Speaker Series
Program
2023 RHS Program Line-up: further information posted on homepage
Jan. 31- The Unexpected World of Vintage Sewing Machines: Janice Schick
Feb. 28 - Curious Evolution of Riverdale Avenue: Bob Georgiou
March 28 - Upper Canada's Killing Fields: Two Famous 19th Century Duels as Told by The Loser's Riverdale Descendants: Elizabeth Abbott and Andrew Fitzgerald.
April 25 - Toronto's Don Jail ... 'Hangman' The Executioner: Julie Burtinshaw
May 30 - The Sounds of Riverdale: Ron Fletcher
2022 RHS Program Archive:
Jan 25 – Innovation in its Time ~ The World’s First Typewriters: Martin Howard
Feb. 22- Massey Hall History: David McPherson
March 29 – Toronto: City of Commerce 1800-1960: Katherine Taylor
April 26 – The Discovery of Insulin: John Lorinc
May 31- AGM—Reconciliation: Is it what you thought?: Cindy Blackstock, OC FRSC
Sept 27 – Technology, Crisis, and Toronto’s Postal Slogans: Robert O’Dell lll
Oct 25 - 1852 Agricultural Exhibition and the Agricultural Association of Upper Canada: Ross Fair
Nov 29 - Modest Hopes: Homes and Stories of Toronto's Workers: Leslie Valpy
2021 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 26 – The Toronto Book of Love: Adam Bunch
Feb. 23 – Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia: Chris Bateman
March 30- Being Prime Minister: Behind the Curtains of Canada’s Biggest Job: J.D.M. Stewart
April 27 – 1918 Anti-Greek Riots: Chris Grafos, John Burry, and Sandra Gionas
May 25 – AGM: Wonscotonach: Indigenous Beginnings of the Don River Valley: Fred Martin
Sept 28 – The Don: Inmates, Guards, Governors, and the Gallows : Lorna Poplak
Oct 26 – Crafty: Hidden Portraiture in Gothic Boxwood Miniature: Lisa Ellis
Nov 30 – Men o’ the North: The Most Talked About Hockey Outfit in the World: Stephen Smith
2020 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 28 – Women in Khaki, WWII: Dorothy Lee
Feb. 25 – The Missing Millionaire: Katie Daubs
Mar. 31 – Tim Horton: From Dreams to Donuts: Kevin Shea (cancelled)
April 28 – 1918 Anti-Greek Riots: Chris Grafos, John Burry, and Sandra Gionas (rescheduled, see April 2021)
May 26 – AGM – Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia: Chris Bateman (rescheduled, see Feb 2021)
Sept. 29 – Call Me Pisher: A Madcap Romp Through City Hall: Howard Moscoe
Oct. 27 – Toronto’s Ancient Trees: Eric Davies
Nov. 24 – Moss Park: A Legacy Discarded: Andre Bermon
2019 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 29 – Roots and Wings: The Story of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Riverdale:
Sister Gwen Smith
Feb. 26 – Canada’s World Wonders; How the World See Us: Ron Brown
Mar. 26 – Corktown: Its Shakers, Idols and Guardians: Coralina R. Lemos (Cory Lemos)
April 30 – Heat Wave, a Paradise Cafe Mystery: Maureen Jennings
May 28 – Lacrosse: Our Native Game: Ron Fletcher
Sept. 24 – Toronto`s Secret Hollows: A photographic exploration of the city’s ravines:
Philip Jessup
Oct. 29 – TOBuilt Presentation: Caroline Ross
Nov. 26 – Riverdale: A History Through Maps: Bob Georgiou
2018 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 30 – Three Strikes, They’re Out: Riverdale’s Lost Athletic Fields: Joanne Doucette
Feb. 27 – Toronto On A Dangerous Frontier: Carl Benn, PhD.
