Toronto schools

The Best of The Kingsway!

The Spa at the Old Mill

Summer is coming and it is the perfect time to get out and support our beloved local west end Toronto businesses, who suffered so much throughout the pandemic. To help you find the best places to eat, play and shop, we are updating our neighbourhood pages and will be highlighting a different west end Toronto area over the next few months. Next up The Kingsway!


AVERAGE SALE PRICE (2022)

The Kingsway | $2.45M

TYPE OF HOMES

Detached Tudor style, mostly 2-storey (with some bungalows), set back from the street with private driveways & garages

Est.

1920’s


fun fact

The Kingsway area was established by Robert Home Smith and the names of the streets (Queen Anne, Kingsgarden, King George) were chosen to emphasize English respectability & attract affluent buyers 


the kingsway/sunnylea schools

Etobicoke Collegiate

 
 

Public | Sunnylea JS (JK-5), Park Lawn JMS (JK-8), Lambton Kingsway JMS (JK-8), Etobicoke Collegiate (9-12)

French | Rosethorn & Islington (immersion), Briarcrest & Second Street (extended), Richview CI (high school)

Catholic | Our Lady of Sorrows (JK-8), St. Mark (JK-8)


THE kingsway/sunnylea NEIGHBOURHOOD

  • restaurants, bars & shopping located along Bloor Street between Montgomery & Prince Edward

  • easy access to buses on Royal York & Prince Edward, as well as the Royal York subway station

  • easy commute downtown by highway or TTC

  • Brentwood Public Library is located on Brentwood Road North

  • the 'Taste of the Kingsway' is celebrated along Bloor Street every September

  • beautiful wide streets & big mature tress are signature features of this highly desirable & well established area


The Crooked Cue

INDULGE.

Etobicoke Real Estate Agents

King’s Mill Park

PLAY.

Etobicoke Real Estate Agents

Oleander Floral Design

SHOP.

 

To find out about other amazing neighbourhoods and the best places to eat, play and shop in Toronto’s west end, check out our neighbourhoods page. If you would like more information about this fabulous west end Toronto neighbourhood or if we are missing one of your favourite local businesses, please feel free to drop us a line at info@westsidestoreys.com - we are always available for your quesitons!

How to Choose the Right West End Toronto High School in 2022

Toronto west end schools

There are a number of high schools in Toronto’s west end, each offering different programs and catering to a variety of interests & proficiencies. I have helped both my daughters navigate through this maze of grade 9 options, they each attended different high schools, but I am happy to report that they both made the right choice and ended up at the school that was the best fit for them.

To add to the confusion, the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, so they are offering a virtual ‘Student Interest Programs Information Session’ on November 3rd, from 7-8:30pm. To further support students and families with the application process, central TDSB staff will be hosting three Centralized Program Admissions Support Sessions to answer any questions that students or families may have when completing the Centralized Program Application.  Live, online support will be available on the following dates: November 8 – 4-5:30pm (LINK), November 15 – 7- 8:30pm (LINK), November 24 – 4-5:30pm (LINK).

We have had an overwhelming response to this blog, which we originally posted in 2017 when I was going through this process the first time, so this year we have expanded it to include a few more west end schools.  We hope that you will find it to be a helpful guide to the varied (and sometimes overwhelming) choices available for secondary school education in Toronto's west end!

Specialty Programs & Key Dates

Bishop Allen Academy (Catholic)

  • Advanced Placement Program - an internationally recognized program that fosters success in higher education by encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills at the highest level

Bloor Collegiate

Virtual open house November 10th, 6:30-8:30pm

Etobicoke Collegiate

Virtual open house December 1st, 7-9pm

Etobicoke School of the Arts

In-person open house November 8th, 6-8pm

Father John Redmond (Catholic)

In-person open house October 13th, 6:30pm

  • Congregated Advanced Placement Program which enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue university-level courses while attending secondary school

  • Regional Arts Program in dance, drama, music & visual arts

  • applications are available as of September 26th and are due November 1st. Notification of acceptance to specialty programs is on December 2nd (wave 1) & December 9th (wave 2).

