Living in Dufferin Grove
Dufferin Grove is a popular family oriented neighbourhood located in downtown Toronto. This neighbourhood has excellent amenities including a popular community park, a shopping centre, excellent schools and and convenient access to public transit. Dufferin Grove Park has received lots of media attention in the past for its pivotal role in revitalizing the Dufferin Grove neighbourhood and creating a strong sense of community among residents of this neighbourhood. This park is basically a community centre without any walls! It is so popular that local residents affectionately refer to it as their Big Backyard.
History in Dufferin Grove
The Dufferin Grove district was first settled by the Denison Family, who emigrated to Canada from England in 1792. The Denisons were active participants in Toronto’s early military and political affairs. Their country villas were Toronto landmarks, that had titles such as “Dover Court”, “Rush Holme”, and “Heydon Villa”. In 1834, with the city encroaching at their doorstep, the Denisons decided to clear the dense forest covering their property, and began cultivating this land. The fertile soil in the area yielded abundant crops and brought the Denisons great wealth. However, by the 1880’s, the value of the Denison estates lay in housing development not agriculture. Thus rows of crops were gradually replaced by rows of houses and the current neighbourhood was developed.
Homes in Dufferin Grove
The majority of Dufferin Grove houses were built between 1890 and 1930. Dufferin Grove’s semi-detached and detached houses are larger than those found in most downtown Toronto neighbourhoods. The architectural style of the homes in Dufferin Grove range from early and late Victorian to Edwardian and English Cottage style designs.
Lifestyle in Dufferin Grove
The Dufferin Mall is anchored by national department stores and includes over 100 retail outlets, plus medical and dental offices. The Mall also has a ïfamily place’ play area for toddlers, and a youth learning centre that includes reading programs, arts and crafts, and storytelling. Street shopping for everyday household needs is plentiful on Dundas, College and Bloor Streets.
Recreation in Dufferin Grove
Dufferin Grove Park is the most innovative community park in the city. It includes a community bake oven, a music circle, a campfire, a community flower and vegetable garden, live theatre, a summer music festival, arts and crafts classes, and a naturalization project. It also has traditional recreational facilities, including tennis courts, a basketball court, a wading pool, an artificial ice rink, and a playing field. The West-End YMCA at 931 College Street has a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and community programs. The Bloor/Gladstone Public Library also offers community-based programs.
Transportation in Dufferin Grove
The Dufferin bus connects passengers to the Dufferin subway station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line, while the Dovercourt and Ossington buses connect passengers to the Ossington subway station, also on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. The College and Dundas streetcars connect passengers to stations on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. Motorists can be downtown in five to ten minutes and the Gardiner Expressway is approximately fifteen minutes away.
