Congratulations to all of our recipients of the 2008 Heritage Toronto Awards, which were announced on Monday, October 27th at a ceremony at the historic Carlu.

For details about the Awards, please click here.

WILLIAM GREER ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP CATEGORY

This category honours projects that have restored or adapted buildings or structures that have been in existence for forty years or more. In addition to the quality of craftsmanship, appropriateness of materials, and the use of sound conservation principles, the jury considers how well the project meets current needs while maintaining the integrity of the original design vision.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Wesley Building, 299 Queen Street West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissioned by: CHUM Limited
Architect: E.R.A. Architects Inc.
Crafts Person/Contractor: Clifford Restoration Limited

Built in 1913 to house a religious publishing firm, this building gained fame in recent years as the home of a hip, ‘on the street' television station. The building's rare terracotta cladding underwent an intensive six-year and five-phased restoration to repair the deterioration of the building's most public facades. The project included repairing cracks, replacing some terracotta units with new precast units, and the installation of new structural steel. The challenge of this restoration project was to blend the new, restored and repaired terra cotta to achieve a unified composition.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury was impressed with the large scale restoration, and the attention to detail while undertaking this project. The masonry work was carefully analyzed and documented before beginning, and highly skilled craftsman were used to undertake the work.

The jury felt the conservation work in preserving this historically important and uncommon building material in Toronto has contributed significantly to the urban streetscape of Queen Street.

King Parliament Square, 340 King Street East

 

Commissioned by: King George Square Properties Inc.
Architect: PDA Architects
Crafts Persons/Contractors: Halcrow Yolles; Zakss Construction; Colonial Restoration; and others

King Parliament Square is housed in two historic buildings, the first built in 1897 for the Aluminum Crown & Stopper Co., and the second in 1911 when the company expanded. In the 1930s it housed a munitions factory. The goal of this adaptive reuse project was to retain as much of the buildings' historical character while creating an updated commercial facility. The two buildings were integrated through the insertion of a new lobby that enclosed the original carriageway between the two structures, and preserved the original exterior brick walls and tile path. The two level cornice on the top of the building was restored. Interior work included preservation of the original maple flooring, two barrel vaulted munitions storage rooms and original sliding metal doors.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury was pleased with the preservation of these two cornerstone buildings, formerly 91-93 Parliament and 334-344 King Street East, located in the Corktown neighbourhood.

The exterior elevations of the building were, for the most part, left as found, with the exception of the restoration of the cornice. The enclosure of the carriageway between the two linked buildings to create a new lobby was sympathetically executed. The original bridge link between the two buildings was restored.

The overall project was considered to be an excellent adaptation of an older, industrial and commercial building to a contemporary use.

AWARD OF MERIT

Canadian Volunteers Memorial, Queen's Park Cres. West

 

 

Commissioned by: City of Toronto - Culture Division
Architect: Spencer R. Higgins Architect Inc.
Crafts Persons/Contractors: Trevor Gillingwater (Conservator); Colonial Building Restoration; Heather & Little Ltd.

The Volunteer Memorial was built in 1870 to commemorate those who had lost their lives in the Fenian raids of 1866. Built in sandstone and decorated with white marble statues, the monument had deteriorated over the years and suffered the loss of stone carving detail and ornamentation. The conservation work consisted primarily of the stabilisation of the rubble masonry core and the rebuilding and cleaning of the top half of the monument. Drawings of missing elements were prepared from documentary evidence so that in future they may be used to restore the stone ornamentation and the iron fence that originally surrounded the monument site.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury was impressed with the excellent conservation approach to the preservation and stabilization of the structure and decorative elements.

This project recognizes the importance of a phased and measured approach to a conservation project and the prioritization of the required work. The jury commented favourably on the research, excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail in this project.