  • the school also offers a Gifted Program

     

Humberside Collegiate

Virtual open house December 15th,  6:30-8:30pm

West Toronto Humberside Collegiate

Humberside Collegiate

Martingrove Collegiate

Virtual open house December 6th, 6:30-8:30pm

Michael Power - St. Joseph High School (Catholic)

Parkdale Collegiate

Virtual open house November 22nd, 6:30-8:30pm

Richview Collegiate

Virtual open house December 8th, 6:30-8:30pm

Runnymede Collegiate

Virtual open house November 23rd, 6:30-8:30pm

Silverthorn Collegiate

Virtual open house November 10th, 7-9pm

Ursula Franklin Academy

In-person open house November 15th, 6-9pm

  • UFA is a small specialized school which has a focus or specialization in the following areas: Wednesday Enrichment Program, Math and Science Programming, Social Justice & Integrated Technology

  • the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, students wishing to apply to the Integrated Technology program at UFA must now do so by applying to these Centralized Student Interest Programs through an online application that will be available from November 7-25.

  • UFA has a two-step admission process, in addition to completing the Secondary Centralized Programs Online Application, all students must then select one date on which they will attend an in-person admissions session. In-person sessions will take place on November 18th from 10am-12pm or on November 26th from 10am-12pm

  • if the number of students who are eligible to attend UFA exceeds the number of spaces available in any given year, all eligible students will be placed in a pool for a random draw (lottery)

west end toronto Western Technical Commercial School

Western Technical-Commercial School and Ursula Franklin Academy

Western Technical-Commercial School

Virtual open house November 17th, 6:30-8:30pm

Please click here, for a list of open houses at all TDSB schools.  Happy open housing and the best of luck to all of you.....high school is a whole other post ;).

The Best of Bloor West!

Bloor West Village Toronto

Now that Covid restrictions are lifting, it is time to get out and support our beloved local west end Toronto businesses, who have suffered so much throughout the pandemic. To help you find the best places to eat, play and shop, we are updating our neighbourhood pages and will be highlighting a different west end Toronto area over the next few months. First up is Bloor West Village and Swansea!


AVERAGE SALE PRICE (2021)

detached | $1.87M

semi-detached | $1.35M

TYPE OF HOMES

The neighbourhood consists of mostly detached, 2-storey brick homes with lovely shaded front porches and mutual drives or front pad parking.

Est.

1920’s


fun fact

The Bloor West Village Business Improvement Association was started and spear headed by Alex Ling in 1970. It was the first BIA in the world! The BWV BIA has served as a model for all future BIA's.


bloor west village/swansea schools

Bloor West Village Schools

Runnymede Public School

 
 

Public | Runnymede PS (JK-8), Swansea PS (JK-8), Humberside CI (9-12)

French | Runnymede PS (JK-8 - immersion), Swansea PS (JK-8 - immersion/extended), Humberside CI (9-12)

Catholic | St. Pius X (JK-8), St. Cecilia's (JK-8), Bishop Morocco (9-12)


THE BLOOR WEST VILLAGE/SWANSEA NEIGHBOURHOOD

  • restaurants, bars & shopping located along Bloor Street between South Kingsway & Ellis Park

  • easy access to buses on Jane & Runnymede, as well as the Jane & Runnymede subway stations

  • easy commute downtown by highway or TTC & fast access to the airport

  • Runnymede Public Library is located on Bloor Street & Swansea Memorial Library is located on Lavinia Avenue

  • local community theatre, The Village Playhouse, located on Bloor

  • the well known 'Ukrainian Festival' is celebrated every September

  • family-centric & located steps to High Park, great shopping & tree lined streets all make this a highly desirable neighbourhood


Bloor West Village Businesses

A Dark Horse Pub

INDULGE.

