The Fort Reach of Garrison
Creek runs from Queen Street to Lake Ontario. You would hardly
guess it though. Where Garrison Creek and its tributaries ran is
generally not observable today, except in Stanley Park.
One tributary was Stafford Stream, now largely
invisible. It started on the grounds of the Mental Health Centre
close to Ossington and Queen. The only sign of its passing today is
a slight dip where it crossed King St. at Stafford Street. South of
the park the low area marking the creek disappears.
Stafford stream joined the main stream just south of King
Street. From there on the route of Garrison Creek is invisible
under railway and industrial development.
Asylum Stream, another lost tributary of Garrison
Creek, started near Queen and Lizgar and crossed a corner of the
Queen Street Mental Health Centre, formerly the provincial asylum.
It ran through an area now much changed by industrial and rail
development. No trace can be seen. Asylum Stream joined Garrison
Creek where the railway tracks are now.
Before the development of the area in the nineteenth century,
Garrison Creek emptied into Lake Ontario where the Bathurst Street
bridge crosses the railway tracks, just east of Fort
York, which was the military garrison for the region.
Far north of the condo covered shoreline we know today, in the
early 1800s the mouth of the creek was suitable for mooring a few
small boats and, it is said, was an excellent spot for salmon
fishing.
Please use stealth in retrieving the cache and replace it as you
found it.