Video recording now available.

Author and historian Chris Higgins brings 19th-century Toronto vividly to life in his new novel, The Gaol Carpenter’s Diary—a story grounded in true events, real locations, and the city’s uneasy relationship with justice, faith, and redemption. Told through the eyes of an Irish immigrant carpenter who builds gallows for a living, the book blends meticulous research with storytelling that reveals the humanity behind Toronto’s early crimes.

In this presentation, Chris will share images, maps, and archival discoveries featured in his book launch, offering a fresh look at familiar neighbourhoods—from the Don Jail and St. Lawrence Market to Weston, High Park, and The Ward. 

Audiences will come away with a deeper sense of how our city’s past still echoes through its streets today.

A video recording will be provided after the talk.

📅 Date: Thursday, December 4th
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Annette Street Library

Chris Higgins was born in Montreal but has spent most of his life in Toronto’s west end. After studying English Literature at McGill University, he began his career as an advertising copywriter before earning a teaching degree and spending nearly three decades in education—most of them at Swansea Public School, where he taught IT and English, hosted poetry slams, and launched one of Toronto’s first school podcasts.

Over the years he has reconnected with his childhood friends and the old neighbourhood and became admin of General Mercer Public School and Osler Facebook social media pages serving as a historian for both pages.

Since retiring in 2020, Chris has written two nonfiction books and his first novel, produced podcasts and videos, and volunteered for local heritage projects. In 2025, he received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to local history—a proud moment shared with his wife, Sue, and their four adult children.

Whether in the classroom, at the podium, or on the page, Chris continues to bring stories into the light.

Video recording now available.

Gary Christie was born in 1951 and lived his childhood in the St. Clair Avenue/ Old Weston Road area in his formative years. Through this presentation he will talk about his family roots that comprised the cultural community in the mid 1900’s and his early school experiences at General Mercer Public School.

A video recording will be provided after the talk.

📅 Date: Thursday, November 6th
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Annette Street Library

Gary received his Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from York University in 1977 and went on to a career and further post graduate education through Medical and Research Sciences Industry.

Over the years he has reconnected with his childhood friends and the old neighbourhood and became admin of General Mercer Public School and Osler Facebook social media pages serving as a historian for both pages.

He now enjoys retirement and is director of the Nottawasaga Steelheaders, a conservation oriented angling organization that works with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority on watershed rehabilitation and preservation.

We’re thrilled to be hosting Haunted Junction Pub Crawl events once again–this time around with four dates to choose from. Join us and Junction historian and veteran tour guide Neil Ross for a night of spooky tales from the Junction’s past, told in some of the neighbourhood’s favourite watering holes.

📍 Location: See-Scape,  347 Keele Street
🕒 Start time: 7:00 pm
🗓 Dates to choose from:

Friday, October 17
Saturday, October 18
Friday, October 24
Saturday, October 25

Tickets: $25 for non-members of WTJHS | $10 for WTJHS members.

To purchase tickets, please visit the following link and select the date you would like to attend: CLICK HERE.

We are also looking for a small number of volunteers to help facilitate the events. If you are interested, please reach out to us to let us know which date(s) you are available and we will be in touch!

Please drink responsibly. Note that the event is not accessible (involves stairs).

Video recording now available.

What has golf got to do with God and godliness, and the green spaces of Toronto? Through our research into the social history of Toronto, we will show you how the golf courses of the Junction and area reflect the tension between public and private spaces; between godliness and abstinence and the rough and tumble bars of the Junction; between the elites of society and poor school boys with little but dreams; and the demands of urban infrastructure and the need for green spaces.

The talk covers the area within about three kilometres of the Annette Street Branch of the Toronto Public Library through the lens of these courses: Summerlea/Humber Valley Golf Course, High Park Golf Club (two locations), Highlands Golf Club (three locations), Lambton Golf Club, Humber Golf Club (on the Baby Estate), Humber Valley Golf Club (mouth of the Humber River), Kennedy Avenue Golf and Country Club, and Scarlett Woods Golf Course.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 2
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Annette Street Library

Joanne Doucette is a local historian, author of Leslieville: Pigs, Flowers and Bricks, who fell unexpectedly into the world of golf history. When she was leading a walking tour of the old Toronto Golf Club site at Coxwell and Gerrard near her home, a number of men and women showed up – all with great posture and a certain far away look in their eyes. She quickly realized that these were the field marks of the golfer (Joanne is also a Master Naturalist). When she was invited to co-operate with Scott Burk on the history of golf in Toronto she couldn’t help herself. A video recording will be provided after the talk.

We look forward to seeing you for what promises to be a fascinating evening of local history and rediscovery.