Page of 12 Fall 2011 HVRA Newsletter

Fall 2011 Volume 9, Number 2 Harbord Village Residents’ Association

Contents:

Chair’s message..... 1 Annual General Message from the Meeting ...... 1 Three Harbord Villag- interim chair of the ers named to Order HVRA board of ...... 2 Harbord Village hot for Hi wonderful members of this connotation: “Don’t do this! vices, and all were successful- heritage: 61 Bruns- even more wonderful commu- You can’t do that! The style ly negotiated to a satisfactory wick saved from nity! police are at it again.” And, in demolition ...... 4 conclusion. fact, over the last six months, A great six months since the To be sure, no one likes to be Good neighbours make some home owners inside the spring meeting – and yes an- told what to do, but some- good porches ...... 5 two HC districts did begin other great year of activity for times heritage-sensitive peo- Kensington Health renovations to the fronts of your local residents’ associa- ple ask what would be right to supports heritage their homes without a herit- tion comes to a close with the do and then proceed to do it revival ...... 6 expiry of the terms of office right. How to heritage ...... 7 for the members of the board This year has seen some ex- and the election of new offic- Is your front door a cellent projects on the positive ers at the AGM, taking place treasure? ...... 7 side of heritage preservation. Tuesday, October 18th, at the No grant, but history Elsewhere in this issue you Kensington Health Centre. project continues 8 will see photos of some of Some highlights of the year: Fall fair pics ...... 8 those successful heritage pro- jects. These plus others are Heritage Preservation Commemorating up for HVRA Heritage Awards William James, Often the job of heritage con- age permit. All were reported to be presented at the AGM. photographer .... 10 servation carries a negative to Heritage Conservation Ser- (Continued on Page 2) Board and member- ship stuff ...... 12

HVRA’s 2011 Annual General Meeting

This newsletter is produced Tuesday October 18, 6:30 for 7:00 p.m. twice a year by the Harbord Kensington Health Centre, 25 Brunswick Avenue Village Residents’ Associa- tion (HVRA) serving the part 6:30 – 7:00 Meet, greet, catch up on your membership dues of bounded by Bath- 7:00 – 7:45 Area caucuses, election of area representatives urst, Bloor, Spadina, and College. See Page 12 for 7:45 – 8:45 HVRA board reports; election of officers; results of the information about HVRA or Laneway Naming Project; Heritage Preservation Awards visit www. harbordvillage.com 8:45 – 9:00 Councillor Adam Vaughan’s Q & A where this newsletter can be found in glorious colour.

HVRA Newsletter Fall 2011 Page 2 of 12

(Chair’s letter continued from page 1) in May shared with the Uni- the 23 available lanes. versity of Toronto. The big The Farmers Market A jury was struck consisting of survey of their athletic facili- Tim Grant, Neil Wright, Bob The fourth season is nearly ties, including fields, has been Barnett and Margie Zeidler, finished. Last market is temporarily put on hold, but who have held their first Wednesday, October 26th, at should be resumed before meeting. Deliberations are the Green P Parking Lot south Christmas – the time our input ongoing, and the results will “This has been an of Bloor at Borden. Great will be put on the table. be revealed at the AGM on fresh fruit and vegetables, excellent project – The Laneway Naming Pro- October 18th. This has been plus bread, beef, pork, maple HVRA is the better in ject an excellent project – HVRA is syrup, honey and cheese. so many ways because of the better in so many ways The online balloting where the The Robert Street Field because of projects like this projects like this one.” members of Harbord Village Consultation one. were given the opportunity to As you know, there was a suggest names for individual Rory “Gus” Sinclair, HVRA very good response to an lanes produced wonderful chair (pro tem) excellent online survey. The results. In all, we had more results were summarized and than 275 names suggested for

