THE HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN TORONTO

Ghosts of Toronto's Past | Carys Owen
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This month, in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th, I thought I would give you all a little history lesson on International Women’s Day in Toronto and some of the events and people that have supported women’s rights in Toronto.

In 1977, women’s liberation appeared to be thriving as rape crisis centres, women’s centres and daycare centres were becoming more common. However, many of these services were inaccessible to the general public and the media was claiming that women’s liberation was dead. It was during this period that a group of Toronto women began to organize the first celebration of International Women’s Day in English Canada. Prior to this, International Women’s Day had been celebrated across Europe and in many Communist countries as a way to draw attention to the struggles of working-class women to obtain a better life and a living wage.

In order to organize an International Women’s Day celebration in Toronto, a number of feminists were pulled together from various active women’s groups. There was a diversity of women’s voices and a variety of changes they were demanding in this grassroots coalition movement. Of course, International Women’s Day continued as a tradition in Toronto with a different key issued featured each year. This year’s theme was #BecausOfYou which showcases the Canadians who are making changes and inspiring gender equality. I would now like to tell you a little bit about some of the events and women in Toronto that have made moves in fighting for gender equality. Sadly, the list of women and events mentioned in this article is rather short and restricted to Caucasian women. This is not something I did intentionally. Much of the information I read on this subject focused on Caucasian women and ignored the particular struggles of minority women. In reality, women of colour and minority women play an equal part in fighting for women's rights, and many minority women are faced with further pressure in fighting for their rights. This is something I would like to explore in later articles.

[Source]

Carolyn Egan

Carolyn Egan was part of the International Women’s Day Coalition in Toronto and she helped organize the first International Women’s Day in Toronto. She is the president of Steelworkers Toronto and she is involved in the reproductive justice movement. Carolyn remembers that at the time of the first IWD, many people and the media thought the women’s movement might be dead. Carolyn and her partners felt very strongly that this was not the case and there were still several issues that needed attention including the deportation of Jamaican mothers and the issues surrounding working women’s rights. For Carolyn and the rest of the coalition, organizing IWD was about highlighting issues that everyday women were struggling with. 

Pro-Choice Movement

By 1960 Planned Parenthood had already been established in other areas, but Planned Parenthood was prevented from coming into Canada by a number of powerful religious organizations and a lack of interest. Barbara and George Cadbury (yes, the chocolate Cadburys) began a fight to get Planned Parenthood into Canada by organizing, informing lobbying, and writing letters. Their efforts helped to get Planned Parenthood into Canada and to support Canadian women in deciding when, and if, they have children. This wave of reproductive rights continued into the 80s as the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that prohibiting abortion was unconstitutional in 1988. Today, thanks to people like Barbara and George, Canada offers non-judgemental primary care, mental health support, sexual health research, advocacy and an array of programs and choices. While the fight for reproductive rights still face a lot of pushback, allowing women to choose if, how, and when they have children is a sign of respect and a major step forward in the women’s rights movement. I myself,  am so pleased that I can live in a country and province that respects my right to choose.

Doris Anderson

As the editor of Chatelaine Magazine, Doris Anderson was a trailblazer for working mothers in Canada. In 1951, Doris was in Toronto and acquired a job in the advertising department of Chatelaine Magazine, but, as a result of great determination, she received a promotion to the editorial staff team and later became the managing editor. Under her direction, the magazine took a feminist turn as they began publishing articles about sexuality and women’s rights. Despite the competition from American publications, Chatelaine exceeded the circulation of any other Canadian monthly publication. Doris went on to become the editor of the magazine and marry David Anderson, but this only happened because she was able to convince the manager of Chatelaine’s parent company that she could handle both a career and married life. Similarly to many employers of this time, the company had no maternity leave policy, so Doris had to work right up until the birth of her children and return to work only a few weeks later.

Doris left Chatelaine in 1977 after she was denied the role of publisher. However, Doris did not back down from public life or women’s rights. She became the chair of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, but she left the CACSW in 1981 in protest of government interference. Her departure lead to the formation of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women that appointed Doris as their president until 1984. Doris also published a book in 1991, the Unfinished Revolution: The Status of Women in Twelve Countries, and she worked for the Toronto Star from 1982 to 1992. Doris’ work had a strong impact on women’s rights in Canada; her efforts created social change and progress in healthcare, employment and politics. Today, we can still see many of the changes that Doris advocated for and she remains a hero in Canadian women’s rights.

Article from the July 1971 issue of Chatelaine. [Source]

The Fight for Women’s Rights

In 1871, the Married Women’s Property Act of Ontario passed and gave married women the right have their own earnings and wages including revenue from the businesses they owned. This was a huge step for women’s rights because it acknowledged that a woman’s identity could be legally separate from a man’s, and this event inspired the creation of several women’s rights organizations across the city. One of these organizations was the Toronto Women’s Literary Club that was lead by Dr. Emily Stowe in 1876. The club worked to get women access to higher education, better working conditions and a presence in politics.

In 1884, the Literary Club changed its name to the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association. In part of the CWSA’s advocacy work, women in Toronto were able to vote in the city’s municipal elections on January 4th, 1886. The CWSA continued to fight for women’s right to vote, but it was not until 1918 that women were granted full suffrage.

This list of events and people involved in women’s equality in Toronto is a short one that really only mentions Caucasian women and men. However, this list only scratches the surface of women’s equality in Canada. There are a number of great women from all walks of life (including women of colour) that have made an impact in Canada and there are a number of other milestones in the women’s rights movement that were not included on this list. I hope that on March 8th (and every other day) everyone not only celebrated all of the strong women in their life but also took this opportunity to learn about the struggles women still face and to acknowledge that every women they know is the equal of every man.

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE EATON EMPIRE

Ghosts of Toronto's Past | Carys Owen 

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The Eaton empire began when Timothy Eaton moved from County Antrim (now Northern Ireland) to Canada in 1854. He first went to Kirkton to join his brother James in the dry goods business before moving to St. Mary’s and later leaving James to come to Toronto. In December 1869, Timothy and his wife Margaret bought a dry good operation for $6, 500. Their first store would eventually include a candy factory, optical services, interior decorating services, shopping advice, wig cleaning, party supplies and disabled assistance. Mr. Eaton’s business was devalued by Canadians for catering to the middle and working classes as he would try to offer a luxury experience for a discounted price. Mr. Eaton had several unique business ideas that were often labeled as passing fads. At the time, retailers would often allow customers to pay for goods in instalments, but Mr. Eaton had a strict cash-only policy at a set price that would help customers on a budget. He would also offer a money-back guarantee in 1870 that would allow customers to get their money back if they were unhappy with their purchase. One of Eaton’s most notable contributions was their catalogue, first issued in 1884. The catalogue was a successful way for the company to advertise its products and sell outside of Toronto.

Original T. Eaton Store. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 3059.

The T. Eaton Company Limited. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 3382.

Another notable contribution from Eaton’s was the launch of the Santa Clause parade in 1905. These first parades in Toronto and Winnipeg were originally small affairs, but as the years went by, they became more complex, with more floats, and longer parade routes. As we all know, the Santa Clause parade went on to become an iconic Toronto event. 

Eaton's Santa Clause Parade, 1930. City of Toronto Archives, Series 71, Item 6086.

In 1907, Timothy Eaton died and his son, Edward Eaton took over the business. Despite this, the company continued to experience great success as they opened more stores in Toronto and across Canada and expanded their catalogue. Edward introduced a pneumatic tube system into stores that transferred cash, letters and documents around the large buildings. This system included a motorized delivery service that coincided with the rise of the automobile. After the outbreak of the First World War (1914-1918), Eaton’s was extremely patriotic in their war efforts. As the company saw many of their own employees go to war, the company provided supplies such as uniforms and equipment overseas. In 1930, Eaton’s further expanded with a new location on Yonge and College. In an effort to make Eaton’s more fashionable and elegant, this location featured marble-faced elevators, an auditorium and a restaurant, the Round Room. The restaurant was actually a project started by Lady Florence Eaton who wanted to emulate the European shopping experience. In fact, the story of the Eaton’s is similar to Harry Gordon Selfridge and Selfridges in London.

John David Eaton and Lady Eaton at the opening of Eaton's College St. Store. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 1638.

Window Shopping at Eaton's. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 4764

By 1930, Eaton’s was dominating the Canadian retail market as they employed over 25,000 people and controlled nearly 60% of department store sales in Canada. However, Eaton’s also faced harsh criticism during this period. The company’s relationship with its workers was mixed. Eaton’s did provide reasonable work hours and a number of benefits. On the other hand, Eaton’s resisted unionization and during a public examination of the company’s books, it was found that the company was cutting jobs and wages while executives were making millions in wages, bonuses and pensions. The economic hardships of the great depression also contrasted with the opulence of stores and the wealth enjoyed by the Eaton family.

