Architecture Groups Toronto

City Architecture: The Annex, Casa Loma and Spadina House!

**The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** [torontohistorywalks@gmail.com](http://torontohistorywalks@gmail.com%2A%2A/) **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** [torontohistorywalks@gmail.com](http://torontohistorywalks@gmail.com%2A%2A/) Georgian, Gothic Revival, Bay and Gable, the list goes on and on. Toronto has many styles, and one can explore the history of Toronto simply by learning the different time periods involved. This tour explores the **architecture** of the Annex District, **Casa Loma** and its grand competitor Spadina House. These legendary landmarks on the hill overlooking the city have been focal points of Toronto history for well over a century in an area that has a vast story to tell. Just a reminder that we will be walking up to the Case Loma site and exploring the grounds and the history, we are not going inside any of the buildings. We begin this walk in front of the main doors to the Toronto Public Library Spadina Branch at 10 Spadina Road. We end at St. Clair Avenue West at the Loblaws Superstore at the St. Clair West Subway Station. Hope to see you soon. This walk is for most walking levels; however, there are steps and stairs near Casa Loma, north of Davenport. Please dress for the weather and see you there. The price of this tour is $15.00 per person! **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** [torontohistorywalks@gmail.com](http://torontohistorywalks@gmail.com%2A%2A/)

Landmarks 6: Gladstone Hotel to The Edgewater Hotel Via Gutta Percha

**The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** Toronto is a city that hides its history in plain sight. Beneath the glass towers are layers of stories — grand hotels that vanished overnight, political scandals whispered through stone corridors, theatres that once glittered under gaslight, and laneways where the city first learned how to become a metropolis. This new Toronto History Walks tour invites the walker to slow down, and see the city differently. Let's return to a bygone era: late 1930s. Parkdale would already have had a long fascinating history behind it, but you would also be looking at a neighbourhood that was changing with the times. One of the most interesting examples was the Edgewater Hotel, built in 1939 at 14 Roncesvalles Avenue, at The Queensway. It was built by Fred Hammer and became part of a very busy transportation hub, sitting beside the Sunnyside Bus Terminal. The building has survived, although the Edgewater name eventually disappeared and the hotel went through several incarnations. It is a wonderful reminder that Parkdale's history isn't just Victorian, there is twentieth-century history here as well. And then we come to the Gladstone Hotel, which is one of those buildings that almost seem to have been watching the neighbourhood change. The hotel we see today dates from 1889 and was designed by Toronto architect George Martell Miller in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Its location was absolutely perfect for business: it stood across from the Parkdale railway station, and was close to the Exhibition grounds. Travelling salesmen, railway workers, visitors to the CNE and commercial travellers could all find shelter here. The original owner was Susanna Robinson, who was left a widow with thirteen children before construction of the hotel was completed. The Gladstone tells us something important about Parkdale itself. For decades it was a working-class gathering place, and as the factories and industries changed, so did the fortunes of the hotel. The great tower once had a cupola that could be seen from a distance, but that disappeared in the 1940s. By the later twentieth century the hotel had fallen on hard times and had developed a much different reputation. Yet it never completely lost its role as a community gathering place. Eventually it was restored and reinvented, becoming part of the artistic and cultural life of Queen Street West. And finally, we get to one of the great industrial stories of old Parkdale — the Gutta Percha & Rubber Manufacturing Company. Established here in 1883 on West Lodge Avenue, the factory became one of the largest employers in the neighbourhood and, at its height, the largest rubber manufacturer in Canada. They made all sorts of rubber products — hose, belting, boots, footwear, mats and eventually products connected with the rapidly growing automobile industry. The factory operated until 1960, when changing technology, synthetic rubber and competition finally brought its long Parkdale story to an end. Three places — the Edgewater, the Gladstone and Gutta Percha — give us three very different Parkdales: the Parkdale of travel and transportation, the Parkdale of hotels and community life, and the Parkdale of factories and working people. Put them together and you begin to see just how fascinating this neighbourhood really is. This walking tour begins at The Gladstone Hotel at the northeast corner of Queen Street West and Gladstone Avenue, one block east of Dufferin Street. We end at the corner of Queen Street West and Roncesvalles Avenue. This walking tour is for all walking levels. Please dress for the season, and hope to see you there. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person. \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Speaker: Edward Eastman

