Toronto Reference Library Blog

I am reading Shawn Micallef’s book Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto and when I started to write this post, I was going to discuss something the author was asked in an interview in blogTO – what would be some of the favourite places he would take a visitor to? [One of his top picks is a ride in the elevator of the Toronto Reference Library, as the interior of the building unfolds before your eyes.]

But, then I got distracted by reading about the Finch Hydro corridor – yes, suddenly I started envisioning the allotment gardens near Bishop and Maxome and the ravine beside Cummer Valley Middle School [or, as I knew it when I attended it back in pioneer days, Northmount Junior High].

Then, my eye was caught by a reference to the Sayvette store in the plaza at Yonge & Steeles. Sayvette! A quick Google of this defunct store name led to lists of other Willowdale landmarks that are fondly remembered [the Northtown Plaza, the Willow Theatre, Pirri's Fruit Market].

That’s the great thing about this book – if you grew up in Toronto, you are sure to have an ‘aha!’ moment when you read about a place that is special to you. And for everyone who loves T.O., it will give you an incentive [maybe once winter ends, if it ever does], to put on those walking shoes and start strolling.

I am reading Shawn Micallef’s book Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto and when I started to write this post, I was going to discuss something the author was asked in an interview in blogTO – what would be some of the favourite places he would take a visitor to? [One of his top picks is a ride in the elevator of the Toronto Reference Library, as the interior of the building unfolds before your eyes.]

But, then I got distracted by reading about the Finch Hydro corridor – yes, suddenly I started envisioning the allotment gardens near Bishop and Maxome and the ravine beside Cummer Valley Middle School [or, as I knew it when I attended it back in pioneer days, Northmount Junior High].

Then, my eye was caught by a reference to the Sayvette store in the plaza at Yonge & Steeles. Sayvette! A quick Google of this defunct store name led to lists of other Willowdale landmarks that are fondly remembered [the Northtown Plaza, the Willow Theatre, Pirri's Fruit Market].

That’s the great thing about this book – if you grew up in Toronto, you are sure to have an ‘aha!’ moment when you read about a place that is special to you. And for everyone who loves T.O., it will give you an incentive [maybe once winter ends, if it ever does], to put on those walking shoes and start strolling.