Kudos to East York’s Officer Cadet Matthew Hicks!
Officer Cadet Matthew Hicks from East York, Toronto was officially given a badge of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), which signifies his admittance to the Cadet Wing of RMC. Demonstrating efforts and resolve, Matthew successfully completed a 30-day orientation and integration period concluded by a challenging obstacle course, which provides first academic year naval and officer cadets with a structured introduction to military academy life to prepare them to be successful in the Regular Officer Training Plan and RMC’s four-pillar degree program. RMC delivers the requisite training so that its newest members may begin the journey towards reaching their goals and begin their careers in earnest. Matthew chose to study engineering to pursue a career as an Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Impressive. Congratulations, Matthew!
Spotted!
On Sutherland in South Leaside. Leaside’s very own “Walking Man.” We’ve encountered him before during our idles in the neighbourhood. This remarkable gentleman (who does not like to draw attention to himself) walks several kilometres every day, in all kinds of weather, on the streets of Leaside. Make sure to say hi when you see him and say you read about him in Leaside Life.
An Rx for Fido
We recently heard from one of our favourite local independent pharmacy owners – Adam Silvertown. He wrote to tell us that Pace Pharmacy (at 40 Laird Dr.) is now offering pet prescriptions via their Vetmeds.ca division. “Our goal is to offer pet owners another option to get their pet’s prescription medication and supplements,” said founder and CEO Adam Silvertown. “I believe we could save pet owners hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars over the life of a pet by getting medication from Pace Pharmacy, rather than at a vet clinic.” Paws up if you are a fan!
Gyro celebrates half a century in Leaside
Gyro Mazda has been a family-owned and operated dealership in the heart of Leaside for a remarkable 50 years. To mark this milestone, the company recently acquired a 1923 (yes, 1923!) Durant Motors vehicle manufactured right here in Leaside. The vehicle is now proudly displayed in the dealership if you want to visit and take pics with this iconic vehicle. Happy anniversary, Gyro! Keep those wheels in motion.
Leaside Garden Society names winner
The Leaside Garden Society (LGS) announced the 2025 winner of its Founders’ Scholarship. Bridget Leonard, a resident of Leaside, is a student in the University of Guelph’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences Co-op program. She also won the scholarship in 2024.
This year’s committee agreed that of a small pool of challenging candidates Bridget was the most deserving once again.
Bridget’s commitment to community service and horticultural education and ecological activities is directly aligned with the LGS mission. In her application she stated, “After attending two Leaside Garden Tours, I am amazed to see the passion for horticulture in Leaside and the generosity of community members to support the advancement of their neighbour’s horticultural knowledge. The values of growing up in Leaside have positively influenced the person I am today… someone who loves the environment, is passionate about accessible green spaces and connecting communities together.”
Poets live among us
Richard Grace, who resides outside the M4G postal zone, wrote to us after receiving Leaside Life. “I have always been a bit of an ‘expatriate soul on the wrong side of the tracks,’ not really in Leaside technically, I suppose, as we are west of Bayview on Cardiff Road, but I certainly enjoyed reading the recent edition of your mag, especially the articles by Geoff Kettel on the various large ‘concrete mushrooms’ planned for us on Glazebrook. In any event, I have enjoyed your magazine but noticed with all the great informative articles, you don’t offer up any poetry.”
Not true, Richard, as we have featured wonderful poems written by students at Leaside High School. But, forgiving this slip, we are still pleased that Richard sent us a few of his own poetic creations. Here’s just one of his beautiful entries:
The Cedars of Clayoquot Sound
Gruesome whimsy
of arthritic mime
Whose spears camped sharply
in the sky
Apparel indigo in gnarled lime,
A certain stillness for the eye
The stark assault of green inclines,
A fierce rigour in decline
That ruined verdancy imbues
In fantasies of mime
Warrior lost
The cedars climb
Ancient claims before the fall,
An odd insanity of shapes
Resigned
In Rorschach haste
Assuming the gaze of patient lime
Atop an outcrop rock
Impossible,
The onslaught aqueous rage aside
There is a stillness
that the Raven flies
A sleep defeated
And death of speeches in the sky.