Since the mid-1800s the Cabbagetown-Regent Park area has been the place where many of Europe’s immigrants began their life in . Through the years most have led simple lives steeped in a difficult environment. But the people of Cabbagetown were resilient and resourceful, and many have thrived to attain greatness.

History comes alive in Cabbagetown. Not only a Victorian inner-city enclave where you’ll find a large number of beautiful heritage homes, indeed many fascinating and remarkable people have called it home. Read their stories here. Or better, use this brochure as your personal guide through the quaint streets of Cabbagetown. You will find blue oval plaques at the addresses indicated here.

To further explore Cabbagetown People, to read about “More Remarkable Lives”, to discover more fascinating history, and to book a guided walking tour for a group, visit cabbagetownpeople.ca

Welcome to Cabbagetown!

More to be discovered at: cabbagetownpeople.ca

Rosedale Valley Rd Sumach Street 390 Charles William Jefferys. 1869 – 1951 History Painter and Bayview Alpha 368 Darrell Kent. 1942 – 1989 Illustrator. W. Cottages W. Laurier Parkview Wellesley Ave Wellesley St. James Real Estate Agent and Born in Britain, C. W. Jefferys Wellesley Philanthropist Born arrived in Toronto around and raised on a farm in 1880. He is remembered

Amelia Hillcrest

Saskatchewan, Darrell Kent primarily for his bold Rose Prospect came to live in Toronto illustrations of Canadian Hillcrest Park Salisbury in the late 1960s and is history and military subjects. His sketches and Rawlings

considered the driving force paintings of bygone events will continue to bring Metcalfe Lancaster Winchester behind the renovation of many of the area’s Canadian history to life for many generations. beautiful and unique Victorian houses. He Millington Flagler Sackville Pl financially supported activities for local youth, 397 Richard Bradshaw. 1944 – 2007 Aberdeen Broadcast Ln Broadcast Bleecker inspiring and encouraging others to join in his W’stock Canadian Opera Company Carlton Bowman philanthropy. Conductor and Visionary. Carlton Born in England, he started Gildersleeve Geneva 422 Fraser Mustard M. D. 1927 – 2011 his career as a conductor. Dermot t Medical Pioneer and In 1989 he was chief Spruce Hospital Lane Seaton Champion of Early Learning conductor of The Canadian Parliament Sherbourne Rolston Sword Naismith Sackville Gifford Remembered for his Opera Company, and Gerrard Sumach medical and educational became the general director in 1998. He had Gerrard achievements, his research a vision to build an opera house and in 2006 in early childhood education The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing paved the way to create a Arts officially opened. Oak Cornwall province-wide full-day kindergarten. Berkeley Oak Tony Brady. 1935 – 1991 Cole 443 River 424 Bill Stapleton. 1916 – 2008 A Founder of the Forsythia Dundas Artist, Activist, Teacher. Festival. Some compared his Wyatt Actor, magician, hairdresser, St. Bartholemew Mark artwork to that of Degas animal breeder, traveller and Arnold Nicholas and Toulouse-Lautrec. He writer of popular children’s St. David Labatt Defries

painted in startlingly vibrant Milan stories, Tony was a founder Poulette Sutton colours and bold strokes, as of Cabbagetown’s Forsythia Regent Sackville Green forthright in his technique Festival, which has become a popular annual Shuter as he was in his social convictions. Collections event. of Mr. Stapleton’s work are in The National 94 Doug Henning. 1947 – 2000 156 Daniel Lamb. 1842 - 1920 Archives of Canada and The Canadian War Winchester Street World Famous Magician. Industrialist, Politician, Museum. As a teenager in Toronto, and a Founder of 21 The Venerable Archdeacon Samuel Doug Henning studied Toronto’s First Zoo. Wellesley Street Johnson Boddy M.A, D.C.L. magic. He created and Active in civic politics from 1826 – 1905 starred in several magic 1885 to 1901, Daniel Lamb 328 Walter Huston. 1884 – 1950 A Remarkable 42 Years of musicals on Broadway. On served as an Alderman for Academy Award-winning Service to this Community television the Emmy-award Cabbagetown. He built the Actor. A plaque is also He came to Canada from winning “Doug Henning’s World of Magic,” first public water works, still in operation today, located at Winchester England in 1858. Later, made him one of the best-known and popular on the Toronto Island. Public School, Heritage the Anglican parish of St. magicians in the world. Building, Ontario and Peter’s was duly constituted The Early Settlers. Winchester Streets. in Cabbagetown and he was appointed rector. 152 Sir Ernest MacMillan. 1893 - 1973 NE Corner of Winchester Toronto-born Walter attended His residence served as the Rectory for St. Brilliant , The Early Settlers and Sumach Streets. Winchester Public School in Cabbagetown. He Peter’s during his tenure when he was also Organist and Educator. The remains of 984 early later studied engineering, but gave it up for responsible for getting the first streets in the Canadian-born Ernest settlers of the Town of York acting. He made his stage debut in Toronto in area paved. MacMillan was a child were removed from Potter’s 1902. He later moved to California where he won prodigy performing at Field, a 6-acre plot in what an Academy Award in 1948 for Best Supporting at eleven years is now the Yorkville district Actor in “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre”. He of age. Conductor of the of Toronto and re-interred in the Necropolis in appeared in over 50 movies, and occasionally Toronto Symphony for many years after WWII, a section designated “The Resting Place of returned to Broadway to act in plays. he was knighted in 1935 in recognition of his Pioneers” 1851 to 1881. musical accomplishments.

