Lawrence Manor is a neighbourhood in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This neighbourhood is bounded by Bathurst Street on the east, Highway 401 to the north, the Allen to the west, and Lawrence Avenue to the south. The western side of the area borders along Bathurst Heights and the large public housing project.
Retail stores line much of the area on the west side of Bathurst Street south of Highway 401 to just north of Lawrence Avenue West. Lawrence Plaza at Bathurst and Lawrence caters to the area and opened in 1953. On the side streets west of Bathurst is mainly residential single homes and low rise apartments. The area east of Bathurst to Yonge are home to the more wealthier part of Lawrence Manor. The area was developed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in the 1940s.[1]Baycrest Hospital is located within Lawrence Manor.
Demographics
Lawrence Manor is home to a large population of Orthodox Jews,[1] as well as a large Filipino population. About 62% of residents in the northern half of Lawrence Manor identify as being first generation residents, according to the 2011 Census.[2] This is notably higher than the number of first generation residents in Ontario (~30%) and Canada as a whole (~22%) reported in 2011.[2]
The community is home to a number of Orthodox Jewish organizations and religious centres including the Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, the largest modern orthodox synagogue in Canada.
Both TCDSB, and TDSB operate public elementary schools in the neighbourhood. TCDSB operates St. Margaret Catholic School, whereas TDSB operate Baycrest Public School. TCDSB is the only public school board to operate a secondary school in Lawrence Manor, Dante Alighieri Academy. Both TCDSB institutions operate a satellite campus for the school in the neighbourhood, known as Beatrice Campus.
TDSB does not operate a secondary school in the neighbourhood, with TDSB secondary school students residing in Lawrence Manor attending institutions in adjacent neighbourhoods. The French first language public secular school board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and it separate counterpart, Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir also offer schooling to applicable residents of Lawrence Manor, although they do not operate a school in the neighbourhood. CSCM and CSV students attend schools situated in other neighbourhoods in Toronto.
In addition to public institutions, the neighbourhood is also home to Eitz Chaim Schools, a private Orthodox Jewish elementary school.
During the period of Metro Toronto, the area was under the Metro Ward of North York Centre South.
Recreation
The Barbara Frum Library and Recreation Centre is situated in Lawrence Manor.
Lawrence Manor is home to several municipal parks, including Elijah Park, and Prince of Wales Park. Municipal parks in Lawrence Manor are managed by the Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division. The division also manages the community centre at the Barbara Frum Library and Recreation Centre. The building is used as a community centre, as well as a branch of the Toronto Public Library.
Transportation
Several major roadways serve as the neighbourhood's boundaries, with Bathurst Street to the east, Lawrence Avenue to the south, and Highway 401 to the north. Highway 401 is a major east-west controlled access highway. Portions of another controlled access highway, Allen Road, also bounds the neighbourhood to the northwest.
Italics indicate neighbourhoods now defunct. For information on the evolution of each neighbourhood in general, see History of neighbourhoods in Toronto.
