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Aerial view of St. James Town, 2016. Image: Vik Pahwa
January 2022
TOURS
St. James Town: World within a Block
Happy 2022! We're kicking off the New Year with a digital tour featuring one of our most popular walks of the past season. If you missed the in-person experience, here's your chance for a wintery self-guided adventure at your leisure. Bundle up and explore St. James Town!

With a population of more than 18,000 people, St. James Town is a neighbourhood in transition. Once Victorian houses dominated its upscale residential landscape. Today, St. James Town is the most densely populated high-rise community in Canada and one of Toronto’s most diverse neighbourhoods.

The digital map was developed as part of our Emerging Historian program by Alexandra Marchel, while the in-person tour was led by Ori Abara, who notes: "I undertook a lot of research and it was very much linked to my work as a heritage consultant. It opened up my eyes to the different resources that one might look at for the reports that I'd prepare at work."
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Andrew and Sharon Himel and Family Logo
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St. Lawrence Market and surrounding area from the 11th floor of the King Edward Hotel, 1974. Image: City of Toronto Archives
Creating Toronto: The Story of a City
The new restrictions caused by the Omicron variant have many of us floundering this first week of 2022. Embracing resilience (once again) we can still safely get outside and explore our city. Last year we proudly launched our first audio tour on the historic downtown. So if you haven't yet, check out Creating Toronto and discover the places and events that helped build Canada's largest city.

Developed as part of our Emerging Historian program, the experience was rewarding for tour developer and narrator, Mitchell Daniels: "I have Aspergers as well as hydrocephalus, two disabilities that have made it very difficult for me to find permanent employment. It's great to have this on my resume, but beyond that I gained valuable experience that I've been able to use in my work in the heritage sector".
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Ori Abara, Emerging Historian, October 2021
JOIN & GIVE
Thank you for supporting Emerging Historians
Your generosity brightens even the most overcast winter day in lockdown! Together, you gave more than $30,000 to our year end campaign to support Emerging Historians. 
 
Already we’re starting 2022 strongly working with three young professionals. They will develop plaques commemorating Honest Ed’s and Mirvish Village, as well as a digital tour of Toronto’s Black heritage featuring original work by an emerging Black artist.
 
More Emerging Historian opportunities — funded by you — will be posted in the upcoming months, including contracts to develop and lead in-person and digital tours. Stay tuned to this newsletter and our social media channels for the announcements of these positions, and for news on programming developed by Emerging Historians. 
 
Thank you for supporting the next generation of heritage advocates, while also helping us all stay connected during these isolating times.
Book cover for Remnants of Mid-Century Toronto
ONLINE EVENT
Remnants of Mid-Century Toronto: A Virtual Discussion
Wednesday, January 19 | 6:00 PM
Via ZOOM
Join us as we delve into the past and present of Toronto's mid-century architecture during this special event featuring the award-nominated book, “Remnants of Mid-Century Toronto”. Panelists include architectural photographer and documentarian, Vik Pahwa; Spacing’s creative director, Matthew Blackett; and Philip Evans, Principal at ERA Architects.

BONUS: All event participants will be eligible to purchase a signed copy of the book from the Spacing Store until January 30! This stunning collection of photos documents our city's sometimes beautiful, sometimes neglected mid-century structures. The accompanying short essays uncover peculiar facts and stories about these buildings which represent the greatest period of growth in Toronto’s history.
HERITAGE HAPPENINGS
Three Torontonians — including Chair of our Board of Directors, Liza Chalaidopoulos — share their dream for the future of this building on its 90th anniversary. (Toronto Star)
The trajectory of pandemics (highlighting the Spanish Flu, Smallpox and HIV/AIDS) have varied widely depending on the type of disease, the time period, the politics and the quality of health care available. (CTV News)
A look back at the history of Myrtle Villa, a rare example of a California-style bungalow that evolved into a sprawling estate complete with a main house, as well as houses for staff, a greenhouse, swimming pool and stables. (CBC)
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