Downsview

Downsview
Downsview
Neighbourhood
	Jane-Exbury Towers in Downsview
	Downsview
	Coordinates: 43°43′56″N79°29′36″W / 43.73222°N 79.49333°W
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
City	Toronto
Municipality established	1850 York Township
Changed municipality	1922 North York from York Township
Changed municipality	1998 Toronto from North York
Population (2021)
• Total	39,385
• Density	2,337/km2 (6,050/sq mi)

Last updated September 30, 2024

Downsview is a neighbourhood in the north end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located in the district of North York. The area takes its name from the Downs View farm established around 1842 near the present-day intersection of Keele Street and Wilson Avenue.^[2] It now extends beyond the intersection of Sheppard Avenue and Dufferin Street (the latter which is bypassed by Allen Road in the vicinity of the intersection), though it is popularly seen as including the areas to the north right up to the Toronto city limit at Steeles Avenue. The area includes several large post-World War II subdivisions. Within the area is Downsview Airport, the former site of Canadian Forces Base Downsview, which has since been largely converted following the end of the Cold War into an urban park known as Downsview Park. The airport is still used as a manufacturing and testing facility for Bombardier Aerospace. As of the 2021 census, the Downsview-Roding-CFB neighbourhood was split into the two neighbourhoods of Downsview (east of Roding Street west of Allan Road and between Sheppard Avenue and Highway 401) and Oakdale–Beverley Heights (west of Roding Street east of the CP Rail line just west of Highway 400 also between Sheppard Avenue and Highway 401).

Description

From the east side of Dufferin Street to areas to the east, the area is primarily residential, while to the west, the district is industrial. In the western section is the large Downsview Park district which has served as a military base but is now being redeveloped into parkland and mixed uses. West of Downsview Park, are several residential subdivisions. Most of the houses in Downsview were built immediately post-war and into the 1960s, though some houses and condos have been recently built near Sheppard West station. North of Downsview Park is a large industrial-commercial area.

Immediately beside Dufferin Street, William R. Allen Road brings large traffic volumes from the Ontario Highway 401 exit to the south. The main arterial streets are Sheppard Avenue and Wilson Avenue running east–west and Keele Street and Jane Street running north–south. The major streets have retail businesses along the frontage and the businesses along Wilson Avenue south of Downsview Park have organized the Wilson Village BIA. There is a large "big box" retail area south of Wilson between Dufferin Street and Allen Road.

History

The area is named for the farm settled by Justice of the Peace John Perkins Bull called Downs View in 1842 near Keele Street and Rustic Road, then in York County, Upper Canada.^[2] For over a century, the area was an agricultural community with a post office, schoolhouse, and general store.^[2] The centre of the community was the Downsview Methodist Church (now Downsview United Church) on Keele Street, which was erected in 1870 and designated a Toronto Heritage Property in 2008.^[3] Other historical landmarks from this period include The George Jackson House, which was also designated heritage property. In 1850, the area became part of York Township, and in 1927, became part of North York Township, which eventually became the City of North York. In 1998, the area became part of the city of Toronto.

In April 1929, William De Havilland bought 70 acres (28 ha) of farmland to build a manufacturing facility for De Havilland Canada. The facility was expanded during the 1930s and particularly during the Second World War, and became Canada's largest supplier of military, civilian and government-owned aircraft, as well as the site of several aviation firsts and record-breaking flights.^[2] In the early Cold War period, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) built up the area as a major air station and logistics support base. In 1954, the RCAF built a large supply depot that served as the central stores for the RCAF. The building currently houses the Downsview Park Merchant's Market.^[2]

In the 1950s, the Ontario provincial government developed the Downsview Complex, which currently houses a number of provincial offices, as well as a detachment from the Ontario Provincial Police. In 1969, a large residential complex of five 19-storey high apartment buildings, known as Jane-Exbury Towers, was completed in 1969. Designed by architect Uno Prii, they are noted for their mid-century expressionist features.^[4]

The military base and the de Havilland company, including the runway and all buildings, was closed and sold to Bombardier Aerospace in 1994. Bombardier has been manufacturing and testing commercial aircraft on the site since then. Some 1000 de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito aircraft were built by the company at Downsview during the Second World War.

