The recent Queen Street West fire has had Toronto thinking about our proximity to disaster, but nearly 20 years ago on Queen East, the Rupert Hotel Fire was a tragedy that brought about change for the better. Keep your eyes to the sidewalk on the northwest corner of Parliament and Queen to find the granite plaque laid in the sidewalk with the names of the 10 residents of the rooming house who died in a December 1989 fire. Out of the ashes, “The Rupert Coalition” was formed, resulting in increased safety inspections of rooming houses and the development of more safe and affordable housing units.

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