HONOURABLE MENTION

Regal Road School Portico, 95 Regal Road

Commissioned by: Regal Heights Residents' Association and the Toronto District School Board
Architect: E.R.A. Architects Inc.
Crafts Person/Contractor: Limen Group

Regal Road Public School is a notable example of a Toronto school constructed in the Beaux-Arts style in 1911. The conservation work involved restoring the main entrance portico, which features a masonry pediment supported on solid stone turned columns of buff-coloured Birmingham sandstone. After removing a century's worth of grime, paint and ill-suited mortar patches, repairs were made to the sandstone, and the entrance doors, transom and portico ceiling were painted.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury was impressed with the collaborative effort between the School Board and the residents association. Work involved in the restoration of the character-contributing elements of the portico of the school, and the jury felt the work completed greatly enhanced the historical character of the building. 

OTHER NOMINEES

Kingsway-Lambton United Church, 85 The Kingsway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissioned by: Kingsway-Lambton United Church
Architect: Black & Moffat Architects
Crafts Person/Contractor: D.J. McRae Contracting Limited; CRS Masonry

Kingsway-Lambton United Church was built in the Gothic Revival style in
1936. The objective of this project was to provide an accessible, new
entrance and elevator addition with a reception area to the church
while respecting its historic architectural expression. The greatest
challenge in building the new addition was matching it with the masonry
fabric of the original building.

Breden Galbraith House, 22 St. Leonards Avenue

 

Commissioned by: Blaine Rust and Linda Pellowe
Architect: Renex Custom Builders
Crafts Persons/Contractors: JAG Creative Cabinetry; Harmony Stained Glass; and others

This Lawrence Park house was designed by architect W. Breden Galbraith for his own use around 1913. Extensive renovations enlarged and modernized it, by rebuilding the interior using some restored original materials, and on the exterior reusing the distinct exterior brick. This renovation was completed with careful attention to detail and craftsmanship to reflect the Arts & Crafts characteristics of the original design.

BOOK CATEGORY

This category recognizes well-written non-fiction books published in 2007 that explore Toronto's archaeological, built, cultural and/or natural heritage and history.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Concrete Toronto: A Guidebook to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies

Authors: Michael McClelland and Graeme Stewart (editors)
Publisher: Coach House Books and E.R.A. Architects

Concrete Toronto takes readers on a guided tour of Toronto's concrete architecture. The Editors have assembled a diverse group of industry experts - from architects to journalists - to examine the qualities, and the past and future of Toronto's concrete buildings in interviews, articles, archival photos, drawings and case studies. As well as looking at the buildings themselves, the book explores the trends that produced them and the impact of their construction.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury felt that this book encapsulates the architecture that many of us grew up with. In the 1960s and 1970s, these concrete buildings were the essence of Toronto. Many of these concrete structures will now need our protection to survive, and the book clearly advocates for their importance and preservation. Concrete Toronto is well designed and rich in detail, with many contributions from the heritage community.

 

AWARD OF MERIT

The Great Adventure: 100 Years at the Arts & Letters Club

Author: Margaret McBurney
Publisher: The Arts & Letters Club of Toronto

The Great Adventure tells the history of The Arts & Letters Club of Toronto and its rich assembly of characters who have made an enormous impact on Canadian culture. Founded in 1908, when a group of writers, musicians, architects, academics and supporters gathered at the St. Charles Hotel on Yonge St., the Club has been home through the years to a who's who in arts and culture. With the help of the Club's extensive archives, the author brings to light stories of members of the Group of Seven, Robertson Davies, Marshall McLuhan, Vincent Massey and many others.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury found the book to be a rich summary of the cultural history of Toronto. It contains wonderful illustrations and photographs of many of the members of the club. The book provides insight into some wonderful characters who made the Arts & Letters Club such a prestigious institution, and into the attitudes of an earlier era, towards women.  

 

I've Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad

Author: Karolyn Smardz Frost
Publisher: Thomas Allen Publishers

I've Got a Home in Glory Land begins with an archaeological dig at a downtown Toronto schoolyard. Dr. Smardz Frost unearths the nineteenth century homestead of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, former slaves who had escaped to Canada, and sets off on a quest to discover the history behind the couple. Through extensive research, the author has been able to put together the story of the Blackburns' escape from Kentucky, their settlement in Toronto and founding of the city's first cab company, and their resulting prosperity which allowed them to assist others who also sought freedom.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury was moved by the inspiring personal history of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn; slaves who ultimately made their way to freedom and to settle in Toronto. With an impressive amount of research, this book brings to life the story of this couple who became an integral part of Toronto's history.

 

OTHER NOMINEES

 

My Life in Crime and other Academic Adventures

Author: Martin Friedland
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

My Life in Crime and other Academic Adventures offers a first-hand account of Martin L. Friedland's career as a lawyer and academic and his involvement in the development of important public policy issues, such as bail, legal aid, gun control, securities regulation and national security. The book is an insider account of issues that have come to shape life in this country, and that continue to have an impact on the lives of all Canadians.

 

 

 

Toronto Sprawls: A History

Author: Lawrence Solomon
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

The City of Toronto is approximately 7,000 square kilometres and has a population of roughly 5 million. How did this small nineteenth-century colonial capital become a sprawling urban giant? In Toronto Sprawls, Lawrence Solomon examines the past century's great migration from farms to the city, the boom of immigration, and the policy and programs that contributed to our city's urban sprawl today.

 

Rifke: An Improbable Life

Author: Rosalie Wise Sharpe
Publisher: ECW Press

Rifke, An Improbable Life tells the life story of Rosalie Wise Sharp. Her story spans seven decades and includes her Jewish upbringing in 1930s Toronto, her marriage to Issy Sharpe, developer of the Four Seasons hotel chain, and an exploration of her family's roots in Poland. Sharpe recounts her life with both humour and tragedy, in a true saga of hard work and luck.

 

 

 

Historical Distillates: Chemistry at the University of Toronto since 1843

Authors: Adrian G. Brook and W.A.E. (Peter) McBryde
Publisher: The Dundurn Group

Historical Distillates examines the history of the Chemistry Department at the University of Toronto from its beginnings in 1843, when it was housed in simple quarters in the former parliament buildings on Front Street and had just one faculty member. The book chronicles the founding era, when three British gentlemen professors guided the department through four homes; its budding reputation in the early 20th century; and its more recent history which saw new colleges, distinguished faculty and students, and a Nobel Prize.

 

Mean City - From Architecture to Design: How Toronto Went Boom!

Author: John Martins-Manteiga
Publisher: Key Porter Books Ltd.

Mean City celebrates Toronto's boom in modernist architecture and
industrial design from 1945 to 1975. Projects in the book include the
modern buildings at the Canadian National Exhibition; the Don Mills
housing development and works of John B. Parkin Associates, such as the
Sun Life Building, and Canada's first subway system.

 

 

 

MEDIA CATEGORY

his category salutes non-fiction projects such as videos, websites, exhibits, magazines and other publications that educate the public about aspects of Toronto's archaeological, built, cultural and/or natural heritage and history.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Distillery District Heritage Website

www.distilleryheritage.com
Author/Director: Sally Gibson
Producer: Thane Lucas, Lucas Digital Art

Toronto's Distillery District features over 40 Victorian industrial buildings which have been restored and adapted to create an arts, culture and heritage precinct. As part of the site's 175th anniversary, a new website was launched which includes a broad range of materials such as architectural plans, archival photographs, maps and documents, and self-guided tours. The website is a resource for anyone interested in the history of Toronto, the Toronto waterfront and the Distillery District itself.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury found the Distillery District website to be an impressive and user-friendly website that uses an elegant style that is easy to navigate. The site is well researched and presented, allowing visitors to wander through the Distillery District's history, photographs and links. The website can be used by every level of browser; from the tourist to the researcher. This use of modern media to inform, instruct and inspire contains all the elements that make this website the jury choice for the Award of Excellence.

 

AWARD OF MERIT

"What Lies Beneath," The National Post, Post Homes

Author/Director: Scott Weir
Producer: Shari Kulha, Editor, Post Homes

The series "What Lies Beneath," published in the National Post, Post Homes, investigated the formative issues embodied in Toronto's mass-produced residential architecture. The articles examined eleven house forms through the lens of political events, social mores, real estate values and technological innovations of the era, and outlined how these forces caused a particular architectural type to form and be repeated within this city. The intent of the series was to educate at a broad level about the principles and ideas that originally underpinned these buildings and to encourage informed preservation.

