#ExperienceTO: Leslieville Historical Tour

About Leslieville: "Leslieville began with a highway toll and a thirst for commerce. In the 1830’s, workers paved Queen Street east with planks. It became a toll road. Stage coaches and travelers had to stop at a toll booth, where the Duke of York is now. Like service centres on today’s expressways, entrepreneurs came to serve travelers who needed to water and feed their horses in stables and replace lost horse shoes in the blacksmith shops. Wayfarers also rested, fed and watered themselves. By 1852, the village boasted three hotels, a blacksmith shop, and several general stores. When George Leslie, owner of Canada’s largest tree nursery, took over the Post Office and general store, Leslieville was born. As Toronto’s population exploded in the 1850s, farmers subdivided their fields into small lots. Here market gardeners grew fruit and vegetables to feed the city. Meanwhile others found clay deposits and turned out bricks to build Toronto. Drovers herded cattle, sheep and hogs along the road from the surrounding countryside. After they reached the tollgate, they turned their weary, hungry animals loose on the grass along Ashbridges Bay to fatten and Leslieville’s butchers supplied steaks, chops, sausages, bacon, etc. to feed “Hogtown”. By the 1880s, abattoirs, nurseries, and brickyards became Leslieville’s major employers. Others cut ice and fished on Ashbridge’s Bay. Small shops provided necessities from sewing needles to shoes. Soon professionals such as doctors and pharmacists came to care for the body and clergymen to care for the soul. And so Leslieville grew until in 1884 it became part of the City of Toronto and large industries began to locate in the East." (Leslieville BIA)

Join us for a FREE, public walking tour that will be a good experience for anyone: whether you’re 8 or 80 years old, and whether you’re a curious local, solo traveler, backpacker, newcomer, or part of a group of friends.

ABOUT

Beginning in front of the Toronto Public Library - Jones Branch (118 Jones Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 2Z9), the interactive tour will be hosted by your guide Alex Rășcanu. The tour will focus on Leslieville's history. The historical tour will conclude at a nearby coffee shop.

WHEN

Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 10:00am. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes.

WHERE TO MEET

The tour will start in front of the Toronto Public Library - Jones Branch (118 Jones Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 2Z9).

WHERE IT ENDS

This tour will end at a nearby coffee shop, where you can order coffee/tea/brunch and spend some more time speaking and connecting with fellow historical tour participants.

FACILITATOR

Alex Rășcanu is a Torontonian, a husband, a father of four, and an avid student of our city's history. Stay in touch with him on LinkedIn / X / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube.