And you’re invited: Lakeshore Asylum Cemetery Project: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Update: I have learned much more about the Lakeshore Asylum Cemetery Project as a result of beginning to read The Knowing (2024) by Tanya Talaga. This is a most valuable book. I recommend it highly. I’ve borrowed a copy from the Stratford Public Library and am currently reading it.

As well, The Local has an Oct. 8, 2024 article that I found of much interest: “Moss Park’s Lost Years: Grief, and hope, in the downtown eastside neighbourhood with the lowest life-expectancy in the city.”

An excerpt reads:

Five years ago, Ovens spent much of her time on the phone with the City’s central intake, desperately trying to find shelter beds for clients in what seemed, back then, like a dysfunctional system without enough capacity. Today it is utterly broken. Each night this August, according to data from central intake, the City turned away an average of 233 people who called looking for a bed—a number that is almost certainly just a fraction of the actual need. “We don’t even call anymore, because we know there’s no point,” says Ovens. “I haven’t gotten somebody a shelter bed probably in six months.”

[End of updates]

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The following message is from Ed Janiszewski.

Click here for previous posts featuring Ed Janiszewski >

The historic Lakeshore Asylum Cemetery is located (and easy to miss unless you know to look for it) at the north-east corner of Horner Ave. and Evans Ave. Jaan Pill photo

THE LAKESHORE ASYLUM CEMETERY PROJECT INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR A

“Fall Visit and Clean-Up”

Saturday Oct. 12, 2024
(Rain or Shine)
1:00 – 3:00 pm

To remember and honour in a dignified and respectful way the lives of the 1511 people buried in the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery and to acknowledge their contributions to our community.

Learn about the 33 Indigenous people who were buried here.

We will be gathering to do some yard work and freshen up the grounds.
Grass/Hedge clipper and Lawn-edger will be useful. You are welcome to join us. Donations of artificial flowers would also be appreciated.

For more information please contact: Among Friends, 416-251-8666

Directions to the Cemetery

TTC – From the Royal York Subway take the #15 Evans bus to the northeast corner of Evans and Horner Avenue where the cemetery is located. (From Kipling Subway, take the #44 Kipling South bus to Evans Ave. and walk east.)

Cars – The cemetery is just south of the on-ramp to the QEW where Evans and Horner meet. There is a parking lot on the south side of the Evans Ave.

PLEASE NOTE: The cemetery is not wheelchair accessible; there is little shade, and no water supply.