Church-Wellesley
Church-Wellesley is a downtown neighbourhood of about 22,000 people, next to Annex, Bay-Cloverhill, Cabbagetown-South St.James Town and five other neighbourhoods. Most households rent. Six subway stations (Line 1 and 2) are in or next to it. Its main shopping streets are Church St and Yonge St. It stands out for one of the lowest household incomes in the city and its young population. It has fewer parks for its size than most neighbourhoods and fewer street trees.
Neighbouring areas link to their pages. City of Toronto neighbourhood boundaries and Toronto Centreline.
Boundaries: Bloor St E to the north, Jarvis St to the east, Carlton St to the south and Yonge St to the west.
01 · What’s being built
Rank by proposals →There are 16 active planning proposals in Church-Wellesley, more than most neighbourhoods (54th most in Toronto). Of these, ten are waiting for a decision and six are under appeal. Another three were decided recently.
Under appeal (6)
Waiting for a decision (10)
Decided recently (3)
Each proposal has its own page. All applications in progress here · Hearings and comment deadlines
City of Toronto Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment. One entry per site. Decided recently: development files submitted in the last 4 years; Committee of Adjustment decisions in the last 2 years.
Planning rules
Part of the neighbourhood is in the Historic Yonge Street heritage conservation district, where changes to building exteriors need heritage approval. Parts of it are in the Wellesley, Bloor-Yonge and Bay major transit station areas, where minimum densities are set to bring more homes and jobs near transit.
City of Toronto Heritage Conservation Districts and Major Transit Station Areas. Each address report shows the zoning for that lot.
Noise permits
In the last 12 months, 23 noise exemption permits were issued in Church-Wellesley: 18 for amplified sound at events, 3 for construction outside normal hours, 1 for large crane work and 1 for other noise.
City of Toronto Noise Exemption Permits. A permit lets an event or a construction project make noise outside the hours the noise bylaw allows. Address pages list the permits nearby that haven’t ended yet.
02 · Safety
Rank by crime →In 2025, 498 major crimes were reported in Church-Wellesley: 1,657 per 100,000 residents, 25% above the citywide rate (1,322) and the 27th highest in Toronto. The picture is mixed. Thefts over $5,000 were 106 per 100,000, 74% above the citywide rate (61) and the 11th highest in Toronto, while break-ins and car thefts were below the citywide rate. Reports were similar to the year before (513 in 2024).
Church-Wellesley compared with Toronto · rate per 100,000 residents, 2025
| Major crime | Compared with the Toronto rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Thefts over $5,000 | 74% higher106 vs 61 per 100,000 | |
| Assaults | 65% higher1,265 vs 768 per 100,000 | |
| Robberies | 19% higher93 vs 78 per 100,000 | |
| Break-ins | 23% lower146 vs 190 per 100,000 | |
| Car thefts | 79% lower47 vs 225 per 100,000 |
Major crimes reported per year, by type
Change from 2021 to 2025, by type
| Major crime | 2021 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 403 | 380 | about the same |
| Car thefts | 34 | 14 | about halved |
| Break-ins | 87 | 44 | down 49% |
| Robberies | 41 | 28 | down 32% |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 21 | 32 | up 52% |
Other crimes, last 12 months
| Crime | Reported | Per 100,000 residents | Compared with other neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 0 | 0 | Lower than most |
| Bicycle thefts | 58 | 260 | Higher than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 68 | 305 | Higher than most |
Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts and Theft From Motor Vehicle, last 12 months. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection.
Toronto Police Service neighbourhood crime rates: assaults, break-ins, car thefts, robberies and thefts over $5,000. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection. Address reports also count incidents within 500 m.
Traffic safety
Since 2021, 11 collisions in Church-Wellesley killed or seriously injured someone, the 74th lowest rate per resident in Toronto. Seven involved pedestrians. Most were on Yonge St and Wellesley St E.
