Toronto's Historical Plaques
Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.
Joseph E. Atkinson (1865-1948)
Photos by Alan L Brown - September 2006
If you were to walk into the Toronto Star building here at 1 Yonge Street, you would find on the wall of the lobby an Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque. Here's what is says about the Star's influential owner:
One of Canada's most influential newspapermen, Atkinson became managing editor of the Toronto Star in 1899, and its majority owner by 1913. Originally hired by supporters of Sir Wilfred Laurier, he sought to make the daily an instrument of social reform. His many and often sensational innovations changed the face of Canadian journalism, and made the Star Canada's largest circulation newspaper by the 1930s. A tough taskmaster in life, he generously bequeathed his fortune to the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, which endows an array of cultural, medical and educational institutions in Ontario.
Location Co-ordinates: 43.642232 -79.374783
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Joseph E. Atkinson 1865-1948
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Posted February 22, 2009
As I am deep in the midst of writing a book on social discrimination in the late forties to mid fiftys I must credit Joseph E. Atkinson for me being able to do it. As a child growing up from age 6 to 14 I lived in the Long Branch Emergency housing in Lakeview Ont., now Mississauga and receivded most years not much more than Star boxes. I also went to Bolton Camp during two summers for two sessions each. Lastly, if it were not for Atkinson College of York University, I, a mid grade 11q drop out would never have gone to university at night and during the summers and in 1969 was able thus to go to Teacher's College and became a teacher in 1969. I could never, in my wildest dreams, been able to own my home in Clarkson, Mississauga. Education was the door to opportunity and without Joseph E. Atkinson I can not speculate where or how I might have turned out. Countless times, especially in retirment I look about and say "Thank you Mr. Atkinson.
E.Bavington Clarkson, Mississauga Ont.
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