matter to the OMB. In fact, we look forward to discussing the final version of the 939 Eglinton East proposals, and to tak-

Former Toronto Argonaut Mike Bradwell with his parents Anne and John Bradwell of North Leaside at the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame induction on November 18th.

Stanley Cup dreams lead to Grey Cup ring By ALLAN WILLIAMS “I was never really that interested in football as a kid,” says Mike Bradwell. It’s a surprising admission coming from the former Toronto Argonaut with a 2012 Grey Cup to his name, who was inducted this past month into the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame. “In fact,” he adds, “I didn’t even play football until my final year at Leaside High School.” Bradwell, who grew up on Rykert Crescent in North Leaside, the youngest of three children to parents John and Anne Bradwell, was, like most Canadian kids at the time, more interested in hockey. “I grew up playing hockey, took skating at the arena, played Leaside Flames house league and then Leaside Kings in the GTHL – the dream was to play in the NHL and

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Leaside Life, December 2016

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THE STREETS OF LEASIDE By JEANNE HOPKINS

moved to Toronto, it was renamed the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway Like many streets in Leaside, and David became vice-president. He Hanna Road was named for a railway resigned, though, when the Canadian executive – David Blyth Hanna. government bought the CNO Railway David Blyth Hanna of Thornin 1918 and incorporated it into the liebank, Scotland (1858-1938) held Canadian National Railways. various positions in railway Four years later, Hanna companies in Leaside and was appointed chairman of across Canada. Ontario's new Liquor Board The railway worker first but had to resign from that came to Canada at the age position in 1928 when his of 24 to work with the health began to fail. He died Grand Trunk Railway Com10 years later on December pany's Manitoba depart1, 1938, just shy of his 80th ment as an accountant. He birthday, in his home on was later put in charge of Cluny Avenue in Rosedale. 130 miles of track that were After a private service there, to serve as an immigration David Blyth Hanna was route for settlers arriving buried in Toronto's Mount there. Pleasant Cemetery. On one occasion, when This man, who became the train hit a cow, David such an important figure in and his men loaded the car- David Blyth Hanna Leaside, is also honoured by cass into the baggage car of having the town of Hanna, (1858 – 1938) their train and butchered it Alberta named after him. ■ there. When the train reached the end Jeanne Hopkins worked in the Canadiof the line, he sold the meat to a conana department of the North York Pubtractor and shared half the proceeds lic Library for 27 years. She is the author with the farmer who had owned the cow. of many articles and five books of local When the railway's head office history.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS What W hat better better time of year year to to pause to to give give thanks, and to to celebrate celebrate the spirit of giving. proud Neighbours and friends, I am pr oud to to be part of this kind-hearted kind-hearted community, community, and I’d I’d like like professionally personally,, ffor your tto o express express my my appreciation, appreciation, tion both pr ofessionally and personally or y our ongoing support. support Together we contribution The Regent Park T o ogether in 2016, 2016, w e made a signiﬁcant c ontribution tto oT he R egent P ark Community Community Food Food Centre C entre through through Laugh Out Loud Loud in Leaside. Leaside. I am excited excited to to maintain those efforts efforts to to give give serve back in the coming coming year, yearr, focusing focusing both on local projects projects and on initiatives initiatives that that serv e our larger community. yours, warmest lar ger c ommunity. From From my my ffamily amily tto oy ours, w armest wishes ffor or a joyful joyful season and a happy prosperous New Year! happ y and pr osperous Ne wY ear ear! e

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LEASIDE REAL ESTATE

Leaside: Once an established neighbourhood full of friendly, mainstreet shops, well-paid jobs, character homes, “reasonable” traffic, ample parking, and strong community ties. Ah yes, the good old days. Neighbours had time to stop and chat, families could attend programs a short walk from home, retail amenities were a mere stroll away, parents could be home in time for dinner to be with their families, homes were comfortable, practical and affordable. This was the pulse of our entire city. Of course it couldn't last forever. Everyone wanted a piece of the dream, and it came at a huge cost: Developers swooped in and provided the amenities that many communities seemed to be ripe for: denser housing projects, large retail developments, and, recently, our new Crosslink LRT. Great for many, and especially for the municipalities, which receive enormous lifts in property taxes as a result. But at what cost? None to the municipality. It makes money from the developments. But the popula-

MY ANNUAL T OY S

F O R

tion represented by the municipality, and those who live in the communities, certainly do pay for their greatly improved amenities: The higher the demand, the higher the prices, with commercial rents following suit. All of a sudden there are empty stores where merchants used to wait years to find space. Kids can no longer walk to their programs because rents are too high in the buildings where these programs had been held. Traffic is so bad that getting home to one's family is a challenge. The answer: big box retail plazas! Laird is filling up with them. Better amenities, access, parking and even rents are lower. Good for everyone? Not really: Fancy retail plazas want fancy retailers. Not just anyone is welcome. So the big flashy retailers move in and all of a sudden the established retail nodes are full of vacancies because the older, established businesses can no longer compete in the market. Wait a minute! I thought we had community planners overseeing developments so these things don’t happen. Clearly, I was mistaken. I see no evidence of any planning oversight.

Here’s Leaside today: gridlock traffic all day; empty stores on all major arteries; Crosslinks subway construction causing businesses to close because of lack of access. No operation has been spared, including kids’ and community programming, daycares, party/ play centres, yoga and fitness studios. The city totally dropped the ball! All these businesses want is affordable spaces to cater to the community. And they already exist, in the Leaside business park. But the planners in their wisdom have decided these types of businesses are not permitted there. Instead, they must occupy retail space on the main arteries. Big problem: The retailers can't afford to stay on the main strips. These guys have clearly been forgotten, yet they are the ones who offer the very services the community desires. Perhaps the planning department should change its name. How about lack of planning? ■ John Robb is a sales representative with Bosley Real Estate Ltd. Commercial Division, 276 Merton St. You can reach him at: T: 416-481-6137 j.robb@bosleyrealestate.com

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Leaside Life, December 2016

The cost of progress – where’s the retail planning?

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR

DOUG NICHOL

Leaside Life, December 2016

Leasider Angela Leahey named the 2016 Boehringer Ingleheim Oncology Nurse of the Year.

Leaside nurse wins national award By LORNA KRAWCHUK

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Sudbury’s loss is Leaside and Sunnybrook’s gain. Though Angela Leahey was born in Toronto, she grew up in Sudbury where her father was an engineer with Inco. She graduated in nursing from Laurentian University in 1991 after developing a keen interest in oncology nursing through a student placement. For the next two years she worked at three part-time jobs (one of which was teaching aerobics) to make ends meet because there weren’t full-time nursing jobs available in Sudbury. As luck would have it, shortly after her boyfriend, Pat, moved to Toronto, Ange was able to get a fulltime job at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. So back south she came. She was fortunate that shortly after starting at Sunnybrook, she was able to switch to the oncology department, where she has remained ever since. When asked what drew her to oncology, she told me, “I discovered that I loved that aspect of nursing – where people are going through difficult times and need to talk about life and death in all its complexities.” Ange has thrived in this atmosphere. In fact, this gifted oncology

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he Laird in Focus Planning Study is launching on

November 30th. Laird in Focus is a study led by the City of Toronto City Planning Division that will develop a planning framework to guide future development of the Laird Drive and Eglinton Avenue East area. The meeting will be held at the Leaside United Church, 822 Millwood Road, Church Gymnasium. Open house from 4:00 â€“ 8:00 p.m., with presentations repeated on the hour at 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 p.m. For further information or to get involved, please visit: www.toronto.ca/lairdinfocus

sional development in oncology,â€? Ange told me, â€œso the prize is much appreciated.â€? She says she goes back and forth between two bubbles â€“ her work at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook and her home in Leaside. She and Pat, now her husband, originally chose Leaside as a place to live because it was close to her work. Little did they realize they were also moving into such a great community. Until their children, Reagan and Brennan, were born, they hadnâ€™t appreciated the excellent local schools and Leasideâ€™s sense of family. She describes it as a â€œcommunity feel in a big city.â€? Her brother lives just up the road, and friends from other neighbourhoods are moving into Leaside, too. For a number of years, she walked back and forth to work, and really appreciated that transition time between home and work. Now, however, her childrenâ€™s schedules often mean that she has to move more quickly, so driving is in order. While talking to Ange, I discovered that she lives just around the corner from me, on Sutherland â€“ and that while we are from different generations, we have Leaside friends in common. Small Leaside world! â–

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Leaside Life, December 2016

nurse was recently honoured as this yearâ€™s Canada-wide winner of the Boehringer Ingelheim Oncology Nurse of the Year, recognized by the pharmaceutical company and the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology. The award recognizes excellence in leadership to better the lives of cancer patients and their families. She is proud to have been nominated by her peers, and that the innovative work she and her teams do is being recognized. One of the initiatives mentioned is a system for a distress telephone line, designed for patients with lung, ovarian or cervical cancer not in the hospital, but in treatment, who are frightened or stressed. Instead of phoning and getting voicemail, the phone is answered by a nurse or clerical assistant and the patient can share symptoms and get answers in real time on how to best manage these symptoms. This innovation not only supports patients but has proven that it makes a difference in patient outcomes. Expansion to serve patients with other cancers is in the works. Oh, and the award came with a prize of $5,000 towards further education. â€œThere are always opportunities for profes-

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Leaside Life, December 2016

By KEN MALLETT There are some 200-plus Syrian refugees now living in the Thorncliffe Park Drive area who are facing their first full Canadian winter, according to Mohamed Edris, settlement counsellor for the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office. “Winter is a very challenging time for the newcomers so their first priority is winter clothing,” he said. Among the new arrivals are Amjad Alhayak, his wife Roaa, and four-year-old son Ward, who arrived in June. They have been busy shopping for coats and boots with money provided by an anonymous donor. “We really appreciate the interest and concern everyone has shown about our first winter in Canada,” he said. “We have snow in Syria, but I guess the winter here will be much different than in my country. After the help we have received, we are ready to welcome the winter.” “We would also like to thank the donor of the money to buy our warm clothes,” Amjad added.

