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Welcome to Toronto Landscape TV! We are the home for high-definition (HD) videos of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and surrounding locations.
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ELocated
in the Cabbagetown area of Toronto (more on that in a
future episode of TLTV!) The Necropolis Cemetery is
likely the oldest remaining cemetery in The GTA.
Comprising 18 acres, it was opened to replace the
Potter's Field which was located on the north-west
corner of Bloor and Yonge Streets and had simply become
too crowded. The first interment in the Necropolis took
place on May 22, 1850. Within these ground are buried
many of those originally interred in Potter's Field
including citizens in every walk of life and some who
occupied positions of eminence in the city. The present
chapel, and lodge were built in 1872. The crematorium,
the first in Ontario, was opened in 1933. In the grounds
are numerous interesting memorials and many unusual
species of trees and shrubs.
Edwards
Gardens is a botanical garden located on the southwest
corner of Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East in
Toronto. It is a former estate garden featuring annuals,
roses, wildflowers, rock gardens, secluded pathways, a
waterwheel, gazebos, a gift shop and picturesque bridges
over Wilket Creek, one of the tributaries of the Don
River. The park's manicured lawns and well kept flower
beds make it a popular destination for wedding parties
to take photographs. 
University
Avenue is a major north-south road in Downtown Toronto.
It begins at the intersection of Front and York streets
near Union Station and heads north, ending at College
Street where it splits into Queen's Park Crescent East
and West. Between these two roads is Queen's Park, the
home of the Ontario Legislature. The building creates a
terminating vista for those looking north along
University. The legislature's site was originally home
to the main building of the University of Toronto, and
this is the origin of the avenue's name. Today, the
university surrounds the legislature, but no university
buildings are actually on University Avenue. The street
also has a median of greenery and sculptures between the
north and southbound lanes for most of its length. 
Yonge-Dundas
Square (also known as Dundas Square) is a unique focal
point of the downtown Toronto community, at the
intersection of Yonge Street and Dundas Street, one of
the busiest intersections in Canada with over 56 million
people each year passing through this intersection. It
is sometimes nicknamed "Toronto's Times Square". 
Hungry?
If you are looking for a good outdoor patio in Toronto
on which to sit, eat, and drink, well Baldwin Street has
you covered! It is a small street located just two short
blocks north of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and is
the perfect spot to enjoy the summer weather over a meal
or a drink. 
The
Eaton family, upscale owners of the T. Eaton Company
department store chain, originally owned what was a 700
acre farm in King City, Ontario -- about a 30 minute
drive from Toronto. The remodelled farmhouse on the
property served the family for weekend barbecues and
picnics, but Lady Eaton wanted a large country home and
Eaton Hall was built by 1938, designed like a French
chateau using the brownish-grey stones from the nearby
Humber River. 
On
St. Clair Avenue, about 1km east on Yonge Street, there
is a beautiful white bridge that spans the Vale Of Avoca
ravine. Most commuters and pedestrians simply take it
for granted as they go about their day, but they are
missing something. A path off of Avoca Avenue takes us
near the side of the bridge where it becomes clear that
it is an area that often houses a few of Toronto's
homeless. The path also takes us down below into the
valley where we can get up close to the bottom of the
bridge to see it's great black metal spans that cross
the bubbling stream below. The path and wooden walkways
take us past some very colourful graffiti and
interesting signs of life.
Down
a small, completely nondescript alleyway off of Yonge
Street, just south of St Clair Avenue, lies the entrance
to a hidden treasure -- St. Michael's Cemetery. The
entrance is so unassuming that it is likely that many
long time residents of the area have never noticed it.
The 10-acre cemetery itself is sandwiched in behind
skyscrapers, shops, and residential neighbourhoods.
Almost no-one knows it is there. It is actually the
oldest surviving Catholic cemetery in The GTA. 
This
is the start of an ongoing series that will, over time,
look at various streets throughout The GTA. The stretch
of Yonge Street (the longest street in the world)
between bustling St. Clair Avenue and quieter Summerhill
Avenue, has a number of interesting features. 
We're
back at Boiler Beach near Kincardine, and in this
episode we'll visit the remains of the famous boiler
from which the beach takes its name. The boiler's
remains are all that is left from the ship "The Erie
Belle" which exploded and sank on these shores in
November 1883. Worn and rusted now, the boiler seems to
get smaller every year to to the constant erosion of the
waves. We'll take a close-up look at the remains of the
boiler, and we'll see some of the beautiful stretches of
sandy beach that is on either side of it. Enjoy!
Here
we are in the middle of the long dark days of winter, so
maybe it would be a good idea to look at a series that
was filmed in Kincardine Ontario last summer. Let's head
to the beach on the shores of Lake Huron in this first
of a quick series of episodes. Kincardine is a town of
12,000 residents that is located about halfway up the
eastern shore of Lake Huron, around a 3 hour drive from
The GTA. We'll start by visiting Boiler Beach during a
warm summer afternoon. Boats and clouds will roll by all
to the sound of the rolling waves. This is a beautiful,
tranquil spot, and we'll see more of it in coming
episodes of TLTV.
Today
we are going to take a trip into one of the grandest
spaces in Canada ... Union Station in downtown Toronto.
Union Station opened to the public in 1927 and has been
Toronto's rail station ever since. It is still the
largest and most opulent railway station in Canada.
Serving 200,000 passengers per day, it is also the
busiest passenger transportation facility in the
country. Especially impressive is the cavernous Great
Hall which rivals New York's Grand Central Station.
Let's go inside...
In
this second half of a two-part look at the old section
of the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, we'll get a look at more
of the interesting monuments and sculptures lining the
grounds. We'll see a cup of coffee and can of pop left
for someone's late parent, get a glimpse of some flowers
that were left at some graves, and visit the resting
place of a very famous Canadian. William Lyon Mackenzie
King was one of Canada's longest serving Prime
Ministers, including during World War II. He passed away
in 1950, but his grave is still adorned with flowers,
including a single pink rose on top. We'll finish off
with a look at the tunnel we will take to explore the
new section of the cemetery in a future edition of TLTV. 
This
is the first of a two-part look at the old section of
the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, the most famous and one of
the oldest cemeteries in The GTA. 
In
this final episode of Autumn in High Park, we'll get our
last look at the fall colours while watching people
stroll along the park's paths. We'll pass by the pier
again as ducks swim by, and we'll finish up by the
shores of Grenadier Pond as the afternoon sun begins to
set.
In
episode 4 from High Park we'll return to the small
waterfall and bridge, seeing some of the falling autumn
leaves head over the falls. Next we'll pass by a few of
the many pieces of artwork in the park, stopping beneath
a stand of trees that are bright yellow and orange. The
colours are amazing. We'll pass by some tennis being
played and watch as people have fun with the fallen
leaves. We'll also find a quite place to read near the
hockey rinks. Enjoy!
In
episode 3 from High Park we'll see more people from all
walks of life taking in the fall colours. We'll also see
a father & daughter on their way to do some fishing,
we'll come upon some benches atop a small hill with a
great view of Grenadier Pond, and we'll see a group of
bird watchers with their binoculars atop Hawk Hill. If
you are familiar with Toronto you ay also catch a local
celebrity sighting. Finally we'll finish up the episode
with a trip to the small waterfall on the eastern side
of the park.
In
this episode we'll see more of the amazing fall colours
in the southwest section of High Park. We'll see people
strolling, sitting, and fishing, and we'll watch a
little girl chase some Canada Geese. We'll also watch as
the tram that takes people around the park passes by.
Hey,
welcome to our 75th episode of TLTV!!! So glad you are
with us! We've got many, many more episodes to come, so
stay tuned! 
In
this final episode from Manitoulin Island we'll get a
closer look at the historic Swing Bridge. You'll see the
areas near the bridge and will stand by the shores to
watch the bridge open and close to let boats in and out
of the North Channel. Finally we'll spy a sailboat
celebrating Haweater Weekend (the biggest festival of
the year on Manitoulin Island) as it sails through the
North Channel adorned with many lights. That's all for
now from Manitoulin Island. I hope you enjoyed it!
We're
back on the North Channel to check out the famous Swing
Bridge in the late afternoon. We'll also see a couple os
schooners pass by the bridge and head into Little
Current's harbour. Next we'll head back to Willisville
and journey to the highest point around. You'll see the
stunning views from the top of the mountain, including
the rugged beauty of the Canadian Shield, some valleys
carved out by the glaciers, and numerous islands dotting
the waterways of Northern Ontario.
In
episode 7 from Manitoulin Island we'll visit the town of
Espanola, about a 30 minute drive north of Little
Current. Espanola started as a pulp & paper town, and we
open the episode by viewing the Domtar paper mill, which
is a mix of old and new buildings. We'll see the river
through town and watch a bit of golf on a nearby course.
Next we'll head to the town of Willisville which has
some of the highest vantage points in the entire area.
We'll head halfway up into the hills (we'll head to the
top in the next episode of TLTV) and check out some of
the outstanding views of the rugged landscape.
In
episode 6 from Manitoulin Island we'll head just north
of the island to visit MacGregor Bay and the little town
of Birch Island. We'll check out a beautiful little
roadside church in Birch Island before getting on the
highway to see some of the amazing beauty of the
Canadian landscape. We'll end up checking out the beauty
of raging Whitefish Falls, nestled in among the rocks of
the Canadian Shield.
In
episode 5 from Manitoulin Island we'll head out of
Little Current and visit Bridal Veil Falls, one of the
island's most popular attractions. Kids love swimming
beneath the falls and going behind the waterfall. We'll
then walk the beautiful path along the river to the
picturesque little town of Kagawong. We'll see the
stunning view from its harbour and view it's little
lighthouse before heading out on the road out of town.
In
episode 4 from Manitoulin Island we'll get up early to
watch the historic Swing Bridge open to let a large
cruise ship enter the North Channel. You will see just
how large this cruise ship is as it passes a docked
tugboat and enters Little Current's harbour to dock for
a day. Then we'll get a real treat -- we'll head up into
the control tower on top of the historic Swing Bridge.
We'll watch the cars traveling over the bridge below and
then well watch the bridge swing open and closed from
the control tower's vantage point. This is a rare
privilege afforded by the kind bridge operators --
thanks guys!
We're
back for part 3 of our look at Manitoulin Island. In
this episode we'll see the main street through Little
Current and get a look at the incredible view of the
North Channel from the top of MacLean's Mountain. We'll
finish this episode as the sun sets over Little
Current's harbour.
In
part 2 of our look at Manitoulin Island we'll take a
closer look at Little Current's harbour and beautiful
boardwalk. We'll also visit some ruins in a park on the
west side of the town (Low Island Park), and we'll end
up watching some sailing lessons going on the in the
North Channel, near the old ruins on Picnic Island.
Today
we begin a multi-part series on spectacular Manitoulin
Island. Yes, Manitoulin Island is nowhere near the GTA.
In fact, it's a six-hour drive from Toronto! But it's
such a wonderful, unspoiled, somewhat unknown part of
Ontario that I thought you would enjoy getting a taste
of its beauty and tranquility. Located in the Great
Lakes between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, Manitoulin
Island is the largest freshwater island in the entire
world and is Canada's 31st largest island. Our
exploration begins with the North Channel, the strait
between mainland Northern Ontario and the island. The
beautiful town of Little Current is located right on the
water of the North Channel, with a picturesque harbour
that is visited by many boats from both Canada and the
U.S. We'll also get a first look at the famous Swing
Bridge, one of the last remaining swing bridges in North
America. Built in 1913, it is now an Ontario Heritage
Site and is the only road link for cars and trucks to
get onto Manitoulin Island -- we'll see much more of the
swing bridge in a future episode. In part 2 we'll get a
closer look at the town of Little Current -- stay tuned!
Centennial
Park is a huge park complex located near the
Toronto-Mississauga border. It contains many
recreational options for visitors, including: the
Etobicoke Olympium (a large athletic centre that houses
an Olympic-size pool, fitness and weight training
facilities, and an indoor running track), a 3,500 seat
stadium, Toronto's largest outdoor go-kart track, a golf
course with driving range, botanical gardens and a
greenhouse, picnic areas, sport fields, and baseball
diamonds. It also a ski and snowboard hill -- one of
only two ski hills in Toronto and the only where where
you can see the downtown of both Toronto and
Mississauga.
We're
back at the 48th annual Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition.
In this second of two parts, we'll see more of the
amazing amount of activity going on at the event. We'll
then head down to street-level to mingle with the crowd
of people in attendance. Finally we'll spy one of the
craziest little vehicles we've ever seen -- it actually
drives on city roads!
This
is the 48th annual Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, held
outdoors on a warm summer weekend on the grounds of
Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto. With 500
talented visual artists and craftspeople participating,
this is the largest event of its kind in Canada. In this
first of two parts we'll get an elevated look at the
event from a vantage point above the crowds. Then we'll
zoom in to check out more of the hustle & bustle of this
large gathering. In part 2 we'll go down and mingle with
the huge crowds attending the event -- stay tuned!
The
Echoes Of Africa festival was recently held at Fairy
Lake Park in Newmarket Ontario on Saturday August 29th.
The festival was organized by the Canadian and African
Business Women's Alliance (
In
this second video from Marie Curtis Park we'll venture
further up the Etobicoke Creek before heading west to
check out a very old water tower in the adjacent fields.
We'll view an old police target shooting range that is
now partially covered with graffiti, and we'll end up
down by Lake Ontario to see some windsurfing before
saying goodbye to the park's geese and ducks.
Marie
Curtis is a gem of a park, located near the
Toronto-Mississauga border, by the shores of lake
Ontario. It includes a beautiful river that flows down
to the lake, and is spanned by a bicycle bridge that
doubles as a spot for fishermen to try their luck. There
are a huge amount of ducks and geese at this park too.
In this first of two parts, we'll check out the river
and bridge, and we'll follow some of the birds as they
enjoy the park.
Located
in central Mississauga and nestled predominantly along
the east bank of the historic Credit River, the 150 acre
Riverwood property is a special place. A unique
all-season destination, visitors enjoy walking paths
comprised of 200 to 350 year old trees and mixed old
growth forests. Riverwood also offers a bird terrace, an
art studio/visual arts centre, a wetland area and a
variety of other historic buildings. Visual Arts
Mississauga offers art classes, educational programs, as
well as many other learning opportunities. With woodland
trails, splendid wildlife and glorious views, Riverwood
is an ideal site to observe and enjoy the best of what
Mother Nature has to offer. In this video we'll get a
look at the paths through the property and visit the
MacEwan House Art Studio and the Visual Art Centre.
We'll meet some friendly creatures and one rather large
predator along the way. We'll see some nice boardwalks
and bridges before climbing the stone stairs to Chappell
House (the home of The Riverwood Conservancy) which is
surrounded by colourful gardens.
Finishing
up our brief look at the beautiful Etobicoke Creek
Trail, we'll pass a few more bridges, spot some
colourful graffiti, and spy some thistles wafting in the
late afternoon breeze of a summer day.
The
Etobicoke Creek Trail runs alongside the Etobicoke
Creek, which is located in the west end of the city of
Toronto, near the border with the city of Mississauga.
Even though the trail is close to businesses and Pearson
International Airport, you hardly notice it from walking
through this picturesque valley. Plenty of wildlife can
be found along the meandering banks of the Etobicoke
River. Other sites include lush fields, cliffs along the
riverbank, and a few pedestrian bridges. This place is
an absolute great place for a leisurely stroll.
The
R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant is both a crucial
piece of infrastructure and an architecturally acclaimed
historic building. It is located in the east end of
Toronto in the Beaches neighborhood, along the shores of
Lake Ontario. The plant was built by 1941 and unlike
most modern engineering structures, was also created to
make an architectural statement. Fashioned in the Art
Deco style, the cathedral-like structure remains one of
Toronto's most admired buildings. It is, however, little
known to outsiders. The plant has thus earned the
nickname The Palace of Purification. Despite its age,
the plant is still fully functional, providing
approximately 45% of the water supply for Toronto and
the Region of York. In 1992, the plant was named a
national historic civil engineering site by the Canadian
Society for Civil Engineering. The facility's beautiful
grounds remain open to the to the public.
There
is a bridge near The Old Mill that carries automobile
and subway traffic on Bloor Street over the Humber River
valley. If you venture below you will discover quite an
interesting place. The bridge itself is covered with
unique graffiti, but you will also see tranquil bike
paths, families canoeing underneath the bridge, and a
few people fishing in the Humber River. Check it out...
We're
back at the historic Old Mill in Toronto. In this
episode we'll venture inside and see some of the
incredible sites that lay within. We'll venture down
some of the beautiful hallways and staircases, see the
chapel getting ready to host another wedding, watch one
of the dining rooms being set up for a wedding and see a
dining room that is all ready to host it's celebration.
We'll also see a presentation being made to hundreds of
guests in the extensive conference halls, and we'll
finish off by passing by the little gift shop near the
Old Mill's amazing restaurant.
In
1793 the Kings Mill - the forerunner to todays Old Mill
- was built in order to process lumber for the first
homes in Toronto. Today, the Old Mill Inn & Spa is
located in the heart of the hiking and biking trails of
the scenic Humber River valley, close to
wildflower-filled woodlands and manicured gardens. It is
now a Toronto landmark, a picturesque English-style inn
complete with beamed ceilings, glowing fireplaces and
original flagstone flooring. As an addition to its
extensive meeting and conference facilities, the Old
Mill offers hotel rooms and suites, an incredible
restaurant and a tea garden. It also hosts numerous
weddings much of the year. In fact, a common site at the
Old Mill is to see brides and grooms getting married in
the Old Mill's chapel and celebrating in one of the Old
Mill's many incredible dining rooms. In this episode we
are going to take a look at the exterior of the Old
Mill. You will see it's charming facade, as well as the
tea garden, patios, and some to the roadways leading to
the entrance.
We're
back at the Terra Cotta Conservation Area. In this
episode we'll check out more tree-lined paths and sit by
a small lake. We'll also visit a secluded little spot
where water from the lake pours out into a small stream.
Finally, we'll look in on some friendly frogs near a
nice picnic area. Enjoy!
Situated
on the rugged Niagara escarpment, Terra Cotta
Conservation Area consists of 508 acres which is slowly
being transformed back to its original beauty. To help
the area recover from its former use as an intense
recreation and camping site, in recent years an
award-winning naturalized wetland has been created,
replacing a stone swimming pool, while the forests have
been enhanced by planting. The 308 acre Terra Cotta
Forest adjoins the Conservation Area, providing a real
sense of wilderness right next door the ever-expanding
urban development. Terra Cotta is a trail lovers
paradise. A variety of trails take visitors past the
forests, fields, lakes and ponds of the Niagara
Escarpment surroundings, and link up with well-known
Bruce Trail, and let you experience natural settings, so
close to urban and rural developments. The trails at
Terra Cotta accommodate all levels of trail users, from
beginner to expert with a variety of terrains and
distances.
The
Toronto Jail (more commonly known by the nickname The
Don, or in the media as the Don Jail ) is a provincial
jail for remanded offenders in the city of Toronto. It
was built between 1862 and 1865 (predating Canadian
Confederation by two years) with most of the current
jail facilities being built in the 1950s. Originally
constructed to house 276 prisoners, its "rated capacity"
is now 550, and its average prisoner load is about 620.
In addition, as a "short-term" jail, it was not designed
with adequate visitor facilities, exercise areas,
telephones, lawyer meeting rooms, showers, or even
laundry facilities. However, the average stay is 30-90
days, and many prisoners are kept there for months. Many
attempts have been made to close it as politicians,
international human rights organizations, prisoner
advocate groups and even prison guards have decried its
overcrowding and inadequate facilities. Guards at the
jail have even walked out in protest of these
conditions. Before capital punishment was abolished in
Canada, the Don was also the site of a number of
hangings. The Don Jail is scheduled to be turned into
office space in the near future.
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