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Ontario Legislative Building, 1 Queen's Park Crescent

Typically referred to as "Queen's Park", the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and offices for the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Members of Provincial Parliament are housed in this building.  It is the former site of King's College, the forerunner of University of Toronto, and leased for 999 years for $1 annually.

Opened in 1893, the original architect was Richard A. Waite.  The architecture is of the Richardson Romanesque style, with the exterior walls constructed of pink sandstone from the Credit Valley near Orangeville.   The interior contains cast iron columns, oak floors, mahogany and sycamore carvings and murals.  After a fire in 1909, the west wing was redesigned and two floors added by E.J. Lennox, and George Wallace Gouinlock designed the north wing, both of which opened in 1913.

University of Toronto, St. George Campus

The first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada was founded in 1827 as King's College.  The site is about 180 acres in the area bounded by Bay Street, Bloor Street, Spadina Avenue and College Street West.  In 1850, it evolved into the University of Toronto, and associated with the Anglican community.  The University of St. Michael's College is a Catholic institution that started working with the University of Toronto in 1881 and has numerous buildings on St. Joseph Street and St. Mary Street.  In 1892, Victoria University, which was named after Queen Victoria and had Methodist roots, relocated to Queen's Park Crescent and Charles Street West area.  Founded in 1930, the Jesuit Regis College was at several locations before settling in their current location at Wellesley Street and Queen's Park Crescent East in 2008. There are about one hundred buildings of varying age and architectural styles.

Elmsley Place Mansions, 2-7 Elmsley Place and 96 St. Joseph Street

A private road north of St. Joseph Street, west of Bay Street, is home to red brick Edwardian style mansions that were built in 1892 by Remigius Elmsley as of the first subdivisions in the City, located on the former family home, Cloverhill Estate.   The heritage properties are owned by University of St. Michael’s College. McCorkell House, 2 Elmsley and Sullivan House, 96 St. Joseph operate as furnished female student dormitories.  Gilson House, 4 Elmsley and Maritain House, 6 Elmsley are furnished male student dormitories.  All four houses together contain 20 single and 12 double rooms and underwent a $4m renovation in 2007.  The remaining houses are used as administrative offices:  Founders House, 1 Elmsley was formerly known as the Sir George Ross House; Phelan House, 3 Elmsley was originally called the William E. Chalcraft House; and Windle House, 5 Elmsley used to be known as the H. Hartley Dewart House.

Provincial Government Buildings (Queen's Park Campus)

The Macdonald Block Complex is the centre piece of provincial government buildings, consisting of Ferguson Block at 77 Wellesley Street West, Hepburn Block at 80 Grosvenor, Hearst Block and Mowat Block at 900 Bay Street, connected with the Macdonald Block.  These buildings were completed in 1968 and 1969 and were designed by Shore Tilb Henschel Irwin Architects and Engineers in the International Style.  Adjacent to these buildings is the Whitney Block at 9 Wellesley Street West completed in 1932, which is only used for storage as the premises are not suitable for occupants.  The Frost Building at 7 Queen's Park Crescent East was built in 1966.  All the buildings were named after former premiers.

The buildings together house over a dozen provincial cabinet ministers, 15 provincial government ministries and 3,600 Ontario Public Service employees.

Buster Keaton filmed his last project, an instructional movie about construction safety called "The Scribe" when the Macdonald Block was under construction in 1965.

The complex is currently undergoing major rehabilitation which is scheduled to be completed in 2024.

Ontario Police Memorial, Whitney Plaza, 23 Queen's Park Crescent East

In 2000, two bronze statues featuring a 1950's  male officer and modern era female office were unveiled atop a 30,000 pound granite pedestal base.  There are 8 cascading granite walls known as the "Wall of Honour" that recognize the names of Ontario Police Officers who died in the line of duty.

A parade and ceremony are held annually on the first Sunday of May.  Details at www.CeremonyOfRemembrance.ca.

​Hours of the Day Monument, Whitney Plaza, 23 Queens Park Crescent East

In 2018, Paul Raff Studios designed a sculpture flanked by granite benches as a way to honour the passage of time, reflecting the hours of service by correctional workers in the justice system, as well as in their communities.  Each year, a Ceremony of Remembrance acknowledges correctional workers who have paid the ultimate price in their service.

