Queen's Park

Finished in 1893, Ontario’s Legislative building became a triumphant symbol of Canada as a growing independent nation. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is often associated with the beautiful park where the building resides. For those gazing north on University Avenue, the gorgeous Richardsonian Romanesque edifice stands at the top of the Torontonian main thoroughfare. But what about the grounds in which the building stands; what about the park itself?

Behind the building lies an enchanted park that serves as one of Toronto’s finest. Located beside the prominent St. George Campus of the University of Toronto, the park is often filled with ambitious students scurrying quickly to catch a class, or on rare warm day in September or April, students can often be seen sitting on the grass for a delightful study session. Queen’s Park is technically still owned by the University of Toronto. A 999 year lease was signed by the province in order to use the land owned by King’s College (one of the university’s colleges) in order to construct a park and later build the Legislative Assembly Building.

The park was of course named for the reigning monarch of the day, Queen Victoria. Her late majesty can be found prominently sitting atop her thrown in front of the Legislative Assembly. The statue may be familiar to anyone who’s spent time in Hong Kong, as the sculptor Mario Raggi created both to be almost identical. The park itself holds many statues of famous Canadians and British figures, including the first Prime Minister of Canada: Sir John A. Macdonald. Further north into the park, one can also find an equestrian statue of Queen Victoria’s son, King Edward VII. The statue itself was a gift from the government of India, where it originally stood in the city of Delhi. As India began to push away it’s colonial ties, the city of Toronto proved to do the opposite and graciously accepted this symbol of British international dominance.

Although not often given the same recognition as Trinity Bellwoods and High Park in the city, those who have walked through it’s gentle pathways know its stature on Toronto’s list of astounding urban treasures.