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torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
Toronto Archives
@torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
1.5K followers 1 following 9 posts
We maintain & make accessible records of enduring value that give evidence of decisions, policies & activities of the City of Toronto.

www.toronto.ca/archives
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torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
The Toronto Eaton Centre decorated for the holidays 25 years ago. Did you know that both the Eaton Centre and the City of Toronto Archives were designed by the architect Eb Zeidler?
https://ow.ly/ECnN50XALaG
The interior of the Eaton Centre mall seen from a high angle. A large conifer with white batting and gold ribbons around its base is hanging from the roof, seeming to float in the air. Behind it, you can just see the Flight Stop sculpture. Photo by Jose San Juan. Series 2311, File 3228, Item 14.
December 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
Looking north east to the corner of Front Street and Yonge Street #OTD in 1925. You can see the Bank of Montreal that became the Hockey Hall of Fame. Across the street is the Toronto Board of Trade Building, which was torn down in 1958.
https://ow.ly/3xSr50XzaTH
A black and white photo looking diagonally across a parking lot filled with cars from the 1920s towards an intersection. On the left is a four-storey building with mansard roofs. Next to it is the neo-classical Bank of Montreal. Diagonally across the intersection is a sandstone building that has a rounded corner with a conical roof. Photo by John Boyd Sr. Fonds 1548, Series 393, Item 20161.
December 5, 2025 at 1:50 PM
torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
The Toronto Public Library recently purchased 339 Queen Street East, on the corner of Parliament Street. Here's what that building looked like in 1972.
https://ow.ly/T19O50XAReu
Black and white photo of a three-storey brick building on a street corner criss-crossed by streetcar tracks. The bricks are painted white, and signs on both sides of the building read, "Home Furniture". Large windows on the ground floor and second floor display furniture showrooms. Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 16, Item 16.
December 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM
torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
Get your photo orders in! December 5 is the final day to place Archives photo orders for completion by December 25. Orders received after that date will be ready in the new year.

Find out more under under the tab "Copying What’s in the Archives" at toronto.ca/archives

#TOArchives
A young child wearing a winter coat, hat, and boots. They are on their tiptoes, reaching up to place a letter in a postbox attached to a pole on a residential street. Fonds 1266, Item 6710.
December 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
Looking east from the Bathurst Street bridge over the lakeshore railway tracks in late 1975. Almost none of these buildings can be seen from that vantage point today.
https://ow.ly/4E0N50XzaRL
The windows of Toronto's downtown skyscrapers glow orange in the setting sun. At left, First Canadian Place extends upwards out of the top of the frame. The three black Toronto Dominion towers are clearly visible next to it. At right, you can see the Royal York Hotel in front of the north and south towers of the Royal Bank Plaza. The latter have cranes on top of them, and the gold mirror windows are only partially installed. Series 1465, File 458, Item 1.
December 3, 2025 at 5:50 PM
torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
The big reveal at Scarborough Civic Centre in 1986 as Santa flips the switch on the Christmas tree lights.
#ScarbTO
A small crowd gathered around a large novelty light switch marked "On / Off" in front of a Christmas tree at Scarborough Civic Centre. Santa Claus has just turned the switch to ON. Fonds 218, Series 1762, File 3519. A small crowd walking down the steps outside the entrance of Scarborough Civic Centre. Most people are wearing rain jackets and some holding umbrellas. Santa Claus and a person dressed as an elf are in the centre of the crowd. Fonds 218, Series 1762, File 3519. Two figure skaters in the centre of a large rectangular rink outside Scarborough Civic Centre. A large crowd is gathered around the rink perimeter watching the performance. Fonds 218, Series 1762, File 3519.
December 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM
torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
Why is this photo titled "ALF Pumper" you may ask? American LaFrance was a manufacturer of fire engines. This shiny model once belonged to Toronto Fire Hall No. 8.
https://ow.ly/Z6Yp50Xzb7q
Black and white photo of a fire engine from circa the 1920s. The driver's seat and steering wheel are open to the sky. It has ladders strapped to the back, and polished metal fittings throughout. From the Karl Lee collection. Series 61, File 7, Item 1.
December 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
A look back at the early years of skating in Nathan Phillips Square, where a rink has been operating for over six decades! The rink opened almost year before the rest of the square and New City Hall were completed in 1965.
A rectangular skating rink outside Toronto City Hall covered by three concrete arches. A large crowd is skating on the ice. Fonds 220, Series 35, File 15, Item 16. A rectangular skating rink at Toronto City Hall covered by three concrete arches. Many people are on the ice and the rink is lined by onlookers. Fonds 220, Series 35, File 15, Item 15. A rectangular skating rink at Toronto City Hall covered by three concrete arches. A packed crowd is on the ice and observing around the rink. Old City Hall is visible in the background. Fonds 220, Series 35, File 15, Item 22. Toronto City Hall illuminated at night. Two people are sitting at a bench by a skating rink covered by three concrete arches in the foreground. Fonds 220, Series 35, File 15, Item 13.
December 2, 2025 at 1:58 PM
torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca
We have permission for take-off! Hello Bluesky!

Follow this account for images and news from the City of Toronto Archives.

#Toronto #TOHistory #TOArchives
The Toronto skyline seen across the water from Hanlan's Point on a clear day in 2009. A small plane is taking off from the Island Airport into a bright blue sky. Photo by Peter Mintz, Fonds 589, Item 196.
December 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM