Fire Station 23 once housed steamed-powered, horse-drawn pumpers

By Mary An  Read more

[Read more →]

Can a park’s past set the tone for its future?

The Aura Lee playing field located on Robert Street has quite a storied history. In January of 2018 the Gleaner chronicled its past in a piece written by Nicholas Provart. It is reprinted here on the occasion of U of T’s decision to extract green energy from the site.  Read more

[Read more →]

Tall structures can curb urban sprawl

In May 2020, the Annex Gleaner celebrates 25 years of publishing. In celebration, we are republishing highlights of our past; this feature, Fear of High Buildings Groundless by city-building columnist Alfred Holden, is from May 2001. As thirteen developments are going up in the Annex area it appears Holden’s views were prophetic.   Read more

[Read more →]

Lunch with Jane Jacobs in 1997

In May 2020, The Annex Gleaner celebrates 25 years of publishing. In celebration, we are republishing highlights of our past; this feature, Lunch with Jane Jacobs, was originally printed in August of 1997. Jacobs, the celebrated urban thinker, was a long-time Annex resident. Deanne Fisher, who interviewed Jacobs, is the founding editor of the Gleaner.  Read more

[Read more →]

CTS track star student attended Berlin Olympics on behalf of Canada

By Nabahat Hussain  Read more

[Read more →]

HVRA lane-naming project leads to The Postman

In March of 2015 the Gleaner featured coverage of the pending play, The Postman, that was staged on neighbourhood porches in the summer of that year. The Harbord Village event commemorated the life and times of Albert Jackson, Canada’s first black postie. On the occasion of Canada Post issuing a stamp in Jackson’s honour, we are reprinting this article   Read more

[Read more →]

A look back to when the Barns first opened its doors

As we come up to the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Artscape Wychwood Barns, we thought it an opportune moment to reprint an article about its opening. The following appeared in our October 2008 issue.

By Patricia Marcoccia  Read more

[Read more →]

Central Tech student raced alongside Jesse Owens

Sam Richardson’s descendants pose on the steps of Central Technical School last month. Richardson’s family also spoke on the influence he had on the Black community, Toronto, and the nation at large. COURTESY CENTRAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL

 Read more

[Read more →]

Can a park’s past set the tone for its future?

Had the Spadina Expressway been built, there might have been a development like St. James Town west of Yonge Street. The city had rezoned the area, and a developer had quietly purchased many of the 32 properties on Robert and Sussex avenues. COURTESY CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES

 Read more

[Read more →]

If buildings are art, should they be altered from their original form?

Although diminished by the removal of its curvaceous balcony adornments, architect Uno Prii’s 44 Walmer Rd. (far left, photo by Brian Burchell for Gleaner News) — as it stands today — remains an artistic statement in design. A few more examples of his work are 20 Prince Arthur Ave. (second from left, photo by Brian Burchell for Gleaner News), his “most expressive building”, 35 Walmer Rd. (second from right, photo by Arthur Rozumek/Wikimedia Commons), and 485 Huron St. (far right, photo by Arthur Rozumek/Wikimedia Commons).

 Read more

[Read more →]

Dutch Dreams owner recalls Nazi terror, jubilation after liberation

COURTESY J.L. BLOEMHOF’S AMERSFOORT ’40-’45 “Look at him, I find that so beautiful a picture. He’s from the Polar Bear Brigade, they liberated us. Isn’t that a beautiful picture? You can see in his face that he knows he liberated the Dutch, he’s proud and happy!”

 Read more

[Read more →]

Howland Avenue takes its name from noted reformer

By David Raymont

An Annex-area street recalls the contribution of one-time local business titan and politician Sir William Howland.

Howland’s speculation in land in the Annex area resulted in Howland Avenue being named for him. He also founded the village of Lambton Mills on the Humber River.  Read more

[Read more →]

Heritage Toronto unveils Joseph Bloore plaque

PICTURE BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS: Approximately 100 people gathered at 117 Bloor St. E. on Aug. 31 to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Joseph Bloore. The plaque, located close to the site of Bloore’s home, includes a part of a previous one dedicated to the inspiration for Bloor Street and text by Heritage Toronto. It took more than seven years to create this new plaque, which may never have been unveiled if not for the passion and enthusiasm of local residents.  Read more

[Read more →]