The history of Toronto has its roots in very distant times. The first villages date back to the 17th century. Toronto at the time was “the place where trees stand in the water”. And it has made a lot of progress to become the multicultural metropolis it is today. Toronto has been the destination of several migratory waves mainly from Europe, Asia and Latin America. It currently has a population of approximately 3 million inhabitants distributed in the six main districts: York, East York and North York, Etobicoke, Old Toronto and Scarborough. These areas are divided into other neighborhoods. And all these small pieces, each with its own characteristics and peculiarities, form the great mosaic of the Canadian city. The presence of peoples from various parts of the world has led to the birth of numerous ethnic neighborhoods. And today we want to take you right there.
Little Italy and Portugal
We have already talked about Little Italy, on College Street, of course! It is the Italian neighborhood in Toronto, although at one time there were many more Italians than today. However, it also hosts Latin American and Portuguese communities. There are Italian-Canadian restaurants and businesses. Here is where the Italian Walk of Fame, the church of Santa Maria Maddalena and St. Francis of Assis are located. But also the Convento Rico Club and Portuguese Seventh-day Adventist Church. Another bit of Italy can be found in Corso Italia, on St. Clair Avenue West. It is characterized by bars, restaurants, ice cream parlors and bakeries where you can savor the cuisine of the Belpaese.
But Italians are not the only people to have settled, throughout history, in this wonderful city in North America. As we said, the Portuguese community in the city is also large. They mainly gathered on Dundas Street where they gave birth to a Little Portugal. Portugal Village, as it is also called, is a residential area that hosts not only Portuguese, but also Brazilians. Mid-century houses and cafés are typical of this spot.
Chinatown and Koreatown: other ethnic neighborhoods
Another of Toronto’s most renowned ethnic neighborhoods stands between Dundas Street and Spadina Avenue. We are talking about Chinatown. Once it was a Jewish district, but it has been hosting immigrants from China since the ’50s. The population has been growing over the century and, consequently, the neighborhood has expanded to accommodate second and third generation Chinese, but also other peoples of the East, Vietnamese and Thai in particular. It is a nerve center of the city: houses, shops, schools, businesses and restaurants. A small China in the heart of Canada.
Koreatown began to develop around the 1970s. It is located near Boor Street. Restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores and travel agencies are still there. Despite the over 50,000 Koreans registered in Toronto (and they were only 100 fifty years ago), only a small part live in Koreatown. A large portion of the population has recently created a New Koreatown on Yonge Street, with businesses, shops and restaurants.
Greektown
We continue our tour through the ethical neighborhoods of Toronto, returning with flavors and smells to Europe. Let’s discover Greektown. It is located in the East Toronto district near Danforth Street, for this reason it is also called The Danforth. The first Greek immigrants arrived after the First World War. But the population grew even more around 1960. And in this period the neighborhood of Greektown began to take shape.
Every year in August it hosts the Taste of the Danforth, a gastronomic festival during which to try typical dishes of Greek cuisine. And there are also games, competitions and musical entertainment. All this to emphasize Greek art and culture. But it is also a way residents have to reduce homesickness.
Little India: among the amazing ethnic neighborhoods of Toronto
To end our journey in these small places that allow you to visit the world while remaining, however, in the same city, let’s go to India. Gerrard India Bazaar, also known as Little India, is a small Indian paradise in Leslieville district. It is a commercial district where restaurants, bars, stores and food shops abound. Here you can buy and enjoy not only Indian but also Pakistani and Sri Lankan culture.
Its story began in the ’70s when a businessman decided to open a cinema hall in this neighborhood. The Naaz Theater has been screening Asian movies. It attracted the attention of other compatriots and tourists, in no time. And the example of Gian Naaz was followed by many other entrepreneurs who chose this corner of the city to start their commercial activities. The theater closed its doors in 1985. And only five years ago it was reopened, however, with a completely different destination. Multani Village, as it is called now, has become a building with apartments and shops.
Featured image: Ph: sakura – Licence: CC BY 2.0
Commenti
