Toronto Timeline
Time immemorial - 1793
The Dish With One Spoon Wampum Covenant extended to European settlers
The “Dish with One Spoon” covenant was originally a treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe peoples, recognizing how the various peoples (the spoon) must communally and peacefully live off of the land (the dish). In 1701, this covenant was extended to the French settlers and ratified during the “Great Peace of Montreal.”
1793
Fort York is Established
On this day, York was named the “temporary” capital of Upper Canada by Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe after he gave up on his idea to base the captial in the nearby city of London. Three years later, York would become the permanent capital.
1793
John Graves Simcoe obtains 200 acres of land for his son
In 1793, John Simcoe, the Lieutenant-Governor of Canada, wanted a summer cottage. So he built a relatively basic log cabin and thought it would be funny to name it Castle Frank (after his son).
1797
A portion of traditional 13,000 year old trail, Gete-Onigaming, renamed Davenport Rd
Today, Davenport Road and Toronto’s waterfront feel worlds apart. But thousands of years ago, they were closely connected.
1817
Ridout and Jarvis face-off in Toronto's last fatal duel
Toronto’s last fatal duel took place near the present-day intersection of Bay and Grosvenor Streets — an area that was farmland at the time.
1837
Mackenzie leads a rebellion against the government
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.
1840
Arrival of Irish Immigrants through the 1840s
Impoverished families fleeing the Great Famine arrive on the eastern edges of Toronto.
1846
Mayor Boulton linked to secret brothel on King St.
Toronto’s political history has never been free of scandal.
1847
38,000 Irish famine refugees flee to Toronto
Toronto receives massive waves of refugee as neighbouring cities like New York turn ships away over fear of the disease. Many landed directly at Toronto’s docks, specifically at the foot of Simcoe Street.
1851
North American Convention of Colored Freemen
In 1851, Toronto was a hub for abolitionist activities and anti-slavery gatherings. Leading figures in the abolitionist movement included Henry Bibb, Mary Bibb, Frederick Douglass, and Mary Ann Shadd
1854
Mary Ann Shadd Cary moves The Provincial Freeman publishing to Toronto
After founding the paper a year earlier, Shadd Cary moves the printing and editorial operations to Toronto, setting up at a location on present-day King Street East.
1855
The Circus Riots take place near St. Lawrence Market
In 1855, a visiting American circus troupe found themselves at the centre of one of Toronto’s strangest public riots.
1856
Mimico was named after now extinct pigeons
Mimico was named for the vast flocks of passenger pigeons that once filled the skies over Toronto, so many that their migration darkened the horizon and sounded like thunder.
1867
The Ward develops into the city's most multicultural neighbourhood
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, The Ward was one of Toronto’s most diverse neighbourhoods and often the first home for newcomers arriving in the city.
1873
The Argonaut Rowing Club forms a football team
In order to stay in shape during the off-season, the Argonaut Rowing Club decided on this date to start their own football team.
1876
Emily Stowe founds the Toronto Women's Literary Club
Initially founded to promote intellectual development and higher education for women, the club would drop its literary front in 1883 rename as the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association (CWSA) to publicly advocate for the vote.
1876
High Park opens to the public
John and Jemima Howard deed their 165-acre country estate to the City of Toronto.
1878
Ned Hanlan, defeat American champ Fred Plaisted
Excitement was so high the city declared it an official holiday. Organisers built grandstands on the water, and people scaled onto rooftops along the waterfront.
1879
The CNE debuts as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition
At just a quarter for admission, a hundred thousand eager attendees flocked to witness the celebration of agriculture, industry, and the arts.
1880
Reformatory opens "For Women Unable to Be Improved or Fixed"
Before Liberty Village became known for condos, cafés, and Lamport Stadium, the site at 1155 King Street West housed the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women — an institution created in 1880 to confine women considered “undesirable” by Victorian society.
1890
The Town of New Toronto established
Originally designed and planned as an industrial centre by a group of local industrialists.
1898
Kit Coleman travels to Cuba to cover the Spanish-American War
Working as a columnist for the Toronto Empire and Mail, Coleman becomes the world’s first officially accredited female war correspondent.
1900
Toronto underground PATH opens
The original pedestrian tunnels are built to connect Eaton’s buildings and, later, to link Union Station to the Royal York Hotel.
1903
Clara Cynthia Benson becomes the first woman to earn a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from the University of Toronto
As the first woman to graduate, complete a PhD, and teach in chemistry at the University of Toronto, Clara Cynthia Benson’s career of firsts transformed more than her scientific field.
1903
Slova Greenberg immigrates to Canada
Slova Greenberg was a foundational advocate for healthcare, women’s empowerment, and elder care in Toronto. Today, her impact is seen through the success of Mount Sinai Hospital, the Baycrest Centre, and more.
1909
Toronto's Varsity Team wins the first Grey Cup
Named after Governor-General Earl Grey, the first Grey Cup championship took place between University of Toronto and Parkdale Collegiate. In the end, the U of T varsity team claimed the win.
1911
Flora MacDonald Denison becomes president of the Canadian Suffrage Association
Flora MacDonald Denison served from 1911 to 1914 and was an unwavering advocate for gender equality in Toronto and beyond. She was known for her radical views on women’s reproductive rights, birth control, and divorce.
1911
Women’s College Hospital opens its doors at 18 Seaton Street
Rowena Hume co-founded the first birth control clinic in Canada and was the first president of the Women’s College Hospital.
1912
16-year old Mary Fix co-founds the Equal Franchise Association to campaign for women's suffrage
Through her trailblazing career of firsts, Fix championed community-led development and civic historical preservation that continues to influence Toronto today.
1912
Lillian H. Smith leads the new Children's Department of the Toronto Public LIbrary
Lillian H. Smith, the first children’s librarian in the British Empire, established guidelines for the inclusion and classification of children’s literature in Toronto libraries.
1912
Toronto Housing Company (THC) is founded to build affordable homes for low-wage earners.
Spearheaded by clothing manufacturer Frank G. Beer alongside other business and civic leaders, the company famously constructed Canada’s earliest planned affordable housing projects. Today, the legacy of early social housing lives on in the modern Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC).
1912
Frances Loring moves to Toronto with partner Florence Wyle
Frances Loring was a community leader who opened her home to Toronto’s arts community. Her art haven was recognized as the “most fascinating gathering place in the country” by A.Y. Jackson.
1914
Crawford Street bridge is built and eventually buried
Hidden beneath Trinity Bellwoods Park is one of Toronto’s strangest buried pieces of infrastructure: a fully intact bridge.
1914
Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, passes away
Passenger pigeons were wild North American pigeons, sleeker and longer than the common rock pigeons we see in the city today. Overhunting by European settlers drove the species to extinction, with the last of their kind, Martha, passing away at the Cincinatti Zoo in 1914.
1914
Babe Ruth hits his first Home Run in Toronto
While playing an exhibition game for the Providence Grays, a then 19-year old Babe Ruth scores his first professional home run at Hanlan’s Point Stadium.
1916
Formation of No. 2 Construction Battalion
Canada’s first all-Black First World War unit. The enlistment office was located on King Street West near University Avenue where fifteen men from Toronto enlisted in the unit.
1917
Toronto plays their first NHL game
Played in Montreal, the Toronto team lost to the Wanderers 10-9 game. The unnamed Toronto team (which would later become the Arenas, St. Patricks, and eventually the Maple Leafs) lost their opening match 10-9 to the Montreal Wanderers.
1918
Canadian National Institute for the Blind founded after World War I
Edwin A. Baker co-founded the Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB) and helped thousands of Canadians realize their dreams.
1919
UNIA officially established in Toronto
Toronto’s division originated earlier that year in April as the Coloured Literary Association, meeting at 318 Spadina Avenue, before receiving its official charter from the Harlem headquarters.
1921
"Big Train" captures two different championships in a single day
West enders watched Lionel “Big Train” Conacher drive in the winning run to clinch the local city baseball championship. Afterward, Conacher raced across town to the Beaches, where his lacrosse team was trailing in another championship game. He led them to a comeback victory, scoring the winning goal.
1922
The Victory Burlesque opens on Spadina
Like much of Toronto, this building reinvented itself many times over.
1925
Toronto's most popular soccer team was fiercely Protestant
The city’s most popular soccer team was known as Ulster United or the Red Handers – names that reference to Northern Ireland – and attracted a fiercely Protestant fanbase to Ulster Stadium in the east end.
1926
Birthplace of Pregnancy Racing
In 1926, Toronto became home to one of the strangest inheritance disputes in Canadian history.
1926
Emma Goldman finds refuge in Toronto after being deported from the U.S. 6 years earlier
Emma Goldman dedicated her life to anti-war activism and social justice organizing. Her lectures on anarchist philosophies attracted thousands and fostered dedicated community organizing networks.
1928
Myrtle Cook McGowan breaks the 100m world record with a time of 12.0 seconds at the Canadian Olympic trials
Myrtle Cook McGowan was part of Canada’s first women’s track team in 1928 – setting the stage for a lifetime of sports leadership that transformed women’s professional sports in Canada.
1928
Fanny "Bobbie" Rosenfeld wins gold in 4x100m relay and silver in the 100m dash at Summer Olympics
As a medal-winning Olympian and a leading sports journalist, Fanny Rosenfeld’s multi-faceted career changed the landscape of women’s sports in Canada.
1928
World Coloured Heavyweight Championship
Larry Gains is disqualified against George Godfrey
1929
Two Toronto Star writers box in Paris
One of history’s strangest boxing matches took place in Paris, France, between two Toronto Star writers, Morley Callaghan and Ernest Hemingway.
1930
Conn Smythe's big bet pays off
Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe was a notorious gambler. He even bought a race horse named Rare Jewel for $250, entered her in the Coronation Futurity Stakes at odds over 100-1, and won!
1930
Cecilia Krieger receives her PhD in mathematics from the University of Toronto
Cecilia Krieger was the first woman to graduate with a PhD in mathematics from a Canadian university and only the third Canadian. As a Jewish immigrant, she worked to translate Polish mathematics texts into English, making them available to wider audiences.
1933
Riot Takes place at the Christie Pits Park
A riot broke during a baseball game at Christie Pit Park when three youths flew a swastika flag to provoke Jewish Canadians in the audience. A fight broke out amongst the over 10,000 people in the audience.
1934
Toronto hosts the first ever all-star game in NHL history
Played at Maple Leaf Garden, the game raised over $20,000 to support Ace Bailey, whose career had been ended by a violent hit from Eddie Shore months prior.
1937
Softball player Billie Hallam wins Miss Toronto
At 17-years old, softball player Billie Hallam won the Miss Toronto paegent. She wore her evening gown under police escort to celebrate her victory.
1938
Elizabeth "Elsie" MacGill becomes Chief Aeronautical Engineer at Canadian Car and Foundry
Canada’s first practicing female engineer, Elizabeth MacGill, advanced the field of Canadian aeronautics while leading a dedicated fight for gender equality.
1942
Daphne Odjig moves to Toronto
After living in Parry Sound, ON for four years, she and her sister Winnifred made the move.
1942
Bernice Redmon leaves to attend nursing school in Virgina after being denied entry due to Canadian schools barring Black students from enrolling
Bernice Redmon, appointed to the Victorian Order of Nurses in Canada, was a trailblazer in public health as the first Black Canadian nurse. Through her advocacy work, she paved the way for other Black women to work in Ontario hospitals.
1946
The NBA started here
Long before the Raptors, Toronto played a historic role in professional basketball.
