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As part of the Riverside BIA: 40 Years, 40 Stories series, we are sharing the story of Jim Thomason, an East End native, a father and loving grandfather, and a long-time employee of the Unilever factory at the foot of the Don River.

Our thanks go to Jim’s granddaughter, Sabrina (Riverside BIA’s summer 2021 Marketing Assistant!), for contributing this amazing story and to Jim and other family members for sharing their memories.

My Grandfather, George “Jim” Thomason, was born April 22nd 1931 at East York General (now Michael Garron Hospital) and – until he moved to the West Coast to enjoy his retirement “without snow” – he was a Toronto Eastend native who grew up just northeast of Riverside neighbourhood.

An early photo of Jim Thomason as a toddler, c 1933 (Photo credit to the Thomason family)

Gerrard and Pape bridge c 1930 (Photo Credit Toronto City Archives)

Back then he was a tall, slim man and a self proclaimed “Spiffy Dresser.” After all, he did meet my Grandmother, Sheila Taylor, a Scottish-American immigrant, in a $75.00 suit. Three weeks wages at the time!

As a young man Grandad wanted to be a printer, and got an apprenticeship at Bryant Press (near Spadina Avenue in the West End). However shortly after, with the printing system becoming more automated, the Printers Union went on strike and they paid him $25.00 a week to stand on a picket line for a few hours.

According to Grandad, his father, “was pissed off, ‘excuse my language’ ” he said on the phone, “that he was being paid a wage not to work but to stand around for a few hours.” So to keep the peace, as he said he always did – and not uncommon for the time – Jim took a job he did not want and worked there his entire life.

Born in between World Wars and into the Great Depression, my Grandad grew up being told you got “a job that pays every week and it was considered permanent if they liked you and you liked it.” Jim Thomason worked at Unilever – the Lever Brothers Sunlight Soapworks Factory – on Eastern Avenue from March 1948 until he retired with a gold watch and a pension in 1991.

Lever Brothers Soapworks Factory, Exterior, 1930s (Photo Credit Toronto Library)

Lever Brothers Soapworks Factory, Interior, 1930s (Photo Credit Toronto Library)

When I asked my grandad if he liked it he said “No, but I kept my nose clean and held on to it. It’s not like today, where they say ‘we will see how you fit in after 18 months and maybe renew your contract… none of that. You had a job if you showed up and worked hard!”

In 1948 he was paid 95 cents an hour with a 5 cents an hour living bonus, working out to be around $40.00 a week. At 21 he joined the compulsory Canadian pension plan and over 40 years later he retired on a salary of $37 500 a year plus overtime pay.

Images of Lever Brothers Soap Factory, Exterior 2019 (Photo Credit Toronto Library)

Images of Lever Brothers Soap Factory, Exterior 2019 (Photo Credit Toronto Library)

Ninety in April this year, Grandad’s memories of Riverside, Riverdale and Leslieville in the 1930’s and 40’s, although not named as such then, are as vivid as ever. He can still recall the family names and ethnicities of every neighbour he had on Cavell Ave.

Can you tell me about anyone that sticks out in your memory from your childhood?

 “There was this Italian Immigrant family who lived up the street and they owned a grocery store up on the Danforth.” He spoke as if he were standing outside the store telling me about it. “The Greco Family, the son was Tony and they were a ‘go to church two to three times a week’ kind of family but they had the best produce at their store.”

Tony Greco and his Mother, Southwest corner, Danforth and Logan 1930 (Photo Credit Toronto City Archives)

Do you have memories of Queen Street from your days working at Lever Brothers?

“So much of the city at that point was still under development but down south of Queen Street was a combination of working class homes and industrial factories that all depended on the Don River as a way to move raw materials up from the lake docks and into the factories.”

I can recall this story from my own childhood, Grandad telling me about hauling bags of lye off a barge that would pull up to a loading dock in the Lever Brothers factory. “It was labour but few jobs that paid every week and had room to grow with seniority didn’t start out as labour” he said, as if this were still a common work practice.

My grandparents lived in the east end their whole working lives. They raised two children who went on to have families of their own, myself included, in the Riverside and, Riverdale areas. They continue to tell our family stories of life in young Toronto, starting a family and seeing the neighbourhood grow around them.

