Willowdale Rising

Jacob Park
Jul 22, 2017 · 6 min read
Yonge and FInch, image by Steve Shew

Willowdale (North York) Profile

Councillor — John Filion (Ward 23 — Willowdale)
MP — Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale Federal Riding)
MPP — David Zimmer (Willowdale Provincial Riding)

On the southeast corner of Yonge and Sheppard sits the big, shiny, and new Hullmark Centre — just one example of ongoing change to this urban growth centre. Urban growth is ruled by a market that decides what has value and what can be discarded. The shift from small single-family houses to new townhouse and condo developments has altered the look of the Willowdale district in North York.

Along Sheppard Avenue east of Yonge Street, many of the bungalows have been converted to offices for dentists and lawyers, while others offer shiatsu and psychic readings. These small dwellings however, serve as a reminder to the postwar development that was popular in the 1950s.

The Hullmark Centre, image by Jimmy Wu

Demand for density and intensification has led to increased development that includes retail and entertainment within walking distance. It is a drastic change from car-dominated developments in most Canadian cities, where services are a drive away.

With a population of 120,000, Willowdale is home to a diverse group of residents. Aside from English, other languages with a large number of speakers include Korean, Chinese, Farsi, and Russian.

Early History

For thousands of years, Willowdale (and the land surrounding Lake Ontario) was home to the Iroquois (or Haudenosaunee). The soil was fertile for corn-agriculture and the region had plentiful deer, migratory birds and wild turkey for hunting. Muskrat and beaver were also hunted in the winter.

Local wildlife

The Don River was rich in salmon deposits and offered a portage route to Holland River, which leads to Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay. Archeological evidence has discovered many Iroquoian villages, burial sites, and hunting camps located along the Don River.

The Don River

The Mississaugas, an Algonquin-speaking clan that descended from the Anishinaabe, migrated south from Lake Huron to Willowdale (and Toronto-area), encroaching on Iroquois territory. And thus began a long-standing war between the two factions.

There were periods of peace as well. A truce was made between the clans when both the Iroquois and Mississaugas wanted access to the Humber River. The river offered a trade route to Albany, where both clans could trade fur for higher prices.

War would break out again however, towards the end of the 1600s. By 1720, the Iroquois retreated south to present-day upstate New York. The Mississaugas established themselves in Willowdale, having gained territorial control of southern Ontario.

When the British arrived to the Toronto-area in 1760, the Mississaugas were decimated as European disease epidemics wiped out much of their population.

A series of treaties between the colonists and the Mississaugas, known as the Toronto Purchase, began in 1787 and concluded in 1805. The treaties involved the systematic transfer of land from the Mississaugas to the British.

Ratification of the Toronto Purchase in 1805

The treaties were written in a language the Mississauga chiefs did not understand, with large discrepancies between verbal and written agreements. This misunderstanding led to the greatest con job in Canadian history: the Mississaugas squandered away 250,808 acres (101,498 ha) of land for next to nothing.

Colonization

The Toronto Purchase paved the way for the founding of the Willowdale settlement. One of the earliest settlers was Jacob Cummer, whom Cummer Avenue is named after. Cummer arrived in 1797 as an American refugee, following the Revolutionary War. He was a farmer, craftsman, and entrepreneur who owned a saw-mill near the Don River by 1819.

The East Don Parkland intersects with Cummer Avenue

David Gibson was another prominent member of the Willowdale settlement. A land surveyor by trade, Gibson helped establish the “Willow Dale” post office — named after the many willow trees in the area. His residence was built in 1851 and still stands today on 5172 Yonge Street. The Gibson House has since been converted to a historic house museum.

The postal village of Willow Dale covered the area from Finch Avenue to the north, Elmwood Avenue to the south, Bathurst Street to the west, and Bayview Avenue to the east. As its population grew, it amalgamated with nearby postal villages Newton Brook and Lansing to form Willowdale as it is today.

The Sheppard Line

The Sheppard Line opened on 22 November 2002 — Toronto’s first new subway line since 1966. The 5.5km line cost $1 billion (CAD) and took 7.5 years to complete. 5 stops span between Yonge Street and Don Mills Road along Sheppard Avenue East. A stop was initially planned at Willowdale Avenue but was scrapped due to neighbourhood opposition. All stations are wheelchair accessible and designed with unique public art.

Leslie Station on Line 4

To help riders and visitors navigate the system, the TTC announced plans to number the lines in October 2013. The Sheppard Line was renamed Line 4 with new signage being implemented in March 2014.

With a total ridership of 47,000 on an average weekday, Line 4 has often been criticized as a “subway to nowhere.” But since its inception, many high-rise condo towers have sprung up along Sheppard and marketed as “transit-oriented developments.” Many of the new developments have been in the vicinity of Bayview, Bessarion and Don Mills stations.

Bessarion Station is currently the least used station out of the TTC’s 69 stations, but that may soon change. The Concord Park Place condo development is under construction near Bessarion Station. It will be a glass-tower community very much in the style of CityPlace.

“Finding Bessarion”, a short documentary by urban explorer Jeremy Woodcock

When the transit expansion plan, Transit City, was released under former Toronto Mayor David Miller, plans included extending Line 4 from Don Mills Station to Morningside Road. A light-rail vehicle would be used in the eastern extension from Don Mills Station. The election of Rob Ford as mayor in 2010 however, brought an end to those ideas as Transit City was immediately cancelled. Construction of the Sheppard East LRT has since been deferred indefinitely.

Re-Imagining Yonge Street

As North York Centre transforms into a transit-oriented and mixed-use area, improving the streetscape for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users will play a key role in supplanting Willowdale as an urban growth centre.

The first phase of the Re-Imagining Yonge Street plan aims to address the stretch of Yonge Street between Bishop/Hendon Avenue to Sheppard Avenue; it entails the space east to Doris Avenue and west to Beecroft Road. The study will eventually extend to Steeles Avenue to the north, York Mills Road/Wilson Avenue to the south, Bathurst Street to the west, and Bayview Avenue to the east.

Study area of Re-Imagining Yonge Street

Building a welcoming community begins by integrating current public spaces into the street life. The major public spaces along Yonge Street between Finch and Sheppard include Olive Square, Mel Lastman Square, and the Joseph Shepard Federal Building.

Improving street design for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as traffic flow for vehicles will require reducing Yonge Street from 6 lanes to 4. Sidewalks can then be widened to accommodate foot traffic and outdoor patios which enhances the street life. Adding more trees and street furniture would further beautify this corridor.

Preliminary plans for Re-Imagining Yonge Street

A grade-separated bike lane would also be installed on Yonge Street, between Bishop/Hendon to Sheppard. An alternative option will be developed as well for cycling facilities on Doris Avenue and/or Beecroft Road. Public consultation, including consultation with local businesses, will be vital in studying the secondary alternative option.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade