Thorncrest Village

Thorncrest Village is one of Toronto’s most exclusive neighbourhoods with just over two hundred homeowners. It is also one of Toronto’s prettier neighbourhoods with winding tree-lined roads that are whimsically decorated with cast-iron street lamps and wood post signs that combine to create a countrified charm.
It is interesting to note that all of the streets in Thorncrest Village have an east-west orientation. This was planned intentionally so that all of the houses in this neighbourhood would benefit from a direct south exposure.
 
 

 
 
Thorncrest Village is named after the former summer home of Sir William Pearce Howland, one of Ontario’s first Lieutenant Governors. Thorncrest house, built in 1854 is still standing today, set back from the street at 36 Rathburn Road.
The Thorncrest estate was purchased in 1944 by developer Marshall Foss, who built the Thorncrest Village neighbourhood. Thorncrest Village was modelled after the renowned Kansas City Country Club subdivision in the United States.
Thorncrest Village is credited with being Toronto’s first modern suburb. It introduced the idea of a strong homeowners’ association, neighbourhood zoning and building restrictions, curvilinear street patterns and cul-de-sac, as well as an emphasis on the preservation of trees.
Thorncrest Village was designed by Dr. Eugene Faludi, an internationally renowned architect and town planner. Faludi received high praise for his work on Thorncrest Village and was subsequently hired to design many other Toronto neighbourhoods including Humber Valley Village, Bayview Village and Lawrence Manor.
 
 

 
 
The Thorncrest Homeowners Association is the only homeowners’ association in Toronto that owns and operates its own clubhouse and recreational facilities. The Thorncrest clubhouse, located at 35 Thorncrest Road, hosts many neighbourhood social events including family barbecues, bridge, theme dinners and a children’s Christmas show. There is also a family “Fun Day” that coincides with a pool opening party. This annual event features pony rides, a bake sale, carnival food, a clown and games.
The Thorncrest community facilities include a 25-metre outdoor swimming pool which is a popular cooling-off spot in the summertime. Swim lessons from qualified instructors are offered at this site. The Thorncrest Homeowners Association also operates two tennis courts and a children’s playground that are adjacent to the clubhouse and pool. The tennis courts are busy all summer with lessons, clinics, leagues, round robins and spring and fall tournaments.
 
 

 
 
Thorncrest’s sweeping, tree-lined streets and expansive lots provide an idyllic backdrop for its varied collection of houses. The original Thorncrest houses include ranch-style bungalows and modernist-style homes from the late 1940s and the 1950s. These houses are gradually being replaced by larger brick and stone executive-style houses.
 
 
 

 
The bus service along Islington Avenue connects passengers to the Islington station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Islington station also provides express bus service to the airport as well as being a connecting route to the Mississauga Transit system.
Motorists are twenty minutes from downtown Toronto via Bloor Street and ten minutes from the Highway 401 on-ramp off Islington Avenue.
 
 

 
 

Rosethorn Junior School (Gr JK – 5)
2 Remington Dr Etobicoke, ON M9A 2J1
http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/rosethorn/Home.aspx
Humber Valley Village Junior Middle School (GR. JK-08)
65 Hartfield Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9A 3E1
http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/humbervalley
Karin Kain School of Arts (Gr 6 – 8)
60 Berl Ave Etobicoke, ON M8Y 3C7
http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/karenkain/Home.aspx
Richview Collegiate Institute (GR. 09-12)
1738 Islington Ave, Etobicoke, ON M9A 3N2
http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/richview
Etobicoke School of the Arts (Gr 9 – 12)
675 Royal York Rd Toronto, ON M8Y 2T1
http://www.esainfo.ca/

St. Gregory (Gr JK – 8) Regular programing & Extended French
126 Rathburn Rd Islington, ON M9B 2K6
https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stgregory/Pages/default.aspx
Our Lady of Peace (Gr JK – 8) – French Immersion
70 Mattice Ave Toronto, ON M9B 1T6
http://ourladyofpeace.tcdsb.org/
Josyf Cardinal Slipyj – Eastern Rite (Gr JK – 8)
35 West Deane Park Dr Toronto, ON M9B 2R5
http://josyfcardinalslipyj.tcdsb.org/
Father Henry Carr (Gr 9 – 12)
1760 Martin Grove Rexdale, ON M9V 3S4
https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/fatherhenrycarr/Pages/default.aspx
Monsignor Percy Johnson
2170 Kipling Ave Rexdale, ON M9W 4K9
https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/msgrpercyjohnson/Pages/default.aspx