Adam Bunch
@adambunch.bsky.social
Exploring the history of Toronto/Canada. Author: The Toronto Book of the Dead & Toronto Book of Love. Host of Canadiana. Prof at George Brown. Creator: Toronto Time Traveller newsletter, The Festival of Bizarre Toronto History & The Toronto Dreams Project
Reposted by Adam Bunch
On this date in 1888, Toronto Street Railway reached a compromise with shopkeepers over snow removal. The company had often cleared the tracks by shovelling snow onto the sidewalk, blocking access to the shops ...
January 26, 2026 at 11:38 AM
On this date in 1888, Toronto Street Railway reached a compromise with shopkeepers over snow removal. The company had often cleared the tracks by shovelling snow onto the sidewalk, blocking access to the shops ...
Reposted by Adam Bunch
January 26, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Adam Bunch
This moment brought to you by the Canadian-made, ICE-procured Roshel armoured vehicle.
www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
January 25, 2026 at 7:59 PM
This moment brought to you by the Canadian-made, ICE-procured Roshel armoured vehicle.
www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Do thou, too, remain warm among ice.
January 25, 2026 at 3:47 AM
Do thou, too, remain warm among ice.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Everything is awful but the creativity behind some of these handmade posters gives me a glimmer of hope in humanity.
January 25, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Everything is awful but the creativity behind some of these handmade posters gives me a glimmer of hope in humanity.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
In case you missed it, I wrote about the first legal gay marriage last week! It is a fascinating story that is worth sharing!
Today marks 25 years since North America's first legal gay marriage! On this day, Reverend Brent Hawkes of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto got around the legal definition of marriage to officially marry two gay couples.
I wrote about the story on my website.
I wrote about the story on my website.
No Place in the Chapels of the Nation
The story of how Reverend Brent Hawkes forced the Ontario government to recognize gay marriage.
www.notyouraveragecistory.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:21 PM
In case you missed it, I wrote about the first legal gay marriage last week! It is a fascinating story that is worth sharing!
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Delightful read from Mark Colley: These Toronto same-sex couples made history 25 years ago with marriages that included international media, police guards and bulletproof vests. Still together, just living their lives www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
Their weddings helped pave the way for same-sex marriages in Canada. 25 years later, they reflect on everything that’s changed — and what hasn’t
On Jan. 14, 2001, Canada’s first two same-sex weddings happened in Toronto. It was a media circus and security nightmare — and it helped change the country.
www.thestar.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Delightful read from Mark Colley: These Toronto same-sex couples made history 25 years ago with marriages that included international media, police guards and bulletproof vests. Still together, just living their lives www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Appears this is also true for fascism.
January 24, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Appears this is also true for fascism.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
NEW! For today's Saturday Star, I wrote an opinion piece on the value of historical plaques that commemorate events such as the story of Conrad the Raccoon - they are good community investments for so many reasons! #TOHistory #history
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Bring on the fanfare for Conrad the Raccoon
The plaque for Conrad the Raccoon shows that Heritage Toronto is attuned to the stories Torontonians want to hear.
www.thestar.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:39 PM
NEW! For today's Saturday Star, I wrote an opinion piece on the value of historical plaques that commemorate events such as the story of Conrad the Raccoon - they are good community investments for so many reasons! #TOHistory #history
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Adam Bunch
I don't like to fall into the "I like the before better" and "We destroy everything" commentary because it's not an exclusively Toronto thing when pretty buildings get knocked down....BUT this one hurts.
General Post Office (1873-1960), Adelaide St. E., north side, opposite head of Toronto St., Toronto - January 23, 1955.
📸:James Victor Salmon
Baldwin Collection of Canadiana, Toronto Public Library
#OnThisDay #1950s #torontohistory #toronto #jeremyhopkin
📸:James Victor Salmon
Baldwin Collection of Canadiana, Toronto Public Library
#OnThisDay #1950s #torontohistory #toronto #jeremyhopkin
January 24, 2026 at 4:55 PM
I don't like to fall into the "I like the before better" and "We destroy everything" commentary because it's not an exclusively Toronto thing when pretty buildings get knocked down....BUT this one hurts.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
On this date in 1983, Toronto set a record with five bank holdups in one day, including two at one location.
January 24, 2026 at 6:04 PM
On this date in 1983, Toronto set a record with five bank holdups in one day, including two at one location.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Today I learned about the Worldwide Sidewalk Joy map. (worldwidesidewalkjoy.com). It’s locations around the globe where you can exchange or pick up free trinkets, puzzles, mugs, toys or books. Or even visit curated free little installations. What a lovely little concept!
Worldwide Sidewalk Joy
worldwidesidewalkjoy.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Today I learned about the Worldwide Sidewalk Joy map. (worldwidesidewalkjoy.com). It’s locations around the globe where you can exchange or pick up free trinkets, puzzles, mugs, toys or books. Or even visit curated free little installations. What a lovely little concept!
Reposted by Adam Bunch
"Slavery was real"
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
January 23, 2026 at 3:22 PM
"Slavery was real"
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
It's nice to see that certain things remain unchanged a century apart 🫠
Toronto please, never change.
Toronto please, never change.
January 23, 2026 at 2:13 PM
It's nice to see that certain things remain unchanged a century apart 🫠
Toronto please, never change.
Toronto please, never change.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Signs about the history of slavery in the U.S. and the 9 people George Washington enslaved are being removed right now at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia, across from Independence Hall, months after the Trump administration threatend to do so.
