Celebrating all that is Cabbagetown.

The Cabbagetown Preservation Association (CPA) was founded in 1989 by a group of neighbours who were concerned about local developments and wanted to protect the character and charm of our community.

Our advocacy played a key role in creating Cabbagetown’s Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs), which gave the City of Toronto the tools to safeguard our neighbourhood’s heritage. Today, the Cabbagetown HCD Advisory Committee — an offshoot of the CPA — continues this important work in partnership with the City.

Over time, our role has grown beyond advocacy. We now lead several educational programs and produce many community events that celebrate Cabbagetown’s architecture, people, streetscapes, and landmarks.

Explore our Events, Awards and Resources pages to see how we keep Cabbagetown’s history and heritage alive.

Meet Our Board

  • Chair

    Sarah discovered Cabbagetown in 2004 on a visit to Riverdale Farm with her then young children and quickly became a regular. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the charm of the entire neighbourhood and in 2016 she moved here with her fiancé, four children and dog in tow. Before joining the Board, Sarah volunteered for the Tour of Homes and was a member of the Garden Tour organizing committee. She’s now excited to contribute to the CPA’s heritage conservation initiatives on a regular basis. Professionally, Sarah delivers customized employee communications programs that keep workforces informed, inspired and engaged to drive business performance. In her spare time, Sarah can be found anywhere from the slopes to the lake, or strolling the streets admiring the stunning homes in her beloved neighbourhood.

  • Secretary

    Virginia Van Vliet bought a house in Cabbagetown in 1976, at a time when her neighbours still raised pigeons and spun wool in their back yard.  After retiring as a District Manager with Toronto Public Library in 2011, Virginia became increasingly involved as a volunteer with the Royal Ontario Museum for which she leads historic walking tours, including ones of Cabbagetown and St. James and Necropolis cemeteries.  She has raised a daughter and eight stray cats in Cabbagetown.  Virginia puts her skills to work in developing materials for Cabbagetown Walks and as a walking tour leader.

  • Born and raised in downtown Toronto, Christina is passionate about Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods and communities. For over 10 years, she managed one of Toronto’s most beloved gourmet food stores which taught her an incredible sense of hospitality. She is now a realtor.

  • Jim is a retired petroleum engineer who recently moved to Cabbagetown after a 30-year international career, including 20 years in Southeast Asia. He currently volunteers as Vice President of the Canada-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce (CanCham Malaysia), where he supports trade and community connections between Canada and Southeast Asia. Since settling in Cabbagetown, he has developed a strong appreciation for the neighbourhood’s unique heritage architecture and vibrant community spirit. He brings experience in strategic planning, financial oversight, and board leadership. He is keen to contribute to the Cabbagetown Preservation Association’s work in protecting and promoting the area’s distinctive character.

  • Vice Chair

    Maude was born and raised in Toronto, spending most of her time in Cabbagetown at the dance school and Riverdale Farm. She always dreamed of living in the neighbourhood and finally she got her wish in 2024! Maude has always had a love for historical homes and the deep history of Toronto. She has been able to harness that love of homes to build her small but successful real estate team. Maude has also served on several Boards – giving her an understanding of how to work efficiently and effectively as a team. Maude loves to ride horses in her free time, explore Cabbagetown’s many restaurants, and walk her little dog.

  • A desire to live closer to the city core and to be part of a close-knit community drew Joanne and her husband to look closely at Cabbagetown while searching for a new home in early 2020. A red brick Victorian row house came on the market, and they snapped it up. It didn’t take long for the energy and vibrancy of the neighbourhood to work its magic – the two swear they will never live anywhere else! After having a blast participating in the 2023 Tour of Homes, Joanne decided to join the CPA as a board member so that she could be involved in future events, get to know even more of her neighbours and help push the cpas preservation initiatives forward. Joanne is the owner and principal designer of Joanne Dolan Design. The small but mighty firm is located in the neighbourhood and focuses on residential renovations, including many projects currently on the go in Cabbagetown. When not running her business or spending time with family and friends, Joanne volunteers for the Meals on Wheels program at Dixon Hall and as a pet transport driver for safepet Ontario.

  • Niels Sylvain Hirsch is the Design Experience Lead and Client Experience Manager for Haworth in Toronto, where he brings a global perspective and a refined eye for design. Originally from Europe, Niels spent over a decade working in fashion across France, Italy, and the United States, specializing in Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Retail Development for LVMH. Four years ago, he transitioned into interior design, combining his creative sensibility with a passion for spatial storytelling.
    Now nearing his two-year anniversary in Canada and recently settled in Cabbagetown, Niels is excited to contribute to the neighbourhood’s vibrant heritage. He is particularly interested in helping the past and future meet in ways that are thoughtful, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable.

  • Treasurer

    Nadim and his family moved to Cabbagetown in 2021. Originally from Alberta, Nadim is a Chartered Professional Accountant who co-founded an events business organizing summits in the US and Europe. He wants to ensure that Cabbagetown's rich heritage is preserved not just as an historical artifact, but as a living, inclusive, equitable space where all Torontonians feel they belong. His favourite time of year in the neighbourhood is Halloween, when kids from all around the city descend on the area to celebrate the occasion.

  • Gilles has lived in Cabbagetown since 2005. He started his long civil service career in communications – writing, editing, and translating. He then did policy work. His last assignment before retirement had him planning and funding postgraduate medical education at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. One of Gilles’ passions is the history of his adopted city, Toronto. Gilles chairs the CPA Walking Tour and Cabbagetown People committees. Gilles also volunteers with other organizations such as the Royal Ontario Museum, la Société d’histoire de Toronto, and Heritage Toronto.

  • David found Cabbagetown in 1990 and has been living in a circa 1889 semi on Winchester Street since 1999. He has been an active member of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association for approximately 20 years, starting as a walking tour guide. Over the years, he has worked on many projects in support of the CPA and has served as Chair and as a Co-Chair. David is also active with the biennial organization of the Cabbagetown Tour of Homes. In his professional life, David is a public policy consultant and concurrently the lead on election finance administration for a provincial political party. In his spare time, he can often be seen wandering the neighbourhood being pulled along by his golden retriever.

The Cabbagetown Preservation Association is a registered charity # 850536160 RR0001.

We are a member of the Ontario Historical Society, the Toronto Historical Association, the Architectural Conservancy Ontario and the National Trust for Canada.

The CPA’s Constitution, which was approved by the Association at the Annual General Meeting, May 31, 2021, can be found here.