Home | Mapping our Memories

People, places and the stories we tell…

The Model Organizer

In the early 1950s, Verna Van Sickle was trying to support herself by modelling for life drawing and portrait classes at the Ontario College of Art.

Thanks To A Grade 6 Teacher

When Johnmingmark came to Canada in the 1960s, his first teacher was Bruce Cook at Parkdale Public School.

From Weston to Downtown: Uncle Don's Streetcar Trip to the Santa Parade

Back in the 1940s, Don Bunn's aunt used to take him and his brother Syl downtown to the Santa Claus parade.

347 Sorauren Ave: How a building reflects our history

In the 1970s, Ian Skelton got a job at 347 Sorauren Ave. with French Jewellery, a company that made high-end bracelets, chains and earrings.

Father (In-law) of Confederation

Mary Louise Ashbourne was so interested in history and politics that she suggested attending a Liberal Party rally at Maple Leaf Gardens on her first date with her future husband.

Air-Raid Drills and Rationing: A Child's Memories of the War

Jane Mowat Martin grew up on Chicora Ave. in Toronto. She remembers the air-raid drills that happened regularly, the loud sirens and the searchlights scanning the skies.

My Summer as a Farmerette – Virginia's Story

In 1947, Virginia Fraser joined an army of young women who took to the fields and orchards of Ontario farms to do their part during the war and post-war period.

Yorkdale's Phantom Theatres

Hidden and inaccessible in the depths of Yorkdale are the original cinemas that welcomed moviegoers when the mall opened in 1964.

Getting Ready for Winter

Weston resident Mary Louise Ashbourne was young, there was a very important room in her grandparents' house – the basement storage cupboard under the stairs.

Remembering Brockton Village Before it was Brockton Village

Lydia Kawun grew up at Dundas and College before the neighbourhood had a name — and before anyone called it Brockton Village.

My One and Only Arrest

In 1950s Toronto, Lydia Kawun envied the latchkey kids who roamed free after school at McCormick Park. Then one night, she got a taste of that freedom — and a police escort home.

The Film Society Founder

Verna Van Sickle used to run projectors and create soundtracks for silent movies for film societies in Toronto, which her father helped start.

How High Park Shaped a Legend

Biruté Galdikas, the renowned primatologist and orangutan conservationist, spent part of her childhood just two blocks from High Park. Her friend Mare Britton Tiido tells the story.

The Secretive Fraternity

Bob McTavish joined the Freemasons in 1952. He shared an insider's view of the organization's historic temple in in Toronto with Becky Hogg.

Tap Dancing Around Town

Arlene Chan and her five siblings — children of the legendary Jean Lumb — were frequent performers on some of Toronto's most storied stages. Chan tells the backstory of some of the places where they trained and performed.

The Family Behind the Butcher Shop

Catherine Oravec is one of four siblings who now own the Bloor Meat Market, started by their father Rudy in the 1940s.

Rebuilding a Congregation

When former street kid Cheri DiNovo became minister at a church on Roncesvalles Avenue, she found that launching a meal program for the needy also nourished the church.

Going Down the Road to Church

After her family moved from Cape Breton to Toronto, Donna Jean MacKinnon found her world centred on Dufferin Street Presbyterian Church.

My First Night at the Rondun

Paul Lima was 17 when he and his friends slipped into the Men Only section of a notorious Roncesvalles tavern.

Yorkville, a Record Store and Verna

Around 1956, Verna Van Sickle opened a record store, Towne Records, on the corner of Yonge St. and Cumberland Ave. She was in her mid-20s.

Book City in the Annex

Michael Gillies and John Snyder were the first employees at the new Book City store, which opened at 501 Bloor St. W. in the Annex in 1976.

A Church Manse

Roncesvalles United Church used to have a house in the neighbourhood. Like an English cottage, it offered quite a contrast for Reverend Cheri DiNovo after her former digs on Triller Ave.

Parkdale Drama

Jim Bunting recalls one particularly memorable call during his years as a Parkdale ambulance driver. As told to Vida Juozaitis.

Remembering the "Rundown"

Bill Armstrong reminisces with Lynne Latulippe about the watering hole near Dundas St. and Roncesvalles Ave. where his dad took him to watch baseball on a colour TV.

