Newtonbrook

Newtonbrook
Neighbourhood
Houses in Newtonbrook

Newtonbrook is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In the 19th century, it was a separate municipality. It is located in the area around Yonge Street and Finch Avenue in the district of North York between the east and west branches of the Don River. North York was a city that was merged with five other municipalities to form the new "City of Toronto" in 1998.

Character

Chinese is the top (non-English) language spoken in the area with Korean well behind as the second. Together they make up over 40% of the visible minorities in the area. The area also has significant Russian and Jewish and Iranian minorities.

The average income in the area is above the average for Toronto and a majority of residents live in single detached or semi-detached houses, which they own.

As of the end of 2006, Newtonbrook is northernmost area of City of Toronto affected by the infill development (mainly along the Finch Ave. and Yonge St. corridors). Older detached and semi-detached houses from the 1950s are demolished (or converted to mixed residential-commercial use) and townhouse complexes are built in their place. There is also an increasing number of new custom built homes in this neighbourhood. A new low-rise condo building had been built on NW corner of Yonge and Drewry.

History

First settled in the early 19th century, Newtonbrook's early industries included saw and grist mills on the east and west branches of the Don River.

The town's Newton Brook Wesleyan Church was named after Reverend Robert Newton.

In 1847, Lieutenant Colonel William S. Durie of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada subdivided part of his Newtonbrook property. The resulting subdivision is now Drewry Avenue.

In the 1950s, Newtonbrook was subdivided for a massive residential development. Most of the town's landmarks were removed, except for the Newtonbrook Schoolhouse and the Newtonbrook General Store. Just one house from the original Drewry Avenue subdivision remains.

Notable persons

It is the birthplace and hometown of Nobel Prize winner and Liberal Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Pearson was born at a manse in the intersection of Yonge Street and Hendon Avenue, now the site of the North American Centre. His father was the local Methodist minister and Lester was born in the parsonage.

Schools

• Saint Agnes Catholic School is a Catholic day on Otonabee Avenue. It hosts approximately 258 students, in 4 portables, as well as a main building complex.
• Newtonbrook Secondary School. Known for hosting the biggest number of sports teams in the TDSB.

Notable sites

• Newtonbrook Plaza
• Centerpoint Mall (formerly "Towne and Countrye Square")
• Cummer Park Fitness Centre

Transportation

It is served by the Finch subway station, which is the northern terminus of the Toronto Transit Commission's Yonge–University–Spadina line.

References

• Newtonbrook History
• Newtonbook history and map
• Newtonbrook United Church