Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

Toronto Center

The earliest Canadian Astronomical Society of which we have and record was the Toronto Astronomical Club. It came into being at a meeting held on December 1, 1868, in what was then the Mechanic’s Institute on the north-east corner of Adelaide and Church Streets. Eight members were present, among them Andrew Elvins, a tailor from England, whose great energy and enthusiasm did much to keep the Club alive. Subsequent meetings were held at intervals in the homes of members, where much time was spent in making or discussing observations of objects in the sky.

In 1890 the Club had its name changed to the Astronomical and Physical Society of Toronto and, ten years later, to the Toronto Astronomical Society. As a result of its activity, especially in the field of making observations, smaller astronomical societies came into existence at Meaford, Simcoe, and other places in Ontario. In 1902, when 37 of its 102 members lived outside Toronto, it was decided the name of the Society suggested too local an outlook. The Council therefore had the name changed to the Astronomical Society of Canada, and took immediate steps to obtain permission to use the prefix “Royal”.

252 College Street, Toronto. Photo: Elena

The Society received its Royal Charter in 1903. Since then its activities have widened and grown in importance, and it now has over 2,000 members, many of whom live outside Canada. Membership is open to anyone interested in astronomy. Members receive a bi-monthly Journal and the annual Observer’s Handbook. Further information may be obtained from the Society’s National Office at 252 College Street, Toronto 2b, where the Society’s library also is located.

The Toronto Centre is one of the 16 astronomical centers distributed across Canada. It holds regular meetings and arranges observing and telescope-making sessions. The meetings and telescope-making sessions are held in the McLaughlin Planetarium.

(Text published in 1976).