NEIGHBOURHOOD PROFILE
RONCESVALLES VILLAGE
OVERVIEW
An urban village in Toronto’s west end, Roncesvalles Village (aka Roncy) is a mostly residential neighbourhood with a main commercial strip (along Roncevalles Avenue) that boasts a wonderfully eclectic mix of trendy shops/eateries alongside traditional establishments. Wide sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes and streetcar tracks along the strip are defining characteristics of this pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood.
Off the main strip, the picturesque, tree-lined streets have a beautiful variety of pre-war homes. Amongst the character-filled homes on the east side of Roncesvalles Avenue there are the occasional street-corner cafés, parks and old warehouses that been converted into residential loft developments. West of Roncevalles Ave, it is all residential other than St Joseph`s Health Centre.
In the last decade, the area has seen a major renaissance. Younger, high income familes who love city-living have been purchasing and restoring the century-old homes. The retail landscape has evolved dramatically as cutting edge boutique businesses have been establishing themselves in the neighbourhood. In 2009 Roncesvalles Ave was complately restructured - the street was narrowed, the sidewalks widened and dedicated bike baths were constructed,
In 2012, Roncesvalles was named as one of eight finalists in the "Canadian Institute of Planners’ (CIP) Great Places in Canada" contest.
Off the main strip, the picturesque, tree-lined streets have a beautiful variety of pre-war homes. Amongst the character-filled homes on the east side of Roncesvalles Avenue there are the occasional street-corner cafés, parks and old warehouses that been converted into residential loft developments. West of Roncevalles Ave, it is all residential other than St Joseph`s Health Centre.
In the last decade, the area has seen a major renaissance. Younger, high income familes who love city-living have been purchasing and restoring the century-old homes. The retail landscape has evolved dramatically as cutting edge boutique businesses have been establishing themselves in the neighbourhood. In 2009 Roncesvalles Ave was complately restructured - the street was narrowed, the sidewalks widened and dedicated bike baths were constructed,
In 2012, Roncesvalles was named as one of eight finalists in the "Canadian Institute of Planners’ (CIP) Great Places in Canada" contest.
INTERESTING FACTS
- Grenadier Road is named after the Grenadiers from Fort York who were one of the first regular users of High Park.
- Many of the streets are named after old native trails/paths that existed there. Such as Indian Road, Indian Grove, Indian Road Crescent, Indian Valley Crescent, Indian Trail and Algonquin Ave.
- Many of the streets in the neighbourhood are named after after places, events and people important to Colonel Walter O'Hara, the original land owner.
- From 1922-1955 there was a massive, waterfront amusement park on the southwestern flank of Roncesvalles. The Sunnyside Amusement Park was demolished in 1955 to make way for the Gardner Expressway.
- Many of the streets are named after old native trails/paths that existed there. Such as Indian Road, Indian Grove, Indian Road Crescent, Indian Valley Crescent, Indian Trail and Algonquin Ave.
- Many of the streets in the neighbourhood are named after after places, events and people important to Colonel Walter O'Hara, the original land owner.
- From 1922-1955 there was a massive, waterfront amusement park on the southwestern flank of Roncesvalles. The Sunnyside Amusement Park was demolished in 1955 to make way for the Gardner Expressway.
HISTORY
Between 1831 and 1840, Colonel Walter O`Hara (a prominent and wealthy citizen who was a former, heavily-decorated, British soldier) bought 210 hectares located north of Queen from Roncesvalles Avenue to just east of Lansdowne Avenue. O`Hara, who was born in Ireland, built a comfortable home for his wife and eight children called West Lodge (named after his family`s Irish estate) just north of Queen Street and east of Lansdowne Ave.
In the mid-1850s, O`Hara began subdividing his land. He named the roads dividing the plots after places, events and people important to him. Roncesvalles Avenue is named after the Spanish gorge where O`Hara fought and lost in a battle in July, 1813. Sorauren Ave is named after the Battle of Sorauren (that occurred a few weeks after the Battle of Roncesvalles) where the British were victorious. Alhambra Ave was named after the fortress in Granada, Spain. Marion St. was for his wife and the following were for some of his children [Geoffrey St, Constance St, Walter Rd (since renamed Grenadier), and Ruth Avenue (now Fern)].
O`Hara died in 1874 and the following year, his wife sold off much of the land and it was subdivided. Following the subdivision of two other farms south of Queen, a new village (called Parkdale) rapidly formed and was incorporated in 1879. A number of Victorian homes were built extending north from Parkdale but it wasn`t until 1889, when Toronto annexed Parkdale and then extended the streets west that the bulk of development began. Between 1900 and World War 1, after the streetcar line was brought to the area, the present-day neighbourhood was developed. Almost all houses were built in the `foursquare` style and were designed for the middle class while wealthier homes were found in Parkdale. During this time, the first school was built (Old Howard Park school on Boustead Avenue), the High Park Branch Library (one of the the first four Carnegie Libraries in Toronto) at 228 Roncesvalles avenue opened and three churches were built - St Vincent de Paul (Roman Catholic), St Jude`s (Anglican) and Howard Park Emmanuel (United Church).
Between 1910 and 1930, Roncesvalles attracted wealthier families and many grand homes were built on High Park Gardens and High Park Boulevard.
In 1910, the Toronto Harbour Commission developed the lakefront and in 1922 The Sunnyside Beach and Amusement Park opened. The southern end of Roncesvalles became a commercial and transportation hub - a train station, streetcar loop and bus depot were built. In 1955, the amusement park was demolished to make way for the Gardiner Exressway which bypassed the neighbourhood. As a result, commercial and residential values declined and many wealthy homewowners moved west and many larger homes were divided into apartments.
