Little Jamaica was once one of Toronto’s most vibrant cultural hubs — a stretch of Eglinton Avenue filled with music, food, barbershops, record stores, and Caribbean businesses that gave this community its soul. But walking these streets today feels completely different. Boarded-up storefronts line the avenue, eviction notices are taped to windows, and “For Rent” signs hang where thriving family-owned businesses once stood. The construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT was supposed to bring more people and make Little Jamaica easier to reach for those without cars. Instead, for nearly 16 years, endless construction, road closures, and financial strain pushed many local businesses to the brink.

Now, people ride the subway and pass straight through this neighborhood without ever seeing the damage left behind. Something needs to be done — and fast — before Little Jamaica disappears completely. Walk with me through the streets of a community that was once full of life, and witness what remains of one of Toronto’s cultural landmarks.

Special thank you to Kama aka Kamikaze:
https://www.instagram.com/kamag5/

Majorboy:
https://www.instagram.com/majorboy/