Toronto Neighbourhoods
Discover some of the many unique neighbourhoods Toronto has to offer. From the history to shopping, schools and recreation – see why so many call these areas home.
Select Toronto Neighbourhood:
Cabbagetown (Downtown)
History
Cabbagetown Real Estate
Cabbagetown’s history began in the 1840’s when thousands of Irish immigrants settled here after fleeing the potato famines in their homeland. These first Cabbagetown residents were very poor. To put food on the table they grew cabbages on their front lawns, which is how this district came to be known as Cabbagetown.
Cabbagetown’s working class community was particularly hard hit by the Depression of the 1930’s. Cabbagetown historian Hugh Garner, wrote that the Depression turned Cabbagetown into “the worst Anglo Saxon slum in North America”. The worst slums were concentrated south of Gerrard Street. These homes were razed in the 1950’s and replaced by the Regent Park housing development.
Cabbagetown was revitalized in the 1970’s and 1980’s by new home buyers, who restored much of this neighbourhoods fine collection of Victorian homes. Cabbagetown is now considered one of Toronto’s most gentrified neighbourhoods
Overview
Cabbagetown Homes
This community spirit is put on display every September during the Cabbagetown Fall Festival that runs for an entire weekend and features a mini marathon, historical walking tours, a parade and a community wide yard sale.
Shopping
The ‘Old Cabbagetown’ shopping district on Parliament Street features many one-of-a-kind shops and a vast array of restaurants. The Carlton Street shopping district is similar in tone to Parliament Street, but on a much smaller scale.
Cabbagetown also has small retail pockets on Gerrard Street, Sherbourne Street, and Wellesley Avenue.
Recreation
Cabbagetown’s recreational centre is Riverdale Park. This park is the home of Riverdale Farm. Riverdale Farm is modelled after a late 19th century Victorian farm and includes horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, geese and ducks.
Riverdale farm is open seven days a week and admission is free. Riverdale Park also contains sports fields and serves as an access point to the Lower Don Recreation Trail.
The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre on Parliament Street has music, drama and dance programs for children. The Cabbagetown Youth Centre on Lancaster Avenue offers sports, and arts and crafts programs.
Cabbagetown’s Public Library is located at the corner of Gerrard Street and Parliament.
Schools
Please note that the schools listed below have very definite enrollment boundaries.
Lord Dufferin Jr. & Sr., 303 Berkeley Street, (416) 393-1760
(Public School)
Sprucecourt Jr., 70 Spruce Street., (416) 393-1522
(Public School)
Winchester Jr. & Sr., 15 Prospect St., (416) 393-1270
(Public School)
Rosedale Heights Secondary School, 711 Bloor St. E., (416) 393-1580
(Public High School)
Jarvis Collegiate Institute, 495 Jarvis Street, (416) 393-0140
(Public High School)
St. Martin Annex, 55 Salisbury Ave., (416) 393-5222
(Separate School)
Our Lady of Lourdes, 444 Sherbourne St., (416) 393-5221
(Separate School)
Legend:
(P) Public School
(PH) Public High School
(CA) Catholic School
(PR) Private School
(PC) Private Catholic School
(PJ) Private Jewish School
(C) College
(U) University
Source: David Dunkleman, TorontoNeighbourhoodGuide.com