LEASIDE HISTORY
Leaside was first settled by John Lea a pioneer farmer who emigrated to Canada from Philadelphia in 1819. In the 1850's, Lea's oldest son William built an eight-sided octagonal shaped house - appropriately named 'Leaside' - near the present day site of Leaside Memorial Gardens. This neighbourhood has been called Leaside ever since.
The Canadian Northern Railway incorporated the Town of Leaside in 1913 on land formerly owned by the Lea family. Leaside's development was historically significant in that it was the first town in Ontario to be completely planned on paper before any homes were actually built.
Leaside's residential development was stalled due to the outbreak of World War I, however Leaside was an important contributor to the war effort. Heavy artillery was manufactured at the Leaside Munitions Company. Leaside was also the location of an airfield used for the training of Canadian pilots.
In 1918 the Leaside Airfield made Canadian aviation history as the terminus of the first airmail flight in Canada, travelling from Montreal to Toronto. Leaside's status as a Town came to an end in 1967 when it became part of the Borough of East York, which has since amalgamated with the City of Toronto.
Source: Your Guide to Toronto Neighbourhoods copyright Maple Tree Publishing Inc.
LEASIDE TODAY
Leaside is a favorite of families because of the multitude of parks, recreational facilities and outdoor as well as indoor activities for adults, teens and children. For example, the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens is a multi-recreational facility that provides an indoor ice rink, an indoor swimming pool, a curling rink and an auditorium. Leaside residents and residents of its surrounding areas like Davisville, can take advantage of the many parks like: Serena Gundy Park, Sunnybrook Park, Howard Talbot Park is the home of the local baseball teams with its 2 baseball diamonds and Trace Manes Park is the home of the Leaside Tennis Club.
Leaside is surrounded by Bennington Heights to the south, North Toronto to the north, Thorncliffe Park to the east and Davisville Village to the west.
LEASIDE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Leaside Branch Public Library
165 McRae Dr
Toronto, Ontario
M4G 1S8
(416) 396-3835
Mount Pleasant Branch Public Library
599 Mount Pleasant Rd
Toronto, Ontario
M4S 2M5
(416) 393-7737
Northern District Public Library
40 Orchard View Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario
M4R 1B9
(416) 393-7610
LEASIDE SCHOOLS
Please note that the schools listed below have very definite enrollment boundaries. Prior to purchasing a property, parents should phone the school where they are interested in enrolling their children, in order to confirm that they will accept children from the address being considering for purchase.
Bennington Heights Elementary School
76 Bennington Heights Dr, Toronto, Ontario (416) 393-2310
Bessborough Drive Elementary and Middle School
211 Bessborough Dr, East York, Ontario (416) 396-2315
Blythwood JR Public School
2 Strathgowan Crescent, Toronto, Ontario (416) 393-9105
Eglinton Public School / Spectrum Alternative School Sr
223 Eglinton Ave East, Toronto, Ontario (416) 393-9315
John Fisher JR Public School
40 Erskine Ave, Toronto, Ontario (416) 393-9325
Leaside Public High School
200 Hanna Rd, Toronto, Ontario (416) 396-2380
Maurice Cody Public School
364 Belsize Dr, Toronto, Ontario (416) 393-9240
Northlea Public Elementary & Middle School
305 Rumsey Rd, Toronto, Ontario (416) 393-2395
Rolph Road Public School
31 Rolph Road, Toronto, Ontario (416) 393-2435
St Anselm Catholic School
182 Bessborough Drive, Toronto, Ontario (416) 393-5243
St Monica Catholic School
44 Broadway Avenue, Toronto, Ontario (416) 483-1513
Childrens Garden Nursery School (Private School)
1847 Bayview Ave, Toronto, Ontario (416) 488-4298
Crescent School (Private School)
2365 Bayview Ave, Toronto, Ontario (416) 449-2556
Junior Academy (Private School)
235 McRae Dr., Toronto, Ontario (416) 425-4567
LEASIDE CHILD CARE CENTRES
Licensed home child care is provided in selected private homes. The homes are approved by a private home child care agency that is licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services under the Day Nurseries Act. Home child care providers may care for up to 5 children under 10 years of age.
| Private Home Child Care Agency | Phone | Subsidy may be available |
| Circles in the Sun | 416-694-0414 | |
| Family Day Care Services | 416-922-3434 |  |
| Happy Faces | 416-694-2223 | |
| J & F Home Child Care Services | 416-494-5898 | |
| Wee Watch Toronto East | 416-532-2538 | |
Updated December 4, 2008 Please refer to the City of Toronto web site for more info
LOCAL NEWS
TOWN CRIER LEASIDE-ROSEDALE
SHOPPING IN AND AROUND LEASIDE
Bayiew Village
The Eglinton Way
Yonge & Eglinton Centre
Yonge & Lawrence Village
SmartCentre (1500 Avenue Rd & Lawrence
SmartCentre (Laird Dr South of Eglinton Ave East)
ENTERTAINMENT IN AND AROUND LEASIDE
Famous Players Canada Square - MAP
2200 Yonge St., Second Level, Toronto, ON
SilverCity Yonge-Eglinton - MAP
2300 Yonge St, Toronto, ON
Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Grande - MAP
4861 Yonge St., Toronto, ON
SilverCity Fairview Mall Cinemas - MAP
1800 Sheppard Ave East, North York, ON
Cineplex Odeon Varsity - MAP
55 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
Mount Pleasant Cinema Mount Pleasant - Soudan
675 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto ON
Regent Cinema Mount Pleasant - Belsize
551 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto ON
For more listings in Leaside & surrounding area click here