Three Harbord Villagers named to the Order of Canada

“Three outstanding new Is there something in the wa- Terence Macartney-Filgate Macartney-Filgate got his start Order of Canada ter??? of Willcocks Street is a with the NFB as a scriptwriter groundbreaking cinema- in 1956 and directed his first recipients are living in Harbord Village has yet more tographer and documen- film the same year. Ever our midst.” things about which to be tary filmmaker since, he has been a director, bursting with pride. Three cinematographer and produc- outstanding new Order of He was made an Officer of the er of many films, and was Canada recipients are living in Order of Canada on May 26, perhaps the most important our midst. 2011 for his contributions to single influence on the devel- world cinema as a cinematog- opment of direct cinema in rapher whose ground- Terence Macartney-Filgate the Candid Eye series with breaking documentaries have responsibility for seven of the been recognized in Canada 13 films made for that series . and internationally for many years. His characteristic observation- al style can be seen in The The veteran filmmaker’s ca- Days Before Christmas, Blood reer spans more than 50 and Fire, Police and The Back- years, with his most recent Breaking Lear. In the mid-’70s credit as director of the TV he made several major docu- documentary Raising Valhalla mentaries as well as drama- (2007), as well as being the tized documentaries, including director of the three-part Can- Lucy Maud Montgomery: The ada Remembers (1995), The Road to Green Gables, Gren- Magical Eye (1989) and the fell of Labrador, Dieppe 1942 six-part shorts Lewis Mumford and Fields of Endless Day (on on the City (1963), among Canada's black population). others. (Continued on page 3) Page 3 of 12 Fall 2011 HVRA Newsletter

(Continued from page 2) the Edinburgh International Mail is excerpted below: Festival. More recent seasons “Adults sometimes forget Mary Lou Fallis of Borden have included appearances in what reading means to chil- Street is a renowned per- Japan and Iceland. dren. Patsy Aldana of Toronto, former and broadcaster Her grandfather was minister publisher of Groundwood She was made a Member of of Trinity St. Paul's United Books, who was named a the Order of Canada in June Church on Bloor in the 1930s, member of the Order of Cana- 2011 “for her contributions, as and besides her travelling and da last week, has made chil- a performer and broadcaster, performing she maintains an dren’s reading her life’s work. in making classical music office and voice studio there. Reading is healing, she says. more accessible to Canadians She is married to Peter Reading is a window into one- across the country.” Madgett, and with their dog self and others. Reading is a Percy, they remain on Borden, bulwark of democracy. And Fallis holds a unique position their two grown children hav- we don’t do enough, she says, in the music scene as ing flown the nest. to nurture our children’s love “Canada's foremost musical of reading. comedienne.” Known to thou- sands of viewers and listeners “Each child, Ms. Aldana says, Patricia ‘Patsy’ Aldana of across the country for the should have access to books Major Street is the pub- Bravo! television series Bath- that are right for him or her. lisher of Groundwood room Divas, her CBC Radio She is distressed that, in On- Books. series Diva Diaries, and to tario surveys, children and hundreds of theatregoers for She was appointed as a Mem- teenagers report that they are her Primadonna series of one- ber of the Order of Canada for getting less pleasure from woman shows, Fallis in her her contributions to children’s books than they used to. She Mary Lou Fallis inimitable way has reinvented publishing in Canada and blames that on an education the classical music comedy around the world. system that in her view puts genre. too much emphasis on literacy Aldana founded Groundwood as a skill for future workers, A favourite of the late great Books in 1978 in response to and not enough emphasis on Anna Russell, Fallis made her the perceived lack of a chil- reading pleasure. Reading operatic debut at 16 years of dren’s literary tradition in Can- ‘talks to you about who you age as the second spirit in a ada. Incorporated into House are, or it tells you something CBC Television production of of Anansi Press in 2005, about who the other is. So Mozart's The Magic Flute. Groundwood is committed to they’re windows and mirrors.’ Since obtaining the first Mas- publishing books that feature And it’s essential to becoming ters degree in Performance representations of marginal- a free person in a democratic and Literature from the Facul- ized voices and experiences society. ‘If you become a ty of Music, University of To- that are not often heard. reader, you have a chance to ronto, her career has encom- Groundwood Books has won become a critical thinker, to passed performances of major 17 Governor General’s Literary be a person who has some oratorios and choral works Awards to date. power over your life.’” with leading orchestras, as Internationally, Aldana has well as opera, with roles rang- just completed a term as the ing from Despina in Cosi fan president of the International Congratulations to these won- Tutte to Zerbinetta in R. Board on Books for Young derful people who have ac- Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. People. She was most recently complished so much and been In addition to her North Amer- named the 2011 recipient of recognized with the Order of Patsy Aldana ican engagements Fallis has the Library Association Canada. Harbord Village is the toured the United Kingdom Les Fowlie Intellectual Free- richer for their presence. extensively, appearing in Lon- dom Award. don's West End, Covent Gar- Rory “Gus” Sinclair, HVRA den International Festival, the An op-ed from the January 3, chair (pro tem) Wexford Opera Festival, and 2011 edition of The Globe and HVRA Newsletter Fall 2011 Page 4 of 12

