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The most recent plaques:

Igneous Boulder

This basic igneous boulder was found at a depth of 3.5 m during the course of excavation for this school. The composition is a very rare type and is assumed to have been carried here from Caribou...

This basic igneous boulder was found at a depth of 3.5 m during the course of excavation for this school. The composition is a very rare type and is assumed to have been carried here from...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE)

The IODE, a Canadian women's volunteer organization, was founded by Margaret Polson Murray in 1900, during the Boer War, in order to encourage public service, patriotism and loyalty to the Crown....

The IODE, a Canadian women's volunteer organization, was founded by Margaret Polson Murray in 1900, during the Boer War, in order to encourage public service, patriotism and loyalty to the Crown....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Immigrants to Earlscourt

As the name suggests, Earlscourt was first developed by British immigrant workers, largely in an unplanned way between 1900-1920. Until it was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1910, there were no...

As the name suggests, Earlscourt was first developed by British immigrant workers, largely in an unplanned way between 1900-1920. Until it was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1910, there were no...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Immanuel Baptist Church

On this site stood the Immanuel Baptist Church from 1888 to 1967, designed in the Gothic Revival style by Smith and Gemmell. It was the place of worship of one of the older continuing Baptist...

On this site stood the Immanuel Baptist Church from 1888 to 1967, designed in the Gothic Revival style by Smith and Gemmell. It was the place of worship of one of the older continuing...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Imperial Bank of Canada 1908

This two-storey Edwardian Classical bank was designed for the Imperial Bank of Canada by the Toronto firm, Darling and Pearson, Architects. After the bank merged with The Canadian Bank of Commerce...

This two-storey Edwardian Classical bank was designed for the Imperial Bank of Canada by the Toronto firm, Darling and Pearson, Architects. After the bank merged with The Canadian Bank of Commerce...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

In Memory of David Thomson

In memory of David Thomson of Westerkirk Dumfries-shire Scotland who was the First Settler in Scarborough, where his was the first land cleared. He had arrived in Upper Canada in 1796 and died on...

In memory of David Thomson of Westerkirk Dumfries- shire Scotland who was the First Settler in Scarborough, where his was the first land cleared. He had arrived in Upper Canada in 1796 and died...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Indian Trail

West of this point passed an Indian Trail leading to prehistoric Indian villages of which traces have been found. This was the trail by which David Thomson, the first white settler in Scarborough,...

West of this point passed an Indian Trail leading to prehistoric Indian villages of which traces have been found. This was the trail by which David Thomson, the first white settler in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Indian Village Site

A village inhabited by early Iroquoian Indians stood on the north side of this Highland Creek valley about 1250 AD. This site was excavated in 1956 by University of Toronto students who recovered...

A village inhabited by early Iroquoian Indians stood on the north side of this Highland Creek valley about 1250 AD. This site was excavated in 1956 by University of Toronto students who recovered...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Ideal Bread Company Factory 1919

Montreal architect Sydney Comber designed this factory building in Edwardian Classical style. Its façades feature stone detailing and are divided into distinct bays by brick pilasters. Window...

Montreal architect Sydney Comber designed this factory building in Edwardian Classical style. Its façades feature stone detailing and are divided into distinct bays by brick pilasters....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Isabella Valancy Crawford (1850-1887)

Considered among our finest poets, Isabella Crawford was born in Ireland and came to Canada with her parents about 1858. After settling first in Paisley, Ontario, the family lived later in...

Considered among our finest poets, Isabella Crawford was born in Ireland and came to Canada with her parents about 1858. After settling first in Paisley, Ontario, the family lived later...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

In Memory of J.A. (Al) Birney

This plaque is dedicated to the memory of Al Birney, a man who advocated for the rights of those suffering with mental illness. His tireless efforts resulted in the construction of the Luminous...

This plaque is dedicated to the memory of Al Birney, a man who advocated for the rights of those suffering with mental illness. His tireless efforts resulted in the construction of the Luminous...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Irish Immigrants and the Fever Sheds 1847

Fleeing disease, poverty, the failure of the potato crop and government indifference, over 100,000 Irish immigrants arrived in Canada in 1847. Of these, nearly 40,000 passed through Toronto, a...

Fleeing disease, poverty, the failure of the potato crop and government indifference, over 100,000 Irish immigrants arrived in Canada in 1847. Of these, nearly 40,000 passed through Toronto, a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Island Filtration Plant

There have been four water facilities of different types constructed on Toronto Island on the same site. The first of these consisted of an infiltration basin constructed in 1874. It was about 823...

There have been four water facilities of different types constructed on Toronto Island on the same site. The first of these consisted of an infiltration basin constructed in 1874. It was about 823...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Honourable George Brown 1818-1880

Born near Edinburgh, Scotland, Brown emigrated with his father to New York in 1837. In 1843 he moved to Toronto and the following year founded the "the Globe" newspaper which achieved great...

Born near Edinburgh, Scotland, Brown emigrated with his father to New York in 1837. In 1843 he moved to Toronto and the following year founded the "the Globe" newspaper which achieved...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

A History of the Bridgepoint Hospital Site

Since its earliest days, the facilities on this site have addressed the most pressing public issues of the time. In the 1860s, planning and construction begin for a new, more progressive jail. A...

Since its earliest days, the facilities on this site have addressed the most pressing public issues of the time. In the 1860s, planning and construction begin for a new, more progressive jail. A...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Home District School

On this site, on June 1, 1807, The Rev. George Okill Stuart opened the first public school at York in a small one-storey stone building attached to his modest frame house. In 1813 the school was...

On this site, on June 1, 1807, The Rev. George Okill Stuart opened the first public school at York in a small one-storey stone building attached to his modest frame house. In 1813 the school...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Harold Town 13 June 1924 - 27 December 1990

Harold Barling Town was an artist of great gifts, legendary wit and large achievement. He loved this city and spent his whole life here, much of it at work in the Studio Building northeast of this...

Harold Barling Town was an artist of great gifts, legendary wit and large achievement. He loved this city and spent his whole life here, much of it at work in the Studio Building northeast of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Honourable George Stewart Henry 1871-1958

Ontario's tenth prime minister was born in King Township but throughout his life farmed on this property. From 1903 to 1910, as York Township councillor and reeve and warden of York County, he...

Ontario's tenth prime minister was born in King Township but throughout his life farmed on this property. From 1903 to 1910, as York Township councillor and reeve and warden of York County,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

How The Earth Was Formed

According to Wendat tradition, Yaa'taenhtsihk, mother of the human race, fell from the sky and was saved by geese from drowning in the sea. She could not survive in the water, so the Great Turtle...

According to Wendat tradition, Yaa'taenhtsihk, mother of the human race, fell from the sky and was saved by geese from drowning in the sea. She could not survive in the water, so the Great Turtle...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Hillside Public School S.S. No. 4.

A one room frame schoolhouse was erected in 1853 near the southwest corner of Kirkham's Rd. and Finch Ave. It became one of two free schools in 1855. A second schoolhouse was built 30 m east of...

A one room frame schoolhouse was erected in 1853 near the southwest corner of Kirkham's Rd. and Finch Ave. It became one of two free schools in 1855. A second schoolhouse was built 30 m east...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown