History of Westbrook
Westbrooks Twickenham Park derives its name from Twickenham Farm, a known landmark, in the Richmond Hill countryside. Captain Larratt Smith acquired Twickenham Farm in 1836 after immigrating to Canada from England in 1831 with his wife Mary and their four children.
Revered Toronto historian and author Dr. Henry Scadding depicted Twickenham Farm as an English style residence with lawns, surrounding plantations and winding drives. The Smith family held a position within Torontos society circles and warmly welcomed numerous visitors at Twickenham.
Despite the allure of Twickenham Mary Smith longed for her homeland. Returned to England with Captain Smith in 1844. However their son Larratt Smith chose to remain in Toronto where he led a life. He served as Vice Chancellor of the University of Toronto.
Held positions in several prominent Canadian corporations such as Consumers Gas Company, the Bank of Upper Canada and the Grand Trunk Telegraph Co. among others. Additionally Smith was honored as a life senator at the University of Toronto.
Served as a Bencher for the Upper Canada Law Society. Noteworthy, for his philanthropy efforts too he generously donated 100 acres of his Toronto Summerhill estate to the City of Toronto.
Lifestyle
Upper Yonge Place, situated at 10909 Yonge Street is home, to a Loblaws grocery store and the Imagine Cinemas. This mall offers a range of dining options. Also houses medical and professional offices. On the hand North Elgin Centre, located at 11005 Yonge Street is a shopping plaza that features a Bulk Barn, McDonalds and Tim Hortons as its main attractions.
Elgin West Community Centre and Pool
The Elgin West Community Centre and Pool located on Bathurst Street is a state of the art facility that offers an pool, with multiple lanes complete with a fun waterslide and a separate pool for the little ones. Additionally you’ll find a gymnasium and various meeting rooms within the centre. Behind the community centre lies a trail where you can enjoy a stroll along with a delightful playground for children.
If you’re looking for some greenery Twickenham Park is the spot, in our neighbourhood. It boasts the greenspace. Offers an enjoyable walking trail that provides stunning views of a serene pond.
Transit
Westbrook has a total of 114 transit stops. The majority of people, in Westbrook rely on vehicles, for their commute with many traveling to cities.
Destination of Residents Commute
- Commute within the city – 23%
- Commute to another city – 76%
Various Modes of Commuting
- Vehicle – 81%
- Transit – 14%
- Walk/bike – 1%
Duration of Residents Commutes
- 15 to 29 minutes – 23%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 27%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 14%
- 60 minutes and over – 22%
- Less than 15 minutes – 11%
Westbrook Elementary, Secondary High Schools
Westbrook boasts elementary and secondary schools offering a variety of special programs. The education system consists of 8 schools, 4 Catholic schools and 1 alternative/special school. Some of the programs, in local schools include French Immersion, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Fine Arts and a program, for Gifted/Talented students.
- Public Schools: 8
- Catholic Schools: 4
Public
- Beverley Acres PS
- Alexander MacKenzie HS
- ÉS Norval-Morrisseau
- Trillium Woods PS
- Richmond Hill HS
- Michaëlle Jean PS
- Silver Pines PS
- Académie de la Moraine
Catholic
- St Theresa of Lisieux Catholic HS
- Father Henri Nouwen Catholic ES
- ÉÉC Le-Petit-Prince
- ÉSC Renaissance
Alternative/Special
- YRDSB Continuing Education
Westbrook Parks & Facilities
It’s really enjoyable to explore the parks and recreational facilities here. In Westbrook you can find parks, with playgrounds for children sports parks and even nature parks. There are a total of 16 parks, in Westbrook offering a range of 39 facilities. On average each park has around 2 facilities to offer.
- Number of Parks: 16
- Number of Recreation Facilities: 39
Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks
- Playgrounds – 11
- Pool – 1
- Tennis Courts – 5
- Basketball Courts – 4
- Sports Fields – 3
- Community Centre – 1
- Splash Pads – 2
- Sports Court – 1
- Trails – 9
- Nature Centre – 1
- Gym – 1
Westbrook Homes
Westbrook is predominantly made up of brick houses with attached garages to the ones you might have seen in newer residential areas. The lots are larger, than average. The homes are beautifully maintained with landscaping. The streets have a layout and the hilly terrain provides homeowners with picturesque views and ample natural light.