The City of Toronto is hosting heritage walks exploring the diverse history of the city’s landmarks and communities starting next month.
Beginning in June and running until Oct., the Heritage Toronto 2023 tour season, presented by TD Bank and the TD Ready Commitment, will feature 74 tours showcasing Indigenous roots, Black history, Chinatown, modern architecture, and urban development of the entertainment history.
Heritage Toronto is a City of Toronto charity and agency dedicated to bringing people together to explore the city’s shared past and its residents’ lived experiences.
This year’s program will offer three types of tours: paid walks, bus tours, and free tour experiences at community and special events.
“The accessibility of our programs for all Torontonians remains a key principle of our work,”Allison Bain, executive director of Heritage Toronto, said in a press release.
“Adding free event-based experiences to our Tours program, and inviting the community to gather at our tent, allows us to not only connect people to each other, but also to the history of the places where they live, shop and work,” she continued.
2023 Tour highlights include:
Modern Scenes on St. Clair
June 22, July 15 and Sept. 17
Take the modern view of St. Clair Avenue on this interactive photo walk developed and led by a professional photographer.
Toronto’s First Chinatown
July 1
Explore the development of Toronto’s Chinese community, followed with a special plaque unveiling on the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Being Black on King
July 22, Aug. 24 and Sept. 9
Discover the Black history that spans King Street East: from the first Underground Railroad site excavated in Canada, to one of Toronto’s first soul food restaurants.
Indigenous Art & Nature
July 23 and Sept. 17
Learn how nature has inspired Indigenous culture. Led by an Indigenous historian, on this walk they’ll identify native plants and hear about their importance to Indigenous traditions.
Find more information and a detailed list of events here.
