Leaside snapshots: New crossing and historic renovation

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A couple of changes spotted around the neighbourhood…

New pedestrian signal taking shape at Bayview & Sutherland

The City is getting closer to activating the new pedestrian crossing at Bayview Avenue and Sutherland Drive. New traffic signals are now in place and curb cuts have been installed at the intersection.

The Intersection Pedestrian Signal (IPS) was announced last year as one of two new pedestrian signals planned for Bayview Avenue. Unlike a conventional traffic signal, the system is intended primarily to provide a controlled crossing for pedestrians without fully signalizing the side street.

With much of the infrastructure now in place, pedestrians should soon have a new way to cross Bayview at Sutherland. Long-time Bulldog reader Rudy also sent along a photo of the work in progress — thanks, Rudy!

Work underway at the historic James Lea house

Further along Sutherland Drive, renovation work is underway at 201 Sutherland Drive, better known as the James Lea house — one of Leaside’s oldest surviving residences and a link to the neighbourhood’s earliest history.

Built between 1900 and 1909 by James Lea, grandson of Leaside’s first settler, John Lea Sr., the house has been listed on the City of Toronto’s heritage inventory since 2006. Current building permits include interior alterations and additions, underpinning, a rear deck, garage/mudroom and other work to the house.

It’s nice to see this piece of Leaside history being maintained while the home is updated for another generation. For more on its past, including the story of a 1940 fire that nearly destroyed it, Leaside Life recently took a fascinating look back at the James Lea house.

30th Annual Leaside Rotary Corn Roast returns Sept 20

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A longtime Leaside tradition returns to Trace Manes Park on Sunday, September 20, as the Rotary Club of Toronto-Leaside hosts its 30th annual Community Corn Roast.

Running from noon to 4:30 p.m., the free community event will feature face painting, inflatables, a fish pond, family games and a BBQ. The Corn Roast takes place at Trace Manes Park, at McRae Drive and Millwood Road.

Admission is free. For more information, visit the Rotary Club of Toronto-Leaside.

Flight Centre Crosstown checks in at 2507 Yonge Street

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A new centre for travel has arrived at 2507 Yonge Street (near Keewatin Ave). No matter where you want to go or what you want to experience, the Travel Experts at Flight Centre Crosstown can help you plan your next adventure. Flights, hotels, cruises and tours — you name it, they’ve got it! Offering personalised travel services and advice, exclusive deals and discounts, comprehensive travel insurance packages and support at every step, the team aims to take the stress out of planning and booking vacations.

For more information and store hours, visit Flight Centre Crosstown.

15th Annual Mount Pleasant Village Harvest Fair – Sept 19

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The Mount Pleasant Village BIA is bringing its annual Harvest Fair back to Mount Pleasant Road in Midtown Toronto on Saturday, September 19, celebrating the event’s 15th year.

Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Mount Pleasant Road between Davisville and Eglinton avenues, the fair will feature music, crafts, kids’ shows and activities, food and a sidewalk sale featuring local businesses. Family activities and entertainment are free.

The family-friendly fall event takes place rain or shine. For more information, visit Mount Pleasant Village BIA.

Storm brings an unexpected engagement in Leaside

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Following the recent CTV News report on Leaside’s traffic woes, here’s a happier neighbourhood story from Global News.

A massive maple limb came crashing down onto a Leaside home during Wednesday afternoon’s storm, blocking the front door and sidewalk — just as homeowner Stephen Armstrong was preparing to propose to his girlfriend of six years.

The storm didn’t derail his plans. Global News has the storm damage, the proposal and a very relieved newly engaged couple (she said yes!) — full story here.

STOP means STOP: Traffic concerns grow in Leaside

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Leaside is in the news for all the wrong reasons. CTV News reports on concerns about speeding and drivers ignoring stop signs on neighbourhood streets, following a recent collision at Millwood Road and Hanna Road that sent a child to hospital.

Residents say the problem is nothing new, and are calling for more to be done to slow drivers down.

