Here are a couple of events happening in Toronto on Canada Day, July 1st, 2007

At 10:30 a.m., there is a wreath laying ceremony at the Monument of the Chinese Railroad Workers in Canada across Blue Jays Way from Skydome. Derek Boles, in his capacity as a Heritage Toronto board member, will be laying a wreath and saying a few words about railway heritage. There will also be representatives from the Canadian Pacific Railway, the City of Toronto and others.

The Toronto Railway Historical Association (TRHA) will also be hosting an open house in the Don Station at Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre from 12 NOON to 5 PM. As many of you are aware, the station (pictured above) is not often open to the public. The Canadian Pacific Railway opened Don in 1896. The station was originally located on the west bank of the Don River south of Queen Street. In 1906 the Canadian Northern Railway began using Don, as did their successor Canadian National after World War I. After World War II, Don declined in importance as a passenger station although it continued to issue train orders for both CP and CN trains until the station was closed in 1967. In 1969 the Don Station was moved to the Todmorden Museum.

The TRHA has prepared a display of sixty photographs depicting the history of railways in the Don Valley as well as some other facilities so as to give the little station some context.

Information on Todmorden and directions on how to get there can be found at: http://www.toronto.ca/todmorden/about.htm

by Derek Boles, Toronto Railway Heritage Moderator