The Alhayaks’ journey to Canada was not a straightforward one. “Actually, after what happened in Syria we felt very unsafe,” Amjad said. “I decided to leave with my family, so the first step I took was to go to Turkey. We lived there for some time, but it was difficult. “We were able to find a private sponsor in Canada and they helped us to come here. I like the atmosphere and I feel much better.” Facing Canada’s often harsh winters is tough, but the major issue remains finding a job. Both Amjad and Roaa are highly qualified professionals with a fairly good command of English. Amjad has a degree in business and economics, and he was employed as a risk management officer for the Aga Khan Foundation in Syria. Here in Canada he is working temporarily as a cashier until he finds something more in line with his qualifications. Roaa, a chemical engineer, is hoping to restart her career here. The federal government is also

JENNIFER RAJASEKAR

Bundling up for Canadian winter

Thorncliffe Park residents Amjad Alhayak, wife Roaa & son Ward shop for winter coats. looking for ways to help newcomers like the Alhayaks settle into their communities. Documents posted recently by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada show the department is planning to spend as much as $250,000 for new studies on how best BUNDLING, Page 11

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ing a board vote, once all of the information has been presented. However, more than one or two of the attendees clearly suggested that the LPOA, by not immediately supporting the new proposal, was not on their side and that we always vote ‘against’. Such misleading remarks about the LPOA’s approach in general were aired – and possibly believed – without verification of the facts. As a result, the meeting became an unpleasant experience for all attendees. I’d like to reassure readers of this column that when the LPOA board votes on any matter, it does so with careful scrutiny of all of the facts; it considers the positive and negative implications of every matter: major or minor developments, bylaw changes, Committee of Adjustment applications, traffic measures, or issues like OMB reform. The board takes your comments and suggestions seriously. There will always be some differences of opinion, but it does nobody any good to divide the community against itself. We all live in Leaside. There’s a lot going on around us. We stand a better chance of maintaining and protecting Leaside if we work together. ■ __ You will have heard that last month City Council approved adding three new Council seats, for a total of 47. This is good news for Leaside. Council had also been considering a new 44-ward boundary design, which would have split Leaside into two separate wards, with two different councillors. Any changes to ward boundaries are located elsewhere in the city, so whether the new design is formally in effect in time for the 2018

From Page 1

municipal election or not, Leaside will remain together. An awful lot of lobbying, letters, and arm-twisting by ratepayer groups (including the LPOA) led to this decision, and the LPOA thanks Councillor Burnside for his active support. __ In my next column I hope to report on the province’s review of the Ontario Municipal Board. Both Geoff Kettel and I are participating and submitting position papers (Geoff for the Federation of North Toronto Ratepayer Associations [FONTRA], and I for the LPOA). We will be proposing measures which would lead to greater local democracy rather than top-down decision making. Fighting a development at the OMB is an expensive and time-consuming process. It need not be so difficult for citizens to participate and have their views heard and respected. __ Our next two meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on December 7th and January 4th at the Trace Manes building. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very enjoyable holiday season, and a happy and healthy 2017!

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Leaside Life, December 2016

LPOA

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I’LL TRY ANYTHING ONCE!

A volunteering Vezina gets bazaar this holiday season

KARLI VEZINA

Leaside Life, December 2016

160 luncheons prepared, and they're still smiling. L to R: Mary Turner, Ruth Bates, Heather Conolly, Jan Goodman, Betty Crichton and Diane Gray By KARLI VEZINA In the everyday hustle and bustle, it’s easy to get lost in your own world. Often it isn’t until the holidays roll around that many begin to consider ways to help out and volunteer their time. When people think of volunteering, they may think of the mandatory community hours they or their children had to complete to graduate from high school. Others may consider the Canadian Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, or Habitat for Humanity where disaster relief sometimes takes you out of your own backyard and into other countries where help is needed most. But what if you prefer to volunteer locally and make a personal difference? Where do you start? I had this exact thought when I first moved to Leaside and wanted to get involved with my new community. When I Googled “volunteer in Leaside,” not much came up. It hit me then that this was the first time, as an adult, that I had wanted to volunteer my time somewhere and didn’t know where to go. Now that curiosity had taken over, I became more determined than ever to volunteer somewhere in Leaside. And what better time than the

holiday season? I learned about St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Christmas Fair on Nov. 12 from a friend and thought that would be a great place to lend a hand. I went to a few Christmas bazaars in my youth, and was filled with fond memories. I made my way to the church on the day before the bazaar to help set up. I spent my time meeting other volunteers and finding a spot where I could be useful. I ended up in kitchenwares and began tagging and pricing with my mentor for the weekend, Linda. We had a few laughs trying to figure out what certain strange vintage kitchen items had been used for back in the day. Once our work was done, we parted ways to rest up for the big event the next morning. On Saturday I arrived to a long line of dedicated hunters on a mission for a good find. A thrift shop lover myself, I could feel the spark of adventure in the air and understood that we all shared the joy of finding a modern day treasure. Moving to the front of the line, I assumed my “battle station” position in kitchenwares. “Nine minutes!” was heard throughout the building. People would be streaming in and we had

to be ready. I was excited to see what people chose and wondered who would be there. Let me tell you, it felt like I met half of Leaside! It was a whirlwind of three hours as the first wave rolled onto the next. Linda, Colin, Barb and I staffed the kitchenwares station with diligence. I was packing, wrapping, making change and having a blast. I was also treated to the wonderful lunch that was sold to patrons and enjoyed every last bite of that handmade meal. It seemed like a blur of jackets and shopping bags until it was over. We all cleaned our respective areas, packed up what was left and said goodbye. The event I chose for volunteering is bi-annual, but for those who want to volunteer on a more regular basis outside of church, consider this: Try your local hospitals, veterinary clinics, libraries, schools, retirement homes or even police division (yes, really!). Keep an eye out for community bulletin boards or even a Facebook community group if you’re online and looking to volunteer. Whether it’s the festive season that’s inspired you or it’s just you being you, cheers to all the volunteers out there in Leaside and all over. Until next time...for science! ■

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR

Leaside’s Regnard Raquedan invented a solution to his own daycare problem What do you do if you have a problem and can’t find a solution to it? Well, if you’re Leaside resident Regnard Raquedan, you create a solution yourself. About two years ago Raquedan and his wife, who both have expertise in information technology design, development and security, had their first daughter. They began looking for daycare spots but noticed there wasn’t a central database of daycare centres available and came up with the idea to start up CubbySpot, a mobile platform that connects parents with daycare centres across Canada. At the time the couple were living in downtown Toronto and working on developing CubbySpot in the Founder Institute, a business and technology incubator centre. When Raquedan’s wife became pregnant with their second child, they decided to relocate to a more family-oriented community and

moved to the Scenic on Eglinton condominiums at Vanderhoof Ave. and Brentcliffe Rd. where they now live and work. Leaside was the ideal spot for Raquedan, who came to Canada five years ago from the Philippines, and his family to settle. They’ve never looked back. “It’s really a perfect fit – a business that’s all about the family in a community that’s all about the family,” he says. “Right now we can run the business from home, but if we continue to grow and at some point need to add people and move out into an office, there’s a lot of suitable space. Leaside has just about everything that a family and a small business like ours could ever need.” CubbySpot today numbers more than 12,000 daycare centres across Canada, about 40 of them in Toronto. Most are licensed facilities. Parents can access CubbySpot on their mobile phones and devices through an app which is available through Apple and

Regnard Raquedan and wife, Liza Google Face stores. CubbySpot is also available to daycare centres through the web to help child care managers keep track of their waiting lists and enrolment availability. It helps them build better relationships with families, eliminate the hassles of enrolment, build more trust and confidence and easily promote their services and facilities to parents across the country. CubbySpot also has a number of partner organizations such as the Association of Daycare Operators of Ontario (ADCO). If you join ADCO you get CubbySpot as a benefit of your membership. When not working on innovative tech solutions like CubbySpot, Regnard is an avid viewer of Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. Learn more about CubbySpot: http://www.cubbyspot.com/ ■

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & BEST WISHES FOR GOOD HEALTH, LOTS OF LOVE & PROSPERITY IN 2017! CONTACT SHEREE, YOUR LEASIDE SPECIALIST IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A MOVE IN THE NEW YEAR!

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Leaside Life, December 2016

By TALBOT BOGGS

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 10

Leaside Life, December 2016

Merry Christmas! New Year’s Levee

Join me to celebrate the new year with refreshments & live entertainment!

LETTERS leasidelife@gmail.com Letters may be edited. Re: Carol Burton-Fripp and no movie rescue for Leaside Carol Burtin- Fripp says there is no movie rescue for Leaside. I wonder if she saw “Animal House”. Fripp pondered the responsibility of the planners. If planners are professional they have a duty to advise council if density is problematic. They have a duty to give due consideration to parks, schools and infrastructure. They acknowledge it, then ignore it. The current regime in the planning department is more interested in pretty streetscapes. What an appalling situation. Where is the oversight? The way to stop “Drip, Drip, Drip” is to call a plumber. It is no longer sufficient to just show up at the OMB and expect that provincially-appointed tribunal to override provincial regulations and provincial mandates. Just as a plumber finds a leaking pipe, in order to stop this

runaway density it will be necessary to trace it back to its source – 795 Eglinton Ave. East, riding office of your MPP. As John Belushi said in “Animal House,” ‘Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is!’” You have an option. It would make headlines across the province if LPOA brought Leasiders together in a formal public meeting on the subject of censuring their MPP, if a large community in the Premier’s own riding meets to consider a censure of their MPP, and holds a fair discussion of their grievances where the MPP has been invited to appear and defend herself. The mere fact the meeting was taking place would send shock waves across the province…and might even change the way politics is done in Ontario. If the Premier chooses not to show up, a prominent Leasider could be appointed to act as her defender. The Premier created the provincial mandates, she appoints the OMB, she approved the Provincial Policy Statement. A censure would strip away the buffers and make her at last directly accountable to the people she pledged to serve. Bob Murphy, Eglinton Ave.

