Cabbagetown

Cabbagetown is one of Toronto’s most popular neighbourhoods, known for the diversity among residents who share a strong sense of community spirit and pride. This community spirit is showcased every September during the Cabbagetown Fall Festival, which spans an entire weekend and features a mini-marathon, historical walking tours, a parade, and a community-wide yard sale. The 'Old Cabbagetown' shopping district on Parliament Street offers many unique shops and a wide variety of restaurants. The Carlton Street shopping district provides a similar vibe on a smaller scale. Additionally, Cabbagetown has charming retail pockets on Gerrard Street, Sherbourne Street, and Wellesley Avenue.

History

Cabbagetown's history dates back to the 1840s when thousands of Irish immigrants settled there after fleeing the potato famines in their homeland. To help put food on the table, the early residents grew cabbages in their front yards, giving the district its name. The working-class community of Cabbagetown was particularly hard hit by the Depression of the 1930s. Historian Hugh Garner described the area during this time as "the worst Anglo-Saxon slum in North America," with the worst conditions concentrated south of Gerrard Street. In the 1950s, these homes were demolished and replaced by the Regent Park housing development. Cabbagetown experienced a revival in the 1970s and 1980s when new homebuyers began restoring its fine collection of Victorian homes. Today, Cabbagetown is considered one of Toronto’s most gentrified neighborhoods.

  • Wellesley Street E to the north, Rosedale Valley Road and Bayview Avenue to the east, Gerrard Street to the south, and Sherbourne Street to the west.

  • Cabbagetown was once described by the New York Times as "containing the largest collection of Victorian homes in North America." Built between 1860 and 1895, most of these houses have been lovingly restored under the careful oversight of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. This association, made up of local residents, plays a crucial role in ensuring that all renovations and new developments adhere to the historical character of the neighborhood.

    • K-8

      • Sprucecourt Public School

      • Winchester Junior and Senior Public School

      • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School

    • Grade 9-12

      • Rosedale Heights School of the Arts

      • Jarvis Collegiate Institute

  • The Winchester Hotel, formerly the Lakeview Hotel, was a popular TOronto hangout for Al Capone and Billie Holiday. The hotel was referred to as Capone’s “home away from home” and he would often book the entire third floor for him and his gang.

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