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

Healey Willan

(1880 - 1968)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

1. Healey Willan Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

As a composer, organist, choir master and teacher, Healey Willan waged constant war on mediocre church music. In the process he elevated the position of the church organist and set the standard for his profession. Educated in the musical traditions of nineteenth-century England, Willan came to Canada in 1913 to take up a teaching position with the Toronto (now Royal) Conservatory of Music. While serving as organist and choirmaster here at St. Mary Magdalene (1921-1968), he composed the sacred music for which he is best remembered, and for which he was awarded a Lambeth Doctorate in 1956.

À titre de compositeur, organiste, maître de chapelle et professeur, Healey Willan milita toute sa vie en faveur d'une musique sacrée de qualité. Il fixa ainsi les normes de la profession d'organiste et en rehaussa le statut. Eduqué selon la tradition musicale britannique du XIXe siècle, il arriva au Canada en 1913 et devint professeur de musique au Toronto (Royal) Conservatory of Music. Il fut aussi organiste et maître de chapelle à St. Mary Magdalene de 1921 à 1968. C'est là qu'il composa la musique sacrée qui fit sa réputation

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et qui lui valut un doctorat Lambeth en 1956.

Unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,
The Queen Mother, July 9, 1989.
Plaque dévoilée par Sa Majesté la reine
Elizabeth, la reine mère, le 9 juillet 1989

Erected by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 9, 1989.

Location. 43° 39.546′ N, 79° 24.837′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Palmerston. It is at the intersection of Manning Avenue and Ulster Street, on the right when traveling north on Manning Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 477 Manning Ave, Toronto ON M6G 2Y5, 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

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

2. Healey Willan Marker

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: Healey Willan (1880-1968) (here, next to this marker); Monsignor (Père) Athol Murray (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Composer John Weinzweig (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Introduction of Multilingual Multicultural Radio Stations in Canada (approx. half a kilometer away); Johnny Lombardi (approx. half a kilometer away); Samuel Richardson (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Riot at Christie Pits (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Grace Bagnato (approx. 0.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . The Ongoing Musical Legacy of Healey Willan (Healey Willan Society).

Since a majority of his works were written for the service of the church, some people who never knew him, suppose he was a solemn, retiring individual. Such is not the case at all. He laughed uproariously and frequently chuckled. He loved a good story and told them well. He loved all creatures great and small. Particularly
Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

3. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in 1926
dogs. Once he admonished our fox terrier to leave the birds in the garden alone and she got his message although she quivered when sparrows came enough for his crumbs. He loved cryptic crossword puzzles and could make words rhyme in unusual ways. I must have asked him once to put some harp parts in something because he demurred saying that harp solos reminded him of angels picking their teeth. You never knew what to expect but it was usually hilarious. He once described some rather pedantic piece as like taking a reluctant puppy for a walk on a rubber leash. Even when conducting his choir in the most solemn music, there was an energy, a passion, a drive, that never allowed what he referred to as lugubriance. He despised the habit of dragging the tempo at the ending. There is always joy in his music, a statement of deep faith.

(Submitted on November 10, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

1918

4. Healey Willan in 1918

Source: Wikipedia via York University Archives (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 10, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 10, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.