Leslieville’s Industrial History: MADE IN TORONTO

Part of illustration of Dundas + Carlaw district showing purple building

Part of illustration of Dundas + Carlaw district showing yellow building

Part of illustration of Dundas + Carlaw district showing red building

Part of illustration of Dundas + Carlaw district showing green building

Part of illustration of Dundas + Carlaw district showing blue building

Part of illustration of Dundas + Carlaw district showing yellow smokestack

Part of illustration of Dundas + Carlaw district showing purple smokestack

Part of illustration of Dundas + Carlaw district showing watertower

Learn about the adaptive reuse of this east-end neighbourhood’s industrial buildings and the stories of the people who worked, lived, and played here.

This tour takes place in a busy urban environment with car traffic. Abide by all traffic and safety rules. Only look at your phone when you are standing stationary in a safe location.

Stay aware.
Explore and learn with care!

About 45 minutes

1.2 km

Start at the southwest corner of Queen St. E. and Carlaw Ave. (943 Queen St. E.).

City sidewalks with 12 stair steps between stop 7 and 8. We provide an alternate route with no stairs.

Click a stop
number on the
map or swipe
left to start
the tour.

Start the tour.

Click a stop number or the forward arrow to begin.

	About 45 minutes			1.2 km
	Start at the southwest corner of Queen St. E. and Carlaw Ave. (943 Queen St. E.).			City sidewalks with 12 stair steps between stop 7 and 8. We provide an alternate route with no stairs.

Stop 1 map showing start location for tour at the southwest corner of Queen St East and Carlaw Ave (943 Queen St East)

Queen
and Carlaw

Welcome to the neighbourhood. Things have changed over the past 100 years.

Welcome to this neighbourhood in the making. From Indigenous history to the rise and fall of industry, you are about to explore an area that has taken shape over hundreds of years.

Stop 2 map showing path from Stop 1 to 2: Cross the street at the lights and head west on the northside of Queen St. until Verral Ave. Reliable Fish and Chips is at the corner. Go north on Verrall Ave. until Colgate Ave. Head west on Colgate St. and walk 100 metres. Careful! This is a residential street but there is no designated crosswalk. Cross Colgate St. safely to John Chang Neighbourhood Park. Can you find the plaque? This is your stop.

Colgate-
Palmolive
Building

The brand made many of its products at a now-demolished factory here.

Learn how major household brand Colgate-Palmolive made soap, toothpaste, and other domestic products at a factory on this site — and what the neighbours thought about it.

Stop 3 map showing path from Stop 2 to 3: Head east towards Carlaw Ave. The next stop is at the southwest corner of Colgate Ave. and Carlaw Ave. From here you can see the Rolph-Clark-Stone building on the east side of Carlaw - stay on the west side of Carlaw Ave. for a better view.

Rolph-
Clark-Stone

It was not all work. Employees socialized in company-sponsored sports teams.

The Dundas and Carlaw factories were also very social places. Baseball, bowling, golf, and more — the workers at this graphic design and printing firm excelled at it all.

Stop 4 map showing path from Stop 3 to 4: Head north on Carlaw Ave, staying on the west side, until you come across the Reliable Toy Co. plaque. This is the next stop.

Reliable
Toy Co.

Go behind the scenes at one of the country’s largest toy factories.

Go behind the scenes at one of the country’s largest toy factories, learn about the doll that was a national sensation, and meet the workers that made kids around the world smile.

Stop 5 map showing path from Stop 4 to 5: Continue north on Carlaw Ave. until you reach the pedestrian crosswalk. From here you can see the Wrigley building on the east side of Carlaw Ave. Stay on the west side of Carlaw Ave. for a better view.

Wm.
Wrigley Jr.
Co.

This plant produced Wrigley’s famous gums, in peace and wartime.

This towering factory produced Wrigley’s famous Doublemint, Spearmint, and Juicy Fruit gums. The Wrigley company was also a marketing pioneer that mastered the art of persuasion.

Stop 6 map showing path from Stop 5 to 6: Continue north on the west side of Carlaw Ave. The next stop isn't far! Keep your eyes peeled for a small plaque about Crown Cork and Seal Co located at 326 Carlaw Avenue. This is your next stop.

Crown Cork
and Seal Co.

When industry started to struggle, this factory transformed into a hub for artists.

The factories here began to struggle in the 1970s and many moved away. Find out how a pioneering property owner turned the tide by transforming this former bottle cap factory into a hub for artists.

Stop 7 map showing path from Stop 6 to 7: Continue north on Carlaw Ave. until you reach the Dundas St. East intersection. Our next stop is at the southwest corner of Dundas and Carlaw Ave.

Dundas +
Carlaw
Intersection

Shipping and transportation was vital to the success of this industrial area.

Shipping and transportation was vitally important to the success of this industrial area. Learn how railways and roads continue to shape this ever-changing neighbourhood.

Stop 8 map showing path from Stop 7 to 8: Staying on the south side of the street, head west on Dundas towards Logan Ave. On the way you will pass a mural - more on this at our next stop. Once you reach Logan Ave., head north at the lights. A plaque about our next stop, the Woods building, is located on the corner. Check it out on your way! Continue north on Logan Ave. until you see a small set of stairs on your right. Head up the stairs - at the top, look up at the Woods building and tower - this is your next stop.

Woods
Manufacturing
Co.

Woods’ products conquered the arctic and reached the top of Mt. Everest.

Woods’ products conquered the arctic and reached the top of Mt. Everest. The factory here has been towering over the neighbourhood since 1907.

Stop 9 map showing path from Stop 8 to 9: Head east on Dickens St. towards Carlaw Ave. Careful! This is still an active industrial area, be mindful of traffic. Once you reach Carlaw Ave., head north on the west side of the street until you find the plaque for Jefferson Glass Co. Factory. This is your next stop.

Jefferson
Glass Co.

Learn how workers fought and organized for better conditions and fair pay.

Learn how factory workers here fought and organized for better conditions and fair pay. This former glass and later cardboard box factory is now home to dozens of workshops and businesses.

Stop 10 map showing path from Stop 9 to 10: Continue north on Carlaw Ave. until just before the bridge. From here you can see the Toronto Hydro Building on the east side of Carlaw Ave. Stay on the west side of Carlaw Ave. for a better view.

Toronto
Hydro
Building

Powering the neighbourhood since 1916.

Powering the neighbourhood since 1916, find out how Niagara Falls electricity fed through this substation made the growth of the Dundas and Carlaw neighbourhood possible.

Stop 11 map showing path from Stop 10 to 11: Continue north on Carlaw Ave. Our last stop is in the park just after the underpass, located on the southwest corner of Carlaw Ave. and Gerrard St.

Carlaw and
Gerrard

What does the future hold for Dundas and Carlaw?

What does the future hold for Dundas and Carlaw? This neighbourhood that has already been through many transformations and is set to change once again.

Speech bubble surrounding the words 'Thank you'

Heritage Toronto would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their support:

Councillor Paula Fletcher
Joanne Doucette
Louis and Linda Luciani
Diane Miller
Yvonne Nearing
Denise White and
Marylou Wilkins Miller

City of Toronto Museum and
Heritage Services
The History Factory
The Leslieville Historical Society
Mars Wrigley Confectionery
Woods Canada

... and all the people who shared their memories of the area with us.

Illustrations by Ian Phillips
Design by Ove Brand | Design and Pear Interactive
Development and animation by Pear Interactive