Harbourfront did not exist until the early 1800’s. Prior to this, Toronto only extended south until about where today’s Front Street is located. In the early 1800’s, there was a push to expand Toronto’s lakefront area (that which is known as Harbourfront today) in order to accommodate a growing shipping and industrial industry. Landfill was brought in an over the following years and the Harbourfront area was created.
Harbourfront remained a largely industrial area of Toronto until1972 when Pierre Eliot Trudeau announced the Harbourfront project. This project planned to overhaul the existing industrial harbourfront and to convert it into a residential and cultural center. Thanks to this, Harbourfront has grown into a beautiful stretch of Toronto full of green spaces, art galleries, shops as well as entertainment and boating centers.