Category: <span>Toronto</span>

Published November 27, 2018 by

Ryerson Campus, Toronto, 1983

Ryerson, Avard Woolaver, Toronto, 1983, Victoria and Gould,

Ryerson Campus, Toronto, 1983                            © Avard Woolaver

Ryerson University is located in downtown Toronto near Yonge-Dundas Square–one of the city’s busiest intersections. As a photography student I was given various assignments and didn’t need to go far to find interesting subject matter. This photo was taken just steps from the Film and Photography Building; it can be seen in the far left of the image. For someone like me who grew up on a farm in rural Nova Scotia, Toronto was at first big and scary. But as time passed it became a wonderful, vibrant place bursting with photographic potential.

Photography Toronto

1983 Avard Woolaver Ryerson street photography Toronto

Published November 27, 2018 by

Yonge Street, Toronto, 1982

No Money Down, Toronto, photobook, photography, Yonge Street,

Taken from the rooftop of Sam the Record Man. For me, having a camera in my hand at all times helped me remember: You only get to do this once. We have to take the time to see it as clearly as we can.

from the book: No Money Down – Toronto (1980-1986)
https://goo.gl/Km6dB1

Photography Toronto

1980s Avard Woolaver No Money Down photo book Toronto

Published November 26, 2018 by

Show Biz, Yonge Street, Toronto, 1984

Avard Woolaver, Toronto in the 1980s, Toronto, documentary, black and white,

Show Biz was a student hangout when I was attending Ryerson–a place to unwind with friends and enjoy good food and beer. The super long curly fries were memorable, and it was the first place where tried escargot (very tasty!).  There is a view of Edward Street out the window–location of Toronto landmark, The World’s Biggest Bookstore.

You’ll notice a stubby beer bottle in the foreground and a long neck bottle in the background. In the years 1982-1986 there was a transition from the stubby to the long neck. I miss the stubby, but it is available now from some craft brewers.

My friends Mark and Iris are sitting over by the window, likely talking about photography. I miss those days.

Photography Toronto

Avard Woolaver Show Biz Toronto Yonge Street

Published July 19, 2018 by

Yonge and Edward, Toronto, 1981

Avard Woolaver, Toronto, Toronto in the 1980s, 1981, Yonge and Edward, documentary photography,

Photos like this contain a lot of information, and I’m glad now I paused a few seconds to take it. The smokestack is the Walton Street steam plant, built in 1971. The Orange Crush sign was a fixture there for a few years. I liked it because it displayed the time and temperature, and also because it seemed to be crushing the building below. I don’t think I was ever in the Health Foods store, Kelly’s Stereo Mart, or Times Square Billiards. But I was often at the World’s Biggest Bookstore, which operated from 1980-2014. I went there many times. It was the kind of place that you never visited for just five minutes. There were so many interesting books, and the prices were good, too. They liked to play up their no frills image with slogans like, “Books priced so low even people who don’t read too good is buying them.” I remember buying Jack Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums there around this time. It was a hot summer afternoon and I walked across the sizzling pavement with the book (and camera) in my hand.

From the series: Toronto in the 1980s

 

Film Photography Photography Toronto

1981 analog photography Avard Woolaver documentary film photography Toronto Toronto in the 1980s Yonge Street