By Pamela Vega

On the west side of Yonge Street, south of St. Clair, there is a break between the row of buildings lining the street. Walking down this small alley, the brick walls give way to grass and, a little further on, a walkway lined with trees. Nestled behind a wall of storefronts is this serene escape from city life. This is St. Michael's Cemetery, Toronto's oldest visible Catholic cemetery. The first in a series of articles, St. Michael's is one of Toronto's hidden gems.

A new website allows people in Ontario communities to report heritage buildings and sites they feel are at risk.

This Place Matters documents heritage at risk and buildings that matter using an interactive map, photos and videos. A project spearheaded by Lloyd Alter of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, the website is in beta mode and will include mobile networking capabilities in the near future.

To report a building at risk, click here. 

By Jamie Bradburn

Visitors to Chorley Park in northeast Rosedale may notice a cul-de-sac off Douglas Drive that seems out of place with the surrounding greenery and the serenity of local residents enjoying a rest on a bench. Beside this road is a plaque commemorating the tumultuous history of the building that once occupied much of the grounds. The half-century saga of Chorley Park saw the main building go from a magnificent manor for government dignitaries to a crumbling ruin deemed too expensive to maintain. Along the way the site was embroiled in government scandals, war efforts, schemes to find a lasting function, and the city's unending and ultimately successful effort to buy the property for its current use.

Chorley Park, residence of Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, 1923. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 79

In August, Heritage Toronto, in partnership with the Toronto Historical Association, will be hosting a mayoral candidates' debate on heritage issues.

In anticipation, we want to hear from all those involved in the heritage community to get your views on the state of heritage preservation in Toronto. Do you think the city's current system provides adequate protection of the city's heritage and, if not, how could it be improved?

We have held several meetings across the city with representatives of historical associations, museum boards, resident groups and others involved in the heritage community. We are now inviting all of our readers to send us your views.

A summary of these consultations will be prepared, and used as background information for the debate. We will also circulate the report to the media.

We hope you'll join thousands of Torontonians for this year's Doors Open.

150 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural and/or social significance open their doors to the public and admission is FREE. 

To see a list of participating buildings, click here.

Heritage Toronto is a founding partner of Doors Open, one of Toronto's most popular events. In recent years, Heritage Toronto volunteers have welcomed visitors to sites such as BCE Place, St. Lawrence Hall and the Toronto Dominion Centre Penthouse. 

By Nicholas Thompson

Fraternal benefit societies have a lengthy tradition in Toronto. The various Lodges, Chapters, Halls and Orders attended by generations of men, plebeian and patrician alike, are as fascinating for their esoteric rites as their insights into social history. The wide-ranging influence of these groups on Toronto's political and socio-economic maturation, difficult to gauge in some ways, and easier in others, is perhaps best explored physically. Notwithstanding their myriad other benefits, the city's fraternal societies bequeathed us with a rich built legacy that scores of Torontonians interact with on a daily basis.

Tickets are now sold out.