Muddy York Walking Tours

Join us in exploring the City of Toronto

Toronto Noir : Gangsters & Gallows

TORONTO NOIR : GANGSTERS & GALLOWS TOUR

This True Crime tour will highlight some of the most curious people to ever appear in a Toronto courtroom. Some of these cases have become notorious legends to local crime buffs. Others are all but totally forgotten today.

A few of the tales on the docket for you consideration include :

– The Boyd Gang, who became the most legendary gang of bank robbers that Canada has ever know. In a three-year robbery streak, Edwin Boyd made off with record amounts of cash, becoming Toronto’s “Gentleman Bank Robber” in the process. The antics of Boyd and his gang made them popular folk figures across Canada, until two members killed a police detective, and earned a trip to the gallows.

Edwin Boyd and his gang stand trial after a wave of bank robberies that made them famous across Canada.

Edwin Boyd and his gang stand trial after a wave of bank robberies that made them famous across Canada.

 

– The Murder of Bert Massey, who was gunned down on his own doorstep by his 18 year old maid. She made a full confession, with tantalizing accusations that shocked the nation. Murder still carried the death penalty at the time, and everyone waited to see if the all male jury would show her mercy, or let her swing …

Toronto’s Old City Hall has been the site of many notorious trials since it opened in 1899.  It is the final stop on our tour.

Toronto’s Old City Hall has been the site of many notorious trials since it opened in 1899. It is the final stop on our tour.

The tour also visits sites related to a number of other quirky crimes and intriguing unsolved mysteries. Some of the stories will leave you scratching your head and wondering, “What happened?”

The tour begins and ends with a history of the death penalty in Canada. From the early days of British military justice in the 1790s, through to Toronto hosting Canada’s last use of the death penalty in Canada, the noose had both terrified and captivated the attention of the public. The justice of the death penalty in Canada is still debated today. Come out, learn the facts behind its use, and decide for yourself.

Protestors picket Canada’s last use of the death penalty, which took place in Toronto in December of 1962.

Protestors picket Canada’s last use of the death penalty, which took place in Toronto in December of 1962.

Things You will Need to Know About this Tour

This tour takes place in central downtown Toronto, the Financial District, and Nathan Phillips Square, and lasts about 2 hours.

Please email richard@muddyyorktours.com or telephone (416) 487-9017 to make reservations for this tour.  Once your tour reservation is confirmed, you will receive all the information on exactly where the tour starts, where it ends, how long it is, and other important information.

We recommend booking ahead to guarantee availability.  Our calendar can often fill up in advance.  Although it can be difficult for us to arrange last minute tours, it’s possible that we may already have a tour booked that you can join.  Please feel free to contact us by email at richard@muddyyorktours.com or by telephone at (416) 487-9017.

We usually require a minimum of four people for a tour.  However, if you have fewer people than that, feel free to contact us by email at richard@muddyyorktours.com or by telephone at (416) 487-9017, to see if there is a tour that you can join.

The tour cost is based on the number of people in your group.

A tour for four people costs $25 per person.

A tour for five, six or seven people costs $20 per person.

Tours of eight people or more cost $15 per person.

Do you have a large group of grade school or high school students, or other large numbers?  We can usually arrange a lower rate for some groups, depending on the situation.

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