Woodbine Avenue consists of three north–south road sections in the
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area, commonly referred to as the GTA, includes the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York. In total, the region contains 25 urban, suburban, and rural municipalities. The Greater T ...
, Ontario, Canada:
# The southern section 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 ...
begins near Ashbridges Bay on the shore of
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York. The Canada–United States border sp ...
, at
Lake Shore Boulevard
Lake Shore Boulevard (often incorrectly compounded as Lakeshore Boulevard) is a major arterial road running along more than half of the Lake Ontario waterfront in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Prior to 1998, two segments of Lake Shore ...
.
[The southern terminus northbound section begins as a one way lane at Kew Beach Avenue (just north of ]Donald Dean Summerville
Donald Dean Summerville (August 4, 1915 – November 19, 1963) was a Canadian politician who served as the 53rd mayor of Toronto from January 1963 until his death that same year.
Early life and family
Summerville was born in Toronto to Willi ...
Swimming Pool) where as the southbound section ends 120 metres north of Kew Beach Avenue.
Woodbine then continues north to
O'Connor Drive O'Connor or O'Conor may refer to:
People
* O'Connor or O'Conor, an Irish clan
* O'Connor Sligo, a royal dynasty ruling the northern part of the Kingdom of Connacht
* O'Connor (surname), including a list of people with the surname
Places
*Burnet O' ...
.
# The middle section in Toronto begins, under the name Woodbine Heights Blvd, across the
Taylor-Massey Creek
Taylor-Massey Creek is a tributary of the Don River in Toronto, Ontario. It flows through Scarborough and East York, where it enters the Don River. Taylor-Massey Creek has also been called ''Silver Creek'' and ''Scarboro Creek''.
The creek is na ...
, in the Parkview Heights neighbourhood. Following the southern alignment of Woodbine, it continues for four blocks and ends at the East Don Valley and valley along the Don River. Had the alignment of the O'Connor Bridge been north–south instead of southwest–northeast, this section would have been joined with the southern segment.
# The northern section runs from
Steeles Avenue
Steeles Avenue is an east–west street that forms the northern city limit of Toronto and the southern limit of Regional Municipality of York, York Region in Ontario, Canada. It stretches across the western and central Greater Toronto Area from ...
at the Toronto-
Markham Markham may refer to:
It may also refer to brand of of clothing which originates from South Africa which saw it's establishment in 1873.
Biology
* Markham's storm-petrel (''Oceanodroma markhami''), a seabird species found in Chile and Colombia
* ...
border to the shore of
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called ''Ouentironk'' ...
, ending at Lake Drive East in
Georgina Georgina may refer to:
Names
*Georgina (name), a feminine given name
Places
Australia
* Georgina, Queensland, a locality in the Shire of Boulia, Queensland
* Georgina Basin, a large sedimentary basin in Australia
* Georgina River, a river ...
.
York Region
The Regional Municipality of York, also called York Region, is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, between Lake Simcoe and Toronto. The region was established after the passing of then Bill 102, An Act to Establish The Regional M ...
designates this section as an
arterial road
An arterial road or arterial thoroughfare is a high-capacity urban road that sits below freeways/motorways on the road hierarchy in terms of traffic flow and speed. The primary function of an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector ro ...
numbered as York Regional Road 8.
[ The map identifies current and planned arterial designated roads in York Region, including Woodbine.] It runs parallel to
Highway 404
The following highways are numbered 404:
Australia
- Victoria
Canada
* Manitoba Provincial Road 404
* Newfoundland and Labrador Route 404
* Ontario Highway 404
Costa Rica
* National Route 404
Israel
* Route 404 (Israel)
Japan
* Japan N ...
.
Before renaming it was signed as Don Mills Road but changed to current name as sections of German Mills Road connected with northern section of Leslie Street became Don Mills Road to provide continity with road south of Steeles Avenue.
History
Woodbine was a single lane paved concession road (third concession line laid 19,800 ft (6,000 m) east of Yonge Street from Steeles Avenue to York Mills Road and an open allowance (unopened road allowance) southwards to Lawrence Avenue East. Parts of this road south of York Mills Road is a fenced off wooded area on the west side of Highway 404 and ended as Derrick Creek bends slightly southwest.
It was named for Woodbine Racetrack, later known as
Greenwood Raceway
Greenwood Raceway (originally Woodbine Race Course) was a horse racing facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
History Woodbine Race Course
Inaugurated in 1874 as Woodbine Race Course at the foot of Woodbine Avenue and Lake Ontario, it was owned a ...
.
Beyond Lawrence Avenue and especially south of Eglinton Avenue the road allowance was not feasible for a roadway due to the valley along the Don River. It is also believed that former racetrack-owner William J. (Jiggs) Howell (along with either Raymond Pardee or Dennis Pard) operated a tavern at then 88 Yonge Street (west side of Yonge north of King Street near the Fairweather Building c. 1918) called "The Woodbine House" or "The Woodbine", which was re-used by Howell for his horse track.