How far we have not come in 250 years.
How far we have not come in 250 years.
January 22, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Signs about the history of slavery in the U.S. and the 9 people George Washington enslaved are being removed right now at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia, across from Independence Hall, months after the Trump administration threatend to do so.
How far we have not come in 250 years.
How far we have not come in 250 years.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
The Royal Alex had a handmade fire curtain made of woven asbestos and steel wire to shield the audience from any fires on stage. The curtain had ASBESTOS printed in large letters on the front, so the audience would know that they were safe from any threat to their health.
January 21, 2026 at 7:37 PM
The Royal Alex had a handmade fire curtain made of woven asbestos and steel wire to shield the audience from any fires on stage. The curtain had ASBESTOS printed in large letters on the front, so the audience would know that they were safe from any threat to their health.
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Thrilled to announce that on April 14th I'll be a guest speaker for the Toronto Railway Museum’s Second Tuesday Zoom Talk.
I’d love to see you there - details and registration on the museum event page.
torontorailwaymuseum.com/event/second...
#railway #museum #TorontoHistory #jeremyhopkin
I’d love to see you there - details and registration on the museum event page.
torontorailwaymuseum.com/event/second...
#railway #museum #TorontoHistory #jeremyhopkin
Second Tuesday Zoom Talk: Rails Reclaimed: How Toronto’s Rail Infrastructure Found New Life - Toronto Railway Museum
Rails Reclaimed uncovers the afterlives of Toronto’s rail infrastructure. How many former streetcar, radial and rail properties were eventually repurposed as markets, subways, parks and neighbourhoods...
torontorailwaymuseum.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Thrilled to announce that on April 14th I'll be a guest speaker for the Toronto Railway Museum’s Second Tuesday Zoom Talk.
I’d love to see you there - details and registration on the museum event page.
torontorailwaymuseum.com/event/second...
#railway #museum #TorontoHistory #jeremyhopkin
I’d love to see you there - details and registration on the museum event page.
torontorailwaymuseum.com/event/second...
#railway #museum #TorontoHistory #jeremyhopkin
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Allowing these basic building blocks of Canadian identity to collapse does not align at all with Carney's stated goal of having Canada stand up on its own feet
Nation-building isn’t just about infrastructure and resource extraction. It’s about culture. It’s about history. It’s about our stories, and the places that tell them.
This is the worst time imaginable to shut down the Register of Historic Places.
nationaltrustcanada.ca/online-stori...
This is the worst time imaginable to shut down the Register of Historic Places.
nationaltrustcanada.ca/online-stori...
Alarm as Canadian Register of Historic Places to Shut Down - National Trust for Canada
The Canadian Register of Historic Places, better known as the historicplaces.ca website, is coming down. Parks Canada announced in late...
nationaltrustcanada.ca
January 21, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Allowing these basic building blocks of Canadian identity to collapse does not align at all with Carney's stated goal of having Canada stand up on its own feet
I use this as part of my research all the time
This here is some mind boggling ridiculousness. Parks Canada announced the Register for Historic Places - a searchable database and a cornerstone for understanding heritage places – will be permanently unplugged this spring @willgreavesmp.bsky.social #CdnHist
nationaltrustcanada.ca/online-stori...
nationaltrustcanada.ca/online-stori...
Alarm as Canadian Register of Historic Places to Shut Down - National Trust for Canada
The Canadian Register of Historic Places, better known as the historicplaces.ca website, is coming down. Parks Canada announced in late...
nationaltrustcanada.ca
January 21, 2026 at 9:33 PM
I use this as part of my research all the time
Reposted by Adam Bunch
Very good -->
“The strong do what they can" is what Athens said right before destroying itself. New piece on the Carney Doctrine, Vaclav’s grocer, and American hubris.
hegemon.substack.com/p/the-strong...
hegemon.substack.com/p/the-strong...
The Strong Will Suffer What They Must
Vaclav's Grocer and American Hubris
hegemon.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Very good -->
Tonight!
This Wednesday night — I'll be sharing stories from Toronto's shadowy Victorian criminal underworld!
It's free over Zoom thanks to the Simcoe County Historical Association.
Learn more: www.simcoecountyhistory.ca/speaker-seri...
It's free over Zoom thanks to the Simcoe County Historical Association.
Learn more: www.simcoecountyhistory.ca/speaker-seri...
Speaker Series
It was the late 1800’s that the city was given the nickname “Toronto The Good” but in truth it was often anything but. In this talk by author Adam Bunch, we’l…
www.simcoecountyhistory.ca
January 21, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Tonight!
Reposted by Adam Bunch
TFW you realize in the longue duree historians will view the fall of the Soviet and US empires as basically taking place simultaneously
January 21, 2026 at 3:33 AM
TFW you realize in the longue duree historians will view the fall of the Soviet and US empires as basically taking place simultaneously
Reposted by Adam Bunch
If I were a PM who believed we were at a global rupture moment, upending decades of international order, and requiring totally new relations with the world, I probably wouldn’t cut my foreign affairs staffing and budget by 15%
January 21, 2026 at 3:32 PM
If I were a PM who believed we were at a global rupture moment, upending decades of international order, and requiring totally new relations with the world, I probably wouldn’t cut my foreign affairs staffing and budget by 15%
James Acaster at Massey Hall
January 21, 2026 at 12:41 AM
James Acaster at Massey Hall