After the Second World War, things only got worse for Eaton’s. In 1948, the Canadian Congress of Labour (CCL) launched a four year attack on the company in order to unionize the 12,000 Toronto employees. Eaton’s resisted the CCL’s efforts and after a long battle, Eaton’s employees voted against unionization. In 1952, Eaton’s faced further set-backs as the U.S. department chain Sears Roebuck partnered with the department chain Simpsons. This presented a great challenge to Eaton’s. As the competition grew, the president of Eaton’s, John David Eaton, struggled to respond to new market changes. The company closed its struggling Canadian Department Store branches, and by 1978, Eaton’s was behind Sears and the Hudson’s Bay in Canadian retail sales. Eaton’s did build its downtown location (the one we all know and love) during this period, but the store struggled to generate enough revenue to cover the size of the building. 

Eaton's College Street, 1972. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 124, File 3, Item 1.

After years of hardship, in 1977, George Eaton announced that the company could no longer pay their debts (a total of over $300 million), and the company sought protection under the federal Companies Creditors’ Arrangement Act. Alas, this would not save the company, and in 1999 the company declared bankruptcy. Eaton’s sold their remaining shares to Sears Canada and turned their remaining stores into Sears stores. A very sad ending for a company that moulded Canadian shopping for the bulk of the 20th century.

City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 436, Item 31

City of Toronto Archives,Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 420, Item 31.

THE ROARING 20'S IN TORONTO

Ghosts of Toronto's Past | Carys Owen 
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We did it, we made it to 2020, and this entrance into a new decade has got me thinking about the last time Toronto entered the 20’s. This month I’ll be taking a look back at some of the most interesting Toronto events between 1920-1930.

The Opening of Maple Leaf Stadium

If I’m honest, I could not give two figs about sports, at most I’d give one and a half. That being said, sports occupy a large part of Toronto’s history so I guess we have to talk about them. Just in case any readers are also clueless about sports, it is worth noting that Maple Leaf Stadium was originally the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a minor league baseball team.

Construction for Maple Leaf Stadium (not to be confused with Maple Leaf Gardens) started in Fall of 1925. Using the estimated 300,00$ budget, that later turned into a 750,000$ budget, the stadium planned to open on April 28, 1925. About 4,000 fans showed up for opening day, but due to poor weather conditions and a very damp field, the first game was cancelled. The opening was rescheduled for the next day.

That first game was a real nail-biter. In a turn of events, the bottom of the ninth inning saw a series of hits that tied the game 5 to 5. This sent the game into extra innings that resulted in a 6 to 5 victory for the Maple Leafs. This was a good omen for the rest of the season as the Maple Leafs won the title of that Fall’s Little World Series and finished with 109 wins and 57 losses. Today this stadium is no more as the site was demolished in 1968, the same year the the Maple Leafs moved to Kentucky and became the Louisville Colonels.

Maple Leaf Stadium. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 465

Maple Leaf Stadium. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 7650

The Stanley Cup

The Toronto Maple Leafs were one of the six original NHL teams in 1917, and since then, they have won the Stanley Cup 13 times. The team was originally named the Toronto Arenas before renaming themselves as the St. Patricks in 1919. The Toronto Arenas won the NHL’s first Stanley Cup in 1917 against the Vancouver Millionaires and again in 1922 as the St. Patricks. Both of the Leaf’s first two Stanley Cup wins were within the first five years of the NHL.

In the 2017-2018 season, the Leafs were doing better than ever with 49 wins, 29 home wins and 105 points scored. Alas, the Leafs lost to the Boston Bruins in the first round of that year’s play offs. Despite their performances, the Maple Leafs remain an important Toronto icon and are arguably one of the most popular teams in the NHL.

St. Pats Hockey Team. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 9947

Toronto's First LCBO 

The Temperance Movement was an international campaign that encouraged moderation or total abstinence from alcohol in the 19th and 20th centuries. The federal government could ban the manufacture, sale, wholesale and interprovincial trade. However, the government was not eager to ban alcohol because of the tax revenue that it brought in. As a compromise, the provincial and federal government gave local governments the right to hold votes in order to ban the sale of alcohol, this was called the Temperance Act of 1878. During the First World War, temperance was at an all time high and in 1915 and 1916, all provinces except Quebec banned the sale of alcohol.

Fast forwarding to 1927, when the Liquor Control Board of Ontario was established and charged with making sure the province’s liquor laws were followed. The LCBO opened 12 stores, with 6 of them in Toronto. Despite the unreasonable and rigid liquor laws, the LCBO was a success with hundreds of people lining up on the opening day. 

