Item - 2026.PH31.16

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 34 Jason Road under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance for 34 Jason Road (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1 to the revised report (June 4, 2026) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. If there are no objections to the designation, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the Bill in Council designating the property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 34 Jason Road under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act ("the Act") for its cultural heritage value according to the Statement of Significance which includes a description of heritage attributes found in Attachment 1.

The subject property at 34 Jason Road, known historically as the Elm Bank Piggery, is located on the north side of Jason Road at the intersection of Riverdale Drive within the Thistletown community of Etobicoke. It contains a single-family house form building, constructed c. 1921, featuring an extension c.1926-33. The extension was built atop foundations believed to date to the mid-nineteenth century that once supported a piggery on the Elm Bank property belonging to the Grubb family. The Grubb family (later "Grubbe") were post-colonial settlers within the present-day Thistletown community. In more recent years, the home was owned by the notable photographer Bruce Metcalfe, and his family. The property remains a physical reminder of Thistletown's agricultural past. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are included in Attachment 2.

The subject property at 34 Jason Road was listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register on September 27, 2006.

This property is one of eighteen pre-1870 listed properties citywide which have been identified as candidates for designation through the City's implementation of Bill 23 amendments to the Act and its ongoing prioritization strategy for listed properties. Properties listed on the City's Heritage Register prior to January 1, 2023 will be deemed removed from the Heritage Register unless they are designated by January 1, 2027.

Part of the City's strategy for the review of listed properties on the Heritage Register includes the procurement of qualified heritage consultants to research, evaluate, and prepare heritage evaluation reports for a subset of listed properties prioritized for designation. City Planning retained the services of Alex Corey Heritage Consulting ("the Consultant") to research and evaluate a citywide group of eighteen pre-1870 listed properties which includes the subject property at 34 Jason Road. The Consultant evaluated the subject property and determined that it meets the provincial criteria. Staff concur with this assessment.

The Consultant's research on the subject property is included as Attachment 3 of this report. The research, analysis, and evaluation contained within Attachment 3 reflect the Consultant's professional expertise and opinion. Staff have independently reviewed the Consultant's research and heritage evaluation and concur with the determination that the property at 34 Jason Road has cultural heritage value and meets four of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Act. A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria.

Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.

At its meeting on June 8, 2026 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB45.1 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the revised report (June 4, 2026) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 34 Jason Road under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act ("the Act") for its cultural heritage value according to the Statement of Significance which includes a description of heritage attributes found in Attachment 1.

The subject property at 34 Jason Road, known historically as the Elm Bank Piggery, is located on the north side of Jason Road at the intersection of Riverdale Drive within the Thistletown community of Etobicoke. It contains a single-family house form building, constructed c. 1921, featuring an extension c.1926-33. The extension was built atop foundations believed to date to the mid-nineteenth century that once supported a piggery on the Elm Bank property belonging to the Grubb family. The Grubb family (later "Grubbe") were post-colonial settlers within the present-day Thistletown community. In more recent years, the home was owned by the notable photographer Bruce Metcalfe, and his family. The property remains a physical reminder of Thistletown's agricultural past. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are included in Attachment 2.

The subject property at 34 Jason Road was listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register on September 27, 2006.

This property is one of eighteen pre-1870 listed properties citywide which have been identified as candidates for designation through the City's implementation of Bill 23 amendments to the Act and its ongoing prioritization strategy for listed properties. Properties listed on the City's Heritage Register prior to January 1, 2023 will be deemed removed from the Heritage Register unless they are designated by January 1, 2027.

Part of the City's strategy for the review of listed properties on the Heritage Register includes the procurement of qualified heritage consultants to research, evaluate, and prepare heritage evaluation reports for a subset of listed properties prioritized for designation. City Planning retained the services of Alex Corey Heritage Consulting ("the Consultant") to research and evaluate a citywide group of eighteen pre-1870 listed properties which includes the subject property at 34 Jason Road. The Consultant evaluated the subject property and determined that it meets the provincial criteria. Staff concur with this assessment.

The Consultant's research on the subject property is included as Attachment 3 of this report. The research, analysis, and evaluation contained within Attachment 3 reflect the Consultant's professional expertise and opinion. Staff have independently reviewed the Consultant's research and heritage evaluation and concur with the determination that the property at 34 Jason Road has cultural heritage value and meets four of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Act. A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria.

Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.