Ten years ago, Toronto Latinos was born from our Barrio logo.

At the time, we didn’t know exactly what it would become. There wasn’t a 10-year plan or a roadmap to build a media platform, produce festivals or bring thousands of people together. There was simply a passion for our culture and a belief that Toronto’s growing Latin community deserved more spaces to be seen, celebrated and connected.

Today, Toronto Latinos turns 10.

And as we celebrate this milestone on the first day of Latin American Heritage Month in Canada, it feels like the perfect time to look back at where we started, what we’ve built — and where we want to go next.

From Barrio to Toronto Latinos

Toronto Latinos was born in 2016 from Barrio, our streetwear project rooted in Latin identity, Toronto and culture.

What began through fashion gradually became something much larger. Toronto Latinos grew into a platform covering music, film, entertainment, food, small business, events and the stories affecting Latin communities in Toronto, Canada and around the world. Toronto Latinos

But throughout all the changes, the idea has remained pretty simple:

Celebrate the culture. Support the community. Build bridges.

Ten Years of Bringing People Together

Some of our proudest moments haven’t happened online.

They’ve happened when people actually showed up.

Over the years, Toronto Latinos has produced and curated everything from intimate cultural events and sold-out boat cruises to large-scale festivals attracting thousands of people. We’ve worked with venues, businesses, artists, creators, restaurants and organizations while helping create spaces where Latin culture isn’t simply represented — it’s the main event. Toronto Latinos

That journey eventually led to ASADO, our Latin Food & Culture Festival.

What started as another idea has grown into a multi-day cultural experience bringing together thousands of people through food, music, dance, local vendors and community. This year’s festival at Assembly Park featured more than 50 vendors alongside live entertainment, cultural programming and family activities. Toronto Latinos

We’ve also continued collaborating on experiences like I Love Reggaeton, showing another side of the culture and bringing generations together through the music many of us grew up with — and the music defining Latin culture today. Toronto Latinos

Becoming More Than an Events Page

One of the biggest evolutions of Toronto Latinos happened after the pandemic.

We leaned much further into media and storytelling.

Our blog became a place to talk about what’s happening in Toronto while also covering Latin America, entertainment, sports, business, travel, politics and culture.

Our newsletter now reaches thousands of readers, and our platforms regularly introduce people to Latin-owned restaurants, entrepreneurs, events and organizations across the GTA. Toronto Latinos

That’s become an important part of what Toronto Latinos means to us.

Celebrating Latin culture isn’t only about the biggest stars or biggest festivals.

Sometimes it’s telling people about the family opening a restaurant. The entrepreneur taking a chance on an idea. The local artist getting their first major opportunity. Or a story happening somewhere in Latin America that deserves more attention here in Canada.

The Bridges We’ve Built

Looking back after ten years, we’re especially proud of the relationships that have come from this platform.

Toronto Latinos has allowed us to work across communities, industries and cultures. We’ve built relationships with businesses, venues, cultural organizations, creators and major brands while staying connected to the grassroots community that got us here in the first place.

And that’s something we want to continue.

Being Latino in Toronto doesn’t mean choosing between where we come from and where we live.

Both are part of our story.

We’re proudly Latin American, and we’re proudly Toronto.

What’s Next?

Ten years feels significant, but we don’t see this anniversary as a finish line.

We see it as the foundation for the next chapter.

We want Toronto Latinos to become an even stronger media, events and cultural platform. That means bigger original events, expanding ASADO, more collaborations, stronger storytelling, more opportunities for Latin-owned businesses and creators, and eventually taking some of the experiences we’ve built in the GTA to new cities. Plans to expand the ASADO experience beyond Vaughan have already been part of that conversation. Toronto Latinos

We also want to continue doing something that has mattered to us since the beginning: putting our people on.

More businesses. More creators. More stories. More opportunities. More representation.

Because as the Latin community in Canada continues to evolve, Toronto Latinos should evolve with it.

10 Years Later ❤️

As Latin American Heritage Month begins in Canada, we’re proud to reflect on the culture we’ve helped shape, the bridges we’ve built and the partnerships we’ve created along the way.

But mostly, we’re grateful.

To everyone who has followed us, shared a post, read an article, opened our newsletter, bought Barrio, attended an event, brought their family to ASADO, promoted their business with us, partnered with us or simply told somebody, “You should follow Toronto Latinos” — thank you.

You helped turn an idea into a community.

Happy 10 years to us.

Happy Latin American Heritage Month. 🇨🇦🌎❤️

TORONTO LATINOS
SINCE 2016