Toronto Neighbourhoods and Attractions
Several hundred years ago, the Huron Indians described "Toronto" as the meeting place, and their take on it is still accurate. Toronto has developed into one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and this is reflected in a wonderful mosaic of distinctive neighbourhoods. Some can be described as "ethnic", while others reflect a particular lifestyle. Some cultural groups collect in particular areas, while other groups are scattered throughout the city. In many cases, an area's personality will change rapidly over the years, transformed by its new residents. This is a testament to Toronto's amazing ability to adapt and flourish, while remaining essentially "Canadian" - civil, tolerant, safe and friendly.
Cabbagetown
With a strong sense of community, a confection of charming Victorian architecture, and a friendly, laid-back atmosphere, Cabbagetown is best described as a small town n the heart of a cosmopolitan city. What had been labelled “the largest Anglo-Saxon slum in North America” is well worth a visit!
Location: between Sherbourne St. and the Don Valley, from Gerrard St. to Bloor St. East)
Originally a working class neighbourhood located on the then-outskirts of town, Cabbagetown has been transformed in true “rags-to-riches” style into one of the most desirable and engaging residential enclaves of downtown Toronto.
The name “Cabbagetown” originated in the mid-19th Century, when the Irish immigrants who lived in the area planted unusually large cabbage patches on their front lawns. The area has one of the largest concentrations of Victorian homes on the continent. Residents have spent considerable time (and money) restoring these to their authentic origins -–with delicate iron fencing, carefully manicured lawns and fragrant gardens, and whimsical architectural detailing.
The main street in Cabbagetown, Parliament St., is not so much charming as it is eclectic – a hodgepodge of restaurants, cafes, and neighbourhood shops. The street’s name emerged because the earliest meetings of Ontario’s provincial parliament were held in the area between 1794 and 1797.
On a stroll – and stroll you must! - you will glimpse the neighbourhood flag flying – a green cabbage on a white background. (It is usually bestowed on a home or shop owner for architectural or design excellence). The area has a small-town feel, where greeting passers-by is common.
Places & Events of Interest
- Allan Gardens – Outdoor gardens, greenhouses and a glassed-in botanical garden provide a tranquil setting year round. It is especially lovely over the Christmas holidays, when the tropical gardens feature a holiday flower show. Free admission. (Corner of Carlton & Jarvis Sts.)
- Riverdale Farm – the site of Toronto’s first zoo is now an actual working farm in the heart of the city. It is actually a “demonstration farm” – complete with animals – used to expose city children to agricultural concepts and experiences. (Corner of Winchester and Sumach Sts.)
- The Necropolis – Toronto’s oldest cemetery has a suitably creepy name. In fact, it IS creepy – moss-covered tombstones and a gothic chapel add to the haunting effect. (Corner Amelia and Sumach Sts.) Famous residents include Toronto’s first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie, and George Brown, a father of Canada’s Confederation and founder of the Globe & Mail newspaper.
- Cabbagetown Festival – Staged at the beginning of September, this community-bases week-long celebration features non-stop concerts, a film festival, an absolutely smashing dog show, and fabulous tours of the marvelous homes of the neighbourhood. This is the one time you can glimpse some of the best and most imaginative home renovations in North America.
Chinatown
With an estimated 1998 population of 400,000, the Chinese are one of Toronto’s largest and most visible ethnic communities. In fact, the Toronto region now has six distinct Chinatowns, including several suburban areas that have emerged over the last 15 years or so. Many of the city’s Chinese residents are relatively new immigrants from Hong Kong.
The seeds of Toronto’s Chinese community were planted at the turn of the century, in an area not far from the current City Hall. Sam Ching was the first Chinese person to be listed in the city directory; he owned a hand laundry.
As Chinatown grew up in this area, and was firmly established by 1935, when by one account there were 300 Chinese hand laundries located in a 4-block radius.
Toronto’s Chinese population expanded between 1947 and 1960, with students, skilled workers, and businesspeople immigrating into Canada. The early settlers were mostly from China’s northern provinces; the later group came from Hong Kong, as well as Chinese communities, in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the West Indies.
When Toronto’s “New” City Hall was built, the Chinese area was displaced to the district around Dundas St. W. and Spadina Ave. It has grown into a frenzied, boisterous neighbourhood that can easily be mistaken for Hong Kong.
