Leaside Memorial Community Gardens
The historic site of Leaside Memorial Community Gardens (Leaside Gardens) was opened in 1951.
The land was donated by the Lea Family of Leaside.
The East York Historical Society provided a plaque stating: "An octagonal brick farm house built in 1851-1854 by William Lea (1814-1893) a York County Councillor, a magistrate, amateur poet and nature lover. In 1873, it housed the newly established post-office Leaside Junction and in 1884, the name Leaside was given to the Pacific Railway Station built nearby. In 1912, the York Land Company which had considerable property in the area surveyed a town site, appropriately called Leaside. Incorporated in 1913, the Town of Leaside became part of the Borough of East York in 1967."
The land was donated by the Lea Family of Leaside.
The East York Historical Society provided a plaque stating: "An octagonal brick farm house built in 1851-1854 by William Lea (1814-1893) a York County Councillor, a magistrate, amateur poet and nature lover. In 1873, it housed the newly established post-office Leaside Junction and in 1884, the name Leaside was given to the Pacific Railway Station built nearby. In 1912, the York Land Company which had considerable property in the area surveyed a town site, appropriately called Leaside. Incorporated in 1913, the Town of Leaside became part of the Borough of East York in 1967."
This recreation facility was named in honour of the World War II veterans. The plaque mounted outside the facility reads: "In memory of the men of the Town of Leaside who gave their lives for their country in the second World War - 1939-1945".
Leaside Gardens is the home for the beginning of the careers of seven NHL super stars: Peter Mahovlich Jr., Brad Selwood, Terry Caffery, Paul Gardner, Dave Gardner, Tom Edur and Mike McEwen. Their retired sweaters hang here in the Bert F. Grant Arena. The skate sharpener and Zamboni driver for Leaside Gardens was the late Peter Mahovlich Sr. A plaque hanging by the arena office reads: Worked this arena and served our community for over twenty-four years - a friend and helper to the boys and girls (of all ages) active in this arena. Every ice rink should be blessed with such a warm spirit." Born in Yugoslavia, July 14, 1906, he died in East York on June 13, 1981."
Another Leaside hero, Dr. Tom Pashby – first chair of the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund was acknowledged worldwide for his work in preventing catastrophic injury in sports. ‘Doc’ was dedicated to the safety of the children in our facility and often sutured hockey players before face protection was mandated. He was awarded the Order of Canada and is a member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Leaside Sports Hall of Fame. ‘Doc’ was loved and well-respected in the community.
History of Leaside Gardens: The Past and the Present
Leaside Memorial Community Gardens has been a focal point for the Leaside community and surrounding neighbourhoods for more than 50 years, since the arena opened its doors 1951 at the intersection of Millwood and Laird Drive.
That same year, our volunteer Board of Management was created by the Town of Leaside under By-law No. 1374, passed pursuant to Ontario's then Community Recreation Centres Act. Successive generations of volunteer Board members have managed the facilities on behalf of the community, reporting first to Leaside Town Council, later to the Borough of East York Council, and now to the City of Toronto Council.
Leaside Gardens had been built through community fundraising efforts, supported by the Leaside Lions and the Rotary Club. Later, in the 1970s when the arena roof required replacement, the community came together again to raise $500,000 to undertake the project. Later, the community again came through to undertake the replacement of the arena's seating.
Throughout its existence, Leaside Gardens has formed an enduring partnership with three main user groups that, today, account for the vast majority of the arena's ice rentals. The Leaside Hockey Association was formed in 1952 and now boasts 1,280 members in house league and select programs. The Leaside Skating Club was founded in 1951 and today provides figure skating instruction to 590 members, primarily girls and young women. The Leaside Girls Hockey League has grown tremendously since its start in 1974, now fielding house league and select teams comprised of 575 girls. In fact, through the involvement of the Skating Club and Girls Hockey League, roughly half of the Leaside Gardens' current users are girls.
In addition to our single-pad rink the facility also includes a banquet room, the William Lea Room, and a pool operated on a cost-recovery basis pursuant to an agreement with the City of Toronto (which is responsible for all programming in the pool).
As 2001 and the celebration of Leaside Gardens' 50th anniversary approached, the Board's members turned their minds to the next 50 years. For some time, the arena's ice allocation had been static, with all of the available ice rented, save for necessary maintenance time. Even if the Board had wanted to, there was no more ice time to rent. As a result, our main user groups have been forced to rent ice across the GTA at market rates. They cried out for a second pad of ice at Leaside Gardens.
In response, the Board formed an Expansion Committee to consider construction of a second pad of ice. In creating the Expansion Committee, the Board sought out members of the local community with specific backgrounds that would supplement the skills and experience of Board members. The resulting team provides the Board with a broad range of skills to draw upon in undertaking this expansion project.
The Expansion Committee, at its outset, commissioned a Community Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study. That Feasibility Study assessed: i) the recreation needs of Leaside and the surrounding community; and ii) the feasibility of expanding the recreational facilities managed for the City of Toronto by the Board of Management of Leaside Gardens. The resulting consultants' report was approved by the Board in the fall of 2001, and confirmed an overwhelming demand for additional ice time among the current users of the Leaside Gardens arena: if a second pad of ice was available at Leaside Gardens, our existing users' demand would immediately consume all of the prime time ice. The consultants concluded that such overwhelming demand justified the development of a second pad of ice. The authors also identified the need to acquire the property adjacent to Leaside Gardens at 1075 Millwood Road (owned by the Province of Ontario) in order to facilitate construction of a second pad of ice and the requisite parking for visitors to the expanded facility.
