LAWRENCE PARK
Overview
Lawrence Park, a prestigious neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is nestled between Yonge Street to the west and Bayview Avenue to the east, and stretches from Blythwood Ravine in the south to Lawrence Avenue in the north. The neighbourhood came into existence in the early 20th century, making it one of Toronto’s first garden suburbs. Its full development, however, was not realized until after World War II. In 2011, it gained recognition as the wealthiest neighbourhood across Canada.
Development and Architecture
The neighbourhood, set around Mount Pleasant Road, gradually expanded with medium-sized homes built on deep, narrow lots. Commercial businesses are sparse within the vicinity, with the closest grocery stores situated near Yonge and Lawrence. The homes in Lawrence Park showcase a range of architectural styles, including English Cottage, Tudor Revival, Georgian, and Colonial style designs, most of which were built between 1910 and the late 1940s.
Transportation
The transportation needs of Lawrence Park were initially met by the northern section of the Toronto Transportation Commission’s Yonge streetcar line. With the opening of the Yonge subway to Eglinton in 1954, trolley buses replaced the previous service on Yonge Street and Mount Pleasant Road, ending at the Eglinton station. As the subway extended north in 1973, the trolleys on Yonge were replaced with buses, and by 1991, the trolleys on Mount Pleasant followed suit.
History
The creation of Lawrence Park began in 1907 when the Dovercourt Land Building and Saving Company acquired the north parcel of the park from John Lawrence, the neighbourhood’s namesake. Under the leadership of Wilfred Servington Dinnick, the president of the Dovercourt Land Company, Lawrence Park evolved into a suburb for the affluent. However, Lawrence Park’s development experienced interruptions due to two world wars, a recession, and a depression, and was only completed in the 1950s.
Education
Education in Lawrence Park is provided by various public and private schools. Public schools, including Bedford Park Public School, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, Blythwood Junior Public School, and Sunny View Junior and Senior Public School, are located within or near Lawrence Park. Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, a secondary school operated by the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), is located in the nearby neighbourhood of Lytton Park. Additionally, Glendon College, a bilingual liberal arts campus of York University, is easily accessible to residents. Private education options are also plentiful in the vicinity of Lawrence Park, with institutions such as Crescent School, Crestwood School, Havergal College, and Toronto French School all located nearby.
Notable Residents
Lawrence Park has been home to many notable residents, including Alexandra Beaton, a renowned actress and dancer; Paul Beeston, the former president of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays; Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian female astronaut; Isadore Sharp, the founder and chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; and John Tory, a distinguished Canadian businessman and the former mayor of Toronto.
