Situated west of High Park, Roncesvalles Village is a popular neighbourhood in western Toronto. With parks and a wide selection of schools, the neighbourhood is family friendly. With Bloor Street in the north and Queen Street in the south, you are well connected to the city’s prime streets.

When you move to Roncesvalles Village, you are joining an established neighbourhood with character. The area is blessed with plenty of recreational opportunities. To the west, you will find one of Toronto’s greatest parks - High Park. If you`re looking for a park off the beaten path, take a look at Sorauren Park. With support from the Friends of Sorauren Park organization, you will find sport events for children, the Sorauren Farmers’ Market and other activities. The wealth of community organizations active in Roncesvalles highlights just how much pride residents take in their neighbourhood. Book lovers will find a lot to love in Roncesvalles. She Said Boom (393 Roncesvalles Ave) stocks a selection of music, used books and DVDS. Opened in 2007, A Good Read (341 Roncesvalles Ave) offers books, t-shirts and gifts. These stores are a great place to explore when you`re looking for something unusual or a great deal on a second hand book. For an eclectic mix of children’s books and social justice titles, visit Another Story Bookshop (315 Roncesvalles Avenue). If you`re not in the buying mood, visit the High Park Branch of Toronto Public Library (228 Roncesvalles Avenue). Notable for its collection of French and Polish books, you can also find public computers and a community room for events.

The character of Roncesvalles`s people is gradually changing as new people move in. However, you will still find residents of Polish, Hungarian and Portuguese heritage well represented. Couples with children make up nearly half of the population so you can expect to meet families and children around the area. Over sixty percent of residents were born in Canada (compared to 49% for Toronto as a whole) which gives the area added stability.

What kind of housing options are most popular in Roncesvalles? Apartment housing is the most popular housing option in Roncesvalles. About one quarter of residents live in either detached or semi-detached homes so that option is available to you as well. Many of the area’s brick homes were built decades ago so you have the opportunity to find a classic home in the area instead of a unit in a glass tower. In late 2016, a house in the area was listed for less than $1 million. The result? The Globe & Mail put it this way: Buyers flock to sub-million Roncesvalles home. You can expect to pay a seven figure price for most houses in the area. Roncesvalles condo prices range considerably depending on size. Studio condo units can be had for less than $400,000. On the other hand, two bedroom condos have recently been selling for close to $800,000. In the past year, less than fifty condos have sold in the area.

Roncesvalles is a perfect for exploring by foot. As you explore the Roncesvalles Ave, you will find small shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy. Families with strollers are a common sight as more and more young families find the area. Popular places to go include The Mercantile (297 Roncesvalles Ave) for gifts and specialty foods and Hopgood`s Foodliner (325 Roncesvalles Ave), a well-known restaurant for Maratime style seafood. If you`re looking for something different from Starbucks, you`re in luck – the area is home to a number of cafes like the Lit Espresso Bar.

In the late 19th century, John Howard, a noted surveyor and architect, chartered the area now known as Roncesvalles Village. In the early 1900s, people began to move into the area and settle. For first half of the century, most of the area’s residents were of British ancestry. After World War Two, large numbers of Polish immigrants moved to the area. That heritage lives on today in the annual Roncesvalles Polish Festival. The Roncesvalles Village Historical Society offers public events, historical photos and other details on the area’s origins. The Society is active in preserving the neighbourhood’s physical heritage such as Sorauren Park and advocating for more beautiful spaces throughout the city.

Roncesvalles residents enjoy access to multiple elementary and secondary schools. At the elementary level, you will find French immersion programs offered at Fern Ave Public School and Howard Park Public School. Both schools are noted for extracurricular programs in art, dance, book clubs, and math enrichment. The local Catholic school - St Vincent de Paul Catholic School – organizes musicals, charitable programs and athletics for students. Parkdale Collegiate Institute is the main public high school in the area. It is noted for offering the International Baccalaureate program. Several private and independent schools serve Roncesvalles families. Mary, Mother of God school is an independent Catholic school (Grade K-12) known for its leadership programs and passion for the Commonwealth Essay Contest, the Poetry in Voice event and other competitions. High Park Gardens Montessori School (Grades JK to 8) offers bus service to students and an after-school program. For an in-depth French language educational experience at the high school level, take a look at École secondaire Toronto Ouest (part of the Viamonde organization).

Getting to and from Roncesvalles Village is easy. TTC passengers have the option of getting on the subway at Keele and Dundas West stations. You can also access the streetcar on Queen St. For longer trips, consider taking the GO service from the GO Bloor station. From Keele Station, you can reach the Rogers Centre in about 40 minutes (15 minutes, in good traffic, if you prefer to drive). If you need to leave the city for the suburbs and beyond, you will find the Gardiner Expressway just south of the neighbourhood.