Holiday Edition: Historic Brothels of Old Toronto Walking Tour

18+ Discover a secret holiday chapter in the history of 1800s Toronto. From gifts of diamonds to secret Santas, our city's sex workers and madams also celebrated the holidays. Learn more on our limited edition holiday tour led by a university professor and PhD candidates.

This tour is based on a decade of archival research that uncovered the locations of 100 brothels in 1800s Toronto and provides an immersive cultural and historical experience. Gain insider knowledge of these newly discovered true histories of Old Toronto's prostitution economy from 1837-1920. Learn about the women who worked here, how they survived their jobs, and the city's booming brothel culture-- and what it was like in our city's bawdy houses over the winter holidays.

Artifacts, photographs, stories, and architectural secrets contribute to this memorable experience. This 90 minute tour honours these historical workers and the many stories our town founders hoped would stay hidden forever.