The Battle of Lundy's Lane (LECTURE ON THE GO)

**The Toronto History Walks Explorer Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!** We have an amazing "Lecture on the Go" series for 2026-2027. New topics and fascinating stories abound! Join me, and uncover the world and keep active, warm and cool during the winter and summer months! I started this walking classroom when we were under that horrible cloud called Covid. This series was popular and helped people get back into society and life. The "Lecture on the Go" Series is open to members who have purchased the YEARLY MEMBERSHIP PASS, it's free for those members. If you wish to attend a lecture and you are not a yearly pass member then the price **per** lecture is $20.00. The Battle of Lundy’s Lane was one of the largest and bloodiest battles fought during the War of 1812. It took place on July 25, 1814, near Niagara Falls. American forces had crossed into Upper Canada (Ontario) and were pushing north along the Niagara Peninsula. British troops, Canadian militia, and Indigenous allies moved to stop them, and the two armies met near a small country lane known as Lundy’s Lane. The fierce battle lasted well into the night, with soldiers often fighting in darkness, and confusion. One of the most important points in the battle was a hill where British artillery had been placed. Both sides recognized its importance and launched repeated attacks. It was incredibly intense, with troops charging, and retreating, again and again. Officers on both sides were wounded, and casualties mounted. By the time the battle ended, neither army had achieved a clear victory, but the Americans eventually withdrew from the area, leaving the British in control of the field. It was a costly struggle, and thousands were killed or missing. Today, the Battle of Lundy’s Lane is remembered as a turning point in the Niagara campaign and one of the defining battles of the war. The battle demonstrated the determination of the Canadians who fought to defend this country. Although the war itself ended without major territorial changes, Lundy’s Lane became an important symbol of resilience. Visitors can still explore the historic battlefield in Niagara Falls and learn about the dramatic events that unfolded there more than two centuries ago, and made the country we call Canada. If you like history and Canadian history at that, or want to learn so much more then this lecture is for you. Upcoming topics in the 2026 series: \*Philosophy 1: Great Minds of the Western World: Goethe to Kant! - (December 2026) \*Philosophy 2: Great Minds of the Eastern World: Chuang Tzu to Dalai Lama - (December 2026) Legacy of Triangle: How a New York Factory Scandal changed North America - (January 2027) So book your plans now! This event is for all levels and walkers, there are a few steps here and there to navigate, but mostly on one level. This event in a **non-walking** event. The lecture begins on the steps of **Old City Hall** at the northeast corner of Bay Street and Queen Street West, and has a ticket price of $20.00 per person, but **free with the yearly membership pass**. **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Creative Code Toronto meetup at InterAccess

Join us for a Toronto meetup of creative coders! This will be a venue to get to know each other and see what's going on in the community. We'll have a space downtown and some food available. We're partnering with [InterAccess](https://interaccess.org), a gallery, educational facility, production studio, festival, and registered charity dedicated to new media and emerging practices in art and technology! * If you've got a project you've worked on in the past that you're proud of, we'd love to see it and for you to walk us through what went into it. * If you're currently working on something or investigating some new ideas and feel like sharing, this would be a great time discuss your process so far! * If you haven't done anything yet but are interested in creative coding, we'd love to see what works have inspired you. Sign up here if you're interested in speaking! [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsbtdvTGMNT75lqq4lnxydY4TczStAOZE1Ap8mQJKeM](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsbtdvTGMNT75lqq4lnxydY4TczStAOZE1Ap8mQJKeM) **What is creative code?** *Creative coding* refers to anything with an artistic component that uses code as a medium. We welcome artists who use code (for visuals, audio, poetry, or whatever else), designers, animators, toolmakers, researchers, or just enjoyers and people looking to learn more! **Location:** InterAccess, at 32 Lisgar St. **Join our discord** if you want to talk to everyone before/after the event, or have any suggestions for things you'd like to see or do! [https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ](https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ)

GoGeomatics Presents: GIS skills in the age of AI: what still matters for you?

