etobicoke toronto

10 signs you grew up in Etobicoke

While I often boast that I was born and bred in Toronto, that's not exactly true. Etobicoke, my childhood home, is a part of Toronto today but it wasn't pre-amalgamation in 1998. Living on the outskirts of a major metropolis, kids were raised a little bit city and a little bit suburban which combines to provide its own set of unique circumstances and memories.

Here are 10 signs you grew up in Etobicoke.

1. You get excited when you see Sherway Gardens in movies like Mean Girls.

2. You could give a tour of all of Rob Ford's favourite hangouts.

3. You know all the good ravines to have a park party and not get busted.

4. The Curves location beside Bowlerama West will always be the arcade where all the cool kids hung out.

5. You did something against your better judgement at Ribfest one summer.

6. You've taken the vomit comet (300 Bloor Danforth Bus) ALL THE WAY from downtown Toronto to Islington Subway station at 3AM, on more than one occasion, unfortunately.

7. Your high school alumni includes one of the following people: Stephen Harper, Kiefer Sutherland, Emily Haines, Alanis Morissette, Tom Cochrane, Dave Foley, Jeff Healey or Trish Stratus.

8. You feel a need to clarify that you grew up in Central Etobicoke.

9. You remember seeing a movie at The Westwood Theatre by Kipling Station, and were thrilled that it became the go to set for Zombie Apocalypse movies until it was finally torn down in 2013.

10. You spent your pre-teen Friday winter nights at the local Etobicoke Community outdoor skating rink drinking thick, syrup-laden hot chocolate that you loved to hate, but bought anyway.

What signs did I miss? Add your suggestions to the comments.

Writing by Sara Maginn Pacella / Photo by AshtonPal


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Here's a preview of what it will be like to ride on new Toronto LRT line

There's a brand-new $26M TTC subway station entrance in a popular Toronto park

Ontario's largest snake grows up to 2 metres and squeezes prey to death

Ontario is home to world's oldest pool of water at a staggering 2 billion years old

Toronto somehow isn't home to Ontario's jankiest LRT

Stunning new Toronto park set to open next year

A Toronto transit project is actually going to finish early for once

People worried about Ontario police's plan to use facial recognition software