(AGENPARL) – Sat 05 April 2025 City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release
April 5, 2025
City of Toronto welcomes the Saturday Farmers’ Market back to St. Lawrence Market North
Earlier today, Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre) celebrated the first Saturday Farmers’ Market hosted at the new St. Lawrence Market North building. As the original home of the Saturday Farmers’ Market since 1803, St. Lawrence Market North is welcoming farmers back to this historic space, just in time for spring.
The St. Lawrence Market District, which includes St. Lawrence Hall and the North and South Market buildings, has served as a Toronto landmark for more than 200 years – and remains one of the most prominent historical sites in the city.
The redevelopment of the St. Lawrence Market North building has enhanced community spaces for vendors and fostered both social and economic growth in the area.
The redevelopment of the St. Lawrence Market North building has improved the community spaces for vendors, visitors and shoppers, while contributing to neighbourhood infrastructure and engagement.
Since July 2015, the Saturday Farmers’ Market has been operating at 125 The Esplanade, allowing business to continue during the redevelopment of the building which began in 2016.
By blending historical significance with modern amenities, the redeveloped St. Lawrence Market North building will help strengthen the tradition of the Saturday Farmers’ Market and its role in supporting the local economy, promoting small businesses and increasing tourism. With improved accessibility, the building has become a more inviting space for both locals and tourists.
In its new and permanent home, the Saturday Farmers’ Market will continue to foster active participation in the Love Local movement, a citywide call to action that encourages Torontonians to support locally-owned businesses, ensuring that economic benefits remain within the community. When residents shop locally, their dollars contribute to job creation, local tax revenue and infrastructure investments that help maintain the city’s vibrancy and sustainability.
About St. Lawrence Market North
St. Lawrence Market North is a five-story multi-use building with court rooms and administrative spaces on the upper floors, ground-floor Market Hall and four levels of underground parking. The building will be open every day of the week to host events, exhibitions and programming throughout the year.
A grand opening community celebration of the new St. Lawrence Market North building will take place on Saturday, May 10. More information on the celebration will be available in the coming weeks on the St. Lawrence Market website: http://www.stlawrencemarket.com.
The St. Lawrence Market South building continues to operate with its current vendors six days a week, offering countless opportunities to support local businesses.
More information about the St. Lawrence Market North Redevelopment is available on the City’s website: http://www.toronto.ca/north-st-lawrence-market-redevelopment.
Quotes:
“Torontonians are looking for ways to shop local and Buy Canadian as we come together to support local businesses. It was great to visit the beloved Saturday Farmer’s Market in its new location – the St. Lawrence Market North building. 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.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“The new St. Lawrence Market North building brings fresh life to the historic St. Lawrence Market District while preserving the centuries-long tradition of the Saturday Farmers’ Market. I can’t wait to see the community thrive as a destination to Love Local with the new North Market building front and centre.”
– Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre)