Ghost Tours Toronto

Spring on the Historic Toronto Islands!

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** For summertime fun, it's hard to imagine a better place than the Toronto Islands. It's so much more than a small amusement park, Chelsea Beach, and walking and bike trails. It's about growing up in Toronto. About the ten minute ride over on the ferry boat, and the memories that have made Toronto a summertime city. It's a stretch of land that is historic and fascinating, both geologically and socially as well. And a history that brings together the stories of Toronto from its founding. The Gibraltar Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1809, and is one of the oldest structures in Toronto. It is best known for the ghost story of its murdered first keeper, John Paul Rademüller. But that's another story for another day. The peninsula was partially severed by a storm in 1852, which created a sandbar that was dangerously thin, and the peninsula became an island permanently by a violent storm that cut out the eastern channel, two hotels on the island were also destroyed. The modern history of the Islands' begins here! The Islands' have three main parts, and all three have their historic elements, the most being the western most island named for the Hanlan family. A spectacular hotel, "The Ned Hanlan" was built and a regatta course dredged out of the western lagoon. An amusement park followed, and an airport after that! It was also a residential enclave with most of the homes appearing on Ward's and Centre Islands. By the 1950s these residential areas started to disappear, as the idea of increasing city parkland took shape. **Take a quick peek at my introduction video which follows at** https://youtu.be/hkVHx5Ol9qI The tour begins and ends at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street. We will meet inside the gates! And we will head over as a group, so tickets must be bought before! Please meet 10 minutes before the meetup time! This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

All About the Historic Beaches! (SPECIAL EXTENDED TOUR)

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** [torontohistorywalks@gmail.com](http://torontohistorywalks@gmail.com%2A%2A/) **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** [torontohistorywalks@gmail.com](http://torontohistorywalks@gmail.com%2A%2A/) The area was first settled in 1794 by the Ashbridge family, whose name is remembered by the nearby bay and park. Their homestead on Queen Street East was well to the west of the area currently identified as the Beaches. A later generation of the Ashbridge family rebuilt the family home in 1854 and can be seen on Queen Street East opposite the TTC barns near Kingston Road. The Beaches remained a sparely settled community until the end of the 19th century when extension of the Grand Truck Railway, the draining of the northern parts of Ashbridges Bay, and the construction of street car tracks on Queen Street and Kingston Road, opened the area to settlement. From Sunnyside Amusement Park built in 1922 to Scarboro Beach built in 1906, it seemed that Toronto cornered the market on summertime chills and thrills. We had 5 major amusement parks along our waterfront, and two smaller parks, Victoria Park and Munro Park, virtually unknown to Torontonians today, but extremely popular summertime places, years ago as pleasure parks. This walking tour is for all walking levels and fitness skills. Please dress for the season and bring water. And remember to bring your love of history. It begins outside the Beaches Branch of the Toronto Public Library at Queen Street East, and Lee Avenue adjacent to Kew Gardens. The tour ends at the Neville Park Queen Street Streetcar Loop. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person. \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** [torontohistorywalks@gmail.com](http://torontohistorywalks@gmail.com%2A%2A/)

Landmarks! (NEW for 2026)

**The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** Toronto is a city that hides its history in plain sight. Beneath the glass towers are layers of stories — grand hotels that vanished overnight, political scandals whispered through stone corridors, theatres that once glittered under gaslight, and laneways where the city first learned how to become a metropolis. This new Toronto History Walks tour invites the walker to slow down, and see the city differently. Over the course of 30 carefully chosen stops, this walking tour traces the landmarks that helped shape the history of Toronto. Beginning at the site of the legendary Holland House — once one of the city’s finest mansions, and a gathering place for politicians, and businessmen, the route winds through the old heart of downtown, uncovering stories both famous and forgotten. Some locations are grand and imposing. Others are easy to walk past without a second glance. Every stop reveals a piece of Toronto’s personality. At Osgoode Hall, visitors will stand before one of the city’s most elegant historic buildings. Nearby, the old banks and newspaper buildings of the financial district recall an era when Toronto proudly called itself “Toronto the Good,” even as corruption and backroom dealings simmered beneath the surface. The tour also explores the vanished city — the Toronto that survives only in photographs, and memory. Walkers will discover where magnificent Victorian structures once stood before demolition crews erased entire blocks in the name of progress. Former theatres, hotels, markets, and department stores emerge again through storytelling, helping modern explorers imagine the bustle, smoke, and noise of earlier generations. Stories of fire, disaster, celebration, and reinvention. Participants will hear how the Great Fire of 1904 transformed downtown streets, how immigrant communities reshaped neighbourhoods block by block, and how Toronto repeatedly reinvented itself through booms, depressions, wars, and waves of newcomers. But this tour is not simply about dates and buildings. It is about people. The politicians who argued over Confederation. The hotel clerks who witnessed scandals. The newspaper editors who shaped public opinion. The shopkeepers, labourers, entertainers, and ordinary Torontonians whose lives unfolded along these same streets. Toronto has always had hidden corners and strange tales: tunnels beneath streets, forgotten cemeteries beneath office towers, unsolved crimes, and buildings said to carry echoes of the past. Even longtime residents may find themselves surprised by what has been quietly standing before them all along. Come along and experience a very different city. A deep dive into our history. This walking tour begins at the southwest **corner** of Bay Street and Wellington Street adjacent to the Royal Bank Plaza building. It ends at Campbell House at Queen and University Avenue. This walking tour is for all walking levels. Please dress for the season, and hope to see you there. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person. \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Ernest Hemingway's Trail: Cedarvale Ravine! Hosted by Ernest Hemingway

