Riverdale Historical Society—since 1999

  OBITUARY Sister Gwen Smith, CSJ 9 MARCH, 1930 – 23 MARCH, 2024 Sister Gwen Smith The RHS has lost a very special member, and we celebrate her wonderful, long life! Sister Gwen Smith, CSJ (formerly Sister James Francis) died peacefully at the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence, 2 O’Connor Drive, Toronto, Ontario on March 23, 2024 in the 72 year of her religious life. She is predeceased by her parents, James Henry and Rita (née O’Halloran) Smith. She will be sadly missed by her cousins, friends, colleagues and by her Sisters in Community. Born and raised in the east end of Toronto, Sister Gwen was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph both at elementary and high school. She was a high school graduate and former teacher of St. Joseph’s College School in Toronto. She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto in 1951 and following first profession, Sister Gwen began a high school teaching career that continued for the next 24 years. Her work with young people included active involvement with

    Yonge Street's INCREDIBLE Music and Pop Culture History Presented by Mark Vendramini Tuesday, March 26th, 7: 00pm   In person: Ralph Thornton Ctr, 3rd floor, 765 Queen St. E. By Zoom:  Click Here Did you know...  That Gordon Lightfoot once sang for $25 a night at a Yonge Street dinner theatre?  That a chance meeting in Toronto helped determine the direction of The Beatles' greatest album? That the most decisive event in Rock N Roll history occurred at Yonge and Dundas? (In what is now a drugstore.) Yonge Street's connection to music, theatre and pop culture is literally second to none. It's been described as a musical/theatre mecca equal to, or even better than, Times Square or Hollywood Blvd.  From Jazz and Motown to Hip Hop, Rock N Roll and Metal to Alternative. This 40-minute talk will show you a side of "The Strip" you never knew existed.  If you are a music fan, a local history buff or if you just like hearing great stories then this is an introductio