Groundhog with a view.

New DCB biography: Dr. Groves was an innovator and is still a legend in Fergus, Ontario. (And I didn't know about his pet alligator!)

No other word has done more damage to the craft of writing in recent years than “content”. Even if you’re using the word “content” ironically, or as a cute little joke, don’t. When someone calls writing “content” they’re pissing on someone’s hard work & passion. “Content” is Technosatan’s henchword.

Still time to register for this unique event tomorrow afternoon in Toronto. A dozen presentations on how including DNA testing in your toolbox can help your research. FREE. And with door prizes!

We're on the hunt for someone with a Toronto story to tell. The 2026 Toronto History Lecture will be held via Zoom on August 4—our 15th annual THL. We're open to proposals on any aspect or era of Toronto history. For previous topics and submission details: torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/toront...

Who knew that skating was such a big deal in 1860s Toronto? Well-padded with winter wool clothing, skates gave you freedom and speed, and a great excuse to help your sweetheart stay upright. Read Bob's post!

Tonight, March 23, join us via Zoom at 7:30 for our monthly meeting. FREE. Opening act: Toronto's First Post Office Museum's archival and artifact collection with Rebecca Rizzo. Main event: Marian Press on Finding digitized books and documents. torontofamilyhistory.org/march-2026-m...

It's Building Permit Week! #DYK that the fancy design on the edge of old building permit stubs is a security feature called a guilloché? If there were doubts about a permit's authenticity, its torn serrated edge could be compared with the stub in the City's records.

"The city’s form and function emerged from both the internal dynamics and feedback loops of its population, businesses, and industries, and their reliance on resource hinterlands..." - Andrew Watson niche-canada.org/2026/01/29/f... #envhist #cdnhist #urbanhistory #toronto

Ahead of #IWD2026 on March 8, enjoy this special unboxing as archivist Rebecca Sykes lifts the lid on the Elsie Gregory MacGill fonds, revealing treasures from the personal life and groundbreaking career of this remarkable woman. #NEM2026 www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgYQ...

A weird walking tour for Friday The Thirteenth! Filled with strange and twisted true tales from the history of Toronto. Pay what you like — just meet outside Old City Hall at 7pm on March 13!

My blog post about the uptick in Canadian Citizenship record requests, and the changes in the amalgamation plans for some Ontario religious archives #genealogy #familyhistory #CanadianGenealogy www.cmgenealogy.com/post/canadia...

Congrats to @peelarchives.bsky.social for this little book. Interesting format and lots of sources for further research.

Tonight, Feb 23 at 7:30, join us online to hear about Ken McKinlay's Top 10 Tips For Being a Better Researcher. Free. torontofamilyhistory.org/event/top-te...

Beautiful. The large structure on the far right might be the general hospital?

An index, no matter how remarkable, is just that. Be sure to use the finding aids included as part of the digitized collection, to take you to the actual records at the Archives of Ontario or on FamilySearch.

Toronto Branch funded the digitization of the fiche-based Ontario Land Records Index in 2025. First published in 1979 by Archives of Ontario, now free at @archive.org. More than 28,000 pages that unlock Crown Land records. See the recordings of Jan17 launch: torontofamilyhistory.org/projects/arc...

On December 14, 1918, Toronto streetcars finally crossed the Prince Edward Viaduct for the first time, linking Bloor and Danforth across the Don Valley. #OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #bloorviaduct #princeedwardviaduct #streetcar #transit #ttc #donvalley #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin

Nice to see my dad and uncle listed on the Hartman Jones school memorial and the Moorecroft boys on the Leslie Street school memorial. Lots of info provided on the site about the schools in question. The Second World War memorials at many schools were illuminated by A J Casson #remembranceweek

Tonight at 7:30 pm! There's still time to register for our October branch meeting. Come hear Drew Von Hasselbach tell the story of The Dead from Down the Street, with opening act OISE Library's Special Collections. Register for your Zoom link here: torontofamilyhistory.org/event/dead-f...

Fascinating article about looms produced in Scarborough, Ontario, their role WWII veteran rehabilitation, and impact on hand loom weaving in Canada.

Ontario Land Records Index is now digitized and freely available to the public: archive.org/details/onta.... Thanks to the collaboration with the Archives of Ontario, @tofamilyhistory.bsky.social, OurDigitalWorld and CRKN. internetarchivecanada.org/2025/09/24/n...

Excellent alt text: dopey windows. More emphasis on the faux boulders, though. A remarkable choice!

Biidaasige Park!! The new park everyone is talking about!! Fantastic team design, construction, TO's P&R, TRCA, led by amazing Waterfront Toronto. Shannon Baker Project Director does amazing 30 min presentation, from moving Don River, planting thousands of trees... Watch & share: bit.ly/4mSiIYg

The two Ontario land record courses this fall organized by @tofamilyhistory.bsky.social are filling fast. Both Sept and Nov series are at about 2/3 capacity. Jump in quick if you want a spot! torontofamilyhistory.org/learn-about-...

