The Bata Shoe Museum in downtown Toronto is a unique museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, archiving and displaying footwear from around the world.
One permenant display recounts the history of footwear from ancient times and cultures to our modern eras of function and fashion. Three other revolving exhibits delve deeper into eras or specific styles. Presently the Museum is featuring: “The Roaring Twenties; Heels Hemlines & High Spirits”, “Art in Shoes – Shoes in Art” and “Beauty, Identity, Pride; Native American
Footwear” . Also in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Juno Awards a special collection is on now featuring footwear worn by Juno Award winning artists over the past four decades.
The foundation of the museum was built on the vast shoe collection of Sonja Bata. Begun in the 1940’s, as she travelled the globe with husband Thomas J Bata of Bata Shoe Company , as her collection outgrew the corporate headquarters a purpose built site was required and in 1995 the expanded work-of-art building was opened to the public. The larger site was designed by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama to evoke the opening of a shoe box.
The next time you’re in Toronto, put your best foot forward and open up the box yourself.
The Bata Shoe Museum is located at:
327 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1W7
Phone: (416) 979-7799
Hours: Mon-Wed,Fri-Sat 10am-5pm; Thu 10am-8pm; Sun 12pm-5pm