Kingsview - Dixon

It may not have the glamour of the many neighbourhoods people often associate with Toronto, but the area around Kipling and Dixon, what residents affectionately call Kingsview, is a hotbed of cultural activity in the city's northwest.

Sitting just south of the border of the area known as Rexdale and crossed by the 401, Kingsview / Dixon serves as a gateway into North Etobicoke and is only minutes away from the airport -- Dixon Road in fact turns into Airport Road about two kilometres west of the neighbourhood.

The proximity to the airport has meant that the neighbourhood has been populated predominantly by minority immigrants for the past two decades. Initially the hub of Somalian immigration into Toronto (a documentary once referred to the area as Canada's Mogadishu), the apartment buildings in the area have also served as home to several minority influxes, such as a wave of Pakistani immigration a few years ago, and a more recent wave of immigrants from Mauritius and other parts of Africa.

Being in North Etobicoke, the name Dixon has been associated with crime and violence, though not to the same extent as some other parts of Rexdale. Of course, many of the good aspects of the neighbourhood have been ignored by local media, but are still celebrated by the local population.

Now Magazine last year named the basketball court in Dixon Park as the best outdoor court in the city, and certainly the court has become a great community unifier. Opened by Vince Carter in 2003 and maintained by Toronto Parks & Recreation, the court and the surrounding park host recreation events and tournaments throughout the summer.

In addition, the neighbourhood high school, Kipling Collegiate Institute, was recently featured in Maclean's magazine as one of the best high schools in Canada.

Thinking of taking a stroll through the Kingsview neighbourhood? Here are a few places that shouldn't be missed:

Wally's Grill
This iconic restaurant recently moved locations to a newer facility across the street on Kipling just south of Rexdale, but luckily, the change in decor did not result in a change in food quality. Featuring one of the best breakfast menus in Toronto at great prices, Wally's is the kind of place where being a regular still means something.

Fitness 365
Formerly called Monster Gym and the regular haunt of WWE superstars, Fitness 365 is - as the name implies - open every single hour of every single day of the year. While it is impressive that the place never closes, what is equally impressive is the obscenely large number of fitness machines at the establishment: no waiting around for treadmills here.

Dixon Park
Acting as the focal point of the neighbourhood, the park not only features the famed Vince Carter basketball court, but also has two playgrounds, a ball hockey court, and a small hut where Toronto Parks & Rec runs drop-in summer programs. Across the street, you'll find Kingsview Park, which features a bocce court and some tennis courts as well.

Lavington Bakery
Hidden away off the main arteries of the neighbourhood, Lavington Bakery is not only a great source of excellent baked goods (their pizza bread is not only divine, but also very affordable for local students looking for an after-school snack) but is also the central shop in a plaza that features an Ital Pizza and the popular Lavington Fish & Chips.

Kingsview Village Community School
Run by one of the some of the most friendly city staff you'll ever meet, this Toronto Parks & Recreation location offers evening programs including yoga, haircutting, karate, wellness through hynosis, boxercise, golf, and a whole slew of sports for adults and children alike. Spots for the summer camp fill up within minutes (I'm not exaggerating) of registration opening. The best part of it all? The programs are all free for city residents.

(Photos: Sameer Vasta, Guled Hussein, Jose Ongpin.)