Teachers, Students, Parents - Read about Cabbagetown Sauriol: Andre Flys Adaskin Family: University of Saskatchewan People's Program for Schools at Goss: City of Toronto Archives, Series Archives, photograph A-7093 cabbagetownpeople.ca 372, Sub-series 41, Item 597 Grand & Toy: Grand & Toy Company Garner: CBC Still Photo Collection Limited Credits: von Kunits: Toronto Symphony Orchestra Stapleton: The Cabbagetown Regent Seton: Ernest Thompson Seton Institute Inc. Archives Park Museum© Allward: Veterans Affairs Canada Wicks: The Wicks Family MacMillan: Toronto Symphony Orchestra CPA charitable number: Oliphant: V. Tony Hauser Liste Sinclair: Gloria Saarinen Archives 85053 6160 (RR0001) Oronhyatekha Royal Ontario Museum Callaghan: CBC Still Photo Collection Cabbagetown People Committee: Hume: Miss Margaret Robins Archives, Rose: Canadian Methodist Historical Christopher Dew, Gilles Huot, Women’s College Hospital Society Margaret Rutledge, Alan Waterhouse Brick: Chubb Family Collection – Nichols: The Ingram Gallery Program Founder: Sheila Schirmer Source Unknown Schawlow: Photo by Robert Lansdale, Gordon Sinclair: City of Toronto Archives, Archives [email protected] Fonds 1652, File 422, Item 2 Smith: The Arts and Letters Club cabbagetownpeople.ca brochure design: steveyeates.ca Aberdeen Avenue Lieutenant Francis Gwillim Simcoe. 550 Hugh Garner. 1913 – 1979 Salisbury Avenue 1791 - 1812 Author and Witness Ernest Thompson Seton. 1860 - 1946 First Private Owner of to Depression Era 34 Eden Smith, Architect. 1858 - 1949 Self-trained Biologist, These Lands. Plaque located Lieutenant Cabbagetown. Plaque Prolific Early Toronto Scientific Illustrator and Francis Gwillem Simcoe at SW corner of Riverdale located at the Hugh Garner Designer and Architect. Naturalist. Plaque located at Park at Carlton and Sumach Housing Co-operative. In 1888 he began his #6 (formerly #4 which no Streets. Born in Yorkshire, England, architectural practice. As well longer exists.) Francis Simcoe was the Hugh Garner grew up in as designing many prominent He was one of the founders eldest son of John Graves Simcoe, the first Cabbagetown and worked at the Toronto Star churches, he designed houses of the Boy Scouts and Girl Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. He was newspaper as a copy boy. He fought in the Spanish in Wychwood Park, Rosedale, Guides of America in addition to being one of the the first owner of the lands now known as Civil War and WWII. As a Canadian writer, his focus The Annex and Forest Hill. Another outstanding most important 19th century Canadian novelists. Cabbagetown. He was killed at the age of 21 in was on working class Ontario and the best known achievement was the design of the Co-op housing Spain while leading a storming party under the of his realistic novels is Cabbagetown (1950). complex at the Corner of Spruce and Sumach Streets. Amelia Street command of the Duke of Wellington. 675 Luigi von Kunitz. 1870 – 1931 Sherbourne Street 43 Walter Seymour Allward. 1876 – 1955. Cabbagetown’s First People. Founder of the Toronto Renowned Canadian Plaque located inside the Symphony Orchestra. 495 The Adaskin Family. Sculptor. SW entrance to Riverdale Plaque located at SW One of Canada’s greatest Following early training at Central Park. corner of Rose Avenue Musical Families of the Technical School in Toronto, Mr. Cabbagetown's Centuries before there was Public School. 20th Century. Allward studied in and First People a Cabbagetown community Born and trained as a musician Harry. 1901 – 1994. Paris. He is best known for his and long before French in Vienna, he came to Toronto John. 1908 – 1964. monument at Vimy Ridge in fur traders or the British in 1912 to teach. He inspired many musicians. In Murray. 1906 – 2002. France which took 14 years to complete. settlement called York, many different the 1920s he founded the Toronto Symphony (Pictured) Aboriginal cultures such as the Anishnabai Orchestra and became its first conductor. Plaque located in what is now the Wellesley 137 Betty Oliphant. 1918 – 2004 (Ojibwa), Haudenosaune (Iroquois), Huron, Community Centre - Lobby. The Adaskin Renowned Innovator of Eries, Petuns and Neutrals came together to Parliament Street brothers represent one of the greatest stories in Ballet Education. trade, hold councils and seasonal ceremonies Canadian music history. They were all brilliant Betty Oliphant came to Canada in this region of Ontario. The confluence 424 Ben Wicks. 