William Morris 192nd Birthday and Lecture

March 28, 2026, Time: 2:00 PM EST
(Doors open 1:30 PM)
Location: Tartu College, 310 Bloor St. West, Main Hall (basement level), Toronto.

In-Person and Zoom Event

 

Eden Smith Home (Photo: Lera Kotsyuba, 2017)

 

 

Lecture: “Eden Smith, Toronto’s Arts and Crafts Architect”

 

This talk will review Eden Smith’s exposure to Arts and Crafts thinking while he apprenticed and studied in Birmingham, and how he applied these ideas through a survey of key works completed in Toronto from 1891 to 1920. These include the Church of St. Thomas, St Hilda’s and Trinity College student residences, the Studio Building, the Spruce and Riverdale Court apartments, three public libraries and a selection of private houses, which were the focus of his practice. What may have led to his early retirement from architectural practice in 1920? And what is his legacy today?

Andrew Pruss is a Principal at ERA Architects in Toronto. His work focuses on Adaptive Re-Use, Heritage Conservation and Heritage Planning. He is a graduate of the U. of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Architecture. Andrew has been involved in many landmark sites including the Distillery District, the Don Jail, and Union Station Revitalization. Andrew last presented to the WMSC in 2017, on the public libraries designed by Eden Smith.

Following the lecture will be a presentation of this year’s birthday cake, and a toast to celebrate Morris’s 192nd birthday!

 

 

 

To take part in the celebrations in-person, please register by Friday, March 20, 2026. 

$15 for Society members, $25 for guests. Capacity is limited.

Register for the in-person event: https://forms.gle/8m7BH9iJ5wyvEtSt7

 

Payment link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/ENB7MFJYTEHG6

 

Register for Zoom: https://forms.gle/Nsez4nCEKdUVR18F8   

 

How to get there:
Tartu College is between Spadina and St. George subway stations. Entrance to the Main Hall is on Madison Ave., around the corner from Tartu's front door.

Attendees with mobility issues, please be aware that it will be necessary to use a set of 5 shallow stairs to the basement level. We can assist those using canes or walkers; please note on the registration form if you will need help. 

Online Lecture: Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles

 

Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles

On Zoom from the UK at 2 pm EST
Sunday, February 15, 2026

Our speaker will be Róisín Inglesby, Curator at the William Morris Gallery in London. She is co-curator of Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles. Róisín previously worked on the Young Poland exhibit, and has had various curatorial roles including at the V&A.

The William Morris Gallery’s current exhibit, Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles, was conceived in partnership with Liberty Fabrics on the occasion of the design house’s 150th anniversary. Tracing the rich history of Liberty Fabrics, Women in Print explores the evolving influence and status of women in textiles over the past 150 years.

The exhibit brings together iconic patterns by designers including Althea McNish, Susan Collier, Sarah Campbell, and Lucienne Day, alongside previously overlooked names. It features over 100 works, including garments, fabric, original designs, film and historic photographs.

Women in Print is curated by Rowan Bain, Principal Curator of Collections and Programme and Róisín Inglesby, Curator William Morris Gallery.

WMS-US VIRTUAL EVENT: Arts and Crafts Architecture across America: A book talk with Maureen Meister

 

WMS-US VIRTUAL EVENT: Arts and Crafts Architecture across America: A book talk with Maureen Meister

Friday January 30 2026, 12:30–1:30 pm Eastern Time on Zoom

Join us for a talk about Maureen Meister's exciting new book, Arts and Crafts Architecture across America, which has recently been published by Yale University Press.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Maureen's research. After the talk there will be time for questions and discussion.

Maureen Meister, PhD, has published extensively on topics related to the Arts and Crafts movement and American architects associated with it. She has taught at Boston area universities including Tufts, Lesley, and Northeastern. She's a former board member of the William Morris Society in the United States.

WMSC Holiday Party 2025!

William Morris Society of Canada
Holiday Party

Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 6 pm
Faculty Club, University of Toronto, 41 Willcocks St.

 

This year we will return to a traditional BUFFET setting! There will be many delicious dishes on offer (see attached menu) from which you will choose your own festive meal, including turkey, striploin, salmon, and gluten free and vegan options. Table seats will not be assigned; come early and sit with your friends, or get to know someone new…we Morrisians are an amiable sort! Readings and prizes will add to a fun evening.

