Roncesvalles
Nestled between Queen and Bloor, mere minutes from the lake front, is the active west Toronto community of Roncesvalles. Affectionately dubbed “Roncy” by locals, the neighbourhood was originally farmland owned by British Napoleonic war veteran, Colonel Walter O’Hara, who named the area after the Roncesvalles pass in Northern Spain; site of one of his famous battles. In time the rural hamlet grew to become a bustling village, merging with Toronto by the end of the 19th century. In the early 20th century Roncesvalles entered into a construction boom, with numerous houses being built, mostly in the popular foursquare style, to accommodate the influx of upper and middle-class families who were drawn to the area’s family friendly atmosphere. While private homes dominate the area, everything is centered around Roncesvalles Avenue, a several block strip that is home to the shopping, restaurants, cafes, and other small businesses, that make up the heart of this thriving region. Whether it’s relaxing with a fresh cup of coffee at the Alternative Grounds Café, sampling the finest in international or domestic wines at The Fat Cat Wine Bar, Roncesvalles has something to that caters to every taste.
Roncesvalles is also the center of Toronto’s Polish community and is not only home to numerous Polish eateries and grocery stores but is also the location of the Roncesvalles Village Polish Festival, held on Roncesvalles Ave every Autumn. Replete with games, music and amusement rides; it is the largest annual Polish festival in Canada.
The neighbourhood is equipped with every convenience imaginable for the modern family, housing a total of four elementary schools (3 Public and 1 Catholic) as well as a multitude of daycare centers, numerous places of worship and several parks, including Sorauren Park, famous for its Farmer’s Market as well as its annual, Halloween Pumpkin Parade. Roncesvalles is also a veritable transportation hub, linked to the rest of Toronto by many conveniently located bus, streetcar and subway routes. Medical services are nearby too, in the form of the St. Joseph’s Health Centre, a sizable hospital just west of Roncesvalles Avenue that has been serving the community for over a hundred years. Film buffs will love the Revue Cinema, one of Toronto’s oldest movie theatres, still serving Roncesvalles as a repertory cinema, where audience can enjoy both modern movies and the classic films of yesteryear.
Though rich in history, Roncesvalles is still a vital and growing part of Toronto, as is evidenced by its urban renewal project. Made possible by a joint effort of local residents and business owners, along with city planners, the project is now entering its second phase, improving sidewalks, public spaces, roads and streetcar tracks. Once completed, this plan is certain to further vitalize this already energetic neighbourhood, ensuring Roncesvalles remains a lively part of Toronto for many years to come. Roncesvalles has become a hot location in the past few years and is a fantastic place to consider buying real estate in toronto.