York Cemetery, Toronto
Encyclopedia
York Cemetery is a cemetery
located in the city of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. The property of York Cemetery was originally farmed by Joseph Shepard who bought the property in 1805. The brick farm house on the property was constructed by Joseph's son, Michael in 1837. In 1916 the Toronto General Burying grounds (now Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries) bought the property, but didn't start to convert the 172 acre (0.69605992 km²) for cemetery use until 1946, two years before the property officially opened. (1948). The cemetery once fronted on Yonge Street
, but in 1966 eighteen and a half acres were sold to the city of North York (now part of Toronto
). The cemetery has continued to develop, with the addition of a chapel and reception centre, and also the newly built "garden of remembrance".
It is unknown to the public if the Cemetery will develop the land it controls at the bottom of the ravine and neighbouring Burnett Ave Park. Cemetery officials have previously indicated an intention to develop these lands at community meetings.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
located in the city of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The property of York Cemetery was originally farmed by Joseph Shepard who bought the property in 1805. The brick farm house on the property was constructed by Joseph's son, Michael in 1837. In 1916 the Toronto General Burying grounds (now Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries) bought the property, but didn't start to convert the 172 acre (0.69605992 km²) for cemetery use until 1946, two years before the property officially opened. (1948). The cemetery once fronted on Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
, but in 1966 eighteen and a half acres were sold to the city of North York (now part of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
). The cemetery has continued to develop, with the addition of a chapel and reception centre, and also the newly built "garden of remembrance".
It is unknown to the public if the Cemetery will develop the land it controls at the bottom of the ravine and neighbouring Burnett Ave Park. Cemetery officials have previously indicated an intention to develop these lands at community meetings.
Notable interments
- Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia was the youngest child of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. Her older brother was Tsar Nicholas II....
, and her husband Captain Kulikovsky. - Barbara FrumBarbara FrumBarbara Frum, OC was a Canadian radio and television journalist, acclaimed for her interviews for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.-Personal life:...
, journalist. - Henry Howey RobsonHenry Howey RobsonHenry Howey Robson VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, PTE, Second Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment), British Army. Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
recipient for action in World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. - Tim HortonTim HortonMyles Gilbert "Tim" Horton was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in 24 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres. He was also a businessman and a co-founder of Tim Hortons. He died in an...
A former player of the NHL's Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and co-founder of Tim HortonsTim HortonsTim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast casual restaurant known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada's largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in...
, a Canadian restaurant chain - Jesse NilssonJesse NilssonJesse Allan Nilsson was a Canadian actor who starred in several television programmes, one of his notable and last parts being Gabriel Patterson on Adventure Inc...
, actor - Nick HarbarukNick HarbarukMikolaj Nicholas Harbaruk was a professional ice hockey player. Harbaruk played 364 games in the National Hockey League and 181 in the World Hockey Association . Harbaruk played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, and Indianapolis Racers.Harbaruk was born in Poland and immigrated to...
, hockey player - Zoran Kosanović, Yugoslavian table tennis player
See also
York Cemetery is one of the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries, which includes:- Beechwood Cemetery
- Duffin Meadows Cemetery
- Elgin Mills Cemetery
- Meadowvale Cemetery
- Mount Pleasant CemeteryMount Pleasant Cemetery, TorontoMount Pleasant Cemetery is a cemetery located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.In the early 19th century, the only authorized cemeteries within the city of Toronto were limited to the members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England...
- Pine Hills Cemetery
- Prospect Cemetery
- Thornton Cemetery
- Toronto NecropolisToronto NecropolisNecropolis Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Toronto, located on the west side of the Don Valley near Riverdale Farm. Opened in 1850 to replace "Strangers' Burying Ground" , the cemetery is the resting place for many dead Torontonians including:* Joseph Bloor* William Lyon Mackenzie - Toronto's...