Living in Seaton Village
Seaton Village is a centrally located family oriented neighbourhood. Remarkably, this neighbourhood has managed to maintain the feel of a small town village, even though it is situated in a busy part of the city. The focal point of this neighbourhood is Vermont Square. This city park is the home of the St. Alban’s Boys’ and Girls’ Club, a community agency that offers children and families a variety of social and recreational programs.
History of Seaton Village
Seaton Village was originally settled by Colonel David Shank and Captain Samuel Smith. Both men were loyalists who served under John Graves Simcoe in the Queens Rangers. In the early 1800’s, the Shank and Smith farm lots were acquired by George Crookshank. The Crookshank estate began at the foot of Bathurst Street where it overlooked the lake. A laneway from the Crookshank house ran north to his country farm, where Seaton Village is today. The Crookshank laneway is now part of Bathurst Street. Seaton Village is named after Lord Seaton, a former Lieutenant Governor of Canada. The Village was laid out on the old Crookshank farm in the 1850’s. However, residential development of the present day neighbourhood did not commence until around 1888, when Seaton Village was annexed by the City of Toronto.
Lifestyle in Seaton Village
Bloor Street from Bathurst Street west to Christie Street is the home of Toronto’s Koreatown retail corridor. This vibrant shopping area is highlighted by a number of Korean restaurants, Karaoke bars, and Korean food and gift shops. The Bloor Street shopping area east of Bathurst Street is brimming with trendy restaurants, cafes and nightclubs that attract students from the nearby University of Toronto, as well as a diverse mix of people from all over the city. The Bathurst Street shopping area has more of a quieter, residential tone than Bloor Street. It includes small cafes, and professional offices and stores that are geared towards the local home-owners. The Dupont and Christie intersection is anchored by a large national grocery store chain that has just recently moved into the neighbourhood.
Recreation in Seaton Village
Vermont Square is located right in the centre of the Seaton Village neighbourhood. This lush city park is lined with trees, and includes a children’s playground and a wading pool. This park is also home to the St. Albans Boys’ and Girls’ Club which has a myriad of programs for families and children including preschool programs, a summer camp, a games room, a computer room, a weight room, a gymnasium, and much more. Christie Pits Park, located at the corner of Bloor and Christie Streets, is one of Toronto’s busiest parks. Its facilities include baseball diamonds, an artificial ice rink, a children’s playground, an outdoor pool, and a wading pool.
Transportation in Seaton Village
Seaton Village is well served by public transit. Most homes are within walking distance of the Bathurst or Christie subway stations on the Bloor-Danforth subway line, or the Dupont station on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. There is also bus service on Christie and Dupont Streets and streetcar service on Bathurst Street.