The venue
The Great Hall in Toronto opened in 1890 to house Toronto's West End YMCA. Originally it featured a swimming pool in the basement (some traces of the deep end still remain), a gymnasium, a bowling alley, a library, and a raised running track. It was also the site of some of the earliest basketball games ever played. Anti-alcohol fraternal organization the Royal Templars of Temperance took over the space after the YMCA moved, and renamed it the Royal Templar Hall. The Polish National Union purchased the hall in the 1940s. In the mid-80s, when it turned into a hub for the city's artistic scene. By the end of the 90s, it was more well known as a rental hall for private events than a cultural space. The Great Hall has experienced a revival in recent years. BlogTo.com