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Hispanic food options in Kensington Market.

Kensington, Market.

During the 1960s and 70s, Latin American immigration to Canada began to arise, and the Latin communities in Toronto began laying their foundations. A decade later, people from all over South America began to immigrate to the city and as a result, the Spanish language became one of the most spoken laguages in the city.

Many of the immigrants who came to settle in Toronto, did so in hopes of it being a temporary solution to the political problems going on back home. Soon enough, they realized that the situation wasn't going to improve and they begin to grow their roots in a new country. With the arrival of the newcomers, there came a need to establish resources and institutions to help them adjust to their new lives, including the simple tasks of going about the city and running errands for them and their families. Thus, organizations such as the Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples, the Hispanic Development Council, Life Skills Centre and the North York Community House were created, each playing an important role for the Latin American community.

Kensington Market became a go-to place for the Hispanic community, as it has been for many other communities throughout Toronto’s history. Latin American's felt free to speak their language, eat their food, and share their traditions and customs, with no fear of being discriminated against but natives of the country. By the 1980s, a dense population of Latin American descent was established along Bathurst Street, between College and Bloor Streets, however, this community today has expanded northwards in the Jane and Finch area.

During the 1990s, many of the immigrants who came to Canada were professionals who had come to attend university and were seeking to increase their professional degrees and language skills. They intended to stay in Canada, be more active in city affairs, conferences and its politics and raise generations to keep the Latin American population growing in Canada, thus leading them to aim for full citizenship.