Adam Bunch's Avatar

Adam Bunch

@adambunch.bsky.social

Exploring the history of Toronto/Canada. Author: The Toronto Book of the Dead & Toronto Book of Love. Host of Canadiana. Prof at George Brown. Creator: Toronto Time Traveller newsletter, The Festival of Bizarre Toronto History & The Toronto Dreams Project

2,242 Followers  |  313 Following  |  728 Posts  |  Joined: 18.10.2024
Posts Following

Posts by Adam Bunch (@adambunch.bsky.social)

Preview
Darcy Ballantyne: I spent last summer trying to find myself in the classified ads The piece ran in the Star every week from the 1960s to 1980s.

Darcy Ballantyne discovered her father was Austin Clark. Here her powerful adoption story. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

01.03.2026 16:05 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Hemingway and Toronto Baseball | The Hemingway Society

Did the author Ernest Hemingway attend a baseball game while he lived in Toronto? The Hemingway Society has just posted a blog with my thoughts on that (go @torontobluejays.bsky.social!): www.hemingwaysociety.org/hemingway-an...

28.02.2026 17:55 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Good chance to let the city know what we think about street bins, transit shelters, & benches.

01.03.2026 01:52 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

For Mark Carney, the leader of a democratic country, to back a war his counterpart Trump started without the approval of the United States government, should raise serious questions for Canadians about the value our own Prime Minister places on our democratic process.

28.02.2026 13:32 β€” πŸ‘ 100    πŸ” 34    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 3

Explicit support for an illegal war started by a country that is directly threatening us. This is beyond appeasement, it's total complicity.

28.02.2026 13:56 β€” πŸ‘ 101    πŸ” 34    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
How a convention in Chatham helped spark the American Civil War | TVO Today John Brown held a meeting to discuss liberating slaves via a guerrilla war β€” just before his infamous raid on Harpers Ferry.

NEW! For TVO @therundowntvo.bsky.social I look at a convention convened by American abolitionist John Brown in Chatham in 1858 that served as a prelude to his raid on Harpers Ferry the following year - one of the events on the road to the Civil War #BHM #cdnhistory

www.tvo.org/article/how-...

27.02.2026 14:37 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Stylized β€œSimpson’s” logo from the 1980s

Stylized β€œSimpson’s” logo from the 1980s

Outlines of Simpson’s letters that were affixed to the building at street level

Outlines of Simpson’s letters that were affixed to the building at street level

The old Simpson’s labelscars reveal themselves now that the Hudson’s Bay store plaques have a been taken down at the historic Queen Street flagship.

27.02.2026 23:12 β€” πŸ‘ 49    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Doug Ford wants TTC officers to crack down on drug users. Why some say that’s a bad idea The provincial government is exploring a move that would grant greater authority to the city’s specialized transit peace officers

Do you know why this is dangerous? Because this law states that you can be jailed for six months, fined $10K, or both if you are merely *suspected* of having or using drugs. People will absolutely be profiled β€” and not just homeless people. www.thestar.com/news/gta/dou...

27.02.2026 03:21 β€” πŸ‘ 60    πŸ” 23    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 2
Magical Imperfection: The Life and Architecture of Raymond Moriyama | TVO Docs
YouTube video by TVO Docs Magical Imperfection: The Life and Architecture of Raymond Moriyama | TVO Docs

Has Doug ever once acknowledged Raymond Moriyama, the world renowned πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ architect of the original Science Centre? TVO made an excellent doc on him. Highly recommend watching, though it makes all this even more heartbreaking. He sadly passed away in 2023 (at 94!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoIh...

26.02.2026 19:13 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Important to call lies out when there are lies. These are lies from a liar.

26.02.2026 18:44 β€” πŸ‘ 313    πŸ” 126    πŸ’¬ 17    πŸ“Œ 7
Post image Post image

It is #BlackHistoryMonth. Peggy (fl. 1766–1827) was one of the hundreds of Black people enslaved in Upper Canada. She and her children were held in bondage on Peter Russell’s estate & farm. Surviving documents attest to her resistance to subjugation.
www.biographi.ca/en/bio/peggy... #BHM

26.02.2026 15:03 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
60 years ago, the Bloor-Danforth Line opened. Here’s a look back at the confusion and chaos The opening of the TTC's Bloor-Danforth line was consumed by familiar debates over car culture, streetcars vs. subways, and whether the suburbs should fund transit

NEW! Today marks the 60th anniversary of the ceremonial opening of the Bloor-Danforth subway (now Line 2). For Toronto Today @torontotoday.ca I look at its origins and how its first few days went.

Guest-starring a Shelbyville idea... #TOHistory

www.torontotoday.ca/local/histor...

25.02.2026 19:43 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Two women in winter coats and hats walking along the sidewalk among a crowd of people who are taking part in a strike. Fonds 1266, Item 23261.

Two women in winter coats and hats walking along the sidewalk among a crowd of people who are taking part in a strike. Fonds 1266, Item 23261.

A large crowd of men and women in winter coats and hats, gathered on a sidewalk outside the Fashion Building as they take part in a strike. Fonds 1266, Item 23262.

A large crowd of men and women in winter coats and hats, gathered on a sidewalk outside the Fashion Building as they take part in a strike. Fonds 1266, Item 23262.

A large crowd of men and women in winter coats and hats, gathered on a sidewalk outside the Labor Lyceum building as they take part in a strike. Fonds 1266, Item 23260.

A large crowd of men and women in winter coats and hats, gathered on a sidewalk outside the Labor Lyceum building as they take part in a strike. Fonds 1266, Item 23260.

A large crowd of men and women in winter coats and hats, gathered on a sidewalk as they take part in a strike. Visible storefronts include Caplan's restaurant and a barber shop. Fonds 1266, Item 23263.

A large crowd of men and women in winter coats and hats, gathered on a sidewalk as they take part in a strike. Visible storefronts include Caplan's restaurant and a barber shop. Fonds 1266, Item 23263.

At 10am on February 25, 1931, members of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) walked off the job. Highlighting poor working conditions, long hours, and low wages, hundreds of women continued their strike for two and a half months.

25.02.2026 13:50 β€” πŸ‘ 37    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Kinda amazing that Trump shits on Canada and Mexico every day, and there's the Mexican-American captain of Canada's Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews, standing behind him as he defiles an Olympic Gold Medal

He hates your mother and your fans Auston Matthews but - you do you: be a collaborator

24.02.2026 22:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1779    πŸ” 554    πŸ’¬ 224    πŸ“Œ 69
Post image

Absolutely wild that Ted Rall did this cartoon in March 2003. archive.rall.com/main.php?g2_...

24.02.2026 18:28 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 5
Preview
February 23: Only You Can Keep Toronto Clean. Only You. It's not a lot to ask.

The Curio Emporeum offers some mid-1980s tips on how to keep Toronto clean when it comes to taking care of your garbage. Plus a look at the city's street-cleaning efforts around that time. #TOHistory

jbscurioemporium.substack.com/p/february-2...

23.02.2026 22:41 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Tonight, Feb 23 at 7:30, join us online to hear about Ken McKinlay's Top 10 Tips For Being a Better Researcher. Free.
torontofamilyhistory.org/event/top-te...

23.02.2026 21:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

'Topaz,' dappled grey mare, Clayton's Meat Market, Toronto - February 23, 1911.

πŸ“Έ: Reginald S. Timmis
Baldwin Collection of Canadiana, Toronto Public Library.
‏
#OnThisDay #1910s #torontohistory #horses #jeremyhopkin

23.02.2026 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

My virtual talk tomorrow, Feb. 24, at 3pm.

23.02.2026 20:35 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

TIL their first "logo" featured a tire with arms and legs running away with a coin with arms and legs.

22.02.2026 23:49 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

ICYMI Join me this Wednesday in Brampton for a #BlackHistoryMonth Author Talk at the Cyril Clark Theatre...

Register for free here, and I'll see you there

bramlib.libnet.info/event/15261809

21.02.2026 19:23 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

2026 is the 100th anniversary of the opening of Maple Leaf Stadium, as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs International and Little World Series championships.
It’s unfortunate the Jays don’t seem to have an interest in honouring that.

21.02.2026 19:23 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

On this date in 1872, two horse trotting races were held on the ice of Toronto Bay. The prizes for first place were $150 and $120 dollars respectively. It’s not known how the horses spent their winnings.

21.02.2026 11:54 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Incorrigible Trailer Want to hear an unbelievable story? Let us tell you Velma’s. In 1939 Velma Demerson was jailed for falling in love with a Chinese man. Pregnant and without…

🧡πŸ₯šWant to hear an unbelievable story? Let us tell you Velma’s.
Many pregnant women and girls, like Velma, were incarcerated under the Female Refuges Act in institutions such as industrial refuges, the Andrew Mercer Reformatory, and even maternity homes. Full story in thread. 1/2
vimeo.com/728649147

21.02.2026 04:15 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Over 28 years, 140 people died because of the Berlin Wall (all causes: intentional shootings, drownings, accidents and including guard fatalities) #comparativeborderregimes

20.02.2026 07:29 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Toronto Edwardian Beginning his career as an independent architect in the mid-1870s, Frank Darling came to prominence as the principal of Darling & Pearson Architects, designing a plethora of delightful bank buildings ...

Looking forward to this book launch tonight (which features a few of my photographs)

www.mqup.ca/Books/T/Toro...

19.02.2026 22:02 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image Post image

It is #BlackHistoryMonth. In 1798, Henry Lewis, an enslaved Black man in Upper Canada, proposed to buy his own freedom so that he might β€œenjoy all the benefits which may result from being free.” www.biographi.ca/en/bio/lewis... #BHM

19.02.2026 15:03 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

In 1888, Parkdale voted 467-339 to join Toronto. However, locals complained that non-residents had swung the vote - at this time, people were allowed to vote anywhere that they owned property. As you can see below, this debate incited strong emotions.

18.02.2026 12:03 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Diversity, Our Strength

18.02.2026 18:54 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0