Toronto’s Record 50cm Snow Walk: The Secrets of Leslieville скачать в хорошем качестве

Toronto’s Record 50cm Snow Walk: The Secrets of Leslieville

Join me for a trek through the quiet, buried streets of Leslieville following the historic storm of January 25, 2026. Toronto officially witnessed its snowiest day ever, with a staggering 56 cm of snow falling downtown in just 24 hours. This record-breaking "monster" of a storm paralyzed the city, grounded hundreds of flights, and turned our familiar east-end streets into a winter wonderland. As we navigate the deep drifts near Gerrard and Greenwood, we dive into the fascinating stories that built this corner of the city: The World’s (and City’s) Longest Fence: We explore Craven Road, home to the longest municipally maintained wooden fence in Toronto. Originally known as Erie Terrace, this "shacktown" lane was once a linear slum for laborers and immigrants. When the city widened the road in 1911, wealthy residents on Ashdale Avenue wanted a barrier to keep the "squalor" out of their backyards. The city erected this fence in perpetuity to keep the two groups separate—a strange piece of history that still stands today. The Ashbridges Bay Legacy: We pass by the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, which has been operational since 1917. It was built in this marshy area because the city’s slope naturally pushed waste toward the bay. Today, it’s one of the oldest and largest facilities of its kind in North America. Gerrard India Bazaar: We walk through the vibrant Little India, which traces its roots back to 1972 when Gian Naaz opened the Naaz Theatre. It was the first cinema in North America to exclusively screen Bollywood and South Asian films, transforming a quiet, economically depressed street into a thriving cultural destination. The Leslieville McDonald’s: I’ll point out the local McDonald’s at 1000 Queen St E, a staple of the community that sits in a neighborhood once known for its brickyards and nurseries. The snow may be deep, but the history of Leslieville is even deeper. Let’s explore!