Riverdale

Riverdale is a sprawling, diverse community renowned for its unique shopping districts and charming Victorian homes. Despite its high urban density, it houses plenty of parks and greenery, providing a serene retreat from Toronto's hustle and bustle. Riverdale Park, one of the city's largest green spaces, features steep hills popular for tobogganing in the winter and has one of the best views of the city skyline. Withrow Park is a focal point of the neighbourhood, hosting a bustling farmers market and a great destination for dog owners and recreation activities. Riverdale’s convenient transit access and never ending options for shopping and dining have drawn numerous families to this sought-after neighbourhood.

History

Riverdale, once a quaint rural enclave, saw a transformative shift with the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway in the 1850s. This brought an influx of industry and job opportunities, along with a workforce that constructed the initial homes south of the railway tracks. The northern section, untouched until 1884, became part of Toronto, formerly known as Riverside. The renaming to Riverdale likely echoed the nearby park's name, a longstanding landmark. The neighborhood's evolution gained momentum in 1918 with the construction of the Prince Edward Viaduct, Toronto's largest bridge. This pivotal structure not only connected Riverdale to the western part of the city over the Don River but also symbolized the area's maturation into a vibrant part of Toronto.

  • Danforth Ave to the North, Jones Ave to the East, Gerrard St. E to the South, and the Don River to the West.

  • Riverdale is home to many Victorian-style homes that were built in the late 1800’s and into the early 1900’s. Many of these homes have since undergone extensive renovations, with most maintaining the original brick facade.

    • K-6

      • Frankland Community School

      • Pape Avenue Junior Public School

      • Withrow Avenue Junior Public School

      • Jackman Avenue Junior Public School

    • K-8

      • Holy Name Catholic School

    • Grade 7-8

      • Earl Grey Senior Public School

    • Grade 9-12

      • Riverdale Collegiate Institute

  • Riverdale Park was once used to isolate the “sick and poor.” Before treatments for many easily-transmissible illnesses like smallpox and tuberculosis, “isolation hospitals” were used to keep the sick away from the general population. The Riverdale Isolation Hospital was founded on the site of today’s Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. Prior to its use as a hospital, the Toronto Magdalen Asylum built a structure in the park for “idiots, the idle, the lewd, the dissolute.” The house later became a home for industry workers, offering beds and shelter for labour.

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