A Story of Evolution

1. A S T O R Y O F E V O L U T I O N
L E O R A H K L E I N

2. Roncesvalles, like most neighbourhoods in
Toronto, is a story of evolution. Otherwise known
as ‘Little Poland’ this area is broadly considered
the heart of the Polish community in Toronto and
has become home to many beyond the Polish
community. The triangular neighbourhood is
framed by Roncesvalles Avenue on the west,
and extends east to the CNR/CPR railway tracks
from Queen Street all the way to Bloor Street.
(City of Toronto, 2016). Roncesvalles (Roncy)
is an attractive neighbourhood, situated far
enough on the outskirts of the west end to feel
secluded from the city, but connected through
public transportation and a highway to allow
for easy access to the downtown core. In classic
urban fashion – this is both a blessing and a
curse. Access to the city and high quality assets
and services correlate with demand, leading to
rising prices over time, and inevitably, evolving
demographics and retail (Arundel, Clutterbuck &
Cleverly, 2005). An area once known for its deep
Polish roots now may be known as a trendy area
for young families with notable coffee. However,
none of these reputations are exclusive; walking
down Roncesvalles Avenue, you may choose
to sample both a tasty perogi and coffee, and
explore the foundational Polish institutions as
well as the specialty organic food shops.
This story of evolution and growth is fueled by
three main features:
1. Changing demographics
2. Evolving retail
3. Foundational street character
First, we will speak to the development of the
area to provide necessary context on the building
of the Polish enclave. Then, we will delve into
the aforementioned topics, speaking to how
each feature has evolved over time, how it has
contributed to the development of Roncy as a
Polish hub, and how it might play a role in shaping
the future of the neighbourhood.
Source: Roncesvalles Neighbourhood Study 2016
T H E S T O R Y O F R O N C E S V A L L E S

3. Source: City of Toronto Archives Source: City of Toronto Archives Source: City of Toronto Archives
Little Poland
T H E D E V E L O P M E N T O F R O N C Y A S A P O L I S H E N C L A V E
About a century ago, the development of what would become “Little Poland” was spurred through transit;
Roncesvalles Avenue and Queen Street West played an important role as a transit hub, connecting streetcars,
buses and trains (City of Toronto, 2018). It became an even more notable commercial destination in 1922
with the opening of Sunnyside Amusement Park. The development of the surrounding neighbourhood
was always family oriented, initially attracting British immigrants who settled in early Victorian-style homes
(Toronto Neighbourhood Guide, n.d.). The development of the Gardiner spurred the demolition of the
Sunnyside Amusement Park, which led to a decline in commerce and real estate value (Filey, 1996). Rising car
culture also promoted wealthier families to move to newer sub-divisions, creating optimal conditions for a
steady wave of Polish immigration.
World War Two brought a wave of immigration to Canada, and many Polish chose to settle in Roncy
(Roncesvalles Village BIA, n.d.). The influx of immigrants led to the building of key Polish institutions,
beginning with the construction of the St. Casimir’s church, which was completed in 1954 (City of Toronto,
2018). This key landmark attracted many additional Polish immigrants, as well as Polish Torontonians to the
Roncy area, and is a strong example of proactive planning, though it may not have been intentional at the
time. There was a need to build a cornerstone institution that brought people together and built community,
similar to the Catholic churches in Poland (Heydenkorn, 2019). There was great value in a location where
immigrants could speak their language and find familiarity and warmth in an otherwise unfamiliar place
(Sandercock & Attili, 2007).This was the beginning of the development of a Polish ethnic enclave in the Roncy
neighbourhood, stemming from the development of a Polish “residential cluster… that built community life
by developing corresponding institutions, businesses, and services”(Quadeer, 2016, p. 59). The development
of Polish institutions, landmarks, and retail followed St. Casimir’s church including: a Polish credit union,
the Canadian Polish Congress, Polish-inspired monuments, a Polish Senior Home, and numerous Polish
restaurants, bakeries and delis. The Polish community built a vibrant enclave where they could find the taste
of home, and due to the neighbourhood’s excellent connection to the greater city through transit, spatial
and cultural integration were feasible and attainable (Gri, 2010).

