Sunlight Park East Harbour

Project Writer and Developer: Peter MacCallum

Project Website 

Date of Release: January 18, 2022

“From Sunlight Park to East Harbour” is a two-part web-based series on the Spacing magazine website that combines text and photography to explore the industrial heritage of the East Harbour lands. These lands played an important role in Toronto’s industrial history as the site of soap factories, and are now planned to be redeveloped into a huge mixed commercial and residential neighbourhood.

The series was developed and written by noted architectural photographer Peter MacCallum. It incorporates his research into the history of these lands with his photographs taken over the years, the work of his fellow photographer Steven Evans, and archival photos. Sections of historical research integrating text and photography introduce photo-galleries that provide a visual history of the historical uses of these sites, including both interior shots of the now lost machinery, exterior images, and archival documents.

Through research and photography, the project gives the public access to the history of this site, reveals the significance of Toronto’s industrial heritage, and conveys the magnificence of this complex, often seen briefly from expressways and roads but easily overlooked – parts of which are already lost, while other parts may soon also be lost forever.

Additional Project Team Members

Peter MacCallum: Project Lead

Julie Fish: Project Producer, Spacing Media

Dylan Reid: Project Editor, Spacing Media

Steven Evans: Photographer

Matthew Blackett: Publisher, Spacing Media