Editor’s Note
Things I learned editing this month’s news letter? A Black-and-Tan can be made with cider instead of ale — count me in for that one this Friday!
Who knew that at the turn of the 20th century, a motorcycle track was situated right across the street from our building — read more about our neighbourhood’s history in Mud, Bricks and Motorcycles.
Our vertical neighbourhood is growing! Our intrepid reporter, Nancy Lee-Sing, has all the details on the physiotherapy clinic soon to open its doors in the commercial space on Queen Street. Every community is richer for having a library, and soon you will be able to enjoy an in-house library created by residents. Details about both new additions are in this month’s newsletter.
Our board has provided details about the new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) that’s been installed in our lobby. I have connected with St. John’s Ambulance to find out about arranging CPR and AED training for any residents who are interested. My goal is to have the course taught on-site this spring. At time of publication I’m still awaiting info on the cost and length of the course. When we get the details, we’ll share them and organize a sign-up. Certification for CPR and AED is valid for three years — and you never know who’s life you might save. In the meantime, do take a look at the Red Cross link provided below.
And with that, dear neighbours, enjoy this issue of A letter from George. We will see you again in June.
Susan Prince
Greetings From The Board
Hello Neighbours! We hope you’ve all fared well in this first quarter of 2023.
Since our Town Hall in October, a defibrillator has been installed in the lobby near the mailroom area. This is an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which, even if you are not CPR/AED certified, is an easy to use device that will prompt you through the necessary steps in an emergency. That being said, we encourage all residents to familiarize themselves with using an AED. Here is a helpful link from the Canadian Red Cross:
As you know, our new Property Manager, Ruth Wormitt, has been in place since February 1st. We’d like to remind residents that the office number and contact email remain the same as our previous management and that Management office days are now Tuesdays, Fridays and alternating Thursdays.
Our first AGM will be Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 (registration before 6:30pm and meeting commencing at 7pm). This will be a virtual meeting and will be hosted by the condo corporation’s lawyers, Horlick Levitt Di Lella LLP. Unit owners will have received the Preliminary Notice of Meeting on February 7th and the Notice of Meeting on March 13th – via email from the condo corporation lawyers as “HLD Meetings”.
Lastly, we hope you enjoy the second edition of the quarterly newsletter, “A Letter From George”! Thanks again to the newsletter team: Susan Prince, Nancy Lee-Sing, and Diana Harris for all your hard work.
Looking forward to seeing you all on the 28th at the AGM.
James, Kelsey & Noelle
George VIPs
Hi, My name is Selena and I am a cat with personality and lots of love to share. Well, I call it love and others may call it crazy making behaviour.
Nickname: Sadly, I don’t have one but hit me up with suggestions
Human: Christine
Favourite Toy: Not a toy but my owner’s lap
Voted Most Likely To: To drive Christine crazy
Goal: To drive Christine crazy and I have succeeded!
Favourite Quote: Miaow
Secret Crush: Anyone who will pet and pay attention to me
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
A Taste of Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day, otherwise known as St Paddy’s Day, is the Irish holiday celebrated worldwide – more than any other holiday. It’s a day when people gather at their neighbourhood local, for a pint of Ireland’s most popular export, Guinness, and Craic which is a term for news, gossip, fun and enjoyable conversation.
One of my favourite drinks any time of year, but especially on St Patrick’s Day, is what North Americans call a Black and Tan. It is a layered drink that is equal parts Guinness and ale. Although associated with St. Patrick’s Day in the US, as one of its two ingredients is Guinness, do not order a Black and Tan in Ireland. Black and Tan is the nickname given to the British paramilitary force, largely made up of English WWI veterans, formed to suppress the Irish Independence movement in 1920 and 1921. When in Ireland it’s best to order a Half and Half.
Here is the recipe for an Irish Half and Half (or in North America a Black and Tan). It’s common in Ireland to substitute the ale for a hard cider such as Magners making the drink lighter and more refreshing.
Ingredients
1 can of Guinness
1 can of hard Cider such as Magners or Strongbow
1 pint glass
1 spoon
Method
Pour half a can of cider in a pint glass. Place a spoon in the glass. Tilt the glass slightly and slowly pour the Guinness down the back on the spoon as this will keep the liquids separate. Remove the spoon and enjoy. Raise your glass and, as the Irish would say, Sláinte!
A Worthy Complement: Mushrooms on Toast
A perfect accompaniment to your Half and Half, Mushrooms on toast was often eaten by the middle classes in England and Ireland as a sort of light supper before dinner that was eaten much later. It was eaten in pubs as a snack with a pint after work before heading home for dinner. I was first introduced to mushrooms on toast at Ceili Cottage, an Irish pub in the neighbourhood. It was love at first bite. I couldn’t think of any snack that pairs better with a cold beer. It’s great for breakfast with the addition of a soft poached egg.
Here is my version of mushrooms on toast.
