Long Branch is characterized by mostly single family homes built at the end of the second world war. There is a good mix of long standing residents and young professional families. This neighbourhood is in transition with many of the older homes being torn down and rebuilt along with new home developments. It’s a fantastic neighbourhood to invest in as there is so much room for growth.
Why we like it:
Long Branch is very much up and coming. The neighbourhood has been in transition for a long time and we are finally starting to see significant changes. The retail on Lake Shore Blvd is finally servicing the community. From the Starbuck’s to the indie coffee shops Long Branch has arrived. Living so close to the lake makes you feel like you are at the cottage with the fresh air breezes. There are lots of lakeside trails and many parks to go for walks in. The location works really well. 20 minutes to downtown by car, 20 minutes to the airport and there is a 24 hour streetcar that will take you into the downtown core. We’re looking forward to seeing what the next few years brings to this beautiful lakeside community.
- 850 Degrees – 3455 Lake Shore Blvd West – SEE WEBSITE
- Thrive Organic Kitchen – 3473 Lake Shore Blvd West – SEE WEBSITE
- Ranu Thai Cuisine – 3308 Lake Shore Blvd West – SEE WEBSITE
- The Empanada Company – 122 Fortieth Street – SEE WEBSITE
- Mai Mai Chinese Restaurant – 3272 Lake Shore Blvd West – SEE WEBSITE
- Pulcinella – 3687 Lake Shore Blvd West – SEE WEBSITE
- Just Japan – 3266 Lake Shore Blvd West – SEE WEBSITE
Coffee
- Fairgrounds Roastery Cafe – 3785 Lake Shore Blvd West – SEE WEBSITE
- Starbucks – 3563 Lake Shore Blvd West
All kinds of independent stores and shops along Lake Shore to keep you inspired.
Grocery
- No Frills – 3730 Lake Shore Blvd W
- The Beer Store – 3563 Lake Shore Blvd W
- LCBO – 3730 Lake Shore Blvd W
It’s approximately a 20 minute drive to Toronto’s downtown financial and entertainment districts via Highway 427 and the Gardiner expressway or Lake Shore. The airport is about a 20 minute drive from the Long Branch area. 10 minutes to Mississauga. 20 minutes to Oakville.
Public Transportation
Long Branch residents enjoy the convenience of the nearby Go Station, at the foot of Lake Shore and Forty First Street, the 508 Lake Shore streetcar, which takes you into the downtown core or a short bus ride which will bring you to Kipling subway station.
Twentieth Street JS (Gr JK-05)
3190 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, On M8V 1L8
http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/twentiethstreet/Home.aspx
James S Bell (Gr JK-08)
90 Thirty First St, Etobicoke, On M8W 3E9
http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/jamessbell/Home.aspx
Lakeshore CI (Gr 09-12)
350 Kipling Ave, Etobicoke, On M8V 3L1
http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/lakeshoreci/Home.aspx
Catholic
St. Ambrose Catholic School (Gr JK-08)
20 Coules Ct, Etobicoke, On M8W 2N9
https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stambrose/Pages/default.aspx
Christ the King (GR JK-08)
3672 Lakeshore Blvd W., Etobicoke M8W 1N6
https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/ChristtheKing/Pages/default.aspx
Father John Redmond Catholic School (GR 09-12)
28 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr, Etobicoke, On M8V 4B7
http://www.fatherredmond.com/
The property was sold to James Eastwood from Colonel Samuel Smith’s son in 1871. In 1883 James Eastwood sold a portion of this land to a group of investors from Toronto who created “Long Branch Park”, a summer resort. Ferry boats brought in thousands of Torontonians each year to vacation in beautiful summer cottages. The park was complete with a boardwalk, numerous amusement rides and a grand hotel, which later burned down in 1958.
In 1910 the property south of Lake Shore Blvd around Long Branch began to be subdivided. In the 1920’s, the land surrounding the mouth of the Etobicoke Creek, was subdivided for cottages and housing.
In 1930 the Village of Long Branch was incorporated after the other lake shore municipalities of New Toronto and Mimico were incorporated as towns.
In 1954 Hurricane Hazel destroyed over forty homes and took six lives. 800 members of the military were summoned to help with the clean up. To prevent any future flooding, the sandbar, cottages and houses from the floodplain were removed and the area was turned into parkland now known as “Marie Curtis”.
The Village of Long Branch was amalgamated in 1967 with the Township of Etobicoke to form the Borough of Etobicoke. 1967 was also the year Long Branch GO transit was established and Long Branch GO Station was built next to it. In 1998, Etobicoke, along with five other municipalities merged with Metropolitan Toronto to form the new City of Toronto.
