Two recent projects come to mind when looking around our community. With Covid-19 resulting in a change in our normal routines and limited opportunities to shop or visit in groups, here’s a chance to drive around Scarborough and take note (and pictures) of our heritage.

Pictured below are two interesting new heritage features.

The former Stop 14, Stinson’s Grocery store at Midland and Kingston Road, has now been restored to its former 1903 appearance. The new owners have done a great job, using historical photographs to fix up this designated heritage property.

The Midland Park mural on the plaza wall at Ellesmere and Birkdale Road is the work of a dedicated group of local residents who have been trying for years to have the unique community designated as a Heritage Conservation District.

The Scarborough Historical Society promotes, preserves and stimulates an interest in the history of Scarborough, Ontario. Read more about the SHS and this website…

In partnership with the Scarborough Archives, UTSC student volunteers have created an archival guide focusing on pre-settlement Indigenous History. Click Pre-Settlement Indigenous History (UTSC) to access the site or click on the “Local History” menu item at the top of the page.

A fact unknown to many is that our local history surrounds us every day, printed out on local street signs. Some are named for local settlers, politicians, war heroes, or simply for the subdivision developments these roads are situated within.

For example,  Ellesmere Road was named after the crossroads village, Ellesmere, which was formally established with a post office in 1853. The name of the village was borrowed from Ellesmere, England which is situated near the border of Wales, just south of Liverpool. Scarborough’s Ellesmere village was located at the intersection of today’s Kennedy Road and Ellesmere Road. Click Here to access this list or click on the “Local History” menu item at the top of the page. The list provides a look back to the origins of the street names that run through the neighbourhoods of our community

You can help us build the list – If you have documented information on the reason a street in Scarborough was named and would like to have it added to our list, please Contact Us.