Description
Junior Schools
Firgrove Public School
Yorkwood Public School
Topcliff Public School
Stanley Public School
Gosford Public SchoolMiddle Schools
Oakdale Park Middle SchoolSecondary Schools
Westview Centennial Secondary SchoolCatholic Schools
Blessed Margherita of Citta Castello
St. Martha
St. Jane Frances
St. Charles GarnierBest For
Low-income families looking for Toronto apartments for rent or moderate-income families looking for detached starter homes near parks.
Overview
Jane and Finch is a multi-cultural neighbourhood in North York including large Jamaican, South Asian, Italian, Chinese and Vietnamese communities. Jane and Finch has arguably the worst reputation of all Toronto neighbourhoods but it's a neighbourhood that's working hard to transition and one that people shouldn't underestimate.
Jane and Finch was originally created as a suburb of Toronto in the 1960’s in response to growing population and urban sprawl. The idea was that it would be a welcoming community for diverse cultures including housing options for those new to Canada or with low-income, particularly young families.
The social and educational infrastructure was not developed to the extent it needed to be however to support the rapidly growing population. The result was a struggling neighbourhood in need of social and sporting programs for kids, support for single parents and more job opportunities for locals.
Since then, a number of large government-funded social support groups have formed along with dozens of smaller, grassroots organizations to try and correct the missteps taken in the early decades of this community’s development. These change agents are showing signs of success.
Why We Love Jane and Finch
This Community May Surprise You
Despite negative stereotypes that run rampant in the media and public consciousness, the people of Jane and Finch are an active and caring community. They are fighting hard to make their neighbourhood a good place to live and change their image in the public sphere.
In addition to hosting the Junior Caribbean Carnival Parade (the kids’ parade during Toronto Caribana) and the Canadian Hispanic Day Parade, the Jane-Finch community also has a number of both government-funded and resident-run groups that provide ongoing community services and programs. The focus here is primarily on kids and youth at risk.
In particular, various organizations are working hard to combat racism and violence against women. The community is an active participant in International Women’s Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.