LEASIDE
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.
Click here to search Leaside MLS Listings...
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
Private Schools
Bishop Strachan School
Branksome Hall School
Crescent School
Junior Academy
St Clement's School
St Michael's College
Toronto French School
York School
Upper Canada College
CHILD CARE CENTRES
Group child care centres are licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services under the Day Nurseries Act to meet specific standards related to the physical environment, staff/child ratios and, program activities, staff training, health and safety and nutrition. Child care centres vary in the number and ages of children they serve.
Click here to go to City of Toronto Child Care Finder....
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 IT
2200 Yonge St., Second Level, Toronto, ON
SilverCity Yonge-Eglinton - MAP IT
2300 Yonge St, Toronto, ON
Mount Pleasant Cinema Mount Pleasant (Soudan) - MAP IT
675 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto ON
Regent Cinema Mount Pleasant (Belsize) - MAP IT
551 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto ON
LOCAL NEWS
TOWN CRIER LEASIDE-ROSEDALE
