Eglinton East, Scarborough Neighbourhood Guide: Culturally Diverse and Growing

Historically known as Knob Hill, Eglinton East is a residential and commercial neighbourhood primarily home to working-class Torontonians, many of whom belong to new Canadian families. This diverse community has a large selection of shopping and dining opportunities on Eglinton Avenue East, and many gyms and recreation centres in the area facilitate active lifestyles. The neighbourhood is located near Highway 401 and the Don Valley Parkway, making it easy for commuters to travel both downtown and outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Before becoming part of Metropolitan Toronto in 1953, Scarborough was mostly occupied by small rural villages and farms. This changed when highways were built between these towns and Toronto in the 1930s. Eglinton Avenue soon became the major east-west arterial thoroughfare for people travelling in what is today known as the GTA. The roadway was previously known as Richview Sideroad in Etobicoke, Lower Baseline in Mississauga, and Highway 5A in Scarborough. After the Second World War, an influx of new Canadians helped populate the area, creating the richly diverse demographics of Eglinton East.

Apartments are the most common type of housing in this neighbourhood. Most of the property in Eglinton East is rented but there is some opportunity for purchasing. Homes in this area were built in the 1960s and 1970s to accommodate an influx of new Canadians. There are some single-detached houses in this area. Many of these houses are spacious with two stories and have up to four bedrooms. These homes have large front lawns in neighbourhoods with sidewalks and wide roadways.

This part of Toronto is known for its graffiti art. Walkers and runners in Bendale Park can view some of these unorthodox paintings when they go under the Lawrence Avenue East roadway. The closest museum to Eglinton East is the Scarborough Museum made up of four heritage buildings; it celebrates the area’s past, present, and future. The community space is where people can hear stories that shaped Scarborough. The museum hosts weekend festivals, day camps, youth programs, and summer evening activities.

The area has plenty of shopping options along Eglinton Avenue. In the middle of this neighbourhood, at the intersection of Danforth Road and Eglinton, there is a No Frills for everyday grocery needs. There are many more supermarkets and stores near this intersection. Some of the small grocery stores are run by new Canadians and have rare selections of goods you cannot find in regular grocery stores. Other shops in this area include Plato’s Closet, a used clothing store, Shoppers Drugmart, and a few different print shops. The closest major retail area is at the intersection of Eglinton and Warden Avenues where shoppers can find a Canadian Tire, Walmart Supercentre, and a Costco.

There are many restaurants along Eglinton Avenue East. Starting from the east side, you can find authentic Indian meals at Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant. It has a lunch buffet and serves casual halal, South Indian dishes. Moving east there is a Swiss Chalet on Eglinton and Cedar Brae Boulevard. A few blocks further there is Amazing Shawarma Restaurant, a highly rated, easygoing spot serving Middle Eastern food like falafel. There are many more restaurants close to the Danforth and Eglinton Intersection, such as Nakamori Japanese Restaurant, TOR Caribbean Restaurant, and Black Forest Steak House & Tavern.

Eglinton East has a great selection of parks, many of which are connected to local school grounds. McCowan Park is the largest green space. It has a long trail running through Pringdale Ravine, a play area for children, and is densely forested breaking up Scarborough’s suburban landscape. The trails in McCowan Park connect to those in Hague Park, Bendale Park, and Thomson Memorial Park. This connecting set of parks is perfect for runners, cyclists, or dog walkers who want to test their endurance. Smaller parks in this area include Glen Ravine Park and Hunters Glen Park. Both parks have large fields and play areas for children. Additionally, Cedar Brook Park is another wooded area with winding trails next to running water.

The closest community centre to Eglinton East is the Don Mongomery Community Centre. This centre has a hockey rink for all types of ice sports and multi-purpose rooms that are rented for programs directed toward people of all ages. Some of the programs offered here include creative, sports, cultural, youth, preschool, and senior’s programs. North of Eglinton East there are three tennis courts at the Thomson Memorial Park Tennis Court. There are multiple gyms in this area, including two Goodlife Fitness Studios, and an independently run fitness studio called Straight Blast Gym.

Driving downtown will take commuters around 20 minutes depending on traffic. Car drivers will head east on Eglinton Avenue and then turn south onto the Don Valley Parkway. After driving south on the parkway for around 15 minutes, they will turn off at either Bayview Avenue or Richmond Street East to access the downtown core. People travelling by public transit will take a bus south to Victoria Park subway station. From there, they will hop on the Bloor-Danforth subway line west to St. George or Yonge Station. Eglinton East residents also have access to the Eglinton GO station, which will take them downtown in 30 minutes.

Most people think the city of Toronto stops once you travel past East York. The truth is there are many thriving communities beyond this point, and East Eglinton is a great example. This area has plenty of schools and affordable housing for young families, especially for new Canadians looking for a multicultural community. Restaurants and shopping are conveniently located along Eglinton East Avenue. This community also has plenty of natural areas for people who lead active lifestyles, or for kids who need somewhere to play. Access to Toronto is made easy by taking the Don Valley Parkway by car, and people using public transit will find themselves downtown in just under one hour.