Ingredients
2 tbsp unsalted butter
¾ lbs mushrooms (any variety)
½ minced shallot
1 clove minced garlic
2 – 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp crème fresh or sour cream
1 tsp dried thyme or 2 tsp fresh thyme (chopped)
Salt & pepper to taste
2 pieces of sourdough bread toasted, or 4 pieces of baguette toasted
Method
Clean and slice mushrooms. Mince shallot and garlic. Heat the butter on medium heat in a skillet until melted and slightly bubbling. Add shallots and mushrooms and turn the heat up to medium high. Cook and stir occasionally until some of the moisture has evaporated from the mushroom and shallots are starting to brown. Add thyme, salt and pepper and stir for 2 mins. Slice bread and place in toaster. Reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic and stir for 1 minute. Add Worcestershire sauce, Dijon and stir for a minute. Add sour cream and stir until everything comes together. If the mixture is too thick add a bit of water.
Place toast on a plate and top with mushrooms. Season to taste and enjoy!
Author: Diana Harris
St Paddy’s Day Playlist
On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish! Although our building’s namesake, George Leslie, was born in Scotland we’re sure he joined friends and family in enjoying a pint and some lively Irish jigs on March 17th. Pour yourself a pint, or some fine Irish Whiskey, and get ready for the big day with our curated St. Paddy’s Day playlist, “ George Loves a Céilí ”:
Mix Tape: Noëlle Jenkinson
Mud, Bricks and Motorcycles
Whether a long-time resident or new to a neighbourhood, I’ve always found it fascinating to learn about what came before us. My focus, of late, has been the property directly across from the street from George Condos where you’ll find the buildings known as Greenwood Court at 1328-1338 Queen St. E. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation erected these buildings after WW2 to provide housing for returning veterans. Prior to the construction of Greenwood Court, the site was a vacant lot for many years, but in the early 1900’s this site had a mucky – and then a very noisy – history.
A Rand-McNally Map from 1898 shows the land between Leslie Street and Greenwood Avenue – where Hastings, Alton, and Hiltz Avenues now exist – with Hastings Creek meandering south to Queen Street. (It’s interesting to note that Hastings creek crossed Queen Street East where the Poet Condos are currently under construction). The clay, sand and water in this land were perfect for making bricks, so it stands to reason that situated on this parcel of land was Russell Brickyard – home to the largest brick plant in Canada. Joseph Russell Sr was an Irish brick maker who emigrated to Canada in 1849 and established a number of brickyards in Leslieville. His grandson, also Joseph Russell (son of John Russell), ran the brickyard situated between Hastings and Greenwood. With the death of John Russell in 1912, real estate was liquidated in the interest of dividing the estate amongst John’s ten children, and the brickyard was sold.
Real Estate Brokers, Meen & Meen, marketing the subdivision on Alton as “Queensdale” sold the land to developers. Homes were built on Alton Avenue starting in 1913. Having owned one of those 1913 built houses, I can attest to my neighbours encountering a little bit of history when digging fence post holes only to discover clay as well as long buried bricks and brick pieces. By 1914 Hiltz Avenue and Dorothy Street were created but, as yet, had no houses. What had been constructed, however, brings us to the noisy part of the land’s history.
The undeveloped remainder of the brick pit was ideal for construction of a sports stadium and Floyd A. MacFarland, an accomplished bike racer who opened a number of motordromes in the US, negotiated a deal with Joseph Russell for the land. May 1914 saw the opening of Toronto’s Motordrome – “the first board-track motordrome in the British empire” as reported in the Saskatoon Daily Star on May 28, 1914. It was also the only motordrome built outside the US.
The Motordrome was a quarter-mile hardwood board track, with a motorcycle track or “wall of death” twenty feet wide with a slope of sixty degrees. There was seating for 7000 and could accommodate more with standing room — for context that’s almost three times the seating at today’s music venue History, just down the road on Queen Street East. The Wooden Saucer or Saucer Park, as it was sometimes known, was a co-venture of The Motordrome Company and the Federals Baseball League, an American professional baseball league, with plans on hosting both baseball games and racing. Bicycle races, boxing, and the Circus were among the many events hosted at the motordrome – the inside of the wooden oval was also flooded to make a skating rink in the winter months. Thousands came from far and wide to watch many sports, but the biggest draw were the motorcycle races with the imminent danger and many a fiery crash. A wire fence at the top of the track served as the only barrier between racers and fans in the bleachers. Motorcycles would reach speeds of up to 80 mph and riders had little in the way of protection – a leather helmet and jacket.
It must have been incredibly noisy for the new homeowners in the Queensdale subdivision with races taking place 2-3 times a week in the summer months. As my house would have backed onto the site, I can only imagine the noise and smell from the motorcycle races. Suffice it to say, those Queensdale homeowners were probably relieved when The Motordrome failed financially in the fall of 1915. With the main demographic of the attendees, young men and teenage boys, now overseas fighting in WW1 the wooden saucer was left to rot.