From the Bulldog archives: Some things haven’t changed. Back in 2015, we spoke with then-Ward 26 Councillor Jon Burnside at the corner of Hanna Road and Millwood Road about drivers ignoring stop signs in Leaside. Burnside was calling on the City to investigate camera-based enforcement as a way to change driver behaviour.

After six decades, a sad farewell to Bayview Car Wash

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Handwritten “Permanently Closed” signs are now posted at Bayview Car Wash at 1802 Bayview Ave. — a neighbourhood fixture.

The closure has been coming for some time. As we reported last year, the Ontario Land Tribunal approved plans for a 46-storey mixed-use development on the property at Bayview and Roehampton. The approved plans called for 441 residential units along with ground-floor non-residential space.

Redevelopment is moving ahead: the City issued a demolition permit in June for the existing car wash, with the work described as making way for environmental remediation ahead of future development.

For generations of local drivers, the old-school Bayview Car Wash — with its unmistakable roadside sign — was simply part of the landscape. Time marches on. Thanks for 62 years of clean cars, Bayview Car Wash — we’ll miss you.

The Bayview shuffle: Signs of change along Bayview Avenue

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Teilah Salon, 1541 Bayview Ave. /@teilahsalon Instagram
Gather Mercantile, 1579 Bayview Ave,, Aug 4, 2026 /South Bayview Bulldog
Myocare at 1517A Bayview Ave. /@myocarermt Instagram
Vizio Eyewear, 1552 Bayview Avenue, June 2026 /South Bayview Bulldog
1560B Bayview Ave, March 2026 /South Bayview Bulldog
Is a new pizza place coming to Bayview???

A few changes to report along Bayview Avenue…

Fiorio Hair Salon is now Teilah Salon at 1541 Bayview Ave., with new signage and branding now up at the storefront. More information is available at teilah.ca.

New store alert: Gather Mercantile has moved into 1579 Bayview Ave., in the former Modella Ladieswear location. The new shop describes itself as “Curated living. Proudly Canadian.” Follow Gather Mercantile on Instagram for updates. Modella closed its Bayview location earlier this year, while its other stores remain open.

Now open: Myocare RMT + Wellness has opened its new Leaside clinic at 1517A Bayview Ave., above LIT Espresso Bar. The clinic offers registered massage therapy, acupuncture and osteopathic manual treatment, along with services including TMJ, lymphatic drainage and prenatal and postnatal massage.

Bayview Vision has consolidated its two Bayview locations into its flagship store at 1709 Bayview Ave. We have been told that Vizio Eyewear clients can still find Lynn at the 1709 location. As reported earlier this year, the team at Bayview Vision took over care at the former Leaside Eye Clinic following the passing of longtime local optometrist Dr. Jonathan Slivka. Read our February update here.

If you spotted the new signage at 1532 Bayview before Vizio closed, there’s a little more to that story. A housewares pop-up briefly shared the space with Vizio for a couple of weeks before Bayview Vision ultimately consolidated its operations at its main location.

Meanwhile, a new antiques shop is taking shape at 1532 Bayview. Work is underway to transform the former optical displays and cabinetry for their new purpose. More details as they become available.

There’s also something goin’ on inside 1560B Bayview Ave., the former 9Round kickboxing studio. We spotted a “leased” sign there back in March, and there are now signs of activity inside — but still no word on who’s moving in.

And one more to keep an eye on: community chatter on social media suggests that a popular Toronto pizza chain may be heading to Bayview. Nothing confirmed yet, so we’ll leave that one in the rumour file for now.

Spotted something new in the neighbourhood? Photos and tips are always welcome — send them our way through the Bulldog contact form.

Pedestrian scramble approved for bustling Yonge & Eg.

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Toronto City Council has approved plans for a pedestrian “scramble intersection” at Yonge & Eglinton, one of the busiest intersections in the city. The installation is expected in 2027.

