Most of us don’t think of Scarborough as community with a rich history. That’s not surprising, as much of Scarborough was built out during the post-war baby boom which, in historical terms, is quite recent. Also, many of our residents today have “come from away” (my apologies to Newfoundlanders) and don’t have a personal or family connection to our pre-suburban heritage.
So heritage preservation in Scarborough doesn’t get a whole lot of attention. Perhaps it should though, as heritage buildings can be an enduring part of a community’s identity.
Sometimes, heritage is associated with a building’s architectural features. Sometimes, it’s associated with a building’s deep and historical connection to a community. Either can be a compelling argument to have a building qualify for heritage status. In fact, the Ontario Heritage Act lays out nine possible criteria for bestowing heritage status. Only three of them speak to the property’s physical features. The rest speak to “associative value” or “contextual value”, which address the building’s connections to the surrounding community or to a community of interest.
So … does Scarborough have any buildings that meet such a standard? You bet we do! There are dozens of buildings in Scarborough with heritage status in all corners of the former borough. Many were done decades ago; others more recently. You can see them all on the City of Toronto website, which has a heritage register in map form.
Some of our heritage buildings are well-known community landmarks like St. Augustine’s Seminary, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Guild Park and Gardens, Scarborough Museum (in Thomson Park), the Morrish General Store (now the home of the Scarborough Historical Society), the Scarborough Bluffs Refreshment Room (at Kingston Road & Midland), the Birchmount Fire Hall, and even the Scarborough Civic Centre, which the City wisely approved only recently.
Others are the homes of prominent early settlers; some rather grand, others more modest. Others are churches, including St. Andrew’s (off Brimley Road and the nearby Thomson homestead). Some are schools, like Hillside (Old Finch & Meadowvale), Highland Creek (Military Trail) and John A. Leslie (Midland Avenue). Others are stately mansions that have been repurposed, like Devonsleigh Place (Steeles & Warden) and the Old Scott House (Progress Avenue); both are now upscale restaurants. Or Miller Lash House at UTSC, which is now an event centre. I could go on.
Some of these buildings are “designed”; others are merely “listed”. And that’s a problem. Designated buildings have a high level of protection against demolition. Listed properties; not so much. In fact, the provincial government will be removing most “listed” properties from the heritage register in January 2027. The City is working to upgrade the heritage status of as many listed buildings as possible but, realistically, many will lose their status and the protection that comes with it.
Care to get better acquainted with our local history, which lives on through our heritage buildings? I encourage you to join the Scarborough Historical Society and spend some time with other heritage buffs who are passionate about conserving and promoting Scarborough’s rich history. A proud community is also proud to celebrate its heritage and protect that heritage for generations to come.
SCRO frequently promotes a vision for Scarborough as a “complete community”. Well, it turns out that a complete community includes the preservation of community heritage. Because once it’s gone, the history and memories associated with it fade away too. We don’t want that to happen here in Scarborough, the place we have all chosen to call home.
Larry Whatmore
President
Scarborough Community Renewal Organization | https://www.scro.ca
Scarborough Walk of Fame | https://scarboroughwalkoffame.com/
Larry.Whatmore@rogers.com
(416) 562-2101
