St. Lawrence in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Ontario’s First Parliament Buildings
⎯⎯⎯
Les premiers édifices du parlement de l’Ontario
1798
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025
1. Ontario’s First Parliament Buildings Marker
In 1793 it was decided to move the capital of Upper Canada from Nagara 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.
En 1793, on décide de transférer la capitale du Haut-Canada de Niagara à York (aujourd’hui Toronto) Deux immeubles de plain-pied en brique sont construits non loin d’ici pour abriter le Parlement. Inaugurés en juin 1798, ils sont utilisés également pour les procedures judiciaires et les offices religieux. Pendant l'occupation de lork par les troupes américaines du 27 avril au 2 mai 1813, celles-ci mettent le feu aux édifices du Parlement. Réparés dès 1820 on y ajoute un immeuble de communication central. Quatre ans plus tard, un incendie causé par une cheminée surchauffée les réduit en ruine. Le site est abandonné et, en 1832, les nouveaux édifices du Parlement sont achevés rue Front à l'ouest de Simcoe.
Erected by Ontario
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1798.
Location. 43° 38.999′ N, 79° 21.793′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in St. Lawrence. It is at the intersection of Hahn Place and The Espanade, on the right when traveling north on Hahn Place. The marker is just inside the western entrance to Parliament Square Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 65 Hahn Place, Toronto ON M5A M5A, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto and on the Golden Horseshoe. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025
2. Les premiers édifices du parlement de l’Ontario marker
North side (français)
Also see . . . The roots of democracy: Ontario’s first parliament buildings (Heritage Matters).
The site of the first parliament buildings witnessed moments in history that helped to shape early Ontario, including: the birth of representative government, the establishment of York as provincial capital, the settlement and defence of the province, and the limitation of slavery in Upper Canada – making Ontario the first jurisdiction in the British Empire to take steps to do so.(Submitted on April 16, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025
3. Ontario’s First Parliament Buildings/ Les premiers édifices du parlement de l’Ontario marker
circa 1804
4. Ontario’s First Parliament Buildings, ca 1804
Painting By Elizabeth Frances Hale (Library and Archives Canada)
1811
5. Map showing the location of Ontario’s First Parliament Buildings, 1811
University of Toronto Digital Map Collection
Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 16, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
