History

With the recent coronation of King Charles III still fresh in people’s minds, many Leasiders might wonder how the community reacted when Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was crowned 70 years ago. By all accounts, …more

Did you enjoy one of the Leaside Historical Walking Tours, held on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, in conjunction with the Leaside 110 Archival Exhibit? These walks attracted a great turnout of 30 …more

Deposited at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa are two unpublished diary volumes written by Canadian architect, academic and artist Wendell Lawson (1898-1952). The document is important to Leaside for several reasons: Wendell’s father was …more

Leaside prides itself on its peaceful reputation. But it’s experienced its share of violence – including a major industrial strike in the late 1940s, several notorious crimes, and at least one bona fide riot that …more

Elvis Presley delivered only five performances outside the U.S. during his career. All five took place in Canada in 1957. The King did two shows in Toronto on April 2, two more in Ottawa on …more

Leaside has had more than its share of interesting and unique homes. Maybe you know some of them: -The famous Octagon House of John Lea, after whom Leaside was named. -“Divadale,” the long-gone mansion of …more

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Leaside was home to two entertainers who claimed to have the only musical act of its kind in North America. Their names were Arthur and Mabel Guinness – aka …more

Anyone who’s watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will remember the scene where Clark Griswold switches on a blinding display of outdoor Christmas lights at his home, nearly draining the city’s electricity supply. Clark’s obsession with …more