Toronto Police Service: collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured, by year. *2026 so far. Rank by serious collisions
03 · Getting around
Bay, Bloor, College, Sherbourne, TMU and Wellesley stations are in or near the neighbourhood (Line 1 and 2). Inside the neighbourhood, 15 TTC stops are served by the 506 Carlton streetcar and the 94 Wellesley and 97 Yonge buses.
Stations in or near the neighbourhood
- Bay StationLine 2
- Bloor StationLine 1
- College StationLine 1
- Sherbourne StationLine 2
- TMU StationLine 1
- Wellesley StationLine 1
Busiest bus and streetcar routes
| Route | Weekday trips each way | Trips | Delays per 1,000 trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94 Wellesley | about 235 | 4.2 | |
| 506 Carlton Streetcar | about 131 | 7.5 · high | |
| 97 Yonge | about 42 | 8.5 · high |
TTC and GO schedules for a typical weekday. Trips each way: trips past the route’s busiest stop in the neighbourhood. Each route links to its TTC page (schedule and map).
Delays: incidents the TTC logged as delaying service, Sep 2025 to Sep 2026, per 1,000 scheduled trips. “High” marks the 30 routes (of 200) with the most delays per trip; a typical route has 4.0.
Parking tickets and EV charging
Busiest streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yonge St Irwin Ave to Isabella St | 14,200 | 38 km/h | Oct 2025 |
| Wellesley St E Church St to Jarvis St | 7,800 | 35 km/h | Sep 2026 |
| Church St Alexander St to Maitland St | 6,900 | 38 km/h | Jun 2022 |
| Wood St Reverend Porter Lane to Church St | 5,600 | 36 km/h | Sep 2026 |
Fastest residential streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester St Church St to Jarvis St | 3,600 | 40 km/h | Oct 2019 |
| Wood St Reverend Porter Lane to Church St | 5,600 | 36 km/h | Sep 2026 |
| Dundonald St | 777 | 32 km/h | Nov 2023 |
City of Toronto Traffic Volumes, counts since 2016; each street shows its highest count. “Residential” means streets the City classes as local roads. Counts are taken on different streets in different years, so they aren’t ranked.
04 · Schools and child care
One elementary school, one Grade 7–8 school and two secondary schools are inside the neighbourhood. Its Grade 6 results: it didn’t beat the Toronto average in reading or math (Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math). There is one licensed child care centre with 160 spaces, all in the $10-a-day program, and two EarlyON centres.
Schools in the neighbourhood
Elementary schools
Share of Grade 6 students meeting the provincial standard. Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math.
Ontario Ministry of Education (2026) and EQAO. Nearest the neighbourhood’s centre first. The red tick on each bar is the Toronto average. The nearest school may not be the assigned one; check with the board.
Licensed child care (1)
- Church Street School Day Care Service $10 a day
83 Alexander St · toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, school-age160 spaces
EarlyON centres (2)
- Church Street EarlyON Child and Family Centre83 Alexander St
- The 519 EarlyON Child and Family Centre519 Church St
Free drop-in programs for children up to 6 and their parents or caregivers. Sources: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres (each centre links to its page in the City’s child care finder) and EarlyON Child and Family Centres.
05 · Parks, trees and recreation
Rank by parks →Church-Wellesley has seven parks, two of them with playgrounds: fewer for its population than most neighbourhoods (24th fewest per resident in Toronto). Its streets have 849 City-owned trees, mostly honey locust, Norway maple and elm: fewer per resident than almost anywhere in Toronto (3rd fewest per resident in Toronto). The City has four road or sidewalk projects planned or under way here.
How much of the neighbourhood is park
| Largest parks and open spaces | Hectares |
|---|---|
| Barbara Hall Park | 0.7 |
| George Hislop Park | 0.2 |
| Norman Jewison Park | 0.2 |
City of Toronto Green Spaces: parks, natural areas and conservation land. Hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted.
Park projects
- Barbara Hall Park Improvements
The City is collaborating with the local Church-Wellesley Village community to develop a new vision and Master Plan for Barbara Hall Park.In progress - New Park at 15 Wellesley Street East
A new park is coming to 15 Wellesley St. E., directly across from the Wellesley subway station.In progress - Barbara Hall Park Off-Leash Area Improvements
The City is improving the off-leash area in Barbara Hall Park. The new off-leash area will replace the existing one at the southwest corner of the park and will be similar in size.In progress
City of Toronto Park and Recreation Facility Projects.
| Amenity | Church-Wellesley | Typical | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and play | |||
| Parks | 7 | 8 | Alexander Street Parkette, Barbara Hall Park, Charles Street Parkette and 4 more |
| Playgrounds | 2 | 5 | Barbara Hall Park, James Canning Gardens |
| Community centres | 0 | 1 | None inside Church-Wellesley. |
| Splash pads | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Ramsden Park, 850 m away in Annex. |
| Swimming | |||
| Public pools | 0 | 1 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Wellesley Community Centre, just over the border in North St.James Town. |
| Wading pools | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Winchester Park, just over the border in Cabbagetown-South St.James Town. |
| Beaches | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Water's Edge Promenade, 2.3 km away in St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands. |
| Courts and fitness | |||
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Ramsden Park, 850 m away in Annex. |
| Pickleball | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Ramsden Park, 850 m away in Annex. |
| Basketball | 0 | 1 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Ramsden Park, 850 m away in Annex. |
| Outdoor fitness equipment | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Julius Deutsch Park, 1.2 km away in Kensington-Chinatown. |
| Facilities | |||
| Public washrooms | 0 | 2 | None inside Church-Wellesley. |
City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Tennis Courts, Washroom Facilities and Street Tree Data; Toronto Public Health. Typical: the median Toronto neighbourhood. Open today: as reported by the City this morning. City programs at schools run in a school’s gym or pool and aren’t counted as community centres.
06 · Homes and renovation
Rank by permits →In the last 12 months, 98 building permits were issued, fewer than most neighbourhoods (32nd fewest in Toronto). In all, permits have added 3,544 homes since 2021, more than most neighbourhoods (15th most in Toronto).
Per year. *2026 so far. New homes are added by permits, including suites and new buildings.
Green roofs and solar
Since 2010, 16 building permits in Church-Wellesley included a green roof, the 16th most in Toronto. None has included a solar hot water system since 2009.
City of Toronto building permits for green roofs (required on larger new buildings since 2010) and solar hot water systems.
07 · Renting and housing
Rents aren’t published for single neighbourhoods. Across central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation), a two-bedroom in a purpose-built rental averaged $2,457 a month in October 2025, $402 more than the Toronto average. Most households here (76%) rent, and 51% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. There are 55 apartment buildings in the City’s RentSafe program, averaging 90 out of 100. There are 34 homes registered as short-term rentals, more than most neighbourhoods (41st most in Toronto). There are three licensed rooming houses and two shelters or respite sites. 25 affordable homes are approved, proposed or being built here, about typical for a Toronto neighbourhood; the largest project is 625 Church St, with 15 affordable homes. Since 2023, City Council approved demolishing three rental buildings (148 rental homes, all to be replaced).
Average rents, October 2025
CMHC Rental Market Survey. CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods; these cover central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation). Vacancy 3.2% (Toronto 2.8%). Averages include long-term tenants; new listings usually cost more.
08 · People
Rank by income →In 2021, 22,320 people lived here. The median household income was $60,000, the 154th highest in Toronto (below the typical neighbourhood’s $85,000). Among workers, 37% walk or cycle to work, more than six times the typical neighbourhood; 33% commute by transit, above the typical neighbourhood.
22,320 residents in 2021. Most common first languages other than English and French: Mandarin 10%, Spanish 3.5%, Korean 3.1%. 2021 Census, from the City’s Neighbourhood Profiles.