In December 2001, in a meeting at City Hall, members of the Leaside Gardens Board presented the Feasibility Study to Commissioner Joe Halstead, then head of Parks and Recreation for the City. Commissioner Halstead endorsed the City's acquisition of 1075 Millwood Road, and directed City staff to begin negotiating that with the Ontario Realty Corporation.
Recently, Toronto City Council approved the acquisition of 1075 Millwood Road from the province, with the City expected to take title to the property in the coming months.
That same year, our volunteer Board of Management was created by the Town of Leaside under By-law No. 1374, passed pursuant to Ontario's then Community Recreation Centres Act. Successive generations of volunteer Board members have managed the facilities on behalf of the community, reporting first to Leaside Town Council, later to the Borough of East York Council, and now to the City of Toronto Council.
Leaside Gardens had been built through community fundraising efforts, supported by the Leaside Lions and the Rotary Club. Later, in the 1970s when the arena roof required replacement, the community came together again to raise $500,000 to undertake the project. Later, the community again came through to undertake the replacement of the arena's seating.
Throughout its existence, Leaside Gardens has formed an enduring partnership with three main user groups that, today, account for the vast majority of the arena's ice rentals. The Leaside Hockey Association was formed in 1952 and now boasts 1,280 members in house league and select programs. The Leaside Skating Club was founded in 1951 and today provides figure skating instruction to 590 members, primarily girls and young women. The Leaside Girls Hockey League has grown tremendously since its start in 1974, now fielding house league and select teams comprised of 575 girls. In fact, through the involvement of the Skating Club and Girls Hockey League, roughly half of the Leaside Gardens' current users are girls.
In addition to our single-pad rink the facility also includes a banquet room, the William Lea Room, and a pool operated on a cost-recovery basis pursuant to an agreement with the City of Toronto (which is responsible for all programming in the pool).
As 2001 and the celebration of Leaside Gardens' 50th anniversary approached, the Board's members turned their minds to the next 50 years. For some time, the arena's ice allocation had been static, with all of the available ice rented, save for necessary maintenance time. Even if the Board had wanted to, there was no more ice time to rent. As a result, our main user groups have been forced to rent ice across the GTA at market rates. They cried out for a second pad of ice at Leaside Gardens.
In response, the Board formed an Expansion Committee to consider construction of a second pad of ice. In creating the Expansion Committee, the Board sought out members of the local community with specific backgrounds that would supplement the skills and experience of Board members. The resulting team provides the Board with a broad range of skills to draw upon in undertaking this expansion project.
The Expansion Committee, at its outset, commissioned a Community Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study. That Feasibility Study assessed: i) the recreation needs of Leaside and the surrounding community; and ii) the feasibility of expanding the recreational facilities managed for the City of Toronto by the Board of Management of Leaside Gardens. The resulting consultants' report was approved by the Board in the fall of 2001, and confirmed an overwhelming demand for additional ice time among the current users of the Leaside Gardens arena: if a second pad of ice was available at Leaside Gardens, our existing users' demand would immediately consume all of the prime time ice. The consultants concluded that such overwhelming demand justified the development of a second pad of ice. The authors also identified the need to acquire the property adjacent to Leaside Gardens at 1075 Millwood Road (owned by the Province of Ontario) in order to facilitate construction of a second pad of ice and the requisite parking for visitors to the expanded facility.
In December 2001, in a meeting at City Hall, members of the Leaside Gardens Board presented the Feasibility Study to Commissioner Joe Halstead, then head of Parks and Recreation for the City. Commissioner Halstead endorsed the City's acquisition of 1075 Millwood Road, and directed City staff to begin negotiating that with the Ontario Realty Corporation.
Recently, Toronto City Council approved the acquisition of 1075 Millwood Road from the province, with the City expected to take title to the property in the coming months.
Leaside Gardens Board of Management
The Leaside Gardens Board of Management is a volunteer board and consists of residents from the City of Toronto. Within the Board of Management are two standing committees: Management and Finance and Community Relations and an Ad hoc Committee: the Expansion Committee.
Ray White, Chair
Jeff Dover, Vice Chair
John Masterson, Treasurer
Cheryl Bannier
Ann Brown
Julie Brown
Adam Gordon
Janice Ivory-Smith
Elaine Snider
Councillor Jon Burnside
Ray White, Chair
Jeff Dover, Vice Chair
John Masterson, Treasurer
Cheryl Bannier
Ann Brown
Julie Brown
Adam Gordon
Janice Ivory-Smith
Elaine Snider
Councillor Jon Burnside
Board of Management Meeting Dates
January 25, 2017 at 7pm in the Sprucegrove Investment Management Board Room
Leaside Gardens Pool
1073 Millwood Road
Toronto, Ontario, M4G 1X6
Telephone: 416-396-2822 or 416-396-2823
Leaside Gardens Pool is managed by the Leaside Gardens Board of Management and is leased back to the City of Toronto's Parks and Recreation Department for programming.
Any concerns pertaining to maintenance please contact Leaside Gardens General Manager, Henry Stachelbeck at 416-421-4944.
For concerns regarding programming please contact Recreationist, Andrew Pyper at 416-396-2823.
Registration call 416-396-2823 or register on line at www.toronto.ca
Toronto, Ontario, M4G 1X6
Telephone: 416-396-2822 or 416-396-2823
Leaside Gardens Pool is managed by the Leaside Gardens Board of Management and is leased back to the City of Toronto's Parks and Recreation Department for programming.
Any concerns pertaining to maintenance please contact Leaside Gardens General Manager, Henry Stachelbeck at 416-421-4944.
For concerns regarding programming please contact Recreationist, Andrew Pyper at 416-396-2823.
Registration call 416-396-2823 or register on line at www.toronto.ca