Harbord Village: hot for heritage 61 Brunswick Avenue saved from demolition

61 Brunswick Avenue is some- Lobbying of the Department Brunswick Avenue was ac- thing of a mystery. One of of Buildings and Inspections quired by restoration contrac- the finest houses in Harbord to save 61 Brunswick Avenue tor Alberto Merelles of A Cus- Village, it was designed by an from demolition by neglect tom Spaces and Carpentry. “A house that was dying unknown architect and com- began around a decade ago, Many of us were worried with a slow death has been pleted in 1895, in the Queen before Brunswick Avenue, what might now happen to Anne style, which makes it from College to Ulster, be- this still beautiful but seriously saved, and restored to its unique in the neighbourhood. came part of the first phase of dilapidated house, but Alberto original status as the Its first owner was Martha the Harbord Village Heritage assured us it would be re- finest among its Fortune, widow of John Fair- Conservation District. But all stored. To convince us, he neighbours.” burn Scott, but its notable that could be done in those pointed to his beautiful resto- owner was Rabbi Solomon pre-HCD days was to make ration of another house in Langner, who arrived in To- the house safe. Its decay con- Harbord Village, 139 Bruns- ronto from Poland in 1923 and tinued, and its eventual demo- wick Avenue. Now, in the fall moved into 61 Brunswick Ave- lition seemed inevitable. Pres- of 2011, the restoration of 61 nue in 1924. Solomon sure to save the house was Brunswick is almost complete. Langner was rabbi of the renewed when the HCD was It has a new slate roof with Kiever Synagogue on Denison established in April 2005, but eavestroughs, downspouts Square, south of Kensington even then, nothing happened, and flashing in copper, and its Market, from 1929 until his until, in the fall of 2009, the brickwork has been entirely death in 1973, and his brass file was taken up by Georgia restored – a process that re- plate remained attached to 61 Kuich of Heritage Preservation quired the removal, reversal Brunswick until the house was Services. Thanks to her ef- and replacement of hundreds 61 Brunswick, before res- sold in 2010. forts, the logjam broke. of bricks and the replacement toration (left) and after (right) with recycled antique brick of In the spring of 2010, 61 hundreds more that were so deteriorated by water damage they could not be saved. Most important, 61 Brunswick's spectacular decorative wood- work has been entirely and faithfully restored and paint- ed, in a colour scheme that is appropriate for a house built in Toronto in the 1890s. The debt owed by Brunswick Avenue and Harbord Village to Alberto Merelles is incalcula- ble. A house that was dying a slow death has been saved, and restored to its original status as the finest among its neighbours.

Richard Longley, 68 Brunswick Ave Page 5 of 12 Fall 2011 HVRA Newsletter

Detail of 61 Brunswick, before restoration (left) and after (right)

Good neighbours make good porches

Rene and Elizabeth Roy Nasmith. Acting on her advice, matches that of Peter Klavora teamed up with Stuart and they engaged Leigh Bamford at 212 Robert, so the houses Joan Schoenfeld to carry out and Assoc. (stoneangels.ca) to will blend. their façade and porch reno- restore the brickwork. Repairs The best part has been for vation at 208-210 Robert were made using reclaimed Joan and me to work on it Street as part of HVRA HCD bricks from demolished hous- with Rene and Liz, who are Phase II. es. The restoration also en- good neighbours. compassed stripping, clean- They consulted the HVRA her- ing, and repointing. The porch Stuart Schoenfeld itage study architect Cathy 208 and 210 Robert Street was repaired. Now trim colour after restoration HVRA Newsletter Fall 2011 Page 6 of 12

Kensington Health supports heritage revival

In 1892, the Chapel of the Sisters of St. John the Divine was built at 38 Major Street. “This summer, the From 1969 to 1998, it be- Kensington Foundation came adjunct to Doctors Hospital. For the last 10 and Health Centre years, the chapel was un- unveiled the fully restored used and deteriorating. building, which is now This summer, the Kensing- home to the Kensington ton Foundation and Health Hospice for the provision Centre unveiled the fully of palliative and end-of- restored building, which is now home to the Kensington life care.” Hospice for the provision of palliative and end-of-life care.

