The David Dunlap Observatory located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, has been Canada’s premier astronomical research facility since its opening on May 31, 1935. At the opening ceremony former Prime Minister Mackenzie King remarked that the observatory, the second largest in the world at the time, was “a gift to science all over the world.”

Though the facility is named after Toronto businessman David Dunlap since his widow, Jessie Dunlap, provided the financial support to build the observatory as a monument to her late husband, the DDO was actually the brain child of Dr. Clarence Chant. Chant, considered by many to be the “Father of Canadian Astronomy” was one of the central figures in establishing the Department of Astronomy at the University of Toronto and served as one of the first presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Since it opened its doors the DDO has continually made many contributions to the study of astronomy in Canada and the world as an education and research facility and also has made an impact on Canadian culture. The DDO was where Dr. Helen Sawyer Hogg, a pioneer female astronomer in Canada, devoted much of her time and made numerous contributions to the area of star cluster research. Between 1959 and 1966 staff astronomer Sidney Van den Bergh composed a database of dwarf galaxies known as the David Dunlap Observatory Catalogue.  In 1960 the DDO was the focus of the short film, Universe, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1961 under the best short subject documentary category. The film Universe went on to influence Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark, who viewed it at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, during the creation of their classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey. In 1971, University of Toronto Professor Tom Bolton made what is probably the most famous discovery at the DDO when he verified the existence of “black holes” by identifying Cygnus X-1. This discovery served as the inspiration for the song “Cygnus X-1” by the Canadian rock band Rush.

Today the observatory operates every clear night of the year and hosts astronomers from all over the world. While no longer the second largest in the world, it still is the largest telescope on Canadian soil. Although surrounded by sprawling development, due to light pollution by-laws passed by the town of Richmond Hill and numerous upgrades to the telescope over the years the facility is still an active contributor to the growing body of astronomical knowledge which is reflected in a very respectable citation rate. The telescope is actually ten times more sensitive now than it was at the time of its construction.

In November 2007 the David Dunlap Observatory and surrounding property, which includes a pre-confederation farmhouse that was involved in the Mackenzie rebellion and later served as Dr. Chant’s residence, was declared surplus and put up for sale. This occurred after the University of Toronto took the Dunlap heirs (the rightful owners of the property) through a lengthy court battle over ownership of the DDO, eventually forcing an agreement that would allow the University to sell the land and keep a majority of the profit without any consideration to preserve the facility or surrounding landscape. This move by the University as well as its conduct throughout the sale process has been widely criticized by the community of Richmond Hill, local media, various community groups, at least one of the Dunlap heirs, as well as a number of astronomers from the University of Toronto itself.

The David Dunlap Observatory and the surrounding land has been a treasured jewel in the GTA for many years. It is a unique place where history, scientific discovery, and the beauty of the natural world have co-existed in harmony as an integral part of the community for over seventy years and should continue to do so. It is a part of our local, regional, provincial, and national heritage and must be protected and preserved

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