The Lambton area boasts beauty, characterized by rolling hills, valleys and majestic old oak trees all framed by the charming Humber River Valley that serves as its southern and western border.
Lambton has three sections. The original core of Lambton centred around Old Dundas Street and known as Lambton Mills retains its charm. North of Dundas Street lies Lambton Park while to the south, in the valley area below Dundas Street is Warren Park or fondly known as “the Valley”.
History Of Lambton, Toronto
Lambton got its name from the Lambton Mill constructed in 1845 along the side of the Humber River. During its prime the Lambton Mill churned out 150 barrels of flour daily. This successful mill was, under the ownership of William Pearce Howland, a figure in Confederation history. Howland chose to name his mill after John J. Lambton, who had paid a visit to this region while serving as the Governor General of Canada. The modern high rise building at 4075 Old Dundas Street now stands on the grounds of the Lambton Mill.
Opposite the site of Lambton Mill on Old Dundas Street one could find Howlands general store and post office alongside The Lambton Mills Hotel. Unfortunately a fire in 1915 razed both the mill and store to ashes. Miraculously spared The Lambton Hotel. This historic structure at 4066 Old Dundas Street has been recently. Transformed into a community hub and heritage centre.
While many early residents of Lambton were employed at the Lambton Mill, others sought work at the Canadian Pacific Railway yards located north of Dundas Street. In addition to its activities Lambton was famous for its market gardens that thrived in the fertile lands of Humber River Valley. These gardens continued to flourish until around the 1950s when residential development began in the Warren Park area.
Lifestyle
The shopping options in this area are spread out across Dundas Street, Scarlett Road and Jane Street. One notable spot is Coopers Mills at 4020 Dundas Street, a reference to William Cooper, the settler and mill owner in Lambton. (Cooper later sold his Lambton properties to William Howland.) Another popular shopping destination is Jane Park Plaza, on Black Creek Drive, which boasts a variety of amenities including a grocery store, pharmacy, video rental shop, beer shop, bank, post office and medical clinic.
Lambton, Toronto Parks & Facilities
Lambton Park can be found off Howland Avenue, a bit of Dundas Street. It’s a spot, with a cluster of Black Oak trees and sits atop a high plain that overlooks the scenic Humber River Valley. In the heart of Lambton Park lies the Lambton Arena, which serves as the home base for the Warren Park Hockey Association and the York Figure Skating Club.
This park is part of a network of city parks connected by a ten kilometre trail that runs along the Humber River. The paved path leads through James Gardens, a garden boasting spring fed ponds, quaint bridges and vibrant floral arrangements. It provides cyclists with access to the Martin Goodman Trail along Toronto’s waterfront.
Smythe Park, situated near Scarlett Road is designated as a sanctuary for wildlife. The meandering Black Creek runs through this park, where numerous marshes and ponds attract ducks and Canadian geese. Smythe Park offers amenities including two outdoor swimming pools, two tennis courts, two baseball diamonds and a modern playground for children.
Since its establishment in 1902 Lambton Golf and Country Club on Scarlett Road has remained a landmark in the neighbourhood. This picturesque golf course is intersected by both Black Creek and Humber River making it one of Toronto’s golfing destinations.
Lambton Baby Point boasts a plethora of parks and recreational facilities that offer plenty of fun activities. These parks include children’s playgrounds, sports fields and green spaces. With a total of 8 parks and 19 recreational facilities in the neighbourhood the average number of amenities per park stands at 2.
- 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
Lambton, Toronto Transit
Residents of Lambton have access to transportation with regular bus services running along Jane and Dundas Streets that connect them to the Bloor Danforth subway line. The Dundas Street West bus offers a link to the Kipling subway. Go Train stations while rush hour buses from Warren Park in the valley connect passengers to the Jane subway station. Scarlett Road also has some bus services connecting to the Jane subway station.
For those who prefer driving, Lambton’s location is ideal. Bloor Street provides a route downtown typically taking twenty minutes and Lester B. Pearson International Airport is just a fifteen minute drive away.
The neighbourhood boasts 62 transit stops, including rail stations like Old Mill Station. In Lambton Baby Point there is a mix of commuters using both vehicles and public transit, with commuting 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%
Lambton, Toronto Elementary, Secondary High Schools
Lambton Baby Point boasts elementary and secondary schools, along with specialized programs for both levels. The area is served by a total of 16 schools with a mix of Catholic institutions. Noteworthy special programs available in the schools encompass the International Baccalaureate and French Immersion offerings.
- 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
Lambton, Toronto Homes
Lambton boasts some workers’ cottages, near Dundas Street that originated in the mid to 1800s. These quaint residences were constructed for the mill workers and their families. The apartment complex at 4075 Old Dundas Street stands on the site of the Lambton Grist Mill.
In the Warren Park school area “the Valley” still preserves workers’ cottages and remnants of old market gardener homesteads. However most of the housing in “the Valley” consists of detached brick homes built during the 1950s and 1960s. A significant number of these dwellings back onto spaces. Offer picturesque views of the Humber River.
The houses in Lambton Park north of Dundas Street and south of Foxwell Avenue were predominantly constructed in the 1900s by railway employees. On the side of Foxwell Avenue near the Lambton Golf and Country Club homes were built World War II showcasing charming brick and stone Tudor bungalows unique to the city.
This area features a range of housing options, with a population, where approximately 35% of households have relocated within the past five years while around 11% have made a move within just one year.
The neighbourhood consists mainly of houses. Has a blend of both homeowners and renters.