09 · Shops and services
There are 187 licensed storefront businesses, mostly restaurants and bars and take-out and food shops. Most are on Church St and Yonge St. In the last 90 days, eight businesses got new licences; the newest is Darvish Restaurant, a restaurant or bar at 639 Yonge St.
Licensed storefronts by type
- Restaurants and bars109
- Take-out and food shops43
- Salons and personal services21
- Smoke and vape shops6
- Entertainment venues4
Streets with the most
- Church St60
- Yonge St56
- Wellesley St E19
- Bloor St E17
New licences, last 90 days
City business licences, storefront types only. We show operating names, never personal names.
Business improvement areas
Bloor-Yorkville, Church-Wellesley Village and Downtown Yonge are Business Improvement Areas in Church-Wellesley. A BIA is run by local businesses, who pay a levy for street events, cleaning, decorations and promotion.
City of Toronto Business Improvement Areas.
10 · Heritage, flood risk and local contacts
Church-Wellesley has 152 properties on the Heritage Register, more than most neighbourhoods (18th most in Toronto). No part of it is in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area.
- Heritage
- 152 properties on the Heritage Register (62 designated, 90 listed), 18th most in Toronto.
- Flood and shoreline
- None of its addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area.
- Lead in tap water
- None of 23 home tests in M4Y were above Ontario’s limit. In M4W, 1 of 82 home tests was above Ontario’s limit (1.2%; Toronto 2.0%).
- Councillor
- Chris Moise · Ward 13 Toronto Centre profile
What residents report to 311
In the last 12 months, 3,559 service requests came from postal area M4Y, which covers most of Church-Wellesley. The most common:
| Property standards | 406 | |
| Injured wildlife | 188 | |
| Graffiti on private property | 146 | |
| Amplified music or instrument noise | 129 | |
| Illegal dumping | 96 | |
| Missed oversized pickup (apartments) | 88 |
City of Toronto 311 Service Requests, October 2025 to October 2026. 311 gives only the first three characters of the postal code, which don’t line up with neighbourhoods, so this isn’t ranked on the leaderboard.
Every figure, with ranks
| Measure | Church-Wellesley | Typical | Rank (1st = most) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building and change | |||
| Building permits, last 12 months | 98 | 186 | 127th |
| Active planning proposals | 16 | 11 | 54th |
| Garden and laneway suites since 2021 | 0 | 26 | 147th |
| New homes since 2021 | 3,544 | 795 | 15th |
| Short-term rentals | 34 | 21 | 41st |
| Heritage properties | 152 | 5 | 18th |
| Apartment buildings (RentSafe) | 55 | 18 | 9th |
| Safety, 2025, per 100,000 residents | |||
| Major crime, total | 1,657 | 1,107 | 27th |
| Assaults | 1,265 | 637 | 15th |
| Break-ins | 146 | 173 | 96th |
| Car thefts | 47 | 193 | 155th |
| Robberies | 93 | 70 | 46th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 106 | 46 | 11th |
| Other crimes, last 12 months, per 100,000 residents | |||
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 0 | 6 | 100th |
| Bicycle thefts | 260 | 31 | 7th |
| Thefts from vehicles | 305 | 212 | 39th |
| People, 2021 Census | |||
| Residents | 22,320 | 16,813 | 39th |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $85,000 | 154th |
| Households that rent | 75.7% | 45.5% | 5th |
| Renters paying 30%+ on housing | 50.6% | 39.0% | 7th |
| Commute by transit | 32.8% | 25.8% | 26th |
| Walk or cycle to work | 36.6% | 5.3% | 9th |
| Aged 65 and over | 9.4% | 16.3% | 152nd |
| Parks, trees and streets | |||
| Serious collisions since 2021, per 10,000 residents | 4.9 | 5.1 | 85th |
