Celebrating women - from bad girls to abortion rights and the Dyke March

The Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics participating in the 2022 Dyke March, Toronto, June 25, 2022. Image: Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics

March 2023

EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT

Women in the Park

With International Women's Day on March 8, we revisit Allan Gardens, a staging ground for women’s movements since its creation in the mid-19th century.

For over 45 years the park has been a focal point for advocacy and activism for both abortion rights and LGBTQ+ movements, which converged during the 2022 Dyke March. On June 25, the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics walked to protest the 2022 overturning of the constitutional right to abortion by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Since 2012, Allan Gardens has featured prominently on the Dyke March route as the location for rallies and community fairs for queer women, self-identifying dykes and allies.

Stroll through the park with this digital story on women's history and discover the impacts of feminism and intersectionality on city life.

EXPLORE NOW

This digital story was developed by Emerging Historian Lindsay Chisholm and made possible by the generous support of our donors and program champion:

Reformatory Dining Room, Mercer Reformatory, 1903. Image: Ontario Legislative Assembly and the University of Toronto

Bad Girls

During this last month of winter, step out to Liberty Village and walk in the footprints of the women who overcame persecution and prejudice in their fight for opportunity and justice in 19th- and 20th-century Toronto.

Take our Bad Girls self-guided tour and you'll learn how women seeking independent, single lives entered the city's workforce; how public officials and provincial legislation limited their social, sexual and economic agency; and how many women faced accusations of criminality and deviancy. How did they fight back?

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This digital tour was developed by Emerging Historian August Beals and made possible by a generous donation from Alex Pike and the support of program champion:

Volunteer Hannah McGregor helping tour participants on Pedalling the Parks, August 7, 2022. Image: Agnes Manivit

JOBS & VOLUNTEERING

Join our volunteer team!

We are currently accepting applications for new and returning volunteers to assist with our 2023 programming. Whether you are looking to get outside, give back to your community, meet new people, or learn about Toronto’s history, join our enthusiastic group of history buffs!

Want to know more? Join us for our online Volunteer Info Session on Tuesday, March 7, 2022 at 6:00 pm. Visit our events page to register.

To volunteer, fill out an application on our website by March 26, 2023.

APPLY NOW

HERITAGE HAPPENINGS

The Living History of Little Jamaica

In case you missed it, The Living History of Little Jamaica, a new online experience featuring the stories and voices of the area's business owners, residents, artists, and community activists launched in February. Created by Program Coordinator Victoria Atteh, her work was recently featured in this great piece by Kelda Yuen from CBC Toronto.

Watch now

Toronto's First Black Doctors

There was great public interest in last month's presentation of two new plaques honouring the first Black doctors in Toronto. Audra Brown of CityNews connected with Plaques Manager Chris Bateman and Professor Heather Butts of Columbia University to learn more about Drs. Augusta and Abbott.

Watch now

LGBTQ+ group thrilled with city decision to drop idea of festival space at Hanlan's Point

Community feedback was overwhelmingly negative to the city's draft master plan for Toronto Islands and its proposal for Hanlan's Point, described as "Canada's oldest surviving queer space." (CBC)

Why is Toronto tearing down tall buildings? Ask city planning

A critique of the "topsy-turvy pattern" of city planning policy that favours houses above everything else, and leads to waste of material, carbon emissions and architectural heritage. (The Globe and Mail)

Felled Osgoode Hall trees a reminder of Toronto’s low regard for history and beauty

An opinion on the battle to save mature trees and the state of built heritage preservation under pressure from development in the city. (Toronto Star)

Heritage versus more housing: Unpacking a false opposition

Dismantling the argument that heritage conservation tools create barriers to housing supply, in response to the provincial More Homes Built Faster Act and its gutting of key protections in the Ontario Heritage Act. (Municipal World)

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