Our Stories

houses sinking in flood

Ken and Joan Edwards: Tragedy on Raymore Drive – Hurricane Hazel

1954 Mount Pleasant Cemetery Section 31 Lot 358 On the night of October 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel struck Southern Ontario with catastrophic force
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Black‑and‑white formal studio portrait of a person seated and wearing an ornate, embroidered ceremonial jacket with decorative braiding and medals. The individual rests one arm on a chair, with a feathered accessory across their lap, posed against a dark backdrop with a textured column visible to one side.

Colonel the Honourable Herbert A. Bruce: Surgeon, Soldier and Statesman

monument with plaques

Victoria Cross Memorial: Honouring Canadian Bravery

Black‑and‑white archival photograph of a person seated at a desk, wearing a suit jacket, patterned tie, and vest, speaking into a large tabletop broadcast microphone, with one hand resting on the desk in what appears to be a radio studio setting.

Gregory Clark: Canada’s Beloved Storyteller and War Correspondent

Taller stone memorial monument set in a green park, inscribed with the words “Korean War Gapyeong Battle Monument” and “We Will Remember Them Forever,” featuring the South Korean and Canadian flags at the top, with engraved bronze plaques mounted on the base and trees surrounding the site.

Korean War Gapyeong Battle Monument and Conflict Sculpture: Honouring Courage Through Design

William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King: Canada’s Longest-Serving Prime Minister

Person sitting on a low stone ledge in front of a red brick building with bay windows, surrounded by grass.

Finding Family, History and Home at Toronto Necropolis

A vintage black‑and‑white portrait of Jennie Smilie Robertson shown from the waist up, wearing a high‑collared lace blouse and a dark jacket, framed within an oval border against a plain background.

Jennie Smillie Robertson: Canada’s First Woman Surgeon

a chicken roaming free

Clucking Through the Silence: A Necropolis Tale

Black‑and‑white photograph of soldiers seated around tables inside a military convalescent hospital common room, with a nurse standing nearby and a piano against the wall, light streaming in through tall windows.

Irene Pearl Courtice Lambert: A Nursing Sister’s Sacrifice

very old car in black and white

William James “Bill” Neal: Richmond Hill’s First Mayor and Automotive Visionary

Black-and-white photograph of Harry Gairey seated on a couch in a living room, smiling and clapping as he interacts warmly with two young children standing in front of him. One child raises their hands while the other turns toward Gairey, creating a playful, affectionate moment. Shelves with framed photographs and household items are visible in the background, giving the scene an intimate, home-like feel.

Harry Gairey: Champion of Civil Rights and Community Builder

a train crossing a bridge

History of Duffins Creek: A Waterway of Stories

Simple black‑and‑white line drawing showing a person standing at a podium reading from a sheet of paper, facing a small group of seated, doll‑like or scarecrow‑style figures with round heads and straw‑like hair. The figures appear loosely posed, creating a whimsical, hand‑drawn scene.

Shaunt Basmajian: A Voice for Canadian Poetry

Black-and-white photograph of the identical twins Bruce and Duke Warren standing together beside a fighter aircraft marked “DUKE II.” Both wear flight jackets and life vests, with the cockpit and nose of the plane visible behind them, suggesting preparation for or return from a flight.

Flight Lieutenant Bruce Warren: A Test Pilot Who Helped Shape Canada’s Aviation Legacy

Man standing inside an auto repair shop with several vans on lifts and open hoods, surrounded by tools and service equipment.

Making the Machines Work for the People: Mark Francis’ MPG Story

old photo of house

Receiving Vault “The Dead House”: Winter Burials in Toronto’s Early West End

Colour portrait of a person wearing a military uniform and peaked cap, shown from the chest up against a light, softly graduated background. The uniform includes a tie, lapel insignia, and decorative pins, suggesting a formal service portrait.

Garth Sparling Webb: From Juno Beach Hero to Guardian of Memory

corner store in black and white

Frank Stefano Darrigo: From Pushcart to Grocery Empire

people at the park

Peter Lamb: From Glue to Zoo to Riverdale Farm

mother feeding her kids cod liver oil

Marion and Wally Johnston: A Partnership in Science and Service