1947
Gar Yin Hune is granted her permanent landing card following the lifting of the Chinese Exclusion Act
Gar Yin Hune, escaping a war back home, toured Canada performing Cantonese Opera at the age of 19. Hune’s troupe’s performances held gathering space for flourishing Chinese-Canadian communities across various Chinatowns.
1947
Rally to support children's candy bar strike
In 1947, Christie Pits became the centre of one of Toronto’s most unusual protests: a citywide movement led almost entirely by children.
1947
Jeanne Parkin hired by the Art Gallery of Toronto - now the Art Gallery of Ontario
Jeanne Parkin was a proponent of public Canadian art. In 2006, the City of Toronto awarded Parkin with a Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating her decades-long contributions to the visual arts scene of Toronto.
1950
Coded Tiles of Little Portugal
Across Toronto, small details hidden in plain sight often carry deeper meanings for the communities that placed them there.
1950
The Continental Hotel
For much of the last century, Toronto was not a welcoming place for many of the people who called it home. But across the city, small pockets of safety and community emerged in unexpected places.
1951
Agnes Clinton becomes the first Black woman to graduate from Women's College Hospital
Agnes would go on to work as a public health nurse. Following 13 years of working in Toronto, she went to Yale to study alcohol addiction. Agnes then moved to Detroit, where she set up a mobile medical team for homeless people.
1952
Beatrice Worsley operates Canada's first electronic computer (a Ferranti Mark I) and nicknames it "Ferut"
Beatrice Worsley would later co-create “Transcode,” the simplified programming language used to run the computer. She is recognized as Canada’s first female computer scientist. Her lifetime of research and work in the field were at the forefront of Canada’s burgeoning computer science sector.
1954
Toronto gets a subway
The opening 7.4-kilometer trip runs from Union Station north to Eglinton Avenue across 12 stations.
1954
Derailed: The History of Black Railway Porters in Canada
In 1954, porters boarded a railway car from Union Station to Ottawa to begin the fight to remake Canada into a more inclusive society.
1954
Marilyn Bell crosses Lake Ontario
The 16-year-old beat famed American swimmer Florence Chadwick to become the first person in recorded history to swim across Lake Ontario.
1954
Toronto Elects Nathan Phillips for Mayor
After 52 mayors since its incorporation, Nathan Phillips became the first non-Protestant mayor of Toronto.
1956
Black Railway Porters' Fight for Rights
On April 23, 1956, members of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) attended a special convention in the Coliseum of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
1959
Leslie Street Spit created
Today, Tommy Thompson Park (or the Leslie Street Spit) is a richly biodiverse urban wilderness, but this wasn’t always the case. The land beneath the park is entirely humanconstructed. Workers began dumping fill at the foot of Leslie Street in 1959, eventually creating a 5.2 kilometre peninsula that extends into the lake.
1960
Hub of 1960s Hippie Counterculture
In the 1960s, Yorkville became the centre of Toronto’s growing counterculture movement.
1962
Diana Carter wins her first-ever car race at the Connor Circuit in Saint-Eugène, Quebec
As the first woman to win a car race in Canadian history, Diana Carter was destined to trailblaze her way through a career at the top of Canadian race car driving.
1962
Mister Rogers debuts on CBC
The famous children’s television host Mr. Rogers started his iconic show here in Toronto.
1963
Jackie Shane's "Any Other Way" hits No. 2 on Toronto's prominent CHUM singles chart, selling over 10,000 regional copies
Jackie Shane was a transgender pioneer of 1960s soul music. Putting on emotionally compelling performances, Shane was an icon in the Toronto music scene for her commitment to authenticity in life and art.
1965
Lucio Casaccio refuses to sell his home in St. James Town
How One Man and His House Changed Toronto’s Landscape
1966
The Lost Subway Station
One of Toronto’s “lost” subway stations is hiding in plain sight beneath Bay Station.
