Tam O'Shanter-Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Tam O'Shanter–Sullivan is a neighbourhood in the east end of the city of Toronto
, in the district of Scarborough
. The neighbourhood is bordered by Huntingwood Drive to the North, Kennedy Road to the East, Highway 401 to the South and Victoria Park (and Pharmacy Ave) to the West. The neighbourhood, which includes the Tam O'Shanter (east of Warden) and Sullivan (west of Warden) communities, takes its name from Tam O'Shanter golf course and O'Sullivan's Corners.
The neighbourhood is sometimes included as part of the neighbourhood of Agincourt
, which borders Tam O'Shanter to the east. Both regions are part of the electoral district of Scarborough—Agincourt
, and the Agincourt Mall is located in Tam O'Shanter.
The first subdivision in the neighbourhood, "Town and Country" was bordered by Victoria Park Avenue, Sheppard Avenue, Pharmacy and Ontario Highway 401 (then known as the Toronto By-Pass), or the north part of Lot 35, Concession II, Scarborough Township. The land had been farmed by Thomas Mason. Town and Country was not connected to the sewer system, and the houses all had their own septic systems. The headwaters of Taylor-Massey Creek
ran underground through the subdivision, above ground through Wishing Well Park, and under Highway 401. With the widening of the 401, the above-ground portion of the creek was buried and the headwaters were rerouted to Highland Creek.
The next subdivision, "Wishing Well Acres" was east of Pharmacy on the north part of Lots 33 and 34, Concession II, which had been farmed by Christopher Thomson and Ichabod Vradenburg(h) in the 1870s. The neighbourhood school and the street it is on were named after the Vradenburgs, although the spelling of the street name has been inexplicably changed. Wishing Well Acres was the site of the millionth home built in Canada after WWI. Famous residents of the area include Brad Park
and Mike Levine of Triumph
.
From 1927 to 1946, Harry C. Hatch
raised and trained five Queen's Plate
winners on his farm at the northeast corner of Pharmacy and Sheppard, including Monsweep (1936), Goldlure(1937), Budpath(1941), Acara(1944) and Uttermost(1945).
The farm, and others in the area were was purchased by the Robert McClintock Company for residential development of Bridlewood in the 1960s. The company was awarded the Ontario Urban Development Institute Award for the finest development of the year for Bridlewood Phase I in 1964 and Phase II in 1966. Famous residents of Bridlewood include Mike Myers
, whose Wayne's World
character was inspired by growing up in the area, Eric McCormack
(Will & Grace
), and David Furnish
, who all attended Bridlewood Public School.
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...
, in 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...
. The neighbourhood is bordered by Huntingwood Drive to the North, Kennedy Road to the East, Highway 401 to the South and Victoria Park (and Pharmacy Ave) to the West. The neighbourhood, which includes the Tam O'Shanter (east of Warden) and Sullivan (west of Warden) communities, takes its name from Tam O'Shanter golf course and O'Sullivan's Corners.
The neighbourhood is sometimes included as part of the neighbourhood of Agincourt
Agincourt, Toronto
Agincourt is a very diverse neighbourhood in the Scarborough district of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is centred along Sheppard Avenue between Kennedy and Markham Roads...
, which borders Tam O'Shanter to the east. Both regions are part of the electoral district of Scarborough—Agincourt
Scarborough—Agincourt
Scarborough—Agincourt is a federal electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988.It covers the northwest of the Scarborough part of Toronto...
, and the Agincourt Mall is located in Tam O'Shanter.
Sullivan Community
O'Sullivan's Corners, located at the corner of Victoria Park and Sheppard Avenues, was named after Patrick O'Sullivan, and consisted of a hotel and a post office, which opened in 1892. The post office was closed in 1912, but reopened in 1956 in the drug store in Wishing Well Plaza at the south-east corner of Pharmacy and Sheppard, as a result of the residential developments in the area. A gas station used to be located here along with a hamburger restaurant, Johnny's Hamburgers, which still stands to this day. A new retail development is currently being planned to be built around Johnny's.The first subdivision in the neighbourhood, "Town and Country" was bordered by Victoria Park Avenue, Sheppard Avenue, Pharmacy and Ontario Highway 401 (then known as the Toronto By-Pass), or the north part of Lot 35, Concession II, Scarborough Township. The land had been farmed by Thomas Mason. Town and Country was not connected to the sewer system, and the houses all had their own septic systems. The headwaters of Taylor-Massey Creek
Taylor-Massey Creek (Don)
Taylor-Massey Creek is a tributary of the Don River in Toronto, Ontario. It flows through Scarborough and East York, where it enters the Don River. The creek is named after two prominent Toronto families. The Taylors were a wealthy family that owned and operated the Don Valley Brick Works...
ran underground through the subdivision, above ground through Wishing Well Park, and under Highway 401. With the widening of the 401, the above-ground portion of the creek was buried and the headwaters were rerouted to Highland Creek.
The next subdivision, "Wishing Well Acres" was east of Pharmacy on the north part of Lots 33 and 34, Concession II, which had been farmed by Christopher Thomson and Ichabod Vradenburg(h) in the 1870s. The neighbourhood school and the street it is on were named after the Vradenburgs, although the spelling of the street name has been inexplicably changed. Wishing Well Acres was the site of the millionth home built in Canada after WWI. Famous residents of the area include Brad Park
Brad Park
Douglas Bradford Park is a retired ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings...
and Mike Levine of Triumph
Triumph (band)
Triumph is a Canadian hard rock power trio that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Eight of the band's albums were certified gold or higher, and Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.Like their fellow Canadians...
.
From 1927 to 1946, Harry C. Hatch
Harry C. Hatch
Harold Clifford "Harry" Hatch was a self-made millionaire industrialist from Prince Edward County, Ontario specializing in the business of wine and spirits....
raised and trained five Queen's Plate
Queen's Plate
The Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...
winners on his farm at the northeast corner of Pharmacy and Sheppard, including Monsweep (1936), Goldlure(1937), Budpath(1941), Acara(1944) and Uttermost(1945).
The farm, and others in the area were was purchased by the Robert McClintock Company for residential development of Bridlewood in the 1960s. The company was awarded the Ontario Urban Development Institute Award for the finest development of the year for Bridlewood Phase I in 1964 and Phase II in 1966. Famous residents of Bridlewood include Mike Myers
Mike Myers (actor)
Michael John "Mike" Myers is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film producer of British parentage...
, whose Wayne's World
Wayne's World
Wayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...
character was inspired by growing up in the area, Eric McCormack
Eric McCormack
Eric James McCormack is a Canadian American actor, musician, writer and producer. Born in Toronto, he began his acting career performing in school plays at Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute High School...
(Will & Grace
Will & Grace
Will & Grace was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006 for a total of eight seasons. Will & Grace remains the most successful television series with gay principal characters...
), and David Furnish
David Furnish
David James Furnish is a Canadian/British filmmaker, former advertising executive, and now a film director and producer most known for his documentary Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras...
, who all attended Bridlewood Public School.
Schools
- Bridlewood Jr P.S.
- Inglewood Jr P.S.
- Lynngate Jr P.S.
- Pauline Johnson Jr P.S.
- Tam O'Shanter Jr P.S.
- Vradenburg Jr P.S.
- J.B. Tyrrell Sr P.S.
- John Buchan Sr P.S.
- Sir John A. Macdonald C.I.
- Stephen Leacock C.I.
External links
- Toronto Neighbourhood Maps
- L'Amoreaux at TorontoNeighbourhoods
- Tam O'Shanter-Sullivan neighbourhood profile at the City of Toronto website