| Parks per 10,000 residents | 3.1 | 5.0 | 135th |
| Playgrounds per 1,000 children | 2.2 | 2.1 | 66th |
| Street trees per 1,000 residents | 38 | 228 | 156th |
| Affordable homes coming | 25 | 19 | 78th |
| Road and sidewalk projects | 4 | 10 | 130th |
| Park and open space, share of land | 3.1% | 7.8% | 132nd |
| Park and open space, hectares per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 1.6 | 154th |
| Parking tickets per 1,000 residents, 2025 | 1,417 | 410 | 19th |
| Green roof permits since 2010 | 16 | 4 | 16th |
Source: Building permits, City of Toronto; planning applications; Short Term Rentals Registration; Heritage Register; RentSafeTO. Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates. Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts, Theft From Motor Vehicle. Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, via City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles. City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Street Tree Data, Green Spaces, parking tickets, green roof permits, road and sidewalk programs, Affordable Housing Pipeline; Toronto Police Service serious collisions. Typical: the middle of Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods; half have more, half have less. Rank: 1st is the most or highest of 158. · Download CSV
Major crime by year
| Crimes reported | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 403 | 388 | 330 | 366 | 380 |
| Break-ins | 87 | 73 | 76 | 61 | 44 |
| Car thefts | 34 | 17 | 39 | 23 | 14 |
| Robberies | 41 | 42 | 55 | 43 | 28 |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 21 | 19 | 26 | 20 | 32 |
| Total | 586 | 539 | 526 | 513 | 498 |
| 2025 rate per 100,000 | Church-Wellesley | Citywide | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 1,265 | 768 | 15th |
| Break-ins | 146 | 190 | 96th |
| Car thefts | 47 | 225 | 155th |
| Robberies | 93 | 78 | 46th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 106 | 61 | 11th |
| Total | 1,657 | 1,322 | 27th |
Rank: 1st is the most of 158.
| Crimes reported | 2025 rate per 100,000 residents | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major crime | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Church-Wellesley | Citywide | Rank (1st = most) |
| Assaults | 403 | 388 | 330 | 366 | 380 | 1,265 | 768 | 15th |
| Break-ins | 87 | 73 | 76 | 61 | 44 | 146 | 190 | 96th |
| Car thefts | 34 | 17 | 39 | 23 | 14 | 47 | 225 | 155th |
| Robberies | 41 | 42 | 55 | 43 | 28 | 93 | 78 | 46th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 21 | 19 | 26 | 20 | 32 | 106 | 61 | 11th |
| Total | 586 | 539 | 526 | 513 | 498 | 1,657 | 1,322 | 27th |
Source: Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates.
Permits and new homes by year
| Year | Building permits | New homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92 | 0 |
| 2022 | 116 | 16 |
| 2023 | 114 | 0 |
| 2024 | 142 | 519 |
| 2025 | 120 | 1,944 |
| 2026 | 89 | 1,065 |
Source: City of Toronto Building Permits (active and cleared). 2026 so far.
Average rents, October 2025
| Unit | Central Toronto | A year earlier | Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,526 | $1,492 | $1,499 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,914 | $1,842 | $1,763 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,457 | $2,317 | $2,055 |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $3,195 | $3,194 | $2,361 |
Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey, purpose-built rental apartments. Covers central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation); CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods.