  • in delicious Italian food at Queen's Pasta and La Capricciosa and pizza at Bello and Gatto Pizzerias

  • in great coffee at Baka Cafe, Coffee Tree, HotBlack Coffee, ZAZA & The Coffee Boutique

  • in fresh baked treats at Janchenko’s, Bread & Roses, Ma Maison, Bake Sale, COBS or Hot Oven Bakery

  • in a pint at Bryden's, Shakey's or A Dark Horse pubs

  • in Asian food at Ka Chi, Asa and Kenkou Sushi or Yumi Japanese

  • in traditional European fare at Amber European Restaurant, Indian at Bukhara Grill, Latin fare at Bloom, Thai at Simply Thai or Turkish at Flame Food + Design

  • on Jane Street at the delicious Mad Mexican, Queen Margherita Pizza, the French cafe Patisserie 27 or enjoy the charming ambiance at Campo

  • at the popular Annette Food Market on Annette Street

Swansea Town Hall

Swansea Town Hall

PLAY.

Bloor West Village Businesses

Max’s Market

SHOP.

 

If you would like more information about this fabulous west end Toronto neighbourhood or if we are missing one of your favourite local businesses, please feel free to drop us a line at info@westsidestoreys.com - we are always available or your quesitons!

navigating the west Toronto high school options for your grade 8 student

Toronto_high_schools.png

My youngest daughter is in grade 8 so I am doing this all over again, but as with everything, it is looking a lot different this year! Due to covid, all of the Toronto high school open houses are virtual this year, but we are still logging in and weighing our options. She will be graduating from Karen Kain School of the Arts (KKSA) so ESA is an option, as well as our home school and some of the specialty programs that are offered at other high schools, such as UFA and Western Tech. I will let you know how it goes!

Here is our annual guide to all the (virtual) open houses, programs, key dates and application deadlines for many of the West Toronto high schools.

 

Specialty Programs & Key Dates

Bishop Allen Academy (Catholic)

  • Congregated Advanced Placement Program - an internationally recognized program that fosters success in higher education by encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills at the highest level

  • application & strong academic performance in grades 7 & 8 required - applications are available as of October 8th and are due October 29th. Notification of acceptance to specialty programs is on November 27th (wave 1) & December 4th (wave 2)

Bloor Collegiate - Open house November 16th, 6:30-8:30pm

Etobicoke Collegiate - Open House November 26th, 7pm

Etobicoke School of the Arts - Open house November 16th, 7-9pm

  • arts focus in dance, drama, music & film

  • applications are available November 9th and the online application submission deadline is December 9th

  • acceptance dependent on audition - virtual auditions are being held January 15th, 2021. Offers of admission will be emailed in early February 2021


Father John Redmond (Catholic) - Virtual Open House

  • Congregated Advanced Placement Program (CAP)

  • Regional Arts Program (RAP) - applications available as of October 8th and are due October 28th (online) or October 29th (paper). Portfolio/Audition videos must be uploaded by November 13th and auditions will be conducted from November 18-20. Notification of acceptance is on November 27th (wave 1) & December 4th (wave 2).

  • Gifted & Enrichment Program

  • Update: apparently they have changed their application process and you can only apply to CAP if you have been accepted into Father Redmond through a feeder school or into the Regional Arts Program

Humberside Collegiate

  • extended french & french immersion programs for students coming from feeder schools

  • students in the english program must live within the school's catchment to attend

Martingrove Collegiate - Open house November 24th, 6:30 & 7:45

Parkdale Collegiate - Open house November 18th, 7pm

Richview Collegiate - Open house November 24th, 7-9pm (french) and November 25th, 7-9pm (english)

  • extended french & french immersion programs for students coming from feeder schools

  • students in the english program must live within the school's catchment to attend

Runnymede Collegiate - Open house December 2nd, 6pm

Ursula Franklin Academy

  • Integrated technology & academics for the real world with a focus on 5 core values: spirit of inquiry, democracy, social justice, community of learners, and connected knowledge

  • application required - applications due January 29th

  • if the number of eligible students exceeds the number of spaces available, a lottery will be held the first week of February and acceptance letters will be sent out February 12, 2021 and must be accepted by February 26th

Western Technical-Commercial School - Open house November 19th, 7pm

Please click here, for a list of open houses at all TDSB schools.  Happy open housing and the best of luck to all of you.....high school is a whole other post ;).