Category Archives: Toronto 175

The evolution from a small French trading post on Lake Ontario to a world-class City: the story of Toronto comes to life in this 90-minute documentary with archival footage from the early 1900s and interviews with leading historians and archaeologists. (Photo: City of Toronto Archives)

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Toronto #15: Champions of Industry

Posted on September 10, 2012 by On Top Of The World

New immigrants George Brown, Timothy Eaton, Adam Beck and Sir Henry Pellatt bring their entrepreneurial skills to the new City of Toronto and pave the way for Confederation, electricity, innovative merchandising, impressive buildings, a castle (Casa Loma) and the hydro electric generators at Niagara Falls. See the Toronto 175 category for more episodes.

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged Adam Beck, Aldershot (England), Canadian National Exhibition, Canadian Pacific Bank, Casa Loma, Clear Grit Party, Dominion Bank, Eaton’s, Father of Confederation, George Brown, Globe & Mail, Hydro Electric generators, Immigrants, John A McDonald, Liberal Party, militia, Niagara Falls, Provincial Capital, Queens Own Rifles, Sir Henry Pellatt, Timothy Eaton, Toronto, Toronto Electric Light Company, Traders Bank, Victorian architecture, Yonge Street | Leave a comment

Toronto #14: The Distillery and the Bankers

Posted on September 10, 2012 by On Top Of The World

In 1834, when Toronto had a population of 9,000 people there were already 300 taverns. New immigrants William Gooderham and James Worts seized the opportunity to set up their own distillery and by the 1870s were the largest producers of whiskey in the world. They built right on the waterfront to take advantage of the ships and railways for distribution and when the First World War broke out turned their operation to produce gunpowder for the Navy. They put their wealth to good use building Little Trinity Church and set up the Bank of Toronto. The new Bank president James Austin moved his family to Spadina House, in what was then, the countryside. See the Toronto 175 category for more episodes.

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged Bank of Toronto, cooperage, distillers, Distillery District, Dominion Bank, First World War, Flat Iron building, Gooderham & Worts, Grand Trunk Railway, Grist Mill, James Austin, Little Trinity Church, malt, museum, Norfolk (England), Northern Ireland, Spadina House, taverns, TD Financial Bank, Toronto, Toronto Dominion Bank, Victorian architecture, whiskey, William Warren Baldwin, windmill | Leave a comment

Toronto #13: Kensington Market – An Ethnic Experience

Posted on September 10, 2012 by On Top Of The World

Immigrants flooded the city and Toronto’s population shifts to a veritable United Nations. They came for a new beginning in a strange land and brought their skills with them helping to build the railways, the streets and the subway, and transforming the City. Descendants of those who established their homes and businesses in Kensington Market still live in the area and showcase the diversity of ethnicity, race, and religion. See the Toronto 175 category for more episodes.

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged British Empire, Canada, Chinese, commerce, ethnicity, Immigrants, Italians, Kensington Market, Ontario, Portuguese, Railways, religion, stonemasons, subway, Toronto | Leave a comment

Toronto #12: Conflicts and Resolutions

Posted on June 28, 2012 by On Top Of The World

Conflicts and Resolutions takes a look at Toronto’s involvement in times of War starting with Fort York an authentic War of 1812 site from which soldiers fought to protect Upper Canada from an American invasion. Toronto’s soldiers helped to make their country and the world safe enlisting in WW1 and WW2, and participating in conflicts from South Africa, Korea and Afghanistan to peace-keeping missions. Sunnybrook Hospital is built at the end of WW2, following an uproar with the appalling facilities that greeted the wounded on their return to the City.

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged 15th Regiment, Afghanistan, Boer War, Canadian Forces, Canadian Soldiers, CanLoan, Christie Street, City of Toronto, Dieppe, Fenian Raids, Fort York, Gardiner Expressway, Garrison Common, history, Jarvis Collegiate, Kandahar, Korean War, Lady Eaton, Mackenzie King, Military Burial Ground, Military Hospital, Officer’s Mess, Pantages Theatre, Peacekeeping, Reil Rebellion, Remembrance Services, Royal Canadian Military Institute, Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, UN postings, Vimy Ridge, War of 1812, Warrior’s wing, WW1, WW2 | Leave a comment

