CBC News reported about Stephan Petar giving tours of ghost signs in Toronto.
CBC News - What's a ghost sign and why are there so many in Toronto?
Toronto Society of Architects - Ghost Signs of Toronto
Heritage Toronto - Signs That Define Toronto
Signs That Define Toronto is a book edited by:
Kurt Kraler is a registered Architect (OAA) and project manager at ERA Architects. He completed his Master of Architecture (MArch) degree at the University of Waterloo where his thesis work was recognized with the AIA Henry Adams Medal for academic excellence.
Matthew Blackett is the publisher, creative director and one of the founders of Spacing magazine. He is the author, editor, and photographer of 11 books. He is also a graphic artist, product designer, and deeply-committed advocate for Toronto.
Philip Evans (OAA, MRAIC, CAHP) is a principal at ERA Architects and the founder of Culture of Outports. Over the course of 17 years, he has led a range of conservation, adaptive reuse, design, and feasibility planning projects.
I also found:
Not Smooth Steve - Tunnels in Toronto: Underground Secrets
Mural Routes
Historically Speaking (Facebook)
Join Alex and Leanne on their adventures to historic locations all over Ontario!
Friends of Guild Park, a volunteer-led organization launched in 2013 to support the revitalization and public awareness of historic Guild Park & Gardens.
This is from a list of 20 abandoned towns from across Canada, and up north. There are more than 3 in Ontario. It must depend on how literally, or particular, you are about what is a town versus a village, hamlet, and etc. There isn't much left of any abandoned towns, villages, or hamlets in Ontario. It could make a good road trip to see what you can find. (Be respectful of private, or any, property).
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Lemieux, Ontario
Lemieux, Ontario was founded in 1850, starting life as a mill town and farming community. According to Ontario Abandoned Places, the town was abandoned quite recently: between 1989 and 1991. The reason was that the soil on which the town was built made it vulnerable to landslides.
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Redwater, Ontario
Redwater may seem like just another ghost town but when you hear what happened here, you’ll think it should be right up there with the world’s creepiest tourist attractions. According to Ontario Abandoned Places, in 1909 the local telegraph operator was brutally beaten and died while telegraphing for help. The town was abandoned by the 1950s after the Redwater sawmill closed down.
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Altona, Ontario
According to Ontario Abandoned Places, Altona was founded in the early 1800s when Mennonites moved here from Pennsylvania. The Mennonite Church here was built in 1852. Today there are still churches, schools, a general store and some homes but most of the buildings have been boarded up and abandoned.
The following is cut and pasted from a Facebook post and comments. Sad to see the Planetarium go. I didn't know it had been vacant. I would have liked to visit once more before it was gone. I haven't been there since we went for a school trip. We moved out of Toronto, far enough that making a trip into the city was a bit of an event. Sorry Toronto McLaughlin Planetarium. How many are still left in the world?
I would have added the link to the post but Facebook links are out of control. It was 5 lines of code for one link. So, no thanks. The post came from a group, Canada is Amazing.
Toronto is saying goodbye to a piece of its space-age history. The iconic McLaughlin Planetarium, once a beloved attraction near Queen’s Park, is now being demolished after decades of sitting unused.
Opened in 1968, the planetarium welcomed over six million visitors and served as a gateway to the wonders of astronomy. It was originally gifted to the city through the Royal Ontario Museum and quickly became a hub for science education and discovery.
Over time, however, the building closed in the mid-1990s and remained vacant, slowly fading from the city’s vibrant landscape. Now, construction crews are on-site, marking the end of an era as Toronto continues to grow and evolve.
Here’s a quick look at its journey:
- Opened in 1968 as a public science and education center
- Attracted over 6 million visitors during its peak years
- Closed in the mid-1990s and remained unused for decades
- Currently being demolished as part of urban redevelopment
As the downtown core transforms, the loss of this historic landmark reflects both change and progress—while leaving behind memories of a place that once inspired curiosity about the universe.
For those unfamiliar with its history, it was donated by Colonel R.S. McLaughlin. Colonel Sam’s McLaughlin Carriage Company went onto to build cars, including the McLaughlin Buick, and later became part of General Motors. I’m sure Colonel Sam would be horrified at what has happened to his wonderful gift to the people of Ontario.
His estate, Parkwood, is still beautifully preserved in Oshawa.
Mostly found or contributed content. I think mainly Eastern Ontario.