The Ward

The Ward: the life and loss of Toronto's first immigrant neighbourhood is a wonderful new book that is a must read for any student of history or of Toronto. Through a collection of over 60 bite-sized essays, the book tells the story of St. John's Ward, the densely populated downtown ward bordered by College and Queen, University and Yonge Streets, that was home to new immigrants and which eventually became a focus of civic concern. Contributors run the gamut from journalists, archivists and historians, to politicians, community workers, doctors and lawyers. The subjects covered are equally broad and some essay titles include "My Grandmother the Bootlegger", "Lawren Harris's Ward Period" and "Where the Rich Went for Vice". 

Last week Coach House Books held a launch party for The Ward. The event was held at Church of the Holy Trinity, the small gem of a church tucked in beside the Eaton Centre. The location was chosen because this institution played a significant role in the history of The Ward and is one of the few buildings from that period that remains.

Christie, Brown & Co. Stables

Location: Berkeley Street, north of Adelaide
Date photo taken: 7 May 2015

This nicely proportioned building on Berkeley Street was originally a stable built for Christie, Brown & Co. The company was founded in 1868 in Toronto by Mr. Christie (yes, the one who makes good cookies) and Alexander Brown. In 1872 they built a factory on Adelaide and expanded it four times over subsequent years. To help support the business, this stable building was built in 1906. The architects were Sproatt & Rolph who also designed such landmarks as Hart House and Upper Canada College and collaborated on others including the Royal York Hotel and Eaton's College Park,

A recent City of Toronto document describes the building as "a well-crafted example of a stable with Beaux Arts Stylistic elements". The document is a staff report recommending that the building be included on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties, a recommendation that city council approved. This listing will help ensure that the structure will be preserved during any redevelopment of the site. Currently this site, along with adjoining properties on Parliament Street, are the proposed home of a new condo development, East United Condos.

For a detailed description of the building (including blueprints) and its significance, see the report prepared by Heritage Preservation Services.

Mute Swan

Location: in the water off Harbour Square Park
Date photo taken: 10 May 2014

On a recent walk out to the west end, I was amazed by the number of swans I saw in the Humber River. Swans are not an unusual sight in the city but it seems to me that their numbers are increasing, so I did a little reading. It turns out that their numbers are indeed going up and that the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) in partnership with the City of Toronto have been quietly working for years to control the population. Their efforts are only targeting this type of swan, the mute swan. According to an explanatory letter from the TRCA, mute swan populations are being controlled because "mute swans are not native to North America and their population has been steadily increasing over the last decade, as they appear to lack significant natural predators. They cause significant damage to natural habitats; they displace and disrupt native waterfowl and other wildlife species that are less common and more sensitive to disturbance; and they can be very aggressive toward people." That last part is important because swans are powerful creatures. While they may look serene, they can be very dangerous if approached, especially if they are near their nests or young.

Native trumpeter swans, extinct in Ontario until recently, can also be found in Toronto, although in small numbers. They are larger and have straight necks and black bills while mute swans are easily distinguished by their curved necks and orange bills. To read about the effort to reintroduce trumpeter swans to Ontario, and about where to find them in Toronto, check out Margaret Bream's article in the February Toronto Star. To read more about efforts to control mute swan populations, visit the High Park Nature Centre website.

Snapshot - Yonge Street

Location: West side of Yonge Street, north of Grosvenor

Date photo taken: 13 April 2015

Image 3 in the Snapshot Series

Businesses along this stretch include Holco Sales, Gallery Hi Art, 401 Games, Kenzo Japanese Noodle House, INS Market, St. Louis Wings and the now empty Sobey's Express at the corner of Breadalbane. The tall building under construction in the background is the 45 storey FIVE Condos tower at St. Joseph St. just west of Yonge. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the tower incorporates the facade of the designated heritage building at its base.