The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1954, Blaðsíða 42

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Spring 1954
critics are unkind enough to suggest
that Toronto people are everlastingly
running to make a fast dollar. Be this
as it may, the monuments of brains
and energy are to be found in invalu-
able medical and scientific research,
business enterprises extending through-
out the world, congested motor traffic,
TV antennas in abundance and all
the comforts of modern and gracious
living.
The opportunities for acquiring
knowledge are perhaps unequalled in
any comparable centre, except per-
haps Boston. The University of Tor-
onto, under the presidency of Sidney
E. Smith—well-known in Western Can-
ada—is a notable seat of learning. Here
insulin was discovered in 1921 by the
late Sir Frederick Banting and Dr.
Charles H. Best, the only Canadians to
win the coveted Nobel Prize. In 1879
Sir Sanford Fleming devised standard
time, which is in universal operation.
The Conservatory of Music, for many
years directed by Sir Ernest McMillan,
enjoys an international reputation.
The Art Gallery is built around “the
Grange” the former home of an histor-
ian and writer, Goldwyn Smith. It
houses works of art and here in 1951
the priceless treasures of the Vienna
collections were displayed. In the
Royal Ontario Museum is gathered a
tremendous general collection, one of
the most popular being the Chinese
objects of the Ming Dynasty. The
learning of the medical profession
combined with the generosity of the
citizens has produced famous insti-
tutions for the betterment of the
health of mankind, including several
large hospitals such as the Hospital
for Sick Children. There are also the
Banting Institute, the Best Research
Institute, and presently will be con-
structed a new Cancer Research Insti-
tute to cost nearly ten million dollars.
The first extensive business enter-
prise was established in 1812 by Jesse
Ketchum when he commenced a tan-
nery. The word “integrity” in the city’s
slogan may be invoked here, for Ket-
chum was an ardent prohibitionist
and at one time offered to give the
young town a valuable stretch of land
for the purpose fo opening up a
street upon the condition that no
house be permitted to be erected on it
that dealt in any manner with alcohol
ic beverages. The bargain has been
maintained to this day, and the thor-
oughfare is appropriately called
Temperance Street. Commercial enter-
prises directed from Toronto are now
often world-wide. A Toronto lawyer,
Miller Lash, Q.C., organized Brazil-
ian Light, Heat and Power Corpora-
tion, a utility doing business through-
out Brazil. A Toronto firm recently
made a complete aerial survey ot
Pakistan. Business transacted by Tor-
onto banks, insurance companies, oil,
mining and manufacturing concerns
have international ramifications.
Toronto is not without its interest-
ing characters, some of them bold and
independent in their thinking, as one
may determine by reading books and
magazines, watching television or
listening to the radio. A current radio
commentator is Gordon Sinclair, a
globe-trotter who has written several
books and innumerable articles about
his travels to strange and far away
lands. A successful but eccentric
lawyer died a few years ago leaving an
unusual will providing a valuable be-
quest to the mother who gave birth to
the largest number of children in 10
years, thus precipitating the “Miller
stork derby”. A former mayor, Thomas
Foster, bequeathed large sums to char-
women, caretakers and news boys, anti