LETTERS
Beware the dog strangling vine
I was pleased to see this article as this vine is one that troubles me as I walk through the valleys and parks in Leaside.
As a member of the Lakeside gardening society, I asked one of the more knowledgeable volunteers how to deal with it.
She reaffirmed the comment made in your article that cutting it at the base weakens the plant. She added that pulling it out doesn’t help because the roots will send more.
I’d like to suggest that dog walkers and others walking through the parks and the valleys from time to time break the vines that we see off at the base. I carry a little trimmer to use when the spirit moves me. If we all did this as a little habit as we walk through without pressure, I think it would make a big difference in stopping the vines’ advance.
Andree Shore
Bayview Art Tour
I am writing to express my sincere thanks for the recent article on the Bayview Art Tour featured in Leaside Life. I was delighted to see the coverage, as my late mother-in-law, Frances Craig, was the founder of the tour.
Reading the article brought me immense joy, particularly in how it acknowledged her contributions and the origins of the event. Although Frances passed away several years ago, it is heartwarming to know that her legacy continues to thrive. Thank you for keeping her memory alive through your thoughtful coverage.
Karen Steadman-Craig
I am so delighted to read this as well! I remember my mother starting to do her shows out of our house (on Belsize) with a makeshift sign and balloons attached to invite passersby into our home. She would work hard to frame her pieces and get the lighting set up, make flyers, etc.
Then a few years later a neighbour asked if she could join her because she made paper and cards, so there were two. Then another neighbour who was also an artist asked if she could join but show her work in her own house. And so on.
Out came all the artistic folks in the neighbourhood who had a passion, and it grew from there.
Thank you for publishing this piece!
Andre Craig
Canadian Film Centre
I was a Leasider for 15 years and now live close enough (Balliol/Mt. Pleasant) to keep an interest, plus two of my kids live in Leaside with their families.
Please do take care how you refer to the Canadian Film Centre in Leaside Life. In the September issue you refer to what was once E.P. Taylor’s “palatial estate, Windfield’s Park” as now being the Canadian Film Centre. And if we mean the property is leased to CFC for a peppercorn rent, and that is all, that’s fine.
However, to refer to the facility as the Canadian Film Centre is misleading because they have no title to the place, though they have long sought control of that property (corner Bayview/Country Lane) and they try to create the impression they own it.
My interest in the matter was piqued when I saw them install a much-trumpeted “green fence” along Country Lane, Like most people I was expecting to see something eco friendly and it turned out to be a high chainlink fence painted green. Then all access to the grounds was shut off from Country Lane.
I brought in the local councillor (the late Jaye Robinson) who confirmed that the whole area is part of Winfield’s Park (thank you, Mr. Taylor) and therefore subject to strict control. We managed to get one passageway opened up (after a beautiful west-facing garden had been destroyed).
I suggested at a meeting of local residents that a sign be placed at the corner clearly designating it as Winfield’s Park but was shouted down because of apparent fear of invasion by outsiders! That said I might even have succeeded had not some person who doesn’t even live in the area called out, “We don’t want that!” and the rest (maybe 60 people) took it up as a rallying cry.
So, that area definitely needs to be kept any eye on, because it’s a sure bet the CFC will continue its efforts to annex grounds that belong to the public at large. Since it is park land, there should be a posted sign!
Rebecca Rix