Downsview | |
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Neighbourhood | |
 Aerial view of Downsview in 2024 | |
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  Downsview | |
| Coordinates:43°43′56″N79°29′36″W / 43.73222°N 79.49333°W /43.73222; -79.49333 | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| City | Toronto |
| Municipality established | 1850York Township |
| Changed municipality | 1922North York from York Township |
| Changed municipality | 1998Toronto from North York |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 39,385 |
| • Density | 2,337/km2 (6,050/sq mi) |
Downsview is a neighbourhood in the north end ofToronto,Ontario, Canada, located in the district ofNorth York. The area takes its name from the Downs View farm established around 1842 near the present-day intersection ofKeele Street andWilson Avenue.[2] It now extends beyond the intersection ofSheppard Avenue andDufferin Street (the latter which is bypassed byAllen Road in the vicinity of the intersection), though it is popularly seen as including the areas to the north right up to the Toronto city limit atSteeles Avenue. The area includes several large post-World War II subdivisions. Within the area isDownsview Airport, the former site ofCanadian Forces Base Downsview, which has since been largely converted following the end of theCold War into an urban park known asDownsview Park. The airport is still used as a manufacturing and testing facility forBombardier Aerospace. As of the 2021 census, theDownsview-Roding-CFB neighbourhood was split into the two neighbourhoods of Downsview (east of Roding Street west of Allan Road and between Sheppard Avenue andHighway 401) andOakdale–Beverley Heights (west of Roding Street east of theCP Rail line just west ofHighway 400 also between Sheppard Avenue and Highway 401).
From the east side of Dufferin Street to areas to the east, the area is primarily residential, while to the west, the district is industrial. In the western section is the large Downsview Park district which has served as a military base but is now being redeveloped into parkland and mixed uses. West of Downsview Park, are several residential subdivisions. Most of the houses in Downsview were built immediately post-war and into the 1960s, though some houses and condos have been recently built nearSheppard West station. North of Downsview Park is a large industrial-commercial area.
Immediately beside Dufferin Street,William R. Allen Road brings large traffic volumes from the OntarioHighway 401 exit to the south. The main arterial streets are Sheppard Avenue and Wilson Avenue running east–west and Keele Street and Jane Street running north–south. The major streets have retail businesses along the frontage and the businesses along Wilson Avenue south of Downsview Park have organized the Wilson Village BIA. There is a large "big box" retail area south of Wilson between Dufferin Street and Allen Road.
The area is named for the farm settled by Justice of the Peace John Perkins Bull calledDowns View in 1842 near Keele Street and Rustic Road, then inYork County,Upper Canada.[2] For over a century, the area was an agricultural community with a post office, schoolhouse, and general store.[2] The centre of the community was the Downsview Methodist Church (now Downsview United Church) on Keele Street, which was erected in 1870 and designated a Toronto Heritage Property in 2008.[3] Other historical landmarks from this period include TheGeorge Jackson House, which was also designated heritage property. In 1850, the area became part ofYork Township, and in 1927, became part ofNorth York Township, which eventually became the City of North York. In 1998, the area became part of the city of Toronto.
In April 1929, William De Havilland bought 70 acres (28 ha) of farmland to build a manufacturing facility forDe Havilland Canada. The facility was expanded during the 1930s and particularly during the Second World War, and became Canada's largest supplier of military, civilian and government-owned aircraft, as well as the site of several aviation firsts and record-breaking flights.[2] In the early Cold War period, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) built up the area as a major air station and logistics support base. In 1954, the RCAF built a large supply depot that served as the central stores for the RCAF. The building contains the Downsview Park Merchant's Market, an ongoing concern since 2005, which only operates on weekends during the day. Billed as "Ontario's largest flea market" the 162,000 square foot facility includes a farmer's market, a multi-ethnic food court and a large variety of discount goods and services.[2][4]
In the 1950s, the Ontario provincial government developed theDownsview Complex, which currently houses a number of provincial offices, as well as a detachment from theOntario Provincial Police. In 1969, a large residential complex of five 19-storey high apartment buildings, known as Jane-Exbury Towers, was completed in 1969. Designed by architectUno Prii, they are noted for their mid-century expressionist features.[5]
The military base and thede Havilland company, including the runway and all buildings, was closed and sold to Bombardier Aerospace in 1994. Bombardier has been manufacturing and testing commercial aircraft on the site since then. Some 1000 de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito aircraft were built by the company at Downsview during the Second World War.
