York Mills stands out as one of the neighbourhoods in Toronto. The old mills have given way to office buildings and luxurious condos. Previously Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue were difficult to navigate by car. Now they serve as routes to and from the city centre. Despite these transformations York Mills has retained its charm and natural allure making it a sought after neighbourhood in Toronto.
History Of York Mills, Toronto
“York” refers to the Town of York which eventually evolved into modern day Toronto. On the other hand “Mills” alludes to the grist. Sawmills that operated in this valley from 1804, to 1926 making York Mills a bustling hub of industry during that era. The area boasted establishments like a distillery, a tannery, a blacksmith shop, three churches, a school, a post office and even a toll gate. Notably the historic Jolly Miller Tavern still stands proudly at 3885 Yonge Street. St. John’s Anglican Church, established in 1816 is another landmark in York Mills. The original log church was later replaced by the white brick church in 1844. The church bells at St. Johns continue to chime at noon across the valley cutting through the hum of traffic on Yonge Street below.
The transformation of York Mills from a settlement to a neighbourhood began in the 1930s around St. Johns Church on the hill ridge and along Hedgewood Road south of York Mills Road. In addition to these changes St. Andrews College—a boys school—once owned land extending eastward from Old Yonge Street to Bayview Avenue before relocating north, to Aurora in 1924.
The old grounds of St. Andrew’s College were later bought by St. Andrew’s Estates, which ran a top notch golf course there until the 1950s when the property was sold to real estate developers. St. Andrews Park, Tournament Park and local street names, like Lower Links serve as reminders that this area of York Mills once housed a golf course.
Editor’s Note; E.P. Taylor, a figure in business history oversaw the establishment of York Mills Plaza in 1952 and played a key role in dividing much of York Mills located to the east of Bayview Avenue.
Lifestyle
York Mills Plaza sits conveniently at the intersection of Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road, in the southwest. This bustling outdoor shopping destination is home to a drug store, a supermarket, an eatery, a wine shop, various specialty retail stores and a delightful array of gourmet food shops. On the side at the corner of Bayview and Sheppard Avenues stands the upscale Bayview Village Shopping Centre catering to the upscale market in York Mills. It boasts designer clothing and accessory boutiques, charming gift shops, a magazine and book emporium, jewelry stores and an impressive array of dining options. Moving over to the York Mills Centre on Yonge Street and York Mills Roads corner reveals a mix of retail outlets alongside professional services like medical offices and a food court. Finally St. Andrews Square on Tournament Drive offers a shopping experience with its courtyard setting hosting establishments such as a bank, dry cleaners, video rental shop, restaurant options galore, veterinary services clinic along with professional offices.
York Mills, Toronto Parks & Facilities
York Mills Park, situated at the intersection of York Mills Road and Bayview Avenue, in the southeast is a spot during the summer months for activities. It offers a pool for swimming, a playground for children and a baseball diamond for leagues. Additionally visitors can access Windfields Park from here which boasts a footpath through a valley along Wilkett Creek, a tributary of the Don River.
The park is also home to the York Mills Arena hosting hockey leagues and skating activities all year round. Further north and west of Bayview Avenue are parks. St. Andrews Park is the largest among them featuring serene green spaces ideal for walks and light recreational activities in its valley. Adjacent to St. Andrews Square is Tournament Park with tennis courts and an active club program for tennis enthusiasts. Don Valley Golf Course stands out as one of the most prestigious courses with its classic design by Howard Watson and a variety of holes set in an exhilarating natural environment that poses challenges even to seasoned golfers. Situated at 4200 Yonge St., south of Highway 401 Don Valley Golf Course offers a golfing experience amidst its picturesque setting.