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** Get ready for spring heat with a private tour of Cedarvale Ravine with the one and only Ernest Hemingway. He will escort you on a fascinating tour full of history and stories of his life when he was a resident of Toronto. Not to be missed! Hope to see you there1 Castle Frank Brook meandered through Cedarvale Park, and Ernest Hemingway, loved the urban tranquility this park oasis offered. At the time it was a cattle path in the heart of the city. In the 1920s and the 1930s plans to destroy the park and ravine with development was halted due to the Depression in the 1930s. In the 1960s and 1970s, there were plans to build the Spadina Expressway which would have destroyed the park and the surrounding area. Today, this walk is a soothing retreat into the heart of Forest Hill. And learn about Mr. Hemingway, the man, who will be the TOUR GUIDE on this tour, yes you read it correctly, he is leading this tour, and he will tell you all about his experiences, how he felt about walking in this part of the city and his strong feelings about life and Toronto in general! This walk is for all fitness levels with some hills and inclines. And for guests wishing to bring their furry 4 legged friends, all dogs must be leashed for the walk! We begin this walking adventure outside the St. Clair West Subway Station at the **HEATH STREET NORTH EXIT** in Forest Hill on Tichester/Heath Street west of Spadina Avenue. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00! per person! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Mount Pleasant Cemetery (WEEKDAY)

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** The only authorized cemeteries within York were Anglican or Roman Catholic. Citizens who did not belong to either church had no choice but to find burial arrangements outside York. The General Burying Ground received Royal Assent in 1826 and land that came to be known as Potters Field was acquired and started operation soon afterwards. Over time, additional cemetery lands were added and in 1873, a new cemetery available to all citizens was established. The new cemetery was situated on the farm land of the Cawthra family near Yonge Street. This walk is for all fitness levels. Please dress for the weather. This walk will begin and end outside the Yorkminster Park Baptist Church at 1585 Yonge Street just north of Heath Street. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person! This tour has space for **11** explorers, so if you do plan on attending please secure your tickets early. \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

The History and Geology of the Scarborough Bluffs!

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** Welcome to Toronto History Walks! This walking tour blends the human history and the natural history of the area. A fascinating tour, so don't miss it. If you are new to Toronto then this tour is for you! The Scarborough Bluffs is Toronto's best kept secret. Known as "Les Grands Ecores." by the French, and in 1788 Alexander Aitken, called the bluffs the High Lands. A hidden gem in Toronto which hides many secrets. Elizabeth Simcoe named the Bluffs the Scarborough Highlands in 1793 and had reminded Elizabeth Simcoe of the limestone cliffs back in England, in her own words from her diary: "The shore is extremely bold and has the appearance of chalk cliffs, but I believe they are only white sand. They appeared so well that we talked of building a summer residence there and calling it Scarborough." The Scarborough Bluffs extended west along the coastline of Lake Ontario towards the town of York and later Toronto, but vast areas along the western edge were razed for industrial and residential development. The formation of the chalk cliffs continues to shrink due to erosion. The price of this tour is $15.00 per person This extensive walking tour begins at Bluffers Park Road and Brimley Road South, south of Kingston Road near the lake at the marina stop! The 201 Bluffers Park Bus leaves Kennedy Subway Station every 15 minutes. Hope to see you there! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Toronto History with a Twist: Historical Improv! (RETURN FOR 2026)

