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Etobicoke, Ontario

(Redirected from Etobicoke)

Etobicoke (pronounced ) is the western region of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the east by the Humber River, on the west by the city of Mississauga, and on the north by the village of Woodbridge within the City of Vaughan.

Until 1998, the City of Etobicoke was one of six municipalities (five cities and one borough) that made up the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto. In 1998, the Metropolitan government was merged with the six municipalities to form the amalgamated City of Toronto.

The former City of Etobicoke was itself the product of previous amalgamations. In 1967, the Township of Etobicoke was merged with three small lakeside villages: Long Branch, New Toronto and Mimico to form the Borough of Etobicoke. The municipality was rechristened as a city in 1984.

Etobicoke was named after Etobicoke Creek (also called Black Alders Creek around 1800 by the surveyor Augustus Jones), whose name is derived from a Mississauga word wahdobekaung, meaning "place where the black/wild alders grow." It is thought that the French explorer, Étienne Brűlé, was the first European to visit the area, circa 1615.

Etobicoke has numerous public parks. Notable among them is James Gardens on the banks of the Humber River. The park includes seasonal flowers, walkways, a rock garden, streams, and waterfalls. It is a very popular site for taking wedding photographs.

Contents

See also

History of Name

Other versions of Etobicoke included:

  • Wah-do-be-kang - Surveyor A, Aitken 1788
  • Tobicook or Ato-be-coake - Surveyor Abraham Iredale 1796

Etobicoke was finally adopted as the official name in 1796.

Municipal History

Timeline of Etobicoke's local political developments:

Famous Who's Who

A list of people born and/or resided in Etobicoke:

  • Brendan Shanahan - NHL player - Detroit Red Wings and Team Canada
  • Etienne Brule - explorer
  • Jean Baptiste Rousseau
  • Father Robert Cavelier de la Salle
  • Eaton's family
  • Rex Heslop - developer and namesake for Rexdale
  • Ray Price - former reeve
  • Robert Home Smith - builder of Old Mill
  • Edward A Horton - former mayor

Reference

  • Inside Toronto - The Weekender March 27, 2005 Page 8.

Last updated: 10-13-2005 02:27:06
Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46