Aside the interesting gravestones and the gothic architecture, the cemeteries’ famous residents have made them an unofficial tourist stop in any country or city. Toronto cemeteries are no different. Each year, a great number of tourists visit grave sites of notable people in the fields of science and entertainment. These tourists may not be able [...]
In Canada, there are three main funeral rituals: viewings, the service itself, then burial. Not all religious traditions follow this pattern, however. The following rituals are commonplace for most Christians but would differ somewhat from Jewish, Hindu and Muslim practices. […]
In Canada, the number of individuals choosing cremation over traditional burial has increased from approximately five per cent in the 1970s to almost 60 per cent in 2012. One of the key questions facing anyone considering cremation is: How would I like my ashes or those of my loved ones preserved forever with dignity and [...]
It’s been said that in the 19th century, there were more churches in Toronto than in any other city on earth. During that era, the city’s churches were mostly Anglican, reflecting the denomination of the early settlers. St. James Anglican Cathedral, for instance, is actually the fourth “St. James” church on its site on King [...]
Toronto commuters and visitors hurrying through the subway’s main hub at Yonge and Bloor probably have no idea that it was once the site of another kind of “underground”: Toronto’s first cemetery. Known as Potters Field, the short-lived burial ground was opened in 1825 but closed down a mere thirty years later. The bodies were [...]
