Willis Blair 'Believed in East York'

ww The East York BIRD BRAIN n Find out what this fellow OBSERVER can do for you. Page 4 Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 43, No. 5 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, April 11, 2014 Leasiders rally to save historic Elgie building Council votes unanimously to reject developer’s bid to ‘demolish’ farmhouse By XUETING ZHAO The Observer Originally built in 1883, the Thomas G. Elgie House was standing at 262 Bessborough Dr. for years before the neighbourhood roads were even paved. Over the ensuing 130 years, the house has continued to preside over the community that has grown up around it. Now, the oldest residential house in Leaside is facing an uncertain future because of a demolition proposal made by a developer. In opposition are some Lou Pin /// The Observer Leasiders who have united to protect the Flower shops in full bloom designated heritage property. During the North York Community Carol Jeffries and the rest of the staff at Bill’s Garden Centre are ready for spring. Located on Pape Avenue, Council meeting held on Tuesday, coun- Bill’s is one of many small garden centres in East York. cillors voted unanimously to reject the application to demolish the Elgie House proposed by Matthew Garnet, vice-president of development of Renaissance n OBITUARY Fine Homes. “Heritage pieces are irreplaceable. Once they are gone, they are gone,” said Nancy Elgie, the widow of the late Dr. Willis Blair ‘believed in East York’ Robert Elgie, in remarks to the coun- cillors and members of the public who General Hospital. came to the meeting. Lifelong volunteer, When Blair was mayor of East “We can’t let every developer decide, family man, former York, he helped push to bring Ma- ‘It doesn’t work for me in 2014,’” she jor League Baseball to Toronto — said. “The house is part of our commu- mayor dies at age 90 an effort that succeeded with the nity and our life. It shouldn’t be violated arrival of the Blue Jays in 1977. in order for someone to make a buck.” By RAJESH SAMMY He also helped establish the East Susan Gordon, one of the home’s The Observer York Curling Club on Cosburn neighbours, read a letter written by Kae One of East York’s most veter- Avenue, which famously hosted Elgie, a member of the extended Elgie an politicians died on Saturday. the Junior World Championships family who now lives in Waterloo. In the Willis L. Blair was mayor of in 1974. letter, Kae Elgie asked the community what was then the Borough of Although generally considered council to protect the house. East York from 1973 until 1975. conservative, Blair didn’t hold “The building is very important to He also served on borough coun- back on supporting politicians me as an Elgie,” she wrote, “but more cil for 18 years beginning in 1958, with different views. than that, it’s part of the community’s and he held a variety of govern- “He would do what he thought history.” ment and regulatory posts, in- would be the best for the munic- In an earlier interview, Kae Elgie cluding the chairmanship of the ipality,” said Beaches-East York recalled the special trip she made to To- Liquor License Board of Ontario, MPP Michael Prue, a New Dem- ronto to show the house to her children. and seats on the Ontario Munici- ocrat. She said history is much easier to ap- pal Board and what was then Met- “He believed in East York. He preciate when there is something people ro Council. believed in Toronto,” Collenette can actually see and experience. He was 90 years old. said. “He epitomized everything “There aren’t too many houses that Blair died on the eve of Can- that was good and decent in Ca- we can point at and say, ‘This is built ada’s National Volunteer Week nadian life.” by an Elgie and lived by an Elgie,’” she — an apt connection, considering Prior to his career in politics, said. “If you can only read about it and that for over 50 years, he was a Blair served in the Royal Cana- Courtesy of Toronto East General Hospital only imagine in your mind what it might supporter of Toronto East Gener- dian Air Force, was a student at look like, it will become less important al Hospital, the Kiwanis Club of Willis L. Blair and his wife Elsie attended a special the University of Toronto, and and less moving than if you can see it.” East York and Westview Presby- garden unveiling ceremony to honour his involvement worked at the Canada Life insur- The Elgie House is a good example of terian Church in the Bermondsey with Toronto East General Hospital in 2011. ance company. the farming history of Leaside. It’s also Road-O’Connor Drive neighbour- His funeral was held at the Her- a rare