Living in Alderwood
Alderwood is a well established family oriented neighbourhood situated in the south-west part of Toronto. Alderwood has a strong home and school association and a privately run day care facility called “Alderwood Action Alliance” which operates out of Sir Adam Beck School. This neighbourhood is bordered on the west by the Etobicoke Creek Valley and to the east by light industry which includes corporate giants such as Chrysler Canada Ltd. and Domtar Packaging. Alderwood residents are proud of the Sir Adam Beck Centre. This multi-use recreational facility built on the former Sir Adam Beck School Grounds at 544 Horner Avenue, features a new primary school which will be combined with a public library, a community room, a day care centre, and a fitness room. These facilities are connected to the newly renovated Alderwood Pool.
History of Alderwood
Alderwood was originally known as New Toronto Park or New Toronto Heights, or simply as “the place above the tracks”. Alderwood was the home of the six O’Connor sisters who achieved great fame in the 1910’s touring North America’s vaudeville theatres. The O’Connor sisters were often featured on the same bill with stars such as Jimmie Durante, Al Jolson and Sophia Tucker. Alderwood’s farms began to be subdivided for residential development in the 1920’s however most of this neighbourhood’s development occurred after World War II. Many of the streets in Alderwood are named after the original farmers in this area including Brown, Evans, Lunness and Horner. The Alderwood name officially came into use in 1933 when the local post office was opened. Robert Johnson a long time Alderwood resident, is credited with originating the name Alderwood. He derived this name from the First Nations word “Etobicoke,” meaning “the place where the alders grow”.
Homes in Alderwood
Alderwood’s long linear streets are lined with rows of bungalows and storey-and-a-half houses. These houses were built during the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Many of the older bungalows have been replaced with more modern semi-detached and detached homes. The properties in Alderwood are well maintained with nicely manicured lawns. Each house has its own private driveway and most of the houses also have a garage. Entry level bungalows are now selling in the $500,000 plus range and new builds top out at over 1 million dollars.
Recreation in Alderwood
Alderwood Pool located at 520 Horner Avenue offers Aqua Tot, Aqua Quest and Aqua Fit programs as well as Bronze Cross, snorkelling, recreational swims and Junior Lifeguard programs. Across the street the Alderwood Public Library offers children’s and adult programming. The Horner Avenue Senior’s Centre, located at 320 Horner Avenue offers field trips, barbecues, workshops, information centres and special events. Etobicoke Valley Park located along the north-west border of Alderwood, is the finishing point for the Etobicoke Creek Interpretive Trail, a 2.5 kilometre trail which begins at the Marie Curtis Park on the shore of Lake Ontario. This nature trail was developed by the Alderwood Environmentalists in association with the city. Alderwood Memorial Park, located in the centre of this neighbourhood, is a wide open greenspace with a children’s playground. Connorvale Park, located off Valermo Drive, has a pretty baseball diamond and a children’s playground.
Transportation in Alderwood
Bus service on Browns Line and Evans and Horner Avenues connects passengers to the Long Branch Go Transit and TTC station located on Lakeshore Boulevard. Motorists can reach downtown Toronto in approximately twenty minutes via Lakeshore Boulevard and the Gardiner Expressway. Commuters heading out of the city have convenient access to the Highway 427 North on-ramps at Browns Line and Evans Avenue and the Queen Elizabeth Way on-ramp off Evans Avenue.