On August 10, 2008, just before 4 a.m., massive explosions occurred at the Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases propane facility, at 54 Murray Rd., located immediately north-east of the intersection of Keele Street and Wilson Avenue. An employee of the facility and a firefighter were killed as a result of the explosions. Mayor David Miller had publicly expressed his condolences to the families of the victims shortly thereafter.^[5]

Redevelopment of the Downsview Complex began in 2011. The redevelopment of the complex saw the completion of the Humber River Hospital, which was opened in 2015.^[6] The acute care hospital is situated on Wilson Avenue and Keele Street.

Demographics

Total population (2021): 39,385^[1]

Downsview: 17,970
Oakdale–Beverley Heights: 21,415

Major ethnic populations, Downsview (2021):

44.5% White; 22.3% Italian , 4.5% Portuguese
19.3% Filipino
8.8% Black; 2.3% Jamaican
6.9% Latin American (of any race)
5.0% South Asian
2.8% East Indian

Major ethnic populations, Oakdale–Beverley Heights (2021):

30.7% White; 15.8% Italian , 4.9% Portuguese
26.4% Black; 5.8% Jamaican
12.1% Filipino
11.7% Latin American (of any race)
3.4% South Asian
2.3% East Indian

Total population (2016): 35,052^[7]

Major ethnic populations (2016):

42.6% White; 23.4% Italian , 5.2% Portuguese
15.5% Black; 6.7% Jamaican
13.7% Filipino
10.3% Latin American (of any race)
3.9% South Asian
3.6% East Indian

Total population (2011): 34,659^[8]

Major ethnic populations (2011):

47.0% White; 26.3% Italian
17.3% Black; 7.6% Jamaican
9.2% Filipino
8.8% Latin American (of any race)
4.3% South Asian

Total population (2006): 31,960^[9]

Major ethnic populations (2006):

51.6% White; 30.6% Italian
14.4% Black; 5.6% Jamaican
10.2% Latin American (of any race)
7.0% South Asian
5.4% Filipino
5.3% East Indian

Total population (2001): 34,220^[10]

Major ethnic populations (2001):

55.5% White; 28.7% Italian
13.4% Black; 7.0% Jamaican
9.7% Latin American (of any race)
5.6% South Asian
4.7% East Indian
3.4% Filipino

Education

Two public school boards operate schools in Downsview, the separate Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), and the secular Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Both school boards also operate a public secondary schools in the neighbourhood. TCDSB operates Madonna Catholic Secondary School, an all-girls secondary school, whereas TDSB operates Downsview Secondary School. TCDSB and TDSB also operate several public institutions in Downsview that offer primary education. They include:

Ancaster Public School (TDSB)
Beverley Heights Middle School (TDSB)
Blaydon Public School (TDSB)
Calico Public School (TDSB)
Chalkfarm Public School (TDSB)
Downsview Public School (TDSB)
Highview Public School (TDSB)
Pierre Laporte Middle School (TDSB)
St. Andre Catholic School (TCDSB)
St. Conrad Catholic School (TCDSB)
St. Martha Catholic School (TCDSB)
St. Norbert Catholic School (TCDSB)
St. Raphael Catholic School (TCDSB)
Tumpane Public School (TDSB)

The French first language public secular school board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and its separate counterpart, Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir also offer schooling to applicable residents of Downsview, although they do not operate a school in the neighbourhood. CSCM and CSV students attend schools situated in other neighbourhoods in Toronto.

The neighbourhood is also home to Centennial College's Downsview Aerospace campus. The college is a post-secondary institution, with several campuses throughout Toronto.

