Erin Mills, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Erin Mills is a planned community
in the city of Mississauga, located approximately 32 km (19.9 mi) west of downtown Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. Erin Mills was conceived, planned and developed by the Cadillac Fairview Corporation on 8000 acres (32.4 km²) of farmland in Mississauga. Erin Mills is an integrated residential, industrial and commercial community, with commercial uses concentrated in the centre and industrial uses on the periphery.
Based on census and political boundaries, the 2001 population is estimated at 105,000 residents, making it the most populous area in Mississauga (but not the most densely populated) and one of the fastest growing. Geographically, the area is by far the largest in Mississauga, occupying much of the western section of the city. There is a number of managed creek courses that traverse the area and eventually drain to the Credit River
, and then Lake Ontario
, but Erin Mills does not adjoin either.
, Iroquois
and Mississauga
. Along what was called the "Indian Trail" they hunted deer
, bears and fox
amongst tall stands of pine
, oak
and maple trees. They also fished in the river to the east, following the ancient course of a valley filled by glacial debris.
European settlement of the area began in the very early 19th century. By the mid-19th century the area was entirely agricultural land and served by the nearby villages of Erindale and Streetsville
, which were located just to the east along the Credit River
.
There was one smaller settlement along present-day Dundas Street
at Winston Churchill Boulevard
named Frogmore, which popped up along the Toronto-Hamilton stagecoach route. This road would eventually become known as Dundas Street. Other small settlements near the area included Snider, to the west in modern day Oakville
and Sheridan, to the south.
Dundas Street was paved for automobile traffic in 1924.
Beginning in the 1950s, a wealthy Canadian entrepreneur, E.P. Taylor began buying farmland for future development by Canadian Equity and Development Limited, which owned Don Mills Development Corp. In 1969 Don Mills Development Corp. announced its plans to build a "New Town" in four phases. The first two phases - "Erin Mills South" and "Erin Mills West" - today form the nucleus of the Erin Mills community.
The name 'Erin Mills' was the creation of land developers, likely for its close proximity to Erindale, a historical village whose earlier inhabitants had renamed it in honour of their former homeland, Ireland
. The second part Mills makes reference to the many grist mills
that were operating on the banks of the nearby Credit River, although none of them were physically located in what is today Erin Mills.
Erin Mills was never incorporated, and became part of the Town of Mississauga (from Toronto Township) in 1968 and the City of Mississauga in 1974.
Erin Mills West, phase 2 of the "New Town" development, was completed in the mid-1980s. This area was part of the town of Oakville
until 1974 when with the advent of regional government, the city of Mississauga was established and its westerly boundary was extended to 9th line north of Dundas Street West. These lands then became part of Mississauga.
Erin Mills Central, phase 3, is for the most part fully developed. This section contains everything from hi-rise condominiums to large low density housing. Its focal point is the Erin Mills Town Centre
, which was completed in 1989. Credit Valley Hospital
, the largest in Mississauga, is located in this area. The older village of Streetsville
sits adjacent to Erin Mills Central to the east, running along the Credit River
. Both areas are connected closely, even in the context of Mississauga as a whole. For example, the Streestville GO station serves as a commuter point for many Erin Mills residents travelling to work in Toronto and Streetsville residents use Erin Mills Town Centre as their primary retail shopping centre. The telephone exchanges in Erin Mills are referred to as "Streetsville exchanges", even though most are not located in the older section of the village.
Churchill Meadows, phase 4, was mostly developed from 2000 to 2010. The largest as yet undeveloped parcels in this phase are the 20 hectare McCracken Farm on Tenth Line, to be developed for semi-detached houses, and a 43 hectare property on Eglinton Avenue, to be developed for employment uses and a high school. Much of the new subdivisions are low to medium density residential, and as with the previous phases, land for parks has been protected from development. Unlike the previous phases, Churchill Meadows was built with a relatively permeable street network, and creek courses were not preserved. This section of Erin Mills borders the mostly rural section of the town of Milton
, located to the west. The older suburban development of Meadowvale
borders the area to the north.