Kathleen Wynne, MPP

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These Wildcats are roaring strong 11

Bundling From Page 6

to integrate Syrian refugees into their new community. “It is well known that newcomers face a number of barriers in finding employment that is commensurate with their skills and experience. Refugees, in particular, may have more difficulty integrating into the Canadian labour market when compared to other categories of immigrants,” the documents say. “Refugees face many employment barriers such as lack of Canadian or other relevant work experience, lack of professional networks, and unfamiliarity with Cana-

Leaside Life, December 2016

The Toronto Leaside Wildcats (also known as The Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association) are the largest female hockey association in Ontario, in Canada, and potentially, the world. Think about that. This volunteer-run, not-for-profit association formed in 1974 has just shy of 1,600 members and continues to grow. The Wildcats Junior team competes at the highest level of female minor hockey in the province. This team, comprising women under 19 years of age, participates in a 38game season, playing against the top competition from Windsor to Ottawa. These young athletes are destined for varsity hockey at Canadian and American universities and colleges. In fact, seven players have already accepted scholarships for next year and three of them represented Ontario in the under 18 Nationals held in Regina this November. The Wildcats start with programs for girls as young as 3, but there are programs for interested women of any age, as long as they can skate. Creating access to the game is a priority for the Wildcats, so much so that even after interest in women’s hockey peaked after the 1998 Olympics in Nagano (the first time women’s hockey debuted in the Olympics), the Wildcats continued to grow their membership by offering after-school and weekend programs for a younger audience, ranging from 3 to 5 years of age. Jennifer Smith, president of the Toronto Leaside Wildcats associa-

By JULIE BROWN

tion, began volunteering when her daughter Sarah was 6, after her first season of house league. Fast forward 13 years, and Smith has worn many hats, including coach, trainer, player, fan, mom and president. Part of what makes this association special is the engagement of the volunteer force – with 90 teams and each team requiring between four and seven volunteers – and the composition of the volunteer base is shifting. While men still constitute a large part of the base, women who have a strong hockey foundation are getting involved in bigger numbers, which Smith says “is wonderful because not only does it expand our base of coaches, but it also fulfils a huge part of our mission for our playdian workplace culture.” Along with finding work, refugees face many other challenges in settling into their new country. The Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office provides support through a wide array of programs. The bustling community service agency offers English language instruction, youth services, health care, school readiness, homework clubs and even Zumba for women and yoga for dads. Amjad is confident he will find a better job soon, and added, “We feel safe here, and my son will have a good future.” For now the family is stocking up on winter supplies and looking forward with enthusiasm to their new lives. ■

ers to develop a life-long love for the game and open hockey leadership roles for women.” Smith recalled a recent conversation she had with a local parent, who was asking her about “this hockey thing she does,” wondering if his daughters should/could play. Smith says, “That made me really proud. Here are two girls who don’t come from a traditional hockey-playing community, but their non-hockeyplaying dad knew he could ask me the question because we’ve created the reputation as the place in the community for girls to experience hockey.” For more information about programming and the teams, please see Toronto Leaside Wildcats. ■

These Flames burn bright With almost half of the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League) season completed, only four of 206 GTHL East teams remain undefeated. Included among this elite group of undefeated teams are two from the Leaside Hockey Association. The Minor Bantam “A” Leaside Flames, led by head coach Dave Jerome, have a perfect record of 15 wins, 0 losses, 0 ties. The Minor Midget “A” Leaside Flames, led by head coach Scott Bryan, have an almost perfect record of 15 wins, 0 losses & 3 ties. Both teams lead their respective divisions. ■

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 12

YOU, our dining critics

Leaside Life, December 2016

Erin O'Brien and her boyfriend, Paul Versteeg-Lytwyn, Bayview Ave. enjoy date night at Val-d'Isère

We give $100 to help pay for a meal for up to three Leasiders at any restaurant in our area, the M4G postal code, which includes Leaside, Bennington Heights and the Leaside Business Park.

Date night at Val d’Isère By ERIN O’BRIEN Saturday was our date night, so my boyfriend Paul and I decided to try out the “new” restaurant on Bayview Ave., Val d’Isère. While walking up the street the week before I had noticed a new sign at Tinto Tapas. I looked it up and read that it had been converted into an Alpine chalet-themed restaurant and would remain so during the winter. When we first arrived we noticed the new décor: fur-lined bench backs, antlers on the walls along with snowshoes and assorted Stiegl paraphernalia. As soon as we were seated, owner Otta Zapotocky came over to welcome us. Our server Tom was very friendly, smiling and joking with us the entire night. We didn’t have to wait long to be served. I looked at the wine list and wanted the valpolicella, but was told it was sold out. Tom let me try samples of two other similar wines, and I ended up with the smooth, medium-bodied

French Domaine des Anges, which ended up going well with everything. The dim lights and cozy chalet atmosphere were perfect for our date night, although we did have a couple on either side of us since the restaurant is too small for the privacy of booths. So, depending on your taste, this place may be too loud and packed for you. We enjoyed it and ended up talking to both couples by the end of our dinner. Paul and I decided to share several dishes. We first ordered the potato chowder “gratinée”. It was warm and creamy, covered in delicious smoky bacon and served in a bread bowl. Once the soup was finished, Paul demolished the bowl. Tom the server came to clear the table for our next course and couldn’t believe that the entire bowl had been consumed! He said that he’d never seen that before and joked he should buy Paul a pint as a reward. We thought he was joking until, after confirming we weren’t driv-

FIND ME IN LEASIDE Be one of the first 10 people to find me in Leaside and win a prize? Email us at leasidelife@gmail.com or “like” us and comment on our new Facebook page - leasidelife

ing home, brought a cold pint of Stiegl to our table! We then ordered the Swiss Cheese Fondue, which was served with croutons, pickles & green apple. I often make fondue myself and it was on point. The size of the cut-up pickles was too small, and some of the croutons were too hard and I would have liked bread instead, but overall it was a wonderful dish. The other dish we ordered, which arrived the same time as the fondue, was the Beef Rouladen. I’ve had this dish before at a German restaurant so was expecting something similar. The menu noted that it was beef stuffed with pickle, egg, bacon, onion and wiener. I had thought the wiener would be more of a pork sausage, but nope, it was literally a hot dog. Paul loved the dish anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good hot dog, but this didn’t really go with the rest of the dish. Other than the wiener, the rest of the dish was more than decent, covered in yummy gravy and served with spaetzle, a light fluffy German dumpling. I found the prices a little steep for the portion sizes. The small soup was $15, and the Beef Rouladen cost $25, which seemed reasonable. But the fondue, at $29, was more than double the price of the same dish at other restaurants in the city. Overall, we enjoyed Val d’Isère a lot and will definitely return. Also the fact that this chalet transformation is so short-lived makes me want to take advantage before it’s gone. Paul and I are going to keep an eye out for the firepit on the front patio before our next visit. I can’t wait to sit out by the warming flames with my mulled wine in hand and maybe a dessert. A perfect romantic end to a great date night! ■

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 13

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to our Leaside Neighbours and Tenants

From The Owners and Staff

Leaside Life, December 2016

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 14

Leaside Life, December 2016

Get yourName Leaside Paint Centre Retailer trainLine t-shirt for $9.99! Address 1 Proceeds Address Line 2 to Holland Bloorview Kids Phone Number Rehabilitation Hospital Website

Visit us today: Leaside Centre Leaside Paint Paint Centre 1525 Bayview Avenue 1525 Bayview Ave. Toronto ONLOGO M4G3B5 RETAIL HERE 416-489-7900 416 489 7900 www.leasidepaintcentre.com

Paint and move in on the same day! With Natura you can paint your bedroom in the morning, sleep in it the same evening! No odours!

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 15

Leaside Life, December 2016

Found in Leaside: The train store that also sells paint “Hello Leaside Life. My two-yearold daughter loves the location you picked for Find Me in Leaside – it is the Thomas the Train set up in the Leaside Paint Centre. We frequently visit the store to watch the trains as we walk along Bayview. Great pick!” - Facebook visitor For fans, young and old, the model

train railway has been a perennial Bayview favourite for many years. Located in the window of Leaside Paint Centre at 1525 Bayview Ave., the display reminds people passing by to purchase a Train t-shirt with proceeds going to the Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Hospital. Carmel & Raymond Gork have owned the store since 1979. ■

ppp 'lm\n ma[ ^k ml e^Z lb] ^'\ hf

elebrate leebrate the Sea Season at St. Cuthbert’ ert’’s Anglican Church. Chu ..

…every Sunday at 8 and 10am with h a children’’s program at both services.

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Mondayy, Dec. 19 • 7pm

CAROLS WITH FRIENDS

A neighbourhood trraadition! Donations of non-perishable food for the Fllem lemingdon mingdon Par a k Fooodd Bank arre grratefully a reeceived.

St.. Cuthbert’s Anglicann Church 1399 Bayview Avenue, Tooronto For info call 416-485-0329

Saturday ayy, Dec. 24

CHRISTMAS EVE

4pm: m: A celebrraation gearreed to fam milies with childrren e t 8pm Candlelight a Eucharis u

Sunday undayy, Dec. 25 • 9am

CHRISTMAS DAY

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 16

It’s ho-ho-ho time at Leaside’s schools 16

Leaside Life, December 2016

By JANIS FERTUCK It’s the holiday season and Leaside’s schools are buzzing with students preparing for fun-filled festivities. Here are just a few of the plans to make merry this season: St. Anselm Catholic School A major highlight is St. Anselm Catholic School’s holiday concert, which will be held next door at St. Anselm Catholic Parish Church on Wed., Dec. 14. This year, as part of “The Year of the Parish” program, a mass will take place at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Kathleen Wynne, MPP for Don Valley West, Rob Oliphant, MP for Don Valley West, and Jon Burnside, Councillor for Ward 26, have all been invited. A special highlight of this concert is the performance by the GovernorGeneral’s Horse Guards Band accompanying the various student choirs. The appearance of the band is made possible by virtue of the fact that David Nespolo, the school’s Grade 6 and 7 teacher, is a member of it. This is a very popular community event and guests are advised to arrive early to get seats. In addition, a school choir directed by Kim Blanchet will make two appearances in the community, one at The Millwood Seniors’ Residence (921 Millwood) on Tues., Dec. 13, at 2 p.m., and the other at the Bayview Valu-Mart during the lunch hour on Fri., Dec. 16. Bessborough Elementary and Middle School Another popular holiday concert is Bessborough Elementary and Middle School’s concert, to be held in the auditorium of Leaside High School on Thurs., Dec. 15, at 6:45 p.m. While a performance by the kindergarten class will take place the previous night at the school, the larger concert will include students from Grades 1 to 8, and their families are expected to fill most of the 750 seats in Leaside’s auditorium. The show will be a mixture of song and dance routines woven together with a narrative thread. A drama and dance instructor is working with classes now to develop the show as part of the school’s drama and dance curriculum. The songs will include seasonal favourites and more contemporary works. Music teacher Justin McMillan is coordinating a team of teachers to organize the

show and there is usually a teacher act in the program as well. Vice-Principal Caroline Rosenbloom stated that while everyone looks forward to the holiday concert, such events are “all part of the culture at Bessborough” where there is no shortage of social activities all yearround. Northlea Elementary and Middle School Northlea Elementary and Middle School is so famous for its excellent music program, developed by retired teacher Mitch Bondy, that it will hold two holiday concerts, one at 1:30 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 14, at Northlea United Church to accommodate the large audiences for this popular event. The concert, being organized by the school’s music teachers, Alice Malach and Christina Loucks, will feature the Grade 5 and 6 choir singing a variety of seasonal songs. The Grade 7 and 8 band and the Grade 4 choir will also participate in the concert. According to Principal David Ehrlich, the students love participating in the concert and enjoy the positive community feeling that comes with it. This feeling spills over into their Holiday Fest during the last week of school, which celebrates all of the different cultural festivals at this time of year.

