Whether it’s in Cantonese — Kung Hei Fat Choy! — or Mandarin — Gong Xi Fa Cai! –- it means “Wishing you prosperity!” and is the popular lunar new year greeting for people of Chinese descent around the world. Source: Toronto Star Archive, 1993 Source: Toronto Star Archive 1971 During the lunar New Year, […]
This 1945 graduation photo of nine preschool students, all age five, helps tell the story of Chinese Canadian life in Toronto over the past century. It was taken at the Chinese Canadian Institute located at University and Dundas in the heart of Toronto's old Chinatown. CCI preschool graduation, 1945 (Courtesy of Mavis Chu Lew Garland) These second or third […]
On the farm in Nova Scotia, c. 1900 (Photo courtesy of Carl MacKenzie) When my mother-in-law passed away 10 years ago, she left some precious family heirlooms. While my husband took pride in using the silver, bone china and crystal for special events, nothing gave him more joy than discovering, tucked away in our basement, […]
Source: Toronto Star Archives From chop suey to Peking duck "Chop suey" translates as "mixed bits" and was a popular dish among early Chinese immigrants and Caucasian diners. Corresponding with the dynamic growth of various Chinese populations in Toronto, the variety of Chinese cuisine has grown dramatically and, today, we have a multitude of choice […]
Sandi Trillo with her blender. Fixed! On September 12th, 2015, Agincourt Branch hosted the Repair Café Toronto and transformed the rotunda into a bustling community hub. Twenty-two volunteer fixers from the Repair Café Toronto and 85 library visitors from the community gathered together and worked collaboratively to repair many different items—from electronic gadgets and small […]
There are many reasons local residents visit their local branch on a regular basis. From picking up books and accessing information to attending a computer training class, participating in Book-a-Librarian, attending a monthly small business networking meeting or a Tea & Books session. Or maybe customers have no specific reason to visit but just drop by, […]
Spring has finally sprung! To celebrate the arrival of warmer weather, we are revitalizing our blog: expect to hear from us more regularly (and frequently) as we work to keep you informed about all the great stuff happening in our branches in the Agincourt District. We will also take the opportunity to highlight some good […]
Steeles Branch at 375 Bamburgh Circle (Warden/Steeles) is undergoing a service enhancement. The branch is closed temporarily for renovation to enhance the front entrance and the service desk. We aim at higher efficiency and better service to the public. We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding. The branch will reopen once […]
Are you thinking about starting a business but worrying about your prospects for success? Are you already in a business but struggling? Running from April 18 to June 6, every Thursday, 6:30-9:30, Agincourt Branch is hosting Business Inc. seminar series through which you can learn from professionals on how to plan or update your business […]
I was having dinner with my family in a busy, noisy restaurant last Saturday. While we were enjoying the Peking duck, I noticed a man in his early 70s sitting at a table across from us. He and his friends had just finished eating and everyone seemed to be catching up the latest news. His […]