St. James Town is the largest high-rise community in Canada and is the country's most densely populated neighbourhood. It is bound by Sherbourne Street to the west, Bloor Street East to the north, Parliament Street to the east and Wellesley Street East to the south.
Housing upwards of 25,000 residents, St. James Town is a high turnover community, where newcomers to Canada make up a large portion of the neighbourhood. St. James Town is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic neighbourhood. It has been identified as one of 13 economically deprived neighbourhoods within the city.
This community-oriented neighbourhood feels like a small village. It’s a high-density area, and people seem to know their neighbours better than in many other parts of the city. Residents often stop to talk on the street or, in nice weather, sit outside on benches.
With a small range of options in terms of restaurants, cafés, parks and recreation, the lifestyle around St. James Town is centred around the home. Modest household incomes also contribute to the home-centric way of life. Families host get-togethers with neighbours and friends and occasionally head downtown or into nearby Cabbagetown or Church and Wellesley for a change of scenery.
St. James Town is home to nineteen high-rise apartment and condo buildings, almost seven thousand units, and over fifteen thousand residents. These demographics combine to make St. James Town the most densely populated census tract in Canada.