Walk With the Transgressors
Edward Brown
In 2007, a mass grave was unearthed underneath the parking lot behind the former Don Jail. The graves belonged to inmates hanged on the prison’s gallows between 1872 and 1930. During that period, inmates constructed and maintained the former Riverdale Zoo, located a short distance away on the opposite side of the Don Valley.
Starting at the zoo's original gates at 201 Winchester Street, we'll enter the former zoo (presently Riverdale Farm), follow a path down into the valley and up the other side to the site of the former Don Jail at 550 Gerrard Street East. During the approximately one-hour walk, I will share excerpts from "The Way of Transgressors," (Tidewater Press) fictionalized stories exploring interactions between inmates whose remains were unearthed in 2007 and zoo and jail history.
Walk Start:
Riverdale - Winchester & Sumach Streets
Riverdale - Broadview Avenue & Gerrard Street East
Walk End:
Date:
Start Time:
Friday, May 2
2:30:00 PM
Duration:
1:00:00
Language:
English
Theme:
History and Places, Lived experiences and personal perspectives, People and Communities, The walk is designed to share the history of the former zoo and jail while promoting community engagement.
Accessibility:
Uneven terrain, Stairs or other barriers, Dog-friendly walk, Family-friendly walk, Steep descent and ascent into Don Valley on paved walkway
Attendees Identify You:
I'll be holding a binder displaying a Jane's Walk 2025 logo. Look for the guy with the pencil behind his ear.