In Toronto, the portion of the unopened road allowance
for Woodbine Avenue north 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 ...
to
Highway 401
King's Highway 401, commonly referred to as Highway 401 and also known by its official name as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway or colloquially referred to as the four-oh-one,
is a controlled-access 400-series highway in the Canadian provin ...
was removed when the
Don Valley Parkway
The Don Valley Parkway (DVP) is a municipal expressway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which connects the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto with Highway 401. North of Highway 401, it continues as Highway 404. The parkway run ...
was constructed in the 1960s. Another section from Highway 401 to
Steeles Avenue
Steeles Avenue is an east–west street that forms the northern city limit of Toronto and the southern limit of Regional Municipality of York, York Region in Ontario, Canada. It stretches across the western and central Greater Toronto Area from ...
was lost when
Highway 404
The following highways are numbered 404:
Australia
- Victoria
Canada
* Manitoba Provincial Road 404
* Newfoundland and Labrador Route 404
* Ontario Highway 404
Costa Rica
* National Route 404
Israel
* Route 404 (Israel)
Japan
* Japan N ...
was built over it during the 1970s, although the
Parclo A4 interchange with Steeles included a Y-junction modification to accommodate traffic from York Regional Road 8.
Victoria Park Avenue
Victoria Park Avenue is a major north-south route in eastern Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the western border of Scarborough, separating it from Old Toronto, East York, and North York. The common nickname for it is VP or Vic Park.
History
Vic ...
, a major north–south arterial in the City of Toronto, terminates shortly after the intersection with Steeles, thus York Regional Road 8 absorbs most of this traffic.
As York Regional Road 8, Woodbine Avenue is six lanes wide from Steeles Avenue to
Highway 7, and four lanes wide between Highway 7 and Major Mackenzie Drive, and there is a centre turning lane. North of
Major Mackenzie Drive
York Region, located in southcentral Ontario, Canada, assigned approximately 50 regional roads, each with a number ranging from 1 to 99. All expenses of York Regional Roads (for example, snow shovelling, road repairs, traffic lights) are funded ...
, Woodbine narrows to a two-lane rural road, though with occasional left-turn lane.
Recent housing developments since the early 2000s have necessitated the widening of Woodbine to cope with increased traffic levels. However, due to existing properties around Victoria Square including a cemetery, a new four-lane section of Woodbine was constructed on a new alignment which included a new intersection with
Elgin Mills Road
York Region, located in southcentral Ontario, Canada, assigned approximately 50 regional roads, each with a number ranging from 1 to 99. All expenses of York Regional Roads (for example, snow shovelling, road repairs, traffic lights) are funded ...
. The new segment which was initially known as ''Woodbine Avenue By-Pass'' opened on November 15, 2010. ''Woodbine Avenue By-Pass'' cuts through the new home development area known as
Cathedraltown
Cathedraltown is a planned neighbourhood with an estimated population of 3,000 in the City of Markham, just north of Toronto. Cathedraltown was named after the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, around which the neighbourhood was built.
Geograp ...
. It was requested by the city of Markham that the by-passed Woodbine Avenue would be renamed ''Victoria Square Boulevard'' to reflect the geographical location of the road—within the area of
Victoria Square. However, the ''Woodbine Avenue By-Pass'' will retain the ''By-Pass'' even after the renaming of the by-passed Woodbine Avenue. ''Victoria Square Boulevard'' was transferred to the jurisdiction of the city of Markham and no longer serves as a regional road with Woodbine Avenue By-Pass now as a regional road instead. The former section is now a local road ending with cul-de-sac on either end. Union Street in Gormley is the old alignment of Woodbine at Stouffville Road.
In 2017, the City of Toronto installed Cycle Tracks (protected bike lanes) to Woodbine Ave spanning from O'Connor Dr to Queen St E.
Public Transit
Transit service along Woodbine began in 1921 by Hollinger Bus Lines. The Woodbine route ran from Danforth north to O'Connor Drive. Before then residents along the road was assumed would not likely be travelling south or could walk to their destination. Woodbine intersected with a few east–west streetcar lines:
*
Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
- began service in 1880 by
Toronto Street Railway
The Toronto Street Railway (TSR) was the operator of a horse-drawn streetcar system from 1861 to 1891 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its successor, the Toronto Railway Company, inherited the horsecar system and electrified it between 1892 and 1894 ...
(TSR), transferred to
Toronto Railway Company
The Toronto Railway Company (TRC) was the operator of the streetcar system in Toronto between 1891 and 1921. It electrified the horsecar system it inherited from the Toronto Street Railway, the previous operator of streetcar service in Toronto. ...
