The North York Historical Society discovers, disseminates, and preserves historical information, protects heritage sites, and arouses interest in the unique past of North York (part of the City of Toronto).

We are on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and this land is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.

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Upcoming events from NYHS
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April 2026 Apr 2026

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April 2026 Apr 2026

News

New Book by Susan Goldenberg Released!!

February 8, 2026

Exciting News NYHS board member Susan Goldenberg’s eleventh published book was released by Dundurn Press (Toronto) February 3 – WILL POWER: The Most Baffling Bequests, Ludicrous Last Wishes, and Daft Declarations in Final Testaments. At your favourite bookstore, Indigo (in-store/online), and Amazon Books Online. Please join Susan as she recounts stories of the last wills and testaments of… Read more

From left, Norman Boyd, Edwin Alonzo Boyd and William Jackson pictured escorted by police in Oct. 1952. - Toronto Star file photo

Toronto Star Covers Edwin Alonzo Boyd

December 14, 2025

The North York Historical Society and NYHS Board member Susan Goldenberg were recently quoted in a Toronto Star “Forgotten Toronto” feature exploring the dramatic life of Edwin Alonzo Boyd, the notorious bank robber who twice escaped the Don Jail. The article recounts Boyd’s rise as a media sensation, the exploits… Read more

North York History Room Opening

November 11, 2025

I was very pleased to attend the official opening of the North York History Room at the North York Central Library on October 30. The Room has been named for Gladys Allison, who was instrumental in establishing library services in North York and was the first chair of the Library… Read more

Local History Articles by Susan Goldenberg

From left, Norman Boyd, Edwin Alonzo Boyd and William Jackson pictured escorted by police in Oct. 1952. - Toronto Star file photo

Reeve + Lawyer for Infamous Bank Robber

April 20, 2026

Susan Goldenberg On October 16, 1952 North York career politician Fred (Frederick Joseph) McMahon was in criminal court. He wasn’t on trial. He was representing… Read more

4812 Yonge Street, first site of R.S. Kane home, near Sheppard, originally the residence of Benjamin R. Brown, the second owner of the general store at Yonge and Sheppard https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/357187/benjamin-r-brown-residence-192140-former-site-of-kane-f?ctx=94e996bcec40814c82015ffbe16c6522a3ebe1cc&idx=0

CONVERSATION WITH ……John Robert Kane Second-Generation Owner of North York’s R. S. Kane Funeral Home

March 13, 2026

“The first twelve years of my life I lived on the second floor of the funeral home R. S. Kane started by my parents Robert… Read more

Beverley Salmon’s Equally Accomplished Husband Dr. J. Douglas Salmon First Black Surgeon at a Canadian Hospital

February 11, 2026

Susan Goldenberg In 1954 when she was twenty-three Beverley Bell, then a Victorian Order nurse, met J. (John) Douglas Salmon, one of only four black… Read more

North York Street Stories By Deborah Sacrob

Finch and Sheppard

February 28, 2023

By Deborah Sacrob, NYHS Board member   Finch Avenue Finch Avenue is named after John Finch who bought land at Yonge and Finch in 1847… Read more

The Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club

February 28, 2023

By Deborah Sacrob, NYHS Board member   The Cricket Club area was originally settled by a Scotsman named Andrew McGlashan who settled here with his… Read more

McGlashan Road/McGlashan Court

February 28, 2023

By Deborah Sacrob, NYHS Board member   Andrew McGlashan operated a tannery on the southwest corner of York Mills and Yonge. James McGlashan and Thomas… Read more

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