Toronto Harbour Commission - Milestones

Milestones

• 1911 - Toronto Harbour Commission established
• 1912 - $19 million dollar waterfront plan
• 1919 - Harbour Commission takes over lifesaving service for harbour
• 1922 - Sunnyside Beach and amusement park opens
• 1928 - Terminal Warehouse opens at York Quay.
• 1929 - Central waterfront air harbour opens at foot of Scott Street.
• 1935 - Toronto approves of island airport and tunnel.
• 1935 - Federal government stops building of tunnel.
• 1937 - Construction starts at Island Airport and Malton Airport.
• 1938 - American Airlines DC3 makes the first official landing at Malton.
• 1939 - First plane lands at Island Airport. Cable ferry established to airport.
• 1940 - Norwegian air force starts training at Island Airport. First housed at Centre Island, but set up "Little Norway" camp at foot of Bathurst street.
• 1943 - RCAF takes over Island Airport and Norwegians move to Muskoka facilities.
• 1953 - Air traffic control established at Island Airport.
• 1955 - Building of new Marine Terminal II in anticipation of St. Lawrence Seaway.
• 1955 - Demolition of Sunnyside Amusement Park.
• 1959 - St. Lawrence Seaway opens and first vessel to reach Toronto is the Prins Willem George Frederik.
• 1959 - Queen Elizabeth II opens new Queen Elizabeth Docks (later renamed Marine Terminal 27 and 28).
• 1959 - Redpath Sugar factory opens on reclaimed land at foot of Jarvis Street.
• 1961 - New 4,000-foot (1,200 m) runway at Island Airport.
• 1962 - Opening of E. L. Cousins Docks.
• 1962 - Harbour Commission takes over Island Airport.
• 1963 - Leslie Street Slip (Ship Channel extension) opens.
• 1965 - Maple City island airport ferry replaces cable ferry.
• 1968 - Harbour Commission unveils "Harbour City" concept.
• 1970 - Container Distribution Centre opened.
• 1972 - Harbourfront established in West Bayfront lands from Bathurst to York Street.
• 1975 - East Gap becomes main shipping channel and is dredged to a depth of 27 feet (8.2 m).
• 1979 - World Trade Centre Toronto established in THC building.
• 1983 - Tripartite agreement established for passenger airlines at Island Airport.
• 1984 - City Express starts regular service from Island Airport to Ottawa.
• 1988-1991 - Royal Commission on Future of the Toronto Waterfront.
• 1989 - Outer Harbour Marina opens.
• 1994 - Transfer of THC waterfront lands to City.
• 1994 - Renaming of Island Airport to City Centre Airport.
• 1999 - Canada Marine Act passed; Toronto Port Authority established to take over from THC.

Source: Wickson(2002)