July 2026 - Shoreline Splash
On Saturday, July 11, SLNA joined Heritage Toronto, Councillor Chris Moise, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Toronto Museums, Jamii and other community groups for the official launch of Heritage Toronto's series of plaques commemorating the shoreline of Lake Ontario, as it existed in 1841.
Over 10 years in the making, the shoreline commemoration project was developed by SLNA's Heritage Committee. Funding support for Heritage Toronto's plaque initiative was provided by SLNA, Councillor Chris Moise's office and private donors.
This is the second formal element of the shoreline commemoration (the first being the moccasin identifier), and the first permanent installation. A plaque has been placed at the 1841 position of the "water's edge" (per Young's 1841 survey) on each north-south street between Yonge and Berkeley Streets, which at that time was just south of current Front St. E. In addition, Heritage Toronto has created a larger explanatory plaque for each end of the neighbourhood. These are installed at Yonge St. and at Berkeley St..
At the plaque unveiling, Councillor Moise presented the SLNA with an official Certificate of Appreciation for its commitment to this project.
Music from Trash Panda Band, Jamii's make-your-own-shoreline activity table for the kids and free walking tours of the shoreline locations across the neighbourhood provided by Heritage Toronto rounded out the program. the Shoreline Splashh portion of the day ended when it was overtaken (appropriately) by a wet and wild water-gun fight around the dog fountain in Berczy Park.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat, listen to the band (and speeches), participate in the activities and, generally, enjoy the day.
Have you seen the new plaques? Check them out on the east side of the streets south of Front St. E. between Yonge and Berkeley Sts!
On Saturday, July 11, SLNA joined Heritage Toronto, Councillor Chris Moise, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Toronto Museums, Jamii and other community groups for the official launch of Heritage Toronto's series of plaques commemorating the shoreline of Lake Ontario, as it existed in 1841.
Over 10 years in the making, the shoreline commemoration project was developed by SLNA's Heritage Committee. Funding support for Heritage Toronto's plaque initiative was provided by SLNA, Councillor Chris Moise's office and private donors.
This is the second formal element of the shoreline commemoration (the first being the moccasin identifier), and the first permanent installation. A plaque has been placed at the 1841 position of the "water's edge" (per Young's 1841 survey) on each north-south street between Yonge and Berkeley Streets, which at that time was just south of current Front St. E. In addition, Heritage Toronto has created a larger explanatory plaque for each end of the neighbourhood. These are installed at Yonge St. and at Berkeley St..
At the plaque unveiling, Councillor Moise presented the SLNA with an official Certificate of Appreciation for its commitment to this project.
Music from Trash Panda Band, Jamii's make-your-own-shoreline activity table for the kids and free walking tours of the shoreline locations across the neighbourhood provided by Heritage Toronto rounded out the program. the Shoreline Splashh portion of the day ended when it was overtaken (appropriately) by a wet and wild water-gun fight around the dog fountain in Berczy Park.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat, listen to the band (and speeches), participate in the activities and, generally, enjoy the day.
Have you seen the new plaques? Check them out on the east side of the streets south of Front St. E. between Yonge and Berkeley Sts!
June 2025 - Project Launch
At the June 2025 SLNA Community Meeting, Toronto City Councillor Chris Moise officially launched SLNA's Shoreline Commemoration Project.
The first visual component of the project is the appearance of images of Indigenous moccasins across the neighbourhood, along the historic shoreline where First Nations Peoples have walked for centuries. Starting in Taylor's Wharf Lane and extending across the neighbourhood south of Front Street from Yonge to Berkeley, the Moccasin Identifier has been painted by neighbourhood children and adult volunteers.
The Moccasin Identifier is a leading reconciliation initiative focused on Treaty education and Indigenous place-knowing, created by Carolyn King C.M., a former Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
At the June 2025 SLNA Community Meeting, Toronto City Councillor Chris Moise officially launched SLNA's Shoreline Commemoration Project.
The first visual component of the project is the appearance of images of Indigenous moccasins across the neighbourhood, along the historic shoreline where First Nations Peoples have walked for centuries. Starting in Taylor's Wharf Lane and extending across the neighbourhood south of Front Street from Yonge to Berkeley, the Moccasin Identifier has been painted by neighbourhood children and adult volunteers.
The Moccasin Identifier is a leading reconciliation initiative focused on Treaty education and Indigenous place-knowing, created by Carolyn King C.M., a former Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
| historic_toronto_shorelines.pdf |
Original Shoreline Commemoration
For several years, there has been an aspiration to commemorate the ‘original shoreline’ of Lake Ontario in the St Lawrence neighbourhood. There are currently three commemorations in and around our neighbourhood: sculptural commemorations on the Church Street frontage of the Berczy condominium at 55 Front Street East (see https://www.torontojourney416.com/shoreline-commemorative/) and Wavelengths, celebrating the Lake itself, at 18 Lower Jarvis (Market Wharf) (see: https://www.e-architect.com/toronto/wavelengths-sculpture-ceiling-in-toronto) and an ‘in-ground’ commemoration in the Distillery District at Rack House Mews and Distillery Lane.
As the filling in of the Lake was a fairly gradual process, deciding exactly where the original shoreline was is not easy but, after several years of trying to find a City map that gave enough information to clearly identify it, the SLNA is now working with Heritage Toronto and others to commemorate the “Top of the Bank” (of Toronto Bay) and the “Water’s Edge" as described in the January 1841 Survey by Thomas Young. The 'Young Lines’ are used in current property surveys as seen in this City plan of George and Front.
Discussions are now in process to determine the exact form of commemoration, but the current suggestion is to erect plaques in appropriate locations on buildings on the north-south streets running from Yonge to Berkeley to commemorate the approximate locations of the “Top of the Bank” and the “Water’s Edge” on these streets.
To get a good bird's eye view click on this MAP.
For several years, there has been an aspiration to commemorate the ‘original shoreline’ of Lake Ontario in the St Lawrence neighbourhood. There are currently three commemorations in and around our neighbourhood: sculptural commemorations on the Church Street frontage of the Berczy condominium at 55 Front Street East (see https://www.torontojourney416.com/shoreline-commemorative/) and Wavelengths, celebrating the Lake itself, at 18 Lower Jarvis (Market Wharf) (see: https://www.e-architect.com/toronto/wavelengths-sculpture-ceiling-in-toronto) and an ‘in-ground’ commemoration in the Distillery District at Rack House Mews and Distillery Lane.
As the filling in of the Lake was a fairly gradual process, deciding exactly where the original shoreline was is not easy but, after several years of trying to find a City map that gave enough information to clearly identify it, the SLNA is now working with Heritage Toronto and others to commemorate the “Top of the Bank” (of Toronto Bay) and the “Water’s Edge" as described in the January 1841 Survey by Thomas Young. The 'Young Lines’ are used in current property surveys as seen in this City plan of George and Front.
Discussions are now in process to determine the exact form of commemoration, but the current suggestion is to erect plaques in appropriate locations on buildings on the north-south streets running from Yonge to Berkeley to commemorate the approximate locations of the “Top of the Bank” and the “Water’s Edge” on these streets.
To get a good bird's eye view click on this MAP.