The archive photo shows the former St Lawrence Market North, which operated from 1968 to 2016. In the background of the vintage photo, notice the cupola of St Lawrence Hall on the right, the steeple of the Cathedral Church of St James in the centre, and the King Edward Hotel on the left.
The new St Lawrence Market North is set to open on April 5, 2025. This modern facility will be the sixth version of the North Market, which has served as a community hub since the original market structure was established on this site in 1803 (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 2, Item 12)
In 1880, William M. Christie, who was one of the co-founders of Christie, Brown & Company, purchased the property from the University of Toronto. He commissioned the architectural firm Gordon & Helliwell to design a late-Victorian-style home, which was completed in 1881. After Mr. Christie passed away at the residence in 1900, his only son, Robert, inherited the mansion and the business. In 1910, Robert undertook a reconstruction of the house with designs from Darling & Pearson. Following Robert’s death in 1926 at the home, the family sold the property to the Sisters of St Joseph for a reported $140,000.
In 2008, the University of Toronto reacquired the property from the Sisters of St Joseph and leased it to Regis College, where it continues to serve as the site for the Jesuit School of Theology (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 56, Item 4)
The archive photo features the Victory Burlesque Theatre on the right. Originally constructed as the Standard Theatre in 1922, it was renamed The Strand in 1935. In 1941, it became known as the Victory Theatre, and in 1961, it was renamed the Victory Burlesque Theatre. Following its time as the Golden Harvest Theatre from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, the building housed a bank and various businesses. Today, it is home to a Rexall Drugstore and other retail shops.
The vintage photo also shows Shopsy’s Deli when it was located a few doors north of the theatre. In 1921, Harry and Jennie Shopsowitz opened the family-operated Shopsowitz Delicatessen at 295 Spadina Ave. The restaurant later became known as Shopsy’s (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1567, Series 648, File 246, Item 5 – Eric Trussler photographer)
The archive photo shows an overhanging electric sign for the Gotfredson Truck Company at 242-244 Spadina Ave. A Snappy Service Tire Shop sign can be seen a few stores up. In front of the Snappy Service sign, there’s a gas pump.
The image also highlights the angled street parking that used to line the road (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 3177)
A few of the shops in the archive photo from right to left include Landis Discount Drug Mart, Vapaa Sana Press Ltd (printers), Great National Sound (hi-fi equipment & TV), Bon’s Submarine and Queen Video-Audio.
A historic building in both photos is the Cameron House, which features the giant ant sculptures. Constructed around 1880, the building originally housed Angus Cameron’s dry goods store. Over the years, it accommodated various businesses, including a jeweller, a tailor, and a gentlemen’s furnishings shop. However, by the mid-1890s, the building had transformed into John Burn’s hotel. The name “Cameron House” first appeared in the 1896 Toronto City Directory and remained until the late 1920s, when it served other businesses, including a drug store. It reverted to the name Cameron House in the 1938 Toronto City Directory.
The ant sculptures were added on May 14, 1984. According to an article from an October 1985 edition of The Globe and Mail, Napoleon Brousseau, a sculptor and friend of the then-owners, conceived the idea of installing ten ants because there were “ten-ants” living in the rooms upstairs (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 70, Item 71)
A few of the establishments in the archive photo, from left to right, include Mintz Tavern & Steak House, Wong’s Restaurant and Victor Goodman Limited Furriers (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 47, Item 22)
A few of the establishments in the archive photo from left to right include Turner Wines, Carey’s Pharmacy, Textile Market Men’s Wear, St Patrick’s Meat Market & Delicatessen and Hawaii Restaurant. The building at the corner, at 250 Queen St W, received heritage status from the city in 2007.
In the present-day photo, notice the weather beacon at the top of the Canada Life Building in the right background (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 41, Item 13)
The archive photo shows the row houses that once occupied 187-191 Spadina Ave, nestled between two buildings. It also shows the angled street parking that used to be along the road.
Today, the area where the row houses once stood has been converted into a parking lot. The building on the left is now known as Hotel Ocho, while the one on the right serves as office space (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 33, Item 714-cn – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
The building at the corner, constructed in 1913, was originally The Sterling Bank of Canada. It later became CIBC and eventually housed Pizza Pizza. The archive photo also shows the steeple of St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica in the left background.
The present-day photo shows the former bank building, which received heritage status in 2021, incorporated into the contemporary 252 Church condo tower (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 51, Item 18)
The left foreground of the archive photo shows when Stanley’s Variety occupied the storefront today, home to All Way Convenience & Grocery.
