East York

I have lived in East York now for almost twenty years, and if there was one word I would use to sum up the area's appeal to me - and I'm sure all who live here - it would be that of 'community'. I have lived in many neighbourhoods throughout Toronto in my lifetime, but none compare to East York. It was November when I first moved into the neighbourhood, and within two weeks my wife and I were already invited to three Christmas parties by fellow neighbours. As well, I had several offers of assistance from moving furniture around, or helping to unpack, or to loaning me any manner of tool needed to work on my home. I was awestruck by the sincerity and honesty of those I had the pleasure to meet early on, and many of whom still live here, and have been enduring friends. I know virtually everyone on my street, and have been in nearly all of their homes.  

Not long after I moved in I did a search of my own property at the 'Land registry' office located at Bay and Dundas in the Atrium. I found the home was built around 1920. Actually, I met a women in her nineties who lived down the street from me that moved into her home in 1922, when there was still dirt roads and milk delivered by a horse drawn cart! Searching my homes past, I also found that it previously had only four owners before me. That's not a lot for that length of time. It shows little turnover, and this is indicitive of East York. Many people that live here have been residents a long time, and many who own bungalows find that as their family grows they would rather add a second story to their property rather than move away from this unique area.

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               Boundaries

Greater East York's boundaries roughly are: Eglinton Avenue to the north; Bayview Avenue to the wast; Danforth Avenue to the south; and finally Victoria Park Avenue to the east. Within this area are several distinct 'neighbourhoods' such as Leaside, Thorncliff Park, Todmorden Village, Governor's Bridge, Bennington Heights, Parkview Hills, Topham Park, Woodbine Gardens, Woodbine Heights, Woodbine Lumsden, Crescent Town and Old East York. View map.

         History

East York once had the distinction of being Canada's only borough. The actual 'borough' was formed in 1967 through amalgamation with Leaside. Personally, I used to love seeing a sign stating this interesting fact as I drove South on Don Mills towards O'Connor Drive. It made me feel as though I lived in a special neighbourhood. But, in the late 1990's East York - along with North York, York, Etobicoke, Scarborough and downtown Toronto -  were almagamated into the new 'Greater Toronto Area'. I felt a little bit sad when the sign came down. Our unique sign may have been gone, but not the 'uniqueness' of its people.

 A Personal History

Once, during the summer, I was sitting out on my front porch reading a novel. A car pulled up across the street and stopped. The woman inside kept staring at my home. I thought she might be lost, so I walked over and said hi. She was crying. I asked what was wrong, and if I could help in any way. She said that she had grown up in my house, and was saddened that her family had to leave the area over 30 years ago! I asked if she'd like to come in and see the home now, and have a coffee. Her face brightened. During coffee, she gave me a nice history of the property, and how it would have looked back in the 1960's! When she left she thanked me and said she felt much better. She simply had to see her old home again, in the neighbourhood of her youth.

East York itself was originally part of York Township but decided to break out on it's own on January 1'st, 1924. Early on and until amalgamation with Toronto, East York provided itself with many of its own services like fire - it had and still has three stations - and road maintenance. Originally the area was populated by working class English people, many of whom were just returning from World War II. The Vets and their families, moved to the area looking for inexpensive homes (many detached, all on my street are), and the large lots which afforded them spacious backyard greenspaces for entertaining, and their ever-growing family! My neighbour across the street from me (he's Scottish) is one such individual, who after the war, settled in East York to raise a family. He is a senior now as are a good number of people in the neighbourhood. 

What's Making The News?

East York is a place with many interesting stories and some very unique people. All the news on our varied neighbourhood(s) and beyond can be found in The Mirror newspaper. It is delivered by volunteers every Friday to your door and is jammed packed with up-to-date news stories, opinions and local goings on. I myself, has been featured in its pages for my environment initiatives in the neighbourhood, and the Greater Toronto Area.

Recognize This House?

You would if you were a devoted film buff. This home, located in East York, was used in the film 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'. The movie starred - and was written by - Nia Vardalos. Many other scenes in the film were shot in spots along Danforth Avenue between Pape and Broadview. 

So, You Want To Be In The Movies?

