Exploring Agriculture and Ecology: A Guided Tour
The Lakeshore Grounds and Colonel Samuel Smith Park are rich with history and natural beauty, offering a unique glimpse into the region's agricultural and ecological heritage. This project brings together stories of the heritage apple orchard, the hospital farm where patients once worked the land, and the vibrant beekeeping and gardening traditions that thrive here. We also explore the deep-rooted Indigenous stewardship practices that have shaped the landscape, along with the diverse wildlife, forests, and ongoing restoration projects that contribute to the area's ecological vitality. Together, these elements paint a comprehensive picture of how the past and present converge in the sustainable use and preservation of this land.
Sections
Introduction: Join us for an immersive exploration of Lakeshore Grounds and Colonel Samuel Smith Park. In this section, we will learn about GARDENS Lakeshore and the vital role of Indigenous caretakers in shaping the land's agricultural and ecological legacy.
Hospital Farm and Beekeeping: Delve into the history of the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital farm and explore how urban beekeeping is thriving on campus today, connecting past agricultural practices with modern sustainability efforts.
Forest and Creek: Explore the diverse forest ecosystem and tree identification around Colonel Samuel Smith Park, along with the flowing North Creek, which enhances the area's natural beauty and ecological health.
Wildlife: Discover the vibrant wildlife of Colonel Samuel Smith Park, focusing on the diverse bird species and turtles that inhabit this urban oasis, along with the community organizations involved in conservation projects.
Restoration Projects: Explore the shoreline extension and skating trail at Colonel Samuel Smith Park. See how these updates enhance the park’s beauty and winter activities!
Heritage Apple Orchard: Examine the heritage apple orchard restoration effort, focusing on the revival of this historical site and its significance to the community.
Audio Tour
Refer to the map further down the page to guide your exploration of the area.
You can listen to the audio files directly on our website or download them to your device for convenience. Transcripts are also available if needed.
Video Tour
If you’re unable to visit in person, you can still experience the tour remotely through videos featuring both modern and archival photos of the area. Captions are provided for all videos, and transcripts are available above in the audio tour section.
Interactive Map
Explore the Map: Zoom in and out using the zoom buttons, and drag to move around.
Interactive Markers: Click on markers to access detailed information about each location, including images and descriptions.
Color-Coded Sections: Different colors represent different sections:
Blue: Introduction
Yellow: Farm and Beekeeping
Green: Forest and Creek
Purple: Wildlife
Orange: Restoration Projects
Red: Heritage Apple Orchard
Tour Route: Follow the highlighted tour route for a guided experience. Markers along the route provide insights about each stop.
Your Feedback Matters!
We invite you to share your thoughts through our survey about the future use of the Heritage Apple Orchard in the tri-partnership with Humber College, the City of Toronto, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). This survey aims to gather input on how best to utilize this space to benefit education, conservation, and community engagement. Your feedback will help shape a plan that aligns with our shared goals and meets the needs of all stakeholders.
Credits
Written and Produced by
Olivia Wallace
Voice of Narrator
Olivia Wallace
Voice of Patients/Dr. Beemer
Bri Ford
Special Guest
Fran Freeman
Special Guest
Vanessa Keall-Vejar
Images
Introduction: Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre Collection and Indigenous Education and Engagement.
Farm and Beekeeping: Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre Collection, CAMH Archives, Fran Freeman Collection, and Humber Arboretum.
Forest and Creek: Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre Collection, Pixabay, and BPlant.org.
Wildlife: eBird, Pixabay, and Friends of Sam Smith Park.
Restoration Projects: Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre Collection, City of Toronto Archives, CCFEW, PMA Landscape Architects, and IMDb.
Heritage Apple Orchard: Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre Collection, City of Toronto Archives, and Pixabay
Sounds
All music featured in this project is sourced from BBC Sound Effects. For a complete list of each track used, please refer to the description below the relevant YouTube video.
Music
All music featured in this project is sourced from the YouTube Audio Library. For a complete list of each song used, please refer to the description below the relevant YouTube video.
Research Sources - Introduction
Indigenous Cultural Markers II
Research Sources - Farm and Beekeeping
Research Sources - Forest and Creek
Research Sources - Wildlife
Research Sources - Restoration Projects
Colonel Samuel Smith Extension Project
Research Sources - Heritage Apple Orchard
Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Annual Reports