Grandma's Island
Treasure Hunt

date of hunt, 2002

Island map 1955

 

Grandma hid a treasure on the Island and, lucky for us, she left us a clue game to find it. The Clue Sentence tells us where the treasure is hidden. A letter goes on each blank. The number below each blank correspond with the number of the island trivia question. Solve a trivia question and write the letter of the correct answer on the blank. As an example, the first question is answered for us. Half the questions can be solved by walking a circle route around the area, the other half are history questions which the adults might know the answers to. It's O.K. to skip difficult questions—you might be able to guess the words of the Clue Sentence without solving all the trivia questions. You can work alone or as part of a team—there's enough treasure for all of us!

C l u e  S e n t e n c e

u                        
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
                         
                         
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___          
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

 

1 What colour are the maple leaves on the tree above the Frances Malmsten plaque?

s
t
u
v
w

black
green
red
white
yellow

The correct answer is “u red”, so a “u” is put above the “1” in the clue sentence above.

2

In the grass north east of the water fountain there is a metal pole with chains used as a “hole” in disc (frisbee) golf. What is the number of the closest hole?

e
i
o
u
a

3
7
10
12
18

3 To the east is Ward's Island, named after the Ward family who used to live there since the 1850s. What's there now?
n
r
t
s
y
h

amusement park
farm
hotel and public baths
water filtration plant
homes
school

4 Heading north, what number is stencilled on the fire hydrant north of the golf tee off area?
m
n
r
s
t

3
7
10
12
18

5 What building in downtown Toronto can be seen above the trees?

h
i
k
l
m
n

Air Canada Centre
CN Tower
New City Hall
Old City Hall
Ontario Place
Royal York Hotel

6 The Island Church, built in 1884 and moved here in 1959, is called?
a
b
c
d
e

Emmanuel
St. Adjutor
St. Michaels
St. Ritas
St. Andrew-by-the-Lake

7 To the west of the back of the church, around a tree, why are there rows of stones?
n
o
r
s
t
y

foundation of a building
graves
labyrinth
parking spaces
stepping stones
sundial

8 Heading south and west, what kind of trees are between the road and the water?
o
r
s
t
u
chestnut
maple
oak
poplar
willow
9 Which statement is not true:
k

l

n

o

r

s

lighthouseThe Island was originally part of a sandbar that
broke off from the mainland in 1858.
The oldest building on the island is the Gilbrator
Point Lighthouse, 1808.
In 1923, Yankee baseball player Babe Ruth hit a home
run out of the stadium on Hanlan's and into the bay.
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club has presented the
Prince of Wales Cup since 1860.
The annual Dominion Day rowing and canoeing regatta has
been held since 1894.
All not true.

10

What man-made object is sticking out of the ground near two fruit trees south of the road?

a
b
c
d
e

barbeque
bicycle post
telephone booth
wadding pool
water fountain

11

The present day ferry boats dock, built in 1972, is at the foot of what street?

d
e
f
g
h

Bathurst
Bay
Jarvis
Spadina
York

12 Which one isn't the name of an Island ferry?
r
s
t
u
v
w

Bob Marley
Sam McBride
Ongiara
Thomas Rennie
Trillium
William Inglis

ferry
13 What playground equipment is nearby?

n
o
r
s
t
u

bouncing horses
monkey bars
slide
spinning table
swings
teeter-totter

14 On top of the boat rental building are how many Canadian flags?
n
o
r
s
t

1
2
4
6
10

15 Not as far as Manitou Road there is a maze donated in 1967 by which ethnic community?
a
b
c
d
e
f

Dutch
English
Greek
Indian
Norwegian
Swedish

16

The west part of the Island is named after the Hanlan family who used to live there since 1862. In 1880 Ned Hanlan was a world champion in what sport?

Hanlan's hotel
i
k
l
m
n
o

bicycling
bowling
boxing
rowing
sailing
swimming

17 Towards the lake, what can be rented from the first building on the south side?
c
d
e
f
g
h

bathing suits
bicycles
canoes
coolers
picnic tables
umbrellas

18

What is the length of the road from the Ward's to Hanlan's Point's ferry docks (km)?

l
m
n
o
p

1.25
3.25
5.25
7.25
9.25

19 Heading back east, what is the speed limit along Lakeshore today?
u
a
e
i
o

15
30
40
60
100

20 What are the first two numbers of the emergency phone number on the sign with Life Saving Equipment?
l
m
n
o
r
s

23
36
39
60
91
92

21 Looking over the lake there are trees and a lighthouse on what land?
e
f
g
h
k
l

Cuba
Humber Bay Park
Leslie Street Spit
Ontario Place
Rochester
St. Catharines

Congratulations! You've made it through to the end. Now go and collect your treasure!

 

Answer:

u o y  s i    e  r   u s a r t
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
                         
s a m d n a r g          
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___          
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21          

Answer spells out backwards:
grandmas treasure is you

 

Sources:
More Than An Island: A History of the Toronto Island by Sally Gibson; Irwin, Toronto 1984 Memories of Toronto Island by M.J. Lennon; Boston Mills Press, Cheltenham, ON 1980
Lighthouse photo from www.torontoisland.org, and
ferry photo from www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/to_islands.

 

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