The Mount Pleasant Village BIA is once again inviting local residents to enjoy a summer evening under the stars with its free outdoor movie series, set to run on three Wednesday nights this August at the Manor Community Green (190 Manor Rd. E.).
The lineup features a mix of classic and crowd-pleasing favourites:
August 6 at 8:30 PM– The Wizard of Oz August 13 at 8:30 PM– Top Gun: Maverick August 20 at 8:15 PM– E.T.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy complimentary popcorn courtesy of local sponsors Scholars Leaside and Dunfield Retirement Residence. Organizers will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food items in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Leaside’s summer street party is just around the corner. Viva La Leaside will take over 25 Commercial Rd., east of Laird on August 10th and 11th, 2025 with two days of music, food, and family-friendly entertainment.
The free event is open to all and promises something for everyone — from tethered hot air balloon rides and a bumper car–filled Kids Zone to a vintage car exhibit and live art installations. Local musicians will take the stage throughout the weekend, and festivalgoers can explore a vendor market, enjoy eats from top Toronto food vendors, and cool off at the Latina Beer Lounge. New this year is a dog talent show hosted by KYON Dog Daycare, along with an immersive heritage exhibit called Walk Through the Ages. Saturday night wraps with a high-energy All-Star Performance Party at 9 p.m., featuring DJs and surprise acts.
Full schedule and updates are available on the Viva La Leaside Instagram page, or visit their website.
UPDATE – August 6, 2025
Organizers have announced that this year’s hot air balloon rides at Viva La Leaside have been cancelled following the recent passing of Chief Pilot Ernie Lee. A veteran balloonist whose career spanned over 50 years and continents, Lee flew for brands like Re/Max, Pizza Pizza, and Labatt’s — and once piloted the world’s largest passenger balloon in the Netherlands.
This year’s festival is now dedicated to his memory. Though his balloon won’t rise over Leaside this time, his legacy as a passionate, joyful, and generous ambassador of flight will remain part of the festival’s spirit.
There’s still no confirmed opening date for Line 5 Eglinton, but when it does launch, the TTC will roll out its most significant bus network overhaul in decades. Among the biggest changes: the end of overlapping bus service along Eglinton Avenue East between Yonge and Leslie, with routes like the 56 Leaside eliminated and others restructured to better align with the new LRT. The goal? Streamlined service, fewer buses, and quicker transfers to rapid transit.
The tree before it was felled, pictured here in June 2021. /Google Maps
A large and much-loved tree on a Leaside corner lot was recently cut down without a permit — despite the City of Toronto having approved design changes meant to preserve it. Residents say they woke up on June 25th to the sound of chainsaws at 712 Eglinton Ave. E., where a fourplex is currently under construction. The City has since launched an investigation. Local councillor Rachel Chernos Lin and the Leaside Residents Association are calling for stronger enforcement tools to protect Toronto’s urban canopy.
The vacant storefront at 323 Moore Ave., formerly home to Dove Cleaners, may soon be absorbed into the adjacent Rexall Drug Store at 325 Moore Ave. A building permit application submitted to the City on July 7th proposes interior alterations that would expand the pharmacy into the neighbouring space. The application, which is still under review, describes the work as “interior alterations to expand interior space of an existing pharmacy store – Rexall Pharmacy Store.”
Those neatly stacked cones won’t stay that way for long — road resurfacing is scheduled to begin July 21st, 2025 on Bessborough Drive, from Airdrie Road to Parkhurst Boulevard. The City of Toronto says work will include curb and sidewalk repairs, sewer adjustments, and full road repaving. The project is expected to run through mid-September, weather permitting. Residents should anticipate noise, dust, and traffic impacts during working hours, typically 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday with work after hours and on weekends as required.
“Coming soon” signs for Tim Hortons have appeared in the windows of 878 Eglinton Avenue East, at the northwest corner of Eglinton Avenue E and Laird Drive. The corner spot — originally a 1940s-era TD Bank — was home to Starbucks from 2012 to 2020, and more recently, Hakim Optical.
