OVERVIEW: The South Annex is a vibrant and colourful downtown Toronto neighbourhood. Much of the South Annex's vitality comes from being located right next door to the University of Toronto. Naturally, many University students, faculty, and alumni rent or own houses in the South Annex. The University population mixes well with the young urban professionals who have been buying and fixing up South Annex houses, giving these old houses new life, and in the process revitalizing this historic Toronto neighbourhood.
SHOPPING: Bloor Street, west of Spadina, is a mini university village lined with pubs, music shops, bookstores, and restaurants. Cyclists pedestrians in-line skaters compete with cars and pedestrians in this high energy shopping district. The Mirvish Village shopping district on Markham Street, south of Bloor Street, is a dignified city block, filled with craft stores, bookstores, antique shops, galleries, and specialty boutiques. Harbord Street provides South Annex residents With one of the more sophisticated and intimate hopping districts in the city. In addition to many fine restaurants, Harbord Street also includes a number of excellent craft stores, bookstores, and galleries.
RECREATION: Fitness enthusiasts can get a good workout at the University of Toronto Athletic Centre. This facility has an Olympic-size pool, squash, tennis and badminton courts, weight machines, aerobics, a gymnasium and a 200 metre indoor track. The Hart House, University of Toronto athletic centre located at 7 Hart House Circle on the U of T campus has a vast array of facilities including an indoor swimming pool, squash courts, indoor running track and free weights, in addition to a variety of fitness programs. Queen's Park is the site of Ontario's Legislative Buildings. It's the focal point of many civic events and parades. Queen's Park is also a quiet place, an oasis in the City, where one can sit on a park bench, under a tall shade tree, and paint the landscape.
SCHOOLS:
(P) Clinton St. Jr., 46o Manning Ave., (416) 393-9155
(P) Montrose Jr., 301 Montrose Ave., (416) 393-9770
(P) Delta Sr., 301 Montrose Ave., (416) 393-9730
(PH) Collegiate Institute, 286 Harbord Street, (416) 393-1650
(PH) Central Technical School, 725 Bathurst St, (416) 393-0060
(PRI) University of Toronto Schools, 371 Bloor St. West, (416) 978-3212
(U) University of Toronto, St. George Campus, (416) 978-2011
(S) Loretto College Secondary School, 391 Brunswick Ave., (416) 393-5511 or South Campus, 783 Bathurst St., (416) 393-5543
(S) St. David, 486 Shaw St., (416) 393-5238
TRANSPORTATION: The South Annex is well served by public transit. College and Bathurst Streets have regular streetcar service, while Harbord Street has a regular bus route. The Bathurst and Spadina subway stations at Bloor Street link up with Toronto's rapid transit lines. The major highways north and south of the city are a twenty to thirty minute drive from the South Annex.
