Black Creek (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
Black Creek is a river
in the Golden Horseshoe
region of Ontario
, Canada
. It flows from the city of Vaughan
in Regional Municipality of York to the Humber River
in Toronto
.
just northeast of the intersection of Weston Road and Rutherford Road at an elevation of 209 metres (686 ft). It flows southeast under Highway 400 at Langstaff Road, heads south, then turns sharply east to Jane Street, where it once again turns south into the neighbourhood of Edgeley
. The creek continues south under Highway 7, Highway 407 and Steeles to reach Toronto at the eponymous Black Creek Pioneer Village
open-air historic museum. It passes the main York University
campus, heads into the Downsview area, and passes under Highway 401 to Jane Street. From that point, the creek valley provides the routing for the eponymous Black Creek Drive
, which follows the creek south to past Eglinton Avenue
West to Weston Road
in the neighbourhood of Mount Dennis
. The creek turns southwest, flows through Lambton Golf Club
, and reaches its mouth as a left tributary of the Humber River near Scarlett Road and Dundas Street West at an elevation of 106 metres (348 ft).
. Much of the river consist of culverts south of Highway 401 and Jane Street. Along Humber Boulevard North from Weston Road to Alliance Avenue, Black Creek runs along a man-made concrete waterway.
on Finch Avenue
. It is also one of the most polluted waterways as much of the Toronto section runs through industrial areas and industrial run off often enters the creek.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the Golden Horseshoe
Golden Horseshoe
The Golden Horseshoe is a densely populated and industrialized region centred around the Greater Toronto Area at the western end of Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, with outer boundaries stretching south to Lake Erie and north to Georgian Bay. Most of it is also part of the Quebec City...
region of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It flows from the city of Vaughan
Vaughan
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
in Regional Municipality of York to the Humber River
Humber River (Ontario)
The Humber River is one of two major rivers on either side of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the other being the Don River to the east. It was designated a Canadian Heritage River on September 24, 1999....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Course
The creek begins in the Vellore neighbourhood of Vaughan at the outflow from a Retention basinRetention basin
A retention basin is used to manage stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and downstream erosion, and improve water quality in an adjacent river, stream, lake or bay. Sometimes called a wet pond or wet detention basin, it is an artificial lake with vegetation around the perimeter, and includes a...
just northeast of the intersection of Weston Road and Rutherford Road at an elevation of 209 metres (686 ft). It flows southeast under Highway 400 at Langstaff Road, heads south, then turns sharply east to Jane Street, where it once again turns south into the neighbourhood of Edgeley
Edgeley, Ontario
Edgeley is a small unincorporated community located in Vaughan, in York Region, Ontario, Canada. The first inhabitants of the Edgeley area came from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, circa 1800. Early family names were Smith, Stong, Shunk, Hoover, Burkholder, Muskrat, Snider, Brown, and Dalziel...
. The creek continues south under Highway 7, Highway 407 and Steeles to reach Toronto at the eponymous Black Creek Pioneer Village
Black Creek Pioneer Village
Black Creek Pioneer Village is a historic site in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, just west of York University and southeast of the Jane and Steeles intersection. It overlooks Black Creek, a tributary of the Humber River. The village is a recreation of life in 19th-century Ontario and gives an idea how...
open-air historic museum. It passes the main York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
campus, heads into the Downsview area, and passes under Highway 401 to Jane Street. From that point, the creek valley provides the routing for the eponymous Black Creek Drive
Black Creek Drive
Black Creek Drive is a north-south arterial road in Toronto, Ontario that extends from Highway 400 at Jane Street, near Ontario Highway 401 to Weston Road in the south. Originally intended to be a freeway extension of Ontario Highway 400, it was built instead as an arterial road after public...
, which follows the creek south to past Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue, originally known as the Richview Sideroad within Etobicoke, is an east-west arterial thoroughfare in Toronto and Mississauga, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Within Toronto, Eglinton Avenue is the only road which crosses through all six former boroughs...
West to Weston Road
Weston Road
Weston Road is a north-south street in west end Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The route is named for the former Village of Weston, which was located near Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West....
in the neighbourhood of Mount Dennis
Mount Dennis
Mount Dennis is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, bordered by the intersection of Jane Street and Weston Road to the north, and Black Creek to the east and south, as the creek curves parallel to Alliance Avenue before crossing under Jane Street on its way to drain into the Humber River,...
. The creek turns southwest, flows through Lambton Golf Club
Lambton Golf Club
Lambton Golf and Country Club is a private golf and tennis club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Club is located in the eastern banks of the Humber River, west of Jane Street. It was established in 1902, designed by George Cumming, with input from George Lyon, who became its best-known member...
, and reaches its mouth as a left tributary of the Humber River near Scarlett Road and Dundas Street West at an elevation of 106 metres (348 ft).
Watershed
Black Creek is smaller than most of the waterways in the Greater Toronto AreaGreater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
. Much of the river consist of culverts south of Highway 401 and Jane Street. Along Humber Boulevard North from Weston Road to Alliance Avenue, Black Creek runs along a man-made concrete waterway.
August 2005 flooding
On August 19, 2005, Black Creek was the site of heavy flooding as a result of extremely heavy rains that afternoon. Its overflow destroyed a culvertCulvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
on Finch Avenue
Finch Avenue
Finch Avenue is an arterial thoroughfare and concession road which travels east–west through the city of Toronto. The road also has short extensions into Peel and Durham Regions as Peel Regional Road 2 and Durham Regional Road 37.-History:...
. It is also one of the most polluted waterways as much of the Toronto section runs through industrial areas and industrial run off often enters the creek.
Communities
- Lambton, Toronto - residential area in Toronto
- Mount Dennis, Toronto - light to medium industrial area - including former home to Kodak Canada and new Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
bus garage - Downsview, Toronto
- Edgeley, Vaughan - commercial and light industrial area
- Vellore, Vaughan - residential area
In the area
A list of attractions and protected areas along the creek:- York University, Toronto
- Oakdale Golf and Country Club, Toronto
- Beechwood Cemetery, Vaughan
- Weston-400 North Industrial Area, Vaughan
- North York Sheridan Mall, Toronto
- Lambton Golf and Country Club, Toronto
- Chris Tonks Arena, Toronto
- Derrydowns Park
- Topcliffe Park
- Northwood Park
- Downsview Dells Park
- Chalkfarm Park
- Upwood Park
- Coronation Park
- Keelesdale Park
- Smythe Park
- Lambton Park
- Glen Scarlett Park
- Rockcliffe-Symthe Gulley