and
New Street. By 1803, the population of
York, Upper Canada had increased to the point where a public market was needed. Upper Canada
Lieutenant Governor Peter Hunter established a weekly market day and designated an area. His proclamation appeared in the November 3, 1803 issue of
The Upper Canada Gazette saying, “Whereas great prejudice hath arisen to the inhabitants of the town and township of York, and of other adjoining townships from no place or day having been set apart for exposing publicly for sale, cattle, sheep, poultry and other provisions, goods and merchandise brought by merchants, farmers and others for the necessary supply of the town of York, and whereas great benefit and advantage might be derived to the inhabitants and others by establishing a weekly market at a place and on a day certain for the purpose aforesaid;” The original market was known as Market Square and people gathered there on Saturdays at the corner of King Street and New Street, (today's Jarvis St) stretching west to Church Street and south to Palace (today's Front St), with a creek running through the center from King south to the bay. The plot set aside for the market was . The market square was the centre of the city's social life where auctions took place and public punishments were carried out. and
St. Andrew's Market on the block between Richmond, Adelaide, Brant and Maud streets was built in 1850 and is now a park. The first St. Lawrence market building, a temporary shelter, by was built in 1814. The first permanent structure was built in 1820. In 1823, the town's first public well was dug on the property. In 1831, the wooden market building was torn down and a quadrangular brick building with arched entrances at the sides was built. The building's office space served as a temporary home to City Council until 1845. This building was used until the
1849 Toronto Great Fire destroyed the northern side of the building and it was torn down. After the fire,
St. Lawrence Hall was built, along with a new market building between it and Front, the first to be known as St Lawrence Market. It was an arcade in a north–south orientation. To finance the new construction, the City of Toronto sold lots on the market block. In the 1850s, the railways arrived in Toronto, and rail lines were extended along Front Street to the market. These lines were relocated to the new Esplanade south of Front Street and a passenger station was erected. The present St. Lawrence Market South building was built in 1845 as Toronto City Hall and was rebuilt in 1850. The new North Market building houses underground parking, a court house, the traditional Saturday Farmers' Market and other events such as the regular Sunday 'antique' market. The courthouse opened in March 2025 and the Farmer's Market in April. St. Lawrence Market was named the world's best food market by
National Geographic in April 2012. The St. Lawrence Market was historically open from Tuesdays to Saturdays. The market was planning on opening Sundays as well, beginning on March 15, 2020. However, this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Sunday opening did not start until summer 2022. ==See also==