Guild Park

Toronto Scarborough Guild Park is not just a park, it is an amazing exhibition of architecture collection. Without that collection, lots of brilliant sculptures and architectural fragments would be gone in the city's development. Lots of hidden history was preserved through the collection. 

I was very lucky to have the opportunity to follow a guided tour in May 2024 and learn about that hidden history. The Guild Park is worth visiting many times. Thanks to all the volunteers from the Friends of Guild Park.

Here is a history background introduction by the Friends of Guild Park

Guild Park and Gardens covers 88 acres of unique forest, shoreline and open parkland located atop the Scarborough Bluffs at 201 Guildwood Pkwy., Toronto. The property is former home of the popular Guild Inn, a private hotel, licenced restaurant and arts/cultural centre owned and operated for more than 50 years by the late Rosa and Spencer Clark. As art patrons, they used the site to launch a legacy of supporting hundreds of Canadian artists and craftspeople with the Guild of All Arts.   In doing so, the couple created a popular public destination and a place visited by world leaders, prime ministers and performers including Glenn Gould, Sir Ernest MacMillan and so the story goes even Bob Hope.

The Guild Inn as it became known expanded from the original country estate, built in 1917,  to a facility able to accommodate growing numbers of guests (local residents and out-of-town visitors), special events (from weddings to arts festivals) and corporate activities (such as education classes and professional conferences). Guests ranged from Canada’s Prime Minister Lester Pearson and the Netherlands’ Queen Juliana; to musicians Sir Ernest MacMillan and Glenn Gould and performers Sir Lawrence Olivier and Lorne Greene. 

After many successful year's of operation the Clark's sold the property in 1978 to the Province of Ontario and today it is jointly managed by the City of Toronto and Toronto Region Conservation Association. 

The park includes a unique collection of outdoor sculptures and architectural fragments preserved from more than 50 downtown Toronto buildings that were demolished in the 20th Century. The site remains a popular site for wedding and commercial photography, television and video production and outdoor community activities.  

Address:

201 Guildwood Pkwy, Scarborough, ON

Public Transit:

 Lakeshore West GO Train to Eglington GO, and transfer to TTC Route 116 to Guild Park

Public Transit Tips:

GO and TTC are free for children 12-year-old and under.

 Adults can buy a weekend day pass from gotransit.ca for only $10 between any two GO stations. (It is an e-ticket that requires to be activated from your email 5 minutes before boarding the train. You don't need to tap Presto Card for the train with a valid day pass. TTC still requires a Presto Card) 

Research

There are three photos on this page. Can you find where these architectural fragments originally located (building name, owner, or location)? 

2024 Summer Contest (HDSB students only)

1. Find the above three collection items from Park and take a photo.

2. Answer the research question

3. Send me your photo and answers by Sept 1. Please include your school and grade. 

4. The first 10 respondents with the most correct answers will receive a small present.

Please email me your answers, xinyi@trusteezhang.ca

Winners will be informed in the first week of September. 

For student privacy protection, please do not share with me the student's name and address unless you wish me to deliver the present to the winner's home. The winners are encouraged to receive the presents in my drop-in sessions.

Photo: Xin Yi Zhang (2024)