Sleuth of Baker Street prepares to turn its final page

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Sleuth of Baker Street in 2009, 1600 Bayview Ave /Google Maps
Sleuth of Baker Street in 20019, 907 Millwood Rd /Google Maps

After 47 years of selling mysteries, Sleuth of Baker Street will close its doors for the final time on November 8, 2026.

In a recent newsletter to customers, long-time owners Marian and JD announced their retirement after 44 years at the helm, describing their time running the bookstore as “the best job in the world.” Sleuth first opened in October 1979, with Marian and JD taking over in October 1982.

Many Leaside residents will remember Sleuth from its years at 1600 Bayview Avenue. In March 2011, the bookstore packed up and moved to Millwood Road near Sutherland Drive, where it has continued serving mystery lovers for another 15 years.

According to the newsletter, the store will be open from noon to 4 p.m. October 23–25 and daily from October 30 through November 8, giving customers a chance to collect reserved books, redeem gift certificates and say goodbye.

A big sale to clear out the fixtures is tentatively planned for early 2027.

It’s sad to say goodbye to another long-standing neighbourhood business, and we wish Marian, JD and the entire Sleuth family a very happy retirement.

New seniors’ community proposed for 175 Brentcliffe Road

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175 Brentcliffe Road / Google Maps, May 2026

Schlegel Villages has announced plans for a new seniors’ community at 175 Brentcliffe Road in Leaside, offering a range of housing and care options for older adults.

The proposed development would include long-term care, assisted living, memory care and independent seniors’ apartments, along with shared amenities and gathering spaces. The existing Bellwood Health Centre would remain on the property.

Schlegel Villages expects to submit a planning application to the City of Toronto before the end of 2026, with opportunities for community input during the review process.

For more information about the proposal, including frequently asked questions and opportunities to provide feedback, visit Schlegel Villages’ project announcement.

Three-alarm fire at Canvarco Road antique shop

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Toronto Fire crews responded to a fire at an antique store on Canvarco Road, near Laird Drive and Millwood Road, on Wednesday evening, October 21, 2026. Initially a two-alarm fire, it was upgraded to three alarms as the evening progressed.

The location is home to Good Bones Antiques. We’re so sorry to see this happen. Antique stores are filled with pieces of history, many of them one of a kind, that simply can’t be replaced. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

CP24 reported on the fire. Watch the video below.

AppleFest returns to Bayview this Saturday, Oct. 17th

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The Bayview Leaside BIA’s annual AppleFest returns this Saturday, October 17, 2026, with an afternoon of fall activities, entertainment and local shopping along Bayview Avenue.

Running from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the event will feature live music and performances, face painting, pumpkin decorating, giveaways, family-friendly activities and pet-friendly fun. Explore Bayview’s local shops, stop for a bite and celebrate fall with the community.

AppleFest takes place along Bayview Avenue between Parkhurst Boulevard and Davisville Avenue, rain or shine.

For updates and more information, follow Bayview Leaside BIA on Instagram.

Court ruling in Bayview Car Wash property dispute

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A financial dispute involving the property formerly occupied by Bayview Car Wash at 1802 Bayview Avenue has made its way through Ontario Superior Court.

According to a July 3, 2026 decision, the dispute concerns an $8-million vendor-take-back mortgage provided by the seller as part of the property’s sale to a buyer planning redevelopment. Following missed interest payments, the seller took legal action to recover the outstanding money.

For the full details, readers can consult the published court decision on CanLII.

Thanks to an anonymous Bulldog reader for bringing this case to our attention!

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.