All Canadian Self-Storage at 1 Laird Dr. received this year’s honour of a non-residential facility for an exceptional landscaping effort. Hal Spradling, general manager, says, “I was on my hands and knees weeding for hours at a time.” In addition to flowers, his garden is packed with vegetables and herbs that Spradling preserves for the winter months in mason jars. Each year the Leaside Garden Society recognizes a non-residential facility that contributes to the beauty of our neighbourhood. Thanks to Don Beard and Bernice Holman for walking the streets in search of the nominees. LGS will present All Canadian Self-Storage with a certificate at the society’s November AGM.
This year celebrates the anniversary of two schools built in 1939 to accommodate all the kids in the growing town of Leaside. The two-room St. Anslem Catholic school was opened the year after Father Caulfield came to the parish, determined to get a school built (the small triangle park at McNaughton/Cameron bears his name). Rolph Road also opened that year with a teacher from Bessborough Public School, Willis Wright, as its principal.
The Eco-Team at Leaside High School is participating in Toronto Hydro’s Team Up for Green initiative. The program encourages families in the Toronto School Board to live a greener lifestyle through uses like paperless billing, programmable thermostats and energy efficient light bulbs. Those who sign up earn bonus points for the school, which ultimately earns the school a new bike rack.
Across from the school at Sunnybrook Plaza the Metrolinx community office is now open and staffed with a community relations team ready to talk during business hours about the Eglinton Crosstown LRT or arrange for a meeting.
Skating fans who’ve cheered for Leaside Skating Club’s synchronized skating teams have a new name to follow. The longstanding and proudly used Synergy name has been retired. The new name for the Elementary, Juvenile, Novice and Senior teams is Meraki, defined as: “To do something with soul, creativity, or love;
to put something of yourself into your work.” First showcase for all programs is in mid November.
If you thought skating just involved frozen water, think again. On the first weekend of October, Leaside’s Meraki Senior (synchro team) was seen training on Lake Ontario in dragon boats (and not wearing skates).
Rumour has it that Steve Paikin’s The Agenda was taped in Leaside a few weeks ago. Where? Look no further than one of those mysterious buildings on Laird Dr. Pie in the Sky Studios (you can tell by the piece of pie) is made up of three quality recording studios. “Studio 2” comes with a fully equipped sound stage, areas for makeup and wardrobe and a kitchen.
Residents will notice more Watch Your Speed program monitors in Leaside over the weeks and months to come, the most recent located on McRae at Rumsey. The city is increasing their use in the Leaside neighbourhood to remind drivers to obey speed limits. Monitors are set up for five days at a time.
Other road and safety notes: Leacrest residents finally will have a sidewalk that stretches the entire length of the street. Also look out for a new stop sign at the corner of Hanna and Crofton, and welcome a new crossing guard at Millwood and McRae.