All four sections described above are generally not referred to by locals as "west", "central", etc. but rather Erin Mills on the whole, the geographic distinctions were used by land developers to indicate the phasing of development.
To the south of Erin Mills (south of Dundas Street, north of the QEW), lies the older housing area of Sheridan Homelands and adjacent employment lands of Sheridan Park. This area is sometimes lumped in with Erin Mills by both locals and others when referring to a location within it.
The lack of a sustainable high use transit corridor has prevented Erin Mills from achieving higher densities, although there are some hi-rise condominium and rental units, some currently under construction. The area has an inter-connected and heavily forested recreational trail system.
Winston Churchill Boulevard also runs north-south to the west of the parkway. Most of the newer development is to the west of this road.
The toll route Highway 407 runs north-south and forms the western border with Milton.
Highway 403
intersects the area west-east and serves as the main highway route to access the remainder of the Greater Toronto Area
.
The area is served by Mississauga Transit
, Oakville Transit
and commuter bus service via GO Transit
. On the Milton train line, the Erindale and Streetsville GO Stations, and to a lesser extent the Meadowvale GO Station, are used by Erin Mills residents for commuting into Toronto.
Also, the Clarkson GO Station, located to the south on the Lakeshore West line is also used for the same purpose, although some on this line commute westward to Oakville
, Burlington
and Hamilton
.
, a large mall operated by Cadillac Fairview
.
Honeywell
Corp. is a large employer located in Erin Mills.
Although there is an employment base within Erin Mills, predominantly in the service sector and also some light duty manufacturing, most workers commute out of the area for employment.
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
in the city of Mississauga, located approximately 32 km (19.9 mi) west of downtown 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...
, 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...
. Erin Mills was conceived, planned and developed by the Cadillac Fairview Corporation on 8000 acres (32.4 km²) of farmland in Mississauga. Erin Mills is an integrated residential, industrial and commercial community, with commercial uses concentrated in the centre and industrial uses on the periphery.
Based on census and political boundaries, the 2001 population is estimated at 105,000 residents, making it the most populous area in Mississauga (but not the most densely populated) and one of the fastest growing. Geographically, the area is by far the largest in Mississauga, occupying much of the western section of the city. There is a number of managed creek courses that traverse the area and eventually drain to the Credit River
Credit River
The Credit River is a river in southern Ontario which flows from headwaters above the Niagara Escarpment to empty into Lake Ontario at Port Credit, Mississauga. It drains an area of approximately 1,000 km²...
, and then Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, but Erin Mills does not adjoin either.
History
Aboriginal peoples were the first inhabitants of this area. Tribes included the WoodlandWoodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
, Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
and Mississauga
Mississaugas
The Mississaugas are a subtribe of the Anishinaabe-speaking First Nations people located in southern Ontario, Canada. They are closely related to the Ojibwa...
. Along what was called the "Indian Trail" they hunted deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, bears and fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
amongst tall stands of pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and maple trees. They also fished in the river to the east, following the ancient course of a valley filled by glacial debris.
European settlement of the area began in the very early 19th century. By the mid-19th century the area was entirely agricultural land and served by the nearby villages of Erindale and Streetsville
Streetsville, Ontario
Streetsville is an established community located in the northwestern corner of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on the Credit River...
, which were located just to the east along the Credit River
Credit River
The Credit River is a river in southern Ontario which flows from headwaters above the Niagara Escarpment to empty into Lake Ontario at Port Credit, Mississauga. It drains an area of approximately 1,000 km²...
.
There was one smaller settlement along present-day Dundas Street
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
at Winston Churchill Boulevard
Winston Churchill Boulevard
Winston Churchill Boulevard is a long north-south roadway along the western edge of Peel Region, Ontario, Canada. The road begins at Lakeshore Road in the south in Mississauga, and ends in Caledon at Caledon/Garafraxa Town Line...
named Frogmore, which popped up along the Toronto-Hamilton stagecoach route. This road would eventually become known as Dundas Street. Other small settlements near the area included Snider, to the west in modern day Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
and Sheridan, to the south.