The Mother Foundress of the replaced with ones honouring 38 Major Street, through its Anglican Sisters overruled the the purpose of the hospice, transformation into the Ken- chief architect Frank Darling while respecting the design of sington Hospice (which was to Below left and centre: the and insisted on the magnifi- the originals. welcome its first residents this front of 38 Major in 2000 and cent hammer beam roof. (He fall). now. Above right: conserved favoured solid buttresses. She Kensington Health Centre has been nominated for the Archi- The award will be presented original hammer beam roof, thought them unappealing.) tectural Conservancy of Ontar- at ACO's awards dinner at the showing new stained-glass The original stained glass was io's Peter Stokes Restoration Arts and Letters Club on No- windows in the south (left) and removed by the Sisters when Award for the restoration of vember 11. Since HVRA is an north walls. Below right: detail they left the site in 1969. the former Chapel of the Sis- associate member of ACO, of one of the windows. Those windows have been ters of St John the Divine at members of HVRA will be wel- come to attend the dinner, which is a wonderful occasion.

Richard Longley Page 7 of 12 Fall 2011 HVRA Newsletter

How to heritage

WHERE is Harbord Village’s bordvillage.com for links to WHO can do the work? Check Conservation District? History and Heritage. HVRA’s restorer’s guide at the website. Phase I: Brunswick below WHAT do you need? A herit- “HVRA is committed Ulster, Willcocks and flanking age permit from the City of If your house is outside the to extending the properties on Spadina and Toronto’s Heritage Preserva- conservation district, remem- district’s boundaries. Robert. tion Services for work on fa- ber HVRA is committed to çades, including windows, extending the district’s bound- Please don’t miss an Phase II: Robert Street, from trim, porch details. Remem- aries. Please don’t miss an opportunity to restore College to Bloor, Russell to ber, fixing porches can require opportunity to restore your your house and help Spadina, Spadina Circle north a building permit! For heritage house and help ensure the to St. Vlad’s, Sussex east of ensure the whole of our information, go to http:// whole of our neighbourhood is Robert to Spadina. Check har- neighbourhood is www.harbordvillage.com. restored to its Victorian past. restored to its Victorian past.” Is your front door a treasure?

In 1980, the red painted doors on 97 Willcocks were stripped by hand. Ghost shadows of the original mouldings were revealed, suggesting the doors had once been a hand- some feature of the house. In 2011, Alan Stacey of Herit- Right: doors removed for age Mill ([email protected]) restoration. Left: detail dur- recreated the original trim, ing restoration work. building out from the tracing Centre: restored doors of the original mouldings. He refurbished the doors, ration- alized the welter of locks and bolts and custom-fitted weatherstripping to create the first, tight, seal. Handsome doors, indeed.

Susan Dexter HVRA Newsletter Fall 2011 Page 8 of 12

No grant, but history project continues

HVRA has been unsuccessful social transitions in our neigh- age. What would we tell them in securing support from the bourhood firsthand. Can you about? The boys who went to Ontario Trillium Foundation help us locate those who hold fight in Europe in the 1940s? “If every reader identified (which disburses lottery mon- the living memory of Harbord The social transitions brought just one person who ey) to hire a coordinator for Village? by waves of Jewish and then its history project — described Portuguese settlers? The de- holds memories of our in the last newsletter. We’ll Imagine, if 75 years ago, the feat of the Spadina Express- social past, we would be return to securing support for elders of our community had way? The rise of environmen- able to assemble a such a position in 2012. been systematically inter- tal consciousness and sustain- viewed about their experienc- able living? perspective of In the meantime, our work es in Harbord Village! Their neighbourhood social continues with volunteer coor- recorded voices would have There is one way to find out! dination — more slowly and described daily life in the Please nominate current or history ...” less professionally, but with at same houses we occupy to- former community members least as much enthusiasm. day, but in ways many of us you know who might share can barely imagine: horses their experiences of living in HVRA’s History Group would and coal deliveries in lane- Harbord Village. Oral histories like to interview seniors who ways, outdoor kitchens, and will be collected through quiet have had a long history in the monumental social and interviews with an empathetic Harbord Village. Maybe it’s economic impacts of the Great interviewer, at a convenient you. Maybe your parents, or War and the Great Depres- time and place. If every read- your next door neighbours? sion. Imagine what we could er identified just one person Maybe they grew up here learn about our history from who holds memories of our decades ago but now live those recordings, had they social past, we would be able elsewhere. Or, maybe they’re been made. to assemble a perspective of still quietly in the same house neighbourhood social history near you where they were Imagine, if 75 years from that we believe would be un- born in the 1920s. now, our heirs to this commu- precedented anywhere in To- nity could listen to our voices, ronto, if not beyond. Please Perhaps they were among the stretching back to when our send your suggestions to his- first Portuguese or Chinese community was only half its [email protected]. Fall Fair photos on this and arrivals and saw remarkable the next page by Mario Cupido Fall Fair 2011

