Toronto Cricket Club Commemorative Plaque, 2019.
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Resource ID
6676
Access
Open
Address
141 Wilson Ave, North York, ON M5M 3A2
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2019
Historical Themes
Program Category
Caption
Toronto Cricket Club Commemorative Plaque, 2019.
Description
Teacher and sports enthusiast George Anthony Barber founded the York Cricket Club in 1827 after moving to Canada from England. It was the first in the city and was later renamed Toronto Cricket Club (TCC), reflecting the change in the city’s name. Cricket’s popularity peaked at the turn of the 19th century among Toronto’s British population. It was overshadowed by baseball but enjoyed a revival starting in the 1960s with the arrival of Caribbean and South Asian players.
The TCC was first based at Upper Canada College and later played at a variety of grounds. In 1844, club members participated in one of the earliest international sporting events, a cricket match between Canada and the USA in New York City. Members also played internationally against teams such as England, Australia, and the West Indies. In 1872, the club played one of cricket’s most accomplished players, W. G. Grace and his Gentlemen of England team.
The TCC moved here in 1926, when member Norman Seagram arranged the purchase of the property and established a trust to protect the grounds in perpetuity. In 1957, the Cricket Club amalgamated with two other sports clubs to become the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club.
Marker lat / long: 43.740001, -79.417983 (WGS84)