Swansea, Toronto

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Swansea
subdivision_type2 = Country
subdivision_name2 = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Ontario
subdivision_type = City
subdivision_name = Toronto


mapsize=150px
map_caption=Location of Swansea within Toronto

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established_title = Settled
established_date = ca 1850
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1926
established_title2 = Annexed
established_date2 = 1967 into City of Toronto

Swansea is a neighbourhood in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, bounded on the west by the Humber River, on the north by Bloor Street, on the east by High Park and on the south by Lake Ontario. The neighbourhood was originally a separate municipality, the Village of Swansea, which was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1967.

History

Swansea was incorporated as a village in 1926. The Swansea Village corporate seal reveals a great deal about the colourful history of this neighbourhood. Included on the Swansea seal is explorer Étienne Brûlé, who in 1615 became the first European to set foot on what is now Swansea and also shown is a First Nations member. This is symbolic in that it recognizes that First Nations members were the first people to inhabit Swansea, hundreds of years ago. The hills in the Swansea Village seal represent Swansea's rolling countryside, which is similar to the topography found in Swansea, Wales, after which this neighbourhood is named. The water in the Swansea seal refers to Swansea's natural boundaries, which include Lake Ontario, the Humber River and Grenadier Pond. In 1967, Swansea Village joined Forest Hill Village as one of the last two independent villages to be annexed by the City of Toronto.

Character

Swansea is primarily residential in nature, consisting of a mix of various housing types. Swansea's high end homes are located either at the western edge of High Park overlooking Grenadier Pond, or at the Brule Gardens enclave found in the north-west pocket of Swansea. Swansea also contains a large number of semi-detached houses and bungalows located mostly in the centre of the neighbourhood. The typical Swansea house was built between 1905 and 1935. At the south end of Swansea, down Windermere Avenue, is a cluster of rental apartment buildings. This pocket includes some of the original Swansea workers' cottages, built in the 1880s. To the south, a former industrial area along The Queensway is in transition into a development of townhomes and a tower of condominium apartments.

Swansea has several main streets. Along the northern boundary, Bloor Street is a four-lane arterial road with businesses lining both sides. Along the southern boundary, The Queensway is a four-lane arterial road with a streetcar right-of-way. The Queensway has primarily residences on both sides. North-south, Swansea has two major roads, South Kingsway and Windermere Avenue. Along the southern boundary is the Gardiner Expressway which has an interchange with South Kingsway and the CNR railway lines. Further to the south, Lakeshore Boulevard runs east-west along the lakeshore.

The area is extremely hilly in nature. The waters of Grenadier Pond, Rennie Pond and the Humber River all are at or near the level of Lake Ontario. The majority of the lands of Swansea are 30 to 40 feet higher than this, with steep hillsides along Grenadier Pond, Humber River and Rennie Pond.

Culture

The former Swansea Town Hall is now the Swansea Town Hall Community Centre which includes a small gymnasium, and a selection of meeting rooms available for a variety of functions. It is also the home of the Swansea Memorial Public Library, the second smallest branch of the Toronto Public Library system. This branch specializes in material for children and seniors and provides complete inter-library loan services.

Parks

Rennie Park, located on the east side of Rennie Terrace, south of Morningside Avenue, has four tennis courts, an artificial ice rink, and a wading pool. Swansea Recreational Centre, a part of Swansea Public School, has a gym and a swimming pool. High Park features a full day of recreational activities including fishing, theatre performances, train rides, an animal zoo, historical exhibits, a restaurant and a myriad of fitness opportunities.

External links

* [http://www.swansea-canada.com/Archive/digitarchiv.htm History of Swansea] at Swansea Public School
* [http://www.swansea.ca/ Swansea Toronto, Official Community Web Site]
* [http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/cns87.htm High Park-Swansea neighbourhood profile]

Toronto Neighbourhood Geography
North = High Park North, Runnymede-Bloor West Village
East = High Park, Roncesvalles Village, Parkdale
South = Sunnyside
West = Mimico, Stonegate-Queensway
Center = Swansea