So, I don’t know if shots from 2014 qualify for inclusion in my so-called series From The Vaults (i.e. old shots of Toronto). I found these the other day while browsing and thought I’d post them as they are a bit of a blast from the past, so to speak.
Some of the shots are slightly “arty”; I was experimenting at the time with capturing urban life using a slow shutter speed, hence the intentional motion blur.
The Bay at Queen and Yonge
The original Bay store at Yonge and Queen Streets only partially exists since Saks Fifth Avenue took over the entire east half of the building in 2016. These shots are prior to the merge and remodel of the building.
The Bay’s southeast entrance on to Yonge Street. This entrance is long gone; in its place is a trendoid coffee bar/resto, which is part of Saks Fifth Avenue.Pay phones!!?? Remember those? In the lobby of The Bay’s southeast entrance.The Bay sales floor, ground levelRiding The Bay’s escalatorsMore people moversGround level sales floor, Women’s jewellery (note Ivanka Trump’s jewellery line, far right – that dates it!)
In The Old Queen Street Bridge
I shot these while crossing over from The Bay to the Eaton Centre in the old pedestrian bridge spanning Queen Street West. This bridge has long disappeared and been replaced with a new one (check out my Eaton Centre bridge post here).
Above Queen Street during a rainstormThe old Eaton Centre pedestrian bridge
Inside the Eaton Centre
Another busy Saturday afternoon in the Eaton Centre
Located at the very foot of Yonge Street at Queen’s Quay East/Lake Ontario sits a curious sculpture entitled Between The Eyes. Established in 1990 by the artist Richard Deacon, this enormous piece resembles a mangled egg beater on steroids. Its gentle curves and angles make for an inspired photoshoot; the structure looks interesting from any direction.
The sculpture is called Between the Eyes. The idea for it developed after my preliminary site visit at which point the site was just an empty lot. I don’t know if they even started breaking ground yet. And there were a couple of things that kind of struck me kind of forcefully at the time. The one was the location at either the beginning or the terminus of the longest street in Canada – Yonge Street – which goes for two thousand miles as an old fur trading route. And, also across from the square is the departure point for the ferries going out to the Islands. So, the site had an implicit kind of focus to it. And the title of the sculpture, Between the Eyes, is somehow reflected ideas about centrality, about distance travel as you came down Yonge Street with your sled load of beaver furs ready to raise trade.
Richard Deacon, Sculptor
The sculpture’s huge but I hadn’t wanted to make a huge lump. So that’s why it’s a skeletal structure, to lighten it, to make it something you can look through rather than it always being something you look at. And the seed of the idea was probably as much to do with just some idea about walking as anything else. The sculpture was intended to look itinerant on the site – that it had arrived and could depart or was going somewhere or had just arrived from somewhere. And that seemed to be the essence of the place, that it was a point of arrival and departure.
The Rosetta McClain Gardens at 5 Glen Everest Road in the east end of Toronto is a beautiful park filled with rose gardens, a rock fountain and a pergola, among many other things. Perched near the top of the Scarborough Bluffs, it also offers fantastic views of Lake Ontario.
A Brief History of the Rosetta McClain Gardens
Thomas McDonald West, owner and operator of J. & J. Taylor Limited, Toronto Safe Works purchased the 16.2 hectare Rumph farm overlooking the Scarborough Bluffs in 1904-1905. He and his wife, Emma, then divided it among their four children, Joseph McDonald, William Needham, Howard Thomas, and Rosetta. Many of the historic landscape improvements enjoyed today were initially undertaken by Rosetta’s husband, Robert Watson McClain, and her brother Joseph McDonald.
Rosetta McClain died in December 1940 and in 1959 her husband donated their property (about 4 hectares) to the city of Toronto in her memory. In 1977, this land was conveyed to the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and combined with portions of the J.M. and H.T. West properties. A further parcel from the W.N. West holdings was added in 1985, creating a 7.5 hectare park.
