Introduction
Wexford is a neighbourhood in the western end of Scarborough is bordered by Eglinton to the south, Victoria Park to the West, the 401 to the north and Birchmount to the east. In 2013, Toronto Life ranked Wexford among the top 10 best neighbourhoods in which to live in Toronto.
Lifestyle
Wexford features a mix of busy retail locations, main thoroughfares, and cozy residential streets. The housing stock here is a mixture of post-war bungalows, apartment buildings, and incoming condo developments. The Wexford Business Improvement Association hosts the Taste of the Lawrence street festival every year in July, which features music, food, and carnival rides.
The Vibe
Wexford is a growing neighbourhood that features restaurants and businesses from a variety of cultures. Although the majority of the homes here are single detached houses, there are also low-rise and high-rise apartments in the neighbourhood. It’s also starting to see some condo development. Top that off with parks and a local high school renowned for its arts program, and this neighbourhood has lots of potential.
Meet the Neighbours
Wexford is a very family-friendly area – according to the City of Toronto, the 2011 census showed that nearly 30 per cent of the neighbourhood’s population was 24 years or younger. It’s also extremely culturally diverse, as families in Wexford speak a variety of languages at home, including Tagalog, Greek, Tamil, Arabic, and Italian, and about half of its residents were born outside of Canada.
In the Area
Wexford is home to both the Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, a high school noted for its programs in the visual/media and performing arts. and Centennial College’s Ashtonbee campus. It has many parks and parkettes, including Wexford Park and Wayne Parkette. The Maryvale branch of the Toronto Public Library is at Parkway Mall at the corner of Victoria Park and Ellesmere.
18 km
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Highway 401 makes up the northern border of this neighbourhood, which makes cars a natural transportation option. In addition, several arterial roads border or cross through Wexford, including Warden, Pharmacy, Lawrence East, Eglinton, and Birchmount. At least seven TTC bus routes pass through Wexford, including the 34 Eglinton East, the 54 Lawrence East, and the 24 Victoria Park.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
Like many neighbourhoods in Scarborough, Wexford is car-centric despite the availability of public transit. As well, the area is home to several industrial and semi-industrial companies, including importers, manufacturers, and transport companies, and hydro fields. As a result, some new housing developments are pockets of residences surrounded by industrial concerns.
Dollars & Sense
Compared to the rest of Toronto, Wexford, like many neighbourhoods in Scarborough, is fairly affordable. While there are some chain stores in the area, there are many independent or family-owned restaurants and grocery stores nearby. And if you’re looking for coffee, think Tim Hortons and Coffee Time instead of Starbucks and Second Cup.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Wexford Restaurant
A local landmark, this family-run restaurant has been in business for over 50 years. Check out their all-day breakfast, the fresh-squeezed orange juice, and the decor for a classic diner experience.
more infoBig Moe’s Burgers & Fries
Big Moe’s offers stuffed burgers and uses ingredients like pink Himalayan salt and Angus beef. They also do funnel cakes – a dish not offered in many other Scarborough restaurants.
more infoDiana’s Oyster Bar and Grill
Fresh oysters and other fine seafood dishes, including risotto with sea scallops, gnocchi with crab, bouillabaisse, steamed mussels, crab cakes, whole lobster, and grilled whole red snapper, bass, and seabream.
more infoWayne Parkette
With a swing set, slides, benches, and wide fields, this local park nestled right in the middle of the Wexford neighbourhood and surrounded by houses is perfect for young families.
more infoAl-Zahra Halal Meat and Grocery
This grocery store specializes in Halal foods, including deli and marinated meats. Weekends tend to be busy, so it might be good to call ahead of time for special orders.
more infoWexford Heights United Church
This tight-knit church has innovated and reached out to the community by offering a lending library and Tai Chi classes. It also decided to go green in 2015 with high-efficiency furnaces.
more info