The intersection of Dundas and Spadina is the most visible symbol of a dynamic community. In fact, on weekends - especially, the sidewalks are crammed with open-air food stalls, vendors, and thousands of people (not all Chinese!), eager to shop, eat, and socialize.
The restaurants are a big attraction to visitors, as the familiar “North American” Chinese menu is all but non-existent here. Instead, chefs in the area produce a variety of authentic cuisines, including Szechwan, Hunan, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Their ingredients are purchased fresh from the stalls lining the streets. And it is not unusual to pass dozens of shop windows lined with barbecued pork, duck, steamed buns, and other more exotic fare.
Street signs in the area are written in both English and Chinese, and there are several shopping malls that cater to a large Chinese clientele – the Chinatown Centre and the Dragon City complex, both near Dundas and Spadina streets.
Toronto's Other Chinatowns
There are concentrations of Chinese residents and businesses elsewhere in the city – at Broadview Ave. and Gerrard St in Toronto; in Scarborough; Richmond Hill; Markham; and Mississauga.
Places & Events of Interest
- Ten Ren’s Tea Shop – Tea lovers will be fascinated with this store, which offers an unsurpassed selection of teas (some unusual to Western tastes), and hundreds of beautifully handcrafted teapots. In addition to green teas, fermented black tea, and ginseng, one of the teas available is called “monkey pick” because it is grown on cliffs that are so inaccessible only trained monkeys can harvest it. (454 Dundas St. W. and elsewhere)
- Chinese Dragon Boat Festival – This exciting event takes place in Toronto Harbour every June, off the Toronto Islands. Each of the distinctive dragon boats is powered by more than a dozen rowers. The event is one of the biggest of the summer, attracting thousands of spectators.
- Chinese New Year – With the large Chinese population in Toronto, this event grows every year. One of the most accessible ways to celebrate is to attend the Dragon Dance Parade, which winds through the Dundas St. Chinatown (end of Jan. or early Feb.). Colourful dragons, over 20 ft. long and supported by 12 or more people, dance through the streets to bless the shops and restaurants. Drummers, whose constant beat drives away evil spirits, accompany the dragons.
Entertainment District
Toronto is the undisputed entertainment capital of Canada. The Entertainment District is a lively concentration of theatres, restaurants, nightspots, retail shops, and visitor attractions – located in the vibrant city core.
Location: Roughly bounded by Queen Street West, Yonge Street, Spadina Ave and Queens Quay West. The boundaries change as quickly as the scene!
Since the mid-19th Century, the area now known as the “Entertainment District” has been animated with music halls, theatres, and entertainment palaces. However, by the 1950s, many of these venues had closed, deteriorated, or been transformed into warehouses or office space. While the city core was developing, this area – just west – remained as a bit of a backwater.
However, with the 1977 opening of the Eaton Centre shopping galleria, and the renovation of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, life was breathed back into the area. The final catalyst for rejuvenation was the 1989 opening of the SkyDome stadium, which brought crowds of up to 55,000 people into the area for baseball games and other events. Restaurants and entertainment spots began springing up overnight – and the pace hasn’t stopped!
Each of the streets in the Entertainment District has its own flavour, and its own specialty. For example, Queen St. West is a funky retail street; King St. West is lined with theatres, a concert hall, and dozens of restaurants. Front St. West features the SkyDome, the CN Tower, and large, lively eateries, while Richmond and Adelaide Sts. are home to massive, 3-storey nightclubs and smaller, high-end restaurants. And that’s just the start.
Places & Events of Interest
- Theatres – the area is home to lavish Broadway musicals, traveling road shows, homegrown productions, and classical concerts. Theatres include the Pantages, the Royal Alexandra, the Princess of Wales, the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, and Massey Hall.
- SkyDome – the first stadium in the world with a fully-retractable roof, the SkyDome is home to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Toronto Argonauts football club, and an exciting roster of big-name concerts, sporting events, and trade shows.
- CN Tower – the world’s tallest building. The view is nothing short of fabulous. Need we say more?
- CBC Broadcasting Centre – the home of Canada’s national TV and radio networks. Regular tours are offered in this state-of-the-art broadcasting facility, as are concerts at the Glenn Gould Studio.
