CITY OF TORONTO

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 135, 5 December 1933, Page 7

CITY OF TORONTO

CENTENARY NEXTTYEAR

ELABORATE PROGRAMME

" In an elaborately planned series of public ceremonies' from April to- August next year, Toronto will celebrate the centenary of its incorporation as a city under its present name. •

In 1834 Toronto—its name is an Indian word signifying "a place . of meeting"—had. a population of 9000. Today it has more than 625,000 people, and in its immediate area-a population of about 800,000. The first record of a settlement on the site is in 1750 when the French built a fort and called it Fort Bouille. Nino years later they burned it to prevent it falling into the hands of the British. The settlement persisted, however, and in 1793 it was chosen as the site of the capital of Upper Canada, now tho province of Ontario, by Governor Simeoe and named Yoik in honnur of the Duke of York, boh of King George 111. Twenty years later, in the Avar of 1812, troops from, the United States seized tho town and burned it, but again it ioso from the ashes. In 1834 the name onco more was changed, and tho infant city set its feet on the •path of progress which has,led to its present place as second only to_ Montreal among Canadian communities. The civic committee which has made plans for tho centenary proposes a oelebration in five periods. They will »;pen on March 4 with religious oxcroises and continue on March 5 and 6— tho last-named date marking exactly one hundred years from the signing, of the city's act of incorporation. From April 16 to April 21 will bo Music ■\Veek. On May 24, a national holiday in Canada instituted many years ago in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday, i'ort York, restored, will be opened, and it is hoped to have present descendants of Governor Simeoe and also of M. de la Jonquiere, who built the original fort in 1750.

Ceremonies on July 2, 3, and 4 will have much of interest. It is hoped that the Lord Mayor or London will be able to attend, and the Mayors and city clerks of all Ontario towns and cities will be invited.! Plans are under way i;or a great reunion of ex-service men on August 4, the twentieth anniversary of the outbreak of tho Great War; a. drumhead divine servico the following day in the natural amphitheatre of Jliverdale PaTk, and a military tattoo on August 6 to bring to a conclusion the five, months' programme.