August 15 at 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Discover how pieces of demolished city buildings were transformed into a landscape of art, memory, and architectural history at Guild Park.
Encounter remnants of Toronto’s former city skyline, a time when stately banks and ornate office buildings dominated the landscape.
Rescued from wasteyard and garbage dumps, rubble from buildings demolished in the early to mid-20th century was restored, and found new life at Guild Park. Among the remains you’ll encounter on this walk are the carved red sandstone panels from the Temple Building, the tallest building in the British Empire upon its completion; stone panels and parapets from an Art Deco office tower that housed the operations for the daily newspaper, the Toronto Star; and parts of two grand banks that stood at the corner of King and Bay Street – the Bank of Montreal and the Bank of Toronto.
Pick up the pieces with us as we wander through this unusual park and weave together a story of a lost Toronto.
This emerging historian tour will be developed and led by Jane Schiedel, a guide and facilitator at Toronto’s museums over the past three years. She shares her passion for early Canadian history and explores how its architecture, urban planning, and creative minds have shaped the city today. Jane’s work on this tour will be supported by John Mason, founding President of Friends of Guild Park, a volunteer-led organization launched in 2013 to support the revitalization and public awareness of historic Guild Park & Gardens. John has played a central role in developing interpretive programming at the park and has led hundreds of guided tours exploring its unique blend of art, architecture, and landscape along the Scarborough Bluffs.
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. Cash cannot be accepted onsite.
Accessibility
This tour is approximately 1 kilometre and covers mostly unpaved gravel and dirt paths.
Public washrooms are available near the east parking lot at Guild Park.
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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