Swansea Historical Society

SHS Monthly Meeting: 40-Year Anniversary of the Swansea Historical Society
2026-03-04 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Toronto) | Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9, Canada
As the Society marks its 40-year anniversay, former SHS President Bob Roden will guide us through the evolution of the Society as it has developed over this period.
Bob has never lived in Swansea, but he became a dedicated “Swanseaite-by-Marriage” in 1985, when he tied the knot with his lovely wife, Susan. Since then, he has been actively involved with SHS, serving for many years as Auditor, then Membership Coordinator, and most recently as President between 2012 and 2025, while Susan also served on the Board of Directors as Refreshment Convenor for 10 plus years. His involvement in local history started with a chance visit to Montgomery’s Inn in 1980, which led to his joining the Etobicoke Historical Society and serving terms as EHS Vice-President, President, and Secretary. For many years, Bob and Susan have been very active members of six local historical societies. Bob has given illustrated talks at the Swansea Historical Society and various venues across the GTA. We hope you can join us on March 4, when he will cover some of the highlights of the past 40 years.
Members will be encouraged to share their memories!
Once again, the meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format so that participants can attend in-person at the Swansea Town Hall or connect on-line using the Zoom tool.
Time: Feb 4, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83616175224?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 836 1617 5224
Passcode: [REDACTED]

SHS Monthly Meeting: (1) Swansea Memorial Library & (2) Life in Swansea, 1925.
2026-04-01 19:15 - 21:00 | Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9, Canada
Please mark your calendars for the next meeting of the Swansea Historical Society; it will be a special session with two presentations:
(1) Speaker Lydia Pyluk – Swansea Memorial Library. This Library began in 1919, located in Swansea Public School, as a memorial to the Swansea residents who served overseas in First World War. Lydia is a Librarian with the Toronto Public Library working at both the Runnymede and Swansea Memorial branches. She has responsibility for the local history section of the Runnymede Branch.
(2) Speaker TBC – Life in Swansea in 1925. This presentation is based on the recollections of John Richards who was the father of one of our members. John lived an active life, living in three different homes as he grew up in Swansea and attended Swansea Public School.
Once again, the meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format so that participants can attend in-person at the Swansea Town Hall or connect on-line using the Zoom tool.
Topic: Swansea Historical Society’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 1, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88485239616?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 884 8523 9616
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Centennial Walking Tour of Swansea!
2026-05-02 10:30 - 14:00 | Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9, Canada
As part of the Janes’ Walk Program, the Swansea Historical Society will be leading a walk to visit historically significant sites in the east and north part of the community on the first Saturday of May.
More detail to follow!

SHS Monthly Meeting: Tour of Swansea School
2026-05-06 19:15 - 21:00 | Swansea Public School, 207 Windermere Ave, Toronto, ON M6S 3J9, toronto, Ontario, M6S3J9, Canada
Swansea Public School (SPS) has played a prominent role in our community since it first opened in 1891. Beyond educating our children, it has been a gathering place for local resident meetings and functions, including site of the first Village Council Meetings. Today, it is a popular recreational hub for the community. The building has undergone many additions and changes over the past 135 years, as it as adapted to a growing population and changing needs.
For our monthly meeting in May, we will be led on a tour of SPS by former teacher and author of the school’s history, Chris Higgins. We have had the pleasure of having Chris be our speaker a few times now in the society, one of which was on his book Brick by Brick: Swansea Public School, 1890 to Present. Stay tuned for details on how to register for the tour!

Centennial Events: Open House at Swansea Town Hall!!
2026-06-13 | Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9, Canada
We are pleased to share that the Swansea Community Centre (Town Hall) is looking forward to hosting an open house on June the 13th. The Historical Society will be present as well, where visitors can come see our archives and celebrate our heritage.
Save the date!
More details will be shared here in the weeks to come, but more can also be found on the centre’s website: https://www.swanseatownhall.ca/programs/swansea-centennial-year/

SHS Monthly Meeting: Bloor West Village BIA History
2026-10-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9, Canada
The fall season will kick-off with a presentation by Angela Macdonald (and possibly others!) on the history of the Bloor West Village BIA. As many know, ours was the first of its kind and, as such, forged a path which many business communities have chosen to follow–both across Toronto and abroad.
We are very much looking forward to hearing about how businesses along Bloor came together and what those early moments were like.
Save the date and stay tuned for more details!

SHS Monthly Meeting: Representing Swansea at City Hall
2026-11-04 19:30 - 2027-06-24 21:00 | Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9, Canada
Please join us in November for a special talk by former Councillor—and current Executive Director of the Swansea Town Hall—Sarah Doucette as she shares her experience of representing our neighbourhood at city hall between 2010 and 2018.
More details will follow in the fall.

Recollections of Growing-up in Swansea: Three voices from three decades
2026-12-02 19:30 - 21:00 | Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9, Canada
As the centennial year comes to a close, we are pleased to share that our December meeting will consist of three speakers, from three different decades, sharing their recollections of growing up in Swansea.
More details are to follow in the fall.
