Baby Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baby Point
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Neighbourhood
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The Humber River at Magwood Park, a park that surrounds the northwest portions of Baby Point
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Vicinity of Baby Point
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 Baby Point
Location in Toronto
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| City | Toronto |
| Settled | 1816 |
| Changed Municipality | 1998 Toronto from York |
Baby Point is a quiet neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It's known for its beautiful homes and green spaces. The area is bordered by the Humber River to the west and Jane Street to the east. It's part of a larger area called 'Lambton-Baby Point' within Toronto. The name "Baby Point" is pronounced "Bobby" or "Babby," like "tabby" or "cabbie." This is how the original owner, James Baby, said his last name.
Contents
Exploring Baby Point's Past
An Ancient Village: Teiaiagon
Long ago, the land where Baby Point now stands was home to an Iroquois village. This village was called Teiaiagon. It was a very large settlement, with about 5,000 people living there.
However, the French Army attacked and destroyed the village in 1687. After the Iroquois left, the Mississaugas people moved into the area. They also had a village here for a short time.
James Baby and Early Days
In 1816, a lawyer named James Baby bought this land. He found the old village site and decided to settle there. The area was perfect for living. It had many apple trees and lots of salmon in the Humber River. There was even a fresh spring nearby. Its water was bottled and sent all over the world!
It's important to know that James Baby's family had a connection to the history of slavery. They had enslaved people in the past. In recent years, signs were put up in the neighbourhood to share this history. This has led to discussions about the neighbourhood's name and its past.
How the Neighbourhood Grew
The Baby family lived on the land until 1910. Then, the government bought it. They thought about building a military base. But their plans changed. In 1912, they sold the land to a developer named Home Smith.
Home Smith started building the homes you see in Baby Point today. He also developed another neighbourhood. It was called The Kingsway, located across the Humber River. Baby Point used to be part of a separate town called the City of York. In 1998, York joined with Toronto. This made Baby Point part of the larger city we know today.
Community Efforts Today
In 2010, local businesses created a group called the Baby Point Gates Business Improvement Area (BIA). This group helps improve the shopping streets nearby. These include parts of Jane Street and Annette Street. In 2011, the BIA helped fix the stone gates. These gates welcome you into the neighbourhood.
What Baby Point Looks Like Today
When you enter Baby Point, you'll see impressive stone gates. They are at Jane Street and Baby Point Road. These gates are like a special entrance to the neighbourhood. Most of the homes here are large, single-family houses. Many were built in the 1920s and 1930s.
Baby Point is located on a piece of land that sticks out. It's like a 'point' overlooking the Humber River. It's surrounded by beautiful ravines and parkland. This makes it feel very green and natural. The biggest homes are often found along Baby Point Road and Baby Point Crescent. They have views of the Humber Valley. Smaller homes are closer to the entrance at Jane Street.
In the middle of the main loop of streets is the private Baby Point Club Park. This park is used by members of the Baby Point Club. They use it for activities like tennis and lawn bowling.
Who Lives in Baby Point?
In 2019, about 1,461 people lived in Baby Point. Many residents are married couples. More than half of the homes have children living there. The average age of people living here is about 41 years old. Most residents speak English at home. The neighbourhood has a mix of different backgrounds.
Famous People from Baby Point
- Conn Smythe - He was the owner and manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. He and his family lived on Baby Point Road for many years.
- Raymond Souster - A well-known Canadian poet. He was sometimes called Toronto's unofficial poet laureate. He also lived on Baby Point Road for a long time.
See also
- List of neighbourhoods in Toronto
