Liberty Village is a neighborhood in Toronto, Canada. It is bordered to the north by King Street West, west by Dufferin Street, south by the Gardiner Expressway, east by Strachan Avenue, and northeast by the CP railway tracks.
History
In the 1850s, the Toronto, Grey, and Bruce Railway and the Great Western Railway laid tracks across the community, cutting it off from the rest of the city and altering plans to develop residential areas. Instead, Liberty Village became home to several institutions, including the Toronto Central Prison, opened in 1873, and the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women (on the site of today’s Lamport Stadium), opened in 1878 for women convicted of “vagrancy,” “incorrigibility,” or “sexual precociousness.” Provincial Secretary William John Hanna forced the closure of Central Prison in 1915, and all its buildings were demolished except for the paint shop and chapel. “Liberty Street,” for which Liberty Village is named, was the first street both male and female convicts would walk once freed.
Toronto, CA‘s proximity to the railway tracks led to its growth as an industrial area. In 1884, John Inglis and Company opened a factory to manufacture heavy machinery, boilers, and electrical appliances. Inglis’ success led to its expansion onto Central Prison lands. In 1891, Massey-Harris (later Massey Ferguson) built a factory to produce agricultural implements. Other companies established in the late 19th century included Toronto Carpet Manufacturing, St. David’s Wine, and Ontario Wind Engine and Pump.
Community
In November 2011, a group of citizens formed the Liberty Village Residents’ Association (LVRA) as a collective response to ongoing infrastructure issues and to create social cohesion amongst the more than 25 000 people who call the Liberty Village area home. Within four years, 95% of all Liberty Village condominiums were members, creating six annual events attended by thousands yearly. Bed Bug Exterminator Toronto
In Pop Culture
A documentary film on Liberty Village titled Liberty Village – Somewhere in Heaven was produced and directed by David Sloma for Rockin’ Films. The film was released in 2006 (before much of the current development was completed) and features interviews with longtime Liberty Village residents Corky Laing (who provided music for the soundtrack via his band Cork), Taffi Rosen, photographer/videographer, as well as other artists, business owners, and workers in the area. The film was made partly with the support of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) through their Filmmaker Assistance Program.
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