Culture in Islington Village - a Place to Live and Play!
Our History
The Village of Islington, originally called Mimico, dates back to 1793 when Lt. John Graves Simcoe's Queen's Rangers cut through the forest to make the first route for what was to be known as Dundas Street.
The eventual intersection of several key routes, as well as Mimico Creek, made an ideal service centre for the surrounding farming community and for travellers – a place to locate stores, services, taverns, a post office, churches and schools.
By 1835, William Weller of Cobourg was offering regular winter stage coach service between Toronto and Hamilton along Dundas Street through Islington. By 1846, the village had 150 residents, as well as 2 churches (Methodist & Anglican); a sawmill on Mimico Creek; 1 general store; 1 doctor; 2 taverns; 1 blacksmith; 1 butcher; 1 baker; 1 tailor; 1 shoemaker; 2 wheelwrights; and 2 carpenters. [source: Etobicoke Historical Society]
To find out more about the rich local history we encourage you to check out the Etobicoke Historical Society as well as Heritage Toronto.
Image courtesy of Yoho2001
Sports and Recreation
The community boasts several opportunities to be active!
In addition to small parkettes scattered through out the neighbourhood there are some additional more expansive public green spaces in or nearby for you to enjoy and explore. These include: Echo Valley; Mabelle Park; Michael Power Park and Tom Riley Park
These parks offer a variety of recreational spaces including:
soccer pitches; baseball diamonds; tennis courts; pickle ball courts; splash pads; playgrounds and much more!
Once the colder weather comes and the snow starts to fly a whole new range of activities such as skating , tobogganing and cross country skiing becomes an option. Visit Welcome TO Winter for more information!
Visit the Toronto Parks and Recreation site for more information.
Sport clubs:
St George's Golf and Country Club
Places of Worship
Our neighbourhood is home to several places of worship either directly in, or near by.
These include:
- CSI Church Toronto
- Islington Baptist Church
- Islington United Church
- Our Lady of Peace Church
- Our Lady of Sorrows
- RC Church of the Resurrection
- Seventh Day Adventist Church
- St Andrew's Presbyterian
- St Georges Church on the Hill
- St Matthew's Anglican Church
- Yulin Church
Image courtesy of Islington United Church
Arts Etobicoke
Arts Etobicoke is a not-for-profit charitable organization that focuses on improving people’s lives through the arts. We have developed an inclusive and creative community hub that is open to all people in West Toronto. We believe in providing equitable access to the arts regardless of economic or social status. Arts Etobicoke is a place where everyone can freely express their art and culture through our programs, exhibitions, workshops, events, classes, and professional development. Our neighbourhood is home to several places of worship either directly in, or near by.
Click HERE for more information
MABELLEArts
MABELLEarts is an non profit community based organization focused on the vibrant community in and around Mabelle Avenue. The block is highly diverse and majority-racialized with a strong Muslim population from Somalia, South Asia and the Middle East.
Some of the programs offered by MABELLEarts include:
- Newcomer Artist Training
- MABELLE Market
- MABELLEpark Transformation initiative
Click HERE for more information about this vibrant community driven organization!
Photo courtesy of MABELLEarts