Events
From our great Speaker's Nights featuring experts on local and national history to specialty event programming, our goal is to entertain and educate. Here is a sample of some of the events being held in the coming months. Come join us!
NOTE: OUR SPEAKER's NIGHT SERIES IS AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE ETOBICOKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND AS SUCH, THERE IS LIMITED SEATING. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A MEMBER, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
NOTE: OUR SPEAKER's NIGHT SERIES IS AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE ETOBICOKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND AS SUCH, THERE IS LIMITED SEATING. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A MEMBER, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Dear EHS Members,
The City of Toronto has announced a list of facilities that would be closed due to COVID-19 which included the City Museums. You can learn more by CLICKING HERE.
As a result of the closure of Montgomery's Inn and also to support the City's directive to limit public gatherings, EHS will be moving our speaker's nights to online format until further notice.
Please visit our website regularly for updates on future speaker's nights and how they will be delivered. Existing EHS members will receive the detailed information via email to attend these online LIVE events below. To become a member and receive an invite, please CLICK HERE.
Thanks to everyone for your understanding.
Best Wishes,
The Etobicoke Historical Society
The City of Toronto has announced a list of facilities that would be closed due to COVID-19 which included the City Museums. You can learn more by CLICKING HERE.
As a result of the closure of Montgomery's Inn and also to support the City's directive to limit public gatherings, EHS will be moving our speaker's nights to online format until further notice.
Please visit our website regularly for updates on future speaker's nights and how they will be delivered. Existing EHS members will receive the detailed information via email to attend these online LIVE events below. To become a member and receive an invite, please CLICK HERE.
Thanks to everyone for your understanding.
Best Wishes,
The Etobicoke Historical Society
Thursday, October 21, 2021 - Speaker's Night: The Life and Work of William Thomas
William Thomas was one of the most prolific architects of early Toronto yet not many today are familiar with his name or his architectural legacy. Many of his buildings still stand such as St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. Lawrence Hall and the Don Jail. Other notable landmarks by Thomas include the District Court House in Niagara-On-the Lake and The Brock Monument at Queenston Heights. Richard Fiennes-Clinton will relate how Thomas’ life and work was interwoven with the turbulent religious and racial disparity of mid-nineteenth century Toronto.
Richard Fiennes-Clinton is one of Toronto's most active historians who has been giving walking tours of Toronto's history since 1997. As owner of Muddy York Walking Tours, he has entertained and educated many native Torontonians and visitors alike with tales of the people and places that defined Toronto. In 2015, Richard released his first book, Muddy York: A History of Toronto Until 1834.
Start Time: 7:30pm ET
William Thomas was one of the most prolific architects of early Toronto yet not many today are familiar with his name or his architectural legacy. Many of his buildings still stand such as St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. Lawrence Hall and the Don Jail. Other notable landmarks by Thomas include the District Court House in Niagara-On-the Lake and The Brock Monument at Queenston Heights. Richard Fiennes-Clinton will relate how Thomas’ life and work was interwoven with the turbulent religious and racial disparity of mid-nineteenth century Toronto.
Richard Fiennes-Clinton is one of Toronto's most active historians who has been giving walking tours of Toronto's history since 1997. As owner of Muddy York Walking Tours, he has entertained and educated many native Torontonians and visitors alike with tales of the people and places that defined Toronto. In 2015, Richard released his first book, Muddy York: A History of Toronto Until 1834.
Start Time: 7:30pm ET
Thursday, November 18, 2021 - Speaker's Night: The Chinese in Toronto - Then and Now.
After the completion of the CPR railway in 1885, Chinese labourers began moving eastwards from British Columbia. In 1894, the Chinese population in Toronto numbered fifty. Today, over half a million Chinese live in the Greater Toronto Area. Archival and current-day photographs will illustrate the lives of the Chinese community, including the market gardeners who worked the land surrounding Montgomery’s Inn and the Humber River.
Arlene Chan, a Chinatown historian and author, has written seven books about the history, culture, and traditions of the Chinese in Canada, some shortlisted for the Ontario Speaker’s Book Award, Heritage Toronto Book Award, Silver Birch Award, and Red Cedar Award. Her work has been recognized with the Heritage Toronto Special Achievement Award, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award, and Woman of Distinction Award. Arlene serves as the president of the Jean Lumb Foundation and advisor for Myseum of Toronto, Ontario Infrastructure’s Heritage Interpretation Working Group, and the Toronto Public Library’s Chinese Canadian Archive.
Start Time: 7:30pm ET
After the completion of the CPR railway in 1885, Chinese labourers began moving eastwards from British Columbia. In 1894, the Chinese population in Toronto numbered fifty. Today, over half a million Chinese live in the Greater Toronto Area. Archival and current-day photographs will illustrate the lives of the Chinese community, including the market gardeners who worked the land surrounding Montgomery’s Inn and the Humber River.
Arlene Chan, a Chinatown historian and author, has written seven books about the history, culture, and traditions of the Chinese in Canada, some shortlisted for the Ontario Speaker’s Book Award, Heritage Toronto Book Award, Silver Birch Award, and Red Cedar Award. Her work has been recognized with the Heritage Toronto Special Achievement Award, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award, and Woman of Distinction Award. Arlene serves as the president of the Jean Lumb Foundation and advisor for Myseum of Toronto, Ontario Infrastructure’s Heritage Interpretation Working Group, and the Toronto Public Library’s Chinese Canadian Archive.
Start Time: 7:30pm ET
Thursday, February 17, 2022 - Speaker's Night: Quentin VerCetty's Creative Journey to Memorialize Joshua Glover
With the unveiling of the first monument in the City to a person of African heritage on July 30th, 2021 this date was a significant one for public art in Toronto. It all began in 2017 when EHS Past President Joel Winter recognized a need for historical monuments and plaques in Etobicoke and initiated a “History and Art in the Parks” project with the City of Toronto. A design competition was announced in 2020 for artists to submit proposals for a monument to Joshua Glover, an escaped American slave who found freedom in Canada and became a notable resident of Islington. Rexdale-born and raised award-winning artist, storyteller and educator Quentin VerCetty was announced in September 2020 as the successful artist.
Please join us to hear Quentin relate his inspiration from the life of Joshua Glover in the creation process of his sculpture and his personal resonance to Glover’s story. Quentin will also reveal the rich imagery in his work in emulating Glover’s inspiring journey from slavery to freedom.
Start Time: 7:30pm ET
With the unveiling of the first monument in the City to a person of African heritage on July 30th, 2021 this date was a significant one for public art in Toronto. It all began in 2017 when EHS Past President Joel Winter recognized a need for historical monuments and plaques in Etobicoke and initiated a “History and Art in the Parks” project with the City of Toronto. A design competition was announced in 2020 for artists to submit proposals for a monument to Joshua Glover, an escaped American slave who found freedom in Canada and became a notable resident of Islington. Rexdale-born and raised award-winning artist, storyteller and educator Quentin VerCetty was announced in September 2020 as the successful artist.
Please join us to hear Quentin relate his inspiration from the life of Joshua Glover in the creation process of his sculpture and his personal resonance to Glover’s story. Quentin will also reveal the rich imagery in his work in emulating Glover’s inspiring journey from slavery to freedom.
Start Time: 7:30pm ET