Toronto History

Toronto baseball

So here's a great photo of Toronto, dated November 1926, which shows the newly built Maple Leaf Stadium, centre in the background right next to Tip Top Tailors under construction (which would be completed in 1929). The stadium is less than a year old and had just finished hosting the winning AAA Maple Leafs in the Junior World Series. In the right of the foreground is the older Maple Leafs Park at Hanlan"s Point on the Toronto Islands. This was the park where Babe Ruth hit his only minor league home run way back in 1914. The ball would be lost in Lake Ontario forever. The original stadium would remain standing for another decade before being demolished in the late 1930s. Anybody remember Maple Leaf Stadium?

120 years ago, Toronto suffered a great loss but eventually prospered in the end.

Toronto's history has been kept alive thanks to many great photographers over the years and if you grew up in Toronto in the 80's and 90's, then you'll be happy to know that some new vintage photos have been added to the Toronto Archives taken by a very talented photographer, Avard Woolaver Photography. There are currently 700 of his photos available to help you reminisce so check them out in the link below and give him a follow. You won't be disappointed!

https://avardwoolaver.com/2023/03/

The Toronto waterfront is home to many historical and cultural landmarks. One of the tallest structures found along the Queens Quay West is a 30 foot (914 cm) high monument located in Toronto's Inukshuk Park.

Made entirely of granite and weighing in at 50 tonnes, the Inukshuk monument pays tribute Canada's Inuit, Iñupiat, Kalaallit, and Yupik regions. Traditionally, the Inukshuk were for used for centuries as markers to help travellers in search of hunting grounds, fishing places, camp sites and places of worship.

In a similar fashion, the Toronto Inukshuk was unveiled in 2002 to commemorate World Youth Day, when Pope John Paul II visited the city. Speaking at the unveiling, former Mayor Mel Lastman added:

“World Youth Day has been a true navigational guide for millions of young people throughout the world. The Toronto Inukshuk invites each one of us to become beacons of light and hope, striving for justice and peace in this world.”

Today, the stone slabs found in Toronto's Inukshuk park remain one of the largest of it's kind in North America.

Photo and writeup: Justin Ziadeh Photography

The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant is both a historical building and popular set piece for many feature films on the big screen.

Opened in 1941, the plant was constructed as a response to the water shortages and unsafe drinking water issues that plagued Toronto during the early 20th century.

The plant itself is named after Roland Caldwell Harris, who served as the longtime commissioner of Toronto's public works from 1912 to 1945.

Along with the plant's cathedral-like exterior, the plant has earned the nickname the "palace of purification" as a nod to the site's vast hallways, marble entryways and numerous filtration equipment. All of which are still fully-functional and continue to provide 30 percent of Toronto's general water supply.

Location: 2701 Queen St E, Scarborough
Photography and write-up: Justin Ziadeh Photography

At the corner of University Avenue and Queen street West resides a collection of bronze statues set before a 70 foot granite column.

Initially installed in 1910, the South African War Memorial pays tribute to the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in the South African War (1899-1902).

The three bronze sculptures at the base of the memorial represent Canada sending her sons off to war. Additionally, the apex of the granite column contains a winged angel who is depicted raising a crown in victory. Due to transportation and funding issues at the time, the victory portion of the memorial was delayed until August of 1911.

From an artistic standpoint, the angel's design is a homage to the ancient Greek sculpture "The Winged Victory of Samothrace" which can be traced back to 190 BC.

After four years, the final inscriptions to the memorial were added in 1914 that listed the names of the Canadians killed in the Boer war.

Photography and write-up: Justin Ziadeh Photography