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The most recent plaques:

First Municipal Building

This elegant frontspiece once served as the front entrance to North York's first municipal hall which officially opened on December 19, 1923 at the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Empress...

This elegant frontspiece once served as the front entrance to North York's first municipal hall which officially opened on December 19, 1923 at the southeast corner of Yonge Street and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

First External Cardiac Pacemaker, 1950

In 1950, in Room 64 of the Banting Institute at the University of Toronto, Drs. Wilfred Bigelow and John Callaghan successfully paced the heart of a dog using an external electronic...

In 1950, in Room 64 of the Banting Institute at the University of Toronto, Drs. Wilfred Bigelow and John Callaghan successfully paced the heart of a dog using an external electronic...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fool's Paradise

This property sits on the ecologically sensitive, geologically significant Scarborough Bluffs that display sediments left by glaciers over 70,000 years ago during the last phase of the Pleistocene...

This property sits on the ecologically sensitive, geologically significant Scarborough Bluffs that display sediments left by glaciers over 70,000 years ago during the last phase of the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fanny "Bobbie" Rosenfeld

Shortly after her birth in Russia, Fanny Rosenfeld's family immigrated to Canada, settling in Barrie, Ontario. Fanny (known as Bobbie) excelled at basketball, softball and hockey. She later held...

Shortly after her birth in Russia, Fanny Rosenfeld's family immigrated to Canada, settling in Barrie, Ontario. Fanny (known as Bobbie) excelled at basketball, softball and hockey. She later held...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Theatrical Performance

In 1820 the first theatrical performance made up entirely of local actors took place in the ballroom on the second floor of Frank's Hotel that once stood on this spot. The play performed The...

In 1820 the first theatrical performance made up entirely of local actors took place in the ballroom on the second floor of Frank's Hotel that once stood on this spot. The play performed...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Edwards Gardens

European settlement began in this area shortly after the War of 1812. Alexander Milne, a Scottish weaver, arrived here with his family in 1817. Milne's farm and mill operation prospered for over a...

European settlement began in this area shortly after the War of 1812. Alexander Milne, a Scottish weaver, arrived here with his family in 1817. Milne's farm and mill operation prospered for over a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Elizabeth (Elsie) Gregory Macgill, O.C. 1905-1980

Elsie Macgill was the first woman graduate in engineering from the University of Toronto in 1927 and the first female member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario. Although...

Elsie Macgill was the first woman graduate in engineering from the University of Toronto in 1927 and the first female member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Elvis Presley

On April 2, 1957, Elvis Presley came to Maple Leaf Gardens, and it's fair to say that Torontonians - at least the older generation - didn't know what hit them. The 22-year-old Presley was just a...

On April 2, 1957, Elvis Presley came to Maple Leaf Gardens, and it's fair to say that Torontonians - at least the older generation - didn't know what hit them. The 22-year-old Presley was just a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Early Don Mills

Early Don MillsThough now known as a modern suburban development, Don Mills was once the site of a small farming community. Prior to that, aboriginal communities used the nearby branches of the...

Early Don MillsThough now known as a modern suburban development, Don Mills was once the site of a small farming community. Prior to that, aboriginal communities used the nearby branches of the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Evolution of Healthcare Services

This site, which is now home to Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, has a long history of addressing Toronto's most pressing social and healthcare issues.In 1856, the City of Toronto purchased this...

This site, which is now home to Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, has a long history of addressing Toronto's most pressing social and healthcare issues.In 1856, the City of Toronto purchased...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Eden Smith House

The important Canadian architect Eden Smith (1859-1949) designed this house in 1896 as his family residence. It was part of an artistic colony on Indian Road where Eden Smith planned residences...

The important Canadian architect Eden Smith (1859-1949) designed this house in 1896 as his family residence. It was part of an artistic colony on Indian Road where Eden Smith planned residences...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres

Designed by New York architect Thomas Lamb for the Loew circuit, this double-decker complex was unique in Canada, and included many features later found in movie palaces. The lower theatre, with...

Designed by New York architect Thomas Lamb for the Loew circuit, this double-decker complex was unique in Canada, and included many features later found in movie palaces. The lower theatre,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Ernest Hemingway

American-born Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), internationally renowned author, lived in this apartment building, 1597-1599 Bathurst Street, in 1923-24, while working as a journalist for the Toronto...

American-born Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), internationally renowned author, lived in this apartment building, 1597-1599 Bathurst Street, in 1923-24, while working as a journalist for the Toronto...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Early Mill Site

A grist mill & sawmill, built by David Holley in 1810-11, stood in the valley below. James Farr, to whom the mill belonged from 1815 until 1828, operated five run of stones in his mill. The lower...

A grist mill & sawmill, built by David Holley in 1810-11, stood in the valley below. James Farr, to whom the mill belonged from 1815 until 1828, operated five run of stones in his mill. The...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Etobicoke Transportation Mural

This mural was created by artist Stephen Stanley through the City of Etobicoke's Public Art Program and was dedicated by Mayor Doug Holyday on October 16, 1996. The mural depicts the history of...

This mural was created by artist Stephen Stanley through the City of Etobicoke's Public Art Program and was dedicated by Mayor Doug Holyday on October 16, 1996. The mural depicts the history...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Evolution of Carleton Village

By the mid-1800s, this area was called Carleton Village. As farmland was settled, village occupations grew from local shops: a blacksmith, a cooper, a cobbler, a tailor.West Toronto Junction...

By the mid-1800s, this area was called Carleton Village. As farmland was settled, village occupations grew from local shops: a blacksmith, a cooper, a cobbler, a tailor.West Toronto...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Earlscourt Branch, Toronto Public Library 1921

Originally named for its local community (annexed by Toronto in 1910), Earlscourt Branch replaced a smaller Toronto Public Library branch opened in 1913 in a nearby rented space. Toronto architect...

Originally named for its local community (annexed by Toronto in 1910), Earlscourt Branch replaced a smaller Toronto Public Library branch opened in 1913 in a nearby rented space. Toronto...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe 1766-1850

The wife of the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim was born at Whitchurch, Herefordshire, England. Orphaned at birth, she lived with her uncle, Admiral Samuel...

The wife of the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim was born at Whitchurch, Herefordshire, England. Orphaned at birth, she lived with her uncle, Admiral...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Early Exhibition Buildings

These five buildings - the Press (1904), Music (1907), Horticulture (1907), Government (1912), and the Fire Hall and Police Station (1912) - are the largest and finest group of early 20th century...

These five buildings - the Press (1904), Music (1907), Horticulture (1907), Government (1912), and the Fire Hall and Police Station (1912) - are the largest and finest group of early 20th...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Eglinton Hunt Club RCAF Institute of Aviation Medicine

Surrounded by open fields, this site became home to the Eglinton Hunt Club in 1919. By 1929 the club added stables, arenas - one for indoor polo - and an impressive club house, all designed by...

Surrounded by open fields, this site became home to the Eglinton Hunt Club in 1919. By 1929 the club added stables, arenas - one for indoor polo - and an impressive club house, all designed...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown