Category Archives: Heritage Events

An article on heritage based events or exhibits taking place in the Community of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

Heritage Showcase 2013 at Scarborough Town Centre

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Scarborough Town Centre

Scarborough Town Centre.     Photo: Jeremy Hopkin

Heritage Week Display – February 22-24

On Family Day, the third Monday of February, we began what was formally known as “Heritage Week”. To mark the occasion, the annual Scarborough Archives heritage display was set up at the Scarborough Town Centre by the Scarborough Historical Society.

Scarborough’s heritage is barely 200 years old if we set aside the early Native People who once inhabited the area. Yet local heritage is something on which we can all reflect, regardless of our ancestral roots.

Scarborough remained a purely rural community until about 1910 when suburban development then began at Birch Cliff. Electricity first arrived in the township in 1912, a water works in 1921 and high schools in 1922 and 1929. By 1940 the population reached 23,274.

During the post war boom, subdividers quickly transformed open farmland into streets of closely packed houses, commercial buildings and industry. By 1955 the population had surpassed 100,000 and Scarborough had become one of the federated municipalities of Metropolitan Toronto. During the next 45 years, families from all parts of the world came to make a new home in Scarborough. In 1998, with a population of over half a million, Scarborough’s municipal government, along with the rest of Metro, was amalgamated into one municipal government, a new City of Toronto. Community names such as Scarborough, Agincourt, Highland Creek and West Hill are still recognized and Scarborough had retained its own Community Council to deal with local issues.

As we celebrated Heritage Week 2013, the Scarborough Archives and Historical Society set up its annual display at Sears Court in the Scarborough Town Centre, during regular mall hours from Friday, February 22nd to Sunday the 24th.

This columnist and a host of volunteers were on hand to meet Scarborough Mirror readers and the general public, answer questions about our heritage and display the Archives’ extensive photo collection for all to view. Included in the photo collection were hundreds of aerial photographs showing the development of the communities during the boom years 1950-1975…

– Rick Schofield.

Cedar Ridge 100th anniversary to be celebrated

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16-D-1.1 Cummings house

“Uplands”, the Cummings house, c.1915.

By Jeremy Hopkin.

The building known today as Cedar Ridge will have its 100th anniversary celebrated on Sunday, September 23 with a garden party and open house.

Cedar Ridge was constructed in 1912 as a summer home for the family of Charles Cummings, who occupied the premises until 1927. It was common practice for homeowners of the 19th and early 20th century to give a title to their houses or property, Charles Cummings dubbed his family’s house “Uplands” in recognition of its prominent location on the hills overlooking the greens of the Scarborough Golf Club.
Uplands was eventually purchased by John. C. Fraser, a Toronto financier, who renamed the house “Cedar Ridge” and resided there for several decades with his family.

The City of Scarborough acquired the property on December 15, 1976 in a land exchange with Metropolitan Toronto. Today, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre and Gallery is an arts hub offering a diverse range of courses, now owned and operated by the Culture division of the City of Toronto.

The Cedar Ridge Anniversary Garden Party and Open House runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with a historical gallery exhibition, artist demonstrations in the studios, and afternoon tea in the garden.

Cedar Ridge is located at 225 Confederation Drive.
For information call 416-396-4026 or visit Toronto Culture’s Cedar Ridge webpage.

In the news: R.C. Harris to be honoured with exhibit

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R.C. Harris Filtration Plant, 1952. Photo: Toronto Archives.

 *Excerpt from the Scarborough Mirror, Aug. 30, 2012.

Scarborough filtration plant’s namesake honoured
Exhibit celebrates 100th anniversary of R.C. Harris being named Toronto’s waterworks commissioner

Article By Joanna Lavoie

An exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the appointment of Roland Caldwell (R.C.) Harris as Commissioner of Works for the City of Toronto is being presented Sept. 15, 2012 to March 2, 2013 at The Market Gallery, 95 Front St. E., Second Floor.

The exhibition – titled “The Water Czar: R.C. Harris Works for Toronto, 1912-45′ – chronicles the remarkable 33-year career of the Toronto public works legend as the head of the city’s works department through archival photos, maps and plans, and rarely – or never-before-seen artifacts.

Roland Caldwell Harris, 1933.
Photo: Toronto Archives.

WONDERFUL TRIBUTE

“This exhibition is a wonderful tribute to a remarkable city builder. When Torontonians drink a glass of tap water or cross the Prince Edward Viaduct, they are benefiting from his work,” said Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson, chair of the city’s economic development committee, in a release.

An international engineering firm, CH2M HILL, is sponsoring the exhibition. The company’s history includes a merger with Toronto-based Gore, Naismith and Storrie, which worked closely with Harris throughout his career.

Harris, who became Toronto’s works commissioner following a series of water-related scandals that led to the resignation of the city engineer, was appointed not necessarily for his technical acumen but for his administrative ability.

CIVIC VISION

Before long, he developed a civic vision where public works were viewed as the cornerstone of greater Toronto. During his three-decade career, Harris tackled a number of the city’s water challenges notably developing bridges and making the harbour more accessible, obtaining a secure supply of tap water and getting rid of the city’s wastewater.

DRINKING WATER

The circa-1941 water treatment plant at the foot of Victoria Park Avenue and Queen Street East, which currently provides 45 per cent of Toronto and York region’s water supply, is named in honour of Harris’ many accomplishments.

The Market Gallery, a program of the City of Toronto’s Cultural Services that presents exhibitions dedicated to Toronto’s art, culture and history and offers educational programs for school groups and adults, is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please visit The Market Gallery website for more information.

Historical plaque unveiled at St. Nicholas Anglican Church

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St. Nicholas Church, Birch Cliff. Photo: Jeremy Hopkin.

By Jeremy Hopkin.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the St. Nicholas parish of Birch Cliff village, a historical plaque was commissioned by the parish in co-operation with Heritage Toronto and Scotiabank. The plaque was unveiled on August 9, 2012 during a special ceremony held inside St. Nicholas Church, with several parishioners and visitors in attendance.

Six people of interest were chosen to speak of the history and importance of the church to the community and then together unveiled the plaque; Archbishop Colin Johnson, Diocese of Toronto; Deb Chapman, Pastoral Associate; Sonia Halloran, Church Warden; Councillor Gary Crawford; Alexandra Smith, Scotiabank Branch Manager; and Patrick Forster, Heritage Toronto Board Member.

Unveiling ceremony of historical plaque in St. Nicholas Church. Photo: Jeremy Hopkin

The plaque reads as follows:

“The Anglican parish of St. Nicholas was founded in 1912 to serve the growing village of Birch Cliff. This building, opened in 1917, was designed by Toronto architect Harold Carter. Its steep roof and pointed arch windows are characteristic of the Late Gothic Revival style. Carter’s original plan was finally completed in 1953, when the congregation expanded after the Second World War. As one of the first churches in the area, St. Nicholas Church has played an important role in the development of Birch Cliff. – Heritage Toronto 2012 / dedicated August 9, 2012.”

Harold Carter (1885-1956) was also involved in the design of Hart House (University of Toronto), Emmanual College, Toronto; Birchcliff Heights Public School, R.H. King Collegiate (demol. 1976; archway and wall fragment relocated to the Guild Inn, Scarborough), Winston Churchill Collegiate, West Hill Collegiate and W.A. Porter Collegiate, Scarborough.

On Saturday, September 29th, St. Nicholas will hold a 100th Birthday Party Community Picnic from noon until 3pm.