Weston in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

James Gilbert Gove

1884-1974

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 2024

1. James Gilbert Gove Marker

Inscription.
Weston is distinguished by many retaining walls constructed from Humber River stone. One man, skilled stonemason James Gilbert Gove, built a number of these walls, as well as the war memorial in this park.

Before immigrating to Canada in 1923, James Gove acquired his exemplary skills in the southwest of England. Living and working in the Weston area for the remainder of his life, he often used stone gathered from the nearby Humber River for his projects — breaking larger rocks with a heavy hammer, then carefully shaping each one before arranging them in the wall according to size and colour. A veteran of WWI, he was particularly proud of the war memorial and plaza in this park, just a short walk from his home (now demolished) two blocks away on Weston Road. Designed by James Shaw, the memorial was completed by Gove in 1950.

In 2007, Weston's riverstone walls and war memorial were officially recognized as an important part of the community's unique identity and heritage.

Erected 2009 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Immigration

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• Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 43° 42.026′ N, 79° 31.207′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Weston. It is on Little Avenue just south of Weston Road, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located near the sidewalk on the east side of Little Avenue Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22 Little Avenue, Toronto ON M9N M9N, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Founding of Weston (a few steps from this marker); Weston World War Memorial

Marker detail: Map of Weston image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Google Map Data 2009 Tele Atlas

2. Marker detail: Map of Weston

Map of Weston showing, in copper, the locations of many of the area’s riverstone walls.

(within shouting distance of this marker); Queen Mary Hospital / Hôpital Queen Mary (approx. 1.5 kilometers away); Sir William Pearce Howland (approx. 4.4 kilometers away); Corporal Frederick George Topham, V.C. (approx. 4.7 kilometers away); Humbercrest Public School (approx. 5.1 kilometers away); The Maltese Community of Toronto (approx. 5.3 kilometers away); Kabechenong / The Humber River / La rivière Humber (approx. 5.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Little Avenue Memorial Park

Also see . . . Man honoured for contribution to Weston's unique heritage (Toronto.com).

Excerpt: (from North York Mirror, Oct 15, 2009.) The beautiful old river stone walls that line many properties are hallmarks of the Weston community. The man responsible for building this valuable part of the urban landscape, James Gilbert Gove, will be honoured by Heritage Toronto this weekend with a plaque in Little Avenue Memorial Park. Living in Weston from 1923 until his death in 1974, Gove was a master stonemason who contributed
Courtesy Family of James Gove, circa 1952

3. Marker detail: Riverstone Wall Construction
Gove’s riverstone wall under construction at Weston Collegiate, circa 1952. This wall was later destroyed when the Collegiate was rebuilt, while others were reconstructed.
to the unique identity and heritage of the area through his long-standing work. He would haul stones from the Humber River and use them in various projects. A veteran of the First World War, he was also responsible for building the war memorial in Little Avenue Memorial Park, completed in 1950.

(Submitted on October 31, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Stone Wall Construction image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Family of James Gove, circa 1925

4. Marker detail: Stone Wall Construction

James Gove building the stone wall of a house on Weston Road and King Street Crescent, circa 1925.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 2024

5. James Gilbert Gove Marker

Looking west from Little Avenue. Gove’s Weston War Memorial and Plaza can be seen in the left background.

Weston War Memorial and Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 2024

6. Weston War Memorial and Plaza

Located on the west side of Little Avenue Memorial Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 267 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 31, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.