by Courtney Meagher

If asked, "what are some of Toronto’s most notable buildings?" the Ontario Legislative building would no doubt cross many peoples’ minds. Forming a terminating vista at the north end of University Avenue it was built in 1893 and designed by the architect Richard A. Waite. It is one of Toronto’s best examples of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, a style characterized by its overall massive quality: heavy, rusticated masonry, geometric massing and monumental proportions, it became a popular style for important civic buildings in North America in the late 19th century. As one of Toronto’s key civic and historical monuments, does the viewshed of the Ontario Legislative building deserve to be protected? This is what historical advocates, namely the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO), have been fighting for.