This expanded playground will be constructed on the west side of Allan Gardens. The playground will provide a much improved play area for children of all ages. Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam is looking forward to seeing the completion of this playground and continuing to improve Allan Gardens as a heritage landmark of Toronto.
Neighbourhood News tidbit
The No Frills store at 555 Sherbourne closed in July 2013. The closing was related to the plans to build residential towers (or one tower) at the site. A possibility is that eventually (or sooner rather than later?) there will be a Sobeys there. Sobeys discount supermarket, Freshco, is perhaps a more likely possibility, but this is all just speculation except for the closing itself.
Latest on 159 Wellesley
This is the address of the new condo proposed for the SW corner of Wellesley and Sherbourne where the Beaver gas station used to be. It is apparently approved at the Community Council level but not yet at City Council. This recent development, reported in the Star article linked is for the developer, Diamond Corporation, and Habitat for Humanity to team up to create eight affordable units among the nearly 300 proposed for the building.
(Other suggestions and data are welcome for other categories of interest, or write-ups about the neighbourhood, or reviews of business establishments, etc. (email Web Manager)
Allan Gardens
Allan Gardens is just south of us, on the other side of Carlton. In the satellite view of Homewood Avenue, above, you can see the north edge of the park.
Here is some background and information on the park.
Where to call for help and repairs in the neighbourhood
Neighbourhood Notes & News
Tree down in Allan Gardens: Hurricane Sandy, October 30, 2012, photo by Martin Banfather
“Contra-lane” for bikes installed on Maitland Place going east from Jarvis Street, November 2012
New bike lanes
The City has begun construction of the new, separated bike lanes on Sherbourne Street. These will go from Bloor to King (or Front). The project is scheduled for completion in November. The picture is at Gerrard and Sherbourne, August 15, 2012.
Construction for watermain in Allan Gardens
This project space is at the south end of the park on Gerrard Street opposite Pembroke Street. The small sign there has more information about the three-and-a-half-year project.
This fence, which will be with us a long, long time, got some decoration!
Here is an article about the mural project from The Grid.
Additional pictures of the mural, July 14, 2012.
Walking and well-being
Our neighbourhood is part of the Walkable City
See the Toronto Star article
See the Walkable City report (it’s big; be patient with the download)
Local Walking Tours
Walking distances and times from 40 Homewood
(according to Google Maps; unlike the arrows on the accompanying map, the distances are computed according to streets and sidewalks, not as the falcon flies)
Carlton & Parliament, Cabbagetown: 700 m, 9 minutes
Church & Wellesley, The Village: 700 m, 8 minutes
College & Yonge, subway and College Park: 900 m, 11 minutes
Sherbourne & Bloor, subway: 1 k, 11 minutes
Bay & Wellesley, Provincial government: 1.2 k, 15 minutes
Yonge & Dundas, subway and Eaton Centre: 1.5 m, 19 minutes
University & College, hospitals, subway: 1.5 k, 19 minutes
Bloor & Yonge, main subway interestction: 1.6 k, 19 minutes
Front & Jarvis, St Lawrenece Market: 1.9 k, 24 minutes
Queen & Bay, City Hall: 2.8 k, 36 minutes
Well-being Toronto
City website showing well-being of neighbourhood areas
Population, Politicians, Post Office
Here is the local Census Tract Profile from Statistics Canada.
Our City of Toronto ward is 27. Ward 27 map. Ward 27 profile.
Our local City of Toronto councillor is Kristyn Wong-Tam. Here is a link to information and contacts for her. Wong-Tam
Here is the councillor’s Ward 27 news
Our Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) is Glen Murray. Here is a link to his contacts. Murray
Our Member of the (federal) Parliament (MP) is Bob Rae. Here is a link to his contacts. Rae
Hours of the postal outlet,
Shoppers Drug Mart, Carlton & Yonge
This outlet is now the default for our Canada Post parcels if they are not delivered to our doors or to our office.
