Tag Archives: Anniversary

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.

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.

In the news: Providence Villa Healthcare celebrated 50th Anniversary

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Excerpt from www.insidetoronto.com – Published January 28, 2012.

Providence Healthcare history rooted in Scarborough’s past
Facility celebrates 50th anniversary of Providence Villa’s opening in 1962

By Danielle Milley.

This Saturday (Jan. 28, 2012) is the 50th anniversary of the ‘Caravan of Kindness’ that marked the beginning of Providence Healthcare in Scarborough.

Jan. 28, 1962 was the day the residents were moved from the original House of Providence downtown to a new building on St. Clair Avenue, between Warden and Pharmacy avenues, that was once the site of a farm used to supply the food at the House of Providence. The first House of Providence was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1857 and located on Power Street downtown; the relocation was necessary as the building was slated for demolition to make way for the expansion of the Don Valley Parkway.

During its 50 year history in Scarborough, Providence has operated under several different names, but its mission has remained the same.

It has helped thousands of people through the years including Karen Moloney. The Scarborough resident ended up at Providence after she hit her head in a fall and needed rehabilitation care. She was at The Scarborough Hospital for nearly three weeks before being transferred. She was at Providence for a month before being discharged earlier this week – she wanted to stay for some of the 50th anniversary celebrations that began on Thursday morning. “I’m really impressed with what’s going on here,” she said.

After the move to Scarborough, the House of Providence was renamed Providence Villa and Hospital to better reflect its new focus on providing residential care and rehabilitation, particularly to older adults. In 1990, the name was changed again to Providence Centre and then in 2004 the facility, which was expanded to include a long-term residence in 2000, was renamed Providence Healthcare. It offers rehabilitation, long-term care, palliative care, community programs and caregiver support.

While Moloney’s experience at Providence has been challenging, she said the staff and volunteers have helped to make it more enjoyable.

Volunteers such as Vera Newman who has been volunteering since 1998, right after she retired and found herself bored with all her free time. “I’ve been hanging around ever since,” she said. Newman is a very popular fixture at Providence where she provides some pampering to patients and residents. Every Wednesday she hosts a spa day for residents in the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence (the 288 unit long-term care residence) and on Tuesday afternoons she does spa house calls for patients in the hospital.

“These are nice people. If we can make them feel better for the last few years (of their life) we can give them dignity,” Newman said. “That’s why I do nails because if your nails look nice they’re just so happy and it makes them feel good.” She offers a range of colours from the more subtle nudes and blushes to the eye catching greens and bright red. Newman also does arm massages with cream to complete the spa experience.

Newman’s experience with Providence isn’t limited to volunteering, five years ago she hurt her hip while on vacation in Cuba and ended up at Providence for four and a half weeks. “They treated me just great,” she said. She had more visitors than most with many of the women of the Houses coming to see her. “As soon as I could I was back,” Newman said. “It’s a wonderful place, that’s why I stayed (all these years).”

Moloney has learned what a wonderful place it is over the past month. She even used the time to read about the history of the organization located right in her own community. She’s enjoyed being so close to home. “It means my husband can come twice a day and I get to see him,” she said. She added the two take a walk each night through the hospital’s Memory Lane, a hallway full of artifacts and information about Providence’s 154-year-old history, which opened late last year.

That opening was a teaser for the many celebrations that are to take place during 2012, which began with staff and employees being greeted Thursday morning with coffee and an anniversary pocket calendar and was followed by the presentation of the Living Our Values awards Thursday afternoon. The anniversary theme will be part of a summer barbecue and gala fundraiser in the fall.