Death of Garry Hoy
Garry Hoy | |
|---|---|
 Hoy in 1979 | |
| Born | January 28, 1954 |
| Died | July 9, 1993 (aged 39) In front of the Toronto-Dominion Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Cause of death | Fell to his death from the 24th floor of the Toronto-Dominion Centre |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Employer | Holden Day Wilson |
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, which did not break, but the window frame gave way and Hoy fell to his death.[1][2]
Background
[edit]
Hoy was a popular partner[4][5] and 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 dozens of articling students, he attempted to demonstrate the strength of the structure's window glass by slamming himself into a window. He had performed this stunt many times in the past, bouncing harmlessly off the glass. After one attempt with the same result, Hoy tried again, but the window separated from its frame, causing the intact window and Hoy to fall from the 24th floor, killing Hoy.[5][6]
Structural engineer Bob Greer said "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."[7]
The shock of losing one of its most successful and popular lawyers was a contributing factor in the decline and closing of Holden Day Wilson in 1996, which at the time was the largest law firm closure in Canada.[5][8]
In popular culture
[edit]Hoy's experience was featured in numerous television shows, including MythBusters and 1000 Ways to Die (in the episode "Unforced Errors").[7]
Hoy's death was also adapted as a fictionalized plot point in the fifth series of Canadian dramedy series Workin' Moms and the second series of Canadian comedy series Billable Hours. In the opening of the second season, episode 1, "Birthday Suits", a lawyer attempts to demonstrate the strength of the office building windows by throwing himself against one of them, but the window shatters and he falls to his death.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Tyler, Tracey (July 13, 1993). "Skyscraper windows met standards: Engineers". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
- ^ Mikkelson, Barbara; Mikkelson, David P. (January 21, 2007). "Through a Glass, Quickly". Snopes. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
- ^ "Toronto-Dominion Centre (Toronto, Canada) : Royal Trust Tower (north tower), view over the central plaza". Yale University Library. March 2023. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "Skyscraper windows met standards: Engineers". Toronto Star. July 13, 1993. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
- ^ a b c "When partnerships are a fragile business". The Globe and Mail. December 13, 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ DeMara, Bruce (July 10, 1993). "Corporate lawyer plunges 24 floors to death". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Metzger, Patrick (January 3, 2013). "Toronto Urban Legends: The Leaping Lawyer of Bay Street". Torontoist. Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ McNish, Jaquie (March 14, 2007). "Law firm Goodman and Carr shutting down". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ "Bay Street banality". The Globe and Mail, April 20, 2007.