Rolph Road Elementary School At Rolph Road Elementary School, the main holiday event is Winter Fest, organized by the Home and School Association. It will be held on Tues., Dec. 6, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., and feature crafts, caroling, vendors, disc jockey, cake raffle, and a Charlie Brown store where children can purchase donated gifts at very

reasonable rates. The events will take place on the main floor of the school and in the gym. This highly anticipated event is very well attended and receives excellent reviews every year. The spirit of giving is also highlighted at Rolph Road with students raising funds or collecting toys for worthy causes during the season. In fact, Principal Michael Kennedy said that the school has “a tradition of giving throughout the year,” taking part in food drives and the Terry Fox Run. Bennington Heights Bennington Heights Elementary School will hold its holiday concert on Thurs., Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium. Hosted by the students themselves, it will feature dance numbers, skits and performances by the Grades 4, 5 and 6 band. Music teacher Alana Scharfstein and drama teacher Laura Alarie are currently brainstorming ideas for the concert, and are developing them with their classes and in band practice. The music will be a mixture of traditional Christmas and popular songs, and will include a song for Hanukkah as well. Another seasonal event at Bennington is the holiday bazaar to be held on Sat., Dec. 10. For this event parents will donate wrapped gifts which can be purchased by the children for their own holiday shopping needs. Leaside High School The focus here is less seasonal than that at the elementary schools. Rather than a holiday concert, they are trying something new: an arts exhibition developed by the newly formed Arts Council. The Dec. 1 event will feature interdisciplinary acts including singing, dancing, acting, visual arts and more. “Installations” similar to those for Nuit Blanche will be set up around the first floor of the school, and the performance lineup will run twice to allow people to come and go. Aside from that event, the student council will be organizing a holiday assembly on the last day of school. Last year, they performed scenes from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” interspersed with singing, dancing, bands and even some teacher performances. A similar collection of acts is planned for this year. It’s clear that the students and staff of Leaside’s schools truly embrace the holiday season. ■

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 17

NEW Rubberized Surface making it wheelchair accessible

NEW Landscaped Green Space Sandbox

NEW Playground Structures

in memory of

NEW Special Needs Equipment

Georgia Walsh

NEW Splash Pad

NEW Shade Structure NEW Seating Area NEW Fully Fenced in Park

Your Donation will build a $1. 2 million state-of-the-art Trace Manes Playground. opportunity t o DON FINAL ATE - D EC. 31st, 2016

WHY Do we need private money for a City Park? The current playground has fallen into disrepair. This new State-of-the-Art playground will ensure that our children are kept safe while enjoying the benefits of free play.

FACT 1. Our city is facing an 85 year replacement cycle for playgrounds; its target is 30 years. FACT 2. Trace Manes is currently not on Torontoâ€™s 10 year replacement list. FACT 3. The City of Toronto is currently $310M behind in its state of good repair targets for parks, community centres and green spaces.

DONATE! and have your name in a BALLOON on our DONOR WALL please visit

www. RememberingGeorgiaWalsh. com

small balloon $500 - $999 medium balloon $1,000 - $2,499

Your Name here

large balloon $2,500 - $4,999 x-large balloon $5,000 - $100,00+

*Artistâ€™s rendering of Donor Wall.

Leaside Life, December 2016

HELP us build a SAFER LEASIDE

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 18

Leaside’s gone to the (feral) cats

Leaside Life, December 2016

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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By JANE AUSTER I like to run in Leaside. And not just the pretty residential streets with their lush gardens and Little Free Libraries, but the industrial areas that remind us of Leaside’s original origins as more of a hard scrabble railway neighbourhood. One day as I was heading past Brentcliffe toward Leslie, far past the retail strips and into the land of chain link fences and rubbly parking lots, something caught my eye. Or, rather, someone. It was a large grey and white cat slinking into a wellconstructed little house tucked behind the chain link fences. Later, I would learn from cat rescuers and carers Michelle and Liz that this was Rooster, one of the many feral feline habitués living in this long-standing Leaside cat colony. No one is quite sure how old the colony is, but it’s at least 15 years, when Michelle first came on board as a feeder, trapper and caretaker. Liz joined the care team six years ago at a time when the colony was

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 19

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lives with Michelle and is quite happy to be off the street. Liz and Michelle are able to keep an eye on the colony even when they’re not there. “We have infrared cameras set up. We want to see if we have rogue feeders and what time the cats are feeding,” says Liz. “The colony definitely attracts other wildlife. Two or three years ago, we had a coyote in the parking lot coming up for food. We have skunks, possums, raccoons all competing with the cats for the food. We even have photos of the raccoons and cats eating together.” Toronto is, after all, Raccoon Nation. If Liz and Michelle have one message to share, it’s that feral cat colonies, if they’re well managed, are not a problem. But both caution against dumping cats in a colony if you can no longer manage them. “People are always better to go to the Humane Society or Toronto Animal Services if they can’t manage their cats,” says Michelle. “It’s not the cats who are the problem, it’s the people!” __ Want to help out? The colony can always use food donations and more backup feeders. Call Liz or Michelle at 416-8775641 or 416-696-9813. ■

Leaside Life, December 2016

teeming with tabbies. “Liz came in, and holy smokes, you wouldn’t believe what she and her friends did,” says Michelle. Liz and the team helped to set up cat motels, coordinate feeding and care schedules, organize TNR (trap, neuter, release) to control the cat population, and generally give these decidedly outdoor cats the love and care they need to lead healthy lives more or less in the wild. “When Liz joined there were probably 50 cats,” says Michelle. Need now we are down to nine or 10. In that industrial area, I used to tend four colonies. The three that were closer together are now down to one.” The colony, though situated in the middle of an industrial area, seems very private and unusually quiet. It’s also clean. The cats come and go in and out of the tidy purpose-built cat motels, and fresh food and water are always on tap for them. “I’m a big fan of putting up signs to let people know the cats are being looked after,” says Liz. “People are constantly dropping off food for them, but we encourage them (through signs) not to feed the cats. They’re innocent creatures. We need to protect them.” Liz had been working on Vanderhoof when a co-worker told her he had spied a bunch of cats and kittens. That was her introduction to a world she knew little about. But it didn’t take long for her to become something of a feral cat colony expert. Through the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition (http://torontoferalcatcoalition.ca/) she learned all about how to manage a colony, how to trap feral cats, and how to work with the Toronto Humane Society to get the cats vaccinated and microchipped before returning them to the colony. The carers don’t like to broadcast its location because less thoughtful people dump their unwanted kittens or cats and upset the balance of the colony, where the “regulars” have learned to live together. Some of the original ferals had to leave because they were too old to handle another winter outdoors. In fact, Cleo, one of the more senior felines – now 23 years old (108 in human terms!) –

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:18 AM Page 20

Leaside Life, December 2016

The Best Western Roehampton Hotel and the Toronto Don Valley Hotel & Suites are the closest hotels to Leaside

To Airbnb, or not to Airbnb – that is the question In November’s issue, my column discussed five possible ideas for a new building on the one-acre site at the northeast corner of Laird Dr. and Wicksteed Ave. that up until recently was the home of Four Seasons Auto Collision. Whether it’s old age creeping in, I completely forgot to include boutique hotel among the list of five possibilities, and that got me thinking about the highly contentious issue of Airbnb. Unless you’re living without internet or television it’s impossible not to be aware of the problems cities, communities, and neighbourhoods are facing as a result of the highly successful short-term rental housing website that’s met the needs of over 60 million guests worldwide since its founding in 2008. In finance, Airbnb is what they call a “unicorn” because it’s valued at more than $1 billion. In fact, it’s the secondmost valuable privately held tech company in the U.S. at $41 billion. Needless to say, it’s got the financial wherewithal to legally fight any community that sees fit to do battle with it. In New York City, Airbnb’s biggest market, not only is it illegal to rent out an apartment for less than 30 days, now illegal for property owners to advertise on Airbnb. Those violating this rule face fines upwards of $7,500. Ouch. Airbnb first appeared in Leaside Life this past June when the Curious Idler highlighted a home at 62 Vanderhoof Ave. that was being rented out on the home-sharing site for $250 per night or $300 per weekend. For many cash-strapped homeowners, it’s a great way to supplement your income when out of town. It used to be Airbnb’s charm. Unfortunately, the house in question is being rented on a short-term basis until the owners get the goahead to tear down the house and

Will Ashworth The business of Leaside build a new, more expensive version. In the meantime, nearby residents have faced raucous house parties hosted by renters who will gladly pay $250 for one night in order to hold a party somewhere other than their own home. Airbnb has become the vehicle of choice for professional investors who are opting to rent out their residential investment properties through the site as opposed to finding long-term tenants because the money is often better and the landlord and tenant issues a non-starter. Anyone who’s owned a rental property in this city knows how bad some tenants can be about basic cleanliness, consideration of other tenants and simple things like paying the rent on time. And don’t get me started on the deadbeats who abuse Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Act. The cards are definitely stacked in the tenants’ favour. From a business perspective, I completely understand the desire to maximize your profits while minimizing your headaches and out-of-pocket expenses. By the same token, however, if you choose to go down this path you should have to meet the same standards hotels are required to meet. Whether you’re renting your house out for one day a year or 365, it’s a business and you should be treated like any other business operating in the hospitality industry in this city. Now, let’s get back to Leaside and the boutique hotel idea. There are exactly two hotels within six kilometres of my apartment, according to Google: The Best Western

Roehampton Hotel at Eglinton Ave. and Mt. Pleasant Rd. and the Toronto Don Valley Hotel & Suites. Together, they offer 462 rooms for your out-oftown guests. That might seem like a lot, but when you consider that the population of Ward 26 is 65,000 (2011 census) and you’ve got almost 25,000 private households here. We used to have a third hotel in the area. For those who can remember, the Inn on the Park was a stone’s throw away and had over 500 rooms when it was built in 1971. Today, if it were still around, it would be a great help to outof-town visitors looking to enjoy some relaxation time away from their dear Leaside friends. Barring that, I suppose the next best alternative other than sticking your visitors on the couch is sending them to a downtown hotel or into the waiting arms of Airbnb. Personally, I’ve never had a problem using Airbnb, but then I’ve never rented a place in Toronto. Apparently, it can be a real adventure. The Globe and Mail’s Facts & Arguments feature recently had a reader submission highlighting the difficulties one world traveler was having finding decent short-term Airbnb rental accommodations in Toronto. Whether it’s because we don’t have enough hotels in this city — 43,000 rooms in GTA compared to 80,000 in similarly-sized Houston — and people are desperate for somewhere to stay, or Toronto’s Airbnb hosts are simply greedy, is hard to know. What I do know is that Airbnb, like UberX, isn’t going away, so we’d better figure out how to make this work because if enough people get the hint that Toronto’s too expensive to visit, or too difficult to find good accommodations, they’ll simply go elsewhere and that’s definitely not good for the local economy — including Leaside’s. ■

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:19 AM Page 21

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LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:19 AM Page 22

HOLIDAY HUNTING 22

Deck the halls with gifts from Leaside!

Leaside Life, December 2016

By VICKI HALL set of four $29.95 from Academy of Culinary Arts, or if he prefers a trendy Moscow Mule, they have the perfect copper cups for only $19.95. These would surely make your man and his pals very merry this Christmas. Academy of Culinary Arts 1703 Bayview Ave. 416-486-1859.

Tucked away on Millwood Avenue, Churchill’s Fine Gourmet Gifts provides delicious gift boxes of their Signature Shortbread, dipped in chocolate, and Heavenly Pecan Bars. Gift Boxes range in price from $11$120. Please call to pre-order. CrossCanada delivery available. Churchill’s Fine Gourmet Gifts, 882 Millwood Rd. 416-422-3353.

Interior of Write Impressions The holidays are quickly approaching, and if you’re anything like me, the crowds and hustle and bustle aren’t your favourite things about this joyous season. Luckily we live in a vibrant community that offers a lot of fantastic choices when it comes to shopping for our friends and loved ones. So instead of taking the car to the mall, why not take a stroll in Leaside and start your shopping in our charming neighbourhood. GIFTS FOR HER Get your holiday glow on with a luxurious Dermalogica Gift Set from Glow Spa. Sets range in price from $80$109. Include a gift certificate for spa services for the ultimate luxury gift. Glow Spa, 1675 Bayview Ave. 416-483GLOW. In business for 20 years on Bayview, Liz at Cornflower Blue knows exactly how to keep Leaside ladies cozy this winter. Start with her gorgeous selection of angora blend socks from Bleuforet $29-$35 or wrap her in a luxe blanket scarf from Moment By Moment $89-$125. Cornflower Blue, 1606 Bayview Ave. 416-489-4167. For the yoga-loving lady, Leaside is a wonderful place to practise. Yopila Yoga will once again melt away the holiday stress with their very popular Yearly Unlimited Pass for $999 or take advantage of a five-class card for $75, which is good for one month. Yopila Yoga, 889 Millwood Rd. 416-901-9002. GIFTS FOR HIM What man doesn’t like to have a boys’ night every now and again? A set of Bavarian crystal glasses from Nachtmann will help do the trick. Pick up a

With over 25 years in business on Bayview, an arrangement from Horticultural Design is the perfect gift. My favourite is the seasonal potted amaryllis. These holiday plants can be made to order and range in price depending on size and design. Drop by or call and Michael will be happy to help you find the perfect gift. Horticultural Design, 1610 Bayview Ave. 416-488-7716.

Glasses from Academy of Culinary Arts After his delicious beverages it’s time for dinner! A gift certificate from Grilltime is the perfect place to start. Maybe he’ll choose some delicious sirloins or a melt-in-your-mouth marinated flank steak, my personal favourite. Grilltime, 62 Laird Ave. 416467-4745. To ensure the dinner is absolutely perfect, include a set of Laguiole Steak Knives crafted in France from Academy of Culinary Arts. A six-piece set in a wooden block is only $49.94. Men’s novelty socks are all the rage. Pick up a pair of HotSox cotton socks in fun patterns including golf, hockey and holiday. $12/pair at Scholar’s Choice, 1599 Bayview Ave. 416-4858697. GIFTS FOR THE GRANDPARENTS

Amaryllis from Horticultural Design

Scholar’s Choice offers a fine selection of puzzles from Ravensburger and Cobble Hill that are sure to keep grandparents (and their grandchildren) busy for the winter. Prices range from $19.99 to $21.99. Stay warm this winter with a cozy throw from Kennebunkport Throws. They come in a great selection of colours and are perfect for cuddling on the couch. $100 from Write Impressions, 1515 Bayview Ave., 416-3225834. GIFTS FOR KIDS Educational and delightful toys abound at Scholar’s Choice. The wee hockey players in your life will love the Playmobile NHL Arena for endless fun, $84.99. Also available is the Playmobile NHL Zamboni, $22.99, and Referee Kit, $12.99. One of the best games of the year available at Scholar’s Choice is Mobi Math. This simple and quick game of numbers will keep the kids both educated and entertained over the holidays. $24.99. Getting creative has never been easier with a set of Faber-Castell Special Edition Coloured Pencils from Write Impressions. The 60-piece set includes metallic, neon and pastel colours for $34, while a 48-piece classic set is $28.

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:19 AM Page 23

bottle to stay hydrated. The S'well stainless steel bottle keeps drinks cold for 24 hours and keep plastic bottles out of our landfills. An amazing selection of colours and designs. $44.99 at 23 Peaches and Green, 1561 Bayview Ave., 416-488-6321. GIFTS FOR ALL Most restaurants in Leaside offer gift certificates. A few of my personal favourites are listed below:

Finger puppet from Write Impressions FOR THE HOLIDAY HOSTESS Take a little piece of Leaside’s independent coffee shop Lit Espresso Bar with you for your holiday hostess. They have the greatest coffee mugs with their slogan “Get Lit” on them. For only $10, they’ll help your hostess hold her caffeine through the holidays. Lit Espresso Bar, 1517 Bayview Ave.

A gift from The Olive Oil Emporium is sure to please. They offer an outstanding selection of the world’s finest extra virgin olive oils and artisanal vinegars from around the world. Be prepared for an education when you enter this shop and enjoy its wide range of gift sets (oil & vinegar) ranging in price from $39 to $79. Or you may choose a 12- or 24-sample gift set. $80-$159. If you’re looking for a small gift, try a single bottle starting at $15.95.The Olive Oil Emporium, 1707 Bayview Ave., 416-902-9060. Everyone needs to drink more water. Treat your hostess to the finest water

L’Avenue, 416-485-1568 Verdi, 416-440-0452 Kamasutra, 416-489-4899 Local Public Eatery, 416-696-6226 The Leaside Pub, 416-467-8682 Riz Pan Asian, 416-487-8388 Against The Grain, 647-748-2840 This gift guide is just a small sampling of all the wonderful things available from the many shops in Leaside. When you head out to do your holiday shopping I encourage you to consider supporting your local Leaside retailers. Throughout the month of December, you will also find lots of additional gift ideas featured on the Leaside Life Facebook and Instagram pages. Happy holiday!

Leaside Life, December 2016

Also from Write Impressions are the most adorable, super soft stuffed animals from Jelly Cat. Bears, kittens, puppies and teddies are just waiting for your little one to love them. Prices range from $16 to $120.

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The Curious Idler

Leaside Life, December 2016

Leaside in 2022? Big, BIG buildings The almost $7 billion Eglinton Crosstown project, the 19 km light rail line running from Mount Dennis in the west to Kennedy station in the east, is now well underway. With an expected completion date of 2022, the project has started to change the face of Eglinton Ave. In Leaside, developers are rushing to start projects from Bayview to Brentcliffe. As Councillor Jon Burnside keeps telling us, the billions of dollars being invested in public transit that runs rights through the middle of Leaside ensures that development will continue to come to our neighbourhood. So it’s absolutely imperative to find a way for developers and the community to work together.

traffic study and provide suggestions for improving the “crazy” traffic situation in Leaside. Preliminary ideas included creating gateway features at the entrances to the neighbourhood, speed bumps and speed cushions, raised crosswalks, and even red light cameras and photo radar. But the issue, as one attendee brought up? How long is this all going to take and who is going to pay for it? Councillor Jon Burnside, also in attendance, reminded the audience that yes, traffic is a problem in Leaside, and since the City has not identified Leaside as a high-accident area, funding to improve the traffic situation will take time. Councillor Burnside is continuing to work with both the North Leaside Traffic Committee (NLTC) and the South Leaside Traffic Committee (SLTC) to find ways to make our neighbourhood streets safer. Canada Post vans barrelling through Leaside

The LPOA held a spirited AGM The Leaside Property Owners Association (LPOA) held its Annual General Meeting on Nov. 22 at Trace Manes Community Centre. In addition to the normal LPOA business, a packed house heard a presentation from Gene Chartier, VP of Paradigm Transportation Solutions, the firm commissioned by LPOA to conduct a

Have you noticed the since the opening of the new Canada Post distribution centre on Wicksteed that Canada Post vans have been barrelling full-speed through Leaside, in particular on McRae? Comments from the Leaside Facebook community suggest that these vans may be speeding and not always making proper full stops. Says one Facebook poster, “…I have continuously watched drivers run stop signs– today was outside Rolph Road School at 3:35 pm. They speed back through our neighbourhood with no regard for safety. Our neighbourhood is progressively becoming a cutthrough for traffic, but Canada Post drivers, I have noticed, are particularly aggressive.” C’mon – we want our mail fast, but not that fast. Shane Baghai contributes $250,000 to Georgia Walsh Memorial Fund Shane Baghai, the developer and builder whose project in Leaside at 3-5 Southvale is now underway, has made a voluntary Section 37 contribution to the Remembering Georgia Walsh project. When I contacted Mr. Baghai’s office he told me that he believes that when he arrives in a new neighbourhood, he becomes part of the community and all the happy and sad occasions along with it. “Georgia Walsh was an innocent victim who in all likelihood would have been a great member of society,” he said in an email, “and her premature demise was grieved by not just the neighbourhood but many of the extending communities and maybe even nationally. I feel that the least I could do in this new community with my first project was to acknowledge this tragedy and have Georgia remembered for many generations to come.” Many people have been donating to the fundraising campaign since six-year-old Georgia Walsh was killed by a car near the park in 2014. Leaside Life’s columnist, Leaside Litterati’s very own Cheryl Vanderburg, has been quietly donating her monthly writer’s fee to the cause. The Trace Manes Playground Rejuvenation Fundraising project has announced that donations will be accepted until the end of this year. The generous Baghai contribution brings the total amount raised to $850,000 toward the $1.2 million target. CURIOUS, Page 29

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13th Annual Leaside

Guys Night Out & Christmas Toy Drive Supporting po or g Children in i Flemingdon Park & Thorncliffe T c ff Park r

Thursday December T c 8thh, 7 7:30 pm The Leaside Pub All guys welcome! 50/50 Draw + Live Auction + Great Raffle Prizes + Great Fun Bring $20 or an unwrapped toy (Note: $20 buys many great gifts from our toy distributor) Advanced toy donation box at The Leaside Pub Last year 2,500 gifts were given to children in our community

