Scarborough's "Golden Mile" (2) Commemorative Plaque, 2009
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Resource ID
4941
Access
Open
Address
1900 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, ON M1L 4R5
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2009
Historical Themes
Industrial Heritage, Post-war urban development
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
1954-1998
Caption
Scarborough's "Golden Mile" (2) Commemorative Plaque, 2009
Description
The Golden Mile promised inexpensive land and low property taxes to industries growing with Canada's post-World War II economic boom. By 1955 corporations such as Frigidaire the John Inglis Company Thermos and Warner Lambert had major manufacturing facilities here. Automobile makers and dealers joined them including Volkswagen Rootes Motors and as late as 1974 a General Motors van plant.
Their move to this area provided much needed industrial property taxes and served as a catalyst for further development. Residential subdivisions sprang up to house the Golden Mile's workforce followed by strip plazas which were then celebrated as modern conveniences.
By the 1980s larger industries were moving to less expensive properties and the Golden Mile of Industry gradually became the Golden Mile of Commerce - known for its large retail stores and car dealerships. However some industrial buildings do survive - along with street names such as Thermos Road - to remind us of an earlier Golden Mile.
Marker lat / long: 43.727064, -79.292579 (WGS84)