Oakwood Village, formerly known as Oakwood–Vaughan, is a neighbourhood in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada. Located in the former suburb of
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
, the neighbourhood is a
Business Improvement Area (BIA); it has an annual arts festival and a public library built in 1997.
The neighbourhood, commonly known as OV, is bordered by
Eglinton Avenue West to the north (
Briar Hill–Belgravia),
Dufferin Street
Dufferin Street is a major north–south street in Toronto, Vaughan and King, Ontario, Canada. It is a concession road, two concessions (4 km) west of Yonge Street. The street starts at Exhibition Place, continues north to Toronto's northe ...
to the west (
Caledonia–Fairbank),
St. Clair Avenue West
St. Clair Avenue is a major east-west street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was laid out in the late 18th century by the British as a concession road (the Third Concession), north of Bloor Street and north of Queen Street West, Queen Street.
...
to the south (
Corso Italia and
Bracondale Hill
Bracondale Hill, also known as Hillcrest Village or Hillcrest, is a residential neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Annexed by the old City of Toronto in 1909 and developed in 1911 from the Turner estate, Bracondale Hill is on the eastern bo ...
), and Winona Drive to the east (
Humewood–Cedarvale
Humewood–Cedarvale is an area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of Humewood in the south, divided by Vaughan Road and Cedarvale Ravine. The neighbourhood is bordered by Bathurst Street on the east, Eglinton Avenue to the north, Arlington ...
). Oakwood–Vaughan was part of the former City of York before the
amalgamation
Amalgamation is the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one form.
Amalgamation, amalgam, and other derivatives may refer to:
Mathematics and science
* Amalgam (chemistry), the combination of mercury with another metal
**Pan am ...
of Toronto in 1998. The neighbourhood's northern half is nicknamed Five Points for the intersection of Oakwood Avenue, Vaughan Road, and Belvidere Avenue. The western half was called Northcliffe and is more recently known as Northcliffe Village.
Character
![York Township, Oakwood Ave, north of St Clair](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/York_Township%2C_Oakwood_Ave%2C_north_of_St_Clair.jpg)
Oakwood developed as a
streetcar suburb
A streetcar suburb is a residential community whose growth and development was strongly shaped by the use of streetcar lines as a primary means of transportation. Such suburbs developed in the United States in the years before the automobile, when ...
of Toronto. Stephen Rogers constructed one of the first houses (on a plot) in this neighbourhood at what is now Rogers Road and Oakwood Avenue. The main streets of Oakwood–Vaughan are Oakwood Avenue,
Vaughan Road
Vaughan Road is a road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a contour collector road that is parallel to a buried creek to the north called Castle Frank Brook. Vaughan Road begins on Bathurst Street south of St. Clair Avenue West, then it becomes ...
, Rogers Road (named after Stephen Rogers), Dufferin Street, Eglinton Avenue West and St. Clair Avenue West. These main streets (aside from Vaughan Road) generally demarcate borders with other York and old City of Toronto neighbourhoods or borders of the sub-neighbourhoods and neighbourhoods (Five Points, Northcliffe Village) previously mentioned. A portion of
Little Jamaica
Little Jamaica, also known as Eglinton West, is an ethnic enclave in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is situated in the former suburb of York, along Eglinton Avenue West, from Allen Road to Keele Street, and is part of four neighbourhoods: Silverth ...
is located on the northern border of the neighbourhood, situated along the south side of Eglinton Avenue West between Oakwood Avenue and Marlee Avenue.
North of Vaughan Road and east of Oakwood Avenue, this part of the neighbourhood has a set of
one-way streets that acts as a maze for motorists.
Political boundaries
Oakwood–Vaughan's municipal status/boundaries has changed on several occasions. One of the most significant changes was the result of an amalgamation in 1998. Formerly part of the
City of York
The City of York is a unitary authority area with city status in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The district's main settlement is York, and it extends to the surrounding area including the town of Haxby and the villages of E ...
, York became part of the larger City of Toronto, along with Etobicoke, Scarborough, and North York—all cities in their own right—and the Borough of East York on January 1, 1998.
Municipally, the area has a complex history and its boundaries have changed several times. Since the 1998 amalgamation, from Dufferin Street to Winona Drive and north of Rogers Road up to Eglinton Avenue (and beyond), it is a small part of Ward 15: Eglinton—Lawrence. The eastern part of the neighbourhood (east of Oakwood Avenue) also extends into Ward 21: St. Paul's. Residents west of Oakwood Avenue and south of Rogers Road reside in Ward 17: Davenport. A visual representation of the wards is provided for reference.
Provincially, the political boundaries have also changed, as recently as in the 2007 provincial election where it was designated part of the St. Paul's riding. Until 2009, MPP
Michael Bryant represented the residents. Bryant stepped down in early 2009, and
Eric Hoskins
Eric William Hoskins (born November 29, 1960) is a Canadian physician and former politician who served as Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care from 2014 to 2018. A member of the Liberal Party, he sat as a member of the Provincial Parli ...
won a by-election, becoming the new MPP. Residents living east of Oakwood Ave. are part of the St. Paul's provincial riding. The official website, however, has an outdated map from 2005, and so lists the area, incorrectly, as part of the Davenport riding.
