Scarborough senior retraces steps his father took nearly 90 years ago atop Fairmont Royal York Hotel
As a former Scarborough city councillor, Ron Watson has been a lot of places in this city.
But until today he had never set foot on the roof of Toronto's iconic Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
After taking the hotel's elevator as far as it would go, it was a steep climb for the senior-cane in hand. Tackling several flights of stairs, he emerged on the roof, 88 years to the day after his father did the same.
Watson carried with him more than a dozen photographs taken by his father on April 5, 1934.
Harry Watson came to Canada in 1923 and got a job working for the Canadian National Railway. He also purchased a camera and developed a love of photography,which led him to the hotel on that day.
"He came one day after work, or during work I don't know," Watson said with a laugh. "The Royal York was a CPR hotel. He came here and when he came to the roof he took pictures 360 degrees."
The photos are among a collection Watson has kept in his Scarborough home for a generation. Each one is labelled with the information from his father, including the direction the picture was taken from the roof. The photos capture a moment in time much different from the views of today.
"Where is that? That's an old hotel," Watson said while holding one of the large photos to the skyline, trying to line it up with the buildings of Toronto today.
Many of the buildings in the photos are no longer standing. Many of those that are, like the 34-storey north tower of Commerce Court, once the tallest building in the British Empire, now hidden behind a number of much larger skyscrapers.
"It's like a canyon," Watson said, looking around at the buildings that have sprung up since his father stood on the same rooftop.
With the help of current Scarborough councillor Jennifer McKelvie and her staff, Watson got the chance to access the rooftop today-something off limits to most.
"It's beyond me," he said as he surveyed the surroundings. "it's just unbelievable."
For Watson, his father’s photos are not just a part of his family history, but also of the city's story.
"It's history," he said, "People have to understand history is what we have here. Years ago should have a better understanding of the future."
As for Watson, he now has a better understanding of the past and the city both he and his dad loved.
"I find it very difficult walking in my father's footsteps." said Watson before heading back to ground level.
"But I'm glad I came. He made it then, I made it now."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Saskatchewan households will continue to receive carbon tax rebate: Trudeau
Households in Saskatchewan will continue to receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments, despite the province refusing to remit the federal carbon price on natural gas, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
'It's just so hard to let it go': Umar Zameer still haunted by death of Toronto police officer
“It's just so hard to let it go. I mean, everyone is telling me, ‘you have to move on,’ but I know someone is not here [anymore]. So I don't know how I will move on." That’s what Umar Zameer, the man recently acquitted in the death of a Toronto police officer, told CTV News Toronto in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.