My Grandad is a thoughtful and hardworking man who served the east end neighbourhood of Riverside his whole working life. It’s been a joy to share his story.

Jim and Kyle, his son and contributing writer Sabrina Thomason’s father – 1964 (Photo credit: Thomason family)

Sheila and Jim Thomason in the 1970s (Photo credit: Thomason family)

The ‘Riverside BIA 40 Years, 40 Stories’ Series is part of how we’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of this incredible neighbourhood of community-builders.

FIND THE SERIES HERE AS WE SHARE NEW STORIES EACH WEEK

DO YOU HAVE A STORY OF THE RIVERSIDE BIA? SUBMIT YOUR STORY

As part of the ’40 Years, 40 Stories’ series, we’re sharing the story of Riverside’s long-standing Bank of Montreal branch, which has been serving the community for over 100 years, and the latest adventures of the historic building at 711 Queen E.

For 103 years, 711 Queen St. E was home to the Bank of Montreal’s Queen/Broadview branch, serving the Riverside community through its financial services and community efforts. 

Did you know BMO was Canada’s first bank? Born and bred in Canada, it opened for business in 1817. It provided Canada’s first widely recognized and used currency. 

The following photos show the historic building at 711 Queen Street East from it’s opening in 1913 when Queen Street was made of cobblestones:

711 Queen Street East, where BMO used to stand, early 20th century, courtesy of newsroom.bmo.com

View of Queen Street East, view east across Broadview Avenue showing the BMO Building at 711 Queen E , April 13, 1918 (Photo source – Leslieville Historical Society)

1920 City of Toronto Directory

Fast forward to the 1970s:

709 Corner of Broadview Ave. and Queen St. and BMO next door at 711 Queen E, looking south-east – 1972

…and the late 1980s to 2013s:

BMO nestled building beside colourful facade of The Real Jerk from 1989-2013, Riverside, Toronto. Photo Credit – Chris Barker, May 2021

Celebrating 100+ Years of Community-Building

On Saturday, June 1st, 2013, BMO Bank of Montreal invited customers and members of the community to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of its Queen & Broadview branch.

“BMO proudly opened its Queen & Broadview branch in 1913 in the middle of what is now one of Toronto’s oldest commercial hubs,” said Andrew Auerbach, Senior Vice President, Greater Toronto Division, BMO Bank of Montreal. “One hundred years later, BMO continues to serve the financial needs of Toronto, which now boasts more than 2.7 million residents and is home to a diverse range of Fortune 500 companies,” (read the full official news release).

The 100th celebration continued as BMO celebrated 100 years in Riverside in style with refreshments, games, giveaways, photo opportunities, and formal speeches as part of Riverside’s annual street festival at the time, called ‘Sounds Like the Riverside’.

“I’d like to congratulate BMO on 100 years in our community,” said City Councillor Paula Fletcher. “Queen St. East has a rich heritage of culture and commerce, thanks to long-standing community members like BMO who contribute to the vibrancy of this neighbourhood.”

Over the years, BMO has contributed to the vibrancy of Riverside in various ways. In a literal sense, they helped light up the bridge as a Bronze sponsor of the Riverside Gateway Bridge Lighting project in 2015. 

Invitation for the July 5th, 2015 Riverside Gateway Bridge Project Launch celebration, which includes project community supporters like BMO

They have also been known to host initiatives such as skate nights at Jimmie Simpson for families, free financial consultations, and workshops for small business owners. BMO has also been a sponsor of the Eats & Beats Streetfest and Riverdale ArtWalk, supporting local artists and the Riverside neighbourhood.

At the 2018 Eats & Beats Streetfest, BMO proudly celebrated 105 years in Riverside with a corner full of activities, gifts and prizes for local kids.

BMO’s tent and mascot at the 2018 Eats & Beats Streetfest – pictured: Riverside BIA Executive Director Jennifer Lay, with a BMO staff festival volunteer (Photo credit: Riverside  BIA)

In 2016, after 104 years in the building at 711 Queen Street East, BMO made a big move their new home at 744 Queen Street East on May 4th, 2017 (the force was surely with them!). Once again, they celebrated their then 104 years in business by inviting the community into their space. They also changed their name a bit to reflect their new location as the BMO Queen & Saulter Branch

Images from BMO’s move to 744 Queen E and Community re-opening as the BMO Queen/Saulter Branch

Their new and current location features accessible entrance with automatic doors, multiple ATM machines and modern open concept offices. 

What happened with 711 Queen Street East?

The newest owner of the building where BMO operated for over a century is Dave, an entrepreneur and investor based in Toronto. When he first purchased the building in 2017, he was open to unique ideas for the space, recognizing its incredible, central location in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood, right on the corner of Queen and Broadview.

That’s how the beloved business venture Tertulia Espresso Bar came about to serve the community with coffee and baked goods in 2018:

Tertulia Cafe at 711 Queen E for their 1 year anniversary in 2019

At the 2019 Riverside Coffee Tour which stopped at Tertulia to learn about Spanish Lattes – Credit-Riverside BIA

While unfortunately Tertulia succumbed to the devastating economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, closing in early 2021, new things are surely on the way for this historic property.

The building facade is currently under restoration which will be completed fall 2021, thanks to support from the City of Toronto’s Commercial and Industrial Facade Improvement Grant. The new facade will retain aspects of its Victorian roots while modernizing to fit the demands and standards of the 21st century, and to accommodate its new purposes.

The construction of 711 Queen St. E.

The ‘Riverside BIA 40 Years, 40 Stories’ Series is part of how we’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of this incredible neighbourhood of community-builders.

FIND THE SERIES HERE AS WE SHARE NEW STORIES EACH WEEK

DO YOU HAVE A STORY OF THE RIVERSIDE BIA? SUBMIT YOUR STORY

As part of the Riverside BIA: 40 Years, 40 Stories series, we’re putting a spotlight on The Opera House, a long-standing establishment for the performing arts and a cultural landmark of Toronto. We dive into the history and origins of the historic building at 735 Queen Street East, and how this family-owned and run establishment has reinvented itself over the years and persevered as a thriving spot to converge today.

Thanks to Athena Ellinas-Towers and her family for sharing their memories and updates for this article, and to local writer Aarti Sharma for her research and writing for this article.

Ask Toronto’s music lovers to list their (pre-COVID) top hang out places for live concerts in downtown and The Opera House in Riverside is one name that would be at the top for younger and older generations alike.

For more than 30 years, popular and as well as upcoming artists, have been creating vivid memories for their fans on the historic stage of The Opera House: Metallica, Nirvana, Robbie Williams, The Killers, Eminem, The Foo Fighters and Metric are just a few of the hundreds of acts who have elated fans.

While concerts have been king at The Opera House since its opening in 1989, the venue’s 950-person capacity has also hosted a diversity of celebrations and occasions including marriages, charity fundraisers, and film shoots. 

And the well-kept and fairly unassuming red-brick exterior does not give much away about the happenings that have transpired within its walls over the past century so we’re taking you on a trip through time of re-discovery. What we know as The Opera House today has seen many identities under the fostering of its different owners over the past 112 years since its inception….

The birth of La Plaza Theatre:  Take a leap into the Toronto of the early 1900s, when the sound of trotting horses and carriages were still common on Toronto’s streets; and hats and flat caps were typical accessories for many. This was also the time when theatrical settings were budding places for amusement. 

At this time, what was gaining traction was Vaudeville – a live entertainment form that featured singing, dancing, magic shows, comedy and much more. On the heels of this trend, in 1909, the La Plaza Theatre designed by architect Charles Wagner, opened at 735 Queen E as an Edwardian vaudeville stage. For many years, La Plaza reverberated with the cheers of its audience, who were primarily the workers of the industries in the vicinity.