In 1944 St Casimir`s Catholic Parish was established in the neighbourhood and it attracted many Polish immigrants. A decade later, St Casimir Catholic Church (156 Roncesvalles Ave) was built and by that time the Polish community was firmly established in the area.
Sources: Wikipedia, Toronto Star
In the mid-1850s, O`Hara began subdividing his land. He named the roads dividing the plots after places, events and people important to him. Roncesvalles Avenue is named after the Spanish gorge where O`Hara fought and lost in a battle in July, 1813. Sorauren Ave is named after the Battle of Sorauren (that occurred a few weeks after the Battle of Roncesvalles) where the British were victorious. Alhambra Ave was named after the fortress in Granada, Spain. Marion St. was for his wife and the following were for some of his children [Geoffrey St, Constance St, Walter Rd (since renamed Grenadier), and Ruth Avenue (now Fern)].
O`Hara died in 1874 and the following year, his wife sold off much of the land and it was subdivided. Following the subdivision of two other farms south of Queen, a new village (called Parkdale) rapidly formed and was incorporated in 1879. A number of Victorian homes were built extending north from Parkdale but it wasn`t until 1889, when Toronto annexed Parkdale and then extended the streets west that the bulk of development began. Between 1900 and World War 1, after the streetcar line was brought to the area, the present-day neighbourhood was developed. Almost all houses were built in the `foursquare` style and were designed for the middle class while wealthier homes were found in Parkdale. During this time, the first school was built (Old Howard Park school on Boustead Avenue), the High Park Branch Library (one of the the first four Carnegie Libraries in Toronto) at 228 Roncesvalles avenue opened and three churches were built - St Vincent de Paul (Roman Catholic), St Jude`s (Anglican) and Howard Park Emmanuel (United Church).
Between 1910 and 1930, Roncesvalles attracted wealthier families and many grand homes were built on High Park Gardens and High Park Boulevard.
In 1910, the Toronto Harbour Commission developed the lakefront and in 1922 The Sunnyside Beach and Amusement Park opened. The southern end of Roncesvalles became a commercial and transportation hub - a train station, streetcar loop and bus depot were built. In 1955, the amusement park was demolished to make way for the Gardiner Exressway which bypassed the neighbourhood. As a result, commercial and residential values declined and many wealthy homewowners moved west and many larger homes were divided into apartments.
In 1944 St Casimir`s Catholic Parish was established in the neighbourhood and it attracted many Polish immigrants. A decade later, St Casimir Catholic Church (156 Roncesvalles Ave) was built and by that time the Polish community was firmly established in the area.
Sources: Wikipedia, Toronto Star
SCHOOLS
Public Schools:
Howard Park Public School (JK to 6) - 30 Marmaduke St, Toronto, ON., M6R 1T2, Tel: 416-393-9255 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Fern Junior and Senior Public School - 128 Fern Ave, Toronto, ON., M6R 1K3, Tel: 416-393-9130 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Parkdale Collegiate Institute (GR. 09-12) - 209 Jameson Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 2Y3, Tel: 416-393-9000 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Catholic Schools:
St Vincent de Paul (Elementary - Catholic School) - 116 Fermanagh Ave, M6R 1M2, Tel: 416-393-5227 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Bishop Marrocco / Thomas Merton - 1515 Bloor St. W., Toronto, M6P 1A3, Tel: 416-393-554 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Private Schools:
High Park Gardens Montessori (JK to grade 8) 35 High Park Gdns., Toronto, M6R 1S8 Tel: 416-763-6097
Howard Park Public School (JK to 6) - 30 Marmaduke St, Toronto, ON., M6R 1T2, Tel: 416-393-9255 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Fern Junior and Senior Public School - 128 Fern Ave, Toronto, ON., M6R 1K3, Tel: 416-393-9130 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Parkdale Collegiate Institute (GR. 09-12) - 209 Jameson Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 2Y3, Tel: 416-393-9000 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Catholic Schools:
St Vincent de Paul (Elementary - Catholic School) - 116 Fermanagh Ave, M6R 1M2, Tel: 416-393-5227 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Bishop Marrocco / Thomas Merton - 1515 Bloor St. W., Toronto, M6P 1A3, Tel: 416-393-554 (Click here to view Fraser Report)
Private Schools:
High Park Gardens Montessori (JK to grade 8) 35 High Park Gdns., Toronto, M6R 1S8 Tel: 416-763-6097
PARKS
Sorauren Park (Northeast corner of Sorauren Ave and Wabash Ave)
Charles G Williams Park (Southeast corner of Sorauren Ave and Wabash Ave)
Columbus Parkette (southwest of Dundas St West and Sorauren Ave)
High Park (West of Parkside Dr, South of Bloor St West, North of Queensway)
Charles G Williams Park (Southeast corner of Sorauren Ave and Wabash Ave)
Columbus Parkette (southwest of Dundas St West and Sorauren Ave)
High Park (West of Parkside Dr, South of Bloor St West, North of Queensway)
PLACES OF INTEREST
St Joseph's Health Centre (Hospital) 30 The Queensway, Toronto, On. M6R 1B5 416-530-6000
EVENTS
Roncevalles Polish Festival polishfestival.ca/ (established in 2005)
Sorauren Park Pumpkin Parad
Sorauren Park Pumpkin Parad
