The Kingsway – Overview
The Kingsway is situated on former Clergy reserves lands that were deeded to the Church of England until it was acquired by Robert Home Smith, the visionary who planned the Kingsway Park neighbourhood. Once the Bloor Street bridge was built in 1924, the sale of the Kingsway Park house began. Home Smith’s motto for the Kingsway was a “a little bit of England far from England.” His lofty idea was to establish an English-style garden suburb of the highest integrity and beauty. It is Robert Home Smith’s legacy that the Kingsway endures today as one Toronto’s finest neighbourhoods.
This is a well planned community designed for families with houses and properties of good sizes and streets that are pedestrian friendly, with schools, shopping, recreation and religious establishments within walking distance. Many streets are lined in majestic oak and maple trees that provide the perfect backdrop for stately homes.
The Kingsway shopping district on Bloor Street has an excellent mix of specialty shops, chain stores, restaurants and professional and medical services.
The Kingsway Homes
Many houses are built between 1924 and 1947 and include some of finest examples of Old English classical and vernacular architecture in Toronto. They feature handsome stone exteriors, intricate tapestry brick patterns, and elaborate stucco and half timbering designs. The homes also feature solid oak doors, leaded glass windows, fancifal bay and oriel windows, and decorative wrought iron railings and porch lamps.
The Kingsway Schools
Lambton Kingsway Jr Sr
Etobicoke Colligate Institue
Our Lady of Sorrows
Kingsway Montessori School
Kingsway College School
Transportation
Most residents of the Kingsway can walk to Islington and Royal York subway stations which are part of the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Islington station is also the connecting route for Mississauga transit system as well as provifing express bus service to Pearson airport. Motorists are 20 minutes away from downtown Toronto’s business and entertainment district.
