Welcome to Brockton Village – Home of Urban Hiker

Corner of Brock and Dundas - September 22, 1930.

Urban Hiker is based in Little Portugal in what was once called Brockton Village.  Brockton Village began to be settled after the War of 1812.  Captain James Brock, (Cousin of the famous war of 1812 hero Isaac Brock) was awarded a large swath of land when he returned from the war which was situated west of Dufferin, South of Bloor and North of Queen.  When he died, his wife decided to create one of the first subdivisions in Canada which was divided by Brock Avenue which ran, and still runs the entire length of the original parcel of land.  

The settled area eventually became an incorporated village in 1876, and it was later annexed by the City of Toronto in 1884 when city of Toronto wanted to expand past its original western border of Dufferin Street.

There are still some buildings that remain from that time including the original Brockton town Hall, a former hotel and a mercantile. (all located on Dundas near Brock Avenue)

The area has seen many different groups of Canadians over the years.  It was settled by the English who then welcomed a large Irish population to the area where it became well known for creating a large lumber area (mostly located on the southwest corner of Lansdowne and Dundas as well as being known for two manufacturers making very high-quality rope among other things that were used in a great number of thriving industries at that time. 

The construction materials and the industrialization and creativity of the Brockton neighbourhood highly influenced one young local boy who would take that passion to incredibly successful levels on the international stage.  Working in his grandfather’s hardware store, he began to use Brockton’s resources such as corrugated steel, chain link fencing, unpainted plywood and other utilitarian or "everyday" materials in his artwork and his sculptures and then later in his renowned architecture.  That boy was Frank Gehry.  His work has him considered among the very most important people within contemporary architecture globally and Vanity Fair called him "the most important architect of our age".

The area has continued to drive culture for the city, from Lula Lounge which as The Dundas Playhouse hosted the first burlesque show in Toronto, to the critically acclaimed street festival of today which is Do West Fest.

Brockton Village is a very special area for me.  For the past 25 years I have lived in a house that was built in 1899 and I urban hike the area on an almost daily basis.

I look forward to showing you my neighbourhood as well as the surrounding areas which include, Parkdale, High Park, Sunnyside Beach, Roncesvalles, The Junction, Ossington, Bloor West Village, Liberty Village, Dovercourt Village, Ontario Place, Trinity Bellwoods and Little Italy. 

Mike