Garrison Common: Ghosts of an Industrial Enclave

I am a local historian, professional tour guide, artist and storyteller. The first time I walked through this overlooked pocket of the city I was immediately charmed. The irregular curve of Niagara Street, the string of bay and gable row houses, and the the CN Tower’s dramatic rise foregrounded by an impressive Victorian factory complex all provided a fresh perspective that took my breath away.

A few decades later I was surprised to discover that five generations of my ancestors called this neighbourhood home. I needed to learn more about the environment that nurtured them.

If you’ve ever been curious about the weird old buildings you see when whizzing past on the Gardiner or GO Train, join me on this tour of Garrison Common. Ghost signs and heritage architecture tell of a history of lumber yards and planing mills; producers of stink and pollution, and a coffin factory; displaced residents, a buried creek, and a community garden under threat by development.

From an ancient waterway to a military outpost, from a transit corridor to an industrial and later creative hub, Garrison Common has been home to diverse communities from all over the world, representing transformations within the City of Toronto on both a micro and macro level.