An Honest Boy Finds a Wallet

When Bill Armstrong turned in some cash he found behind the Grandstand at the CNE, he received some unexpected rewards. He told Lynne Latulippe his story.

Welcomed by Howard Park School

Nestor Repetski remembers starting school as a refugee's son in 1950s Toronto.

A Risky But Important Job

Jim Bunting faced some challenging moments as an ambulance worker based near High Park. He told his story to Vida Juozaitis.

Swimming in a Swindler's Pool

Judy Shiels remembers swimming in the private pool of Eddie De Palma, a notorious con man who lived in a palatial Etobicoke estate in the late 1940s. As told to Ellen Moorhouse.

A Swim Teacher Who Couldn't Swim?

Judy Shiels remembers swimming at the High Park Mineral Baths, where one of the teachers told the kids she couldn't swim. As told to Ellen Moorhouse.

The Holy Trinity of the Aunts

Jerome McNicholl grew up admiring his three unmarried aunts — Kathleen, Regina and Lillian — who took him in for months at a time when his mother wasn't well. As told to Anna Tierney.

From Farm to CNE

Every year, Mary Cupples' family took a bus trip from their farm near Mount Albert, Ontario, to the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. It was the highlight of her summer.

A Fishy Job at Eaton's

In the 1980s, Lisa Merchant became a fishmonger at the Eaton's fish market "one-below" at the Eaton Centre.

Family Roots in Weston

Don Bunn grew up in Weston, Ont., during the 1930s and 1940s. He witnessed the town’s amalgamation by an ever-growing city of Toronto. His niece Kirsten Gunter interviewed him

Tiny House, Big Hearts

After immigrating to Toronto, Charles and Elizabeth Hasted found a tiny house they could afford near Jane St. and St. Clair Ave. Their granddaughter Joan Belford tells the story.

Portrait of an Aviator

When she was 4 years old, Ruth Groome was fascinated by the portrait of a man wearing a cap with goggles raised onto his forehead.

Free Samples and 5-Cent Thrills

Donna Jean MacKinnon recalls the rituals of Children's Day at the CNE in the 1950s — the free samples, the five-cent treats, and the pure joy of a dozen Tiny Tom Donuts.

Kitten Sweaters Were All The Rage

Donna Jean MacKinnon remembers the Kitten sweater sets that girls coveted in the '50s and '60s.

A View From the Top of the Shell Tower

After the Shell Tower opened 1955, Donna Jean MacKinnon and her brother loved to climb to the top so they could to look down over the CNE at night.

The Washi Queen of Toronto

Nancy Jacobi discovered an ancient Japanese papercraft — and built a global business from a Queen West storefront. As told to Donna Jean MacKinnon.

The Church at the Centre of Swansea

Nancy Jacobi recalls the central role St. Olave's Anglican Church played in her Swansea childhood. As told to Donna Jean MacKinnon.

The House That Skiers Built

A ski lodge built by the High Park Ski Club became home to the Jacobi family. As told to Donna Jean MacKinnon.

A Musical Legacy on Bloor Street

The Royal Conservatory of Music played a huge role in the life of Ruth Groome and her family.

Fun Times in Toronto: A Father's Wartime Memories

When Arnold Black came to Toronto from Timmins in 1942 to train as a navigator for the airforce, he was billeted with thousands of other RCAF recruits at the Coliseum at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds. Karen Black tells the story.

The Roots of Stardom at Humberside Collegiate

Don Cullen, writer, actor and founder of the Bohemian Embassy in 1960, discovered his gift for mimickry during his high-school years at Humberside Collegiate in Toronto's High Park neighbourhood.

Uncle George's Adventures in India

In 2023, Nora Pope discovered a remarkable ancestor she'd never heard of — George Uglow Pope (1820-1908), who was born on Prince Edward Island and went on to become a missionary who founded schools in India.

Movie Magic at the Runnymede

Saturday matinees were raucous, but Lois Broad enjoyed going to the Runnymede Theatre during the 1930s and 1940s.

Pet Chickens and My Vegetarian Sister

Lois Broad tells the story of her sister Freda, who became a lifelong vegetarian on the day her brother Douglas pointed out that all the meat on the table had once been alive.

