Compiled by Peter Coulman
Originally posted by Alan Gryfe

To avoid confusion, it’s important to note that the “Islington” referred to for this service is the Village of Islington that existed around today’s Islington/Dundas and Islington/Bloor intersections.

April 11, 1929

The TTC-owned Gray Coach Lines acquires Maple Leaf Coach Lines. Maple Leaf’s ISLINGTON route, operating on Dundas Street from Runnymede to Bloor in the town of Islington, is combined with the TTC’s LAMBTON bus route (operating on Dundas from Keele to Lambton Avenue — today known as Prince Edward Drive). Service on both routes initially provided by “red” city buses, but Gray Coach’s gray coaches later take over.

May 5, 1931

Service makes use of Runnymede loop, operating inside of the existing streetcar tracks.

May 19, 1947

Free transfers offered between the second zone of the ISLINGTON bus and the KINGSWAY routes.

March 31, 1952

Additional service to ANGLESEY added to the ISLINGTON schedule (for accounting purposes). From Runnymede Loop via Dundas & Royal York Rd to loop via Anglesey, Kingsway & Ashley to Royal York Rd and return over the same route to Runnymede. No change to main ISLINGTON service

January 1, 1954

With the inauguration of the municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, service transferred from Gray Coach to the new Toronto Transit Commission.

July 1, 1954

Service absorbs the rush hour LAMBTON route. ANGLESEY is separated from this route and becomes a branch of KINGSWAY. ISLINGTON runs from Runnymede loop via Dundas to Bloor and Dundas in Islington, returning via the reverse route, seven days a week, eighteen hours a day. In addition, a rush hour branch begins operation from Runnymede Loop via Dundas to Prince Edward Drive, looping clockwise via Earlington Avenue, Government Road and Prince Edward. Current operation to Bloor and Dundas remains.

Fall 1955

New destination signs installed:

June 29,1955 to June 30, 1955

Due to watermain reconstruction on Dundas at Kipling, service looping via west on Dundas to Beemish to Bloor and east on Bloor to route.

May 31, 1956 to July 2, 1956

Service diverted via west on Dundas, north on diversion road, west on Lambeth and south on the Kingsway to route. The “short-turn” service will now short turn via south on Earlington, west on Government Rd and north on Prince Edward Drive to Dundas St.

July 3, 1956

Effective this date, short turn service will permanently operate via south on Earlington, west on Government Rd and north on Prince Edward Drive.

Also, assigned route number 44.

July 6, 1957

44A short turn service temporarily discontinued on Saturdays during the summer months (July and August).

September 3, 1957

Curtailment made permanent.

October 7, 1957

Buses now operating both ways via newly constructed Dundas Street overpass at Royal York Road.

September 18, 1961

Traffic interchange at the Six Points (Bloor/Dundas/Kipling intersection) opened to vehicular traffic at 10:00 a.m., but not sufficiently complete to allow use by buses.

October 4, 1961

Following the full opening of the Six Points interchange, buses on 44 ISLINGTON loop in the west end via west on Dundas Street, north on Beamish Drive, east on Bloor Street, south on Kipling Avenue, turning west and north onto the eastbound overpass, then northeast under the westbound overpass to Dundas.

August 31, 1963

Last day of service on 44 ISLINGTON. On the following day, service begins on the 30 DUNDAS bus. Also, service begins on a new 37 ISLINGTON bus operating on Islington Avenue itself.

44 Islington Image Archive

	TTC GMC TDH-5105 "Old Look" bus #1543 sits at Runnymede loop during a retirement charter on August 30, 1976. The ISLINGTON rollsign from the early 1950s is a reproduction produced specifically for this charter. J.D. Morgan photographer. This image is courtesy the Pete Coulman collection.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry CD-44A bus #1906 operates in ISLINGTON service on July 30, 1955 (a few months before route numbering would assign the line the number 44). This bus is at Bloor and Kipling, looking west. Photo by J.V. Salmon, taken from the Toronto Archives, donated by Pete Coulman.
	TTC GM TDH-4512 "Old Look" bus #1963 picks up passengers at Runnymede loop, in service on 44 ISLINGTON on a cold day in 1962. Anthony Holt took the photograph, which comes courtesy of John Knight's collection.
	Page 1 of the TTC Orders and Notice for 44 ISLINGTON, effective January 1, 1958
	Information page on the Orders and Notices for 44 ISLINGTON, effective January 1, 1958.