Shady PergolaThe gazebo – a shady place to restThe shell of an old pine house reminds park visitors that people once farmed this property
A spectacular view from the Scarborough Bluffs…
Lake Ontario, looking westLake Ontario, looking eastHow is it that every time I visit an urban park or garden, I either crash a wedding or model photo shoot?! Here, I encountered hordes of Asian photographers converging on their innocent victim.One last look
History of Rosetta McClain Gardens courtesy of the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry & Recreation web site.
I hadn’t originally planned on publishing two posts on the same day, but I learned earlier this afternoon that today is officially City of Toronto Day; it seemed worthy of notice here on TOcityscapes….
What exactly is City of Toronto Day you may ask? Well, Toronto is 189 years old today. On this date in 1834 the town of York was renamed and incorporated as the city of Toronto. Our city was designated as the capital of the province of Ontario in 1867 during Canadian Confederation.
Here’s the official proclamation of City of Toronto Day:
March 6, 2023
WHEREAS today marks the date that the city of Toronto was officially incorporated in 1834, as we reflect on 189 years of history.
For hundreds of years, Toronto has been the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. Indigenous history is ingrained in our contemporary experience of Toronto. The very name Toronto is an Indigenous word, Tkaronto, meaning “where there are trees standing in the water” and it holds importance in the Indigenous community. Our city is built on sacred land and is covered by multiple treaties, including Treaty 13 and the Williams Treaties and is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We are all treaty people, called to peacefully and respectfully honour the land, the Indigenous heritage and its people, which dates back to over 10,000 years.
Since its incorporation, Toronto has continued to flourish and embody its motto “Diversity Our Strength”, which can be seen in our city’s cultural and social fabric. As one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, our city has a global reputation for being a friendly, diverse, culturally rich city filled with vibrant neighbourhoods and unique cultures that make Toronto a great place to live and visit.
The valued contributions of Toronto’s multicultural communities strengthen our society and contribute to our city’s reputation as a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim March 6, 2023 as “City of Toronto Day” in the City of Toronto.
What did Toronto look like in 1834?
Here’s some interpretations from the City of Toronto Archives, Museums & Heritage Services:
On April 22, 1834, Council agreed to petition His Excellency Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant Governor, to arrange to have a plan drawn up of the new City of Toronto, its liberties, and its harbour, showing its division into wards and the relative connection of its limits with adjacent township lands.
City of Toronto, 1834
Third Parliament Buildings, 1834
The Old Gaol, Fireman’s Hall built by Mr J.G. Howard, on Church Street
In front of Regis College at 100 Wellesley Street West there resides a bronze statue inspired by Matthew: 25. Homeless Jesus – aka Jesus the Homeless – was installed in 2013 by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz. It highlights how Christ could be mistaken for a marginalized individual living on the street.
The Christ figure is shrouded in a blanket with His face covered; the only visual indication the figure is Jesus is the visible wounds on the feet.
At the doors of Regis College, U of T, is a bronze sculpture by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz depicting Jesus as a homeless person, sleeping on a park bench.
Worldwide Versions
There are multiple versions of the sculpture located worldwide, including the Vatican, New York and Madrid. In Canada, there are five other locations, including Ottawa and Hamilton.
Here are a few versions of this sculpture from around the world. Photos courtesy of the sculptor’s website:
Leader Lane is a short street in downtown Toronto.The street was part of the former city of York, Upper Canada, and runs from Wellington Street East to King Street East, crossing Colborne Street. The street was named Leader Lane after the Toronto Leader, a newspaper whose offices were located there from 1852 to 1878.
King Street East and Leader Lane, circa 1920
Leader Lane was the site of York’s first jail and hanging yard.The original jail, a log building constructed in 1796 at the corner of Colborne Street, has long since been demolished. Several buildings, many over 100 years old, remain on Leader Lane.
