Beach Memories: St. John’s Norway Cemetery to be focus of historic walking tour on Saturday, June 14

By GENE DOMAGALA

I will be leading a walk on Saturday, June 14, in one of the most historic spots in the east end of Toronto and Beach area – St. John’s Norway Cemetery.

Why would we call it historic, and why should we? There are many reasons including that it is one of the oldest cemeteries in the city (circa 1853).

And, dear readers, St. John’s Norway is not its original name. Can you tell me what it was?

This cemetery sits on a hill and watches the goings-on in its east end neighbourhood. The cemetery is rich in the history of the people buried there. They resemble all different types of society – wealthy, poor, famous and infamous.

There are hundreds of our own gallant armed service members who gave their lives for our dearly beloved country Canada.
There are politicians from every political party and from township, municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government. These were the people who governed us—some were good, some not so good!

There are athletes buried in the cemetery representing all kinds of different sports activities.

There are religious people representing various faiths. There are also some of the early pioneers and settlers who made their homes here in the east end.

The cemetery holds people from all walks of life, from the very rich to the very poor.

There are people of different religions that are buried here in St. John’s even though it was originally an Anglican Church cemetery for only people of that faith.

There are well-known shopkeepers, barkeeps, clerks, lawyers, doctors, nurses, police officers, teachers, butchers, dentists, postal workers, and sanitation workers.

All types of people that were and are a part of the east end and Beach community.

These people are the history that makes St. John’s Norway Cemetery. They are the 80,000-plus people who are buried here on the hallowed grounds of St. John’s. It is their resting place amidst a lovely green forest that meets the sun in the morning and moon at night that both shine their “historic lights” on the graves.

There are many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people who make their way through the historic gates of this site to pay their respects to their relatives lost and perhaps the memories they overheard about them. Many also enjoy the peaceful setting for a walk or moments of reflection.

I could go on and on about the historic reasons for St. John’s, but the only way to experience is to join a historic tour of this great grand piece of Beach history.

My June 14 historic walk will start at 1 p.m., and we will meet at the northwest corner of Kingston Road and Woodbine Avenue at the cemetery gate.