Exploring Black History & Culture in Toronto

Over 250,000 Torontonians identify as Black—nearly 10 percent of the city’s population. The contributions of this diverse community stretch far and wide throughout Toronto’s history.

From arts and culture to business and innovation—and let’s not forget food!—the influence of the city’s Black diaspora can be seen in Toronto’s past, present, and future.

Here are some ways to learn more about this rich and vibrant cultural history during Black History Month and beyond.

Explore historic Little Jamaica

The lively strip of Eglinton Avenue West, nestled between Marlee Avenue and Keele Street, has been affectionately known as Little Jamaica since the 1970s, following waves of Caribbean immigration (not exclusively Jamaican) to the area during the 1960s and 1970s.

With an abundance of Jamaican-owned businesses—including restaurants, beauty salons, recording studios, and service providers—this area became a cultural and commercial hub for Toronto’s growing Black population.

Caribana (now known as the Toronto Caribbean Carnival), influential musicians, and renowned entrepreneurs like beauty industry pioneer Monica Lewis all helped establish Little Jamaica as a cornerstone of Black culture in the city.

Must-dos in Little Jamaica:

Snap a selfie in front of the Reggae Lane mural. This 1,200-square-foot artwork by Adrian Hayles was commissioned to celebrate the contributions of Toronto’s reggae artists.
Grab a patty at Randy’s. The debate around Toronto's best Jamaican beef patty has raged for decades, but most locals agree Randy’s belongs at the top of any shortlist.
Enjoy an authentic Jamaican meal at Raps. Opened in 1982, Raps helped anchor Little Jamaica’s food scene and inspired generations of Caribbean-owned businesses in the area.

Celebrate Black arts and culture in Toronto

Toronto’s Black creative community has long shaped the city’s cultural identity. Its influence is felt across music, visual arts, performance, and community spaces throughout the city.

While February shines a spotlight on Black History Month, many Black-led cultural organizations and artists are active year-round—offering exhibitions, performances, and programming that celebrate Black creativity and history beyond a single month.

Jazz, music and live performance

Toronto has a deep history of Black excellence in jazz and live music, from early Caribbean-influenced sounds to contemporary Afro-Cuban, soul, and experimental jazz.

Throughout the year, local venues across the city regularly showcase performances by Black musicians, offering visitors opportunities to experience this living musical legacy in intimate, neighbourhood settings.

Celebrating Black excellence

The RBC Black Diamond Ball is a long-running Toronto event that honours Black excellence across arts, culture, community, and business. Centred on upliftment, education, and mentorship, the ball has become a signature celebration of Black leadership and creativity in the city.

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

Toronto Caribbean Carnival—still known to many by its original name, Caribana—is one of North America’s largest cultural festivals. Held annually in late July and early August, the festival celebrates Caribbean culture through music, food, and its iconic Grand Parade.

With roots dating back more than 50 years, Carnival remains one of the most powerful expressions of Black and Afro-Caribbean culture in Toronto.

Dine at these Black-owned Toronto restaurants

Toronto’s reputation as a global food city is deeply tied to the African and Caribbean diaspora. From West African stews to Jamaican classics and contemporary soul food, Black-owned restaurants continue to shape how the city eats.

Must-Visit Black-Owned Restaurants

The MICHELIN-recognized Conejo Negro has been making waves in Little Italy since opening in 2023, blending Latin, Caribbean, and Creole cuisines. Standout dishes include honey-butter cornbread, vibrant seasonal salads, and banana rum cake.

When a restaurant has been serving its community for close to half a century, you know it’s doing something right. Albert’s Real Jamaican Foods, located at St. Clair Avenue West and Vaughan Road, is a Toronto institution known for its oxtail, jerk chicken, and coco bread.

In Liberty Village, SK Cookks offers a standout taste of Nigerian cuisine, with dishes like goat meat pepper soup, party jollof, and moi moi showcasing bold, comforting flavours.

For American-style soul food, Honey Soul Food is a local favourite, known for its cornbread, baked mac and cheese, and indulgent sandwich platters.

Dive into Toronto's black history at these landmarks

Toronto’s Black history dates back to the early 1800s. Visitors can explore this history through self-guided walking tours, historic plaques, and cultural institutions across the city.

St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in the 1830s and served as a haven for formerly enslaved people who arrived via the Underground Railroad. A plaque marks the original site today, while the congregation continues as Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church on Gerrard Street.

The Village at Black Creek (formerly Black Creek Pioneer Village) offers insight into early settler life in Ontario. The site’s Laskay Emporium tells the story of Benjamin H. Rolling—son of a formerly enslaved Black man and an Indigenous woman—who became one of Canada’s first Black postmasters.

Across Toronto, Heritage Toronto and Heritage Ontario Black History plaques commemorate trailblazers such as Albert Jackson, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, and Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, alongside global figures like Frederick Douglass, Billie Holiday, Etta James, and Muhammad Ali, all of whom left their mark on the city.