Weston maintains its small town charm amidst the landscape with the Humber River and the Railway standing, as historical landmarks. The community’s strong sense of pride is showcased along Weston Road, the main street adorned with vibrant green and gold signs that warmly greet visitors. Notably Weston Road transforms into a parade route, for the annual Weston Santa Claus Parade scheduled this year on November 29th.
History Of Weston, Toronto
Weston has a history dating back to the 1700s when it was a small village known simply as “The Humber”. The initial settlers of Weston were mill owners who were drawn to the area because of its timber resources and the potential for water powered mills along the Humber River.
The name “Weston” was given by the Wadsworth brothers who arrived in 1828 purchased a flour mill and a general store. They decided to name the community after their hometown in Weston super Mare, Somerset, England.
During its development Weston expanded on both sides of the Humber River. However in 1850 a severe flood devastated the settlement on the west bank. The fortunes of Weston changed for the better with the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1856 followed by the Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway in 1869. The introduction of railways and related industries brought prosperity to Weston.
Incorporated as a village in 1881 and later as a town, in 1915 Weston remained a municipality until it merged with York Borough in 1967. York Borough itself amalgamated with Toronto City in 1998.
Lifestyle
Weston Road is the street in this neighbourhood particularly when it comes to shopping. With its cast iron street lamps and distinctive blue and white signs it proudly signifies the Town of Weston to all passers by. This bustling street offers a variety of establishments ranging from car dealerships and fast food joints to quaint stores.
Located south of Highway 401 the Crossroads Centre, on Weston Road is a retail hub housing a diverse selection of popular national chain stores.
Weston, Toronto Parks & Facilities
Weston, a town in Ontario proudly displays its motto “Home of the Bicycle” on all its street signs. This motto pays tribute to the Canada Cycle and Motor Company that was once headquartered in Weston until 1970, known as one of the world’s bicycle manufacturers. While Weston no longer produces bicycles it boasts a bike path along the Humber River leading to the Martin Goodman Trail on the Toronto waterfront.
Lions Park, situated on Hickory Tree Road with a view of the Humber River stands as Westons park. It offers amenities such as four tennis courts, two baseball diamonds, two swimming pools, a snack bar and a children’s playground. Additionally Lions Park is home to the Weston Lions Recreation Arena providing ice rentals and banquet hall services. Notably NHL All Star Paul Coffey honed his skills in the Weston Minor Hockey League based at this arena.
The prestigious Weston Golf and Country Club on St. Phillips Road hosted the 1955 Canadian Open where golf legend Arnold Palmer clinched his tournament victory.
Residents can enjoy facilities in Weston including parks with playgrounds for children, sports parks for activities, like skating and other fun outdoor pursuits.
In this area there are 13 parks, with a total of 35 facilities. On average each park has 2 facilities.
- Number of Parks: 13
- Number of Recreation Facilities: 35
Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks
- Playgrounds – 10
- Pools – 3
- Arena – 1
- Rink – 1
- Tennis Courts – 4
- Basketball Court – 1
- Ball Diamonds – 3
- Sports Fields – 2
- Track – 1
- Splash Pad – 1
- Skateboard Park – 1
- Trails – 6
- Arts/Performance Facility – 1
Weston, Toronto Transit
The buses running along Weston Road and Jane Street conveniently link up with stops, along the Bloor Danforth subway line. If you hop on a bus on Lawrence Avenue you can easily reach the Lawrence subway station on the Yonge University Spadina subway line. Additionally Weston boasts its Go Train station situated at Lawrence Avenue West and Weston Road.
Both Weston Road and Jane Street offer drivers routes to Highways 400 and 401 as well as connections to key roads like Eglinton Avenue that lead straight into downtown Toronto.
Within this neighbourhood there are a total of 114 transit stops for commuters. The rail stations in the area include Weston GO. Residents here tend to use a mix of vehicles and public transit for their commute with many traveling within the city’s limits.
Commute Destination for Residents
- Commute within the city – 73%
- Commute to another city – 26%
Commute Types
- Vehicle – 56%
- Transit – 38%
- Walk/bike – 3%
Commute Times of Residents
- 15 to 29 minutes – 25%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 28%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 14%
- 60 minutes and over – 22%
- Less than 15 minutes – 9%
Weston, Toronto Elementary, Secondary High Schools
This area boasts schools, top notch high schools and unique special programs, for secondary education. In total there are 10 schools, 7 Catholic schools, 3 private schools and 1 alternative/special school catering to the community. Notably the local schools offer programs such, as the International Baccalaureate and Special Education School.
- Public Schools: 10
- Catholic Schools: 7
- Private Schools: 3
Public
- ÉÉ Félix-Leclerc
- Weston Memorial Junior Public School
- ÉS Jeunes sans frontières
- Pelmo Park Public School
- H. J. Alexander Community School
- C. R. Marchant Middle School
- Amesbury Middle School
- Brookhaven Public School
- Portage Trail Community School
- Weston Collegiate Institute
Catholic
- ÉÉC Saint-Noël-Chabanel-Toronto
- ÉÉC Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
- ÉSC Monseigneur-de-Charbonnel
- ÉSC Saint-Frère-André
- St. John the Evangelist Catholic School
- St. Bernard Catholic School
- St. Demetrius Catholic School
Private
- Acacia International High School
- Gap Academy
- Kisomo International Collegiate
Weston, Toronto Homes
Weston boasts an array of Victorian style homes dating back to its early days as a village in the mid to late 1800s. These historic gems along with some Edwardian style houses from the 1900s are situated south of Church Street and the Humber Memorial Church Hospital.
The northern areas of Weston near Pelmo Park and Fairglen Crescent were not originally part of Old Weston. These neighbourhoods were developed between the 1940s and early 1960s featuring a mix of Tudor ranch style bungalows, as well as back and side split houses.
The high rise apartment buildings along Weston Road were constructed in the 1950s and early 1960s. Most of these units are located on the side of Weston Road offering picturesque views overlooking the Humber River Valley.
The resurgence of interest in Weston has led to an influx of housing developments in this community.
Within this area there is predominately a mix of condominiums and apartments. The neighbourhood maintains a population base with around 40% of households having relocated within the five years and 13% within the last year. Characterized by residences it is primarily occupied by renters.