representative of the farmhouses hood. ridings. “He was always there 1974, Collenette said of his friend, itage Funeral Centre on Overlea built in the late 1800s with the L-shaped “He was there in every possible helping, donating and getting peo- “he made me feel welcome.” Boulevard on Wednesday. He is plan and red brick walls. charitable drive that was held in ple into contributing.” “He was great at strengthening survived by his wife of 70 years, n See FUTURE, page 8 the community,” said David Col- Collenette said he knew Blair our connection with the commu- Elsie, as well as three children, lenette, a former member of Par- for almost all of his life. When nity,” said Tereasa Vasilopoulos, eight grandchildren and two liament representing East York Collenette was first elected in the president of Toronto East great-grandchildren. 2 NEWS The East York Observer /// Friday, April 11, 2014 POLICE & WHS at’ FIRE UP IN E.Y. Man flees after Charity dinner assaulting teen and auction Toronto police The Moeen Cen- are requesting the tre invites you to public’s help in join its seventh identifying a man annual fundrais- wanted in a sexu- ing dinner tomor- al assault investi- row, April 12, 5-9 gation. p.m., at Leaside On March 27 Gardens, 1073 at about 9 p.m., Millwood Rd. It a 16-year-old will feature guest boy was sexually speakers, enter- assaulted by a tainment and a man in the area silent auction. All of Mortimer and proceeds go to Pape avenues. the Moeen Cen- The man then tre, a non-profit fled. organization for Dakoda Sannen /// The Observer The man is de- disabled and scribed as white, It’s a draw developmentally 22-26 years old, Students from Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute in Scarborough get a crash course in life drawing on challenged young approximately Monday, during a field trip to Centennial College’s East York campus on Carlaw Avenue. adults in Toronto. 5’10”-6’0”. He Call 416-264- has short black 5809 to reserve. hair and a shaved line on the side of his head. He was Leasiders fear loss of identity Like duct tape? wearing a dark-co- Find out how loured top, jacket of interest in preserving and to turn that roll and pants. Heritage gathering maintaining the built fabric of of duct tape into our community and a submis- stresses need to a handy wallet. sion has been submitted to the Supplies will be Pharmacy to preserve history city department of heritage provided; all that’s for a heritage conservation the rescue needed are teens By EVAN PANG district in Leaside,” Kettel aged 11-18. The Two arrests have The Observer said. workshop will take been made in Leaside is a place where Several other communities place on Friday, an alleged fraud community comes first. Now have filed similar requests April 24 from 4 against an elderly residents fear that new city with the city of Toronto, but until 5p.m. at the woman. development will threaten not Kettel hopes to get the sub- S. Walter Stewart Norma Mar- only their history, but the very mission approved before too Evan Pang /// The Observer library. To register, shall, 94, hired sense of what that community much of the “original” Lea- Karen Fraser, writer for Leaside Life, shares call 416-396- a housekeeper is. side is lost. stories and old photographs of Leaside. 3975. approximately During the second annual “The next thing will be a four years ago. heritage gathering at the Lea- public meeting,” Kettel said. and well-known writer for for three cents a scoop from Police say that, side public library branch last “The big benefit is that it Leaside Life. King’s Shop. over time, the month, several residents and would allow the communi- She recalled a time when Laughter filled the room Family fun for housekeeper and members of the East York ty to have some say in what the community banded to- when another talked about the a good cause her husband and Historical Society came to- happens. There are things that gether to save a public park school teacher who could hit a children moved gether to pay homage to those are called renovations, but re- from new development years student square in the forehead The ninth annu- into the home. who helped build Leaside. ally they’re just demolitions, ago. with a piece of chalk from the al “Spring Into They say the Community advocate Geoff and we’re losing that sense of “People had come to my other side of the class. Action” fundrais- housekeeper and Kettel began the opening pre- a place, the history and uni- door asking me what we were Many of the shops that were er for diabetes husband then sentations by speaking about formity… the rhythm of the going to do,” Fraser said.

Load more