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Redpath Sugar Refinery facts for kids

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Redpath Sugar Refinery
RedpathSugarRefinery2.jpg
General information
Type Sugar refinery
Location Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address Queens Quay at Jarvis Street
Completed 1958
Waterfront view of the Redpath Sugar Refinery
The Redpath Sugar Refinery in 2008
RedpathSugarRefinery3
A sugar shed and a ship carrying raw sugar

The Redpath Sugar Refinery is a large building complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is where sugar is stored, cleaned, and turned into the sugar we use every day. This cool place also has a museum! You can find it in eastern Downtown Toronto, right where Queens Quay meets Jarvis Street.

What is the Redpath Sugar Refinery?

The Redpath Sugar Refinery is a big factory that started operating in 1958. It belongs to a company called Redpath Sugar, which is based in Toronto. This complex has two main buildings: Building 1, which is eight floors tall, and Building 2, which has five floors and is home to the sugar museum. There's also a tall chimney stack.

Where Does the Sugar Come From?

The sugar that arrives at the Redpath plant comes from far-off places like the Caribbean and Brazil. It travels a long way by ship, using the Saint Lawrence Seaway to reach Toronto. Because ships can only travel during certain times of the year, a lot of sugar cane is stored up each fall in special buildings next to the factory. This way, the refinery always has enough sugar to process!

Signs and Art at the Refinery

For many years, a bright red sign saying "Redpath Sugar" lit up the north side of the building. In 2006, this sign was changed to show the name of a different company, Tate & Lyle, which owned Redpath Sugar at the time. However, the Redpath sign on the west side of the building is still there! You can also see a giant whale mural painted by an artist named Wyland on the north wall of the Raw Sugar Shed.

Explore the Redpath Sugar Museum

Since 1979, the Redpath Sugar Refinery has had its own museum inside the building. It's called the Redpath Sugar Museum. Here, you can learn all about how sugar is cleaned and turned into different sugar products. It's a great place to discover the journey of sugar from a plant to your table! The museum works with other important groups like the Canadian Museums Association and the Virtual Museum of Canada.

See also

  • Harbourfront – A cool neighbourhood in Toronto
  • Peter Redpath
  • Redpath Museum
  • Sugar Beach
  • Toronto Harbour
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