Toronto's Historical Plaques
Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.
Ontario's First Parliament Buildings
At the north end of this park on Berkeley Street at The Esplanade stands an Ontario Heritage Foundation plaque. It says:
In 1793 it was decided to move the capital of Upper Canada from Niagara to York (now Toronto). Two single-storey brick parliament buildings were constructed near this site. Opened in June 1798, the buildings were used for court proceedings and religious services in addition to parliamentary sessions. During their occupation of York, April 27 to May 2, 1813, American troops set fire to the parliament buildings. By 1820 they had been repaired and a connecting centre block added. Four years later, fire from an overheated chimney flue reduced them to ruins. The site was abandoned and in 1832 new parliament buildings were completed on Front Street, west of Simcoe Street.
Location Co-ordinates: 43.649887 -79.363250
Photo by Alan L Brown - March 2004
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