La Plaza Theatre in October, 1946 – Photo source: Archives of Ontario

1920 City of Toronto Directory – see 735 Queen Street East – La Plaza Theatre

La Plaza Theatre -view of screen from balcony, Toronto , Photo credit: Archives of Ontario

Theatre to Cinema: With galloping technological advancements, when automobile sounds were replacing the trotting sound of horses, the applause of the La Plaza started gravitating toward proliferating cinema theatres, as was so from the 1930s to the 1960s. Acculturating with the drift, the venue converted into a single screen cinema hall. Over the years, owing to the soaring multiplex market, this single-screen setting went back to being the stage for performing arts. With the course of time, the building was passed in the hands of different proprietors and had various names on its façade including Acropolis, the Dundas, Cinema Ellas, and the Off-Broadway Theatre in the 1980s. 

La Plaza Theatre – 1963 -Toronto Archives

La Plaza Theatre Auditorium and Balcony (October 27, 1947) – Photo Credit: The Archives of Ontario

The original 1900s projector inside The Opera House from when the building was a movie theatre (Photo: Riverside BIA, 2019)

The Dawn of The Opera House and a Leap of Faith:

Athena Ellinas-Towers – a member of this family-run business and a Riverside BIA Board member for over 20 years – shared that her brother Gus found the 735 Queen Street East building in 1989 when they were already running the family’s restaurant on The Danforth.

Recollecting the day when her brother took her to see the old theatre at 735 Queen E for the first time, Athena spoke about how she looked at the exterior of the building and exclaimed how gorgeous it was. However, her brother promptly said that she was looking at the Ralph Thornton Community Centre (765 Queen East about a block east) and not the place that they were buying. Soon her excitement was tempered when she saw that her brother had set his eyes on a very old, run-down theatre that had not been renovated in decades. Additionally, back then, this part of the town did not seem as lively and inviting….

However, her belief in her visionary brother’s business acumen and the fact that she did not feel challenged anymore in their existing restaurant business, led them to forge ahead.

All in the Family

Athena, one of the three children of the family, became the new businesses general manager of facilities, along with her eldest brother Gus and younger brother Chris Ellinas, with equal responsibilities and all hands-on with the business.

Mom, Helen, contributed throughout the years in any capacity she was able to, as well as Dad, Adam Ellinas, who passed three years ago, was always contributing in his own way. Collectively, the whole family contributes equally to the success  of The Opera House. 

What inspired the name ‘The Opera House’?

Athena gave ‘The Opera House’ its name. The 1900s vaudeville theatre architecture of the building and the fact that it was formerly a Vaudeville theater inspired that name. The venue has a lot of character which needed to be recognized. The 12,000 square feet grand premise embodies a multi-level auditorium with tiered balcony hanging over a tiered stall (and a licensed bar in the balcony was later added!)

Fun Fact:  Riverside Toronto’s The Opera House hosts everything but the opera; except for just one weekend in the past 30+ years, when an incredible opera event was hosted: it was a Live Opera event called “AtG’s Messiah” staged by Against the Grain Theatre on December 14 & 15, 2013.  What is amusing here? Well, the spectators watched the opera while having poutine and beer.  Without a doubt, the appealingly bizarre combination resulted in a sold-out event.

Fun Fact again:  When the Canadian Opera Company opened, the Opera House received calls from all over the world asking for a line-up.

Pursuits of entertainment in The Opera House:

The kickoff as a Dance Club and Adaption to a Concert Venue: The Opera House embarked on its original journey as a dance club in 1989. However, it hit a roadblock within a period of six months. The frequent patrons, chiefly younger demographics, waltzed their way to the other trending and newer venues.  This left Athena and her brothers weighing out options that could best use this spacious setting.

Glam rock was very popular in those days and many bands were interested in performing on the huge stage at The Opera house. There were not many concert venues back then, so it made sense to re-launch as a concert hall. This fitting transition in these favorable conditions, kept The Opera House busy all the time.

The Opera House -the busy concert venue we all know and love (Photo Credit: The Opera House)

Lots of grunge bands, and touring bands from Europe, Asia, Africa, US and many other places chose the venue to delight their fans.

The Ellinas family, who originally immigrated from Cyprus to Canada during the Turkish invasion in 1974, have always been very welcoming or diversity. This holds true for the versatile genres of music they’ve hosted including Metal, punk, Indie pop, Folk and hip-hop – to name just a few. 

