Boundaries
Church and Wellesley is bounded by Gerrard Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, Charles Street to the north, and Jarvis Street to the east. The core of the neighbourhood is Church Street south of Wellesley to Alexander.
History
The history of this area is quite interesting. The area around Church and Wellesley is the former estate of Alexander Wood. Alex was a renowned magistrate and merchant living in the northern regions of Canada, who was once the focus of attention in a gay sex scandal.
Neighbourhood Characteristics
Church and Wellesley is best known as the hub of the gay and lesbian community in Canada. This is also where The Pride Week celebrations are held each year , it is one of the largest Pride events in North America and attracts millions of people.
If you wish to shop here, there are some wonderful bookstores stocked with literature published by independent publishing companies. If you are looking to know the community better, then the neighbourhood restaurants and bars must be visited. For meeting up with friends, the hottest spot is the steps in front of the local Second Cup.
In this neighbourhood you will find a number of old English styled houses and apartments that date back to the late 19th and early 20th century.
