How Toronto’s Roncesvalles Village Came To Look The Way It Does (VIDEO)

A battle in Spain and Revue Cinema factor into its history.

How Toronto’s Roncesvalles Village Came To Look The Way It Does (VIDEO)

Narcity Media

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Whether you've come to know this Toronto area as Little Poland, or simply recognize it from the movie Hairspray, the Roncesvalles Village in Toronto has a unique history that sets it apart from the .

In this edition of Then&Now, Toronto historian Morgan Cameron Ross traces the evolution of Roncesvalles from its early development to what it is today.

The origin of the area's moniker goes back over 200 hundred years to the Battle of Roncesvalles in Spain, for which the street that runs through the heart of the neighbourhood, Roncesvalles Avenue, was named.

While numerous cafes may be the reason one might pass through that street today, go back almost a hundred years and the reason might likely be to visit the Sunnyside Amusement Park located just below the neighbourhood.

But with the disappearance of this spot - where you'll now find the Gardiner Expressway - as well as others over the years, Toronto proposed late last year that numerous properties in the area be listed on the city's Heritage Register, which may help protect the charm that is Roncy Village.

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    Associate Photo Editor Lance McMillan is a Toronto based photojournalist who is focused on telling stories visually. Lance's photography has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines including National Geographic and his images have earned him awards including a 2nd Place in the 74th Pictures of the Year International (POYi), a Finalist in the 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year, and an Award of Excellence in the 78th Pictures of the Year International (POYi). To Lance, the power of telling stories through not just the written word, but through images, and the passion he has for doing so, cannot be overstated. This is particularly true when it comes to telling stories about nature and wildlife, striving to provide insight into the vulnerability of our environment and its inhabitants.

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