Event Guide: Beating the Bounds — Walk the 1834 perimeter of Toronto

Spacing is pleased to be working with our friends at Heritage Toronto again, this time to kick of their 2009 season of historic walks with a unique psychogeographic walk. Last month during Toronto’s 175th birthday we heard a lot about Toronto in 1834 — but what does that mean? This walk, on Saturday, April 25, that traces the edges of the city from that year, will give participants a sense of how big the city was then (not so big!) and how much Toronto has grown since. It’s also a rather unique path through the city, and heretofore overlooked details are likely to reveal themselves.

Our 2009 Heritage Toronto Walks Season is around the corner – and it begins with a special self-guided walk this year to honour our city’s birthday: 1834 Toronto: Beating the Bounds.

Dirt streets and wooden sidewalks, the smell of wood smoke and stables, schooners and steamboats in the harbour – this was what one would have encountered here in 1834, the year the growing Town of York (population 9,252) was incorporated as the City of Toronto. While it is a challenge to fully understand life back then, we can get a sense of the scope of the early city – through our feet!

In celebration of Toronto’s 175th anniversary, Heritage Toronto and Spacing magazine invite you to walk the 1834 city boundaries in a one-of-a-kind modern ‘pilgrimage’. Pick up a map between 1:00 and 2:30 PM on April 25 at the start point and walk the route at your own pace. Or drop by the Heritage Toronto office after April 25 to pick up the map and do this tour at your own convenience.

START POINT: North end of Market Lane Park, west side of St. Lawrence Hall, 157 King St E at Jarvis St
FINISH POINT: Parliament Square Park, Parliament St, 1 block S of Front St E, near the Distillery District
LENGTH: Approx. 4 to 4 1/2 hours or 9 to 9.5 km
FOCUS: Historical
DIFFICULTY: Very long walk on pavement, park grounds, some slopes