About the Neighbourhood
• Trinity Bellwoods is an established inner city neighbourhood in Toronto. It is bounded on the east by Bathurst Street, on the north by College Street, on the south by Queen Street West, and by Dovercourt Road on the west. It has a large Portuguese (mostly originally from the Azores and Madeira islands) and Brazilian community, and many local LusitanianCanadian businesses are located along Dundas Street West, continuing west into Little Portugal; this stretch further west along Dundas is fittingly known as Rua Açores.
• The focal point of this inner-city neighbourhood is the very picturesque Trinity Bellwoods Park, which spans the entire length of the neighbourhood. This park features a paved walking path that is highlighted by distinguished cast iron lamp poles and a lush greenery.
• In addition to Trinity Bellwoods Park, this neighbourhood also features affordable Victorian houses, excellent shopping districts, and convenient access to major transportation routes for motorists and pedestrians.
History
• In the early 1800’s, Trinity Bellwoods was part of a tract of land belonging to Captain Samuel Smith. Smith named his one hundred acre Park Lot ‘Gore Vale’. Gore was in honour of Lieutenant-Governor Francis Gore, and Vale denoted the ravine that is now Trinity Bellwoods Park.
• The lower half of Gore Vale became the grounds of Trinity College, after which this neighbourhood is named. Trinity College was built in 1852, on the site where Trinity Bellwoods Park is now situated. The entrance gates to Trinity College are still standing at the foot of Queen Street and Strachan Avenue, and serve as a lonely reminder of this once proud institution.
• The present day neighbourhood began to take shape in the 1880’s. By the early 1900’s, the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood was completely developed.
Homes
• Trinity Bellwoods houses were built largely between 1880 and 1905. They are small to medium in size, and are typical of the Victorian period of architecture found in Toronto’s downtown neighbourhoods
• Many of the houses in this neighbourhood either front or back onto Trinity Bellwoods Park. Some of Trinity Bellwoods’ larger houses are located on Shaw Street, a pretty tree-lined boulevard that is twice as wide as the other streets in this neighbourhood.
• Trinity Bellwoods also contains a handful of interesting lofts that offer an alternative to those seeking a relatively maintenance free lifestyle, with all of the modern amenities.
Schools
• Charles G. Fraser Jr., 79 Manning Ave., (416) 393-1830 (Public School)
• Grace Street Jr., 65 Grace Street, (416) 393-1820 (Public School)
• Givens/Shaw Jr. & Sr., 180 Shaw Street, (416) 393-1240 (Public School)
• Central High School of Commerce, 570 Shaw St., (416) 393-0030 (Public High School)
• Harbord Collegiate Institute, 286 Harbord St., (416) 393-1650 (Public High School)
• Senator Santo Christo, 30 Humbert St., (Catholic School)
Recreational Facilities
• The Portugal Village shopping district on Dundas Street between Grace and Markham Streets caters to the large Portuguese community in the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
• Queen Street is known for its arts flavour and culinary delights. This part of Queen Street includes galleries, antique shops, bookstores, vegetarian restaurants, natural food markets, fashion and accessory stores and a variety of cafes and restaurants.
Shopping
• The Portugal Village shopping district on Dundas Street between Grace and Markham Streets caters to the large Portuguese community in the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
• Queen Street is known for its arts flavour and culinary delights. This part of Queen Street includes galleries, antique shops, bookstores, vegetarian restaurants, natural food markets, fashion and accessory stores and a variety of cafes and restaurants.
