If you ran afoul of the law in East Toronto 100 years ago, you could very well have ended up in the ‘fine’ establishment (complete with outhouse) pictured at right. However, this newly annexed section of Toronto was a growing and prosperous community and a new brick police station (No. 10), designed by Robert McCallum, was constructed. Since then, the building served as a centre for law enforcement and also community health and social work (particularly during the 1930s) for the East End until the early 1970s when (now) 55 Division got a new facility at Coxwell and Dundas. A group of community activists persuaded the city to turn the building into a community centre.
The rest, as they say, is history. And that history is what Community Centre 55 and its companion, the #226 fire hall, will be celebrating with a grand party on June 18.
Swanwick Avenue will be closed east of Main for a street party to end all parties. Entertainment will include the CopperTones Police Band, Sons of the Beach, the Malvern Band, and Beach Chorale. The Police Mounted Unit will make an appearance. A number of fire trucks as well as an antique horse drawn police wagon will be on display. CC55 will be open and filled with historic photos of the area. And you can also tour the fire station.
Take in the barbecue, get yourself a snowcone or let your children try some crafts.
The activities begin at 11 a.m. and last until 3 p.m. So don’t miss this special opportunity to celebrate 100 years of community service by these two institutions.
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