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Recent Stories
  • [ May 7, 2025 ] Announcing the Canada Proud Leaside Proud Flag Contest! Stories
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] The Ghost Party – Young Poet’s Corner May 2025 Schools
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Taking action at City Hall to protect Torontonians City Councillor
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] A Walking Tour of Bennington Heights History
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Honouring Bill Pashby, helping make Leaside strong and Canada proud People
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Patriotism from the past Community
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Leasiders unleashed their patriotism during Canada’s Centennial History
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] And speaking of elections…. Tim Fallis
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] O Canada! O Leaside! Editor's Welcome
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] “Pie queen” perfects the very Canadian butter tart Leaside Cooks
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] A warm welcome from our new TDSB Trustee Schools
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Canada counts! And Leaside is still a neighbourhood of neighbours! Development
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] This Canadian champion was “made” in Leaside Sports
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Tom Chin has all the right moves – 108 of them People
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] What do Canada and Leaside mean to you? Community
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Mr. Trump comes to Leaside Business
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Litter-free in the Georgia Walsh Playground? Leaside Litterati
  • [ May 1, 2025 ] Camp time! 24 for ’25 Community
  • [ April 22, 2025 ] April 28th – Voting for the future of Don Valley West and Canada Community
  • [ April 1, 2025 ] Why Canada matters – and why your stories do, too Community
HomeAuthorsJanis Fertuck

Articles by Janis Fertuck

About Janis Fertuck
Janis Fertuck is a retired English teacher who spent the last 30 years of her career at Leaside High School. She enjoys writing about the vibrant Leaside community where she and her husband have lived for 22 years. Her other favourite pursuits include a part-time job at a boutique on Bayview and volunteering with the Bayview Pixies.
Business

Let the Xplore Games begin on Millwood

May 1, 2023 Janis Fertuck

The pandemic has brought an increased awareness of the importance of finding optimal work-life balance in our hectic lives. Christine Hibbard, the owner of Xplore Games at 858 Millwood Rd., agrees with this sentiment, saying …more

Chefs Teja and Surren with the pizza oven. Photo Janis Fertuck.
Business

Mi Casetta, Su Casetta in Leaside’s little corner of Italy

February 1, 2023 Janis Fertuck

There is a welcome new addition to Leaside’s dining scene at the corner of Millwood and Randolph roads. La Casetta, Italian for a “small home or cottage,” is indeed a cozy and charming Italian restaurant …more

Chernos Lin (centre) at Longo’s Loft for her December coffee meeting with Janice Barnett, PIAC (Parent Involvement Advisory Committee) Rep for Ward 11 and Co-Chair of Northern Secondary School and Chris Markham, parent. Photo, Janis Fertuck.
Schools

Our very own Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin is the new chair of the TDSB

January 1, 2023 Janis Fertuck

On November 15, when the new Toronto District School Board trustees were sworn in for the 2022-2026 term, the first order of business was the election of the chair and vice-chair. A secret ballot by …more

Photo courtesy of Rob Hughes.
History

Leaside’s Plywood Fabricators supported the war effort

November 1, 2022 Janis Fertuck

Leaside residents who frequent the Loblaws store on Redway Rd. or enjoy hikes in Crothers Woods may be surprised to learn they are near the site of Plywood Fabricators, a company that played a significant …more

Deirdre and Michael Barry. Photo Walter Lai.
Community

The Barrys turn their passion for cycling into a top-spin career

October 1, 2022 Janis Fertuck

Cycling is a way of life for Deirdre and Michael Barry, a Leaside couple who have taken part in the Olympics and now run the family business, Mariposa Bicycles. Deirdre (known as Dede) grew up …more

The Whitbys at Hidden Valley, Huntsville. Photo Myles Whitby.
Sports

More than 50 Ironman competitions for Leaside’s top-performing couple

September 1, 2022 Janis Fertuck

Leaside’s Ironman couple, Brandon and Fiona Whitby, will once again challenge the World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in early October. Remarkably, this will be Brandon’s seventh and Fiona’s fifth time participating in the event traditionally …more

Leaside High's outstanding grads of 2022: l-r Yousra Lakhani, Mikela Scharlach, Michael Cassidy, Armiti Zarbakhsh.
Community

Congratulations to Leaside’s outstanding graduates of 2022!

August 1, 2022 Janis Fertuck

The 2022 graduates of Leaside High School have faced more challenges than any other class after their school careers were upended by the pandemic. But they have also shown more resilience as well, according to …more

Mary Morrison. Photo by Susan Smith.
Schools

LHS teacher retires after 37 years and 8 principals

July 1, 2022 Janis Fertuck

One of the most versatile and involved teachers to grace the halls of Leaside High School is retiring after 37 years. Mary Morrison was hired in 1985 and has taught girls’ physical education, science and …more

Photo of Arzo Aslami, Trinity Asimakas, Ayeza Dawood. Photo by Serena Sanchez.
Schools

Leaside High sets up its own swap shop

June 1, 2022 Janis Fertuck

Leaside High made the swap in March. The Leaside High School Fashion and Eco Clubs held their inaugural “One 4 One” Thrift Event a few months ago, and in doing so were participating in the …more

Rob Hughes. Photo by Cameron Hughes.
Business

Who ya gonna call? Leaside’s best kept secret.

May 1, 2022 Janis Fertuck

While there are many joys and benefits to owning a property, home ownership can also be fraught with issues that cause problems and prompt owners to ask the classic Ghostbusters question, “Who ya gonna call?” …more

Posts pagination

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Digital Edition

Barbara Klein, front, and the business students responsible for creating Leaside Eats. Photo Anna Kravtchenco.
In the Spotlight

Leaside Eats!

by Susan Scandiffio in Community

Barbara Klein is one of those teachers.  A teacher who inspires her students. A teacher who brings out the absolute best in them and provides them with unique opportunities while meaningfully tying in course content. ...more
Recent Posts
  • Announcing the Canada Proud Leaside Proud Flag Contest!
  • The Ghost Party – Young Poet’s Corner May 2025
  • Taking action at City Hall to protect Torontonians
  • A Walking Tour of Bennington Heights
  • Honouring Bill Pashby, helping make Leaside strong and Canada proud
  • Patriotism from the past
  • Leasiders unleashed their patriotism during Canada’s Centennial
  • And speaking of elections….
  • O Canada! O Leaside!
  • “Pie queen” perfects the very Canadian butter tart
  • A warm welcome from our new TDSB Trustee
  • Canada counts! And Leaside is still a neighbourhood of neighbours!
  • This Canadian champion was “made” in Leaside
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