Does the name Barbara Leaman ring a bell? What about the name Barbara McDougall? In fact, they are one and the same person. You may remember Barbara from school or from the Leaside neighbourhood or …more
Do you remember when Leasider Shawn O’Sullivan won the gold medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in 1981 and again in 1983? At the time he was the toast of the town and the …more
This year as we mark the 150th anniversary of our country, we should also celebrate the part that Leasiders have played in it. Long-time residents, particularly those who live in North Leaside, will remember when …more
Have you ever wondered why the price of a single family detached home in Leaside and elsewhere in Toronto is going through the roof? I often wonder whether my children and grandchildren will ever be …more
As you know the Toronto Official Plan currently designates land east of Laird and south of Eglinton as the Leaside Employment Area. But do you remember when Leaside had its own official plan? That was …more
With the physical character of Leaside under continuing attack from high rise condominium apartment developers these days, it is reassuring to drive along Moore Ave. to see the low rise Crestview Apartments, a complex comparable …more
Until 1927 the only way you could get to Leaside by automobile was to drive from Yonge St. along Government Rd. (now Merton St. and McRae Dr.), constructed during World War I as a supply …more
Did you know that during the Great Depression of the 1930s the Town of Leaside was bankrupt? I didn’t know that until I wrote my book, Governing Toronto: Bringing back the city that worked. What …more
I have just published a book entitled Governing Toronto: Bringing back the city that worked. In it I trace the growth and governance of the city from its creation in 1834 through its successful Metro …more
Last October Rolph Road school celebrated its 75th anniversary. It brought back a lot of memories. The school opened in 1939. I startedthere in 1940. At that time the school was both an elementary school …more
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