Toronto Dreams – postcards scattered all over the city

Anna Jameson postcard. A British writer and feminist who lived in Toronto. For more info on her and where this postcard was left click here. 

History doesn’t have to be boring.

The cities we live in are rich with history, yet often the stories of the past go unnoticed as we focus on the present, the hustle and bustle of today. But something is happening on the streets of Toronto that hopes to change that.

The Toronto Dreams Project is all about helping people realize history, Toronto’s in particular, is actually interesting, entertaining and important.

Billy Bishop, was one of the most famous fighter pilots in WWI, learn more about his Toronto heritage here.

A creative, fun way to share history

Adam Bunch, the creator behind this innovative project, shared with me that he hopes the postcards he designs and the historically based stories—dreams— he writes “will spark an interest in people who may not know how fascinating the history of Toronto can be.”

It doesn’t stop there. What Adam does next with the postcards is not only creative, but tons of fun.

This postcard, of Elizabeth Simcoe, the wife of the founder of Toronto: Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe, has been spotted at various locations on Simcoe street in Toronto. 

Postcards can be found all around Toronto

He places the postcards at various locations around the city. In fact, Adam is deliberate in the placement of the cards, leaving them in public spaces related to the historical figure he has written about.

Sir Henry Pellatt was a rich Toronto business man who built Casa Loma as his home.

A historical scavenger hunt

Adam leaves several copies of his postcards; free for the taking and each card has it’s own URL so that the person who finds it can go online and learn more about the true history behind the postcard character.

Each postcard is numbered making it easy for school groups, families, clubs to find as many as possible as they tour Toronto.

Sydney Newman was the creator of Doctor Who. He grew up in Toronto and worked for NFB and CBC  before heading to England. 

Postcards travel

The response to The Toronto Dreams Project has exceeded Adam’s expectations, even garnering an honorable mention for a Governor General Award.

He recently was able to crowd fund a trip to the UK where he left his historical dream postcards in various spots, with specific connection to the history of Toronto, around England and Wales.

Perhaps you have seen one of the postcards?