Over the course of 2025, the Leaside Residents Association has heard from many of you regarding our neighbourhood’s local planning and traffic issues. I’ve recently gone through the year’s notes, and thought I would report, in time for Christmas, what improvements Leasiders would like to find in their Christmas stockings.
Traffic improvements rank high on residents’ wish lists, as does more effective enforcement: “Signage that means what it says.” Speed restrictions which actually restrict speed. “No Trucks” signs along local streets which are obeyed, not ignored, by truck drivers. Stop signs and turn restrictions regarded as more than mere suggestions. Neighbourhood-wide traffic control measures, not just the occasional Band-Aid solution. A ban on speeding electric scooters, which do not belong on sidewalks, risking pedestrians’ safety and crashing into cars backing out of their driveways. Enforcement is the key to safer streets. And “enforcement” is not a dirty word!
Another Christmas stocking wish we’d like to find on December 25th is effective protection of Leaside’s tree canopy. We Leasiders are proud and protective of our trees. Why are contractors and builders (who “accidentally on purpose” kill trees while doing renovations) only fined, rather than losing their licences? Many of them are repeat offenders.
All the above would be very welcome Christmas presents indeed!
Bring back the Magna Carta!
Here’s something to think about, and a novel approach to consider. Provincial interference in local municipal governance is probably the most frustrating challenge that cities and residents’ associations like the LRA must contend with. It’s getting worse and happening more often. All thanks to enforcement of a 19th-century law defining cities as mere “creatures of the provinces.”
Perhaps it is time to remind our friends at Queen’s Park that citizens under the British Crown have enjoyed municipal rights since 1215, 810 years ago. I refer to the Magna Carta. According to Clause 13, “The city of London shall enjoy all its ancient liberties and free customs. …And grant that all other cities, boroughs, towns and ports shall enjoy all their liberties….”
Clause 13 of the Magna Carta was intended to remedy interference and chicanery by higher levels of authority trying to intervene in local affairs.
Sound familiar? Perhaps Magna Carta’s time has come again!
The LRA and Leaside Life magazine wish you and your families a very joyous holiday season and a happy and healthy 2026!
LRA’s board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. These are public meetings, and you are welcome to join us, and join in. Our December, January, February, March and April meetings will be on Zoom. For contact info and more details and updates, visit leasideresidents.ca/contact-us. Our next board meeting is on Wed., Dec. 3rd.
