Smithfield, Toronto

Smithfield
Neighbourhood

Kipling Ave in Smithfield
Coordinates: 43°44′23″N 79°34′49″W / 43.73972°N 79.58028°W / 43.73972; -79.58028Coordinates: 43°44′23″N 79°34′49″W / 43.73972°N 79.58028°W / 43.73972; -79.58028
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
City Toronto Toronto
Community Etobicoke-York
Established 1870 Postal village 'Etobicoke'
Changed Municipality 1998 Toronto from Etobicoke
Government
 • MP Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North)
 • MPP Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North)
 • Councillor Vincent Crisanti (Ward 1 Etobicoke North)

Smithfield is part of the Rexdale neighbourhood in the northwestern area of Etobicoke, in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Some new residents to Toronto and new immigrants to Canada are attracted to this neighbourhood, mainly because there is a large amount of affordable public housing. It is named after the former village of Smithfield that was located at the intersection of Albion Road and Martin Grove Road.[1]

The neighbourhood covers the residential areas of Etobicoke north of the west branch of the Humber River and west of Kipling Avenue. The west and north of the neighbourhood are small industrial areas. For social purposes, the city identifies the neighbourhood as Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, named for three streets in the area. Mount Olive is the name given to the area north of Albion Road between Kipling and Martin Grove. Jamestown is the part of the community south of Albion between Kipling and Martin Grove. Silverstone covers the area west of Martin Grove and north of Finch. The northernmost section of the neighbourhood, above the hydro right of way, is known as South Steeles. The western projection of the area running along the south side of Finch is known as Woodbine Downs.

Character

The community, once home to a large Anglo-Saxon population. It has the largest collection of Victorian homes outside the former municipality of old Toronto and has a number experienced a large influx of citizens from Eastern Europe, Asia, Caribbean, and the Middle East. The impact of the various cultures has led to a communal diversity that can be said to be unparalleled in any area of such small size. The large expanses of rowhouse developments dating back to the 1970s located on Mount Olive Drive just off Kipling Ave has been home to the first new comers especially from Somalia and the West Indies. North Albion Collegiate Institute, opened in 1962 and located on Kipling and Mount Olive, has for years held showcases for the Asian and South East Asian Communities, attracting audiences from far and wide. Directly across the street, the St. Andrews School and Father Henry Carr Secondary School reflect the Catholic tradition and culture that is shared by many resident Filipinos, and Assyrians.

The Albion Centre (formerly known as "Shoppers World Albion") Is the main shopping mall in the area. Containing a variety of small boutiques and stores, the Albion Centre also contains such franchises as Pizza Pizza, Canadian Tire, and Shoppers Drug Mart. The Albion Cinemas have been operating since before 1970 and are still in operation. The cinemas, well known for their broadcasts of modern Bollywood/Indian/Asian films, have attracted many to this location.

In May 2006, Toronto Police apprehended 106 members of the "Jamestown Crew" in the largest gang sweep in Toronto's history. In total, there were over 1,000 charges laid in the anti-gang offensive called Project XXX.[2] Sometimes known by the nickname Doomstown because of its reputation as a poor neighbourhood ridden with gang violence, the neighbourhood was the setting of the 2006 Canadian television movie Doomstown.

Institutions

Churches
Saint Andrew Roman Catholic Church
Gurudwaras
Hindu Temples

Schools

References

  1. ↑ Etobicoke Remembered by R. Given
  2. ↑ Police Display Weapons Seized In Gang Raids
  3. ↑ http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/hou_az_ab.jsp
  4. ↑ http://thealbioncentre.com/home/index.ch2
  5. ↑ http://thistletownbaptist.org/
  6. ↑ Royson, James. "Closing school dagger to heart of Rexdale." Toronto Star. December 12, 2001. News p. B01. Retrieved on August 27, 2013.
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