Humewood-Cedarvale
Encyclopedia
Humewood-Cedarvale is a neighbourhood in the city of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, historically part of the York
borough. The neighbourhood is bordered by Bathurst Street to the east, Eglinton Avenue
to the north, Winnett Avenue to the west and St. Clair Avenue
to the south. The neighbourhood is often referred to by each distinct name with the north half of the neighbourhood represented by Cedarvale and the south as Humewood. The latter is sometimes nicknamed as "The Woods" because of its many streets that have names ending with "-wood".
Humewood is a middle-class, very family-oriented neighbourhood. Humewood Park was once part of the estate of William Hume Blake
, after whom the neighbourhood is named, and is now used as social housing. Cedarvale is a wealthy community, and includes multi-million-dollar homes facing the Cedarvale Ravine
that is within the namesake park
.
Cedarvale and Humewood are separated by Vaughan Road
, however just slightly further east is the huge Cedarvale Ravine, which was once proposed for the route of an expressway
, which would have been the extension to Allen Road
. At the intersection of Claxton Boulevard and Bathurst St., there is an imposing gate, built in the 1910s, which symbolized its wealth; it was originally intended to be a gated community
. However, due to decreased demand for real estate
during World War I
, and the decreasing fortune of Sir Henry Pellatt
, in charge of the community's construction, who could not pay the bills for the nearby Casa Loma
, the gates were never completed, causing this to be an open community, but the columns are still there. Additionally, Claxton Boulevard was to be named Connaught Ave., but only a small street connecting Vaughan Road is so named (Connaught Circle).
There are two elementary school
s in this area: Humewood and Cedarvale Community Schools, which represent the namesake portions of this neighbourhood. Arlington Middle School is also located in this community. However, there are no publicly-funded secondary schools in this neighbourhood, but one can attend the nearby Vaughan Road Academy
, Oakwood Collegiate Institute
, or Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. These schools are all run by the Toronto District School Board
. Near St. Michael's College School
, there is an apartment building that Ernest Hemingway
lived in during his stay in Canada, which is now called "The Hemingway." Additionally, there are no public libraries
in this neighbourhood, but one may use the Oakwood Village, the Maria Shchuka, the Wychwood, the St. Clair-Dufferin, or the Forest Hill public libraries.
There is a large Jewish community in Humewood-Cedarvale (although more so in Cedarvale) at over 23% of residents with several key religious sites
within walking distance (Holy Blossom Temple, Beth Tzedec Synagogue, The Village Shul, and Beth Sholom Congregation). In Cedarvale itself, Jews make up about two-thirds of the population, the highest proportion in Toronto, according to the 2001 Census
, hence the lack of any Catholic schools
in the area except for the nearby St. Alphonsus Catholic elementary school in Oakwood-Vaughan.
Where Eglinton Avenue
and St. Clair Avenue
enter this neighbourhood, there are many trendy restaurants, cafés, and bars along these thoroughfares.
The community has some access to public transportation since it touches two subway
stations: Eglinton West
and St. Clair West
, and the 90 Vaughan bus route
passes through this neighbourhood.
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...
, historically part of the York
York, Ontario
York is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
borough. The neighbourhood is bordered by Bathurst Street to the east, 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...
to the north, Winnett Avenue to the west and St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue is a major east-west street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was laid out in the late 18th century by the British as a concession road , north of Bloor Street and north of Queen Street....
to the south. The neighbourhood is often referred to by each distinct name with the north half of the neighbourhood represented by Cedarvale and the south as Humewood. The latter is sometimes nicknamed as "The Woods" because of its many streets that have names ending with "-wood".
Profile
William Hume Blake
William Hume Blake, QC was a Canadian jurist and politician. He was the father of Edward Blake, an Ontario Premier and federal Liberal party of Canada leader....
, after whom the neighbourhood is named, and is now used as social housing. Cedarvale is a wealthy community, and includes multi-million-dollar homes facing the Cedarvale Ravine
Castle Frank Brook
Castle Frank Brook is a buried creek and south-west flowing tributary of the Don River in central and north-western Toronto, Ontario, originating near the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Dufferin Street....
that is within the namesake park
Cedarvale Park (Toronto)
Cedarvale Park is a park located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by very steep hills, and is located in the Cedarvale neighbourhood of Toronto. The Spadina subway line tunnels underneath it, between St. Clair West and Eglinton West stations...
.
Cedarvale and Humewood are separated by Vaughan Road
Vaughan Road
Vaughan Road is a road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a contour collector road that is parallel to a buried creek to the north called Castle Frank Brook. Vaughan Road begins on Bathurst Street south of St. Clair Avenue West, then it becomes a north-south street, hence its address numbering...
