Bendale-Glen Andrew

Old Scott House
520 Progress Avenue
*Private property. Please observe from the street only. In 1829, George Scott, an early Scottish settler to the area, purchased farmland that stretched from Ellesmere Road to Sheppard Avenue. He built this house in 1841 and the farm became one of the most prosperous in the township. The Scott family continued to live on this land until 1943. The house was restored and renovated and is now used as a restaurant.

Scarborough Town Centre
300 Borough Drive
The mall was opened in 1973, when Scarborough had a population of around 200,000 (now well over 600,000). It housed Canadian department stores Eaton's and Simpsons among its 130 original stores. The mall has had numerous renovations and extensions over the decades to accommodate a growing population and today is still a thriving commercial and social centre of the community.

Scarborough Civic Centre
150 Borough Drive
Located in Albert Campbell Square along Borough Drive, the Scarborough Civic Centre stands out with its distinctive architecture. The centre was first opened in 1973, and was designed by architect Raymond Moriyama, also known for his work designing the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. Moriyama's vision for the centre was that it would become a 'people place' for the community. Surrounding the centre are landscaped gardens, a waterfall and pool and outdoor ice rink and a variety of public artworks. The centre is home to the Scarborough Community Council, who represent the different wards of the area.

Toronto Public Library - Scarborough Civic Centre Branch
156 Borough Drive
The Scarborough Civic Centre Library is a new addition to the Scarborough Civic Centre and to the Toronto Public Library, and opened as the library's 100th branch. The building was the first significant addition to the civic centre when it first opened in 2015, and was designed by LGA Architectural Partners and Philip H. Carter. The library won the Design Excellence Award from the Ontario Association of Architects in 2016 and the Public Buildings in Context Award of Excellence from the Toronto Urban Design Awards in 2017. The library features one of Toronto's eight Digital Innovation Hubs, which feature technology such as computers, 3D printing, and recording studios. The library is also home to a Chinese collection and small French and Tamil collections.

Frank Faubert Wood Lot
185 Borough Drive
This five-hectare park is located just south of the Scarborough Civic Centre. The Frank Faubert Wood Lot is a heavily forested green space featuring an off-leash dog park. The land that now makes up the park was once set aside as a wood lot by George Scott, a settler in early Scarborough who owned the land encompassing this area. The wood lot was left as an uncleared space so the trees could be used to provide additional firewood. The wood lot came under threat of redevelopment in the 1980s, and was saved to be used as a park. The park is named after Frank Faubert, Scarborough's last mayor before Scarborough was amalgamated into Toronto.

Carl Milles 'Hand of God' Sculpture
160 Borough Drive
The 'Hand of God' sculpture looks out over the Frank Faubert Wood Lot by the dog park, giving it the nickname Hand of God Park. The sculpture, depicting a man posing in an open hand, stands tall above the park on a steel pole. Installed in the park in 1975, 'Hand of God' was designed by Swedish artist Carl Milles, and is dedicated to Scarborough's former mayor Albert Campbell.

Sarah Collard 'A Vision Realized' Mural
1197 Ellesmere Road
On the west wall of a Midland Park plaza, 'A Vision Realized' celebrates the Midland Park subdivision. The mural was painted by Sarah Collard and depicts houses with sharply angled roofs emerging from lush gardens. The Midland Park subdivision was built from 1959 to 1962 and was envisioned by developer Curran Hall and architect Ted Ross, using the Mid-Century Modern architectural style. The style is sympathetic to the area's topography, leaving many of the hills, rocks and trees intact. This architectural style is still unique within Scarborough today. Features such as carports, picture windows, and plain, clean lines and natural materials were used in the exteriors and interiors. Today, there is a community effort to have the area recognized as a Heritage Conservation District.

Robert Matejka 'Come Unity' Mural
1163 Ellesmere Road
Looking over a parking lot facing Midland Avenue, this colourful mural was a group effort, designed by a team of youth artists with community input. Led by Robert Matejka and painted by youth artists Jordan Chretien, Maggie Chen, Johnny Yang, and Christian Joseph, 'Come Unity' portrays a passage of a gift from left to right, representing a difficult journey towards human rights. The journey by boat depicts people coming together to reach their destination, while the community is held together by five pillars representing youth. This mural was painted in 2009 as part of the Amnesty International Project Urban Canvas, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.

