Arts & Letters

Toronto's large population, economic clout, and position as Canada's primary hub of transportation and communication create the perfect foundation for the city's cultural vitality.

However, as the stories and sites gathered under the theme "Arts and Entertainment" illustrate, without exception it is the imagination and drive of special individuals who built on this foundation to create the enduring art and cultural institutions that contribute significantly to Toronto's position as a cultural capital.

This trail highlights several of the stories in a walk that offers insights into the development of the city's arts institutions and arts scene. It begins at the Royal Ontario Museum, where the meeting of minds of two men lead to the acquisition of pieces of Asian art that make up one of the most important collections in North America.

The Stories

Bringing Home the Ages , 1916
100 Queens Park
Massey Sponsors U of T Student Centre , 1919
7 Hart House Circle
Art Gallery Becomes a Gehry Masterpiece , 2008
Art Gallery of Ontario
Henry Moore's Big Bronze “Whatchamacallit” , 1966
New City Hall
From Stolen Books to Violins , 1798
60 Simcoe St.
Only Remaining Legitimately “Royal” Theatre , 1907
260 King St. W.
TIFF: Hollywood Needs All the Friends It Can Get , 1964
350 King St. W.
O’Keefe Centre Opens to Great Fanfare , October 01, 1960
1 Front St. E.
Winter Garden Sealed from Toronto for Six Decades , 1913
189 Yonge St.
Comradely Haven for Kindred Souls , 1920
14 Elm St.
Glenn Gould’s Debut: “People Simply Cannot Play the Piano Like That!” , 1947
444 Yonge St.
Artist’s Wanderings Reveal Canadian West , 1853
58 Wellesley St. E.

Click to enlarge

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- 43.667623 -79.394417
  Bringing Home the Ages
  
  Bringing Home the Ages 1916 100 Queens Park
- 43.663696 -79.394674
  Massey Sponsors U of T Student Centre
  
  Massey Sponsors U of T Student Centre 1919 7 Hart House Circle
- 43.653963 -79.392314
  Art Gallery Becomes a Gehry Masterpiece
  
  Art Gallery Becomes a Gehry Masterpiece 2008 Art Gallery of Ontario
- 43.652771 -79.384643
  Henry Moore's Big Bronze “Whatchamacallit”
  
  Henry Moore's Big Bronze “Whatchamacallit” 1966 New City Hall
- 43.646681 -79.386494
  From Stolen Books to Violins
  
  From Stolen Books to Violins 1798 60 Simcoe St.
- 43.647155 -79.387475
  Only Remaining Legitimately “Royal” Theatre
  
  Only Remaining Legitimately “Royal” Theatre 1907 260 King St. W.
- 43.646673 -79.390357
  TIFF: Hollywood Needs All the Friends It Can Get
  
  TIFF: Hollywood Needs All the Friends It Can Get 1964 350 King St. W.
- 43.646514 -79.376050
  O’Keefe Centre Opens to Great Fanfare
  
  O’Keefe Centre Opens to Great Fanfare October 01, 1960 1 Front St. E.
- 43.652989 -79.379418
  Winter Garden Sealed from Toronto for Six Decades
  
  Winter Garden Sealed from Toronto for Six Decades 1913 189 Yonge St.
- 43.657720 -79.382476
  Comradely Haven for Kindred Souls
  
  Comradely Haven for Kindred Souls 1920 14 Elm St.
- 43.661360 -79.383098
  Glenn Gould’s Debut: “People Simply Cannot Play the Piano Like That!”
  
  Glenn Gould’s Debut: “People Simply Cannot Play the Piano Like That!” 1947 444 Yonge St.
- 43.665683 -79.382154
  Artist’s Wanderings Reveal Canadian West
  
  Artist’s Wanderings Reveal Canadian West 1853 58 Wellesley St. E.
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