Islington Village Murals

The starting point of Islington Village murals, N.W. corner of Dundas Street West & Islington Avenue

Islington Village Murals

The starting point of Islington Village murals, N.W. corner of Dundas Street West & Islington Avenue

Islington Village Murals

The starting point of Islington Village murals, N.W. corner of Dundas Street West & Islington Avenue

Islington Village Murals

The starting point of Islington Village murals, N.W. corner of Dundas Street West & Islington Avenue

Islington Village Murals

The starting point of Islington Village murals, N.W. corner of Dundas Street West & Islington Avenue

Islington Village Murals

The starting point of Islington Village murals, N.W. corner of Dundas Street West & Islington Avenue

"Golfing In Islington"

This 7.3 by 7.0 metre mural depicts golf in the 1920s. The Islington Golf Club designed by Stanley Thompson, one of the foremost golf course architects in North America at the time, is located just minutes from this site. Look eastward to the club house as it appeared in the late 1920s. In the foreground golfers dressed in the late 1920s fashion enjoy their day on the green. The lead golfer is attempting to hit the ball away from the tree line at the western edge of the course where it landed after an overzealous tee off. The impatience of the group is shared by the small boy who has found distraction in a stray frog and the ball collector, wearing upper body protective gear, who is waiting for the group to play through so that he may resume his duties.

"Golfing In Islington"

This 7.3 by 7.0 metre mural depicts golf in the 1920s. The Islington Golf Club designed by Stanley Thompson, one of the foremost golf course architects in North America at the time, is located just minutes from this site. Look eastward to the club house as it appeared in the late 1920s. In the foreground golfers dressed in the late 1920s fashion enjoy their day on the green. The lead golfer is attempting to hit the ball away from the tree line at the western edge of the course where it landed after an overzealous tee off. The impatience of the group is shared by the small boy who has found distraction in a stray frog and the ball collector, wearing upper body protective gear, who is waiting for the group to play through so that he may resume his duties.

"Aftermath"

Hurricane Hazel struck Toronto on October 15, 1954. In her wake most of Islington Golf Course and low-lying areas near Mimico Creek were flooded. This mural shows a volunteer clean-up crew arriving at the scene as a member of the Islington Fire Brigade helps moor their boat. Behind them, members of the 48th Highlanders are clearing away the debris. Above, an army supply helicopter prepares to use the 9th fairway, then high ground, as a landing strip. Islington United Church, which became a makeshift supply depot for the whole region, is visible on the horizon.

"The Manse Committee"

This painting shows the interior of this Dundas Street West building as it might have appeared around 1888. At that time it was the manse, or minister's residence, for Islington's Wesleyan Methodist Church. The scene is a light-hearted portrayal of "The Manse Committee" which advised the minister's wife on décor and conducted periodic inspections to make sure the residence was kept acceptably clean. Reverend Richard Bowles, who later became the Chancellor of Victoria University, is shown having tea with the Committee Chair while his wife prepares food in the kitchen and Committee members conduct a white gloved inspection of the premises. The mural depicts a typical late Victorian residence with furniture that would have been available in Toronto in the 1880s. The floor plan, construction methods and interior were designed according to building practices at the time.

"The Manse Committee"

This painting shows the interior of this Dundas Street West building as it might have appeared around 1888. At that time it was the manse, or minister's residence, for Islington's Wesleyan Methodist Church. The scene is a light-hearted portrayal of "The Manse Committee" which advised the minister's wife on décor and conducted periodic inspections to make sure the residence was kept acceptably clean. Reverend Richard Bowles, who later became the Chancellor of Victoria University, is shown having tea with the Committee Chair while his wife prepares food in the kitchen and Committee members conduct a white gloved inspection of the premises. The mural depicts a typical late Victorian residence with furniture that would have been available in Toronto in the 1880s. The floor plan, construction methods and interior were designed according to building practices at the time.

