Avondale
Sheppard-Yonge Station
Under the Intersection of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue (Accessible from Hullmark Centre)
This TTC subway station is one of the most important transfer points in the entire system, offering access to both Lines 1 and 4. It first opened on March 30, 1974 as part of a project that saw the Yonge line (now Line 1) extended from Eglinton to Finch. In 2002, the Sheppard line (now known as Line 4) opened, with Sheppard-Yonge station acting as its western terminus. Line 4 was a project that came to fruition largely thanks to the efforts of former North York and City of Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman. Lastman envisioned creating a new downtown along Yonge Street in North York. Understanding that public transit access would be crucial for implementing this vision, he lobbied heavily for the construction a new subway line to serve the area. Used by tens of thousands of passengers per day on both Lines 1 and 4, Sheppard-Yonge now ranks among the TTC's busiest stations.
Stacey Spiegel 'Immersion Land'
Inside Sheppard-Yonge Station (Viewable From Line 4 Platform)
Made from 1,500,000 tiles, this panoramic landscape creates the feeling of being surrounded by southern Ontario's nature. Artist Stacey Spiegel used a panoramic camera to take 150 photographs to capture what can be seen from the road while travelling through Ontario, she then blended the images to create this 1,000 square metre wrap-around mosaic.
Hullmark Centre
Southeast Corner of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue East
This mixed residential and commercial complex opened in 2015. The north tower of the complex stands 168 metres tall, making it the tallest building in North York. It is named after Murphy Hull, the founder of the development company that constructed the complex.
Harrison Garden Boulevard
Harrison Garden Boulevard
This street is named after the Harrison family, United Empire Loyalists who settled on this land in the early nineteenth century. William Harrison was involved in the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion, and injured during the event. Some homes constructed by the Harrison family can still be found (outside of this neighbourhood) on Forest Heights Boulevard and on EP Taylor's former Windfields Farm property.
Elihu Pease House
20 Harrison Garden Boulevard
*Note: Private property. Please observe the house from the sidewalk only. This house was built in 1834 and originally stood at 34 Avondale Avenue. Elihu Pease was a tanner who built a tannery on his property south of Sheppard Avenue. He was a son-in-law of Jacob Cummer, the founder of Willowdale.
Avondale Park
15 Humberstone Drive
A small park near Yonge Street and Highway 401 featuring a children's playground and many walking paths surrounding an open common area.
Avonshire Park
125 Harrison Garden Boulevard
A small neighbourhood park surrounded by towers that features a playground and splash pad.
Glendora Park
201 Glendora Avenue
A 3.5-hectare park near Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue East that features two lit tennis courts, a splash pad and a children's playground. The park also has several open green spaces.
Jieun June Kim Artbox
Southwest Corner of Sheppard Avenue East and Willowdale Avenue
From artist Jieun June Kim, 'The birds and trees in this design represent nature, and buildings represent us and the city. By putting them together I wanted to express that nature and man coexist and we are part of great nature.'
Sheppard East Park
229 Glendora Drive
A lovely neighbourhood park featuring paved paths, outdoor table tennis, and a playground.
Explore Avondale
Now is the time for residents to experience all that tourists have been raving about for years. Discover shops, stops, places and spaces on city main streets. Stay curious, Toronto.
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Explore FREE Public Art Across the City. Toronto's Year of Public Art 2021-2022 is a year-long celebration of Toronto's exceptional public art collection and the creative community behind it.
We hope that you enjoyed exploring this Toronto neighbourhood and found many other points of interest along the way. While StrollTO highlights some of the 'hidden gems' in the neighbourhood, there may be others that could be included in a future edition. Would you like to share a point of interest that you discovered in the neighbourhood? Email us at [email protected].
Neighbourhood Stroll
This neighbourhood constitutes a fine mix of dense urbanity and suburban landscapes, typical of this part of North York. This stroll features points of interest such as the tallest building in North York situated along the dense Yonge corridor, as well as pastoral parks in the southern and eastern portions of the neighbourhood. Fantastic local businesses can be found in the Willowdale BIA.
