Fort York National Historic Site

Conservation / Preservation:

Architecture

The walled Fort is home to eight original military structures dating to 1813-1815, including soldiers’ barracks, blockhouses, and munitions storehouses. In addition, the 17.5 hectare national historic site contains a significant portion of the original 1793 Garrison Common, including Victoria Memorial Square, Strachan Avenue Burying Ground, the mouth of the now-lost Garrison Creek, the still-active Fort York Armoury, and the Fort York Visitor Centre.

Artefacts

The site contains many artefacts documenting early Canadian and British military history, including uniforms, weapons, headgear, artillery, tools, musical instruments, bottles, cookware, and personal items, many of which are on display in the museum’s exhibits.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Approximately eight exhibitions that offer a window into early nineteenth-century life at the Fort, including,

Restored soldiers’ and officers’ barracks, and 1826 officers’ mess dinner kitchen.
Archeological exhibits documenting the excavation and preservation of site itself.
Audio/visual exhibits focusing on the War of 1812 and development of Fort York, and how it relates to the City of Toronto, over the centuries.

Tours

Guided tours by costumed staff are regularly conducted (inquire in advance of visit to find out availability).

Educational Programming

Progressive curricula for elementary school students focusing on various aspects of the lives of the Forts inhabitants, military history, and British North America in general.

Living History Animation

In the summer, interpreters in period military dress drill, fire musket and artillery, and play music.

Special events

Special programming, such as concerts, outdoor food festivals, as well as arts and cultural events take place throughout the year.

Colborne Lodge

Conservation/Preservation:

Architecture

A rare Regency cottage built in 1837.

Artefacts

Contains many original furnishings, artefacts, and some of Howard’s watercolours of early Toronto.

Public Programming:

Tours and educational programming

A wide variety of workshops, educational programs and community events for all ages on the lives of the Howards and their legacy of High Park.

Seasonal Events

Christmas in the Park (from late November to early January), includes tours and workshops concerning the history of the cottage.

Colborne Lodge Gardens (from early April through summer); focuses on recreated gardens surrounding the cottage.

Campbell House Museum and Historical Foundation

Conservation/Preservation:

Campbell House is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value. The Sir William Campbell Foundation maintains the 1822 building and collects, preserves, and displays artefacts from the early 19th century, befitting the home of Chief Justice William Campbell.

Architecture

This early nineteenth century house is designed with a Georgian platinum architectural style and is one of the oldest remaining buildings from the original Town of York.

Artefacts

Although the original house’s contents were auctioned by William Robinson, Campbell House is furnished with artefacts that are typical of an upper-class nineteenth century home, including:

portraits, paintings, pictures, models
china, cutlery, pots, cooking fireplace
piano from 1801
bed, bath, dressers, cabinets, dining table, chairs

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

On the second floor of Campbell House there is a diorama of the York township in 1825. The diorama displays the neighbourhood of Campbell House’s original location. In addition, there is a blown up map of the township above the diorama, as well as photographs of Campbell House being moved to its present location.
Beside the York township diorama, there is also a diorama of Sir William Campbell acting as a judge in the renowned legal dispute between Sir William Lyon Mackenzie vs. Samuel Peters Jarvis.
A room for various rotating exhibits is located in the ballroom. Exhibits do not necessarily have historical themes.

Educational Programming

Culinary classes are offered through George Brown Culinary School and through Campbell House. Classes teach participants historic recipes and use historic cooking methods.
A Museum Training Program is offered for 13 to 17 year olds. Activities include crafts, cooking and learning history.

Other

Plays are occasionally held in the house and move room to room.
The Types Trial: re-enactment of famous trial where William Lyon Mackenzie took the Family Compact to court-for secondary students specifically.
Dancing: Traditional Scottish Dancing accompanied by fife music.

Tours

Tours are guided, upon payment of an admission fee or occasionally by “pay what you can.”

Heritage Toronto

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

The organization curates an annual photography exhibition. This years theme is Building Stories 2012: A Photo Exhibit of Transportation in Toronto. Past exhibits include Building Stories 2011: A Photo of Toronto’s Industrial Past and Building Stories 2010: A Photo Exhibit of Toronto’s Aging Spaces.

Historical Plaques

For nearly half a century, the Historical Plaques program has commemorated key people, places, and events in Toronto’s past. The program encourages Torontonians to apply for plaques and find funding support within their communities to make them happen. Heritage Toronto provides expertise in historical research and writing, plaque design and fabrication, and installation of plaques on buildings and in public spaces.

Plaques fall into three broad categories:

Century House enamel plaques with street address numbers. These celebrate any house that has been part of the architectural landscape of Toronto for over a century.
Official bronze recognition plaques for structures listed or designated on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register.
Commemorative and interpretive enamel panels, complete with maps and images that highlight people, places and events significant to the history of Toronto.

Tours

The Tours program was introduced in 1994 to provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to learn about the heritage and architecture of the city. All tours are researched, designed, and led by local historians, community groups, and professionals who volunteer their time and energy. The Tours season runs from April to October each year.

