10 Interesting Facts about St James Town

By Sharleen Chebet
(Sharleen is a youth journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre)

St Jamestown is a neighborhood located in Toronto’s downtown core.  The neighbourhood, composed of a diverse and resilient culture, represents the best of Toronto.  Here some facts you didn’t know about St. James Town

Fact 1
It’s the most densely populated neighborhood in Canada.
The population of St Jamestown is officially listed as 17,000 residents but estimates say there could be 26,000 residents living here.

Fact 2
St. James Town is one of the smallest neighborhoods in Toronto.
With a land area of just 0.23 kilometres comprised of 17 high rises, explains why St. James Town explains why St. James Town is regarded as one of the smallest and most densely populated neighbourhoods!

Fact 3
St. James Town was once known as the Homewood Estate.
Yes, back then it was occupied by upper middle-class residents and the homes and had more in common with Rosedale. Once the car became popular most of the wealthy left for the suburbs.

Fact 4  
The first Pizza Pizza location was opened in St James Town.
Yep! The first ever Pizza Pizza location is located on Wellesley and Parliament. Founder Michael Overs opened the location in December 31, 1967.

Fact 5
The local high school serving St. James Town is the oldest in Toronto.
Jarvis collegiate was founded in 1807, which makes it the second oldest high school in Canada just 2 years behind The Saint Johns school in New Brunswick which was founded in 1805. Jarvis even has memorials of students who died in World War 1 and World War 2.

Fact 6
Parking in St. James Town is extremely difficult  
With just 1 square metre per person according to CBC analysis, St. James Town has the least amount of parking space per capita of any neighbourhood in Toronto.

Fact 7
Princess Diana has visited St. James Town.  
Back in 1991 Princess Diana visited Casey House, a hospice located on Isabella street.

Fact 8
St. James Town might be getting a park with a halo light.
Yesss! Our very own St James Town West Park is currently going through a ‘revitalization’. One of the construction designs planned is a large halo light installation. If everything goes as planned construction will begin mid – 2022.

Fact 9
The St. James Town Cemetery is the oldest cemetery that is still been used in Toronto.
The St. James Town Cemetery was founded in 1844 for the burial of people of the  Anglican faith. At that time, most of the city's population of lived south of  Queen Street West, and the cemetery's location was regarded during as being outside the city limits. Today the cemetery serves people of all faiths.

Fact 10
St. James Town once possessed tallest mural in the world.
The Phoenix, is a mythical bird associated with the sun. The mural of the Phoenix located at 200 Wellesley Street in St. James Town represents the rebirth and resilience of our community. The building was chosen because of the 2010 fire that displaced 1000 residents. The idea for the mural rosed from an arts group, which in 2013 had been working with a handful of kids who lived in the building.
 
How many of these facts did you already know?