ONTARIO'S FIRST PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS 1798

ONTARIO'S FIRST PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS 1798

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, first 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.

Ontario Heritage Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario

Sarah J. McCabe

2013-11-05