Lansing sits conveniently along the Yonge Street corridor close to the North York City Hall and the North York Civic Centre. Surprisingly peaceful and quiet despite its location, this neighbourhood is shielded from traffic by boundaries such as the Don River Valley, York Cemetery and Beecroft Road.
History Of Lansing, Toronto
Lansing was initially established by Joseph Shepard, who constructed a log cabin on Yonge Street, near Sheppard Avenue back in 1798. Shepard led a life engaging in fur trading with the people participating in the battle of York against the Americans and managing saw and grist mills along the Don River.
Shepard maintained a friendship with William Lyon Mackenzie, the leader of the Toronto rebellion in 1837. Although Shepard passed away just before the rebellion erupted his four sons actively took part in the uprising. Joseph and Jacob were. Imprisoned, while Thomas and Michael managed to escape from Kingston Penitentiary and seek refuge in the United States.
In 1813 Queen’s pardon allowed the Shepard brothers to return to Lansing to continue their fathers business. By 1860 Joseph Shepard established a store and residence at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenues corner. He later incorporated a post office in 1866 which was named “Lansing ” by Shepard’s daughter Saida.
The Lansing general store and post office eventually transformed into Dempsey Brothers Hardware Store – an establishment in the neighbourhood until it relocated to its site at 250 Beecroft Road in 1966. Today it operates as both a museum and an office for North York Archives.
Lifestyle
Yonge Streets shopping district is bustling with cafes and dining spots. The heart of this area is the Yonge Sheppard Centre, an indoor mall offering a diverse selection of stores, eateries and even a gym.
Lansing, Toronto Parks & Facilities
The North York Civic Centre, on Beecroft Drive is renowned as one of Toronto’s destinations for sports and entertainment. It houses the North York Central Library and the Douglas Snow Aquatic Centre, an aquatic facility in Canada. Across from the centre is the charming Willowdale Lawn Bowling Club.
The development of Downsview Park commenced in 2006. Is a project. It is set to transform over the coming decades with plans in place for establishing five neighbourhoods featuring a mix of areas green spaces, commercial establishments, educational facilities and institutional spaces. This endeavor ranks among one of the redevelopment initiatives undertaken within Toronto.
In homage to its significance, as the site of De Havilland Aircraft Company and later a Canadian Forces base this redevelopment includes preserving the Downsview Hangar. A collection of steel, glass and concrete structures that once housed WWII aircraft.
Downsview Park is home to attractions like the Discovery Centre and Film Studios along with tenants such as the Air and Space Museum, Defcon Paintball, Grand Prix Kartways, HoopDome and other exciting venues. The park also hosts a variety of events throughout the year including fall fairs, street hockey tournaments, Earth Day festivals in springtime, the Trail of Lights during Christmas and Canada Day celebrations. With its range of facilities and events on offer Downsview Park is set to become a destination in Toronto.
There are plenty of fun activities to enjoy at the parks and recreational facilities in this area. From playgrounds for children to dog parks for our friends. There’s something for everyone.In Lansing Westgate there are a total of 27 facilities spread across 11 parks averaging to 2 facilities, per park.
- Number of Parks: 11
- Number of Recreation Facilities: 27
Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks
- Playgrounds – 5
- Dog Park – 1
- Tennis Courts – 4
- Ball Diamond – 1
- Community Centre – 1
- Splash Pad – 1
- Winter Sports Facilities – 2
- Outdoor Games Facilities – 3
- Trails – 5
- Arts/Performance Facilities – 2
- Fitness/Weight Room – 1
- Gym – 1
Lansing, Toronto Transit
The bus service that runs along Sheppard Avenue, Bathurst Street, Yonge Street and Senlac Road connects passengers to the Sheppard subway station, on the Yonge University Spadina subway line. Residents of Lansing can easily reach this Sheppard subway station on foot.
Yonge Street offers a route to downtown Toronto with a travel time of twenty five minutes. Commuters from Lansing have access to the Yonge Street on ramp to Highway 401 situated south of Sheppard Avenue.
Within this neighbourhood there are a total of 104 transit stops, including Wilson Station. Residents here use a combination of vehicles and public transportation for their commute, within the city.
Commute Destination for Residents
- Commute within the city – 82%
- Commute to another city – 18%
Commute Types
- Vehicle – 50%
- Transit – 40%
- Walk/bike – 6%
Commute Times of Residents
- 15 to 29 minutes – 24%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 31%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 18%
- 60 minutes and over – 12%
- Less than 15 minutes – 13%
Lansing, Toronto Elementary, Secondary High Schools
In Lansing Westgate there are elementary and secondary schools, along with special programs for both levels. The neighbourhood is served by a total of 9 schools, 6 Catholic schools and 8 private schools. Notable special programs available at these schools include French Immersion, Montessori education, Gifted/Talented Programs Advanced Placement courses and the International Baccalaureate program.
- Public Schools: 9
- Catholic Schools: 6
- Private Schools: 8
Public
- Willowdale Middle School
- Dublin Heights Elementary and Middle School
- Summit Heights Public School
- Cameron Public School
- William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
- Northview Heights Secondary School
- ÉÉ Paul-Demers
- Churchill Public School
- ÉS Étienne-Brûlé
Catholic
- St. Margaret Catholic School
- St. Robert Catholic School
- St. Cyril Catholic School
- St. Edward Catholic School
- ÉSC Monseigneur-de-Charbonnel
- ÉÉC Saint-Noël-Chabanel-Toronto
Private
- Crown Academy
- Prestige School
- Apollo High School
- Pine Lake Montessori School
- Don Valley Academy
- Duke Academy
- Clinton International College
- Little Owl School
Lansing, Toronto Homes
The streets of Lansing are lined with swaying pine trees and majestic old maple trees that beautifully complement the array of Edwardian, Tudor, English Cottage and Craftsman style homes that were originally constructed in this area, between the 1920s and 1940s. Over the years many of the bungalows have been acquired by developers who have replaced them with custom built residences.
Notable historical residences in this neighbourhood include the Joseph Shepard house from around 1835 situated at 90 Bundle Avenue The Michael Shepard house circa 1859 which now serves as the York Cemetery office; the Joseph Shepard House/Dempsey Brothers Store dating back to, around 1860 located at 250 Beecroft Road; and the former home of artist and Group of Seven member Frank Carmichael built in approximately 1918 at 21 Cameron Avenue.
In this locality there is a mix of condominiums and apartments. The neighbourhood boasts a population with 48% of households having relocated within the past five years and about 18% having moved within the previous year. It comprises a blend of newer dwellings catering to both homeowners and renters