Contact 614 Thorncliffe Park
Postal Address: 614 Thorncliffe Park, c/o Corps Ministries Dept, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, Ontario, M4H 1P4
Email: 614ThorncliffePark@gmail.com
Phone: 416-425-2111 x2242
Website: www.614thorncliffepark.com
Comprised of over 30,000 inhabitants in 34 high and low-rise buildings, Thorncliffe Park is a cultural powerhouse. All the inhabitants of this neighborhood are compacted into just one street - Thorncliffe Park Drive. Originally the home of Toronto's old race track, Thorncliffe maintains it's circular feeling now that high rise buildings have replaced the grandstands on this horseshoe-shaped street. This centrality breeds community and attracts many new Canadians from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, the Philippines and other countries.
According to the 2006 census over half the population has arrived from another country in the past 5 years. South Asians made up 66% of the population. Urdu, Dari, Punjabi, and Pashto are the main languages. 80% of residents are visible minorities. Thorncliffe's main claim to fame however is its school: 1700 students from Kindergarten to grade 5 from 47 countries make Thorncliffe Park Public School the largest elementary school in all of North America! Of these 1700 students, 93% do not claim English as their first language. On top of that 0-4 year olds are the neighbourhoods largest population segment
For years there have been many people praying for something to get started in this neighbourhood. At present there are only two churches serving this massive community. In the winter of 2006, culminating a series of meetings and connections, the Mennonite Brethren along with Vision Ministries Canada formalized a partnership that would see a local church established in Thorncliffe. This partnership includes Leaside Bible Chapel and The Salvation Army, whose national headquarters sits one block from Thorncliffe Park Drive. In April of 2007 614 Thorncliffe Park was born.
Because of the cultural backdrop in this community, the ministry philosophy for this church consists of 3 key relational aspects:
Feast - small groups gathered for meals, visits and
The Lord's supper
Fast - Times of fasting and prayer each Friday
Festival - larger group gatherings for celebration
and worship
The first chapter of 614 Thorncliffe Park is just beginning. Stay tuned as the pages are written with God’s glorious hand!
Important Links:
Mennonite Brethren Ontario Conference - www.onmb.ca
Vision Ministries Canada - www.vision-ministries.org
Leaside Bible Chapel – www.leasidebiblechapel.ca
Thorncliffe Immigration data - www.toronto.ca/demographics/pdf2/cpa55.pdf
Neighbourhood office: www.thorncliffe.org
