Big congratulations to Toronto's 33 new Primary Care Paramedics, who graduated last week! This vintage ambulance was on display at the Toronto EMS graduation ceremony in 2003. https://ow.ly/fRCH50Y3XJ7

We're on the road to Thistletown! The Archives will be joining Councillor Crisanti's Etobicoke North Historical Night tomorrow. Hope to see you there! Thursday January 29 5-7pm Thistletown Community Centre, 925 Albion Road

The TMU Library building, formerly Ryerson Polytechnical Institute Library Resource Centre, under construction on this day in 1972. The building, designed by Webb Zerafa Menkes Housden Partnership (WZMP), opened at the corner of Gould and Victoria in 1974.

January, 1976: The Convincer comes to the Scarborough Civic Centre. This device was designed to let members of the public experience a lower-impact head-on collision, in the hope that some mild whiplash would convince them to always wear a seatbelt in the car. https://ow.ly/icfj50Y0TYE

German prisoners at the CNE grounds during the First World War. This photo is currently part of a pop-up exhibit at Fort York called Echoes of Home. https://ow.ly/Sj0R50XZM0w

Good morning! The Research Hall of the Archives will be closed today because of the snow conditions. However, the building's atrium is open if you would like to come in, warm up, and use the free wifi.

A vastly different view looking south-west over Wellington St West towards the Inglis industrial lands around Strachan Avenue in the late 1980s. Visible landmarks include the long-standing Inglis billboard by the Gardiner, the Coliseum, and the former Exhibition Stadium. https://ow.ly/T0Jg50Y1oj0

Freezing temperatures and windblown spray from the lake turned lifesaving equipment on the waterfront into an ice sculpture in January, 1926. This photo will be 100 years old tomorrow. https://ow.ly/6qV250XWl8A

Appearing in the paper on this day in 1929, Prince Snowball and Miss Amy Hall. He made an appearance in the Globe and Mail alongside Lady Moonbeam, Bonny Boy, and Lavender Bendigo, at the 27th International Championship Cat Show held at Oddfellow’s Hall on Yonge Street. https://ow.ly/hWQI50XXinf

View of the frozen Don River from Queen Street East and Don bridge, January 1979. https://ow.ly/AuGV50XXr0U

A fascinating snapshot of the Toronto waterfront 100 years ago in November 1936. The Maple Leaf Stadium (formerly at the foot of Bathurst) had opened a decade earlier, Hanlan’s Stadium was in its final years, and Island airport construction was imminent. https://ow.ly/NmEl50XWJtu

A frozen Toronto Bay at foot of Yonge Street one hundred years ago in 1926. In front of the larger docked vessels are ice boats - wooden crafts with sails and metal runners for travelling (at some speed!) over the ice. https://ow.ly/TLaq50XXqOg

The Loblaw warehouse at Bathurst and Fleet in 1929. Designed by Toronto architects Sparling, Morton and Forbes, the four-storey Art Deco building had opened the previous year and was recognised for state-of-the-art facilities, including an in-house electric tram railway. https://ow.ly/ysjt50XXkbA

During the First World War, Toronto created a Civic Guard to protect its water infrastructure. These men were posted at the Rosehill Reservoir on January 20, 1915. It looks like cold work. https://ow.ly/ZHcf50XXiLx #OnThisDay

Downyflake Donuts Restaurant in the snow in 1938 - formerly located at 120 Lake Shore Boulevard West, on the east end of Sunnsyide Amusement Park. A popular attraction was the donut-making display in the front window, promoting freshly made donuts for a quarter. https://ow.ly/VM9u50XXpB7

A photo with some noir vibes from 75 years ago, when subway tunnel construction was underway near the future King Station. https://ow.ly/9WwX50XWVbC

We've all had an unfortunate haircut. This is Leonor F. Loree, a member of the Royal Commission to Inquire into Railways and Transportation, in 1932. https://ow.ly/5baf50XWq7R

A view of the legislative chamber at Queen's Park #OnThisDay in 1930. The horseshoe seating arrangement was designed to accommodate brand new radio microphones dangling from the ceiling. https://ow.ly/hfEU50XU68i

#OnThisDay in 1946, Sgt. H.G.P. Con of the Royal Canadian Engineers was met by his uncle and aunt when he returned to Toronto from long military service in India and Ceylon. https://ow.ly/IYCR50XS65t

We're wishing everyone a safe commute home this evening. Take some time to help your neighbours! https://ow.ly/Z9wo50XXpw3

Coming soon! We’re thrilled to welcome the Cathy Crowe fonds, Fonds 667. A Canadian street nurse & lifelong advocate, Crowe has spent decades fighting for housing justice & public health. This fonds documents her powerful legacy through photos, writings, speeches, interviews, & advocacy materials.

This is what the neighbourhood of City Hall looked like before Nathan Phillips Square and New City Hall were built. The photo was taken from the Canada Life building looking east circa 1950. https://ow.ly/LQH850XVJAv

Prior to artificial ice, a quantity of the city’s ice supply was shipped down from Lake Simcoe (with reputedly cleaner water). In Toronto, one of the local suppliers was the Grenadier Ice Company, run by the Chapman family, which harvested and sold ice from Grenadier Pond.

