Runnymede is a community that caters to families offering priced homes, a variety of schools and easy access to shopping and transportation. Situated amidst Toronto’s neighbourhoods, like Baby Point, Bloor West Village and High Park.
The residential vibe of this area changes slightly along its edge where Dundas Street West hosts commercial establishments. Beyond Dundas Street lie industrial areas and the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks.
History Of Runnymede, Toronto
The Runnymede neighbourhood was established on land that once belonged to John Scarlett, who arrived in the area in 1808 and became known for owning mills by the Humber River.
In 1838 Scarlett constructed a cottage style residence called “Runnymede” at the current crossroads of Dundas and Runnymede Roads. Although the original Runnymede house is no longer present, various local landmarks such as Runnymede High School, Runnymede Hospital and churches bear its name.
According to the Charles Goad Atlas map from 1893 all streets in this area were. Named,. Only a few houses were constructed in Runnymede until the early 1900s.
Lifestyle
Residents in Runnymede have a range of shopping choices at their disposal. Jane Street offers a selection of stores, such as a pharmacy, a local grocery store, antique shops and various other retail outlets. Meanwhile Annette Street is centreed around a discount store. Also boasts local eateries, hair salons, professional services and additional retail options.
Moving over to Dundas Street situated east of Jane Street it attracts both locals and visitors from the region. This bustling commercial area is home to two shopping plazas, fast food joints, bars and restaurants, gas stations and auto repair shops, fitness centres and martial arts schools, as beer and liquor outlets. Notably a new Loblaws supermarket has recently opened on Dundas Street near Humbercrest Boulevard.
Runnymede, Toronto Parks & Facilities
Residents of Runnymede enjoy proximity to Etienne BržlŽ and Home Smith parks, located by the Humber River. These beautiful parks offer walking, jogging, cycling trails as fishing spots and areas for family picnics.
Runnymede Park, a park north of Cobalt Avenue near the railway tracks provides a variety of amenities such as a playground for children, a wading pool and sports fields. It is also home to the George Bell Arena where local ice hockey leagues frequently play.
The Jane Dundas Library on 620 Jane Street is a resource offering books, CDs, videos and engaging library programs.
Runnymede Bloor West Village boasts parks with playgrounds, for children and dedicated dog areas. This neighbourhood features three parks with a total of nine facilities. On average each park offers three facilities for residents to enjoy.
- Number of Parks: 3
- Number of Recreation Facilities: 9
Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks
- Playgrounds – 2
- Dog Park – 1
- Pool – 1
- Tennis Courts – 2
- Sports Field – 1
- Track – 1
- Splash Pad – 1
Runnymede, Toronto Transit
Residents of Runnymede enjoy access to transportation. Bus routes along Jane, Annette and Dundas Streets connect with Bloor Danforth subway line stations. The Jane station on Bloor Street is within a fifteen to twenty minute walking distance from the majority of homes in the area.
Dundas and Bloor Streets serve as east west routes offering motorists routes to downtown Toronto in around twenty to twenty five minutes. For those heading out of the city Black Creek Drive is located five minutes north. Provides connections to Toronto’s commuter highways.
Runnymede Bloor West Village boasts 93 transit stops, including the Old Mill Station. The neighbourhood accommodates a mix of commuters who rely on both vehicles and public transit within the city.
Commute Destination for Residents
- Commute within the city – 80%
- Commute to another city – 19%
Commute Types
- Vehicle – 48%
- Transit – 41%
- Walk/bike – 10%
Commute Times of Residents
- 15 to 29 minutes – 19%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 37%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 23%
- 60 minutes and over – 11%
- Less than 15 minutes – 8%
Runnymede, Toronto Elementary, Secondary High Schools
In Runnymede Bloor West Village you’ll find notch elementary and high schools along, with specialized programs for both levels. The area boasts a total of 8 schools, 7 Catholic schools, 2 private institutions and 1 alternative/special school catering to the community. Notably the schools in this neighbourhood offer programs such, as French Immersion and International Baccalaureate.
- Public Schools: 8
- Catholic Schools: 7
- Private Schools: 2
Public
- Humberside Collegiate Institute
- ÉÉ Charles-Sauriol
- Lambton Park Community School
- Runnymede Jr & Sr Public School
- Runnymede Collegiate Institute
- Humbercrest Public School
- ÉS Toronto Ouest
- King George Junior Public School
Catholic
- James Culnan Catholic School
- St. Pius X Catholic School
- ÉÉC Sainte-Marguerite-d’Youville
- St. Demetrius Catholic School
- St. Josaphat Catholic School
- St. James Catholic School
- ÉSC Saint-Frère-André
Private
- Summit Micro School
- Tamarack West Outdoor School
Runnymede, Toronto Homes
The charming streets of Runnymede are filled with a range of homes, from Victorian mansions along Windermere Avenue and St. Johns Road to cozy English Cottage and Tudor style houses on Humbercrest Boulevard. You’ll find a mix of bungalows from eras along with duplexes, triplexes and various types of detached and semi detached homes.
The unique charm of Runnymede homes stems from their construction over decades spanning from around 1890 to 1950. These houses showcase a variety of exteriors such as wood, insulbrick, frame siding, stucco, brick and stone. Many homes in Runnymede boast gambrel roofs that exude a barn charm of the early 1900s.