Planning proposals (19)
Under appeal (6)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102 Earl Pl | 58-storey building · 818 homes and shops | Rezoning | Submitted Aug 2022 | 22 185925 STE 13 OZ |
| 440 Jarvis St | 56-storey building · 579 homes | Rezoning | Submitted Jul 2025 | 25 187527 STE 13 OZ |
| 506 Church St | 48-storey building with shops | Rezoning | Submitted Oct 2024 | 24 226502 STE 13 OZ |
| 572 A Church St | 12-storey building · 127 homes and shops | Rezoning | Submitted Jun 2017 | 17 179441 STE 27 OZ |
| 68 Wellesley St E | 28-storey building · 258 homes and shops | Site plan and rezoning | Submitted Jan 2024 | 24 109939 STE 13 SA |
| 81 Isabella St | 69-storey building · 647 homes | Rezoning | Submitted Jun 2025 | 25 174904 STE 13 OZ |
Waiting for a decision (10)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Bloor St E | Rezoning | Rezoning | Submitted Apr 2026 | 26 148240 STE 11 OZ |
| 33 Maitland St | 49-storey building · 439 homes | Site plan | Submitted Sep 2022 | 22 203332 STE 13 SA |
| 40 Huntley St | Two towers, up to 60 storeys · 1,362 homes | Site plan | Submitted Dec 2025 | 25 265168 STE 13 SA |
| 48 Isabella St | 69-storey building · 814 homes | Rezoning | Submitted Jun 2025 | 25 182140 STE 13 OZ |
| 55 Isabella St | 75-storey building with shops | Rezoning | Submitted Mar 2026 | 26 130807 STE 13 OZ |
| 552 Church St | Subdivision | Subdivision | Submitted Nov 2021 | 21 235904 STE 13 SB |
| 625 Church St | 59-storey building with shops | Site plan | Submitted Apr 2021 | 21 148066 STE 11 SA |
| 66 Charles St E | 11-storey building · 16 homes | Site plan | Submitted Jul 2024 | 24 175733 STE 11 SA |
| 66 Wellesley St E | 36-storey building · 409 homes and shops | Site plan | Submitted Sep 2022 | 22 202940 STE 13 SA |
| 90 Isabella St | 69-storey building · 837 homes | Site plan | Submitted May 2022 | 22 153990 STE 13 SA |
Decided recently (3)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Cawthra Sq | 63-storey building · 590 homes | Rezoning | Submitted May 2023 | 23 140427 STE 13 OZ |
| 235 Bloor St E | Minor variance | Minor variance | Decided Nov 2026 | A0664/26TEY |
| 34-42 Maitland St | 56-storey building · 532 homes | Site plan | Submitted Apr 2023 | 23 130802 STE 13 SA |
Source: City of Toronto Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment. One row per site. · Download CSV
Apartment buildings (55)
Source: RentSafeTO Apartment Building Evaluation; Residential Fire Inspection Results.
Schools (4)
| School | Grades | Board | Students | Gr. 6 reading | Gr. 6 math | Gr. 10 literacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church Street Junior Public School | JK-6 | TDSB | 485 | 84% | 45% | — |
| Collège français élémentaire | 7-8 | Viamonde | 75 | — | — | — |
| Native Learning Centre | 9-12 | TDSB | — | — | — | — |
| Collège français secondaire | 9-12 | Viamonde | 155 | — | — | 100% |
Source: Ontario Ministry of Education (2026) and EQAO: share of students meeting the provincial standard. Toronto: 87% Grade 6 reading, 54% math, 84% Grade 10 literacy.
Child care centres (1)
| Centre | Address | Ages | Spaces | $10 a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church Street School Day Care Service | 83 Alexander St | toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, school-age | 160 | Yes |
Source: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres.
Busiest bus and streetcar routes
| Route | Type | Trips each way, weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 94 Wellesley | Bus | 235 |
| 506 Carlton | Streetcar | 131 |
| 97 Yonge | Bus | 42 |
Source: TTC and GO Transit schedules for a typical weekday. Trips each way: weekday trips past the route’s busiest stop in the neighbourhood.
