Earlscourt

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Earlscourt
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      History:

      The Earlscourt neighbourhood was settled in 1906 by labourers from the British Isles. In addition to their work at the local factories, Earlscourt families would toil day and night building meagre tar and paper shacks, as temporary homes until enough money was saved to build a proper brick house. The spiritual leader of the Earlscourt community during these difficult times was the Reverend Peter Bryce. Each night, Bryce would trek through Earlscourt’s muddy streets, aided only by a lantern and a pair of high boots. His visits were said to have offered hope and inspiration to many families. The quality of life in Earlscourt began to improve once it was annexed by the City of Toronto, in 1910.

      Ed Note: During World War I, Earlscourt’s enlistment rate per capita was among the highest in the British Empire. This wave of patriotism prompted the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) to visit the Veterans’ section of Prospect Cemetery in 1919. The Prince of Wales planted a Silver Maple tree which is still standing and from whose seeds a great number of Prospect Cemetery’s majestic maples have been propagated.

      Overview:

      Since the 1960’s the Earlscourt neighbourhood has been recognized as the business and cultural centre of Toronto’s Italian community. However in recent years the ethnic mix in this neighbourhood has begun to change as Canadians of West Indian, Portuguese, Greek, Latin American, and East Indian descent have begun moving into the area. Earlscourt is also being rediscovered by Anglo-Canadians from other parts of Toronto.

      Lifestyle:

      The Corso Italia Shopping district along St. Clair Avenue West, has a lively Italian atmosphere that emanates from its open air cafes and bistros. Corso Italia has been dubbed Hollywood North because of the many major motion pictures that have been filmed on location here.

      Homes:

      Earlscourt’s solid brick homes were built mostly between 1910 and 1950. There is a good mix of detached and semi-detached houses, as well as bungalows. Most of the houses contain a Cantina, which is the Italian equivalent of a cold cellar. You will be hard pressed to find a backyard with a lawn, instead these areas are reserved for fruit and vegetable gardens.

      Recreation:

      Earlscourt Park, located along St. Clair Avenue West, is one of Toronto’s busiest parks. This thirty-six acre park includes four tennis courts, soccer fields, a baseball diamond and an outdoor ice rink. The Joseph J. Piccininni Community Centre is located right next to Earlscourt Park. This modern facility boasts an indoor soccer field and probably the only indoor ñbocceî courts in Canada. It also has a twenty-five metre swimming pool, a gymnasium, and a seniors lounge. The Dufferin/St. Clair Library, contains the largest collection of Italian books in the city’s public library system. The St. Clair-Silverthorn Library reflects the area’s diverse population by offering books in many languages, including Italian, Greek, and Punjabi.

      Transportation:

      The St. Clair West streetcar takes passengers through a scenic route to the St. Clair station on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. At the south end of Earlscourt there is a limited bus service on Davenport Road. Motorists are within fifteen minutes of downtown Toronto and are approximately ten minutes from the Allen Expressway which provides commuters with access to Toronto’s major highways.

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          Earlscourt Stats

          Walkability:

          High

          Bikeability:

          Low

          Public Transit:

          Medium

          Affordability:

          Medium

          Greenspace:

          Medium

          Recreation:

          High

           

          Legend: Low, Medium, High

          Commute Times

          Time to Closest Shopping Mall:
          20 Minutes
          Time To TTC Station:
          5 Minutes
          Time to GO Bus or Train Station:
          25 Minutes
          Time To Hospital:
          20 Minutes
          Time to Toronto Pearson International Airport
          35 Minutes
          Time to Closest Highway:
          25 Minutes

          * All commuting times provided are approximate times only. Commute times may increase or decrease depending on where you live within the neighbourhood and the time of day i.e rush hour versus off hour commutes. Time estimates to public transit are based on walking distance or bus line connection whichever is quicker. All other commute times on the chart above are based on drive times.

          School Guide

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          Toronto School Resources

          Editor’s Note. BEFORE MOVING INTO, BUYING OR RENTING A HOME, PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL YOU ARE CONSIDERING BY PHONE to ensure your home is within the designated boundaries and that your child is age appropriate. WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISINFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SO DO NOT ASSUME that your child can automatically attend a specific school or specialized program until you have official confirmation from that school. Please visit the school board web sites for more information.