March 2024

EXPLORE

Celebrating Black feminist activism during the 20th century

For International Women's Day on March 8, we present a new digital story on a transformative era in Toronto's history when Black feminists fearlessly challenged norms and tackled issues ranging from racism, to police violence, to sexism.

Beginning in the 1970s, Black women embraced an approach grounded in intersectionality to form several organizations and movements, including the Toronto Chapter of The Congress of Black Women, the Coalition of Visible Minority Women, and the Black Women's Collective. Their advocacy addressed the multiple forms of oppression faced by Black women and helped pave a pathway forward with other groups in Toronto in the BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

Discover more women's history at your fingertips

Want to know more about how women shaped Toronto's history? Delve into compelling stories on our website, including Women in the Park — an overview of Allan Gardens as a historic space for women's movements since the mid-19th century — and the self-guided tours, Lady Action: Toronto's Trailblazing Women and Bad Girls. Taking place in the Downtown Yonge and Liberty Village neighbourhoods, these last two digital experiences present some of the suffragists, doctors, artists, and others who pushed boundaries, while exploring how women resisted Victorian concepts of gender roles while pursuing their own social, sexual, and economic freedom.

STATE OF HERITAGE

What is the future of Toronto's heritage?

Since last summer, we have asked 494 community leaders and Torontonians from across the city to share their thoughts as we worked on our new State of Heritage Report. This spring, we’ll release both a video celebrating community voices, and the written report, identifying issues and trends in the sector and providing recommendations on the ways heritage can further contribute to city-building.

In the meantime, here’s a snippet of what we heard!

JOIN

Get involved!

Whether you are a newcomer to Toronto or a long-time resident, there is still so much to learn about this vibrant city. What is the best way to see the city and learn about its heritage and culture? Volunteering with Heritage Toronto!

We are looking for volunteers to support our public programming between May and October. From assisting with walking tours to lending a hand at special events, volunteering is a great way to meet new people, build your resume, and support your community.

ABOUT

Refreshing our digital experiences

After six months of work, we've revamped our website to provide a better user experience. Over the next few weeks, we'll continue to make online changes so that we can share engaging content on Toronto's heritage with more people, while also providing seamless registrations for our in-person events and programs.

Image Credits

Sisters in the Struggle film still, Dionne Brand and Ginny Stikeman, 1991. Courtesy of NFB

Nurses prepare meals in the diet kitchen of the Hospital for Sick Children, The Evening Telegram, Toronto, 1908. Image: Toronto Public Library

Participants and volunteers on the "Likkle Heritage Treasure Hunt", June 3, 2023. Image; Oscar Akamine