Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec The Market is one of the city's oldest and most famous neighbourhoods, and in November 2006, it became a National Historic Site. A national historic site is a designation that an area possesses national historical significance Its approximate borders are College St. on the North, Spadina Ave. on the East, Dundas St. W. to the South, and Bellevue Ave. to the West. Most of the neighbourhood's eclectic shops, cafes, and other attractions are located along Augusta Ave. and neighbouring Nassau St. and Kensington Ave. The market is best travelled on foot or bicycle, as the narrow one-way streets and numerous dead-ends are difficult to navigate by car.
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History
Early history
George Taylor Denison, after serving in the British militia during the War of 1812, purchased an area of land in 1815 from Queen Street West to Bloor Street, roughly between where Augusta and Lippincott Streets now run. George Taylor Denison served in the British militia during the War of 1812. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies Queen Street West describes both the western branch of Queen Street, a major east-west thoroughfare and a series of neighbourhoods or commercial districts situated west Bloor Street is a major east-west commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Denison used the area now known as Bellevue Square Park as a parade ground for his volunteer cavalry troop, which he commanded during the Upper Canada Rebellion. The Upper Canada Rebellion was along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838 This troop later became the Governor General's Horse Guards. The Governor General's Horse Guards is an armoured Reconnaissance Regiment in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Army, The Denison estate was subdivided in the 1850s. During the 1880s, houses were built on small plots for Irish and Scottish immigrant labourers coming to Toronto; many of these houses still stand along Wales Avenue and elsewhere, and these inexpensive homes have been inhabited by many waves of immigrants in the decades that followed. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate The Scots people ( Scots Gaelic: Albannaich) are a Nation and an Ethnic group indigenous to Scotland.
The "Jewish market"
Kensington Market was slowly founded in the early twentieth century by eastern European Jewish immigrants and some Italians, who vacated "The Ward", an overcrowded immigrant-reception area between Yonge Street and University Avenue, in large numbers after around 1910. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Yonge Street (pronounced "young" is a major arterial street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and its northern Suburbs It was formerly University Avenue is a major north-south road in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It became a cluster of densely packed houses, and was one of the poorer areas of the city. It became notable for the open air market, reminiscent of those in Europe, that covered the streets of the area. From the beginning the market sold a great diversity of items imported from the homelands of the various immigrant communities.
Kensington was also known as "the Jewish Market". Jewish merchants operated small shops as tailors, furriers and bakers. Around 60,000 Jews lived in and around Kensington Market during the 1920s and 1930s, worshipping at over 30 local synagogues. A synagogue (from Greek: grc συναγωγή transliterated synagogē, "assembly" he בית כנסת beit knesset, "house of After the Second World War, most of the Jewish population moved north to more prosperous neighbourhoods uptown or in the suburbs. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including During the 1950s, a large number of immigrants from the Azores, fleeing political conflict with the regime of António de Oliveira Salazar, moved into the area and further west along Dundas Street. The Azores ( Açores ɐˈsoɾɨʃ or) is a Portuguese Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1500 km (950 mi) from António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE, pron. ɐ̃'tɔniu dɨ oli'vɐiɾɐ sɐlɐ'zaɾ Dundas Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, also known interchangeably as Highway 5 west of Toronto is a major arterial street which forms The arrival of new waves of immigrants from the Caribbean and East Asia changed the community, making it even more diverse as the century wore on. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The Vietnam War brought a number of American political refugees to the neighbourhood, adding a unique utopian flavour to local politics. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia As Chinatown is located just east of Kensington, the Chinese are now the largest ethnic element. Toronto 's Chinatown (多倫多華埠 is an Ethnic enclave in Downtown Toronto with a high concentration of ethnic Chinese residents and businesses extending During the 1980s and 1990s, identifiable groups of immigrants came from Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Iran, Vietnam, and other global trouble spots appeared in the Market to make new lives. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page Sudan (officially the Republic of Sudan) ( السودان al-Sūdān is a country in northeastern Africa. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially
The 1960s
In the 1960s there were plans to tear down the densely packed small houses and replace them with large apartment style housing projects, as was done to neighbouring Alexandra Park. Public housing is a form of Housing tenure in which the property is owned by a Government authority which may be central or local Alexandra Park is a Neighbourhood located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada consisting of private and Public housing. These plans came to an end with the election of David Crombie as Mayor of Toronto. David Edward Crombie, PC, OC (born April 24 1936) is a Canadian politician professor and consultant This is a list of Mayors of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. From 1834-1857 and again from 1867-1873 Toronto mayors were not elected directly by Crombie was strongly opposed to the massive urban restructuring plans that had been in vogue in previous decades.