Realizing the augmenting demand for large spaces with staffing, alcohol and security, the Ellinas family, with their astute business acuity, broadened the horizons for The Opera House by offering its stage for varying needs.  So while the spring and fall seasons, kept The Opera House pulsating with live concerts, the winters brought in fundraisers and charity events. Live theatre, product launches and traditional marriages also felt a warm welcome here. Over years, The Opera House also became the location for the film industry and flaunted its 1900s personality in several music videos and film scenes. 

The Opera House came out with a special tshirt to commemorate 30 years showing a list of many performers and acts (Photo Credit: The Opera house)

Over years, the Opera House also became a go-to location for the film industry both for scenes and space – it’s been featured in music videos (e.g. in this well known music video of Brian Wilson by Barenaked Ladies), TV and film scenes (e..g. guest appearance in film Loser).

A Scrumptious Addition to the Family – Opera House Grill & Patio at 737 Queen E:

Dwelling in a small but mighty space on the eastern façade of the Opera House, adjoining the building’s main entrance, is The Opera House Grill, opened in 2015 to serve concertgoers as well as pedestrians.

This pet-friendly Greek food joint operated by the Ellinas family is the residence of the massive ‘Shaggy Burger’ –ranked among Toronto’s top 25 burgers by Toronto Life, and features their famous Greek fries.  

The Opera House Grill, spacious side patio

The secret behind the Unfailing Footfall in The Opera House:

Be it artists or concertgoers, all are enchanted by the look and the architecture of this establishment. The venue has bewitched many artists, especially European ones. Several bands call The Opera House their home and choose it as their destination when they are in Toronto. 

Alongside these strong emotional strings that pull artists to The Opera House, several commercial aspects also make this place compelling. When it comes to producing events, The Opera House is a trusted establishment, having collaborated with global leading promoters, coupled with their long-time experience in the hospitality industry has hard-wired the owners to know how to make their customers happy. 

What Happened during the COVID-19 Pandemic:

While the pandemic had hushed The Opera House through a long moratorium on live concerts and large-scale events, the sight of this formerly spirited and bustling entertainment abode sitting in the dark, made the owners look beyond what they had come to know as their norm. The Opera House collaborated with PRG, a world leading entertainment and event producing company, and Lemmon Entertainment, an entertainment consulting and brand development firm, to launch The HUB in Toronto – a content broadcast studio. Armed with Lemmon Entertainment’s experience in consulting and producing large-scale events, and PRG’s state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment, the venue of The Opera House was re-imagined as a broadcast studio.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic The Opera House has operated as The Hub in Toronto

Working for both not-for-profit and sponsorship, THE HUB is geared to strategize, create, record and broadcast innovative content for diverse ideas and needs. Any event or occasion can be broadcasted live or can be recorded for broadcasting in future.

“The client just has to bring the idea to us and we would execute their vision,” says Athena. Product launches, weddings, branding, concerts, comedy shows and supporting important social causes (such as through The Lost Tapes of the 27 Club) are just a few to name. The HUB will remain until August 2021 with full resumption of live music events beginning September 2021, depending on government guidelines and restrictions.

The Opera House Grill – May 2021 – curb lane patio as part of CafeTO

In the meantime, while The Grill had been closed for much of the pandemic, the family reopened it to much fanfare for the 2021 patio season – now boasting an outdoor side patio as well as a CafeTO curb lane patio – The Grill is once again a popular spot to watch sports games and check out their popular Trivia Tuesdays ‘Live from Outside of The Opera House’ with plans on adding Comedy Wednesdays, Drag Show Thursdays and Live Paint Nights on weekends – for all types of live entertainment outside until we can back inside.

Athena Ellinas-Towers – The Opera House continues to be a family run operation and they’ve grown alongside the Riverside community. Athena has been a member of the Riverside BIA Board of Directors, contributing to the betterment of the neighbourhood she’s been living and working in for more than 30 years. (Photo credit: Karen Lloyd)

FIND THE SERIES HERE AS WE SHARE NEW STORIES EACH WEEK

DO YOU HAVE A STORY OF THE RIVERSIDE BIA? SUBMIT YOUR STORY