Queen's Park

Queen's Park Toronto

Queen's Park

Welcome to Queen's Park

There are four plaques about this public park.
All can be seen on this page.

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted December, 2010

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted July, 2011

Just to the south of the Ontario Legislature at Queen's Park stands this Ontario Heritage Trust plaque with this information about our seat of government:

Plaque coordinates: 43.661525 -79.391182

In 1859 the city leased land here from King's College, and in 1860 a park, named after Queen Victoria, was opened by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. Queen's Park was long considered as a location for new parliament buildings and in 1879-80 their construction was authorized by the Ontario Legislature and city council, and an inconclusive design competition was held. In 1886 the commission was awarded to Richard Waite of Buffalo, one of the adjudicators. This decision generated considerable controversy among Ontario architects. The main block of the massive Romanesque Revival structure, with its towering legislative chamber, was completed in 1892 and on April 4, 1893, the first legislative session in Queen's Park was opened under Premier Sir Oliver Mowat.

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted January, 2011

At the very southern end of Queen's Park stands this Ontario Heritage Trust plaque unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on July 6, 2010. Here's what it says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.660809 -79.391005

Officially opened by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) during the Royal Tour of 1860, Queen's Park is an early example of the public park movement in Canada. Landscaped according to a picturesque design, its sweeping drives curved past maple, oak, elm and white pine, while Taddle Creek ravine and McCaul's Pond formed the park's western boundary. Located to the northwest of the city, visitors gained access to the park through two gated, tree-lined avenues, one leading west from Yonge Street (today's College Street) and the other leading north from Queen Street (today's University Avenue). The legislative building, opened in 1893, brought a new public purpose to the park and significantly altered the original landscaping of its southern grounds. By then, the city encircled the park.

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2011

At the base of the statue of King Edward VII astride his horse, in the centre of Queen's Park, north of the Parliament Buildings, is the second plaque ever erected by Heritage Toronto. Here's what it says.

Plaque coordinates: 43.66450 -79.39247

This park was opened September 11th, 1860, by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII and named in honour of his mother Queen Victoria.

Photo and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted December, 2010

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted February, 2012

Inn the section north of the Ontario Legislature, beside a walkway which runs northwest from the corner of Wellesley Street West and Queen's Park Crescent East is this green plaque which says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.664184 -79.391847

Queen's Park - "The People's Park"

Previously known as University Park, Queen's Park was renamed in honour of Queen Victoria and officially opened by her son H.R.H. the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) on September 11, 1860.

The Park was originally established as a gathering place for social activities and relaxation on what was then the outskirts of the City.

Now nestled in the heart of downtown Toronto, Queen's Park has throughout its history been a focal point for the citizens of the City.

History of the Park

1828/1829 - Ontario's first university, King's College, purchases 168 acres (68 hectares) of land north of the Town of York for its campus.

1849 - King's College becomes the University of Toronto.

1859 - The University leases 49 acres (20 hectares) of its land to the City of Toronto for 999 years to create a public park. The original Park (outlined in red) includes the land where the Ontario Legislature now sits, portions of the modern-day University campus, and portions of College Street and University Avenue.

1860 - Queen's Park is officially opened, the first municipal park in British North America. 500 trees are planted along College Street to mark the occasion.

1870 - The Canadian Volunteers Memorial (commemorating the Battle of Ridgeway) is unveiled, inaugurating a series of statues in the Park. Most of these statues now lie outside the Park's boundary.

1886 - The southern portion of the Park is turned over to the Province of Ontario for construction of Ontario's Legislative Building.

1889 - A pavilion in the centre of the Park replaces the earlier bandstand.

1914-1918 - The Park serves as a gathering place for troops during World War I.

1923 - The 48th Highlander's War Memorial is erected at the north end of the Park.

1949 - A new road is constructed on the west side of the Park to carry southbound traffic (Queen's Park Crescent West).

1969 - The equestrian statue of King Edward VII from New Delhi, India, is brought to Toronto and installed in the centre of the Park.

Related Toronto plaques
Sir Oliver Mowat 1820-1903
Taddle Creek
King's College

Related Ontario plaque
Battle of Ridgeway

More
Parks and Recreation

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted February 3, 2012
"1859 - The University leases 49 acres (20 hectares) of its land to the City of Toronto for 999 years to create a public park. The original Park (outlined in red) includes the land where the Ontario Legislature now sits, portions of the modern-day University campus, and portions of College Street and University Avenue." I would love to see the original boundaries of Queens Park but can find nothing "outlined in red." [Editor's Response: I've added it. Thanks.]

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