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Wendigo Creek facts for kids

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Wendigo Creek was a small stream in Toronto, Ontario. It flowed into a pond called Grenadier Pond. This creek was special because it was fed by natural springs, just like another nearby stream called Spring Creek. The creek started north of Bloor Street, close to Dundas Street and Laws Street.

What Was Wendigo Creek?

Wendigo Creek was a short stream that once flowed through a part of Toronto. It was known for being "spring-fed," which means its water came from underground springs bubbling up to the surface. This made its water fresh and clean.

Where Did It Flow?

The creek began its journey north of Bloor Street, near the intersection of Dundas Street and Laws Street. As it flowed, smaller streams, called tributaries, joined the main creek. These tributaries met the creek around Clendenan Street and Glendonwynne Street, which is north of High Park. Eventually, Wendigo Creek emptied into Grenadier Pond, a well-known pond located within High Park.

How Was It Changed?

The area around Wendigo Creek had steep sides, forming a deep valley or ravine. Near Bloor Street, this ravine was about 15 meters (or 50 feet) deep! However, in 1915, this part of the ravine was filled in. To allow the creek to continue flowing, a special underground pipe, called a conduit, was built to carry the water beneath the new ground.

Today, you won't see much of the original creek. Instead, water from storm sewers now flows into what's left of the creek's open channel. This part is south of Bloor Street, in the northern section of High Park.

The Creek's Impact on Grenadier Pond

Over time, the creek carried a lot of sand and dirt, known as sediment, down its path. This sediment built up at the entrance to Grenadier Pond, forming a sandbar. A sandbar is like a small bank of sand. This particular sandbar grew so large that it actually sealed off the creek's outlet, making Grenadier Pond a separate body of water.

The Sanatorium by the Creek

In 1905, a doctor named William McCormick and his wife, who were both medical doctors, built a special health center called a sanatorium right next to Wendigo Creek. This sanatorium was located at 32 Gothic Avenue. The McCormicks believed that the spring water from the creek had special health benefits, so they created "mineral baths" for their patients.

After the McCormicks closed their sanatorium, the city of Toronto took over the mineral baths. They turned them into public swimming pools, so everyone could enjoy the water that once flowed from Wendigo Creek.

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