In the background of the vintage photo, Brewers Retail is shown between Seaton St and Ontario St. Today, this stretch is being redeveloped with a seven-story mixed-use condominium building currently under construction (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 185 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
The archive photo features the 11-storey Temple Building on the left and The Dominion Automobile Company Building in the foreground on the right. The vintage postcard also showcases the streetcars that once travelled along Bay St.
Although the streetscape has changed over the past century, Old City Hall and its clock tower remain a constant in both photos (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 513, Item 19 – Urban Design photographs)
The archive photo features the former Uptown Theatre sign on Yonge St, the CIBC Building at 2 Bloor St W, and the Bay sign on the building at 2 Bloor St E. In the present-day photo, you’ll notice that the Bay sign has been removed, but its outline remains visible on the building (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 106 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
Both photos feature the Old City Hall in the background. The corner building in the present-day photo was constructed in the late 1920s for the Robert Simpson Company department store. This building later became the home of Hudson’s Bay Company, which closed its doors in June 2025 (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 7320)
Also known as Lake Devo, the square features a large reflecting pool, which transforms into an ice skating rink during the cooler months. Scattered around the pool are huge Precambrian boulders imported from the Muskoka region (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 173 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
The archive photo shows on the left a parking lot along with the Shepard Building, with one of the tenants being Ronalds Lithographers & Printers. A portion of their sign is visible on the side of the building (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 100, Item 37 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
The archive photo shows the Toronto Board of Trade Building on the right. Once considered a skyscraper, this seven-story structure was completed in 1891 and drew the attention of both residents and visitors with its unique architectural style. Unfortunately, it was demolished in 1958 and replaced by a parking lot. Since 1982, the site has been occupied by a mirrored office building.
Both photos show the Bank of Montreal Building on the left, which was constructed between 1885 and 1887. This impressive structure was designed by the architectural firm Darling & Curry to replace an earlier Bank of Montreal branch that had been located at the site since 1845. In 1982, after more than 130 years of service, the branch closed as the present-day building needed extensive repairs. Since 1993, it has served as the home of the Hockey Hall of Fame (City of Toronto Archives, Strathy Smith fonds, Fonds 1128, Series 380, Item 183)
Both images show the Bank of Montreal Building, which was constructed between 1885 and 1887. This impressive structure was designed by the architectural firm Darling & Curry. In 1982, the branch closed as the building needed extensive repairs. After undergoing restoration, the landmark has been home to the Hockey Hall of Fame since 1993.
The archive photo shows the King Edward Hotel when it was affiliated with the Sheraton chain, which has since transitioned to the Omni brand. The steeple of the Cathedral Church of St. James is also visible in the right background. Both remain standing today (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 52, Item 4)
The streetscape has changed significantly over nearly a century. However, one standout structure remains unchanged: the tower in the distance on the left, which is part of what is known today as Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church & Centre for Faith, Justice, and the Arts. The vintage photo also highlights the streetcar tracks that once ran along Bloor St W (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 6752 – Alfred Pearson photographer)
The archive photo shows a two-story frame house built in 1827 by W.H. Doel. Among the shops in the vintage photo are Emine Hussen (shoe polisher), Ralph Sannuto (barber), Taylor’s Livery Service Station and Micheal Toombetta (barber). Also, notice a part of the Temple Building in the distance, on the right.
In 1924, the old house was demolished, and the Northern Ontario Building was constructed at the corner the following year. Designed by architects Chapman and Oxley, the Northern Ontario Building, located at 330 Bay St, was added to the city’s heritage register in 1976 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1548, Series 393, Item 18363 – John Boyd Sr. photographs)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Bank of Montreal Building at 30 Yonge St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: The Sterling Bank of Canada at 260 Church St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 250 Queen St W
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Christie Mansion at 100 Wellesley St W
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Ontario Heritage Trust: Bank of Montreal Building at 30 Yonge St
- St Lawrence Market: History
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Oct 3, 1985, pg D11 (Cameron House, looking northwest along Queen St W from Spadina Ave)
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Jun 15, 1900, pg 9 (Christie Mansion, looking southeast at Wellesley St W & Queens Park Cres E)
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Oct 15, 1926, pg 12 (Christie Mansion, looking southeast at Wellesley St W & Queens Park Cres E)
- Regis College: Christie Mansion brochure & Rental brochure
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Public Library, Archives of Ontario & CNE Heritage
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
