Shalak Attack Mural

Location: The side of 530 Richmond St., near Augusta
Date taken: 26 August 2015

Looking back through past posts I was surprised to discover that this is only the second time this blog has featured a mural by Canadian-Chilean artist Shalak Attack. With her vibrant colours and themes of spirit animals and strong and interesting female faces, she's easily one of my favourite artists working in Toronto. This mural was part of a collaborative effort by 4 artists in the lane way next to 530 Richmond Street West.

Toronto Necropolis

Location: Winchester St. between Sumach and Bayview
Date photo taken: 3 November 2017

Tucked into a quiet corner of Cabbagetown, the Toronto Necropolis is a deceptively large and beautiful cemetery. The entrance sits across the street from the bucolic Riverdale Farm, and from there the grounds stretch west toward the Don Valley, sloping down to Bayview. Wandering through it you will encounter lovely trees and shrubs, lots of birds and squirrels, and graves dating back to 1850. The "Resting Place of Pioneers" within the cemetery contains the re-interred remains of almost 1000 early residents of Muddy York who were originally buried in the Potter's Field at Yonge and Bloor. There are many other burials of note including William Lyon Mackenzie, Ned Hanlan, Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, Jack Layton and Canadian servicemen killed in action.

Slow Down Homie

Location: King Street W. and Tyndall Ave.

Date photo taken: 12 May 2014

Signs with pictures of turtles imploring drivers to "please drive slowly" can be found throughout the city. This one, in Parkdale, puts a unique spin on it.

This fall the City of Toronto has launched a new community safety program in the form of lawn signs encouraging drivers to slow down. The signs come in orange and blue and feature two different designs. Homeowners interested in obtaining a sign for their lawn should contact their local councillor. 

Simpson's Roll of Honour

Location: Main floor elevator lobby, Hudson's Bay Store, Queen and Bay

Date photo taken: 17 January 2017

The building that currently houses Hudson's Bay Company and Saks Fifth Avenue on Queen Street was built by the Robert Simpson Company. By 1890 the store employed 200 people and that number continued to grow along with the success of the business. When the Second World War began, a significant number of store employees joined the war effort. This roll of honour, located by the elevators on the main floor, pays tribute to the men who did not make it home. 

Text of the plaque:

Roll of honour

Members of the Toronto Simpson Staff who made the Supreme Sacrifice

World War 1939 - 1945

P/O D.R. Beardall, RCAF

F/O Peter E. Brinkworth, RCAF

LAC Gabriel Schoeler, RCAF

F/O Gilbert C. Hooey, D.F.C., RCAF

W/O Thos. W. Hare, RCAF

F/Sgt. Robert Doherty, RCAF

L.A.C. J.J. Lammerse, RCAF

S/Ldr. Ed. G. Gilmore, D.F.C., RCAF

F/Sgt. Roy D. Adgey, RCAF

P/O J. Elliott, RCAF

F/O K.B. Thomas, RCAF

P/O E.C. Ecclestone, RCAF

A.B. Ronald E. Grant, RCNVR

Pte. Roy Andrews, 48th Highlanders

P/O A.T. Hook, RCAF

F/O Aubrey F. Bond, RCAF

L/Cpl. C.L. Shappard, Can. Armoured Corps

Sgt. George Andrews, RCAF

S/Ldr. Wm. D. Suggitt, D.F.C., RCAF

Pte. R.G. Burke, Can. Recce. Regt.

L/Sgt. Gordon Glover, RCAF

P/O Mel L. Fullerton, RCAF

W/O W.K. Johnson, RCAF

F/Sgt. Graham F. Butson, RCAF

F/Sgt. Douglas Hann, RCAF

F/L W.E. Thomas, RCAF

F/O Wm. R. Merrall, RCAF

Sgt. Frank S. Squires, Cent. Ont. Regt.

F/O Gordon W. Besley, RCAF

Sgt. James R. Truscott, RCAF

Pte. Warren E. Eades, Royal Regt.

Pte. David J. Woods, Royal Regt.

F/O Francis O. Gilmore, RCAF

Lieut. Edward D. Glass, 48th Highlanders

Pte. R.W. Benson, Royal Regt.

P/O Wm. J. Doughty, RCAF

Gnr. Wm. Middleton, Can. Armored Corps

Pte. Charles R. Gray, Irish Regt.

F/O J.N. Kerry, RCAF

Cpl. Albert Holland, RCAMC

Pte. John Tataren, Black Watch

F/O John W. Wood, RCAF

Sglmn. Murray Smith, Chaudiere Regt.

F/Sgt. John A. Thomson, RCAF

F/L Robt. F. Galbraith, RCAF

F/L W.M. Jackson, RCAF

L/C Douglas J. Volkes, Irish Regt.

Forest Hill Lamp Post

Location: Elm Ridge Dr.

Date photo taken: 5 September 2016

Decorative lamps such as this one can be found along some of the streets in Forest Hill, which was, until 1967, an independent village within the City of Toronto. In this village, by-laws relating to housing construction required all homes to have their street-facing sides designed by an architect, and minimum construction costs were set and strictly enforced to ensure the building of quality homes. With such attention to detail, it's not surprising that the street lights are a little out of the ordinary. The continued presence of such unique lighting can in part be attributed to a decision by City Council in the early 1970s which stated that posts older than 20 years could not be taken down without council approval. According to an article in the Toronto Star, this was a reaction to a discovery that Hydro was taking down some of the more unique lamp posts in the city and selling them to collectors.