One of the greatest lures of Toronto is that it is comprised of a patchwork of neighbourhoods, each with its own vibe and characteristics, lending incredible texture to the overall fabric of the city as a whole.
One such neighbourhood is that of Swansea. This lovely, leafy residential enclave today offers stellar amenities, among them great shopping and dining nearby at Bloor West Village. Swansea also has some of the best parks in the city, like High Park, Sunnyside Park, and one of our favourites – Rennie Park. Have you read Rennie Park: My Swansea Sanctuary?
Adding to Swansea’s interest and undeniable charm is a vast and fascinating history. Did you know that Swansea was one of the oldest inhabited areas in Toronto, with roots reaching back to around 1760 when the first settler French trader Jean Baptiste Rousseau established himself? Swansea has a very active historical society, which is a great resource!
*Photo courtesy of Toronto Public Library Archives.
History, of course, is made more relevant (and interesting) in how it is presented in the context of our modern day. Historians are part scholar, and part storyteller- enchanting their readers (or listeners) with tales of days gone by. Urbaneer is pleased to have connected with author and local historian Chris Higgins, who writes both fiction and non-fiction.
Additionally, Chris has been a teacher at Swansea Public School for 17 years, giving him a unique perspective from which to gather and disperse historical facts about the school and the area. He wrote a book about Swansea Public School called “Written in the Bricks”, which chronicles the history of the school and the local area since 1890. In his research, he uncovered a treasure trove of interesting neighbourhood stories. He describes having determined through his research journey that Swansea has been “touched by war, pandemics, environmental problems and a community riven by change”.
He did extensive research of newspapers, city directories, censuses and other public documents and took verbal histories from former students and staff.
*Photo courtesy of ChrisHigginsWrites
Check out Chris’s quiz on Swansea Public School, which gives a glimpse of just what you’ll learn about Swansea in reading his work.
One of the great benefits of looking to the past is that it helps us to shape our future. Chris found that many of the issues he uncovered in his research that shaped this neighourhood are still relevant to its inhabitants today.
Swansea is a great place to live, love, and learn today. There is so much to discover, which only enhances the experience of living there. We are fortunate to have an expert on Swansea on our team – Cynthia Rose! Cynthia, as a resident, is well-versed in Swansea’s history, is plugged in to the fantastic community, and is basically a fantastic overall resource for life in the neighbourhood!
When was the last to you visited sweet Swansea and all it has to offer? With it’s village vibes and tight-knit patchwork of friends and neighbours, it is fast becoming one of Toronto’s most sought-after ‘hoods!
*Title image was taken in Sir Casimir Gzowski Park, in Swansea, on the shore of Lake Ontario!
Wouldn’t it be lovely to put down roots in this picturesque pocket of the City?!
Here’s our awesome new listing at 48 Deforest Road in sweet Swansea that we think everyone should see. This 3bed, 2bath, renovated semi-detached residence (with a finished lower level and semi-detached one-car garage) boasts countless modern upgrades and represents a tremendous opportunity. NOW SOLD!
Check out –> A Splendid Semi-Detached Residence In Family-Friendly Swansea
Love Swansea, Bloor West Village & High Park Like We Do?
Here are some of our other Amenity Blogs in these neighbourhoods:
How Toronto’s Original BIA Betters Bloor West Village & The Surrounding Communities
Buck’s Hard Goods: A Big Bucking Deal In Bloor West Village!
Sporting Fish-Eating Grins At Snappers Fish Market
Cycling The West Toronto Railpath
Born To Ride: Exploring High Park And Beyond By Bicycle
A Lotta Love For Toronto’s High Park
Rennie Park Is My Swansea Sanctuary
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
We SOLD this 3bed 4bath townhome we called Stylish Family-Friendly Townhouse In Desirable Swansea. It offered 2100+ square feet of functionally designed space, a secure private garage, plus a patio garden off the family room and a terrace off the entertainment level – all of which overlook an idyllic woodland ravine!
And we SOLD this Sun-Soaked Swell Dwell In Swansea for $576,000 over the asking price!
Plus this Vintage Bungalow Perched On The Slopes Of Morningside Avenue SOLD for $651,000 OVER ASKING!
And in neighbouring Bloor west Village…
We SOLD this gorgeous restored and renovated Stately Edwardian Duplex With Lower Level Suite, Steps To High Park!
Looking For An Amazing Real Estate Team? We’re URBANEER.COM!
Now more than ever, it is essential to plan a well-researched, data-driven, tactical strategy if you are in the market for a new home. Especially in changing times, when the pandemic has prompted many to shift their focus and objectives. Have yours changed? Please know The Urbaneer team is here to help!
May we be of assistance to you, or someone you love?
May we be of assistance to you, or someone you love?
Thanks for reading!
-Steve & The Urbaneer Team
Steven Fudge, Sales Representative
& The Innovative Urbaneer Team
Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage – (416) 322-8000
– we’re here to earn your trust, then your business –
*Did you know we were recently listed as one of The Top 25 Toronto Real Estate Agents To Follow On Twitter! – The Top 50 Blogs On Toronto – and The Top 100 Real Estate Blogs In Canada? Consider signing up in the box below to receive our FREE monthly e-newsletter on housing, culture and design including our love for unique urban homes and other Toronto real estate!
*Love Canadian Housing? Check out Steve’s University Student Mentorship site called canadianrealestatehousingandhome.ca which focuses on architecture, landscape, design, products and real estate in Canada!