Video Library
Over the years, the Etobicoke Historical Society has supported, produced, conducted research for, and been featured in, multiple videos focused on the rich history of Etobicoke, Our video library includes a sampling of some of these video archives documenting the history of our community and the history of the society.
All ownership rights of these videos are noted.
All ownership rights of these videos are noted.
Joshua Glover Memorial
In 2021, the Joshua Glover Memorial was revealed after a multi-year project led by the Etobicoke Historical Society to immortalize one of the most important figures in Etobicoke's history. After a competition, Quentin VerCetty was selected as the artist to create Toronto's first memorial to an important black citizen and former slave. The following videos provide an overview of the project, the artist, and the process taken to make this work of art a reality.
Special Speaker's Night Event Featuring Quentin VerCetty
In a special public online event held in February 2022, Quentin VerCetty explains his creative process and inspiration for the monument to Joshua Glover.
In a special public online event held in February 2022, Quentin VerCetty explains his creative process and inspiration for the monument to Joshua Glover.
Etobicoke Then & Now
Etobicoke Then and Now was a series of television programs produced for Mclean-Hunter Cable TV in the early 1980s by the Etobicoke Historical Society. The series was hosted by Dennis Mills and Richard Jordan, both of whom served on the executive of the society and who also served as society president at different times.
The Story of the Etobicoke Historical Society
Local historians Frank Longstaff and Bob Given talk with Dennis Mills and Richard Jordan about the formation of the Etobicoke Historical Society in the late 1950s, and some of our early projects such as saving Montgomery’s Inn from development.
Local historians Frank Longstaff and Bob Given talk with Dennis Mills and Richard Jordan about the formation of the Etobicoke Historical Society in the late 1950s, and some of our early projects such as saving Montgomery’s Inn from development.
The History of Long Branch
This episode explores the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Long Branch. Queen’s Rangers museum coordinator Fred Bremner talks with Dennis Mills about early settler Col. Samuel Smith. Heritage researcher Glenna Pendleton is interviewed by Richard Jordan and Jim Gill, the first President of the Long Branch Historical Society, talks with Dennis Mills.
This episode explores the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Long Branch. Queen’s Rangers museum coordinator Fred Bremner talks with Dennis Mills about early settler Col. Samuel Smith. Heritage researcher Glenna Pendleton is interviewed by Richard Jordan and Jim Gill, the first President of the Long Branch Historical Society, talks with Dennis Mills.
The History of The Kingsway
This episode explores the Etobicoke neighbourhood of The Kingsway. Ross Paterson, a geographer from York University who completed a Master’s thesis on the area, talks with Richard Jordan and Jim Gunn, Historical Columnist for the Etobicoke Advertiser-Guardian, visits the Old Mill and the Booth house on Kingsway Crescent.
This episode explores the Etobicoke neighbourhood of The Kingsway. Ross Paterson, a geographer from York University who completed a Master’s thesis on the area, talks with Richard Jordan and Jim Gunn, Historical Columnist for the Etobicoke Advertiser-Guardian, visits the Old Mill and the Booth house on Kingsway Crescent.
Islington Through the Eyes of Photographer Walter Moorhouse
Walter Moorhouse was a resident of Islington and took many pictures of life in Etobicoke starting around the time of World War One. The photographer’s daughter, Noreen Moorhouse Clark, and his former student, Al Morfit, both talk with Dennis Mills. Then some of Walter Moorhouse’s photographs are shown, some along with more contemporary (which is to say early 1980’s) views of the same sites.
Walter Moorhouse was a resident of Islington and took many pictures of life in Etobicoke starting around the time of World War One. The photographer’s daughter, Noreen Moorhouse Clark, and his former student, Al Morfit, both talk with Dennis Mills. Then some of Walter Moorhouse’s photographs are shown, some along with more contemporary (which is to say early 1980’s) views of the same sites.
Local Stories of Historical Interest
The Election of 1850
The “Election of 1850” is a series of four 15 minute vignettes from 1984 as broadcast by Maclean Hunter Cable 10 television.
This was an Ontario Bicentennial project by the Etobicoke Historical Society and the Etobicoke Historical Board in conjunction with two local arts groups, Workshop 50 and Theatre Etobicoke. The theme chosen was a fictional re-creation of Etobicoke’s first municipal election of 1850 with actors portraying real-life characters of that era. The action takes place on the banks of the Humber River, Montgomery’s Inn and Applewood, the James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead. The cast discusses politics but also delves into issues of the time, such as the floods on the Humber River, the state of the roads, and temperance.
The characters made appearances in costume in various places throughout Etobicoke during 1984 and they all appeared at the Applewood Fall Fair on Saturday September 29, 1984. The candidates gave election speeches at 1:00 pm and the votes were counted at 3:00.
The writer of the series was Martin Freitag, the host and producer was Dennis Mills.
The “Election of 1850” is a series of four 15 minute vignettes from 1984 as broadcast by Maclean Hunter Cable 10 television.
This was an Ontario Bicentennial project by the Etobicoke Historical Society and the Etobicoke Historical Board in conjunction with two local arts groups, Workshop 50 and Theatre Etobicoke. The theme chosen was a fictional re-creation of Etobicoke’s first municipal election of 1850 with actors portraying real-life characters of that era. The action takes place on the banks of the Humber River, Montgomery’s Inn and Applewood, the James Shaver Woodsworth Homestead. The cast discusses politics but also delves into issues of the time, such as the floods on the Humber River, the state of the roads, and temperance.
The characters made appearances in costume in various places throughout Etobicoke during 1984 and they all appeared at the Applewood Fall Fair on Saturday September 29, 1984. The candidates gave election speeches at 1:00 pm and the votes were counted at 3:00.
The writer of the series was Martin Freitag, the host and producer was Dennis Mills.
Wyllie & Ufnal – The Old Mill Bridge Rehabilitation
This is a short video produced for the consulting engineers who surveyed and then helped rehabilitate the historic Old Mill Bridge (which crosses the Humber River just north of Bloor Street West) between 1987 and 1988. Their recounting of the history of the area is full of inaccuracies, but nevertheless, the video tells the interesting story of the bridge and its reconstruction.
This is a short video produced for the consulting engineers who surveyed and then helped rehabilitate the historic Old Mill Bridge (which crosses the Humber River just north of Bloor Street West) between 1987 and 1988. Their recounting of the history of the area is full of inaccuracies, but nevertheless, the video tells the interesting story of the bridge and its reconstruction.
External Videos on Etobicoke History
The Rugged Road to Learning (1921, Ontario Motion Picture Bureau)
This short film, produced by the Government of Ontario in 1921, features two early schools in Etobicoke - the Smithfield S.S. No. 7 one room schoolhouse and a newly built Humber Heights Consolidated School. The film advocates the consolidation of rural schools into larger education centers and the use of mass transportation for children attending these new schools. It provides an unique and rare view into life in rural 1920's Etobicoke featuring external and internal scenes of both schools. The film has been made available by Library and Archives Canada on YouTube:
This short film, produced by the Government of Ontario in 1921, features two early schools in Etobicoke - the Smithfield S.S. No. 7 one room schoolhouse and a newly built Humber Heights Consolidated School. The film advocates the consolidation of rural schools into larger education centers and the use of mass transportation for children attending these new schools. It provides an unique and rare view into life in rural 1920's Etobicoke featuring external and internal scenes of both schools. The film has been made available by Library and Archives Canada on YouTube: