The old stone gates located at the intersection of Jane Street and Baby Point Road serve as the gateway to the west end community. Baby Point occupies a piece of land that juts out into the Humber River surrounded by ravines and park areas making it one of Toronto’s picturesque neighbourhoods. Elegant executive residences line Baby Point Road, with many offering backyard vistas of the Humber River Valley.
History Of Baby Point, Toronto
Baby Point has a history that traces back to the 1600s when it served as a Seneca Nation village called Teiaiagon. The Seneca people chose this location on a peninsula by the Humber River for their fur trading operations due to its defensibility. Although the Seneca village was abandoned ago in 1816 the Honourable James Baby settled on this land overlooking the river. The neighbourhood we know today as Baby Point is named after Baby, a member of a known fur trading family from Quebec and former politician in Upper Canada. When Baby arrived he transformed the area into a paradise, with apple orchards, salmon filled waters of the Humber River and even natural springs that provided water bottled and shipped globally. Babys descendants resided in Baby Point until 1910 when the government acquired the land with plans to establish a fort and barracks but later sold it to developer Robert Home Smith, who initiated development of the Baby Point subdivision in 1912.
Lifestyle
Residents of Baby Point have the convenience of strolling to the shops, on Annette and Jane Streets. These bustling shopping areas feature a range of stores, from food shops and antique stores to discount outlets, grocery stores, variety shops and eateries. In a fifteen minute walk Baby Point locals can reach the vibrant Bloor West Village shopping district, known for its specialty food markets, bakeries, restaurants, gift boutiques, bookstores and clothing outlets.
Baby Point, Toronto Parks & Facilities
The heart of this neighbourhood is the Baby Point Club, situated on Baby Point Road. This exclusive club offers two tennis courts, lawn bowling and a cozy log cabin clubhouse where various social gatherings take place throughout the year. Baby Point is a spot for strolls, jogging and biking. Its charming streets and hilly landscape provide a challenge for those who love staying active. Residents of Baby Point can easily access Etienne Brule Park, which boasts a trail along the Humber River perfect for walking, running, cycling and even cross country skiing. The park is also a spot for fishing trips and picnics. Across from the park lies the Old Mill Tennis Club with its four public tennis courts. Movie enthusiasts frequent the Humber Theatre located on Bloor Street’s side near Jane Street for screenings of the Hollywood releases. Undeniably one of Toronto’s spots is, by the Humber River as it meanders past Etienne Brule Park below the historic Old Mill Inn and Spa—an autumn tradition drawing numerous anglers around Thanksgiving time.
Fishing lovers wearing high rubber boots wade into the waters of the Humber River to challenge themselves against the abundance of Salmon swimming upstream to their spawning grounds. It’s not just fishermen who gather here on an autumn day; curious spectators also line the riverbanks to witness this sight as hundreds of Salmon try to leap over the weir in the Humber River. These groups of Salmon follow this path every fall journeying from Lake Ontario’s mouth upriver to spawn in the headwaters of the Humber River, which originate all the way from Oak Ridges Moraine. This fishing spot isn’t a find. Salmon have been migrating along this river for thousands of years with First Nations people fishing long before Toronto was settled. The Humber River was officially recognized as a Heritage River during an unveiling ceremony in Toronto on September 24 1999. The picturesque Old Mill bridge, constructed in 1916 provides a backdrop for all fishing enthusiasts. Just a short walk from the bridge lies the Old Mill Inn and Spa, an establishment known for its Sunday brunch and family dinner buffet along with its famous Thanksgiving Buffet.
It’s good to know in case you feel hungry after a day spent watching the Salmon run. If you’re looking for an outing Etienne Brule Park offers plenty of picnic benches. This park is a walk from the Old Mill subway station. If you’re driving there’s parking at the park entrance.
Having fun is easy with all the parks and recreational facilities around here. The parks in Lambton Baby Point have playgrounds for children, sports areas and nature spots. This neighbourhood boasts 8 parks with a total of 19 facilities. On average each park has 2 facilities.
- Number of Parks: 8
- Number of Recreation Facilities: 19
Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks
- Playgrounds – 5
- Tennis Courts – 4
- Basketball Court – 1
- Ball Diamonds – 3
- Splash Pad – 1
- Fishing Location – 1
- Trails – 3
- Nature Centre – 1
Baby Point, Toronto Transit
Residents of Baby Point can easily hop on the Jane Street bus to reach the Jane station, on the Bloor Danforth subway line. They have the option to walk to the station, which is just a fifteen minute stroll from the Baby Point gates.
For information on transportation, in Baby Point and its neighbouring areas you can check out the Toronto Transit Commission website through the link provided below.
For drivers, accessing Lake Shore Boulevard and the Gardiner Expressway via the South Kingsway is convenient and swift. Lake Shore Boulevard does not leads motorists to Toronto’s Harbourfront and financial district. Also connects them to all major highways entering and exiting the city.
Within this neighbourhood there are 62 transit stops, including Old Mill Station. In Lambton Baby Point residents use a mix of vehicles and public transit for their commutes with most traveling within the city.
Commute Destination for Residents
- Commute within the city – 82%
- Commute to another city – 17%
Commute Types
- Vehicle – 48%
- Transit – 42%
- Walk/bike – 7%
Commute Times of Residents
- 15 to 29 minutes – 22%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 36%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 20%
- 60 minutes and over – 12%
- Less than 15 minutes – 8%
Baby Point, Toronto Elementary, Secondary High Schools
In Lambton Baby Point there are secondary schools, along with specialized programs for both levels. The area is served by a total of 16 schools comprising 8 public and 8 Catholic institutions. Some of the programs in these schools include the International Baccalaureate and French Immersion options.
- Public Schools: 8
- Catholic Schools: 8
Public
- ÉS Toronto Ouest
- Humberside Collegiate Institute
- Warren Park Junior Public School
- ÉÉ Charles-Sauriol
- Lambton Park Community School
- Runnymede Jr & Sr Public School
- Runnymede Collegiate Institute
- Humbercrest Public School
Catholic
- Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School
- St. James Catholic School
- ÉÉC Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
- St. Josaphat Catholic School
- St. Pius X Catholic School
- ÉSC Saint-Frère-André
- Josyf Cardinal Slipyj Catholic School
- ÉÉC Sainte-Marguerite-d’Youville
Baby Point, Toronto Homes
The houses in Baby Point are some of the most beautiful in Toronto with a mix of styles dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. You can find Edwardian, Craftsman style, Tudor, Georgian and English Cottage homes in this neighbourhood. The houses surrounding Baby Point Crescent are some of the biggest in the end of Toronto, with many of them overlooking the Humber River valley.