Historic Foodways Programme
The Historic Foodways Programme at Fort York National Historic Site promotes culinary history through the animation of the historic kitchens at the fort, and through the sharing of period foods and recipes. This unique programme relies on educated volunteers and staff. Fort York's signature line of gourmet baked goods, preserves, and marmalades are for sale in the Canteen Museum Store along with seasonal items, like heritage ice cream. Public programs include frequent cooking classes and tastings.
During the past few years, large ticketed events have included: Canada’s Table: A Celebration of Our Cookbooks (2018); Hungry for Comfort: A Celebration of Food History (2018 and 2019); and the retired Mad for Marmalade, Crazy for Citrus (2007 to 2017). Historic recipes appear regularly in the pages of The Fife and Drum.
The Volunteer Historic Cooks and staff have published two cookbooks: Recipes for Victory: Great War Food from the Front and Kitchens Back Home (2018); and Setting a Fine Table: Historical Desserts and Drinks from the Officers' Kitchens at Fort York (2013). Both books, published by Whitecap Books, are for sale in the Canteen Museum Store.
Volunteer at Fort York
Helping Fort York visitors encounter the past through engaging experiences today.
Help history come to life!
Why volunteer?
Volunteers play an important role in helping the Fort deliver a wide variety of special events and activities and have a direct impact on the visitor experience. Most volunteers are involved in welcoming visitors, answering questions and getting people oriented to the site. Other more specialized opportunities may include team leader, historic cook, heritage gardener and more. Volunteers support the work of staff, re-enactors and program partners but are not involved in direct animation work.
We are looking for friendly, reliable volunteers with a passion for history to help us to tell the story of the Fort.
Joining the Fort York volunteer team is a great chance to:
- Learn more about the birthplace of Toronto and our shared heritage
- Be a part of a great team
- Gain experience & build your skills
- Meet people from all over the world
- Be an active part of your community
Most shifts are on the evenings and weekends, particularly during the spring/summer, and scheduling is flexible. Please note most volunteering shifts take place outdoors. All volunteers are provided with ongoing support, learning opportunities and invites to special appreciation events. For more information about current opportunities and upcoming orientation sessions please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Other ways you can get involved at the Fort:
- Volunteer for the Fort York Drum Corps in the summer (youth aged 11–16)
- Become a Community Gardener
- Get involved with a re-enactor group
- Join the York Regency Dancers
- Help at other City of Toronto Historic Sites
Parler Fort
Parler Fort is an occasional series of discussions that examines the impacts of past events and personalities on our lives today.
Featuring novelists, historians, artists, and city planners among others, each session explores a topic in a way that sparks dialogue and provides insight into
issues that matter today.
Fort York National Historic Site, the birthplace of urban Toronto, is an apt setting in which to enrich our understanding of our city and fortify our connections
with one another.
Admission: $10.00 *Free for students
Our upcoming schedule is posted here:
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Canteen Museum Store
Visit our online store at https://cityoftoronto.myshopify.com/ to shop for items previously available at the Canteen Museum Store and Toronto's nine other History Musems.
The City of Toronto owns and operates 10 historic sites across Toronto. Toronto's many pasts, presents and futures meet at our museums. The sites range in size, historical significance and time periods. The collection of sites include: former homes of key historic figures, a British Fort, a City Hall Council Chamber, a Tavern and Inn and a Brewery and Papermill. Toronto History Museums retail products are uniquely inspired by the City's artifact collection and offer the best in local art. Products include, although aren't limited to, Indigenous crafts, artisan jewellery, clothing, accessories, home décor, gardening, reproductions, stationery, toys, educational items, and literature that reflect the history and heritage of our sites.
Our reproduction pieces include navigational instruments-compasses, spyglasses, sextants and coins. We have sourced heritage writing instruments imported from Italy and France, beautiful wooden pen and nib sets, inks and sealing wax with stamps. We offer home décor and domestic merchandise to connect our heritage kitchens within the Toronto History Museums to your homes, offering cookbooks, glassware, china, tin ware and linens. We carry locally handmade beeswax candles and environmentally friendly food wraps.
Store Hours
January 2 – Dec 23: Wednesday/Thursday/Friday; 11:00 am – 4:00 pm Weekends; 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday
For further information please call 416-392-7484 or email Fort York at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Subcategories
- Joe Gill inspired and led The Friends over 25 years, helping preserve and revitalize Fort York during a time of massive change.
- George Crookshank chest donated to City of Toronto
- Relics of the Rebellion of 1837: the money vaults at Fort York
- Fort York Guard on Pause in 2022
- New Museum Administrator of Fort York National Historic Site
- Further Event Information & Latest Updates
For further information and last minute...
