Brenda Dow was the newspaper’s ad manager from 1979 to 1994. Here are some of her recollections of those early days. What a great job! Walking distance from home! Eight weeks off in summer and two weeks at Christmas and work in an exciting environment! After 17 years of stay-at-home motherhood, I was now employed […]
Category: Features
Deja Views
In the early 80s, a Beacher, trying to find a gift for their spouse’s second cousin’s birthday celebration, might have considered dropping in at Miracles. Proprietor, Norman Smith billed his business as “A wonderland store that has everything and something more.” This image was taken opposite Kew Gardens by Ann Patterson. Thank you Ann!
Bill MacLean’s 5 minutes – 5 questions
We thought it might be a fun way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Beach Metro News by asking various Beachers a few quick questions about themselves. Nothing too revealing. Nothing too complicated. Nothing that would really make them think too hard (this is supposed to be fun after all!) These questions would present our […]
Deja Views
The Woodbine ‘Bend’ or extension was built over 10 years, from 1955 to 1965. Wrapping around the southeast side of the old racetrack, it links Woodbine to Lakeshore Boulevard. Do you have an old photo you’d like to share? Please call me at 416-691-4774.
History of Beach Metro News: The times they are a changin’
The year 1983 is memorable for Beach Metro News for three events. On June 3, one of the hottest nights of the year, 71 people jammed into the gym at the YMCA on Kingston Road for this newspaper’s annual general meeting and election of a new board. There has never been another meeting like it […]
Ad Manager Dianne Marquardt joins the BMN team
One might say that 1983 was a very good year, and I’m not talking about wine. It was the year I started at Ward 9 Community News Inc., now known as Beach Metro Community News. The newspaper office was located inside the YMCA building at 907 Kingston Rd. and at the time I worked at […]
Twins battle for building laurels
Dan and Nikki Hall have a lot in common. And perhaps it’s only to be expected. After all, they are twins and both have a passion for renovating. That’s why, over a dinner one night, when they started talking about their plans to each construct a new home, a friend in the reality TV business […]
History of Beach Metro News: The Beach was booming in 1982
In March 1982 the newspaper reached a milestone – its 10th anniversary. It celebrated with a party held at its headquarters in the YMCA on Kingston Road, with over 150 of its volunteers attending. At its Annual General Meeting, Geoff Jarvis took over from Nanci Lugsdin as president, Linda Greer became vice president, Pauline Plooard […]
Deja Views
The archival photograph was taken in the late summer of 1972. To the left of the streetcar is the tail end of the Glen Stewart Ravine, which we now know as Ivan Forrest Gardens. The park was named after Beach resident Ivan Bruce Forrest who was the city’s Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for most […]
Deja Views: Sept. 6, 2011
For many Beachers, a ‘For Sale’ sign on a large property with a dilapidated house means pay dirt for developers. The old home would inevitably be torn down and replaced with two or more telephone booth-like structures. But happily this is not the case on Lee Avenue. One of a few complete wooden houses built […]