Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto


Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a cemetery located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The cemetery was opened in November 1876, and is located north of Moore Park, a neighbourhood of Toronto. The cemetery has kilometres of drives and walking paths, interspersed with fountains, statues, botanical gardens, and rare and distinct trees, originally laid out by German-born landscape architect Henry Adolph Engelhardt, inspired by the European and American garden cemeteries of the 19th century, and with influences from Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston.
As the final resting place of more than 168,000 persons, Mount Pleasant Cemetery contains remarkable architecture amongst its many monuments. The cemetery was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2000.

History

In the early 19th century, the only authorized cemeteries within the town of York were limited to the members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England. Deceased citizens who did not belong to either of these Christian denominations had no choice but to find burial arrangements outside of the city. Notably, those of Jewish faith who wanted a Jewish burial had to resort to cemeteries beyond Ontario until Pape Avenue Cemetery was opened outside of Toronto in 1849.
In response to a petition to the Legislative Council of Upper Canada, which included “...it has become desirable that a Plot be obtained for the purpose of a General Burying Ground, as well for Strangers as for the Inhabitants of the Town, of whatever sect or denomination they may be”, a statute named An act to authorize certain persons therein named, and their successors, to hold certain lands for the purpose therein mentioned was passed and received Royal Assent in 1826: Acts of U.C. 7 Geo. IV, c. 21. The land that came to be known as the “Potters Field” was acquired and started operation as a cemetery soon afterwards. Over time additional cemetery lands were added to what became the Toronto General Burying Ground.
In 1873, a new cemetery available to all citizens was established. The new cemetery was situated on an farm on Lot 19 Concession 3 once owned by the Cawthra family and likely by William Cawthra, on the far outskirts of the city. Mount Pleasant Cemetery formally opened on 4 November 1876 with more than of carriage drives along rolling hills and ponds. Mount Pleasant Road was later constructed to pass through the centre of the cemetery and is named after this cemetery. The cemetery also has remains and a number of stone markers that were moved from the Potter's Field. The urban expansion of Toronto eventually led to Mount Pleasant being situated in the centre of the city.
A number of Canadian servicemen who died during the World Wars were interred at the cemetery. The cemetery contains 231 Commonwealth War Graves, comprising 126 burials in World War I and 105 in World War II. 188 are of the Canadian, and 43 the British, armed forces.
In the autumn of 2009, the cemetery opened Mount Pleasant Visitation Centre. The new building is approximately and is built on the property grounds. It was built with the intention to provide visitation space and chapel services.
The cemetery began planning the building as early as 2004, but disputes with the City of Toronto government, local ratepayer associations, and the Ontario Municipal Board all delayed the project. Changes were made as a result of this process, most notably vehicle access is now through the cemetery grounds only, not directly from Moore Avenue.

Memorials

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