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Articles
Forest Hill Arena renamed in Grossman's honourPosted On 11/09/04
By: Rick Levine
When Larry Grossman went to Queen’s Park as a rookie MPP, in 1975, this son of a former cabinet minister who was thought to have won merely by dint of the family name, was placed in the very nethermost regions of the back benches, his son, Robbie, 31, said.
But Larry had been born into public service and he had a cause – the first of many – The Doctor’s Hospital.
The government, as a cost-cutting measure, had planned to close the hospital in downtown Toronto. It was a small institution that served a mainly ethnic community and it became Larry’s cause celebre, the steed on which he began his ride to the cabinet as minister of transport and minister of industry and commerce before assuming the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.
But like a candle that burns too brightly, Larry Grossman’s light was extinguished at the age of 53 by brain cancer. But his accomplishments live on.
Larry’s daughter and two sons approached the City of Toronto to name one of their properties in his honour. The city agreed and eventually decided on re-naming the Forest Hill Arena. Spearheading the move to honour the late Leader was Councillor Karen Stintz aided by deputy mayor Mike Feldman and Councillor Michael Walker. All attended the dedication ceremony on Sunday, along with Hon. Monte Kwinter, representing the provincial government, and Joyce Frustaglio, Thornhill Councillor/Regional Councillor representing Vaughan, when The Larry Grossman Forest Hill Arena was unveiled.
The renaming ceremony was also a charity event in aid of the Larry Grossman Foundation for Kids. Grossman was renowned for his interaction with children as a hockey coach, parent and community activist.
“He was the ideal conservative; a Tory with a conscience,” said Feldman, adding that naming the arena for him is “a mitzvah” (blessed deed).
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