14
Swimming hole on the Don River1930
Don Valley, Toronto
15
By 1938, however, concerns of health and police officials contributed to the introduction of public swimming classes in two East York public schools. These efforts to discourage swimming in the Don were successful and by late spring of that year, more than 1,700 children were enrolled in the classes.Later that summer, the Medical Officer of Health of East York Township banned all swimming in the Don River. Nonetheless, the July 9 edition of "The Globe" featured photographs of children in the brick red waters of the Don, coloured by the run-off from the local brickyards.
16
Skating on the Don River1920
Don Valley, Toronto
17
Skating on the Don RiverIn the 1790s, Elizabeth Simcoe recorded in her diaries that the Don River had frozen and that it was possible to walk several miles upon it. In 1796, she wrote about fishing from her carriole on the frozen Don; however, no fish were caught.
Skating on the frozen Don River was a winter activity enjoyed by thousands until the 1950s. The Don froze regularly, creating a natural skating and hockey rink minutes away from Toronto's downtown core.
Pollution, particularly the salt run off from the roadways, now prevents the Don from freezing.
18
Sleigh ride in the Don Valley1953
Don Valley, Toronto
19
Rand Freeland's Hay Rides in the ValleyHay rides offered by Rand Freeland, owner of Fantasy Farm, were popular activities in the Valley in the years after World War II. Freeland used a jeep to pull a long rig mounted on rubber tires. Up to 30 people could be accommodated on the rig.
Freeland's most famous guests were members of the Sadler Wells Ballet Company from England. Their ten-day tour of Toronto in 1949 was acclaimed by the local press. Members of the Ballet Company later recalled the hay ride in the Valley as one of the highlights of their international travels.
20
Whitewood's Riding Stables1955
East York, Ontario
21
The hills and ravines of the Don Valley were a popular location for leisure horseback riding well into the 1960s.Between the 1930s until 1965, the Todmorden Paper Mill was the location of a number of riding stables, including the Maple Leaf Riding School, the Windemere Riding Academy, the Don View Riding School, the Whitewood Riding School and the Lynn Valley Riding School.
During the 1950s, the Whitewood Saddle Club supported the efforts of the Don Valley Conservation Association with donations of money from the proceeds of its Don Valley Whitewood Horse Show. The Club also contributed to early conservation efforts by building a network of bridle paths throughout the Valley, thereby ensuring that its members could enjoy the natural settings.
 |
 |
 |
 |