Moment in time: Streetcars begin running on Sunday in Toronto

May 23, 1897: In the late 19th century, Toronto was the “city of churches.” Blue laws so restricted behaviour that there was little to do on Sunday beyond go to church, take a carriage ride or go for a walk. Even the streetcars stopped running. But behind the façade was a less homogeneous city. Toronto was also a place with 140 brothels, about one for every 1,000 residents. And it had strong advocates for opening u...p Sunday transit, including the company that ran the trolleys and didn’t want to forgo a day of profit. It was a fight that took years. The proposal was denounced from the pulpit and in some of the news, with opponents concerned that seven-day transit service would lead to such abominations as Sunday newspapers, beer sales, sporting events and even street-corner peanut vendors. But others argued the change was about progress, modernity and fairness for citizens who couldn’t afford a carriage. It took three referendums and the final result was a nail-biter. With more than 32,000 votes cast, the change was approved by a margin of less than 0.7 per cent. The first Sunday trolleys ran later that month, with the day’s revenue distributed to local hospitals. – Oliver Moore