Roncesvalles Village
Roncesvalles Village and Roncesvalles Avenue take their names from a battle which took place in the Roncesvalles gorge in Spain in 1813. At this gorge, Colonel Walter O'Hara - an early 19th century Irish settler who played a significant role in the establishment of the neighbourhood -- led a regiment that fought against the retreating army of Napoleon. The name 'Roncesvalles Village' is an invention of the local business improvement association, which decided to forge a unique identity for the area in an effort to increase commerce for local shops and other enterprises.