"The Faces Of Islington"

This mural celebrates the ethnic and cultural character of Islington as it has changed over the last century. Through the faces and traditional design patterns of fabrics from all four continents, travel along the timeline which tells the story of settlement in the area. Beyond depicting the passage of history as grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren share the same space, notice the change in Islington from a predominantly Eurocentric community during the 1950s into the ethnically diverse neighbourhood it is today.

"The Faces Of Islington"

This mural celebrates the ethnic and cultural character of Islington as it has changed over the last century. Through the faces and traditional design patterns of fabrics from all four continents, travel along the timeline which tells the story of settlement in the area. Beyond depicting the passage of history as grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren share the same space, notice the change in Islington from a predominantly Eurocentric community during the 1950s into the ethnically diverse neighbourhood it is today.

"Faith Of Our Fathers, 2"

This mural depicts the history of Islington United Church from its early Wesleyan Methodist days on Dundas Street West to the building of the church now located at 25 Burnhamthorpe Road. As early as 1815 circuit riders, ministers on horseback, rode from hamlet to hamlet attending to the spiritual needs of perhaps 30 rural communities. The first Methodist Church in the village was located at 4946 Dundas. When the congregation outgrew the building, it was sold to the Etobicoke Township. The Township added a red brick façade (shown above) and the building became the Municipal Offices and Police Station. Much altered, it is now the Fox and Fiddle, Precinct. The circuit rider in the mural has the face of Dr. Stewart East who, along with other ministers, as part of the dedication ceremony, rode up the steps of the new church at 25 Burnhampthorpe. This re-enactment created quite a spectacle.

"Faith Of Our Fathers, 2"

This mural depicts the history of Islington United Church from its early Wesleyan Methodist days on Dundas Street West to the building of the church now located at 25 Burnhamthorpe Road. As early as 1815 circuit riders, ministers on horseback, rode from hamlet to hamlet attending to the spiritual needs of perhaps 30 rural communities. The first Methodist Church in the village was located at 4946 Dundas. When the congregation outgrew the building, it was sold to the Etobicoke Township. The Township added a red brick façade (shown above) and the building became the Municipal Offices and Police Station. Much altered, it is now the Fox and Fiddle, Precinct. The circuit rider in the mural has the face of Dr. Stewart East who, along with other ministers, as part of the dedication ceremony, rode up the steps of the new church at 25 Burnhampthorpe. This re-enactment created quite a spectacle.

"Faith Of Our Fathers, 2"

This mural depicts the history of Islington United Church from its early Wesleyan Methodist days on Dundas Street West to the building of the church now located at 25 Burnhamthorpe Road. As early as 1815 circuit riders, ministers on horseback, rode from hamlet to hamlet attending to the spiritual needs of perhaps 30 rural communities. The first Methodist Church in the village was located at 4946 Dundas. When the congregation outgrew the building, it was sold to the Etobicoke Township. The Township added a red brick façade (shown above) and the building became the Municipal Offices and Police Station. Much altered, it is now the Fox and Fiddle, Precinct. The circuit rider in the mural has the face of Dr. Stewart East who, along with other ministers, as part of the dedication ceremony, rode up the steps of the new church at 25 Burnhampthorpe. This re-enactment created quite a spectacle.

"Portraits From Our Past"

Inspired by old area photos, Manitoba artist Sarah Collard has created a gallery effect on this 6 m by 10 m wall. The mural is actually four separate works, each depicting a "slice of life" from our village's past. These include: "Apple Packers", Bigham family orchards ca. 1917; "Islington's First Car", a 1917 Chevrolet owned by the Appleby family; "Sunday Afternoon", a scene showing famous Islington photographer, Walter Moorhouse's own family on their veranda at 34 MacPherson Ave (now Aberfoyle); and the "Village Shoemaker", Mr. Nelson, as he appeared early in the 20th century.

