Roncesvalles History

A History of Roncesvalles Village

Much of the land west of Roncesvalles was once part of Sunnyside Farm, owned by John Howard, Toronto’s first surveyor and one of Canada’s greatest architects. In 1873, Howard donated a large parcel of land to the City of Toronto. In 1890, he also donated his beloved Colborne Lodge and the surrounding land. These great gifts formed most of what is today High Park, the largest park in Toronto.

Colonel Walter O’Hara owned most of the land on the east, living on a large estate he named West Lodge. He named Roncesvalles after the gorge where he fought during the Napoleonic Wars.

Residential homes began to appear from the early 1900s as Toronto experienced a massive building boom. For the first half of the 20th century, Roncesvalles residents were mostly of British origin. In the post WWII years, a large number of Polish immigrants settled in the area, setting up churches, banks and businesses which remain important local institutions.

Roncesvalles Village Today

Today, Roncesvalles Village is a diverse, vibrant community, attracting people of all backgrounds. You can see new parents pushing strollers, as seniors enjoy a quick walk to High Park. Artists and musicians bring vitality and creativity to the neighborhood, helping to sustain historic cultural venues such as the Palais Royale and the Revue Cinema, one of Canada’s oldest movie houses.

In 2009 Roncesvalles Avenue began a process of significant renewal, a massive construction project that saw the replacement of lots of old infrastructure, and the creation of one of Canada’s most innovative streetscapes, with an expanded pedestrian realm, unique bicycle ramps, dozens of trees planted at grade in first-rate growing conditions up and down Roncesvalles Avenue, and two dozen new on-street gardens. After three season of gruelling construction, we now see the payoff. The New York Times calls Roncesvalles “one of the City’s most engaging strolls,” and we’re sure you’ll agree!

Make History. See you at the Festival.

Roncesvalles Polish Festival – September 14 and 15 2013