Recreation

Several municipal parks are situated in Downsview, including Chalkfarm Park, Downsview Dells Park, Oakdale Village Park, and Roding Park. Roding Park is an 8 ha (20 acres) park near Wilson Avenue and Keele Street. Recreational facilities in the park include a baseball diamond, two tennis courts, four bocce courts and a children's playground.^[11] Downsview Dells Park is a large 75 ha (190 acres) park which features wilderness and wetland settings with picnic areas and fire pits. Car parking and washrooms are available within the park.^[12] Within the park is Downsview Dells House, a municipal drug and alcohol treatment facility.^[13] A number of these parks are situated near the valley of the Black Creek, as it flows south and west from Sheppard Avenue midway between Keele and Jane Streets. The valley forms a part of the larger Toronto ravine system.

Municipal parks in Downsview are maintained by the Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division. In addition to parks, the division also operates several community centres in the neighbourhood, including Ancaster Community Centre, Chalkfarm Community Centre, and Roding Community Centre. The Toronto Public Library operates two branches in the neighbourhood, Black Creek branch, and Downsview branch.

The Government of Canada also maintains an urban park in the neighbourhood, known as Downsview Park. The park was formerly used by the Canadian Armed Forces, as CFB Toronto. The park houses several recreational facilities, including practice facilities for the Toronto FC. Downsview Park has also hosted several large public events, including a Papal Mass, attended by 800,000 people on 28 July 2002. The mass was led by Pope John Paul II for World Youth Day. On 30 July 2003, the park also hosted a massive concert known as Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto. The concert was held in support of the City of Toronto after the 2003 SARS outbreak there.

Transportation

Several major roadways serve as the boundary for Downsview, with Sheppard Avenue to the north, Allen Road to the east, Highway 401 to the south, and Highway 400 to the west. The latter two roadways are major controlled access highways that form a part of the province's 400-series highways network. Portions of Allen Road adjacent to Downsview also operate as a controlled access highway, although it is maintained by the City of Toronto, and not the provincial government. Other major thoroughfares in the neighbourhood include Keele Street, a major north–south roadway that runs through Downsview.

Public transportation in Downsview is provided by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The TTC operates several bus routes through the neighbourhood, as well as the Toronto subway. Line 1 of the subway system has two stops in the neighbourhood, Wilson station and Downsview Park station. Another stop on Line 1, Sheppard West station, is situated adjacent of the neighbourhood, on the eastern side of Allen Road. Regional train service by GO Transit stops at the Downsview Park Station.

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References

1 2 "About Neighbourhood Profiles". City of Toronto.
1 2 3 4 5 "Downsview's proud heritage". downsviewlandscommunity.org.
↑ "Heritage Property Detail". City of Toronto. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
↑ "Jane Towers". TO Built. Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
↑ "Thousands Returning Home After Massive T.O. Fire". CTV News. August 10, 2008.
↑ "1201 Wilson Avenue - Rezoning and Plan of Subdivision Applications - Preliminary Report" (PDF). City of Toronto. April 27, 2009.
↑ "2016 Neighborhood Profile Downsview" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
↑ "2011 Neighborhood Profile Downsview" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
↑ "2006 Neighborhood Profile Downsview" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
↑ "2001 Neighborhood Profile Downsview" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
↑ "Roding Park". Parks, Forestry & Recreation. City of Toronto. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
↑ "Downsview Dells Park". Parks, Forestry & Recreation. City of Toronto. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
↑ "Downsview Dells". City of Toronto. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.

External links

Media related to Downsview at Wikimedia Commons

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Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[pop-1] 1 2 "About Neighbourhood Profiles". City of Toronto.

[Downsview's_proud_heritage-2] 1 2 3 4 5 "Downsview's proud heritage". downsviewlandscommunity.org.

[3] "Heritage Property Detail". City of Toronto. Retrieved December 4, 2017.

[4] "Jane Towers". TO Built. Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2014.

[5] "Thousands Returning Home After Massive T.O. Fire". CTV News. August 10, 2008.

[6] "1201 Wilson Avenue - Rezoning and Plan of Subdivision Applications - Preliminary Report" (PDF). City of Toronto. April 27, 2009.

