On June 18, Heritage Toronto was joined by some of Canada's most notable musicians to commemorate famed Yorkville coffeehouse, the Riverboat.

Located in the narrow basement of a house at 134 Yorkville Ave, the Riverboat was opened in 1964 by Bernie Fiedler and became the best-known coffeehouse in Canada. Over its history, the Riverboat stage was graced by Canada's music elite, including Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot. The Riverboat remained open until 1977, by which time it was the sole remaining coffeehouse in the area.

A number of musicians who graced The Riverboat's stage during its illustrious life attended the event, including Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Hill, Murray McLauchlan, David Wilcox and many others.

The plaque was a joint project between the Greater Yorkville Residents' Association with assistance from "Riverboat" Jane Harbury, music historian and author Nicholas Jennings and Bernie Fiedler, owner of the Riverboat. It will be permanently installed outside the Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville (where the Riverboat once stood) within the new few weeks. 

The Riverboat plaque has been generously supported by the Bloor-Yorkville BIA, The Rotary Club of Toronto - Forest Hill, Herta Scholz, the Greater Yorkville Residents' Association, Dr. Lancelot A. Brown, the ABC Residents' Association and Magentalane Music Limited.  

Many thanks to ONE Restaurant and Long & McQuade for supporting the plaque presentation. 

Video of the ceremony (courtesy of Henry Martinuk)

Gee Chung, GYRA and Derek Boles, Heritage Toronto Board Member (photo by Ian Chandler)

Councillor Kyle Rae (Photo by Ian Chandler)

Gee Chung, GYRA (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

Music historian and author Nicholas Jennings with Riverboat playbills (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

"Riverboat" Jane Harbury (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

Bernie Fiedler, owner of the Riverboat (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

Dan Hill (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

Gordon Lightfoot (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

Murray McLauchlan (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

Bernie Fielder with Councillor Kyle Rae (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

A reunion of Riverboat artists (Photo by Olena Sullivan)

Bernie Fiedler and Gordon Lightfoot (Photo by Ian Chandler)