• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Leaside Life
  • Community
    • Churches
    • Cycling
    • History
    • Nature
    • People
    • Schools
    • The Bridge
    • Letters
    • Scavenger Hunt 2025
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • Food
    • Gardening
    • Leaside Cooks
  • Sport
    • Sports Hall of Fame
  • Local
    • Business
    • Local Politics
    • City Councillor
    • Development
    • Leaside Residents Association
    • Real Estate
  • Features
    • Editor’s Welcome
    • Leaside Green
    • Terry Fallis
    • Leaside Litterati
    • Curious Idler
    • Contests
  • Archive
    • By Author
      • Alan Redway
      • Allan Williams
      • Carol Burtin Fripp
      • Cheryl Vanderburg
      • Daniel Girard
      • David Crichton
      • Debora Kuchme
      • Geoff Kettel
      • Gerri Gershon
      • Glenn Asano
      • Hailey Eisen
      • Holly Reid
      • Jane Auster
      • Janis Fertuck
      • Jeanne Hopkins
      • Jon Burnside
      • Karli Vezina
      • Ken Mallett
      • Lisa Parker
      • Lorna Krawchuk
      • Michael Bliss
      • Mitch Bubulj
      • Robin Dickie
      • Susan Scandiffio
      • Suzanne Park
      • Ted DeWelles
      • Terry Fallis
      • Tim Fallis
      • Vicki Hall
      • Will Ashworth
      • Coming Soon
    • Past Issues By Date
      • 2025
        • Jan. 2025
        • February 2025
        • March 2025
        • April 2025
        • May 2025
        • June 2025
        • July 2025
        • August 2025
        • Sept. 2025
        • Oct. 2025
      • 2024
        • December 2024
        • November 2024
        • October 2024
        • September 2024
        • August 2024
        • July 2024
        • June 2024
        • May 2024
        • April 2024
        • March 2024
        • Feb. 2024
        • January 2024
      • 2023
        • December 2023
        • November 2023
        • October 2023
        • September 2023
        • August 2023
        • July 2023
        • June 2023
        • May 2023
        • April 2023
        • March 2023
        • Feb. 2023
        • Jan. 2023
      • 2022
        • December 2022
        • November 2022
        • October 2022
        • September 2022
        • August 2022
        • July 2022
        • June 2022
        • May 2022
        • April 2022
        • March 2022
        • February 2022
        • January 2022
      • 2021
        • December 2021
        • November 2021
        • October 2021
        • September 2021
        • August 2021
        • July 2021
        • June 2021
        • May 2021
        • April 2021
        • March 2021
        • February 2021
        • Jan. 2021
      • 2020
        • December 2020
        • November 2020
        • October 2020
        • September 2020
        • August 2020
        • July 2020
        • June 2020
        • May 2020
        • April 2020
        • March 2020
        • Feb. 2020
        • Jan. 2020
      • 2019
        • Dec. 2019
        • Nov 2019
        • Oct 2019
        • September 2019
        • August 2019
        • July 2019
        • June 2019
        • May 2019
        • April 2019
        • March 2019
        • Feb 2019
        • Jan 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Leaside Walks
Recent Stories
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Traffic back in the spotlight! Leaside Residents Association
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] The heart of Leaside beats strongly Community
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] I’m having generational déja vu Tim Fallis
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Fresh start for a fresh year Editor's Welcome
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Steak, cake, rake or blow, and baby toes Stories
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Hockey hero Carl Brewer – legend on the ice, champion in the courtroom Sports
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Takin’ it off the street for kids’ indoor fun Community
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] And the walls came tumbling down Development
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Outrage on Astor Development
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] From Lagos to Leaside – Jollof warms the heart, feeds the soul Leaside Cooks
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Building the buildings of Durant Motors in record time History
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Jacknife’s Mike Kelar keeps it weird Business
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Monarch House navigates the autism journey Community
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Leaside’s Helen Hayward is a force of nature Community
  • [ January 1, 2026 ] Introducing Don’t Mess With Leaside Community
  • [ December 7, 2025 ] Leaside’s 2026 Resident Survey Stories
  • [ December 1, 2025 ] The Idler December 2025 Curious Idler
  • [ December 1, 2025 ] Leaside’s first Councilwoman did it her way History
  • [ December 1, 2025 ] Giving thanks this holiday season Editor's Welcome
  • [ December 1, 2025 ] Nurturing Leaside one seed at a time Business
Homezmallett

zmallett

Local volunteers. Photo by Michele Petick.
Community

Leaside’s growing volunteer problem 

March 1, 2018 Ken Mallett

One of Leaside’s most popular traditions – spring and fall church rummage sales – is changing and may become a thing of the past, according to some leaders of church volunteer groups. The difficulty is …more