Federally, the area is also part of St. Paul's riding and is represented by MP Dr.
Carolyn Bennett
Carolyn Ann Bennett (born December 20, 1950) is a Canadian physician and politician who has served as minister of mental health and addictions, and associate minister of health since October 26, 2021. A member of the Liberal Party, she has repre ...
.
Culture
There are several organizations in the Oakwood–Vaughan area that are working to effect positive change and are trying to counteract the negative, often stereotypical, media coverage of the area. The Oakwood Village BIA, founded in 2009, is actively trying to beautify the area and attract vibrant businesses.
Another organization is the Oakwood Village Community Association (formerly 5 Points Community Action) that was founded in 2005. 5 Points Community Action originally took its name from the "5 Point" intersection of Oakwood Ave., Vaughan Rd., and Belvidere Ave.
While there are several outstanding issues to be tackled, the group has coordinated and completed several community projects to strengthen connections between neighbours, politicians, police, and community agencies. A community garden, located at the corner of Belvidere and Oakwood Avenues, was completed with funding from Clean & Beautiful City.
Another project, a striking mosaic, is located on the south side of Belvidere Avenue, on the community garden's retaining wall. This was completed in partnership with Art Starts. The mosaic illustrates the motif of 'roots' and has “welcome” in many different languages, including Polish, Hebrew, Italian and Portuguese, among others.
![Oakwood-Vaughan2010](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Oakwood-Vaughan2010.jpg)
A more recent project was an art installation that was completed in partnership with Clean & Beautiful City and the City of Toronto. The newly reconstructed Oakwood Village Transit Island, located directly at the corner of Oakwood and Vaughan, was completed in October 2010. Standing tall in this oasis is a steel palm tree that represents the strong roots put down by the residents of Oakwood Village. The palm tree, which can be found throughout the world's warmer nations, is a symbol of unity—the coming together of the many diverse groups in the Oakwood–Vaughan community. However, the tree generated local controversy, as a political hopeful stated that it cost the city $350,000 to erect. The actual cost of the tree was $4,200.
Festivals
The Oakwood Village Arts Festival, held annually in June, is brings the community together around arts by providing a public platform for local artists and musicians. As a curated festival revolving around the theme of village, this event features theatre, dance, music, creative writing, art exhibits, interdisciplinary works and public discussions.
The area is also home to the Arlington Village Project, along the western border with Humewood-Cedarvale, which works to create more positive community building and connecting events in the area. Starting in 2010, the project has organized outdoor fairs.
Landmarks
Built in 1936, the former Mount Zion Apostolic Church of Canada is one of the hundreds of apostolic churches in Toronto. It was relocated to North York.
Demographics
Estimates of ethnic origin by world region in Oakwood Village:
[
* 61% ]European
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...
* 18% Southeast & East Asian
East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea a ...
* 13% Other North American
* 10% Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
* 8% Central, South & Latin American
Latin Americans ( es, Latinoamericanos; pt, Latino-americanos; ) are the citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their diasporas are multi-eth ...
* 7% African
African or Africans may refer to:
* Anything from or pertaining to the continent of Africa:
** People who are native to Africa, descendants of natives of Africa, or individuals who trace their ancestry to indigenous inhabitants of Africa
*** Ethn ...
* 4% South Asian
South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, ...
* 3% West Central Asian & Middle Eastern
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (European ...
* 1% North American Indigenous
* <1% Oceania
The above estimates are based on the 2016 Canadian census
The 2016 Canadian census was an enumeration of Canadian residents, which counted a population of 35,151,728, a change from its 2011 population of 33,476,688. The census, conducted by Statistics Canada, was Canada's seventh quinquennial census. ...
; respondents to the census can identify with more than one ethnic origin, so the above figures can sum to more than 100%.[
Estimates of Household Mean Income:]
* One-person households: $38,036
* Two-or-more person households: $78,464
Education
The public school districts serving the community are Toronto District School Board
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB), formerly known as English-language Public District School Board No. 12 prior to 1999, is the English-language public-secular school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The minority public-secular franco ...
(secular anglophone), Toronto Catholic District School Board
The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB, known as English-language Separate District School Board No. 40 prior to 1999) is an English-language public-separate school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada, headquartered in North York. I ...
(Catholic anglophone), ''Conseil scolaire Viamonde
The Conseil scolaire Viamonde (CSV) is a public-secular French first language school board, and manages elementary and secondary schools in the Ontario Peninsula and the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The school board operates 41 elementary schools and ...
'' (secular francophone), and ''Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir ( en, My Future Catholic School Board) is a Roman Catholic French first language public- separate school board that manages elementary and secondary schools in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The school board o ...
'' (Catholic francophone).
;High schools:
* Oakwood Collegiate Institute
Oakwood Collegiate Institute (commonly known as OCI or Oakwood) is a public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located near the neighbourhoods of Regal Heights, Oakwood-Vaughan and Bracondale Hill.
History and Alumni
Oakwood was foun ...
