Kensington market History

Here's what Kensington Market in Toronto has looked like since the 1910s

Prior to the first World War, Kensington Market had yet to develop into the full-blown outdoor market scene that it has since become.

The growth of the Jewish community during the inter-war years would, however, change the area from a tired residential neighbourhood, to a burgeoning marketplace, first via handcarts pushed through the streets, and then by stalls opened up on residents' front lawns.

By the 1930s, roughly 80 per cent of Toronto's over 40,000 Jews called the Kensington Market area home, and a bustling outdoor market had already taken hold on streets like Kensington and Baldwin.

As the photos here indicate, houses were small and the conditions were decidedly working class, but the market itself was vibrant and led many to acquire enough wealth to move to more affluent areas to the northwest in the years that followed.

Following World War II, much of the Jewish population had left the market, to be replaced by diverse mix of new immigrants that included Portuguese, Hungarians, Italians and Ukrainians.

This saw the full-scale rise of the market atmosphere on Augusta and Nassau, where it was common to see live chickens outside the storefronts.

In the years that have followed, the market has remained one of the city's most diverse places with the rise of the Asian population as well as Latin Americans and a host of other groups.

Here's what Kensington Market in Toronto has looked like since the 1910s.

1910s

2011727-20101116-GoadKensingtonBig.jpg2011727-bellevue-square-1913-s0372_ss0052_it0197.jpg2011727-181-baldwin-1919-s0372_ss0058_it0834.jpgKensington Market 1900s

1930s

2011727-kensington-st-andrews-market-f1231_it0051.jpg2011727-nw-augusta-nasssau-1932-0372_ss0066_it0038.jpg2011727-augusta-rear-1939-s0372_ss0033_it0507.jpg2011727-baldwin-street-1934-s0372_ss0001_it1298.jpg2011727-augasta-toilets-1939-s0372_ss0033_it0506.jpg

1940s

2011727-rear-79-nassau-1943-s0372_ss0033_it0878.jpg2011727-77-79nassau-front-s0372_ss0033_it0883.jpg2011727-nassau-street-77-1943-s0372_ss0033_it0876.jpg

1950s

2011727-266-augusta-1958-s0372_ss0100_it0247.jpg

1960s

2011727-kensington-street-1963-f1257_s1057_it5611.jpg2011727-kensington-street2-1963-f1257_s1057_it5612.jpg2011727kensington-street3-1963-f1257_s1057_it5613.jpg

1970s

2011727-kensington-1960s-f0124_fl0007_id0003.jpg2011727-kensington-1960s1-f0124_fl0007_id0004.jpg2011727-kensington-60s-f0124_fl0007_id0006.jpg2011727-kensington-fruit-market-70s-f0124_fl0007_id0005.jpg2011727-kensington-vert-1970s-80s-f0124_fl0007_id0009.jpg

1980s

2011727-kensington-1980s-s1465_fl0053_id0002.jpg2011727-kensington-early-80s-s1465_fl0053_id0003.jpg

1990s

2011727-2011114-90s_kensington.jpg2011727-kensignton-1990s-s1465_fl0053_id0001.jpg

Lead photo by

Toronto Archives


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Canadians can get gift card in Ticketmaster class action and here's who is eligible

Here's what the new Bank of Canada interest rate cut means

2025 declared 'the year of digging' for $27 billion Ontario Line

Here's why one guy kept making Avatar references at Toronto City Hall meeting

Locals impatient about Toronto venue under repair for ages with no end in sight

Lawsuit filed after deaths of Toronto mother and son on trip to Dominican Republic

Controversial Toronto project will make traffic even worse than initially thought

Ontario Child benefit can get parents almost $1,700 per kid every year