Compiled by Jeffrey Kay
Additional information by Pete Coulman; maps by John Calnan

See Also

• 84 SHEPPARD WEST

March 18, 1963

Service begins on a new route on Sheppard Avenue operating between Wilson Heights and Ambrose Road (just west of Leslie). After looping via north on Ambrose, west on Maureen and south on Blue Ridge, buses operate west on Sheppard to Wilson Heights. Buses at Wilson Heights loop in the middle of the road, just as 7 BATHURST buses had done, around a small traffic island.

The Sheppard bus was initially planned to operate to an off-street loop east of Shaugnessy, but the loop wasn’t ready for operation, so the temporary on-street looping was used. The “LESLIE” destination sign was used, even after the extension to Shaugnessy because of Leslie’s higher profile, and the fact that Don Mills Road didn’t extend beyond York Mills until after 1966 when it was extended north to “the Peanut”.

This route was operating from Eglinton Garage by the fall of 1967. We are very certain, though we haven’t confirmed, that SHEPPARD buses operated out of Eglinton Garage from the first day this route began operation in 1963.

Buses operate during the daytime on weekdays.

June 10, 1963

Service is extended east of Leslie to a new off-street loop just east of Shaughnessy on the north side of Sheppard, as originally planned. Buses operate counterclockwise through the loop. No change to destination signs.

September 8, 1964

Service is extended west of Wilson Heights via Sheppard and through the Canadian Forces Base at Downsview to Weston Road, looping via north on Weston, east on Bradstock and south on Rivalda, replacing a portion of the 41 KEELE route. Service is also extended east of Shaughnessy via Sheppard to Agincourt, looping via north on Midland, east on Rural and south on Glen Watford, replacing a portion of the 23 DAWES route east of Victoria Park. Saturday daytime service is introduced. At 23.3 miles, this route is now the longest operated by the TTC.

As Downsview was a military base and this was the height of the Cold War, the extension through the air base could only occur after extensive negotiation between the TTC and military officials. Bus stops within the air base were strictly patrolled. Armed patrol officers checked passes at all stops and nobody was allowed on or off unless they had military clearance. This included TTC operators. If buses broke down or had any other problem within the air base, they were instructed to stay where they were, contact base personnel and keep all doors shut and wait for instructions. It would be several years before these restrictions were relaxed.

September 7, 1965

Evening and late evening service is added, Monday through Saturday.

May 11, 1968

The route is split in two with the introduction of the new 85 SHEPPARD EAST bus operating between Yonge and Agincourt. Route 84 buses now operate between Weston Road and Don Mills only (overlapping 85 SHEPPARD EAST between Yonge and Don Mills), looping in the east end via south on Parkway Forest, west and south on Forest Manor, west on George Henry and north on Don Mills.

February 7, 1971

Sunday service is introduced along the length of Sheppard Avenue from Weston Road to Agincourt, duplicating the service that 85 SHEPPARD EAST performs Mondays through Saturdays.

July 25, 1971

Weekday evening, Saturday, Sunday and holiday service now bypasses Downsview Airport using a new Sheppard Avenue roadway between Dufferin and Keele, running around the north side of the air base. No change in destination signs.

December 18, 1971 - March 31, 1972

Service on the Sheppard Avenue base bypass is temporarily discontinued, with all buses operating through the Downsview air base, at the request of the base’s commanding officer “to accommodate personnel for Winter Works projects on the base”.

August 6, 1972

Alternate daytime Monday through Friday trips now bypass the Downsview Air Base using the new road running around the north side of the property. Again, destination signs are not changed, though window cards are likely used to indicate the routing.

September 3, 1972

Sunday service is extended east on Sheppard to an off-street loop at Neilson Avenue.

September 4, 1973

Service begins on a new Monday through Friday daytime branch extending trips east of Don Mills via east on Sheppard, north nn Brian, east on Old Sheppard, east on Alsike (now Huntingwood) and east on Huntingwood, looping via south on McCowan and west and north on Commander Boulevard.

November 26, 1973

Buses on Huntingwood now operate via Sheppard and Victoria Park in both directions instead of via Brian and Old Sheppard. No changes to destination signs.

March 29, 1974

Last day of service under this route name. Effective the following day, service rerouted and renamed 84 SHEPPARD WEST.

84 Sheppard Image Archive

	An issue of TTC's "Headlights", describing changes to bus services coincident with the extension of the YONGE SUBWAY to Finch on March 30, 1974.
	An announcement dated December 18, 1971 showing the temporary route change through Downsview Air Base.
	The September 1964 issue of the TTC's Headlights describes the extensions of 7 BATHURST, 34 EGLINTON EAST, 41 KEELE, 54 LAWRENCE EAST, 83 TRETHEWEY and 84 SHEPPARD plus changes to 23 DAWES
	A news article from 1964 announces the 84 SHEPPARD extension from Wilson Heights to Weston, through the Downsview Air Base. It also details the security restrictions passengers will have to follow if they take this bus through the air base.
	TTC GM New Look Bus #3382 is seen at the western gates of Downsview Canadian Forces Base near Keele Street on September 8, 1964. This was the first day of operation to Agincourt and through the army base. This photo is courtesy the TTC's publication, Coupler.
	TTC GM New Look Bus #3382 poses inside the Downsview Canadian Forces Base on September 8, 1964, the first day of service through the base. Photo is courtesy the TTC's official publication, Coupler.