Teaching World History … and personal stuff

Out and AboutCategory Archives

Missing in Action – Historic Housing

There’s a lot of demolition of old buildings happening in the downtown core of Toronto. Here are only a few examples I happened to photograph recently while out and about. What does it mean? Making room for progress? Hollowing out? Forgetting the past? Maybe all of the above.

In this moment before the municipal election , I prefer to think that Toronto, like any city, is a creative fusion of new and old. While Toronto has many problems that absolutely need to be addressed, let’s not give up on it. Having some optimism is necessary in order to help those who are not thriving in our city.

Biidaasige Park – Waiting for Sunset

Way to go City of Toronto (correction: Waterfront Toronto)! The new section of the park is even nicer than the first part! There’s even a set of public washrooms.

It’s lovely to see so many people out in the park – many waiting for the sunset. We gave up and backtracked to take more pics and make our way home.

Crosstown LRT First Ride

Finally!! We didn’t mean to do this today but ended up checking out the new LRT. Strangely, we started at Bloor and Dufferin, took the 29 north to Fairbank Station, travelled eastbound to Kennedy, then back home via line 2.

Val’s connection to the LRT has finally come full circle. Back in June 2013 he was at the launch of the western tunnel boring machine because he, along with five or six others, had won a competition to name the machines: Don Humber. A few photos from that day SO far back show the depth of the tunnel (now evident from the long escalators going down to the stations), Val with the TMB, and his scratchy signature.