On August 10, 2008, just before 4 a.m.,massive explosions occurred at the Sunrise Propane Industrial Gasespropane facility, at 54 Murray Rd., located immediately north-east of the intersection ofKeele Street andWilson Avenue. An employee of the facility and a firefighter were killed as a result of the explosions. MayorDavid Miller had publicly expressed his condolences to the families of the victims shortly thereafter.[6]
Redevelopment of the Downsview Complex began in 2011. The redevelopment of the complex saw the completion of theHumber River Hospital, which was opened in 2015.[7] Theacute care hospital is situated on Wilson Avenue andKeele Street.
Total population (2021): 39,385[1]
Major ethnic populations, Downsview (2021):
Major ethnic populations, Oakdale–Beverley Heights (2021):
Total population (2016): 35,052[8]
Major ethnic populations (2016):
Total population (2011): 34,659[9]
Major ethnic populations (2011):
Total population (2006): 31,960[10]
Major ethnic populations (2006):
Total population (2001): 34,220[11]
Major ethnic populations (2001):
Twopublicschool boards operate schools in Downsview, theseparateToronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), and thesecularToronto District School Board (TDSB). Both school boards also operate a publicsecondary schools in the neighbourhood. TCDSB operatesMadonna Catholic Secondary School, an all-girls secondary school, whereas TDSB operatesDownsview Secondary School. TCDSB and TDSB also operate several public institutions in Downsview that offerprimary education. They include:
The Frenchfirst language public secular school board,Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and its separate counterpart,Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir also offer schooling to applicable residents of Downsview, although they do not operate a school in the neighbourhood. CSCM and CSV students attend schools situated in other neighbourhoods in Toronto.
The neighbourhood is also home toCentennial College's Downsview Aerospace campus. Thecollege is a post-secondary institution, with several campuses throughout Toronto.
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Several municipal parks are situated in Downsview, including Chalkfarm Park, Downsview Dells Park, Oakdale Village Park, and Roding Park. Roding Park is an 8 ha (20 acres) park near Wilson Avenue and Keele Street. Recreational facilities in the park include a baseball diamond, two tennis courts, four bocce courts and a children's playground.[12] Downsview Dells Park is a large 75 ha (190 acres) park which features wilderness and wetland settings with picnic areas and fire pits. Car parking and washrooms are available within the park.[13] Within the park is Downsview Dells House, a municipal drug and alcohol treatment facility.[14] A number of these parks are situated near the valley of theBlack Creek, as it flows south and west from Sheppard Avenue midway between Keele and Jane Streets. The valley forms a part of the largerToronto ravine system.
Municipal parks in Downsview are maintained by theToronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division. In addition to parks, the division also operates severalcommunity centres in the neighbourhood, including Ancaster Community Centre, Chalkfarm Community Centre, and Roding Community Centre. TheToronto Public Library operates two branches in the neighbourhood, Black Creek branch, and Downsview branch.
TheGovernment of Canada also maintains anurban park in the neighbourhood, known asDownsview Park. The park was formerly used by theCanadian Armed Forces, asCFB Toronto. The park houses several recreational facilities, including practice facilities for theToronto FC. Downsview Park has also hosted several large public events, including a Papal Mass, attended by 800,000 people on 28 July 2002. The mass was led byPope John Paul II forWorld Youth Day. On 30 July 2003, the park also hosted a massive concert known asMolson Canadian Rocks for Toronto. The concert was held in support of the City of Toronto after the 2003SARS outbreak there.
Several major roadways serve as the boundary for Downsview, withSheppard Avenue to the north,Allen Road to the east,Highway 401 to the south, andHighway 400 to the west. The latter two roadways are majorcontrolled access highways that form a part of the province's400-series highways network. Portions of Allen Road adjacent to Downsview also operate as a controlled access highway, although it is maintained by the City of Toronto, and not the provincial government. Other major thoroughfares in the neighbourhood includeKeele Street, a major north–south roadway that runs through Downsview.
Public transportation in Downsview is provided by theToronto Transit Commission (TTC). The TTC operates severalbus routes through the neighbourhood, as well as theToronto subway.Line 1 of the subway system has two stops in the neighbourhood,Wilson station and Downsview Park station. Another stop on Line 1,Sheppard West station, is situated adjacent of the neighbourhood, on the eastern side of Allen Road. Regional train service by GO Transit stops at the Downsview Park Station.
Media related toDownsview at Wikimedia Commons
Places adjacent to Downsview | |
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