TSA Tours | St. Lawrence

As the city’s oldest neighbourhood, the buildings and landscapes of St. Lawrence are a connection to Toronto’s past, chronicling in built form the evolution of our city. But like so many other historic city centres in North America, much of the neighbourhood was in peril in the 1950s and 60s as industrialization (and then deindustrialization), decay and obsolescence took their toll on this once thriving commercial district.

Join us on this tour as we see how the work, activism and ideas of 20th and 21st century architects, planners and designers helped not only preserve our past, but bring new life to this once decaying neighbourhood. We’ll see examples of modern spaces that carefully frame historic landmarks, art pieces that resurface long forgotten stories, and new additions that reinterpret history and bring new life into the district. Along the way we’ll talk about the birth of the city’s heritage conservation movement, ongoing efforts to preserve historical spaces and artefacts, and the role new developments play in safeguarding our city’s history. Our tour will end with a visit to the much celebrated St. Lawrence redevelopment, a modern mixed-use neighbourhood developed in the 70s, 80s and 90s combining contemporary architecture with clever reinterpretations of the city’s historic urban fabric.

______________________________________________________________________________

Tour Basics

Starting Point: Fountain at Berczy Park, 35 Wellington St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C6

End Point: David B. Archer Co-Operative

Duration: 120 minutes (approx.)

_______________________________________________________________________________

Important Information

Accessibility

We strive to host inclusive, accessible tours that enable all attendees to fully engage with the experience. Our Walking Tours take place on mostly flat terrain, such as city sidewalks and paths. To notify us of any accommodations you may need, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca.

Logistics

All TSA Walking Tours require prior registration. You can register online anytime prior to the start of the tour and walk-ins will be accommodated, unless we have reached capacity. Exact change is required for any tickets purchased at the tour ($15, HST included). Please note the TSA Membership discount is only available for tickets purchased online.

All tours are 1.5-2 hours long, and include mostly exterior stops. Your tour guide will be equipped with a microphone and speaker system to ensure you’re able to hear the tour clearly.

Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the tour begins for your tour guide to check you in. We encourage you to go paperless — we can use either your digital ticket or your name for check-in.

Our tours take place rain or shine, so please double check the weather on the day of your tour and dress appropriately. Should inclement weather require tour cancellation, we will reach out in advance of the tour to the email/phone number you shared when registering.

Thank You!

TSA Walking Tours are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Association of Architects and the passion and dedication of our volunteer Tour Guides.