The Leaside Memorial Community Gardens (LMCG) – a beloved, City-owned, 6,970-sq. metre (75,000-sq. ft.) arena complex at the heart of the Leaside community – is, perhaps surprisingly, managed by an entirely volunteer board of management, appointed by the City of Toronto.
Since the arena opened its doors in 1951 at Millwood Road and Laird Drive, generations of volunteers have served on the board, overseeing the facility on behalf of residents.
Reporting to Toronto City Council, the board comprises civic-minded community members and includes participation from Don Valley West Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin, as well as a representative from the City’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division. As a board of management, it provides guidance and oversight while working together with the arena’s dedicated management team and staff of 12, who manage the facility’s day-to-day operations. Together, the board and staff’s focus remains fulfilling the arena’s core mandate: providing safe, equitable access to high-quality ice sports and recreational facilities for user groups and the broader community, all while ensuring responsible financial stewardship.
New board members
In May of last year, the board welcomed four new members – Brendan Brooks, Karin Hwang-Lew, David Martin, and Brandon Parent – who replace outgoing members Glenn Asano, Janice Ivory-Smith, Kathleen MacKenzie and Craig Uyeno. They join returning members Matthew Baker, Edmund Chan, Dan Teguh and Lisa Villeneuve, each of whom has proudly served the community for several years. Under the leadership of Chair Baker, the newly constituted board has quickly come together with renewed energy, launching a fresh strategic planning process – its first in many years – as an early step toward advancing the arena’s mandate in new and exciting ways. The enthusiasm and commitment of both board and staff are unmistakable, with plans expected to take clearer shape in the coming months.
Plans in the works
Even as the board looks ahead, significant improvements have been made within the past six months – clear evidence of the team’s dedication to enhancing the facility today. Visitors will have noticed that the Bert F. Grant Rink B has been closed since the end of last hockey season to allow for major upgrades, including a new rink slab, refrigeration system, boiler and plant. The facility’s 288-sq.-metre (3,100-sq.ft. banquet hall, the William Lea Room, has also undergone extensive renovations, including the addition of a universal washroom, new roof, ceiling and lighting, as well as a refreshed look through refinished floors and new tiling. Less visible but equally important are several infrastructure improvements, such as improved dehumidification on the Dr. Tom Pashby Play Safely Rink A, new emergency lighting throughout the facility, and new HVAC for both the William Lea Room and Rink B dressing rooms. Each reflects the ongoing commitment and hard work of everyone involved.
The future of the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Arena is bright and already taking shape. The community can look forward to seeing what the board has in store next.
For those interested in helping shape the future, the City is currently accepting applications to fill a board vacancy at www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/public-appointments.
This article was guest contributed by Brandon Parent.
Leaside Gardens Events
William Lea Room Events:
January 11 10am-3pm Sports Card Show
January 25 10am-3pm Sports Card Show
Free Adult Public Skating
11am – 12pm for adults (18+) only
Tuesday, January 6, 13, 20, 27
Thursday, January 8, 15, 22, 29
Free Community Public Skating
Saturdays 5:15pm-7:15pm Jan 24, 31
All ages welcome. Helmets mandatory
for children 12 and under and recommended for all skaters.
Bert F Grant Rink Reopening Event
Come for the Celebration!
Monday January 26th, 10am-11:30am
Ribbon cutting followed by free community skate and refreshments. All ages welcome. Helmets mandatory for children 12 and under and recommended for all skaters.