as I walk Toronto

Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that Toronto includes a large number of outlying areas, not just the downtown core.   Also, if you are looking for a “safe” place to walk during these Covid times, head to Kennedy Road in Scarborough.  I wasn’t alone the day I walked it but people were few and far between.  Out Scarborough way they aren’t as used to people wandering around with cameras so I got a few quizzical, skeptical looks.   The street scene is definitely different from the central core but every street has a story to tell.  Sometimes you just have to slow down and look for it.

below: What lured me into the area?  I caught a glimpse of this moose and it made me want to explore more.  It stands beside Kennedy Road, just south of the 401.    Back in 2000 there were 326 of these sculptures scattered around the city, all were the identical moose shapes but all were painted differently.   Collectively, they were “Moose in the City”.

You might have noticed that the sign also says Mike Myers Way, named for the actor who grew up in Scarborough.   I am not sure if this means that all of Kennedy Road is named after him but there is a Mike Myers Drive just to the south of this (south of Lawrence).

below: The sign on the Elite Bakery is trilingual – Greek, English, and another in an alphabet that I don’t recognize (Arabic?).  It all looks good in any language, doesn’t it?

below: More signs of the multicultural nature of Toronto

below: Another common Toronto feature – the construction site! … with its plethora of safety rules and regulations.

below: Looking west on Eglinton at Kennedy.   That is one tall utility pole!

below: Magical Aquarium Club

below: Grace Church and Grace Place Food Bank

below: Mount Zion Church, The Apostle Doctrine of God

below: Bright pink and red will make your business stand out!

below: A faded photo above the entrance to a furniture store – highlighting their wares.  She seems like a very satisfied customer!

below: Or, show your product by having it on display outside (these are Covid times after all)

below: Jostling to be seen, a jumble of words and colours.

below: Eye exams on site… but the I (eye?) fell over.  Carpets & Rugs, Kairali Indian cuisine – lunch buffet for an unknown price.

below: Real Kerala groceries at Motherland Foods.  Mr. John’s take out.

below: The two storey brick plaza. Many of these were built around the suburban areas, back when suburbs were newer and growing quickly in the 1950s and 1960s.

below: It seems fitting that the Private Eye and Spy Shop is close to the Adult Movies store.  You can also eat at Lucile’s West Indian Restaurant and Groceries or at Just Love Caribbean Restaurant.

below: Agincourt Used Cars, closed and waiting for redevelopment – into townhouse like complex with retail on the ground floor facing the street (in one proposal from December 2015 anyhow.  There are 25 documents associated with this development, all available online.  The latest one was March 2018.  I didn’t read them.)

below: To the east, as seen from a parking lot on Kennedy Road.

below: An older housing development with direct access to Kennedy.

below: Just to prove that I wasn’t totally alone!