Almost impossible to define, the sprawling neighbourhood of Waterfront communities, located south of Queen Street between Bathurst and York, encompasses the sub-areas of the King West Theatre District, The Club District, The Fashion District, and Harbourfront. This neighbourhood includes mostly mid and high-rise condominium buildings with a handful of newer townhouses. While most contain smaller one or two bedroom suites and are less than 1500 square feet, there are some older buildings containing larger, more expansive units with large terraces and balconies and premium lake views. In fact, Harbourfront has the highest concentration of luxury condominium apartment buildings in Toronto. The area continues to build a number of new condominiums with an emphasis on making sure every unit has at least a partial lake view and a balcony.

Waterfront revitalization has been a hot topic of debate for decades but in the fall of 2001, all levels of government established the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation, to lead and manage a comprehensive renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. It is currently one of the largest urban redevelopment projects underway in North America. Full revitalization is projected to take 25 to 30 years and an estimated $17 billion in public and private funds to complete.

The social, cultural, and recreational hub of the neighbourhood is the Harbourfront Centre. This venue hosts close to 4,000 events per year, ranging from craft workshops and sailing lessons to jazz festivals, outdoor performances and food fairs. The March and summer camp offers children 45 diverse mini camps with everything from cooking, circus and sports, to sailing and kayaking. In the winter there is a free open-air ice rink. The Harbourfront of today is a network of parks, open spaces and trails that allow residents and visitors to get close to the water.

For an interesting retail experience head to Queen’s Quay Terminal located next to Harbourfront Centre. This is a former warehouse converted into a mixed-use building including a shopping centre designed for high-end retailers, commercial office space, and a residential condominium development.

The Air Canada Centre, Skydome, C.N. Tower, and the Harbourfront Antique Market are all located within this neighbourhood. The Canadian National Exhibition, the Marine Museum, and Old Fort York are all just minutes from Harbourfront, while the Toronto Islands are ten minutes away by ferry boat.

SCHOOLS

ALPHA Alternative Junior School   (Grades JK–06)
20 Brant St, Toronto, ON, M5V2M1
(416) 393-1880

There’s a lot of life in this sprawling neighbourhood, which encompasses the stretch of land up at the water’s edge from Port Lands over to Bathurst and then up to Queen Street. With a walking score of 92 this is one of Toronto’s communities most easily accessible by foot and while there is constant discussion about lake-front revitalization projects, there’s already plenty to take advantage of down at the water’s edge and in the surrounding pockets. Served largely by the 509 and 510 streetcars, it’s also a great place to bike along the pathways and gardens at the water’s edge.

Harbourfront Centre & Power Plant C-08

A hub of culture and activity, the Harbourfront Centre offers all sorts of fun for all ages. From hosting the International Festival of Authors, contemporary dance performances to glass-blowing and jewellery-making classes indoors, there’s ice skating to canoeing and free outdoor movie screenings and ballroom classes outside, too.

235 Queen’s Quay West, www.harbourfrontcentre.com

Treasure Hunting C-08

St Lawrence Market has been around for 208 years and currently has 120 vendors selling everything from meat to grains to homemade mustards. There’s an additional farmers’ market on Saturdays, filled with juicy fresh produce and an antiques market on Sundays from dawn until 5 pm stocked with rare finds from silverware to records to a fur coats.

The Distillery

Here Victorian industrial buildings are re-imagined as restaurants, breweries, chocolate shops and galleries. Cobblestoned streets give an old European vibe, and there are outdoor performances and art installations in this buzzing hub just east of the downtown core. Opened in 2003 its 47 buildings known as the Gooderham & Worts Distillery provide a great place to spend the afternoon or take in a bite.

Lakeside Lounging

The accessibility to the island makes the perfect day trip more accessible from here than anywhere else in the city. Pack a picnic, hop on the ferry and hire a bike on the other end to wave the hustle and bustle goodbye and see the city from a unique vantage point. If you’d prefer to stick to the mainland, further east is Sugar beach, with its umbrellas and plaza, and you can grab a bite at Against the Grain, while looking out over the water. Further west you’ll stumble `across the Amsterdam Brewhouse, which also has an impressive waterfront patio and further west the Toronto Music Garden where free concerts take place throughout the summer.

Toronto Island Ferrydocks, 9 Queens Quay W.

Sugar Beach, Foot of Lower Jarvis Slip

Against the Grain, 25 Dockside Drive

Amsterdam Brewhouse, 245 Queens Quay

SCHOOLS

Market Lane Junior and Senior Public School    (JK-08)
246 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON, M5A4J6
(416) 393-1300
Attendance Area for Regular Program – map boundaries 
Island Public/Natural Science School (JK-06)30 Centre Island Pk, Toronto, ON, M5J2E9
(416) 393-1910
Attendance Area for Regular Program – map boundaries   Downtown Alternative School    (JK-06)
55 Pelham Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6N 1A5
416-393-5244

St. John the Evangelist Catholic School   (Elementary)
85 Lower Jarvis St, Toronto, ON, M5E1R8
(416) 393-1882

COMMUNITY CENTRES

Designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 2006, Kensington Market is one of Toronto’s most distinctive multicultural neighbourhoods. Bordered by College St. on the north, Spadina Ave. on the east, Dundas St. W. to the south, and Bathurst St. to the west, this neighbourhood is known for its wonderful outdoor market feel, eclectic shops, vintage clothing, cafés, fresh produce, fish and butcher shops and bakeries. Throughout its diverse history, this neighbourhood has hosted a wide immigrant population. If you look closely you can see the influences of Eastern Europeans, the Azores, the Caribbean, and East Asia.

To the east of Kensington proper, and forming an important part of this district, is Chinatown. First developed in the late 19th century, it is now one of the largest Chinatowns in North America and one of six major Chinese-Canadian communities in the Greater Toronto Area.

Today the neighbourhood is a noted tourist attraction, and a centre of Toronto’s cultural life and home to one of Canada’s few cannabis cafés, boutiques, and head shops. Land prices in the area have increased sharply, but despite its increased appeal to professionals, Kensington still remains a predominantly working class, immigrant community. Since the mid 2000’s, residents and businesses have organized a series of Summer Pedestrian Sunday events. Live music, dancing, street theatre and games are among the special events on the closed streets.

To the east and south of the Market are three major down-town campuses including University of Toronto, OCAD University (formerly the Ontario College of Art and Design), and Ryerson University. Many students live in the small houses and lofts in the neighbourhood. The diversity brings a wonderful multicultural flavour to the district.