A scramble intersection (also known as a pedestrian scramble or pedestrian priority phase) is a traffic signal that temporarily stops all vehicle traffic, allowing pedestrians to cross in every direction at once — including diagonally. During the scramble phase, no vehicles are permitted to move through the intersection.

Council also considered a second scramble intersection at Yonge St. and Roehampton Ave./Orchard View Blvd., but has directed staff to undertake further evaluation before moving ahead.

For more on the decision, including why it was approved, potential impacts on traffic, and comments from city officials and transportation experts, see the full CityNews reporting.

Reader photos: Bayview collision and construction

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July 16, 2026 – Traffic signal knocked down at Bayview & Moore. / Rudy
July 16, 2026 – Traffic signal knocked down at Bayview & Moore. / Rudy
July 2026 – Big renovation at 1305 Bayview Ave /Rudy

Longtime reader Rudy sent in these photos from Bayview Ave. and Moore Ave., where a single-vehicle collision brought down a traffic signal last week. Emergency crews responded. We don’t know what led to the crash.

Rudy also shared a photo of the extensive renovation underway at 1307 Bayview Ave., just north of Moore Ave. Long-time readers may recall that the neighbouring building at 1303 Bayview underwent a similar transformation a decade ago.

Thanks, Rudy!

Orange skies over Bayview-Leaside as smoke moves in

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#NoFilter: An orange-yellow sky over Bayview-Leaside on Wednesday morning. July 15, 2026
IQAir Most Polluted Global Major City Ranking, 10:30am, July 15, 2026 /www.iqair.com

Bayview-Leaside residents woke up Wednesday to an orange-yellow glow filtering through their windows as smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario settled over much of southern Ontario, prompting an air quality warning from Environment Canada. Similar smoky conditions affected the city last June, though Wednesday’s haze was particularly striking.

The smoky conditions have been noticeable across the GTA, with hazy skies and reduced visibility. On Wednesday morning, Toronto ranked as the world’s most polluted major city on IQAir’s real-time air quality index. Environment Canada says the smoke could linger into Friday in some areas.

Residents are being advised to limit time outdoors where possible, especially older adults, young children, pregnant people, those with heart or lung conditions, and people who work outdoors. Even healthy individuals may notice eye, nose or throat irritation, headaches or coughing.

The air quality warning comes as southern Ontario also remains under a heat warning, making it even more important to stay cool indoors where possible.

Current air quality information and health advice are available from Environment Canada’s Air Quality Health Index and its air quality warnings page.

Related: Global News: Toronto’s air quality ranked world’s worst as wildfire smoke settles in • Accuweather: ‘Dangerous’ air quality in Detroit, Minneapolis as thick wildfire smoke shrouds the sky for millions.

Ruby Gala celebrates 40 years of Children’s Garden School

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A summer update from Children’s Garden School.

Children’s Garden School recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with the Ruby Gala, held at Motorista Studio in Leaside. The evening brought together current and former families, staff and supporters to mark four decades of the school’s commitment to early childhood education while raising funds for future improvements.

The school thanked founder and principal Marie Bates for her leadership over the past 40 years, as well as the many volunteers who helped make the event possible. Special recognition was given to the CGS Foundation Board, led by Chair Katrina Connolly, together with Sophia Wu, Lisa Cho and Alan Koutsaris, and to the Gala Committee for organizing the celebration.

The evening also featured a live auction led by Rob Marsh and Mike Babcock, with organizers reporting that fundraising exceeded its goal thanks to the generosity of school families and supporters.

The CGS Foundation is a volunteer-run charitable organization that supports Children’s Garden School by funding facilities, equipment, furnishings, teaching resources and other enhancements that enrich the student experience.

Proceeds from this year’s Ruby Gala will support a number of projects across the school, including improvements to learning and community spaces. Fundraising will also help fund a new rock climbing wall in the gym, creating another opportunity for students to build strength, confidence and resilience.

Congratulations to Children’s Garden School on its 40th anniversary and a successful Ruby Gala!