Vozara brings Persian flavours to former food hall
The space at 856–858 Eglinton Avenue East — once home to East York Eats, a food hall that included vendors like Conspiracy Pizza — has a new occupant. Vozara Food Factory has moved in, offering a “taste of Persian food, right in Midtown Toronto,” according to its website. Vozara has retained the pizza ovens from the former tenant and offers a variety of pizzas alongside its Persian fare. The address has seen several tenants over the years, including a stint as Shoeless Joe’s.
The latest edition of The SEDRA Owl brings news of two new Intersection Pedestrian Signals (IPS) coming to Bayview — one at Soudan/Parkhurst and the other at Sutherland Drive, across from Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. These “half-signals” are designed to improve pedestrian safety while limiting traffic disruption on quieter side streets.
Curious how these new pedestrian signals work? Watch this informative video above from the City of Kingston explaining the IPS system and how it helps improve pedestrian safety.
Also featured: a splash of colour at 733 Mt. Pleasant, where Grade 5 students from Eglinton Public School have transformed a construction barrier into a cheerful outdoor gallery.
Read the full SEDRA Owl: Summer 2025 Newsletterhere.
Children’s Garden School, located on Eglinton Avenue East in Leaside, is celebrating 40 years as a junior preparatory school in Toronto — and as part of the milestone, they’re reaching out to former students.
CGS is inviting alumni to reconnect and share what they’re up to now. If you’re a CGS alum (or know someone who is), you can learn more here: cgsschool.com/are-you-a-cgs-alumni
We’ve covered their visit, we’ve shared the video — but now, you can learn the real story behind the goats who munched their way through the Don Valley Brickworks.
Ian Matthews, the man behind Goats in the City, left a successful mortgage career to rekindle a childhood fascination with goats — now putting them to work controlling invasive plants across southern Ontario.
Yesterday, Councillor Rachael Chernos Lin shared an update on new rush-hour turn restrictions aimed at reducing cut-through traffic and congestion on Donlea Drive. Her full message, originally shared in a local Facebook group, appears below:
Important traffic update!
I have just been advised that no-left-turn signage is being installed today on Eglinton Ave E between Brentcliffe Rd and Don Avon Dr. These signs indicate a turn prohibition between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. onto Eglinton Avenue E from Brentcliffe Rd and Don Avon Dr.
Following a unanimous vote at North York Community Council, City Council approved my motion to implement these turn prohibitions on May 21. No-left-turn signs at Don Avon and Brentcliffe Rd, as well as advance information signs, at Hanna Rd, Rumsey Rd, Sutherland Dr, and Laird Dr, will be installed this morning.
By my request, Toronto Police Service – 53 Division will have officers present on Thursday and Friday to enforce these changes. Waze has incorporated new turn restrictions into its trip suggestions and the City has requested that Google Maps do the same.
In the months since my election, the situation on Donlea Dr has reached a breaking point with immense traffic volumes and unprecedented congestion, leading to access issues and dangerous driving incidents. After exploring many options in consultation with staff, turn prohibitions emerged as a quick and effective tool to implement. The new prohibitions aim to alleviate congestion while minimizing disruptions to neighbouring streets – ensuring residents can still reach their homes.
As directed by my motion, Transportation Services staff will be closely monitoring these changes, including initial adjustment issues and the impacts of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, once it opens. Congestion management and road safety are top priorities for me as your City Councillor, and my office will be continuing to look at strategies to manage the high volumes of traffic throughout Leaside.
Community reaction to the update was mixed. Some residents are optimistic the changes will help calm traffic, while others voiced concerns about spillover congestion or lax enforcement. A few also offered suggestions for further improvements.
Love it or loathe it, are traffic woes just part of life in the big city?
It’s been a looooong wait, but there are signs that Rumi Turkish Cuisine (1599 Bayview) is finally nearing its debut! The plywood that’s been blocking the front entrance for ages is gone, and a Now Hiring sign has appeared in the window. After all the ups and downs since plans were first announced in 2022, could Bayview’s swanky new Turkish spot soon be ready to welcome diners?
