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What Toronto looked like in the 1980s Through these Fascinating Photos

In the early 1980s, Toronto surpassed Montreal in population with a population of 3 million versus 2.8 million for Montreal. Several factors contributed to Toronto’s growth over Montreal, including substantial immigration, especially from Asians and African Americans, the growing auto industry in Southern Ontario after the Auto Pact was signed with the US in 1965, a calmer political environment, lower personal income taxes than in Quebec (Quebec experienced two referendums on separation during these years, one in 1980 and one in 1995). Most Canadian companies have their head offices in Toronto, which also became the corporate capital of Canada.

During the 1980s, manufacturing jobs in Toronto had become more specialized (e.g., electronics), and the significant shift was to service jobs as Toronto became a major financial, administration, real estate, insurance, educational, wholesale, retailing, and tourism destination. Five of the six national banks were located in the city, making it the nation’s financial capital. Consequently, the town saw high-density core development and suburbanization, which increased the need for public transportation.

Here are some stunning vintage photos that will take you back to the 1980s in Toronto. It seems like the 1980s were not too distant from today, but they were different. It was a large city, but it still felt like a small town. The environment seemed safe, clean, and endlessly exciting.

#4 Premium gas station, Lake Shore Road, 1980

Premium gas station, Lake Shore Road, 1980

#5 South-east corner, Carlaw and Danforth avenues, 1989

#7 Kensington Market, 1980s

Kensington Market, 1980s

#11 A photo from the modern day, featuring a 1980s-era police car from Metro Toronto.

A photo from the modern day, featuring a 1980s-era police car from Metro Toronto.

#14 Pape Station, Toronto, 1983

Pape Station, Toronto, 1983

#17 Overlapping signs in Chinatown.

Overlapping signs in Chinatown.

#20 Markham Street looking north to Bloor Street, 1982

#21 Exhibition Place game stall, 1980

Exhibition Place game stall, 1980

#22 Dundas Street and Pacific Avenue, looking north, 1987

#24 Akropol Greek Bakery, 458 Danforth Avenue, 1987

Akropol Greek Bakery, 458 Danforth Avenue, 1987

#26 PCC streetcar 4392 on Church Street, south of Richmond Street, 1980

#27 South-west corner, Dundas Street and Pacific Avenue, 1987

South-west corner, Dundas Street and Pacific Avenue, 1987

#30 Looking east from the bridge over the Don River, June 2, 1981

#31 Looking east at Queen and Leslie, June 6, 1981.

Looking east at Queen and Leslie, June 6, 1981.

#33 The Flatiron building with Derek Michael Besant’s mural looking quite fresh, 1980s

#34 A postcard featuring Exhibition Stadium, 1980s

A postcard featuring Exhibition Stadium, 1980s

#37 Queen and Spadina, Toronto, 1985

Queen and Spadina, Toronto, 1985

#41 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1980

Yonge Street, Toronto, 1980

#44 The Silver Rail, 1980

The Silver Rail, 1980

#47 Spadina and Wellington, 1983

Spadina and Wellington, 1983

#51 King near Shaw Street, 1980s

King near Shaw Street, 1980s

#52 Looking across the Massey Ferguson lands on King West, 1980s

#54 Dundas and Mavety streets, 1980s

Dundas and Mavety streets, 1980s

#56 Looking east across King from Duncan Street, 1980s

#57 King and Simcoe streets, 1980s

King and Simcoe streets, 1980s

#61 Queen and Beverley, looking west, June 7, 1981.

Queen and Beverley, looking west, June 7, 1981.

#62 Dead quiet Queen and Spadina in late summer. September 27, 1981.

#63 A harsh and modern-looking Queen and Bay during a snowstorm. March 13, 1980.

#64 Overhead view of Queen near City Hall, July 8, 1980

Overhead view of Queen near City Hall, July 8, 1980

#66 Drummer’s Paradise on Church Street at Queen, July 21, 1982.

#67 Streetcar turning south onto Church past a Sears delivery van, February 13, 1980.

Streetcar turning south onto Church past a Sears delivery van, February 13, 1980.

#68 Queen and Sherbourne with St. Paul’s Basilica in the background. June 2, 1981.

#69 An ice cold Queen and Parliament, looking east, February 6, 1981.

#71 The Dominion on Queen during the bad old days. June 6, 1981.

The Dominion on Queen during the bad old days. June 6, 1981.

#72 The New Broadview Hotel, a.k.a. Jilly’s, as “Kicker’s,” August 31, 1983.