A few years ago, I raised enough money to make a full-length feature film entitled, 'The Night Watchman'. It was something I had always wanted to do, and though nervous about its complexity, I felt confident it could be achieved, as I have a degree from York University in Film and Fine Arts study. The movie was a low-budget affair, and cast members kept to a minimum for cost reasons. I enlisted the aid of many of my East York neighbourhood friends, who were all glad to help in any way they could. Several of my neighbours were actually placed into the film, and given lines! (one even had to sing) Needless to say, the film was completed, and sold, to television, where it aired over 70 times! Again, community togetherness showed, and this is what makes our neighbourhood special. Below, are some more notable residents of greater East York, that have made it big on the international stage.

Famous East York Residents 

East York locales have been used in movies, but so have many an East York resident! Some of them include: John Candy, actor in films such as 'Uncle Buck' and 'Trains, Planes and Automobiles'; Keifer Sutherland, both movie and television actor, most notably on '24'; Raymond Massey, character actor in films such as 'East Of Eden' and 'The Fountainhead'. Other interesting people that have called 'East York' home over the years are: Margaret Attwood, acclaimed writer of such works as 'Cat's Eye' and 'Year of the Flood', Edwin Alonzo Boyd, a rather famous bank robber; Peter Lynch, television director and Whipper Billy Watson, champion wrestler. And on the political side, we have Stephen Harper - who is our current Prime Minister, as well as Agnes McPhail, who was the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons.

    Price Ranges For Properties In East York

Prices ranges fluctuate dramatically because of the diversity of the neighbourhoods mentioned above that make-up greater East York. Small, detached homes can be purchased for as little as $215,000 and go to as high as 1.8 million dollars. Of the more inexpensive homes they are quite often bought by developers for their land value only, and are torn down to make way for a much larger home of 2000-2500 square feet. A few of these types of homes exist on the street where I live. Overall though, East York is a very affordable neighbourhood for younger couples and first-time buyers;one in which their dollars can secure them a property for their family at a very reasonable price.

Detached          $215,000 - $1.7 million

Semi-Detached     $240,000 - $900,000

Condominiums    $110,000 - 1,000,000

  Neighbourhood Demographics On The Move

East York is an area of change. Once home to many seniors it is fast changing through rapid and accelerated gentrification. Since I moved into the neighbourhood back in 1995 I have noticed that at least six one-story bungalows on my street alone have added a second story. As well several of the older bungalows have been completely demolished to make way for spacious larger homes of 2500 square feet or more. With this change comes a population difference as well as more up-scale shops and boutiques.

The early population which was predominately British is making way for a different kind of immigrant. Roughly half the population in 2001 was foreign born and of these almost 50% had moved into the area between 1991 and 2001. East York is an area that is home to many unique groups of people including: Indians, Jamaicans, Pakistanis and Filipinos. Many move into the Crescent Town area as homes and condominiums there are extrememly affordable to the newcomer to Canada. Many Greeks call East York home, as well as the Chinese. For example, in 2006 visible minories accounted for 38% of the population and of this 44% were immigrants. I enjoy living in East York because of this rich tapestry of cultures, and unique people from around the world.

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  Transportation

East York is well serviced by public transportation and from its most easterly stop - Victoria Park Station - one can be downtown in under half an hour by subway which travels the Bloor/Danforth line. Starting east and heading west the stops are: Victoria Park, Main, Woodbine, Coxwell, Greenwood, Donlands, Pape, Chester and finally Broadview. From each of these stations many surface routes exist and they too are well managed by buses and streetcars. Also, just south of Main station is the 'Go Transit' station, which can take you to points as far as Pickering to the East, and Oakville to the west. One can be at Union station on Front Street, in about 15 minutes. 

Schools

In a massive comparison of school systems from around the globe, Canada ranked high amongst the world's leaders in educational performance. Some 470,000 fifteen year old students from 65 countries, were tested in reading, science and math, and Canadian students achieved top ten results in all categories, according to the Organization For Economic Co-operation And Development.

