ABOUT CABBAGETOWN

The neighborhood’s name comes from the first Irish immigrants. They said they were so poor that they had to grow cabbage in front of their houses around 1840 as a consequence of the Great Depression. This reality is perfectly depicted in the novel Cabbagetown, which was written by Canadian novelist Hugh Garner.

Before the 1950s, Cabbagetown was farmland, just like most of what we know today as Toronto. The area consisted of vegetable plots and small cottages that served as farmers’ homes but transformed and developed slowly over the years.

Before World War I, the area developed into a working-class neighborhood. Most of its residents worked in industries located in neighboring areas. The First Great War caused devastating consequences to the local economy. This resulted in multiple families living in the same house, which lead to property deterioration.

Regent Park, a large residential complex, served as a housing solution for an increasingly poor population. Unfortunately, most of its architectural heritage had to be demolished to build apartment buildings.

Over time, Cabbagetown overcame the financial difficulties and became a sophisticated neighborhood with upscale properties and a hardworking population. It features the largest number of beautiful, elegant Victorian houses dating from the 19th century combined with a 21st-century lifestyle