Thistletown

Thistletown is a culturally diverse neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It consists of the area surrounding the intersection of Albion Road and Islington Avenue in the former City of Etobicoke. (Etobicoke merged with five other municipalities and a regional government to form the new City of Toronto in 1998.)

The borders of Thistletown are generally delineated by the Humber River: the West Branch to the south, slightly beyond the river to the east, and to the William Osler Health Centre - Etobicoke General Hospital just above the river in the north. The western border is Kipling Avenue, though the part of the neighbourhood west of Islington is sometimes considered a separate area named Beaumonde Heights.

This area has seen many changes and many ethnic groups arrive and flourish. Presently the corners of Albion and Islington in Thistletown has a large presence of East Indian stores and services. They are joined by a variety of Caribbean/West Indian, Indian, Sri Lankan, and Pakistani stores. 43% of those living in this area, more specifically the CT-0250.05 are of South Asian origin, with those of Afro-Caribbean origin making up 22%. One landmark is the Franklin Carmichael Art Group at 34 Riverdale Drive, is named for Group of Seven member Franklin Carmichael by an art foundation founded by his widow and Dr. Ann Curtin.

History

The village of Thistletown (originally called St Andrew's) was planned for John Grubb (1783-1850) in 1847 around the intersection of Albion Road and Islington Avenue. Grubb migrated from Scotland to Etobicoke in 1833. The property was part of John Grubb's farmlands. Grubb was a promoter of the Albion and the Weston plank toll road companies, an elected member of the Home District Council and a magistrate. Although originally known as St. Andrew's (likely to honour his Scottish roots after the Patron Saint of Scotland), Thistletown was renamed in honour of Dr. William Thistle, the local physician.

In 1933 Thistletown became a Police village and 2 trustees were elected.

In the late 1950s development from the expanding city of Toronto reached Thistletown when a subdivision, Albion Gardens, was developed on local potato farm to the north and east of Albion Road.

Institutions

*Thistletown Regional Centre of Children and Adolescents - started as The Hospital for Sick Children Thistletown Branch in 1927
*Albion West Plaza

;Parks
*Albion Gardens Park
*Beaumonde Heights Park
*Kipling Heights Park
*Rowntree Mills Park - named for Joseph Rowntree, a 19th century settler who established the "Greenholme Mills" on the Humber River, including a grist mill built in 1848 in Etobicoke.

;Churches
*Our Saviour Lutheran Church (1957)
*Thistletown Baptist Church
*Fellowship (2012 merger of Albion Gardens and Pine Ridge) Presbyterian Church
*St Andrews Roman Catholic Church

Schools

Three public school boards operate elementary schools in the neighbourhood, Conseil scolaire Viamonde (CSV), the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). They include:

*Thistletown Public School was opened in 1874 as a one frame school house built on the east side of Islington Av., just south of Albion Rd. before moving eastward to Village Green in 1901. A new building was erected in 1947 and the school was renamed to Thistletown Middle School before closing in 1985 by the Etobicoke Board of Education. Today, the school now operates as a multi-service community centre.
*Braeburn Junior School
*St Andrews Catholic Elementary School
*St John Vianney Catholic Elementary School
*Beaumonde Heights Junior Middle School
*École élémentaire catholique Saint-Noël-Chabanel

The Toronto District School Board is the only school board to operate a secondary school in the area, Thistletown Collegiate Institute.

References

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Etobicoke
Neighbourhoods in Toronto
Ethnic enclaves in Ontario