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Toronto Hydro

Animation of a figure in a wheelchair holding an electrical plug

The local power house.

The Toronto Hydro Building distributed clean, renewable Niagara Falls electricity to homes and factories in the Dundas and Carlaw area.

10

Location:

369 Carlaw Avenue

Toronto Hydro Building

Year:

1916

Architect:

Albert Salisbury

Made:

Household electricity

The Carlaw substation, February 3, 1919.
The Carlaw Substation, February 3, 1919.
City of Toronto Archives
The Carlaw substation, June 2018.
The Carlaw substation, June 2018.
Image by Herman Custodio

This new source of energy replaced or supplemented power generated by burning coal.

The Edwardian Classical-style substation had to be big enough to hide its large electrical transformers and switches within its walls.

Illustration of a lightbulb

It was one of many infrastructure improvements built in response to the area’s industrial growth.

The city also created new sewers, schools, fire and police stations, and a water treatment plant at Ashbridges Bay south of here. Underpasses were built to reduce the number of railroad crossings and ease traffic.

Inaugurated May 2, 1911, Toronto Hydro (formerly the Toronto Hydro-Electric System) is today one of the largest municipally-owned utilities in Canada.

Black and white image of Carlaw Avenue from Gerrard Street East. Workers are building a rail bridge and a Toronto Hydro-Electric System substation is in the background.
Carlaw from Gerrard Street East,
Toronto, July 7, 1931
City of Toronto Archives
Photograph shows the front of Toronto City Hall at night. The facade is lit up with electric lights reading 'Inauguration, Hydro-Electric.' Above the main doors of City Hall is a picture of Niagara Falls to show where the hydro-electric power originated.
Old City Hall decorated with a Niagara Falls display for the inauguration of Toronto Hydro, May 2, 1911
City of Toronto Archives

During its first 10 years, the Carlaw substation had a storefront at its northwest corner.

Customers could pay bills and buy electrical appliances such as cookers, irons, and fans. The arrival of these products triggered a domestic revolution comparable to the one brought on by the rise of connected home appliances today.

The building was greatly expanded in 1924 and 1929 and remains active.

Black and white photograph of a store with early electric stoves on display.
Electric stoves for sale at the hydro substation, 1917.
City of Toronto Archives
Black and white image of the interior of a store with early electrical domestic devices on display.
Interior of the store, 1917.
The Electrical News
Black and white image of very large electrical machine.
A rotary converter inside the substation, 1950. A rotary converter turns direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) and vice-versa.
City of Toronto Archives
Colour photograph of a large brick building with large vertical windows.
Carlaw substation, June 2018.
Image by Herman Custodio.

Today, roughly a quarter of Ontario’s power comes from dams and other hydroelectric infrastructure.

Although nuclear power plants now provide most of the province’s power, Ontarians still refer to their electricity as “hydro.”

Illustration of a figure pointing upward

Check it out…

Two Gerrard Streets?

Notice how the facade of the Carlaw substation elegantly follows the curve of the intersection. When the railway overpass was built in 1931, it corrected an awkward kink in Gerrard Street, leaving this part of the street orphaned. The quirk still confuses delivery drivers.

Aerial map of the Dundas and Carlaw neighbourhood with street names in red, showing the two paths taken by Gerrard Street East when standing at 369 Carlaw Avenue.
Aerial photograph, 1992.
City of Toronto Archives

Read the plaque

The plaque is located in front of the building.

Plaque titled "Toronto Hydro-Electric Substation No. 8, 1916 with additions".
Image by Herman Custodio
View the text transcription

Toronto Hydro-Electric Substation #8

1916 (with additions)

This two-storey substation was built by the Toronto Hydro-Electric System (THES) to provide electricity for homes, factories, and other businesses in this fast-growing part of the city. Under the supervision of THES architect Albert Salisbury, the company built an Edwardian Classical structure that was big enough to hide large electrical transformers and switches within its walls. The red brick and terracotta façade was decorated with pilasters and large windows with round tops. During its first 10 years, the substation included a storefront at its northwest corner where customers could pay bills and buy electrical appliances such as cookers, irons, and fans. The building was greatly expanded in 1924 and 1929 and it remains an active electrical substation.

Next stop:
Carlaw and Gerrard

Compass pointing north
Map to last stop at Carlaw and Gerrard streets

Ready to hit the next stop?

Continue north on Carlaw Avenue.

Our last stop is the southwest corner of Carlaw Avenue and Gerrard Street.