The dinner cost is $89 for members, which includes a three-course meal, tea/coffee, tax and tip. Non-member guests are welcome to attend for $99 per person. A bartending service will be on hand for wine and beer, at an additional cost (credit or debit only).

Dinner will start at 6 p.m. but the room will be available from 5:15 p.m. for mingling.

You can register at https://forms.gle/zDuBugt8wJauiScz8 and pay via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/RNDF65XZUW3PL. You'll notice the drop down menu has options to pay for 1 or 2 members, 1 member and 1 guest, etc.  Please register and pay by November 28, 2025.

Given the mail disruptions this year, we recommend that you pay via PayPal.

 

WMSC Zoom Event: Old City Hall film screening

 

Old City Hall - Film Screening

November 19, 2025, Time: 7:00 PM EDT

Members only Zoom Event

 

Old City Hall, Toronto (1901) - City of Toronto Archives (Fonds 1231, Item 311)
 

 

Toronto’s Old City Hall opened in 1899 and has had two very distinct lives. It started as a combined city hall and courthouse but was mostly thought of as The City Hall. After City politicians and administrators moved to Viljo Revel’s futuristic New City Hall in 1965, OCH continued as a Courthouse only, the biggest in the country. It is now shut and awaits a decision from the City as to its future.

 

OCH has already had two near-death experiences: from the downtown Toronto fire of 1904, and clearance for the construction of The Eaton Centre in the 1960’s. The film makes clear what a spectacular building it is and why it is worth preserving. 

The film is the story of the building’s architect, architecture and place in history as the centre of civic life of Toronto for 66 years. It includes wonderful footage of the interior including murals, stained glass, woodwork and courtrooms. It is hoped the film will be a catalyst for a discussion of the future of the building.

 

 

Michael Kainer practiced law in Toronto until his retirement and is a self-taught filmmaker. He has co-produced two documentary shorts and five feature length films. All have Toronto historical and cultural themes. The WMSC showed Michael's film “Not just an Island: A History of the Toronto Island” in 2022. Michael has worked extensively in the Toronto arts and non-profit communities both as a lawyer and volunteer. 

2025 AGM and Lecture: Conserving Architectural Heritage

 Annual General Meeting and Lecture: Conserving Architectural Heritage

Presentation by Diane Chin
Architectural Conservancy of Ontario

Monday, October 6, 2025
7:00 pm EDT

Oakham Lounge at Oakham House
Toronto Metropolitan University
63 Gould Street
Toronto M5B 1E9

Accessible entrance
55 Gould Street
(Dundas subway station)

In person and via Zoom

Inspired by William Morris himself, members of our Society are deeply interested in protecting architectural heritage. Within Ontario, the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) helps conserve heritage assets across the province through its advocacy and work with property owners, conservators, other architects and designers.
Diane Chin, Past Chair of the Board of Governors, will speak about the ACO’s history, programs and partnerships. The largest and oldest heritage organization in Ontario, the ACO recently won a Governor's Award from the National Trust of Canada for its advocacy work.

Morris Mania Zoom Tour

 

Hadrian Garrard, Director of the William Morris Gallery in London and curator of ‘Morris Mania’ will speak to us about the Gallery’s recent exhibition.

William Morris (1834-96) has gone viral. Today, we find his infinitely-reproduced botanical patterns on shower curtains, phone cases, on film and TV, and in all corners of our homes, dentist waiting rooms and shopping centres. Over 125 years since his death, Morris’s work continues to grow in popularity. His patterns are now affordable, well-loved and available to people across the globe, something he failed to achieve in his lifetime. However, this has been achieved in the context of mass- production, computer-generated design, global capitalism and environmental crisis. Morris Mania considers the ongoing impact of Britain’s most iconic designer in our increasingly cluttered and commodified world.

Objects from the William Morris Gallery and private and public international collections include a ‘Rose’ patterned seat from the 1980s British Nuclear Submarine Fleet, ‘Willow’ pattern Nike trainers, and Loewe fashion inspired by Morris’s designs. The recent exhibition also featured Morris-patterned objects donated by the public. Morris-patterned donations to date include chopsticks, a waving cat from Japan, hand-embroidered wedding jackets, Wellington boots and an array of mugs and biscuit tins.

✨️WMSC Members only!✨️