"The Ward: A Neighbourhood That Once Was" Historical Tour

"The Ward (officially St. John’s Ward) was the area in Toronto where early immigrant communities first settled. It was a densely populated neighbourhood in what is now downtown Toronto. The Ward was home to refugees from the Irish Potato Famine, Americans who escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, and Russian and Eastern European refugees. From the late 19th century to the 1920s, it was also the centre of Toronto’s Jewish and Italian communities, and the site of Toronto’s first Chinatown. While few physical traces of The Ward’s history remain, the stories of its former residents and the challenges they faced as newcomers continue to resonate." (Toronto Ward Museum)

Join us for a FREE, public walking tour that will be a good experience for anyone: whether you’re 8 or 80 years old, and whether you’re a curious local, solo traveler, backpacker, part of a small groups of friends, or a newcomer.

ABOUT

Beginning in the Downtown Diversity Garden (89 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON M5G 1P4), the interactive tour will be hosted by your guides Alex Rascanu and Dave Hollands. The tour will focus on the history of the former neighbourhood The Ward with an emphasis on highlighting the lived experiences of former residents. The historical tour will conclude at Butter Baker Market Café (120 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5G 1C3).

WHEN

Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 10:00am. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes.

WHERE TO MEET

The tour will start in the Downtown Diversity Garden (89 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON M5G 1P4).

WHERE IT ENDS

This tour will end at Butter Baker Market Café (120 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5G 1C3), where you can order coffee and/or brunch and spend some more time speaking and connecting with fellow historical tour participants.

ORGANIZED BY

Alex Rascanu advises on Toronto-area commercial and residential real estate acquisitions and sales. He provides expert advice to investors, entrepreneurs, publicly-listed, private and family companies, sponsor-backed businesses and management teams, and lenders. Clients benefit from Alex Rascanu’s expertise and extensive network. Learn more and connect with Alex Rascanu: Rascanu.com.

JOIN OUR MEETUP GROUP

You may enjoy being part of our meetup group, where we post photos from past events and you can discuss with attendees about each of our events: meetup.com/ExperienceTO.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Downtown Diversity Garden, 89 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Canada