Highland Creek, Toronto
Encyclopedia
Highland Creek is a neighbourhood in south-east Scarborough
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
that lies along the southern portion of the river of the same name
. To the east are the neighbourhoods of Port Union
and West Rouge
, to the west West Hill
and Woburn
, and to the south Centennial Scarborough.
The western portion of the neighbourhood is occupied by the University of Toronto Scarborough
, a feature landmark in the area and a busy pedestrian centre.
. This is mainly due to the presence of the Highland Creek
, the river that runs through the neighbourhood, whose valley is occupied by large trees and wildlife. During the 18th and early-19th centuries, the area was home to vast farmlands and homes. In 1954, Hurricane Hazel
destroyed many dwellings in the area and contributed to the flooding of the creek.
In 1963, the University of Toronto
purchased the western part of the land from E. L. MacLean, who acquired the land from its original owner Miller Lash, a businessman from Old Toronto who built an estate on the land, now known as the Miller Lash House, in 1911. The university eventually built and opened the Scarborough College, which is today known as University of Toronto Scarborough
, a satellite campus of the university.
, which was a former provincial highway that connected Toronto and Kingston, Ontario
, it is home to some of the oldest buildings in Scarborough. Highway 2A
runs just south of the neighbourhood's core.
Toronto Transit Commission
(TTC) bus route 38 is named after the neighbourhood and runs on limited service during the day time, between Scarborough Centre station
and the Rouge Hill GO Station, along Ellesmere Road, Military Trail
, Lawson Road, and Port Union Road. 86 Scarborough, 95 York Mills, and 116A/116E Morningside also serve parts of the neighbourhood. GO Transit
coach route 51 stops at the University of Toronto Scarborough
.
and Colonel Danforth Park are in the community. The community is one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods in Scarborough with wide lot homes. Home prices are relatively expensive compared to other areas of Scarborough. This partly due to the location of the university.
After the opening of the college, the neighbourhood was developed primarily into residential areas. Areas dominated by wildlife, which is located along the Highland Creek valley, were left alone. Some shops and a church exist along the commercial Old Kingston Road.
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
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...
, 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...
that lies along the southern portion of the river of the same name
Highland Creek (Toronto)
Highland Creek is a river in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, emptying into Lake Ontario at the eastern end of the Scarborough Bluffs. It is home to several species of fish including trout, carp, and bass. It is a meandering river which, like most rivers in Toronto , travels through a...
. To the east are the neighbourhoods of Port Union
Port Union, Ontario
Port Union, also known as Centennial Scarborough is a neighbourhood located in Scarborough, part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The neighbourhood is bounded by Kingston Road to the north, Port Union Road to the east, the Lake Ontario shoreline to the south, and Highland Creek to the west.The...
and West Rouge
West Rouge
West Rouge is a small community neighbourhood located in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, within the district of Scarborough. The community is roughly bounded by Lake Ontario to the south, the Rouge River to the east, Highland Creek to the west and Kingston Road to the north.The area was...
, to the west West Hill
West Hill, Toronto
-Location and principal features:It is located in the eastern end of the city, in the former city of Scarborough. Scarborough was merged with five other municipalities and a regional government to form the new "City of Toronto" in 1998...
and Woburn
Woburn, Toronto
Woburn, also known as Cedarbrae, is a neighbourhood located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in the district of Scarborough.-Geography:Woburn is bordered by Highway 401 to the north, Scarborough Golf Club Road and Orton Park Road to the east, the CN Railway tracks to the south, and McCowan Road and...
, and to the south Centennial Scarborough.
The western portion of the neighbourhood is occupied by the University of Toronto Scarborough
University of Toronto Scarborough
The University of Toronto Scarborough is a satellite campus of the University of Toronto. Based in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the campus is set upon suburban parkland in the residential neighbourhood of Highland Creek...
, a feature landmark in the area and a busy pedestrian centre.
History
Historically, Highland Creek was one of the first areas to be occupied by native settlers in the area of what would later become the Township of ScarboroughScarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
. This is mainly due to the presence of the Highland Creek
Highland Creek (Toronto)
Highland Creek is a river in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, emptying into Lake Ontario at the eastern end of the Scarborough Bluffs. It is home to several species of fish including trout, carp, and bass. It is a meandering river which, like most rivers in Toronto , travels through a...
, the river that runs through the neighbourhood, whose valley is occupied by large trees and wildlife. During the 18th and early-19th centuries, the area was home to vast farmlands and homes. In 1954, Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm killed as many as 1,000 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South Carolina, as a Category 4 hurricane...
destroyed many dwellings in the area and contributed to the flooding of the creek.
In 1963, the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
purchased the western part of the land from E. L. MacLean, who acquired the land from its original owner Miller Lash, a businessman from Old Toronto who built an estate on the land, now known as the Miller Lash House, in 1911. The university eventually built and opened the Scarborough College, which is today known as University of Toronto Scarborough
University of Toronto Scarborough
The University of Toronto Scarborough is a satellite campus of the University of Toronto. Based in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the campus is set upon suburban parkland in the residential neighbourhood of Highland Creek...
, a satellite campus of the university.
Transportation
As it is located along Old Kingston RoadKingston Road (Toronto)
Kingston Road is the southernmost major road along the eastern portion of Toronto, specifically in the districts of East York and Scarborough. Until 1998, it formed a significant portion of Highway 2...
, which was a former provincial highway that connected Toronto and Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, it is home to some of the oldest buildings in Scarborough. Highway 2A
Highway 2A (Ontario)
King's Highway 2A, commonly referred to as Highway 2A, was the designation of five separate provincially maintained highways in the Canadian province of Ontario. Highway 2A was an alternate route to Highway 2 in London, Chatham and Cornwall; these routes were all eventually redesignated...
runs just south of the neighbourhood's core.
Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto 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:...
(TTC) bus route 38 is named after the neighbourhood and runs on limited service during the day time, between Scarborough Centre station
Scarborough Centre (TTC)
Scarborough Centre is a station on the Scarborough RT line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located north of Ellesmere Road between Brimley and McCowan Roads, just south of Highway 401...
and the Rouge Hill GO Station, along Ellesmere Road, Military Trail
Danforth Avenue
Danforth Avenue is an east-west arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its western end begins in Old Toronto from the Prince Edward Viaduct as a continuation of Bloor Street and continues through East York until intersecting with Kingston Road in Scarborough...
, Lawson Road, and Port Union Road. 86 Scarborough, 95 York Mills, and 116A/116E Morningside also serve parts of the neighbourhood. 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...
coach route 51 stops at the University of Toronto Scarborough
University of Toronto Scarborough
The University of Toronto Scarborough is a satellite campus of the University of Toronto. Based in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the campus is set upon suburban parkland in the residential neighbourhood of Highland Creek...
.
Landmarks
The University of Toronto ScarboroughUniversity of Toronto Scarborough
The University of Toronto Scarborough is a satellite campus of the University of Toronto. Based in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the campus is set upon suburban parkland in the residential neighbourhood of Highland Creek...
and Colonel Danforth Park are in the community. The community is one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods in Scarborough with wide lot homes. Home prices are relatively expensive compared to other areas of Scarborough. This partly due to the location of the university.
After the opening of the college, the neighbourhood was developed primarily into residential areas. Areas dominated by wildlife, which is located along the Highland Creek valley, were left alone. Some shops and a church exist along the commercial Old Kingston Road.