Discovery of Insulin

It was Dr. Frederick Banting (a young surgeon from London, Ontario) who developed research ideas that would help test the theory that pancreatic secretions could prevent and treat diabetes. Banting took his ideas to the extensive research resources at the University of Toronto. Under the direction of a skeptical John James Rickard Macleod, Banting was able to utilize lab space and resources to test his theories in May of 1921.

Banting and his research assistant Charles Best tested diabetic dogs until the Autumn of 1921. While they did experience several breakthroughs, they still needed their pancreatic extracts to consistently and effectively to treat symptoms of diabetes. James Bertram Collip joined the team and assisted in improving the research until they were able to test their findings on human subjects in January 1922. In March of that year, Macleod and his team were able to produce a paper explaining their research and present it as a meeting of the Association of American Physicians. This is when the term “insulin” was first used.

Insulin production was supervised by the University of Toronto and by the end of 1923, insulin was made available to diabetics around the world. The 1923 prize for Medicine was awarded to Banting and Macleod who decided to split their winnings with Best and Collip. The discovery of insulin undoubtedly helped diabetics around the world and a small bottle of insulin is currently featured on the Canadian hundred dollar bill.

Sir Frederick Banting (left) and Lord Moynihan, University of Toronto. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 1029.

Union Station 

On August 6th, 1927, Edward, the Prince of Wales got off his royal throne to come and open Union Station by cutting a ribbon with his gold scissors. British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie Kind also attended the ceremony. Following the opening ceremony, His Royal Highness entered the station to receive the first ticket sold at Union Station. The ticket was to Alberta and cost 71.20$ which today would be around 1,184.49$. Five days later on August 11th, the station was opened to the public.

The term “Union Station” actually refers to a station where a number of railroads share space, so several Union Stations can be found across North America. The current Toronto Union Station that we all know was actually the city’s third station. Since the station’s opening it has undergone several renovations, but much care has been taken in order to preserve the historical and architectural significance. Toronto Union Station is still a bustling centre of transportation and an architectural icon.

Union Station. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 5045.

Edward, Prince of Wales (left). City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 11128.

RIDE THE ROCKET

Ghosts of Toronto's Past | Carys Owen
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It’s that time of year again. The malls are packed with eager people looking to engage in gratuitous gift-buying and stare at a giant reindeer. However, this is also a time where people look towards the new year. This year in particular we will see a new decade, the roaring 20’s. If I’m honest, the upcoming decade will probably contain further grim news reports and general signs of future dystopia, but let’s try to ignore that for the time being. Planning for the new year and refreshing oneself is a part of the holidays I actually look forward to. Out with the old and in with the new.

City of Toronto Archives, Series 71, Item 6086.

This is also the mentality of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) as this year we said goodbye to most of our old streetcars. With more and more streetcars leaving us each year, according to the TTC’s decommission schedule, 2019 has seen a total of 113 Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV) and 15 Articulated Light Rail Vehicle (ALRV) streetcars disappear. This will essentially leave Toronto with only the newer Flexity Outlook streetcar models. The crusty, change-resistant, old man in me shakes his cane at all this new stuff because the classic cherry red streetcar has become a symbol of Toronto over the years. But, since we have no choice in the matter, we might as well take a look on the history of the streetcar in Toronto.

City of Toronto Archives, Series 71, Item 11134

The history of Toronto’s streetcar actually begins with a horse. In order to combat the overcrowded Williams Omnibus Buses, in 1861 Toronto Civic Railways (TCR) issued a horse-drawn street railway that originally traveled from Yorkville Town Hall to St. Lawrence Market. In 1982, the streetcar began to modernize as the first electric streetcar was used to transport around 167,000 Torontonians. The following years contained a growing Toronto population that was accommodated with a larger and larger streetcar network.

City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 43.

It wasn’t until 1921 that the TTC was born. Originally the commission combined the cars from the TCR along with two models of Peter Witt streetcars. Following the Second World War, the TTC debut the PCC red rocket cars in 1938. These cars were different from the Witt versions as they paid attention to passenger experience and comfort. They came equipped with heightened cushions, spacious seats and rubber springs to minimize noises and vibrations. 

City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 598, Item 24

The old cherry red Toronto streetcars that we know today weren’t introduced until the 70’s. The Canadian Light Rail Vehicle with a round front arrived from Switzerland on December 29, 1977. However, we were nearly denied the pleasure of riding the CLRV streetcar. By the mid 60’s, the TTC planned to eliminate streetcars by 1980 (turns out the TTC has a long history of failed planning). To their credit, the city did get rid of many streetcars following the opening of the subway in 1954, but Toronto transit advocates recognized the benefits of the streetcar and urged the city to reconsider. Spoiler alter, they did reconsider and the city still relies on streetcars today.

