Morningside Heights, Toronto
Encyclopedia
Morningside Heights is a neighbourhood
in Scarborough
, within the city of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is located in the northeast corner of the city, just north of the Malvern
community and west of Rouge Park
. The subdivision, comprising approximately 750 acres (3 km²), was one of the last large tracts of undeveloped land within the City of Toronto, located between Finch Avenue
and Steeles Avenue
, from Tapscott Road to the Rouge River
.
The area got its name from Morningside Avenue, which was extended north into the neighbourhood. The northern section of Morningside Heights is also known as Brookside. The community is divided, north and south, by hydro lines that cut across the development. The name Brookside originates from a golf course that was once on that site, northeast of the intersection of Oasis Boulevard and Seasons Road.
The first phase of Morningside Heights development took place in 2002. The last houses to be constructed were completed in late 2009. The area has proved to be very diverse, with a large number of South Asian (predominantly Sri Lankan Tamils, Pakistanis, Indians
), Caribbean
and Filipino
residents among others.
Currently there are no commercial developments in the Morningside Heights subdivision. Land at the south end of the subdivision, along Morningside Avenue, has been reserved for this purpose with no construction to date. The local homeowners association was successful in stopping the planned proposal for a gas station to be built at the southwest corner of Neilson Road and Morningside Avenue, citing potential health risks.
, this school was opened in September 2007 and has over 600 students from JK to Grade 8. Also this school has achieved the "LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) Gold" certification, and will be the most sustainable school in the Toronto District School Board. Brookside is also a mandatory uniform school.
The other (and first) school of the Morningside Heights subdivision is Thomas Wells Public School, named after Thomas Leonard Wells
, a former MPP of the electoral district of Scarborough North, from 1963 to 1985. It opened in September 2005, and is an award winning school, recognized for its sustainable energy design. This school was the first "LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) Silver" certified elementary school in Canada. Thomas Wells PS was a signal of the TDSB's commitment to becoming a leader in "green schools" and energy conservation. Currently the school has over 700 students. The school motto is "Where all students reach the Stars", this was derived from the street that the school sits on, Nightstar Road.
's 133 Neilson bus serves most of the area, with a connection to the Scarborough Centre
RT station and Scarborough Town Centre
. The 53A Steeles East bus was recently extended to serve the northeast section of the area connecting to Finch subway station
on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. Recently the TTC began a trial run of the 116 Morningside looping through the southern portion of the subdivision, giving some residence two bus routes with the 133 Neilson.
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
in Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
, within the city of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located in the northeast corner of the city, just north of the Malvern
Malvern, Toronto
Malvern is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a population of 44,315. It is located in the northeast corner of the city, in the district of Scarborough. Scarborough was merged with five other municipalities and a regional government to form the new City of Toronto in 1998...
community and west of Rouge Park
Rouge Park
Rouge Park will become an urban national park located along the border of Toronto and Pickering, Ontario, Canada. It will be Canada's first national park within a municipality....
. The subdivision, comprising approximately 750 acres (3 km²), was one of the last large tracts of undeveloped land within the City of Toronto, located between Finch Avenue
Finch Avenue
Finch Avenue is an arterial thoroughfare and concession road which travels east–west through the city of Toronto. The road also has short extensions into Peel and Durham Regions as Peel Regional Road 2 and Durham Regional Road 37.-History:...
and Steeles Avenue
Steeles Avenue
Steeles Avenue is an east-west street that forms the northern city limit of Toronto and the southern limit of York Region, Ontario, Canada. It stretches across the western Greater Toronto Area from Milborough Townline in Halton Region east to the Scarborough-Pickering limit. It runs for within...
, from Tapscott Road to the Rouge River
Rouge River (Ontario)
The Rouge River is a two river system. Little Rouge and Rouge River are in the east and the northeast parts of Toronto and begin in the Oak Ridges Moraine in Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville...
.
The area got its name from Morningside Avenue, which was extended north into the neighbourhood. The northern section of Morningside Heights is also known as Brookside. The community is divided, north and south, by hydro lines that cut across the development. The name Brookside originates from a golf course that was once on that site, northeast of the intersection of Oasis Boulevard and Seasons Road.
The first phase of Morningside Heights development took place in 2002. The last houses to be constructed were completed in late 2009. The area has proved to be very diverse, with a large number of South Asian (predominantly Sri Lankan Tamils, Pakistanis, Indians
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
), Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and Filipino
Filipino Canadian
Filipino Canadians are Canadians of Filipino ancestry. Filipino-Canadians are the fourth-largest subgroup of the Overseas Filipinos.Canada only had a small population of Filipinos until the late 20th century. To date, there are currently around 400,000 Filipino Canadians in Canada, most of them...
residents among others.
Currently there are no commercial developments in the Morningside Heights subdivision. Land at the south end of the subdivision, along Morningside Avenue, has been reserved for this purpose with no construction to date. The local homeowners association was successful in stopping the planned proposal for a gas station to be built at the southwest corner of Neilson Road and Morningside Avenue, citing potential health risks.
Schools
Brookside Public School sits on much of the former golf course and is surrounded by single-detached housing. Designed by Teeple ArchitectsTeeple Architects
Teeple Architects is an architecture firm based in Toronto, Canada. Headed by Stephen Teeple, its projects have won many awards, including several Governor General's medals.-Projects:*Toronto Public Library – Humber Bay Library renovation, Toronto, 1996...
, this school was opened in September 2007 and has over 600 students from JK to Grade 8. Also this school has achieved the "LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) Gold" certification, and will be the most sustainable school in the Toronto District School Board. Brookside is also a mandatory uniform school.
The other (and first) school of the Morningside Heights subdivision is Thomas Wells Public School, named after Thomas Leonard Wells
Thomas Leonard Wells
Thomas Leonard Wells was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1963 to 1985, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of John Robarts and William Davis...
, a former MPP of the electoral district of Scarborough North, from 1963 to 1985. It opened in September 2005, and is an award winning school, recognized for its sustainable energy design. This school was the first "LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) Silver" certified elementary school in Canada. Thomas Wells PS was a signal of the TDSB's commitment to becoming a leader in "green schools" and energy conservation. Currently the school has over 700 students. The school motto is "Where all students reach the Stars", this was derived from the street that the school sits on, Nightstar Road.
Transportation
The TTCToronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
's 133 Neilson bus serves most of the area, with a connection to the Scarborough Centre
Scarborough Centre (TTC)
Scarborough Centre is a station on the Scarborough RT line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located north of Ellesmere Road between Brimley and McCowan Roads, just south of Highway 401...
RT station and Scarborough Town Centre
Scarborough Town Centre
The Scarborough Town Centre is an upscale shopping mall in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Central to the Scarborough City Centre, it is adjacent to the Scarborough Centre RT station and Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal. It was constructed by Oxford Properties and opened in...
. The 53A Steeles East bus was recently extended to serve the northeast section of the area connecting to Finch subway station
Finch (TTC)
Finch is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 5714 Yonge Street between Finch Avenue East and West...
on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. Recently the TTC began a trial run of the 116 Morningside looping through the southern portion of the subdivision, giving some residence two bus routes with the 133 Neilson.