BLOOR WEST VILLAGE : "Small Village in a Big City"
History: In the 1850’s, the area now known as Bloor West Village was the property of Lieutenant Colonel Williams Smith Durie, the first commanding officer of the Queens Own Rifle. The street that ran through this estate is now known as Durie Street.
The present day neighbourhood began to be developed in 1909 when this district became part of the city of Toronto. Soon after amalgamation with Toronto, Bloor West’s roads were paved and city services were made available.
Bloor West’s first residents were immigrants of Eastern European background. There are the resident’s who helped found the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), the first of its kind in Canada. This shopping district has helped make Bloor West Village one of Toronto’s most popular neighbourhoods.
Overview: Bloor West Village is a popular neighbourhood for families. It has many excellent school’s and is within distance of High Park—Toronto’s biggest and best known park. This west end neighbourhood is highlighted by the Bloor West Village retail districts which attracts shoppers from all over the city.
Homes: Bloor West Village homes are all fairly similar in size and style having been built in a relatively short period of time between 1912 and 1923. 
Bloor West Village houses feature deep front porches that are well shaded by the majestic Oak and Maple trees that the streets of this neighbourhood. The majority of houses feature decorative oak accents, hardwood floors, and fireplaces.
Shopping: The Bloor West Village shopping district is as much about eating as it is about shopping. It’s a virtual smorgasboard of bakeries, delicatessens, fruit and vegetable markets, coffee shops, cafes and restaurants.
The Baby Point Village shopping district on Annette Street, just east of Jane Street includes a floral design store, a home decorating store, a neighbourhood pub, and other neighbourhood retailers.
Recreation: High Park, a 399 acre parkland, is with walking distance of Bloor West Village. This Toronto landmark contains picnic areas, flowers gardens, animal paddocks, a restaurant, an outdoor amphitheatre, sports facilities, a trackless train, an adventure playground and a large pond.
Neighbourhood Event - 'The Toronto Ukrainian Festival' 
The Bloor West Village hosts North America’s largest annual Ukrainian Street Festival which comes to life Friday September 19th and runs through until Sunday September 19th, 2010. Join over 350,000 people between Runnymede and Jane subway stations in the Bloor West Village in Toronto in celebration of Ukrainian history, hospitality and culture.
Schools :
(P) Annette Jr. & Sr., 265 Annette Street., (416) 393-9040
(PH) Humberside Collegiate Institute, 280 Quebec Ave., (416) 393-0000
(PH) Western Technical Commercial School, 125 Evelyn Cres., (416) 393-0500
(C) St. Cecilia, 355 Annette St., (416) 393-5218
(C) St. Piux X, 71 Jane St., (416) 393-5237
Transportation: The Jane and Runnymede subway stations, are part of the Bloor-Danforth subway line. They are both within walking distance of the homes in Bloor West V illage.
The Annette Street bus connects passengers to the Dupont subway station on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. There are additional bus routes on Jane Street and Runnymede Road.
Motorists are approximately ten minutes from the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard. Both these routes provide quick access into and out of the city.
