Woodbine Lumsden
I have lived in the Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood of greater 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, and many of whom still live here and have been enduring friends. I know 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 small bungalow in 1922 when there was still dirt roads, and milk delivered by a horse drawn cart! Searching my home I also found that it previously had only 4 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 the area.
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Boundaries
The Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood of greater East York, is small, and its boundaries are: Danforth Avenue to the south; O'Connor Drive to the north; Woodbine Avenue to the west; and finally Main Street to the east.
East York Building Improvement Associations (BIA'S)
Danforth Mosaic
Danforth Village
History Of Greater East York
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. It made me feel like I lived in a special neighbourhood. But, in the late 90'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 was 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 home, and was saddened that her family had to leave the Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood of East York , over 30 years ago. I asked if she'd like to come in and see the house 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 (one is located in the Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood) - and road maintenance. Originally the area was populated by working class English people, many of whom were just returning from the 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?
Woodbine Lumsden, 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.
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 Woodbine Lumsden 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 Woodbine Lumsden
Prices ranges in the Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood of East
York have certainly changed since I bought back here in the early 1990's. Believe it or not, I paid in the low $160's! Now, small, detached homes, can be purchased for $215,000, and go to as high as nearly $700,000. 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 hard-earned dollars can secure them a property for their family at a very reasonable price.
Detached $215,000 - $690,000
Semi-Detached $230,000 - $560,000
Condominiums $200,000 - $220,000
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Neighbourhood Demographics On The Move
The Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood of greater 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 the early 1990's, 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. A lot of younger people have moved onto my street, eager to raise families of their own.
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. 
In the Woodbine Lumsden geographical area of East York, there are only three elementary schools. Just outside of its boundaries there are several which serve the area, and which many resident's children attend. It is always best to call the school itself to see what its catchment area is. To view all schools in the area of greater East York click here.
Elementary Schools
D.A. Morrison Middle School
Gledhill Junior Public School Fraser Ranking
Parkside Elementary School
Transportation
The Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood of East York, has two
predominate subway stations within its boundaries. They are: Main Street station, and Woodbine Avenue station. As well, several bus routes, including the community bus, travels the area. Note: A neighbour of mine on our street is one of the drivers of these community buses.
Also, a short block south of Main Street station is the Go Transit stop. From here, you can get downtown to Union station in about 15 minutes. Or, travel east to points such as Pickering.
Parks/Creek
The Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood in East York, is noted for the number, size and multifunctionality of its parks, and one of the largest of these is Taylor Creek Park. It is an extensive park, and connects to many others. I have bicycle ridden from the Haldon Avenue access point, all the way to Edwards Gardens (at Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue), without ever leaving the park system itself! As well, Taylor Massey Creek - which is a tributary of the Don River and 16 kilometeres long - runs through the park system. The creek was
so named after the wealthy families of Taylor and Massey (of Massey/Ferguson, which manufactured farm equipment). Both families owned rather sizeable estates in the area at one time.
The other great part in the area is Stan Wadlow Park. This is a multifunctional park which contains: two swimming pools; five baseball diamonds (with batting cages); handball wall; and, it's latest addition - a skater's park. As well, the East York Memorial Arena is there, which provides recreational, and league hockey programmes for all ages. Also, across the street from this park is the East York Curling Club, where many of my neighbours play in this rink's house leagues.
I really enjoy watching all the kids having fun playing baseball in
the summertime. My neighbour around the corner is a coach! Some notables that used to play in this parks diamonds, that went on the play for the Toronto Blue Jays, and others, were Rob Butler, and his brother Rich.
On Canada day, it certainly is a delight to see everyone in the neighbourhood going there to watch a parade during the day, and the giant fireworks display at night. This really brings the community together.
Note: There is also another small, completely fenced in park, for the younger kids, at the end of my street. It's called the 'Gledhill Playground'. In it there are sandboxes, slides, swings, climbing bars, and a giant water dragon wading pool. It's great fun in the summer!
Restaurants
The Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood of greater East York is not
a very large area, yet still manages to pack in quite an array of interesting shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. Below, are just a few establishments that have made my taste buds sing, and those of many of my clients! For a more complete list of establishments in the greater East York area click here.
Diamond Pizza (best pizza in the city. Has been in the the area for decades)
Jeans Basil Thai Kitchen (the owner once gave me a seasoned wok to use at home!)
Nutralicious (the chef and owner is a certified nutritionist, who provides meals for the health savy individual)
Relish Bar And Grill On The Danforth (they offer a gluten free menu as well)
Scumdelicious
Sobeys On The Danforth
Vincenzos (best aged meats and cheeses)
Wise Guys Deluxe Bar And Grill
So, Ready To Move To The Woodbine Lumsden Neighbourhood?
When I told my neighbours and friends that I was writing this page on our Woodbine Lumsden neighbourhood of 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 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 Woodbine Lumsden?
Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me with any queries you may have regarding this unique neighbourhood, or the current supply of homes and condominiums, for sale or lease.
I bring you home.
And, who knows, that home may be on my street!
