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YOUR CITY MARKET AND YOUR CITY! Friday, November 6, 6 p.m., and Saturday November 7, 2009, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Opening ceremonies will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the South Market, upper level stage. Activities will include marching and drumming demonstrations by the Fort York Guard, Town Crier Frank Knight and a blessing by the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations.
$1.75 feature fare & specialty items
1812 Victory Party
Buskers & performers
Children’s activities
City & community displays
Cooking demonstrations
Heritage lighting event
Musical entertainment
Short films about the history of Toronto
Storytelling
Theatre performances
Toronto history tour & talks
Toronto Island multi-media exhibit
Toronto Merchandise
Toronto trivia
First lighting of St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood Friday, November 6, 6 p.m., Free admission Meeting place: Market Lane Park (adjacent to north market building, 92 Front St. E.) 
We're shining a light on the city's distinctive architecture and some of Toronto's oldest, beautiful and most photographed buildings. St. Lawrence Market, St. Lawrence Hall, Flatiron building, St. James Cathedral and the south façades along Front Street, south of Berczy Park, will be camera ready, day and night.Join us this evening for the first flip of the switch. As part of the festivities, local historian Bruce Bell will lead a tour to share the stories captured behind the walls of these of these historic Toronto landmarks as you watch the buildings light up before your eyes. The lighting demonstration is a showcase of what this Heritage Lighting Project will grow to be. While some of the lighting is permanent, some is for the weekend’s events only. Be sure to come to the neighbourhood on Friday or Saturday nights to witness the full effect of the demonstration. Toronto Hydro Festive Light Exchange Bring us two strings of energy-guzzling incandescents and we'll give you a string of FREE LEDs! The exchange will be held in front of the north market: Friday, November 6, 5 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsored by:
With special thanks to: Allied Properties REIT
Woodcliffe Landmark Properties
York Heritage Properties
Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 7 p.m. St. Lawrence Hall, 157 King St. E. Presented by Old Town Toronto 
It is not only the bricks and mortar of our historic buildings that survive — and thrive — through the centuries. It is the people, their actions and events that shaped our past and present which we continue to remember and celebrate through the generations.The 1812 Great Canadian Victory Party will bring the War of 1812 and the Farmers’ Rebellion to life as you become an honoured guest at a celebration featuring Laura Secord, Fitzgibbon, Tecumseh and other Canadian heroes. This theatre performance is a lighthearted dramatization of the events that put Canada on the path to nationhood, starting in 1812 and ending in 1834 when Toronto was incorporated as a city. The performance will be held in St. Lawrence Hall, built in 1849 and was the social centre of Toronto for more than a century. As part of this unique production, a tasting of authentic fare served during this era — fruit preserves, cheese and heritage bread — will be featured. The food will be prepared by students enrolled in George Brown Chef School (Canadian Food History — a Toronto Museum Experience course), who will use recipes and cooking methods from the 1800s. Come and enjoy the heritage that is Old Toronto. Admission: $25 (includes theatre and light refreshments). For information, visit: www.oldtowntoronto1793.com. Purchase tickets by info@oldtowntoronto.com or 416-867-1793.
Saturday, November 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You’ll find live music throughout the market. Be sure to visit the stages at St. Lawrence Hall, the north 'farmers’ market’ and both the upper and lower levels of the south market to see the following bands and performers.
 Buskers and performers
Theatre performances
Storytelling
$1.75 feature fare and specialty items No celebration at St. Lawrence Market would be complete without food! Farmers, merchants and artisans will showcase $1.75 and $11.75 feature fare and specialty items to commemorate Toronto's 175th birthday. What's on offer (PDF). Children’s activities St. Lawrence Hall will be transformed into a kids’ zone with many activity areas to visit: Get into the holiday spirit by making a Christmas craft that you can take home. 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Participate in games led by Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff that are played in the City’s camp programs.
9:00 and 11:30 a.m.Listen to Toronto beloved storytellers and watch theatre and music performances dedicated to Toronto’s history. Toronto trivia! What year was the City of Toronto incorporated? What was Toronto called before it became Toronto? Who was Toronto’ first mayor? Where was Toronto’s first City Hall located? How many official City Halls does Toronto have? What year was the great fire? What was the original purpose of St. Lawrence Hall? Who is Nathan Phillips Square named after? Think you know the answers? Be sure to study your history books to win prizes during the day. We won’t tell you exactly where our trivia tricksters will be; that’s part of the fun! Toronto merchandise Toronto’s 175 birthday is a celebration of Toronto’s growth and achievements. Purchase your collectors’ books, posters, DVDs to commemorate this important milestone in Toronto’s history. FROM 1856 TO THE PRESENT 
Celebrate Toronto’s History with a New Book! This book, published to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the city’s incorporation, brings together approximately 200 official City of Toronto photographs chosen by the City’s archivists from their collection of hundreds of thousands of images.Toronto's Visual Legacy offers an overview of Toronto’s history and at the same time documents attitudes and values expressed by City officials, from 1856 to the present. Pick up your copy of Toronto's Visual Legacy for $35.00 tax incl. at St. Lawrence Market on November 7. For more information, visit: www.toronto.ca/archives 
Filled with amazing details of our city, the Toronto 175 poster is a scan of a hand drawn calligraphy done for Toronto’s 100th anniversary in 1934, by E.G.A. Foster. In developing the poster in 1834, significant research was undertaken into the people and events back in 1834. The title at the top is more of a masthead for the historical record below. It reads York -1834 –Toronto, just 20 years after the end of the War of 1812. Toronto was proclaiming a grand step forward, taking back its old name and moving on from the little town of founding loyalist families.Produced by Old Town Toronto Alliance, a non-profit heritage and tourism organization, the Toronto 175 poster will be available for $20 at St. Lawrence Market on November 7. For information, visit: www.oldtowntoronto1793.com. 
