A Letter From George: 2026 Autumn

Editor’s Note:

Happy Autumn to everyone! September always feels to me like the time to rev up our engines after a summertime that goes at a slightly slower pace. But clearly it wasn’t all leisure for some of the residents of our vertical neighbourhood — we’ve got a first time author and newlyweds in our midst — not to mention new residents who are settling into their new home and getting accustomed to a ‘turnkey’ lifestyle.

Fall is also the perfect time to reconnect with neighbours, and thanks to all the work of the Social Committee, we have the return of The George Social. For those of you new to the building, think of this as our annual street party but on a rooftop instead of a roadway.

This is also a great time to recognize the Board and our excellent property manager, Basheer for their coordinated work in maintaining the structure of the building through regular care and the safety of the residents by making important changes to controlled access to the building . More about that in the greetings from the board.

I look forward to catching up with neighbours at our up-coming gathering.

Susan Prince

The return of The George Social

The return of our George Condos and Towns Social is just around the corner and we anticipate a good crowd.

Sunday September 27th should be a fun day for our residents and owners, a time to meet new neighbours, reconnect with others and socialize over yummy bites and nibbles.

The deets:

An author in our midst

When Sandy Biback told me of her book, to be published late October, I was excited and in awe that she had time to pen, Travelogue of My Life. As per Sandy, it was twenty years in the making. A labour of love as there were stories to tell, experiences to share.

Over the past five years, many of us have had the pleasure of chatting with Sandy. Sometimes the conversations would be about the world travels she shared with her husband Stephen, her love of the dogs in the building, raising a family and about her commitment to fighting against human trafficking. Her passions are strong, her kindness ever-present and strength unwavering.

When I spoke with Sandy I told her I wanted to write a blurb about her book in the newsletter. Then I read the back cover and realized whatever I wrote would pale in comparison to the profound words stated there –  my job became easy. Here’s a little preview to give you a gist of what Sandy has been up to:

• As she celebrates turning 80, Sandy Biback shares vivid stories and photographs, inviting readers into a life shaped by love, resilience, and the restless pull of discovery, and the importance of a web of connections.
• From coming of age to building a trailblazing career as a Meeting Professional, she transforms criticism into confidence, chaos into unforgettable moments, and a gift for bringing people together into a lifelong passion.
• Her adventurous travels span Antarctica, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru, Bhutan, Nepal, Tasmania, Africa, Europe, and beyond – each destination offers a lesson in beauty, injustice, culture, and the strength of the human spirit.
• Ultimately, her work extends to social change, pioneering efforts to combat human trafficking within her industry and to inspire action.

Publication is scheduled for the end of October and perhaps Sandy will sign your copy.

Nancy Lee-Sing

Sweater Weather Stews: Cozy Up with This Fall Chicken Curry

Few dishes are as comforting and flavourful as a chicken curry. With its rich sauce, warming aromatic spices, and heat, chicken curry is the perfect dish for cool fall evenings.  Finding the right beverage to accompany it can make the meal even more enjoyable. For chicken curry, both Riesling and lager are excellent choices, but they work in different ways. A slightly off-dry Riesling is ideal for a spicy curry because its acidity refreshes the palate and its sweetness balances the heat. A crisp lager is a more casual option, with its carbonation helping cut through a rich, creamy sauce.

A dear friend gave me this chicken curry recipe years ago. I’ve made it countless times over the past twenty years, and it never disappoints.

Chicken Curry

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into pieces
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 2 tbsp good quality curry powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 can (14 oz/400 ml) diced or crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup (240 ml) coconut milk
• ½ cup chicken stock
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Cooked basmati rice, to serve

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then brown for 4–5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. Add the onion and cook for 5–6 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.
3. Add the curry powder, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili powder. Stir for about 30 seconds to release the aromas.
4. Add the tomatoes, coconut milk, and chicken stock. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
5. Return the chicken to the pan. Cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
6. Serve over basmati rice.

Diana Harris

Preparing to vote in the upcoming Municipal Election? Here are the details on election day, early voting, and voter eligibility

The City of Toronto will be holding elections this fall for Mayor, City Councillor (ours is Ward 14) and School Board Trustee. A full list of candidates for each position can be found on the City of Toronto’s website. There are currently 53 candidates for Mayor and 18 candidates for City Councillor in Ward 14. The number of candidates for School Board Trustee varies depending on which School Board you support (this is usually indicated on your property tax bill.)

Election Day in the City of Toronto is Monday, October 26 from 10AM to 8PM. And if, like me, you’ll be away at that time, advance voting will begin on Tuesday, October 6 and run until Sunday, October 11 (that’s Thanksgiving weekend) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To be eligible to vote in Toronto’s 2026 municipal election, you must be:

• a Canadian citizen; and
• at least 18 years old; and
• a resident in the city of Toronto; or
• a non-resident of Toronto, but you or your spouse own or rent property in Toronto; and
• not prohibited from voting under any law.

