Ward 7: Humber River-Black Creek
Ward 7 is one of Toronto's 25 council wards. It covers Humber River-Black Creek in northwest North York, and one city councillor represents it at City Hall. I know these streets because I've spent years working in them, helping neighbours find housing and get through systems that don't always make it easy.
What ward am I in?
If you live in Humber River-Black Creek, you're in Ward 7. The ward runs from Steeles Avenue in the north to Highway 401 in the south, and from the Humber River in the west to Keele Street in the east.
That takes in Jane and Finch, Black Creek, Glenfield-Jane Heights, Downsview, Humbermede, Humber Summit and Oakdale-Beverley Heights. Plenty of people aren't sure which ward they're in, especially near the edges, so if you want to be certain, put your address into the City's lookup at toronto.ca/elections. It takes about a minute.
Neighbourhoods in Ward 7
Seven neighbourhoods, each with its own character. Here's how I see them, and what people keep telling me at their doors.
Tap the map to jump to a neighbourhood ↓
Humber Summit is the quiet northwest corner of the ward, tucked between Steeles and the Humber River valley. It's a mix of family homes, apartment towers and industrial land, with some of the best trail access in the city right at the edge of the neighbourhood. The hard part is getting anywhere else: without rapid transit, a lot of daily life here depends on long bus rides or a car.
Transit & Family ServicesGlenfield-Jane Heights is full of families, and a lot of them are raising kids while working shifts that don't end at five. They rely on the Jane buses and tell me service thins out just when people are heading home late. Young people here are capable and ready. What they need are more programs and real opportunities close to home.
Youth Opportunity & TransitJane and Finch is one of the most diverse and close-knit communities in Canada, and it's had to be. Neighbours, faith groups and local organizations have carried a lot of weight here for decades, often with far less support from the City than they deserved. Housing stability, safety and youth opportunity come up at every door, and people are tired of promises. They want investment that actually arrives, and a councillor who shows up.
Community Safety & Youth InvestmentBlack Creek has green space a lot of the city would envy, from the ravine trails to the community farm on Jane Street. It also has many seniors on fixed incomes who are being squeezed by rent increases and cut off by transit gaps. Families raise food access again and again: affordable groceries are often too far away for anyone without a car.
Senior Affordability & Food SecurityHumbermede sits along the Humber River, and plenty of people here have called it home for a long time. Long-time residents are worried about being priced out as rents climb along the Weston Road corridor. Newcomer families are arriving and putting down roots, and they tell me childcare and settlement services haven't kept up with them.
Affordable Housing & Family ServicesIn Downsview, the conversation always comes back to the redevelopment of the Downsview lands. People aren't against change. They want to make sure the families already living here get to stay, which means affordable housing built into every phase, not tacked on at the end. That's the most consistent thing I hear at the door here.
Affordable Housing & Community Land UseOakdale-Beverley Heights is a steady, hard-working neighbourhood near the 401, and food is the biggest worry here. Without a full-service grocery store close by, many families lean on food programs that are already stretched thin. The community kitchens and food banks doing that work need more support, not more thanks.
Food Security & Community InvestmentClick a neighbourhood to read about it
Pick a neighbourhood
Click any part of the map to read about that neighbourhood and what people there are telling me.
Ward 7 by the Numbers
Key facts about Humber River-Black Creek from the 2021 Census of Population.
Core Demographics
Total Population
111,200
5-Year Growth
3.2%
2016–2021
Median Age
37.6
years
Working Age (15–64)
68%
Dependency Ratio
46
per 100 working-age
Housing Affordability
Total Dwellings
37,675
Avg. Monthly Rent
$1,261
avg. monthly shelter cost
Tenant Stress Rate
33%
renters paying >30% of income
Low-Income Rate
15.1%
after-tax LICO
Low Income — Seniors & Youth
18%
seniors & youth
Immigration & Language
Total Immigrants
62,700
56.4% of total population
Recent Immigrants
8,885
2016–2021 arrivals
English at Home
57%
English primary language
Non-Official Language at Home
32%
non-official language at home
Top Birthplaces — Immigrant Population
Labour & Education
Unemployment Rate
10.2%
local unemployment rate
Labour Force Participation
57.5%
labour force participation
No High School Credential
28%
no credential, ages 15+
Post-Secondary Completion
41%
completion, ages 15+
Top Employment Sectors
Source: 2021 Census of Population, City of Toronto Ward Profile