A fixture on Cherry Street in the East end of Toronto since the 1960s, it fed countless locals and film crews with its famous meatloaf, and was the location of several famous television and film shoots. Today, the Canary Restaurant sits quiet and vacant, abandoned since early 2007 and the closure of the Bayview extension slowed its customers down to a trickle.

Filled with remnants from the diner’s heyday, the location has been slowly deteriorating – it’s famous blue and yellow neon sign no longer beckoning the hungry masses. While local residents await the promised West Don Lands revitalization, the isolated Canary sits as a quiet reminder of days gone by, when you could spill your problems over a cup of coffee.

It’s unknown what will happen with the building, originally the Palace Street School, once the West Don Lands revitalization is finished or if there is room for this heritage building in such a new planned community. For now, we can rely on our memories, stories, and photographs – both historic and new – to keep the Canary’s memory alive.