Downsview
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Downsview is an area in the north end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and also the name of a Toronto Transit Commission subway station in the area (see Downsview (TTC)). Downsview was originally a farm located in the 1870's near the present-day intersection of Keele Street and Wilson Avenue. It now extends beyond the intersection of Sheppard Avenue and Dufferin Street, in the former City of North York. The area includes several large post-WWII subdivisions. Within the area is Downsview Airport, the former site of Canadian Forces Base Downsview, which has since been largely converted following the end of the Cold War into an urban park known as Downsview Park. However, the airport is still used as a manufacturing and testing facility for Bombardier Aerospace.
[edit] Demographics
Downsview has large Italian (14 %), Black/Carribean (11 %) and Latin American (10 %) populations. Immigration has created a vibrant group of individuals.
[edit] History
The military base and DeHavilland Aircraft Co., including the runway and all buildings, was closed and sold to Bombardier Aerospace, a world renowned Canadian company in 1994. They have been manufacturing and testing commercial aircraft on-site since then.
Most of the houses were built following World War II and into the 1960s, though some new houses and condos are now being built near Downsview station. The subway ride is approximately 30 minutes south to downtown Toronto.
The east side of Dufferin Street is primarily residential, while the west side is industrial. This street has been relegated to a quiet service road in the adjacent neighbourhood of Bathurst Manor. Immediately beside Dufferin Street, a major Toronto artery, the William R. Allen Road, now brings large traffic volumes from Ontario Highway 401 (the busiest section of freeway in North America) just a minute south, as well as to downtown Toronto further south and rapidly-developing York Region to the north.
Downsview Park is sporadically the host of big public events. On Sunday, July 28, 2002, over 800,000 Roman Catholics joined Pope John Paul II for a Papal Mass which was held there for World Youth Day. Also, on July 30, 2003, a massive concert called Sarsfest was held there to support the City of Toronto after SARS affected the city. Bands such as The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Rush and Justin Timberlake entertained half a million music fans from all over the world. It was reportedly the largest ticketed event in history.
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