The Heritage Toronto Awards jury commented that these well written articles introduced readers to many architectural styles that are found in homes around Toronto: from the cottages in Cabbagetown to the majestic Annex homes. The articles are wonderfully illustrated and provide an abundance of information for all readers.

 

COMMUNITY HERITAGE AWARD

This award is open to one volunteer community-based organization in each of the four Community Council areas as defined by Toronto City Council. The organization must be currently active, and have either initiated and/or completed a significant activity that promotes, protects and/or preserves cultural and/or natural heritage in its specific Community Council area. This is a cash award and no organization is eligible to receive it more than once every 5 years.

RECIPIENTS

O’Connor Irish Heritage House

North York Community Council Area

O’Connor Irish Heritage House is a not-for-profit community organization that was formed in 2005 to create an Irish cultural and education centre. Their goal is to undertake the repair and adaptive reuse of the one-time country residence of Frank O’Connor - the founder of Laura Secord Candy Shop and a Canadian Senator - as the site for the centre, as well as a meeting place for community groups. The organization’s efforts include fundraising, outreach programming, websites and publications, and research about the estate and its owner.

 

Scarborough Historical Society

Scarborough Community Council Area

The Scarborough Historical Society celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006. Since its inception, the Society’s accomplishments include the founding of the Scarborough Historical Museum in 1962 and the Scarborough Archives in 1978. Recently, volunteers from the Society refurbished and renovated the interior of the former W.J. Morrish General Store (a designated heritage building) and moved the archives to the building from its former location.

Cabbagetown/Regent Park Community Museum

Toronto & East York Community Council

The volunteer-run Cabbagetown/Regent Park Community Museum was founded in 2004 with the goal of celebrating and documenting the past and on-going history of the historic Cabbagetown and Regent Park communities. A partnership project between the Cabbagetown Preservation Association and the Regent Park Neighbourhood Initiative, the Museum has created a website and presented exhibits at Mackenzie House and Toronto Police Service 51 Division. The Museum will have a permanent home in the revitalized Regent Park development, where innovative techniques such as 3-D animation will be used to tell the stories of these communities.

OTHER NOMINEES

Kensington Market Area National Historic Site Designation Working Group

Toronto & East York Community Council Area

The Kensington Market Area National Historic Site Designation Working Group was formed to promote the designation of Toronto’s Kensington Market as a national historic site. To gather the documentation needed for a designation application, the Group established a committee of notable Torontonians.  Working relationships with various local communities and organizations were also established as part of the process.  In May 2008, five years after the process began, Kensington Market was designated a National Historic Site in a special ceremony where two bilingual bronze plaques were unveiled.

 

North Toronto Historical Society

North York Community Council Area

For over 30 years, the North Toronto Historical Society has promoted awareness and preservation of heritage in the former Town of North Toronto, which was annexed in 1912 by the City of Toronto. The Society’s activities include public lectures on local history, walking tours, a newsletter and website. Recently, the Society worked in conjunction with the Toronto Public Library and the Lawrence Park Ratepayers’ Association to publish a revised and expanded edition of the Historical Walking Tour of Lawrence Park booklet.

 

 

The Draper Street Residents Association

Toronto & East York Community Council

Draper Street celebrated it 125th anniversary in 2007.  To mark this event, the Draper Street Residents’ Association has embarked on a series of community-initiated programs. Projects include revitalizing the facades of the Heritage Conservation District’s homes to an appearance in keeping with their original Victorian design; commemorating the history of each house with a Heritage Toronto plaque; a website, and a planning study to protect the long-term historic character of the neighbourhood.

HERITAGE TORONTO 2008 MEMBERS' CHOICE AWARD

The 2008 Members' Choice Award was presented to the Cabbagetown/Regent Park Community Museum. All current Heritage Toronto members were given the opportunity to submit their vote on which one of the nominees for the Community Heritage Award they felt is worthy of recognition.