Ontario Firefighter's Memorial,  Frost Plaza, 7 Queen's Park Crescent East

Every year, the name, rank and date of death of Ontario's fallen firefighters are added to white granite walls adjacent to the black granite monoliths erected to honour their ultimate sacrifice.  At the centre is a bronze statue of a firefighter rescuing a child.  The memorial was installed in 2005 and was sculpted by German Siggy Puchta.

Ontario Veteran's Memorial, Queen's Park, 100 Wellesley Street West

​In 2006, a black granite wall was designed by the landscape architect Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg to recognize the service of Canada's military.  It measures 8' 6" high and 100' long.  The wall features Canada's military actions since 1867 and words from poet Jane Urquhart and military historian Professor Jack Granatstein. 

Afghanistan Memorial, Queen's Park, 100 Wellesley Street West

Adjacent to the Ontario Veteran's Memorial, a companion memorial was installed in 2020 to recognize the 40,000+ Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014.  One part is a bronze ribbon inspired by the Afghanistan mountains.  Another part is a piece of granite from an Inukshuk built by Canadian soldiers at Kandahar Airfield.

Cottages, 45 to 63 St. Nicholas Street

In 1883, The Scottish Ontario and Manitoba Land Company built ten row houses on the east side of St. Nicholas, north of Irwin (formerly St. Clements)  and named each cottage after a tree: Beach, Birch, Spruce, Hazel, Rose, Maple, Ash, Ivy, Elm and Oak.  St. Nicholas was formerly identified as Brownsville Lane.  The properties were occupied by tenants, with occupations ranging from saloon keeper to minister.  The style of construction was Bay-N-Gable on a 18' 10" wide lot.  The Picturesque design of the two storey buildings included an L shaped layout to maximize natural light.  These buildings have been designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.  Cottage Lane provides access to the rear of the houses.

Carr Hall, 100 St. Joseph Street

Built in 1954, this 4 storey limestone building was designed by Ernest Cormier, the famous 20th Century French Canadian Architect.  It is part of the University of St. Michael's College educational campus.

It is named after Henry Carr, a priest of the congregation of St. Basil, who was integral to modernizing Catholic education.

Coach House, 39A Queen’s Park Crescent East

The Coach House at 39A Queen’s Park Crescent East was built after 1900 as the south stable of the personal residence of politician Thomas W. White at 39 Queen’s Park Crescent East. Located in St. Basil’s Lane, behind the Muzzo Family Alumni Hall on St. Joseph Street, it is on the grounds of the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. The building became known as the Coach House Institute in 1968 and was used until 1979 by University of Toronto English professor, Marshall McLuhan, famous for his innovative exploration of mass media. In 2016, it was renamed the McLuhan Centre for Culture and Technology. In 2022, the structure became studio, work and exhibition space for Francisco Gonzalez Rosas, the Artist in Residence for the University of Toronto.

John M. Kelly Library, 113 St. Joseph Street

​The 102,500 square foot reinforced concrete building was designed by John Farrugia.  The St. Michael's College Library opened in 1969 and renamed in 1978 in honour of Reverend John M. Kelly, the President of the University of St. Michael's College for 20 years until 1978.  The interior design is modular, with walls anchored by a removable track to facilitate versatility to meet changing needs.

The collections range from humanities to social studies, with a concentration of Catholic theology, European literature and history.  Rare books and manuscripts complement the circulating library. 

Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre, 95 St. Joseph Street

Also designed by Ernest Cormier, the original building was constructed as St. Basil's Seminary in 1949, including a neo-gothic chapel.  There was an addition in 1959 and a Brutalist addition in 1979.  It functions as offices and retirement housing for Basilian fathers.

The building is named in honour of George Flahiff who graduated from St. Michael's College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1926.  Instead of following the advice of his professor Lester B. Pearson to become a diplomat, he instead became a member of the Basilian Fathers.

St. Basil's Catholic Parish, 50 St. Joseph Street

Built in 1856, this popular church is operated by The Basilian Fathers as part of the University of St. Michael's College.  It was designed in the Gothic Revival style by architect William Hay and is a designated heritage property.  The land was donated by Captain John Elmsley, who required that a parish church be built on the property.