1966
Laura Bulger immigrates to Toronto to escape the Antonio Salazar dictatorship in Portugal
Laura Bulger, a Portuguese immigrant, was one of the first teachers of her heritage to work at the Toronto District School Board. Her passion for her culture shone through in her support of other immigrants, especially children, as she helped them maintain a sense of identity through the Portuguese language.
1966
Verna Johnston relocates to North York and opens her home to young Indigenous youth
Between operating a boarding home for Indigenous youth in Toronto and playing a foundational role at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Verna Johnston’s community leadership has shaped generations.
1967
Caribana debuts as part of Canada’s Expo 67 Centennial celebrations
A gift from Toronto’s Caribbean community to commemorate Canada’s centennial and foster a sense of cultural pride, mutual respect, and social unity. Inspired by carnivals throughout the West Indies, Caribana was specifically modeled after Trinidad & Tobago’s Carnival.
1968
Jane Jacobs moves her family to Toronto in opposition of the Vietnam War
Jane Jacobs transformed Toronto through her advocacy for vibrant, people-centered neighbourhoods and urban planning.
1969
The Mosque That Was Once A W.A.S.P. Supremacist Lodge
For more than a century, the Orange Order — a Protestant fraternal organization rooted in British loyalism and anti-Catholic politics — held enormous influence over Toronto’s political and social life.
1969
Phyllis "Yogi" Bomberry is the first woman awarded the Tom Longboat Award
Phyllis Bomberry was a trailblazer for Indigenous women in sports. As a vocal advocate for racial unity within sports, her legacy lives on in Canadian sports today.
1969
Faye Urban-Mlacak wins the Canadian Open
Faye Urban-Mlacak wins the Canadian Open at the Toronto Lawn and Tennis Club beating Vicky Berner 6-2, 6-0.
1969
Activists hold a funeral to mourn the "death" of the river
Organized by Pollution Probe, an environmental advocacy group based out of the University of Toronto—the mock funeral featured a procession and a casket.
1971
The Sexual Supermarket
In the 1970s, Yonge and Bloor looked very different from the intersection many Torontonians know today.
1972
PAT Market opens on Palmerston
Originally founded by the Lee family, the Korean grocery store would move its flagship operations to it’s current central location in Koreatown at 675 Bloor Street West in 2004.
1972
Naaz Theatre Opens on Gerrard Street East
Gian Naaz opens Canada’s first South Asian movie theatre.
1973
World Welterweight Championship at Maple Leaf Gardens
José Nápoles defending his welterweight title against Clyde Gray in 1973 might be the highest-stakes matchup ever fought in the city.
1973
The Toronto Toros debut at Varsity Arena
The Toros played to a 4-4 tie against the Chicago Cougars in front of a near-capacity crowd.
1974
Leslie Street Spit officially made accessible to the public
Following a year of very limited capacity, guided Sunday afternoon bus tours, cyclists and hikers are granted their first access in 1974.
1975
Lee Maracle releases her first book, Bobbi Lee: Indian Rebel
Lee Maracle revived Indigenous stories through her innovative writing. Working to “decolonize the feminine,” Maracle’s first book was among the first Indigenous-authored works published in Canada.
1975
George Foreman Fights Five
Foreman appeared in Toronto to fight five journeymen… consecutively over the course of an hour.
1976
Jean Lumb receives the Order of Canada
Jean Lumb was the first Chinese-Canadian woman and first restaurateur to receive this honour – recognizing her efforts in changing immigration laws and helping save Chinatown.
1976
Toronto hosts the fifth Paralympic Games
The opening ceremonies were held at Woodbine Racetrack, where a crowd of 24,000 welcomed athletes from more than forty countries.
