Downtown Toronto's popular Kensington Market has joined the ranks of national historic sites.

The famous neighbourhood was among six locations across the country to be added to a list of federally recognized sites of "national historic significance to Canada."

Kensington Market, established in the early 1900s, remains a popular spot where locals gather to buy fresh and inexpensive produce.
(Canadian Press)

Tom Mihalik, whose clothing store Tom's Place was started by his father after he immigrated here from Hungary almost 50 years ago, said he's glad such a "wonderful area" has finally received some recognition.

"I have always complained that I don't think that the city takes great care of historical sites like Kensington Market. I hope that the city realizes it now," said Mihalik.

Described in a Parks Canada news release Thursday as a "microcosm of Canada's ethnic mosaic," the area has been home to a number of ethnic communities since the first wave of immigrants settled there in the mid- to late 19th century.

The market was established in the early 1900s and remains a popular spot where locals gather to buy fresh and inexpensive produce.

It is also a well-known tourist attraction and features a variety of small shops, cafes and restaurants.

Two other Ontario sites were also on the government's list, including Ottawa's National Arts Centre and the site of Canada's first industrial oil field in the southern Ontario community of Oil Springs.

Other additions to the list include a Doukhobor settlement site in Veregin, Sask., and two sites in Quebec, the Church of Sainte-Marie and the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce Institutional Ensemble.

There are more than 900 places on the federal government's national historic site list.