Canadian Music Centre, 20 St. Joseph Street 

The national office of this organization dedicated to honouring and preserving the efforts of Canadian composers is located in a residence built in the Queen Anne style in 1892 for William J. Hill, who was a City Councillor and contractor.  The Canadian Music Centre has been in existence since 1959 and moved into the building in 1984, and named the building the Chalmers House to recognize the financial contributions of Floyd and Jean Chalmers to renovate the premises.

 6 to 14 St. Joseph Street

The row of five buildings were Second Empire style rowhouses completed in 1879.  They are listed in the Historic Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District and designated under Part IV and Part V, of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The buildings feature red brick cladding with a mansard roof over moulded brick frieze.  Tapered stone lintels top windows and door openings.

Regis College, 100 Wellesley Street West

Founded in 1930, Regis College relocated to its current location in 2009.  The building was previously a female residence for St. Michael's College that was operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph that allowed the west half of the building to be used by Regis as a Jesuit theological college.   

It is known as Christie House, as it was the residence of William Mellis Christie in 1881, a Scottish baker who enjoyed success at his company, Christie, Brown and Company.  When Mr. Christie died in 1900, his son Robert Jaffrey Christie lived in the building.

Toronto YMCA Family Development Centre, 15 Breadalbane Street

Offers child care for newborns up to 4 years old, before/after school programs for 4 to 12 year old children and youth programs.  Also offered is the YMCA Academy middle and high school program, camps programs and Family Resource Centre.

Fire Station 314, 12 Grosvenor Street

The fire hall was built in 1929 in the Tudor Revival style, replacing a residential townhouse.  The black and white photo is from June 24, 1929, showing the newly opened premises.

The fire hall is located in Toronto Centre Ward 13, which is one of the busiest in the Toronto. In 2021, the average response time was 5 minutes and 49 seconds, 95% of the time, which is the highest overall. 

​If you are in the neighbourhood, you must check out the Dalmatian fire hydrant!

Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor Street

The Central YMCA was built in 1984 and designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects.  It has received numerous design awards: the 2018 Prix du XXe siècle from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Heritage Canada The National Trust; 1988 Award of Excellence from the Ontario Association of Architects; and the 1986 Governor General's Awards for Architecture and 1982 Award of Excellence from the Canadian Architect Awards.

The recreation centre offers many services and amenities, including conference facilities.  There is a cafe and a green roof with outdoor track, walkway, gardens and studio space.  The public may purchase memberships to access the health and fitness activities, including a gymnasium, pool, weight rooms, fitness classes, CycleFit studio, indoor running track, squash courts.  Children's day camps and youth programs are available.  Immigrant services offered are newcomer services and language assessment.

John Irwin House, 21 Grenville Street

Relocated as part of the Karma Condos development, this Second Empire style heritage property was originally part of the Elmsley Villa Estate subdivision.  It was built in 1873 for John Irwin, with a rear addition by architects Steward & Strickland in 1877.   John Irwin was a contractor and municipal politician involved with Toronto Islands parkland, who lived in the house in 1879.  His grandson, Irwin John Ardagh, who was a fullback for the Toronto Argonauts football team as well as playing hockey for the Toronto Wellingtons, inherited the property and it stayed in the family until 1935. 

Another notable resident was Methodist minister and publisher Reverend William Briggs who lived in the house from 1880 to 1918.  

In 1935, the property was sold to Hand-In-Hand Insurance Company, and it became a commercial property.

The Sound Post, 93 Grenville Street

This charming 2 1/2 storey red brick building now operates as a family operated violin and string instrument repair business.

Women's College Hospital, 76 Grenville Street

The efforts of Dr. Emily Stowe, the first female doctor in Canada led to the creation of the Woman's Medical College in 1883.  It evolved into Women's College College Hospital, which opened at this location in 1935 and became associated with the University of Toronto as a teaching hospital. In 2010, a major renovation absorbed 60 Grenville and 51 Grosvenor to create a 630,000 square foot LEED certified facility designed by Perkins Eastman that offered state of the art ambulatory services, research facilities and offices focused on female health care.

Fire Hall #3, 484 Yonge Street 

Originally built in 1871, the fire hall was in use from 1872 to 1929, when the current Fire Station 314 at 12 Grosvenor Street opened. In 1890, stables for horses were installed, for the horse drawn steam engines that were used to fight fires.

The clock tower was equipped with bells to warn neighbours and notify volunteer fire fighters. It also provided a place to hang wet leather fire hoses to dry. The landmark clock tower is the second oldest remaining in the City.

