Harbord Village in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Young Men’s - Young Women’s Hebrew Association

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

1. Young Men’s - Young Women’s Hebrew Association Marker

Inscription. Early in the last century, athletic and social clubs were established to offer recreational opportunities to Toronto's Jewish young people. In 1919, a number of those clubs joined to form an umbrella organization that developed by 1936 into the Young Men's-Young Women's Hebrew Association (YM-YWHA).

At first dedicated to sport, the YM-YWHA expanded to offert cultural programmes and community services and to serve children and adults as well. Larger facilities were constructed here at Bloor and Spadina in 1953 and in North York in 1961. The 'Y' was renamed the Jewish Community Centre JCC) in 1978.

Although primarily a Jewish association, the YM-YWHA welcomed people of all faiths and cultural traditions. Now encompassing the Miles Nadal JCC, the Prosserman JCC (Bathurst-Sheppard area, and the Schwartz-Reisman Centre (York Region), the JCC continues to offer vital centres of community, support, and recreation for all.

Erected 2009 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage

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series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 43° 39.987′ N, 79° 24.235′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Harbord Village. It is at the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street West, on the right when traveling south on Spadina Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 790 Spadina Avenue, Toronto ON M5S 2J2, 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: After the Spadina Expressway (within shouting distance of this marker); Spadina Expressway (within shouting distance of this marker); “Stop Spadina Save Our City” (within shouting distance of this marker); Saint Thomas’s Anglican Church (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Brunswick House

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

2. Young Men’s - Young Women’s Hebrew Association Marker

(approx. 0.3 kilometers away); 35 Walmer Road (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Medical Arts Building (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Early meteorology in Canada / Les débuts de la météorologie au Canada (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre in 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

3. The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre in 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.