Mar. 27 – Main Street as Old Growth Forest: Catherine Nasmith, Architect
April 24 – Eden Smith, Master of Invention: The Life and Times of Toronto’s Most
Enigmatic Architect: Adrain Gamble
May 29 – AGM – Toronto Men Too Bashful to Wear Stylish Clothing: Pedro Mendes
(creative director, writer and broadcaster): venue – broadview hotel.
Sept. 25 – Toronto Movie Theatres Remembered: Doug Taylor
Oct. 30 – The Don River Valley, A Different Kind of Park: The Same Remarkable Promise: Brent Raymond
Nov. 27 – Rediscovering the forgotten stories of Riverdale: Cole Cioran
2017 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 31 – Brushing It In The Rough (early Canadian women artist): Arlene Gehmacher
Feb. 28 – Oh, those dance-crazy Canadians! : Karen Millyard
Mar. 28 – A Taste of History: Bridget Wranich
April 25 – Leave No Stone Unturned – Finding Family at the Tower: Sandra Joyce
May 30 – The Ward Uncovered: Archaeological Investigations of one of Toronto’s First Immigrant Communities: Holly Martelle
Sept. 26 – Broadview Hotel and the Practice of Heritage Architecture in Toronto: Andrew Pruss of ERA Architects Inc.
Oct. 24 – Toronto’s Astronomical Heritage: Professor John Percy
Nov. 28 – Canadian Money: The new “Frontiers“: Manuel Parreira, Regional Dir. for the Bank of Canada
2016 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 26 – Todmorden Mills Heritage Site and Arts Centre: Ulana Baluk
Feb. 23 – George Leslie: Toronto’s Tree Man: Joanne Doucette
Mar. 29 – Early Riverdale and Upper Canada’s Aristocracy: Ron Fletcher
April 26 – Riverdale Women and Children: Dr. Elizabeth Muir
May 31 – AGM – Culture is Heritage – Bridging Two Sectors: Francisco Alvarez, Exec. Dir. of Heritage Toronto.
Sept. 27 – Archaeology at the Ashbridges Estate: Professor Marti Latta, PhD, Prof. Emeritus, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto.
Oct. 25 – Researching Your Ancestors: Bob Murphy
Nov. 29 – So Similar, So Different – Winston Churchill & Mackenzie King: Terry Reardon
2015 RHS Program Archive:
Feb. 24 – Inside Museums Toronto’s Heritage Sites and Their Most Prized Objects:
John Goddard
April 28 – Halton’s Heritage: John McDonald
May 26 – – AGM – Guest Speaker, Anthony Hopkins: Politics Makes Strange Cellmates: Design evolution of the Old Don Jail
Sept 29 – The Ward: John Lorinc
Oct 27 – Reclaiming the Don:… Dr. Jennifer Bonnell
Nov 24 – Pape Avenue Cemetery: Dara Solomon | Director, Ontario Jewish Archives
2014 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 28 – Along The Shore: Jane Fairburn
Feb 25 – The Mystery of Mary Mink: Guylaine Petrin
Mar. 25 – What’s a Park Lot?….: Wendy Smith
April 29 – History of the Shirriff Marmalade Company: Sarah B. Hood
May 27 – AGM – Guest Speaker Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission and City of Toronto 61st Mayor.
Sept. 30- The Chinese in Toronto: Arlene Chan
Nov. 25 – Cattle in the City a Smelly Fight: The Legal Battles between the City and Gooderham & Worts over Cattle raising at the Mouth of the Don: Dr. C. Ian Kyer
2013 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 29 – R.C. Harris and public works in Riverdale: Wayne Reeves, Chief Curator, City of Toronto Museum Services
Feb. 26 – Remembering Toronto: Gary Miedema, Chief Historian at Heritage Toronto
March 26 – History of W. Harris & Co in Riverdale: James Harris, family descendant
April 30 – Riverdale Heritage Conservation District: Ryerson Dept of Urban & Regional Planning
May 28 – AGM followed by A Celebration of Lawn Bowling: Alan Dean, Ontario Lawn Bowling Association
June 1 – Annual Garage Sale at St. Matthew’s Lawn Bowling Club House
Sept 24 – Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation: A talk about its mandate and work
Oct 29 – From Meeting Houses to Moderism – Riverdale Churches: Peter Richardson
Nov. 26 – St.Clair Centennial Growing Toronto With Streetcar Suburbs: Toni Turrittin
2012 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 24 – Starting Research on Genealogy: Kevin Bowers
Feb. 28 – Gooderham and Worts – the Family, the Business, and the Community: Douglas Worts
Mar.27 – Canada Cycle & Motor: The CCM Story: John McKenty [at Royal Canadian Curling Club]
April 24 – Don Jail Film & Excavation Talk
May 29 – AGM– Treason and Passion: Riverdale during the War of 1812 – Guest Speaker Guylaine Pétrin.
Sept. 25 – The Streets of Riverdale: Gerald Whyte, book launch
Oct. 30 – Lost Rivers of Ashbridge’s Bay: Uncovering the deep history of landscape in Riverdale: Helen Mills
Nov. 27 – Vimy Ridge Memorial 95th Anniversary: Two Riverdale High School students
2011 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 25 – Food Scarcity in Riverdale, Then and Now
Feb. 22 – Fauna by Alissa York – talk and book signing
March 29 – Fort York: Lessons We’ve Learned. Presenter: Stephen Otto
April 26– A History of Marriage by Elizabeth Abbott – talk and book signing
May 25 – AGM with guest speaker David Miller, former City of Toronto Mayor [limited seating, further information to follow].
June 4 – Street Sale ~ RHS Annual Fundraising Sale
Sept. 27 – The Preservation, Restoration, and Renovation 0f the St. Matthew’s Lawn bowling Club Clubhouse.
Oct. 25 – Riverdale a History of Community Activism: Dennis Raphael
Nov. 29 – The Street Arab – the story of a British Home Child: Sandra Joyce
2010 RHS Program Archive:
Jan. 26 – Film: Queen of Empire Av. and presentation by Coralina Lemos
Feb. 23 – Howard Shrier speaks on A Life of Crime – reading, book sale/signing
March 30 – Brian Smith, President & CEO of WoodGreen & Suzanne Duncan, historian, will speak on: WoodGreen – Changing the face of Riverdale over 70 years
April 10 – History of Matilda Street & coffee educational session at the Merchants of Green Coffee
April 27 – Rollo Myers speaks on community efforts to commemorate Upper Canada’s First Parliament site .
May 25 – AGM with guest speaker – John Sewell, former City of Toronto Mayor [limited seating, further information to follow]
June 5 – Street Sale ~ RHS Annual Fundraising Sale
Sept. 28 – Valerie Mah speaks on The History of the Gerrard Street Chinatown
Oct. 2 – Gerald Whyte, RHS President, and Barbara Myrvold lead a walking tour of Riverdale followed by a reception at Riverdale Library.
Oct. 26 – Barbara Myrvold speaks on The History of the Riverdale Branch Library as part of library branch 100th Birthday
Nov. 13 – Karolyn Smardz Frost, recipient of the Governor General Book Award for her book: “I’ve Got A Home In Glory Land” will speak on: Black Life in Toronto from 1793- 1900.
Nov. 30 – Three Greek Sisters Around A Greek Table – Sisters share their stories of growing up on the Danforth and ‘greek cooking secrets’. Book sale/signing.[Venue: St. Barnabus Anglican Church].
2009 RHS Program Archive [partial list only]:
Aug. 18 – 90th Anniversary of Allen’s Danforth Theatre featuring “Dollars and Sense” a Madge Kennedy silent film direct from the Library of Congress.
Sept. 19 – Corey Keeble, Royal Ontario Museum Curator, speaks on Stained Glass windows of St. Matthew’s.
Oct. 17 – Scott Smith & Gerald Whyte – Stories of Haunted Riverdale
Nov. 24 – Elizabeth Driver speaks on how the 19th century kitchen can come alive in the 20th century.