Walking north from Wellington Street East…
Some of the buildings have different street addresses but face Leader Lane on one of their sides:
The East Thirty-Six Restaurant, 36 Wellington Street East
P.J. O’Brien Irish Pub & Restaurant, 39 Colborne Street
Tom Jones Steakhouse, 17 Leader Lane
The legendary Tom Jones Steak House is one of Toronto’s oldest and most famous award-winning Steakhouses. The structure is a rare surviving late-19th century three-storey commercial building. It housed the first Grand and Toy store, and for the past 50 years has been the location of the Steak House. The building was constructed in 1830 when the street was called Berezy Street.
This building always catches my eye when I pass through the area because its placement is so awkward and unusual – a lonely, standalone structure surrounded by high-rises and the King Edward Hotel.
The sculpture Michael is located at St. Michael’s College quadrangle at Queen’s Park Crescent East. Michael was commissioned by the Collegium in 1977 in commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of the Foundation of St. Michael’s College. The sculpture, by artist Anne Allardyce, was completed in 1978, using stainless steel and granite.
Michael stands as a monument to Saint Michael – the namesake of the college. It may be slightly difficult, though, to make out Saint Michael from such an abstract form. At best, with the help of your imagination, you may see hints of wings and clothing in the triangular metal sheets. At the very least the statute is imposing and evokes a sense of grandeur.
Passing by the Bloor Street United Church at 300 Bloor Street West a couple of weeks ago, I was quite surprised by the renovation/demolition taking place there.
Located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, the 19th century Neo-gothic structure is undergoing a major interior and exterior restoration and renovation that includes the redesign of 20,000 square feet of community and commercial office spaces. For the time being the congregation is worshipping with St. Matthew’s United Church at 729 St. Clair Avenue West.
The mixed-use project aims to add approximately 40,000 square feet of leaseable space which will support the congregation’s ongoing programs. The completion of the project will carry out the original mission of the church, providing a community space for gathering and worship.
A glimpse into the future
Respecting the heritage building, the commercial and residential program form a podium and a 29-storey-high tower – the Cielo Condos – that is set back from the church. The tower takes cues in geometry and materials from its neighbourhood. The brick fabric of the Annex is reflected along the accordion-like podium of the building and features panels of windows that connect residents to the city and neighbourhood. In contrast to the intricate detailing of the church, the tower’s minimal form and gold detailing complement the existing structure.
A Bit Of History
The church began as a Presbyterian congregation in 1887 to serve the rapidly growing population of then-northern Toronto, with the church building opening in 1890. In 1924, the church voted by a substantial majority to join the United Church. Three years later, a portion of the church was demolished when the city decided to widen Bloor Street.
The church grew in size in the 1940s and 1950s as an influx of immigrants arrived in the area. The congregation was so large that on several occasions, Massey Hall was rented to hold some services. It was decided to renovate the church in 1954. As it was nearing completion, however, a fire broke out and the church was badly damaged, with most of the sanctuary destroyed. Money was quickly raised to rebuild the church; in the interim the congregation met at nearby churches and U of T’s Convocation Hall.
A sculpture by Lea Vivot entitled The Endless Bench sits outside the main entrance of Sick Children’s Hospital at 525 University Avenue. It was donated to the hospital in memory of the artist’s son.
Two young women seated on the round bench are conversing; one, a young mother, nurses her infant, while the other is heavily pregnant. Two children play in the sand within the circle of the bench.
There is an inscription on the bench which reads:
“The Endless Bench” by Lea Vivot. Unveiled July 7, 1984 in memory of her son Morris, July 7, 1977-October 18, 1979, in appreciation of the excellent care received by him and countless others from the Hospital for Sick Children. May our children play in peace.
Engraved along the bench are 476 supporting messages and images from sympathetic people as the sculpture was being created. These messages include heart shapes, images of toys, hands, maple leafs, and hand-printed inspirational thoughts. Along the outside rim of the bench the word Peace is inscribed in different languages.
The sculpture is made of bronze and was installed on the site in 1984.
Yes, it needed To go. I lived nearby and would pass this hospital many times over the years. Looking forward…