By GENE DOMAGALA This column is dedicated to my great-granddaughter Nahla, 5. Let me make this clear. Yes, there is Black History Month in February but in my humble opinion it should be called African Canadian Month. Lately there have been articles and statements about the racial inequality in different sectors of society, and they […]
Category: Beach Memories
Beach Memories: Skating has long been a popular pastime in the parks, and former ponds, of East Toronto
By GENE DOMAGALA During this COVID-19 dilemma we have now seen great interest in how people can spend their leisure time, especially here in the east end and the Beach. One of the most popular events 120 years ago or so and up to the present day is ice skating. I have written about this […]
Beach Memories: Thanks to all the people and organizations that make the Beach such a great place
By GENE DOMAGALA I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of those who wished me good luck and best wishes from the bottom of my Beach heart! All of the charitable works that have been done in the east end and the Beach are due to the wonderful kind people in […]
Beach Memories: Graves of soldiers buried at St. John’s Norway Cemetery a place to remember and honour Canada’s fallen
By GENE DOMAGALA Well over two million men and women have served in Canada’s Armed Forces in the past 120 years. They represented the navy, army and air force in the cause of freedom in our great country of Canada. Countless thousands died and were buried in far off graves in other countries as well […]
Beach Memories: When Danforth Avenue was known as Used Car Lot Heaven
By GENE DOMAGALA Many times, people have asked me about the Danforth. There have been many articles written about Danforth Avenue, but I think the book The Danforth in Pictures: A Brief History of the Danforth by Barbara Myrvold is the best and most historically comprehensive I have seen. Many other names have been attributed […]
Beach Memories: Toronto Beaches Lions Club celebrating 85 years of serving the community
By GENE DOMAGALA The Lions Club of Canada has been around for 100 years. The Lions Club in the Beach is celebrating its 85th birthday this year. There is no service club that has done so much good work and supported so many charity events in Toronto, and especially in the east end and most […]
VE Day 75th Anniversary: Beach Memories tells how the Kew Gardens War Memorial honours those who served
By GENE DOMAGALA Seventy-five years ago today was VE Day – Victory in Europe. A few months later, the Second World War ended. We hoped that was the end of war forever. Millions of lives were lost in this war. In the Beach, people were exhausted by this long and terrible war that took so […]
Beach Memories: We will take on fight against COVID-19 and we will triumph
By GENE DOMAGALA The tragic calamity that is happening around the world is one of the worst devastations that has happened in our lifetime. I don’t know if it is one of the worst tragedies in the history of civilization. There certainly have been others such as the Spanish Flu which went around the world […]
Beach Memories: Input from readers sought on Queen Street East in the Beach and its history
By GENE DOMAGALA Whatever happened to the businesses on Queen Street East? Dear readers, I want your input and your memories on this crucial subject. First, let us get a little bit of history on Queen Street since this month is Toronto’s birthday. Queen Street, in one way or another, locally and politically has been […]
Beach Memories: Reflecting on the important role police officers play in our community
By GENE DOMAGALA This column is dedicated to all the police officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. They are not forgotten and will always be remembered, especially the three from 55 Division. I am writing about the police from the 1880s until the present day. All of the information and material […]