How Toronto Mourned A King
A giant public spectacle of sorrow, plus love stories of the Humber, and more
The news arrived on a spring evening in 1910. All afternoon, bulletins had been flying across the ocean bringing reports of the king's failing health. And a little after 7pm, the final word: King Edward VII was dead.
He’d been on the throne for less than a decade, but he’d played a major role in the public’s consciousness for nearly 70 years. He was Queen Victoria’s son, the heir to the throne since his birth all the way back in the 1840s, when Toronto was still a tiny city of less than 20,000 people. He’d even visited as a teenager, partying at Osgoode Hall, attending services at St. James Cathedral, the guest of honour at the official opening of Queen’s Park. Everywhere he went, he’d been followed by mobs of adoring Torontonians. Even when he tried to play a game of racket ball, people climbed the walls to get a glimpse of him.
By the time he died fifty years later, Toronto had become a major metropolis. But it was still a deeply British city. A century ago, most Torontonians were British-born or of British descent. "God Save The King" was still Canada's de facto national anthem. It would be decades before we got our own flag. And so, the death of the king hit the city hard.
When the news arrived, newspaper presses in Toronto roared instantly to life. A special edition of The Toronto Daily Star was on the streets two minutes later, newsboys armed with fresh papers, shouting the news out at the top of their lungs.
Streetcars filled with people fell silent as the newsboys ran by. "Total strangers turned to each other with half-spoken words of grief," the Star reported. "There seemed to be a sense of personal loss hanging over the city."
On street corners, boys suddenly appeared with trays of memorial buttons and badges, white crosses on black ribbon. At the Grand Opera House, the orchestra broke out in a somber rendition of "God Save The King." At the Armouries, the troops fell silent for Handel's "Dead March."
Then came the bells. "Suddenly and with an effect which will not soon be forgotten," the Star reported, "the church bells broke into measured tolling. In the darkening night the sound of bells in measured cadence rose from all those in town."
For many people outside the downtown core, the bells were the first herald of the news. Those who had telephones began calling newspaper offices in droves, some of them refusing to believe the news was true — confident a mistake had been made. Edward had only been on the throne for nine years, but they couldn’t imagine his reign was over.
Outside the Star's offices on King Street, a big notice was posted: "KING EDWARD IS DEAD." A small crowd gathered — people "standing motionless, stared at the words as though trying to read into them a little of the great significance of the event they chronicled."
Some lingered there deep into the night, hoping for further news. But England was sleeping. "Gradually the crowds on the streets thinned out, the people after one last glance at the bulletins going quietly home. Toronto had begun her first night of mourning."
In the days to come, the city would be draped in purple and black — the colours of royalty and grief. Old City Hall. Eaton's. The Customs House. Banks and hotels and post offices, all covered in cloth...
Newspapers were filled with glowing tributes to the dead monarch — his reputation as a peacemaker praised; his reputation as a drunken playboy forgotten for the moment. Events were cancelled, festivals postponed. A giant public spectacle of sorrow was underway.
And a transition, too. Stamps, seals and court documents all needed to be replaced — the initials E.R. became G.R., even on the sides of mail wagons. New oaths were sworn by judges and civil servants, even the Lieutenant Governor — all made to swear their loyalty to the new king. Police officers were done in batches, so many of them it took a week. "I do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King George V … I will defend him to the utmost of my power against all traitorous conspiracies or attempts whatsoever, which may be made against his person, crown, and dignity."
On the day of the funeral, Toronto grew quiet. Few people went to work; few stores were open. There was no rush at rush hour. Even downtown, the streets were half-silent, the click of a horse's hooves occasionally echoing out among the city's first few skyscrapers.
The Mayor of Toronto had sailed for London to attend the funeral in person. And as King Edward was laid to rest, churches and synagogues across our city were filled with mourners. At Queen's Park, which he’d opened himself on that royal tour as a teenager, an enormous crowd gathered for a public ceremony and military parade.