Digital

Heritage Map of Toronto: a google map highlighting archaeological sites, museums, plaques and heritage walks: http://www.heritagetoronto.org/discover-toronto/map
iTours: audio downloadable self-directed tours: http://www.heritagetoronto.org/discover-toronto/itours

Heritage Toronto Awards

An important event on the city’s cultural calendar, the Heritage Toronto Awards celebrate outstanding city builders and their contributions to the promotion and preservation of Toronto’s heritage in five main categories:

Community Heritage
Media
Book
Short Publication
William Greer Architectural Conservation & Craftsmanship

The nominees for the Community Heritage Award are also considered for the Members Choice Award. A Special Achievement Award is also announced, with the recipient named by the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors.

Other

Annual Heritage Toronto Awards,
William Kilbourn Memorial Lecture.
Comprehensive list of history-related organisations and locations in the city.
A program of heritage plaques and markers ,

Dominion Modern: Museum of Modern Architecture & Design

Conservation/Preservation:

Archives/Library

Collections include:

Industrial and domestic objects,
Over 200 taped interviews with Canadian designers, engineers, and architects,
Design and ephemera,
Books and periodicals,
Photographs and documents related to corporate histories.
The Andy Smith Collection includes architectural photographs from 1965 to 1990. Dieter Reppin Collection includes history and output of Art Associates and TDF.

Artefacts

Furniture, objects and industrial design.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Photographs and summaries of past exhibitions are located on the website. Toronto Subway: A Love Story, Honest Edwardianism Hand Painted Signs in the 21st Century, Alumni Hall of Fame, Vinyl Graphic

Design Exchange

Conservation/Preservation:

Archives/Library

Holdings include documents and textual records as well as a small collection of publications related to design.

Artefacts

Collection includes over 1000 pieces of Canadian design spanning over six decades.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Exhibitions are rotating, often focused on contemporary Canadian design. Past exhibits include: Stephen Burks Man Made Toronto, Designers in the Classroom, RGD Spacial Graphics and Capacity – an exploration of women in design.

Tours

Tours focus on the architectural history of the financial district from 1900s to present day.

Digital

Five on-line exhibits display photographs of artifacts from the permanent collection: http://www.dx.org/index.cfm?id=14613

Electronics,
Furniture,
House wares,
Lighting,
Textiles.

Other

Lectures, workshops, and film screenings.

Gibson House Museum

Conservation / Preservation:

Artefacts

Mid-19^th century objects used for tours and recreations: kitchen and housewares, weaving looms.
Gibson’s mid-19^th century surveying equipment.
Mid-19^th century furniture and other period pieces not necessarily owned by the Gibson’s are used to recreate the setting.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Static exhibit is an experiential examination of mid-19^th century homelife targeted to school-aged children.
Changing exhibit is often archival based. For example, displaying materials related to the 1834 survey of Toronto.

Re-enactments / Theatre

Experience based and offered to school aged children, looking at period living, food preparation and games.

Other

Adult level classes on hearth cooking. Seasonal dining using 19^th century recipes in theatre.

Toronto Architectural Conservancy

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Occasional exhibits in partnership with other cultural / heritage institutions related to the architectural history of Toronto and urban development in Toronto in general.

Lectures

Occasional public lectures dealing with aspect of Toronto’s architectural history.

Online Resources

The Conservancy offers a searchable database, “Building Blocks: History of Queen West,” which lists every Call for Tender issued for construction projects on Queen Street West, Toronto, between 1847 and 1890, printed in The Globe and Mail. The database is accessible for a fee.

Publications

Occasional publications dealing with various aspects of architecture, construction, and urban development in Toronto. Topics include notable architects, urban exploration, parks, hospitals and asylums, architectural conservation / restoration, famous landmarks, streets / roads, and neighbourhoods. The publications are accessible for a fee.

St. James Cathedral Archives and Museum

Conservation / Preservation:

Museum

Bibles, prayer books, and a small reference library.
Organ pipe and portable organ.
Coat of arms, paintings, drawing, prints, icons.
Memorial plaques and busts.
Textiles: embroideries, flags, and regimental colours.
Woodenware and furnishings: crosses, candlesticks, carvings, prayer desks, seats and chairs.
Ironwork: bell, fencing, weathervane.
China.
Brass and silver, both liturgical and secular.
Créche collection.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

Two regular exhibits include The September Art Show to mark Toronto Arts Week, and The Crèche Exhibit of Nativity Scenes from Around the World in December. Other exhibits are held throughout the year such as,

Black History, (opening February 5, 2017).
The Cathedral during the War of 1812, focusing on Bishop Strachan’s role in the Battle of York and the Cathedral’s use as a field hospital.
Vision and Devotion, organized in partnership with the Ontario Society of Artists, focusing on the society’s connections to the Cathedral. The exhibit displayed art by the society’s members housed within the Cathedral.
A celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and the links between the British monarchy and the Cathedral (to close October 28, 2012).

Tours

Specially organized Cathedral Tours for school classes normally engaged in the study of medieval history, Canadian history, art, architecture, religion, the Cathedral itself, and the broader theme of the Anglican Church and Christianity (the focus of tours catering to the grade 11 World Religions curriculum). Tours also focus on memorials and biography, church windows, carvings, military history, prominent local historical figures, and church architecture.
Tours of special exhibits.
Tours of Toronto’s Old Town and churches elsewhere in Toronto.

Public Lectures

The Archives and Museum Committee offers public lectures related to exhibitions and / or publications related to the history of the Cathedral and its parishioners.

Publications

Occasional publications related to Parish, Cathedral, and neighbourhood history.