Humber Summit

Humber Summit
Neighbourhood
Residences in Humber Summit
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
City	Toronto
Municipality established	1850York Township
Changed municipality	1922North Yorkfrom York Township
Changed municipality	1998Torontofrom North York
Government
•MP	Judy Sgro
•MPP	Tom Rakocevic
•Councillor	Anthony Perruzza
Population (2021)
• Total	12,185
• Density	1,570/km2(4,100/sq mi)

Humber Summitis a neighbourhood inToronto,Ontario,Canada. It is one of the northernmost neighbourhoods in Toronto, located in theNorth Yorkdistrict of the city. It is bounded bySteeles Avenueto the north,Highway 400to the east,Finch Avenueto the south, and follows theHumber River(east branch) to the west.

History

Humber Summit sometime in the 1960s.

In the 1840s, Humber Summit began as apioneercommunity, centred on thegristandsaw mills.However, as the city boundaries crept closer, the area evolved into a resort community, called Riverbend Park. In 1953, the area, along with the rest ofNorth York,was severed fromYork County,joining other municipalities south ofSteeles Avenueto form the regional government ofMetropolitan Toronto.

It became home to many Toronto residents who built cottages on the banks of the Humber River. WhenHurricane Hazelhit Toronto in 1954, many of the cottages were swept away by the overflowing river. In 1998, the neighbourhood wasamalgamatedinto the new City of Toronto.

Today, Humber Summit is amiddle classcommunity. It contains a significant, well-establishedItaliancommunity, but has also become the home for newEast IndianandAsianfamilies. The residences are generallysemi-detachedbacksplitswith built-in garages. Adding to the character of thesuburbanpost-World War II1960s homes are front porches decorated withcast-ironrailings, and elaborate front archways.

Education

Twopublicschool boardsoperate schools in Humber Summit, theseparateToronto Catholic District School Board(TCDSB), and thesecularToronto District School Board(TDSB).

Both TCDSB and TDSB operate publicelementaryandmiddle schoolsin the neighbourhood. TCDSB operates St. Roch Catholic School on Duncanwoods Drive, and Venerable John Merlini Catholic School on Whitfield Avenue. TDSB operates two institutions that provideprimary education,Gracedale Public School on Gracedale Boulevard, and Humber Summit Middle School, formerly Humbermede Junior High School - from 1970, G.B. Warren Junior High School - on Pearldale Avenue. Previously, TCDSB operated St. Gaspar Catholic School on Plunkett Drive that opened in 1972 and closed in 2002, with the building demolished as of 2018.

Neither school board operate asecondary schoolin the neighbourhood, with TDSB secondary school students residing in Humber Summit attending institutions in adjacent neighbourhoods. The Frenchfirst languagepublic secular school board,Conseil scolaire Viamonde,and it separate counterpart,Conseil scolaire catholique MonAveniralso offer schooling to applicable residents of Humber Summit, although they do not operate a school in the neighbourhood. CSCM and CSV students attend schools situated in other neighbourhoods in Toronto.

Demographics

Total population (2021): 12,185

Major ethnic populations (2021):

• 34.3%White;21.5%Italian,4.6%Canadians
• 30.8%South Asian;11.0%East Indian
• 11.2%Black;2.9%Jamaican
• 5.5%Latin American(of any race)

Total population (2016): 12,416

Major ethnic populations (2016):

• 34.4%White;24.0%Italian,7.9%Canadians
• 28.9%South Asian;16.0%East Indian
• 14.8%Black;7.9%Jamaican
• 7.2%Latin American(of any race)

Total population (2011): 12,525

Major ethnic populations (2011):

• 41.0%White;30.2%Italian,4.0%Canadians
• 31.8%South Asian;22.3%East Indian
• 9.5%Black
• 4.4%Latin American(of any race)

Total population (2006): 12,755

Major ethnic populations (2006):

• 46.1%White;34.5%Italian,5.2%Canadians
• 28.3%South Asian;18.7%East Indian
• 10.5%Black;7.9%Jamaican
• 5.4%Latin American(of any race)

Total population (2001): 12,515

Major ethnic populations (2001):

• 51.7%White;39.5%Italian,7.4%Canadians
• 20.3%South Asian;13.7%East Indian
• 12.5%Black;7.2%Jamaican
• 3.5%Latin American(of any race)

Recreation

Humber Summit branch ofToronto Public Librarywas opened in 1974.

TheToronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Divisionmanages a number of municipal parks in Humber Summit, including Apted Park, Gracedale Park, and Rowntree Mill Park. The latter park is situated near theHumber Valley.The Humber Valley forms a part of theToronto ravine system.

The Humber Summit branch of theToronto Public Library(TPL) located at 2990 Islington Avenue. The library was opened by predecessor of TPL, the North York Public Library Board, on 15 May 1974. It was the first branch in North York to be in a shared facility with another community agency (the North York Parks and Recreation Department.)

Transportation

Several major roadways pass through the neighbourhood, includingFinch Avenue,Steeles Avenue,Weston Road,andHighway 400,a major north-southcontrolled access highwaythat connects the northern areas ofGreater Torontowith the city. Steeles Avenue serves as Humber Summit's northern boundary, whereas Finch Avenue serves as the city's southern boundary.

Public transitis provided by theToronto Transit Commission's (TTC)bus system.In addition to the TTC, bus routes provided byYork Region Transitis also accessible from Humber Summit, providing access toYork Region.

External links

• Humber SummitArchivedMay 8, 2006, at theWayback Machineat Toronto Neighbourhoods