Neighbourhood

On any given afternoon you can find residents walking their dogs through the Douglas Greenbelt, a hidden band of parkland on the northeast corner of Avenue and Lawrence. The greenbelt connects to the Toronto ravine system, extending more than eight kilometres across the city all the way to the Don Valley, providing locals with easy access to a wide variety of parks, paths, and places to stay active and fit.

In fact, Bedford Park is brimming with residents who aren’t willing to compromise access to nature, for life in the city. And here, they don’t have to. The area surrounding Avenue and Lawrence boasts over two dozen parks filled with playgrounds, baseball diamonds, wading pools, basketball and tennis courts, not to mention the numerous walking, jogging, and cycling paths.

There are community centres and a host of private clubs, including the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, the Granite Club, and the Rosedale Golf Club.

The Douglas Greenbelt Ravine will be expanded with the addition of 250 Lawrence, providing improved access, putting your daily walks closer to home.

Every spring the graduating class of Havergal College gathers under the tents on Ratcliffe Field, a stone’s throw from 250 Lawrence, ready to take their place as the school’s newest “Old Girls.” The bright young women join the esteemed ranks of Havergal alumni, graduates that include distinguished authors, athletes, journalists, politicians, even an inductee in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Since 1894 this revered private school for girls has been preparing young women to make a difference, turning out more than 9,000 alumnae who have helped shape the cultural, political, economic, and academic landscapes of the nation and the world. Today, Havergal continues to build on more than a century of tradition, but they’re not the only school in the area pushing the boundaries of education to turn out tomorrow’s leaders.

250 Lawrence offers access to an impressive lineup of esteemed institutions including Upper Canada College, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, Bedford Park Public School, John Ross Robertson Junior Public School, Glenview Senior Public School, and John Wanless Junior Public School, nearly all of which have consistently appeared on lists of the top schools in Toronto.

Directly across the street is Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute. The distinguished high school has consistently scored well on Ontario’s EQAO testing, with 97% of students surpassing provincial standards. They also offer an award-winning music program and strong student support in the arts.