DRIV

If you have tickets or great items that we can offer in either the raffle or live auction, please email Daryn Everett at daryneverett@gmail.com or call him at 416-206-2714. - Daryn Everett, Jeff Hohner, Michael Zivot & Edward Wong

Leaside Life, December 2016

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MARTHA ASSELIN

Leaside Life, December 2016

Saving street character on MacNaughton Road Lovers of “Leaside character” grimace when they see a teardown happening on a Leaside street. Unfortunately, the replacement homes rarely “fit in,” unlike the house that is demolished. A teardown is forever, and seems to lead to many more teardowns, until the street is at a “tipping point,” where saving the original streetscape “look” may no longer be feasible. The first teardown on a street with no teardowns – now that’s an issue worth fighting for. At least that was the feeling on MacNaughton Road when the immediate neighbours received a Committee of Adjustment (COA) notice advising them of a new home at 9 MacNaughton. And by the way, the existing house, a bungalow, would be demolished. MacNaughton is a remarkable street of intact Tudor and Georgian Revival-style homes, either originals or renovated homes with the original street façades (several have had major renovations that have expanded the original modest homes, while retaining the street façade). And it’s at the heart of Leaside’s nominated Heritage Conservation District. At the North York Committee of Adjustment on November 10 three neighbours and yours truly (representing the LPOA) came to object to the application for 14 required “minor variances.” These included density Floor Space Index (FSI), lot coverage, building height and length, setbacks of both sideyards, front landscaping, and deck coverage. There were also many letters of opposition from homes on the street. One of the neighbours presented a map showing 17 red dots (homes op-

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside posed to the development) out of 36 homes on the street (and that was fewer than she might have had if she hadn’t run out of time for a second round of door-knocking). We realized that we might be winning this when the owner’s agent said there would be a change to the FSI resulting from changes to setbacks and length, but he did not know what they were because they were new and he had not yet calculated them! Then the chair objected to the changes introduced on the fly by the agent as “…unfair to the neighbours as they have had no chance to review.” And a sign that the COA understood the “character issue” was when one of the members asked if the house respected the rhythm of the street in terms of the pattern of house and driveway (it did not). The COA’s decision was to defer the application sine die, which may give the owner cause to reconsider the proposal. At the end of the day, is there a “preferred solution” from a community perspective for this property? Absolutely! In its submission the LPOA proposed keeping the street façade and the side wall of the existing dwelling, and adding a secondstorey addition on top with a two-storey extension at the rear. The LPOA wrote: “Maintenance of the characteristics of the current

street elevation could be achieved by reconstructing the existing steep roof line to accommodate the additional floor and having windowed dormers. Two additional requirements of importance to help in preserving the historical character of the street are the use of red brick with stone highlights and maintaining the same percentage of landscaping as all the other homes on MacNaughton.” What were the lessons learned? An important one is that neighbours who mobilize and engage their street will be listened to by the committee, provided they have convincing reasons for their opposition. All it takes is a few people motivated enough to knock on doors. It’s easier if the street has great community spirit, which MacNaughton, with its annual street party, has in spades.

The remnants of 73 Donegall being hauled away. By the way, you may be wondering what is happening with 73 Donegall, frozen in partial completion stage over a year ago following a stop work order and failed OMB appeal by the owner. It’s gone, demolished in the past few days, but it continues to cause concern to neighbours. Currently there’s a question of encroachment of the excavated pit on neighbours’ property! ■

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Our schools lead the way in environmental awareness

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Leaside High School Gold Northlea Elementary & Middle School Silver Bessborough Elementary & Middle School Gold Rolph Elementary School Platinum Bennington Heights Elementary School Gold

EcoSchools has six area of focus: 1) Foster Leadership and Teamwork; 2) Energy Conservation; 3) Waste Minimization; 4) Vibrant School Grounds; 5) Improve Student Achievement through Ecological Literacy; 6) Contribute to Healthy, Active, Safe, and Sustainable School Communities. Schools assess their strengths and identify areas for improvement by completing the set of EcoReview questions found in each section of a program manual. School EcoTeams identify environmental priorities for the school; develop a plan of action; take action; and then document and

share accomplishments with the auditors. The program offers a structured approach to changing daily practices and thinking that can lead to reducing our boardâ€™s environmental impact, and it is closely aligned with the Ministry of Educationâ€™s environmental education policy Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow. Our central EcoSchools staff provide tools and support to school EcoTeams through kick-off workshops, student conferences, print, and online resources, along with the auditing process to help them certify and create an environmental culture at their schools. As a community we should all be proud of our schoolsâ€™ accomplishments and the team of passionate parents, students and educators who strive to create a sustainable future for all. â– Gerri Gershon is the Trustee, Don Valley West, for the Toronto District School Board.

Did you ever carelessly throw a recycling item into the garbage? Are you lax about how much waste you create or energy you use? Do you really understand the effects of global warming? Well, the students in our local schools understand how to recycle, reuse and conserve. Each school voluntarily takes part in a unique program called EcoSchools. This program was developed by the TDSB and now is used by boards across the province. EcoSchools is an environmental certification program for K-12 schools that nurtures student leadership, deepens ecological literacy, and builds strong communities. Schools are audited yearly and are certified at one of four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze. We currently have 311 certified EcoSchools, and 10 certified Outdoor Education Schools at the TDSB.

The certification process is rigorous and I am very pleased to say that our schools have achieved high levels:

Leaside Life, December 2016

By GERRI GERSHON

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Leaside Life, December 2016

A phoenix rises from the ashes in Leaside October 27 saw the grand opening of the new Bellwood Health Services and Waterstone Clinic, a completely renovated treatment facility at 175 Brentcliffe, in the former Donwood Institute. Founded by Dr. Gordon Bell in 1967, it was one of Canada’s first addiction treatment hospitals. This repurposing of the Donwood is also a major relief for North Leaside residents who had feared a developer would buy the 9.5-acre site at the far end of the “institutional lands” on Leaside’s northern edge from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and turn the property into high-density housing. At the public meeting on October 5, 2015, representatives from Bellwood, Edgewood Health (EHN) and CAMH met with more than 120 Leaside residents to explain the plans and potential inconveniences of the renovation to get the facility up and running again. “The community asked about parking and traffic, but once we assured them that we would have our own parking, and that this wasn’t the type of facility where patients and visitors come and go all day, they were fine,” said Rochelle Hildebrand, EHN’s national manager of communications. “The community seemed excited to hear that it was coming back to good use. A lot of people even wanted to know if they could volunteer and get involved.” And “the Brentcliffe location reconnects the Bell name with local residents who have a long and compassionate history of accepting their part in helping others recover.” The renovation was ambitious. It has transformed a four-storey, 65,000

Geoff Kettel

Saving old Leaside sq. ft. building on nine acres of beautiful tableland above the Burke Brook ravine that has been vacant for eight years into a “vibrant, cozy, but not over-the-top decadent home for addicts of all sorts to get to the bottom of their illness and rebuild a foundation that can lead them to content, productive lives,” says Chris Dawson, EHN’s CEO. “The majority of the investment has gone into the residential side of the building. That is, to upgrade the patient experience to 21st century standards. The rooms will be very clean, very neat, very comfortable – but not luxurious. This isn’t Malibu. Our perspective is, clinically, if you are spending a lot of time in your room you are not benefiting from the [recovery] community.” The ravine and park setting for this existing building are without equal,” says Keith Benjamin, principal architect with Toronto architectural firm Open Architects Inc., who oversaw the project, guiding a team of contractors. “What is truly significant is that the current building has been an addiction centre and will now become one again. Simply put, this project is the softest touch we can do on this site,” he said. “Soft touches because we are making an existing building come back to life for its original purpose. We are not

adding to the building. We are reworking the inside with minimal impact to reuse what is there, and upgrade the building so that it is both functional for the programs and comfortable and welcoming.” At least one in five Canadians will experience an addiction or mental illness in their lifetime. 175 Brentcliffe will provide 88 residential treatment beds for the general public and Canadian soldiers who require intensive care for addictions and related mental illnesses. Programming will include eating disorders and PTSD as well as addictions. The newly refurbished hospital will provide a calm, quiet and peaceful therapeutic community for patients, clients, families and staff, designed specifically to be more conducive to a healing environment. It includes both a workout room and a full-size gymnasium, a meditation room, a teaching kitchen for eating disorder treatment, plenty of indoor and outdoor patient lounges, a lightfilled lecture hall and a comfortable dining room styled like a restaurant. “Addicts need to be nurtured and cared for in the most beautiful of environments,” says Bellwood Health Services Executive Director Cara Vaccarino. “Brentcliffe will offer a retreat for people looking to find their answers. It’s important to provide beautiful space for people. They deserve it. Part of treatment is nurturing people and providing safety and comfort. We should be providing the best facility we can and the best comforts of home.” We are pleased to welcome our new neighbour and wish them, and their clients, all the best. ■

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 29

From Page 24

At Framework Therapy and Assessment Centre, we provide a comprehensive spectrum of mental health and functional services for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. Services For: Our Team: Assessments & Treatment: Our Team: • Psychologists • Social workers • Occupational Therapists • Speech & Language Pathologists • Dieticians

From Leaside’s hockey moms to Sioux Lookout with love Leaside resident and self-proclaimed hockey mom Christine Baunemann recently arranged to ship a near mountain’s worth of hockey gear to the Northern Ontario community of Sioux Lookout. Along with Keven Berube, the pair initiated and coordinated the drive to collect gently used hockey gear to support a program led by Steve Dumonski, a teacher at Sioux Mountain Public School. This amazing program reaches over 500 kids, and make hockey accessible to primarily First Nations children, helping them stay connected to school and out of trouble. The program has dramatically improved school attendance and engagement. Following a notice on social media, Leaside resident Tabitha Bull jumped on board and was able to help further the drive and arranged for a second large shipment of gear to be collected. Both shipments have arrived in Sioux Lookout and the gear is already being used. Tabitha was so inspired by the program that she is planning a trip to Sioux Lookout in mid-December. Well done, Leasiders! ■ If you have an item for this column, please write to leasidelife@gmail.com

Services For: • Anxiety & Depression • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Learning & Attention Issues • Life & Relationship Stressors • Addictions • Eating Disorders • Personality Disorders

Indian Indian & NNepalese epalese CCuisine uisine

Assessments & Treatment: • Comprehensive Clinical & Diagnostic • Psychoeducational & Giftedness • Occupational • Speech & Language • Nutritional • Psychotherapy (CBT, DBT, EFT etc.) • Couples, Family & Play Therapy • Forensic

