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Local Landmarks & Heritage

  • St. Lawrence Market South
  • St. Lawrence Market North (2025)
  • David Crombie Park
  • The Esplanade

Neighborhood History

St. Lawrence is a downtown Toronto neighbourhood around Front Street East and the Esplanade, taking its name from the St. Lawrence Market and the old St. Lawrence ward. The market dates from November 3, 1803, when Lieutenant Governor Peter Hunter proclaimed it, and in 1845 a joint city hall, police station and market building opened on the south side of Front Street, serving as City Hall until 1899. St. Lawrence Hall, designed by William Thomas and built in 1850–51 as the city's public meeting hall, hosted speeches by John A. Macdonald and George Brown and the 1851 North American Convention of Colored Freemen.

The Esplanade was completed south of Front Street by 1865, and the land around it later filled with warehouses, scrap yards and truck depots. In 1971 the South Market was saved from demolition, and under Mayor David Crombie the city approved a new mixed-income neighbourhood on the old industrial land; construction began in 1977, the first residents arrived in 1979, and its streets extended the grid of the old Town of York.

The St. Lawrence tee is for the neighbours who shop the market on Saturday mornings and call the Esplanade home.

MY-NHD

St. Lawrence - Central Toronto - Unisex Cotton Tee

St. Lawrence - Central Toronto - Unisex Cotton Tee

Regular price $29.95 CAD
Regular price Sale price $29.95 CAD
Sale Sold out

St. Lawrence surrounds the market proclaimed in 1803 on Front Street East in downtown Toronto. South of it, a mixed-income neighbourhood of co-ops, condos and townhouses rose on former industrial land from 1977.

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