What we’re about
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**torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**
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Welcome to Toronto History Walks. We specialize in the history of Toronto. With well over 450 different historic routes to explore in Toronto, and approaching 2000 tours since inception back in 2019, we have covered the entire city, and brought our story to light.
When one thinks of Toronto, the CN Tower, Eaton Centre, Canada's Wonderland, and Kensington Market come to mind, and for good reason. These landmarks have made Toronto an international destination. And it's constantly renewing and growing. We have an amazing city, and a young city at that. It all dates to 1615 with the man known as Etienne Brule, and the French Regime in what would become the future Quebec and Ontario. The rest is history, as they say. And that's where I come in.
These tours are for visitors and residents interested in exploring local history, and understanding our place, not only in our beautiful Canada, but in the world in which we live and work. We have covered and explored ravines, streets, from Riverdale to Mimico, from North York Centre to Corktown. We have investigated ghosts, and the Don Jail, from Rogers Road to Spadina Road and Forest Hill, Garrison Creek to Rathnelly to the PATH. Our Christmas Lights tours will be back for a new season. And everything in between.
Our history does impact the world at large. Our walking tours are so needed in an age of misunderstanding. Let's tell our stories, and celebrate our city! Our motto is simple, let's bring history alive for all!
Harley Karulis
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Historic Kensington Market, Chinatown and Graffiti Alley (EVENING)Dundas Street West & Beverley Street, Toronto, ONCA$15.00
**The Toronto History Walks Explorer Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com
for more information or for signing up!**** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.comA walkable area of old buildings, impressive architecture, fruit stalls and stores, and narrow streets in the old geographic area known as the "Liberties."
George Taylor Denison, purchased an extensive tract of land that extended between Queen Street and Bloor Street, and was subdivided in the 1850's.
Part of his property was known as Bellevue Square an area that saw its share of military parades. The area became known as the "Jewish Market," but after the Second World War the area changed again, and the Jewish residents headed to the suburbs or north to the Bathurst and Lawrence area.
A second wave of newcomers followed and those residents were primarily from the Azores, but other peoples followed from the Caribbean and Asia.
In the late 1950's and early 60's the area was ripe for the taking and developers hinted at a total redevelopment of the area. However one man stood in the way, and that man was David Crombie, the mayor of Toronto at the time. He resisted any form of urban renewal in the Market and today it's an historic area designated under the National Historic Sites of Canada.
Kensington Market and Chinatown are remarkable neighbourhoods with their beginnings in the old "Ward," and best explored on foot.
This walking tour is for all walking levels and fitness skills. Please dress for the season and bring water. And remember to bring your love of history as well. Hope to see you there.
This tour begins at the southeast corner of Dundas Street West and BeverleyStreet, adjacent to the west entrance of AGO.
The tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person!
** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com - Teiaiagon, Historic Jane Street, and Baby PointJane Street & Bloor Street West, Toronto, ONCA$15.00
**The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com
for more information or for signing up!**** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.comThe legendary village of Teiaiagon, and Baby Point are linked historically and traditionally. The stories they have generated have been carried from one generation to the next. The birth of Toronto itself swirled around the Longhouse encampment of this Seneca village years before British settlement.
James Baby was a member of an important French fur trading family and politician. He settled at Baby Point in 1816, after discovering the ruins of the abandoned village on the property. An apple orchard covered the area and salmon was plentiful, but trouble with the Baby family was proving disastrous to outsiders.
James Baby's family opposed John Graves Simcoe's effort to prohibit slavery in Upper Canada.
A fascinating tale and a fascinating neighbourhood. Many streets in this neighbourhood are named after this family.
This walk is for all walking levels and fitness skills. Please dress for the season and bring water. And remember to bring your love of history as well. Hope to see you there.
This walking tour begins on the west side of Jane Street and Bloor Street West opposite the Jane Subway Station. We return to the starting point after the walk.
This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person!
** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com - Tkaronto! And The Historic Carrying PlaceJane Street & Bloor Street West, Toronto, ONCA$15.00
**The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com
for more information or for signing up!**** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.comThis is a continuation of the first part centred on Baby Point. This tour can be taken as a part two, or as a stand alone tour!
The Toronto Carrying Place, and the birth of Toronto are connected in many historic ways, physically, socially, and spiritually as well! The historic path at one time connected the northern shore of Lake Ontario with the Great Lakes especially Lake Simcoe and Lake Huron, and to the vast region known as Huronia, or centred around Midland, Ontario.
The entire area was known as Tkaronto, from the old Mohawk term "where trees gathered in water."
Teiaiagon, the small Seneca village on the Humber River, was named for the crossing of the Toronto Carrying Place, and is now part of the Baby Point neighbourhood!
On this walk we explore the history of the Toronto Carrying Place south from Bloor Street West to the mouth of the Humber River, and discuss the personalities who came to the area, and travelled this very path from Jean Baptiste Rousseau, the first French fur trader, to Robert La Salle the explorer of the mighty Mississippi River and many others.
This walk is for most walking levels and fitness skills with a few small hills. Please dress for the season and bring water. And remember to bring your love of history as well. Hope to see you there.
This walking tour begins on the west side of Jane Street and Bloor Street West opposite the Jane Subway Station. We end our journey at The Queensway and The South Kingsway which is adjacent to several TTC routes.
This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person!
** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com - The Ward: Our First Immigrant Community and University Avenue! (NEW FOR 2025)Toronto Old City Hall, Toronto, ONCA$15.00
******* We are in the home stretch. I know it's been a blast digging out. But better times are coming. If you're up for renewal the price is $95.00 for the next year of unlimited tours. As a first timer on the PASS, buy ONE get ONE free. Very limited time offer. $125.00 for two people for one year of unlimited walks. Or get the 2 for 1 as a gift. Great to get people out. The sale ends at 12:01 am on Thursday morning! *********
**The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com
for more information or for signing up!**** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.comThis is an updated tour to the original Ward Tour introduced back in 2020. It brings in a new crop of landmarks that tell the tale of Toronto's first suburb Macaulaytown, on the property of James Macaulay.
The Ward, Toronto's first suburb, first immigrant community and first large scale urban renewal project is a neighbourhood that dates to the beginnings of local history.
Bounded by Yonge Street on the east, College Street on the north, University on the West, and Queen Street on the south, is a history walkers dream.
But before the area developed and a civic square was even dreamed of, it was forest on the edge of Little York, with a clear flowing creek, named Taddle at its centre. A few years later James Macaulay established himself in the area northwest of the town of York.
By mid-century the winds of change brought in Chinese rail workers and Jewish immigrants, mostly from Eastern Europe. The face of The Ward changed once again, but this time the ugly realties of racial injustice were prominent.
With the building of the new Toronto General Hospital in 1909 the area reinvented itself, and the mass migration of jewish residents to the Kensington Market area to the west started. The Ward changed again and the idea that the area could be a pedestrian square with a new town hall at its centre took shape. And the rest as they say is history, Toronto got its new civic square and Toronto a new voice at the dawn of a new era in city building.
The ward is a fascinating look at life in Toronto in the late 19th, 20th, and 21 century. For a quick preview of the walk click on the following link and enjoy https://youtu.be/4QEHjfuhmik
This walking tour is for all walking levels and fitness skills. Please dress for the season and bring water. And remember to bring your love of history as well. Hope to see you there.
This walking tour begins on the steps of Old City Hall at the northeast corner of Queen Street West, and Bay Street. The tour returns to the start location at the Old City Hall.
This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person.
** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com
