The Cabbagetown Residents Association (CRA) was established in 1967. It is a volunteer organization that represents residents living in the area of Cabbagetown bordered by:
- Gerrard Street to the South
- St. James Cemetery to the North
- Parliament Street to the West
- Don River to the East
A number of other Residents Associations also exist across Cabbagetown, representing residents in other catchment areas:
Cabbagetown South Residents' Association
Winchester Park Residents’ Association
Aberdeen Avenue Residents Group
The CRA helps build community by focusing itself on several key areas:
- Hosting annual community events
- Promoting safety and security
- Championing neighbourhood issues
- Representing the community with the City
- Sharing local news and information
All residents, homeowners and renters living in Cabbagetown who believe it is important to improve safety and enhance our general quality of life within the community are welcome to join us.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge that the area we refer to as Cabbagetown today lies on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. We also acknowledge that this land is covered by Treaty No. 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
We recognize that indigenous peoples inhabited these lands long before colonization and little of this history is known, told, or honoured. We are committed to learning more and bringing light to the past and present contributions and the connections indigenous peoples have to this land.
A POTTED HISTORY OF CABBAGETOWN
Cabbagetown really was once a town of cabbages. But those days are long gone and today this shaded community beside the Don Valley is one of Toronto's most interesting downtown neighbourhoods.
The name Cabbagetown can be traced to the 1840s, when waves of emigrants fleeing the famine in Ireland arrived in Toronto with many settling into the area between Parliament Street and the Don Valley. Hungry and poor these people grew root vegetables and cabbages in the thin sandy soil. With cabbages being their most visible garden vegetable, the name Cabbagetown was coined.
The neighbourhood that evolved out of those hard times is dense and delightful. Small cottages share narrow shaded streets with tall Victorian homes. Parliament Street has always been the core of the neighbourhood, today featuring shops, restaurants and cafes. While out of place today, the name Parliament Street dates back to the earliest days of Toronto, when Upper Canada's first Legislature was located near the intersection of Parliament and King Streets.
Through its recorded history and continuing transformation, Cabbagetown has been home to an amazing group of Canadian personalities who, in both big and small ways, have left their imprint on the community and the nation. These individuals are honoured by blue heritage plaques placed on or in the front gardens of their former residences.
Today's Cabbagetown accommodates a diverse population and represents what a good city neighbourhood should be: lively, attractive and full of character.
You can find our more about Cabbagetown and its rich history at the Cabbagetown Preservation Association. You can also read the City of Toronto neighbourhood profile of Cabbagetown (last updated in 2016)