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Scarborough's Crossroads Villages

 Scarborough is an extremely large geographic area. As a result it developed as a series of crossroads villages each with its own distinct identity within the larger community. The village names are still used across Scarborough. As rural villages gave way to residential developments even more local community names came into use.

This map shows the approximate location of each village. The black outlines indicate where Scarborough bordered other municipalities including Toronto prior to the cities amalgamating.

For more information on early Scarborough villages visit www.scarboroughhistorical.ca and browse to the local history page.

Post war changes in Scarborough and across Canada came not only as part of an economic and building boom but also in response to changing social norms and the cultural contributions of our growing diverse population.

Consider both the short and long term effects of development and change on the community.

Some areas to consider: Farmland being developed Housing and industry construction Effect on watercourse and wildlife Industrial development Population growth Move from largely rural to urban Ability of services to keep pace Governmental policies and priorities ...there are lots of others!

There are always social and environmental impacts, some positive , some negative as communities change.

This composite photo shows the intersection of Brimley Road and Ellesmere Road looking north in 1920 and again in 2004. Note the changes.

1954 ~ Looking west toward Brimley Road along Ellesmere Road. The area in the lower right of the photo is where the Scarborough Civic Centre is now located.

Bill Walton, a farmer who owned property at Brimley and Ellesmere was one of the last to farm in that area of Scarborough. Bill shared his thoughts on selling the property: "I decided to sell in the early fifties. The agents kept calling on us and the price was getting up...and so many neighbours around us had sold. It was just hard. When everybody in the neighbourhood is gone and you're alone, you can't very well cope with it. "

Bill talks about the changes in the Scarborough landscape during his lifetime.

“More buildings, more people, less trees. There’s a lot of things I miss, but,
I just sorta said well you can’t change it, you’ve gotta go along with it.
Its like these people that hang onto their farms…you might as well go along with the way things are going.”

Aerial photographs courtesy Scarborough Archives

Following the post war development boom, a plan was developed to create a downtown for Scarborough. Raymond Moriyama, the famed architect, designed the Scarborough Civic Centre at as close to the geographic centre of Scarborough as was possible and close to the 401 the major transportation route through the area. The Scarborough Town Centre development was unique in the area at the time because the major shopping mall, civic and transportation hubs were planned cooperatively to create a town focus.

Image: Postcard Scarborough Civic Centre opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973

These photos are looking at the same area over a span of 15 years.

What changes can you identify in the landscape ? How might those changes affect the community ?

Images:  Scarborough General Hospital McCowan Road & Lawrence Avenue East looking north west in 1954 and again in 1969

Schools are semi static anchors, that can be used as a focal point for researchers.

Images:  Aerial photographs of the area around St. Clair Avenue East and Kingston Road in Scarborough, Ontario.  Photos date from 1931 and 2005.

On the left, the area around Scarborough C.I., in 1931 at St. Clair Avenue East and Kingston Road.

Look at the land around the school. How has the land use changed ? what are some of the contributing factors?