Most of the neighbourhood's eclectic shops, cafes, and other attractions are located along Augusta Ave. and neighbouring Nassau St., Baldwin St., and Kensington Ave.

In addition to the Market, the neighbourhood features many Victorian homes, the Kensington Community School, Bellevue Square and Toronto Western Hospital.

Denison used the area now known as Bellevue Square Park as a parade ground for his volunteer cavalry troop, which he commanded during the Upper Canada Rebellion.

[6] During the early twentieth century, Kensington became populated by eastern European Jewish immigrants and some Italians, who moved there from "The Ward", an overcrowded immigrant-reception area between Yonge Street and University Avenue.

The Ward's residents moved west of Spadina Ave to enjoy less population density, better housing conditions, and opportunities to create storefront businesses.

During the 1950s, a large number of immigrants from the Azores, fleeing political conflict with the regime of António de Oliveira Salazar, moved into the area and further west along Dundas Street.

The arrival of new waves of immigrants from the Caribbean and East Asia changed the community, making it even more diverse as the century wore on.

During the 1980s and 1990s, identifiable groups of immigrants came from Central America, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Iran, Vietnam, Chile and other global trouble spots.

The market resisted the recession of the 1980s partially thanks to a floating population of students attending George Brown College, which was where the Kensington Lofts are today.

George Brown College sold the property in the mid-1990s and without the extra student traffic, many stores were victims of the recession of the mid to late 90s.

In addition, many Portuguese store owners were by that time too old to continue working their small shops, which led to abundant vacancy and invited a new wave of immigrant entrepreneurs.

Jumbo Empanadas was one of the first to spice up the flavours of the market from a cart; later moved into a basement close to Nassau, and then to its current location.

All other Latin shops started selling their Pupusas, and by 2000, a young couple of entrepreneurs opened the first taqueria in Canada, calling it "El Trompo".

[11] Today the neighbourhood is a noted tourist attraction, and a centre of Toronto's cultural life as artists and writers moved into the area.

The new developments must adhere to these guidelines which include: Through city policy, the Kensington uniqueness will be upheld for all to enjoy.

Typically taking place on the last Sunday of every month, this type of event has been organized on half a dozen weekends a year since 2005.

[15] Some notable landmarks include the Number 8 Fire Station, Tom's Place, Bellevue Square Park with a statue of actor Al Waxman, and St. Stephen's Community House.

[16] His uncle, Louis Roterbergh, a master violinist, taught him the violin, and was reputed to play at the house at Baldwin as crowds gathered below to listen.

Bellevue Square contains a plaque given to Kensington Market in 2006 officially recognizing it as a national historic site.

Originally built in 2006 by local advocacy group Streets are for People, the car is a public art piece that doubles as a community garden.

[17][18][19] The area is filled with a mix of food stores selling an immense variety of meats, fish and produce.

[20] In recent years, the neighbourhood has seen a small explosion of upscale cafés, restaurants and clubs, replacing many of the older ethnic businesses.

[21] Businesses such as Manifestudio, a photo gallery and eco-politics community space run by GlobalAware Independent Media, help create an environment friendly to radical politics.

Over the past two decades, several alternative bookstores have flourished in Kensington Market, including Who's Emma, the Anarchist Free Space, and Uprising Books.

[22] One of Canada's most famous independent bookstores, This Ain't the Rosedale Library, also moved to Kensington from Church and Wellesley in 2008.

This carnival parade of giant puppets, firebreathers, stiltwalkers and samba musicians was created and founded by Ida Carnevali in 1987 as a way of beckoning the return of the sun on the longest night of the year.

Canadian singer-songwriter Murray McLauchlan mentions Kensington Market in his 1975 song "Down By The Henry Moore."

[27] Played by puppeteer Ali Eisner, Mamma Yamma teaches children about food-related subjects such as nutrition, table manners and basic mathematics, and also often incorporates celebrity and musical guests.

There are several stores situated around the Market that sell Rastafarian cultural items, including a small flea-market.