City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 597, Item 49

Since 2013, the TTC has introduced 204 Bombardier Transportation Flexibility Outlook model streetcars that include several new features such as bicycle storage areas and curb level access. As we say goodbye to 2019, we also apparently say goodbye to more than one transit tradition. Starting in November 2019 we also said goodbye to the sale of TTC tickets, tokens and passes in favour of PRESTO cards. But, chin up soldier, it’s not all bad. While the old streetcars are red bundles of nostalgia, they are also inaccessible, non- air conditioned and rather unreliable. Nothing lasts forever, and not all change is bad.

Source

ICE CREAM, YOU SCREAM

Ghosts of Toronto's Past | Carys Owen 

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With the first snow fall of the season in the last few weeks, it seems that toque and mitten season is finally upon us. While this weather warms my cold heart, I know that I am mostly alone in that feeling. Many of you long for an excruciating Toronto summer, so I thought I would give us all a history lesson that will remind us of the warmer months and our favourite cold treat. Today, I will take you back in time and introduce you to an iconic summer symbol, the ice cream truck.

City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266, Item 14442.

 But of course, ice cream came before the truck. Ice cream got its start in Toronto in 1850 when Thomas Webb opened the first Canadian ice cream parlour. William Neilson followed shortly after by selling ice cream on a commercial scale from a shop on Gladstone Street in 1893. By the 1900’s everyone and their mom was talking about ice cream. Back then, an ice cream cone only cost 5 cents (a far cry from the amount we shell out for frozen dairy product today). However, ice cream trucks such as the commonly known white Grumman trucks didn’t come out until the 1950’s with advances in refrigeration technology. Back in the day, these trucks were independently owned, each with their own recipe and special process and by the 1960’s the ice cream truck business was booming.

 

Source

While the sight and sounds of an ice cream truck strikes joy into the hearts of us all, they do have several dark sides to their history. Let’s start with the heartwarming jingle that many ice cream trucks play. As it turns out, this song has an extremely racist origin. It was originally released in 1916 by Columbia Records, written by actor Harry C. Browne. The song describes highly offensive depictions of black people eating ice cream, and while not all ice cream trucks use this song, many still do. But I warn you not to look up the lyrics as this will definitely ruin memories of your childhood.

City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266, Item 17693.

When ice cream trucks began to emerge on the streets of Toronto, they were met with mixed reviews. Many people (mainly parents) saw the trucks as a public safety hazard and a disturbance of the peace. Residents began to push to have the trucks removed from Toronto streets. But with the occurrence of several accidents resulting in injury or death of children, the boycott seemed legitimate. Mobile ice cream was so exciting to children that the trucks seemed to be having a Pied Piper effect. Some public officials and media outlets countered these concerns by claiming that mothers and children should be held responsible for the adverse affects of ice cream trucks. It seems no one could decide if the iconic ice cream truck was a Pennywise-style death machine or a idilic source of constant delight.

 

Source

Despite the debates, in the 1960’s several Toronto neighbourhoods including Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough implemented a ban on ice cream trucks. These bans actually remained for several decades but eventually blew over. In today’s world, ice cream trucks are welcomed across the city, but despite this, the ice cream truck business is a tough one. With the presence of several ice cream creations Toronto restaurants seem to pump out each summer and an increase in the number of trucks, there is more competition than ever before. The humble ice cream truck owner is struggling to sell a cone these days. The business used to be quite lucrative as an owner of an ice cream truck could once sell for six months and have enough to last until winter. Sadly times have changed and this is no longer the case with truck owners seeking further employment to supplement their income.

City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266, Item 14843.

Hopefully, as frozen water continues to fall from the sky for the next couple of months, you’ll all be dreaming of your favourite frozen treat. But before you head to McDonald’s for that vanilla cone, consider going to an ice cream truck. While the tradition of the ice cream truck doesn’t have a squeaky clean record, I think it’s a tradition worth keeping alive.

YOU'VE CHANGED: A LOOK AT TORONTO'S STREET ART

Ghosts of Toronto's Past | Carys Owen 

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These days it seems that everywhere you look there is a beloved Toronto landmark being torn down or a small business closure. While many millennials, such as myself, weep for the end of their favourite independent coffee shops, change is rampant in this city whether we like it or not.

