Weston, Toronto Explained

Weston
Settlement Type:Neighbourhood
Pushpin Map:Canada Toronto
Pushpin Label Position:none
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Toronto
Pushpin Mapsize:275
Coordinates:43.701°N -79.5197°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2:Toronto
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:c. 1790s
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:1881 (Village)
1914 (Town)
Established Title2:Changed municipality
Established Date2:1954 Metropolitan Toronto from York County
Established Title3:Annexed
Established Date3:1967 into Borough of York
Established Title4:Changed municipality
Established Date4:1998 Toronto from York
Leader Title:MP
Leader Name:Ahmed Hussen (York South—Weston)
Leader Title1:MPP
Leader Name1:Michael Ford (York South—Weston)
Leader Title2:Councillor
Leader Name2:Frances Nunziata (Ward 11 York South-Weston)
Population As Of:2016
Population Total:17992
Website:welcometoweston.ca

Weston is a neighbourhood and former town in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The neighbourhood is situated in the northwest of the city, south of Steeles Avenue West, east of the Humber River, north of Eglinton Avenue, and west of Jane Street.[1] The eponymous Weston Road, just north of Lawrence Avenue is the historic core of Weston, with many small businesses and services. Weston was incorporated as a village in the 19th century and was absorbed into the Borough of York in the late 1960s. York itself was amalgamated into Toronto in 1998. Weston is one of the few former towns and villages in Toronto located in a generally suburban setting, although it is contiguous with the inner city to the southeast along Weston Road. It is also one of the few not developed as a planned satellite town, as is the case with Leaside or New Toronto.

Description

Weston's building stock consists mostly of Victorian homes east of the railway with apartment and condominium towers on Weston Road overlooking the Humber River valley. Weston's main shopping district is located on Weston Road between Church Street in the north and Wilby Crescent (just south of Lawrence Avenue) in the south. Most buildings in this area reflect early-mid-20th century Ontario town architecture, brick buildings with decorative masonry. The area has a noteworthy library (previously a Mechanics' Institute and Carnegie library). The community is dotted with grand old churches with architectural significance. There has been a recent move in Weston to designate certain areas as a historical district.[2]

Most streets in Weston are lined with tall mature trees, some well over 100 years old. This is more common east of the railway tracks. Recently, there has been some infill development on former industrial and commercial lands bringing some new housing stock to the area. On April 26, 2013, a fire was accidentally started at 2304 Weston Road, due to tar during roof construction.

History

The first European settlement in the Weston area took place in the 1790s, when a saw mill was built in Etobicoke Township on an old native trading path along the west side of the Humber River, named after the well-known Humber estuary in Yorkshire, England. In 1815 James Farr, a prominent local mill owner, named the growing settlement after his birthplace, Weston, Hertfordshire. Weston initially developed along both sides of the river until a disastrous flood in 1850 destroyed the west bank settlement.[3] The former west bank settlement is now the site of the Weston Golf and Country Club. Improvements to Main Street (later renamed as part of Weston Road) and the 1856 arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway brought growth on the east side.

The first post office was opened in 1842. The first library opened in 1858, a Mechanic's Institute. In 1865, the Trinity College School opened, founded by William Arthur Johnson. It was located in Weston near the old Mill and at a home further north until 1867. It relocated to Port Hope, Ontario in 1868.

A second railway company arrived in 1869. On October 5, 1869, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn attended the sod turning ceremony for the construction of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway. The spade which he used for the event is kept in the public library.

The town of Weston grew, and over the 19th century became an important industrial centre for the Toronto area. The symbol adopted for the town, an outline of an old-fashioned bicycle, was based on this history of manufacturing and especially the old CCM bicycle factory on Lawrence Avenue just east of Weston Road. Models of bicycles now hang from the streetlights along Weston Road.

Weston was incorporated as a village in 1881, and then as a town in 1914. In 1914, the town also saw the opening of Weston Public Library, a Carnegie library. This building is now recognized with heritage status.

In October 1954, Hurricane Hazel flooded the Humber River valley, causing death and destruction of property.[4] In response, low-lying areas in the Humber River valley were converted to parkland and property zoning standards were changed across Ontario to avoid building encroachment on floodplains. There is a memorial in the south end of Lions Park near a pedestrian bridge which incorporates the original footing of a bridge that once crossed the Humber. The other footing of the bridge is the square chunk of concrete that is in the middle of the river nearby.

In 1967, it became part of the Borough (later City) of York. In 1998, York was in turn amalgamated with the five other members of Metropolitan Toronto, (Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, East York, and Scarborough) in the new "megacity" of Toronto. Vocal lobbying at the time allowed Weston to retain many street names which are exact duplicates of downtown streets, including Church Street, King Street and John Street.

