Great video. I was born in the 1950s and I love to see the history of my youth. In the 1960s, I used to fish for carp for fun at the Leslie Street bridge. I would say that all of the Toronto that I knew change drastically. Miles away from here, I used to live a few blocks from Yonge and Eglinton Streets and attended John Fisher Public School. All that is left are some of the single-family homes, in its place are new condos and offices. I miss old the Toronto. Thank you, Steve, for all your videos about the past.
It was never a point of interest for me. I always drove by it seeing all the young revellers on the weekends coming and going. It's also where most of the filming locations are for shows.. I believe there are some studio space back there where tv/movie production would setup shop. It's nice to see them rejuvenating the area and making it more palatable for visitors.
My apartment over looks the portlands and watching the bridges get shipped in and installed was so cool! Also side note about the July flood- The water actually did flow into the new river valley... sorta. It certainly wasn't intentional but mother nature didn't care what the silly engineers wanted so the water just ended up going around and eventually over the north plug hahahah
I work on a construction project just next to the Port Lands: the Ashbridges Bay Waste Water Treatment Plant. We're switching from the current chemical disinfection system to UV lights to disinfect the water. So fewer harmful chemicals being pumped into the lake. Another way Toronto is trying to up its environmental game on the eastern end of the lake
Keep your eyes on my channel ... I have another video planned for later this year that you might find interesting, even though it doesn't cover that specific project.
Love these videos. Would love to see a video about old bridges. The fact I was a child when they tore down the Old Weston Rd bridge sparked interest. That bridge became fodder for future dreams (and some nightmares) revolving around how scary it looked, like a blackened skeleton. Mostly intrigue. More than a few occasions some friends and I explored the remains off Junction Rd & Old Weston.
Thanks for the video, Steve! Looking at the earliest map of the harbour from 1815, which shows the mouth of the Don at the map's edge, I notice that the Don River took a curving right hand turn, as it did on the 1906 map that you show in the video, but then meandered further south and entered the harbour closer to where the new river mouth will be. So really, the new river path is somewhat connected to its historical path.
Solid video... very excited to see the transformation once it's done. Paddling from Cherry beach is a long-time fave... will be nice to paddle the inner channels once they're open.
Flood remediation is not my area of expertise :-) but the problem there, as with the lower stretches of the DVP, is simply that it's on the floor of a river valley, and river valleys flood. You'd probably have to raise the tracks, which would be pretty expensive.
You mentioned that storm that wrecked Toronto a few weeks back. You should cover the complete destruction of Evergreen Brickworks or just the general damage it caused.
I'd love to know how the "new" river mouth and its flood areas did during the big rains this summer. Seeing the DVP flood down near there says it didn't do it's job very well.
@@rosieone5670 That new curving area has flood areas adjacent to the main river zone. In fact, in its natural state, the bottom of the Don was a huge marsh/swamp beyond the highway. You can find very old pictures of it. I think the Don was straightened and many marsh areas were eliminated and that takes away absorption.
@@KardiFan2000 yah, but there’s another park on the west side of the river ie Corktown common, that’s also supposed to act like a flood zone as well. Seems kind of idiotic not to try and compensate for heavy rains.
@@kevinn1158 Is it idiotic though? We seem to have these major flood events once every 10 years. IMO, it's better to just close off the DVP, Richmond Hill GO line, and Bayview for the one or two days that the water needs to be pumped out, rather than investing possibly billions into making the Lower Don area "flood free", even though it's a once in a decade occurrence.
Why not build something like a Six Flags park in the Port Lands and a few casinos too? What a great view of the city tourists and residents would have! It would quickly become the greatest attraction in downtown Toronto and bring hundreds of millions of tourist dollars to the city. Wouldn't that help put Toronto on the map as a fun destination..... Instead of the big fat boring traffic gridlocked city everyone tries to avoid? A little imagination people! That's all it takes.
@@notsmoothsteve Anything would be better than a bunch of ugly condo buildings. Don't they have a giant Ferris wheel in London? We need to stop copying others and come up with our own ideas!
@@DrRestezi No, I'm not Doug but you have to admit there isn't much to attract people to the downtown area unless you don't mind running into some ignorant bicycle rider or get harassed by a drugged up homeless person or maybe even being a victim of a random drive-by shooting. Looking at tall ugly buildings isn't my thing either. I live less than an hour from downtown Toronto, own and drive my own vehicle and no I don't have any desire to go downtown and I haven't been there in more than 5 years. Nothing downtown interests me. Nothing! It's boring, boring, boring!
Dissapointing indeed but raising the DVP at least wouldn't be nearly as monumental of a task as this regeneration project. Give it a couple more big floods and I'm sure the city will look at ways to raise the DVP. Might have to raise a couple nearby bridges to maintain proper clearances but nothing too crazy.
The DVP is in a flood plain. The whole reason it was built there is because nothing else can be. A highway can withstand a once-a-decade flooding just fine. Houses and buildings cannot. And the city can go without a freeway for a couple of days. However, a major failure on the Ontario government's part was not closing the DVP before it actually flooded.
