Yonge-Doris

Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts
36 Greenfield Avenue
This high school is among the most prestigious in Toronto, attracting artistically-talented students from across the city. It first opened in 1990, intended as an 'arts-magnet' school offering a challenging, largely arts-based curriculum. It was named after Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter, who was the Archbishop of Toronto from 1978 until 1990. The school has produced many notable alumni including 'De Grassi: The Next Generation' actor Raymond Ablack, 'Grey's Anatomy' actors Giacomo Gianniotti and Caterina Scorsone, and producer/songwriter FrancisGotHeat.

Robert Sprachman 'Dance' Sculpture
5095 Yonge Street (in the median)
*Note: Please observe the sculpture from a distance as it is located on the boulevard, between lanes of traffic. 'Dance' consists of 14 larger-than-life silhouettes of ballet dancers and 124 small figures. It was created in 1998 by Toronto artist Robert Sprachman. The artist took inspiration from movement and human interaction on busy Yonge Street. The dancers represent people engaging with each other socially.

First North York Municipal Building
5095 Yonge Street (viewable from Princess Park)
On the site of this large condo and retail complex once stood North York's first municipal office. A portion of it can be seen under encased glass here. It was a two-storey building, also designed by Murray Brown, built in 1923 to hold Council meetings. The main floor had two offices and the second floor held the council chamber, a small assembly hall and a member's room. In 1947, the building was expanded and was used for a variety of civic functions until the site's redevelopment in 1989.

Princess Park & Fire Hall Tower
214 Doris Avenue (behind Empress walk)
This tower was a part of North York's first fire hall that opened in 1942. The tower features a gabled roof, time clocks and a stone medallion. The medallion shows firefighting equipment with the inscription semper paratus (Latin for always ready). The fire hall was designed by Toronto architect Murray Brown in the Colonial Revival style. Other parts of the fire hall were demolished for redevelopment in 1989.

First North York Hydro Building
5151 Yonge Street
Constructed in 1929, this is the only surviving early twentieth century municipal building that exists in this area, though it has been repurposed for retail use. Prior to the formation of the North York Hydro-Electric Commission in 1923, a privately-owned radial railway company provided electrical power to the local residents. A second storey was added in 1948. A new hydro building opened in 1965, but this original building has remained.

Cummer Family Plaque
Northwest Corner of Doris Avenue and McKee Avenue
This Heritage Toronto plaque provides further historic context on the Cummer family, who were important in the nineteenth century development of this area. It notes that Elizabeth and Jacob Cummer were among the area's early settlers of German descent, arriving from Pennsylvania in 1797. Jacob acquired much of the land on the east side of Yonge Street here, and was a successful farmer, entrepreneur, and craftsman. Descendants of Jacob and Elizabeth continued to contribute to the development of what became the Willowdale community well into the twentieth century.

Cummer Burial Grounds
10 Church Avenue
Located by a busy street and a grocery store, this was the cemetery of the Willowdale United Church (previously Willowdale Episcopal Methodist Church), which was built in 1856. The church was sold in the 1950s and demolished in 1956. Many North York residents are buried here including Jacob Cummer along with other members of his family. Cummer was the founder of Willowdale, originally known as Kummer's Settlement. Cummer Avenue, north of Finch Avenue, is named after the family - the road originally led to Cummer Mill. A Heritage Toronto plaque at the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Church Avenue notes some of this history of the Cummer family and the development of Willowdale.

Victor Wei Artbox
Southwest Corner of Doris Avenue and Church Avenue
Dragons have been an important icon in Chinese culture. They can represent a variety of things ranging from strength to having good fortune. The dragon is also the 5th zodiac out the of 12 based on the Chinese calendar. My hope is that the bright red dragon can bring some luck and prosperity to the neighborhood and it's locals!

Northtown Park
435 Doris Avenue
A small park near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue that features a gazebo and a children's playground.

Jean-Pierre Morin 'Sentinelles' Sculpture
500 Doris Avenue (Grand Triomphe 2 Building)
*Private property. Please observe from the sidewalk only. This multi-component artwork maximizes public accessibility and visibility of the artwork through consideration of site conditions, built form opportunities and context. The artwork presents a strong presence on Yonge Street while the through-block breezeway provides opportunities for a series of artwork elements that have been integrated with landscape finishes. The artwork complements the architecture, landscape architecture and urban design of the project.

Paul Kipps and Colette Whiten 'Untitled (The Monet - Bridge)' Sculpture
Northeast Corner of Doris Avenue and Byng Avenue
This lovely piece of public art was created out front of the Monet Condos by artists Paul Kipps and Colette Whiten, a married couple who often worked together on numerous commissions across Canada. Whiten is well-known for her sculpture and installation, as well as cross stitch embroidery work, taught at the Ontario College of Art and Design University for many years, and was the recipient of a Governor General's Medal in 2013. Kipps taught at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus Visual Arts Department, passing away in 2014.

Olive Square Park
5575 Yonge Street
Olive Square Park is one of the newer parks in the city. The green space is designed with an irrigated raised lawn area, bioswale to filter rainwater before it reaches the sewer system, and LED lighting throughout the park. While visiting the square, it is important to acknowledge the 10 people who lost their lives and 16 injured during the Yonge Street van attack between Finch and Sheppard Avenues on April 23, 2018. A temporary memorial was set up in this park shortly after the tragedy.