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Stunning Photos of Toronto Streets in the 1960s

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The 1960s were a time of great change and social upheaval in Toronto, as in many other cities around the world. The city was undergoing rapid growth and development, with many new immigrants coming to the area to take advantage of the economic opportunities. The 1960s also saw the rise of the counterculture movement, with young people challenging traditional social norms and advocating for change. The city’s music and arts scenes were vibrant and lively, and Toronto played host to many important cultural events during this time. Some notable events from the 1960s in Toronto include the opening of the CN Tower in 1976 and the formation of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team.

The two buildings that transformed Toronto were built: New City Hall (1965) and the TD Centre. Streets like Yonge and Bloor were a cluttered mess of irregularly shaped signs; subways were red, flags, awning, and giant signboards, but there was an undeniable beauty in the chaos. Now everything has been changed; the city is more populated and vibrant today.

Below are some stunning photos that show Toronto streets in the 1960s.

#31 New bridge, Steeles Avenue West, East of Dufferin Street, 1960.

New bridge, Steeles Avenue West, East of Dufferin Street, 1960.

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#32 Lothian Mews. The front entrance was through an archway in the building directly east of the University Theatre. And it backed onto the then parking lot (now park) on Cumberland, 1960s

Lothian Mews. The front entrance was through an archway in the building directly east of the University Theatre. And it backed onto the then parking lot (now park) on Cumberland, 1960s

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#35 Punch Buggy!!! and ‘New’ City Hall, June 1966.

Punch Buggy!!! and 'New' City Hall, June 1966.

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#36 CNE in the early 1960s, looking east towards the Princes’ Gates, and the skyline as seen from the city.

CNE in the early 1960s, looking east towards the Princes' Gates, and the skyline as seen from the city.

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#39 Enjoying a Summer’s day in 1967 around Grenadier Pond, onlookers pay little attention to a passing “GO train” on the Lakeshore line – at the time a new experimental commuter train service operated by the Government of Ontario, that eventually grew into the present day GO Transit system.

Enjoying a Summer's day in 1967 around Grenadier Pond, onlookers pay little attention to a passing "GO train" on the Lakeshore line - at the time a new experimental commuter train service operated by the Government of Ontario, that eventually grew into the present day GO Transit system.

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#40 TTC Streetcar 4410 Kingston Road line travelling eastbound on Queen Street East at Church Street. 4 July 1968.

TTC Streetcar 4410 Kingston Road line travelling eastbound on Queen Street East at Church Street. 4 July 1968.

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#41 TTC Streetcar 4643 Kingston Road line heading eastbound on Queen Street West at Bay Street. 5 July 1968.

TTC Streetcar 4643 Kingston Road line heading eastbound on Queen Street West at Bay Street. 5 July 1968.

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#44 Nortown trolley buses. TTC should have kept the trolleys. in 1953 there was a Proposal for a Lawrence trolley bus and an Eglinton west trolley bus, 1964

Nortown trolley buses. TTC should have kept the trolleys. in 1953 there was a Proposal for a Lawrence trolley bus and an Eglinton west trolley bus, 1964

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#45 Bloor Danforth streetcar interchange at Bloor Yonge, 1960s

Bloor Danforth streetcar interchange at Bloor Yonge, 1960s

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#46 City Hall, from a Kodachrome slide dated July, 1966.

City Hall, from a Kodachrome slide dated July, 1966.

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#49 This Peter Witt used to sit next to (east of) the building at 545 Lakeshore Boulevard. The sign on the window indicates that car 2300 was the first one built for the TTC in 1921 and was retired in 1963, the same year that the Canadian Railroad Historical Association acquired the car.

This Peter Witt used to sit next to (east of) the building at 545 Lakeshore Boulevard. The sign on the window indicates that car 2300 was the first one built for the TTC in 1921 and was retired in 1963, the same year that the Canadian Railroad Historical Association acquired the car.

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#50 Tabor Park Vocational School, 1966

Tabor Park Vocational School, 1966

Tabor Park Vocational School designed by Webb, Zerefa and Menkes Architects, was constructed in 1964 and opened on September 7, 1965 by the Scarborough Board of Education. This junior vocational school was tailored to students who were described slow learners and special needs aiming for jobs after high school.

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#53 Yonge Street, looking north from Lakeshore Blvd, 1962

Yonge Street, looking north from Lakeshore Blvd, 1962

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#56 Opening Night at the O’keefe Centre – Credit Lloyd Walton – October 1, 1960

Opening Night at the O'keefe Centre - Credit Lloyd Walton - October 1, 1960

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#57 Swimmers with the much less-developed skyline in 1963,

Swimmers with the much less-developed skyline in 1963,

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#59 View from the observation deck of City Hall, 1966,

View from the observation deck of City Hall, 1966,

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#64 Postcard view of Yonge St. near Gerrard in the 1960s,

Postcard view of Yonge St. near Gerrard in the 1960s,

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#65 Postcard view Looking up Yonge towards Queen St, 1966

Postcard view Looking up Yonge towards Queen St, 1966

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#67 Postcard view of Yonge and Dundas when the Brown Derby held court on the northeast corner, 1966

Postcard view of Yonge and Dundas when the Brown Derby held court on the northeast corner, 1966

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#117 View of the T.D.Centre – Credit Dan Ward, 1968

View of the T.D.Centre - Credit Dan Ward, 1968

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#119 View looking east. St. James peak lower right corner, 1960s

View looking east. St. James peak lower right corner, 1960s

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#122 View looking southeast to Front St. E. from Scott St., Aug. 1966.

