As part of the YMCA’s Strong Start, Great Future Campaign, East City YMCA was torn down back in December to make way for the newest YMCA Centre of Community, the Toronto Kingston Rd. YMCA Centre. During the demolition, an oxidized Time Capsule was discovered within the building cornerstone.Ian Fleming has been the Archivist for the YMCA for several years. He collects and documents historical records and memorabilia related to the YMCA in Toronto.
“Time Capsules are valuable as their contents can capture a moment in time from the past for future generations,” explains Ian. “In this case we will return to the early 1950s and get a glimpse of details surrounding the opening of the East City YMCA.”
On Tuesday, January 26, Ian was joined by Virginia Dimoglou, GM of Kingston Rd. YMCA and Alex Versluis, VP of Property Management to find out what this strongbox has been holding for 64 years!
A Program
The souvenir program for the Ceremony of Laying of the Cornerstone on Saturday, September 27, 1952. Speakers included the facility’s President, the Mayor, the Scarborough Township reeve, and the VP of the Toronto Y’s Board of Governors. The Malvern Collegiate Concert Band performed that day as well.
A Coin
A Voyageur Canadian silver dollar from 1951. Silver dollar coins only circulated for 15 more years after the laying. The design on this coin depicts two paddlers on a birch-canoe journey. Some lines in the background portray the Northern Lights. This design was replaced by the current Loonie in 1987.
A Newspaper
The Toronto Daily Star newspaper from the day of the laying cost 5 cents a copy, 30 cents a week. Headlines covered news about actress Rita Hayworth, monkeys travelling in rockets, daylight savings time, varsity football, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A Book
At the time, testament and prayer books were often put in YMCA cornerstones. This is a copy of The Book of Common Prayer which indicates that the CEO of the day was a member of the Anglican-Church of England.
East City YMCA History
- 1943: Work was initiated in the area as a community extension project of the Broadview YMCA
- 1949: It became a self-operated branch Toronto East Community YMCA on the grounds of Malvern Collegiate
- 1952: Laying Ceremony of the Time Capsule in the cornerstone of the building that was recently torn down
- 1953: Official opening in January at 907 Kingston Rd. with Premier Leslie Frost in attendance
- At the time, it offered clubs, outings, hikes, square dancing, badminton, tennis, basketball, hockey, crafts among many more activities
- Eventually came to be used as a YMCA child care centre for many years
- The former East City YMCA, could facilitate between 400-600 members, while the new state-of-the-art Kingston Rd. Y estimates it can serve up to 10,000!
