with Programme Committee Chair, Jan Howe at the Guild Park and Gardens.

Historic gates at the south end of the Guild Inn gardens

A group of 45 Scarborough Historical Society adult members and visitors as well as an enthusiastic and keen young teenager enjoyed an excellent 2 1/2 hour private tour of the Guild Park and Gardens on Tuesday evening May 27.

The very heavy downpour of rain earlier in the day made for a few puddles and some soggy grass patches but we managed around them and were able to get up close to most of the wonderful statuary and architectural pieces scattered throughout the park grounds. The warmer weather brought out the tree leaves and the beautiful birdsong was enchanting.

President John Mason and Secretary Janet Heise, of the Friends of Guild Park and Gardens were our knowledgeable and very friendly tour guides.

The Friends group formed in 2013 and are endeavouring to improve the facilities to accommodate more events for all ages throughout the year.

The history behind the architectural pieces taken from such Toronto buildings as banks, large corporations and iconic clubs that have been demolished to make way for highrise mirrored towers is fascinating. We learned many new and interesting facts both in a serious vein and with a touch of levity.

The Friends next free public tour will be Saturday, July 19 at 1:30 pm.

We hope to hear more of the plans the Friends envision and that they will successfully come to fruition in the near future.

Friends of the Guild Park website (external link)