Jamie Bradburn
@jbcurio.bsky.social
Writer/researcher/historian for hire, specializing in Toronto/Ontario history (frequently for Toronto Today and TVO). Former Sunday Star quizmaster. Crafts award-winning stories. Walks and cooks a bit. Has adventures with stuffed porcupines.
The newly revamped Canada's History magazine @canadashistory.bsky.social is now on newsstands, and features a book review by yours truly!
#cdnhistory
#cdnhistory
November 29, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The newly revamped Canada's History magazine @canadashistory.bsky.social is now on newsstands, and features a book review by yours truly!
#cdnhistory
#cdnhistory
Reposted by Jamie Bradburn
In this week's edition of my newsletter, rebuilding confidence, a magazine appearance, and having visions of plum pudding ice cream dance through my head.
open.substack.com/pub/jamiebra...
open.substack.com/pub/jamiebra...
44: The Visions of Plum Pudding Ice Cream Dancing in Your Head Edition
Along with the usual roundup o' stuff...
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
In this week's edition of my newsletter, rebuilding confidence, a magazine appearance, and having visions of plum pudding ice cream dance through my head.
open.substack.com/pub/jamiebra...
open.substack.com/pub/jamiebra...
Happening today...
Plug: feeling like some Canadian-made gifts for the holidays? My partner-in-crime Louisa LaBarbera will be selling her latest jewelry creations on Nov 28 and 29 (this Friday and Saturday) at the Gerrard Art Space! #buylocal #christmasshopping
November 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Happening today...
In this week's edition of my newsletter, rebuilding confidence, a magazine appearance, and having visions of plum pudding ice cream dance through my head.
open.substack.com/pub/jamiebra...
open.substack.com/pub/jamiebra...
44: The Visions of Plum Pudding Ice Cream Dancing in Your Head Edition
Along with the usual roundup o' stuff...
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
In this week's edition of my newsletter, rebuilding confidence, a magazine appearance, and having visions of plum pudding ice cream dance through my head.
open.substack.com/pub/jamiebra...
open.substack.com/pub/jamiebra...
Plug: feeling like some Canadian-made gifts for the holidays? My partner-in-crime Louisa LaBarbera will be selling her latest jewelry creations on Nov 28 and 29 (this Friday and Saturday) at the Gerrard Art Space! #buylocal #christmasshopping
November 28, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Plug: feeling like some Canadian-made gifts for the holidays? My partner-in-crime Louisa LaBarbera will be selling her latest jewelry creations on Nov 28 and 29 (this Friday and Saturday) at the Gerrard Art Space! #buylocal #christmasshopping
Reposted by Jamie Bradburn
"None of this is surprising: the province’s grocery oligopoly has been successfully fighting off efforts to impose any kind of deposit return scheme on beverage containers for about as long as I’ve been alive." — @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social
ANALYSIS: Does the new empties scheme sell out northern Ontario? | TVO Today
The grocers will pay off the Beer Store to continue to accept returns. That’s good news — if you can get to one.
amp.tvo.org
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
"None of this is surprising: the province’s grocery oligopoly has been successfully fighting off efforts to impose any kind of deposit return scheme on beverage containers for about as long as I’ve been alive." — @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social
1) I admit I’ve never owned a wintry sweater before. But some gentle prodding from family members suggested maybe I should add one to my wardrobe.
I think I’m pretty happy with what I found at Simons yesterday, capping off a good day professionally and personally.
I think I’m pretty happy with what I found at Simons yesterday, capping off a good day professionally and personally.
November 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM
1) I admit I’ve never owned a wintry sweater before. But some gentle prodding from family members suggested maybe I should add one to my wardrobe.
I think I’m pretty happy with what I found at Simons yesterday, capping off a good day professionally and personally.
I think I’m pretty happy with what I found at Simons yesterday, capping off a good day professionally and personally.
News for Toronto history researchers… #TOHistory #history
November 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM
News for Toronto history researchers… #TOHistory #history
Louisa was having a little fun with a hippo at Arts on Queen yesterday as the store sails into the holiday shopping season...
www.instagram.com/p/DRfsbfFjbU...
www.instagram.com/p/DRfsbfFjbU...
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November 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Louisa was having a little fun with a hippo at Arts on Queen yesterday as the store sails into the holiday shopping season...
www.instagram.com/p/DRfsbfFjbU...
www.instagram.com/p/DRfsbfFjbU...
Jimmy Cliff 'Wonderful World Beautiful People' LIVE Midem 1970
YouTube video by Jamrockvybzreggae
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
ICYMI for TVO @tvotoday.bsky.social I look at the waves of school board consolidations across Ontario during the 1960s as part of the effort to modernize the province's educational infrastructure #onpoli #cdnhistory #history
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
November 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
ICYMI for TVO @tvotoday.bsky.social I look at the waves of school board consolidations across Ontario during the 1960s as part of the effort to modernize the province's educational infrastructure #onpoli #cdnhistory #history
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
Side research find: much like BB guns and deadly icicles, studded clothing from the 1980s had the potential to cost you an eye!
Toronto Star, August 2, 1984.
Toronto Star, August 2, 1984.
November 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Side research find: much like BB guns and deadly icicles, studded clothing from the 1980s had the potential to cost you an eye!
Toronto Star, August 2, 1984.
Toronto Star, August 2, 1984.
From the vaults: It's Toronto's Santa Claus Parade today, so here's a look at its past. Just remember to pack some "Seagram's medicine!"
#TOHistory #christmas
jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/s...
#TOHistory #christmas
jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/s...
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Originally published as a “Historicist” column on Torontoist on November 15, 2008. Santa Claus Float, Eaton’s Santa Claus Parade, Toronto, 1930. Archives of Ontario Reference Code: F 22…
jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
From the vaults: It's Toronto's Santa Claus Parade today, so here's a look at its past. Just remember to pack some "Seagram's medicine!"
#TOHistory #christmas
jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/s...
#TOHistory #christmas
jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/s...
Reposted by Jamie Bradburn
NEW! For TVO @tvotoday.bsky.social, a look at how the province slashed the number of school boards in Ontario from around 3,700 to around 200 in stages over the course of the 1960s.
Just don't ask school trustees in Baden what their opinion was.
#onpoli #ontariohistory
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
Just don't ask school trustees in Baden what their opinion was.
#onpoli #ontariohistory
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
November 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
NEW! For TVO @tvotoday.bsky.social, a look at how the province slashed the number of school boards in Ontario from around 3,700 to around 200 in stages over the course of the 1960s.
Just don't ask school trustees in Baden what their opinion was.
#onpoli #ontariohistory
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
Just don't ask school trustees in Baden what their opinion was.
#onpoli #ontariohistory
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
NEW! For TVO @tvotoday.bsky.social, a look at how the province slashed the number of school boards in Ontario from around 3,700 to around 200 in stages over the course of the 1960s.
Just don't ask school trustees in Baden what their opinion was.
#onpoli #ontariohistory
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
Just don't ask school trustees in Baden what their opinion was.
#onpoli #ontariohistory
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
November 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
NEW! For TVO @tvotoday.bsky.social, a look at how the province slashed the number of school boards in Ontario from around 3,700 to around 200 in stages over the course of the 1960s.
Just don't ask school trustees in Baden what their opinion was.
#onpoli #ontariohistory
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
Just don't ask school trustees in Baden what their opinion was.
#onpoli #ontariohistory
www.tvo.org/article/how-...
Thanks to everyone who came to my newspaper talk last night. It was one of the largest audiences I've spoken, and I think it went well.
I'm excited to do more in 2026!
(And hey, if you know a corporate group or somebody similar who'd be interested in a historical chat, I'd love to try that!)
I'm excited to do more in 2026!
(And hey, if you know a corporate group or somebody similar who'd be interested in a historical chat, I'd love to try that!)
November 20, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Thanks to everyone who came to my newspaper talk last night. It was one of the largest audiences I've spoken, and I think it went well.
I'm excited to do more in 2026!
(And hey, if you know a corporate group or somebody similar who'd be interested in a historical chat, I'd love to try that!)
I'm excited to do more in 2026!
(And hey, if you know a corporate group or somebody similar who'd be interested in a historical chat, I'd love to try that!)
Reposted by Jamie Bradburn
I'm pretty revved up for giving this talk tonight at the Beaches Sandbox - hope to see some of you there!