4. Source Data: Roncesvalles Neighbourhood Census Profiles 2001-2016
Source Data: Roncesvalles Neighbourhood Census Profiles 2001-2016
Source Data: Roncesvalles Neighbourhood Census Profiles 2016
Source Data: Roncesvalles Neighbourhood Census Profiles 2011-2016
Looking at census data, there is no question that
the demographics in Roncy have significantly
evolved over time, and are likely to continue to
evolve.Though Roncy maintains its reputation as
‘Little Poland,’ from 2001 to 2016, the number of
individuals who identified their ethnic origin as
Polish declined by over 25%, and the number of
individuals who identified Polish as their home
language (spoken most often at home) declined
by over 50% (City of Toronto, 2001-2016). Roncy
is no longer the Polish hub it once was; as of
2016, less than 10% of the Roncy population
identified their ethnic origin as Polish.
Looking specifically at immigration, there
has been a significant drop in the number of
immigrants settling in Roncy. As of 2016 the
populationis67%secondgenerationimmigrants
or more and only 3% of residents immigrated to
Roncy over the last five years (City of Toronto,
2001-2016). Focusing on the mix of immigrants
within the neighbourhood, as of 2016, there are
almost as many Portuguese and UK immigrants
as there are Polish immigrants – and the number
of Polish immigrants overall is declining (City
of Toronto, 2001-2016). This infers that Polish
immigration, settlement and integration
within this area has essentially paused. There
are still recent immigrants moving into the
area, however, there are fewer in number, and
the majority are from India and China (City of
Toronto, 2016).
Changing
Demographics
1

5. The wave of Polish immigration allowed for the development of an urban ethnic enclave with unique character
and a small neighbourhood feel that is attractive to individuals beyond the Polish community. We are currently
seeing a gradual, yet steady decline in Polish residents and an increase in middle and higher-income white
professionals with young families in Roncy (Arundel, Clutterbuck & Cleverly, 2005). This demographic evolution
may be attributed to a number of factors, including rising real estate prices, limiting the affordability of the
neighbourhood, and a rising Polish ethnoburb in Mississauga.
Along with the majority of urban Toronto, heightened demand is leading to rising housing prices, limiting
the population who can afford to live in Roncy. This is driven by strong quality, proximity and accessibility to
neighbourhood assets such as: education, social and recreational services, and mobility and transportation
(Arundel, Clutterbuck & Cleverly, 2005). Another factor to this decline can be attributed to the development of
a Polish ethnoburb in Mississauga. The suburban Polish enclave has presented a more affordable opportunity
to gather as a community, and is home to Polish institutions, retail, and events. Ironically, while roaming around
this year’s Polish festival in Roncy, I noticed that the majority of Polish events, clubs, and stores that were being
advertised were taking place in Mississauga. Mississauga now houses the highest concentration of Polish people
in Toronto (City of Toronto, 2016). This rapidly growing community launched an annual Mississauga Polish Day
in 2015, which attracted over 5,000 guests – this year, it expanded to 32,000, which is a powerful indicator of the
growth of Polish culture and pride in Mississauga (Mississauga Polish Days, n.d.).
Though demographics in Roncy are changing, it does not diminish the cultural significance of Roncy as ‘Little
Poland.’ Its reputation is upheld through the annual Polish festival and staple Polish retail that serves both the
Polish community and infuses Polish culture into the Torontonian multicultural identity. It is hypothesized that
Roncy may see an influx of middle and high income second and third generation Polish Canadians who are
drawn to the historical significance of the area (Siekierska, 2016).
A R T I F A C T S F R O M R O N C Y P O L I S H F E S T I V A L 2 0 1 9 R E F E R E N C I N G
M I S S I S S A U G A E V E N T S / C L U B S / R E T A I L

6. In the heart of the Roncy neighbourhood is its main street,
Roncesvalles Avenue, a commercial strip made up of small
businesses, churches, and institutions. While the Polish
presence in the area remains, it is not as it once was. I spoke
to a number of shop owners and older residents who said
that the area used to have a more of an Eastern European
flair, driven by a different mix of businesses, including
Polish, German and Ukrainian. Now it feels as though there
are all the parts of the world represented on the street,
specifically through food. You can find Thai, Japanese, Italian,
Mexican, Jamaican, and Latin cuisine along this single street.
(Roncesvalles Village BIA, n.d.). There have been a number of
Polish retail closures over the last ten years, including some
staple institutions like Granowska’s, which was a bakery
favourite for almost 40 years. However, it is important to
recognize the staple Polish retail stores that remain. This
includes: Polish eateries (Chopin Restaurant, Café Polonez,
Brenna’s Bakery and Deli), a Polish credit union (St. Stanislaus-
St. Casimir’s Polish Parishes Credit Union Limited), an Eastern
European gift shop (the Old Country Gift Shop), and a Polish
travel agency (Polimex Travel). Beyond retail, there are a
number of staple Polish institutions that remain including
the iconic St. Casimir’s Church, which played a significant role
in drawing the Polish community to the area, a Polish old-
age home called Copernicus Lodge, and the High Park library,
which includes an extensive Polish section. This evolved retail
landscape is a key indicator of the ongoing gentrification
of the area, but also symbolizes how the Polish and greater
Canadian multicultural identities have effectively integrated.
That said, it is critical that there are active parties seeking to
protect the Polish heritage within the Roncy neighbourhood.
Evolving
Retail
2

