Etobicoke Remembered by
Robert A. Given
Above is a full size reproduction of the cover of Robert A. Given's book
"Etobicoke Remembered".

As shown, the cover has the green of Etobicoke
and embosed in gold,
is the name of the book
with Coat of Arms from the City of Etobicoke. 

It is a hard cover, 234 page book, 100 photographs from Etobicoke's past. 
The cost of this excellent book is $45.00 for pickup, shipping is extra.
A small price to pay for the history contained within its covers.

This is a 15 year labour of love, researching and writing of this book.

Etobicoke Remembered may be obtained from:
Montgomery's Inn (Etobicoke's Museum) Gift Shop
The Etobicoke Historical Society
and the
James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead Foundation

The following article was taken from the Toronto Community News,
written by Tamara Shephard
under the heading of Book chronicles Etobicoke history

The chance to type Lambton Mills Women's Institute's Tweedsmuir History on his grandfather's
Underwood typewriter 70 years ago sparked Robert A. Given's lifelong passion for history.
That fire still burns brightly.
Etobicoke Remembered, Given's latest comprehensive volume on the history of Etobicoke from
25,000 years ago to present day, was released Sunday, December 9th
at Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas St. at Islington Avenue.

Copies of the 234-page hardcover book, published with the financial support of
the Etobicoke Historical Society and Heritage Etobicoke Foundation, will be available for $45.

Pro Familia Publishing expedited the book's printing to make it available in time for holiday gift-giving.

Researching Etobicoke's history proved an all-consuming hobby for Given that would span 15 years.

"That's all I think of," said Given, 83, chuckling, when asked about his intrigue with the past.

An affable man, Given's eyes twinkle as he excitedly relates decades of snapshots of Etobicoke history.

He says in the beginning, land was divided into 100-acre farms.
The Anglican church received one in seven lots, as did the Crown.
And the Anglican Christ Church, Mimico became Etobicoke's first church in 1827.
A year ago, the diocese demolished the Royal York Road church after a $1-million fire.
There are no plans to rebuild.
Work on a $500,000 memorial garden is set to begin in the spring.

The book also details how Sunnylea School celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1993,
as Edna Whitworth, 92, unveiled its historical plaque.

In 1908, Whitworth, seven, won $5 - twice - for naming, then renaming the Prince Edward Drive school.
Her first suggestion, 'Fairview,' was disqualified when it was learned there was another school by that name.

"She still remembered how all the kids teased the daylights out of her for winning twice,"
Given said, noting he'd located Whitworth living near Collingwood
so she could attend the school's anniversary celebrations.

Given's book tells how the town of Mimico, followed by New Toronto and Long Branch,
separated from the City of Toronto at the time of Given's first book, Story of Etobicoke.

The municipality of Etobicoke published the slim, red paper-covered volume
in 1950 to commemorate its centennial year.
That book was reprinted in 1972 by the Etobicoke Historical Society.

Etobicoke Remembered chronicles 22 neighbourhoods throughout the years, complete with photos,
maps and drawings.

Molly Sutherland, secretary of the Heritage Etobicoke Foundation, edited the book.

"I think it's great," she said. "It's the way Bob sees things and feels about things.
I think people will find it very interesting."

Given maintained his history "hobby" throughout a career spent
as an advertising representative for Eaton's.
He is historian with the Etobicoke Historical Society,
as well as chair of the Heritage Etobicoke Foundation.

Remarkably, Given wrote Etobicoke Remembered long-hand; his wife,
Joyce, the book's assistant editor, typeset it.

The then newlyweds moved into their home in Sunnylea on Christmas Eve, 1949.
Friend, developer Harold Shipp, built the brick bungalow, and others in the area,
before building subdivisions in Mississauga's Applewood neighbourhoods.

For years, Given wrote the history while friend James Salmon provided the photographs
for the historical column, Etobicoke in Pictures, 100 editions of which printed weekly
in Etobicoke Press newspaper, which published from 1946 to '69.

Recently, Given's health has forced him to scale back his historical society memberships,
which once included Etobicoke, Alderwood, New Toronto, Mimico, Long Branch,
Mississauga South, Swansea, the Junction, North York and Scarborough.

"My wife says I can't go out of Etobicoke," Given said, laughing. "I'm getting old."

(The Etobicoke Historical Society's webmaster wishes to thank the Toronto Community News,
and writer Tamara Shephard for allowing us to reprint this story
of Robert A. Givens book "Etobicoke Remembered")