Kensington Market

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Image:Kensington market.jpgKensington Market is one of the most famous neighbourhoods in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is a National Historic Site [1]. It is roughly bounded by College St. on the North, Spadina on the East, Dundas to the South, and Bellevue to the West. It is an area with many small and dead-end streets that can be confusing to navigate.

1 Early history
2 The market
3 The 1960s
4 Present day
5 Marijuana culture
6 Music
7 See also
8 Sources
9 External links

[edit] 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. 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. This troop later became the Governor General's Horse Guards. 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.

[edit] The 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. 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. After the Second World War, most of the Jewish population moved north to more prosperous neighbourhoods uptown or in the suburbs. 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 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 Vietnam War brought a number of American political refugees to the neighbourhood, adding a unique utopian flavour to local politics. As Chinatown is located just east of Kensington, the Chinese are now the largest ethnic element. 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.

[edit] 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. These plans came to an end with the election of David Crombie as Mayor of Toronto. Crombie was strongly opposed to the massive urban restructuring plans that had been in vogue in previous decades.

[edit] Present day

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.

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. The Market is also home to Toronto's only anarchist infoshop, Uprising Books, on Baldwin Street.

The fact that the market is largely on the pedestrian scale adds to its charm. While vehicles are permitted on the streets, the density of pedestrians and cyclists and the narrow streets discourage drive-thru traffic. Indeed, during the weekend and peak shopping hours, one can easily cycle or even walk through the market, faster than cars and trucks can travel.

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.

The market is also home to one of Canada's few cannabis cafés and boutiques, as well as a couple of head shops.

Some area landmarks are the Number 10 Fire Station, Tom's Place, Bellevue Square Park with a statue of actor Al Waxman, and St. Stephen's Community House. European Meats is one of the most popular butcher shops in Toronto.

Recently, a small supermarket, Zimmerman's Freshmart, opened in the Market, leading to some controversy. Some were concerned it would compete with smaller businesses, or would otherwise lead to a more "corporate" market. That has not proven to be the case.

Statue of Al Waxman in Bellevue Square Park

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. 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 Canadian television series Twitch City and Katts and Dog.

On December 1, 2006, Kensington Market was proclaimed a National Historic Site.

[edit] Marijuana culture

The Hot Box Cafe and Roach'o'Rama are businesses in Kensington Market where the consumption of cannabis takes place openly.

According to RoachoRama.com, "In the heart of Toronto's Kensington Market is the Roach-O-Rama - a place where potheads can come without being criticized, politically brainwashed and robbed."^[2]

For many, it is a spiritual and peaceful retreat in the core of one of North America's largest and busiest urban areas. Walls are adorned with the work of local graf-artists including the art of Goldilocks, whose futuristic and comic-like characters can be found throughout the city. The establishment strictly prohibits "dealing, asking, fishing or mooching."^[3]

Visitors to Bellevue Square Park between Augusta and Denison will sometimes see (or smell) marijuana cigarrettes being smoked.

[edit] Music

The Toronto based band Bedouin Soundclash filmed parts of their video "When the Night Feels My Song" in and around 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 is and has been home to dozens of punk rock and metal bands such as Bunchofuckingoofs, Fishhead, the Wild Things, 4.5 Reasons 4 Retroactive Abortion, PolitiKill InCorect, Nunoyerfukinbizzness, No Identity, the Ugly Models, Armed and Hammered, Brutaly Honest, Fucknuckles, Psychoactivist, Asswupperupsers, Annexus, and many others.

The legendary Bob Snider can be found busking on the sidewalk along Baldwin Street.