Delivery wagons making their way up Parkside Drive #OnThisDay in 1929. The horse-drawn vehicles are from the Canada Bread Company and the Wallace E.E. Company. https://ow.ly/RN3O50XU9Uh#OnThisDay

Montgomery's Inn in the village of Islington #OnThisDay in 1919. At the time, the building was a private rental property. The stucco was removed in 1967. https://ow.ly/qIXh50XSr6Y

Ever wondered about the history of your home? Join one of our upcoming free workshops and learn how to use archival records to research an address. More info: https://ow.ly/iumM50XTuia Photo: Claridge Apartments, Avenue Road and Clarendon Avenue, 1927 or 1928. Fonds 444, Series 2386, Item 17

#OnThisDay in 1915 Looking west on Bloor Street West from Dundas Street and Woodville Avenue (now Indian Grove) as work on the Bloor West Civic Railway route was being documented.

When "solar" was just a metaphor for "very warm." This billboard for the British-American Oil Company advertised "solar heat" in 1961. https://ow.ly/Jt0G50XO3i9

A trainee fireman learns to jump into a net, 1931. The location was an alley behind the Central Fire Station on Adelaide Street West, just west of York Street. https://ow.ly/PT5L50XNex6

The view on this day 100 years ago looking towards the Royce Avenue subway at Dundas Street West. Royce Avenue and Van Horne Street were combined in 1947 and officially renamed Dupont Street. https://ow.ly/3eYB50XS9AK

The Village of Swansea was incorporated on January 1, 1926. The southern part of this new municipality had formerly been the estate of John Ellis, whose house, Herne Hill, overlooked Grenadier Pond. https://ow.ly/eROM50XO0RT

A scene on the east side of Yonge Street at Gould Street, #OnThisDay in 1975. From the Harvey R. Naylor fonds https://7078.sydneyplus.com/archive/final/Portal/Default.aspx?component=AABC&record=e3cc1d6a-354a-42c1-81d7-3dafa05b416b#OnThisDay

Attention transit fans: Fonds 88 has now been digitized. These images were shot by Charles Rufus Harte, a contractor hired by the newly-formed TTC to document their facilities and equipment between 1921 and 1923. https://ow.ly/SX5p50XMuKj

Friends, let's stride into a surreal new year with the energy of this moose wearing boots. https://ow.ly/rVRr50XL16n

A snapshot from the New Year's Eve laser show at Scarborough Civic Centre, December 1995. #ScarbTO https://ow.ly/BmfN50XL8QV

The end of a winter ride in High Park, December, 1925. https://ow.ly/pfim50XLELh

Oyster Bay lunch counter at New Year's: 25 cents for beer, 20 cents oyster cocktail, ca. 1913. From the Consumers' Gas Company Ltd. collection of photographs by F.W. Micklethwaite Studio, taken between 1909-1936. Browse over 1,000 of these images on our database! https://ow.ly/Ns5U50XMw3M

Skaters on Don River, looking south from Riverdale Park, 1910. https://ow.ly/qpz250XL8JJ

Lets visit series 1966, Special Committee on the Chinese Community (1970-1971)! This committee was created to support and preserve the Chinese community in the downtown core during a period of significant redevelopment. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/uA8150XLtw4

These fashionable snowshoers were enjoying a holiday expedition 100 years ago. https://ow.ly/nriv50XH6j3

#OnThisDay in 1931, every public servant down at City Hall, the tall and the small, was singing! https://ow.ly/kFQi50XLCXf#OnThisDay

Police Constable Kelly directs traffic between the Eatons and Simpsons stores on Queen Street West, 1930-1935. https://ow.ly/naaH50XMxoL

"The Traffic Puzzle Santa brought - Christmas 1935" A look at downtown 90 years ago during Christmas. Including scenes of Yonge Street, Bay Street, and Yonge Street at Dundas Street. https://ow.ly/ulZM50XKZB4

#OnThisDay 100 years ago - Shriner's Santa Claus at Empire Theatre Fonds 1266, Item 6845

Not all gifts from Santa are for children! Photographer Brian Condron captured this shot on Yonge Street around Christmastime in 1975. https://ow.ly/tv5t50XH287

This portrait of Alderman--and later mayor--Sam McBride was 100 years old yesterday. McBride not only gave his name to a Toronto ferry, he also helped create the TTC and the Coliseum at the CNE. He was also notorious for punching more than one political opponent. https://ow.ly/RcxZ50XE4js

Winter officially arrives this weekend - what's your favourite thing about winter in the city? https://ow.ly/MaKM50XE24x

#OTD in 1925, technicians switched on Toronto's fourth automatic telephone exchange. This new system allowed users to make local phone calls without first speaking to a switchboard operator. The equipment was housed in a building on Main Street, just north of Kingston Road. https://ow.ly/8xav50XIBAF

Food is a key part of so many different celebrations. Any special meals you're looking forward to this holiday season? https://ow.ly/IE4U50XHoYs

A wintery scene looking north over Bayview Avenue, ca. December 1960. https://ow.ly/XTNs50XItxh