- Sheppard-Yonge Station
Under the Intersection of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue (Accessible from Hullmark Centre)
This TTC subway station is one of the most important transfer points in the entire system, offering access to both Lines 1 and 4. It first opened on March 30, 1974 as part of a project that saw the Yonge line (now Line 1) extended from Eglinton to Finch. In 2002, the Sheppard line (now known as Line 4) opened, with Sheppard-Yonge station acting as its western terminus. Line 4 was a project that came to fruition largely thanks to the efforts of former North York and City of Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman. Lastman envisioned creating a new downtown along Yonge Street in North York. Understanding that public transit access would be crucial for implementing this vision, he lobbied heavily for the construction a new subway line to serve the area. Used by tens of thousands of passengers per day on both Lines 1 and 4, Sheppard-Yonge now ranks among the TTC's busiest stations.
- Stacey Spiegel 'Immersion Land'
Inside Sheppard-Yonge Station (Viewable From Line 4 Platform)
Made from 1,500,000 tiles, this panoramic landscape creates the feeling of being surrounded by southern Ontario's nature. Artist Stacey Spiegel used a panoramic camera to take 150 photographs to capture what can be seen from the road while travelling through Ontario, she then blended the images to create this 1,000 square metre wrap-around mosaic.
- Hullmark Centre
Southeast Corner of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue East
This mixed residential and commercial complex opened in 2015. The north tower of the complex stands 168 metres tall, making it the tallest building in North York. It is named after Murphy Hull, the founder of the development company that constructed the complex.
- Harrison Garden Boulevard
Harrison Garden Boulevard
This street is named after the Harrison family, United Empire Loyalists who settled on this land in the early nineteenth century. William Harrison was involved in the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion, and injured during the event. Some homes constructed by the Harrison family can still be found (outside of this neighbourhood) on Forest Heights Boulevard and on EP Taylor's former Windfields Farm property.
- Elihu Pease House
20 Harrison Garden Boulevard
*Note: Private property. Please observe the house from the sidewalk only. This house was built in 1834 and originally stood at 34 Avondale Avenue. Elihu Pease was a tanner who built a tannery on his property south of Sheppard Avenue. He was a son-in-law of Jacob Cummer, the founder of Willowdale.
- Avondale Park
15 Humberstone Drive
A small park near Yonge Street and Highway 401 featuring a children's playground and many walking paths surrounding an open common area.
- Avonshire Park
125 Harrison Garden Boulevard
A small neighbourhood park surrounded by towers that features a playground and splash pad.
- Glendora Park
201 Glendora Avenue
A 3.5-hectare park near Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue East that features two lit tennis courts, a splash pad and a children's playground. The park also has several open green spaces.
- Jieun June Kim Artbox
Southwest Corner of Sheppard Avenue East and Willowdale Avenue
From artist Jieun June Kim, 'The birds and trees in this design represent nature, and buildings represent us and the city. By putting them together I wanted to express that nature and man coexist and we are part of great nature.'
- Sheppard East Park
229 Glendora Drive
A lovely neighbourhood park featuring paved paths, outdoor table tennis, and a playground.
Accessibility information: Most of the points of interest are visible from the street or paved park paths, with notable exceptions Sheppard-Yonge Station and Stacey Spiegel's 'Immersion Land' (which is contained within the station). The station is fully accessible with elevators from street level to platform levels.
The StrollTO itineraries may follow routes that do not receive winter maintenance. Please review winter safety tips and for more information contact 311.
Soundtracks of the City
From global superstars to local favourites and ones to watch, the Soundtracks of the City playlists all feature artists who have called Toronto home. Whether it’s a lyric about the neighborhood, an artist representing a cultural community, or a tie-in to the StrollTO itinerary itself, all the music reflects connections to an individual ward or the City as a whole.
Music was chosen based on an artist’s Spotify presence and each song’s broad appeal, as well as its associations with the cultures, languages and ethnicities that reflect Toronto’s neighborhoods and diverse music scene. Soundtracks of the City combines 425 songs that feature more than 500 different local artists or acts, showcasing songs in 23 different languages.