Free tour

Discover Kensington Market with Emmy Award-winning Filmmaker

5.00

Excellent(5)

Toronto

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Languages: English

Guru: Patrick

Registered on 1 May 2024

I'm just a typical gay Irish-Ukrainian guy from Northern Ontario long established in the multicultural metropolis of Toronto – a place that the travel writer Jan Morris once characterized, not unkindly as “the second best prize in life”. I’m a two time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, a published author, historical expert and a part time Tour Guide for Toronto and Niagara itineraries. I’ve lived in Toronto’s weirdly wonderful Kensington Market for over three decades and find myself still energized by the city's incredibly diverse, surprisingly harmonious, culturally explosive, constantly changing urban environment. I love my delightful duty of interpreting our deceptively unglamorous city for visitors and newcomers alike!

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

The circuitous streets of Kensington Market have hosted waves of immigration since Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe first gave birth to this creative community around 1900. Although more up-market than before, the Market today maintains its eclectic, electric, eccentric personality characterized by immigrants from all over, by artists and entrepreneurs, fans and filmmakers, hipsters, tripsters, trendoids and other originals from punks to post modern poseurs. We start at my house – a former bagel factory to plan our route over coffee and local pastries then set out through Lois Lane - the graffiti alley adjacent and out into the internecine streets, the muttering retreats of the market where we locate local legends and living celebrities, sample foods and meet merchants, artists and artisans on a walking, tasting, tale-telling tour through the eyes and guise of a long time local.

"No matter your approach, once you crossed College Street or Spadina Avenue or Dundas, you were somewhere else when you entered Kensington Market." (from the Giller award winning novel "Bellevue Square" by Michael Redhill)

Selected Reviews of Patrick's Torontopolitan Tours from Trip Advisor

"See Toronto from the inside! A great day hosted and run by the incredible Patrick. We learned a huge amount and saw Toronto in a totally different light!" - Des (from Scotland) July 2023

"Patrick was Great! Wonderful experience; felt like being amongst friends. This was an amazing experience. Patrick was an outstanding guide teaching us a lot about the area and life in Canada." – Ian S. (from London UK) July 2023

"Awesome day! We had an amazing day with Patrick as our Guide. Really enjoyed learning about local Canadian culture." - Maja R and family, July 2023

Patrick kept us entertained with his local animated stories the whole day. He was quite knowledgeable of the area and its fascinating history. Thank you for your time Patrick and thank you for the donuts! - Mette and Trevor Tingey (from Cambridge, UK) October 2022

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

15 Wales Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 1J2, Canada

We'll meet at the Old Bagel Factory located at 15 Wales Ave on the south side of Bellevue Square Park. I’ll be the guy w the big nose greeting you.

Outside visit

Old Bagel Factory

We will plan our itinerary over coffee and local baking.

Outside visit

Graffiti Alley

We can scoot right outside my backyard gate to see our local mini Graffiti Alley and learn why it is called Lois Lane,

Outside visit

Bellevue Square Park

More Jewish history of the Market is revealed at the King of Kensington statue opposite the Kiever Shul synagogue, original site of Bellevue House, home of the early settler Denison Family who founded the Governor General's Horse Guards military unit. The Square is also the site from which the militia gathered to expel the American Invaders during the war of 1812. You'll also find out why Toronto's history is intertwined with the naming of the iconic White House!

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).