Toronto’s Electric Revolution Exhibition Opens at Casa Loma, Sponsored by Toronto Hydro
August 1, 2025
Toronto Hydro is proud to sponsor Powering Progress: Toronto’s Electric Revolution, an engaging and immersive history exhibition hosted at one of Toronto’s most iconic heritage sites, Casa Loma. The exhibition, presented by Liberty Entertainment group, runs until August 24, 2025, in Casa Loma’s Carriage Room.
Powering Progress, Toronto’s Electric Revolution, retells Toronto’s journey to electric innovation through the lens of Sir Henry Pellatt, the visionary behind the Electrical Development Company. The exhibition offers a window into life in early 20th century Toronto, as impacted by electrification of the streets, homes and transit systems.
“Toronto Hydro is proud to sponsor this exhibit that celebrates the powerful journey of electricity in Toronto.,” said Jana Mosley, President and CEO of Toronto Hydro. “Toronto Hydro has played an important role in helping to grow the dynamic and electrified city we serve today and is honoured to be a part of this story. As we look ahead, we remain committed to supporting the city’s electrification and building a brighter tomorrow.”
“Liberty Group and Casa Loma are proud to be part of a historic moment, bringing hydro power back to Casa Loma through our collaborative exhibit with Toronto Hydro,” said Nick Di Donato, President and CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group. “Sir Henry Pellatt was a visionary and a true entrepreneur. He harnessed the power of Niagara Falls and brought electricity to Toronto, lighting the city’s streets as president of the Toronto Electric Light Company. Thanks to his efforts, Toronto became the second city in Canada — after Ottawa — to join the electric revolution. Today, in partnership with Toronto Hydro, we are excited to share the full story of electricity in Toronto. Together, we celebrate the innovation, ambition and engineering that have powered this great city for generations.”
The new exhibit follows the powerful journey of electricity from Niagara Falls to the heart of Toronto — a vision sparked by Sir Henry Pellatt’s Electrical Development Company. Guests will discover how hydroelectricity lit up Toronto’s homes, streets and industries, transforming daily life and shaping the city’s growth. The exhibit traces more than a century of electrification, from the founding of Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited and its appliance store to the evolving technologies that power modern life. Archival photos reveal how electricity changed the cityscape — and how access to that power wasn’t always equal.
Explore the electric artifacts and stories that bring Toronto’s adaptation to light and power to life.
From turn-of-the-century innovations to today’s smart grid, see how Toronto Hydro has energized the city and connected its people through every stage of electrification.
