Toronto, contrary to popular denigration, has never lacked for civic vision. A 2016 exhibit at its archives, “No Little Plans: Alternative Building and Transportation Visions for Toronto,” proved this point with its display of ambitious plans, proposals and development over the years.
Most of these visions came to naught because the money simply was not there to implement them. Aside from their delirious faith in the Leafs, Torontonians are a practical breed obsessed with their taxes and related hard-currency realities.
Mark Osbaldeston, curator of the exhibit, wrote in the accompanying notes: “Post-war road schemes focused less on creating beautiful civic spaces, and more on moving automobiles.” But in truth, the exhibit showed that this tendency goes back at least 50 years earlier, when the primary goal was to get...
James Roots, although currently living in Kanata, Ontario, is a born and bred Torontonian. He learned photography from his father, one of Toronto’s most popular wedding and portrait photographers for half a century.
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