TORONTO

November 25, 1998

To:City of Toronto Community Council

From:Managing Director, Toronto Historical Board

Subject:Designation Under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act - - 2 Strachan Avenue (Stanley Barracks)

Purpose:

This report recommends that the property at 2 Strachan Avenue (Stanley Barracks) be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1. That City Council state its intention to designate the portion of the property at 2 Strachan Avenue containing Stanley Barracks under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

2.That the appropriate officials be authorized to take whatever action is necessary to give effect hereto.

Background:

At its meeting of November 18, 1998, the Board of Heritage Toronto adopted a motion recommending that the property at 2 Strachan Avenue (Stanley Barracks) be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The property was included on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties on June 20, 1973. Stanley Barracks has been occupied by Heritage Toronto for forty years and was the location of the City's Marine Museum prior to its recent relocation to The Pier.

Designation recognizes the historical importance of the site to the military history of Toronto. It also identifies the building's heritage features.

The Heritage Property Report (Long Statement of Reasons for Designation) is available with the supplemental agenda.

Comments:

Short Statement of Reasons for Designation:

The portion of the property at 2 Strachan Avenue containing Stanley Barracks is recommended for designation for architectural and historical reasons. Constructed between 1840 and 1841 by the Royal Engineers of the British Army, the Officers' Quarters are the sole surviving component of the 'New Fort', now known as Stanley Barracks. For over a century, it served as the home of and a training ground for both the British and Canadian armies, and as the central military facility for the Toronto garrison. It is also associated with the origins of the North West Mounted Police (forerunner to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) who first trained here. Most of the complex was demolished in the mid-1950s. In 1998, Heritage Toronto ended its 40-year occupancy of the Officers' Quarters where it operated the City's Marine Museum.

The Officers' Quarters are a significant example of military architecture inspired by early 19^th century Georgian design. Constructed of Kingston and Queenston limestone, the building is covered by a steeply-pitched gable roof with nine stone chimneys. The two-storey symmetrical rectangular plan extends 16 bays on the north and south facades above a raised basement. All three levels have deep-set casement windows, and there are raised entrances on all of the walls. On the interior, the two stone staircases (extending from the basement to the second storey) inside the north and south entrances and the fireplaces are important features.

The Officers' Quarters are located on the south side of Princes Boulevard near the east end of Exhibition Place. (The designated area is marked by the existing berms and planters, but excludes the locomotive, boat and statue.) Historically, the site is linked to important events in the country's military history. An early example of stone building in the City, it is a rare and well-designed example of military architecture. The Officers' Quarters are also significant in their historical and contextual relationship to Fort York.

Conclusion:

Heritage Toronto recommends that City Council designate the property at 115 Princes Boulevard (Stanley Barracks) under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Contact Name:

Ms. Kathryn Anderson

Preservation Officer, Historical Preservation Division, Toronto Historical Board

Tel: 392-6827, ext. 239

Fax: 392-6834

George Waters,

Acting Managing Director

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copy:

Councillor Joe Pantalone, Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Suite 209, Toronto, M5V 3C6

Councillor Mario Silva, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Suite 8, Toronto,

M5H 2N2

Dianne Young, Board of Governors Offices, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario M6K 3C3