This weekend we are enjoying the Victoria Day long weekend but I wonder how many of you know the story of why we celebrate the day. Not everyone in Canada celebrates it as Victoria Day. Victoria Day, known in French as Fête de la Reine (Celebration of the Queen) is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last…
Tag: History
Arrival of Toronto Subway Sped Newmarket’s Growth
The building of the Toronto subway system played a significant role in the economic and social development of Newmarket and area. While the Toronto subway is part of a larger public transportation network that includes streetcars, buses and light rapid transit, I shall confine my examination to the subway. In a second article, I shall look at the subway…
Teen Town Highlight Of Social Scene In 1950s, ’60s
I have been working on this article since I first began writing this column nearly five years ago, looking back at some of the memories associated with Newmarket’s Teen Town that are still so strong after all these years. My sincere thanks need to go out to all those who have participated in quite a few…
Young Doctor’s Persistence Behind Southlake’s Beginnings
How many know the history of institutionalized medical care in Newmarket? Here is an overview of how we progressed from rooms in a local hotel to a modern facility called Southlake Regional Health Centre. The Royal Hotel at the corner of Main Street and Millard Avenue was repaired after the fire of 1907 and, in…
Newmarket: Ice Cutter, Soda Jerk, Candy Girl, Milkman Among Long Gone Jobs
Whether you are a history hound or simply researching your family tree, you have probably come across occupations that are now extinct or most certainly rare. Ever wonder what those jobs entailed or where they went? Let’s have a look at what some of our ancestors did for a living. Some occupations on our list disappeared thanks…
Two Sides Of Newmarket, Split By Prospect, Once Competed For Prominence
In this article, we are going examine the history of one of the main streets in Newmarket, now know as Prospect Street but once called Garbutt Hill. During my research for articles in this series on subjects ranging from York County Hospital, the Srigley Brick Works, the Cane family and first Methodist Church to the provenance of Newmarket’s…
The Cedars Estate Was Renowned For Social Gatherings
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the historical home affectionately known as Maple Gables and now we are going to examine another property steeped in local history, The Cedars, located on what is now Victoria Street. Just as with Maple Gables, the rich history of the property is forever intertwined with that…
Stately Farmhouse In Newmarket Has Links To Empire State Building In New York
Let’s visit Maple Gables, that stately Yonge Street farmhouse on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Millard Avenue. This home has quite a local history, enhanced by the people who have called it home. While it is currently the home of the Sociable Pub, buildings like this quite often have an uncertain future, so it…
Southern Ontario Was Home To 2 Notorious Residential Schools
This is part two of my two-part series on the history of the residential school system,with a focus on southern Ontario. You can read part one here. In Ontario, there were roughly 15 residential schools and 13 of those were attended by Nishnawbe Aski Nation children. I have listed below the Ontario schools and posted a…
Residential Schools An Appalling Chapter In Canada’s History
This is the first of a two-part series on residential schools in Canada. In part one, we will examine the subject from a national perspective, while in part two, we will narrow our focus to southern Ontario. I hope to start the discussion by addressing some facts that you may not currently know or perhaps…