"Portraits From Our Past"

Inspired by old area photos, Manitoba artist Sarah Collard has created a gallery effect on this 6 m by 10 m wall. The mural is actually four separate works, each depicting a "slice of life" from our village's past. These include: "Apple Packers", Bigham family orchards ca. 1917; "Islington's First Car", a 1917 Chevrolet owned by the Appleby family; "Sunday Afternoon", a scene showing famous Islington photographer, Walter Moorhouse's own family on their veranda at 34 MacPherson Ave (now Aberfoyle); and the "Village Shoemaker", Mr. Nelson, as he appeared early in the 20th century.

"Portraits From Our Past"

Inspired by old area photos, Manitoba artist Sarah Collard has created a gallery effect on this 6 m by 10 m wall. The mural is actually four separate works, each depicting a "slice of life" from our village's past. These include: "Apple Packers", Bigham family orchards ca. 1917; "Islington's First Car", a 1917 Chevrolet owned by the Appleby family; "Sunday Afternoon", a scene showing famous Islington photographer, Walter Moorhouse's own family on their veranda at 34 MacPherson Ave (now Aberfoyle); and the "Village Shoemaker", Mr. Nelson, as he appeared early in the 20th century.

"Portraits From Our Past"

Inspired by old area photos, Manitoba artist Sarah Collard has created a gallery effect on this 6 m by 10 m wall. The mural is actually four separate works, each depicting a "slice of life" from our village's past. These include: "Apple Packers", Bigham family orchards ca. 1917; "Islington's First Car", a 1917 Chevrolet owned by the Appleby family; "Sunday Afternoon", a scene showing famous Islington photographer, Walter Moorhouse's own family on their veranda at 34 MacPherson Ave (now Aberfoyle); and the "Village Shoemaker", Mr. Nelson, as he appeared early in the 20th century.

"Portraits From Our Past"

Inspired by old area photos, Manitoba artist Sarah Collard has created a gallery effect on this 6 m by 10 m wall. The mural is actually four separate works, each depicting a "slice of life" from our village's past. These include: "Apple Packers", Bigham family orchards ca. 1917; "Islington's First Car", a 1917 Chevrolet owned by the Appleby family; "Sunday Afternoon", a scene showing famous Islington photographer, Walter Moorhouse's own family on their veranda at 34 MacPherson Ave (now Aberfoyle); and the "Village Shoemaker", Mr. Nelson, as he appeared early in the 20th century.

"Battersby's March, 1813"

On July 29, 1813, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Battersby was ordered to leave York (Toronto) with all the soldiers under his command to secure Burlington against an imminent American threat. Dispatched in a "march of extraordinary celerity" along Dundas Street, this force, consisting largely of Battersby's own regiment, the Glengarry Light Infantry, arrived in time to dissuade the enemy from attacking this key position. However, this troop redeployment left York vulnerable, setting the stage for the second American raid on the town on July 31, 1813.

"Battersby's March, 1813"

On July 29, 1813, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Battersby was ordered to leave York (Toronto) with all the soldiers under his command to secure Burlington against an imminent American threat. Dispatched in a "march of extraordinary celerity" along Dundas Street, this force, consisting largely of Battersby's own regiment, the Glengarry Light Infantry, arrived in time to dissuade the enemy from attacking this key position. However, this troop redeployment left York vulnerable, setting the stage for the second American raid on the town on July 31, 1813.

"Briarly - Gone But Not Forgotten"

Also known as the Gunn house, Briarly was built in the 1840s. Originally a frame Regency style cottage built just east of T. Montgomery's Inn, it was redesigned to have an Italianate appearance in the 1850s. From 1970 until 1985, the home was owned by the Montgomery family and their descendants. Although the heritage community lobbied to save the home from demolition, Briarly was demolished by developers in August 1989. Town houses now occupy the site at 4681 Dundas Street West. This mural, by artist John Kuna was designed not only to illustrate a part of Islington's history but also to convey a sense of comfort, peace, home and family. Rather than becoming a theme of mourning and end, it is instead conceived as an image of endurance and renewal.