If you’d like to get details or reserve a spot, for golf you can reach out at 416 392 2465. There’s plenty of fun to be had at the parks and recreational spots in the area. The neighbourhood’s parks offer playgrounds, for children, sports areas, dog friendly spaces, ice skating rinks and natural settings. Bridle Path Sunnybrook York Mills boasts a total of 12 parks and 51 recreational facilities altogether. On average each park has 4 facilities
York Mills, Toronto Transit
York Mills benefits greatly from the availability of transportation. Bus routes cover all roads in York Mills, such as York Mills Road, Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue. These routes connect to stations along the Yonge University Spadina subway line. The York Mills subway station, situated at the intersection of Yonge Street and York Mills Road serves as both a Go Transit station. Offers express service to Pearson International Airport. For drivers Yonge Street provides a direct route downtown to Toronto’s business and entertainment areas. Access to Highway 401 can be easily reached via on ramps from either Yonge Street or Bayview Avenue.
In Bridle Path Sunnybrook York Mills there are a total of 230 transit stops with York Mills Station being one of the rail stations available. The area is primarily populated by commuters who rely on vehicles for transportation, within the city with having commute times.
Commute Destination for Residents
- Commute within the city – 83%
- Commute to another city – 16%
- Commute Types
- Vehicle – 72%
- Transit – 18%
- Walk/bike – 5%
Commute Times of Residents
- 15 to 29 minutes – 33%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 37%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 10%
- 60 minutes and over – 5%
- Less than 15 minutes – 12%
York Mills, Toronto Elementary, Secondary High Schools
This area boasts elementary and high schools offering a variety of special programs. The neighbourhood is served by a total of 15 schools, 8 Catholic schools, 4 private schools and 3 alternative/specialized educational institutions. Special programs available at these local schools encompass options, like French Immersion, International Baccalaureate, Special Education, Advanced Placement courses, Gifted/Talented programs and All Male education.
- Public Schools: 15
- Catholic Schools: 8
- Private Schools: 4
Public
- York Mills Collegiate Institute
- Leaside High School
- Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
- Glenview Senior Public School
- ÉÉ Jeanne-Lajoie
- Bedford Park Public School
- ÉS Étienne-Brûlé
- Northern Secondary School
- Windfields Middle School
- St. Andrew’s Middle School
- Owen Public School
- Blythwood Junior Public School
- Armour Heights Public School
- Denlow Public School
- Northlea Elementary and Middle School
Catholic
- St. Anselm Catholic School
- St. Cyril Catholic School
- Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic School
- ÉÉC Sainte-Madeleine
- ÉSC Monseigneur-de-Charbonnel
- Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
- St. Bonaventure Catholic School
- St. Monica Catholic School
Private
- Junior Academy
- Toronto French School
- Crescent School
- Crestwood School
- Alternative/Special
- Park Lane Public School
- Sunny View Junior and Senior Public School
- Bloorview School Authority
York Mills, Toronto Homes
York Mills is well known for its properties, century old trees and beautiful green surroundings. These features create a setting for the executive homes that characterize this neighbourhood. The original housing in York Mills dates back to the 1920s through the 1960s showcasing a variety of styles such as Tudor inspired manors, English Cottage designs and modern layouts. While there are still ranch style bungalows and split level houses in the area they are gradually being replaced by custom built residences. Additionally luxury condominium buildings have been recently constructed amidst the tree filled hills near Yonge Street and York Mills Road intersection. For those looking to enter this community at affordable prices the Bayview Mills condominium townhouses at Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road offer an opportunity.
Editor’s Note; Among the properties in York Mills is a red brick cottage situated at 4111 Yonge Street that was built in the 1830s. This house served as both a residence and studio for Canadian historical artist C.W. Jeffreys from 1914 to 1941. Another notable heritage property is the William and Elizabeth Harrison House, on Harrison Road constructed in the 1830s by one of York Mills earliest settler families.
In the area of Bridle Path Sunnybrook York Mills you’ll find a lot of houses. The neighbourhood has a population with around 35% of households relocating in the five years and 11% in the past year. It features a blend of both modern residences and is predominantly occupied by homeowners.