East York

History 

The Township of East York was incorporated on January 1, 1924. At that time East York was comprised mostly of market gardens, a handful of brick making yards and a race horse track that was located in the area bound by Oak Park, Lumsden, Chisholm and Danforth Avenues.

In its early years, East York's population consisted mostly of employees of the local market gardens and brick yards as well as returning World War One veterans and their families. East York's largest period of growth took place between 1946 and 1961 when the housing supply nearly doubled in size.

East York held the distinction of being Canada's only Borough until 1998 when it was amalgamated into the City of Toronto. The fact that East York chose to remain a Borough for so long rather than incorporate as a city speaks volumes for the neighbourliness and small town friendliness that has been an East York trademark ever since its formation in 1924.

Overview

For many years East York has held the distinction of having the highest percentage of senior citizens in Metropolitan Toronto. These demographics are changing however as many young families are now moving into this neighbourhood. Home buyers are finding East York attractive because the houses are relatively affordable and the location offers quick and easy access to downtown Toronto.

Homes

The majority of East York's housing stock was built in stages beginning in the 1890's and continuing right up until the early 1960's. With the houses having been built over such a wide period of time, a myriad of different housing styles is evident from one street to the next.

East York is comprised of two storey or one-and-a half-storey detached and semi-detached houses, as well as an abundance of bungalows, and some newer custom designed homes. There are also a large number of high rise rental apartment buildings concentrated along Cosburn Avenue between Broadview and Donlands Avenues.

Recreation  

East York Homes is brimming with both indoor and outdoor recreational facilities.

The East York Tennis Club on Roosevelt Road has five tennis courts, Dentonia Park Tennis Club off Dawes road has four courts and East York Collegiate has four courts. The Dentonia Park Golf Course located off Victoria Park Avenue is a challenging eighteen hole public course with a moderately difficult rating.

Stan Wadlow Park off Cosburn Avenue features five baseball diamonds and a batting cage. The excellent baseball facilities at this park helped produce the likes of Rich and Rob Butler, two native East Yorkers that went on to play major league baseball.

Stan Wadlow Park also contains, two outdoor swimming pools, a handball wall, and picnic areas. It also serves as an access point to Taylor Creek Park, part of a nine kilometre paved trail that is ideal for nature walks, jogging, and cycling. Adjacent to Stan Wadlow Park is the East York Memorial Arena which provides recreational and league hockey programs as well as public skating. Across the street from Stan Wadlow Park is the East York Curling Club. The Dieppe Park Sports Complex at Greenwood and Cosburn has an outdoor ice rink, sports fields and a baseball diamond.

The newly refurbished East York Community Centre at 1081 Pape Avenue has an indoor pool, a multi-purpose gymnasium, a weight room, and a small public library. The S. Walter Stewart Library at 170 Memorial Park Avenue features a large auditorium for storytelling and puppet shows. The Dawes Road Library at 416 Dawes Road also has children's programming.

The Secord Community Centre at 91 Barrington Avenue and the Terry Fox Community Centre at 2 Gledhill Avenue have gymnasiums as well as community meeting rooms.

Schools

Editor's Note. If you are using the TorontoNeighbourhoods.NET website as a resource to buying or renting a home in the City of Toronto, please note that the schools listed below have very definite enrollment boundaries. Prior to buying or renting , you should phone the school you are interested in enrolling your child, in order to confirm that they will accept children from the address you are considering moving to.

(P) Chester School, 115 Gowan Ave., (416) 396-2325

(P) Cosburn Middle School, 520 Cosburn Ave., (416) 396-2335

(P) D.A. Morrison J.H., 271 Gledhill Ave., (416) 396-2400

(P) Diefenbaker, 175 Plains Rd., (416) 396-2350

(P) Parkside, 401 Cedarvale Ave., (416) 396-2425

(P) R.H. McGregor, 555 Mortimer Ave., (416) 396-2390

(P) Secord, 101 Barrington Ave., (416) 396-2490

(P) William Burgess School, 100 Torrens Ave., (416) 396-2490

(PH) East York Collegiate, 650 Cosburn Ave., (416) 396-2355

(PH) Alternative School Programme, 670 Cosburn Ave., (416) 396-2925

(CA) Canadian Martyrs, 520 Plains Rd., (416) 393-5251

(CA) Holy Cross, 299A Donlands Ave., (416) 393-5242

(CA) St. Aloysius, 80 Queensdale Ave., (416) 393-5287

Legend:
(P) Public School
(PH) Public High School
(CA) Catholic School
(PR) Private School
(PC) Private Catholic School
(PJ) Private Jewish School
(C) College
(U) University

The Toronto neighbourhood text profiles, sketches and maps displayed on this website were originally published in "Your Guide to Toronto Neighbourhoods". are © Maple Tree Publishing Inc. and have been reproduced by Toronto Real Estate Board under license.