The site of the Motordrome remained undeveloped until the building of Greenwood Court. The clay and muddy tracks of brickmaking had become a fast track of excitement, but now the roar of the Motordrome was silenced and a quieter neighbourhood evolved as more houses were built on Alton as well as Hiltz.
(source, with permission: Leslieville Historical Society, “Devil Wagons and the Murderdrome” – Joanne Doucette)
Author: Noëlle Jenkinson
New To The ‘Hood: ÜNDA
What is ÜNDA?
”A chiropractic and physical therapy space devoted to helping people overcome injuries and manage pain while getting stronger to improve their daily lives.”
Dr. Don Rey Juan is moving his practice to one of the retail spaces in our building. He loves Leslieville’s location and vibe and has been looking for the right location and it is right here.
With a Bachelor’s of Physical Health and Education from U of T and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Don is well equipped to take care of your chiropractic, manual therapy and training needs.
A generalist for almost six years he has a passion for providing the best blend of both treatment and training, with simple goals: to help his clients feel better and move well while offering pain relief and promoting recovery through manual therapy.
A strong relationship with training has been a staple in Dr. Don’s life so helping cultivate a longevity based approach to clients’ movement practice is a focal point of his treatment. Rehab, strength training or cardio and movement are the foundational elements that create this approach. Through education and understanding, clients can develop autonomy and integrate the practices into their everyday lives and share it with others.
On the name? Dr. Don describes it this way “UNDA is latin, for ripple. The intention behind ÜNDA (pronounced oon-duh) is to create a positive ripple effect towards all aspects of our lives. Whether that is physical or mental, internal or external. I believe that growth in one area should facilitate the potential for growth in all areas.”
Let’s welcome Dr. Don and support the newest member of our community. Looking forward to ÜNDA becoming a staple in the ‘hood.
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
Christine Tetreault, BIA Chair
In honour of International Women’s Month, it seems fitting to introduce you to one of the remarkable women that makes Leslieville tick. Christiane Tetreault is one of them. As Chairwoman of our BIA, she is a community staple who works for the good of our ‘hood.
In 2008, a Christiane moved to Leslieville. In 2014 she opened her business, The Vandenberg House Event Venue, on Queen Street East. Hosting over 500 events (despite closing for over 2 years due to Covid) of all types from bridal showers, weddings, private dinners, to corporate training, meetings, product launches and film events, she has helped the neighbourhood grow, brought a sense of community and introduced many to all Leslieville has to offer.
How and why did you join the BIA?
CT: In 2014, a BIA coordinator knocked on my VBH door introducing the BIA and asked me to join on the executive board. I thought why not. It’s a great opportunity to meet other small business owners and to contribute to our business community. Little did I know, I would be chair in 2019 and re-elected again this year.
Biggest current obstacle with BIA?
CT: Persuading developers to include a reasonable amount of parking for their residences, customers and visitors. With the plans to greatly increase the density, this is a matter worth fighting for.
What are some of the plans and how will the BIA help with community over the next 5 years?
CT: By pushing for an increase in strategic parking spaces to facilitate current customers, a growing community and tourism which will increase sales for our main street businesses. An expanded Leslieville BIA that extends West from Coxwell and North up Carlaw to Dundas. Increased beautification that includes historic murals and planters with flowers and greenery – A completed and executed master streetscape plan. That will result in unifying our main street with a branded and coordinated look. Additionally, a permanent bike stop space that houses bike racks, a bike repair post, paid bathroom, sunscreen station, and a water bottle refill fountain to encourage the cyclist community to stop in Leslieville to shop and dine.
These are great plans to increase Leslieville’s presence in the city and continue to build on the the area history. We thank Christiane and BIA for their tireless work to make Leslieville the best it can be. As this all develops, we will keep you up to date.
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
Our Very Own Little Public Library
“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.”
-Albert Einstein
Did you know that we at The George have a small book club and we’re already on our 3rd selection? We had to cap our member numbers but what is clear is we have a great number of readers amongst us.
Due to this, the Board has approved the creation of our own Little Public Library, similar to what you see on the front lawns of houses. It will be located in the small indoor lounge area off the courtyard, west side of the building on the ground floor.
No library card is needed! Borrow a book and or drop off a book. Simple as that.
R. David Lankes, Professor/Scholar/Speaker/Advocate once said “Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities.” We’ve already got a great community so let’s build a great little public library!
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
The George Recycling Program
It looks like a lot of us participated in Dry January or Dry February as we seemed to have slowed down a little bit with regards to our bottle return initiative. As of February 28, 2023, our total collected is $775.30.
Spring is on its way, and with that we are ready begin planning our George residents gathering on the terrace. More on this in our next newsletter.
Thanks again for being responsible with your recycling.
We welcome help with the bottle returns! If you have time to volunteer, please contact Nancy at nancyleesing@gmail.com
Author: Nancy Lee-Sing
A Letter From George 