Dining – one of the most challenging aspects of dining in the Entertainment District is where to go. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of choices. And the restaurant scene evolves so rapidly that hot new opportunities arise overnight. And then there’s the nightlife. One tip – if there’s a line-up, it must be trendy.
Greektown
Greeks first arrived in Toronto in 1864, and successive waves of immigration have built the community into its current population of 130,000. Today’s Greek neighbourhood, known locally as “Greektown”, has been described as “taking a trip to Athens while staying in the heart of Toronto.” Although there is no Parthenon, there are plenty of Greek restaurants, interesting shops, and lively street life.
Location: Danforth Ave between Chester and Greenwood
In 1907, there were just 20 Greek names in Toronto’s city directory. Over the years, immigrants came from Greece mainly to work in agriculture or in Northern Ontario’s mines, forests, and railways. The population gradually grew in Toronto, particularly after the Second World War. In the 1950s, the Greek community moved into the Danforth area, which was originally a neighbourhood for Anglo-Saxons, and then an Italian enclave.
Walking down Danforth Avenue today, you can sense the rich cultural heritage. Street signs are in English and Greek, blue and white Greek flags line the avenue, and the classical architecture of the National Bank of Greece and other buildings contribute to the decidedly atmosphere.
The street is filled with animated fruit and vegetable stands, butcher shops, Greek bakeries and pastry shops, and dozens of European-style cafes and restaurants. The scent of traditional Greek food is everywhere, and in the warmer months, when the glass walls of the restaurants are opened up, the shouts of “Opal!” reverberate.
Greektown has built a reputation as an excellent dining destination. Many of its restaurants feature open kitchens, where you are welcome to watch the preparation of authentic Greek cuisine. In recent years, a number of non-Greek restaurants have open, capitalizing on the crowds of hungry visitors which descend on the area. Weekends are particularly vibrant, when the action spills onto the sidewalks on open-air terraces and onto the street itself.
Interesting Facts & Trivia
- Toronto’s Greek population is the second largest outside of Greece; the largest resides in the borough of Queens in New York.
- For many years, Andreaous Papendreaou taught economics at York University in Toronto. He went on to become the Prime Minister of Greece.
- The annual Taste of the Danforth festival is an outstanding opportunity to sample the various delights offered by Greektown restaurants. Thousands of people converge on the area for a lively weeklong celebration, as the many restaurants set up street kiosks to offer samples. Music and other activities are also scheduled. The festival takes place in early August.
Shopping is another fun activity in Greektown, particularly for home décor or design items.
Italian Communities
Toronto is an Italian city. Italians are the second largest cultural group in Toronto next to the British. More than 400,000 live in the area, scattered throughout the region. However, there are two areas in particular that can be deemed Italian “neighbourhoods”: Little Italy, right downtown; and the Corso Italia, further north.
Location: Little Italy – College St., between Bathurst and Ossington Sts. Corso Italia: St. Clair Ave. West, between Bathurst and Lansdowne.
Italians have played an important role in Canadian history ever since Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) explored and claimed Newfoundland for England in 1497. But the first real wave of immigration to Canada was between 1885 and 1924, when Italian men left their villages in southern Italy to work as seasonal labourers.
After World War II, another wave of Italians arrived, this time settling around College St. – our first “Little Italy.” They were displacing Jewish residents of the area, who were migrating north. As the community matured, however, they too moved north, to the “Corso Italia” area – and to the suburbs as well. (Woodbridge, Richmond Hill and Mississauga are home to thousands of Italian families).
So while the original Little Italy is in fact more Portuguese today, the Italian atmosphere remains. Italian cafes and restaurants abound, as do "social clubs" - another interesting aspect of the community. These coffee shops and billiard halls are filled with conversation, cigarette smoke, and lots of animated discussion about soccer – because their clientele is mostly older Italian men.
When the sun sets, street signs illuminate in the shape of Italy’s “boot.” Little Italy is one of the hottest nightspots in Toronto. Many of the restaurants and bars open out onto the sidewalk, and some are places where the crowd goes to see and be seen.
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When Italy won the World Cup soccer championships in 1992, more than 200,000 people poured onto the street to celebrate. Many of the shops here still display photos of the impromptu party, which in fact lasted for days.
Interesting Facts & Trivia
- Café Diplomatico in Little Italy has become a Toronto’s institution for coffee lovers. Affectionately known as “The Dip” by locals, the café is often used as a set by filmmakers.
