Toronto Street Names: An Illustrated Guide to Their Origins

Deserves a place on every Toronto history buff's bookshelf.
-- Canadian Book Review Annual

Toronto Street Names provides a highly visible record of the past of Canada's largest city. It commemorates the people and events that have shaped the place and tells the fascinating and curious stories of how more than 340 Toronto streets got their names. This edition has been thoroughly updated and revised, and it now includes four walking-tour maps and a historical index. A new essay by Charis Cotter (author of Toronto Between the Wars: Life in the City 1919--1929, winner of the 2005 Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence) explores the history of the iconic Toronto streetcar and how the development of streetcar routes along certain streets helped mold the city we know today.

The names of Toronto's streets map the trails and portages of the First Nations inhabitants, the arrival of the early explorers and the founding of York at the end of the 18th century. They trace the growth and political turmoil of the 19th century, the modernization of the 20th century and beyond, and the emergence of one of the world's most culturally diverse cities. The lives of brewers, politicians, architects, royalty, explorers and farmers can be traced in the city's street names. From the grand estates of Toronto's early upper class to the villages and homes that immigrants left behind, Toronto's street names tell many stories.

Toronto Street Names is easy to read, intriguing and ideal for the traveler who prefers exploring off the beaten track. It is also a fascinating source of information for readers interested in the history of North America's great cities. The book is illustrated with period photographs and is fully indexed and cross-referenced.