, however just slightly further east is the huge Cedarvale Ravine, which was once proposed for the route of an expressway
Spadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
, which would have been the extension to Allen Road
Allen Road
William R. Allen Road, known more commonly as Allen Road, The Allen Expressway or simply The Allen and formerly as the Spadina Expressway, is a short expressway/freeway in Toronto, Ontario, which runs from Kennard Avenue in the north, to Eglinton Avenue West in the south...
. At the intersection of Claxton Boulevard and Bathurst St., there is an imposing gate, built in the 1910s, which symbolized its wealth; it was originally intended to be a gated community
Gated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
. However, due to decreased demand for real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and the decreasing fortune of Sir Henry Pellatt
Henry Pellatt
Major-General Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, C.V.O. was a well-known Canadian financier and soldier....
, in charge of the community's construction, who could not pay the bills for the nearby Casa Loma
Casa Loma
Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival style house in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is now a museum and landmark. It was originally a residence for financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Casa Loma was constructed over a three-year period from 1911–1914. The architect of the mansion was E. J...
, the gates were never completed, causing this to be an open community, but the columns are still there. Additionally, Claxton Boulevard was to be named Connaught Ave., but only a small street connecting Vaughan Road is so named (Connaught Circle).
Facilities
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s in this area: Humewood and Cedarvale Community Schools, which represent the namesake portions of this neighbourhood. Arlington Middle School is also located in this community. However, there are no publicly-funded secondary schools in this neighbourhood, but one can attend the nearby Vaughan Road Academy
Vaughan Road Academy
Vaughan Road Academy is a Toronto District School Board International Baccalaureate school in the Oakwood-Vaughan neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. Vaughan Road is situated at the Vaughan Road and Winona Drive intersection close to Oakwood Avenue and southwest of Forest Hill. It works in...
, Oakwood Collegiate Institute
Oakwood Collegiate Institute
Oakwood Collegiate Institute is a public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History & Alumni:Oakwood was founded in 1908. Originally built above King Edward Public School , it has since moved to its present location at the corner of St. Clair Ave. West and Oakwood Ave...
, or Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. These schools are all run by the Toronto District School Board
Toronto District School Board
Toronto District School Board, also known by the acronym TDSB, is the English-language public school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
. Near St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic day school in Toronto, Canada. Currently administered by the Basilian Fathers, it is the largest school of its kind in Canada, with an enrollment of approximately 1,080 students from grades 7 to 12. St...
, there is an apartment building that Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
lived in during his stay in Canada, which is now called "The Hemingway." Additionally, there are no public libraries
Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library is a public library system based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest public library system in Canada and in 2008, had averaged a higher...
in this neighbourhood, but one may use the Oakwood Village, the Maria Shchuka, the Wychwood, the St. Clair-Dufferin, or the Forest Hill public libraries.
There is a large Jewish community in Humewood-Cedarvale (although more so in Cedarvale) at over 23% of residents with several key religious sites
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
within walking distance (Holy Blossom Temple, Beth Tzedec Synagogue, The Village Shul, and Beth Sholom Congregation). In Cedarvale itself, Jews make up about two-thirds of the population, the highest proportion in Toronto, according to the 2001 Census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
, hence the lack of any Catholic schools
Toronto Catholic District School Board
The Toronto Catholic District School Board is the publicly-funded Catholic school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada, headquartered in North York. It is one of the two English boards of education in the City of Toronto, serving the former municipalities of Scarborough, North York, York, East York,...
in the area except for the nearby St. Alphonsus Catholic elementary school in Oakwood-Vaughan.
Where 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...
and St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue is a major east-west street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was laid out in the late 18th century by the British as a concession road , north of Bloor Street and north of Queen Street....
enter this neighbourhood, there are many trendy restaurants, cafés, and bars along these thoroughfares.
The community has some access to public transportation since it touches two subway
Toronto subway and RT
The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
stations: Eglinton West
Eglinton West (TTC)
Eglinton West is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Allen Road/Everden Road at 1300 Eglinton Avenue West....
and St. Clair West
St. Clair West (TTC)
St. Clair West is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is at 370 St. Clair Avenue West between Bathurst Street and Tweedsmuir Avenue. The sports field of St. Michael's College School is directly above the length of the station; a...
, and the 90 Vaughan bus route
Toronto buses and trolley buses
Toronto Transit Commission buses are transit buses used for public transport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Buses are owned and operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . With over 140 routes in operation, the TTC attracts over 400 million riders each year. Each route is further divided into branch...
passes through this neighbourhood.