Yet never fear my friends, change and modifications to the city of Toronto doesn’t necessarily mean it’s lost its “cool factor.” Street art, graffiti, and murals are alive and well in the city. These art forms have temporality embedded in their very nature. As an urban space, Toronto is home to many pieces of street art and like many citizens, I would consider it a part of our identity. In this sense, street art is reminiscent of the past and the future as it holds the city’s identity and embraces the future. Our beloved murals and graffiti have the potential to appease citizens who long for lost Toronto landmarks that provided a unique identity for the city and citizens who crave modernization.

Graffiti Alley. Photo courtesy of Carys Owen 

Due to the fact that street art is often illegal, secretive, taboo and temporary, its exact history in Toronto is hard to define. Street art that was once seen as a criminal act of property destruction, began to embody a new understanding in the 1980’s. With works by Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Blek le Rat and more, the craft began to be seen as a legitimate art form. At the same time, the Toronto City Council began to debate the street works that could become an eye-sore. Fast forward to 2011 when late mayor Rob Ford initiated his “war on street art.” He promised to remove graffiti from the city and passed a bill that would hold Toronto residents and government officials responsible for removing graffiti. Owners of private property were charged with removing graffiti on their own buildings, while the city was responsible for any works found on government buildings or property. 

Kensington Market. Photo courtesy of Carys Owen 

Currently, on the City of Toronto’s website, the Graffiti Management Plan still prohibits illegal graffiti and holds citizens and the city responsible for its removal. However, in recent years the city has embraced the idea of street art. The city acknowledges the difference between illegal and un-permitted acts of vandalism and legal works that are approved by a building’s owner. In fact, the city encourages building owners to commission murals on their property because there is a unwritten rule that forbids putting graffiti over someone else’s work, so commissioned works often prevent illegal vandalism. 

Tranzac Club. Photo courtesy of Carys Owen

If you are a property owner looking to commission a piece, you may receive help from StreetARToronto. StART is a program that started back in 2012 in order to enhance public spaces, promote local artists and reduce city maintenance costs. As part of the city’s Graffiti Management Plan, StART is a project with multiple programs that help bring art into public city spaces. Since this program’s inception, creators of street art and their works have been elevated to become respected within the Toronto art scene. Graffiti Alley was one of the first legalized graffiti zones in the city and is now one of the most popular places to see street art in Toronto. While opinions of street art will vary between ugly acts of vandalism or beautiful art that enhances the city’s character, the Toronto street art scene is thriving. 

Graffiti Alley. Photo courtesy of Carys Owen

Today many Toronto artists are going beyond the traditional gallery and creating works of street art that rival prominent city museums and exhibitions. Some of the best art that Toronto has to offer can be seen on the streets and is becoming a popular tourist attraction with no entrance fee. But unlike the works that hang on gallery walls, street art isn’t meant to last forever. Just as the city of Toronto is in a constant state of change, so are our favourite murals.

The notion of constant change echoed in the city and its street art is reflected in the “You’ve Changed” mural located in the Paul Garfinkel Parkette near Queen and Ossington. Way back when, this neighbourhood was named the Gallery District because it was filled with artists, but it was very run-down and unappealing to buyers. Eventually, the winds of change blew and the area was built into something new. Gentrification came in and forced many artists out with rising rent costs and developers buying property. Today, this neighbourhood is home to the mural that reads “You’ve Changed” by Jesse Harris. The piece is located next to several CAMH buildings and while it’s meant to convey an uplifting message for mental health patients, it also has a darker meaning. The mural represents the unsteady history of the neighbourhood and the changes made to several other Toronto neighbourhoods.

"You've Changed" by Jesse Harris. Photo courtesy of Carys Owen

The sentiment of Harris’ work rings true for all of Toronto: the city and its neighbourhoods have changed enormously. For some citizens these changes are ominous and strike fear into their hearts while other citizens see these changes as positive improvements to the city. Similarly to the city, street art is constantly changing and is categorized anywhere between positive contribution to the city to destructive works of vandalism. City murals and graffiti have been appearing since at least the 1980’s, but they embrace fluid presence without completely being eliminated. Street art is a unique contribution to the city’s character because it represents both the past and the future. While many city landmarks such as Honest Ed’s, Sam the Record Man, and Humber Cinemas are lost forever, Toronto’s street art tradition is here to stay with the works themselves changing constantly. No matter your view of the city or its street art, change is inevitable.

College Street at Augusta Ave. Photo courtesy of Carys Owen