Who are we?
We are the University of Toronto’s urban archaeology field school. Urban archaeology is the study of urban people from the past. Using careful excavation and recoding methods we can study what people left behind—their buildings, rubbish and burials—and learn who they were, how they moved around the city and how they made their living. For ten days in June, we’ll be digging in the green space in the Washington-Huron Parkette to study the people who once lived here.
What might we find at this site?
We know from old maps and photographs that there were once buildings at this location. However, this area hasn’t been excavated before, so there may be some surprises. Over the last few years, we have excavated the Lime Ridge Monument behind Gerstein Science Information Centre, the Sir Daniel Wilson quadrangle at University College, and in King’s College Circle. Our finds include a British gun flint (early 1800s), Victorian pottery (late 1800s), wall foundations of past dwellings, and military artifacts from the First World War.
Who will you see digging?
You will see undergraduate students learning how to dig systematically, how to survey the land, and how to identify and catalogue artifacts. Once they have finished digging, they will use city records, maps and stratigraphy to help them understand the artifacts they have unearthed. The artifacts discovered will then be curated by the U of T Anthropology Department, and eventually made available to researchers from inside and outside U of T. If you would like to learn more about what we find please contact us (below) in July once our excavation season is complete.
How do I find out more?
If we are on-site, we are happy to talk to visitors about our project. We welcome groups (and kids!) to visit as well, but please contact us ahead of time if you would like to schedule a group visit.
See coverage of last year’s excavation here and video here.
Posted on June 5th, 2018 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on NOTICE of ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD WORK at the Washington-Huron Parkette, June 12-22, 2018
Ward 20 Community Environment Day 2018 will be on Saturday May 26 – come & help celebrate spring with the community!
Highlights will include:
- Free compost pick up
- Donation of gently used items for reuse
- Safe disposal of household hazardous waste ex. cell phones, small electronics, fluorescent bulbs, unused medications, propane tanks, batteries and more!
- Learning about the City’s many green initiatives, and ways to make shrink your environmental footprint
Please join Councillor Joe Cressy on Saturday, May 26th for our Ward 20 Community Environment Day from 10am-2pm in the Central Tech parking lot.
Posted on May 23rd, 2018 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on Ward 20 – Community Environment Day, May 26 at Central Tech
Construction updates
The Robarts Common engineers and construction teams are working through some unforeseen site conditions. Details of upcoming work will be shared as soon as they are available.
All work will take place between the hours of 7 am and 4 pm in adherence with City of Toronto noise bylaws.
Robarts Commons website: Please visit this page regularly for updates and important messages about the Robarts Common construction.
Posted on April 6th, 2018 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on U of T Construction Update – Robarts Common
April 5 at 6:30 pm – University of Toronto St. George Campus: Reviewing the Revised Secondary Plan
This fourth meeting in a series on a proposed new plan for the University of Toronto St George Campus and surrounding area, including Queen’s Park and other Provincial government lands, will focus on reviewing the revised plan, including policies for parks and open spaces, heritage conservation, new development and mobility. City staff will use your feedback to help inform the development of the final plan.
The University will provide an overview of the revised proposal and City Planning staff will provide some preliminary comments. There will then be a chance for you to ask questions and provide feedback to City staff and the applicant.
Date: April 5, 2018
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Faculty of Social Work Building, 246 Bloor Street West, 5th Floor, Room SK548
The University of Toronto has submitted an Official Plan Amendment application to establish a new University of Toronto St. George Campus Secondary Plan that would replace the existing Secondary Plan for the area. The purpose of the Secondary Plan is to provide a policy framework to manage change and guide new development in the area.
For information on the proposal, please visit: www.toronto.ca/planning/UofTSecondaryPlan.
Posted on March 28th, 2018 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on Community Consultation – U of T Revised Secondary Plan
Neighbourhood Design Charrette
Planning the Huron Washington Parkette
March 8, 2018 at 7:00 pm
University of Toronto Schools
371 Bloor St West – Room 135
Please join us and provide input to the architects and landscape architects
designing the renewed Huron Washington Parkette.
Posted on February 27th, 2018 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on UTS Parkette Design Charrette – March 8 at 7:00 pm