1976
East York declares "War" on Raccoons
In 1976, East York—still politically separate from Toronto—voted to destroy any raccoon trapped by homeowners, regardless of the animal’s behaviour or health. Not everyone supported it. When Howard Chandler, the councillor responsible for the motion, ran for mayor, he was defeated by Alan Redway, who promised to leave raccoons alone. Toronto abandoned similar plans for a raccoon round-up, but authorities continued to euthanize nuisance animals into the early 2000s.
1977
Keith Richards' Drug Bust
In 1977, Toronto briefly found itself at the centre of international rock-and-roll headlines when Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was arrested at the Harbour Castle Westin Hotel.
1977
The Crash n' Burn Club
At 15 Duncan Street, beneath an otherwise unremarkable downtown building, Toronto’s punk scene found its first real home.
1978
Cecil Centre Opens in Chinatown-Kenstington
Located in Chinatown at 58 Cecil Street, the centre serves the catchment area from Bathurst Street to University Avenue, between Bloor and Queen Street West.
1978
The Menaka Thakkar Dance Company (MTDC) is established
Menaka Thakkar established Canada’s first professional Indian dance company in 1978. Thakkar blended different cultural dance styles to co-create a performance called “East Meets West” in which she bridged cultural divides.
1978
Hazel McCallion first elected as Mayor of Mississauga
Hazel McCallion was appointed to both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, recognizing her dedication to exemplary city infrastructure. Through her experience with the mayorship of Mississauga, McCallion helped turn the city into the 6th largest in Canada.
1980
Blanche Lemco van Ginkel appointed Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at U of T
The first woman to be named Dean of an architecture school in North America, modernist architect Blanche Lemco van Ginkel was also the first woman and Canadian president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. She advocated for equal pay amongst male and female faculty members resulting in a 2002 University of Toronto pay equity settlement for female colleagues.
1980
Gay Asians of Toronto Founded
Local activist and filmmaker Richard Fung establishes the Gay Asians of Toronto (GAT), a rights advocacy and peer support group aimed at providing for Toronto’s queer Asian community. It was the first ever organization in Canada to advocate for LGBTQ+ people of colour.
1980
Judith Snow becomes the first person in Canada to secure individualized government funding for personal care
This ruling allowed Snow to leave institutional care, hire her own support staff, and pioneer a direct-funding model. Her activism enabled an additional 600+ people in Ontario to receive funding.
1981
Operation Soap
Operation Soap may sound almost absurd by name, but it marked one of the most significant turning points in Toronto’s LGBTQ2S+ history.
1981
Nerene Virgin's first television appearance on Today's Special
Actor, broadcaster, and educator Nerene Virgin premiered as Jodie, the titular character of the beloved Canadian children’s educational show Today’s Special. The series broadcasted for 7 seasons from 1971 to 1978 with over 122 episodes.
1983
Jennifer Hodge de Silva co-directs the acclaimed documentary, "Home Feeling: Struggle for a Community"
The film continues to be taught in Canadian film and sociology programs. It is recognized as a pioneering work that gave voice directly to residents during an era of significant anti-Black racism and over-policing.
1984
Nicky Furlano Faces Off Against Aaron Pryor
Nicky Furlano, nicknamed “Canada’s Rocky,” faces a rough fight against Aaron Pryor at Varsity Stadium.
1985
Jamaican Patty Wars
In the mid-1980s, Kensington Market became the centre of an unexpected national debate now remembered as the “Patty Wars.”
1985
Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" is published in Canada
Atwood’s leadership as a visionary writer, cultural influencer, and champion of literature and the arts continues to inspire Toronto and beyond.
1987
Degrassi Jr. High launches
Created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood following the success of the 1979 series Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Jr. High hits the airwaves. A true Toronto television classic, this show helped pioneer the teen drama genre by boldly addressing challenging topics like teen pregnancy, divorce, and bullying.
1988
YTV launches
YTV launched on September 1, 1988 with a primetime special hosted by Scarborough local John Candy. The company was active from 1968 to 1995. Program jockey (PJ) Phil Guerrero shares his experience working in this format.