Recent development
Today the neighbourhood is a noted tourist attraction, and a centre of Toronto's cultural life as artists and writers moved into the area. Land prices in the area have increased sharply, but despite its increased appeal to professionals, Kensington still remains a predominantly working class, immigrant community.
On December 1, 2006, Kensington Market was proclaimed a National Historic Site. A national historic site is a designation that an area possesses national historical significance [1]
The neighbourhood
Landmarks
Some area landmarks are the Number 10 Fire Station, Tom's Place, Bellevue Square Park with a statue of actor Al Waxman, and St. Albert Samuel Waxman CM, OOnt ( March 2, 1935 &ndash January 18, 2001) was a Canadian Actor and Stephen's Community House.
Shops
The area is filled with a mix of food stores selling an immense variety of meats, fish and produce. It is said that more varieties of fruits and vegetables are for sale in Kensington than in any area of the world, but this has never been independently verified. There are also several cheese shops. The area is also home to stores selling a wide variety of cheap and used clothing, as well as a number of discount and surplus stores. It is also home to many restaurants covering a wide variety of styles and ethnicities. A unique architectural feature of the neighbourhood is the presence of extensions built onto the front of many buildings (which would be against by-laws in other places).
In recent years, the neighbourhood has seen a small explosion of upscale cafés, restaurants and clubs, replacing many of the older ethnic businesses. There has been much speculation that Kensington's long history as an immigrant working class neighbourhood is near its end. However, for now Kensington mostly retains its character as a great source for fresh foods, eclectic goods, "street food", and most of it at inexpensive prices. In fact, Kensington (as well as the Chinatown it abuts) retains its reputation as the smart place locals, university students and foodies go to shop, this in spite of the market's evident popularity with tourists.
Counterculture
Businesses such as Manifestudio, a photo gallery and radical eco-politics community space run by GlobalAware Independent Media, help create an environment friendly to radical politics. Trotskyists are sometimes seen handing out pamphlets at the corner of Baldwin and Kensington. Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky.
Commercial gentrification
A small supermarket, Zimmerman's Freshmart, opened in the Market in early 2005, leading to some controversy. Some are concerned it would compete with smaller businesses, or would otherwise lead to a more "corporate" market. This became the subject of an independent documentary, Reverend Billy Versus Zimmerman's Freshmart. The arrival of COBS Bread in 2006 continues this potential trend. Bakers Delight is a large bakery franchise chain with outlets in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Also, the introduction of Dufflet-brand sweets and Ace Bakery breads in area shops has caused consternation amongst some traditionalists.
Cars and pedestrians
Narrow streets make the market challenging for those driving and especially parking in the neighbourhood. On Saturdays and some late afternoons, pedestrians walk freely down the middle of the street or between slow-moving cars.
Since 2004, residents and businesses have organized a series of Pedestrian Sunday events. Parts of Augusta St. , Baldwin St. and Kensington Ave. are closed to motorized traffic and the streets become a pedestrian mall. Live music, dancing, street theatre and games are among the special events on the closed streets. Typically taking place on the last Sunday of every month, this type of event has been organized on half a dozen weekends a year since 2005.
Local businesses resist efforts to turn the area into a pedestrian mall, with the argument that they need to make deliveries and they need to be able to have shoppers come to their stores. Some local residents also argue that the area is a living neighborhood, not a social or political laboratory for outside activists.
Marijuana culture
The market is also home to one of Canada's few cannabis cafés and boutiques, as well as a couple of head shops. Cannabis ( Cán-na-bis) is a Genus of Flowering plants that includes three putative species Cannabis sativa subsp head shop is a retail outlet specializing in paraphernalia related to consumption of cannabis, other recreational drugs and New Age herbs as well The Hot Box Cafe and Roach'o'Rama are businesses in Kensington Market where the consumption of cannabis takes place openly. Cannabis ( Cán-na-bis) is a Genus of Flowering plants that includes three putative species Cannabis sativa subsp For many, they are a spiritual and peaceful retreat in the core of the city. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality
Visitors to Bellevue Square Park between Augusta and Denison will sometimes see (or smell) marijuana cigarettes being smoked.
Culture
Festivals
The annual Kensington Market Festival of Lights produced by local community-arts organization Red Pepper Spectacle Arts is celebrated on the streets of Kensington Market and at Bellevue Square Park during the Winter Solstice in December. Solstices occur twice a year when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most oriented toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes This lively carnival parade of giant puppets, firebreathers, stiltwalkers and samba was first created by Ida Carnevali in 1987 as a way of beckoning the return of the sun on the longest night of the year - an ancient solstice tradition celebrated around the world. Her 1987 the parade consisted of a handful of costumed revellers and now welcomes over 10,000 people annually. Parade goers of all ages make their own fantastic paper lanterns at Red Pepper's storefront studio in popular workshops during the month prior to the parade. The procession wends its way through Kensington's narrow streets witnessing surprise theatrical scenarios on rooftops and at intersections throughout Kensington Market. A giant fire sculpture marks the final send-off to the old year.
