1793

(The Town of York incorporated as the City of Toronto.)

Officially named "Victoria Square," in honour of the princess and heir to the throne.

Anglican Church of St. John the Evangelist opened at the corner of Stewart and Portland streets. The square was also sometimes referred to as "St. John's Square," "St. John the Evangelist Cemetery," and "Portland Square."

(Canadian Confederation.)

Military Burial Ground Commission officially changed the name to "Military Memorial Park."

Name officially changed to "Victoria Memorial Park," to honour the queen who died in 1901. Sometimes also called "Victoria Park," "Victoria Memorial Square," and " Victoria Square."

Note: The historical information on the original plaques on the monument reflects the understanding of the Edwardian era rather than current historical knowledge. Thus some of the regimental titles and other data are not quite accurate.

Front plaque:

Defence of York, now Toronto.

In memory of officers, non-commissioned officers and men who were killed or died of wounds in the following regiments or companies of regiments engaged in the Defence of York (Toronto).

April 27th 1813.
Royal Artillery
Royal Naval Artificers
8th Regiment (of Foot)
Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Glengary Fencibles Militia
Incorporated Militia

Rear plaque:

In memory of officers, non-commissioned officers and men who were killed, died of wounds and disease, in the following regiments or companies of regiments engaged during the War of 1812-1815 upon the Western Canadian Frontier, west of Kingston.

Side plaque 1:

Dead in battle - dead in the field;
More than his like can a soldier yield?
His blood has burnished his sabre bright
To his memory, honour: to him, good night.

This monument is to perpetuate the memory and deeds of the officers, non-commissioned officers and men who gave their lives in the defence of Canada in the War of 1812-15 and is erected by the British Army and Navy Veterans residing in Toronto. Aided by generous subscriptions from the British Army and Navy, and the citizens of Canada.
July 1st 1902.

Side plaque 2:

Battlefields

River Canard
Beaver Dams
Black Rock
Chateauguay
Detroit
Fort Niagara
Fort Erie
York
Fort George
Lundy's Lane
Thames
Stony Creek

CITY OF TORONTO PLAQUE ERECTED IN 2000
(on the fence surrounding the monument):

THE OLD GARRISON BURYING GROUND
1794-1863

The Town of York's first burying ground lies within this park. Established by the British army, the cemetery occupies a 38 by 91 metre rectangle running at a diagonal across the centre of the park. The first known interment was that of Katherine Simcoe, the 15-month-old daughter of Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe and his wife Elizabeth. Many of the known burials were the wives and children of garrison soldiers. Notable interments include Christopher Robinson (d. 1798), father of Sir John Beverly Robinson; Captain Neal McNeale, killed in the Battle of York on 27 April 1813; and Lieutenant Zachariah Mudge (d. 1831), Private Secretary to Sir John Colborne, whose unexplained suicide shook the colonial community. The last known burial was that of Private James McQuarrick (d. 1863). Afterwards, an interim military cemetery opened at the foot of Dufferin Street, which was replaced with one on Garrison Common to the west of Fort York.

City of Toronto Toronto Culture
2000

Books and Articles

Benn, Carl. Historic Fort York, 1793-1993 . Toronto: Natural Heritage Books, 1993.

Ontario Geneological Society. Victoria Memorial Square Toronto: Toronto Brand. OGS, n.d.

Otto, Stephen A. "The Strachan Avenue Military Burying Ground" (1999) http://www.fortyork.ca/

Robertson, J. Ross. Landmarks of Toronto, Vols. 1-6 . Toronto: 1894-1914.

Rudman, Michael J. "The Graveyard Shift," Historic Toronto 2/3 (1998), 3-10.

Rudman, Michael J. "The History of These Graves," The York Pioneer 94 (1999). http://www.fortyork.ca

Stuart, Jacqueline. "The Old Military Burial Ground - Toronto," The York Pioneer 70/l (1983), 1-7.

Archival Records

Diocese of Toronto Archives, Anglican Church of Canada, Records of St. John the Evangelist, Toronto. Military death reports, 1867-69. 

City of Toronto Archives. Military Burial Ground Commission. RG 251.

City of Toronto Archives. Parks and Recreation Files. RG 12A.

EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF VICTORIA SQUARE

Heart and Stone

Burying the Dead

Supporting the Living

Preserving the Past

Honouring Heroes

Attracting Attention

Commemorating our Collective History

Appendices

Visit Fort York