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **Let's begin the summer season with this creative walk that truly connects us all.** This walk allows walkers to jump into Toronto history itself and become the players that made Toronto. The last time I did this tour, I got so many positive remarks. Walkers had the time of their lives and learned so much more about Toronto! So let's do this one again! Calling all aspiring actors and actresses, Hollywood bound dreamers, anyone with a passion to act. Have you caught the acting bug? If so and this sounds like you then step up to the acting plate. And you don't even have had to act, just want something new to help connect us all. Why not walk, get your steps in, and see Toronto from a totally different and fun perspective. Becoming the history characters we all know and love. **Historical Improv.** This is a different walking tour. Sounds good, sounds way different, right? The best way to understand history is to become history. Why not exercise the imagination with a few 2 or 3-minute sketches and improv situations along the route. Let's meet Mr. Simcoe, his wife Elizabeth, the Queen's Rangers as they create a path through the wilderness. These improv sketches are based on historical facts. They will help convert the shy, build up the confidence, create laughter and merriment, (merriment might be a bit strong) call it street theatre. What more is there? You never know when the casting agent, or Hollywood is **watching** peeking around the corner waiting for **you.** This walk is for all walking levels. Please dress for the weather, and hope to see you there. This fun and unique walking tour begins and ends at Little Norway Park near the foot of Bathurst Street, and Queen's Quay West. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person. \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

🎂🥩 MATHEW’S BIRTHDAY DINNER AT THE KEG MANSION 🥩🎂

🎂🥩 MATHEW’S BIRTHDAY DINNER AT THE KEG MANSION 🥩🎂 An Intimate Evening, Great Food & One of Toronto’s Most Haunted Mansions 👀 This year, we’re celebrating in one of the most iconic and atmospheric restaurants in the city. Join me for my birthday dinner at The Keg Mansion — a historic mansion filled with elegance, history… and more than a few ghost stories. Originally built in 1867, the mansion was once the home of Hart Massey and one of Toronto’s wealthiest families before eventually becoming the restaurant we know today. Over the years, it’s also become famous for its haunted reputation, mysterious sightings, and eerie atmosphere. Expect: 🥩 Incredible food 🕯️ A stunning historic mansion 👻 A slightly spooky vibe 🍷 A warm, intimate evening together Click Here - [Menu](https://thekeg.com/en/locations/mansion/menu) This is one of those places that feels like a full experience — not just dinner. 🏛️ Please note: This is a historic building — no elevator and lots of stairs. Just something to be aware of before you come. 📲 **Join Our WhatsApp Group:**[ Click here to join](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DRFTkxRlHS4B3IL1lMleUd) *** 🍝 The Plan We’ll gather, settle in, and enjoy a relaxed evening of food, conversation, and connection. This is a smaller, more intimate event — capped at **25 people** to keep the experience comfortable and social. Whether you’ve been to many events or this is your first — you’re absolutely welcome. “A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.” *** 🎁 Birthday Note (Please Read) Your presence is more than enough. 🎂 No gifts are needed 🎁 No group gifts ***Please do not organize or contribute to any group gift — no one should feel any pressure around that.*** This night is about spending time together. That’s it. *** 🧢 Meetup Details 📍 Location: The Keg Mansion 🫎I will be outside and I will be wearing my Moose hat. ⏰ Meetup Time: 5:15PM I will only wait 5 minutes. (And yes… don’t keep the birthday boy waiting 😉) *** 💳 **Reservation & Commitment** To secure your spot: If you’ve *never attended* an event with Mathew before, a **$30 seat deposit** is required via e-transfer to 📧 **mathewmaclean@hotmail.com** within 24 hours of signing up. ✔️ You will receive the $30 back when you arrive ❗ No refunds or exchanges if you cancel This helps ensure committed attendance, as reservations are being made in advance. *** 💵 Cost There is **no meetup fee** for this event — this is my way of saying thank you for being part of this community 💖 Meals are individual (expect $$–$$$ depending on what you order). *** ⚠️ Important Please do NOT contact the restaurant about this event — they won’t have details. For any questions, message me directly. *** 🌈 Who Is This For? This group is open to anyone who wants to be social and make friends — whether single or not. We also host: 🎬 Movies 🚶 Walks & hikes 🎭 Arts & culture outings 🍽️ Restaurant gatherings There’s always something happening. *** 👤 Organizer: Mathew Questions? Post on the event wall or email 📧 torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com Come for the pasta. Stay for the people. Leave feeling like you were part of something special. 🎂✨