7. The Roncesvalles Village Business Improvement Area (RVBIA),
established in 1985, plays a pivotal role in preserving Polish
culture, specifically through improving business conditions for
local Roncy businesses, which supports the preservation the
area’s Polish roots (Roncesvalles Village BIA, n.d.). In order to
adequately infuse Polish perspectives into these efforts, Polish
community members are part of the RVBIA and are systemically
involved in place-making initiatives (Quadeer, 2016). The RVBIA
spearheads the largest Polish Festival in North America, which
has been held in Roncy since 2005, and in 2018 attracted over
350,000 visitors for Polish food, music, and live entertainment
(Roncesvalles Village BIA, n.d.). This milestone event celebrates
the Polish contribution to Toronto’s mosaic, bringing the Polish
community together and providing an opportunity for citizens
of all backgrounds and ethnicities to experience Polish culture
firsthand. As the neighbourhood continues to evolve, this festival
will continue to play a key role in upholding Roncy’s reputation
as Little Poland.
T H E R O L E O F T H E R O N C Y B I A

8. As the retail and demographics of the area continue to change, it is critical to identify and protect the
foundations of this neighbourhood, and the characteristics that make it both Roncy and Little Poland. There
are a number of obvious cues within the area, beyond retail, that link Roncy to its Polish heritage including:
Polish signage (a form of reasonable accommodation), Polish historical World War II monuments, as well as a
statue of the Polish Pope, John Paul II. These visual cues uphold the Polish history tied to the area, however
there are certain, more subtle elements that define the character of Roncy. To recognize and preserve this
character, a number of local neighbourhood associations initiated a study to define the character of Roncy
and develop a set of urban design guidelines for the neighbourhood. As of July 2018, City Council approved
these guidelines as an amendment to the official plan, which are intended to clarify and guide intended
direction for future development and area improvements, and outline specific strategies to protect and
enhance the existing character of the neighbourhood (City of Toronto, 2018). This effort captures the
importance of policy and zoning to better support the protection of neighbourhood culture and effective
multicultural planning (Qadeer, 2016).
Foundational
Street Character
3
E X C E R P T S F R O M R O N C Y U R B A N D E S I G N G U I D E L I N E S

9. Source: Rendering of 421 Roncesvalles from Superkul Architecture and Design
There are a number of examples of amendments
to current policy that may alter the current
landscape of the area, but are critical for inclusive
growth of the neighbourhood through a greater
mix of housing. A recent example of this includes
421 Roncesvalles Avenue, a heritage site where
a settlement was reached to build around and
above the building to provide both retail and
residential in a way that complements the
character of the neighbourhood (Perks, 2019).
As the neighbourhood inevitably changes,
the aforementioned guidelines are critical in
safeguarding the character of Roncy.
To ensure the legacy of Little Poland, there
needs to be an explicit effort to preserve Polish
heritage as the makeup of the Roncy population
evolves. This can be achieved through inclusive
engagement focused on residents of Polish
origin, as well as representation of Polish ethnic
entrepreneurs and passionate Polish citizens in
community groups such as the RVBIA, and local
government (Hoernig & Zhuang, 2010). In a city
as multicultural as Toronto, is it inevitable that
demographics and retail will evolve over time.
Ultimately, it’s a combination of active, passionate
stakeholders and supportive policy that will
effectively preserve Toronto’s ethnic enclaves.
I N C L U S I V E G R O W T H A N D C U L T U R E P R E S E R V A T I O N

10. References
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Neighbourhoods. Caryl Arundel and Associates. Retrieved from
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City of Toronto. (2018). Dundas - Roncesvalles Urban Design Guidelines. City of Toronto. Retrieved from
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Heydenkorn, B. (2019, July). Polish Canadians. Retrieved from
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Mississauga Polish Day. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://mississaugapolishday.ca/about/.
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roncesvalles-development-settlement/.

11. Qadeer, M. A. (2016). Multicultural cities: Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles. Toronto: University of
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Roncesvalles Village BIA. (n.d.). Roncesvalles Business Directory. Retrieved from
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