1926 – 2000 musicians performing, teaching and conducting in 1947 as a war bride and of these many cultures gave birth to a great Political Cartoonist, across the country. In addition, John played opened her own ballet school, circle of Aboriginal civilization with a rich Global Literacy Advocate, cello with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra then served as ballet mistress for ceremonial, ritual, artistic and political legacy. Humanitarian. and worked on many projects for the Canadian the National Ballet of Canada Ben Wicks’ cartoons provide Broadcasting Corporation. Charles Sauriol. 1904 – 1995 important insights on 20th 139 J.L. (Allen) Yen PhD. 1925 – 1993 Pioneer Ecologist. Plaque century events and Canadian Shuter Street Prominent Figure in located in Riverdale Park culture. He wrote and illustrated Canadian Radio Astronomy. West at the end of Carlton books and established the “I Can Foundation” which 438 Plaques located at Regent Park Born in Canton, China, Allen Street. provides education and literacy programs for children. Community Centre: Yen was first appointed to the In his dedication to the In 1986, he received the Order of Canada. Faculty of Applied Sciences and preservation of Toronto’s green Corporal Ainsworth Dyer. 1977 - 2002 Engineering at the University of spaces, he led fundraising Rose Avenue Killed in Action in Toronto in 1952. A Fellow of campaigns that generated more than 200 million Afghanistan. the Royal Society of Canada, he will be remembered dollars. In 1949, he co-founded the Don Valley 5 Flos Jewell Williams. Corporal Dyer, a member for his endless wisdom and love of sailing. Conservation Association. Writer with a Passion for of the Princess Patricia’s Western Canada. Canadian Light Infantry, 160 Mary O’Riordan D.V.M. 1925 – 1993 Hillcrest Park Flos Williams was born in was killed on April 18, Pioneering Veterinarian. Toronto and attended Jarvis 2002 by friendly fire near Born in Ennis, County Clare, 31 Lister Sinclair. 1921 – 2006 Collegiate and Toronto Kandahar, Afghanistan. He is described by his Ireland, “Dr. Mary” moved to Broadcaster, Playwright, Normal School. She became colleagues as a thoughtful leader who had a Toronto in 1963 where she Renaissance Man. one of the best known strength of heart that was unparalleled. opened her own animal hospital Born in Bombay, women writers of Western Canada, wrote short and was purported to be the first and schooled in England, stories and published three novels. Morley Callaghan. 1903 – 1990 veterinarian to make house calls. Lister Sinclair eventually Canada’s First Urban settled in Toronto. A gifted 27 Reverend Samuel Rose D.D. 1806 - 1890 Novelist, Writer and Carlton Street mathematician, he continued A Pioneer of Methodism in Broadcaster. his studies at the University of Toronto. He joined Ontario. Born into an Irish Catholic 211 Oronhyatekha M.D. 1841 - 1907 the CBC in 1944 and his career there spanned 50 Samuel Rose was born near family he was educated at the Mohawk Physician, years. He was a prolific broadcaster who wrote Picton, Ontario. In 1831 he University of Toronto. Working Victorian Businessman and over 650 radio and television plays. began his ministry as a as a junior reporter at the Philanthropist. missionary to the Indians in the Toronto Star, he met Ernest Hemingway who (he had lived at #209) Lancaster Avenue town of what is now Orillia. encouraged him to be a writer. His first novel, In 1860, under the patronage He was later pastor of churches in many southern Strange Fugitive, was published in 1928. of the Prince of Wales, Dr. 2 Albert (Frenchy) Bélanger. Ontario communities. Oronhyatekha (“Burning 1906 – 1969. Larry Gains. 1900 – 1983 Sky”) became the first North American aboriginal Flyweight Boxing World Sackville Street Heavyweight Boxing to attend Oxford University. In 1866 he graduated Champion. Plaque located Champion of the Dominion from the University of Toronto’s medical school at The Cabbagetown 395A Jack Nichols. 1921 – 2009 of Canada and the British and was likely the first native medical doctor in Youth Centre. Canada’s Pre-eminent Empire. Canada. Canada’s first World Boxing World War II Artist. Born in Toronto, as a young Champion in 1927, “Frenchy” Born in Montreal, and like boxer he went to England 226 Rowena Grace Douglas Hume M.D. became a sports icon and retired after 61 bouts, later many artists, Jack Nichols was and Europe where he won 1877 – 1966 opening a boxing club to help the youth of Toronto. largely self-taught. The Royal every major title and knocked out heavyweight A Founder of Women’s Canadian Reserve appointed champion Max Schmeling. Due to the times, he was College Hospital. Metcalfe Street him “official war artist”. His not allowed to fight for the British Championship Born in Galt, Ontario, Dr. Hume depictions of Canadian bravery in battle have and the World Championship. There was a bar on was a graduate of the University 20 Arthur Goss. 1881 – 1940 become iconic. His work appears in prestigious black boxers and they could only compete for the of Trinity College and became Left a Photographic Legacy museums across Canada. “Coloured Heavyweight Champion of the World”, Women’s College Hospital’s of over 35,000 Images of which he won in 1928 and 1935. Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Toronto. 435 Al Purdy. 1918 - 2000 As City Photographer, he “The Most Canadian Poet”. Spruce Street 274 Sarah Anne Curzon. 1833 - 1898 devoted himself for 37 Al Purdy has been called Pioneer for Women’s Rights years to creating countless the best English-language 26 James Grand. 1857 – 1921 Who made Laura Secord a important photos of early Canadian poet of the twentieth 28 Samuel Toy. 1859 – 1906 Household Name. Cabbagetown, the Riverdale Zoo and the City century. Although he lacked Founders of Toronto’s Oldest Sarah Anne Curzon was a of Toronto at large. formal education, he wrote 33 Office Supply Company. playwright, poet and journalist. books of verse, and twice won James Grand is believed to She wrote about Women’s 25 Fredelle Bruser Maynard PhD. Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Award as well be the first office supply suffrage, property rights, and 1922 – 1989 as being awarded the Order of Canada. salesman to go door-to-door access to higher education. One of her major works Author and TV Host. selling stationery products was Laura Secord, The Heroine of 1812: A Drama and A native of Foam Lake, 436 Arthur Schawlow PhD. 1921 - 1999 from a wheelbarrow. By Other Poems (1887). Saskatchewan, Fredelle Maynard Nobel Prize Winner Who Co-developed the 1883 his company had grown, so his brother- studied at the University of Laser. A plaque is also in-law Samuel Toy joined him as a partner, 314 Benjamin Brick. 1845 – 1913 Manitoba and the University located at Winchester resulting in the Grand and Toy name. Builder Who Specialized of Toronto before taking her Public School, Heritage in Elaborate Plaster PhD at Radcliffe. She went on to become a Building, Ontario and 35 Charles B. MacKay. Decoration. brilliant academic, a popular teacher and an Winchester Streets. Toronto’s First Customs Officer. Born in Worcester, England, acclaimed writer of books including her memoirs. Arthur Schawlow attended Charles B. MacKay was an official Benjamin Brick started out as Winchester Public School. sent by Queen Victoria in 1858 to a bricklayer in England and Ontario Street Earning a scholarship, he enrolled in the University of Charles B. MacKay the burgeoning Port of Toronto became a skillful house builder Toronto and began his studies in physics. In 1981 he to set up and administer the in Toronto. He gained popularity because of the 262 Frederick Hagan. 1918 – 2003 won the Nobel Prize for physics for his contribution customs offices, located in what elaborate plaster moldings and ceilings he created. One of Canada’s Greatest to the development of laser spectroscopy. is now the St. Lawrence Market. Artists and Teachers. 375 Gordon Sinclair. 1900 - 1984 In 1946 Mr. Hagan was hired 487 Josef Škvorecký. 1924-2012 41 Edward Mulberry Hodder M.D. A Giant in Canadian to teach drawing, painting Czech-Canadian Literary 1810 - 1878 Broadcast Journalism. and printmaking at the Giant. Father of Obstetrics and Plaque located on the fence Ontario College of Art where During the 1950s he wrote Gynecology in Ontario. of Spruce Court Public School he stayed for 37 years. His several books and worked as a Born in Kent, England, he (formerly 375 Carlton). works are held by the National Gallery of Canada translator of important novels. came to Canada in 1838 and Gordon Sinclair began and the among others. After leaving Czechoslovakia in taught at the Medical School working as a reporter for 1968 and moving to Toronto, of Trinity College. He was one the Toronto Daily Star in 1922 and travelled he founded a publishing company called 68 of the first to use carbolic acid around the world four times as a wandering Publishers. He was a brilliant storyteller and teacher as an antiseptic in surgery and childbirth. Dr. Hodder reporter. Following WWII he became a and wrote more than 40 books. was co-founder of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. prominent radio and television personality.