To vote, you must show an election official one piece of acceptable identification (ID) with your name and qualifying Toronto address. Photo ID is not required. You can show a document on your mobile device as ID if that document was issued electronically (for example a digital phone bill or credit card statement). You cannot show a photo, photocopy or scan of a document as ID if that document was not issued electronically (for example a photo of your driver’s licence). Note: your passport cannot be used since it doesn’t show your address.

As of Tuesday, September 1, you can request to vote by mail in the event that you’re not able to attend in person either on election day or during the advance polls. The deadline to apply to vote by mail is Thursday, September 24. Mail-in ballots must be received by noon on October 14.

Voter information cards will be mailed out on Monday, September 28, as long as your name was on the voter’s list as of September 20. You can check if you’re on the voter’s list by using MyVote online, or by e-mailing VoterRegistration@toronto.ca.

For residents at The George, our polling locations are: 

Advance Polls: Matty Eckler Recreation Centre, Upstairs Meeting Room, 953 Gerrard Street East (at Pape) from Tuesday, October 6 to Sunday, October 11, 10AM to 7PM.

October 26 Election Day: S. H. Armstrong Community Centre, Multi-Purpose Rm, 56 Woodfield Rd, just north of Queen, from 10AM to 8PM.

The above information was sources from the City of Toronto’s Elections website, which has lots more info should you require it.

Lesley Taylor

George’s Kitchen Dance Party

When a friend recently told me that she needed to get back to her “kitchen dancing”, it really struck a chord with me.  We all have those songs that grab us and kick our mojo into action.  There’s nothing like vibing out to tunes while we cook, bake, or otherwise create in our homes.  Crank your smart speaker and break out your finest dance moves because sometimes the best dancefloor is in the kitchen:

Noëlle Jenkinson

Greetings from the Board

Happy September Neighbours!  We hope you’ve enjoyed summer and are ready to head into fall.  Here’s a little of what we’ve been up to in the past few months…

We are progressing with the security improvements in both the P1 and P2 parking levels.  The city has approved the permits, and our contractors are currently working on relocating the intercom/callbox on P1 and the fob reader on P2 to outside each floor’s door leading from the garage to the building.  This will prevent intruders from gaining unfettered access to the building via stairwell A.

Cameras have also now been installed floors 1 through 9 of the building, further enhancing security by providing monitoring on each floor.

In the walkways from the courtyard to the back doors on Memory Lane,  we are planning to address the collection of water in those areas. We are obtaining advice and quotes to fix the issue.   

During the severe storm on Sept 2, the 8^th floor Party Room sustained some water damage from a leak.  As such, we’ve suspended booking and use of the Party Room at this time.  We are working to restore the room as soon as possible.   Management is in communication with contractors to determine and implement a proper, longer-term solution to prevent similar issues in the future.  The outdoor terrace can still be accessed via the Party Room at this time.  

We expect the Party Room to be repaired before the George Social on Sept 27^th and look forward to seeing our friends and neighbours.  Thanks to Nancy Lee-Sing and Lesley Taylor heading up the Social Committee and organizing this fun annual event for our George community. 

Also contributiing to our George community are Christine Oddy and Carol Fitzpatrick as the Recycling Committee. Their continued work collecting and returning our empties throughout the year, and co-ordinating a year-end charitable donation on behalf of the George community ensures that we are contributing beyond our walls. That makes better neighbours of us all.

As many are aware, there have been several unanticipated renovations this year. We would like to express our appreciation of the cooperation and patience of residents as we have worked through these matters. 

As always, thanks to the Newsletter Committee for this latest edition of A Letter from George.  To all our residents observing this coming weekend, have a meaningful Yom Kippur. 

James, Noëlle and Stephen

Newlyweds in the building!

I slip and wonder what I’d do/ If you never found me and I never found you/ I don’t know what I’d do
– Calum Scott

George resident owners Nicole and Saul will never have to wonder. The couple met online in 2020. Then, Covid reared its ugly head which led to the shutdown and their first date had to be postponed from March until June. Through the delay they continued to get to know one another. Obviously, the wait was worth it!

In the summer of 2022, the couple began renting a unit at The George. In 2024 their landlord decided to sell. Nicole and Saul loved the unit and this vertical community and didn’t want to leave.  Luckily they were able to purchase it and keep The George their home.

Saul is VP at Strategic Objectives, a public relations agency and an avid golfer. On April 11th of last year, surrounded by flowers from The Zoo Flowers, he proposed to Nicole, an Employment Litigation Lawyer. A date they’ll never forget as it was, to quote Saul, “the Friday of Masters weekend”.

On July 26th, just shy of a month before their nuptials, Nicole took part in the Toronto Triathlon. I honestly don’t know anyone in the midst of getting everything set for a wedding, was able to train in three events and compete. All this while working too.  Well done Nicole!

