Leslieville in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

George Leslie

1804-1893

Photographed by Tim Boyd, February 15, 2026

1. George Leslie Marker

Inscription. Leslieville is named for gardener and businessman George Leslie who established the Toronto Nurseries in this area in 1845. His greenhouses and extensive fields produced everything from flowers to ornamental shrubs and trees. Leslie's trees were transplanted to provide shade in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, in Allan Gardens, and along some Toronto streets. By the 1870s, Toronto Nurseries advertised itself as the largest business of its kind in Canada.

At the same time as Leslie was earning an international reputation as a horticulturalist, he and his family played important roles in the growing community of Leslieville - including that of postmaster in the Leslie Post Office located in their family store. The Leslie legacy lives on in this park, once the family's property. Leslie Grove was the affectionate name given to the now lost, leafy oasis of the Toronto Nurseries.

Erected 2009 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 43° 39.769′ N, 79° 19.985′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Leslieville. It is at the intersection of Queen Street East and Jones Avenue, on the right when

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

traveling west on Queen Street East. The marker is in Leslie Grove Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1160 Queen St E, Toronto ON M4M 1L2, 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 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jefferson Glass Co. Factory (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); The Ashbridge Estate / Le Domaine des Ashbridge (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); Toronto's first professional stadium: Sunlight Park 1886 - 1896 (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); Dominion Square (approx. 2.2 kilometers away); Tank House 10 (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Tank House 11 (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Tank House 12 (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Tank House 9 (approx. 2.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

George Leslie Market photo and caption detail (left) image. Click for full size.

1891

2. George Leslie Market photo and caption detail (left)

George Leslie marker photos and captions detail (right) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, February 15, 2025

3. George Leslie marker photos and captions detail (right)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, February 15, 2026

4. George Leslie Marker

Looking north from Queen Street East

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 28 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 16, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.