Boundaries
Kensington Market extends from College Street south to Dundas Street and from Spadina west to Bellevue Ave.
History
In 1815, a British military man George Taylor Benison bought a piece of property after the 1812 war. This plot is the current Augusta and Lippincott Streets area. Bellevue Square Park used to serve as his parade ground. By 1880, the estate was further divided into plots meant for workers migrating from Scotland and Ireland to Toronto. In later days, immigrants from other countries inhabited these houses.
This coexistence of different nationalities in one area has resulted in a rich cultural heritage. At one point in time, in the 1920s and 30s it came to be known as the Jewish Market because more than 60,000 immigrants from the Jewish community inhabited the area. Post 1950, the area saw a shift of location of Jewish population. Following this, people migrating from Caribbean islands and Asia started moving in followed by hippies and war dodgers.
Neighbourhood Characteristics
If you wonder how people from different communities stay and celebrate their joys and sorrows together, you must come to Kensington Market. People from Asian countries, Carribean Islands, several European countries have inhabited and still inhabit the eclectic neighbourhood.
As a result of this ethnic mix, restaurants of different cuisines and grocery stores specializing in food from all over the world flood this area. Small lines of houses are almost hidden behind the lanes covered with graffiti. Traffic has to crawl through this area as pedestrians rule the road.
Summer is vibrant and colorful in Kensington Market. Bellevue Square is a major attraction for families and couples alike. Often you will find the park people playing flutes in the evening and on the weekend.
Since jaywalkers run ramped a peculiar and unique kind of celebration is held on the last Sunday of each month from May through October. This is called a car-free Sunday or Pedestrian Sunday where cars are restricted from 1 pm to 7 pm in the market place and till 10 pm on Augusta Street (North).
