Toronto Hunt Club
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Hunt Club was established in by British Army
officers of the Toronto garrison (Fort York
) in 1843. It held gymkhana
equestrian events at various sites around the city. In 1895 it acquired its first permanent home in a rural area east of the city between Kingston Road
and the waterfront. In 1898 the streetcar was extended eastward to the site, and soon the area became a cottage district and then streetcar suburb
of Toronto. This forced the equestrian activities to move further afield. In 1907 the horses were thus moved to a site in Thornhill
(Steeles' Corner at Steeles Avenue and Yonge Street).
In 1919 the club moved to a location closer to town at Eglinton Avenue
and Avenue Road. Known as the Eglinton Hunt Club, a polo arena, clubhouses and other facilities were erected. The 1930s saw the club run into financial difficulties, however. In 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, the large site was purchased by the federal government and turned into a secret RCAF research facility, the No. 1 Clinical Investigation Unit. Noted scientists Frederick Banting
and Wilbur R. Franks
were employed there, at it was at the CIU that Frank invented the g-suit
. After the war it became the RCAF Staff School, and remained an officer training facility of the Canadian Forces
until closed in 1994. The surround area of the Eglinton Hunt Club is now established residential neighbourhood of Forest Hill.
The original Hunt Club site in Scarborough was turned into a nine hole golf course in the 1930s, and it remains an exclusive private golfing club today. The current club champion is Chris Jones as was determined on the annual Champions Day, September 18, 2010.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officers of the Toronto garrison (Fort York
Fort York
Fort York is a historic site of military fortifications and related buildings on the west side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The fort was built by the British Army and Canadian militia troops in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, to defend the settlement and the new capital of the...
) in 1843. It held gymkhana
Gymkhana
Gymkhana is a typical Anglo-Indian expression, which is derived from the Hindi-Urdu word for "racket court," is an Indian term which originally referred to a place where sporting events take place. The meaning then altered to denote a place where skill-based contests were held...
equestrian events at various sites around the city. In 1895 it acquired its first permanent home in a rural area east of the city between Kingston Road
Kingston Road (Toronto)
Kingston Road is the southernmost major road along the eastern portion of Toronto, specifically in the districts of East York and Scarborough. Until 1998, it formed a significant portion of Highway 2...
and the waterfront. In 1898 the streetcar was extended eastward to the site, and soon the area became a cottage district and then streetcar suburb
Streetcar suburb
A streetcar suburb is a residential community whose growth and development was strongly shaped by the use of streetcar lines as a primary means of transportation. Early suburbs were served by horsecars, but by the late 19th century cable cars and electric streetcars, or trams, were used, allowing...
of Toronto. This forced the equestrian activities to move further afield. In 1907 the horses were thus moved to a site in Thornhill
Thornhill, Ontario
Thornhill is a community in the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the northern border of the city of Toronto. Once a municipal village, Thornhill is now a community and postal designation geographically split into two municipalities along Yonge Street, the city of...
(Steeles' Corner at Steeles Avenue and Yonge Street).
In 1919 the club moved to a location closer to town at Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue, originally known as the Richview Sideroad within Etobicoke, is an east-west arterial thoroughfare in Toronto and Mississauga, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Within Toronto, Eglinton Avenue is the only road which crosses through all six former boroughs...
and Avenue Road. Known as the Eglinton Hunt Club, a polo arena, clubhouses and other facilities were erected. The 1930s saw the club run into financial difficulties, however. In 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, the large site was purchased by the federal government and turned into a secret RCAF research facility, the No. 1 Clinical Investigation Unit. Noted scientists Frederick Banting
Frederick Banting
Sir Frederick Grant Banting, KBE, MC, FRS, FRSC was a Canadian medical scientist, doctor and Nobel laureate noted as one of the main discoverers of insulin....
and Wilbur R. Franks
Wilbur R. Franks
Wilbur Rounding Franks was a Canadian scientist, notable as the inventor of the anti-gravity suit or G-suit, and for his work in cancer research....
were employed there, at it was at the CIU that Frank invented the g-suit
G-suit
A G-suit, or the more accurately named anti-G suit, is worn by aviators and astronauts who are subject to high levels of acceleration force . It is designed to prevent a black-out and G-LOC caused by the blood pooling in the lower part of the body when under acceleration, thus depriving the...
. After the war it became the RCAF Staff School, and remained an officer training facility of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
until closed in 1994. The surround area of the Eglinton Hunt Club is now established residential neighbourhood of Forest Hill.
The original Hunt Club site in Scarborough was turned into a nine hole golf course in the 1930s, and it remains an exclusive private golfing club today. The current club champion is Chris Jones as was determined on the annual Champions Day, September 18, 2010.