The military played a big role that day. This was a time when many in Toronto were still willing to kill and be killed in the name of the British Empire — and of the king. Some had done it in South Africa a decade earlier. Many would again during the First World War, just a few years away.
Thousands of those soldiers marched up University Avenue, drums muffled, instruments mute, no sound but the troops’ boots. Then, the premier spoke. A choir sang songs and hymns of mourning. The crowd remained silent, right until the very end.
Then, they began to sing.
Thousands of voices joined in as the mood shifted and the air was filled with the imperial melody of "God Save The King." When it was done, there were three cheers for King George V. Flags were raised back to full mast. The Edwardian age was over. A new era had begun.
Half a century later, Toronto erected a statue of King Edward VII. By then, the old empire was being dismantled, countries once ruled by British monarchs were gaining independence — including India.
A statue of King Edward had stood outside the Red Fort in Delhi for decades. But after Indian independence, he was taken down — moved to a dusty corner of a big park along with other unwanted colonial monuments. The BBC once called it “the graveyard of the British Empire.”
By then, Toronto was no longer the overwhelmingly British place it had once been. By the 1960s, it was an increasingly multicultural metropolis. But some still had nostalgia for those old days — including the guy who paid to have King Edward's statue shipped here from India.
It still stands in Queen's Park today. And as Toronto begins to reckon with the role it played in colonialism and the empire, the way our city sees the old king has changed too... King Edward is now a focal point for protest in the park where he was once mourned.
THE STORY OF KING EDWARD’S STATUE
We filmed a whole episode of our documentary series, Canadiana, about the history of that statue — the very first episode of the show we ever filmed, years before it King Edward got splattered with paint. It’s just a few minutes long and you can watch it for free right here:
The Toronto History Weekly now has more than 1,000 subscribers! And that means if only 10% more of you switch to a paid subscription, you’ll have ensured that the newsletter can survive into the future (without it feeling like it’s downright silly for me to be spending this much time on it every week). You can make the switch by clicking here:
LOVE STORIES OF THE HUMBER
A free walking tour! Led by me! I’ve teamed up with Myseum to develop a romantic stroll around the mouth of the Humber River, uncovering stories of passion and heartbreak that have shaped the landscape of that area over the last few hundred years.
“Love Stories of the Humber” is part of Myseum’s “Sidewalk Stories” series, which also features some other fascinating-looking tours. (I’ve included them in the event listings below.) My walks will be held in the first weekend of October. You should come!
Here’s the full description of my tour from the Myseum website:
“Love long walks on the beach? Try a romantic boardwalk stroll along the Humber River that recounts true stories of love and loss throughout the history of Toronto. Take in the beautiful city lights at dusk with accompanying music as you listen to stories from tour host Adam Bunch, who will tell tales of heartbreaking farewells, torrid affairs, and long-lasting romance. Hear about the legacy of two artists who challenged the city’s attitudes toward same-sex relationships, the war-time romance behind Toronto’s most notorious highway, a French-Canadian fur trader’s four weddings, and many more. On a backdrop of picturesque shoreline views, learn about how the landscape of the Humber has been shaped by thousands of years of people falling in love.”
Free with registration! — October 1 & 2 — 3pm & 5:30pm each day (I recommend the 5:30 slot; it will be dusk by the time we end, which should add to the romance ambiance)
MY OTHER UPCOMING TOUR…
The Don Valley Brick Works is one my favourite places in the world. It’s a spectacular space tucked away in the valley, filled with heritage buildings, lush greenery and all sorts of wildlife. And thanks to The Word On The Street, I’ll giving be a free tour there later this month!
The literary festival is hosting their first ever Community Pop-Up event at the Brick Works on Sunday, September 25. And I’ll be there leading a free tour that I’m calling “Love, Death & The Brick Works.”
The history of the site and its surroundings is tied to stories both romantic and grisly. Hidden among the industrial relics and the bulrushes are tales of lust and disaster, of love poems and séances, of scandalous affairs and bone-chilling murder. We'll explore some of those hidden tales of the Brick Works on the tour, uncovering stories of love and death that have shaped the site and the city that surrounds it.