1989
Site of Pioneering EDM Club
Long before electronic music became mainstream, Toronto’s underground club scene was taking shape inside a former club space at 185 Richmond Street West.
1991
June Rowland is elected Toronto's 60th mayor
An unstoppable force, June Rowlands was the first woman to be Toronto’s Mayor, TTC Commissioner, and Chair of the Toronto Police Commission.
1992
Roberta Bondar makes history as Payload Specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-42)
Roberta Bondar is Canada’s first female astronaut and neurologist in space. Her pursuits in the fields of science, medicine, and education continue to inspire generations of Canadians.
1992
Blue Jays win their first World Series
The Toronto Blue Jays make sports history becoming the first non-U.S. team to win the World Series. Defeating the Atlanta Braves in six games, the victory united the nation and sparked massive celebrations across the country.
1993
Blue Jays go back-to-back
The Blue Jays won their second consecutive World Series championship in dramatic fashion with Joe Carter hitting a legendary three-run walk-off home run to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
1994
Emancipation Day in the City of Toronto is officially recognized
Driven by years of community organization led by Rosemary Sadlier and the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS), Toronto became the first major municipality in Canada to formally issue a civic proclamation recognizing August 1st as Emancipation Day.
1994
Village of Yorkville Park opens with a billion-year-old boulder centrepiece
The iconic 650-ton “Yorkville Rock” was transported in pieces from the Canadian Shield in Gravenhurst, Ontario.
1994
Dream Team II wins in Toronto
A sellout crowd showed up to the SkyDome to watch the United States’s “Dream Team II” throttle Russia.
1997
College in Good Will Hunting
85 St. George Street may look like an ordinary Toronto campus building, but it quietly played a role in one of the most recognizable films of the 1990s.
1997
Terry Parker wins landmark cannabis case
Terry Parker is acquitted of all charges, establishing that he had a constitutional right to use cannabis for his severe epilepsy.
1998
Cathy Crowe co-founds the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC)
Cathy Crowe’s many initiatives and advocacy lead to the successful declaration of homelessness a national disaster. Crowe was one of Canada’s first street nurses and received the Order of Canada in 2018.
1998
Raptors draft Vince Carter
Following the 1998-1999 NBA lockout, Vince Carter officially plays his first game with the Toronto Raptors, quickly becoming a household name in the city.
1999
A Snowstorm makes Mel Lastman call in the army
The infamous Blizzard of ’99 brought the entire city to standstill, which pressured Mayor Mel Lastman to call in the army to help with snow removal. At the time, Canadians across the country heard the news and took the chance to make fun of that fact.
1999
Adrienne Clarkson is sworn in as Canada's 26th Governor General
Clarkson is the first visible minority and the first individual without a political or military background to hold the office.
2001
Cheri DiNovo performs Ontario's first legalized same-sex marriage at Emmanuel-Howard Park United Church
Cheri DiNovo was the first minister to perform a legal same-sex marriage in Canada. Her support for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights shines through in her political work of passing inclusive legislation.
2002
Denham Brown scores 111 points
Prior to his move to the University of Conneticut Huskies, Denham Brown played for West Hill Collegiate Institute in Scarborough. In his closing game with the team, he scored 111 points in one game against the R.H. Academy.
2003
El Contrato officially premieres at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto
Min Sook Lee’s first film, she would become an industry-recognized documentarian who advocates for social justice at the intersection of art and social change through her films and professorship at OCAD University.
2004
Rosalie Silberman Abella appointed to Supreme Court of Canada
Rosalie Silberman Abella was the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. She founded the concept of “employment equity” and shaped the first decision made under the 1989 Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
2005
Karen Kain named Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada
Karen Kain worked as the Artistic Director of the National Ballet for 16 years. Kain began her career showcasing her passion and dedication to ballet by starring as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake and quickly thereafter becoming a Principal Dancer.