Incorporated in 1834, Toronto’s history is filled with intriguing characters, tremendous challenges, tragedy and triumph; a history that comes to life with the assistance of archaeologists, historians, authors and curators.Stories tell of the waves of immigrants who arrived in the mid-late 1800s to help build the streets, railway tracks and subway system, creating an ethnic mosaic of unique neighbourhoods and bringing a diversity of food and culture to the marketplaces and the streets of Toronto. We explore the back streets of the Old City, discover the location of the first Parliament buildings, and learn of the dramatic decisions that saved Toronto from an epidemic. Archival footage reveals the drama of the 1904 fire that destroyed the city’s financial centre and of the hurricane that created havoc but, in turn, led to the establishment of a scenic park system. Toronto 175 is a fast-paced, intriguing look at the evolution of the little town of York that became the modern metropolis of Toronto. Pick up your copy of the DVD for $20 on November 7 to relive Toronto’s history. Cooking demonstrationsThe Market Kitchen cooking school and event venue will showcase the best of St. Lawrence Market — food and drink. Stop by for a cooking demonstration and samples. Culinary historian Fiona Lucas will serve buckwheat pancakes - A National Dainty. Served with maple molasses, treacle and butter, Buckwheat Pancakes were "a favourite breakfast dish of the old Canadian settlers" and an “article of food which the Americans and Canadians consider a national dainty.” Catharine Parr Traill included a recipe in her Female Emigrant's Guide of 1854, a cookbook written for Englishwomen who found themselves housekeeping in the old Ontario backwoods. They’re still a national favourite at breakfast! Fiona Lucas began her food history career at Fort York National Historic Site as a costumed interpreter in the 1826 officers' mess kitchen, and went on to become the Program Officer for Foodways at Spadina Historic House and Gardens. She holds a Masters of Canadian History from U of T, serves as Past President of Culinary Historians of Ontario, of which she is co-founder, and is editor of Culinary Chronicles, the Newsletter of the Culinary Historians of Ontario. Her first book, Hearth and Home: Women and the Art of Open Hearth Cooking, won Silver in the Canadian Culinary Culture section of the 2006 Canadian Culinary Book Awards. She has recently been appointed the Incoming Chair of the national committee overseeing these Awards. The Market Kitchen, South Market mezzanine, 9:00 a.m. Chef and owner of One Love Vegetarian restaurant, Ikeila Wright will serve a dish based on 'Three Sisters Soup', which is a First Nations dish based on corn, squash and beans. ‘Peace and Love’ as it is called will put a Caribbean spin on this dish by adding fresh coconut milk and some Caribbean kick. This will be complimented by spiced corn bread, utilizing jalapeno peppers and herbs. Ikeila Wright has been involved in the vegetarian movement for many years. Along with her husband Ras Iville, they have been preparing their One Love Corn Soup and Seasoned Corn at The Harbourfront Centre for 10 years. They recently opened their first take out restaurant, One Love Vegetarian, located at 854 Bathurst Street, which has enabled them to expand their menu. Opening in June 2009, they have recently been chosen as 'One of Toronto's Best' restaurants by NOW Magazine. The Market Kitchen, South Market mezzanine, 11:30 a.m. Chef and restaurant owner Mario Cassini will serve Moqueca, a traditional fish stew from Bahia, the northeast regions of Brazil. The dish was originally made by Native Indians and has African influence. Cajú’s owner and Executive Chef, Mario Cassini was born in Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Home to Pao de Quiejo and Caipirinha, Minas Gerais is known throughout Brazil for its natural minerals, picturesque landscape and its cuisine. Mario came to Canada in 1987. He completed the Culinary and Hospitality Management program at George Brown College’s School of Hospitality and apprenticed at the Hilton Hotel in Markham, working with award-winning international and local chefs. The Market Kitchen, South Market mezzanine, 2:00 p.m. Toronto history tour and talksLocal historian, Bruce Bell will make history fun as he takes you on a tour of the market complex. He’ll share interesting historical facts and details from the past 205 years! Toronto history tour Meeting place: The Souvenir Market, South Market main entrance 9 a.m. Note: Admission to the Toronto History tour is $12. Tickets can be purchased at The Souvenir Market Toronto history talks The Market Kitchen, South Market mezzanine, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Toronto Island multi-media exhibitToronto Island Narratives, Past and Present will be on display in The Market Gallery. This multi-media exhibit underlines the enduring connections that exist between the past and present in the creative imaginations of the local artistic community. Contemporary art works by Island artists are featured alongside art and artifacts from the Toronto Island Archives Community partners and organizations St. Lawrence Market is proud to partner with City divisions and community groups to celebrate Toronto’s past, present and future. The following groups and organizations will be at the market on November 7 to provide you with information about Toronto’s development and achievements to date, and how you can get involved in building our city of the future. Heritage Toronto 
Hear about Heritage Toronto’s latest projects and to learn about becoming a member.Heritage Toronto is a charitable organization that works with the citizens of Toronto to advocate for, preserve, and promote a greater appreciation for our city's rich heritage. Through partnerships with local community groups and volunteers, Heritage Toronto works to heighten awareness of our shared history by providing city-wide programs and services. Programs include free neighbourhood walking tours, our downloadable iTours program, the annual Heritage Toronto Awards and William Kilbourn Memorial Lecture, our downloadable iTours program, a heritage plaques and markers program and participation in Doors Open Toronto. 
