Leaside is going to the dogs, literally – and that’s okay.
The truth is, Leaside has always been Dogtown (as well as Hogtown). The Leas loved dogs. Pictured below is their big shaggy dog on the steps of William Lea’s Octagonal House taken around 1900, also showing Joseph Lea (arms folded), William’s eldest son and at the time resident of the iconic home. This was during Leaside’s pastoral days before incorporation in 1913, when area farmers kept dogs to do chores as well as provide companionship. And Ted DeWelles reminded us in his March 2025 column about the myriad home kennels in Leaside in the ’30s and the award-winning terrier Irish Battler, who was born and raised on Bessborough.
showing Joseph Lea (arms folded), William’s eldest son and at the time resident of the iconic home.
But, ironically, until 2010 there was no public place in Leaside where Rover could roam free without running the risk of his owner’s incurring a $500 fine. It was around that time that the hard work and dogged determination of some Leasiders to carve out a section of Sandy Bruce Park to become Leaside’s first off-leash area became a reality.
Dennis and Vicky Carter were two such proponents. The Sutherland Drive residents, owners of Boomer, an Australian Shepherd, were famous among the kids in the neighbourhood. Dennis would faithfully set up for Boomer’s agility training with jumps, a tunnel, a teeter totter, an “A” frame and weave poles at the Rolph Road School tennis courts.
The only problem? Dogs were not allowed on school property. Says Dennis, “we were conscientious and courteous dog owners who often left the school yard better than how we found it, but we knew not all owners picked up after their dogs and so understood the ban.”
Being a community activist with great organizational skills – he was at the time the district fire chief in charge of officer development – he reached out to the local councillor and like-minded neighbours and held regular planning meetings at the Leaside Library.
Sandy Bruce Park was the right choice since it was large, shaded and accessible. Initially there was pushback, especially from some Leaside residents with traffic and parking concerns. But in the end the plan pleased almost everyone, leaving a hill untouched for tobogganing and working around the children’s play area and baseball diamond. It’s a one-hectare park – one of 75 in the city – and very popular with humans and canines alike.
I was initiated only recently. In June, I started dog-sitting my daughter’s Wheaten Terrier puppy, Beamish. He enjoyed being off-leash and running and “talking” dog with the other canines. And I was impressed with the park. It has benches under shade trees, armour rocks, wood chips and ample communal dog bowls, tennis balls and even water jugs to keep the dogs hydrated. Bonus: the owners are as varied as the dogs themselves. Some are social, offering all sorts of dog-training tips, while others keep to themselves on their own folding chairs, quietly reading a book.
One was Matt, the alpha dog walker who was taking his five charges through their paces. And Charlie, just finished Grade 8 and giving the family dog some exercise. And there was Gladys with her terrier; she was quick to quietly but firmly point out to errant owners where exactly among the wood chips their dog had done its business.
This community venue is well maintained and beloved by humans and non-humans alike, and came to fruition with the hard work, vision and dedication of Leasiders like the Carters. Just another reason that Leaside is “best in show.”
