The Bootmakers of Toronto

The Bootmakers of Toronto are a literary society devoted to Sherlock Holmes and located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Formation

Aficionados of Sherlock Holmes are prone to forming groups where they discuss theories and minutiae about the most famous detective who never lived. Indeed, some even "Play the Grand Game" by contending that Holmes and Dr. John Watson actually did exist and that the stories about them are largely factual accounts of their doings in Victorian and Edwardian Britain.[1] The Bootmakers of Toronto are one such group.

Established in 1972,[2] the society at one point boasted some 350 members[3] but more recently has about 50.[2] At their high point in the 1990s, the society was the largest active Sherlockian society in North America[3] with five to seven meetings a year.[4]

As is tradition with Sherlockian societies,[2] The Bootmakers of Toronto take their name from one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, The Hound of the Baskervilles.[3] In the story a boot belonging to Sir Henry Baskerville is retrieved from a bog and inside the boot is a label inscribed "Meyers, Toronto".[2][5]

Activities

The group often has guest speakers at meetings[6] which are regularly held at the Toronto Reference Library and produces a quarterly journal entitled Canadian Holmes.[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ Riley, Dick; McAllister, Pam (1999). The Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Sherlock Holmes. Continuum. p. 91. ISBN 0-8264-1116-9.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ross, Oakland (April 1, 2015). "Devotees rejoice at renewed interest in Sherlock Holmes". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Riley, Dick; McAllister, Pam (1999). The Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Sherlock Holmes. Continuum. pp. 103–104. ISBN 0-8264-1116-9.
  4. ↑ Redmond, Chistopher (2009). Sherlock Holmes Handbook (Second Edition). Dundurn. p. 271. ISBN 9781770705920.
  5. ↑ Barnard, Linda (October 28, 2015). "Sleuthing for Sherlock Holmes right here in Toronto". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Demystifying the Bootmakers of Toronto". Toronto Star. January 12, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Canada and Sherlock Holmes". The Baker Street Journal. Missing or empty |url= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  8. ↑ Perdue, Peggy (August 28, 2017). "Canada and Sherlock Holmes". Toronto Reference Library. Missing or empty |url= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
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