Airport link controversy

The Union Pearson Express between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Union Station downtown was a hot political issue in Weston. It had originally been proposed for completion by 2009. Weston is currently a station stop on the Kitchener line operated by GO Transit and additional airport trains would stop there. The link would see the construction of three additional tracks through the neighbourhood and increased rail traffic more than fourfold. Community activists worried about how the link would sever the community (vehicle traffic on John Street will be permanently blocked from crossing the tracks, replaced by a pedestrian bridge) and the possibility of lower future property values due to increased noise and diesel fumes.

It was an issue during the Canadian federal election held on January 23, 2006, when incumbent Liberal Member of Parliament, Alan Tonks, supported the link, while the other candidates opposed it. It was also an issue in the February 2007 provincial by-election, where all local candidates came out against the link, but which was still supported by the governing Liberals. The Weston Community Coalition (WCC) had proposed a subway line as an alternative to run through the Weston rail corridor to the airport that would have stops along the way which would serve many communities throughout Toronto and be operated by the TTC rather than a private company. Various other alternatives were presented by community activists such as an Eglinton subway to the airport, an LRT alternative, or a route down Highway 427.

In the end, the tracks went into a trench with bridges overhead to prevent bisecting the neighbourhood.[5] A "rail deck park" allowed the expansion of a Toronto Catholic school playground over the tracks.[6]

Demographics

In 2016, the Weston neighbourhood was home to 17,992 residents.[7] 60% of the population speak English as their first language, 6.4% speak Spanish, 4.8% speak Portuguese, 4.3% speak Somali and 3.1% speak Italian.

Major racial and ethnic populations (2016):

Transportation

Main throughfares serving Weston are Lawrence Avenue West and Weston Road. A number of local roads in Weston resulted in name duplication after Toronto amalgamation in 1998:

Public transportation

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs several bus routes through the area, linking to the subway system. The 32 Eglinton West,[8] 35 Jane,[9] 52 Lawrence West,[10] 59 Maple Leaf,[11] 73 Royal York,[12] 79 Scarlett,[13] and 89 Weston[14] all pass through the neighbourhood.

As of January 2012,[15] all TTC bus routes serving Weston are accessible. Routes 52 and 352 were the final TTC bus routes to be made accessible, with the retirement of the last GMC New Look "Fishbowl" buses in December 2011. Although all bus routes are accessible, individual stops along the routes may not meet accessibility standards.

The Metrolinx Weston GO Station is located at Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue. The station is served by the Kitchener line (which connects Kitchener, Ontario to downtown Toronto during rush hours) and the Union Pearson Express (all-day service between Toronto Pearson International Airport and downtown Toronto). The Weston GO Station is wheelchair accessible.

Recreation

The Weston Farmers' Market opens weekly from mid-May to the end of October near the centre of Weston.[16] The Weston BIA also hosts a Harvest Festival around Thanksgiving in October, and the Weston Santa Claus Parade each November.[17]

Weston has many small parks throughout but most notable is Cruickshank Park in the Humber River valley with many mature trees and paved bicycle paths[18] lined with large weeping willow trees. The bicycle path continues south to Lake Ontario. Sometimes salmon can be seen swimming upstream in the river. The park has a population of beaver as can be seen from the tell-tale marks left behind on trees. In order to protect some trees, park staff have wrapped the tree trunks with wire screen in some areas. There are also some frogs closer to the water's edge and garter snakes hidden away in the more secluded areas. Canada geese, loons, mallards and seagulls are a common sight. Herons have also been spotted looking for fish in the river.

In some areas of the park, you can see exposed sedimentary rock in the walls of the valley, made visible by the action of glaciers that carved out the valley during the last glacial period about 20,000 years ago. The same rock was used to build many stone retaining walls throughout the town; an example of this use can be seen on the south end of the Lawrence Avenue bridge in the north end of Lions Park.

Weston Lions Park, located south of Lawrence Avenue, fills 22.13acres and contains facilities for playing football, rugby union, soccer, tennis, and baseball, as well as an ice rink, swimming pool, basketball court and skatepark.[19]

Weston Arena

Originally as Weston Arena, it is now known as either Weston Lions Arena or Weston Lions Recreation Arena. The arena was proposed on what was the Weston Fairgrounds in 1944, opened in 1949 and gained a pool in 1959.[20]

The arena hosted the Toronto Dixie Beehives of the Ontario Junior Hockey League from 2007 to 2009. The arena currently hosts the Weston Minor Hockey League and Weston Dodgers.

Reeves of the Village of Weston

Mayors of the Town of Weston

The mayor and council sat at Weston Town Hall (Dufferin Hall) at corner of Little Avenue and Weston Road (since demolished and now a parking lot).

