ABOUT CHINATOWN

Between the 1800s and early 1900s, Chinatown was located within The Ward, an old neighborhood in the city mainly composed by migrants. In the 1950s, a plan to build the City Hall in the area forced the community to move to its current location. However, this is not the only Chinatown in Toronto.

According to Canadian records, the Chinese community grew increasingly since the late 1800s onwards. It began with the creation of a laundry business, then a café, and so on, until the community was big enough to be considered a neighborhood itself.

Around the mid-1900s, Toronto went through a significant migration process, which increased the population of Chinese immigrants in the region.  It led to the creation of more Chinatowns in and around Downtown Toronto including North York and Scarborough, as well as other areas in the Greater Toronto Area.

Fun Fact: Ching Lane is a laneway located north of Adelaide Street. It was named after Sam Ching, the first Chinese migrant ever recorded in the history of the city. He was the first Chinese migrant to own a business on that same street. The acknowledgment was done in 2012 as a way to remind the town of the contributions of the immigrant community.

Today, most Chinatowns have become the social, financial, residential, and cultural center for the Canadian-Chinese community. They have spread along the city enriching the local culture by showing their traditions to all visitors.