Student writing. Photo By: Cesar Quevedo.
Community

The virtuous circle: Syrian refugee student tutoring program

January 1, 2018 Ken Mallett

Leaside shares a strong sense of community. And a community is a virtuous circle: when you help strengthen the community, a stronger community is there to help you. That lesson-in-life is being learned by Nada …more

Father Caulfield parkette. Photo By Robin Dickie.
Community

A patch of green at Father Caulfield (Triangle) Park

January 1, 2018 Ken Mallett

When there’s a nip in the air and the leaves start to fall, the time is right to visit Leaside’s Father Caulfield Parkette, a tiny parcel of land sometimes called Triangle Park because of its …more

Thanksgiving for Alhayak family
Community

Thanksgiving comes early for the Alhayak family

October 1, 2017 Ken Mallett

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and perhaps no one has more to be thankful for than Amjad Alhayak. Amjad is a refugee from Syria, newly settled in our community, and the first thing he …more

History

Leaside’s first general store – pop and ice cream, anyone?

September 1, 2017 Ken Mallett

Although there was very little development in Leaside during WWI, things began to pick up in the early 1920s when Canada Wire resumed building homes for its employees, according to local historian John Naulls. “There …more

Sandy Bruce Park today.
History

Sandy Bruce, the man behind the “dog park”

July 1, 2017 Ken Mallett

When Sandy Bruce was hired for the Leaside police force in 1929, his main job was traffic control: the town’s population was only 605, but there were 15 industries and thousands of workers arriving by …more

Serena Gundy Park Sign Photo. Photo By Robin Dickie.
History

The rich history of Serena Gundy

June 1, 2017 Ken Mallett

As the weather warms up and the outdoors beckon, activities at Leaside’s Serena Gundy Park are heating up too. The park – named after the first wife of the late James H. Gundy, head of …more

Zena's "safe place"
People

Zena is finding her safe place Over the Rainbow

April 1, 2017 Ken Mallett

She has trouble controlling her bladder. She has trouble sleeping. When she finally sleeps she has trouble waking up. She has flashbacks, about the house that was bombed, about the hunger and weariness as her …more

Thanksgiving for Alhayak family
People

Bundling up for Canadian winter

December 1, 2016 Ken Mallett

There are some 200-plus Syrian refugees now living in the Thorncliffe Park Drive area who are facing their first full Canadian winter, according to Mohamed Edris, settlement counsellor for the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office. “Winter is …more

Ivar playing tennis.
Sports

This 88 year old could probably beat you

September 1, 2016 Ken Mallett

Leasider Ivar Liepins is 88 and can do something many of his younger friends cannot – play tennis for two hours without difficulty, thanks to excellent reflexes and limberness. Which is what he does twice …more

Posts pagination

1 2 »

Digital Edition

Julia Hanigsberg, president and CEO of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Photo Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
In the Spotlight

Holland Bloorview President and CEO Julia Hanigsberg leaves on a high note

by Suzanne Park in Stories

As the festive season approaches, thoughts of a new year and new you might be on your mind. That’s especially true for Julia Hanigsberg, president and CEO of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, as she ...more
Recent Posts
  • Traffic back in the spotlight!
  • The heart of Leaside beats strongly
  • I’m having generational déja vu
  • Fresh start for a fresh year
  • Steak, cake, rake or blow, and baby toes
  • Takin’ it off the street for kids’ indoor fun
  • Hockey hero Carl Brewer – legend on the ice, champion in the courtroom
  • And the walls came tumbling down
  • Outrage on Astor
  • From Lagos to Leaside – Jollof warms the heart, feeds the soul
  • Building the buildings of Durant Motors in record time
  • Jacknife’s Mike Kelar keeps it weird
  • Monarch House navigates the autism journey
Follow on Facebook
Subscribe

Join the Leaside Life email list at: .

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

© Leaside Life 2011-2026