Rail Lands Walking Tour
Learn how the railways transformed Toronto from a small British settlement to a cosmopolitan city.
Date and time
Location
Chinese Railroad Workers Memorial
9 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON M5V 3S2 Blue Jays Way Toronto, ON M5V 3S2 CanadaRefund Policy
About this event
- Event lasts 2 hours
Learn how the railways transformed Toronto from a small British settlement to a cosmopolitan city, tracing their role from today’s quick modern commute to their historic contributions to telecommunications and the tourism industry. A means to connect, these same railways carry stories of fraud, abuse and harassment experienced by Indigenous communities, Chinese workers and Black porters.
This tour will be led by Heritage Toronto volunteer, Mitchell Daniels.
Start Point: Chinese Railway Workers Memorial (9 Blue Jays Way). Our staff and volunteers will be at the tour's starting location 30 minutes prior to each tour. Please arrive at least 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the tour to allow time for check in.
End Point: Roundhouse Park (255 Bremner Boulevard)
Length of Tour: Approximately 2 hours, with a visit to outside exhibits at the Toronto Railway Museum at the conclusion of the tour.
Distance and Terrain: This tour covers approximately 1.5 kilometers in distance, and takes place mostly on city sidewalks. Please be aware there are some grade changes on the route.
Registration is required for all tours. Please note: you will not be able to join a tour group if you have not registered ahead of time.
This tour uses individual audio headsets. All registered participants will be provided with an individual headset that will allow you to hear the tour guide throughout the tour.
Frequently asked questions
If taking public transportation, the closest TTC stop is Bremner Blvd taking the 510 Spadina Streetcar. For those driving, paid parking is available near the tour's starting location at the Plaza Garage (65 Navy Wharf Court).
If you're running late for a tour and the tour has already left the starting location, look for the Heritage Toronto flag and group around the start location. You can also call us at (647) 542-3450.
Tours run rain or shine, so feel free to bring your umbrella or other rain gear. We will contact you if a tour is cancelled.
After the tour, you will receive a post-tour survey through an Eventbrite email. Please feel free to fill out the survey and give us feedback about your tour experience!
We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and considering bringing sunscreen and water to make your tour as enjoyable as possible.
As a walking tour, there are limited opportunities to sit throughout the tour and participants will be standing/walking for the majority of the tour, although there may be benches and ledges along the way! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about accessibility.