Celebrities From Toronto: The Neighbourhoods That Raised Them

From Drake to Simu Liu: Celebs Who Grew Up in Toronto's Neighbourhoods

Toronto isn’t just Canada’s biggest city, it’s a cultural powerhouse. Known for its multiculturalism, grind, and endless neighborhoods that each feel like their own mini-universe, the city has raised some of the most recognizable names in music, film, and entertainment. From global hitmakers to Marvel superheroes, these celebs didn’t just “make it out of Toronto.” They were shaped by the streets, schools, and communities of the 6ix and its surrounding suburbs.

And if you’ve ever wondered where exactly these stars came from, we’ve got you. Let’s take a walk through the neighborhoods that built them.

Drake – Forest Hill and Weston Road

No Toronto celebrity list is complete without Aubrey Drake Graham. Drake didn’t just blow up, he made Toronto part of his identity. “The 6ix” became global slang because of him, and his lyrics name-drop streets, strip malls, and local landmarks like they’re part of his personal mythology.

Drake’s story is very Toronto. He split his youth between two very different neighborhoods. With his father often absent, Drake first lived with his mom in the Weston Road area, a working-class neighborhood in the city’s west end. Later, they moved to Forest Hill, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Toronto.

Attending Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, Drake has said he often felt out of place. He wasn’t rich like many of his classmates, but he was hustling, balancing acting gigs (remember Degrassi: The Next Generation?) with music dreams. That duality—grit from Weston, privilege from Forest Hill—gave him perspective. It’s no accident his music seamlessly switches between heartbreak ballads, swagger-filled rap, and luxury-laced flexes. Drake is the collision of both worlds, and Toronto made that possible.

The Weeknd – Scarborough (West Hill)

Before Abel Tesfaye became The Weeknd, redefining R&B and pop with his moody soundscapes, he was a kid in Scarborough. More specifically, he grew up in the West Hill neighborhood, a part of Toronto known for its immigrant communities, apartment towers, and rough edges.

He’s described growing up with a single mom and often skipping school, wandering around Scarborough Town Centre or chilling in basements with friends. His teenage experiments with drugs and detachment from traditional school paths shaped his worldview. And that bleeds into his music—the darkness, the edge, the tension between vulnerability and self-destruction.

Scarborough, with its mix of beauty and struggle, is written into his DNA. Even as The Weeknd sells out stadiums, you can still hear echoes of late-night Scarborough in his lyrics.

Simu Liu – Erin Mills, Mississauga

Technically not Toronto proper, but part of the Greater Toronto Area, Simu Liu’s story is one that resonates with so many first- and second-generation kids. His family immigrated from China and settled in Erin Mills, a suburban neighborhood in Mississauga, just west of Toronto.

Mississauga is the land of cul-de-sacs, community centers, and mega malls, and Liu’s childhood was shaped by all of it. He has openly talked about growing up between two cultures, navigating parental expectations, and feeling the pressure to pursue a “stable” career path. Before acting, he actually worked as an accountant in downtown Toronto, commuting from the same suburban neighborhoods that raised him.

Liu didn’t just break out—he shattered stereotypes. From Mississauga basements to starring as Marvel’s Shang-Chi, his rise shows just how far immigrant suburb kids can go.

Alessia Cara – Brampton

Brampton is often teased by other GTA residents, but it’s also a hub for creativity and culture. Alessia Cara is one of the brightest examples of Brampton talent.

Born Alessia Caracciolo, she grew up in a suburban neighborhood filled with immigrant families, big houses, and endless teenage boredom. That boredom turned into songwriting fuel. Her breakout single “Here” is literally about hating a party in Brampton, where she felt like the odd one out.

She spent much of her youth recording YouTube covers in her bedroom, uploading them at night and slowly building traction. Brampton shaped her perspective: a suburban outsider who turned her isolation into art that resonated globally.

Shawn Mendes – Pickering

Drive east of Toronto and you’ll hit Pickering, a quieter suburb that feels more small town than bustling city. This is where Shawn Mendes grew up, going to Pine Ridge Secondary School and strumming his guitar in his bedroom before Vine fame hit.

Pickering is hockey games, high school hangouts, and Kingston Road drives. Mendes’ down-to-earth vibe makes sense when you know where he comes from. He wasn’t surrounded by Hollywood energy or fast-paced city life—he was just another kid in a calm, suburban neighborhood, dreaming bigger than his surroundings.

Lilly Singh – Scarborough

Before she was Superwoman on YouTube or a late-night talk show host, Lilly Singh was a Scarborough girl. Growing up in a South Asian immigrant family, Singh has talked openly about the cultural pressures she faced, balancing her parents’ expectations with her own creative ambitions.

Scarborough shaped her voice. Her comedy skits about desi parents, cousins, and growing up between cultures felt so authentic because they came directly from her Scarborough experiences. Scarborough is tough, funny, and resilient, and so is Lilly. She never stopped repping her roots, even when she went global.

Nina Dobrev – North York

If you know her as Elena Gilbert from The Vampire Diaries, you might not picture Toronto suburbia. But Nina Dobrev grew up in North York, an area known for its strip malls, multicultural families, and community-oriented schools.

Dobrev balanced gymnastics, modeling, and school while growing up there. North York isn’t flashy, but it’s practical, grounded, and quietly ambitious—qualities you can see in Dobrev’s career choices.

Jim Carrey – Scarborough

Before Hollywood, before Ace Ventura, Jim Carrey was just a kid in Scarborough. His family struggled financially, and at one point, he even worked as a janitor alongside them. Scarborough, with its grit and resilience, shaped his humor.

Carrey has often said his comedy started as a way to make his family laugh during tough times. Those Scarborough roots never left him, even as he became one of the biggest comedic actors in the world.

Why Toronto Builds Stars

Toronto is more than a backdrop—it’s a character. The city is layered: Forest Hill luxury against Weston Road grind, Scarborough’s grit next to Mississauga’s quiet suburbs. This duality forces kids to learn to adapt, to hustle, and to dream bigger.

It’s also about diversity. Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and growing up here means absorbing different cultures, languages, and perspectives daily. That shows up in Drake’s global sound, The Weeknd’s raw storytelling, and Alessia Cara’s relatability.

For Gen Z especially, these celebs represent more than fame. They prove that kids from apartment towers, strip mall suburbs, and immigrant households can become global icons. Toronto doesn’t just raise talent—it molds resilience.

From Scarborough basements to Forest Hill classrooms, Toronto’s neighbourhoods have been quietly building global icons for decades. Stay tuned for more stories from the streets that shape culture with Woke Waves Magazine.

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