Keele Subway Station

Keele Subway Station

The Keele subway station is located on the Bloor / Danforth line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in 1966 and serves approximately 14,000 a day.

Keele subway is situated right at the north eastern tip of High Park and close to the neighbourhood known as the “Junction” or by its residents, the “Junction Triangle” which is the shape of the 3 sets of railroad tracks on the north, west and east side.   

Junction Triangle

The neighbourhood residents have set up a rail committee against increased diesel traffic along the borders of their community.  They want to bring in more electrical rail cars as well as the construction of an overpass/separation on the east side of the neighbourhood to reduce the long term effects / costs of diesel exhaust.   

Metrolinx along with GO Transit and the Government of Ontario have been discussing electrifying the lines for years and the costs become ever increasing.  The rail committee of the Junction neighbourhood plan to make this their main focus for public health and safety.

Jane Subway Station

Jane Subway Station

Jane Subway Station is on the Bloor-Danforth line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public on May 1968 and serves about 16,000 people a day.  Jane Subway is another interchange station included in the proposal for the LRT project.  This is an excellent position to relieve a lot of congestion because of the major arteries that it passes through such as Bloor, Eglinton, Weston, Lawrence, Sheppard, Finch and Steeles.

The actual name of the street was named after Jane Barr, by her husband, who was a real estate developer who immigrated from Scotland in 1907.  The song JANE, made popular by the Bare Naked Ladies was really about intersection of Jane and St. Clair.  

Barenaked Ladies - with clothes on..

The group Barenaked Ladies was formed in 1988 in Scarborough.  Other famous songs they did was If I had a 1,000,000 and Brian Wilson.  They are known mostly for their comedic style.  Steve Page who started the band left in 2009.

Lyrics : Jane

The girl works at the store sweet Jane St. Clair
Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there
it wasn't long before I lived with her
I sang her songs while she dyed her hair

Jane, divided, but I can't decide what side I'm on
Jane decided only cowards stay, while traitors run
Jane, Jane

I'd bring her gold and frankincense and myrrh
She thought that I was making fun of her
She made me feel I was fourteen again
That's why she thinks it's cooler if we'd just stay friends
Jane doesn't think a man could ever be faithful
Jane isn't giving me a chance to be shameful
Jane, Jane

I wrote a letter, she should have got it yesterday
That life could be better by being together
is what I cannot explain to Jane

The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair
Was dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there
No promises as vague as Heaven
No Juliana next to my Evan

Jane, desired by the people at the school and work
Jane is tired, 'cause every man becomes a lovesick jerk
Jane, Jane

High Park Subway

High Park Subway & High Park Skating!!

High Park Subway station is on the Bloor-Danforth line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in 1968 and serves about 10,000 people a day.  

Worthy to the namesake, High Park subway station is situated in the core of several popular parkland sites, such as Grenadier pond and High Park.  Historically you used to be able to skate on Grenadier pond, but now there is a ban put on as the ice rarely freezes over enough for safe skating.  Although there is an artificial rink located at the north end of the park for pleasure skating.

If  you are all that energetic you can take a hiking or cross country ski through the paths as they are maintained through the winter months as well.

High Park itself is the largest park in Toronto and spans over 398 acres and extends all the way into Markham Ontario! 

Glencairn Subway

Glencairn Subway

Glencairn Subway station is on the Yonge – University-Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in January 1978 and serves only 5,000 people a day, making it one of the least used stations of the system.  

Glencairn station is situated in a low density zone, mostly residential houses and few apartments.   It overpasses Allen Road at Glen Park Avenue.   

Solar panels on roof of Glencairn

One of the features that make Glencairn station so unique is the solar powered panels located on the roof at a cost of about $ 15,000 for two of them.  This is a pilot project that started back in April 2010.  The solar panels have to be flexible to conform to the roofing design, and apparently they’re not quite as efficient as the flat panels but at least they ward off vandals.  These panels will also be equipped in 52 bus shelters as well as about 5 stations are being fitted with screens to let riders know when to expect the next train/bus/streetcar.  Most shelters around the world contain some solar component, so it’s really nothing new, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.