East York is a former suburb of Toronto, East York was a borough within Metropolitan Toronto before East York, North York, York, Scarborough, Etobicoke and Toronto were amalgamated into the new megacity of Toronto in 1998. One of East York's claims to fame was that, before the amalgamation, it was Canada's only borough.

 Demographics

East York's population was 115,185 in 2001.

East York was heavily settled in the 1920s by working-class English immigrants from Lancashire and Yorkshire who valued the opportunity to own small homes of their own, with front lawns and back gardens. It has changed since the 1970s to become a major arrival point for immigrants, many of whom have established their first Canadian residence in the apartments that have become plentiful in Thorncliffe Park, Crescent Town and elsewhere at or near main streets. Most of these groups include Bengalis, Indians, Pakistanis, Jamaicans, Filipinos and Sri Lankans. East York also has a very well established Greek population and a developing Chinese community. The area is full of middle class homes.

 History

East York's last mayor was Michael Prue who went on to become city councillor for East York, and then a Member of Provincial Parliament for Beaches-East York in 2001. Between 2002 and 2005, the East York Civic Centre's "True Davidson Council Chamber" was used to hold the Toronto Computer Leasing Inquiry/Toronto External Contracts Inquiry.

In the late 1940s, after World War II, East York became home to many returning veterans and their families. Many inexpensive homes were built, including the houses around Topham Park, by the government, to house the returning vetrans and the baby boomers. The local government was both socially conscious and frugal, fitting the residents' self-image of East York as filled with supportive neighbours and NGOs.

East York is separated by the Don River. Traditional East York is south of the river, and the neighbourhood of Leaside is in the north. The densely populated Thorncliffe Park development, including the skyline and the town centre of East York, is north of the Don River.

The borough of East York was established in 1967 through the amalgamation of the former township of East York and the former town of Leaside. Leaside was a planned industrial and residential community. East York has over the years been a residential enclave for senior citizens, as the original owners from the 1940's age and as younger families move out to suburbs to live in larger houses.

Recently, rapid and accelerated gentrification has changed many neighborhoods. Many one-story bungalows have added second floors, and many shops have been converted to more upscale shops.