Toronto City Hall

100 Queen Street West

Toronto, Ontario

M5H 2N2

www.toronto.ca

Tel: 416-392-7333

Fax: 416-392-1330

File No. 197027

Urban Planning and Development Services

January 28, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:Supplementary Report - 86, 96 and 100 Bloor Street West (University Theatre) - Comments respecting facilitation of an archaeologist on site during excavation. (Midtown)

Purpose:

To respond to a request of the Toronto Community Council to report on the facilitation of an archaeologist on site during the excavation phase of this project.

Source of Funds:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

That this report be received for information.

Background:

On September 16, 1998, the Toronto Community Council considered this Department's Final Report (September 1, 1998) on an application for Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments for a new mixed-use development for 86, 96 and 100 Bloor Street West (Toronto Community Council Report No. 11, Clause No. 87). The Toronto Community Council and City Council approved the project in principle.

At that meeting, the Toronto Community Council requested that the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services consider and report back on the facilitation of an archaeologist on site during the excavation phase of the project, because the lands were once part of Potter's Field Cemetery and human bones may still be uncovered, as suggested by Ms. Jane Beecroft in her deputation before the Toronto Community Council. Ms. Beecroft is President of the Community History Project, an affiliate of the Ontario Historical Society. Ms. Beecroft also provided her comments on the development proposal in a letter, dated September 11, 1998. I have appended to this report that portion of Ms. Beecroft's correspondence which relates to this issue.

Comments:

Planning staff have consulted with Heritage Toronto on this matter. Heritage Toronto does not believe it will be necessary that an archaeologist be on site at all times during excavation. According to Heritage Toronto, the cemetery was closed nearly 150 years ago and many of the remains were moved. Since that time, several generations of construction have occurred on these lands.

The Ontario Ministry of Commercial and Consumer Relations has issued regulations governing procedures for handling unexpected finds of human remains. Heritage Toronto advises that the applicant should be reminded of their obligation to comply with the regulations and that it would be prudent to have an archaeologist on retainer should the need for those services arise.

Planning staff have advised the applicants' solicitor of their obligations respecting this matter.

Contact Name:Michael Mizzi

Telephone: 416-392-1324

E-mail: mmizzi@toronto.ca

Beate Bowron

Director, Community Planning, South District

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Appendix

Excerpt of a letter, dated September 11, 1998, from Jane Beecroft, President, Community History Project, to the meeting of Toronto Community Council held September 16, 1998 (Item 39 (b)):

"... Of even deeper heritage significance is the fact that all three addresses were built on land that was once the Potter's Field Cemetery. The founder of the cemetery was Thomas Carfrae whose day-old daughter was the first burial. Among those who helped to establish the cemetery was William Lyon Mackenzie. Open in 1826, the six-acre cemetery had more than 6000 burials in it by the time it was closed in 1855-6. For the next twenty-five years, relatives were invited to move graves to other locations, and just over 1000 graves were moved. This means that there are, technically, still more than 5000 burials still at Potter's Field! The cemetery lands were subdivided and houses were built along Bloor and along Cumberland Street. During the 1920s, when the houses were being replaced by low-rise commercial blocks, human bones were still being uncovered in the excavations. It is of very great concern to us that an archaeologist be on site at all times during any further disturbance of the area, and that the Medical Officer of Health be advised of any disturbance since many of the burials resulted from epidemics...."