Church Three Times a Day

Growing up in Toronto's Junction in the 1930s, Lois Broad recalls a childhood centred on church — and the vibrant community that came with it.

Raising a Family on Glenlake Avenue

Freda Johnston Dreany raised her family on Glenlake Avenue. Lois Broad remembers how her sister managed on her own in the mid-1940s, while working full-time as chief fashion artist for Eaton's.

Ramona Dance Hall Days

Born in 1927 and raised in Toronto's Junction neighbourhood, Lois Broad recalls the joy of spending her teenage years dancing at the Ramona — a dance hall above a store on Bloor Street West.

Visiting Yorkville Library

Sheila McIlraith recalls weekly childhood visits to the Yorkville Library Branch, where the downstairs children's section was run by Lillian H. Smith — the first children's librarian in the British Empire.

A Kid's World

Bill Armstrong remembers growing up above the shops on Roncesvalles Avenue in the 1950s, where alleyways became playgrounds, fish and chips were a Friday ritual, and the neighbourhood functioned like a small village.

How Sports Built Warren Park

Ruth Chantler remembers how volunteers, young families and an ambitious sports program helped build community spirit in Warren Park.

The Home Above Artistic Glass

A family remembers life above Josef Aigner’s Dundas West stained-glass studio. Annette Aigner and Cloe Joël Aigner shared memories of their very unique home with Catherine Dunphy.

Good Food, Good Times at Vesuvio's

Vesuvio's was a legendary spot to eat in the Junction neighbourhood. Through the memories of Paul Ronan and Rebecca Holtzman, Sandra Burk traces the life of a beloved community institution.

The Lasting Glow of Artistic Glass

Josef and Annette Aigner built one of Toronto’s best-known stained-glass workshops. Annette and her daughter Cloe Joël Aigner told the story to Catherine Dunphy.

Being a Kid in the ‘50s

Bruce McDougall remembers Bloor West adventures from his childhood in the 1950s. He recalls movies, fries, bikes, and a real estate agent who helped his mother.

Living on the Corner

Bruce McDougall remembers living above a storefront, watching Toronto Star deliveries roll in on a truck, and having ice cream with his father when his family was living at 482 Roncesvalles Ave. in the early 1950s.

Fireside Stories

Bruce McDougall’s mom used to take him to the High Park Library for special Saturday afternoon readings.

The Bald-Headed Eagle

Bruce McDougall and his friends got a kick out of tormenting a neighbour by hurling dirt balls – until the police came calling!

Ravina Gardens: The Lost Arena

Bruce McDougall remembers watching hockey with his dad in the long gone arena behind Humberside Collegiate Institute. As told to Catherine Dunphy.

"Skipper" and Sick Kids Hospital

Joy Cohnstaedt remembers her grandfather “Skipper,” a Newfoundland-born ironworker who helped shape the construction of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children on University Avenue.

A Purse Thief in High Park

Who would expect one's grandmother to be mugged in High Park in broad daylight? It happened to Ingrid Shouldice in 1958, but the unfortunate incident had a silver lining for Ingrid and her little brother!

A Cool Grandmother Performs

The Eton House, which closed down in 2023, saw many musicians perform over the years, including singer Alminta Dawson. That was the one place where her granddaughter Adrienne got to see Alminta sing in public – and she was impressed!

Don Cullen, Lorne Michaels, and the Bohemian Embassy

Don Cullen remembers working with a young Lorne Lipowitz — later known as Lorne Michaels — on a 1960s revue at Toronto’s Bohemian Embassy, an experience that opened new creative doors for both men.

The Magic of the Minnies

Lois Broad remembers the High Park Mineral Baths—known as the Minnies—where kids flocked to the pools at Quebec and Bloor St. W. each summer until they were closed in 1962 to make way for the subway.

Spanky at the Firehall

On Sundays, Doris Dunne used to take a roast beef dinner to her dad at work. Her little spaniel Spanky always went with her.

Sunnyside: A Cheap, Fun Date!

Lois Broad had fond memories of Sunnyside Amusement Park and going there with Charlie, her boyfriend and husband to be

A Shot in the Dark

Bill Armstrong still shudders at the memory of tagging along to his father’s Texaco station, where cops spent their Sunday afternoons drinking and firing pistols in the 1950s.

