Brendan FitzPatrick

There were a number of hotels and liquor outlets in the Junction. The most notable being the Peacock on Dundas that started operating in 1837. The building burned down in a fire in 2020. There was also the Occidental on Heintzman, the Avenue on the corner of High Park and Dundas, the white Swan, the Heydon House at Weston Road and St Clair and the Subway Hotel, aptly named due to its proximity to the underpass by the railway at the corner of Keele Street and Vine Avenue The subway hotel had a saloon that was shut down on the night that prohibition took effect in the Junction. As the story goes, Josiah Royce himself shut the bar down single-handedly. The Subway hotel later became the Keele hotel until it too succumbed to fire in the mid 1980s. iI remains the site of one of the Junction‘s oldest unsolved murders. Joseph Curley was found dead behind the Subway hotel the day after the bars are shut down for good. Will his ghost haunt the new condos that have been built on that site?

One of my drawings of the corner of Keele and Dundas, the Campbell Block. How it looked in the late 1800's vs. today. Story below.

The three-story Campbell Block was completed in 1888 as a major commercial and residential building at what Junction journalist A.B. Rice called “the heart of the Junction.” Perhaps most prominent among its businesses was the Molson’s Bank which for many years occupied the building’s main floor at the northwest corner of Keele and Dundas West. The main floor also housed Williams & Co Pharmaceuticals, the Canadian Pacific telegraph office, dry goods, millinery (hats), hardware and jewellery shops. In later years the Molson’s space was occupied by the United Cigar Store, and now, by the A & W.Before West Toronto Junction amalgamated with the City of Toronto and adopted Toronto’s system, the Campbell Block’s address was 16 Dundas Street West.

There are some sponsorships that mean a little more than others.

This weekend I had the privilege of sponsoring our local dance recital—but more importantly, I got to sit in the audience and watch my two daughters take the stage.

The countless practices, early mornings, costume changes, and nerves all led to a night filled with confidence, courage, and huge smiles.

One of the things I love most about our community is how we show up for each other. Supporting local programs like dance helps create opportunities for kids to grow, learn, and discover what they’re capable of.

Congratulations to all the dancers, instructors, volunteers, and families who made tonight such a success.

And to my girls—Dad couldn’t be prouder. ❤️

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☘️☘️Some pics of The St .Patricks Day mass and the famous FitzPatrick Irish coffees! ☘️☘️

So much fun with the girls Renting is easier than ownership right now! 🙄

Great trip to Chicago to see Ireland vs All Blacks with . Ran into , true gentleman, and my cousin . Nice surprise. Thx for the hospitality