HISTORY:
The Birch Cliff area began to be developed in 1895, when the Toronto Hunt Club relocated here. Fox Hunts were held at this club up until the 1930's, when golf became the memberships preferred activity. In the late 1890's and early 1900's many Toronto residents built summer cottages on the property adjacent to the Toronto Hunt Club. These cottagers were attracted to the area by the magnificent Scarborough Bluffs.
The crest of the Scarborough Bluffs was lined with birch trees which prompted a cottager by the name of John Stark to name his cottage "Birch Cliff". The Birch Cliff name was adopted by the local post office, which opened in 1907 in Arthur Mitchell's grocery store. This store formerly stood at the corner of Kingston Road and Birchmount Avenue.
Birch Cliff emerged as a year round residential community beginning in the 1910's and 1920's. From 1922 to 1947, it held the distinction of being the meeting place of the Scarborough Municipal Council. Birch Cliff's residential development was completed shortly after World War II.
SHOPPING:
The retail corridor along Kingston Road contains a mix of convenience-type stores, neighbourhood bars and restaurants, and professional and medical offices. Kingston Road west of the Toronto Hunt Club, is more gentrified and includes an art gallery, a doggie daycare and apparel store, a party and play centre for children, and upscale restaurants and cafes. The artsy tone of this shopping district continues west past Victoria Park Avenue and into the Upper Beach neighbourhood.
RECREATION:
The Birchmount Park Community Centre, Stadium, Leisure Pool and Arena located at Kingston and Birchmount Roads, is one of Toronto's largest multi-purpose recreational facilities. Birchmount Park itself contains baseball diamonds and sports fields while Birchmount Stadium is best known as the "Home of the Robbie International Soccer Tournament." The Scarborough Arena Gardens indoor ice arena situated adjacent to Birchmount Stadium is the home of the Scarborough Wexford Raiders Jr. "A" Hockey Club.
The Birchmount Community Centre is located across from the arena. This centre offers a full range of adult, seniors' and children's programming. This modern community centre also features a large indoor pool that is used for recreational swims and lessons.
The Taylor Memorial Branch Toronto Public Library located at 1440 Kingston Road offers children's programming. The R.C. Harris Filtration Plant situated at the foot of Victoria Park Avenue is Toronto's largest water filtration plant. This art deco edifice has been declared a National Historic Civil Engineering Site. Free guided tours of this Toronto landmark are available to the public.
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