Toronto Street Names: An Illustrated Guide to Their Origins

＂Deserves a place on every Toronto history buff’s bookshelf.＂
-- Canadian Book Review Annual

Toronto Street Names provides a fascinating look at a highly visible record of the past of Canada’s largest city -- its streets. It commemorates the people and events that have shaped the city and tells the fascinating and curious stories of how more than 350 Toronto streets got their names. This edition has been thoroughly updated and revised, and it includes four walking-tour maps and a historical index.

The names of Toronto’s streets map the trails and portages of the Indigenous inhabitants, the arrival of the early explorers and the founding of York at the end of the 18th century. They trace the growth and political turmoil of the 19th century, the modernization of the 20th century and beyond, and the emergence of one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities.

Toronto Street Names is easy to read, intriguing and ideal for both the life-long local and the traveler who prefers exploring off the beaten track. It is also a fascinating source of information for readers interested in the history of North America’s great cities. The book is illustrated with period photographs and is fully indexed and cross-referenced.

Leonard Wise is a former columnist for the Toronto Star and has authored several books on Toronto. A lawyer by profession, Wise first turned to writing in 1970. He lives in Toronto.

Allan Gould (1944-2013) held a Doctorate in Philosophy from York University. He wrote over 1,000 newspaper and magazine articles and published more than 40 books, including Fodor’s: Toronto and The Toronto Book.