[7] "2016 Neighborhood Profile Downsview" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

[8] "2011 Neighborhood Profile Downsview" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

[9] "2006 Neighborhood Profile Downsview" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

[10] "2001 Neighborhood Profile Downsview" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

[11] "Roding Park". Parks, Forestry & Recreation. City of Toronto. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.

[12] "Downsview Dells Park". Parks, Forestry & Recreation. City of Toronto. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.

[13] "Downsview Dells". City of Toronto. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.

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v t e Neighbourhoods in Toronto
Old Toronto	Alexandra Park Allenby The Annex The Beaches Bedford Park Bickford Park Bloor West Village Bloor Street Culture Corridor Bloordale Village Bracondale Hill Brockton Village Cabbagetown Carleton Village Casa Loma Chaplin Estates Chinatown ( First Chinatown ) Christie Pits Church and Wellesley CityPlace Corktown Corso Italia Corso Italia-Davenport Davenport Davisville Village Deer Park Discovery District Distillery District Downtown Yonge Dovercourt Park Dufferin Grove Earlscourt East Bayfront East Chinatown East Danforth East Toronto Entertainment District Fashion District Financial District Forest Hill Garden District Gerrard India Bazaar Grange Park Greektown Harbord Village Harbourfront High Park North The Junction Junction Triangle Kensington Market Koreatown Lawrence Park Leslieville Liberty Village Little Italy Little Portugal Little Tibet Lytton Park Midtown Moore Park Moss Park Niagara North Toronto Norway Old Town Palmerston Parkdale Playter Estates Port Lands Quayside Queen Street West Railway Lands Regent Park Riverdale Roncesvalles Rosedale Runnymede St. James Town St. Lawrence Seaton Village South Hill South Core Summerhill Swansea Toronto Islands Trefann Court Trinity-Bellwoods Upper Beaches Uptown Toronto Wallace Emerson The Ward West Don Lands (Canary District) Wychwood Park Yonge–Eglinton Yorkville
North York	Amesbury Armour Heights Bathurst Manor Bayview Village Bayview Woods-Steeles Bermondsey Bridle Path Clanton Park Don Mills Don Valley Village Downsview Flemingdon Park Glen Park Graydon Hall Henry Farm Hillcrest Village Hoggs Hollow Humber Summit Humbermede Jane and Finch Lansing Lawrence Heights Lawrence Manor Maple Leaf Newtonbrook North York City Centre Parkway Forest Parkwoods Pelmo Park-Humberlea Pleasant View Rustic Teddington Park Victoria Village Westminster-Branson Willowdale York Mills York University Heights
Scarborough	Agincourt Armadale Bendale Birch Cliff Birchmount Park-Warden Woods Brown's Corners Clairlea Cliffcrest Cliffside Dorset Park Eglinton East Golden Mile Guildwood Highland Creek Ionview L'Amoreaux Malvern Maryvale Milliken Morningside Morningside Heights Oakridge Port Union Rouge Scarborough City Centre Scarborough Junction Scarborough Village Steeles Tam O'Shanter-Sullivan West Hill West Rouge Wexford Woburn
Etobicoke	Alderwood Clairville Eatonville The Elms Eringate-Centennial-West Deane Humber Heights-Westmount Humber Valley Village Humberwood Islington-City Centre West Kingsview Village The Kingsway Long Branch Markland Wood Mimico New Toronto Princess Gardens Rexdale Richview The Queensway-Humber Bay Smithfield Thistletown Thorncrest Village
York	Baby Point Fairbank Humewood–Cedarvale Lambton Little Jamaica Mount Dennis Oakwood Village Old Mill Rockcliffe–Smythe Silverthorn Tichester Weston
East York	Bermondsey Crescent Town Governor's Bridge Leaside O'Connor–Parkview Old East York Pape Village Thorncliffe Park
Italics indicate neighbourhoods now defunct. For information on the evolution of each neighbourhood in general, see History of neighbourhoods in Toronto.