Nabob's Retreat: Final Two Weeks of Toronto Junction Summer Walking Tours

Photos by Olena Sullivan from the Heritage Toronto Neighbourhood Walk:
West Toronto Junction
Credit: Heritage Toronto

The title "Nabob" was a corruption of the native appellation nawab (official rank-holder in the Mughal occupational and social hierarchy). It was used to address a type of British gentleman living in the subcontinent in the 18th and 19th century known for his unequivocal love for the native aristocratic lifestyle, and who adopted some indigenous mores alien to the British cultural context.

Credit: highbeam.com, from Marg, A Magazine of the Arts, by Sharma, Jyoti P.

Take a free tour "Nabob’s Retreat" an odyssey through wealth and power in the Junction
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Meet at the Junction City Square & Train Platform
2960 Dundas Street West at Pacific Avenue, after the Mariachi Guadalajara Band performance at the Summer Concerts in the Junction series.

WEST TORONTO JUNCTION HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CENTENNIAL SUMMER WALKING TOURS -- FINAL TWO WEEKS:
NABOB’S RETREAT

Saturday, July 26, and August 2, 1:30 pm, leaving the recreated railway station at Pacific and Dundas, the West Toronto Junction Historical Society presents "Nabob’s Retreat" an odyssey through wealth and power in the Junction.

The walking tour leaves the station by Vine Avenue, hits the commercial strip on Dundas, passes the site of “Historic City” at this year’s Junction Arts Festival, stops by Martin’s Flowers, the oldest business in the Junction, visits Malta Village and strolls down Clendenan Avenue toward the architectural splendour of Nabob’s Retreat (Evelyn Crescent, Evelyn Avenue and Woodside.)

Our host, once again, is Junction journalist AB Rice, with the personal tale of his home on Clendenan Ave., his life, his family and his reporter’s eye on the lives of the Junction tycoons. He is joined by among others Dr. John Taylor Gilmour, A.B.’s boss.

Highlights include:

[V] Avenue Hotel
Where they closed the bars and the site of "Historic City" and
Boom Times Cabaret, Heart of the Junction Talk Show
[V] Martin’s Flowers
From bakery to florist; from brass bands to floral costumes
[V] Mansions and their Masters:
"The Birches" and the Heintzmans
"Oaklands" and Robert McCormack
"Campbell House" and Archie Campbell
[V] Ravina Gardens
Home of the Champions
[V] Annette School
With a tale of pacifism, heroism and tragedy
[V] Nabob’s Retreat:
Victorian, Edwardian, Queen Anne,
Art Nouveau and Art Deco opulence.

And much more!

Bring sensible shoes and a sense of adventure.
Tour is about an hour and 1/2 and ends at Lakeshore Park near the Runnymede Subway station.

For more info, contact WTJHS at 416-763-3161,
email: westjunction@bellnet.ca or
visit our website at www.wtjhs.ca