Scarborough Village
Encyclopedia
Scarborough Village is a neighbourhood
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, in the south-central part of the district of Scarborough
. Historically, it was one of the earliest settlements in the former Township of Scarborough and was the first region of the township to have its own post office
. Today, the neighbourhood is composed of private and public housing, apartment complexes, schools, a few condominiums, and strip mall
plazas. The neighbourhood lies along the shores of Lake Ontario
, specifically the Scarborough Bluffs
.
and Lake Ontario
. The officially-recognized boundaries are the Canadian National Railway
tracks to the north, Scarborough Golf Club Road and Bethune Boulevard to the east, Lake Ontario
and Bellamy Ravine Creek to the south, and Bellamy Road to the west. The major intersection and midpoint of the community is Eglinton Avenue East
and Markham Road. As a result, many of its residents popularily refer to the community as "Markham and Eglinton" or "M and E" for short. There is a high concentration of low-income public housing projects along Eglinton Ave East from Bellamy Road to Kingston Road.
to the south and Eglinton Avenue
to the north. The area provided settlers with access to the lakeshore and partially served as a through-way for
soldiers during the War of 1812
. In 1832, it became the first community in the former Township of Scarborough
to have its own post office. By 1856, Scarborough Village became a subdivision and by 1860, the area of Scarborough Village had its first completed brick schoolhouse. By the 1890s, a general store, a blacksmith shop, a store that sold farm accessories, and a large railway hotel were built in the area. The area only contained about a dozen dwellings. During the 1930s, Kingston Road had become a major route connecting Old Toronto with the rest of eastern Ontario communities, as well as Montreal
. After the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway
tracks north of Eglinton Avenue, Kingston Road had decreased in traffic and few businesses began to close.
bus
routes 86 Scarborough and 116 Morningside connecting to the TTC's Kennedy Subway Station
and 34 Eglinton East which further connects with the Eglinton Subway Station
, passing through East York
and North York. Other routes which run through the neighbourhood are 102 Markham and 9 Bellamy which both connect to Warden subway station
to the south while the latter route connects to the Scarborough Centre RT Station
to the north. The neighbourhood houses the Eglinton GO Station for express transit to Downtown Toronto
and other destinations along its line.
Kingston Road
, which runs along the southern portion of the neighbourhood, provides motorists an alternate access to south-western Scarborough, East York, and Downtown Toronto in the west and extends to Durham Region in the east.
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
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...
, in the south-central part of the district of Scarborough
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...
. Historically, it was one of the earliest settlements in the former Township of Scarborough and was the first region of the township to have its own post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. Today, the neighbourhood is composed of private and public housing, apartment complexes, schools, a few condominiums, and strip mall
Strip mall
A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...
plazas. The neighbourhood lies along the shores of 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...
, specifically the Scarborough Bluffs
Scarborough Bluffs
The Scarborough Bluffs is an escarpment in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Forming much of the eastern portion of Toronto's waterfront, it is located along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. At its highest point, the escarpment rises above its foot and spans a length of...
.
Location
The neighbourhood is located between Highland CreekHighland 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...
and 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...
. The officially-recognized boundaries are the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
tracks to the north, Scarborough Golf Club Road and Bethune Boulevard to the east, 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...
and Bellamy Ravine Creek to the south, and Bellamy Road to the west. The major intersection and midpoint of the community is Eglinton Avenue East
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 Markham Road. As a result, many of its residents popularily refer to the community as "Markham and Eglinton" or "M and E" for short. There is a high concentration of low-income public housing projects along Eglinton Ave East from Bellamy Road to Kingston Road.
History
Scarborough Village established as a settlement in the 1800s by Cornell and Secor as a crossroads village. It was centered around Markham Road between Kingston RoadKingston Road
Kingston Road may be:* Kingston Road, Oxford, England* Kingston Road , Canada* Kingston Road, Durham Region, Canada...
to the south and 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. The area provided settlers with access to the lakeshore and partially served as a through-way for
soldiers during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. In 1832, it became the first community in the former Township of Scarborough
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...
to have its own post office. By 1856, Scarborough Village became a subdivision and by 1860, the area of Scarborough Village had its first completed brick schoolhouse. By the 1890s, a general store, a blacksmith shop, a store that sold farm accessories, and a large railway hotel were built in the area. The area only contained about a dozen dwellings. During the 1930s, Kingston Road had become a major route connecting Old Toronto with the rest of eastern Ontario communities, as well as Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. After the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
tracks north of Eglinton Avenue, Kingston Road had decreased in traffic and few businesses began to close.
Transportation
The neighbourhood is served by its heavily used 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
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...
routes 86 Scarborough and 116 Morningside connecting to the TTC's Kennedy Subway Station
Kennedy (TTC)
Kennedy is the terminal subway station of the Bloor-Danforth and Scarborough RT lines of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at 2455 Eglinton Avenue East, just east of Kennedy Road. The station opened in 1980 in what was then the Borough of Scarborough with the Bloor-Danforth platform, and the...
and 34 Eglinton East which further connects with the Eglinton Subway Station
Eglinton (TTC)
Eglinton is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is at 2190 Yonge Street at Eglinton Avenue. It is one of the larger stations of the Toronto Transit Commission , with several shops located on the concourse level...
, passing through East York
East York
East York can refer to:*East York, Pennsylvania, United States*East York, Ontario, Canada...
and North York. Other routes which run through the neighbourhood are 102 Markham and 9 Bellamy which both connect to Warden subway station
Warden (TTC)
Warden is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 3276 St. Clair Avenue East, on the southeast corner of the intersection with Warden Avenue....
to the south while the latter route connects to the Scarborough Centre RT 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...
to the north. The neighbourhood houses the Eglinton GO Station for express transit to Downtown Toronto
Downtown Toronto
Downtown Toronto is the central business district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately bounded by Bloor Street to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don River to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west...
and other destinations along its line.
Kingston Road
Kingston Road
Kingston Road may be:* Kingston Road, Oxford, England* Kingston Road , Canada* Kingston Road, Durham Region, Canada...
, which runs along the southern portion of the neighbourhood, provides motorists an alternate access to south-western Scarborough, East York, and Downtown Toronto in the west and extends to Durham Region in the east.
Notable places
- Markington Square - largest plaza in Scarborough Village
- Scarborough Village Alternative School
- Christ Church of Scarborough Village - oldest church in Scarborough Village (though rebuilt several times)
- Scarborough Village Community Centre - a branch of the Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation DivisionToronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation DivisionThe City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division is the division of the Toronto municipal government responsible for city-owned parks, forests, and recreation centres...
- Scarborough Village Theatre - part of the Scarborough Village Community Centre and home to Scarborough music theatreScarborough music theatreScarborough Music Theatre is a non-profit community theatre group in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, near Toronto. The group evolved out of concerts done by the Church of the Master senior choir into the Scarborough Light Opera in the early 1960s. The early years consisted of concerts and Gilbert...
, Scarborough Players, and Scarborough Theatre Guild
Famous residents
- Robert McCowan, for whom McCowan Road is named
- John MuirJohn MuirJohn Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
, father of Alexander MuirAlexander MuirAlexander Muir was a Canadian songwriter, poet, soldier, and school headmaster. He was the composer of The Maple Leaf Forever, which he wrote in October 1867 to celebrate the Confederation of Canada.-Early life:...
, the author of the song "The Maple Leaf ForeverThe Maple Leaf Forever"The Maple Leaf Forever" is a Canadian song written by Alexander Muir in 1867, the year of Canada's Confederation. He wrote the work after serving with The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in the Battle of Ridgeway against the Fenians in 1866....
"