Bloor and Bathurst has a rich history as a centre of Black Toronto

Did you know that the neighbourhood around Bloor and Bathurst has a history as a centre of Black Toronto? It actually goes back to before Canada was even a country. Enslaved people in the United States seeking freedom in the North often sought refuge in what was then called Upper Canada. A frequent destination was in the Toronto neighbourhood of Macualytown, later known as The Ward.

The Ward to Bloor and Bathurst

The Ward was in the centre of Toronto, near the current site of City Hall and it was the first place many immigrants to Canada called home. As Black Torontonians found success in their new home, many left the croweded apartments of The Ward for developing Bloor and Bathurst. The large homes offered more space and represented success for Black Toronto. One success story is that of Albert Jackson, who become the first Black letter carrier in Canada. Jackson and his descendants would go on to own many houses around Bloor and Bathurst, including 213, 234, and 238 Brunswick Avenue. 

Bloor and Bathurst, which was later dubbed Blackhurst, remained a hub for Black Torontonians well into the twentieth century. One major development for the community. was the Bloor-Danforth subway. The entrance to Bathurst station became a gathering place, as well as sites of frequent police violence.

Residents were frequently made the victim of police violence and told their stories to Black publications like Contrast. Its office once sat on 28 Lennox Street, now home to large condo development. Near the development is A Different Booklist. An important community hub then and now, A different Booklist provides books that tell Black stories and preserves the heritage of a changing neighbourhood. 

From then to now

While Black businesses and residents remain along Bloor and Bathurst, their presence has grown precarious. By virtue of its historic buildings, transit access, vibrant array of small business, downtown location, its proximity to Queen’s Park and the University of Toronto, Blackhurst has since attracted the attention of young White professionals. One reason Blackhurst has been such a dynamic cultural scene for so long is that the cost of living has been low. Yet, the increase in housing prices and rents that’s come with gentrification has changed that.  

However, Community groups like the Different Booklist Cultural Centre continue to provide educational programing and walking tours telling the Black history of Bloor and Bathurst. The City has also placed a small plaque commemorating one of Albert Jackson’s houses.

However, without already knowing something about Blackhurst and keeping an eye out for these reminders, one could walk through the neighbourhood every day for four years and not know anything of its Black character. I spent that long at U of T not knowing anything about Blackhurst and it would be nice if more was done to the celebrate the often neglected history of a beloved neighbourhood.