What is Greater Weston Mount Dennis?

​Greater Weston Mount Dennis (GWMD) is a suburb in the west of Toronto with a vibrant history.  It connects Eglinton Avenue to the Kitchener commuter railway and has the Humber River running right through its centre. In the late 19th century, the area was famously known for "Kodak Heights," a large photographic manufacturing facility that acted as a major employer for residents until its close in 2005. Once a thriving neighbourhood with promise for economic prosperity, the area lost thousands of formerly well-paying jobs due to offshoring and a City-wide shift away from manufacturing and other industries. Kodak’s departure and the corresponding loss of around 800 jobs dealt a significant blow to the economic landscape of the neighbourhoods surrounding Weston Road. Fast forward to today, the neighbourhood has evolved into a community of smaller newcomer-owned retail stores. 

Today, the inner suburb is home to diverse communities with 49% of residents born outside of Canada and 54% identifying as racialized. Income rates in the neighbourhood fall below the city of Toronto average and it has the highest proportion of tenant households in subsidized housing in the City – key indicators that opportunity is not reaching residents. 

Greater Weston Mount Dennis is entering a period of substantial, long‑term redevelopment, with multiple development applications already in the pipeline. While the exact number of buildings and units will continue to evolve, proposals span many sites across the community, particularly near major intersections along Weston Road. Transit expansion is also underway, including work on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and upgrades at Weston GO Station. These investments will greatly enhance connectivity for local residents, positioning GWMD as an increasingly important node within the regional transit network. The details of these projects may evolve, but their presence in the long‑term infrastructure pipeline underscores the neighbourhood’s future role as a well‑connected urban centre. 

The Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity Initiative (ILEO) brings together the private, public, and community sectors to find innovative ways to reduce gaps in economic prosperity at the neighbourhood level. ILEO is convened by United Way Greater Toronto and BMO Financial Group.

The following resources are available to ILEO partners wishing to learn more about the Weston Mount Dennis pilot, the second neighbourhood to be part of the ILEO Initiative. 

If you have questions specific to ILEO, please contact ileo@uwgt.org