Walk Leader, Edward Keenan takes on a walk down memory lane and speaks to the history of place that layers a city’s foundation, but also transforms over time. As Keenan notes, “it is interesting to wonder how much claim the memories of previous residents have over the identity of new residents’ spaces. ”
Don Mount Court – The area where Joel Weeks lived – now called Rivertown. Photo by Erik Twight
Official opening of Joel Weeks Park in 2012 The new 0.95 hectare park expands the former Joel Weeks Parkette and increases the green space in the mixed-income community. Photo from Toronto Community Housing
This walk considers memories of schools, housing projects, and other elements of the neighbourhood cityscape that have been erased or replaced, and especially the legacy of Joel Weeks, a friend of Edward Keenan who died in 1982 when he drowned in a storm sewer. This highly personal walk explores the fight to name a renovated park after Joel, the question of who “owns” memories of the city, and the disappearing landmarks of our youth.
Riverside, Then. Photo from Lost Toronto https://losttoronto2.wordpress.com/
Riverside, Now. Photo from Lost Toronto https://losttoronto2.wordpress.com/
Edward Keenan is the author of “Some Great Idea: Good Neighbourhoods, Crazy Politics and the Invention of Toronto” and writes columns about city politics, planning and life for The Toronto Star and Spacing. He spent his childhood living in Riverside.
Join us on this haunting and thought provoking walk on October 25th 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Starting at the Queen Salter Library (765 Queen Street East).
Sign up for this walk and check out others here: 
Riverside is proud to be a TO2015 IGNITE community partner.
Riverside WalkFEST is supported by Ontario Ignite
