16 Horses Die in Sunnybrook Stable Fire

As someone who is part of many online Toronto groups I’m shocked no one is talking about the tragedy that occurred in our community on holiday Monday. A viscous fire claimed the lives of sixteen horses at Sunnybrook Stables. I actually found out by visiting the park yesterday with my family; I was planning on taking Elowyn to see the horses.

Instead we discovered that the majority of the South Barn has burnt to the ground. The surrounding area still smells of smoke. A small memorial has been set up for the horses, complete with their favourite snacks: apples and carrots. I chose to not take any pictures of the wreckage and instead to share some of the photos of happy memories at Sunnybrook Stables.

The investigation is still on-going, but reports of fireworks being used in the park  suggest a possible connection to the blaze.

Police and Firefighters responded to reports of smoke in Sunnybrook Park around 3:00am Monday morning . Thankfully they were able to rescue thirteen horses that have since been transported to the Toronto Police Service Mounted unit’s stable at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds.

Thousands of Torontonians have taken lessons at Sunnybrook Stables. My family and I have been visiting the park and stables for years. The horses were always friendly to the park’s many young visitors. My heart goes out to the Sunnybrook Stable community. A GoFundMe page has been started to help raise money to rebuild the stables. With the fire damage being so extensive we may never get the answers we’re looking for to make sense of this tragedy.

 

Sofia Martimianakis

 

 

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