The Origins of Emery Village
By Sean Delaney
When newcomers arrive in Emery Village, they often ask the same question: where did the name come from? The answer takes us back more than two centuries, when this corner of Toronto was still open farmland, crossroads, and a small pioneer hamlet.
The story begins in the late 1700s, when settlers like Isaac Devins and John Crosson arrived from Pennsylvania and cleared land in what would become the Humbermede and Emery area. By the mid-1800s, a thriving little community had formed around the junction of Finch Avenue and Weston Road. At the time, the hamlet was known as Dayton, and it had all the fixtures of a rural village — a schoolhouse, church, blacksmith shop, general store, mill, meeting hall, and, eventually, a train station and post office.
“From its pioneer roots as Dayton, to a modern hub, the name Emery has always been at the heart of this community.”
But “Dayton” proved confusing, especially with Dayton, Ohio growing rapidly south of the border. By the late 19th century, the name was changed to Emery, in honour of the Emery family. William Emery, an English farmer who arrived in 1829, established one of the earliest farms at Finch and Weston. His descendants became deeply rooted in the area, and their name stuck. The Emery Pioneer Cemetery, where William and other early families are buried, remains an important historic landmark just steps away from the busy streets of today’s community.
With the post office and rail service in place by the 1870s, Emery became a small but bustling hub in North York. Farmers hauled produce to the station, merchants sold goods to locals, and families put down lasting roots. It was a rural life that carried on well into the 20th century.
Everything began to change in the 1960s, as Toronto’s urban growth pushed north and west. Subdivisions replaced farmland, and industrial parks were built along Weston Road and Steeles Avenue. By the 1970s, the Finch West Mall and surrounding shopping plazas announced that Emery was no longer just a farming hamlet, but part of a fast-growing city.
Today, Emery Village has become one of the largest employment areas in Toronto, home to thousands of businesses and residents. The Emery Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), founded in 2003, now in its 22nd year, continues to carry the historic name forward. The BIA works to keep the character of the neighbourhood alive while ensuring Emery remains a thriving place to live, work, and do business.
For those new to the community, the story of Emery Village is one of resilience, growth, and change. From its pioneer roots as Dayton, to the farms of William Emery, to the train station that once stood at the crossroads, and now to a modern urban hub, the name Emery has always been at the heart of this community.
Scan the QR code below to visit the Emery Village BIA website and learn more about the history and future of this vibrant neighbourhood.
