Aerial view of existing Canada Square site. (Image: canadasquareto.com)

Oxford Properties Group is hosting a virtual community consulation meeting tonight.  Join them to learn more about the redevelopment of Canada Square. Join online or by phone to learn about the project, ask questions, share feedback, and hear from others. More information about the project is availalbe at the Canada Square engagement hub website: canadasquareto.com

Meeting Date: Tuesday December 13, 2022
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Register at this link.

Leaside Garden Society will continue their Speaker Series with on-line-virtual Zoom meetings on January 12, 2023 at 7:00pm. The topic is Gardening As We Age with special guest Charlie Dobbin.

“Charlie Dobbin is an internationally known Horticulturist and Landscape Designer with professional gardening experience that has taken her around the world – From the Yukon to Botswana. She is a Master Gardener with a BSC in Environmental Horticulture from Guelph University and a Landscape Design Diploma from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Charlie worked for 18 years with White Rose, started her own landscape design and horticultural consulting company, has co-hosted TV Series One Garden, Two Looks, was a judge for Communities in Bloom Ontario, Horticulture Director of Canada Blooms for more than a decade, Garden Director for 2015 Luminato Festival in Toronto and taught several classes at Durham College from 2015-21. Charlie has written a number of articles for a variety of newspapers and magazines and been a guest on various television programs.” (charliedobbin.com)

Leaside Garden always welcomes guests and new members to join the Society for meetings. Visit their website: www.leasidegardensociety.org for info.

The community is invited to the main lobby of Leaside Memorial Community Gardens (1073 Millwood Road) to celebrate their 70th Anniversary on Saturday December 10, 2022 between 11:00am – 2:00pm. There will be cake and hot beverages. Congrats to all!

It’s been a busy day in the neighbourhood for emergency services. Toronto Fire Services have tended to 4 different traffic collisions in our area this afternoon.

One of the fender benders included the spiked wheels of a fuel truck puncturing the side of a u-turning Mercedes at Bayview & Millwood. All the people involved appeared to be okay from what we could see, but the Benz looked like Jaws took a bite out of it.

Take time out from shopping to enjoy some festive entertainment this month.

A dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is December 4th at St. Cuthbert’s Church.

The Toronto Singers present “A Silent Night in December”, December 3rd at Northlea United Church.

Carols By Candlelight — Northlea United and Leaside United have collaborated once again to bring you beautiful music with twice the enjoyment. On Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 7:30 pm, both choirs will perform at Leaside United. Then on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 7:30 pm, they will perform again at Northlea United.

Caroling in the Pines Saturday is December 10 at 7:00pm, featuring the Metropolitan Silver Band at Northlea United Church.

Toronto’s Wintergarten Orchestra, 11 well-known musicians who have played with the greats, perform cabaret music from Paris, Berlin and New York from the 20s and 30s. Award winning actors and singers Ted Atherton and Tanya Wills perform in English, French and German. Vintage clothes and dancing encouraged! The Smokeshow BBQ and Brew, (744 Mt. Pleasant) at 3:00pm on Saturday Dec. 10.
Website: wintergartenorchestra.com.

The South Eglinton Davisville Residents’ Association SEDRA sent a reminder for a community consultation “double header” scheduled for Wednesday evening.

On November 30, 2022, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., the City of Toronto will be holding a virtual meeting to discuss a Zoning By-law Amendment Application for 55-75 Brownlow Ave and an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application for 90-110 Eglinton Ave East. Attend the Community Consultation Meeting to ask how these two major developments will impact your growing neighbourhood. Click here to register.

# 1 – Proposal for 55-75 Brownlow Avenue

This proposal by developer Menkes calls for a Zoning By-law Amendment Application for three residential towers, at 45, 40 and 35 storeys, including two 6-storey base buildings with a total residential gross floor area of 82,447.9 square metres, with a 426.4 square metre park. A total of 1162 residential dwelling units are proposed, inclusive of 121 rental replacement units. There are 192 residential parking spaces proposed in a 3-level underground garage. (Important! This development dovetails with a neighbouring proposal by Bazis at 750 Mt. Pleasant, both of which involve the future of Eglinton Public School, at the corner of Brownlow and Eglinton. The developments should be considered in tandem.) Please plan to attend the community meeting for a more detailed discussion of the proposed application. Your input will be welcome at this meeting. Learn more.

# 2 – Proposal for 90-110 Eglinton Avenue East

An Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application by developer Madison Group proposes to allow the construction of a two-tower mixed use building at 57 and 59 storeys on the north side of Eglinton Ave west of Redpath. Learn more.

More upcoming City Planning Consultations can be found on the City of Toronto website here:

Mount Pleasant Village Sip & Shop – mountpleasantvillage.ca

Bayview Leaside BIA Gift & Shop Event 2022 – bayviewleasidebia.com

132nd Scouts 2022 On-line Sale – www.132nd.com/christmas-trees

58th Scouts Toronto Christmas Tree Sale – 58thtrees.square.site

2022 Milne House Festive Table Centrepiece Workshop

The second Saturday of the Mount Pleasant Village Sip & Shop event is coming up on December 3rd. There will be lots of holiday entertainment for the family. Santa and selected stores will be distributing $5 vouchers for hot drinks, and you can take photos with Santa and the carolers! mountpleasantvillage.ca.

Santa will also be doing the rounds over at Bayview-Leaside BIA’s Gift & Shop Local event on the first two Saturdays in December between 11am – 4pm. bayviewleasidebia.com.

Only a few days left to order order a Christmas Tree from the 132nd Scouts 2022 online sale. Orders will be taken until December 3rd. Pickup by appointment only at the Leaside Presbyterian Church Parking Lot, 670 Eglinton Ave East. Home delivery is also available. www.132nd.com/christmas-trees.

Over on the west side of Bayview you can shop for Christmas trees with the 58th Scouts Toronto at 111 Manor Road East (Church of the Transfiguration). 58thtrees.square.site.

Once the Christmas tree is taken care of, don’t forget that you can add a personal touch to your festive table with Milne House on December 7th. The Festive Table Centrepiece Workshop will be a fun and rewarding way to prep your dinner table for the holiday season.

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2023 Agnes Macphail Award. Do you know an East Yorker you feel would be a good candidate for this award? The nomination form is available at: Agnes Macphail Award – City of Toronto. Completed nominations must be received by midnight, January 5, 2023.

Agnes Macphail House — In 1948, Agnes Macphail purchased the property with the street addresses of
2 Donegall Drive and 720 Millwood Road in Leaside. The duplex was constructed in 1937.

The annual award is presented to an East York resident who has made outstanding contributions as a volunteer in one or more of the following areas:

• Women’s rights
• Fairness to seniors
• Criminal justice system and penal reform
• International peace and disarmament
• Access to adequate housing, health care and education

The nominee must be a resident of the former Borough of East York who lives by Agnes’ motto, “Think Globally, Act Locally”.

Agnes Campbell Macphail (1890-1954) was once described as “the most important woman in public life that Canada has produced in the 20th century.” The Agnes Macphail Award was established in January 1994 by the former Borough of the East York Council. The award recognizes the connection of the East York community to the causes Agnes Macphail championed in her long and distinguished career. The recipient is recommended to Toronto City Council by the East York Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee.