Highland Creek Area, Scarborough Neighbourhood Guide: Happy Days

If you’re looking for somewhere that’s close to schools, parks, and convenient shopping, Highland Creek is the place for you. This neighbourhood is situated between major shopping outlets and the University of Toronto’s (U of T) Scarborough campus has high-quality sports and arts facilities. Highland Creek has numerous annual events that are fun for people of all ages and boost community spirit. There are many trails and parks in this area, making it great for people who enjoy running, hiking, and cycling, or need somewhere to walk their dog. Old Kingston Road has historic buildings and a great selection of restaurants and small shops, making it a fun place to visit with friends and family.

Combining the bountiful Highland Creek, Kingston Road, and Old Danforth Road made this area an ideal spot for pioneers to settle. William Knowles was one of the first to settle here, building the town’s first smithy and planting one of Scarborough‘s first orchards. The community was officially recognized in 1852 after it was granted its own post office. In 1914, William Morrish of Highland Creek installed the only fuel pump between Whitby and Toronto. This became a profitable addition to his general store and made the community a desirable place to stop for farmers and travellers. The town’s prosperity led to the building of a new brick school in 1918. The town remained a rural farming area until residential development started in the mid-1900s.

Most of the homes in Highland Creek were built after the 1970s. There are many two-storey detached homes as well as bungalows in this community. Most of these properties have spacious lots. The area is divided between residential neighbourhoods to the east and the U of T Scarborough campus to the west. One of the historical landmarks in Highland Creek is the W.J. Morrish General Store at the corner of Meadowvale and Old Kingston Roads. Constructed in 1890, the brick building operated the town’s first elevator. This general store served the community until 1967 when modern supermarkets ended the era of rural country general stores.

Highland Creek has an annual heritage festival in September celebrating the town and its history. The three-day festival includes a pancake breakfast, an opening ceremony, bands, dancers, food vendors, and demonstrations from the Toronto Zoo. Also held annually in Highland Creek is the I Love Highland Creek Dinner Dance Fundraiser. This fundraiser has an auction, door prizes, live music, and dancing. The Doris McCarthy Gallery is on U of T’s Scarborough campus. This public art gallery displays contemporary art fostering the art community for people in Scarborough and beyond.

Highland Creek has an annual heritage festival in September celebrating the town and its history. The three-day festival includes a pancake breakfast, an opening ceremony, bands, dancers, food vendors, and demonstrations from the Toronto Zoo. Also held annually in Highland Creek is the I Love Highland Creek Dinner Dance Fundraiser. This fundraiser has an auction, door prizes, live music, and dancing. The Doris McCarthy Gallery is on U of T’s Scarborough campus. This public art gallery displays contemporary art fostering the art community for people in Scarborough and beyond.

Most of the restaurants in Highland Creek are near the merger between Kingston Road and Old Kingston Road. Ted’s Restaurant is a popular breakfast spot, and Shamrock Burgers is a classic diner where you can buy burgers, poutine, and other fast foods. If you’re a fan of Italian cuisine, try stopping by Fratelli Village Pizzeria for carefully prepared spaghetti, pizza, and seafood dishes. If you’re looking for somewhere more upscale, try Six Social Kitchen & Wine Bar. This location has a large drink menu and a culturally diverse food menu, from panko-crusted fish to butter chicken. There are also more restaurants in the northwest corner of Highland Creek around and inside the Scarborough Shopping Centre.

The Highland Creek Community Park is in the middle of this neighbourhood. It has a baseball diamond, a playground, large fields, and a parking lot. Morningside Park is just outside Highland Creek to the west. This large and wooded park has a trail system that runs along the winding creek from which Highland Creek got its name. The park connects to the Valley Land Trail that begins on the U of T Scarborough campus. This trail continues east along the creek, making it a beautiful place to walk, run, or bicycle. Other small parks in Highland Creek include Canmore Park and Bramber Woods Park.

There are two spas along Old Kingston Road. One is called Highland Creek MedSpa, and the other is Estheticare Day Spa & Salon. There is also Highland Fitness and Wellness, a gym on Old Kingston Road. The closest hockey arena to people living in Highland Creek is the Heron Park Arena in West Hill a few kilometres south. The U of T Scarborough campus has a tennis club with eight courses. The courses are open to the public and well-maintained by friendly staff.

Driving from Highland Creek to downtown Toronto can take around 30 minutes depending on the route you take and the traffic. You will arrive downtown in about half an hour if you travel west along the 401 and head south on the Don Valley Parkway. Taking Kingston Road to downtown Toronto will add another 20 minutes. Taking public transit to downtown Toronto will amount to an hour-long commute. This trip involves taking a bus to the Eglinton GO Station. From there you will take GO Transit west to Union Station.

With annual festivals, fundraisers, and a U of T campus nearby, Highland Creek is brimming with community energy and excitement. The houses in Highland Creek are spacious and generously proportioned. Natural areas with forests and trails are within a short drive for most people, and the historic Old Kingston Road has plenty of restaurants and unique shops for browsing with your friends and family. There are also more malls to the north of town if you prefer stores like Walmart. Commuters only have a half-hour drive to downtown Toronto by car, and public transit takes just over an hour.