History

The Torontonian roots of Doctor Who — the Canadian behind the legendary TV show

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Doctor Who turned 50 years old over the weekend. The Guinness Book of World Records calls it the most successful science-fiction... Read More

A.Y. Jackson goes to war — the Group of Seven on the Western Front

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“What war?” In the summer of 1914, A.Y. Jackson was far from home, high among the peaks of the Rocky Mountains. He was... Read More

Crowdfunding Queerstory — a free app that will tell Toronto’s LGBTQ history

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A new project started by Year Zero One YZO, some of the folks behind the award-winning TXTilecity project (stories about... Read More

The ghost of Christie Mansion — the grisly story of a Toronto cookie baron’s secret mistress

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Mr. Christie first came to Toronto in 1848. He was still a teenager back then, but he had already spent a few years as an apprentice... Read More

Toronto celebrates the false end of the Great Boer War — the anatomy of a photo from 1901

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It’s the summer of 1901 and we’re looking east down King Street from the intersection at Yonge. (You can see what the same... Read More

Is this the oldest catch basin grate in the city?

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Down at Fort York, amongst the War of 1812 buildings and the construction site of the new visitors centre, lies a grate for a catch... Read More

Star Trek and Toronto City Hall

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Toronto has made an appearance in the Star Trek universe twice and both times it’s been thanks to Nathan Phillips Square. When... Read More

Toronto-itis: How I dealt with that uneasy feeling returning home to an adolescent city

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I had traveled in Europe for a month, taking in the sights and rubbing elbows with fellow city-enthusiasts (also known as tourists)... Read More

Sam’s Sign: Giant neon records need good home

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“We had a deal,” was the constant refrain as city councillors and deputants alike grilled representatives of Ryerson University and... Read More