View looking southeast to Front St. E. from Scott St., Aug. 1966.

The parking lot here was formed after the demolition of several 19th buildings, much like the ones visible in the photo on the south side of Front St. The parking lot is now the site of Berczy Park.

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#123 St. George’s On-The-Hill Anglican Church, 4600 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, 1965

St. George's On-The-Hill Anglican Church, 4600 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, 1965

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#124 Metropolitan Toronto Traffic Computer Control Centre, 1963

Metropolitan Toronto Traffic Computer Control Centre, 1963

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#125 Metropolitan Toronto Traffic Computer Control Centre, 418 and 1107 consoles, 1963

Metropolitan Toronto Traffic Computer Control Centre, 418 and 1107 consoles, 1963

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#126 Metropolitan Toronto Traffic Computer Control Centre, general view of working area, Old City Hall, 1963

Metropolitan Toronto Traffic Computer Control Centre, general view of working area, Old City Hall, 1963

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#127 View looking north east from Parliament & Bloor Street intersection, 1965.

View looking north east from Parliament & Bloor Street intersection, 1965.

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#128 View looking north east from Parliament & Bloor Street intersection, 1965.

View looking north east from Parliament & Bloor Street intersection, 1965.

The streetcar coming off of Bloor is turning south down Parliament, heading to the CNE.

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#129 Parliament and Bloor st. Streetcar coming off of bloor st to CNE, 1965

Parliament and Bloor st. Streetcar coming off of bloor st to CNE, 1965

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#131 From the movie Martin’s Day, and the view from Don Jail, 1960s

From the movie Martin's Day, and the view from Don Jail, 1960s

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#134 Looking north on Spadina Ave. near Wellington St., 1960.

Looking north on Spadina Ave. near Wellington St., 1960.

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#135 Wilson bus at blondin loop weston rd. – Credit Leonard Jacks, 1966

Wilson bus at blondin loop weston rd. - Credit Leonard Jacks, 1966

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#136 Yonge st below eglinton – Credit Leonard Jacks, 1960

Yonge st below eglinton - Credit Leonard Jacks, 1960

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#137 Fineberg’s Delicatessen. My maternal grandparent’s deli at 648 Queen St. West. (Their family lived in the apartment on the second floor.), 1960s

Fineberg's Delicatessen. My maternal grandparent's deli at 648 Queen St. West. (Their family lived in the apartment on the second floor.), 1960s

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#141 Grade 1 class. Humbercrest Jr/Sr public school. Close to Jane St. and St. Marks. 1969

Grade 1 class. Humbercrest Jr/Sr public school. Close to Jane St. and St. Marks. 1969

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#147 Another view of 12 Lawlor Ave. The house originally belonged to my Great-Grandmother, then my Grandparents, 1960s

Another view of 12 Lawlor Ave. The house originally belonged to my Great-Grandmother, then my Grandparents, 1960s

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#149 The kids of Grade 4 @ St. Cyril’s Catholic School portables 1964

The kids of Grade 4 @ St. Cyril’s Catholic School portables 1964

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#150 Toronto International Sculpture Symposium in High Park, 1967

Toronto International Sculpture Symposium in High Park, 1967

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#154 In the two decades following the Second World War, there was a large growth of families moving and starting their life in the suburbs. This 1969 photo shows Bridlewood Park looking south to Batterswood Drive, Scarborough.

In the two decades following the Second World War, there was a large growth of families moving and starting their life in the suburbs. This 1969 photo shows Bridlewood Park looking south to Batterswood Drive, Scarborough.

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#161 The latest editions of the Star, Globe and Telly were available on every major corner, 1960s

The latest editions of the Star, Globe and Telly were available on every major corner, 1960s

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#166 Toronto Stock Exchange – Credit Lloyd Walton, 1968

Toronto Stock Exchange - Credit Lloyd Walton, 1968

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#167 Church Street looking northeast to Wellesley Street, 1963

Church Street looking northeast to Wellesley Street, 1963

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#168 Kingsmill Secondary School, 1963. Building now home to Bishop Allen Academy since 1989.

Kingsmill Secondary School, 1963. Building now home to Bishop Allen Academy since 1989.

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#169 David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute, 1963

David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute, 1963

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#171 The Esplanade looking west from Berkeley Street to Sherbourne Street, 1969

The Esplanade looking west from Berkeley Street to Sherbourne Street, 1969

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#172 Trailer park with the family on those hot summer weekends, 1960s

Trailer park with the family on those hot summer weekends, 1960s

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#174 Ladies Lounge inside Building 9, ‘Kodak Heights’ facility, 1964.

Ladies Lounge inside Building 9, 'Kodak Heights' facility, 1964.

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Written by Jacob Aberto

Sincere, friendly, curious, ambitious, enthusiast. I'm a content crafter and social media expert. I love Classic Movies because their dialogue, scenery and stories are awesome.

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