GIFT GUIDE: Fort York — A Short History and Guide

Toronto Culture division has just published “Fort York: A Short History and Guide.” Written by historian (and Chief Curator of Toronto Museums) Carl Benn, the book is divided into two sections. The first looks at the history of the fort from 1793 until 1932, when it became a historic site. It includes historical illustrations and wonderful new maps and diagrams by Kevin Hebib commissioned for the book that show how Toronto was formed in relation to the Fort, and where the major battles occurred (you’ll never think of the CNE, Parkdale or the pleasant view from Ontario Place the same again). The second half is a guide to Fort York itself, detailing the buildings and their use over time.

Fort York played a key role in both Toronto and Canada’s history, but like many important things in this city, it hasn’t yet penetrated our collective consciousness of “what Toronto is.” Fort York is to Toronto what the Tower of London is to that city or the Bastille is to Paris. Few cities in North America have such a historic gem right downtown, surrounded by what is evolving into a new Toronto community. Soon, the green space of the Garrison Common (the area around the Fort) will be the centre of this neighbourhood — but unlike most parks, this one is a sacred place of national and international importance. This succinct book quickly demonstrates that the Fort is an integral part of Toronto’s identity, and as the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, comes at just the right time to remind us of this.

Since it is that time of the year, this book would make a great gift for anybody interested in Toronto, the War of 1812 or Canadian history — even an American friend who might need an “alternative perspective” on how that war was won would appreciate this as a gift. It’s available for $10 (including GTS) at the Fort York Canteen — that’s the entrance building on the west side of the site.

The Friends of Fort York

Apart from this new book, the Friends of Fort York, an organization dedicated to supporting heritage efforts in an around the Fort (and our neighbours at the Centre for Social Innovation), publishes The Fife and Drum, a quarterly newsletter full of stories and articles about the Fort (click here to read the back issues). If you would like to receive Fife and Drum and the shorter newsletter Drumroll electronically, send an email here and ask to be put on their mailing list. Better yet, if you want to get more involved you can always join the Friends yourself.