Conservation/Preservation:
Archives/Library
In a community-wide call for material, families, businesses and organisations donated documents to the community archives. The township also contracted a historian to conduct oral interviews of residents. Personal papers, photos and taped interviews.
Public Programming:
Occasional public lectures, events, and other projects, including creating historical plaques, the preservation of a one room school house, the renovation of a railway station, and upkeep of a cemetery.
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 ,
Conservation / Preservation:
Archives / Library
Paper records include HVAC related catologues and magazines.
Artefacts
Holdings include over 350 heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration parts from the 1920s to the 1960s. The website lists the archival and artifact holdings.
Public Programming:
Digital
Website also includes an on-line exhibition on the effects of refrigeration entitled Chilling Out.
Conservation / Preservation:
Archives
This archives contains
- Early land surveys and the development of the province.
- Diaries of David Gibson covering the years 1819 to 1864, and misc letters. These are typescript, originals are available on a case-by-case basis.
- Misc documents surveying, reform politics, rebellion.
Artefacts
- Mid-19th century objects used for tours and recreations: kitchen and housewares, weaving looms.
- Gibson’s mid-19th century surveying equipment.
- Mid-19th 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-19th 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 19th century recipes in theatre.