Free with registration! — September 25 — 3pm
QUICK LINKS
The best of everything else that’s new in Toronto’s past…
CROWN NEWS — The CBC talked to Indigenous leaders about “the Queen’s complicated legacy,” and the Crown’s treaties and colonialism. According to Anishinābe elder Claudette Commanda, “A new relationship, or the right kind of relationship, has to be made. Undo the harm of history, and let's create a new history.” Read more.
QUEEN ELIZABETH IN TORONTO NEWS — Toronto Life shares thirteen photos of Queen Elizabeth’s seven visits to Toronto, a collection that stretches back to the 1950s and the days before she was queen. Read more.
MORE QUEEN ELIZABETH IN TORONTO NEWS — From the vaults of Torontoist (RIP), Jamie Bradburn tells the tale of one of those visits: the royal tour that passed through our city in 1959... which featured rabid controversies and fainting guards. Read more.
KING GEORGE VI NEWS — …he also looks about at the last time a British monarch died, and how Ontario mourned. When Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, died life in our province “ground to a halt.” Read more.
EVEN MORE QUEEN ELIZABETH IN TORONTO NEWS — If you’re still not done learning about Queen Elizabeth’s time in our city, Sabrina Gamrot wrote a short piece about the seven visits, too — which included a crowd of 300,000 people trying to catch a glimpse of her at Old City Hall and the monarch released 100 bass into Grenadier Pond. Read more.
BLACK ICE NEWS — Black Ice, a new documentary premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival “aims to provide the first all-encompassing account of Black hockey history in Canada.” Arun Srinivasan wrote about it for Yahoo! Sports. Read more.
IMPOSSIBLE TRANSFER NEWS — Mira Miller shares the story of the recent discovery of a TTC subway transfer from before the TTC had a subway. Read more.
WARPLANE AEROBATICS NEWS — The airshow has repeatedly turned deadly over the years. Jack Landau writes about the most recent fatal accident: seven crew members were killed when one of the planes plummeted into Lake Ontario in 1995. Read more.
TORONTO HISTORY EVENTS
TRUE TO LIFE: HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN STORY
September 22 — 6pm — Toronto Public Library Parliament Street branch
“Our stories matter and it's worth taking the time to delve into the past and write memories down - for the self, for family, for posterity. Author and University of Toronto writing teacher Beth Kaplan (True to Life: 50 Steps to Help You Tell Your Story; Loose Woman; All My Loving) leads this memoir writing workshop, illuminating how to begin and how to access your most important stories. She will guide a discussion of creative writing in general. Please bring pen and paper.”
Free with registration!
SIDEWALK STORIES: ROBBERY, RAILROADS & RUCKUS IN THE JUNCTION
September 24 (3pm) & September 25 (12:30pm & 3pm) — Walking Tour — Myseum & The West Toronto Junction Historical Society
“Get your inquisitive minds ready for this rollicking walk through one of Toronto’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, led by veteran walking tour host Neil Ross. As you explore the history and streets of the Junction, sharpen your knowledge with answers to queries such as: did some of the Junction’s earliest residents come up on the Underground Railroad? Who robbed the Royal Mail outside one of the Junction’s first taverns? And just how wild does a town have to get to shut down its own bars? After getting to know the fascinating stories of the Junction, test your knowledge with a quiz and a complimentary drink at Junction Craft Brewery.”
Free with registration!
TOWARD THE MOUTH OF THE ROUGE: A BILINGUAL WALK
September 25 — 2pm — Walking Tour — La Société d’histoire de Toronto and Lost Rivers
“To mark both World Rivers Day and Franco-Ontarian Day, you are invited to join us in an exploration of the natural and human history surrounding the area near the mouth of the Rouge River. Learn about its evolution as well as the dynamic presence of Indigenous peoples and French explorers until the time of British colonization.”
Free with registration!