2007
Columbia "Coco" Diaz helps found the Caregiver Connections, Education, and Support Organization (CCESO)
Columbia Diaz empowered newcomers and caregivers through education and advocacy for rights through her relentless community organizing work.
2010
Angela James inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Angela James was the first of two women inducted into the hall. She is widely revered as the first true superstar of modern women’s hockey, often dubbed the “Wayne Gretzky of women’s hockey”. Her reputation is built on her incredible scoring ability, fierce physicality, and her historic role as a trailblazer and pioneer for female, Black, and LGBTQ+ athletes
2012
Saadia Muzaffar co-founds TechGirls Canada (TGC), establishing a highly influential national hub for diverse women in STEM
Tech entrepreneur and author, Saadia Muzaffar, is dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities to thrive in STEM.
2013
Robin Wall Kimmerer's novel is published
In her book Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous scientist and botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer outlines guidelines for what she calls an “Honorable Harvest.”
2015
Eastern Commerce closes, ending their High School reign
From 2002 until the school closed in 2015, Eastern won five provincial titles and three provincial silver medals. Sadly, due to low enrollment, the school was announced to be closing June 2015.
2015
Jose Bautista and the Bat Flip
Following a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers in game five of the division series, Toronto Blue Jay Jose Bautista performs his iconic “bat flip.”
2016
Penny Oleksiak wins four medals in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics
Oleksiak would go on to win 3 more olympic medals in 2020 to become Canada’s most decorated Olympian.
2017
Kathleen Taylor named among the 50 most powerful people in Canadian Business
Kathleen Taylor breaks ground no matter what industry she stands in. An accomplished business leader, her career continues to break barriers and light the way for women at major corporate institutions.
2017
Josephine Mandamin helps lead The Great Lakes Water Walk at the Toronto Waterfront
Anishinaabe Elder, Josephine Madamin, was a revolutionary leader in the fight to protect water rights for Indigenous peoples.
2018
Dr. Jill Andrew becomes a member of the Ontario Provincial Parliamentfor Toronto—St. Paul's
Jill Andrew is the first Black and queer person elected into the Ontario Legislature. Her platform stands for race and social justice, healthcare equity, and the benefits of arts and culture.
2019
Toronto Raptors become NBA champions
They secured the title by defeating the Golden State Warriors 114-110 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. This marked the first time an NBA championship was won by a team based outside the United States
2019
Sully’s gym survives eviction order
Sully Gym’s, founded in 1943, is the thread that connects much of Toronto’s post-1940s boxing history. In March 2019, Sully’s faced eviction.
2019
Bianca Andreescu wins the US Open - a first for a Canadian
Bianca Andreescu has raised the global profile of tennis for Canadians. As one of the youngest winners of a Grand Slam singles title, Andreescu is the highest-ranked Canadian in Women’s Tennis Association history.
2023
Scarborough RT is decommissioned
Opening in 1985, Line 3 Scarborough was a vital community lifeline that connected eastern Scarborough to the broader TTC subway network via Kennedy station. Up until it’s closer it had an annual ridership of 4,720,000 passengers.
2023
Ausma Malik appointed by Mayor Olivia Chow as the Statutory Deputy Mayor of Toronto
Ausma Malik is the first hijab-wearing woman in public office in Canada. Her dedication to Toronto’s wellbeing is prominent in her championship of affordable housing and racial justice.
2023
Argos turn 150
After 150 years, what began as an off-season hobby for a rowing team has grown into the oldest pro sports franchise in North America.
2024
Toronto Sceptres play the inaugural game for the Professional Women's Hockey League
A 4-0 loss to the New York Sirens (formerly PWHL New York) the first game in franchise history for the Toronto Sceptres (formerly PWHL Toronto) took place at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
2026
Toronto Tempo make their WNBA debut in front of a sold out Coca-Cola Coliseum
The Tempo played their inaugural game losing to the Washington Mystics 68-65. Guard Brittney Sykes scored the first points in team history.