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The House of Industry
Toronto’s First non-denominational Public Charity
In 1834, the newly-incorporated City of Toronto faced a challenge: how to manage the growing issue of poverty in the city.
England had recently passed new “Poor Laws”, making it mandatory for people seeking poverty relief to enter workhouses. The goal was to prevent people from requesting aid except as a very last resort. Toronto’s reformers became concerned that the Poor Laws would be applied in Canada as well.
In 1837, reformers including James Lesslie and W. W. Baldwin founded the Toronto House of Industry, a non-denominational public charity. Their vision was to build a self-reliant agrarian community for those experiencing poverty. But the reformers soon faced a tug-of-war for control of the institution against Toronto’s conservative elites. Although some of the reformers’ ideas influenced the House’s administration going forward, in many ways the House resembled a workhouse under the British model.
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The House of Industry
Life at the House of Industry
Although its name suggests factory work, the term “industry” also referred to the Victorian Protestant belief that there was a spiritual connection to economic productivity. The rules for the people living in the House were strict, with mandatory mealtimes and curfews, and daily prayers offered in many Christian denominations. People were not permitted to leave without prior authorisation, and could not drink alcohol. Those who did not comply could be removed from the House. In its first year, the House had 36 residents.
The House also provided outdoor relief to applicants including wood, coal, and food such as bread, oats, tea, and sugar. This type of aid was immensely popular, and its purpose was to prevent people from losing their homes during times of temporary hardship. 550 individuals received outdoor relief in the House’s first year.
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The House of Industry
Who Qualified for Relief?
As time passed, the diverse causes that lead to poverty complicated the House’s rigid bylaws, especially during times of economic depression. In the year following the 1857 Panic, the number of people assisted by the House jumped from 3,850 to 6,993, about 15% of Toronto’s population at that time. Many applicants were unable to support themselves due to illness or injury, lack of childcare options, as well as constant work shortages.
In response to this, the Trustees appointed a network of men across Toronto’s wards responsible for visiting the homes of applicants and assessing whether they “deserved” assistance. A rotating weekly committee reviewed these visitors’ suggestions and decided on thousands of individual cases for indoor and outdoor relief. The visitors’ individual beliefs, influenced by class, ethnicity, religion, and gender, played a role in determining which applicants received aid. Many applicants continued to advocate for aid from the House by petitioning the Mayor, securing recommendation letters from friends, or requesting visits multiple times.
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The House of Industry
Laughlen Lodge
In 1947, the Homes for the Aged Act changed houses of industry into residents for seniors. Administrators for the House of Industry renamed the building Laughlen Lodge in recognition of its longtime superintendents Arthur and Frances Louise Laughlen, and it operated until 1977. Pearl Sifton, the last superintendent of Laughen Lodge, said in 1956: “The trend in the past has been to make the person fit the institution, but now the trend is to develop policies and practices within the institution to suit the needs of the residents whom we serve.”
Today, the building’s façade is integrated into the YWCA Elm Centre, which provides affordable permanent housing for women-led families. The former site of Toronto’s first public charity now sits at the centre of many of the city’s most important healthcare and community support institutions such as the YWCA, SickKids Foundation, Toronto General Hospital, and Mount Sinai Hospital.
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The House of Industry
Additional Resources
“Act to Incorporate the House of Industry”, Canadiana, 1851.
“House of Industry Records: City of Toronto.” Internet Archive.
Ontario Genealogical Society Toronto Branch Projects, “Toronto House of Industry.”
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