Bloor West Village

The Origins of the Bloor West Village
Bloor West Village was once the property of the first commanding officer of the Queens Own Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel William Smith Durie. He founded the area in the 1850’s, and Durie Street as seen in Bloor West Village today, was once a road that ran through the Lieutenant’s house.

Residence in Bloor West Village

In the early 1900’s, Bloor West Village began it’s development into what it has become today. Once it was officially apart of Toronto, the roads were paved, and city services were made available to all the residence living in the neighbourhood. Immigrants from Eastern Europe travelled here and founded the Blood West Village Business Improvement, which in turn has made Bloor West Village into the popular Toronto neighbourhood it is today.

Bloor West’s first residents were immigrants of Eastern European background. These are the residents who helped found the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Area, the first of its kind in Canada. This shopping district has helped make Bloor West Village one of Toronto’s most popular neighbourhoods.

Families are particularly attracted to the homes in Bloor West Village. The houses are similar in size and style because they were all built in the same time frame, between 1912 and 1923. Features of the houses include: decorative oak accents, hardwood floors, fireplaces, as well as deep front porches. From the porch you can view the beautiful oak and maple trees that line the streets of Bloor West Village.

Autumn season in Bloor West Village

The location of Bloor West Village is great! You can take a stroll over to High Park and enjoy just under 400 acres of beautiful outdoor actives. Enjoy anything and everything from having a picnic with the family, to playing volleyball or softball at one of the sports facilities. High Park is a great way to spend the day with the entire family.

The parks and great outdoors aren’t the only things that attract people to Bloor West Village. The shopping district is loaded with shops and stores for you to choose from. You can find anything from bakeries, to specialty food shops. Of course there is also convenience stores, and fruit and vegetable markets as well! There is also an annual festival that takes place every August, the festival allows small family-owned businesses to display there goodies on the streets in tents and under awnings.

The nearby recreation centre allows residence to stay active and fit. You can check out the indoor pool, hit the gym, play some baseball, or all the above! Attached to the recreational centre is the Annette Street Public School, and while you’re in the area you can check out the public library across the street. The library offers programs for children, adults, and even preschoolers.

An intersection in the neighbourhood

Bloor West Village is located in the western Toronto area, however this doesn’t mean you can’t easily get downtown or even to the east side of Toronto with ease. Thanks to the subway stations that are within walking distance of Bloor West Village, you can get to access where ever you need to be within Toronto, quickly and easily!

Toronto’s Bloor West Village neighbourhood offers great family housing. Bloor West Village was originally founded by Lieutenant Colonel William Smith Durie in the 1850’s, and began it’s development into the neighbourhood it is today, in the early 1900’s. The first residents to the area were mainly immigrants of Eastern European background. The houses were built between 1912 and 1923, and are similar in size and style. The parks and great outdoors aren’t the only things that attract people to Bloor West Village, it’s also one of Toronto’s best shopping districts. Nearby is the recreation centre, public school, and public libraries, all within walking distance. Bloor West Village is the a great neighbourhood for any family to reside.

Other West Toronto Neighbourhoods: – Roncesvalles Village – High park – Swansea