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

Toronto Heliconian Club

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

1. Toronto Heliconian Club Marker

Inscription. The Heliconian Club, founded in 1909 to provide a forum for women in the arts, purchased this property in 1923. Opened in 1876 as the Olivet Congregational Church, this small gothic revival building became the church hall and sunday school in 1890 when a larger adjacent building was erected. In 1921 it was sold to the painters' union and named Hazelton hall, when acquired by the Heliconian Club it was extensively renovated as its permanent home. Over the years the membership of the Heliconian Club has included many Canadian women distinguished in the arts.

Erected 1983 by Toronto Historical Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Women. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 43° 40.313′ N, 79° 23.614′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Yorkville. It is at the intersection of Hazelton Avenue and Scollard Street, on the right when traveling north on Hazelton Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 34 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto ON M5R 2E2, 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,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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 walking distance of this marker: Heliconian Hall (a few steps from this marker); The Penny Farthing (about 120

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meters away, measured in a direct line); Mount Sinai Hospital (about 150 meters away); John Daniels House (about 210 meters away); Public Transit in Yorkville (about 240 meters away); Budd Sugarman (about 240 meters away); Church of the Redeemer (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Eastern Sound Studio (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . The Heliconian Hall (heliconianclub.org).

The Hall dates from 1876 when Yorkville was a rural village on the outskirts of Toronto. Originally a church, and then the headquarters of a painters’ union, the building was bought by the club in 1923 for $8,000 and named Heliconian Hall. Its beautiful acoustics continue to make it one of Toronto's most cherished small concert halls.

The building is an excellent example of the rare Carpenter’s Gothic architectural style, with a simple board and batten exterior, Victorian rose window, and carved rafters in a high vaulted ceiling. The Heliconian Hall is one of the few buildings of this style remaining in southern Ontario. It was designated a Toronto historic site in 1990 and a National Historic Site in 2008

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

2. Toronto Heliconian Club Marker

(Submitted on June 5, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

The Heliconian Hall in 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

3. The Heliconian Hall in 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 5, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.