Elementary Schools

Bennigton Heights Elementary School

Bessborough Drive Elementary & Middle School   Fraser Ranking

Chester Elementary School

Cosburn Middle School

Crescent Town Elementary School

D.A. Morrison Middle School

Diefenbaker Elementary School

Gledhill Junior Public School                              Fraser Ranking

George Webster Elementary School

Gordon A Brown Middle School

Northlea Elementary & Middle School

Parkside Elementary School

Presteign Heights Elementary School

R.H. McGregor Elementary School        

Rolph Road Elementary School

O'Connor Elementary School

Secord Elementary School

Selwyn Elementary School      

Thorncliff Park Public School

Valley Park Middle School

Victoria Park Elementary School

Westwood Middle School                 

William Burgess Elementary School

 Secondary Schools                          

East York Alternative Secondary School

East York Collegiate Institute                        Fraser Ranking

Leaside High School                                     Fraser Ranking

Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute

  Catholic Schools

Canadian Martyrs Elementary School

Holy Cross Elementary School             

St. Anselm Elementary School

 Montessori Schools

Petite Maison Montessori                

Maria Montessori School

Broadview French Montessori School

Bluebird Montessori School

BrightMinds Child Care & Montessori School

Francais Ecoles

Ecole Elementaire La Mosaique

Parks

East York is noted for the number, size and multifunctionality of its parks. Most notable of these are: Dieppe Park (great for skating in winter as it has two large double outdoor rinks), Stan Wadlow Park (over 22 acres on which sit baseball diamonds, a hockey rink, outdoor swimming pool and several tennis courts), Dentonia Park and Taylor Creek Park. This last park is rather extensive and connects with several other parks throughout the city. Through this interconnectedness, you can easy walk over 10 km in an afternoon and not even know you are in the city! For the curling enthusiast there is the East York Curling Arena. This large complex hosts many tournaments, and many of my neighbours are part of their house-league teams.

East York has also recently added a Skater's Park. This is one designed for the skateboard enthusiast, and is quite popular with the younger crowd.

Libraries 

  East York has several libraries, the most notable of which is the S. Walter Stuart branch located at 170 Memorial Park Avenue. I visit this particular branch and am impressed with it's design and functionality. This library was opened in 1960 and features a circular design. At the time it opened there were only four other libraries in the world that featured such a design. The building itself houses an art exhibition space featuring over a dozen A.Y. Jackson paintings, nearly 100,000 books, kidsStop early literacy centre and teen zone. Also it has an auditorium that seats 170 as well as a smaller meeting room that seats 24. For the computer enthusiast the library has 11 computer workstations, wireless internet as well as internet/ms office workstations.

Neighbourhood Restaurants/Shops

East York is home to many fine shops and restaurants, each with their own distinct menu. As the area is home to many cultures and ethinic backgrounds, this is reflected nicely in the wide array of foods available. My wife and I have been in a good number of those establishments listed below. As well, in the spring, summer and fall it's always a pleasure to visit the outdoor farmer's markets that grace our parks and civic centre for their colourful fresh fruit and produce. Two of these are located just a short walk from my East York home.

Relish Bar & Grill Restaurant

McSorley's Wonderful Saloon

Ten Feet Tall Bistro & Bar

Rendez-Vous Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar

Walima Moroccan Cafe

Kamasutra Indian Cuisine & Bar

The Bagel House Cafe (authentic Montreal wood oven bagels)

Hollywood Gelato

Fresh From The Farm On Donlands  Amish & Mennonite Organic Produce and Meats

EPI Breads

East York Civic Centre Farmer's Market

East Lynn Park Farmer's Market

East York Building Improvement Associations (BIA'S)

The Danforth

Greektown On The Danforth

Danforth Mosaic

Danforth Village 

So, Ready To Move To East York?

When I told my neighbours and friends that I was writing this page on East York they all came forward with unique stories of their own. For example, one neighbour mentioned the she can trace her ancestry back to the 1850's in the East York area! Another spoke of a friend of hers that actually went to school with actor Keifer Sutherland. And all, spoke of the physical changes to the area such as the arrival of the subway in the 1960's, to old forgotten bungalows renovated and/or topped-up with a second story addition and the arrival of more up-scale shops. They welcome the changes because they know it has not altered the 'unique' fabric of the area; that being one of 'community'.

So,  ready to move to East York?

Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me with any queries you may have regarding the neighbourhood, or the current supply of homes and condominiums, for sale or lease.

I bring you home.

As mentioned, there are several more intimate neighbourhoods that comprise greater East York. Each listed below has their own uniqueness within the greater framework that is the place my family and I call home.

Woodbine Gardens

Woodbine Lumsden

Topham Park