Item - 2026.PH32.17

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 6278 Kingston Road under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance for 6278 Kingston Road (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1 to the report (June 15, 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 6278 Kingston Road under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage 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 6278 Kingston Road, known historically as the John Morrish House, is located on the north side of Kingston Road west of Meadowvale Road in the Highland Creek neighbourhood of Scarborough. It contains a 1-storey detached house form building fronting onto Kingston Road. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are included in Attachment 2.

The property contains a single-storey vernacular Ontario Cottage style house, with a front porch featuring a gable dormer added in 2002. Built c. 1850, the subject property has served as a single-family residence from its construction to the present day and was home to the Morrish family from 1855 until 1984. Since their arrival into the region in 1855, the Morrish family have set deep roots in Scarborough, being the namesake for Morrish Road, which includes the W.D. Morrish Store at 215 Morrish Road (listed), as well as the family's historic connection to a small but significant collection of listed and Part IV designated properties within Scarborough. Standing adjacent to the Part IV designated W.J. Morrish General Store at 6282 Kingston Road, the subject property stands as historical reminder of Highland Creek and Scarborough's agricultural past.

The subject property at 6278 Kingston 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 that have been identified as candidates for designation through the City's implementation of Bill 23 amendments to the Ontario Heritage 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 6278 Kingston Road. The Consultant evaluated the subject property and determined that it meets the provincial criteria.

The Consultant's research on the subject property is included in 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 6278 Kingston Road has cultural heritage value and meets three of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage 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 July 6, 2026 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB46.7 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (June 15, 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 6278 Kingston Road under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage 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 6278 Kingston Road, known historically as the John Morrish House, is located on the north side of Kingston Road west of Meadowvale Road in the Highland Creek neighbourhood of Scarborough. It contains a 1-storey detached house form building fronting onto Kingston Road. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are included in Attachment 2.

The property contains a single-storey vernacular Ontario Cottage style house, with a front porch featuring a gable dormer added in 2002. Built c. 1850, the subject property has served as a single-family residence from its construction to the present day and was home to the Morrish family from 1855 until 1984. Since their arrival into the region in 1855, the Morrish family have set deep roots in Scarborough, being the namesake for Morrish Road, which includes the W.D. Morrish Store at 215 Morrish Road (listed), as well as the family's historic connection to a small but significant collection of listed and Part IV designated properties within Scarborough. Standing adjacent to the Part IV designated W.J. Morrish General Store at 6282 Kingston Road, the subject property stands as historical reminder of Highland Creek and Scarborough's agricultural past.

The subject property at 6278 Kingston 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 that have been identified as candidates for designation through the City's implementation of Bill 23 amendments to the Ontario Heritage 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 6278 Kingston Road. The Consultant evaluated the subject property and determined that it meets the provincial criteria.

The Consultant's research on the subject property is included in 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 6278 Kingston Road has cultural heritage value and meets three of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage 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.