Our Stories

grave with flowers on top

Barbara Frum: Trailblazer in Canadian Journalism

1937–1992 York Cemetery Section 29 Lot 1043 Barbara Frum was an innovative journalist whose work transformed Canadian broadcasting. Joining CBC Radio
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grand church

Pastor Jaroslaw Benesh: A Pillar of Faith and Community

two plaques with text

Thornton and Lucie Blackburn: Toronto’s First Taxi and Champions of Freedom

sepia image of black man in uniform

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott: Canada’s First Black Physician and Civil Rights Advocate

a train crossing a bridge

History of Duffins Creek: A Waterway of Stories

Studio portrait of a military officer wearing a formal uniform with a peaked cap, medal ribbons, and aviation wings, posed against a plain teal backdrop and shown from the waist up.

Oliver Milton Martin: Indigenous Leader and Canadian Military Figure

George Charles Heintzman

George Charles Heintzman: The Piano Legacy Builder

a hotel in the 1900s

The Ward Sisters: A Tragedy on Toronto Bay

Snow‑covered cemetery scene with a round grave marker in the foreground bearing the name “Chalmers.” The headstone is partially buried in snow, with leafless trees and additional grave markers visible in the background during winter.

Wallace Gordon Chalmers: Engineering Visionary with a Tire-Shaped Legacy

A detailed photograph of a Victoria Cross medal suspended from a deep magenta ribbon. The bronze cross features a lion standing atop a royal crown at its center, with an ornate scroll below. The medal hangs against a dark, textured background

Joseph Harcourt Tombs: Canada’s First Victoria Cross Hero of WWI

Black‑and‑white historical photograph showing an embalming surgeon standing beside a covered body laid on a wooden table supported by barrels, set outdoors beneath a canvas tent. Medical equipment and containers rest on the table, and the ground beneath is bare earth, reflecting a field mortuary setting.

Charles Bolton: Civil War Veteran and Pioneer of Embalming in Canada

A black and white photos of Gus Harris during his time as a reeve in Scarborough. He is wearing a plaid suit jacket, white-coloured shirt, and dark-coloured tie. His hair is cropped short and slightly wavy and his expression is neutral but pleasant.

Gus Harris: A Lasting Mark in Scarborough

very old car in black and white

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

A vintage black‑and‑white portrait of Marion Alice Powell-Orr wearing a peaked cap with an insignia and a dark military jacket. The jacket features a winged badge on the chest and shoulder markings. The person is posed against a softly lit studio backdrop.

Marion Alice Powell-Orr: Breaking Barriers in the Skies

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

Black‑and‑white portrait of Alice Eastwood wearing a dark coat and a wide‑brimmed hat adorned with flowers, with a light scarf tied at the neck, photographed against a dark background.

Alice Eastwood: A Life Rooted in Discovery and Conservation

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Mollie Christie: A Pioneer in Toronto’s Social Services

The Esso Great Hall is a vast 70‑by‑70‑foot space crowned by a 45‑foot stained‑glass dome—the largest of its kind in Toronto. The dome’s 24 panels show symbolic dragons and eagles, surrounded by fruit and floral motifs, with central emblems representing Canada and its original provinces.

Joseph McCausland: The Man Behind Toronto’s Most Iconic Windows

Historic 19th‑century business document for Sanderson Pearcy & Co., featuring ornate lettering, an engraved illustration of a multi‑storey commercial building, decorative headings advertising paints, oils, and glass, and handwritten ledger entries dated Toronto, 1899.

Sanderson Pearcy: Entrepreneur and Community Builder

people at the park

Peter Lamb: From Glue to Zoo to Riverdale Farm

a group of men in combat

Sgt William “Sam” Magee: A Legacy of Courage from the Devil’s Brigade