West Toronto Junction

West Toronto Junction: 'Toronto's Small Town in the City'

History: The history of the West Toronto Junction dates back to the 1880’s when the Grand Truck, Toronto Grey and Bruce and Northern railway lines began service to this area. The railways attracted industry to the West Toronto Junction which in turn attracted labourers who were the first residents of this neighbourhood.

The Heintzman and Company piano factory, Canada Cycle and Motor Works, Comfort Soapworks, the Union Stock Yards, an

the Queen City Flour Mills were some of the most prominent industries to operate in the West Toronto Junction. However, by the 1960’s the commercial railway lines bypassed the West Toronto Junction and this led to a decline in the local industry and jobs.

Now the West Toronto Junction is being revitalized as abandoned warehouses and factory buildings are being converted to urban lofts or simply torn down and replaced with new townhomes. Once again this neighbourhood seems poised to become an integral part of the west Toronto landscape.

Overview: The West Toronto Junctions is currently undergoing a major revitalization that has seen much of its former industrial core replaced by residential lofts and townhomes.

This neighbourhood has attracted the attention of developers due to its close proximity to High Park, and the revitalized Junction Gardens shopping district on Dundas Street West as well as its easy access to the Bloor subway line. The city of Toronto has also shown interest in jump starting this vital west-end neighbourhood by purchasing land alongside an old CN rail right-of-way to create a bicycle path which suits the preferred mode of transportation for many residents in this neighbourhood.

Homes:

West Toronto Junction’s narrow tree-lined streets are framed by two and three-storey Victorian style homes, built mostly in the 1910’s and 1920’s. The brick exterior on many of these houses has been colourfully painted, giving these older homes a bit of a face lift.

The West Toronto Junctions is currently undergoing a building boom of new townhome and condominium loft developments. As far as new homes go, this is one of Toronto’s most affordable neighbourhoods.

Shopping: The Galleria Shopping Centre at the corner of Dupont and Dufferin streets, and the Crossways, at the corner of Dundas and Bloor provide convenient, indoor shopping combined with professional services.

Across the tracks on historic Dundas Street West, in the “Junction Gardens” shopping district which contains a huge variety of shops and restaurants. Local street shopping is also available on Dupont Street, Bloor Street, an dthe north part of Symington Avenue.

Recreation: Residents of this neighbourhood are less than one mile from High Park, which contains a myriad of recreational opportunities. There are also four local parks located within this neighbourhood. Their facilities include playgrounds, wading pools, and artificial ice rinks.

The local YMCA, as Perth and Annette, offers a wide variety of programs for children and seniors. The Perth Dupont Public Library has programs for preschoolers and children.

Neighbourhood Event - 'Junction Arts Festival'

The 2010 Junction Arts Festival will run from Wednesday September 8 till Sunday, September 12 with a two day street closure on the 11th and 12th of Dundas Street West between Indian Grove and St Johns Rd, with Keele Street remaining open.

Schools:

(P) Indian Rd. Crescent Jr., 285 Indian Rd. Cres., (416) 393-9025

(P) Perth Ave. Jr., 14 Ruskin Ave., 9416) 393-1410

(PH) Brockton High School, 90 Crotia St., (416) 393-0430

(PH) The City School, 315 Osler St., (416) 393-1470

Transportation: The West Toronto Junctopm has bus service on Dupont, Dundas and Keele Streets as well as on Symington and Landsdowne Avenues. The Dupont and Dundas buses connect passengers to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line, while the Keele, Kandsdowne, and Symington buses connect with stations on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Motorists can be downtown in approximately ten minutes by way of either Bloor Street or Dundas Street.

junction map