- One block south of Café Diplomatico is an intersection of possible interest to fans of U.S. politics - the intersection of “Clinton” and “Gore” streets.
- With such a large Italian population, needles to say Toronto has excellent Italian restaurants, reflecting the various regional cuisines and current culinary trends. It’s difficult to go wrong when choosing an Italian eatery in the city, as chefs are kept authentic by the demanding expectations of local residents!
Markets
To truly experience a local’s “Toronto”, a visit to two major markets is essential: Kensington Market and St. Lawrence Market. Not only do they provide a real sense of what it’s like to live in Canada’s largest city, but they each reflect a different aspect of today’s Toronto – one a multicultural hodgepodge, the other a more traditional view of our agricultural past.
Kensington Market Possibly the best introduction to the myriad cultural groups which make Toronto their home is a stroll through the bustling lanes in the Kensington Market. It’s a bit of a scene on a busy day, with fishmongers, street musicians, impromptu speechmakers and shoppers all crowding the streets.
In the 1920’s, about 80% of Toronto’s Jewish population lived in Kensington Market. Many of the residents had bolted down pushcarts in front of their homes, from which they sold a variety of goods. The economy was booming, and their business began to spill out onto the lawns, onto their porches, and even into the main floor of many of the houses. The “Jewish Market” was born.
As the community became more established, the original Jewish population began moving to wealthier suburban areas, and were replaced by new immigrants – Portuguese, West Indians, Koreans, Chinese. That’s why today, the market is comprised of an eclectic mix of cultures, one which is ever evolving.
The Kensington area is a maze of narrow streets and alleys, some of which are lined with Victorian houses. Many of these have been painted in bright colours. On busy days, the market is every bit as chaotic as street markets around the world: with a cacophony of sounds, fruit and vegetables stands piled high with produce, and a diverse, sometimes counter-cultural customer base. People are attracted not only to the good prices but also to the market’s unusual variety of shops, including some of Toronto’s best vintage clothing stores.
St. Lawrence Market The St. Lawrence Market stands where the very beginnings of Toronto were established in 1793, in what is today referred to as the “Old Town of York” (corner Front and Jarvis Sts.) The original city market stood one block north (King and Jarvis Sts.), in a structure that also held the city council chambers. However, a fire in 1849 destroyed most of the neighbourhood.
The current market comprises two buildings, one either side of Front St. The south market building dates from 1905, an imposing redbrick structure incorporating what remains of the original City Hall. One merely has to stand in front of the main market entrance to see how one building has wrapped itself around the other. In the 1970’s, the former council chambers on the second floor were transformed into a civic art gallery, which presents an on-going photographic exhibit on the development of Toronto.
St. Lawrence Market’s north building is open on Saturdays only, and features fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products, often sold by the same farmers who produce them. The south building houses dozens of permanent vendors over two floors, and operates Tuesdays through Saturdays. The St. Lawrence experience is perhaps a more genteel one than in Kensington Market (it’s been called Toronto’s “yuppie” market), but the quality, selection, and prices are nonetheless very good.
The best day to visit is Saturday. Farmers arrive prior to the 5:00 a.m. opening time to set up their kiosks, and by 7:00 the place is humming. There are outdoor kiosks as well, even in winter, and the market takes on a special atmosphere prior to major holidays, when vendors are selling Christmas trees, wreaths, or whatever is seasonally appropriate.
The true Torontonian will enjoy breakfast at the market – the famous “peameal bacon on a bun”. Peameal bacon is a Canadian favourite – salt- and sugar-cured extra-lean ham, rolled in cornmeal. It’s a signature snack of Toronto, and well worth trying out.
Interesting Facts
- When Toronto’s first market opened in 1793, the shops in the neighbourhood were obliged to close from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on “Market Day”, to allow their workers time to shop. As the market’s closing bells sounded, the shopkeepers then opened their doors, marking what may have been the first “late” shopping hours in Canada.
- The agricultural mural on the south end of the north St. Lawrence Market building makes for a great photo opportunity.
- Some fascinating shops to visit: the House of Spice in Kensington Market (who knew there were so many spices?); Rube’s Rice Stand in St. Lawrence Market (over 40 kinds of rice!); and Courage My Love (funky vintage clothing in Kensington Market).
