Roncesvalles Village

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Roncesvalles Village
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      History:

      Roncesvalles was originally settled by Colonel Walter O’Hara in 1850.O’Hara was a soldier in the British army prior to immigrating to Canada.O’Hara was wounded and captured by the French in the Roncesvalles Gorge in northern Spain; hence the name Roncesvalles. O’Hara,who was originally from Ireland,named the streets here after family members including: O ’Hara, Geoffrey, Constance, Marion a nd Sorauren. Fermanaugh is the province in Northern Ireland where the O’Hara clan originated. The development of the present-day neighbourhood was spurred on by the street-car, which came to this area in the early 1900s. Roncesvalles was a family-oriented neighbourhood right from the start. Nearby industries offered employment to the many British immigrants that settled here.The landmark St.Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church on Roncesvalles was the spiritual centre of these first residents.
      Following the Second World War an influx of Eastern Europeans,predominantly Poles,settled in Roncesvalles.They built their own church:St.Casimir’s.Sir Casimir Gzowski, a Polish patriot, settled in Toronto in the early 1850s and was instrumental in the building of Toronto’s roads and railways.

      Overview:

      Roncesvalles is known for its European ambience and small-town feel. This neighbourhood is popular with young families who enjoy community hubs like Sorauren Park which offers a myriad of activities. Roncesvalles residents also enjoy the close proximity to High Park, Toronto waterfront and the Roncesvalles Village shops and restaurants in the heart of the neighbourhood along Roncesvalles Avenue. The Roncesvalles Polish Festival,which takes place annually in September,attracts thousands of visitors. Roncesvalles Avenue is closed off for this festival that includes Polish dancers,children’s games and rides,polka bands and lots of food and refreshments.Roncesvalles Avenue is a wide boulevard shared by pedestrians, cyclists, automobiles and streetcars. The heritage buildings that line Roncesvalles Avenue set the tone for the friendly atmosphere and old world charm that is Roncesvalles Village.

      Lifestyle:

      Roncesvalles Village has a charming shopping district centred at Dundas St. West & Roncesvalles Avenue. This is where the community comes together to shop, play, exercise and exchange greetings. The historical buildings that line this stretch are home to coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants and specialty food shops. Neighbourhood landmarks include; The Revue Cinema, Toronto longest running independent cinema (1911), The High Park Library – a Carnegie endowed library (1916) and St. Casimir’s Church (1952) which has served the many Polish immigrants that have settled in Toronto’s west-end. The local Roncesvalles Village BIA hosts evetns throughout the year. The highlight is the Roncesvalles Polish Festival held annually in September. The street is closed down for the weekend as thousand enjoy live music and great food. Another festival not to be missed is Roncy Rocks held in June. This annual event celebrates the creative talents of local musicians, artisans and entrepreneurs.

       

       

       

      Homes:

      Roncesvalles Village is brimming with beautiful turn-of-the-century homes that are accented with whimsical architectural details. Pretty front porches and well tended gardens compliment the pretty houses. A lush and mature tree canopy make for a very pleasing streetscape. Most of the houses are attached or semi-deatched with a sprinkling of detached houses. Garages are tucked away out of sight at the rear of the house off laneways.
      In addition to the older Victorian style homes there is a cluster of newer townhomes near Sorauren Park as well as a few boutique low rise condominium buildings and lofts.

       

      Recreation:

      The Sorauren Avenue Fieldhouse hosts a variety of community based events. Sorauren Avenue Park located at the northeast corner of Sorauren and Wabash includes tennis courts, sports fields and a children’s playground.
      High Park Library on Roncesvalles Avenue offers programs for children and adults. High Park is one of Toronto’s largest parks and maybe its most cherished park. This wonderful greenspace is just a short walk west of this neighbourhood. Visitors to High Park can engage in a myriad of sport opportunities,from tennis to fishing in Grenadier Pond. There is also a popular children’s playground and a zoo. Walkers, joggers and nature enthusiasts will enjoy the many trails that traverse this park.

      Transportation:

      Streetcar lines on Queen Street, Dundas Street and Roncesvalles Avenue, connect riders to subway stations along the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines.The Lansdowne bus stops at the Lansdowne subway station on the Bloor-Danforth line. Go Transit has a station at the Crossways, on the north-east corner of Bloor Street West and Dundas Street West.Commuters can access Union Station from this line. Motorists are approximately a 15-minute drive from the downtown core.

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          Roncesvalles Village Stats

          Walkability:

          High

          Bikeability:

          High

          Public Transit:

          High

          Affordability:

          Low

          Greenspace:

          High

          Recreation:

          High

           

          Legend: Low, Medium, High

          Commute Times

          Time to Closest Shopping Mall:
          20 Minutes
          Time To TTC Station:
          5 Minutes
          Time to GO Bus or Train Station:
          20 Minutes
          Time To Hospital:
          5 Minutes
          Time to Toronto Pearson International Airport
          30 Minutes
          Time to Closest Highway:
          5 Minutes

          * All commuting times provided are approximate times only. Commute times may increase or decrease depending on where you live within the neighbourhood and the time of day i.e rush hour versus off hour commutes. Time estimates to public transit are based on walking distance or bus line connection whichever is quicker. All other commute times on the chart above are based on drive times.

          School Guide

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          Toronto School Resources

          Editor’s Note. BEFORE MOVING INTO, BUYING OR RENTING A HOME, PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL YOU ARE CONSIDERING BY PHONE to ensure your home is within the designated boundaries and that your child is age appropriate. WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISINFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SO DO NOT ASSUME that your child can automatically attend a specific school or specialized program until you have official confirmation from that school. Please visit the school board web sites for more information.