Posts are listed in chronological order based on date of posting – newest posts first.
Overnight Coordinator: A position created by those who like to hang around and help with overnights (Jeff Kahane)
Responsibilities: Making campfires, extinguishing campfires, locking the front gate, driving on the golfcart in the dark.
Photos taken by a staff member.
2017 Note: This page started as a small reference to the plaza where Bathurst Manor / Forest Valley Day Camp purchased many daily supplies. It has developed into what appears to be the only comprehensive source of information about the plaza.
History
A frequent destination for camp purchases, Bathurst Manor Plaza (a.k.a. Wilmington Plaza) was built in 1957 during the development of the area. Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, it was a bustling community destination with a wide variety of stores and services.
This sign introduced the plaza to the neighbourhood:
Opening Advertisement:
During Construction. The 2-storey south section and the Dominion (later Sunnybrook) store were built first. 1957:
Additional stores and a gas station were added in 1961:
An addition was built in 1984:
A third addition was added later for “Edith’s Fashions.” This building was spared from demolition in 2017 – likely to be used as a sales office for the new development:
The plaza was original referred to as “Bathurst Manor Plaza”. Later, it became know as “Wilmington Plaza”
Partial List of Stores
Abie’s Restaurant
Ann Biederman Frocks
Bagel Nook (The)
Barber Shop (Roger Williams)
Bathurst Manor Cleaners
Bathurst Manor Food Centre
Bathurst Manor Fruit Market
Brody’s Jewelers
Clover Printing and Labels
Country Style Donuts (Kosher)
Demi’s Restaurant
Dollar Guys (Ali)
Edith’s Fashions
Fressor’s Restaurant
Fagot’s Hardware (Later, Metro Hardware) Aby Moses & Family
Fisherman’s Table Restaurant
Focus Optical
Gary’s Sports Cards
GoGo Luggage & Leather
Goodman’s China
Hopedale Drugatieria (Later Shoppers Drug Mart) Fred Stall/Harvey Pearlston
Isaac’s Bakery
Israel’s Judaica
King David Pizza (Uri Hazan)
Knights of the Campus Boys Wear
LCBO
The Leather Mart
Lisary Bags & Luggage
Little Caesar’s (Before King David Pizza)
Louis’ Bakery
Man About Town (Alessandro DeRosa)
Meat/Poultry Shop
Optometrist
P.F. Travel
Rachel’s Catering
Red Ruby Restaurant
Ronit Originals – Unisex Italian Leather Fashions
Shoe Repair
Shoppers Drug Mart
Sunny Gym
Sunnybrook (formerly Dominion)
Tony’s Hairstyling
Toy Store
Variety Store / Smoke Shop / Krivy’s Cigar Store
Video Break
Wilmington Convenience & Produce (Terry Kim)
Bathurst Manor Service Centre (Morris & Alex)
Originally Shell. Later Pioneer. Owned by Mr. Pasternack
At one time, a guy named Rocco took care of the plaza.
Partial List of Office Tenants:
110 – 120 Overbrook Place
MCI Medical Clinics
Dr. Irving Zelcer
Dr. Harriet Train
Dr. Alan Sandler
Dr. Gerry Cohen
Dr. May Cohen
Dr. Grey
Riaboy & Anic Engineering Ltd
New Fraternal Jewish Association
Terry Leuty Real Estate (Harold “Husky” Goldkind)
Beth Meyer
Overbrook Medical Centre
A video of the plaza. ca. 1990:
Advertising
A collection of ads from local newspapers.
Decline
Following the closure of Sunnybrook in the mid 1980s, business declined in the plaza. Many stores closed. Some new tenants moved in, but did not stay long. In the early 2000’s, major tenants like CIBC, LCBO, & Shoppers Drug Mart left the plaza. Without these core tenants to draw traffic, the remaining stores struggled to survive.
Photos from the 2000s:
The phone numbers for the 2 pay phones:
416-633-0711
416-633-0860
Closure
In July, 2016, the plaza closed. It was boarded up in November 2016.
Several news articles about the closing.
Demolition
Demolition of the plaza began in February 2017. The building formerly used by Edith’s fashions (facing Wilmington) looks like it will be retained – likely to be used as a sales office for future development:
Redevelopment
Proposals have been in the works since 2006.
Link to City of Toronto Development Page: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=b0f30621f3161410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
Latest News
From 2012 Plan:
LisaSo sad that this plaza couldn’t be revitalized and used by the community. It was just sitting around, decomposing for years. I’ll always have fond memories of Isaac’s Bakery and Sunnybrook. 
