Introduction
Bayview Woods-Steeles has distinct, squarish borders, defined by major roadways, which seem at odds with the numerous ravines and hilly landscape that run through its core. From Finch Avenue to the south, up north to Steeles Avenue, the area runs from Bayview Avenue to the west to Leslie Street at its eastern edge. Nature may disrupt the lines of this orderly neighbourhood, but it also endows it with peaceful beauty.
Lifestyle
The area seems to be divided into different economic and cultural pockets. Although the range of lifestyles is not any greater than other neighbourhoods, each section seems to have more in common with bordering districts than with each other. Commerce in the southwest corner is almost exclusively Asian, with many stores having no or little English signage. The northwest area has quaint boutiques and brand-new mini-mansions, and to the east lays more apartment buildings surrounded by discount shopping.
The Vibe
The suburban calm permeates the entire area. Many residents stay for decades, lending a sense of stability to the community, although some prefer to keep to themselves. A lack of sidewalks combined with large, well-equipped backyard means that there is little social interaction on residential streets. Neighbours are friendly but privacy is available to those who prefer quiet evenings on the deck to backyard barbeques.
Meet the Neighbours
Seniors make up a quarter of the population, a fact made visible by the many retirement homes in the area. According to a 2011 City of Toronto census, there are four times as many Chinese-Canadians in Bayview Woods-Steeles as any other visible minority, with an almost equal number of Iranians, Koreans, and South Asians tying for a distant second. The area has a very small black population.
In the Area
Strip-malls ring the perimeter of Bayview Woods-Steeles, offering grocers, Chinese take-out and dine-in restaurants, as well as martial arts, dance and language lessons for children. The community centre is quite large, with an extensive skateboard park, and there is a public library. The main draw to this neighbourhood, though, is the ravine and accompanying trails along the river. The beauty of this wooded parkland is the heart of the community.
Dollars & Sense
As in any neighbourhood, a range of shopping is available. The Bayview Cummer Shopping Centre features a Valu-Mart and a Swiss Chalet. Galati on Leslie just south of Cummer Avenue is a more upscale grocer. Bayview Villages, just south of the neighbourhood, is known to be as expensive as it is exclusive; nothing in Bayview Woods-Steeles is similarly pricey. Even boutique shops are not extravagant, and restaurants are very reasonable.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
There is no subway service but buses run regularly and with great frequency. It's a short drive along Steeles or Finch to Highway 404, which connects to both Highway 401 and Highway 407, both of which are just 5 minutes away. Cyclists and pedestrians are common along Cummer Avenue, which cuts through the neighbourhood, as residents access the trails along the ravines. Old Cummer GO Station connects to Union Station within 45 minutes.
The Good, Bad & the Rest
Bayview Woods-Steeles seems to be a patchwork area, with each section of the neighbourhood seeming to have more in common with surrounding villages than with each other. The green ravines, however, unify the area, as do the walking paths that follow along the Don River. It lacks a cultural centre, but is a wonderfully safe and peaceful place to live, boasting one of the lowest crime rates in the GTA.
Real Estate
There is very little in this area that is inexpensive, whether for rent or to buy, although properties are sizeable. Apartment prices tend to be on the higher end, whether to rent or buy, as are houses. Detached homes range from ranch style to newly constructed mansions that gobble up the lots they occupy. Large homes with accompanying land go for over well over two million, like any premium Toronto neighbourhood.
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
The CMCC offers undergraduate, graduate and continuing studies programs for aspiring chiropractors and professionals. It also offers services to the public, which include massage, sports therapy, x-rays and acupuncture.
Finch and Leslie Square
This strip-mall is not the only Asian-themed shopping centre, but it is the most elegant. It has everything from Chinese fine dining to Chinese Halal cuisine, as well as services like banking and dentistry.
East Don Parkland
At the bottom of a series of small parks all connected by the Don River is East Don Parkland, the largest ravine in the area. Residents walk and bike along the waterside trails.
Cummer Park Community Centre
Cummer Park Community Centre not only has a gym, skating rink and an indoor pool, it's got wonderful outdoor facilities: tennis courts, a softball diamond, a playground and skateboard park.