When choosing a neighbourhood that you hope will be a good fit, there are certain lifestyle factors to keep in mind. These will depend on your age and stage of life, as well as where and how you work. But most of us want to be near great amenities and have access to green space, at the very least. In the east end of the GTA, the city of Scarborough has it all. There are countless reasons to live here, and these are our top five.
1. There’s A Nice Balance Of Amenities And Green Space
Newer subdivisions often have great housing stock and maybe some parks and trails nearby. But if you prefer to be surrounded by a balance of development and green space, Scarborough should definitely be on your list. The neighbourhoods here are well established, with beautiful mature trees and golf courses you can enjoy. Thomson Memorial Park has bicycle paths, picnic areas, playgrounds, wading pools, and dog parks. The Scarborough Bluffs, pictured above, are a spectacular gem that will wow nature-lovers. Yet you’ll also find many urban delights, such as shopping at big malls and smaller plazas, as well as restaurants and every kind of professional service.
2. Neighbourhoods Are Welcoming, Multicultural, And Multiethnic
Long before “melting pot” was a buzzword, this was just how Scarborough residents lived. There is a great mix of people who come from all over the world and it’s a very multicultural and multiethnic place. Racially diverse and incredibly welcoming, Scarborough also just happens to have produced some of the biggest names in arts and entertainment. Singer The Weeknd, comedians Lilly Singh and Gerry Dee, musical group Barenaked Ladies, rappers Maestro and Kardinal Offishall, actors Mike Myers and Eric McCormack, and retired basketball player Jamaal Magloire all have roots here.
3. The Food!
One of the biggest draws is, hands down, the food. Scarborough is filled with great restaurants, many of them under-the-radar finds that are family-run and have loyal followings. You’ll find countless smaller establishments with delicious offerings and dishes from all corners of the globe. A couple of years ago, American food writer Tyler Cown called Scarborough “the best ethnic food suburb in the world”. This year, the Street Eats food truck festival launched, bringing a wide range of goodies to the grounds at Scarborough Town Centre. It ran for six weekends through the summer and was a massive success. Scarborough Ribfest, held annually at Thomson Memorial Park, is not to be missed.
4. Location
With the 401 running right through the east end, Scarborough is very accessible to other areas in the GTA. Within minutes you’re at the DVP and heading downtown, or already in midtown Toronto. Head further west to join other 400-series highways like the 427 and 400. Points east (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa) are just as accessible, so depending on where you work, Scarborough is ideally located for your commute.
5. Great And Reliable Transit Infrastructure—With More To Come
Scarborough is already blessed with reliable and efficient transit, but some really big investments and enhancements are underway. The transit infrastructure will only be further improved by the addition of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which will help join the city of Toronto’s western- and eastern-most points. The Scarborough Subway Extension will extend the TTC’s current subway service nearly 8 kilometres. Both of these projects will give riders more options and open up new destinations to explore.
Anyone familiar with the area knows that Scarborough sells itself. It offers all of the urban amenities you could need, yet still has a warm community feel. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to follow the Gemterra blog for more great information about our local communities.