Sandown Lane runs behind the buildings on the north side of Kingston Road, west of Midland Avenue in Scarborough.
I was walking here because I was on the lookout for a series of murals by B.C. Johnson that have been painted over the past few years.
B.C. Johnson is the person responsible for first painting the rainbow arch beside the Don Valley Parkway – way back in the 1970’s. I blogged about the Moccasin Trail, which leads to the arch, last year. Just in case you’ve never seen it, here it is from last fall:
Back to Sandown Lane….
below: A deer with large antlers, a man fishing.
below: Sunflowers and butterflies by the gate on a (real) door.
below: Waterfalls
below: That’s an inventive way to advertise your handyman business!
While I was in the area, I walked back along Kingston Road.
I have walked this portion of Kingston Road before. There are many large Mural Routes paintings of historic Scarborough scenes. They can be seen in the 2017 blog post, Cliffside murals, so I won’t repeat them here except for this one photo: ‘H.M. Schooner, Onondaga c. 1793’ by Jeff Jackson 1992.
below: Back in 2017 this was a sushi restaurant and it was covered on all four sides by ‘Let’s Take a Walk on the Wildside’ painted by B.C. Johnson the year previously. Some of the scenes from that mural can be same in the same Cliffside blog post linked to above.
below: Tara Inn, the Irish Pub, beside the Banglabazar Supermarket.
below: St Pauls United Church, near the west end of Sandown Lane.
below: A Roman Catholic church, Saint Theresa, Shine of the Little Flower at Midland and Kingston Road. The church was built in 1966 to replace a smaller one, also built in a Spanish style, from 1933. The Church was dedicated as a Shrine in honour of St Therese of Lisieux, a saint who had been canonized in 1925.
UPDATE:
Two developments on Kingston Road will impact this stretch of the lane. First, an 8 storey mixed use building at 2448-2450 (the Cat Hospital) as well as a slightly shorter 6 storey mixed use development at 2380-2382 (a vacant lot, Wongs Martial Arts). Both developments have had their site plans approved at city council.
as I walk Toronto 
[…] Creeks, swamp, and waterfalls can also be seen. More of Johnson’s work can be seen at Sandown Lane Cliffside blog […]
thanks it has been awhile since i have been there did you see the moose there were two, an behind the drugstore is mine ________________________________
Yes, there is a moose and an eagle on adjacent garage doors. It was very shaded. I have a photo of it but it’s not the best.
If there is anything else that you’d like me to say about you or the murals in this post just let me know.
mary thank you greatly. because of the pandemic and health issues i have been in self isolation for over a year and six months. but plan to return when i have an okay. some huge changes are happening to kingston road and we are losing some historical murals do to new condos being built, sad to see the scarborough bluff s go it is on the side of the karate place. i had planned to do all of sandown lane top to bottom. trying to get google to recognize the lane way, thanks to your insight that may possible happen. sincerely bc ps are you on facebook if so add me as a friend , i have many who would like to follow you
Sorry to hear that some of the large murals are in danger. I hadn’t thought of that possibility. I’ll add that to the blog post. Friend request sent.
Lovely walk. Always enjoy what you photograph! Some of the intimate laneway moments with tables, chairs, trucks and painted moments are humorous and touching. Thank You also for bringing attention to the muralist B.C. Johnson.
Great to see your exchange with Johnson. My thanks too, esp for that stretch down the alley
i have also followed you iceland penny , i hope mary continues as i plan to curb the hate and create more public murals, this travel walks are much needed at this time, it is social and distancing. as an artist i am also faced with mentally challenged, as well homelessness. having a good ear and kindness helps. the world sadly is full of trolls they create unhappiness and enjoy it. encourage mary to continue be a strong kind person she is. maybe one day we will meet,
Good for you, good for Mary, good for everyone who faces the world with courage and generosity of spirit. We see much to discourage us; it’s important also to notice and draw strength from what can lift our hearts.
And I see that he has found you too!
Keep doing what you’re doing. Your photo walks are awesome.
Thanks! As long as I still like walking with my camera I’ll be here!
Thanks for the wonderful pictures highlighting our home/ Laneway. I also enjoy this new renewed love of walking and hiking. Having beautiful art work to appreciate as you walk is such an added treat.
I would encourage you to focus on public spaces and not personal property. As a owner of a property on the lane it is my responsibility to protect the privacy of my tenants and family residing there.
I would urge you to crop you pictures to not include people’s personal kitchen windows, vehicles, fencing and seating areas. When highlighting commercial spaces this does not apply. The laneway has always been vibrant and many owners have been residing here for many years. Unlike the residential homes backing onto the lane the commercial side does not have any municipal maintenance. Meaning it is a constant battle to keep up our properties as the lane is walked by all.
Please consider the view of the residents/ owners in the area.
Thank you
I was raised in that area,went to St.Pauls church for a group called CGIT,which means Canadian Girls In Training,oh those days very peaceful.