@@cmmartti it is fuck up that it goes from in the air to flood plane? .. easy to do just cut out that bend in hwy and go over train tracks over flood plane ..but they can't make a 10 year project of of it so
Painfully hard to listen to because of his awkward presentation skills, but I appreciate Steve letting me (and the rest of us) know what's going on.... it may take me quite a few replays of the video because of how often I had to walk away however.
Well if TTC riders, Red Rocketeers actually paid what it actually costs for the service, there would be money for expansion and general improvements. Government subsidies instead of free market demand calling the shots results in white elephants and economic disasters as usual. Use the service, pay the costs.
Although at a surface level this makes sense, all of the best transit systems in the world run at a deficit and require government subsidies. Having a transit system be for profit means that the people who need the system most are disincentivized to use it due to the cost. For reference, if the ttc wanted to cover all of its costs from fares alone, the adult fare price would have to be approximately $14 dollars per ride. Absolutely nobody would take the bus if that was the case
"Your honour, I'd like to present this comment as Exhibit 1 in the case of 'Why Torontonians are addicted to Cars' and generally have no idea how other cities in the world basically work. I now rest my case. Gridlock for everyone!"
This is so good in being awkward but honest. Slick Steve ain't, but informative and entertaining he is.
lol I just realised his channel name is "notsmoothsteeve".
Great video. I was born in the 1950s and I love to see the history of my youth. In the 1960s, I used to fish for carp for fun at the Leslie Street bridge. I would say that all of the Toronto that I knew change drastically. Miles away from here, I used to live a few blocks from Yonge and Eglinton Streets and attended John Fisher Public School. All that is left are some of the single-family homes, in its place are new condos and offices. I miss old the Toronto. Thank you, Steve, for all your videos about the past.
This videos will age like fine wine! great job Steve
Steve is an absolute legend. I also had no idea whatt the heck was going on at the Port Lands. Fantastic explanation!
It was never a point of interest for me. I always drove by it seeing all the young revellers on the weekends coming and going. It's also where most of the filming locations are for shows.. I believe there are some studio space back there where tv/movie production would setup shop. It's nice to see them rejuvenating the area and making it more palatable for visitors.
My apartment over looks the portlands and watching the bridges get shipped in and installed was so cool! Also side note about the July flood- The water actually did flow into the new river valley... sorta. It certainly wasn't intentional but mother nature didn't care what the silly engineers wanted so the water just ended up going around and eventually over the north plug hahahah
An interesting, informative video. I haven't been down there in ages.
I work on a construction project just next to the Port Lands: the Ashbridges Bay Waste Water Treatment Plant. We're switching from the current chemical disinfection system to UV lights to disinfect the water. So fewer harmful chemicals being pumped into the lake. Another way Toronto is trying to up its environmental game on the eastern end of the lake
Keep your eyes on my channel ... I have another video planned for later this year that you might find interesting, even though it doesn't cover that specific project.
@@notsmoothsteve thanks! I will!
I think you should next check out the abandoned railroad line in the Don valley.
Hope the East Waterfront Streetcar gets built sooner than later.
Love these videos. Would love to see a video about old bridges. The fact I was a child when they tore down the Old Weston Rd bridge sparked interest. That bridge became fodder for future dreams (and some nightmares) revolving around how scary it looked, like a blackened skeleton. Mostly intrigue. More than a few occasions some friends and I explored the remains off Junction Rd & Old Weston.
Love these videos - they answer the questions that we just don't know where to find the answers to.
Great video Canadian Tom Scott
Thanks for the video, Steve! Looking at the earliest map of the harbour from 1815, which shows the mouth of the Don at the map's edge, I notice that the Don River took a curving right hand turn, as it did on the 1906 map that you show in the video, but then meandered further south and entered the harbour closer to where the new river mouth will be. So really, the new river path is somewhat connected to its historical path.
It’s always a great day when there’s a new video from Steve ❤️
Solid video... very excited to see the transformation once it's done. Paddling from Cherry beach is a long-time fave... will be nice to paddle the inner channels once they're open.
Good stuff Steve
Always stoked to learn more about Hogtown!
lol Cherry street bridge stuck in upright position.
The Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge says, "Hold my beer!"
What a great video! Steve you’re a boss!!
Another informative and awkward video as usual thank you steve 🙏
Went to a few great rave parties down on Commissioners St. in the early to mid 90's.
Great video
"Links in the usual places" lives rent free in my head.
Very amazing information thank u for this
Great vid. Thank you!
Thanks for more great info-tainment!! Makes me want to pore over maps of T.O hahaha!
Informative as usual. I need time to peruse the previous videos before my recent subscription.
love this !
great video , thanks for the update. What would you do to remediate the flooding of the RH Go line?
Flood remediation is not my area of expertise :-) but the problem there, as with the lower stretches of the DVP, is simply that it's on the floor of a river valley, and river valleys flood. You'd probably have to raise the tracks, which would be pretty expensive.