Reply
Michael GilbertMany great memories ..
Phillip PearlstonThe drug store was Hopedale Drugatieria. Fred Stall and my father Harvey Pearlston were partners. Shoppers took over the store after they bought out Hopedale.Reply
MelDo you have any photos of Sunnybrook Food Mart? Such fond memories. Sad to see it boarded up, I truly wish it had been maintained and revitalized for the community.Reply
DaveA few to add to the list:– Fressor’s Restaurant
Marty RosenThe store list is not a list without the Red Ruby Resturant. Oh the memories, few of which I would dare share in a public forum. 
Reply
VitoThere was also Abie’s restaurant in the late 70’s. Among, the regular Canadian style menu, they also served Falafels, hummus, techina(tahini), etc.ReplyVito……P.s., Hopedale drug mart in the early 70’s before becoming SDM.Reply
Old GuyLola’s at the Cigar Store!Reply
Lynda Frappier (Ross)Remembering the amazing pizza bagels at louis’ bakery, the midway that would herald the arrival of spring, “spinny” lusthouse who worked at the gas station (RIP), the old shoe store between Dominion and Fagot’s hardware store. Good times.Reply
Just outside the auditorium – 1988
Before the G. Ross Lord Dam was built – just north of camp – the level of the river changed regularly with the rainfall. When water levels were low, the river was accessible for camp activities. However, there were also dangers. After storms, the river would run very fast and very high and signs were posted warning campers and staff to stay away.
After the dam was built in 1973, the water was kept at a consistently higher level and the river essentially became off limits to camp activities.
The following aerial photos show camp before and after construction of the G. Ross Lord Dam:
These are the actual turn-by-turn routes for the large school buses in July 1993.
BUS A
A.M. ROUTE – JULY 1993
ARRIVE 8:20 a.m. at 37 Worth Blvd. FACING EAST
After pick-up, follow Worth to Westmount Blvd.
RIGHT on Westmount, follow to Savoy Cres.
RIGHT on Savoy for 90, follow around to Westmount Blvd.
RIGHT on Westmount, follow to Bathurst St.
RIGHT on Bathurst, follow to New Westminster Dr.
RIGHT on New Westminster, follow to Beverly Glen Blvd.
RIGHT on Beverly Glen, Inglewood Ave.
RIGHT on Inglewood for 25 and 41, follow to Mulholland Dr.
LEFT on Mulholland, follow to Beverly Glen Blvd.
RIGHT on Beverly Glen, follow to Ventura Way
RIGHT on Ventura Way for 33, follow around to Beverly Glen Blvd.
RIGHT on Beverly Glen for 411, follow to Concord Rd.
LEFT on Concord, follow across Centre St. into Wade Gate
FOLLOW Wade Gate to Brownridge Dr. Continue reading Bus Routes – July 1993
Acquired by Jennifer in 1986 after purchasing the camp from Bert.
The actual nameplate from the front of this cart:
Forest Valley provided clean white towels to campers for each swim – twice daily. Keeping these towels clean was a major endeavour. Laundry trucks made twice-daily visits to pick up and return towels.
Towels were given to campers before each swim and were to be placed into steel baskets after use. (below)
The maintenance staff collected the towels from the various locations and placed them into large bins for pick-up.
Brighton and Admiral were the laundry services used during the 70s and 80s:
Original towel design. 1960’s:
Second towel design. 1970’s and 1980’s:
Third towel design. 1990’s:
Art Perlmutar. ca. 1982
Art Perlmutar ca. 1982
Jeff Perlmutar, Art Perlmutar ca. 1979
ca. 1986
ca. 1991
Ads For Staff
Ads for Parents:
Rumours about closing
Over the years, there were several times when word circulated about the camp being sold or closing. Often this was due to news articles about the ongoing feud with the camp’s neighbour. On each occasion, Bert placed ads to set the record straight:
Ad in The Toronto Star on August 20, 1976:
From The Toronto Star. July 18, 1977:
From The Toronto Star. June 7, 1983:
From The Toronto Star. October 4, 1982:
Trespassing to use the pools was commonplace in the 70’s and 80’s. As a result of this finding all of the fences were replaced and heightened.
In the early 1980’s, Bert was honoured by North York Council:
1967
1983
1984
1985
Program Staff – 1987
1988
1989
1991
1992
1993
Built in the late 1970’s to support the Outdoor Education Program. Maple syrup made inside each spring. Located at the north end of the Treehouse Field.
