Old Weston Village’s new wave

When Santa Claus glides along the route on Nov. 13 for the 32nd annual Weston Santa Claus Parade, his companions will be children from the local daycare. The tiny kids in their reindeer costumes will be riding through one of the most diverse communities in the country.

The parade is a fitting symbol for Weston today: This is a community that holds fast to tradition while striving for revitalization at the same time.

The area around Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West known as Weston Village was a genuine village back in 1796. In the 1800s, the settlement burgeoned into a town on the strength of mills established along the Humber River and the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway. Today the river and the railway remain the defining landmarks.

David McBride, chairman of the Weston Village Residents’ Association, says the town’s retail strip went into decline in the 1960s with the arrival of the Yorkdale Shopping Centre a few kilometres to the east. Another blow was the closing of the CCM bicycle plant in the 1980s.

“It’s seen some changes, no doubt,” Mr. McBride says of the village.

Weston will see a transformation again with the construction of the planned Air Rail Link from Union Station to Pearson airport and a new GO station.

“We’re looking forward to that,” Mr. McBride says of the renewal in the downtown. “It’s going to draw people in from other areas.”

Mr. McBride says more residents are beginning to realize the importance of shopping locally. According to Statistics Canada, York South-Weston is one of the poorest ridings in Canada.

For now the signifiers of gentrification – Starbucks, trendy cheese shops or a blow dry bar – are nowhere to be seen on the main drag, which is a good thing or bad, depending on your point of view.

Mr. McBride hopes a major coffee chain or two will come in with the rebuilding at Lawrence and Weston. Some locals are even envisioning a bicycle rental scheme that would let cyclists ride along the Humber all the way to Lake Ontario, then return on the GO train to Weston.

“There are lots of ideas percolating,” he says.

In the meantime, Mr. McBride points out, the sense of community couldn’t be stronger. And locals have noticed an interesting real estate phenomenon: People who live on the gracious older side streets will move to another house a block or two away rather than move out of the neighbourhood.

“We all know each other’s kids,” Mr. McBride says. “I can take the dog for a walk and end up talking to eight people.”

The area gets high marks for …

Heritage recognition: Part of the old town has been designated a heritage conservation district and the area will soon be expanded. Weston Public Library was built in 1914 with money donated by Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Weston Lions Recreational Arena is a traditional old wooden hockey arena with a sand base under the ice.

Humber River trails: In 1830, a sawmill stood on the east side of the Humber River. In later years the Cruickshank family took over the mill site and made it Weston Wagon Works. In 1929, the family donated the land to the Town of Weston and it’s known today as Cruickshank Park.

Weston Golf and Country Club: The club began as a gathering spot for four golfing friends on the east bank of the Humber River. Over the years, the territory expanded and in 1920, Scottish architect Willie Park Jr. designed 18 holes in the rolling landscape along the river. A statue of Arnold Palmer behind the first tee reminds members that the golf legend won the Canadian Open here in 1955. The course continues to be ranked among the best in the country. Of course, barriers to entry are high.