8:37 did not expect discussion of mutants in this video!😂
You mentioned that storm that wrecked Toronto a few weeks back. You should cover the complete destruction of Evergreen Brickworks or just the general damage it caused.
Waterfront Toronto has a channel that occasionally posts updates too. www.youtube.com/@WaterfrontToronto
8:21 Hey I grew up in the Love Canal neighborhood.
And I'll bet you make good use of that third eye! 😉
MUTANT!
I'd love to know how the "new" river mouth and its flood areas did during the big rains this summer. Seeing the DVP flood down near there says it didn't do it's job very well.
I have been wondering how well that fancy curving pattern of the delta did during the flooding of the DVP.
@@rosieone5670 That new curving area has flood areas adjacent to the main river zone. In fact, in its natural state, the bottom of the Don was a huge marsh/swamp beyond the highway. You can find very old pictures of it. I think the Don was straightened and many marsh areas were eliminated and that takes away absorption.
7:10 - 7:43 ... there's your answer
@@KardiFan2000 yah, but there’s another park on the west side of the river ie Corktown common, that’s also supposed to act like a flood zone as well. Seems kind of idiotic not to try and compensate for heavy rains.
@@kevinn1158 Is it idiotic though? We seem to have these major flood events once every 10 years. IMO, it's better to just close off the DVP, Richmond Hill GO line, and Bayview for the one or two days that the water needs to be pumped out, rather than investing possibly billions into making the Lower Don area "flood free", even though it's a once in a decade occurrence.
U shud have also mentioned that, that job probably has the highest % of key sniffers
Kinda bummed that after all this work, the DVP and GO line are still going to flood.
is that where mutants come from?
Why not build something like a Six Flags park in the Port Lands and a few casinos too? What a great view of the city tourists and residents would have! It would quickly become the greatest attraction in downtown Toronto and bring hundreds of millions of tourist dollars to the city. Wouldn't that help put Toronto on the map as a fun destination..... Instead of the big fat boring traffic gridlocked city everyone tries to avoid? A little imagination people! That's all it takes.
How about a giant ferris wheel?
Too late, they've already decided to build...wait for it...more condos there.
@joejohnson Doug, is that you?
@@notsmoothsteve Anything would be better than a bunch of ugly condo buildings. Don't they have a giant Ferris wheel in London? We need to stop copying others and come up with our own ideas!
@@DrRestezi No, I'm not Doug but you have to admit there isn't much to attract people to the downtown area unless you don't mind running into some ignorant bicycle rider or get harassed by a drugged up homeless person or maybe even being a victim of a random drive-by shooting. Looking at tall ugly buildings isn't my thing either. I live less than an hour from downtown Toronto, own and drive my own vehicle and no I don't have any desire to go downtown and I haven't been there in more than 5 years. Nothing downtown interests me. Nothing! It's boring, boring, boring!
Disappointing these channel changes won't stop the DVP and GO flooding. Those events may start being more frequent.
Dissapointing indeed but raising the DVP at least wouldn't be nearly as monumental of a task as this regeneration project. Give it a couple more big floods and I'm sure the city will look at ways to raise the DVP. Might have to raise a couple nearby bridges to maintain proper clearances but nothing too crazy.
The DVP is in a flood plain. The whole reason it was built there is because nothing else can be. A highway can withstand a once-a-decade flooding just fine. Houses and buildings cannot. And the city can go without a freeway for a couple of days.
However, a major failure on the Ontario government's part was not closing the DVP before it actually flooded.
@@cmmartti it is fuck up that it goes from in the air to flood plane? .. easy to do just cut out that bend in hwy and go over train tracks over flood plane ..but they can't make a 10 year project of of it so
The white text of the thumb nail is hard to read because of the low contrast.
Mutants!
The whole point of the port lands was to stop the flooding that it doesn't do bahahhahahhahahaaaaaa
Painfully hard to listen to because of his awkward presentation skills, but I appreciate Steve letting me (and the rest of us) know what's going on.... it may take me quite a few replays of the video because of how often I had to walk away however.
Well if TTC riders, Red Rocketeers actually paid what it actually costs for the service, there would be money for expansion and general improvements. Government subsidies instead of free market demand calling the shots results in white elephants and economic disasters as usual. Use the service, pay the costs.
This comment is so inane I can only shake my head.
Now do free onstreet parking, and have user-payer schemes for all road infrastructure.
Although at a surface level this makes sense, all of the best transit systems in the world run at a deficit and require government subsidies.
Having a transit system be for profit means that the people who need the system most are disincentivized to use it due to the cost.
For reference, if the ttc wanted to cover all of its costs from fares alone, the adult fare price would have to be approximately $14 dollars per ride. Absolutely nobody would take the bus if that was the case
"Your honour, I'd like to present this comment as Exhibit 1 in the case of 'Why Torontonians are addicted to Cars' and generally have no idea how other cities in the world basically work. I now rest my case. Gridlock for everyone!"