Yonge-Bay Corridor in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Toronto’s First Chinatown
多倫多的首個唐人街
The first Chinese resident recorded in Toronto was Sam Ching, the owner of a hand laundry business on Adelaide Street in 1878. Though immigration to Canada directly from China was restricted after 1885, Ching was eventually joined by Chinese men who migrated from western Canada after helping to build the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway.
Between 1900 and 1925, Toronto's first Chinese community took shape here, around Elizabeth Street which once ran all the way south to Queen Street. 'Chinatown' was a bustling commercial and residential area that included restaurants grocery stores, and traditional clan associations.
根據記載,多倫多的第一個華裔居民是“Sam Ching”。一八七八年,他在 Adelaide 街經營洗衣店。一八几五年後,雖然加拿大政府限制華人從中國直接移居加國,但參與興建橫跨加拿大太平洋鐵路的華人在鐵路完成後,從加拿大西部移居多倫多,最終與“SamChing” 一同居於此地。
在一九零零年至一九二五年之間,多倫多的第一個華人社區在伊麗莎白街一帶建立起來。伊麗莎白街一度向南伸延至皇后街。當時的“唐人街”是一個熙來攘往的商業和住宅區,餐館、雜貨店和宗親會比比皆是。
[2nd panel]
This first Chinatown thrived until the late 1940s, when the City of Toronto began its controversial expropriation of much of the neighbourhood to make room for a new city hall and the future Nathan Phillips Square. Demolition finally took place in 1955. Some Chinese businesses could not afford to re-locate, and closed. Others packed up and moved west along Dundas Street to Spadina Avenue where they became the heart of today's 'Old Chinatown’.
第一個唐人街持續繁榮興旺,直到一九四零年代末期。為了興建新市政大樓和未來的彌敦菲臘廣場,多倫多市政府展開了具爭議性的行動,大幅度徵用該區的土地。拆卸工程最終在一九五五年進行。部分華人商戶因無法遷往其他地方經營而結業,其他商戶則收拾一切,沿登打士街及士巴丹拿大道向西遷移,該處成為今天“舊唐人街”的中心地帶。
Erected 2007 by Heritage Toronto.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.
Location. 43° 39.229′ N, 79° 23.097′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Yonge-Bay Corridor. It can be reached from Chestnut Street. The marker is at the northwest corner of the City Hall grounds, approx. 50 metres from the intersection of Chestnut and Armoury Streets. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Toronto ON M5H M5H, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto and on the Golden Horseshoe. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Winston Churchill (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Winston Churchill (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Winston Churchill (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Winston Churchill (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Winston Churchill (within shouting distance of this marker); A Community Church / Une église communautaire (within shouting distance of this marker); Black Life in St. John's Ward / La vie des Noirs dans le St. John's Ward (within shouting distance of this marker); Jean Lumb, C.M., 1919-2002 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.
More about this marker. The marker consists of two side by side panels
Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 21, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.





