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

Public Transit in Yorkville

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

1. Public Transit in Yorkville Marker

Inscription. Yorkville has been a vital centre for public transit for more than 150 years. The first transit, in 1849, was a horse-drawn omnibus service owned by cabinetmaker and carriage builder H. Burt Williams. His vehicles carried passengers and mail on a fixed route between St. Lawrence Hall, at King and Jarvis Streets, and the Red Lion Inn, at Yonge and Bloor Streets. The inn was a landmark in the independent Village of Yorkville.

In 1861, the City of Toronto awarded the Toronto Street Railway a franchise to build and run the city's first streetcar line. These first streetcars were horse drawn, built in Philadelphia, USA, and decorated with images of Toronto landmarks. The line, tracing the route of Williams' bus service, contributed to Yorkville's growth. Toronto annexed Yorkville in 1883.

The streetcar lines were electrified in the 1890s. The Yonge streetcar line became the busiest in the city, prompting construction of Canada's first subway. Operated by the publicly owned Toronto Transit Commission, it opened in 1954. Completion of the first phase of the Bloor-Danforth line in 1966 confirmed Yorkville's position as a hub for public transit in Toronto.

Erected 2017 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

• Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 43° 40.192′ N, 79° 23.565′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Yorkville. It is on Cumberland Street 0.1 kilometers east of Avenue Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 146 Cumberland Street, Toronto ON M5R M5R, 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: Budd Sugarman (within shouting distance of this marker); The Penny Farthing (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Mount Sinai Hospital (about 120 meters away); Church of the Redeemer (about 150 meters away); The Lillian Massey Laboratory of Household Science (about 150 meters away); John Daniels House (about 180 meters away); Taddle Creek (about 180 meters away); Charles Trick Currelly 1876-1957 (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

2. Public Transit in Yorkville Marker

Public Transit in Yorkville marker photos and captions detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

3. Public Transit in Yorkville marker photos and captions detail

Public Transit in Yorkville marker illustration and captions detail image. Click for full size.

courtesy Toronto Transit Commission, 1966

4. Public Transit in Yorkville marker illustration and captions detail

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 5, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.