School, A Friend, and Brownies

Ingrid Shouldice, who immigrated with her family from Austria in the early 1950s, remembers her days at Dennis Avenue School.

Newcomers to Weston in the 1950s

When Ingrid Shouldice's family came to Toronto in 1953, they moved into a subsidized townhouse at 19 Langden Ave. Her father, however, vowed that they wouldn't be there for long!

A Neighbourhood Store With a Heart

Lorne Clayton remembers how Doug Breakwell’s grocery store at 48 Annette St. kept his family fed when money ran out. He was proud to repay the kindness in the mid-1950s.

A First Job at Simpson's

In 1968, Ingrid Shouldice landed her first post-university position in Simpson’s flagship store at Yonge and Queen.

My Grandmother's Laundry

Johnming Mark remembers his grandmother with admiration. Following her husband's death in 1962, she operated a profitable Parkdale laundry despite not knowing English.

Buying a First Home

Ingrid Shouldice laughs now at her first home purchase at 24 Minnacote Ave., recalling how the playhouse kitchen, tire swing and mile-long clothesline made her feel she’d bought a cottage rather than a house.

My Neighbour Honest Ed's

Kirsten Gunter loved her first Toronto apartment, situated above a bakery, right across Bloor St. from the store with the flashiest lights in town.

The Popcorn Fiasco

Maureen Chicorli describes her first embarrassing try at operating a popcorn machine at the Royal Winter Fair.

The Wedding Photographer Who Founded a Gallery

Lois Broad's wedding photographer had been a neighbour at 194 High Park Ave. He later became famous for the Canadian art gallery he built in Kleinburg.

First Encounter at a Stadium

Lois Broad remembers watching high-school football at the stadium where Dufferin Mall now stands — and one unforgettable game in 1941.

A Field of Dreams—Behind the Runnymede Library

There's nothing like a vacant lot for kids to play in. Lois Broad remembers the fun her sons and all the neighbourhood kids used to have.

Half a Bed Better Than None?

Finding a place to live in Toronto after the Second World War was a lot harder than finding a job. Betty Ferrie found that out!

Running Free in the Valley

The Melville family moved to Warren Park on the shore of the Humber River in the early '50s. Three years later, they were in the eye of the storm. As told by Garry Melville to Margo Duncan.

Memories of Swansea Public School

Chris Higgins recalls growing up at Swansea Public School during the 1960s, where memorable teachers, lifelong friendships and a rapidly changing world shaped a generation.

The Mews, the School, and the Park

Marcia Drummond remembers growing up in Swansea near High Park in the 1970s, where life in Metro Housing brought both difficult moments and formative experiences.

The Love Story of Ruth Frocks

As the owners of the Roncesvalles landmark Ruth Frocks clothing store, Phyllis and Adam Eckhardt dressed everyone from society queens to drag queens. As told to Vida Juozaitis.

Working for Sam

Helga Schuliakewich describes how the famous retailer Sam Sniderman helped her, a young German immigrant, in the 1950s.

The Old Country Shop

Students working with Back Lane Studios explore the history of German immigration around Roncesvalles Avenue through the story of The Old Country Shop, a legendary destination on the Roncesvalles retail strip.

Sunnyview Restaurant and the Great Blackout

George Sromek remembers a historic night in 1965 when the power went out throughout the city. Neighbours gathered to eat and drink in the dark at his parents' restaurant. As told to Heike Mertins.

A Doctor, a Horse and a Vaccine

Toronto writer James FitzGerald explains why a laneway got named after a horse.

William Moore: Stonemason and Entrepreneur

Shirley Eglite, born in 1927, remembers her entrepreneurial grandfather, an Irish immigrant who helped build Toronto’s Old City Hall. As told to Sarah Kidd.

Truck Stop for Farmerettes

Sheila McIlraith remembers working as a “Farmerette” during the Second World War, helping harvest crops on Ontario farms. She signed up at age 13 while still in Grade 9.

Where the Sleeping Car Porters Stayed

Gil Carty remembers his great aunt Jean McKenzie, who immigrated from Jamaica in the 1920s, saved her money and bought a house downtown.