Daryl Gonsalves –
After nearly a decade of anticipation, St. Lawrence Market’s old heart has been restored. Based on the doctor’s diagnosis, the heartbeat is stronger than ever.
On April 5, the newly redeveloped North Market building officially reopened, welcoming the Saturday Farmers’ Market to its historic home and drawing a crowd of eager patrons. The event served as a soft launch, offering a first look at the revitalized space ahead of a grand opening celebration set for Saturday May 10.
After May 10, the building will be open every day of the week for events, exhibitions and programming.
The new North building is a five-storey, multi-use facility that facilitates local commerce and the machinery of government. While upper levels house courtrooms and administrative offices (already operating, according to the City of Toronto website), the ground floor hosts the weekly Farmers’ Market. Beneath it are four levels of underground parking.
While St. Lawrence Market has hosted farmers’ markets since 1803, the decision to redevelop the North building came after years of underuse. Since 2015, during the building’s construction, the Saturday Farmers’ Market operated out of a tent-like structure at 215 Esplanade. It was functional, but always meant to be temporary.
The reopening comes as increasing tensions between Canada and the United States have spurred a growing “Buy Canadian” sentiment. The City of Toronto has launched a “Love Local” campaign, urging Torontonians to shop local to create jobs, generate tax revenue and support public infrastructure.
Torontonians appear to be embracing that message. The first Saturday Farmers’ Market in the new building was bustling with shoppers, local politicians and community influencers. I spoke with two local residents, Rachael and Annie, who enjoyed the opening of the space but had differing opinions on the building’s architecture. One said the abundance of natural light made the space feel especially welcoming and gave the inside the feel of an open-air market. The other said there was too much glass which made the space feel cold and uninviting.
Mayor Olivia Chow, who attended the new building’s first official Saturday Farmers’ Market, emphasized its deeper significance.
“Torontonians are looking for ways to shop local and Buy Canadian as we come together to support local businesses,” she said. “Now more than ever, it’s important to support local farmers and small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. I encourage everyone to come check out the incredible produce, meats, groceries and products available at the market.”
Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre) echoed those sentiments. “The opening of the North Market has been a huge success. I’ve visited the Farmers’ Market several times now and it has been wonderful to see the area so alive with both residents and visitors enjoying the new building,” he said. Councillor Moise stated that his goal is to develop a vibrant pedestrian corridor from pedestrianized Market Street through Market Lane Park to St. James Park. He commented that this vision of the St. Lawrence Precinct will be achieved through the permanent pedestrianization of Market Street and the redevelopment of Market Lane Park,” he said.
A list of new vendors in the St. Lawrence North Building is posted in the vendor directory at stlawrencemarket.com.