Early on Sunday We made more money this right again. The music was morning, September year than we have for the about 50 percent new this 11, Margaret Fairley previous three years, and year and was outstanding in Park was bathed in even more if you consider that variety and liveliness. Well warm sunshine that those editions of the fair had done Paul Bagnell, our music lasted in its full glory little or no security expenses. co-ordinator!!! The four all day. As we say in We seem to have solved the groups of shift volunteers the business of hold- problem of the approximately came through like clockwork, ing outdoor events, $700 security deficit by reduc- so thanks to Marco for the “You pick a day and ing the expenses, and Marco alcohol shifts, James Murdoch then you pray.” What Cupido has been brilliant in and Margaret Beare for the a great day it was!! scrounging free or heavily burger-flipping contingent, Having done 18 Fall discounted beer and food. Carmen Gauthier and Bettina Fairs to date, I have Congrats Marco! von Lieres for the ticket- to say that this was selling, and Jess Humphreys one of the very best. We had very little food left over, so Rita Elias Faria hit it (Continued on page 9) Page 9 of 12 Fall 2011 HVRA Newsletter

(Continued from page 8) there were some other volun- ing what we do. Ye all do so teers who helped both with much, so well for your com- for the fabulous volunteers at setup and the takedown. Bryn munity. See ya next year! the silent auction-raffle table. Jones was tireless and fast in putting up the stage and tak- Rory 'Gus' Sinclair None of this would have hap- ing it down. pened without the pleasant persistence of Laura Bradbury This is the very essence of on the permits. She worked a community building -- for Sisyphean task against the those who set it in motion as inertia of the various city de- well as for those who attend. partments and came out the There were a ton of new faces winner. Jan Muszynski helping out this year. That brought in enormous quanti- always bodes well as these ties of swag for the raffle and new people have now entered silent auction. I dunno how he the gaping maw that is volun- does it, but the revenue from teering in future for HVRA or the raffle and S/A was nearly perhaps even taking a position $2,100. Mary Newberry and on the board!!! The attend- Colleen Whyte phoned neigh- ance was steady and full bours and had them bring throughout the day. Many baked goods and produce to times I heard people say that sell, and brought in $400+. they were coming for just a few minutes and ended up And for setup…many of you lingering for a few hours. This showed up and pitched in, but means our members are lov- HVRA Newsletter Fall 2011 Page 10 of 12

Commemorating William James, photographer

William James is the best- news photographers in Toron- Archives acquired the William known photographer of To- to, supplying images to the James collection of 6,000 pho- ronto during the first half of seven or eight dailies and tos and negatives. Another the last century. He weeklies. The Daily Star was 5,000 lantern slides, many lived at 250 Major James’ best customer, buying hand-coloured, were acquired Street from 1913 to his photos until 1938. later. James’ images remain 1921. His residence some of the most popular and there is commemorated For a time his sons Joseph, frequently published of the by a plaque on the William Jr., and Norman Archives’ collections. house, where a small worked in the business with celebration of his work him. Several of his photos taken in was held on June 20. and near Harbord Village are James was particularly noted shown on this and the next The following is written for his technical expertise and pages. These photos are in about him at the City of sense of composition. He was the Archives’ Fonds 1244. The Toronto’s website: one of the first photographers relevant reference number is to recognize the value and given with each one. When William James emigrat- potential impact of unposed, viewed at the HVRA website, ed to Canada from Eng- human-interest snapshots. all can be massively expanded land in 1906. Shortly This immediacy and informali- to reveal fascinating detail. afterwards he estab- ty resulted in candid, often lished himself as a com- humorous and sometimes William James Sr. died in mercial photographer. dramatic documentary photos. 1948.

