This iTour has been designed as a bike tour. It should take a couple of hours on bicycle, depending upon how long you linger at the stops along the way. You can also do the iTour on foot, although it will take more time.

You'll be guided around the Toronto Island, starting at the ferry dock at the foot of Bay St. The ferry service to Hanlan's Point only runs spring to fall, while there is limited service to Ward's Island during the winter, so you'll need to check on the City's website for the Ferry Schedule before you go.

For this iTour, you start by taking the Hanlan's Point ferry and then you'll bike through the Island all the way to the Ward's Island ferry dock, where you can catch a ferry for the return trip. Along the way, the iTour talks about the history of the Island, and why it has been an important part of the city for as long as there has been a city of Toronto.

Before the iTour proper starts, you'll hear a little about the history and the culture of the Toronto Island from two former Island residents - actor Mathew Ferguson and writer Alison Gzowski. You can listen to their thoughts about the Island during the ferry ride over, or while you're waiting for the ferry to arrive.

To help you check that you're on the right path, we've created a map with numbered stops for you to download and print and take with you.

Production credits:

Written by Heritage Toronto staff, based on the book, "More than an Island: A History of the Toronto Island" by Sally Gibson, with additional material from volunteers Wayne Reeves and Chris Vert. Thanks also goes to Mathew Ferguson and Alison Gzowski for their discussion of the Islanders' fight to keep their homes. A number of others - Sally Gibson, Joanna Kidd, Bob Kotyk, Emily Fulton, Bill Freeman and Marta O'Brien - read drafts of the script and provided helpful comments. Olena Sullivan designed the accompanying map and Alysa Procida helped with photo research. We are grateful to each of them.

Images courtesy of the City of Toronto Archives, the Archives of Ontario, Library and Archives Canada, and the Toronto Harbour Commission.

Produced by Popstream Productions for Heritage Toronto.
April 2010

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iTunes, iPod, Quicktime (m4v) - 290MB

Audio only (mp3) - 74.2MB

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