GoGeomatics presentations are back! Our monthly socials will now kick off with a featured presentation and Q&A, followed by plenty of time to network and continue the conversation. **GIS skills in the age of AI: what still matters for you?** Where is the next generation of GIS talent coming from in Canada, and what are they learning? Join educator and GIS professional Shawn Morgan for a casual conversation about the state of GIS education in Canada, where to find new hires, and how to keep your own skills sharp as the field changes. **Speaker: Shawn Morgan** For nearly 30 years, Shawn has helped organizations around the globe understand and leverage GIS technology. A veteran educator, he has taught for major industry software companies and leading academic institutions, including Fleming College, the Southern African Wildlife College, the University of Waterloo, Conestoga College, and Durham College. Beyond education, Shawn leads SimplyHelp.ca which delivers specialized tech consulting and workshops for municipal, non-profit, and corporate clients, and serves as CTO of a startup developing CurbReserver to optimize automated vehicle traffic in urban areas. **About GoGeomatics:** These events are a great opportunity for students and professionals to connect with the local geomatics community, share ideas, and chat about GIS, data, remote sensing, surveying and more, in a casual welcoming atmosphere.

Dupont Morning Code

[Summary] This meetup is for those who are interested in code, web development, design, cloud, or AI. All levels are welcome, so feel free to bring your laptop and discuss what you are working on or what you are learning. You can share your projects and ideas with other participants freely. There are outlets and WiFi, drinks are about $5 for tea, they take card only. [Price] Attendance is FREE. But you need to buy something from the venue. [Policies] \- We do not tolerate harassment of our members \- We remind users that that this meetup is intended for networking and hobby development\, and any attempts at using this meetup event as a dating platform will not be not be tolerated Further information: https://torontostack.exchange/

TOPHATs Immortal Images, Immersive Music, and Microbrews

Join Lawrence, your top hatted host, for an evening of nearly 100 iconic portraits by the legendary photographer, Richard Avedon. Followed by a visit to Friar's Music Immersive Experience of Toronto’s vibrant music scene. The we will hop over to 3 Brasseurs for our social and perhaps a giant pretzel. At 6 pm SHARP, we will meet at The Image Centre where we have a guided tour by one of the gallery's curators. 33 Gould St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W1 Richard Avedon Immortal: Portraits of Aging, 1951–2004. For nearly half a century, celebrated American photographer Richard Avedon confronted one of portraiture’s enduring taboos: aging. https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/richard-avedon-immortal/ After the tour, we will take in some of the works in the smaller galleries. Molly Steels: I Am/Was/Always https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/molly-steels-iamwasalways/ Tanya Marcuse: Portent https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/tanya-marcuse-portent/ Then we will walk over to Friars Music Museum of their Immersive exhibit of Downtown Toronto's Music scene. Located on the second floor of the Shoppers Drug Mart. 279 Yonge St Floor2, Toronto, ON M5B 1N8 https://downtownyonge.com/arts-culture/friars-music-museum/ Our last stop and social is at 3 Brasseurs on Yonge Street. I am looking forward to enjoying your company as we share one of their giant pretzels and a micro brew. https://www.3brasseurs.ca/en/menus 275 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 1N8