He was one of the first In 1976, the City of Toronto Carmen Gautier Clockwise on this page from the top: William James binding lantern slides in 1922 (3514). looking west in 1911 from the Bellevue Fire Hall clock tower (2424). Milk-bottle shaped water tower on the building between Russell and Bancroft on Spadina Cres- cent when it was the Borden Dairy, in about 1916 (2544). Installing the front- yard fountain at Gage House in 1912, now the site of the Shoppers Drug Mart store on Bloor (3091). View in 1910 of the Spadina-Harbord intersection from the roof of Knox Church (10028). Page 11 of 12 Fall 2011 HVRA Newsletter

Clockwise on this page from top left: View of Major Street in 1913, looking north.; the two youngest of William James’ seven children are on the steps of 250 Major (7104). in 1906 looking north from below Dundas (634). Location of Central Technical School before its construction in 1913-14 (703Q). Gates of Knox College on Spadina Crescent in 1908; they were re- moved about 10 years later (324). Composi- tion entitled Children Living In Slums, likely taken near Harbord Village in about 1911 (8033). College Street from the Bellevue Fire Hall clock tower looking east in 1908 (2460). HVRA Newsletter Fall 2011 Page 12 of 12

HVRA Board 2010-11 Chair (pro tem) Rory ‘Gus’ Sinclair 966-1523 [email protected] Treasurer Carmen Gautier 323-3944 [email protected] Secretary Eva Janecek 923-3538 [email protected] Membership Katrina McHugh 934-0295 [email protected] UofT Sue Dexter 964-9527 [email protected] Communications Richard Gilbert 923-8839 [email protected] NW Gail Misra 434-5746 [email protected] NW Steve Klein 934-0909 [email protected] NE Stuart Shoenfeld 964-3223 [email protected] NE Laura Bradbury 928-2813 [email protected] SW Colin Furness 536-5426 [email protected] SW Jane Perdue 923-7065 [email protected] This issue of the HVRA Newsletter SC Eleanor Levine 536-2185 [email protected] has been edited by Jane Auster. Layout: Richard Gilbert. SC Wendy Smith 471-9373 [email protected] SE Bettina von Lieres 923-5840 [email protected] SE Angie Andreoli 830-5340 [email protected]

Membership stuff  Already a member? Thanks. In particular, sincere thanks to have some fun and perhaps devote a few hours to something all of you who have honoured us with your Supporting and you want to improve. No time to spare? We understand. But Fanatic memberships, which have supported many of the new by simply joining, you'll add your name to our ever-growing initiatives we've undertaken. roster and help make HVRA's voice even better heard at City Hall.  Haven’t had a chance to renew? Now's the time. Simply Ideas for how to grow our membership, and strength- fill out the renewal slip below and mail it with your cheque.  en connections? Please contact membership secretary  Not yet a member? Now's the time! Meet your neighbours, Katrina McHugh at [email protected].

HVRA Membership & Renewal Form Not a member yet? Know someone who should be a member? Please join – to help us continue building a great neighbourhood! 2012 HVRA Membership Please mail to: Harbord Village Residents' Association (Membership renewal period for 2012 is September–December 2011; P.O. Box 68522 new members joining for 2012 between September 1 and October 18, 2011 are 360A West eligible to vote and stand for office at the October 18, 2011 general meeting.) Toronto, M5S 1X1 JOIN HVRA: Please check one: Voting Member (individual) ...... $5/one year; $10/two years SLEEP BETTER Supporting Member (to support HVRA activities) ...... $20/one year; $40/two years AND LIVE

Fanatical Member (to really support HVRA activities!) ..... $50/one year; $100/two years LONGER!

Payment can be made via PayPal or credit card at our website: (www.harbordvillage.com) or mail a cheque payable to the Harbord Village Residents’ Association, and include: Name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...New?……Renewal?...... Address………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………… Telephone ……………………………………………………Email…………………………..…………………..………………………..