#73 Streetcars continue to operate at Queen and Broadview despite track work (Broadview Hotel is “Maxi’s,”) March 25, 1981

#74 Queen and Saulter, looking toward the rail bridge, June 6, 1981.

Queen and Saulter, looking toward the rail bridge, June 6, 1981.

#75 Queen and McGee near the Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, June 6, 1981.

#76 The many gas stations of Queen and Jones, June 6, 1981.

#77 Trolley Bus at Dupont/Annette and Dundas. Image from barp, 1980s

Trolley Bus at Dupont/Annette and Dundas. Image from barp, 1980s

#80 Bloor Street near Bay, facing north with the Holt Renfrew building in sight, 1980s

#81 A diner on Bellair Street, 1980s

A diner on Bellair Street, 1980s

#84 Toronto, 1993

Toronto, 1993

#87 Honest Ed’s, Toronto, 1984

Honest Ed's, Toronto, 1984

#91 Boustead Avenue, Toronto, 1982

Boustead Avenue, Toronto, 1982

#94 Dundas West and Runnymede, Toronto, 1984

Dundas West and Runnymede, Toronto, 1984

#97 Kensington Market, Toronto, 1983

Kensington Market, Toronto, 1983

#101 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1981

Yonge Street, Toronto, 1981

#104 The Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada, 1987

The Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada, 1987

#107 Royal Tours – Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, 1984

Royal Tours - Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, 1984

#111 Pedestrians, Toronto, 1981

Pedestrians, Toronto, 1981

#114 Bye Bye Birdie rehearsal, Scarborough Theatre, 1985

Bye Bye Birdie rehearsal, Scarborough Theatre, 1985

#115 Greek Village Dining Lounge, 551 Danforth Avenue, 1985

#117 Downtown Toronto in 1983

Downtown Toronto in 1983

#121 King looking west from Berkeley Street, 1980s

King looking west from Berkeley Street, 1980s

#124 Two types of streetcar and a trolley bus on Queen just west of Shaw, July 13, 1983.

Two types of streetcar and a trolley bus on Queen just west of Shaw, July 13, 1983.

#127 Looking east on Queen across Church, May 31, 1981.

Looking east on Queen across Church, May 31, 1981.

#128 Richmond’s Trading Post on Church just north of Queen, July 21, 1982.

#129 Intersection of Queen and King at the Don River, looking west. No Scotia Plaza, yet. Exchange Tower is under construction behind First Canadian Place. June 2, 1981.

#130 Queen and Broadview, looking east at the stores on the north side of Queen, April 2, 1982.

#131 Queen and Broadview, looking west, August 25, 1983.

Queen and Broadview, looking west, August 25, 1983.

#132 Looking east from Queen and De Grassi under the rail tracks, June 6, 1981.

#133 Looking west from Queen and Carlaw in Leslieville, August 31, 1981.

#134 Looking west through Leslieville near Queen and Carlaw, August 31, 1983.

Looking west through Leslieville near Queen and Carlaw, August 31, 1983.

#137 Dundas West and High Park Avenue, Toronto, 1982

Dundas West and High Park Avenue, Toronto, 1982

#141 High Park, Toronto, 1982

High Park, Toronto, 1982

#144 Woodbine Beach, Toronto, 1983

Woodbine Beach, Toronto, 1983

#147 Yonge and Queen, Toronto, 1982

Yonge and Queen, Toronto, 1982

#151 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1980

Yonge Street, Toronto, 1980

#154 Dundas and Victoria, Toronto 1981

Dundas and Victoria, Toronto 1981

#157 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1980

Yonge Street, Toronto, 1980

#161 Protester, Toronto, 1983

Protester, Toronto, 1983

#164 Pape Avenue, Toronto, 1986

Pape Avenue, Toronto, 1986

#167 Queen and Bathurst, Toronto, 1984

Queen and Bathurst, Toronto, 1984

#170 View from Gerrard and Mutual (looking east), Toronto, 1982

#171 Cabbagetown Toronto, 1981

Cabbagetown Toronto, 1981

#174 Somewhere downtown, Toronto, 1983

Somewhere downtown, Toronto, 1983

#177 Togetherness, Toronto, 1981

Togetherness, Toronto, 1981

#181 The Beaches, Toronto, 1982

The Beaches, Toronto, 1982

#184 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, 1982

Danforth Avenue, Toronto, 1982

#187 Gerrard East and Carlaw, Toronto, 1982

Gerrard East and Carlaw, Toronto, 1982

#191 Aerial view of trains parked in station, Toronto, 1980s

Aerial view of trains parked in station, Toronto, 1980s

#192 The Skydome under construction, some time around 1988.

The Skydome under construction, some time around 1988.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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