Glenn Gould 25 September 1932 - 4 October 1982

There are four plaques about this gentleman.
All can be seen on this page.

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

There are two almost identical City of Toronto plaques about this musician in the city. One is in front of his childhood home at 32 Southwood Drive. The other is in front of his adult home at 110 St. Clair Avenue West. Here's what the 1993 Toronto Historical Board plaque at 32 Southwood Drive has to say:

Plaque coordinates: 43.675321 -79.296505

Celebrated pianist Glen Gould was born in Toronto and lived here at 32 Southwood Drive throughout his childhood. His visionary approach to musical interpretation brought him international stature. A child prodigy, he gave his first public concert on the organ at the Eaton Auditorium 12 December 1945. He made his debut as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at age 14. Worldwide recognition followed his brilliant rendition of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, recorded in June 1955. From that year through 1964, he toured extensively in many parts of the world including North America, Europe, the Soviet Union and Israel. Dissatisfied with the concert medium, he abandoned live performances in 1964. He continued to record a wide range of music, to write articles for periodicals and to undertake innovative radio and television projects. He died in 1982 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2011

Here's what the 1992 Toronto Historical Board plaque at 110 St. Clair Avenue West tells us:

Plaque coordinates: 43.687232 -79.399009

Celebrated pianist Glenn Gould was born in Toronto and lived here on St. Clair Avenue West for much of his adult life. His visionary approach to musical interpretation brought him international stature. A child prodigy, he gave his first public concert on the organ at the Eaton Auditorium 12 December 1945. He made his debut as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at age 14. Worldwide recognition followed his brilliant rendition of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, recorded in June 1955. From that year through 1964, he toured extensively in many parts of the world including North America, Europe, the Soviet Union and Israel. Dissatisfied with the concert medium, he abandoned live performances in 1964. He continued to record a wide range of music, to write articles for periodicals and to undertake innovative radio and television projects. He died in 1982 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Photo by the City of Toronto - Posted September, 2011

Photo and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted September, 2011

Attached to this westbound St. Clair Avenue West transit shelter at Deer Park Crescent is this City of Toronto plaque. Here's what it says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.687223 -79.398474

Marilyn Kecskes has been the superintendent of 110 St. Clair Ave. West since 1973. She first met Gould on the elevator when he was wearing gloves and covering his face with a handkerchief for fear of catching her germs. Kecskes said she had never met anyone like him: a maverick and eccentric. She knew he was special, too, because his mailbox was the only one that had been tampered with. Someone had once tried to force it open in hope of getting a bit of his mail.
When the elevator stopped, Kecskes opened the heavy doors next to what was once Gould's apartment and mounted the stairs to the roof. She pointed to what used to be his window. "I used to sit up here, after I had done my cleaning, and I would listen to him play all night long," confessed Kecskes, blushing at the memory. "He never knew I was up here, or else he would have been angry with me, I suppose, but I had the moon and the stars and his music and there was nothing more beautiful."

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2007

Here's what the Toronto Humane Society plaque says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.657611 -79.356512

A testament of love for all animals. The Toronto Humane Society gratefully acknowledges the generous legacy left to thousands of abused, lonely and abandoned animals which continues to provide them with a second chance. A musical and humane legacy to the world.

Related Toronto plaque
Mount Pleasant Cemetery

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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted January 26, 2011
I grew up on the same street - 105 Southwood Drive and went to the same schools as Glenn. He was three years my senior. I delivered the newspaper to his parents and also to Robert Fulford's home which was next door to Glenn. We worked together as professionals as I was the bass in the vocal quartet that first recorded "So you want to write a fugue" and was premiered on the CBCTV Festival Series in 1962. 20 years later while I was AGM of the Hamilton Philharmonic, Glenn was using the ensemble as a practice orchestra, to hone his skills as a conductor. That's when he had the stroke that led to the passing of one of the world's most extraordinary human beings. I conducted a memorial service in Hamilton and hired three more singers and an accompanist and we performed "So you want to..." and a couple of Bach motets. I aslo gave the eulogy from my experiences bot as an obeserver and associate. I am the sole surviving member of the original quartet. Many are my memories of Glenn Gould. Edgar Murdoch, Enderby, BC (murdochedgar@hotmail.com)

Posted March 8, 2010
He was the best, as a pianist and as a human being.

Posted May 10, 2008
He makes me proud to have been born a Canadian.
Holt Chater

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