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

William Ward & Ward's Hotel

Photographed by Caroline Record, March 15, 2026

1. William Ward & Ward's Hotel Marker

Inscription. William Ward was the eldest son of David Ward, one of the first settlers on Toronto Island. In 1862, when William was 15, he took his five younger sisters for a sail in the harbour. Though William was a skilled sailor, the boat capsized when a storm struck, throwing them all into the water. He made valiant efforts to save his sisters, but all five drowned. Traumatized by the experience, William subsequently became famous for his lifesaving activities in the area. He rescued many sailors from shipwrecks and saved the lives of people whose boats had capsized in the lake. In 1880, he was put in charge of the first lifeboat station on the Island. Around the same time, the city government gave him a long-term lease on land now known as Ward's Island. He built a family homestead and the Ward's Hotel, which stood in this location until it was demolished in 1966.

Erected by Toronto Island community.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Heroes. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 43° 37.87′ N, 79° 21.359′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is

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in Ward. It is on Channel Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45 Channel Avenue, Toronto ON M5J 2C4, 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 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Toronto Island (within shouting distance of this marker); The Waiting Shed (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Toronto Island Community (about 90 meters away); The Royal Canadian Yacht Club (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); St. Andrew By-The-Lake (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); Fire Pump House (approx. 2.1 kilometers away); Stone Distillery (approx. 2.1 kilometers away); Fermenting Cellar (approx. 2.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Caroline Record, March 15, 2026

2. William Ward & Ward's Hotel Marker

of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . The tragedy of the Ward children. (Submitted on March 15, 2026, by Caroline Record of Montréal, Québec.)

3. William Ward & Ward's Hotel Marker

Ward’s Hotel on Toronto Islands around 1900 / Archives of Ontario C 59-3-0-33-5

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2026, by Caroline Record of Montréal, Québec. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 15, 2026, by Caroline Record of Montréal, Québec. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.