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Being Black on King

Date

June 20 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Location

Start Point

Inglenook Community School (19 Sackville Street)

End Point

Dream Office REIT (50/30 Adelaide Street East)

Cost

$10.05 per person

Registration

Please register below.
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June 20 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Trace the footsteps of freedom seekers.

Walk along King Street East to explore the city’s Black history through the lives of freedom seekers, entrepreneurs, and activists who risked everything to ensure freedom. Visit the former home of Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, who escaped slavery in the U.S. and later founded Toronto’s first taxi company, and learn about the Underground Railroad Restaurant, one of the city’s first soul food restaurants and a gathering place for Toronto’s Black community.

This emerging historian tour will be led by Faith Peter, a museum and cultural programming professional specializing in public programming, historical interpretation, and audience engagement. Her interest in history began with a curiosity about whose stories are remembered, evolving into a commitment to advancing inclusive, place-based approaches to heritage. As an African immigrant, Faith is particularly drawn to the histories of Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods and the ways immigration has shaped the city’s cultural landscape. Her passion centers on underrepresented narratives, with a focus on Black histories and community-driven placemaking.

Alternate date

This event will also be held on the following date:
A group of people face two individuals who are chatting to each other and smiling.
Tour participants at the Blackburn House site, Being Black on King, June 13, 2025. Image by Jesse McDougall.
A woman stands on grass with her back towards us next to a plaque noting the site as a historical location. People stand in a line on the adjourning sidewalk looking and listening to what the woman next to the plaque is saying.
Enoch Turner Schoolhouse plaque, Being Black on King tour, June 13, 2024. Image by Rachna Shah.
A group of people look up to the top left corner of the image and take pictures with their mobile phones.
Tour participants in front of St. Lawrence Hall, Being Black on King, June 19, 2025. Image by Jesse McDougall.
Image of a man in a three-piece suit standing waving to the camera outside a restaurant. A sign on the exterior reads: "The Underground Railroad Soul Food Restaurant".
Restauranteur Howard Matthews at the Underground Railroad Restaurant, King Street, 1978. Image by Dick Loek/Toronto Star

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.

Inglenook Community School

19 Sackville St
Toronto, ON M5A 3E1 + Google Map

Accessibility

 This tour is approximately 1.5 kilometres and fully takes place on city sidewalks and is relatively flat.

Public washrooms can be accessed at the No Frills located at 200 Front St E, the Loblaws located at 60 Church Street, and St. Lawrence Market at Front St. and Market St.

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.

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Inglenook Community School

19 Sackville St
Toronto, ON M5A 3E1 + Google Map