Notable residents

In popular culture

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weston neighbourhood profile. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20031107212007/http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/cns113.htm. November 7, 2003. 2008-08-27. Toronto Neighbourhood Maps. City of Toronto.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035049/http://www.toronto.ca/heritage-preservation/hcd_weston.htm Heritage Conservation Districts – Weston
  3. Web site: About Weston. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20030414124711/http://www.westonplace.ca/aboutweston.html. April 14, 2003. 2008-08-27. WestonPlace.ca.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20060505130729/http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/hazel/en/hr.html Remembering Hurricane Hazel
  5. News: Keenan. Edward. Weston's Raildeck Park was Always on the Right Track. 26 June 2017. Toronto Star. 14 October 2016.
  6. News: Kurek. Dominik. Toronto gets a rail deck park - in Weston. 26 June 2017. Inside Toronto. Metroland Media Group. 2 November 2016.
  7. Web site: Weston neighbourhood profile . City of Toronto . 2018-11-21.
  8. Web site: 32 Eglinton West. Bus Routes. Toronto Transit Commission. 2008-08-27.
  9. Web site: 35 Jane. Bus Routes. Toronto Transit Commission. 2008-08-27.
  10. Web site: 52 Lawrence West. Bus Routes. Toronto Transit Commission. 2008-08-27.
  11. Web site: 59 Maple Leaf. Bus Routes. Toronto Transit Commission. 2008-08-27.
  12. Web site: 73 Royal York. Bus Routes. Toronto Transit Commission. 2008-08-27.
  13. Web site: 79 Scarlett. Bus Routes. Toronto Transit Commission. 2008-08-27.
  14. Web site: 89 Weston. Bus Routes. Toronto Transit Commission. 2008-08-27.
  15. Web site: Accessible Transit Network map. TTC website. 2012-01-15.
  16. https://archive.today/20130122211547/http://www.farmersmarketsontario.com/markets.cfm Weston Farmers' Market
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20031128110311/http://www.westonbia.com/ Weston Village BIA
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20030526120646/http://www.toronto.ca/parks/brochures/parks_trails_2.pdf Toronto Parks & Trails Map 2001
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20031101215532/http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/westonlions.htm City of Toronto: Parks and Recreation – Weston Lions Park
  20. Web site: Weston Lions Arena.
  21. Web site: Tyrrell House Historical Plaque . torontoplaques.com . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160513170215/http://torontoplaques.com/Pages/Tyrrell_House.html . 13 May 2016 . dead.
  22. COUNTY AND CITY: The Government Interviewed by a County Deputation JUDICIAL SEPARATION AND ANNEXATION CHANGE OF VENUE CASES RIVERSIDE ANNEXATIONThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 18 Feb 1884: 8.
  23. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: Nominations and Elections for the Various Municipal Offices NOMINATIONS ELECTED BY ACCLAMATIONThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 30 Dec 1885: 3
  24. YORK COUNTY COUNCIL: First Meeting of the Year-- All the Council Present. Including 15 New Members-- The Reeve of Stouffvillee Elected Warden DECLARED ELECTED SPECIAL COMMITTEEThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 26 Jan 1887: 1.
  25. THE MUNICIPALITIES: NOMINATIONS IN OUTSIDE CITIES AND TOWNS Mayoralty Contests In Many Places--The Contest In Ottawa--A Quiet Nomination Day KINGSTON OTTAWA BRANTFORD ST. CATHARINES BELLEVILLE GUELPH STRATFORD BROCKVILLE BARRIE WINDSOR OWEN SOUND CHATHAM COBOURG WOODSTOCK ST. MARY'S DUNDASThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 27 Dec 1887: 1.
  26. THE MUNICIPALITIES: A CLOSE CONTEST FOR THE WINDSOR MAYORALTY Mr. Twomey Elected The Results of the City Elections-- County Councillors Chosen Throughout the Province London St. Catharines Belleville Brantford St. Thomas Guelph Stratford Chatham Woodstock Windsor Barrie Welland Town Mitchell Orillia Markham Village Dundas NiagaraThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 08 Jan 1889: 1.
  27. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: Officers Chosen by Ratepayers Yesterday THE MAYORALTY CONTESTS Composition of City and Town Councils BY-LAWS VOTED ON BY VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES--LICENSE REDUCTION AND LOCAL OPTION LONDON OTTAWA KINGSTON ST. THOMAS STRATFORD GUELPH BELLEVILLE ST. CATHARINES TOWNS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 05 Jan 1892: 1
  28. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: Successful Candidates Throughout the Province SOME KEEN CONTESTS Many Temperance By Laws Defeated SURPRISES IN THE CITIES Representatives in Villages and Townships THE HONOR ROLL IN THE TOWNS-- MANY NEW FACES AT THE COUNCIL BOARDS BELLEVILLE ST. CATHARINES KINGSTON ST. THOMAS WINDSOR GUELPH BRANTFORD VILLAGES AND TOWNSEITS LIVE STOCK MARKETS The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 03 Jan 1893: 7.
