Mr. Dressup to Degrassi
42 Years of Legendary Toronto Kids TV
From 1952 to 1994, Toronto was a global player in a golden era of children’s TV programs. Join Museum of Toronto as we remember those glory days in this playful exhibition.
For over four decades, our city brought together innovative thought leaders, passionate creators and unexpected collaborations, forming a powerhouse of the television industry unlike any other in the world.
Through classic clips, reimagined sets, and beloved puppets, the exhibition celebrates the people and programs that shaped Toronto’s identity and inspired viewers across decades. A joyful tribute to the city that taught the world how to learn, laugh, and grow on screen..
Plan Your Visit
Opening November 28, 2025 | Until March 15, 2026
The Exhibition
Explore reimagined sets, retro living rooms, and hands-on stations that invite you to craft your own TV characters. Meet the felted puppets that sparked imagination and discover the stories behind the city that shaped a generation of children’s television.
- Harborfront Centre, 225 Queens Quay W
Featured Book
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ImagiNation: The Golden Age of Toronto’s Kids TV
Discover the remarkable history behind Toronto’s children’s television legacy in Ed Conroy’s ImagiNation. Covering more than a hundred shows from 1950 to 2000, from Mr. Dressup and The Friendly Giant to Degrassi and Readalong, this book captures the creativity, talent, and imagination that defined generations of Canadian childhoods.
Events
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Saturday, November 29, 2025 | 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM & Sunday, November 30, 2025 | 3:00 PM
Curatorial Tour: Behind Your Favourite Toronto Kids TV Shows
- Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W
Watch
Who is Phyllis Bomberry?
A trailblazer for Indigenous women in sports. As a vocal advocate for racial unity within sports, her legacy lives on in Canadian sports today.
Video
Playlist
Watch the Stories Come to Life
Short, nostalgic videos revisit Toronto’s most iconic kids’ programs and the creative talent behind them. Each video adds another layer to the city’s rich broadcast legacy, from the studio sets where magic was made to the personalities who taught a generation how to imagine, create, and dream on screen.
Legendary Toronto Kids TV
18:44
Read
Mr. Dressup
One of Canada’s most beloved and longest-running children’s TV shows, starring Ernie Coombs and inspiring generations through creativity, kindness, and imagination.
Article • 12 min read
More Articles
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More About the Project
This exhibition celebrates Toronto’s legacy as a creative hub for children’s television and the communities that brought these stories to life.
As a non-profit cultural institution, Museum of Toronto would like to acknowledge the incredible work of everyone who made the content for children’s television possible, and note that this exhibition is designed for teaching, scholarship, education, and research proposes only. We suggest that fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Visitors are exposed to a multi-sensory experience where they can reflect, reminisce, and reconnect with the programs that defined growing up in Toronto.
Presented in
Partnership with
Learn More About our Contributors
Co-curated by Ed Conroy, Retrontario, a cultural historian, writer, producer, archivist and vintage video sleuth, and Museum of Toronto, this exhibit will feature stories from key figures of children’s television as well as behind-the-scenes videos, notable puppets and more. His new book, ImagiNation: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids’ TV (2025, Dundurn Press), will be available for sale on site at the exhibition.
We want to thank the creativity and expertise of Toronto’s television community. Special thanks to Phil Guerrero, Gillian Hazan, Jason Hopley, Brenda Kamino, Nina Keogh, Peter Pavement of Surface Impressions, Puppetry Stuff Canada, Jamie Shannon, and Nerene Virgin.
We also acknowledge Judith Lawrence, the original creator and puppeteer of Mr. Dressup’s Casey and Finnegan, whose likenesses are featured in the exhibition.
Learn More About our Artifacts
From Mr. Dressup’s cherished puppets to reimagined sets from Today’s Special and Polka Dot Door, the exhibition brings together rare artifacts and memorabilia from Toronto’s golden era of children’s television. Each piece tells the story of a show that shaped generations, reflecting the imagination, collaboration, and heart that made this city a global leader in kids’ TV.