“Lansing? Never heard of it,” some might say. But Lansing in Toronto is more than just a name. It is a place with a past and a vibrant present. Let me tell you its story.
Lansing began as a small settlement. It had a store, some services, and a post office. This was at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue. Joseph Shepard’s daughter, Saida, named the postal village Lansing.
The postal village grew. It stretched from Elmwood Avenue to Highway 401. Its boundaries reached Bathurst Street and Bayview Avenue. The post office was at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue’s northwest corner.
Later, a new post office opened to the north. It was in Willowdale. Lansing and Willowdale merged into a new postal village. The new village was also named Willowdale. It was within the Township of York.
Over time, the area east of Yonge Street changed. It became residential suburbs. People began to consider it part of Willowdale. It was no longer seen as part of Lansing.
Between 1910 and the 1950s, Lansing became a residential area. Most homes were single-family houses. The older homes near Yonge Street were pre-war houses. They had one or two stories. The newer homes were modest postwar houses. They had one and a half stories.
Lansing has two main types of households. Older couples live in postwar bungalows. Younger, wealthy families live in new, expensive houses. These families often tear down older bungalows. Then, they build multi-million dollar homes.
York Cemetery is located north of Lansing. It opened in 1948. Several notable people are buried there. These include Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia and Tim Horton.
Lansing is a diverse neighbourhood. According to the Canada 2006 Census, 44% of residents are immigrants. Visible minorities make up 37% of the population. The largest groups include Chinese, Korean, and West Asian residents.
Two public school boards operate elementary schools in Lansing. The Toronto Catholic District School Board runs St. Edward Catholic School. The Toronto District School Board operates Cameron Public School.
Lansing has many municipal parks. These include Addington Greenbelt, Earl Bales Park, and Gwendolen Park. Most parks are near the Don Valley. Earl Bales Park even has a ski hill in the winter.
The northeastern part of Lansing has many restaurants and retail shops. This area is part of North York City Centre. It is the central business district for North York.
Yonge Street is a major road on Lansing’s east side. Highway 401 is on the south side. Sheppard Avenue is another major road. Bathurst Street is west of Lansing.
Public transportation is readily available in Lansing. The Toronto Transit Commission or TTC operates buses and the subway. Sheppard–Yonge station is in Lansing. It provides access to two subway lines. GO Transit commuter buses are also accessible from the station.
Lansing is a neighbourhood with a rich history. It is a place of diverse people and many amenities. From its early days as a postal village to its current status as a thriving neighbourhood, Lansing continues to evolve. Its story is still being written.