Home > Queen's Park, Toronto

1 Location

Queen's Park is an oval park bounded by the University of Toronto to the west and northeast (the southeast quadrant of the park is primarily bounded by government offices). Located at the north end of University Avenue, it is circumnavigated by Queen's Park Crescent, and bisected east-to-west by Wellesley Street West. The park is officially owned by the university, but is leased from them for a dollar per year.

2 History

Queen's Park was named in 1860 in honour of Queen Victoria, by Edward, Prince of Wales ( Edward VII). The Legislature was opened in 1892.

3 Sights

The south end of Queen's Park, south of Wellesley Street, is home to the captivating Ontario Legislative Building. Designed by Richard Waite , it was completed in 1892. The building is in the Richardsonian Romanesque style; Waite took advantage of its iron-frame construction to devote an uncharacteristically large area to windows, including a rose window. One tower was intended to hold a clock, but this was never installed. A large open area south of the legislature is often used for public gatherings and demonstrations, despite extensive tree cover.

The north end of the park is a British-style park dominated by large trees which provide extensive cover in summer. The north-south axis of this section is a path leading from an equestrian statue of Edward VII just north of Wellesley Street to the 48th Highlanders War Memorial at the extreme north end of the park. The statue of Edward VII is placed on a large mound with benches around it; the clearing necessary for the statue creates a picturesque focal point on sunny summer days, as it becomes by far the brightest spot in the park.

The Royal Ontario Museum is just a short walk to the north of the Park, and the University of Toronto is to the east and west. During the year the park is usually full of students heading to class. At night the park is often populated by students indulging in illegal substances that are banned on campus.

3.1 Statues

Monuments to the following important figures and events can be found gracing the Park:

• King Edward VII, which originally stood in India but was moved to Canada after their independence.
• George BrownGeorge Brown ( 1818- 1880) was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist and politician. The founder and editor of the Toronto Globe he was a noted Reform politician and supporter of Canadian Confederation. Brown was born in Alloa, Clackmannan, Scotland, on Nov
• King George VGeorge V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) ( 3 June 1865- 20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. As well as being King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and I
• Sir John A. MacdonaldSir John Alexander Macdonald Rank 1st ( 1867- 1873 and 1878- 1891) Date of Birth January 11, 1815 Place of Birth Glasgow, Scotland Spouses Isabella Clark Susan Agnes Bernard Profession lawyer Political Party Conservative The Right Honourable Sir John Alex
• John Sandfield MacdonaldJohn Sandfield Macdonald ( December 12, 1812- June 1, 1872) was the first Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario after the province was created as a result of the confederation of Canada in 1867. He served as premier from 1867 to 1871. A Reformer and
• William Lyon MackenzieWilliam Lyon Mackenzie ( March 12, 1795 August 28, 1861) was a Canadian journalist and rebel. Mackenzie was born in Scotland and immigrated to Upper Canada in 1820. From 1824 to 1834 he published the newspaper the Colonial Advocate in York ( Toronto), att
• Sir Oliver MowatSir Oliver Mowat Rank 3rd First Term October 25, 1872 July 25, 1896 Predecessor Edward Blake Successor Arthur S. Hardy Date of Birth July 22, 1820 Place of Birth Kingston, Ontario Profession Lawyer Political Party Liberal Sir Oliver Mowat ( July 22, 1820-
• Northwest Rebellion Memorial
• John Graves SimcoeJohn Graves Simcoe ( February 25, 1752 October 26, 1806) was the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada (modern-day southern Ontario plus the shoreline of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior) from 1791- 1796. He founded York (now Toronto) and was instrument
• Queen Victoria
• Sir James Pliny Whitney
• campaigns of the 48th Highlanders of Canada