- Every December 21, Kensington celebrates the solstice in a colourful pageant called the Kensington Karnival. The neighbourhood stages a traditional candlelit mummer’s parade, with gigantic 8-10 ft. high costumes and wonderfully atmospheric music. It takes place in late afternoon, after the sun goes down, as the market is crowded with holiday shoppers.
The Beaches
Until the 1930s, the “Beaches” neighbourhood was a summer retreat filled with cottages, lovely sand beaches, and a string of amusement parks. Today, this laid-back waterfront community has a “Californian” feel, with funky shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as more dogs per capita than any other area of Toronto.
Location: Queen St. East between Woodbine Ave. and Neville Park Rd.
The Beach neighbourhood is a village just 15 minutes from downtown Toronto. The beach - which borders Lake Ontario - is lined with over 3 km. of wooden boardwalk, ideal for strolling and people watching. Adjacent is a biking and roller-blading trail. The beach itself is wide, with dozens of volleyball courts, an area devoted to kite-flying, and rental kiosks for sailboards and small boats.
The neighbourhood extends several blocks from the water, a charming and fairly expensive residential area. The main thoroughfare is Queen St. East, reflects the diversity and easy-going attitudes of the local population. The street is lined with quaint antique shops, quirky stores, and a cool collection of bars and restaurants.
Points of Intrest
Kew Gardens - a large public garden between Queen St. East and the Boardwalk. It is home to the neighobourhood’s many festivals, craft shows, concerts and exhibitions. On particular charm is the annual Easter Parade (Toronto’s only such parade), which starts in the gardens.
R.C. Harris Filtration Plant - located at the eastern end of the neighbourhood, this industrial structure is one of Toronto’s best examples of Art Deco architecture. Public tours are offered periodically, most often on Saturdays.
Intresting Facts
- The Beaches International Jazz Festival is held every July in Kew Gardens and along Queen St. East. it’s billed as the largest free jazz festival in Canada, with upwards of 400 musicians performing over a weekend.
- Ray Nurse, who won three gold medals for Canada at the 1924 Paris Olympics, trained with the Balmy Beach Canoe Club. Part of the club’s original boathouse remains, most of it now as a snack bar.
- The last of several amusement parks in the Beach was the Scarborough Beach Amusement park. It was operated by the privately owned Toronto Street Railway Company as a way of attracting passengers to its streetcar service on Queen St. East. The streetcar service still remains (now part of the city’s public transit system), and it takes about 20 minutes from get from downtown to the Beaches.
The Waterfront
All three levels of government- federal, provincial and municipal have launched the first phase of a massive waterfront redevelopment.
Four major waterfront projects would likely be approved in April 2001, with construction to start shortly after.
The first four projects, totaling $300 million, which have been earmarked for a quick start are:
- $170 million to extend Front St. W from Bathurst St. west to Dufferin St. and the Gardiner Expressway.
- $58 million to build a second platform at Union Station to accommodate greater numbers of TTC and GO Transit riders and the tens of thousands expected if the city wins the 2008 Olympic Games.
- $61 million to begin soil remediation and preparation of the port lands for potential Olympic sites, including the stadium and the athletes village, and for other uses including commercial, industrial and recreational.
- $2 million for an environmental assessment of plans for clean up and rehabilitation of the mouth of the Don River.
These projects are covered by the $1.5 billion committed by all levels of government in October 2000. Financier Robert Fung headed the task force that prepared the $12 billion vision for revitalization of the City’s 46-kilometre waterfront, over the next 30 years.
Political leaders have also announced the formation of an “interim” corporation to start work on the four projects as soon as possible. The interim corporation will be made up of civil servants from all three levels of government and will be replaced by a permanent corporation as early as June 2001, but after the province passes legislation it will allow the City of Toronto to participate as an equal partner.
The permanent corporation will be comprised of private citizens nominated by all three levels of government, with a chair to be selected among them.
The City will also create a special committee of councillors and citizens to ensure the city’s interests are looked after.
Toronto Islands
In recent years, Toronto has focused considerable effort in revitalizing its waterfront into a four-season recreation destination. Both on the mainland and on the idyllic Toronto Islands, the waterfront holds much promise for visitors to the city.
