On a stretch of Eglinton Avenue West between Marlee and Keele, the rhythm of Toronto’s Caribbean community has echoed for generations. This is Little Jamaica—where bass-heavy sound systems once rumbled from record shops, barbers debated politics over dancehall beats, and the scent of jerk chicken rolled through the streets like smoke at sunrise.
Established by Jamaican immigrants in the 1970s and ‘80s, Little Jamaica became more than just a business strip—it became a cultural heartbeat. For many Black Torontonians, it was the first place that felt like home.
But over the past decade, the beat has slowed.
The years-long construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT left sidewalks broken, businesses boarded up, and foot traffic all but vanished. Some of the neighbourhood’s most iconic shops shut their doors. Rent prices rose. Developers circled.
And yet, the pulse remains.
“They tried to bury us, but we planted roots.”
— Cynthia D., 63, owner of a Caribbean bakery since 1984“We’ve been here. My parents came here with nothing and opened this place. Even when the construction came, we stayed. Because this isn’t just a store—it’s a piece of history.”
“Little Jamaica is more than buildings. It’s sound. It’s flavour. It’s memory.”
— Ishmael K., 37, reggae producer and longtime resident“You walk past a mural, and right there, you remember the first mixtape you bought from a guy on the corner. That’s the kind of magic this neighbourhood has.”
“It’s hard, but we’re still here.”
— Tania S., 29, stylist at a local salon“Sometimes it feels like the city forgot about us. But we didn’t forget each other. Every haircut, every conversation, every patty—that’s how we keep this place alive.”
Community organizers are fighting to preserve what remains. The Black Businesses and Professionals Association (BBPA) has called for rent subsidies and business revitalization funding. Local artists are painting murals that honour reggae icons. And young entrepreneurs are reimagining what Caribbean Toronto looks like in 2025.
From roots to revival, the soul of Little Jamaica refuses to fade.
🗓️ Next Week:
The Real Price of Rent: Voices from Basement Apartments Across the GTA
📍Editor’s Note: Names of individuals quoted in this article have been changed to protect their identity.
Voices from the Six is GTA Weekly’s Sunday editorial series spotlighting the lived experiences of people across the Greater Toronto Area—one story at a time.
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