Dundas Street was paved for automobile traffic in 1924.
Beginning in the 1950s, a wealthy Canadian entrepreneur, E.P. Taylor began buying farmland for future development by Canadian Equity and Development Limited, which owned Don Mills Development Corp. In 1969 Don Mills Development Corp. announced its plans to build a "New Town" in four phases. The first two phases - "Erin Mills South" and "Erin Mills West" - today form the nucleus of the Erin Mills community.
The name 'Erin Mills' was the creation of land developers, likely for its close proximity to Erindale, a historical village whose earlier inhabitants had renamed it in honour of their former homeland, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The second part Mills makes reference to the many grist mills
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
that were operating on the banks of the nearby Credit River, although none of them were physically located in what is today Erin Mills.
Erin Mills was never incorporated, and became part of the Town of Mississauga (from Toronto Township) in 1968 and the City of Mississauga in 1974.
Neighbourhoods within Erin Mills
The first phase, Erin Mills South, known later as Erin Mills, was built beginning in the early 1970s continuing through the decade. A display centre formerly built to serve home buyers and residents as a meeting hall, etc. was closed in the early 1980s and was transformed into the large, popular nightclub "Richard's". This club was closed in the early 1990s due to noise concerns from nearby residents and the building sat empty for many years until being torn down later that decade.Erin Mills West, phase 2 of the "New Town" development, was completed in the mid-1980s. This area was part of the town of Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
until 1974 when with the advent of regional government, the city of Mississauga was established and its westerly boundary was extended to 9th line north of Dundas Street West. These lands then became part of Mississauga.
Erin Mills Central, phase 3, is for the most part fully developed. This section contains everything from hi-rise condominiums to large low density housing. Its focal point is the Erin Mills Town Centre
Erin Mills Town Centre
The Erin Mills Town Centre is a shopping mall located in the Erin Mills area of Mississauga, Ontario Canada, at the corner of Erin Mills Parkway and Eglinton Avenue West. The mall is owned and managed by Cadillac Fairview. It opened in 1989. There was once a Cineplex Odeon movie theater but the...
, which was completed in 1989. Credit Valley Hospital
Credit Valley Hospital
Credit Valley Hospital is a regional hospital located in Mississauga, Ontario. It primarily serves the communities of north Mississauga; the villages of Streetsville, Meadowvale, Erin Mills and the surrounding area...
, the largest in Mississauga, is located in this area. The older village of Streetsville
Streetsville, Ontario
Streetsville is an established community located in the northwestern corner of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on the Credit River...
sits adjacent to Erin Mills Central to the east, running along the Credit River
Credit River
The Credit River is a river in southern Ontario which flows from headwaters above the Niagara Escarpment to empty into Lake Ontario at Port Credit, Mississauga. It drains an area of approximately 1,000 km²...
. Both areas are connected closely, even in the context of Mississauga as a whole. For example, the Streestville GO station serves as a commuter point for many Erin Mills residents travelling to work in Toronto and Streetsville residents use Erin Mills Town Centre as their primary retail shopping centre. The telephone exchanges in Erin Mills are referred to as "Streetsville exchanges", even though most are not located in the older section of the village.
Churchill Meadows, phase 4, was mostly developed from 2000 to 2010. The largest as yet undeveloped parcels in this phase are the 20 hectare McCracken Farm on Tenth Line, to be developed for semi-detached houses, and a 43 hectare property on Eglinton Avenue, to be developed for employment uses and a high school. Much of the new subdivisions are low to medium density residential, and as with the previous phases, land for parks has been protected from development. Unlike the previous phases, Churchill Meadows was built with a relatively permeable street network, and creek courses were not preserved. This section of Erin Mills borders the mostly rural section of the town of Milton
Milton, Ontario
Milton is a town in Southern Ontario, Canada, and part of the Halton Region in the Greater Toronto Area. Milton received a tremendous amount of awareness following the release of the results of the 2006 Census, which indicated that Milton is the fastest growing municipality in the Greater Golden...