Parks and recreation
| Amenity | Church-Wellesley | Typical | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and play | |||
| Parks | 7 | 8 | Alexander Street Parkette, Barbara Hall Park, Charles Street Parkette and 4 more |
| Playgrounds | 2 | 5 | Barbara Hall Park, James Canning Gardens |
| Community centres | 0 | 1 | None inside Church-Wellesley. |
| Splash pads | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Ramsden Park, 850 m away in Annex. |
| Swimming | |||
| Public pools | 0 | 1 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Wellesley Community Centre, just over the border in North St.James Town. |
| Wading pools | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Winchester Park, just over the border in Cabbagetown-South St.James Town. |
| Beaches | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Water's Edge Promenade, 2.3 km away in St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands. |
| Courts and fitness | |||
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Ramsden Park, 850 m away in Annex. |
| Pickleball | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Ramsden Park, 850 m away in Annex. |
| Basketball | 0 | 1 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Ramsden Park, 850 m away in Annex. |
| Outdoor fitness equipment | 0 | 0 | None inside Church-Wellesley. Nearest: Julius Deutsch Park, 1.2 km away in Kensington-Chinatown. |
| Facilities | |||
| Public washrooms | 0 | 2 | None inside Church-Wellesley. |
Source: City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Tennis Courts and Washroom Facilities. Typical neighbourhood: the median across Toronto.
Affordable housing and rental demolitions
| Address | Stage | Affordable homes |
|---|---|---|
| 625 Church St | Rezoning approved | 15 |
| 34 Maitland St | Rezoning approved | 10 |
Rental demolitions approved
| Address | Approved | Rental homes demolished | Replaced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,8 and 12 Cawthra Square | Jul 23, 2025 | 11 | 11 |
| 34-42 Maitland Street | Apr 17, 2024 | 55 | 55 |
| 88 Isabella Street | Jul 19, 2023 | 82 | 82 |
Source: City of Toronto Affordable Housing Pipeline (projects not yet occupied) and Rental Housing Demolition applications approved since 2023.
Street work (4)
| Work | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Road repairs | Wellesley St E, Jarvis St to Wellesley Pl | Q1 to Q4 2026 |
| Road resurfacing | Church St, Monteith St to Gloucester St | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Road resurfacing | Church St, Wellesley St E to Monteith St | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Laneway rebuild | Alexander Pl, Alexander St to Maitland St | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
Source: City of Toronto Road Reconstruction, Road Resurfacing and Sidewalk Construction programs. Dates are the City’s plan and can move.
New storefront businesses, last 90 days (8)
| Business | Type | Address | Licence issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darvish Restaurant | Restaurant or bar | 639 Yonge St | Nov 2, 2026 |
| Caa Theatre | Entertainment venue | 651 Yonge St | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Tortoise & Hare | Salon or personal services | 645 Yonge St | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Banh Mi Journey 7 | Take-out or food shop | 53 Bloor St E | Oct 7, 2026 |
| Sense Maker | Restaurant or bar | 595 Yonge St | Sep 17, 2026 |
| Yummy Korean Food Restaurant | Restaurant or bar | 641 Yonge St | Sep 11, 2026 |
| Bohem Dreme | Salon or personal services | 473 Church St | Sep 7, 2026 |
| Sencha | Take-out or food shop | 527 Yonge St | Sep 2, 2026 |
Source: City of Toronto Business Licences and Permits, storefront types. Operating names only.
Shootings, bicycle thefts and thefts from vehicles
Other crimes, last 12 months
| Crime | Reported | Per 100,000 residents | Compared with other neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 0 | 0 | Lower than most |
| Bicycle thefts | 58 | 260 | Higher than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 68 | 305 | Higher than most |
Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts and Theft From Motor Vehicle, last 12 months. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection.
Serious collisions by year
| Year | Collisions |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Source: Toronto Police Service: collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured. 2026 so far.
Stations, streets, parking and EV charging
| Station | Service | Lines | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Station | TTC subway | 2 | Nearby |
| Bloor Station | TTC subway | 1 | Nearby |
| College Station | TTC subway | 1 | Nearby |
| Sherbourne Station | TTC subway | 2 | Nearby |
| TMU Station | TTC subway | 1 | Nearby |
| Wellesley Station | TTC subway | 1 | Inside |
Parking tickets and EV charging
Busiest streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yonge St Irwin Ave to Isabella St | 14,200 | 38 km/h | Oct 2025 |
| Wellesley St E Church St to Jarvis St | 7,800 | 35 km/h | Sep 2026 |
| Church St Alexander St to Maitland St | 6,900 | 38 km/h | Jun 2022 |
| Wood St Reverend Porter Lane to Church St | 5,600 | 36 km/h | Sep 2026 |
Fastest residential streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester St Church St to Jarvis St | 3,600 | 40 km/h | Oct 2019 |
| Wood St Reverend Porter Lane to Church St | 5,600 | 36 km/h | Sep 2026 |
| Dundonald St | 777 | 32 km/h | Nov 2023 |
City of Toronto Traffic Volumes, counts since 2016; each street shows its highest count. “Residential” means streets the City classes as local roads. Counts are taken on different streets in different years, so they aren’t ranked.
Park space and park projects
How much of the neighbourhood is park
| Largest parks and open spaces | Hectares |
|---|---|
| Barbara Hall Park | 0.7 |
| George Hislop Park | 0.2 |
| Norman Jewison Park | 0.2 |
City of Toronto Green Spaces: parks, natural areas and conservation land. Hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted.
Park projects
- Barbara Hall Park Improvements
The City is collaborating with the local Church-Wellesley Village community to develop a new vision and Master Plan for Barbara Hall Park.In progress - New Park at 15 Wellesley Street East
A new park is coming to 15 Wellesley St. E., directly across from the Wellesley subway station.In progress - Barbara Hall Park Off-Leash Area Improvements
The City is improving the off-leash area in Barbara Hall Park. The new off-leash area will replace the existing one at the southwest corner of the park and will be similar in size.In progress
City of Toronto Park and Recreation Facility Projects.
Green roofs and solar
Green roofs and solar
Since 2010, 16 building permits in Church-Wellesley included a green roof, the 16th most in Toronto. None has included a solar hot water system since 2009.
City of Toronto building permits for green roofs (required on larger new buildings since 2010) and solar hot water systems.
Noise permits
Noise permits
In the last 12 months, 23 noise exemption permits were issued in Church-Wellesley: 18 for amplified sound at events, 3 for construction outside normal hours, 1 for large crane work and 1 for other noise.
City of Toronto Noise Exemption Permits. A permit lets an event or a construction project make noise outside the hours the noise bylaw allows. Address pages list the permits nearby that haven’t ended yet.
Business improvement area
Business improvement areas
Bloor-Yorkville, Church-Wellesley Village and Downtown Yonge are Business Improvement Areas in Church-Wellesley. A BIA is run by local businesses, who pay a levy for street events, cleaning, decorations and promotion.
City of Toronto Business Improvement Areas.
Heritage, flood risk and local contacts
- Heritage
- 152 properties on the Heritage Register (62 designated, 90 listed), 18th most in Toronto.
- Flood and shoreline
- None of its addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area.
- Lead in tap water
- None of 23 home tests in M4Y were above Ontario’s limit. In M4W, 1 of 82 home tests was above Ontario’s limit (1.2%; Toronto 2.0%).
- Councillor
- Chris Moise · Ward 13 Toronto Centre profile
Source: City of Toronto Heritage Register; Toronto and Region Conservation Authority; City of Toronto lead testing; City of Toronto elected officials.
What residents report to 311
What residents report to 311
In the last 12 months, 3,559 service requests came from postal area M4Y, which covers most of Church-Wellesley. The most common:
| Property standards | 406 | |
| Injured wildlife | 188 | |
| Graffiti on private property | 146 | |
| Amplified music or instrument noise | 129 | |
| Illegal dumping | 96 | |
| Missed oversized pickup (apartments) | 88 |
City of Toronto 311 Service Requests, October 2025 to October 2026. 311 gives only the first three characters of the postal code, which don’t line up with neighbourhoods, so this isn’t ranked on the leaderboard.
One email every Wednesday with what changed in Church-Wellesley: new proposals, demolitions, heritage listings, serious collisions and more. Add up to 4 more neighbourhoods. Free, and no address needed.
More: Neighbourhood leaderboard · Compare Church-Wellesley side by side