Like many great cities, Toronto’s beginnings are traced to its proximity to the water. Long before European settlers arrived, Toronto’s naturally-protected harbour was used by Native Canadians as a stop along the traditional route. In the 1740s, it was the site of the first French trading post in this part of North America, Fort Rouille. The fort was key in establishing a link between the lands beyond Toronto, rich with fur-bearing animals, and lucrative European markets. In 1749, the first large cargo-carrying vessel arrived in the harbour, and in 1793, the Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe, established a British military garrison nearby, largely due to the excellent harbour. The fort - and town - were both called York, but reverted to their traditional Huron Indian name, “Toronto”, 40 years later.
Toronto’s waterfront grew in activity and importance, with a lively mix of industrial and recreational uses. In the early 20th century, lake cruising was popular, and many steamers used Toronto as a base for Great Lakes tours.
With the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 freighters began stopping in Toronto. Harbour traffic grew steadily until the late 1960s, when road transport began to replace water as the preferred means of moving goods. As in many cities at that time, Toronto’s waterfront fell into a period of decline. In the 1970s, though, local residents and government saw the potential of the area, and mixed-use revitalization of the area was spurred.
The focal point of today’s waterfront is Harbourfront Centre, a multi-purpose cultural facility which also includes commercial, residential, and retail developments, in addition to ample parkland and some of the city’s best performing arts facilities. A significant local population lives in high-rise towers along Queen’s Quay, as well as a smaller residential community on the Toronto Islands. There are a number of marinas for pleasure boaters, and the Island is home to the fabled Royal Canadian Yacht Club, which retains a gracious flavour of yesterday – appropriate dress is required to board its launch from the mainland.
Points of Interest - on the mainland
- Toronto Harbour - At the southern terminus of York Street, the waterfront is a thriving area of recreation, culture, and industry. It is also a residential area, with a number of high-rises lining the shore. The waterfront features shopping, restaurants, entertainment facilities, and a hiking/cycling trail that stretches 22 km. It’s also the gateway to the Toronto Islands, with ferry docks behind the Westin Harbourcastle Hotel providing public transportation year-round.
- Ontario Place - Although located west of Toronto Harbour, Ontario Place is one of the city’s main waterfront “anchors”, an entertainment park featuring rides, attractions, and the Cinesphere, an IMAX theatre. Ontario Place arises from the water on manmade islands and a uniquely-designed series of vaguely-futuristic “pods”. It is home to the 16,000-seat Molson Amphitheatre, and a warship from the Canadian Navy.
- Harbourfront Centre - A non-profit, cultural organization which manages and programs events and activities for a large section of Toronto’s waterfront. The area is open every day of the year. Whether its tall ships in the summer or skating in the winter months, there is always something to do. The heart of the waterfront is Queens Quay Terminal, once a food warehouse, now a stunningly-renovated retail and office complex. Other interesting features in the area include the Harbourfront Antique Market; the Pier, a waterfront history museum; and Molson Place, a waterside concert venue.
- Martin Goodman Trail - A walking, biking, and rollerblading trail that runs 22 km. along the waterfront.
Points of Interest - Toronto Islands
The network of islands, collectively referred to as “Toronto Island”, were originally a peninsula which offered the area a naturally-protected harbour. However, the peninsula was broken up into six islands during a raging storm in 1858, and were cut off from the mainland by a channel which was subsequently dredged and deepened artificially.
While Native Canadians had long resided in the area, the first Europeans to settle on the Islands did so in the 1830s. They used it as a fishing base. By the 1920s, the islands had become a summer retreat for the city’s wealthier citizens, with dozens of permanent cottages and a large tenting ground. An amusement park and baseball stadium attracted thousands of visitors from the mainland on weekends. An outing to the “Island” became a relaxing, affordable getaway of choice for Toronto residents.
The Islands were transferred to the newly-created regional Toronto government in the mid-1950s, and the plan was to turn the entire area into one large park by removing all the cottages and other structures. However, residents on Wards Island and Algonquin Island refused to leave, and remain to this day on 99-year leases. While the residential use of the Islands is relatively minor, it is still somewhat controversial, and the Island residents have formed a closely-knit community in order to make their interests heard by the municipal government.
Some 1.2 million people visit the Islands each year, via a 10-minute ferry ride which departs from the foot of Bay Street. Ferries run year-round and are part of the city’s public transit system. The Islands provide the most spectacular view of Toronto’s impressive skyline, and are user friendly; signs instruct visitors to “Please walk on the grass”! There are no cars allowed, which make the area a favourite for cyclists, walkers and rollerblade enthusiasts. The many lagoons and waterways are populated by ducks and swans, and some areas are off-limits to people, designated instead as “wilderness zones” for migratory birds.
