The Manse Committee

The Manse Committee

The Manse Committee

Artist

John Kuna

Title

The Manse Committee

About

At that time this building was the manse, or minister’s residence, for Islington’s Methodist Church. The scene is a light-hearted portrayal of The Manse Committee which advised the minister’s wife on décor and conducted periodic inspections to make sure the residence was kept acceptably clean. Reverend Richard Bowles is shown having tea with the Committee Chair while his wife prepares food in the kitchen and Committee members conduct a white-gloved inspection of the premises.

The mural depicts a typical late Victorian residence with furniture that would have been available in Toronto in the 1880s. The floor plan, construction methods and interior were depicted according to building practices at the time.
This mural is unique as it appears to be cut out from the wall and gives an apparent three dimensional view of what is inside of the building.

The Old Swimming Hole

The Old Swimming Hole

The Old Swimming Hole

Artist

John Kuna

Title

The Old Swimming Hole

About

It depicts what was once a functioning sawmill on Mimico Creek, likely near the parkette at Burnhamthorpe Road and Burnhamthorpe Park Boulevard, on property now owned by the Islington Golf Club. The mill pond became a favourite swimming hole for generations of young Islington residents and the painting takes a fanciful look at the swimwear of earlier times.

Timeline: Islington Then and Now

Timeline: Islington Then and Now

Timeline: Islington Then and Now

Artist

John Kuna

Title

Timeline: Islington Then and Now

About

It depicts cars from the 1950s and Musson’s General Store in the 1880s; The right section illustrates a modern shopping scene in the commercial strip where the mural was painted in 2006.

Past Mural: The Pub With No Beer

Past Mural: The Pub With No Beer

Past Mural: The Pub With No Beer

Artist

John Kuna

Title

Past Mural: The Pub With No Beer

About

Decommissioned in 2024, this mural was a visual representation of when beer was not always available or legal in the Village of Islington. The mural shows a pop truck rounding up empties in front of the Islington House, a local watering hole, which operated as an ice cream parlour and could only sell soda pop as a beverage during prohibition. At the time Burnhamthorpe Road was on the west side of the hotel and the hotel’s drive-shed stretched across what is now the intersection of Dundas W., Burnhamthorpe Road and Cordova Avenue.

The Way We Were, Islington ~1900

The Way We Were, Islington ~1900

The Way We Were, Islington ~1900

Artist

John Kuna

Title

The Way We Were, Islington ~1900

About

This mural collages images from several photos of the area including those of the family of Islington photographer, Walter Moorhouse. Also depicted, Hopkins’ store, then at 4906 Dundas, the Methodist Church and manse across the street and a little bridge that spanned Mimico Creek.

The mural is ingeniously integrated into its setting. The sidewalk in front of the shops becomes the footpath in the mural and, from some angles; even the tree at the left appears aligned with the tree behind the building.