| Across Canada, Canadians are familiar with Corso | | | | rates in the city, and is an inviting place day or night. |
| Italia. Its fame hit a high when Italy won the 1982 World | | | | Particularly during World Cup, Portugal, Italy and Brazil |
| Cup and in excess of 500,000 people celebrated on St | | | | fans intermingle in a friendly rivalry that is uncommon in |
| Clair Avenue. Its fervour for all things Italy comes | | | | many soccer stadiums around the world. |
| naturally, as it is the first home for the largest influx of | | | | In spite of being an eclectic mix of nationalities today, |
| Italian immigrants to Canada around the turn of the | | | | Corso Italia remains the "centre of the Canadian |
| 20th century. | | | | universe" for celebrating Italian culture, during its annual |
| Corso Italia, also known by many Canadians as | | | | Fiesta street party. |
| Toronto's "Little Italy, is home to the first licensed | | | | No celebration of Italian (or any) culture would be |
| outdoor cafe in Toronto - La Sem Pattiserie Cafe - | | | | complete without savouring ethnic foods. There is no |
| licensed in 1963. That first cafe can claim to be the | | | | shortage of great Italian restaurants in the area (Big |
| grandfather of the myriad outdoor cafes that flourish | | | | Ragu, Marcello's, La Paloma's Getali, Tre-Mar Bakery, |
| during Canadian summers in every major town and | | | | Novocento), as well as a fine mix of Portuguese, |
| city in every province, and the grandpa of the | | | | Brazilian, Mexican & Vietnamese food outlets. |
| numerous "Little Italy" retail/restaurant collections in | | | | Corso Italia has developed a solid reputation as the |
| other Canadian centres. | | | | place to find European fashions, unique food products, |
| While Italian still is spoken by many residents on the | | | | and innovative clothiers, housewares & unique retailers. |
| street, Portuguese people make up 26% of the | | | | Transportation, education & housing stock are positives |
| population, with strong representation by Turks, African | | | | for the area. |
| and South American (Brazil) nationalities. Like the | | | | The St Clair streetcar project is set to open, both to |
| original British and Scottish (and, then, Jewish business) | | | | the dismay and joy of proponents and opponents of |
| settlers in the area, many Italian families, as they | | | | the initiative. |
| prospered, moved out of the area into more trendy, | | | | Older homes in Regal Heights mingle with more |
| upscale communities. | | | | modest two- and two-and-one-half detached homes. |
| Contrary to popular wisdom, the mobility of the ethnic | | | | Many are early 1900s homes, with brick fronts, |
| populations, the varied mix, and the more modestly | | | | verandas and bay windows. Owners have commonly |
| priced homes have not resulted in pockets of crime. | | | | undertaken interior renovations, leaving the exterior |
| The area, indeed, boasts one of the lowest crime | | | | character intact. |
