Colors of Kensington Market Photo Essay

Motorized vehicles make space for pedestrian and bikers on Sundays.

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We are introducing a brand new series of Photo Essays! Have a look at amazing Photo Sets all shot by talented photographers. Explore the vibe of the city, its hidden treasures, meet the Torontonians! This time, let’s have a look at Toronto through the lens of Dave Bottoms!

Kensington Pedestrian Sundays Festival 2012 filled the streets.

Kensington Market

Kensington is possibly one of the most photographed neighbourhoods in the whole of Toronto! This vibrant, multicultural community in downtown Toronto is a living legend with its many specialty stores, weekend markets, and never-ending list of events coming up. Shopping in Kensington is highly addictive, bringing you some of the best specialty stores and markets in town! is bordered by College Street to the north, Spadina Avenue to the east, Dundas Street West to the south, and Bathurst Street to the west.

A little bit of Kensington’s history: In the early twentieth century, it was also known as the “Jewish Market.” The area’s inhabitants of Jewish and Italian descent sold imported goods from Europe and operated small specialty stores and bakeries. After the second World War, new people started moving in — mostly immigrants from Azores, the Caribbean, and East Asia — and with Chinatown just around the corner, more different elements were added to the neighbourhood so that it became today’s exciting cultural mixture. A brief threat to tear down all the houses was luckily stopped with the election of David Crombie as Mayor of Toronto, who was strictly against this initiative. The market has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada since 2006.

Pedestrian Sundays 2012

Kensington Market offers a great mix of food stores with a variety of goods, bakeries, stores selling discount clothes and vintage goods, upscale cafes, and restaurants or clubs. Did you know that This Ain’t the Rosedale Library, Canada’s most famous independent bookstore, has called Kensington home since 2010? Fewer cars enter the narrow streets on Sundays and on late afternoons, when the streets fill with pedestrians enjoying their neighbourhood on foot. Since 2004, the annual tradition of Pedestrian Sundays takes over during the summer, allowing everyone to wander at will! Kensington Avenue, Baldwin Street, and Augusta Avenue are closed to motorized traffic. Take in the cheerful atmosphere of live music, dancing, street theatre, games, and a pedestrian extravaganza as we visited the Pedestrian Sunday of 29th July this year!

If you’d like to join, we have good news! The last Pedestrian Sundays Festival takes place from 12:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on September 30th!

Live Music parade as a part of the weekend show.

Everyone wanted to have the best view of the street parade!

DJ playing a tune while you shop at an outdoor fleamarket

Kensington is famous for many street art pieces that define the neighbourhood.

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Meet the Photographer

 

 

Dave Bottoms

Born and raised in Toronto’s Eastern beaches area. Specializing in street and portrait photography, Dave has been capturing the hustle and bustle of downtown life in Toronto since 2009. Dave regularly takes on photography assignments for Local Magazine. When not out with his camera, Dave writes for and edits a national trade magazine for a professional home inspection association.

Contact: dave@lazyphotographer.ca