Birkdale Ravine
1297 Ellesmere Road
Located just off Ellesmere Road and stretching to the south is the Birkdale Ravine. The lush park features the Birkdale Community Centre, a playground and outdoor fitness equipment, as well as access to trails along the West Highland Creek. The ravine allows for opportunities to see local wildlife, and to view the cherry blossom trees planted in 2015 and 2016 as a gift from Sagamihara, Toronto's sister city in Japan. The ravine has also hosted the Birkdale Arts Festival, in partnership with other community organizations such as Scarborough Arts and Scarborough Museum to showcase the works of local Scarborough artists.

Thomson Boneve House
1 St. Andrew's Road
*Private property. Please observe from the street only. This heritage-designated home was originally constructed in 1848 for William Thomson - the son of David and Mary Thomson, the first known European settlers of this area. William named this home 'Bonese' after the family farm in Bentpath, Scotland. Thomson family members continued to live in this home until Dr. Isabella Davidson - David Thomson's great-granddaughter - died in 1970. Dr. Davidson was notable in that she was the first woman in Scarborough to graduate with a degree in medicine.

St. Andrew's Church and Centennial Library
115 St. Andrew's Road
The congregation began in 1818, and is the oldest congregation in the former City of Scarborough. The original church structure was made of wood and erected in 1819 and was called the Presbyterian Church in Scarborough, led by Richard Thomson, Colin Drummond, Andrew Thomson and David Thomson. In 1849, the congregation replaced the wooden structure with the brick, Gothic-Revival architectural style building we see today. The Scarboro' Centennial Memorial Library was built in 1896 to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the township. The first land grant was issued in 1796, but the land wasn't settled until three years later when David and Mary Thomson arrived. In 1955, the library's members established the Centennial Library as a free public library, which continued to operate until the building of the new Bendale Library Branch in 1961. Look for the library building on the northeast side of the church.

Springfield Farmhouse
146 St Andrew's Road
*Note: Private property. Please observe the house from the sidewalk only. Tucked away along St Andrew's Road, the Springfield Farmhouse was first constructed in 1840 by James A. Thomson, son of Andrew Thomson, who first patented the land in 1802. The bricks of the house were made from local clay, and it remains one of the oldest brick buildings in Scarborough. James named the house Springfield for the pure spring that flowed through his property into the creek, earning him the nickname Springfield Jimmy. The house is a designated heritage property, notable for its expansive verandah.

Thomson Memorial Park
1005 Brimley Road
Thomson Memorial Park is an expansive 41.8-hectare green space that follows the West Highland Creek and the accompanying wooded ravine. The park features a variety of amenities, including playgrounds, a picnic site and shelter, a firepit, an off-leash dog park, and a number of bike trails. Thomson Memorial Park is one of the city's accessible parks, featuring accessible washrooms, walkways, and parking lots, as well as being easily accessible via TTC. The park is named after the Thomson family, who were the first European settlers in what is now Scarborough. The park was also the site of an Iroquois settlement that was established between 700 and 1651. Excavations of the park have recovered artifacts including pottery fragments, stone tools, and food remains such as corn.

Scarborough Museum
Thomson Memorial Park, 1007 Brimley Road
Right in the heart of Thomson Memorial Park is Scarborough Museum, one of 10 historic sites and museums operated by the City of Toronto. The museum is situated on land that once belonged to David and Mary Thomson, and is comprised of four designated heritage buildings showcasing the history of the early Scarborough township: Cornell House, McCowan Log Cabin, Hough Carriage Works, and the Kennedy Gallery. Each of the heritage buildings is restored to educate visitors about Scarborough's past, as well as featuring a space for rotating exhibits in the gallery. The museum provides community outreach through school programs, special events, and opportunities for youth involvement through volunteer youth group programs.

Sean Martindale Mural
2920 Lawrence Avenue East
Note: Private property. Please view the mural from the sidewalk only. Located on the wall of Bendale Acres Long-term Care Residence this intergenerational project paired adults and youth with seniors. The mural boldly demonstrates the capacity and ability of people of all ages to contribute meaningfully and artistically to the streets of Toronto.