Tomorrow, August 14, is the final day to view the recording of the 2025 Toronto History Lecture.

If you missed the 2025 Toronto History Lecture on Tuesday (or just want to see it again) you're in luck. @tofamilyhistory.bsky.social recorded the lecture and it is available to view until August 14: torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/toront...

"Toronto's Changing Street Names" with Wayne Reeves. This Thursday 7:00 pm at TRL www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?E...

I’ll be at the clubhouse in Riverdale Park until 4pm!

Toronto has a large streetcar network but did you know other cities in North America also have streetcars? Cincinnati has the Connector, a colourful modern electric system that riders can board for free: www.cincinnati-oh.gov/streetcar/

Or visit San Francisco and ride on a historic streetcar on their F Line: www.sftravel.com/article/guid...

Join us on Tuesday August 5 at 7:00 pm to learn more about Toronto's iconic streetcars. Pictured here is the classic PCC streetcar that was retired in 1995. The Toronto History Lecture is free for all but you must pre-register. torontofamilyhistory.org/event/the-to...

Each summer @tofamilyhistory.bsky.social holds a very special event to remember a friend. The 2025 Toronto History Lecture is Tues Aug 5 at 7:00 on Zoom. @briandoucet.bsky.social & Michael Doucet present Toronto's Streetcars: How the past shapes the present torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/toront...

Each summer @tofamilyhistory.bsky.social holds a very special event to remember a friend. The 2025 Toronto History Lecture is Tues Aug 5 at 7:00 on Zoom. @briandoucet.bsky.social & Michael Doucet present Toronto's Streetcars: How the past shapes the present torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/toront...

On July 9, 1793 the Act to Limit Slavery passed, influenced by the Chloe Cooley incident. Read about it and her life here:

🇨🇦 Wishing everyone a Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦! gifcities.org/gram/35d4bc2... Send a Gifgram to a pal - part of the GifCities project at @archive.org 🎆

In the summer of 1903, Toronto had a party—a four-day blowout over the Dominion Day holiday—July 1 to 4. More than 4,000 former Torontonians were invited to the Toronto Home Comers' Festival. I wrote a thing. wherethestorytakesme.ca/home-comers-...

Thinking of taking a genealogy research trip? Then you'll want to attend our next in-person only meeting. Join us on June 14 at 1pm at the North York Public Library for Preparing for a Genealogy Holiday. All are welcome but you'll need to register in advance: torontofamilyhistory.org/event/prepar...

Local robins were pretty happy, too. Worms not so much.

Very interesting tour of items tucked away in the undercroft in the 1930s and where they've ended up.

Tomorrow evening, May 6, there's an online opportunity to learn about researching your Italian ancestors with @tofamilyhistory.bsky.social and a bunch of friendly Canadians. Don't miss it. torontofamilyhistory.org/event/italia...

NOTE: The deadline for this call for proposals for the 2025 Toronto History Lecture has been extended until May 3. Don't delay!

I’ll be on Metro Morning at 8:20am tomorrow talking about my Scandalous Tour of Old Toronto. I’m leading it as part of Jane’s Walk (@janeswalk.bsky.social) and it’s totally free! Just meet on Saturday at 3pm at the little clock tower in the Distillery! www.janeswalkfestivalto.com/saturday-may...

A newly redeveloped Getty Provenance Index is now available. This resource contains over 12 million records that allows a window into a vast growing universe of data available on shared cultural heritage. [🧵7/8] www.getty.edu/research/pro...

Each August @tofamilyhistory.bsky.social hosts a free public lecture to celebrate the life of historian and storyteller Paul McGrath. Any subject about Toronto, any era. Do you have new research or a story to tell? Proposals due May 1. More info here: torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/toront...

Interested in learning about Artificial Intelligence and genealogy? Join us for an in-person only meeting on Saturday April 26 at 1 pm at the North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street. All are welcome but you'll need to register in advance: torontofamilyhistory.org/event/possib...

#TOhistory lovely interactive map showing the growth of Toronto from 1834 through to amalgamation in 1998, with details about all the villages and towns that were incorporated along the way www.mapto.ca/maps/amalgam...

Nobodye good doth evir attack the fundinge of libraryes

The new Full-Text Search has all sorts of possibilities for local history research, way beyond names. Think occupations, communities, military units, street names, just about any word. The webinar is available for one more week. Free.

#genealogy #FamilyHistory This is why I like to read the entire issue of the newspaper when I can find the time. #OnePlaceStudies Screenshot from the North Adams Transcript, North Adams, Massachusetts · Wednesday, September 08, 1909, via Newspapers-dot-com. Below this header: names & addresses.