Nicole and Saul, tied the knot on Saturday August 22nd. The happy couple said their I dos at SixtyEight, aptly named for it’s location on the sixty-eighth floor of Scotia Plaza with incredible views of the city and lake. What a beautiful venue for a beautiful couple.

For their first dance, the couple danced to Biblical by Callum Scott. Practicing their moves, as instructed at classes from Beach Ballroom, you may have seen them in action on the 8th floor terrace. It is a very fitting song for a very lovely couple. Nicole and Saul, to quote Calum Scott, “your love is biblical.”

We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness.
Congratulations!

Nancy Lee-Sing

The George Wine Club Update

Back in the spring, a few of us started to gather once a month(ish) in the 8^th floor amenities room to share and taste a few different wines, the goal being to expand our palates and taste wines we might not have otherwise tried. In our first meeting, we all just brought any bottle we wanted and had a lovely evening tasting and chatting about wine. Since then, we’ve had a theme each month. Since Angela had just come back from France, the theme for June was French wine. In July, we tasted wines from South America (Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay) and August’s tasting was Italy.

Since a few of our member are going away in September, we’ve scheduled our next tasting for Thursday, October 8 at 7PM. At our last meeting, we forgot to decide on the theme for our next gathering, so I’m going to take the lead and suggest that we taste wines from Canada! With the current trade wars going on, lots of us are looking to support local Canadian businesses, so extending that to wine is a natural step. Some people might turn their noses up at Canadian wine, but there is a vast array of quality wines coming out of Ontario, BC, and now Nova Scotia. Quebec, New Brunswick, and Manitoba also produce wines, but they’re not readily available here in Ontario. While inter-provincial trade barriers are beginning to lift, we still have a way to go.

If you’ve not tasted a lot of Canadian wine—and maybe your past experiences have been negative—I’d suggest that you look for wines with the Vintner’s Quality Alliance (VQA) designation on the label. Here in Ontario, we do Riesling and Chardonnay quite well, since those grapes thrive in our cooler climate. If you’re more into red wines, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir grow very well here, too. 

Here are two—one white and one red—that I particularly like, both reasonably priced and widely available at the LCBO:

• Creekside Sauvignon Blanc, VQA Niagara Peninsula, $15.95, 12.5% ABV, 4g/L residual sugar
• Kacaba Cabernet, VQA Niagara Peninsula, $16.95, 13.4% ABV, 3g/L RS

If you’re looking to spend a little more money, here are two others to consider:

• Volta Estate Winery, Amphora Chardonnay, VQA Prince Edward County, $31.95, 13% ABV, 2g/L RS
• Domaine Le Clos Jordanne, Jordan Village Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula, $29.95, 13.5% ABV, 2g/L RS

I’ll likely be bringing a bottle of Ontario wine to The George Social on Sunday, September 27, and I’m happy to share if anyone is sceptical and wants to “try before you buy.”

The Wine Club is open to all, so feel free to bring a guest if you’d like. There’s no cost other than to bring a bottle of wine to share, and at least one glass to taste with (I often bring two in case I want to taste wines side by side.) Hope to see you there in October!

Lesley Taylor

V(ery) I(mportant) P(et)

I’m Bella and I recently moved into The George Community.
It was a big move for me as I’m only 3 1/2 years old. I came here from Chicago with my Mom, Christine and Dad, Omar. They’re my people. They wanted me so badly that they went all the way to Indiana to get me. I now have to be on my best behaviour as I have just become a big sister. Mom and Dad had a baby boy, Sami. I’m so excited to share my favourite Benebone fish chew with him. I can’t wait until he can play with it.

The first four legged friend I made in the building was Emerald. I met him at Greenwood Park with his parents. I hope I didn’t steal one of his tennis balls but sometimes I can’t help myself.  It is one of the silly things I do. Quite fitting for me as I was voted most likely to be cute, sweet and silly.

I sometimes get called Belly or Boo-boo or Belle. Any one of those nicknames will get me running. Come to think of it, so will my favourite saying, ’food please!!’. I do have a good appetite and a penchant for anyone who has a stash of treats or is skilled at giving good belly rubs.

In summary, I am a West Highland White Terrier with a big heart and a goal of making as many people smile as possible each and every day. My second goal is getting to know all of you.

Nancy Lee-Sing

Leslieville BIA update

It’s back!!

The Shop Leslieville 2 Win contest currently underway! Brought to you by The Leslieville BIA and sponsors, Jenny and Shane this initiative helps celebrate the amazing businesses in our ‘hood.

By shopping local (minimum $10 purchase) and submitting your receipt online, you can win a weekly prize of $500 and the business you supported will receive the same. Alternatively, you can leave a Google review for a local business and you’ll be entered.

Click here for all the FAQs and contest rules.
The contest wraps up September 27th so get that local shopping done.