FREE ENTRÉE Buy Buy one one entree entree and and get get the the (valued ssecond econd (v valued up up to to $12.99) $12.99) FFREE REE Mt.Everest RRestaurant estaurant Mt.Everest 8804 04 EEglinton glinton Ave.E Ave.E Coupon Coupon must must be be presented. presented. Dine-in, Dine-in, not be combined ttake-out ake-out &Delivery. &Delivery. Can Cann not be combined wwith ith any anny other other offer.Delivery offer.Delivery has has toto be be atleast atleast $25 $25 aafter fter discount discount

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46-209 Wicksteed Ave Toronto, ON 416-792-2202 Frameworkcentre.com

Leaside Life, December 2016

Curious

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Inductees From Page 1

for Bradwell football might have taken a back seat: “I would have tried out for the hockey team,” he confesses, “but Mac didn’t have one.” The Marauders football team, however, was one of the better university football teams at the time, “so it was intimidating since I only had one year of playing experience. But I thought, why not just try this out?” He did it, he says, “more for fun than anything else. Obviously the coaches saw some potential in me and they liked the fact that I had no bad habits – I hadn’t played long enough to develop them.” Bradwell made the team and played for the Marauders for the next four seasons. Mac reached the playoffs each of those years but never won the Vanier Cup. In his fourth year at university, Bradwell was noticed by the CFL scouts and drafted by the Toronto Argonauts. A hamstring injury prevented him from making the team in 2008 so he played a fifth year at Mac before joining the Argos for the 2009 season. The highlight of Bradwell’s six seasons with the Argos, 2009-2014, was being part of the Grey Cup-winning squad in 2012. In 2013 Mike suffered a concussion during a game late in the regular season. Although he returned in time for the Eastern Conference Final game, he admits now that he wasn’t 100 per cent recovered, and, in fact, the symptoms persisted for another five or six months afterwards. He played one more season, but the concussion was a factor in his decision to retire at the end of 2014. “Playing longer felt like rolling the dice as to when I’d get another concussion and how much worse

JEREMY LEWIS

Leaside Life, December 2016

2016 inductees to the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame (l-r): Leaside skating coach Tom Kalweit; former Chicago Black Hawk Terry Caffery; Jenny Shaw, accepting on behalf of her late father, former president and long-time head referee for Leaside girls' hockey Ian Shaw, and former Toronto Argonaut Mike Bradwell, at Leaside Gardens. that second one could be, especially with all the research now on the long term effects,” he says. “I think every player knows when it’s their time and I was very ready to walk away from the game on my own terms. Having won the Grey Cup in 2012 was a big part of being satisfied with my career. Also playing receiver and special teams for six years had taken its toll on my body: I was 28 years old, but my body felt much older.” And, having completed his civil engineering degree at McMaster, Bradwell had something solid to fall back on. “Playing in the CFL, we don’t retire with millions in the bank,” Bradwell notes, “which is really a blessing in disguise because you’re constantly thinking about what your career will be after football. The pressure I put on myself to be successful after football began to weigh on me near the end of my career. While leaving football was

tough, it was also exciting to begin the next chapter of my life and attack that with the same determination and work ethic as I did with football.” Since the summer of 2015, Bradwell has been living in Los Angeles where his girlfriend has a job in the TV industry and where he is putting his civil engineering degree to work in project management for a commercial construction firm. While he says he’s finished with football – “it’s not one of those sports you play after you retire” – he is happy to be playing recreational hockey again. “There’s a fairly big ‘beer league’ in LA, with many of the players either ex-Canadians or from the northern or northeastern states.” Bradwell’s team plays just once a week in part because ice time is at a premium. “Believe it or not, there’s only one rink for rec hockey in the entire city of Los Angeles.” ■

Letter from Leaside Life ... ‘Tis the season to be thankful Our friends to the south have just celebrated Thanksgiving. While Thanksgiving in Canada is closer to harvest time, there are still many reasons to be thankful as we head into the holiday season. Here at Leaside Life we are proud to be part of such a dynamic community, experiencing tremendous growth (not all of it good, admired, or welcome!). But despite the many issues associated with rapid change, we are still fortunate to live in such a warm, welcoming community where people genuinely care about one another. It’s still possible to walk down a main street like Bayview or Laird and run into neighbours who stop to talk, laugh, and maybe share a coffee, tea or pint. Leaside has always seemed “local” and still does,

even with the many new people moving into the neighbourhood. For the past five-plus years, Leaside Life has dedicated itself to telling your stories. And we will continue to reach out to more Leasiders so we are the magazine you turn to when you want a generous helping of Leaside. Interested in learning more about our local schools? We are now covering school issues in greater depth. What’s the local BIA up to? Read Leaside Life to find out. Sports your thing? You’ll find lots to cheer on in our pages. And we are always looking for more Leaside stories to tell, so let us know what you think. There is so much to be thankful for here in Leaside. Our very best wishes to all of you from the team here at Leaside Life. Happy Holidays!

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 31

Cheryl Vanderburg

Bag those leaves!

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899 Millwood Rd. 416 901 9002

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It's a warm, sunny, windy, midNovember day and my neighbourhood walk is so pretty! The leaves are in full colour, some still on tree branches, some fluttering gently down, and many nestled on lawns, sidewalks and roadways. We have no leaf-bearing trees on our property, yet as I arrive home I see that our driveway and sidewalk are covered with maple and oak leaves. It doesn't seem fair! Organic litter? I want to take them back to their owners, but that's not really viable. I consider waiting for a windy day and hope they blow into someone else's yard. Then I sigh, pick up a rake and begin the process of collecting and bagging other people's leaves. I try to see the bright side....It's a beautiful day, it's good exercise, it's fun to catch up with the neighbours, and it’s better to clean them up now than in the spring when they are a wet, soggy mess. In fact, raking leaves onto our roadways is a bylaw offence that could result in charges being laid, and it creates dangerous conditions such as flooding and accidents. Instead, we all need to place our leaves at the curb in kraft paper bags or reusable, rigid, open-top containers on our regularly scheduled yard waste collection days. Here's a hint…if you use rigid containers, drill a few holes in the bottom so the water drains out if it rains. The City suggests that composting is the best solution for managing your leaves. I heard Paul Zammit from Toronto Botanical Garden on the CBC recently. He asks his neighbours for their oak leaves, mulches them and spreads them on his garden. Who knew someone could be so excited about organic material? So, a gentle reminder to those who may be hopeful or in denial, who continue to rake or blow fallen leaves onto the road. No one is coming for them, so please be a good neighbour. Get out your rake, grab your broom, and get those leaves collected! We all need to do our part. ■

YES YOU CAN

Leaside Life, December 2016

Leaside Litterati

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 32

Events Leaside Life, December 2016

Moonbows over Leaside? One of the difficulties of being a small town in the middle of a great metropolis is that Toronto keeps intruding on our airspace. I don't mean planes on flight paths to Pearson, but rather the lights from the city that spoil star-gazing for Leasiders. It really isn't very good for us, even on the darkest nights, because Toronto has a way of polluting our darkness. I don't ask for much here – I'm not an astronomy buff looking for the moons of Jupiter – but it would be nice to see the Milky Way now and then from, say, second base in Talbot Park. There was a time almost 20 years ago when comet Hale-Bopp captured everyone's attention and I determined that I would see it without having to drive into the countryside. So I wound up late at night comet-gazing in Sunnybrook Park in a very snowy, icy winter season. For some reason (getting a closer view?) it seemed a good idea to climb up a big pile of snow. I promptly

Michael Bliss

Living in Leaside fell down, and finished the evening in the ER at Sunnybrook Hospital, explaining to amused staff how cometwatching could lead to cracked ribs. Our little granddaughter had better luck very early one morning in the second year of her life when she was being carried to the car to leave for the airport. She looked up, pointed, and said, clearly, “tar,” one of her first words. I now have a new sort of skywatching mission. In a book about life on the Orkney Islands I recently came across a reference to the appearance of moonbows. Yes, moonbows! I'm not making this up: the light of the moon reflecting off raindrops can create the

nocturnal equivalent of a rainbow. Most moonbows tend to be pale white, but they can also come in all the colours of rainbows. I had never heard of this phenomenon, nor has anyone to whom I've mentioned it. But it does exist. If you doubt me, Google “moonbows”. Do we get moonbows over Leaside? I don't know. Has any reader of Leaside Life seen one? They would occur after or during showers on nights when the moon is full and bright (and it’s true they're more easily observed near great waterfalls). I'd like to see a moonbow before I die. Call it lunacy if you like. But when the conditions are right this winter you may find me out moonbow-watching in Talbot or Sunnybrook Park, cursing the lights of Toronto, and trying not to fall down while looking up. When I see this wonder, I will point to it with all the delight of a twoyear old, and say very clearly: “moonbow”. ■

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 33

Wellspring Westerkirk House 105 Wellness Way. Thurs., Dec.1, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. Holiday Open House for Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation. Refreshments, silent auctions, entertainment, lighting ceremony. Gallery 50 50 Gladstone Ave. Wed., Dec.7-Sun., Dec. 11. Art Exhibit by Leaside artist Gael Patino. Contact: gaelpatino@gmail.com. Northlea United Church 125 Brentcliffe Rd., tel. 416-425-5252 -Fri., Dec. 4, Carolling in the Pines. Hot chocolate, Singing and The Metropolitan Silver Band. Bring a Flashlight. -Sun., Dec.11, Candlelight Service. Christmas Carols, Christmas stories with music, scripture & more. -Thurs., Dec. 25, Christmas Eve Services, 7 p.m., Family Service, 11 p.m., Candles and Communication Service. St. Augustine’s Anglican Church 1847 Bayview Ave., Fri. Dec.9, 7 p.m-8:30 p.m., The Groove Room Coffee House. Live Music, Coffee, Dessert, Friends, Community. $5 proceeds towards Syrian refugee family. Contact:Augustine@bellnet.ca. Leaside Presbyterian 670 Eglinton Ave E., Fri: Dec. 02, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. snacks, hot lunch, fun, fellowship. * JK- Gr. 7 welcome * Gr. 8 youth welcome as helpers. Community Service Opportunities for High school Students. $30/per child or $50/per family. Offer Subsidized funding as needed. Leaside Library Events 165 McRae Dr.. 416-393-3835 - Adult Colouring Party Tues. 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m. - Leaside Needleworx Fridays: Dec.02, 09, 16, 23, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Chair Yoga Mon.: Nov. 28, Dec. 05, 12, 19, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Keep fit and maintain your calm. No equipment needed. Call to Register. - Leaside Writer’s Group Sat.: Dec.10, 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Drop in. Everyone welcome. - Going Mobile Thurs.: Dec. 8, 1:30 p.m.-4:00p. Learn about your Mobile Devices. Bring your Device - Puzzles/Games Night! Mon.: Dec.05, 12, 19, 7:00 p.m. Drop in. Everyone Welcome. CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING - LEGO club Thursdays: Dec. 01, 3:30 p.m. -5:00 p.m. Drop in, *Ages 5 and up * - STEM Middle School Program Fri: Dec. 02, 2:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. Learn something new about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. * Ages 7 and up* - Christmas Tree Trimming Mon: Dec 05, 4:00 p.m. Create Festive Decorations for our Christmas Tree. Drop in. No registration needed. * Ages 4 and up*

• Personal care–bathing, dressing, hygiene, laundry, light housekeeping • Medication supervision • Joyful companionship • Mobile hair care

• Convalescence and respite • Veteran’s care • Physiotherapy & occupational therapy • Nutritional planning; meal preparation

• Foot care • Escorting to appointments; shopping

• Chronic disease care: Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. • Direct CCAC referrals

• Referral for solutions for mobility needs • RN/RPN supervised care

• Hospital and retirement home care • Live In/Out 3-24 hours; or 24/7 care

Authorized Provider

Veterans Affairs Canada

Celebrating 17 years of service

Please contact us today at 416-483-0070 or info@laservices.ca for advice and/or a free Nurse’s in-home health and safety assessment—as well as the very best compassionate, dedicated, and professional caregivers.

