September 13 at 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Uncover the hidden history of Toronto’s “bad girls” in Liberty Village.
Explore how women challenged social expectations—and the institutions that sought to control them—in one of Toronto’s most rapidly changing neighbourhoods.
Long before Liberty Village became a hub of condos, cafés, and creative industries, it was home to Canada’s first women’s prison. This walk uncovers the stories of women whose lives intersected with the Andrew Mercer Reformatory, where ideas about morality, gender, race, and respectability shaped who was deemed “criminal.”
Along the way, we’ll explore the remaining traces of Mercer Reformatory and the Toronto Central Prison, while uncovering stories of factory workers, immigrant women, reformers, and inmates whose experiences reveal a different side of Toronto’s history. Together, these places illuminate how women navigated work, freedom, surveillance, and resistance in a rapidly industrializing city.
This emerging historian tour will be led by Ela Gach, a long-time heritage enthusiast and historic researcher. She is a recent graduate from the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, and currently works in heritage planning.
Registration
This tour is provided for $8.00/person. The total cost is $10.05 (includes a $2.05 transaction fee). Please note that space is limited on our tours. You may not be able to join a tour group if you have not registered ahead of time through our website.
Accessibility
The nearest TTC Stop is St. Andrew Station, accessible by taking the Line 1 subway, the 504 King Streetcar to King Street W at Joe Shuster Way.
The nearest Green P parking lot Carpark 181, located on site at 1155 King Street West.
FAQs
Our staff and volunteers will be at the tour’s starting location 30 minutes prior to each tour. Please arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the tour to allow time for check-in. Feel free to call us at (647) 542-3450 if you are having trouble finding the start location.
Sponsors
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