Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

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Little Norway

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2007

Here in this park setting, at the southwest corner of Bathurst Street and Queen's Quay West, is this 1976 plaque located at the base of an old flagpole. It that tells us about the World War II camp that was located on this site. A second plaque shows drawings of what the area looked like then and now. Here's what the first plaque says.

Coordinates: 43.635299 -79.398515

9 April 1940 Norway was attacked by overwhelming forces. King Haakon VII, Crown Prince Olav and the government left Tromso 7 June for Great Britain in order to continue the fight for freedom in exile. Negotiations had started 2 June and a base for training air force personnel was erected in Toronto using Island Airport. A camp was built on the harbour front and officially opened 10 November 1940. The national emblems of Canada and Norway have been flying side by side from that date.

Recruits were escaping Norway from behind enemy lines, 4000 miles away, and also volunteers from Canada and other parts of the free world. Island Airport and the camp in Toronto soon became overcrowded. 4 May 1942 Dominion Airport, Muskoka, officially became training base for elementary flying training. At one time 86 Fairchild Cornell PT 19 and PT 26 were in use. From 1941 advanced training took place in Canada within the British Commonwealth air training plan.

Technical servicing continued at Island Airport. Ground schools were gradually transferred to Muskoka and on April 1943 this camp was sold and became Lakeside Camp Royal Canadian Air Force.

Vesle Skaugum formerly Interlaken was acquired in the spring 1941 as recreation centre and for the training of recruits. It was sold to Kiwanis Club Toronto 1 June 1945.

From these training establishments known as "Little Norway" more than 2000 trained personnel were sent to Great Britain.

Norway was able to reestablish its Air Force and to maintain 4 national squadrons of aircraft and one air transport unit in the European battle area throughout the war, operating under allied operational command. In addition some became members of RAF units in Bomber Command, Fighter Squadron, Ferry Command, Transport Command, Coastal Command and others.

8 May 1945 the struggle was over and we could return to a free country. Veterans taking part in the unveiling ceremony of a memorial stone in gratitude to Canada place the above information on this flagpole base in order to remind future generations of the facts.

Related Toronto plaque
The Royal Norwegian Air Force 1940-1945

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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted August 7, 2018
My mother (Joanie) and her family (the Warll's) lived in little Norway. Her brother (Harold) ran the ferry across to the island airport and later joined the RCAF. I heard so many wonderful stories of this place and attended one reunion before my mother passed away. Would love to hear more stories and if anyone out there remembers my mom and/or members of her family.
Edie Hamilton [email protected]

> Posted October 3, 2013
My mother and her sisters all volunteered with the CSO. My grandpa Knut and grandmother Sophie Larson had a boarding house on Centre Island where the Toronto Airfield located at the start of the war. Both my grandparents had emigrated to Canada from the Alesund area.
My Aunt Karen, Aunt Anne and my mother Bernice volunteered with the Auxiliary to knit and darn mittens, socks, sweaters, scarfs, baklavas and toques (knit hats). They were also apart of a group of younger ladies "The Vikettes" Auxillary that helped set up Christmas Parties, sleigh rides and entertainers for the Bases at Toronto and Gravenhurst.
Mom would also volunteer at the Christie Street Hospital Canteen on Mondays and some Wednesdays to make up to 10 pies and host coffee and pie for the servicemen in the Eye Ward. My aunts and mother helped read letters and newspapers and write letters and correspondence for the servicemen and women in the Blind wards as they could speak and write Norwegian.
Mom remembers Leif Tronvold and Grace. They did exchange some letters after the war was over and let our family know how bad conditions were in Norway during and after the Nazis occupation.

> Posted January 18, 2013
I lived in Little Norway from 1949 to 1955 and then moved to Caledonia Park Rd. I went to Niagara St School and remember my time there as a wonderful time of community and sports played on the parade field and in the gym. We had floor hockey and boxing which I participated in. I also sang with other 3 boys and we would practice in the men's washroom because the acoustics were so great. Hope others share their memories to the history.
Bruce Taylor

> Posted January 21, 2012
After WWII there was a critical shortage of housing in Toronto. The city converted Little Norway Training Camp into apartments for over one hundred families. It became a thriving, residential community for all those who lived there until the mid-fifties. I have wonderful memories of my Little Norway, Toronto, neighbourhood and the many activities and services that the City of Toronto provided.
Dorothy Suzanne Massey (nee Harris)

> Posted March 13, 2011
Is anyone else out there have a parent who served in "Little Norway"? I agree with David from Greenwich that I hope history never forgets what happened during WW11 and how it changed people's lives.
V. Kristiansen (maiden name Tronvold)

> Posted June 3, 2010
My father, Leif Tronvold also trained in Little Norway. He there met my mother, Grace Moar and later married her. She was a secretary for a Doctor. He met my mom in a hospital when he hurt is eye in flight. My Dad is now died and I remember him mentioning " Little Norway" fondly. As a teenager, I visited Little Norway that was then a summer camp for boys. I'm happy to hear that their is a "Little Norway" in Canada. I would love to hear if anyone remembers my Dad who was training their during the War.
Virginia Kristiansen

> Posted July 16, 2008
Thanks for keeping the memory alive , my father served at 'Little Norway' and I hope history never forgets what happen during wwii and how it changed peoples life (my father married a Canadian).
David, Greenwich,Ct.

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