Location: Bloor St. W. near Markland Drive
Date photo taken: 9 January 2017
Markland Wood is a residential neighbourhood on the western edge of Etobicoke. It's a planned community conceived and constructed by Mark Cavotti and Associates on a large farm property purchased in 1958 from the Silverthorn family. It was an especially attractive plot for a new subdivision, being close to the city, well serviced by existing roads, and picturesque. The farm was bordered on the east and south sides by the Etobicoke Creek and on the west by Renforth Creek. Thanks to new flood regulations put in place after Hurricane Hazel, much of the land adjacent to those waterways could not be built upon, so the area is surrounded by green space and incorporates an 18 hole golf course. Many of the original trees were also retained and potential homeowners were asked to sign a contract promising to preserve the trees on their property. As for the name of the area, an anecdote from Mark Cavotti explains it: "My associates, at first, jokingly referred to the land as ‘Mark’s land’ and then, after the purchase was completed, they did me the honour of calling the area Markland Wood."