I am also starting to take bookings for historical talks in 2026 - something I would like to do more of. Drop me a private message if you or your organization are interested! #TOHistory
I am also starting to take bookings for historical talks in 2026 - something I would like to do more of. Drop me a private message if you or your organization are interested! #TOHistory
November 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I'm pretty revved up for giving this talk tonight at the Beaches Sandbox - hope to see some of you there!
I am also starting to take bookings for historical talks in 2026 - something I would like to do more of. Drop me a private message if you or your organization are interested! #TOHistory
I am also starting to take bookings for historical talks in 2026 - something I would like to do more of. Drop me a private message if you or your organization are interested! #TOHistory
I'm pretty revved up for giving this talk tonight at the Beaches Sandbox - hope to see some of you there!
I am also starting to take bookings for historical talks in 2026 - something I would like to do more of. Drop me a private message if you or your organization are interested! #TOHistory
I am also starting to take bookings for historical talks in 2026 - something I would like to do more of. Drop me a private message if you or your organization are interested! #TOHistory
November 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I'm pretty revved up for giving this talk tonight at the Beaches Sandbox - hope to see some of you there!
I am also starting to take bookings for historical talks in 2026 - something I would like to do more of. Drop me a private message if you or your organization are interested! #TOHistory
I am also starting to take bookings for historical talks in 2026 - something I would like to do more of. Drop me a private message if you or your organization are interested! #TOHistory
Ventured onto Slate for the first time in eons and was quickly reminded how obnoxious the clickbaity headlines are.
November 19, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Ventured onto Slate for the first time in eons and was quickly reminded how obnoxious the clickbaity headlines are.
Afternoon park scene, north of Danforth, west of Logan
November 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Afternoon park scene, north of Danforth, west of Logan
November 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Jamie Bradburn
Yep. Professional writers know they need an editor. Aspiring professional writers know they need an editor. It's only the wannabes and corner-cutters who think they can skip this step. (You can't.)
#AmEditing
#Romancelandia
#AmEditing
#Romancelandia
Editors have a really hard job, and the good ones can make something unreadable readable, and the great ones can make something unreadable into something good. But they're basically invisible, until someone tries to write without one.
November 17, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Yep. Professional writers know they need an editor. Aspiring professional writers know they need an editor. It's only the wannabes and corner-cutters who think they can skip this step. (You can't.)
#AmEditing
#Romancelandia
#AmEditing
#Romancelandia
One of the things I really adore about history on Bluesky is that there's space for things like people who specialize in eels.
(This is a fun account!)
(This is a fun account!)
Ever find yourself at home, hungry, & wishing for an eel delivery service? Well you're not alone!
In the 1580s Queen Elizabeth had cartloads of eels & pike delivered weekly to her castle at Hertford from Cambridge by a man named William Raven.
Why eel out when you can order in?
🗃️🧪
In the 1580s Queen Elizabeth had cartloads of eels & pike delivered weekly to her castle at Hertford from Cambridge by a man named William Raven.
Why eel out when you can order in?
🗃️🧪
November 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
One of the things I really adore about history on Bluesky is that there's space for things like people who specialize in eels.
(This is a fun account!)
(This is a fun account!)
Reposted by Jamie Bradburn
In light of Toronto City Council's half-hearted opening up of some limited neighbourhood retail last week, here's my post from 2020 about spotting former neighbourhood retail stores in old neighbourhoods. spacing.ca/toronto/2020...
REID: Spotting (and reviving?) the neighbourhood corner commercial building - Spacing Toronto
Like so many people during the current pandemic lockdown, I’ve started to get to know my neighbourhood much more closely on daily walks for exercise from my home. One of the elements of Toronto’s ever...
spacing.ca
November 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
In light of Toronto City Council's half-hearted opening up of some limited neighbourhood retail last week, here's my post from 2020 about spotting former neighbourhood retail stores in old neighbourhoods. spacing.ca/toronto/2020...
Reposted by Jamie Bradburn
Come hear me talk about some of Toronto's journalistic history this week! #TOHistory #cdnhistory
November 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Come hear me talk about some of Toronto's journalistic history this week! #TOHistory #cdnhistory