The many people and area business concerns involved from the start of Dixie Arena Gardens read like the book of ‘Who’s Who’ of the Township of Toronto. It became obvious to me that in the late 1940s the one activity that bonded so many people together was ice-skating and hockey.
Early pleasure skating and hockey was done outdoors on frozen ponds. People had to bundle up, put on their skates while sitting on the ground, a makeshift bench or, as I did, while seated in the back seat of dad’s car-an experience to which few today can relate.
My earliest recollection of skating was on Culham’s Pond. This was a very small spring-fed pond located on the property of Elwood Culham, a farmer on the Sixth Line, Malton. The pond was located just about where airplanes now touch down on the western approach midway between the 401 Highway and the terminals. My family home was just south of Culham’s farm. Living in the northern reaches of the Township of Toronto meant that many of our activities took place in the Police Village of Malton and the ‘big’ City of Brampton. Because of our proximity to Brampton, my father would drive the family to Lester’s Arena. This was the most modern of skating facilities of the day. It was an indoor arena with natural ice. Without a doubt, it was a very rare and pleasurable skating experience. It’s such a thrill to be writing about Lester’s Arena and to have discussed the facility with Ellis Lester’s son, Bill. At the time of this writing Ellis Lester was well into his 90s and was most helpful with my research.
Our family property was expropriated by the Federal Government to make way for the airport expansion. We moved to Applewood Acres where I attended Applewood Acres Public School and then the next year Gordon Graydon High School. My father was born and raised in Dixie, just a hundred yards or so east of Nuthall’s Service Station, at Dixie Road and Dundas Street, so it was really a home coming for Dad.
In closing, I sincerely hope you enjoy a walk through the living history of our community. I must thank former City of Mississauga Councillor Terence W. Butt, Broker/Associate of Royal Le Page West Realty Group, for helping to make possible the publishing of this book by providing a portion of the financial costs involved.
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