Algonquin Park Hiking Tour

Killarney Park Hiking Trip

Full Moon Guided Night Paddle! - May 31st

**Join us on our Full Moon Night Paddles on May 31st!** Use the following link to book your spot on our Full Moon Guided Night Tour: [https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/full-moon-guided-tour/](https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/full-moon-guided-tour/) See Toronto’s Humber River like you’ve never seen it before! Enter Toronto’s calm, meandering Humber River at King’s Mill Park North. We paddle down as the full moon guides our way to the mouth of Lake Ontario and towards a beautiful view of Toronto’s skyline! We will have staff on the water in their own safety boats during this night time paddle! *Events are subject to weather and other factors out of our control. If we must cancel or delay an event we will let those booked on the [torontoadventures.ca](http://torontoadventures.ca/) website know as soon as possible.* **Pricing (per seat), Payable online through:** [https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/full-moon-guided-tour/](https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/full-moon-guided-tour/) Single Kayak (seats 1 person) : $50 +taxes Tandem Kayak (seats 2 people) : $90 +taxes Regular Canoe (seats 2 people) : $80 +taxes Large Canoe (seats 3 people) : $90 +taxes Voyageur Group (Per person) : $45 +taxes **What's Included:** * Boat(s) * Paddle(s) * PFD(s)/ "Life Jacket(s)” * Coast Guard Safety Kit. * Our friendly staff to help you every step of the way! **What to Bring:** * Dress for the weather! * Wear closed-toe athletic footwear you don’t mind getting wet & muddy. * It gets cooler at night so bring an extra layer! * A water bottle * Government Issued Photo ID. **More Information:** * Anyone under 18 must be accompanied on the water by an adult or legal guardian. * Waivers Mandatory – sign the online waiver (available through order confirmation) for each attendee. * We Start & Finish this event at our Humber Location, so no need for a shuttle. * Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for Check-In. * Paddlers must be comfortable treading water while wearing a PFD and reaching a shoreline (minimum 20 metres to shore). **[Google Link Directions](https://torontoadventures.ca/directions/#humberriverlocation)** **[Cancellation Policy](https://torontoadventures.ca/faq/#cancellation)** We hope to see you out on the water!

🏡🌿 THE BRIDLE PATH (DRAKE’S MANSION) & EDWARDS GARDENS WALK 🌿🏡

🏡🌿 **THE BRIDLE PATH (DRAKE’S MANSION) & EDWARDS GARDENS WALK** 🌿🏡 Luxury Streets, Hidden Trails & A Garden Escape Some parts of Toronto feel like a completely different world — and this walk takes you right through them. Join us for a social walk through The Bridle Path, one of the most exclusive and wealthiest neighbourhoods in the city — known for its massive estates, gated homes, and quiet, tree-lined streets. This is where celebrities and icons have lived, including Drake and the late Gordon Lightfoot. It’s the kind of area where the houses don’t just impress — they *shock*. From there, we’ll shift into nature and make our way toward Edwards Gardens, where things slow down with flowers, pathways, and a peaceful break in the middle of the walk. This is not a formal tour. It’s a social walk — a mix of city curiosity, nature, and good conversation. 📲 **Join Our WhatsApp Group:**[ Click here to join](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DRFTkxRlHS4B3IL1lMleUd) \*\*\* **🚶‍♂️ What We’ll Do** We’ll begin in the Bridle Path area, walking through the neighbourhood to take in some of the largest and most impressive homes in Toronto. From there, we’ll head toward Edwards Gardens, where we’ll take about a 30-minute break to relax, explore, and enjoy the flowers. After the break, we’ll continue along parts of the Don River trail, finishing near Eglinton & Don Mills. For those who want, we can grab something casual afterward at Tim Hortons or McDonald's. ☕🍔 You’re welcome to join or head out whenever you like. \*\*\* **🌦️ Weather & Expectations** This walk happens rain or shine. Please come prepared for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. The route is moderate and includes a mix of neighbourhood streets and park trails. Also — this is NOT a guided or historical tour. I’ll share bits of context casually, but the focus is on being social and enjoying the walk. \*\*\* 🧢 Meetup Details 📍 Meetup Location: Par king lot near Bayview Ave (exact spot easy to find on arrival) 🫎 I’ll be wearing my Moose Hat ⏰ Meetup Time: 11:00 AM I will only wait 5 minutes. Early is on time. On time is late. We’ll begin promptly. **End Point:** Near Eglinton & Don Mills (not returning to start) \*\*\* 🎟️ Meetup Fee: $5 cash in person or e-transfer to 📧 \*\*[mathewmaclean@hotmail.com**](http://mathewmaclean@hotmail.com%2A%2A/) This helps support the group and allows us to keep hosting events like this. Thank you for supporting community! 💖 \*\*\* 🎒 **What to Bring** Water Good walking shoes A small snack Weather-appropriate clothing Please also use the washroom before arriving, as stops are limited. \*\*\* 🌈 **Who Is This For?** This group is open to anyone who wants to be social and make friends — whether single or not. **We also host:** 🎬 Movies 🚶 Walks & hikes 🎭 Arts & culture outings 🍽️ Restaurant gatherings There’s always something happening. \*\*\* **REMEMBER:** You’re welcome to just show up on the day if you’re unsure about your schedule. And as always, sometimes plans shift and events may need to be canceled — please keep an eye on updates. \*\*\* 👤 Organizer: Mathew Questions? Post on the event wall or email 📧 [torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com](mailto:torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com) Come for the mansions. Stay for the gardens. Leave feeling like you saw two completely different sides of Toronto — in one walk. 🏡✨