  29. MEN IN POWER: Results of the Municipal Elections MR. TUCKETT'S MAJORITY Hamilton's New Mayor Polls a Big Vote MR. HENRY WINS IN BRANTFORD Elections by Acclamation in Many Places A Lively Political Contest in Kingston--Results in the Cities and Towns of the Province LONDON ST. THOMAS KINGSTON BRANTFORD STRATFORD CHATHAM GUELPH OTTAWA BELLEVILLE ST. CATHARINES PETERBORO' TOWNSThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 07 Jan 1896: 7.
  30. WEST YORK FARMERS: Annual Meeting of Their Institute at Weston A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING Fruit Culture and Stock Raising Discussed Simpson Rennie, Robert Thompson and Prof, Harcourt the Principal Speakers-- Meeting at Woodbridge To-day AFTERNOON SESSION GOOD ROADS SWINE BREEDINGThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 03 Jan 1895: 2.
  31. EX-PUPILS OF WESTON: Friends of the High School Hold a ReunionThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 31 Aug 1900: 10.
  32. CARS: The Village of Weston in a Sad Plight DEADLOCK OVER A RAILWAY Citizens Indignant at the Council By the Latter's Action the Electric cars Stop at the Limits of the Village-- citizens Association Formed A Bit of History The Electric Railway The Cars Locked Out A Kick From the Citizens Saturday Evening's Meeting The Speeches Rights of British CitizensThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 12 Sep 1898: 5.
  33. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: Results of the Voting All Over the Province MAYORS ELECTED Big Majorities at Hamilton and London BY-LAWS OF IMPORTANCE A Large Number of Councils Returned by Acclamation--Voting Dizchine in KingstonSpecial Dispatch to The Globe. The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 07 Jan 1902: 4.
  34. YORK TOWNSHIP COUNCILThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 08 Aug 1906: 9.
  35. REJECTED LOCAL OPTIONThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 05 Dec 1903: 28.
  36. ONCE PUT WESTON IN HANDS OF SHERIFF: Unseating of Dr. Irwin an Echo of Six Years Ago Member of Commission and High School Board Says He Will Appeal and Speaks of the Proceedings Before Judge WinchesterThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 07 Apr 1913: 9.
  37. WESTON'S REEVE IS WARDEN OF COUNTY: R. J. BULL DEFEATED REEVE W. D. ANNIS OF SCARBORO--COUNCIL BEGINS THE SESSIONThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 25 Jan 1911: 9.
  38. Full TextHistorical NewspapersWOULD HAVE W. H. PUGSLEY APPOINTED TO THE SENATE: York County Council Pays a Striking Tribute to Reeve of Richmond HillThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 30 Jan 1913: 9.
  39. GIFT FOR WARDEN PUGSLEYThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 03 Dec 1910: 2.
  40. WESTERN ONTARIO ALMOST A UNIT IN FAVOR OF NIAGARA POWER SCHEME: Municipal Elections ... Universal Interest OWEN SOUND ANTIS' BIG WIN Mayor Kennedy, Who is Not a Policeman, Re-elected Many By-laws Carried, Including Some For Important Public Works --Mayors of the More Important Centres-- The Vote on the Power By-law a Remarkably Heavy OneThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 07 Jan 1908: 1.
  41. Results in Villages The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 06 Jan 1914: 4.
  42. Weston homes, sites set to make history: [York Guardian Edition]MEDITSKOS, STAVROULA. The York Guardian; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 12 Mar 2004
  43. John Gardhouse PassesHON DUNCAN MARSHALL. The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 03 Jan 1930: 47.
  44. Historic home saved from demolition: [York Guardian Edition]Rainford, Lisa. The York Guardian; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 13 June 2003
  45. PROMINENT BREEDER PASSES AT WESTON AFTER SHORT ILLNESS: John Gardhouse Was Director of Exhibition and Famous Judge YEARS IN PUBLIC LIFEThe Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 01 Jan 1930: 13.
  46. Kenneth Thompson, Weston mayor, Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario] 04 Feb 1981: A22.
  47. Kenneth L. Thompson Weston mayor ran for Liberals, The Globe and Mail; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 05 Feb 1981: p. 68.
  48. Richard C. Seagrave: Served for Four Years As Mayor of Weston, The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 04 Aug 1955: 5
  49. Web site: City politics.
  50. Not So Placid: Long Levy Riles WestonThe Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 25 Nov 1960: 3.
  51. George Bull, 65, was Weston mayor, Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario] 28 May 1977: A5.
  52. C.W. Boddington, The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont] 17 Jan 1984: 4
  53. Wesley (Wes) Boddington, 62, was former mayor of Weston, Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario] 17 Jan 1984: A15.

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