, located to the west. The older suburban development of Meadowvale
Meadowvale, Ontario
Meadowvale is a community located in the northwestern part of Mississauga, just west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a village in Toronto Township...
borders the area to the north.
All four sections described above are generally not referred to by locals as "west", "central", etc. but rather Erin Mills on the whole, the geographic distinctions were used by land developers to indicate the phasing of development.
To the south of Erin Mills (south of Dundas Street, north of the QEW), lies the older housing area of Sheridan Homelands and adjacent employment lands of Sheridan Park. This area is sometimes lumped in with Erin Mills by both locals and others when referring to a location within it.
The lack of a sustainable high use transit corridor has prevented Erin Mills from achieving higher densities, although there are some hi-rise condominium and rental units, some currently under construction. The area has an inter-connected and heavily forested recreational trail system.
Transportation
The six-lane mostly divided Erin Mills Parkway traverses Erin Mills in a more or less north-south direction.Winston Churchill Boulevard also runs north-south to the west of the parkway. Most of the newer development is to the west of this road.
The toll route Highway 407 runs north-south and forms the western border with Milton.
Highway 403
Highway 403 (Ontario)
King's Highway 403, also known as Highway 403, is a 400-series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario that travels between Woodstock and Mississauga, branching off from and reuniting with Highway 401 at both ends and travelling south of it through Hamilton and Mississauga. It is concurrent...
intersects the area west-east and serves as the main highway route to access the remainder of the Greater Toronto Area
Greater 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...
.
The area is served by Mississauga Transit
Mississauga Transit
MiWay , is a public transport agency serving Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The city's Transportation and Works department is in charge of its operation....
, Oakville Transit
Oakville Transit
Oakville Transit is the public transportation provider in Oakville, Ontario, Canada since 1972. It is a department of the town, and a member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association. It offers the typical conventional bus service, and a para-transit service, called care-A-van, for those unable to...
and commuter bus service via GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
. On the Milton train line, the Erindale and Streetsville GO Stations, and to a lesser extent the Meadowvale GO Station, are used by Erin Mills residents for commuting into Toronto.
Also, the Clarkson GO Station, located to the south on the Lakeshore West line is also used for the same purpose, although some on this line commute westward to Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
, Burlington
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
and Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
.
Economy and business
The town is served by Erin Mills Town CentreErin Mills Town Centre
The Erin Mills Town Centre is a shopping mall located in the Erin Mills area of Mississauga, Ontario Canada, at the corner of Erin Mills Parkway and Eglinton Avenue West. The mall is owned and managed by Cadillac Fairview. It opened in 1989. There was once a Cineplex Odeon movie theater but the...
, a large mall operated by Cadillac Fairview
Cadillac Fairview
Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited is a North American investor, owner, and manager of commercial real estate.The name "Cadillac Fairview" came into existence in 1974 as a result of the merger between Cadillac Development Corporation Ltd and Fairview Corporation...
.
Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
Corp. is a large employer located in Erin Mills.
Although there is an employment base within Erin Mills, predominantly in the service sector and also some light duty manufacturing, most workers commute out of the area for employment.
Notable people residing in Erin Mills
- Carolyn Parrish, former MP, independent, Erindale. Former Mississauga City Councillor
- Steven W. Mahoney, former MP, Liberal, Mississauga West
See also
- Erin Mills Middle School
- St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary SchoolSt. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary SchoolSt. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School is a school administered by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, located in the Erin Mills area of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada...
- Loyola Catholic Secondary SchoolLoyola Catholic Secondary SchoolLoyola Catholic Secondary School is a Roman Catholic high school located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The school has 1369 students, and is operated by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board....