The three major islands - there are eight islands with names and several without - are connected by a tram system. And each has its own atmosphere. The most popular is Centre Island, which features huge picnic areas, greenspace, a maze, a beach, a chapel, and award-winning gardens. It also features an amusement park geared towards younger children. “Centreville” has some 30 rides, a petting zoo featuring farm animals and pony rides, and picturesque “swan” boats circling a small lagoon.
Hanlan’s Point provides a quieter escape, with an excellent clothing optional beach and is home to Toronto’s famous “haunted” lighthouse.
Wards Island, the easternmost, is home to quaint cottages, wildflower gardens, and a boardwalk along its southern, lakeside edge.
Interesting Facts & Trivia
- The Port of Toronto handles approximately 1.5 million tonnes of cargo a year.
- The Royal Norwegian Air Force trained at the Toronto City Centre Airport during World War II.
- Before breaking into the major leagues, Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a professional baseball player during a game played at Hanlan’s Point Stadium on Sept. 15, 1914. Although a downtown Toronto bar displays what they claim to be the actual baseball he hit that day, other sources suggest that the ball remains somewhere at the bottom of Lake Ontario.
- The oldest structure still in its original location on the Toronto Islands is the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse. Built in 1808, the lighthouse guided ships into Toronto Harbour for almost 150 years, until it was replaced by an automated lighthouse in 1958.
For those who miss the last ferry back from the Islands to the mainland (around 11:30 p.m.), a water taxi service is always on call.
Yorkville
Yorkville is an upscale shopping, dining and residential neighbourhood just north of Toronto’s downtown core. It retains the charming architectural attributes of the Victorian era, and is home to one of Toronto’s most talked-about parks.
Location: Bordered by Avenue Road, Yonge Street, Bloor street and Davenport Road.
The village of Yorkville was formed in 1853 as a middle-class suburb outside of Toronto proper, with Victorian mews housing, picturesque gardens, and quiet tree-lined streets. It has its own Town Hall and Coat of Arms until 1883, when it was annexed by quickly expanding Toronto.
The area remained residential until the early 1950s, when many small specialty shops were being dwarfed by large development projects downtown, and decided to relocate.
During the 1960s, Yorkville became the locus of Toronto’s hippie culture. Flower children from around the world flocked to the area to visit the dozens of coffeehouses. Canadians like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot began their musical careers in the neighbourhood.
Now a trendy shopping and dining area, many of the charms that have enabled Yorkville to thrive since the 1850s remain. The streets are lined with charming Victorian restorations, some converted into outdoor cafes, antique shops, art galleries, and designer boutiques.
A warren of laneways links the area and cobblestone courtyards come complete with rustic lampposts and wrought-iron park benches.
Bloor Street West, at the southern edge of Yorkville, is Toronto’s premiere shopping street. Dubbed the “Mink Mile,” it is home to high-end designers like Chanel, Tiffany, Giorgio, and Hermes.
Homegrown additions include Roots (casual Canadiana), Harry Rosen (upscale menswear), Holt Renfrew (clothing), William Ashley’s (dinnerware and china), and Birks (jewellery). A host of smaller retailers offer truly unique, quality Canadian products.
Yorkville streets stay alive at night, with plenty of martini bars, romantic restaurants, outdoor patios, and trendy night-spots.
Places & Events of Interest
- Village of Yorkville Park – the result of a global design competition, this part (which was once a parking lot) represents the varied topography found in southern Ontario. Gardens range from a birch grove and a wildflower meadow to a pine forest and a massive granite outcrop. The park has won a number of international design awards, and Torontonians are passionate about it – they either love it or hate it!
- Hazelton Lanes – one of Toronto’s most striking shopping centres, the “Lanes” is built around a series of courtyards, and offers high-end fashions and gifts.
- Toronto International Film Festival – celebrating world cinema, this popular event takes place every September. Hollywood’s biggest names meet in Toronto for this 10 days glamfest. The festival is centered on the many cinemas in the Yorkville area. The neighbourhood’s upscale restaurants and bars provide the perfect setting for stargazing.
Source: Toronto Tourism.com