An Historic Block
Before Canada became a country, or a Confederation of Provinces in 1867, Toronto was part of the Province of Upper Canada. When the Parliament building of Upper Canada burned to the ground in 1813, the legislature moved from place to place for the next two decades. Finally this nomadic lifestyle became unacceptable and the decision was made to build a permanent home for Parliament. The site selected was the block bounded by Front, Wellington, Simcoe and John Streets in the Settlement of York, which was to become Toronto in 1834, named after the Mohawk word meaning “meeting place”.
The buildings, which stretched north to Wellington Street and west to John Street, were designed by the archtectural firm of J.G. Chewett, Cumberland & Storm. The Parliament of the Province of Upper Canada occupied the buldings from 1832 to 1841 until Upper Canada merged with Lower Canada. It was then determined that the location was unacceptable for this new political union.
Following Confederation in 1867, the buildings became the first home of the Ontario Legislature until 1893 (when Queen's Park was completed), but prior to that, a number of tenants paraded through the complex. Between 1841 and 1866, the propery was used for university teaching purposes, as an insane asylum, home to Upper Canada College and finally, a military barracks. It was torn down in 1903.
See what we mean. The history of cities can be fascinating. Today, RBC Centre is at the centre of a vibrant, changing city. History tells us that the RBC Centre block has always played an important role, not only in the emergence of Toronto but also in the creation of a country.