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. 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. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A MEMBER, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Announcing Hybrid Speaker's Nights for 2023 at Montgomery's Inn
Our Speaker's Nights will be returning to the Community Room at Montgomery's Inn beginning in February 2023. These will be presented as hybrid meetings - the Speaker will be presenting in-person at the Inn while simultaneously being broadcast live over Zoom webinar. So you can choose to either attend in-person at the Inn or stay home and join virtually online.
All EHS members will receive an email before each event with information for the option to attend online. To become a member and receive an invite, please CLICK HERE.
Our Speaker's Nights will be returning to the Community Room at Montgomery's Inn beginning in February 2023. These will be presented as hybrid meetings - the Speaker will be presenting in-person at the Inn while simultaneously being broadcast live over Zoom webinar. So you can choose to either attend in-person at the Inn or stay home and join virtually online.
All EHS members will receive an email before each event with information for the option to attend online. To become a member and receive an invite, please CLICK HERE.
Thursday, March 16, 2023 - Speaker's Night: Awakening the Dragon - The Dragon Boat Festival
The origins of dragon boat racing lie far back in the mythology of ancient China. Today the dragon boat festival is a celebration of Chinese traditions all over the world. Arlene Chan enjoys talking about the stories and traditions of the annual Dragon Boat Festival but she especially loves sharing her memories about the excitement and joys of dragon boat racing. She is an eight-time gold medalist as a past member of the Canadian National Women's Dragon Boat Team. Paddles Up!
Arlene Chan is an author and award-winning Chinatown historian who 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. She has written for numerous publications, including the Toronto Star, Spacing Magazine, Ricepaper, Heritage Matters, and The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Location: Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, ON M9A 1A8
Start Time: 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00pm)
The origins of dragon boat racing lie far back in the mythology of ancient China. Today the dragon boat festival is a celebration of Chinese traditions all over the world. Arlene Chan enjoys talking about the stories and traditions of the annual Dragon Boat Festival but she especially loves sharing her memories about the excitement and joys of dragon boat racing. She is an eight-time gold medalist as a past member of the Canadian National Women's Dragon Boat Team. Paddles Up!
Arlene Chan is an author and award-winning Chinatown historian who 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. She has written for numerous publications, including the Toronto Star, Spacing Magazine, Ricepaper, Heritage Matters, and The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Location: Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, ON M9A 1A8
Start Time: 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00pm)
Thursday, April 20, 2023 - Speaker's Night: The Toronto Circus Riot - A True Tale of Sex, Violence, Corruption and Clowns
The strangest riot in our city’s history broke out in the summer of 1855. It was sparked by a brawl at a King Street brothel, when some rowdy clowns picked a fight with a battle-hardened crew of firefighters on the most dangerous night of the year. That bizarre encounter would reverberate through the city. The circus performers had made a terrible mistake; those firefighters were members of the Orange Order, the powerful Protestant society that ruled Toronto for more than a century. And they wanted revenge. The circus grounds would soon become the scene of a bloody clash that shook Toronto to its core and laid bare the fault lines that once violently divided our city.
Adam Bunch is an award-winning storyteller who brings the history of Toronto and Canada to life. He's the author of The Toronto Book of the Dead and The Toronto Book of Love, the host of the Canadiana documentary series, and the creator of the Toronto Dreams Project. He's taught history at George Brown College and created writing workshops for the Toronto Public Library. He's spoken at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum, and his writing has appeared in The Toronto Star, Spacing Magazine and The Huffington Post. His work popularizing Canadian history was recognized with an honourable mention for a Governor General's Award in 2012.
Location: Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, ON M9A 1A8
Start Time: 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)
The strangest riot in our city’s history broke out in the summer of 1855. It was sparked by a brawl at a King Street brothel, when some rowdy clowns picked a fight with a battle-hardened crew of firefighters on the most dangerous night of the year. That bizarre encounter would reverberate through the city. The circus performers had made a terrible mistake; those firefighters were members of the Orange Order, the powerful Protestant society that ruled Toronto for more than a century. And they wanted revenge. The circus grounds would soon become the scene of a bloody clash that shook Toronto to its core and laid bare the fault lines that once violently divided our city.
Adam Bunch is an award-winning storyteller who brings the history of Toronto and Canada to life. He's the author of The Toronto Book of the Dead and The Toronto Book of Love, the host of the Canadiana documentary series, and the creator of the Toronto Dreams Project. He's taught history at George Brown College and created writing workshops for the Toronto Public Library. He's spoken at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum, and his writing has appeared in The Toronto Star, Spacing Magazine and The Huffington Post. His work popularizing Canadian history was recognized with an honourable mention for a Governor General's Award in 2012.
Location: Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, ON M9A 1A8
Start Time: 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)
Thursday, May 18, 2023 - Speaker's Night: Oh Canada! Our Home and Inventive Land!
What first comes to mind when you think of Canadian inventions? Perhaps the snowmobile, the Blackberry, SPAR Aerospace’s Canadarm or Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone? But how about the WonderBra, the pacemaker or televised instant replay? These are just a few of the many Canadian firsts in technology, sports, society and industry that Professor Mark Rector will reveal from his book, Oh Canada! Our Home and Inventive Land! Join us to learn about little known Canadian inventions and the fascinating stories of the innovators behind them.
Professor Mark Rector has had a life-long passion for Canadian inventions and technology. After 15 years as a telecom expert for Metro Toronto Police, he started an 18 year teaching career at Humber College during which he inspired his students with tales of great Canadian inventors. By 2018 he had collected enough material to publish his book, Oh Canada! Our Home and Inventive Land! Since retiring in 2019, Professor Rector has become an in-demand speaker who has given presentations to service clubs, historical societies and community organizations across Canada.
Location: Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, ON M9A 1A8
Start Time: 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)
(Please Note: The EHS Annual General Meeting will be held first at 7:30 pm with the Speaker's presentation to follow at approximately 8:00 pm)
What first comes to mind when you think of Canadian inventions? Perhaps the snowmobile, the Blackberry, SPAR Aerospace’s Canadarm or Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone? But how about the WonderBra, the pacemaker or televised instant replay? These are just a few of the many Canadian firsts in technology, sports, society and industry that Professor Mark Rector will reveal from his book, Oh Canada! Our Home and Inventive Land! Join us to learn about little known Canadian inventions and the fascinating stories of the innovators behind them.
Professor Mark Rector has had a life-long passion for Canadian inventions and technology. After 15 years as a telecom expert for Metro Toronto Police, he started an 18 year teaching career at Humber College during which he inspired his students with tales of great Canadian inventors. By 2018 he had collected enough material to publish his book, Oh Canada! Our Home and Inventive Land! Since retiring in 2019, Professor Rector has become an in-demand speaker who has given presentations to service clubs, historical societies and community organizations across Canada.
Location: Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, ON M9A 1A8
Start Time: 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)
(Please Note: The EHS Annual General Meeting will be held first at 7:30 pm with the Speaker's presentation to follow at approximately 8:00 pm)