Changing Chinatown Walking Tour
This walk explores Toronto's Spadina Avenue and its changing demographics, and how they overcame challenges to thrive.
Date and time
Location
Huron Square
Huron Square Toronto, ON M5T CanadaRefund Policy
About this event
- 1 hour 30 minutes
Discover the past and present along Spadina Avenue: the shifting demographics that saw a thriving Jewish community transition to Toronto’s Chinatown; the advocacy that cancelled destructive expressway plans and now guides efforts to preserve the neighborhood’s cultural heritage; and the evolving definition of public space and art that grounds the community and its shops, homes, and businesses.
This tour will be led by Emerging Historian Jingshu Yao.
Start Point: Huron Square (Huron Street & Dundas Street West) Our staff and volunteers will be at the tour's starting location 30 minutes prior to each tour. Please arrive at least 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the tour to allow time for check in.
End Point: Julius Deutsch Park (40 Cecil Street)
Length of Tour: Approximately 90 minutes
Distance and Terrain: This tour is approximately 1.1 kilometers in distance and takes place predominantly on paved city sidewalks and streets. There are some unpaved portions of the route that take place in city parks.
Registration is required for all tours. Please note: you will not be able to join a tour group if you have not registered ahead of time.
This tour uses individual audio headsets. All registered participants will be provided with an individual headset that will allow you to hear the tour guide throughout the tour.
Frequently asked questions
The closest streetcar stop is located at Spadina Ave at Dundas St West North Side (510). The closest subway station is St. Patrick station, which is an 8 min walk away. For parking, the closest Green P is located at 40 Larch St, Toronto, ON M5T 3J6.
If you're running late for a tour and the tour has already left the starting location, look for the Heritage Toronto flag and group around the start location. You can also call us at (647) 542-3450.
Tours run rain or shine, so feel free to bring your umbrella or other rain gear. We will contact you if a tour is cancelled.
After the tour, you will receive a post-tour survey through an Eventbrite email. Please feel free to fill out the survey and give us feedback about your tour experience!
We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and considering bringing sunscreen and water to make your tour as enjoyable as possible.
As a walking tour, there are limited opportunities to sit throughout the tour and participants will be standing/walking for the majority of the tour, although there may be benches and ledges along the way! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about accessibility.