TECHNOLOGY, CRISIS, AND TORONTO’S POSTAL SLOGANS: THE ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT POSTAL PROPAGANDA IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, 1870–1920
September 27 — Riverdale Historical Society
“Incorporating an artifact from Toronto’s rich history of postal slogan postmarks as an inquiry starting point for a broader scholarly examination, this lecture delves into the local, national, and international history and origins of government postal propaganda in Canada and the United States during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.
“This lecture argues that Progressive Era crises, ranging from social unrest to war, encouraged the Canadian and American governments to appropriate traditional craft aesthetics and work with transnational capitalists on both sides of the forty-ninth parallel to transform seemingly mundane postmarking machinery into subtle tools of constant state indoctrination that proliferated propagandistic pictorial slogan postmarks to mailboxes in every corner of North America.”
FREDERICK BANTING: THE MAN YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW
September 28 — 7:30pm — Online — North Toronto Historical Society
“‘Insulin was but a means to an end.’ wrote Frederick Banting. Grant Maltman, curator of Banting House in London, Ontario, will highlight insulin's centenary, and also show that there was far more than this Nobel Prize-winning discovery in Banting's life and career: his service in both World Wars, his use of art as an escape and his role as a catalyst for Canada's military and medical research.”
Free with registration, I believe
TORONTO’S STOCKYARDS THEN & NOW
October 6 — West Toronto Junction Historical Society
“Toronto’s Stockyards District – Then and Now is an illustrated talk on one of the most important and unique industrial areas of Toronto, which has all but been replaced by large box stores and homes. The talk will feature both Vincenzo Pietropaolo’s photographs from the1980s—most of which have never been seen before—and his photographs of the same streets and lands as they appear today.”
SIDEWALK STORIES: PUNK, CREED & CREE MÉTIS ON QUEEN WEST
October 8 & 9 — 10am & 12pm both days — Walking Tour — Myseum
Explore the counterculture of Queen West from ’77 to ’83 with a storytelling tour seen through the eyes of Cree Métis artists Rebecca and Kenny Baird. Delve into the history of this tumultuous and flourishing vanguard arts hub as told by the Baird siblings. You’ll hear their contributions to punk, queer, street and magazine subcultures, ground-shifting local music, thought-provoking art installations, and more. Weave through this radical time, hearing about the many illustrious arts allies and locales they frequented, such as The Cameron House, Toxic Plan 9, Art Metropole, and more. The tour ends with an artist talk and Q&A with Rebecca and Kenny Baird. Developed in collaboration with Caroline Azar and Franco Boni.”
Free with registration!
SIDEWALK STORIES: OLD MEETS NEW
October 15 & October 16 — 1:30pm & 4pm both days — Walking Tour — Myseum & The Toronto Society of Architects
“Explore over 150 years of unique architectural history in and around the University of Toronto’s St. George campus, delving into how architects have worked around, added to, repaired, adapted, and even relocated some of the earliest structures in the area. Tour through one of the most remarkable architectural collections in Canada, taking stock of buildings such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Faculty of Arts and Science, and Robarts Library. Led by Joël León of the Toronto Society of Architects, this walk will challenge preconceptions of what heritage is and raise questions of how to preserve our past while meeting the needs of the future.”
Free with registration!
A DAUGHTER REBELS: THE STORY OF ANNE POWELL
October 20 — 7:30pm — Online — Etobicoke Historical Society
“For Anne Powell in 1807, life in York (now Toronto) was unbearable. Her mother's rules of genteel propriety were intolerable, as were her father's insistence that a daughter's only role in life is to marry. But Anne craved a different future. As a midwife and nurse, she saved a friend from a botched abortion, delivered a servant's baby, and nursed the wounded during the American invasion of York - activities her parents hated and opposed. Author and educator Ann Birch will draw on her research from her historical novel, A Daughter Rebels, to follow the adventures of the real-life Anne Powell as she dared to challenge the norms of early 19th century society.”
Anne Powell was one of the figures I was most fascinated by while writing The Toronto Book of Love!
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