Danforth East York in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
William (Billy) McKay Jr. (1862 - 1943)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 10, 2025
1. William (Billy) McKay Jr. Marker
William McKay was an early supporter of the development of the Township of East York. In 1891, McKay bought about 16 hectares (40 acres) for a farm between present-day Sammon, Cosburn, Durant, and Glebemount Avenues. In the 1920s, McKay aided the township's growth by donating and selling portions of his land at an affordable price, providing space for the original East York Municipal Building, R. H. McGregor School, and Toronto East General Hospital (Michael Garron Hospital). These buildings were vital to East York's development. By the late 1920s, however, the township saw McKay's remaining land as an obstacle to its expansion. The township believed McKay was no longer maintaining a farm and reclassified his property, raising his taxes beyond his ability to pay. This action started a long-running dispute. As McKay aged, he became unable to properly maintain his property, and in 1937 he was placed in Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital. In 1939, the Township of East York took ownership of the rest of McKay's land due to unpaid taxes and subdivided it for homes. McKay died in 1943 and is buried in St. John's Norway Cemetery.
Erected 2020 by Heritage Toronto.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places.
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Location. 43° 41.458′ N, 79° 19.613′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Danforth East York. It is at the intersection of Coxwell Avenue and Mortimer Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Coxwell Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 850 Coxwell Avenue, Toronto ON M4J 5C2, 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 Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Coca-Cola by Walter Yarwood (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); The Ashbridge Estate / Le Domaine des Ashbridge (approx. 2.9 kilometers away); J. Tuzo Wilson (approx. 3 kilometers away); Jefferson Glass Co. Factory (approx. 3 kilometers away); George Leslie (approx. 3.2 kilometers away); Castle Frank (approx. 3.7 kilometers away); Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe 1766-1850 (approx. 3.8 kilometers away); The Rekai Family (approx. 4.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 10, 2025
2. William (Billy) McKay Jr. (1862 - 1943) Marker - wide view
Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 85 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 16, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
