The Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) is pleased to announce that the Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour is returning for its sophomore year in Toronto after a hugely successful and sold-out run in 2024. The interactive tour guides participants through Eglinton West’s cultural district, where they can explore shops, restaurants, art, and music.
This free guided tour begins at 2353 Dufferin Street and ends at Marlee Avenue. Dive into the historical landmarks of Little Jamaica while listening to tracks by local artists. Stops featured include Jimmy Wisdom’s Barbershop, Sunshine Sounds, Monica’s Beauty Salon, Rap’s Restaurant, Reggae Lane, and more.
This year’s tour will also include stops at select food locations, allowing participants to enjoy various Caribbean dishes and neighbourhood favourites.
Now, back by popular demand, the 2025 dates are July 13th and 27th, August 3rd and 17th, and September 7th and 21st.
As the first music-focused walking tour in Little Jamaica, the CBMA rocked sold-out tours throughout the 2024 summer season and captured the attention of several organizations including CBC Radio, CBC TV, City TV, Global TV, AMI TV, Talk 1010 radio, 105.1FM, Jazz FM, the Toronto Star, Caribbean Camera, and The Jamaica Gleaner.
The area known as ‘Little Jamaica’ stretches along Eglinton Avenue West from Marlee Avenue to Keele Street. With the influx of immigrants between the 1960’s to 1990’s, it became home to many people from the Caribbean. They opened several businesses, including beauty salons, record stores, studios, and restaurants.
The strip attracted the biggest names in the industry. Not only was it home to reggae, but it also housed calypso, dub, ska, and rocksteady, among other music genres. Behind these genres were community greats such as Leroy Sibbles, King Culture, Nana McLean, Jay Douglas, Jackie Mittoo, and many more.
Join the CBMA on this educational tour and discover the many culturally significant contributions this enclave has to offer. Special thanks to the York-Eglinton BIA.
This project has been funded by the City of Toronto’s Main Street Innovation Fund as part of the Government of Canada's support through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
