Kensington neighbourhood stands out for its market that attracts lots of tourists and serves as a trendy shopping hub, in Toronto city.. The multicultural vibe of Kensington Market mirrors the colourful community of Toronto, with its cultural tapestry.
History Of Kensington, Toronto
In 1815 Captain John Denison was granted a 100 acre Park Lot that included what is now Kensington neighbourhood, in Toronto’s west end area of the city along Lake Ontario shorelines of Old Mill Creek valley escarpment. During the century by the 1870s era the area transformed into a middle class Anglo Saxon community with streets bearing British names like Kensington Avenue and Fitzroy Terrace among others. The landscape and population of Kensington shifted in the 1900’s as Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe began to make their homes in this part of town.
Jewish families in Kensington who were not part of the Toronto business community set up stalls in front of their homes to sell goods to each year. Thus creating the foundation for a marketplace right in the heart of the Kensington neighbourhood’s history. Since the 1940s era, until today’s time period Kensington has drawn people from corners of the globe and has evolved into being one of Toronto’s most culturally rich and diverse neighbourhoods.
Lifestyle
Exploring Kensington Market offers a diverse shopping experience in Toronto that engages all your senses with its array of food vendors and unique shops selling everything from curios to vintage clothing and jewelry. For a shopping adventure that showcases Toronto’s cultural diversity head to Spadina Avenue, in Chinatown; here you will find bustling fruit and vegetable markets overflowing onto the sidewalks with shoppers bustling about. There are eateries lining this road where you can try out genuine Chinese dishes.
Kensington, Toronto Parks & Facilities
The central gathering spot for the people of Kensington is Bellevue Square Park in the heart of the neighbourhood. A favorite among locals for its kids playground and wading pool activities. At Spadina and College lies the Cecil Community Centre boasting a Hall hosting events like theatre shows and sports games as well as private celebrations such as parties and weddings. For those seeking a read or community interaction, in languages reflecting Kensingtons diverse culture background can head to Shaw College Public Library. An essential hub for residents to connect and enjoy reading materials together.
Having a time is quite accessible, with the parks and recreational centres available in this area here! In Kensington Chinatowns parks you can find areas for children as well as spaces for dogs to roam and skateboarding facilities too! There are a total of 9 parks in Kensington Chinatown that house 29 facilities altogether. That’s an average of 3 facilities, per park.
- Number of Parks: 9
- Number of Recreation Facilities: 29
Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks
- Playgrounds – 6
- Dog Park – 1
- Pools – 3
- Rink – 1
- Volleyball Court – 1
- Ball Diamond – 1
- Community Centres – 2
- Splash Pads – 7
- Skateboard Park – 1
- Community Garden – 1
- Trails – 2
- Arts/Performance Facilities – 2
- Gym – 1
Kensington, Toronto Transit
Passengers can hop onto the streetcar service, along Bathurst Street to catch a ride to the Bloor Danforth subway line or take a trip with the Spadina and Dundas streetcars to reach Spadina station connected to the Yonge University Spadina subway line downtown area is easily accessible for motorists who’re a few minutes away, from both the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard.
This neighbourhood has 80 transit stops, with Queens Park Station as one of the rail stations, in the area where residents use a combination of transportation and walking or biking to commute within the city.
Commute Destination for Residents
- Commute within the city – 92%
- Commute to another city – 7%
Commute Types
- Vehicle – 14%
- Transit – 27%
- Walk/bike – 56%
Commute Times of Residents
- 15 to 29 minutes – 37%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 21%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 7%
- 60 minutes and over – 8%
- Less than 15 minutes – 24%
Kensington, Toronto Elementary, Secondary High Schools
This area boasts elementary and secondary high school, along with programs catering to both levels of education. There are a total of 10 schools, 3 Catholic schools, 3 private schools and 4 alternative or special needs institutions that serve the residents of Kensington Chinatown. These programs encompass a variety of offerings such as Montessori education special education, French immersion, International Baccalaureate religious studies beyond Catholicism fine arts education, single gender instruction, for girls only vocational training options and programs tailored for talented students.
- Public Schools: 10
- Catholic Schools: 3
- Private Schools: 3
Public
- Jarvis Collegiate Institute
- ÉÉ Gabrielle-Roy
- Ogden Junior Public School
- Downtown Vocal Music Academy of Toronto
- Collège français secondaire
- Harbord Collegiate Institute
- Kensington Community School
- King Edward Jr & Sr Public School
- Orde Street Public School
- Ryerson Community School
Catholic
- ÉÉC du Sacré-Coeur-Toronto
- St. Mary Catholic School
- ÉSC Saint-Frère-André
Private
- Westside Montessori School – Kensington Market
- Braemar College
- Cornerstone Montessori Prep School
Alternative/Special
- Beverley School
- Contact Alternative School
- Subway Academy II
- Heydon Park Secondary School
Kensington, Toronto Homes
In Kensington the charming Victorian row houses are of varying sizes. Adorned with details, from the late 1800s era when they were constructed. The dwellings situated in the core of Kensington Market display market stalls set up in their yards. Numerous homes face towards the back of their lots where narrow alleyways provide a retreat from the atmosphere of the market. Currently a few new housing initiatives are breathing life into the Kensington neighbourhood.
The latest updates feature townhomes with a flair located along Oxford Street and the Kensington Market Lofts project. A condominium development housed within three former George Brown College buildings situated at Baldwin and Nassau Streets.