Hi,
​
Earlier this week, I added two more historical tours of the #ExperienceTO event series; the one on July 5th will focus on the Lawrence Park neighbourhood, where my family and I lived in the past.

During my research in preparation for it, I paused to reflect on how intentional Wilfred Servington Dinnick was in the design of what is now one of Canada's wealthiest neighbourhoods.

In its 2016 study of Lawrence Park West as a Potential Heritage Conservation District, the City of Toronto remarked the following:

• In the 1790s the nominated area [Lawrence Park] and its surroundings were surveyed and divided into farm lots under the supervision of Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe.
• In 1907 Wilfred Servington Dinnick, president of the loan and mortgage company Standard Loan Co., purchased Lot 5 from John Lawrence, a farmer whom Lawrence Avenue is named after, and the Harris farm, which comprised the northern portion of Lot 4.
• In 1908, Dinnick hired surveyor and engineer Walter S. Brooke to implement his vision for a "garden suburb", an urban planning concept that came out of the Garden City Movement in England.
• Garden suburbs were envisioned as residential communities with gardens, open spaces and limited industry.
• The Lawrence Park plan reflects garden suburb principles with winding roads that follow the natural contours of the landscape with houses and gardens that fit harmoniously into their surroundings.
• Dinnick ensured a high architectural standard for the neighbourhood by engaging Chadwick & Beckett to design the first homes and to review submissions for all plans within the neighbourhood.
• Other prominent Toronto architects that designed homes in Lawrence Park include Eden Smith and Forsey Page.
• Dinnick also maintained a nursery on the property to provide trees and shrubs to buildings and homeowners.

What you may notice in the neighbourhood's story is that Wilfred Dinnick didn’t just develop land—he designed a lifestyle. By prioritizing harmony with nature, architectural integrity, and long-term livability, he created a lasting legacy of beauty, community, and well-being. His work reflects how thoughtful, values-driven planning (guided by purpose rather than profit alone) can transform everyday environments into spaces of flourishing.

3 actions you may want to take, inspired by the intentional manner in which Wilfred Dinnick approach the design of Lawrence Park:

1. Design your daily environment intentionally.​
   Whether it’s your workspace, home, or schedule, organize your life in a way that allows for calm, beauty, and order. Like Dinnick’s curving roads and garden lots, your personal environment can benefit your mindset and focus.
2. Invest in your surroundings with long-term vision.​
   Choose to contribute to the betterment of your community or home, for enduring value. This could mean planting trees, supporting local initiatives, or simply taking care of shared spaces.
3. Be a creator, not just a consumer.​
   Dinnick was careful in ensuring that the homes in the Lawrence Park development met his standards; today the neighbourhood features fine, well-maintained examples of residences in Arts and Crafts, English Cottage, Tudor Revivial, Georgian, and Colonial style designs, and the lots have generous setbacks with soft-landscaping and well-maintained gardens. Likewise, you can curate what you allow into your life (ideas, habits, people, or possessions) and contribute to your environment, as opposed to only being a recipient of others' vision.

Thank you for taking the time to read my weekly e-newsletter. I appreciate it.

See you at one of the upcoming #ExperienceTO historical tours.

Until next time,
Alex Rășcanu
​

P.S. If someone forwarded you this e-newsletter and you'd like to subscribe, you can do so here.