Toronto Environment OfficeTake the Live Green Toronto Recycling Challenge! Test your knowledge on recycling by taking the Live Green Toronto Recycling Challenge and win a prize. Learn about new items that are now accepted in Toronto's Blue bin program and pick up lots of handy information on how you can help divert waste from landfill. 
Cultural Services, City of TorontoCultural Services, City of Toronto operates 10 historic museums located throughout the city. Toronto's 10 historic museums offer tours, camps, workshops, adult and children's programming, special seasonal events and more. Our museum professionals have researched the history of Toronto and present this knowledge in ways that engage residents, visitors and community groups alike. 
The York Pioneer and Historical SocietyThe York Pioneer and Historical Society, this year celebrating its 140th anniversary, is Ontario's oldest historical group. The York Pioneers maintain their founders' intention of preserving the past for the future by operating the Scadding Cabin and publishing The York Pioneer, our annual collection of historical articles. To honour Toronto's 175th, we also published From Hands Now Striving to Be Free, an inventory and analysis of 94 boxes crafted by prisoners of the 1837 Rebellion. 
La Société d’histoire de Toronto La Société d’histoire de Toronto (SHT), founded in 1984, is a registered non-profit organisation whose primary mandate is to create a better knowledge and appreciation of Toronto’s francophone heritage through exchanges of historical and genealogical information, conferences, guided tours and workshops.  The Mississaugas of the New Credit First NationThe Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation look to our Anishinabe roots to guide our vision for the future as a strong, caring, connected community who respects the earth's gifts and protects the environment for future generations. Our identity includes our history, language, culture, beliefs and traditions which we strive to incorporate into the programs and services offered to our community. Our mandate it to:
 United Empire Loyalists Are you interested in early Canadian history? Have you heard of "The United Empire Loyalists" and their role in the history of Canada? Be sure to stop by our display and we will be happy to tell you the story and start you on your own path to discovering if you are descended from one of the many original Loyalists who came to Canada. Short films about the history of Toronto The following two films will be played throughout the day in the St. Lawrence Hall, main lobby.
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One of Canada's hottest children's musicians and 2009 JUNO Award nominee Chris McKool has been touring across Canada with his children's concerts for 10 plus years, reaching close to one million children. This interactive show is part musical performance, part environmentalism and 100% fun! Chris gets kids singing, dancing and talking about taking care of the earth. For more than a decade, Chris has taken his audience beyond the 3Rs of ecology (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to a new level of understanding of our global connection to forests, air, water and animals. Everyone leaves with the feeling that they can really make a difference!
From the streets of Europe to the screens of America, Max T. Oz has entertained thousands with his slick sleight of hand and hilarious antics. Keep you eye on that ball as he places it ever so slowly under one of those shells; it's gone... it's back... it's a chicken! How does he do that? A question many have tried, and just as many have failed, to answer.
Ezra Houser was introduced to the art of stilt-dancing by Toronto's The SwizzleStick Theatre in 1997. It led to a rich foray into the movement arts, including countless hours performing and teaching stilts at hundreds of venues. He keeps his long legs on the ground from time to time, bringing experience and enthusiasm in ongoing efforts to show that you don't have to just walk on stilts...you can dance!
FireGuy
Fort York Guard
And the beets go on! Stories from the 205 years of St Lawrence Market
Still to come in 2009
| December 2009 | Christmas / New Year's Activities Information to come. |
South Market, Farmers' Market (North Building) |
To see what's happened at the Market in past, go to: MARKET NEWS ARCHIVES