The Knox Presbyterian congregation, which had built a small frame structure in 1848, built a new brick church in 1872. The Historical Society says the church and its cemetery still stand at Midland and Sheppard Avenues. By the turn of the century, Agincourt had become the largest community in the township. That is a lot of history for one corner.
City DeskGuide
Agincourt Toronto Guide: History, Transit and Community Spots
How to see Agincourt by transit: an 1858 name story, an upgraded GO station, the 85 Sheppard East bus, a long-running library and a cultural centre.
Agincourt gets its name from a post office. In 1858 a storekeeper was granted a post office outlet for his general store, a friend offered to assist if it had a French name, and a town in northern France supplied the answer. Today the community is easy to reach by transit, and a day here can start with that story and keep going.
This guide follows the Scarborough Historical Society, Metrolinx, the TTC and Toronto Public Library. It is the Agincourt we would show a first-time visitor, and it sits inside our wider Scarborough neighbourhood page.
How did Agincourt get its name?
The Scarborough Historical Society dates it to June 1, 1858, when a storekeeper was granted a post office outlet for his general store. The name Agincourt, after a town in northern France, satisfied a French-Canadian friend without offending the storekeeper’s English and Scottish neighbours. We love that a bit of diplomacy is baked into the map. For the bigger picture, see our history of Scarborough.
Where is the heart of Agincourt?
On Sheppard Avenue East. Agincourt grew slowly at first, centred around what is now Brimley Road and Sheppard Avenue East. The first railway station arrived in 1871, bringing easier access and more people, and the community centre shifted west to Church Street, now Midland Avenue.
How did the railways shape Agincourt?
Quickly. By 1884 the community had two railways, one running north and south midway between Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue and the other running diagonally just east of Midland Avenue. The early twentieth century brought a telephone exchange in 1903 and a Metropolitan Bank branch in 1906. About 1912, the community was incorporated as the police village of Agincourt, and a Board of Trustees raised funds for local improvements such as Hydro, curbs and sidewalks.
Keep that railway story in mind when you step off the train. In Agincourt, transit and community have been tied together since the first railway station of 1871.
How do you get to Agincourt by transit?
Two easy ways, both centred on Sheppard Avenue East.
Metrolinx lists Agincourt GO Station in its Stouffville Line GO Expansion project, and its project page says major improvements are complete. The page lists a LEED Gold certified station building, a second platform, a pick-up and drop-off area and more bicycle storage. Two pedestrian tunnels and four elevators at the north and south ends improve access. Metrolinx calls it a longstanding hub for the historic Scarborough community that shares its name, and a Metrolinx news item dated May 30, 2024 announced the LEED Gold certification.
Check the GO schedule before you travel, since service patterns change.
The 85 Sheppard East bus is the Agincourt workhorse. Its eastbound stop list begins at Don Mills Station, and runs through stops including Kennedy Road, Agincourt GO Station, Midland Avenue, Glen Watford Drive, Brimley Road and McCowan Road. Ride it and you get a moving tour of the corridor.
What community spots are worth a stop?
Two community places worth a stop.
The branch is at 155 Bonis Avenue. Its story starts in 1918, when the Agincourt Association Library began with a small book collection in a vacant room of the Agincourt Continuation School. In 1955 the new Public Library Board of the Township of Scarborough took it over, making it one of that board’s first three branches. The branch moved into Agincourt Mall in March 1967. The Agincourt District Library then opened in its present location on 5 November 1991. The library’s history also lists an Urban Design Award from the Scarborough Planning Board.
A 2017 renovation added new meeting room spaces and a Digital Innovation Hub. The branch lists an art exhibit space, a Youth Hub, a Digital Innovation Hub, a meeting room and free Wi-Fi. Check the branch page for current programs and events.
The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto is at 5183 Sheppard Avenue East. Its Scarborough SummerFest 2026 ran over three days from July 10 to 12, with a variety show, the Toronto Hakka Festival and an International Food and Cultural Festival. The food and cultural day featured over 20 food and artisan booths.
Watch the centre’s site for the next festival dates.
How can you build your own Agincourt day?
Pick the angle that suits your group.
- History first. Start at Midland and Sheppard, where the Historical Society says Knox Presbyterian Church still stands, then follow the library’s story back to its 1918 start in a school room.
- Transit first. Ride the 85 Sheppard East bus and hop off at any of its stops between Kennedy Road and McCowan Road. The Agincourt GO stop makes a handy anchor.
- Culture first. Take Sheppard Avenue East to the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto at 5183 Sheppard Avenue East and see what is on.
Where should you eat near Agincourt?
Scarborough’s food scene is big enough for its own guides. Start with our Scarborough restaurants guide, and see our Golden Mile guide for another Scarborough corridor.
What is the easiest Agincourt day by transit?
Our pick: take Agincourt GO or the 85 Sheppard East bus to the Midland and Sheppard corner for Knox Presbyterian Church. Walk or ride on to the library, and add the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto on Sheppard Avenue East if you have time. Bring a notebook for the name story, because it makes a great trivia answer.
Send this to the friend you would bring for a transit-and-history afternoon.
Sources (5)
- Agincourt, Scarborough Historical Society
- Agincourt GO Station, Metrolinx
- 85 Sheppard East, Toronto Transit Commission
- Agincourt branch, Toronto Public Library
- Scarborough SummerFest 2026, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto
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“Saving this for a transit Saturday: Agincourt by GO train and the 85 Sheppard East bus.”
