LEASIDE
Established 1913. A celebration of 100 years www.eastyorkmirror.com
thurs april 18, 2013
First World War pilots trained at aerodrome built by British government Tara Hatherly thatherly@insidetoronto.com
A
s Leaside’s 100th birthday approaches, many local residents might be surprised to learn the former town was once home to a bustling airport. Leaside became a town April 23, 1913 and in the early 1900s, its Leaside Aerodrome was a hot spot for flying enthusiasts north and south of the border. The Leaside Aerodrome was built and opened in 1917, on 220 acres of land that now sits between Wicksteed and Eglinton avenues. It housed nine hangars, living quarters, mess halls, instructional and repair facilities, and a hospital. One of five Canadian airfields built by the British government that year, it was a school for the Royal Flying Corps Canada, a
training arm of the British Royal Flying Corps. It was built to train pilots, mechanics and maintenance crews to fight in the First World War. To build the airport, a concrete street named Government Road was constructed to bring supplies from Yonge Street, as there was no Leaside bridge then. The road still stands, now known as Merton Street, McRae Drive and Wicksteed Avenue. Government Road Along with the Leaside Aerodrome, Government Road also made Leaside’s first bus line possible. Both American and Canadian pilots trained at Leaside. After the war, many airfields closed, but Leaside continued to operate, albeit on a smaller scale, as Laird Drive had been extended north of McRae Drive, downsiz-
Photo/CANADIAN AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY - TORONTO CHAPTER
The Leaside Aerodrome is to the left of the Canada Wire buildings on Laird Drive in this aerial photo.
Photo/CANADIAN AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY - TORONTO CHAPTER
W.A. ‘Billy’ Bishop, Canadian First World War flying ace and Victoria Cross recipient, left, and Col. William Barker, Victoria Cross recipient with a war trophy, a German Fokker D VII, at the Leaside Aerodrome in 1920.
ing the airport to approximately 160 acres, and causing most of its buildings to be removed. Only four hangars were left standing on the south side of the original site, one of which would become the birthplace of the Toronto Flying Club in 1928. After the Toronto Flying Club moved in, a small clubhouse was built, along with a canteen, an Imperial Oil office and fuel supply. Leaside Aerodrome was the site of Canada’s first airmail delivery on June 24, 1918, when letters were flown in from Montreal. A heritage plaque commemorating the event can be found at the southeast corner of Brentcliffe Road and Broadway Avenue. Once regular air mail service began in 1928, the airport would also be used to send mail from Leaside to Ottawa, Buffalo and Montreal for a short time.
Leaside Aerodrome officially closed in 1931, when the Toronto Flying Club moved out. The airport was revived briefly, from 1942 to 1944, when it became Royal Canadian Air Force Station Leaside, a radio direction finding school used during the Second World War. After the airport closed, roads were extended through the area, which became home to industrial businesses. In 1971, Leaside Aerodrome’s last hangar was removed. Along with the plaque, the only other reminder left of the Leaside Aerodrome is the honourarilynamed Aerodrome Crescent, southeast of Eglinton Avenue and Laird Drive. n The East York Mirror thanks the Canadian Aviation Historical Society’s Toronto chapter for its help compiling this article.
Leaside will celebrate its 100th birthday in a number of ways next week. Leaside was officially incorporated as a town on April 23, 1913. Next Tuesday, April 23, 100 years later, the Leaside Library will open The Layers of Leaside exhibit. The official opening is slated for 9:25 a.m. at the library, 165 McRae Dr. Also, the Leaside 100 Gala party is set for Saturday, April 27, at All Canadian Self Storage, 1 Laird Dr. The gala will be hosted by David Sparrow and Deb McGrath, and will feature a reception, gourmet dinner and entertainment. For more information on the gala, and other Leaside’s 100 events, go to www. leaside100.eventbrite.ca For more Leaside 100 events, please see page 15.
Share your Leaside memories Do you have fond memories of growing up Leaside, attending baseball games at Talbot Park, playing hockey at the arena, or taking part in a school play or community event? We’d love to hear your stories and see any old photos you might have. We’ll share them with other readers on our website at www. eastyorkmirror.com, where we will have a special Leaside 100 hot topics link. Please send your items to us by email to eym@ insidetoronto.com
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| THE MIRROR e | THURSDAY, April 18, 2013
Airfield helped Leaside grow
Gala helps celebrate 100th anniversary
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