Toronto #11: St. Lawrence Hall and Market

Posted on June 27, 2012 by On Top Of The World

The grand St. Lawrence Hall is built on the ruins of a burned out farmers market in what is now the historic neighbourhood of the Old Town of York. It quickly became the social centre for public gatherings and major events. Council Meetings were held in the first City Hall which was built immediately to the south on the shores of Lake Ontario. When Council outgrew the building it became the St. Lawrence Market but still retains the original Council Chamber. In 2012 the market was named the best food market in the world by National Geographic

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged Canada, Council Chamber, Council Meetings, Court House, documentary, Farmer’s market, Fish Market, Front Street, history, Jenny Lind, Lake Ontario, Old City Hall, St. James Cathedral, St. Lawrence Hall, St. Lawrence Market, Toronto’s first City Hall | Leave a comment

Toronto #10: The Story of Government House

Posted on June 21, 2012 by On Top Of The World

The story of Ontario’s Government House and the official residences of the Lt. Governor from Simcoe’s tent to the first solid structure burned by the Americans during the invasion of Fort York in the War of 1812. Future residences included Castle Frank and the building of palatial Chorley Park which became a political issue and was eventually torn down.

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged Americans, Bank of Upper Canada, Castle Frank, Chorley Park, Coal, Confederation, Depression, documentary, First Post Office, Fort York, Gas, Government House, history, John Graves Simcoe, Lt. Governor of Ontario, Queen’s Park, St. Lawrence Hall, Thompson Hall, Toronto, War of 1812 | Leave a comment

Toronto #9: Epidemics & Discoveries

Posted on June 21, 2012 by On Top Of The World

In 1834 – tragedy strikes. Toronto is invaded by cholera then typhus and has to take drastic measures to save the population. An archaeological dig finds evidence of the immigrants who were sent to the fever sheds. John Rolph defies the British government and sets up a medical school which act eventually leads to the discovery of insulin by researchers, Banting and Best, at the University of Toronto

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged archaeology, artifacts, Charles Best, Cholera, cholera sheds, documentary, Dr. George Grasett, England, Fever sheds, Fred Banting, Genealogy, history, Immigrant hospital, Insulin, Ireland Park, Irish famine, John Rolph, medical school, Medical Sciences, Reese Wharf, Russia, St. James Cathedral, St. James Cemetery, Toronto Hospital, typhus, University of Toronto, Upper Canada, Victoria College | Leave a comment

Toronto #8: The Blackburn Story – Slaves on the Run

Posted on June 21, 2012 by On Top Of The World

The story of Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, slaves on the run from Kentucky, is brought to life with help from the Provincial Marine re-enactment group in Amherstburg The Thornton’s started Toronto’s first horse-drawn taxi service.

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged 1st taxi service, Abolition of slavery, Amerherstburg, blacks, John Graves Simcoe, Kentucky, Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, Provincial Marine, re-enactors, slavery, Toronto, United States, Upper Canada, Windsor | Leave a comment

Toronto #7: The story of William Lyon Mackenzie

Posted on June 21, 2012 by On Top Of The World

Elected to the Legislature in his later years and expelled from Parliament five times, Toronto’s First Mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie, was a prolific journalist, editor, and a rebel who rose up against the British government and was forced to flee Upper Canada. His legacy to the new settlement was immense.

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged 1st Toronto Mayor, archaeology, bylaws, Don Mills, Eastwood & Skinner, fire, George Brown, history, John Graves Simcoe, King Edward Hotel, Little York, Mackenzie House, Montgomery’s Tavern, Necropolis, Parliament, Patriots, Peter Matthews, police, printing, rebel, Samuel Lount, The Colonial Advocate, Todmorden, Toronto, William Lyon Mackenzie | Leave a comment

Toronto 175 – Part 6: Ethnic Origins

Posted on September 27, 2011 by On Top Of The World

Toronto, the global village today, and how it looked to immigrants in the 1800s.

Posted in Toronto 175 | Tagged Black Creek Pioneer Village, Canada, city, documentary, ethnic communities, farm, Grist Mill, history, Ontario, Street cars, Toronto, tourism, TTC, urban, York | Leave a comment

Category Archives: Toronto 175

Toronto #15: Champions of Industry

Toronto #14: The Distillery and the Bankers

Toronto #13: Kensington Market – An Ethnic Experience

Toronto #12: Conflicts and Resolutions

Toronto #11: St. Lawrence Hall and Market

Toronto #10: The Story of Government House

Toronto #9: Epidemics & Discoveries

Toronto #8: The Blackburn Story – Slaves on the Run

Toronto #7: The story of William Lyon Mackenzie

Toronto 175 – Part 6: Ethnic Origins

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