(TRC) in 1891 and taken over by the TTC in 1921
*
King
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
- began service in 1888 by the TSR, transferred to TRC in 1891 and taken over by the TTC in 1921; route ran on Queen when it reached Woodbine and now numbered as 504
* Lee (Avenue) - operated by the TSR 1889-1891, transferred to the TRC in 1891 and merged into King route in 1893; route ran on Queen when it reached Woodbine
* Woodbine - operated by the TSR 1887 to 1891, transferred to the TRC 1891 and merged with King route in 1893; route ran on Queen when it reached Woodbine
*
Gerrard - began service in 1912 by the city owned
Toronto Civic Railways
Toronto Civic Railways (TCR) was a streetcar operator created and owned by the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to serve newly annexed areas of the city that the private operator Toronto Railway Company refused to serve. When the Toronto Railway ...
(TCR) and taken over by the TTC in 1921; now numbered as 506
* Danforth - began service in 1913 by the TCR and transferred to the TTC in 1921; merged with Bloor route in 1923 and replaced by Bloor Danforth subway line in 1966
The privately operated Hollinger route was taken over by the TTC in 1954 and retained route name. The opening of
Woodbine subway station in 1966 changed transit patterns, as many residents now needed to get all the way north to Danforth.
Today Woodbine is served by five different routes and two operators. The northern part of the route, from Danforth to O'Connor is served by the TTC 91 Woodbine and 93 Parkview Hills bus routes. South of Danforth is served by TTC 92 Woodbine South bus route.
In Markham the road is served by the 24 Woodbine
YRT route.
The far north of the road, through the town of
Keswick is served by YRT 51 Keswick Local.
Neighborhoods
Woodbine serves a number of neighbourhoods in Toronto and York Region:
*
The Beach
*
Woodbine Heights
*
Parkview Hill Parkview may refer to:
Geography
* Parkview, Indiana, an unincorporated community in Vigo County
* Parkview, St. Louis, Missouri, a neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, United States
* Parkview (Edmonton), a neighborhood in Canada
* Parkview, Ga ...
*
Brown's Corner
*
Buttonville
*
Cachet
In philately, a cachet is a printed or stamped design or inscription, other than a cancellation or pre-printed postage, on an envelope, postcard, or postal card to commemorate a postal or philatelic event. There are both official and private ( ...
*
Victoria Square
*
Gormley
*
Preston Lake
*
Vandorf
*
Wesley Corners
*
Pleasantville (
Newmarket)
*
Queensville
Queensville is a village within the Town of East Gwillimbury, Ontario, Canada.
History
Originally named ''Four Corners'' and ''Hackett's Corners'' (after William Hackett owner of a general store), it was renamed as ''Queensville'' in 1843 to ho ...
* Maple Hill (
Georgina, Ontario
Georgina (Canada 2016 Census population 45,418) is a town in south-central Ontario, and the northernmost municipality in the Regional Municipality of York. The town is bounded to the north by Lake Simcoe. Although incorporated as a town, it operate ...
)
*
Keswick, Ontario
Keswick (/ˈkɛzˌwɪk/) is a community located in the Canadian province of Ontario. Situated in Cook's Bay on Lake Simcoe, north of Toronto. Keswick is part of the Town of Georgina, the northernmost municipality in the Regional Municipality ...
* Island Grove (
Georgina, Ontario
Georgina (Canada 2016 Census population 45,418) is a town in south-central Ontario, and the northernmost municipality in the Regional Municipality of York. The town is bounded to the north by Lake Simcoe. Although incorporated as a town, it operate ...
)
Landmarks
Landmarks and notable sites along Woodbine from south to north:
Southern section
Northern section
Other
On Christmas Eve, in 2001, the
Woodbine Building Supply fire On December 24, 2001, arsonists set fire to the Woodbine Building Supply Company building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, causing an explosion and leading to one of the largest fires in the city's history. The arsonists were conspiring with John Magno, ...
occurred. The store was located at the intersection of Danforth and Woodbine. It was one of the biggest fires in Toronto's history, as 170 firefighters were required to bring the six-alarm blaze under control. The building was less than 50 metres from residences in the neighborhood and more than 50 families had to evacuate their homes on Christmas morning. One person was killed and another was severely disfigured. Police and insurance quickly suspected arson and several people have been convicted.
Distinction from Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a race track for Thoroughbred horse racing in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group, Woodbine Racetrack manages and hosts Canada's most famous race, the King's Plate. The track ...
is in
Etobicoke
Etobicoke (, ) is an administrative district of, and one of six municipalities amalgamated into, the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the city's west-end, Etobicoke was first settled by Europeans in the 1790s, and the municipalit ...
, and not anywhere close to Woodbine Avenue.
Greenwood Race Track
Greenwood Raceway (originally Woodbine Race Course) was a horse racing facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
History Woodbine Race Course
Inaugurated in 1874 as Woodbine Race Course at the foot of Woodbine Avenue and Lake Ontario, it was owned a ...
used to be located at the south end of Woodbine Avenue until it was demolished in 1994. Greenwood Race Track was the original Woodbine Racetrack until the construction of the current Woodbine Racetrack in 1956. The name was then transferred to the new facility. Known as "Old Woodbine Race Track" for several years, the facility changed its name to Greenwood Race Track after nearby
Greenwood Avenue.
References
{{York Regional Roads
Roads in Toronto
Roads in Markham, Ontario