Bayview Village Neighbourhood
Over View
The Bayview Village community revolves around three popular local landmarks - the Bayview Village Shopping Centre, the North York YMCA, and the East Don Valley Parklands - each of which is an integral part of this family oriented neighbourhood.
The design and layout of Bayview Village is very much influenced by the East Don Valley Parklands. Dr E.G. Faludi, the town planner who designed Bayview Village, recognized the importance of the East Don Valley Parklands when he said "We will fit the community into the landscape and not the landscape into the community." This lofty ideal was met in Bayview Village.
History
Bayview Village began as a small rural farming community in the 1800's. One of this area's first settlers was Thomas Clark, a father of seven children and an influential member of the community. The Clark house, built circa 1885, and located at 9 Barberry Place, is the only dwelling that remains from Bayview Village's pioneer days.
The present day Bayview Village neighbourhood was planned in 1954 by a group of developers led by Farlinger Development Ltd. Bayview Village was hailed as "contemporary living in the countryside, at the doorstep of the urban concentration of Metropolitan Toronto."
The town planner for Bayview Village was Dr. E. G. Faludi, who also designed the Rexdale, Thorncrest Village, and Humber Valley neighbourhoods in Toronto. Faludi's trademark curvilinear street pattern that follows the natural contours of the land was designed to highlight the natural beauty of this neighbourhood.
Bayview Village's novel approach to neighbourhood building combined with affordable house prices, which ranged from $16,000 to $40,000, helped make this subdivision an instant success. A residents association was formed in 1956 and by the early 1960's Bayview Village was completely developed. A number of Bayview Village streets such as Citation, Candida, and Bunty Lane are named after famous race horses.
Shopping in Baview Village
Bayview Village residents do most of their shopping at the Bayview Village Shopping Centre located at the north-east corner of Bayview and Sheppard Avenues. Bayview Village is a nicely designed, intimate shopping centre anchored by a large upscale supermarket and a department store. This popular shopping centre also contains an excellent selection of fashion, gift, and specialty stores, as well as family style restaurants.
Sheppard and Finch Avenues, and Leslie Street all contain small outdoor shopping plazas that feature mostly small, independent retailers, restaurants, and professional offices. Many of these businesses include English and Chinese on their signage, reflecting the large Chinese population living in and around Bayview Village. Sheppard Avenue also has a number of well known big box stores and a large medical centre.
Schools in Baview Village
If you are buying or renting a home in the City of Toronto, please note that the schools listed below have very definite enrollment boundaries. Prior to buying or renting , you should phone the school you are interested in enrolling your child, in order to confirm that they will accept children from the address you are considering moving to.
(P) Bayview M.S., 25 Bunty Lane, (416) 395-2050
(P) Elkhorn, 10 Elkhorn Dr., (416) 395-9500
(PH) Avondale Alternative, 171 Avondale Ave., (416) 395-3130
(PH) Earl Haig S.S., 100 Princess Ave., (416) 395-3210
(CA) Blessed Trinity, 3205 Bayview Ave., (416) 393-5289
(CA) St. Gabriel, 396 Spring Garden Ave., (416) 393-5256
(CA) St. Martha, 1865 Sheppard Ave., (416) 393-5344