Mon – Fri: 8 am – 9 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 4 pm
telephone: 416-408-4000
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)
Local Food Shopping
Besides these larger supermarkets, there are numerous smaller markets as well as specialty food shops. The St. Lawrence Market is about a 30-minute walk (1.9 km) at Jarvis and Front streets.
Loblaws, Church and Carlton (Maple Leaf Gardens)
Hours 7 am – 11 pm
Rabba, Wellesley and Homewood, at the Verve
Hours 24/7
Food Basics, Wellesley and Ontario
Hours Sun 10-6; Mon-Fri 9-9; Sat 8-9
Freshco, Parliament and Dundas
Hours Mon-Fri 8-9; Sat & Sun 8-8
Metro, Gould and Mutual
Hours 24/7 except major holidays
Metro, College Park, College and Yonge
Hours 24/7 except major holidays
Sobeys, 777 Bay, west end of College Park, Bay and College
Hours 7 am – 11pm
No Frills, 555 Sherbourne (north of Wellesley) (closing July 2013)
Hours Mon-Fri 8-9.30; Sat & Sun 8-8
No Frills, Parliament and Spruce
Hours Mon-Fri 9-9; Sat & Sun 8-8
Riverdale Park Farmers’ Market (seasonal)
Local Drug Stores
Greendale Guardian Drugs, 150 Carlton, (corner of Homewood)
Hours Mon-Fri 9-7; Sat 10-4; Sun closed
Main Drug Mart, 70 Carlton Street (corner of Church)
Hours Mon-Fri 8-6.30; Sat 10-2; Sun closed
Maple Leaf Medical Pharmacy, 14 College St.
Hour Mon-Fri 8-7; Sat 10-2
Pharma Plus Rexall, Village Centre (just west of Church and Wellesley)
Hours seven days 8-midnight
Pharma Plus Rexall, 777 Bay, College Park (College and Bay)
tel 416-977-5824
Hours seven days 8-midnight; pharmacy Mon-Fri 8-9; Sat & Sun 9-6
Shoppers Drug Mart, 465 Yonge (corner of Carlton)
Hours 24/7
Shoppers Drug Mart, 565 Sherbourne, north of Wellesley
Hours seven days 9-9
Shoppers Drug Mart, 467 Parliament
Hours Mon-Sat 9-midnight; Sun 11 am-midnight
Rexall Drug Store, Church and Wellesley
Hours seven days 8 – 12 midnight
Loblaws, Church and Carlton, Maple Leaf Gardens: drug store within Local hardware stores
Local hardware stores
Dudley, 511 Church Street, north of Wellesley, (416) 923-5751
Hours Mon-Sat 9-7; Sun 12-5
Home Hardware, 485 Parliament at Carlton, (416) 924-3921
Hours Mon-Wed 9-7; Thurs-Fri 9-9; Sat 9-6; Sun 10-5
Nettleship’s, 576 Parliament, south of Wellesley, (416) 921-3772
Hours Mon-Thurs 9-6; Fri 9-7; Sat 9-6; Sun closed
Local beer, wine and spirits stores
LCBO, Church and Carlton (Maple Leaf Gardens)
Hours Mon-Sat 10 am-9pm; Sun 12-5
LCBO, 512 Parliament, just south of Winchester
Hours Mon-Sat 9.30-9; Sun 12-5
LCBO, 545 Yonge Street, south of Wellesley
Hours Mon-Sat 9.30-10; Sun 12-6
The Beer Store, 572 Church Street, north of Wellesley
Hours Mon-Wed 10-9; Thurs-Fri 10-10; Sat 9.30-10; Sun12-5
The Beer Store, 800 Gerrard Street East, between Seaton and Ontario
Hours Mon-Wed 10-8; Thurs-Fri 10-9; Sat 9.30-9; Sun 12-5
The Beer Store, 534 Parliament, north of Winchester
Hours Mon-Wed 10-8; Thurs-Fri 10-9; Sat 9.30-9; Sun 12-5
Wine Rack, 77 Wellesley Street East, east of Church
Hours Mon-Sat 9.30-11; Sun 11-6
Dry cleaners
Parliament Cleaners, 436 Parliament (between Carlton and Gerrard): one of the very few in the area which does its dry cleaning on the premises.
Local bank branches
BMO (Bank of Montreal), 492 Church at Alexander
Hours Mon-Wed 9-6; Thurs-Fri 9-8; Sat 9-4; Sun 12-4
CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce), 245 Carlton at Parliament
Hours Mon-Wed 9.30-4; Thurs-Fri 9.30-7; Sat 9.30-4; Sun closed
CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce), 436 Church at Carlton
Hours Mon-Wed 9-4; Thurs-Fri 9.30-5; Sat-Sun closed
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada), 503 Church Street at Wellesley
Hours Mon-Wed 9.30-5; Thurs 9.30-8; Fri 9.30-6; Sat 9-4; Sun closed
Scotiabank (Bank of Nova Scotia), 555 Yonge at Wellesley
Hours Mon-Thurs 9.30-4; Fri 9.30-5; Sat-Sun closed
TD (Toronto Dominion Bank), 65 Wellesley Street East at Church
Hours Mon-Wed 8-6; Thurs-Fri 8-8; Sat 8-4; Sun closed
TD (Toronto Dominion Bank) 493 Parliament at Carlton
Hours Mon-Wed 8-6; Thurs-Fri 8-8; Sat 8-4; Sun closed
Car rentals
Thrifty, 140 Carlton Street, Unit D, Toronto, tel (416) 921-1346.
Car2Go: Sherbourne & Carlton; 100 Wellesely St East; 15 Wellesely St East (rates by minute, one way or there & back, no reservation neeeded)
Car2go
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
Bloor-Yonge subway station
Wellesley-Yonge subway station
College-Yonge subway station
Sherbourne-Bloor subway station
Sherbourne bus
Wellesley-Harbord bus
Parliament bus
Carlton streetcar
Libraries
In addition to our 40 Homewood library, the Toronto Public Library is available and accessible in our neighbourhood and through the Internet. Hours and other information are found through these links.
Toronto Public Library website
St James Town branch
Parliament Street branch
Local schools
National Ballet School of Canada, 400 Jarvis Street
Public schools
Jarvis Collegiate Institute, 495 Jarvis Street, grades 9-12
Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, 711 Bloor Street East, grades 9-12
Winchester Junior & Senior Public School, 15 Prospect Street, grades JK-8
Lord Dufferin Junior & Senior Public School, 350 Parliament Street, grades JK-8
Church Street Junior Public School, 83 Alexander Street, grades JK-6
Sprucecourt Junior Public School, 70 Spruce Street, grades JK-6
Catholic school
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, 444 Sherbourne Street, grades JK-8
French schools
Le Collège Français, 100 Carlton Street, grades 7-12
École Gabrielle Roy, 14 Pembroke Street, grades pre-school – 6
Veterinarians
The Animal Clinic, 106 Mutual St, tel 416-868-1545
Hours: Mon-Fri 7.30-7; Sat 8-1
Bay Cat & Bay Dog Hospital, 525 King St E,
tel cat 416-941-8920; tel dog 416-941-9770
Hours: Mon,Wed,Fri 8-6; Tu,Thurs 8-7; Sat 9-1
Blue Cross Animal Hospital, 132 Danforth, tel 416-469-1121
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-12, 1-7; Sat 10-3
Cabbagetown Pet Clinic, 239 Gerrard St E, tel 416-928-6761
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6; Sat 9-1
Downtown Animal Hospital, 579 Church St, tel 416-966-5122
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-11pm; Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 9am-9pm
Toronto Central Animal Clinic, 167 Parliament, tel 416-360-7400
Hours: Mon-Sat 8.30-5.30; Sun 8-5.30
Veterinary Emergency Clinic, 920 Yonge St, tel 416-920-2002
Hours: always open (“24/7”)
main entrance off McMurrich St
