Just another few weeks until the clocks go back in North America. I heard that this might be the last year we do that here in Canada. I wonder.
It’s starting to look like autumn/fall. The weather channel says that we are about two weeks behind. This summer didn’t have the long hot weeks that Toronto usually has, and it seems Europe suffered the most. They’re also predicting a milder than usual winter ahead. I hope we won’t send the bitter weather elsewhere.
A few Sundays ago I surprised myself by walking through Little Portugal quite a way. I had meant to do this so often and not made it. I wanted especially to see some of the street art along the way and…mission accomplished, or as best as I could manage. It was punctuated by a snack of bolinhos de bacalhau and instead of a pastel de nata, I opted for a children’s size chocolate ice cream, my weekend treat. This will be a lot of captioned photos, so should be an easy read. First, a little history:
Little Portugal is located west of downtown in the “Old” City of Toronto. It’s a mainly residential area along Dundas Street West with some visibility on College Street. The main or high street of the neighbourhood is along Dundas Street. It was named after Henry Dundas, a Scottish politician, whose name is now controversial since he famously was responsible for delaying the full abolition of slavery, the Slave Trade Act 1807. Dundas Street itself is a major historic arterial road connecting Toronto with the western suburbs and passing through several cities in SW Ontario. It was originally intended as a military route to connect the shipping port of York (now Toronto) to the envisioned future capital of London, Ontario. It has various landmarks as it passes from Leslie through the central Sankofa Square – renamed from Dundas Square – past the Eaton Centre, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and into Chinatown, the Kensington Market area, then through Little Portugal and eventually to the regional centres of Hamilton and London. Toronto has a large Portuguese population, 23%. In Little Portugal itself, over 50% are Portuguese. Portuguese immigrants arrived here beginning in the early 1950s and continued into the 60s. Many of the shop and business signs in the area are in Portuguese, and along the way you’ll see street signs declaring this “Portugal Village” or “Rua Açores.” This was my walk, from home, down to Dundas Street, then along from Ossington Avenue to Lansdowne Road. It’s not very far away.
Walking down Ossington Avenue, past the Child Care CentreI walked down to Harbord Street (a good walk for me) and visited the cyclist tribute, quite the nicest I’ve seen in the city, before hopping on the bus down to Dundas WestA little politicsIn the Portuguese supermarketLove a Feijoada. May consider thisThe famous “hare” street art piece in Toronto is the “Eastern Cottontail” mural created by renowned Portuguese environmental street artist Bordalo II. Artur Bordalo (Bordalo II), famous for constructing large animal sculptures out of recycled trash and discarded local waste to highlight overconsumption and environmental destruction.Rental bike (Tangerine sponsored) stations come with their own solar panels. It intrigues me. Bike Share Toronto says the system heavily relies on solar energy. The art feels Portuguese. Artist unknown (so far)Cheeky street art. Artist unknownThis is the artist whose work I don’t like. Their stuff is everywhere in Little Portugal, so they’re likely Portuguese-Canadian, and elsewhere throughout the city. Each to their own. 1357 Dundas St W Portuguese Fisherman, Pablo West (Looking through sites, it seems more than one artist is using this style.)Love this. PASSAGE is a prominent public mural along Dundas Street West created by artist Brother Moises and curated by the Dundas West Open Air Museum to celebrate migration and resilience
Azores Parkette celebrates the tile. Inaugurated in 2025, establishing itself as a key meeting point and connection for the Azorean community in the cityDining al fresco. Get it while you canLove me some fire escapes. NYC and San Francisco have the best so farSo far this is one of the best utility box art pieces that I’ve seenHmmmmm. Budding artist?1547 Dundas St W, Dundas West, Jose OrtegaAt Sully’s Gym site at 109 Ossington Avenue (just south of Dundas Street West). Painted by artist Ben Lory, the mural commemorates Muhammad Ali training at the gym ahead of his March 1966 bout against Chuvalo, Canadian heavyweight icon. They had two fights, Ali winning both. Coincidentally, the day I walked by, Chuvalo had just diedSt Clarens Parkette. Need to get closer to see the mural next timeSentimental. Canadians are not normally nationalistic, but that’s changingNeed to research this art. The sandwiches are very popular, thoughA garage alley to explore another time1628 Dundas St W, Scratching the Surface, VHILS – “Sra. Idalina Azevedo – Part of my ongoing Scratching the Surface project, this new mural celebrates and honours the Portuguese immigrant women who toiled as janitorial workers in the high-rise office towers in downtown Toronto in the 1970’s. Portuguese “cleaning ladies” have been a constant presence in the lives of countless Portuguese-Canadians as mothers, wives, breadwinners, community members, and activists, and are an example of strength, resilience, perseverance and courage for us all.“Conceiçao by Hanna Lucatelli. Another tribute to Portuguese immigrant women’s contributions to TorontoLula with a peek at 1585 Dundas St W, Lula Lane, Clandestino + FiyaConvenientPortuguese grills are a Toronto stapleResearch to be done for this muralArt by Paula Tikay and AnerBook shop signMore research needed for this mural but it seems to show different immigrants1665 Dundas St W, Violeta’s Guardian, Clandestinos CrewSt. Helen’s ParishI had ice cream hereTiled icon by the ice cream shop, Moon MilkOld styleBit of a rough area near Lansdowne Avenue, where Dundas Street and College Street are only a few steps apartFinal stop. The No Frills Supermarket at Lansdowne Avenue and Dundas Street. Great butcher here
I didn’t capture everything along here. I’m not sure if I’ll go back to get the rest before the snow falls. Time seems short, but I’ll keep going.
