The Toronto Rebellion may sound distant from the city we know today, but one of its most important moments unfolded near present-day Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.
In 1837, reformers led by William Lyon Mackenzie gathered at Montgomery’s Tavern in an attempt to challenge the colonial government and demand political change. The uprising was quickly suppressed after a violent confrontation with government forces. Several participants were executed, others were exiled to Australia, and the tavern itself was destroyed.
Though the rebellion failed, it became an important turning point in the movement toward democratic reform in Canada.