Windfields, North York Neighbourhood Guide: A Historic Park Radiates

The Windfields neighbourhood is situated on the former site of Windfields Farm, which was the estate of entrepreneur E.P. Taylor. From its historical beginnings as an estate and horse stable, the area blossomed into a cosmopolitan community. It features the greenery of Windfields Park along with shopping and dining locales that can only be found in a vibrant metropolis.

Windfields neighbourhood derives its name from Windfields Farm, which was the estate of Canadian entrepreneur E.P. Taylor, who founded this area in 1937. Windfields Farm was the famous site of a top thoroughbred racing stable, and the first Canadian horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Northern Dancer, was trained there.

When the reclusive Taylor relocated to the Bahamas in 1963, he subsequently sold his Windfields estate to developers. In 1968, the generous Taylor also donated 12 hectares of land to the city, which is now known as Windfields Park. The historical Windfields mansion was also donated to the city in 1968 and currently houses the Canadian Centre for Advanced Film Studies.

Windfields neighbourhood derives its name from Windfields Farm, which was the estate of Canadian entrepreneur E.P. Taylor, who founded this area in 1937. Windfields Farm was the famous site of a top thoroughbred racing stable, and the first Canadian horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Northern Dancer, was trained there.

When the reclusive Taylor relocated to the Bahamas in 1963, he subsequently sold his Windfields estate to developers. In 1968, the generous Taylor also donated 12 hectares of land to the city, which is now known as Windfields Park. The historical Windfields mansion was also donated to the city in 1968 and currently houses the Canadian Centre for Advanced Film Studies.

North York offers a multitude of festivities and cultural events. Mel Lastman Square, adjacent to the North York Civic Centre, is a popular venue for festivals and entertainment. The square features an amphitheatre, wedding pavilions, a garden court, and a skating rink. 

Next to the square is the Meridian Arts Centre, which houses the Art Gallery of North York, the George Weston Recital Hall, and the studio theatre. The centre opened its doors in 1993 and has hosted dramas ranging from Sunset Boulevard to Barrymore, starring Christopher Plummer. It has also welcomed performances by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, making Meridian a premier Toronto destination for arts and entertainment.

There are some high-end shopping malls, such as Bayview Village Shopping Centre and York Mills Centre, within a five-minute drive from this neighbourhood. Bayview Village, located at Bayview and Sheppard Avenues, is a community hub and has been a local landmark for 59 years. A large indoor mall containing over 110 stores, Bayview Village caters to the more affluent shoppers from the Bridle Path, Willowdale, and York Mills neighbourhoods.

What was referred to by a Toronto mayor as “the Tiffany’s of shopping centres,” York Mills Centre is near Yonge Street and York Mills Road. This shopping centre offers a wide array of high-end designer shops and many restaurants and cafés.

The nearby Shops at Don Mills, located at Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East, features 72 retail stores offering high-end clothing, shoes, accessories, and home decor, among others.

This mall has been designed to fit in with the City of Toronto’s green development guidelines. In the middle of the mall is a town square with an attractive water feature and a clock tower designed by Canadian artist Douglas Coupland. A plethora of shopping amenities awaits those who enjoy fashion at its finest!

For those who enjoy a wide diversity of dining options, nearby York Mills Road offers a cosmopolitan blend of eateries. Some of the popular dining venues here include Windfield’s Restaurant, Via Cibo, Kwan, and St. Louis Bar and Grill, to name a few.

Nearby Leslie Street is home to a broad spectrum of eateries, like Hamaru Sushi and The Goose, a pub with an expansive menu. These cosmopolitan corridors offer dining at its finest and are well worth the trip.

Windfields Park is a major attraction in this neighbourhood, featuring a walking trail that winds beside Wilket Creek. Several of the park’s trails will take you to Sunnybrook Park and the nearby botanical gardens. The North York Mills Arena is also in the park, which offers skating in the wintertime.

An exquisite and preserved sanctuary, Edward Gardens, on Lawrence Avenue East, is a former estate. Beautiful flowers blossom on the grounds, including wildflowers and rhododendrons. The Toronto Botanical Gardens is located here and entertains visitors and locals with garden tours and nature day camps.

The two greenhouses offer a peaceful way to spend the day surrounded by unique and flowering perennials and plants. You can get lost for an entire day exploring the multitude of paths and trails that wind through the greenery of Edward Gardens.

The Bloom Café, nestled within the park, offers cold beverages for hot summer days. A visit to Windfields would not be complete without exploring the nearby Edward Gardens.

A recreational haven, the Banbury Community Recreation Centre on Banbury Road offers a range of interesting classes for locals, including kid’s fitness programs and dance, yoga, and art programs. A tennis court — which is part of the Banbury Tennis Club — and playground are on the grounds, providing a welcoming meeting spot.

For other recreational amenities, nearby Windfield’s Park provides a diverse location for skating and cross-country skiing in the wintertime, and hiking and walking in the summer.

A convenient spot for commuters, the York Mills subway station is situated on nearby York Mills Road, and the Go Transit bus station and express bus service to Pearson International Airport is also located at York Mills station.

The Oriole GO station is situated on GO Transit’s Richmond Hill line and is located under the Highway 401 overpass west of Leslie Street about half a kilometre south of Leslie subway station.

This neighbourhood is just five minutes from Highway 401, and downtown Toronto can be accessed in about 25 minutes.

With a unique centrally located park and well-maintained and colourful botanical gardens, Windfields is a gem in the City of Toronto. Featuring a range of housing styles and within half an hour of the downtown core, Windfields will appeal to entry-level buyers as well as established homeowners.