Toronto’s Greektown, known for bustling patio culture, becomes site of mass shooting
Toronto’s vibrant Greektown neighbourhood is best known by locals for its for bustling patios, a massive summer food festival and a plethora of dogs and strollers clogging sidewalks. It features spectacular views of the Toronto skyline, was famously home to late Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, and was referenced in the Barenaked Ladies song, “The Old Apartment.”
On Sunday, it became globally known for a shooting that killed two and injured 13 others. Authorities said the suspected gunman fled the area on foot and was later found dead with a gunshot wound.
The horrific eruption of violence took place in an area known for family-friendly bars, restaurants and businesses, Howard Lichtman, a spokesman for the upcoming Taste of the Danforth festival, said Monday.
Its eclectic mix of ice cream shops, parks, cafes, and burger joints has made it much more than just a hub for the city’s Greek immigrants who originally gave the east-end stretch its name decades ago, he says of the area, a haven for gyros, tzatziki and souvlaki, but also sushi and Ethiopian injera and kitfo.