TOPHATs Spadina House, Fall Colours, City Scapes and Madison Pub

Join Lawrence, your top hatted host, for an afternoon filled with the Grand Lady, Spadina House Museum, Fall Colours from the Baldwin Steps, City Scapes from the Toronto Archives, Art at Alliance Francais, Indigenous Gift Shopping at NCCC and then a social at the Maddison Avenue Pub. This event has a lot of stairs, both at the Spadina Museum and the Baldwin Steps. At 1 pm, we will gather inside the Spadina House Museum. https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/spadina-museum/ 285 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2V5 I recommend walking from St. Clair West station, down Spadina road. 1:15, our guided tour will begin. At 2pmish, we will leave the Spadina Museum and make our way to the Baldwin Steps, where we will get a panoramic view of our city. We will walk down the steps and make our way to the City of Toronto Archives, to see their exhibit Subseries 58: Department of Public Works, Roadway photographs https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/city-of-toronto-archives/archives-feature-exhibit/ At 3pmish, we will walk South to Alliance Francais Toronto Art Gallery. Portraits of Women – Beyond the Stones Through the lens of photographer and activist storytelling, ALIPH, the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage, pays tribute to the women on the front lines of cultural memory: architects, archaeologists, curators, conservators and volunteers who, day after day, stand between our shared heritage and the forces that threaten it - armed conflict, climate change, natural disaster. Eight portraits from Afghanistan to Yemen, Ukraine to Iraq, and a celebration of courage. https://www.alliance-francaise.ca/en/art/cultural-season/exhibitions/315-portraits-of-women-beyond-the-stones Then we will visit the Gift Shop at the Native Canadian Cultural Centre. https://www.ncct.on.ca/gift-shop Then we cross the street for our social at the Madison Avenue Pub. https://madisonavenuepub.com/

AWS User Group Toronto: Building with AI — From Data Agents to Full-Stack Apps

**AWS User Group Toronto: Building with AI — From Data Agents to Full-Stack Apps** Join us for an evening of **AI, data, and cloud development** featuring two technical sessions. Explore how to build AI agents that work with data and accelerate full-stack application development on AWS using AI-powered tools. **Agenda** **6:00 – 6:10 PM \| Welcome & Introductions** **6:10 – 6:45 PM \| Workshop: Build a Text\-to\-SQL AI Agent on Databricks** Explore how to build a production-ready Text-to-SQL AI agent using the open-source [db-agent](https://github.com/db-agent/db-agent) project, with schema-aware SQL generation and safety guardrails. **6:45 – 7:20 PM \| Technical Session: From Idea to AWS in Minutes — Building Full\-Stack Applications with Nx and AI** Discover how the open-source Nx Plugin for AWS combines AI-powered scaffolding, Nx generators, and AWS best practices to accelerate building applications with React frontends, APIs, AI agents, and infrastructure as code. **7:20 – 7:30 PM \| Q&A & Wrap\-up** Stick around afterward to connect with fellow cloud, data, and AI enthusiasts over networking, food, and drinks. **📍 Event Details** **Date:** November 4, 2026 **Time:** 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM **Location:** AWS Office, 7th Floor, 18 York St, Toronto, ON M5J 2V5 (YYZ18) Come learn, share ideas, and connect with the Toronto tech community! 🚀

Service Design Connect

**Welcome to Service Design Drinks** Connect with like-minded service designers, share ideas, grow together, and make friends Join us at the Duke of York for a fun night of design conversation and light activities **Format: Casual meet & greet** **What to Expect** ✅ Fun Icebreakers – Thoughtfully designed to help you connect effortlessl ✅ Exciting conversations – Enjoy connecting with creative professionals in the cit ✅ A Relaxed, Welcoming Atmosphere – Come as you are, leave with new friend 📢 RSVP here so we can plan accordingly. It reflects the actual signup

Snap & Stroll: Night Photography TORONTO Meetup #1

**SNAP & STROLL: NEON NIGHTS** A meetup for street photography enthusiasts to explore their creativity on the streets of Toronto at night! We'll meet in Chinatown (Dundas) outside of "Big Trouble" Bar to head out to enjoy the neon lights of the area towards Yonge Street. We'll head back to the bar afterwards if anyone wants to grab a drink and chat about photography and life. **IMPORTANT:** Event will be cancelled if heavy rains are expected. **What To Bring:** * Camera (any kind!) or even your phone * Your favourite walking shoes * Curiosity & creativity **Why Join?** * You get to explore creative angles, meet like-minded people, and see the city in a new light. Literally. * Whether you’re a pro shooter or just love the night vibe, this is your space to create. Feel free to follow our collective work on IG as we explore: @snap.stroll.society