Living in Humewood
Humewood is an established family oriented neighbourhood conveniently located approximately fifteen minutes from Toronto’s financial and entertainment districts. There are many amenities such as parks and schools located in the interior of this neighbourhood while shopping and public transit are easily accessed from St. Clair Avenue. Humewood’s intimate streetscape is enhanced by the many tree-lined streets and culs de sac found throughout the neighbourhood. Many of these streets are one-way, with very few through streets, which helps to minimize the traffic flow in this quiet tucked-away neighbourhood.
History of Humewood
The Humewood neighbourhood is named after “Humewood”, the country estate of William Hume Blake – a prominent lawyer and politician in early Toronto. Blake built Humewood in the 1850’s and named it after his ancestral home in Ireland. The former twenty-five acre Humewood estate was carved into various plans of subdivision in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Humewood Park was part of the old estate grounds and Humewood Drive was originally a private laneway to the estate. The Humewood house was sold by the Blake family in the 1870’s. Shortly thereafter it burned down but was replaced by a similar house built on the foundation of the original home. In 1912 the Humewood house was purchased by the Anglican Diocese as a refuge for young women in distress. It has undergone many renovations and additions since this time however it remains a local landmark, standing proudly at number forty Humewood Drive.
Lifestyle in Humewood
Humewood residents enjoy the luxury of being able to walk to a tremendous variety of shops and restaurants along St. Clair Avenue West. Included in this shopping mix are fruit and vegetable markets, discount stores, banks, drug stores, fast food restaurants and a Bingo Hall. The shopping district on Eglinton Avenue West and on Vaughan Road between Oakwood Avenue and Dufferin Street features Toronto’s largest concentration of Caribbean shops and restaurants.
Recreation in Humewood
A variety of recreational programs for pre-schoolers, children, youths, adults and seniors are offered at the Humewood Community School at 15 Cherrywood Avenue. Some of these programs include Ballet Bunnies (pre-schoolers), co-ed fitness (adults), and a Humewood Senior Citizens Club. This school also has a sports field, baseball diamonds and a children’s playground. Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute at 529 Vaughan Road has an indoor pool that is used for children’s and adult’s Aquatics. Humewood Park located between Humewood Drive and Pinewood Avenue, is one of Toronto’s prettier strolling gardens. It features gently sloping lawns, a forest of maple trees, park benches and a paved walkway that winds its way through this quaint park. Graham Park, on Atlas Avenue just north of St. Clair is a small park with a children’s playground and a basketball court. The newly built Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre at 341 Oakwood Avenue includes a new state-of-the-art theatre. Dance classes, film nights, and yoga are just some of the programs offered at the centre.
Transportation in Humewood
The St. Clair West streetcar connects passengers to the St. Clair station on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line while the Vaughan Road bus connects passengers to the St. Clair West station also on the Yonge-University-Spadina-Subway line. The Bathurst Street bus connects passengers to the Bathurst station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Motorists are five to ten minutes from the Allen Expressway which links commuters to Highway 401.