Music
The Toronto based band Bedouin Soundclash filmed parts of their video "When the Night Feels My Song" in and around the market. Bedouin Soundclash is a Canadian band from Kingston, Ontario. "When the Night Feels My Song" is the first single from Sounding a Mosaic, the second Album from Canadian band Bedouin Soundclash As well, most of the 2001 film Picture Claire starring Juliette Lewis, Gina Gershon, and Mickey Rourke was filmed in the market.
The Toronto based duo Augusta has been known to perform in the market.
Kensington market has hosted many great venues for local independent dance parties. One such venue is The Boat, a 1970's era Portuguese seafood restaurant that holds both Mandarin karaoke nights as well as independent rock shows and dance parties. Decorated with a nautical theme and made popular in July 2005 with the 1950s-themed dance party, Goin' Steady. Located one block north of Dundas Ave on Augusta, The Boat is now home to many monthly dance nights and draws large crowds on a weekly basis.
Kensington in popular culture
Former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman and actor Al Waxman (who starred in the CBC Television series King of Kensington) were both born and raised in the Kensington Market neighbourhood. Melvin Douglas "Mel" Lastman (born March 9, 1933) affectionately known as "Mayor Mel" is a former businessman and politician CBC Television is a Canadian English language Television network. King of Kensington was a Canadian television Sitcom which aired on CBC Television from 1975 to 1980 After Waxman's death, he was honoured with a statue located in the north-west corner of Bellevue Square Park. In addition to King of Kensington, Kensington Market has been the setting for the television series Twitch City and Katts and Dog as well as the street riot scenes of the 1984 comedy "Police Academy". Twitch City is a Canadian Sitcom produced by CBC Television. The series aired as two short runs in 1998 and 2000 Katts and Dog was a Canadian -produced Television series which ran from 1988 to 1992 Kensington Market was the primary setting for Cory Doctorow's novel Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town. Cory Doctorow (born July 17, 1971) is a Canadian Blogger Journalist and Science fiction author who serves as co-editor Somecone Comes to Town Someone Leaves Town is a Contemporary fantasy Novel by Canadian Author Cory Doctorow.
Religion
The winter solstice festival is an important gathering of Ontario's pagan community.
Two synagogues remain in the Market, from the early 20th-century period when the area was the centre of the Jewish community in Toronto.
Kensington Market is home to a significant Rastafari community. The Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, Rastafarianism or simply Rasta) is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, New Testament
Nearby streets of note
The other Kensington Market
Kensington Market in the Kensington district of London, England was a three storey indoor market. Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto Ontario, Canada. Dundas Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, also known interchangeably as Highway 5 west of Toronto is a major arterial street which forms College Street is a main east-west route in downtown Toronto, Canada. Bathurst Street is a north-south street in Toronto and York Region, Ontario, Canada. Kensington is a district of West London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, located west of Charing Cross. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. In the 1960s and 70s, it catered to hippie and bohemian culture. The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world Bohemians are the people of Bohemia, in the Czech Republic, inhabitants of the former Kingdom of Bohemia located in the modern day Czech Republic Before Queen became successful, Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor had a stall there. Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991 was a Zanzibar -born British Musician, best known as the lead Roger Taylor (born Roger Meddows-Taylor on July 26, 1949 in Dersingham, Norfolk later moved to Kings Lynn is an English Musician [2] The building was demolished in 2001.
See also
- List of National Historic Sites
- List of neighbourhoods in Toronto
- No. 8 Hose Station
- St. Lawrence Market
References
- ^ New Designations Recognize the National Historic Significance of Canadian People, Places and Events. This is a complete list of the National Historic Sites of Canada. Toronto, Ontario, Canada is called "the city of neighbourhoods" because of the strength and vitality of its many communities The No 8 Hose Station is a small fire hall that is a Toronto landmark St Lawrence Market is one of two major Markets in Toronto (the other being Kensington Market) Parks Canada (2006-11-30). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Retrieved on 2006-12-05. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations.
- ^ Queen Concerts, Queen places in London.
External links
- Kensington Alive - History presented in Multi Media
- KensMarket.com: A Community Project for Kensington Market
- Kensington Market Myspace page
- PS Kensington Website
- kensington-market.ca: A Community/Information Site
- Parks Canada Background on Kensington Market National Historic Site
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