Every Saturday morning Historicist looks back at the events,
places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto
into the city we know today. Advertisement, The Toronto World,
January 1, 1909 How do you ring in the New Year? A glass of
champagne at a party? A round of drinks at a bar? A century ago,
Torontonians were faced with a vote on how many places in the
city they could enjoy a drink at on New Year’s or any other day
of the year. A question on the January 1, 1909, municipal ballot
asked citizens if they would support a new bylaw that would cut
the number of licensed venues in the city from 150 to 110 in the
name of preserving the health and morals of the city. But first,
a word from our sponsors… Advertisement, Daily Mail and Empire,
January 1, 1909 Temperance forces, led by local ministers and
the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, had lobbied to reduce
the number of licensed venues in the city for several years. A
bylaw almost came into effect in 1908, until courts killed it on
a technicalit