There was a major fire in 1939 that destroyed the lower part of the building. Part of the fire hall building was demolished in 1950 for the construction of the St. Charles Tavern at 484 to 488 Yonge Street.

A ‘ghost façade’ will be integrated in the new Immix development where the fire hall was located.  The clock tower was restored and relocated .9 m east of the original location.  It was built in Second Empire style and is a landmark in the Historic Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District.

The Banting Institute, 100 College Street

Named after Major Sir Charles Banting, the five and a half storey red brick Georgian Revival style structure was built in 1930.  It was designed by the architectural firm Darling and Person.  It is currently used as a research facility by the University of Toronto.

Zion Church, 88 College Street

The Gothic and Medievial architectural styles were fused by architects James Smith and John Gemmell to build the Zion Congregational Church in 1882.  Today it is used by the University of Toronto as the Joint Centre for Bioethics.  ​

Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre, 40 College Street

Take a look into the history of policing in Toronto from 1834 to present, including a vintage police car, uniforms and photos.  The gift shop proceeds  and donations fund the operation of the museum.

Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, 30 College Street

In 2010, after 3 years of extensive renovation, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto opened to provide social and cultural services to urban indigenous families.  The rehabilitation work included the installation of a longhouse and healing lodge inspired green roof.

Bell Box Murals Project, various locations

The “Bell Box Murals Project” started in 2009 as a way to make neighbourhoods more vibrant by painting brown telephone utility boxes with a variety of colourful art. The Bay Cloverhill neighbourhood was the first to participate in the program with 6 unique pieces of artwork. Which one is your favourite? If you see a brown Bell utility box in the neighbourhood, let us know so we can get it painted!

In 2009, the Bay Corridor Community Association (now Bay Cloverhill Community Association) obtained a City of Toronto “Clean and Beautiful City” grant and partnered with The Yellow Door Learning Centre at 6 St. Joseph, Bell Canada, Benjamin Moore Paints and Goodbye Graffiti to transform 8 Bell Canada telephone utility boxes from boring brown boxes into colourful murals.  The artists (Michael Cavanaugh, Sima Tajdini, Lindsay Veh, Patrice Stephens-Bourgeault, Michael Kupka, Rick Barnsley, and Dan Buckley) were community development volunteers at 6 St. Joseph House.

“The Yellow Door Learning Centre” was a community development program from the Seeds Of Hope Foundation designed to help participants struggling with addiction and mental health challenges to boost their self esteem and confidence by volunteering and being interdependent through artistic expression.

The “Bell Boxes Mural Program” expanded in the following years to include the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association and the Greater Yorkville Residents Association.  It then went city wide, from Etobicoke to North York to East York to Scarborough, and as far away as Windsor, Aurora and Oshawa.  To date, over 500 telephone utility boxes have become accessible art instead of targets of graffiti.  About 80 Bell boxes are decorated annually.

​Adjacent to Victoria College’s Goldring Student Centre at 150 Charles Street West is a colourful piece by Toronto artist Tiffany Villahermosa that was painted in 2011.

On the north side of St. Mary Street, just west of Yonge Street, you can see the eagle themed artwork of Dan Buckley beside Rick Barnsley’s mola mola (ocean sunfish) mural that  was completed in 2009

On the south side of Breadalbane Street, just east of Bay Street is an ode to the CN Tower by Persian artist Sima Tajdini.

By the YMCA Family Development Centre at 15 Breadalbane Street, just east of Yonge is an appropriately family themed art installation by Lindsey Veh finished in 2009.  Lindsey Veh passed away in 2020.

In front of 2 Grosvenor Street, west of Yonge Street is “Tribute to Salome Bey, Canada’s Queen of the Blues” by Adrian Hayles mounted in 2021.  If the style looks familiar, this DJ/artist/muralist has done numerous murals in the City.  In 2016, Adrian took 8 weeks to paint a 22 storey Downtown Yonge BIA music mural on the north wall of 423 Yonge Street, just south of College Street.  The next year, he painted the south wall of the same building, continuing the musical theme. Adrian also painted a substantial mural on Reggae Lane the Oakwood Avenue/Eglinton Avenue West area. 
​
This mural replaced a plant inspired piece by Patrice Stephens-Bougeault that was installed in 2009.