Rotten Candy

 

Location: Hepbourne Street

Date photo taken: 23 October 2023

Once again, Toronto yards were dressed to impress this Halloween. The giant skeletons I posted about last year have taken over a lot more real estate, and big, ropey spider webs seemed to be the it choice for many, but my favourite installation employed neither. This Halloween hawker stands outside Hepbourne Hall, one of half a dozen figures that make up their Halloween Circus. It's an incredibly detailed tableau and thoughtfully includes both a scavenger hunt and souvenirs. 

Jarvis Street Gargoyle

 

Location: Jarvis Street facade, Jarvis Street Baptist

Date photo taken: 17 March 2017

This is one of several dragon-like gargoyles stationed on the exterior of Jarvis Street Baptist, the large, brown-stone church at the corner of Jarvis and Gerrard. Built by the firm of Langley, Langley and Burke, it was originally constructed in 1875 and then rebuilt in 1938 following a devastating fire.

Volunteer fireman memorial

 

Location: 308 Prince Edward Drive South

Date photo taken: 11 November 2021

This memorial stone, which stands in front of Fire Station 431 in Etobicoke, is a reminder of the devastation and loss of life caused by Hurricane Hazel. While hurricane season usually doesn't trouble Toronto much, Hurricane Hazel was different. It hit Toronto on October 15,1954 and stalled over the city, bringing high winds and dropping copious amounts of rain. The region had been receiving above-average rainfall before the storm hit, so the ground was already saturated and much of the water ran off, flooding the city's waterways, washing out bridges and carrying houses and people away. This stone pays tribute to five of those people, volunteer fire fighters who lost their lives in the Humber River.

The full plaque text:

In proud memory of these men of the Kingsway-Lambton Volunteer Fire Department

Clarence (Tiny) Collins

Frank Mercer

Roy Oliver

David Palmateer

Angus Small

They lost their lives in the swollen Humber River while on rescue work during Hurricane Hazel, 16th October 1954.

Erected by members of the Kingsway-Lambton Volunteer Fire Dept. and Lakeshore District Firemen. 16th October 1955

Faithful unto death.

Bat Box

 

Location: Corktown Common

Date photo taken: 19 June 2023

Walking around the eastern side of the hill at Corktown Common this summer, I noticed several of these installations. They're called rocket boxes and they provide roosting habitat for bats. Did you know that eight species of bat call Ontario home? Or that four of those eight are considered endangered? Habitat loss is one aspect contributing to their demise and these boxes help to provide a solution. That said, not a lot is known about the roosting habits of particular bat species, but several organizations are working to change that. The Toronto Zoo and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority are two of them, working together to record and monitor bat populations and habits. The square box mounted lower on the pole contains a mesh screen which captures falling guano from the box, which can be analyzed to determine what types of bats are roosting inside. I'm not sure who is responsible for installing these particular boxes but I hope that they are well received by the locals, both bat and human alike.

To learn more about bats, check out this publication by the Toronto Zoo. In addition to general  information, plans for bat boxes, and some myth-busting, it includes some unexpectedly adorable bat portraits.