Our Neighbourhood

Nestled south of the 401 east of highland creek on the shores of lake ontario, the Centennial community is still known as Scarborough's best kept secret. An abundance of parks and open spaces surround about 4000 household.

The Centennial area is regarded as a model neighbourhood where people share a sense of togetherness and concern about the wellbeing of their community.

For years now, the CCRA has been instrumental in promoting cooperation and bringing people together through community events, such as Winterest, Heritage day parade, summer Jazz Concert Series and many more.

Our Parks

Adams Park (Access through Lawson Road or Port Union Rd.)

Wanita Park (Corner of Meadowvale and Lawrence)

Waterfront Trail (At the foot of Port Union Road)

Colonel Danforth Trail (Entrance at Lawson and Colonel Danforth Road)

Charlottetown Park

Centennial Park

Our Schools

Centennial Road
Charlottetown Junior Public School
Joseph Howe
Mowat Collegiate Institute
St. Brendan

CCRA Approaches a Milestone

In 2009, the CCRA will be celebrating its 60^th year of service to the community. The Centennial Community and Recreation Association of Highland Creek was formed on November 9, 1949, when it was created at a meeting of the Centennial Public School, Home and School Association. The first chairman of the newly formed association was W.A. (Bill) Dempsey. Tom McMorrow, a local merchant and Gladys Onley were members.

One of the first projects that the Association undertook was to provide space and facilities that were vital for children in this growing community. The Association, through vigorous fund raising efforts and assistance from the Scarborough Council and Board of Education, built a rink at the Centennial School and later added a gymnasium.

Mr. Dempsey also urged that a 47.5 acre track of land be purchased for a park. The owners of the property at that time, grandnieces of Thomas Adams, who in 1812 originally purchased the property north of Lawson Road and west of Port Union Road, agreed to sell for $500 an acre. The money was raised in part by people signing promissory notes at the CIBC bank in Highland Creek.

In the spring of 1952 the CCRA approached Scarborough Council with a “visionary plan” for the Centennial Community. Council unanimously approved the plan, and the land was purchased. We know it today as Adam’s Park. While the negotiations were going on, the CCRA planted 20,000 trees.

Since then, over the years, many CCRA Volunteers have worked hard to improve the life of the Centennial Community for its residents, most notably our involvement in the demolition and clean-up of the Johns Manville site in the 1990’s, the development of the Port Union Commons and the water front park at the foot of Port Union Road.

To celebrate our Diamond Anniversary, next year the Association will be sponsoring a number of special activities and will be looking for volunteers to help make them happen.

As part of the celebration, we are also inviting our readers to participate by contributing articles to the newsletter of historical interest about the community and what living in Centennial has meant to them. We will be featuring these in up coming editions of the newsletter.

Port Union Go Station circa 1856

The Grand Truck Railroad opened in 1856 and this is their station at Port Union. The Station Agent lived in the attached house which you may be able to see just below the ladder shown on the roof on the upper right.

For those interested in finding out more about the community and area, check out the library for Fact & Folklore, Highland Creek, Hillside, Port Union, West Hill; 2^nd edition, 1998, by John R. Spilsbury.