, at the southwest corner of Oakwood Avenue and St. Clair Avenue. The school is technically located in the Regal Heights
Regal Heights is a neighbourhood located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is classified as a part of the Corso Italia (Toronto), Corso Italia-Davenport, Toronto, Davenport neighbourhood by the City of Toronto. and is situated on the western crest ...
neighbourhood enclave of Corso Italia/Davenport, south of Oakwood–Vaughan, but serves students from both neighbourhoods.
;Former high schools:
* Vaughan Road Academy
Vaughan Road Academy (VRA), formerly known as Vaughan Road High School and Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute, is a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) facility that formerly operated as an International Baccalaureate high school in Toronto, Ont ...
, at Vaughan Road between Alameda Avenue and Winona Drive, closed in 2017. It offered the IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year educational programme primarily aimed at 16-to-19-year-olds in 140 countries around the world. The programme provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into ...
when it was open.
;Roman Catholic elementary schools:
* St. Thomas Aquinas, D'Arcy McGee, and St. Alphonsus.
;Secular public elementary schools:
* Rawlinson Community School, on Glenholme Avenue south of Oakwood Village.
* J.R. Wilcox Community School, on Ava Road between Winona Drive and Atlas Avenue.
* Fairbank Public School, at the intersection of Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue is a major east–west arterial thoroughfare in Toronto and Mississauga in the Canadian province of Ontario. The street begins at Highway 407 (but does not interchange with the tollway) at the western limits of Mississauga, as a ...
West and Dufferin Street
Dufferin Street is a major north–south street in Toronto, Vaughan and King, Ontario, Canada. It is a concession road, two concessions (4 km) west of Yonge Street. The street starts at Exhibition Place, continues north to Toronto's northe ...
.
Public library
Built in 1997, Oakwood Village Public Library is located on Oakwood Avenue and Holland Park Avenue. In addition to Oakwood Village branch, the Maria A. Shchuka Public Library, which was re-rebuilt in 2003, is also located on the neighbourhood's periphery at Eglinton Avenue and Northcliffe Boulevard. Both of these libraries are run by the Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library (TPL) (french: Bibliothèque publique de Toronto) is a public library system in Toronto, Ontario. It is the largest public library system in Canada, and in 2008 had averaged a higher circulation per capita than any other pu ...
.
Transportation
The neighbourhood is west of the Eglinton West station
Eglinton West is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the median of Allen Road on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West.
Line 5 Eglinton will also serve Eglinton West station upon its co ...
, and has three 24-hour bus routes: the 29 (Dufferin Street), the 32 (Eglinton Avenue West), and the 63 (Oakwood Ave) which runs between Eglinton West station and Liberty Village
Liberty Village is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bordered to the north by King Street West, to the west by Dufferin Street, to the south by the Gardiner Expressway, to the east by Strachan Avenue, and to the northeast by the ...
. There are other buses that operate very frequently, including the 161, which runs along the southern stretch of Oakwood Avenue and along Rogers Road, and the 90, which runs along Vaughan Road to St. Clair West station
St. Clair West is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It spans the block north of St. Clair Avenue West to Heath Street, between Bathurst Street and Tweedsmuir Avenue. The station serves the local communiti ...
. The 512 St. Clair
The 512 St. Clair is an east–west streetcar route in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It operates on St. Clair Avenue between St. Clair station on the Line 1 Yonge–University subway and Gunns Road ...
streetcar route runs east–west along St. Clair, just below the southern border of Oakwood–Vaughan. The bus routes
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for ...
and the 512 St. Clair streetcar route are operated by the TTC.
The Rogers Road streetcar line
The Rogers Road streetcar line was a streetcar line that operated mainly within the Township of York (later the Borough of York, today a district within the City of Toronto) from 1924 to 1974. The line was owned by the Township of York Railways, ...
formerly ran along Rogers Road before being replaced by a trolley bus route, in turn later replaced by the route 161 Rogers Road bus.
Notable residents
*Kardinal Offishall
Jason Drew Harrow (born May 11, 1976), better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall (), is a Canadian rapper, record producer, DJ, and record executive. Often credited as Canada's " hip hop ambassador", he is regarded as one of the country ...
, hip hop musician
*Zalika Reid-Benta
Zalika Reid-Benta is a Canadian writer, whose debut short story collection ''Frying Plantain'' has been nominated and won numerous awards. The book is a collection of linked short stories centering on the coming of age of Kara Davis, a young Jam ...
, writer[Deborah Dundas]
"Zalika Reid-Benta’s debut book puts midtown Toronto on the page at last"
''Toronto Star
The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...
'', June 7, 2019.
*Watts
Watts is plural for ''watt'', the unit of power.
Watts may also refer to:
People
*Watts (surname), list of people with the surname Watts Fictional characters
*Watts, main character in the film '' Some Kind of Wonderful''
*Watts family, six chara ...
, hip hop producer
Nearby Neighbourhoods
* Humewood-Cedarvale
References
External links
Oakwood–Vaughan neighbourhood profile
at Toronto.ca
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oakwood-Vaughan
Black Canadian culture in Toronto
Black Canadian settlements
Neighbourhoods in Toronto
Streetcar suburbs