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Leaside United Church 822 Millwood Rd. Sun., Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. Annual Lessons and Carols Service-Offering in support of the Out of the Cold Program.

Imagine! You can choose the best ever caregiver…professional, highly trained, Experienced, engaging, trusted, compatible, compassionate -and wonderfully helpful and caring!

Leaside Life, December 2016

Events

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 34

Jon Burnside Councillor, Toronto Ward 26 Don Valley West

Leaside Life, December 2016

Bellwood opens its doors JESSICA, NANCY, NIA

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In this good news article, I'm really only the reporter. The Donwood Institute was founded in 1967 by Dr. Gordon Bell and was located beside the peaceful ravine setting on Brentcliffe Rd. in North Leaside. Although one of Canada’s first addiction treatment hospitals, this nine-acre site fell victim to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) restructuring plans and was closed in 2008. When news of its pending closure surfaced in 2007, it became a major provincial election issue with then candidates Kathleen Wynne and John Tory, both vowing to keep the property in public hands. Many North Leaside residents were wary of the election promises, still fearing the site would be sold for condo development. Since becoming a councillor in late 2014, I have had a stream of inquiries about its fate. The presence of land surveyors and construction vehicles only stirred the pot of curiosity and concern. One year ago, I held a community meeting with Bellwood Health Services to inform the community of the new tenant’s important – and welcome – health-care facility plans. A $7 million renovation ensued and Bellwood formally opened its doors at the beginning of November. The 88-bed facility, which is part of the Edgewood Health Network, offers treatment for addiction, PTSD and eating disorders. Like the many residents who reached out to my office, I am relieved and very pleased with this outcome. I was largely a bystander in the process, so thanks should be directed to our MPP, Premier Wynne, who was insistent that the lands not be sold, as well as to Chris Dawson, the CEO of the Edgewood Health

To advertise in

Leaside Life 416-504-8047 leasidelifepublishing@gmail.com

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 35

Ba Bayview yview & Fleming F le m in g 1601 Bayview Bayview Ave Ave Toronto Toronto ON ON M4G M4G 3B5 3B 5 416-489-1873 416 489 1873

Ward boundary review

Leaside Life, December 2016

Network, who worked tirelessly since 2009 to bring his dream to reality. (To read more about the Bellwood opening, read our feature in this issue by Geoff Kettel.)

BRIAN MOK

Following in our provincial and federal counterpartsâ€™ footsteps, Toronto underwent a â€œboundary review.â€? Since the last review in 2000, Toronto has seen unprecedented growth of 30,000 new residents per year. However, the growth has been very uneven; some wards have as few as 44,000 residents while others boast as many as 100,000+. Ward 26 has almost 70,000, which makes our ward larger than the City average. The overarching goal is one of â€œeffective representation,â€? which in many ways comes down to voter parity, namely, that each citizen's vote has roughly the same weight. In late spring, the City's independent consultants suggested that we add three more councillors, thereby increasing our total from 44 to 47. Mayor Tory was very much opposed to adding politicians and asked the consultants to find a way to make 44 councillors a viable format. While this would have been my preference, the consultants were unable to draw the boundaries such that Leaside wouldnâ€™t be divided into two different wards. Many residents, including the LPOA, expressed deep concerns with the 44-ward option. Given that the goal was voter parity while maintaining communities of interest, as well as observing natural and physical boundaries, I supported the 47-ward option, which passed at Council 2813. Leaside and Bennington Heights will remain intact as will the rest of Ward 26 with the exception of Wynford Heights. Any resident can appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, so the new boundaries may not be in effect until 2022. â– You can reach me at councillor_burnside@toronto.ca

COME IN FOR YOUR FREE FLU SHOT.

Find out why people love to live at Kilgour Estate!

Let my proven track record in condo sales work for you! STEPHEN FRAZEE, Broker Kilgour Estate Resident & Owner since 2007 RE/MAX Ultimate Realty Inc., Brokerage 1739 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4G 0A1 Office: (416) 487-5131 Cell: (416) 518-6533 sfrazee@rogers.com

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 36

MEET YOUR RETAIL NEIGHBOUR

Leaside Life, December 2016

How a faulty alarm clock led to a career in cooking Otta Zapotocky arrived as a visitor in Vancouver from the Czech Republic as a 19-year-old, on November 5, 1999. How is it that he is now the owner of both L’Avenue and Val d’Isère (with a grave accent on that middle e, please) on Bayview? It’s a bit of a story for such a relatively young man. Otta grew up in a small town about an hour north of Prague, near the German border. His mother and her four sisters were all chefs. His father was a locksmith but could rebuild anything that had wheels and gears. Otta’s mother, who worked at a restaurant, walked her young son to school the first day, but relied on an alarm clock set on a plate with cutlery to wake him and get him moving after that. Almost inevitably, the clock was not fool-proof, so his mother decided to bring young Otta to work with her when he missed school. In theory, he was supposed to sleep on the benches of the restau-

Lorna Krawchuk Publisher Leaside Life

rant and stay out of the way. In fact, he decided it was more fun to be in the kitchen, chopping. So began his culinary career. While studying practical subjects at school in the Czech Republic like economics, accounting and marketing, he also worked in restaurants – starting as a server, then graduating to bartending. His “honourary uncle” (actually the brother of his mother's second husband) was working at the Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, and that sounded more exciting to Otta than staying in the Czech Republic, so off he flew. As he was trying to decide what jobs might be open to someone like him with a distinct accent, and, at that time, limited English, he met a

sommelier, who suggested that “wine” might be a good fit for him. In short order, he acquired a raft of designations through the Wine and Spirit Education Trust that led to his being asked to teach in Victoria. Then it was off to San Francisco and Portland where he became a certified sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers. From there, there were jobs at Araxi in Whistler, Vincor in Vancouver, and choosing the wines to pair with the sauces at Sooke Harbour House, with a different menu every day. But Toronto beckoned. More employment in more upscale restaurants…Splendido, the opening manager and sommelier at Nota Bene, and general manager at Wildfire on Yonge. But in the back of his mind was always the desire to run his own show. He really didn’t know the Leaside area, other than having driven up and down Bayview a few times, but

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LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 37

Otta Zapotocky Segar had closed, and its location was available. Otta rented the space on February 15, 2012 and decided what type of restaurant would fit the neighbourhood. “French-inspired” was what he came up with. His first customer, on looking at the menu

November 23 was the 2016 AGM for the Leaside Business Park Association and there was a full house on hand for this early morning event held at Tremco's Beth Nelson location. In his first term as LBPA President, Kendall Fullerton addressed the gathering with an aim at the future vision for the Park. Fullerton said there's been a shift in focus to begin to attract innovation and technology business to the area in what would be a realistic and viable employment sector to support jobs to the area. Leaside has grown vastly over the last few years with Smart Centre and First Capital opening shopping plazas with yet two to three more major retail developments expected over the next few years. The Association has begun hosting very successful Professional Meetups since 2015 where local professionals have the opportunity to meet'n greet, plug-in to the community and find out more about who's in the area. To learn about the January Meetup location or receive updates email lbpa@zee4.com or for more info go to leasidebusinesspark.ca ■

LAUGH OUT LOUD IN LEASIDE #8 Join us for an evening of comedy, music, food, and friends!

At The William Lea Room, Leaside Memorial Gardens

Beneﬁting

Leaside Life, December 2016

said, “This isn’t going to work for me.” She couldn’t explain what she wanted, just that what he was offering didn’t appeal to her. Otta listened. With a few menu tweaks, L’Avenue has become a hit. As if that weren’t challenge enough, when the space where The Mad Italian became available across the street, Otta envisioned setting up a tapas restaurant, called Tinto. In the summer, Tinto does well with its small plates. In the winter, not so much. So, this winter, Tinto is morphing into Val d’Isère, serving hearty foods on large plates, or as Otta calls it, “Alpine chalet cuisine”. A big key to his success is his belief in strong local relationships. Otta sources many of his products from other local merchants, including Badali's, Alex Farm, Epi Breads, WhiteHouse Meats and the Academy of Culinary Arts. A benefit of working where he does on Bayview is that it takes him all of eight minutes to get home to his wife and young son in the Scenic apartments overlooking the Don Valley. This charming host, talented sommelier and wise hand in the kitchen has quickly become a Leaside favourite. ■

Friday February 24, 2017 @7:00pm Hosted By

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LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:20 AM Page 38

The real joy of the Holiday Season is to say Thank You for your support and to wish you the best for the new year.

Leaside Life, December 2016

Leaside Life

Crescent Dental Health Clinic Cosmetic, Family & Implant Dentistry www.smileeastyork.ca

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est. 1938

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HOME THEATR E SPECIAL ISTS

The Leaside Painter Quality Interior & Exterior Home Painting call Mike at:

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Your neighbourhood travel agency Tours, cruises, travel insurance 1569 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4G 3B5 (416) 485-5057

JON BURNSIDE COUNCILLOR ward26.ca 416.392.0215 councillor_burnside@toronto.ca

LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:21 AM Page 39

OPEN 1500 Bayview Avenue

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Leaside Life, December 2016

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LeasideLife issue 55 final rev_LeasideLifev1 16-11-24 3:21 AM Page 40

Leaside Life, December 2016