Death of Garry Hoy

Garry Hoy (January 28, 1954 – July 9, 1993) was a Canadian lawyer who died when he fell from the 24th floor of his office building at the Toronto-Dominion Centre in Toronto, Ontario. In an attempt to prove to a group of prospective articling students that the building's glass windows were unbreakable, he threw himself against the glass. The glass did not break when he hit it, but the window frame gave way and Hoy fell to his death.[1]

Three of the Toronto-Dominion Centre's towers: (left to right) the Ernst & Young Tower, TD Bank Tower, and TD North Tower. Hoy fell from the TD Bank Tower (known at the time[2] as the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower).

Garry Hoy
Born(1954-01-29)January 29, 1954
DiedJuly 9, 1993(1993-07-09) (aged 39)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cause of deathFell to his death from the Toronto-Dominion Centre
NationalityCanadian
OccupationLawyer
EmployerHolden Day Wilson

Background

Garry Hoy was a corporate and securities law specialist for the law firm of Holden Day Wilson in Toronto. While giving a tour of the Toronto-Dominion Centre to a group of articling students, he attempted to demonstrate the strength of the structure's window glass by slamming himself into a window. He had apparently performed this stunt many times in the past, having previously bounced harmlessly off the glass. After one attempt which saw the glass hold up, Hoy tried once more. In this instance, the force of Hoy slamming into the window removed the window from its frame, causing the entire intact window and Hoy to fall from the building. This occurred in a small conference room adjacent to a boardroom where a reception was being held for new articling students.

Structural engineer Bob Greer was quoted by the Toronto Star as saying, "I don't know of any building code in the world that would allow a 160-pound [73 kg] man to run up against a glass and withstand it."[3] In another interview, the firm's spokesman mentioned that the glass, in fact, did not break, but popped out of its frame, leading to Hoy's fatal plunge.

Hoy's death contributed to the closing of Holden Day Wilson in 1996, which at the time was the largest law firm closure in Canada.[4]

Hoy's experience was featured in numerous television shows, including MythBusters and 1000 Ways to Die (in the episode "Unforced Errors").[3]

Hoy's death was also adapted as a fictionalized plot point in the fifth season of Canadian dramedy series Workin' Moms.

See also

References
  1. Mikkelson, Barbara; Mikkelson, David P. (January 21, 2007). "Through a Glass, Quickly". Snopes. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  2. "Toronto-Dominion Centre (Toronto, Canada) : Royal Trust Tower (north tower), view over the central plaza". Yale University Library. March 2023.
  3. Metzger, Patrick (January 3, 2013). "Toronto Urban Legends: The Leaping Lawyer of Bay Street". Torontoist. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  4. McNish, Jaquie (March 14, 2007). "Law firm Goodman and Carr shutting down". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
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